by David Petrie
Finally, she pulled away and looped her hands around the straps of his backpack. “Want to go upstairs? I think I’ve waited long enough.”
Wyatt answered her with another kiss as he stepped into the house.
Marisa kicked the door shut behind him.
Nix shot up straight in a dark room. She had been aboard the Night Queen a moment before.
Hadn’t she?
The last thing she remembered was shooting herself.
Pain echoed through her head, reverberating off the inside of her skull in unending agony. She clutched her temples and keeled over to wait for the room to stop spinning. When it settled down, she brought one leg down to the floor and tried to stand, only to collapse to the cold tile of a room that wasn’t her own.
The lights came on as soon as she fell, motion sensors picking up her sudden movements. She scooted back against an adjustable hospital bed. Pulling herself up, she took in the room, finding herself in Carver’s lab, several floors below her office and the apartment where she normally slept.
At least she knew where she was.
She looked down at the loose medical robe tied around her body. Further down, a droplet of red spattered on the floor followed by another. Nix touched her nose, pulling away a finger covered with blood.
Not again…
Nix wiped her face on her sleeve and started moving just before being hit with another wave of pain, this time accompanied by nausea. She collapsed near the door. It flew open a second later.
“Damn, you’re bleeding again.” Neil Carver dropped to his knees beside her and placed his hand on her back. “Come on, let’s get you back to bed.”
“No!” Nix pushed him away and crawled toward the server tower at the center of the lab. “I have to talk to her.”
“You are in no condition to talk to anyone. You haven’t uttered a word in weeks.”
“Weeks?” That didn’t sound right. It had only been minutes since the fight with Void.
“Yes, weeks.” He struggled to keep her from getting up. “You’ve been in and out of consciousness ever since that ill-fated plan of yours. Why you decided to invoke that power is beyond me. You might not have woken up at all.”
“Then it’s even more important to talk to her.” Nix shoved him back.
“Then it will have to wait until there isn’t blood pouring from your nose.”
“I don’t have the time.” Nix looked at him dead in the eyes, crying for the first time in what seemed like years. “She has to cooperate.” Nix fell forward to rest her head on the cold tile, her blood and tears mixing on the floor into a pink mess.
“Fine. I will set up a version of the sphere for you to visit her, but don’t push yourself.” Carver stood up and walked to the server tower and typed several commands into a keyboard. When he was finished, he grabbed a magnetic cable made specifically for the connection port implanted into Nix’s skull. “I have the recording you made of her friends loaded. Were you able to get what you needed on it?”
“No.” Nix lay there, her head hurting too much to do anything else.
“Then what is the point?” Carver crouched down to look her in the eyes. “She hasn’t listened to you yet, what makes now any different?”
“Because this time you’re going to remove all of her limitations. Let her use all of the power you gave her.”
“That’s insane.” Carver brushed a lock of bloody hair from her cheek. “Do you have any idea what that would mean? You would be throwing yourself at the mercy of a god.”
“I know.”
“She could erase every memory in your head and trap you in there with her. She could stretch a second into months if she wanted to.” Carver clutched the connection cable in his hand. “She could destroy you.”
“Do you really think she would do any of that?” Nix let out a laugh and rolled her head to the side so she could see him better. “This is Kira we’re talking about. The most she’ll do is resort to sarcasm and name calling.”
“I know, she isn’t dangerous.” He sunk down beside her. “But she will have access to everything. Your entire mind will be laid bare for her.”
“I know. That’s why I need you to do this. I need her to understand why I need her.” Nix reached for the cable. “And for that, I need her to see everything. I don’t have time to try to convince or manipulate her. All I can do now is be honest.”
Carver sat motionless beside her for a long moment. “So it’s all or nothing, then? Everything we’ve worked for, simply placed on the scales to be weighed by a fairy.”
“How do you like our odds?” Nix smiled at him through the blinding pain.
He shrugged. “I’m not sure. She’s always been unpredictable.”
“Time to roll the dice, then.” Nix took the cable from his hand and let it snap into place at the base of her skull.
Carver stood up and went back to the console to add a few commands, before letting his finger hover over the enter key.
“Are you sure?”
Nix gave him a weak thumbs up.
“Hit it.”
Afterword
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About David Petrie
David Petrie discovered a love of stories and nerd culture at an early age. From there, life was all about comics, video games, and books. It’s not surprising that all that would lead to writing. He currently lives north of Boston with the love of his life and their two adopted cats. He streams on twitch every Thursday night.
Connect with David:
David-Petrie.com
Patreon.com/DavidPetrie
Facebook.com/WordsByDavidPetrie
Facebook.com/groups/TheHangingFrederick
Twitter.com/The_Write_Dave
Twitch.tv/The_Write_Dave
About Mountaindale Press
Dakota and Danielle Krout, a husband and wife team, strive to create as well as publish excellent fantasy and science fiction novels. Self-publishing The Divine Dungeon: Dungeon Born in 2016 transformed their careers from Dakota’s military and programming background and Danielle’s Ph.D. in pharmacology to President and CEO, respectively, of a small press. Their goal is to share their success with other authors and provide captivating fiction to readers with the purpose of solidifying Mountaindale Press as the place ‘Where Fantasy Transforms Reality.’
Connect with Mountaindale Press:
MountaindalePress.com
Facebook.com/MountaindalePress
Twitter.com/_Mountaindale
Instagram.com/MountaindalePress
Mountaindale Press Titles
GameLit and LitRPG
The Completionist Chronicles and
The Divine Dungeon by Dakota Krout
A Touch of Power by Jay Boyce
Red Mage by Xander Boyce
Space Seasons by Dawn Chapman
Ether Collapse by Ryan DeBruyn
Bloodgames by Christian J. Gilliland
Wolfman Warlock by James Hunter and Dakota Krout
King’s League by Jason Anspach and J.N. Chaney
Axe Druid and
Mephisto’s Magic Online by Christopher Johns
Skeleton in Space by Andries Louws
Chronicles of Ethan by John L. Monk
Pixel Dust by David Petrie
Artorian’s Archives by Dennis Vanderkerken and Dakota Krout
Appendix
Character Stats
MaxDamage24
TITLE: Pale Rider
HOUSE: Lockheart
LEVEL: 147
RACE: Human
TRAIT: Versatile – All st
ats develop equally.
CLASS: Fury
SUB CLASS: Reaper (-30 HP every 3 seconds while active)
STATS
Hit Points: 3584
Skill Points: 400
CONSTITUTION: 112
STRENGTH: 64
DEXTERITY: 196
DEFENSE: 102
WISDOM: 0
FOCUS: 0
ARCANE: 0
AGILITY: 23
LUCK: 38
ACTIVE SKILLS
SLOT 1: Custom Rounds, level 6 – Convert a magazine to a different type of ammunition. May be used once per magazine.
SLOT 2: Last Stand – Fire an empty pistol by creating bullets from your hit points. Duration lasts until death or reloading.
SLOT 3: Heavy Metal – Drastically decreases range and increases recoil enough to damage the wielder and make firearms difficult to handle but grants +75% damage.
REAPER SLOT 1: Unbreakable Defense – Summon the blades of Death to deflect all incoming physical damage (ranged only). Activate by holding one’s breath, lasts as long as breath is held.
PERKS
SLOT 1: Dual Wield – Allows a second pistol to be equipped. -5% damage output for each missed shot with an off-hand weapon for a maximum damage penalty of -40%. Penalty lasts until both weapons have been reloaded.
SLOT 2: Last Chance – The last round fired from a magazine deals +50% damage, increasing the likelihood of finishing an enemy before needing to reload.
SLOT 3: Quick Draw – Any shot fired within two seconds of a weapon being drawn from a holster will gain +25% damage.
Kirabell
TITLE: Archmage
HOUSE: Lockheart
LEVEL: ERROR
RACE: Fairy
TRAIT: ERROR
CLASS: ERROR
STATS
Hit Points: ERROR
Mana Points: ERROR
CONSTITUTION: ERROR (-75% racial penalty = 1 total)
STRENGTH: ERROR (-75% racial penalty = 0 total)
DEXTERITY: ERROR
DEFENSE: ERROR
WISDOM: ERROR (+25% racial bonus = 177 total)
FOCUS: ERROR (+25% racial bonus = 191 total)
ARCANE: ERROR (+25% racial bonus = 0 total)
AGILITY: ERROR
LUCK: ERROR
ACTIVE SKILLS ERROR
PERKS ERROR
Farnsworth
TITLE: First Knight
HOUSE: Lockheart
LEVEL: 144
RACE: Human
TRAIT: Versatile – All stats develop equally.
CLASS: Shield
STATS
Hit Points: 5888
Skill Points: 280
CONSTITUTION: 184
STRENGTH: 128
DEXTERITY: 62
DEFENSE: 196
WISDOM: 0
FOCUS: 0
ARCANE: 0
AGILITY: 11
LUCK: 14
ACTIVE SKILLS
SLOT 1: Death Grip (CONTRACT) – Can’t be unslotted.
SLOT 2: Taunt – Gives weight to your words to draw the attention of an enemy. PVE only.
SLOT 3: Feral Edge (CONTRACT) – Unleash your inner beast.
HOUSE SLOT: Sure-Foot – Hold your ground while fighting on any surface, may ignore gravity.
PERKS
SLOT 1: Damage Absorption, level 5 – Your shield blocks 90% of damage taken.
SLOT 2: Annoyance – Increases the likelihood of getting an enemy’s attention by attacking it.
SLOT 3: Protector – Increase defense by +15 when standing between an enemy and a party member.
Kegan
TITLE: Deadly Wind
HOUSE: Lockheart
LEVEL: 129
RACE: Elf
TRAIT: Control – At creation, choose one stat to receive a bonus for each upgrade point used and choose two stats to receive a soft-cap.
CLASS: Leaf
STATS
Hit Points: 3168
Skill Points: 270
CONSTITUTION: 99
STRENGTH: 140 (+25% racial bonus = 170)
DEXTERITY: 100
DEFENSE: 97
WISDOM: 0
FOCUS: 0 (-25% racial bonus = 0)
ARCANE: 0 (-25% racial bonus = 0)
AGILITY: 50
LUCK: 24
ACTIVE SKILLS
SLOT 1: Camouflage, level 3 – Temporarily change your skin and equipment’s coloring to blend into a variety of terrains. Must be holding still.
SLOT 2: Piercing Strike – The next arrow fired will continue moving through your target to hit another behind it. The arrow will continue until it runs out of momentum or hits an obstacle. Each consecutive hit decreases damage by -10%.
SLOT 3: Light Foot – Remove all sound produced by your movement for five minutes for better stealth.
PERKS
SLOT 1: Speed Chain – Increase damage by 5% for each arrow fired within three seconds of the last.
SLOT 2: Charge Shot – Increase damage by 10% for every second you hold the bowstring back.
SLOT 3: Sticky Quiver – Arrows will not fall out of your quiver.
Corvin
TITLE: Nightmarebane
HOUSE: Lockheart
LEVEL: 115
RACE: Reynard
TRAIT: Nine Tails – All nine attributes gain a bonus equal to half your lowest.
CLASS: Blade
STATS
Hit Points: 3200
Skill Points: 220
CONSTITUTION: 80 (+20 racial bonus = 100)
STRENGTH: 85 (+20 racial bonus = 105)
DEXTERITY: 40 (+20 racial bonus = 60)
DEFENSE: 60 (+20 racial bonus = 80)
WISDOM: 40 (+20 racial bonus = 60)
FOCUS: 40 (+20 racial bonus = 30)
ARCANE: 40 (+20 racial bonus = 60)
AGILITY: 40 (+20 racial bonus = 60)
LUCK: 40 (+20 racial bonus = 60)
ACTIVE SKILLS
SLOT 1: Phantom Blade – Launch a blade of malicious intent at a target. Damage and range dependent on skill level.
SLOT 2: Hone – Temporarily hone the edge of a blade to increase sharpness and damage. Last for a number of cuts equal to skill level.
SLOT 3: Shockwave – Unleash a wave of destruction.
PERKS
SLOT 1: Awareness – Hear better than most.
SLOT 2: Quick Draw – The first cut executed within three seconds of drawing a blade has a chance to deliver double damage.
SLOT 3: Follow Up – Gain an additional 25% damaged when attacking within 3 seconds of a previous attack.
Ginger Snaps
TITLE: Lady of House Lockheart
HOUSE: Lockheart
LEVEL: 144
RACE: Human
TRAIT: Versatile – All stats develop equally.
CLASS: Coin
STATS
Hit Points: 3488
Skill Points: 310
CONSTITUTION: 109
STRENGTH: 65
DEXTERITY: 149
DEFENSE: 101
WISDOM: 0
FOCUS: 0
ARCANE: 0
AGILITY: 70
LUCK: 71
ACTIVE SKILLS
SLOT 1: Blur – Decrease a target’s ability to target you. PVE only.
SLOT 2: Paralyze – Immobilize a target after a successful back stab. Removes critical hit bonus.
SLOT 3: Five Finger Discount – Will cause an NPC to turn around. Common items are fair game.
HOUSE SKILL SLOT: Royalty – You may claim the throne of any city in Noctem. If you can take it, that is.
PERKS
SLOT 1: Grappling Hook – Fire a line from a wrist mounted launcher.
SLOT 2: Sticky Fingers – Any material taken from an enemy can be converted to an item to be used or sold.
SLOT 3: Backstab – Increase damage by 150% when doing it from behind.
Royal Assistant Seven
TITLE: Born in Blood
HOUSE:
The Silver Tongues
LEVEL: 11
RACE: Human
TRAIT: Versatile – All stats develop equally.
CLASS: Venom Mage
STATS
Hit Points: 50
Skill Points: 180
CONSTITUTION: 0
STRENGTH: 0
DEXTERITY: 0
DEFENSE: 0
WISDOM: 0
FOCUS: 18
ARCANE: 33
AGILITY: 0
LUCK: 0
PERKS
NONE
Magnificent Seven
TITLE: Born in Blood
HOUSE: Lockheart
LEVEL: 13
RACE: Faunus
TRAIT: Imbalance – Plus 10% to all stats for each that remains 0.
CLASS: Whip
STATS
Hit Points: 1234
Skill Points: 2
CONSTITUTION: 22 (+70% racial bonus = 37 total)
STRENGTH: 0
DEXTERITY: 0
DEFENSE: 42 (+70% racial bonus = 71 total)
WISDOM: 0
FOCUS: 0
ARCANE: 0
AGILITY: 0
LUCK: 0
ACTIVE SKILLS
SLOT 1: Summon Pet – Summon a monster that has been raised from birth or tamed in the wild. A summoned pet will gain upgrade points equal to your own. If killed, a pet may be resummoned after cooldown. Cooldown will decrease as rank improves.
