Which is frustrating and just means that my curiosity is even higher.
I can feel the amount of power that he’s kicking off, and usually I’m relatively good at guessing what someone is capable of, but with Rast I have no idea.
He said that he’s the Ferryman, but that’s obviously a new development that happened when the compound leaders did the ritual to send him over to our realm to get help. He never told us what that entailed, and he never told us what he was before that and whether he’s still that or whether the ritual eclipsed what he used to be and changed him into something else entirely.
The Ferryman.
I frown, if that is what happened, that must have been incredibly difficult for him to go through.
I’ve lost access to the Void and my magic before, regularly actually, but I always knew that it was there and that when the poison wore off, or the torture faded enough, it would come back. Having it taken completely is not something that I think I would have handled well at all. Even if it was replaced with something else.
I think I would grieve for it. I think most supernaturals would.
The flicker appears at Rast’s side briefly again, and he frowns heavily for a moment before his expression clears again.
He’s not behaving like someone who is grieving the loss of their magic, but then again everyone grieves in completely different ways and copes with grief differently, so how would I know?
I really hope that he’s okay though, and if he’s not, I hope that he feels comfortable enough with us soon that he can tell us if he’s struggling, or if we can help with something.
For some reason, I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon. He seems like the kind of person to do everything he possibly can to deal with it himself before he asks for help from someone else.
If he ever asks for help from someone else.
I frown and look down, my gaze catching on my clothes.
Unfortunately, the lightning realm means that I can see just how disgusting my clothes are, and since we’ve been walking for a while, they’re now getting a bit crispy and crunchy too.
I grimace.
That is so gross.
“Are you okay?” Reaper asks me, watching me with concern and somehow managing not to trip over his own feet like I would and have.
I gesture to my clothes and then move my shirt, demonstrating the crispiness.
“Oh, that’s gross,” Loki mutters.
“Thanks,” I reply with snark, which only makes his smile widen.
“We can stop for a moment if you want to change quickly?” Storm suggests. “Laikynn, Poca, Meri, and Oryn are all guarding the perimeter. At least I think Oryn’s with them.” I nod, and he continues,“And we can create a circle around you to block you from anyone else's view.”
“I pinched a couple of washcloths from Ignatius’ place. I can wet them for you so you can get the worst of it off your face and out of your hair. I don’t think it would be a good idea to have a full shower,” Mayhem suggests with a slight frown.
“No, I agree. I’ll take anything at this point,” I reply. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to be walking around smelling of the blood of an Abyss creature anyway. At least you guys managed to stay far enough back that none of it got on you.”
“Shit, good point,” Kill agrees, as his eyes scan the darkness around us.
I start to reply when the ground buzzes beneath my feet, and I try to understand what it’s trying to tell me.
With sudden understanding, I get it.
“Erm, the realm is warning me that I need to get it all off,” I start, then change direction. Heading to the right.
“Where are you going?” Rival asks. “We can use our magic to shower you?”
I shake my head. “You shouldn’t use your magic right now. The realm wants me to go this way.”
The guys share a look, but they don’t say anything as I lead them back into the trees. Although we’re a long way from where we started with the Others, the forest seems to go on forever.
