Pandemonium Harmony looked disappointed, perhaps even dejected.
"We used our power, magic as you call it, to help breathe life and knowledge into the new creatures that sprang up during the aeons of creation. Who is to say how long the first days lasted to the Creator? As the first conscious beings came about and absorbed all the residual energy of the creation of the Light and the Dark, time immemorial marched on." Dev and Julianne found themselves floating among newborn stars watching nebulae form. "When the lands began populating, we nurtured and coaxed the fledgling souls with 'magic,' first teaching protection. From the elements and other souls that needed to feed on them for survival. Then community, to draw them together. From that, the first magic of mortals appeared in the form of love." P.H. paused. "It was a beautiful time."
"This went on for billions of years before the Bale crept in and forced a decision from the Creator." Stars exploded, planets burned, entire galaxies went dark. "We were sundered, new life was made from our essence as Humans emerged. Some, like me, held together. More or less. We found we could lend our power to these fragments of our former eminence. For a time, it was good. The new souls were open to 'magic' and used it to create wonders. But, it seemed, part of human nature was also to destroy. They used magic on each other, hoping to combine splinters remake the tree. Perhaps that was a left over consequence of being torn and shattered, maybe our power was inadvertently drawing others together to reconstitute many into one." A grotesque patchwork body of a Malformed appeared in the darkness.
"Our interference, regardless of intent, created the means to sour our gift. Greed and Envy." The vision faded and Dev and Julianne found themselves again in her hotel suite. They were both on their hands and knees in tears. "Magic was supposed to be for everyone."
Dev recovered before Julianne, who still sat in stunned silence. He wiped his cheeks and looked into Pandemonium's swirling eyes. "What is 'the Bale?'" P.H. motioned behind Dev. Once more, the three of them were suspended in space. Only a facade of a heavy wooden door sitting snugly closed in its frame stood before them. Julianne regained her composure. With a sniff, she nodded at Dev to open it. He reached for the shining golden knob.
"A word of caution: Do not cross the Threshold." Dev turned back to P.H. to see the cosmic entity had faded away. With a twist, Dev opened the door. The room on the other side looked entirely too normal after what they had seen in the past few minutes. A kitchen. There was a range oven, an icebox, a dinette set. It all looked so plain. Dev felt Julianne tug on his shoulder and realized he had been about to step through the doorway. She was pointing across the room. There was a hallway leading away from them. And someone was walking toward them.
-
It looked like a man, but Dev and Julianne knew deep down that this creature was more akin to P.H. than them. With heavy footfalls, it entered the dim light of the kitchen. It wore a strange leather hooded cowl, like an executioners mask. The suit it wore seemed to be made of the same leather. There were golden grommets holding an evening jacket closed. The tips of its shoes were also gold and, in fact, the being seemed to have precious metals and jewels adorning every possible accessory. It pulled out a chair and sat, motioning for Dev and Julianne to join it. Dev shook his head like a child and Julianne gulped audibly. The cowl formed a frown and then the being seemed to smile.
It's flesh appeared to be made of pitch or tar, dripping black ooze which dissolved instantly in the air. It had no lips but the blackened teeth formed a permanent death grin and the cowl moved around the skull to emulate facial expressions. There were lidless white orbs set into the eye holes of the mask. It propped its elbows on the table and steepled its gloved hands together in front of it. It slammed its hands on the table and screamed at them, a shrill piercing noise that made Dev and Julianne cover their ears and fall to their knees. The table shattered and it stood unnaturally. Opening its arms wide, it skittered forward jerkily until it reached the Threshold.
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The door frame seemed to be growing, the creature taking up more of their field of view until it hunched over them. It's tar flesh dripped around them sizzling when it touched their reality. Dev heard screaming and realized it was coming from him. The creature moved its arm to the top of the cowl and ripped it off. Underneath was only the white orb and the humanoid jaw. It shrieked again and thousands of thorn covered vines shot out of the void of its throat, assaulting the ground around them. The orbs popped and dripped pus and other unknowable fluids. Julianne grabbed Dev's shoulders and pointed at the pools of tar and viscera around them.
"What?!" Dev tried to shout to her over the din but could only hear the wail of the damned. She pointed again and Dev noticed the ooze wasn't getting any closer to them. It seemed to be held at bay in a circle around them. He reached out, seeing if he could feel a tangible force holding the assault at bay. When he reached it, it felt like sticking a finger into running water. Like oil and water, the viscous black and white fluids swirled around them, unable to mix. The levels were rising around whatever protected them. Dev looked at Julianne and saw her features mirror his own worry. What were they supposed to do? He tried to contact P.H. but it felt like he was alone.
He closed his eyes and hugged Julianne. She resisted at first. What good was a hug? It wouldn't help them out of this situation. But it was warm. She realized she felt so cold. Dev buried his head in her chest and she rested her chin in his hair. She folded her arms around him, closed her eyes, and accepted the embrace. For a while, it was nice just to be held. She realized that she hadn't let herself relax since she had taken in Kushiel. Any human contact outside of general day to day had been bloody. She wept.
-
It was suddenly silent. Dev released Julianne, who looked like she had been crying. She quickly wiped her eyes and let go of Dev. They were kneeling in her hotel room, again. Pandemonium Harmony and Kushiel were hovering around them like worried mother hens. She could feel her connection again. Her magic was back. She could tell by the look on Dev's face that he too had his magic back. Kushiel silently faded away with a nod to her.
"That was the Bale. Evil as a destructive force." P.H. said to them. "And I'm glad it didn't destroy you." Dev and Julianne pulled themselves up to sit on the edge of the bed. "The Threshold was created as a way to keep the Bale locked away. It can't get out, but others have gotten in. You would have been consumed had you crossed over. If it can get enough power from devouring souls, it may eventually be able to free itself and cloak creation in destruction. Undoing everything. There are those among you who believe that this is a cycle bound to happen eternally. Creation and Destruction. I suppose it is possible that this is not the first universe the Creator has made." P.H. shifted uncomfortably, an entirely too human gesture. "Tell me, how did you get away from it?"
"I don't know, after I couldn't contact you, I figured I was going to die and just didn't want to be alone in the moment. So I hugged Julianne."
"Ah, human magic. Love." Julianne blushed. Dev coughed and looked away, also blushing. Dev cleared his throat and stood up, striding away from Julianne.
"All magic aside, Ms. Nestor." Dev addressed her professionally. "You promised me some answers about your involvement and/or knowledge of anything relating to the murder investigation." Julianne realized she felt a little upset that Dev had so quickly dismissed their albeit brief connection. She stood up to meet him eye to eye.
"I did, but you aren't going to like what I have to say."