“Who the fuck are you and what the fuck have you done to Rivea?” growled Ray as Nyx mirrored it nearly perfectly.

The big demon thing sighed and stood to its full, highly imposing, nine-foot height. “Humans. You have no manners or class, barging into someone’s home at mealtime,” the creature said. It was going to say more, but Ray rudely interrupted it with an exploding bullet to the face. It roared in anger as the smoke cleared and charged, massive cleaver in hand.

Nyx barked an attack, but other than making the massive horned man blink it did nothing. Charging in for a bit the canine was simply scooped up and smashed into the floor with an extreme display of violence and strength. With a pained yelp, Nyx exploded into motes of light and vanished.

Furious, but knowing that his {SOUL COMPANION} was still alive, Ray sprinted sideways to give himself more space. As he did he fired his handgun repeatedly, eliciting grunts of pain and fury from the horned man. Unfortunately, while Ray was fast, this creature was faster and rapidly caught up to him. With a powerful backhand, he smashed him sideways across the room.

Skidding to a halt, Ray spat out a mouthful of blood that had pooled in his mouth. “Did you just fucking bitch slap me?” he asked incredulously.

The huge creature rolled its shoulders and brandished its cleaver, “Before cooking the meat, tenderizing it is a necessity. Don’t look at it as a bitch slap so much as me preparing dessert,” it said with a malevolent grin.

“Fuck you. You aren’t eating anyone today,” Ray spat back. Reaching up, he realized he had lost his gun somewhere mid-flight. Swearing, he drew his blade and lit it up with fire, catching the interest of the demon.

“Oh my, an enchanter. So rare. So tasty. I have eaten many rare souls, but I haven’t eaten an enchanter before. I wonder what you taste like,” it pondered, caressing its cleaver slowly in a manner that made Ray feel dirty. “Guess we get to find out!”

The pair eyed one another before charging simultaneously. They slammed together in the center of the room in a savage whirl of cleave and flaming blade. Ray dodged the cleaver and follow-up claws from the demon and struck out with his burning blade, only for it to be turned aside with a backhand. Twisting, he narrowly avoided the large butcher’s weapon again but caught a kick to the side that sent him skidding across the room.

Ray slid to a stop gasping for air, the kick having cracked or broken more than a few ribs. “Fuck you kick like a mule,” he gasped, staggering to his feet. The demon looked mildly impressed.

“Not too many things take a hit from me and get back up,” it said in delight. “You don’t know when to quit, and that’s what will make this fun. Suffer for my amusement,” it finished with a roar and charged.

Ray staggered to one side and narrowly avoided the huge cleaver. He did not, however, dodge the follow-up punch which once again sent him flying across the room. He landed hard, his little remaining breath leaving his lungs as the world got a bit dim. His head was ringing after that hit, and he was dizzy. Knowing he wasn’t in a good spot, he slowly sat up and tried brandishing his blade, only to realize he wasn’t holding it anymore. He stared at his hand; thoughts muddled for a moment until he could think straight. He looked up to see the demon walking over to him slowly. It was talking to itself, something about dessert and a good meal not being wasted. Ray was too concussed to really understand. What he did still know was that he had to stop the thing. Somehow. Summoning what willpower he had left, he channeled the entirety of his Power into a single point in space, that point being right in front of the demon. He struggled to hold onto the tiny bead of power, white lightning arcing around the small dot that was chest level in front of the demon. Its eyes were wide as it stared at the spot … then Ray lost his focus.

The world went white.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he recognized that he had been flung backwards as a result of the explosion. Yet another large impact to his body, however, had left his mind even more addled. To the point that he wasn’t even fully feeling pain any longer. Distantly he heard the screaming of the demon, deep angry roars, and the din of battle. He was too tired to really care though. He slipped into a semi-lucid state, realizing that at one point someone was carrying him.

Then all he knew was darkness as his awareness finally fled in its entirety.

Reality returned in fits and starts as Ray woke slowly. The first sensation he had was a pounding head and how much it fucking hurt. His immediate second thought was about Nyx. Not wanting to even open his eyes, he activated his {SOUL COMPANION} ability, getting a message from the System that he didn’t have enough Power to summon Nyx back yet. This told him two things. The first was that he was still alive and not being carved up as some kind of person roast. The second was that a full day hadn’t passed yet, and seeing as they had gotten back later in the day it probably hadn’t been more than a few hours.

Several voices came into range of his hearing, being garbled at first but becoming clearer as they entered wherever he was.

“- broke them off, and I got out. Then I,” the voice paused, but Ray already recognized the speaker by her tone. “Shit, he’s awake!” Rivea said excitedly. Another, distinctly female, hum of interest came closer to where he was lying.

He took note that he was on a soft surface, likely a bed or couch or some kind. He felt fingers run down his head and neck, then gently probe his side. He winced, but it was far from the pain he had had earlier. Someone or something had healed the most grievous of his wounds.

“Seems the healing is coming along nicely,” the other woman said. “You should take it easy for at least a few days, but the blindfold can come off now. Don’t stare into the light above, it may make you nauseous.”

Whatever was wrapped around his face was slowly peeled back, letting in the light more and more as each layer was removed. Heading the voices advice, he looked away from the lights, blinking in pain as the last bit of cloth was removed. His vision was still a bit blurry, but he could make out the grinning form of Rivea. Next to her was a much older woman with silver hair and thick, coke bottle glasses.

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“You must be Cassie,” Ray rasped out even as the Drake handed him a small glass of water. He drank as he listened to the woman reply.

“Indeed I am, young man. Welcome to my infirmary,” she confirmed. “Lots of people to heal all of a sudden, once that nasty curse was lifted. You were among the most badly injured, but I understand we have you to thank for even being alive.”

Rivea practically danced next to the bed, but the older woman shut her down with a mere glance. “Massive concussion, brain hemorrhaging, nine broken ribs, cracked pelvis, broken arm, six broken fingers. You cost me a full day's Power to just keep alive,” she grumbled. “You’re lucky your dragon friend here cared enough to bring you to me immediately.”

“Drake,” Rivea corrected. “Aether Drake to be precise.”

“Bah! Whatever. You’re a damn big magical lizard with wings,” Cassie responded with a dismissive wave of her hands. Then she pointed at Ray, “No rough play for two days. Come back tomorrow for another healing session. Leave when you can get up. I have other patients.”

The older woman trundled off as Rivea and Ray watched her go. The Drake just shook her head, “Poor bedside manners for sure, but she’s a damn good {HEALER}. Was something called a Neurosurgeon before the end of the world.”

Ray just nodded. “What happened?” he asked, finishing his drink and setting the glass down on the table next to the bed.

“Your little explosion broke the rack I was on. The thing was enchanted to high hell to restrain and weaken anyone inside of it,” she explained. “I woke up almost immediately, then ripped that fucking Daemon to pieces,” she finished with a growl.

Ray started to chuckle but winced when his ribs seized. “Right. Good. But what I mean is what happened here? How did that… Daemon you called it? How did it take over? It seemed like it was in total control of the entire territory?”

“Not even close, but I can see how that might have looked,” Rivea said, thinking through how to explain it to him. “Daemons can compel others through curses. Powerful Daemons can make those curses contagious, kind of like a disease. This one came in with that first group and slowly spread its magic around. Once enough of the newcomers were enthralled it, uh, convinced me to get into the rack. I perceived it as a rather attractive Aether Drake,” she said muttering that last bit.

Ray chuckled, grimacing in pain again. “I didn’t figure you for the ‘tie me up and have your way with me’ type.”

She growled, “Look it was a fucking curse meant to confuddle and confuse ok? Moving on!” she snapped. “The Daemon ate a couple of people before he got me into that rack. He was about to make filet of Drake out of me when you happened to show up and blew the shit out of that room. Roll back to what I said earlier about me breaking free and thrashing his ass and he has the complete picture.”

“Undead, monsters, and now demons. What the hell is this new world going to throw at us next?” Ray said slowly, trying not to agitate his injury.

“Don’t forget about Gods,” said a new voice, causing Rivea to whirl in place. “We exist too you know.”

Anubis was leaning against the wall eating an apple, of all things, as he watched their discussion. The last time Ray had seen the God he had been in the body of a dog man of some kind, possibly even a kind of demon. He wasn’t entirely sure. Now, however, the divine entity had assumed the form of a tall, dark haired man wearing a leather trench coat.

“Who the fuck are you? How did you get in here?” growled Rivea. “Identify yours-“ she never finished the sentence as the Drake froze in place.

“Dogs who bark are generally put in the kennel. Consider this as you being in the kennel,” he said, finishing off the apple core and all. He pushed off the wall and walked over to her, getting in her face. “Dogs who bite, however, are put down. So be a good doggy and stick to being noisy.”

Rivea was sweating and visibly pale as Anubis moved on from her to the side of Ray’s bed. “I found your wayward friends if you were curious. Well, most of them anyway. That Djinn pal of yours is incredibly adept at not being found. I have no idea what he is up to. But the Drakling and the Orkin? The Thymians? Those guys were a cakewalk to find. You mortals sure do get around. Your little female friend is much closer than you think, but I don’t want to spoil that surprise. I enjoy watching her work.”

“Now I suppose you have questions you want answers to your questions?” Ray replied, annoyed that the God had found everyone so fast but glad that at least Josephine seemed like she was nearby.

Anubis shrugged, “Yes and no. I’ve had more time to look through your memories, so I understand a lot more. Your past. Your drive. Your conversation with the High Administrator,” he said as powerful killing intent rolled off of him, making it hard for Ray to breathe.

The way the God said ‘High Administrator’ sent shivers down Ray's spine. He didn’t know why, but Anubis seemed borderline violent when the title was mentioned. Whoever, or whatever, that held it and had sent him the letter was apparently not well-liked by the God. That meant that this High Administrator was either on par… or more powerful than a God of Death.

“Funny thing is, I can only see what you can recall of the letter itself. I am prevented from seeing anything else that is related to that,” Anubis continued, his intensity lessening back to the point that Ray was no longer suffocating. “Not that I care much, you aren’t very important in the grand scheme of things. But, if by chance, you do happen to exchange greetings with He Who Is On High, let him know that we haven’t forgotten or forgiven.”

Ray just shrugged, “This is way beyond me. I got some letter, and that’s about the extent of what I know is going on. Sorry.”

The God shrugged, “Doesn’t really matter, like I said. But I am curious as to those sealed memories. It would be hard to tell them to me, as I don’t know what to ask either. Its interesting. Very, very interesting and I am oh so curious as to what delicious secrets are being hidden behind that seal.”

“Right, so, uh, about my friends?” Ray asked, trying to change the subject.

Anubis rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. You mortals, always so impatient for friends and family. It's sad really, you should strive for more self-dependance and strength. Friends just bring you down, but I digress. Your Drakling and Orkin friend are North. Far, far to the North and working their way down. The Thymians are all locked away in a dungeon on the continent south of here. Your female {MYRMIDON} companion, however, is much, much closer. So close, in fact, that you will be seeing one another soon I am sure. I don’t want you to disturb her yet though, as she is ending a lot of very tasty souls my way. The damned have this peculiar minty flavor…” he trailed off in thought.

Then the God nodded and took a step back, “And there you have it Raymond Finnegan, all the information that you requested. I still have my own questions, for certain, but we can address those at another juncture. For now, fight hard and kill many, many things. I look forward to it.”

With a final grin that sent chills down his spine, the God’s body turned to liquid blood and dropped to the floor in a puddle. Rivea was unfrozen the moment that Anubis vanished, but had nothing to say as they merely stared at one another. Ray wasn’t sure how long they were silent for, but eventually, Cassie walked back into the room to check on them. Stepping over the doorway she froze.

“I leave you alone for five minutes and you murder someone in my hospital. One of you better clean this up.”