Disclaimer: I own none of the series or characters.

Note: Spoilers for all series involved.

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Harry

You ever heard the phrase 'he'll never know what hit him'? Well, I still didn't know. I hadn't been sure what to expect of Ethniu-beside ancient, terrifying power- but a teleport spell hadn't been on the list.

I'd used Ways before, to travel the Nevernever. This hadn't been like that. Less like being pushed through a door and more like being pushed with a door. I was dazed before I even landed-on my head, because why not? Still, at least I didn't break anything. My shield seemed to be in place, and... at full power. Almost as if I hadn't just went through an asskicking.

Something shattered loudly above me. I looked up and saw multi-colored shards falling, only to patter harmlessly off my shields. I looked around and saw a wide street, lit by countless neon signs. Tacky, but not like I'm one to talk. I mean, have you seen my car?

It was night, I realized, but no night like I'd ever seen. Thousands of stars shone like diamonds, and the moon...

The moon. What was wrong with it?

It seemed a dozen times larger than usual, and seemed to stare down like a huge, unblinking eye.

Startled, I looked away. What was this place? Was I in the Nevernever? The street was full of people, and... no. No way. Walking side by side, just like that?

I needed answers. I opened my Sight. Seconds later, I wished I hadn't.

Stark

Stabbed through the heart. Can you believe it? Bet they'll make a song about it, so the world doesn't forget what a fucking moron I am. It'll be a ripoff of that other one, but what isn't these days?

I don't know how Audsley Ishii, of all people, managed to sneak up on me and shank me from behind, like I was a fucking white-collar crook in jail. Enhanced senses, my ass.

I'll end up Downtown, obviously. No way they'll have my ass Upstairs. Bad for their image, to have people who do their jobs hanging around.

Oh,wait. Not people. Abominations. Silly me. I blame the bloodloss.

I can't see for shit, because there's nothing to see. Only darkness. I can't even see my hand in front of my face, nor feel it. Shit, do I still have a body?

The darkness fades away, and I'm falling. Figures. Of course I end up eating dirt, even after I'm dead.

I spin ass over teakettle as I fall, and land on my back. Nice. My bones shake, but nothing feels broken. still tough, then. Least I've got that.

As the little birds fade away, I come to my senses. This doesn't smell like Hell. More like LA's dodgier neighborhoods.

Blinking slowly, I raise my head... only to get a shotgun shoved straight down my throat.

"Who the hell are you?"

Chris

It was supposed to be training. Declan had come a long way with his portals, and this one had only been supposed to dump me outside the facility-nothing harmed, except the pride of those who didn't see the trap. As several Darkkin could attest.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

What had gone wrong? Couldn't say. I didn't know too much about magic, except how dangerous it was, but Declan did. Had the portal somehow slipped from under his control?

Or had someone sabotaged it?

As I fell through darkness, Grim took over. There was nothing around me, far as he could tell. Even my Sight couldn't spot anything.

Another portal opened beneath me/us as I/we fell, and Grim moved my body so that I would land on my feet after I passed through it.

The void changed to cold night air as I fell through the clouds. Grim Lightened my body as I approached the ground, and I touched down like a falling feather.

As I got my bearings, Grim scanned my surroundings with usual, brutal alertness. I was on a street, but the buildings were unlike any normal city. Temples whose designs I barely recognised, things I couldn't even name which seemed to defy geometry...this place seemed more like Faerie, not Earth. Grim didn't like it.

Suddenly, a foul smell hit me like a runaway truck. Grim turned sharply, to see a gaunt-faced guy in a shabby, grey coat. In his right hand was a straight razor.

"Hi," the guy said with a smile that had nothing human in it. "Are you new around here?"

Jason

Something told me Croft wasn't used to spells like that. Just a feeling.

My new partner and older friend had been convinced he had found something that could allow us great mobility through New York. A spell from an old grimoire, that could teleport the user or a person he chose anywhere in his line of sight. I'd agreed to play lab rat, on the grounds that, if something went wrong, I'd have a much better chance of surviving than him.

So, of course something had. I felt like I was flying through a hurricane, an arcane kaleidoscope of colors burning my eyes and skin alike. When it ended, I found myself on my kness, on a wooden floor.

And got punched in the face.

The blow sent me flying-no mean feat, at my four hundred pounds. I flew through the air, then something thick and wooden. Shards of wood got tangled in my blue fur, but it took more than that to hurt me.

Growling, I jumped to my feet, and saw my attacker. My jaw dropped.

"A werewolf? Nice! C'mon, Nicholson, try to maul me! Come on! I can take it!"

John- One month later

Joanna had finished laying out her story for me, but now she seemed...unsure. But I never let down a client, even when they don't believe in me. Perhaps especially then.

'Are you sure, Mr. Taylor? If you've been away from the Nightside for five years...'

'Come on, ma'am,' I said, trying for a confident grin. "How much could have changed?'