Rune stared up at the tall, wooden gate that was very out of place among the stone and metal portals and valves that were Manhattan. He ran his finger along the grain of the wood, reveling in the feel of old oak that somehow remained as prestine as the finest gems. The wood was so polished he could see the light break and reflect on the surface of it. He swallowed and stepped past it. He felt the threshold immediately, a strange and sucking feeling as his magic was drawn out of him. Fey magic.

“Rune.” A voice rang out from deep within the building. It was harsh, unforgiving and predatory. Mocking to he noted. The walls here were all wood and small branches stuck out of part of it. Some spread out over the vaulted ceiling, wrapping together with some on the opposite side. The smell of earth, fresh and damp, assaulted his senses along with lavender, roses and sunflowers. He groaned inwardly. It was her of all the gatekeepers. It was The Mare. 


He walked further into the warped reality of Faerie real estate. Past rooms with such charming names as “Mandragon Plant” and “Dragon Roost”. The Fey here were beholden to no master but themselves, and made a business importing from all the realms. They also held the only gate between Elfheim and the good ol US of A. It took him 20 minutes of walking through winding corridors until he reached another room with a high vaulted ceiling.

Sitting on the surface of a ebony desk was a creature that was only vaguely human. Her features were soft and if you weren’t to picky you might consider her an attractive creature in the traditional sense of body proportions. The humanity stopped there however, her hair, shock white, moved like tendrils and hung suspended in the air in every which way. Her forehead erupted into two golden horns that curved back forward again. Her eyes were without pupils and milky white. What could have been described as sultry lips were pulled into a grimace as she saw Rune in person.


“You have no business here, Champion.”

[color=6ecff6]“I am here to see the king.”[/color]

"The King doesn't  wish to be disturbed"

[color=6ecff6]“I am here to see my king. You either open that gate or I will force you to open it.”[/color]

“Your King?!” The Mare cackled in amusement. “Since when did you consider yourself him your king, Mortal.” She hissed as she slid of the desk to walk towards him. “After or before you buggered him?!” She implored. “Before or... After you abandoned him?” She prodded him with those words. Delighting in how Johans eyes widened marginally at the suggestion

"Look. Johan. You had your fun. You were given everything. You chose this world. This is where you belong. Not in Elfheim, Not among the immortal, the better folk. You will drag with you filth and problems. You chose this world. You take care of it


[color=6ecff6]“I didn’t abandon anyone! Ten fucking years I did his bidding. I play the good boy part. I killed for him. I bled for him!”[/color] Johan gripped his spear in both hands and aimed the speartip at the creature. [color=6ecff6]“I WILL SEE HIM”[/color] As he screamed, that rage turned feral inside his heart. A dark and nasty side of him, fed up with abuse, with running ragged to protect others that never gave a damn. HIs runes flared up with power, his spear crackled with the latent and pent up anger of pure arcane mixing with unstable emotions."Do you know who I am!"


"Yes. The little stray that was given everything and drown himself in cheap mortal booze" The Mare seemed to grow in size, her hair began to spread and lengthen until tendrils went all the way to the wall on either side. Her jaws seemed to unhinge and her eyes bulge in a way that made Johans stomach to turn. He gritted his teeth and pushed back.

[color=6ecff6]“Let. Me. The. Fuck. Trough.”[/color]

“"Look. Johan. You had your fun. You were given everything. You chose this world. This is were you belong. Not in Elfheim, Not among the immortal, the better folk. You will drag with you filth and problems. You are nothing Johan Winters. You were a handsome plaything and a good soldier. That is all you ever were.” Her words slapped him like a thousand bricks and he wavered. That vile poison of her predatory tone of voice fed his resentment and shook his resolve. He began to falter. The light dimmed.

[color=6ecff6]“I need… help. This world… is in danger.”[/color] He growled even as he stared at his feet. Defeated by mere words. He felt so heavy. So very heavy.

“You chose this world. You take care of It” The Mare snarled, still in her nightmare form. “Now leave. You are lucky I just ate.” Her threat lingered in the air as he left and he could hear her start to laugh coldly at his retreating back. "That's right little toy. Move on back to the box you call home."  He could hear her laughter all the way to the door out into the street.

[b][i]Penthouse, some time later[/i].[/b]

He stared down at the tumblr of whiskey he nursed in his grip. He stared out of the window onto the streets below. Closing his eyes, he tried to focus. But all he heard was the damn laughter. He leaned forward, resting his forehead and forearm on the cool glass as he drank a sip of the expensive liqour. "Fuck" He growled and swept the rest. "FUCK!" He smashed the tumblr against the wall as he tossed it, glass shattering and shards spreading out on the floor together with droplets of the expensive booze. 

It was going to be a long night....