Sebastian ran, trying to pull the communications crystal out of his pouch. He had run the last seven miles from the palace, and was even now being hunted. Sebastian finally got the crystal out and was so dismayed to find it scratched that he stopped running. He set the crystal down and attempted to open a link to the temple of Pathaco in the abandoned city.

Sebastian knelt and used his clerical powers to boost the signal. He could hear hooves very near behind him. Finally, he could hear the fuzz that meant he had a connection through a bad crystal. “High clerist, there is no one to help our cause. I have been betray . . .” A sword protruded from Sebastian’s stomach. The man who had gutted Sebastian had a feral grin on his face.

“You’re very right you were betrayed, vermin.” He snarled quietly.

The high cleric, Esteban, awoke from his trance when he heard the bad signal coming from his crystal. He heard Sebastian’s last words, and nearly cried. Now he and Mirage were the only two left of the rebel group, Demosis. Esteban ran for the chapel and knelt in front of the altar.

“Dear and gracious Pathaco, let my cry be heard.

“Those who defend their beliefs have all died, save me and Mirage, and we should not last long.”

“Send us, dear Lord, advocates, champions for our cause. Let them be people who shall survive the kingdom, and bring good back into the world.” He went on in train of thought.

“This I pray, and whatever thy answer, amen.”

Esteban heard the shuffle of footsteps at the doorway. “Esteban, what’s wrong?” Said Mirage’s beautiful alto

“We’ve been betrayed in court,” He heard an outraged gasp. There was a pause. Abruptly there was a mace carved with snakes on his shoulder. One of the snakes leapt off of the mace and bit his ear.

“It’s a shame I wasn’t able to play with you longer, old man. You were very interesting.” Mirage laughed. Then she smashed Esteban’s skull.

Mirage frowned. What had that old man been doing in the chapel? She had been careful to nurture their bond of friendship until Esteban would come to tell her every bit of news as soon as he heard it. Before she could figure it out, a female demon resembling a huge rattlesnake with an ebony female torso slithered into the room and set a hand on Mirage’s shoulder. “It is time to finish thy training, priestess.”

Mirage bowed, saying, “I am ready.”

---

The television changed channels from a cartoon channel to a documentary channel. “Hey, I was watching that!” Nate protested, looking over to see his best friend, Brooke. She was in her tight jeans, purple t-shirt and, as always, had a blue lollipop in her mouth. Her dark brown hair was chin length, and her honey colored eyes sparkled mischievously.

“How many times must I tell you that cartoons rot your brain? I have experienced the effects myself.” Brooke threw the remote at Nate, and missed. He still caught it.

“Suckers rot your teeth.” Nate countered.

“But unlike your brain, you can brush your teeth to prevent that. Anyway, this is a show about dragons.” Brooke sat down on the opposite end of the couch.

About two hours later, the TV show was over, end the two friends were talking. Nate was of average build, like Brooke, but he had black hair and hazel eyes. “Prom’s this weekend.” Nate said.

“I’m not going.” Brooke said immediately after. Nate pulled out his phone and started dialing Brooke’s home number. About halfway through it Brooke said, “Fine, just don’t call my mom. The usual I presume?” Nate nodded.

“I’ll deliver your ice cream, smore’s stuff, and a movie when I come to pick you up.”

“What movie?”

“You’ll have to see.” Brooke stuck her blue tongue out.

---

It was 11 p.m. the day after the prom. Ring ring. Nate picked up the telephone. “Hello?” He said sleepily.

“You are terrible Nathaniel!” It was Brooke, “That was the scariest movie I have ever seen.”

“Read that romance novel in the right corner of your bookshelf.”

“But it’s dark up there!”

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine, Brooke.”

“If I have a heart attack it’s your fault.”

“Good night Brooke.”

“’Night.” She huffily hung up.