New in Town

Raven dragged her sleeve across her face.

She wasn't crying.

The lid of some metal cylinder burst off, spewing garbage all over the alley, Raven focusing on trying to quell herself, her hands shaking.

She knew how dangerous letting herself get out of control like that was.

Besides... She didn't have time to cry. She was in some strange new realm, drawn here across dimensions when she was thrown to the void. This world didn't feel like it had particularly strong arcane currents, barring a few leylines, one of which she ended up surfacing through.

Well, that sounded too elegant.

More like she was spat out here and couldn't muster the energy to leave this place.

It seemed to be a dingy alleyway, in a city of neon and palm trees, where the lights on the ground blotted out the stars that would be shining at this time of night.

She sensed something nearby though. Something like her... Like her father. A mighty well of demonic energy, laying dormant. But it was different. Not her father. And not demonic, in the same way. Brighter, purer.

She chanted her mantra quietly to herself, minute after minute, trying to meditate the pain, the shock, the fear away... while honing in on that source of energy...

A building across the street. A sign over it read 'LUX' in tacky pink neon, loud locals stumbling and staggering out over it, singing and sacheting their way down the street, clutching others close, kissing and hugging... other acts. Live music tinkled out from inside as a woman that reeked of demonic power seemed to be shutting the place down.

It was now or never.

She floated a few inches above the ground as she crossed the road, slipping around the womans back and getting into the bar.

Only two blonde men remained inside, arguing, one perched in front of the large piano, while the other stood, grumpily complaining at him with hands in his coat pocket. It seemed to be some sort of bar, by the look of the place.

She was doing her best to make herself go unnoticed, as she approached, catching the conversation.

"-And I'm telling you, to get off your cushioned arse, and go look into this Azarath business." The man in the coat told the musician. "Terry's done gone and fucked up another plane of existence, and things aren't looking so good."

"Johnny, baby." The musician flashed pearly teeth that physically hurt Raven to look at. "You worry to much. Terry's too long in the tooth. Sure, a reality here or there, but he's not a danger to existence itself." His hands tickled up the ivory keys, starting a jaunty little tune up. 

"Brujeria's mobilizing." The man in the coat, 'Johnny' growled, slapping a fist on the piano. "And you're just gonna sit here and do nothing? The same old useless barstard?"

The musician laughed, "Johnny. You know what happened last time I interfered with the mortals, don't you? Now, because of me, snakes don't even get to have legs anymore! Honestly, it's kinda messed up."

Raven flitted closer to them, her magic aiding her stealth as she entered deep patches of shadow in the darkened bar.

"Listen to me! You smarmy arch-cunt! Shit's stirring out there! Trigon's moving his fat arse around, feeding off suffering and spreading fear and worship. He's trying to usurp the throne your arse isn't occupying. He wants to be a new Lord of Hell with Az and Beelz."

The musician shrugged, "Let it be, let it be~" He crooned, shifting to a low key. "Ya like that one? You're from Liverpool."

John snarled, before turning and pointing right at Raven. "You see that girl?"

"I've known she's here since the leylines coughed her out." He shrugged, without looking in her direction. "Come on out. We won't hurt you."

Raven hesitated...

These people were clearly knowledgeable... but the man playing piano hurt to look at, to be near. There was something about him.

She dropped her cloaking spell, but stayed where she was, at a hopefully safe distance.

"An Azarathean." The musician surmised. "I take it you're a refugee? Managed to slip away at the last moment?"

"...Sorta."

He smiled knowingly, "But that's not the whole truth. You're of Trigons' blood. Anywhere you can go, he can follow. You led him to Azar, and now you endanger this place." 

John stared at her, hard, "The charitable thing to do would be to commit suicide, luv." He pointed out. "Save trillions, maybe more, by taking yourself out."

Raven swallowed, remembering evenings she'd spent, curled up alone. "I've considered it." She replied. "But..."

"But you're too much of a coward?"

"I-"

"Or you think you can stop him?" The musician asked. "I like that idea." He nodded and pointed at her, his free hand...s letting him start up a new melody, as new arms folded out of his chest. "You should give that a shot! I don't want to bother with that upstart, but as a mortal, you probably have a lot more incentive!"

"I-" 

The man on the piano grinned. "Look in the safe behind the bar, take a lot of money, a lot of money and go wander the Earth. I'm sure you'll find what you need."

Raven swallowed. "But- who-"

"It's either that or slit your throat." He shrugged. "There's a knife in the safe too. One little slice and Terry's not coming to this reality any time soon... Of course, if someone were to take him out all together, he wouldn't consume anyone." He waved dismissively at her. "Now, go away. Kids aren't allowed in my bar."

The lights around the two men and the piano shut off, turning the area pitch black, like a small pocket dimension had swallowed the space up.

Raven gulped, before looking behind the bar, a quick chant opening the mechanical safe from the inside.

Sure enough, there was two things inside. A small piece of plastic... presumably how this world tracked currency... and an ornate knife, the hilt encrusted with bloodstones and amethysts. 

She stared down at the two quietly... Weighing her options.

Could she really sacrifice this world, go on living in exchange for the lives of an entire plane being snuffed out for hers?

Her fingers drooped into the safe, hovering between the two choices...

Money. 

Or suicide.

Life or death.

Her inner turmoil took its toll on the bar, light bulbs and bottles smashing and cracking, showering glass and foul smelling liquids everywhere, as Raven stood in front of the safe, eyes screwed up tight...

She let out a short, sharp scream as she made her choice, hand closing around the plastic and slamming the safe shut, before finding herself out on the street, outside the bar. 

Her breath raced, her heart beat nearly through her ribs...

"I choose life." She croaked, her voice weak and small in her ears. "I'm going to stop my father."