I rapped on the jail door. There was no response. “Baz” I spoke dully after a few moments. The slat covering the small, bar covered window slid to the side. Then there was a click from the door and it swung silently outward, allowing me in.

  “Baz!” the mayor called out jovially when he saw me. The smile was too much for me. I leapt forward, visions of the mayor bruised and bleeding flashing through my mind. A growl sounded. Detachedly I noted that growl was me. I was so focused on Skandro that I didn’t see Nikki until she started, drawing her weapon and barring my way to the mayor. Nikki, drew a weapon on me! My comrade, someone I trusted! Just like I trusted Budor and Skandro! “Calm down!” Nikki shouted. Something in my brain screamed “Kill them!” and the scene seemed to go sepia.

  “He’s gone!” yelled Nikki, sweeping her weapon in front of her as I darted toward her. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Her weapon started coming up. I backhanded the weapon, swatting from her hands. Reversing quickly, I had her by the throat. My other hand grabbed the mayor by the shirt as he tried scuttling away from the bars. Pulling him I watched his head bounce off the bars with satisfaction.

  “You bastard!” I growled at him. “You knew about Arla! Did you know what she went through?!?” I demanded. “Your people needed you and all it took to get by you was some furniture and an opportunity to abuse a trapped woman?!?” Little more than the bars separated our faces. His eyes blinked blindly, sweat beading on his forehead. Images flashed wildly through my head of hurting or ending him. “P-please.” He said “Please let Nikki go.” He choked out. His request broke the focus that had narrowed my existence to me and him. Suddenly I could hear her struggling against the bars. In my periphery I could see I had her pinned against the bars by her throat. Both of her hands clawed at my hand, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to draw breath. I eased up and she stopped clawing at my hand. She sucked in air in a loud wheeze. “Nikki.” Skandro said “This is something I need to answer for.” I released both of them knowing somehow that those bars would not stop me. If needed I would avenge Arla.

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  Nikki stood to my side, looking hurt and confused, rubbing her throat. She glanced from the mayor to me anger plain on her face when she looked at both of us. She stalked to the other side of the room to guard the doorway. The mayor passed a hand over the knot forming on his forehead as he sat at the bench with a sigh.

  “Before we start” Skandro mentioned. “How did you do that?” he asked. “Do what?” I asked annoyed at his stalling, leary of an attempt to weasel out of this. “The darkness. Everything went black.” “I couldn’t sense you.” Nikki grumbled hoarsely from the doorway. “It was like you weren’t there.” She added. The mayor glanced at me surprised. “I… I don’t know.” I said. “That bit doesn’t matter right now.” I said, brushing off the questions. “It might.” He replied, glancing at Nikki. “Are you the necromancer?” Skandro asked. Caught off guard I sputtered. “What! No!” Again he glanced at Nikki. I followed his gaze to see her nodding that I was telling the truth. He took a long look at me and shook his head. Those are some interesting powers.” He noted quietly. I shook my head, frustrated with the state of things. I was about to question the person that helped turn me around, someone who I felt had earned my trust. Someone who just had to check if I was a killer that perverted death.