[ I submit this text as an exercise. After reading Dark Rose origins text and discussing it with its author, I wanted to give a try myself. How would I write the same (or close at least) story ?
I dropped a couple of elements from the original story and invented some.
It's an exercise because english is not my first language and because I wanted to write starting with someone else ideas, which is new to me.
As I got approval from Dark Rose, I post it here.
Be tolerant about grammar, spelling or wording errors. Thanks. ]
A Dark Flowering
0 Prologue
Daniel Thorne was waiting patiently for the answers of the chief of Paragon Police, James Patterson, one of his oldest friends.
The police officer, sitting at Thorne's desk, clad in his ceremonial uniform, was looking nervously at the windows, as if he hoped something could come to save him.
Daniel, district attorney, hesitated during months before starting an official investigation about Patterson activities. He couldn't believe what his team discovered about the officer. He refused it at first. But there was only one conclusion possible.
Patterson was in his office since almost two hours now and he refused stubbornly to answer clearly to any question.
"- Tell me, James... We know each other for a long long time. If you cooperate, I am sure we can find an agreement. You have a good record... Sorry... You *had* a good record. It's something which won't be handwaved lightly."
Patterson leaned slowly over the desk, and met the gaze of his friend.
"- Thorne. I have no reason to cooperate with you. What do you have against me after all ??"
The attorney was uncomfortable with his friend. Patterson changed a lot since the last months. He became distant, like a foreigner. The cooperation between his office and the police almost halted, with no reasons. The police authorities were more and more reluctant to give informations... And all signs pointed at its chief as the source of this new policy.
The two men met fifteen years ago, when their respective careers were only about to start at Paragon City. They naturally became friends, collaborating to bring more justice in the city.
Daniel Thorne studied the police chief.He couldn't read any emotions on Patterson's face, he remembered sadly the faint smile of his friend, the way he had to look at you with his piercing gaze. Now Thorne felt as if he was looking a someone else, just looking stunningly close to his friend.
Daniel took a deep breath and spoke, as Patterson obviously had no intent to answer spontaneously.
"- How do you explain all the anomalies in the police patrol then ? How do you explain there is a pile of missing person files waiting to be, at least !, opened ? How to you explain you removed thirty percent of the police forces in Kings Row with no reason and against the advice of the mayor office ? What about your interferences with the port authorities ?"
Patterson smirked and replied with an ironic tone, so unfamiliar.
"- Who is the police chief here ? You ? The mayor ?
"- You can't take such decisions without justifying them. Even if you don't agree, you'll have to explain now.
"- I have ? Tell that to the mayor. I still wait for him to call me personnaly about the *problems* you are speaking about", said Patterson, chuckling.
Thorne patience began to erode.
"- So there is nothing I can wait from you, then ?
"- Save a handshake when I am going to leave, I am afraid not. And, even... you would have to beg for it."
Patterson rose from his comfortable chair and walked to the exit, under the furious gaze of the dictrict attorney. He stopped when he was about to leave the room and turned to face Thorne.
"- Oh, Thorne. Don't complain about the police. You never know when you are going to need it. Don't complain... too much."
Patterson eyes met Thorne's and the attorney had a shiver.
After the police chief departure, the district attorney summoned his aides. Soon, his office was filled by discussions about the situation.
Thorne, still nervous since his confrontation with his former friend, was listening, once more, all the reports of his staff. He had to make a decisive step against Patterson but he wanted to be sure.
Once more, he read the reports about criminal activities in Paragon City, once more he was reading how they developped without the police presence, something engineered by Patterson last decisions affecting his resources.
The attorney listened the conclusions of various investigations targeting half a dozen of important people in town. All were behaving oddly, all were acting despite common sense, despite what they were supposed to do. All looked as if they were aiming to a secret goal, which, considering the amount of criminal activities involved, couldn't be something else than a massive conspiracy.
Each individual changed, subtly at first, later more blatantly. Their friends reported behaviour shifts, those people rebuilt their relationships, cut ties to most old friends and gained new ones. Nothing that worrying at first sight. It became far more disturbing when Thorne office realized those individuals became acquaintances to each other... people who had few things in common, no reason to really meet. After a couple of months of investigation, the attorney saw they all formed a tight network of influent people and that all their decisions seemed strangely coordinated.
Daniel Thorne couldn't prosecute someone for having new friends, or for liking vanilla icecream now instead of his old chocolate icecream. No crime here.
Showing the connections between each individual would lead him to a legal dead end too. While it was obvious they were all working on some project, it wasn't illegal.
However, each of them had to deal one way or the other in some form of illegal activities. Thorne office received a lot of complaints and had legal material to point the responsabilities.
Patterson's case was the hardest. The police chief was clever and covered his tracks well.
The procedure the attorney office was ready to start was based on the whole conspiracy. If the conspirators were found guilty, Patterson, by associating with them, couldn't escape justice. Thorne could prosecute him for favoring those activities, for giving informations.
The district attorney tried to convince Patterson to collaborate. He couldn't believe his friend was so lost for the justice cause. He tried, one last time, to offer him a suitable exit in this story. Friendship...
A week later, Thorne office announced his conclusions to the mayor, with heavy media coverage. The scandal hit the city, spawning in its wake the most curious theories about conspiracies. His office was soon overwhelmed by citizens informing it of that neighbour's odd behaviour, that missing parent, that the mayor was adbucted by aliens, that Galaxy Girl statue was the secret meeting place of weirdos...
With the passion for the scandal slowly resceding, critics about accusations on *respectable* citizens poured on the district attorney. But he stood firm. Daniel Thorne knew he was right and wasn't ready to stop.
1 Abducted by Darkness
Medias are feral beasts. You don't tame them, never. At best, you can hope you won't be too hurt.
Daniel Thorne reluctantly accepted Tony Clarke offer to be interviewed. He knew the journalist from the Paragon City Herald and didn't have a good opinion about the guy. Clarke was swift to embrace the scandal at first but turned his coat as quickly and joined the pack to attack the attorney constant pressure on "the most successful among us", according to Clarke's own words. His editorials in the Herald were since a rolling fire about how the attorney was trying to sap imaginary "political adversaries", the Herald now promoting the idea Thorne had views on the mayor office in the coming decade.
Thorne knew he couldn't afford to disdain the Herald influence on public opinion. The attorney had to convince the citizen his battle against this nefarious concspiracy was right. He had to win and keep the trust of the population, even if Clarke was working against him.
The interview was set in Thorne personnal office, the journalist sitting on the very same place Patterson occupied a couple of months ago, when Daniel decided to reveal the scandal.
Daniel purposedly put a tons of paperwork on the office, in the hope to suggest he was busy and the interview had to be short.
But, obviously, as soon as the interview started, the man appeared wanting to get something specific from Thorne.
The journalist endlessly, and sometimes stupidly, came over and over on the mayor office question. Is Thorne aiming for it ? Does he really support the current mayor ? Why Thorne is targeting people who weren't favorable to him at first (a false statement, Patterson, as a friend, being the most blatant example). What benefits does the attorney expect ? Etc etc...
The interview started at 8pm, after the regular workday of Daniel. Despite all his efforts and goodwill, Clarke was still harassing him with his questions at 10pm.
At some moments, the journalist even tried to get classified details from him. "Fair enough from Clarke", thought the attorney. Daniel dismissed the said questions but they delayed more and more the end of the interview.
At 11pm, the journalist seemed, at last, tired of running after his prey with no clear result. Clarke might be also tired, as Daniel noticed the man was looking at the clock more and more since one hour.
Finally, Tony Clarke thanked the attorney for the interview, saluting him with the most hypocrite smile ever. Thorne looked at the journalist keaving with a sigh of relief. Yet, the battle just started. In the coming days, Clarke will release the interview, probably as twisted as possible. The struggle was as much in medias than it was going to start in tribunals.
Daniel put some order on his desk and verified everything sensible was locked safely. He phoned his wife, Sarah, to let her know he was about to leave, apologizing for another missed opportunity to be present at home that evening and secretly cursing Clarke for his long interview.
Sarah always supported him, even if his job was so often preventing them to have that couple life most of married people were enjoying. She knew and understood him. Maybe she was just only accepting their fate. Daniel thoughts drifted to his son, Keith. The boy was now fifteen, soon to be a man. The attorney was thinking he was probably going to miss all those critical years from teen age to adulthood. The media and legal battles coming will get all his attention and his family will become secondary. Daniel knew that. He didn't like it but it had to be done.
Like every day since the seven years he was holding this office, Daniel went to the basement car park. At 11.30pm, there was almost noone left in the office building save the utility staff, working silently and diligently in corridors and rooms, some smiling at him when he passed, others ignoring him.
The car park was almost empty, reminding him painfully how much he was overworking.
As he made his way to his car, he noticed someone standing by it. Coming closer and despite the low lighting here, he realized it was Tony Clarke.
He was mentally preparing a nice way to dismiss the obnoxious journalist but something was wrong. Clarke was smiling, hands in his pockets, apparently very satisfied.
Daniel arrived at his car, without looking at Clarke at all, the man would be too much pleased to get attention.
"- You missed the exit, Mr Clarke, or the park staff made a mistake and allowed your car here ? ", said Thorne while getting his keys.
The journalist sighed.
"- Don't be stupid, Mr Thorne. I was waiting for you.
"- Don't be... ?", Thorne blood pressure started to rise, "Listen to me, Mr Clarke. If I ever see you again in this building, I'll make sure you never get a single word from me or my staff !.
"- Pointless threat, Thorne. You are not going to be a problem anymore... soon."
The tone of Tony Clarke was intimidating, and surprising coming from such a man.
Daniel was about to answer, somewhat violently when he realized the journalist was looking at a point behind his shoulders.
He turned suddenly to face what was coming to him, a thug for sure but he wasn't prepared at what he saw. No man can.
Ten meters away from Daniel Thorne was what he thought at first to be a inky could, almost pure darkness. He thought the cloud was slowly expanding, filling the space of the car park, then realized the thing was instead moving toward him.
Waves of cold air flew over him, chilling him to the bones. All around the dark cloud, his vision was blurry, as if he wasn't able to perceive perfectly its borders.
As the cloud came closer, he saw with horror it wasn't pure darkness and an unholy shape was as its center, a shredded parody of a human body, pointing clawed hands at his throat.
Shaken by the apparition, Daniel didn't move at all, he couldn't, his mind locked in disbelief of the unnatural vision. The faint sound of a hateful scream came to his ears as the spectral shape finally engulfed him in its icy embrace. Soon, he heard another, mindshattering, frightening scream, so human, a cry of utter despair and fear. His own voice.
2. The Circles Revenge
Daniel Thorne regained consciousness, shivering. His mind was full of the horrible vision in the car park. During several minutes, he couldn't think about something else. The picture of the hideous cadaveric face hurling toward him will surely haunt him during years, if not ever.
He struggled to organize his thoughts, to focus them and stop thinking about the vision.
He didn't know where he was. He was lying on a cold hard stony surface, tied by metal shackles, wrists and ankles.
He was so cold that he didn't realize at first he was naked.
Above him, he could see the rough ceiling of a natural cave. Torchs hung at the walls were providing a poor light to the place.
As we was able to regain control over his senses and mind, he smelled a disturbing odor. After a while, it reminded him the smell of a recent... grave.
He tried to rise, without success and was surprised to see a dozen of robed and hooded figures all around him. Silent, deadly silent. As if none of them even dared to whisper. They were standing, looking directly at him, hands hidden in their sleeves.
"- Hey !", he shouted at them, "Free me immediately !"
Noone answered to his call. He knew that call was futile but he wanted a reaction. And got none.
He tried to look at the faces under the hoods, barely seeing the human features. They were men, for sure. But he couldn't identify any of them.
Sometimes, he was almost certain some of them had gleaming eyes, like a dying green fire in the darkness.
Under the silent gaze of his mysterious watchers, helpless, tied, naked, he couldn't figure a way to escape the situation where he was put in as long as noone agreed to answer him.
His thoughts went alternatively to Sarah and Keith, then to Clarke, to Patterson. Why did he choose to start all this mess ? Why wasn't he happy enough with his regular job ?
Anger replaced despair and he nervously clenched his fists and tried to break the shackles, with no results save flesh wounds.
After about thirty minutes of anxiety, more people came, entering from a tunnel Daniel didn't saw initially.
All at once, the hooded men started a strange chant to welcome the arrival of the newcomers.
Three people, wearing robes with elaborated gold and silver threads, approached Daniel. Not wearing their hoods, the attorney immediately recognized the features of James Patterson and Tony Clarke. The third one was a girl, probably in her late teens.
Clarke was wearing a gold ceremonial headpiece, carved with strange esoteric symbols. Patterson was carrying a stone bowl, smeared with dry blood.
If the two men were looking at Daniel with disdain, he was shocked when meeting the gaze of the girl. He never imagined someone could have a gaze so full of hostility, malevolence and hate.
Patterson and Clarke stood by the girl and removed her robe with caution and fear in their eyes, exposing her now naked body.
The strange chant from the hooded men changed progressively to a higher pitch and a faster tempo, filling the cave with its weird tonalities.
The girl came to Daniel and leaned, staring at him with her hostile eyes.
Her clear and still juvenile voice resonnated, as a discordant note in the chant.
"- Is this one who caused me so many problems ?
"- He is Daniel Thorne, master Khalek, the district attorney in charge of the investigations", said Patterson, bowing with extreme respect before talking.
"- You, ", said the girl to Daniel, "... never learnt your place as a mere mortal is to be a pawn ?!?"
Daniel felt the hostility of the girl. She had the eyes of a very old man, the eyes of someone who saw many things but, here, so many unnatural things they could also belong to a madman...
"- I...", started Daniel but the girl slapped him immediately
"- Silence, mortal ! You are soon going to learn to not directly speak to me !"
Then she turned to Clarke who immediately lowered his head to avoid her gaze.
"- Master ritualist ! Begin the ceremony now.", and she looked at Daniel as a predator look at its prey, "I am eager to let this frail body behind me."
Clarke nodded and called two hooded men while the girl lied down by Daniel side, looking at him with a wicked smile.
Daniel heart started to pound painfully as panic was slowly finding its way to his mind.
Patterson and Clarke were methodically placing candles and spreading a silver dust on the ground, forming a cicrle encompassing him and the girl.
The chant was now almost hysterical. Daniel tried one last attempt to break the shackles but only groaned in pain when the metal bite deeper in his flesh.
The girl exploded in a mad laughter when Patterson closed similar shackles on her wrists and ankles.
The police chief approached with his stone bowl and a rusty knife. He pierced sucessively Daniel and the girl flanks, collecting the dripping blood in the bowl. The attorney ignored the pain, too much afraid about what was coming later.
Now panicked, Daniel barely realized the girl talked to him.
"- Thorne, look at my face. because, soon, you'll see it in a mirror !
- Why... are you doing this", the voice of Daniel was full of anxiety.
- I said silence !", spit the girl to Daniel, " but as a gesture of supreme compassion, I'll answer you... Why ? Poor... lost... soul... Don't mess with the Circle of Thorns ! NEVER ! I am going to replace you, as you became a problem as we replace ALL who cause us problems ! I am going to live in your body, I am going to look at your family and smile at them. I am going to meet your colleagues... And I am going to apologize for my... no your... stupidity. I am going to stop every investigation."
Daniel shivered at the thought of Sarah and Keith facing this madman.
"- And you now, Thorne ?", she continued, "When I will have undone everything you started to contest our supremacy over the city... I am going to make suffer everyone you love and cherish. That's my little personnal gift !
"- Keep my family out of this !", shouted Daniel
"- No no... And what will be the most delicious here... is the fact you're going to watch everything, trapped into the body you are looking right now, as my personnal... pet.", her face was a mask of disdain.
"- We are ready master Khalek", the voice of Clarke, the master ritualist, sounded like a promise of death.
But the Circle of Thorns didn't plan to let Daniel die.
3. A Life Stolen
Tony Clarke took the bowl containing the mixed blood and drank it, raised his arms toward the ceiling while his eyes started to emit a powerful green-yellow light. The underestimated journalist began to mutter in an unknown tongue, some of his words echoing strangely in the cave.
James Patterson kneeled beside him and joined the chant.
Still lying on his back, Daniel stared at the ceiling and soon, it looked as if distances were slowly distorted, as if the reality was deformed by something massive trying to go through a veil.
An explosion of darkness filled the room. As Daniel recovered his sight, he saw with horror tendrils of darkness lashing erratically from a central point at the ceiling. The obscure mass surrounding them was progressively lightened by dim luminous green dots. Daniel felt as if he was contemplating the void, a field of green malevolent stars. He felt his body raising toward this field, with tendrils lowering to get screams of pain at each of their dread caress on his flesh.
His mind was filled by primal fear, so overwhelming that even pain slowly receded.
Daniel was now only a scared mind in a world of darkness. He lost consciousness of his own body, no senses at all. Yet, he was aware. Close to him, he could feel the burning hate of Khalek, the Circle master inhabiting the girl body. All around, he felt the void was conscious, a fiendish being from distant ages, always lurking at the fringes of reality. Such being ringed into his mind, resonnating with old forgotten memories still carved into the soul pattern of every human, forever, since the dawn of times.
Daniel wished to die. He had no hope. He prefered to die rather than being chained to the Circle sorcerer and witnessing all the evil he promised to do.
Abandonned in this ocean of despair, he felt a warming presence, like a sparkle of pure light, a beacon of life. The presence shared his sadness, whispering caring words to his mind, trying to calm him.
But like in a nightmare without end, he felt a burning force crushing his will and his mind. The comforting presence vanished suddenly and he would have given everything to retrieve it, once more, a little more, before the end.
His mind split between this strange spiritual world and reality, he began to slowly regain senses and consciousness of his flesh. Daniel sanity wavered as he was now looking at his own face, grining with the same wicked smile he saw on Khalek's girl face !
Everything that defined Daniel was revolting against this unnatural act and he howled his dismay. But it was a female cry that echoed in the cave, not his voice.
The ritual wasn't finished yet and waves of pain overwhelmed him again. Daniel started to cry and laugh at the same time as madness was burrowing its way to his mind.
"- Tighten the bond, you idiot !", shouted Daniel voice to Tony Clarke, "Something interfered, I don't want to lose that pet !"
The master ritualist frantically restarted the binding spell he had cast to corporeally tie Daniel mind to the girl body.
Daniel was spectator to his own end, removed from the actual events, as if looking at the whole scene through a dirty window. He felt again the warming presence, calming him, like a mother sing to appease her child's fears.
Through those foreign eyes, from the girl body, he saw Clarke interrupting his spell, staring at a shape of light so similar to the body he was now occupying.
"- Don't stop, you traitor !", Khalek shouted with Daniel voice.
The master ritualist face became pale as the ghostly female shape drifted toward him.
"- Angie ? Youre still
", the journalist susprise could be read on every feature of his face.
An eerie voice came from the shape.
"- I am dead, Tony. But I wont let you do that again."
The green yellow light of Tony Clarke eyes flickered and disappeared.
Furious, Khalek tried to rise Daniel body but, shackled, he was barely able to move.
"- Patterson !", ordered Khalek, "Kill the traitor and complete the ritual ! You all, don't stop chanting !"
The hooded men around, whose chant was slowly fading, resumed it with a vigor renewed by the fear of their master.
James Patterson rose and drawed a knife concealed in his bulking robe.
"- Angie... You cant be here ! Thats impossible !", Clarke was totally unaware of Patterson moving toward him, knife raised.
"- But I am, chained by your master but also because of you. You commit heinous crimes because of your ambition and thirst for power. Now, this is... your... end.", and the ghostly shape rushed to Tony Clarke.
For a moment, Daniel believed the ghost just disappeared. Then he realized the shape could be slowly seen, outlining Clarke body.
"- Nooo !", cried the journalist, "She's in my body !!"
Tony Clarke, the face deformed by horror, turned to Patterson the moment the knife hit him at the left arm. Surprisingly, he immediately punched Patterson in the face, obviously ignoring the pain, and a struggle between the two men started.
Confusion spread across the room. The hooded acolytes looked alternatively to Clarke, Patterson and Khalek, unsure about what to do.
The Circle sorcerer was ordering to complete the ritual at all cost but with Clarke and Patterson struggling on the ground, no one seemed to be about to obey him.
After a couple of seconds, several acolytes rushed to separate Clarke and Patterson but it was too late for the ritual.
With the ritual interrupted so long and without a tight control, the dark energies conjured by the Circle of Thorns began to wreck havoc all around.
The dark mass at the ceiling dangerously expanded and tendrils started to lash at everyone at reach. Many acolytes were grabbed and pulled into the blackness, their horrified screams filling the cave.
Patterson cowardly abandonned his fellow cultists and dashed to the tunnel and only exit. Tony Clarke seemed to be in control of his own body again. Just in time to see a tendril grabbing him and be lfited to the ceiling.
The space distorsions around the dark mass became more and more obvious and the cave structure began to weaken.
Fortunately, the being summoned by the Circle couldn't exist in our reality for a long time. Without the wills and beliefs of the cultists to sustain it, the devilish presence had to go back to its nether world. It retreated from reality suddenly, with a sounding shockwave.
And the cave ceiling broke down...
4. A New Start.
Daniel Thorne was awakening. He could feel softness surrounding him, the feel of sheets, a mattress, and he felt a pillow under his head. Sounds invaded his dulled mind. Someone was calling a doctor. He heard discussions, mundane, normal discussions. The typical smell of hospitals came to him.
He was looking at the white ceiling of his room. Sunlight was coming gently through a window to warm him.
He had an headache, however. His mind started to revive memories he barely recognized : a cave, a mad sorcerer, his first day at the university to study 17th Century French Romantic Poetry, tendrils and horrible green lights dotting a void, Sarah and Keith, Rachel his flat mate who he is often arguing with, Patterson dashing out of the cave when the ceiling started to break, Keith birth and how Sarah was so beautiful, how he disliked the way his father was saying living on the campus was dangerous, Tony Clarke interviewing him, Tony Clarke kissing him, looking at his own face in a cold cave, a dark mass...
Daniel raised and sit on his bed, looking through the window and bathing in the sunlight. He wasn't sure about his own identity. He slowly understood some of those memories weren't his.
And then his mind revealed him the truth. He jumped on his feet and looked his own body. He wasn't looking at his own body, he was looking at *this* girl body, the one in the cave.
He anxiously looked for a mirror and found one in the bathroom. What he saw stunned him. The face of a late teens girl with delicate features and long dark hair.
When he touched the mirror, in disbelief, he placed a thinner hand than his own on it.
A step back and he saw more of his body. The body of a girl, no mistake possible.
A woman ! From head to toes !
Unable to rationnalize, he sat on the bathroom floor.
That was where the doctor found him. With gentle words and without trying to force Daniel, he succeeded to put him back to bed.
"- You feel better, Miss West ?", asked the doctor with a smile.
Daniel looked at the doctor, not understanding.
"- Miss West ? You hear me ?", the doctor face looked worried.
Daniel took a couple more seconds to have a coherent thought and answered.
"- Miss West... You mean... me ?", the sound of his now own voice startled him.
"- Yes, miss. I am Doctor Michaels, in charge of your recovery. But, actually, I am not sure you need my services", the smile came back to the Michaels' face.
"- I... I must phone to my wife !"
"- Your wife, miss ?"
Daniel looked around but he saw no phone by his bed.
The door opened and two very sober men dressed in black suits entered.
Daniel felt something odd about them. Like a kinship, when you are about to recognize a long lost parent.
The older man asked the doctor.
"- Has miss West recovered enough ? Otherwise we may come back later.
- No no, she's okay. Perfectly okay. I admit her recovery is amazing considering where we found her.", the doctor leaned toward him, "I'll come back later miss. Those two men are from MAGI, don't be afraid, they just have a couple of questions. But if you don't want to talk to them, it's okay, just tell me."
Daniel was only able to nod as an answer, not sure he wanted to hear again what was now his own voice.
Michaels exited the room, beaming a smile to Daniel.
"- Mr Thorne", said the older man, "I am Agent Zhukov. Meet agent Roberts", he pointed at the other suit. "We are from MAGI. We are here to help you.
"- What happened to me ?", said Daniel in an effort to overcome his reluctance. He really didn't want to hear that girl voice coming from him.
"- Well... What do you remember ?"
Relying to his memories brought again confusion to Daniel mind. He had to separate his own from the foreign memories.
"- I... I was interviewed by that journalist, Tony Clarke. Now I believe it was a trap. He kept me at the office as long as necessary. In the car park...", he hesitated when the picture of the dark cloud imposed itself to his mind, "Clarke was here. He unleashed something on me.
"- Yes, our investigations are showing a magical activity at your office.
"- What was that thing ?
"- We believe it was a dead, evil soul. But keep telling what you remember first please.
"- Humm... I awoke later in a cave, I have no idea where. Clarke and Patterson were here.
"- Patterson ? The police chief ?"
Daniel nodded in agreement.
"- Patterson was here yes. There were a dozen of more men but I couldn't recognize them. And I am not sure they are still in our reality anyway.", this memory brought pain to Daniel new face.
"- We suppose you were victim of a Circle of Thorns soul ritual. Were Patterson or Clarke the heads of that convent, from your point of view ?
"- I am not sure. I believe they were led by someone called Khalek.
"- You actually saw that man ?"
Daniel gasped for fresh air.
"- Mr Thorne ? You saw him ?
"- He... he was occupying *this* body...", said Daniel with a sigh, pointing at himself.
"- Let speak about this body, if you agree... Miss Angela West is, or rather was, 19 years old, a student in foreign litterature. She vanished three weeks ago. Apparently, she just met someone, a boyfriend I suppose."
Daniel remembered again the face the Tony Clarke, smiling and leaning toward him, no... toward Angela West.
"- So this is the name of my body then ?
"- Legally, yes, you are now Angela West, Mr Thorne. However, being victim of a magical crime, MAGI can try to fix the situation for you.
"- You said it ! They might have stolen my body but not my mind ! I am still Daniel Thorne !"
Zhukov turned to the other MAGI representative. Agent Roberts spoke for the first time. He had a soft, calming voice.
"- See, Mr Thorne. It's not that easy. MAGI can intervene to restore your former identity. Bank accounts, identity checks, your job... everything related to Daniel Thorne will show your new face then. But do you really want that ?
"- Why not ? Give me a single reason ?", barked Daniel, even if he unexplainably felt doubt for the first time.
"- My job at MAGI is to work with people with an identity crisis. Phasing, dimensional shifting, immortals, reincarnating spirits and so on. What I want to underline is you're no longer Daniel Thorne. Neither you are Angela West.
"- I am Daniel Thorne !
Agent Roberts shaked his head, disagreeing.
"- Are you sure of that ? Previous victims of soul ritual all said they got shared memories. You are not ?"
Daniel mumbled.
"- Yes, I have... flashes... but rarely.", he lied, "I still do know who I am, I want to resume my life !
"- That's perfectly understandable but your shared memories will become more and more invasise with time, until you start an identity crisis. At that moment, you will abandon the life you are now willing to resume.
"- That's just your guessing.
"- I am just explaining what is your most probable future. We at MAGI can help you, teaching you how to avoid daydreaming, confusing names, places, sightings, memories. But Angela West is now part of your personnality. You won't be able to deny that for long."
Daniel thought about Sarah and Keith. How could he forget them, stop loving them ? As his mind focused on loved ones, others faces came to him, familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, faces of Angela loved ones.
Daniel knew Agent Roberts was right. Each time he was remembering something, conlicting memories came to him. But the most frigthening was Daniel realized he couldn't immediately know which ones were his and which ones were Angela's. All of them were equally his memories now.
After a silent minute when Daniel was slowly acknowledging the truth, he asked Zhukov.
"- During the ritual, I felt a presence, twice. Each time, I'd say it was someone trying to help. Then, I saw a ghostly shape. I believe it was Angela. Clarke recognized her, calling her Angie."
The old man nodded and replied.
"- And you, you met Clarke before ?
"- Of course yes ! I met this murderer at the university when he came to ask us how we...", Daniel never finished.
"- Hmmm... Didn't you tell me he interviewed you ?
"- Sorry... It was Angela memories..."
Roberts placed a comforting hand over his shoulder.
"- Do not struggle. You'll have to live with that legacy now. But we can help you.
"- Help me ? Sure. I want to recover my *own* body !!", he shouted, slightly angry.
"- That doesn't sound possible, Mr Thorne, I am sorry. The coroner identified Daniel Thorne body in the collapsed cave. Dead.
"- Dead ? You mean...
"- That we can't reverse the process. And the sorcerer who was possessing your former body died while occupying it."
Dead. Daniel Thorne was officially dead. During a long minute, Daniel wasn't able to speak. He was trapped in this body. He finally told to the MAGI agents, speaking with Angela voice.
"- Enough now... I have.... to think. And I am tired.
"- We understand.", Zhukov called Roberts by his side and slowly moved to the exit, "The Doctor will surely confirm it but I can already say you are free to leave the hospital when you wish. The mound where the Circle dragged should have kill you when it collapsed. Fortunately, you survived. But it's not something a mere human could have endured. Your legacy is more than just shared memories, Mr Thorne. I suppose you know where MAGI offices are located. Come to us later, please. We can help you."
The two men left, leaving Daniel in his room.
He could only agree. He wasn't Daniel Thorne anymore. He wasn't Angela West. So...Who was he then ?
When doctor Michaels came later, he informed miss West she was in a remarkable shape considering she was found in a collapsed cave by a city rescue team. He hinted that this spectacular survival ability might be closely tied to MAGI agents presence as no human could survive what happened to her.
When Daniel understood he could leave the hospital, he found the MAGI agents left money and clothing for him. He frowned when saw the agents left him male and female style clothing, to his choice. He choosed the male clothing.
4b. Trapped Between Two Lifes.
The following days were full of confusion for Daniel. His first impulse was to phone to Henry West, when he suddenly realized he is Angela's father. Ashamed by not having thought to call Sarah immediately, he finally had to admit he had no idea what to tell to his wife. Or Thorne's wife indeed : "Hello hun, how are you ? I know you were told I was dead but I am coming back home. Oh, I am a girl now, I hope you don't mind. And you have to meet Henry, my father, err almost. How are Keith studies ? You know I have almost the same age than him now ? And can I borrow your underwear ?"
So he delayed the problem. Daniel needed time to think about what happened, who he really was... now.
Curiously, the most convenient place that came to his mind was Angela flat. She shared it with another student called Rachel. Sure, Angela was missing during weeks but returning there wouldn't be as problematic than returning to Daniel house and life.
Arriving at Angela's flat, Rachel barely gave a glance to the reapparition of her flat mate. She obviously already decided Angela would never come back and took possession of the entire place.
Daniel told her the tailored story he imagined before coming, about a sudden sickness which let him, or rather her, bedridden and under close medical watch during the whole time. Rachel was slightly worried and asked a bit more, notably to learn if that mysterious sickness was contagious.
Rachel was a nice girl, full of life and not really the kind of person thinking too hard about problems that don't concern her directly. So, she accepted the story and agreed to let "Angela" to reoccupy the appartment without too much questions.
The girl also believed Daniel own confusion was linked to that mysterious illness, so she didn't press her friend to give more details.
The return of "Angela" created new unsuspected problems to Daniel. As the news spread among "Angela" friends, they all came to see "her". Daniel, fortunately, was sharing Angela memories so he was able to put names on the faces, answer and behave accordingly.
They were all somewhat surprised when he dismissed them gently, one by one.
Daniel had the most difficulties with a young man called William who, he stunningly realized, was "Angela" ex-boyfriend, before "she" met Tony Clarke. The boy was sincerely trying to help "her" and disappointment was obvious when "she" asked him to give "her" time.
Angela life was slowly growing more and more important, overwhelming Daniel. He thought he could think about his situation but he also had to deal with "her" family and the university authorities as "Angela" was missing during three weeks.
Daniel accepted to be that "Angela", as the more he tried to be left alone, the more questions would rise.
He couldn't make his mind at continuing to study french poetry and litterature. He still had all his memories about legal procedures and he struggled to shift his major to law studies.
It was surprisingly easy. He suspected MAGI to be in touch with the university administration.
MAGI... The spellcasters... students of everything related to magic.
Daniel wasn't ready to go meet them again. Agent Roberts was right. Yes, he couldn't go back to Daniel Thorne, district attorney, married to Sarah and father of Keith. He couldn't be Angela West either, student of european litterature.
He was... something else. A fused product of two lifes, two experiences.
Daniel finally managed Angela life pretty well. Relying on the girl memories eased any problem and his anxiety about that almost immediately disappeared.
He was afraid of not being able to *act like a girl* when he actually was *also* a girl.
Even walking with heels wasn't so difficult finally. He overcame easily his initial reluctance to wear female clothing as it appeared to him now as natural as Daniel Thorne so-male style.
As a girl, he also had to deal with the stares and comments from some men, which made him really uncomfortable. He tried to manage the problem by wearing very large clothing, concealing his woman body. Not that pretty but, at least, he felt in relative peace when in public places, shielded from real or imaginary stares.
WIth days, the boundary between Daniel and Angela life became blurred. He thought less and less as "Daniel in Angela body". He still missed Sarah and Keith, Daniel family and friends but he couldn't decide one life and its assorted memories was worthier than the other.
5. The Circle in The Flat
Daniel was living Angela's life since a month now.
He was still feeling guilty by not contacting Sarah but he had to admit it would have turn to an extremely complicated life to come back to her in his new body.
Being Angela was far simpler. The girl hadn't a so established life and her youth was a good excuse to break or start relationships. She had no children, no job, no lasting engagement.
His most important problem was his own image... He couldn't look at his, or her, new face in a mirror. He just didn't recognize the person he was staring at. He was able to forget his new body even if the differences in physiology were regularly reminding him he wasn't controlling Thorne's body anymore. But he could manage that. But the face... no... not yet at least. Maybe later. Maybe never...
The transfer of "Angela" to law studies posed no problems and professors were impressed by that new student knowledge. While the study was refreshing as some parts of the law domain were slowly forgotten because underused during his attorney career, Thorne's knowledge allowed him to spend less time on learning and more on thinking about what to do with this new life.
Because, indeed, Daniel Thorne was experiencing a second youth, something many people would like.
Daniel thought about going to MAGI offices to figure exactly what happened that day when the Circle of Thorns did its ritual. But he prefered to manage more personnal things before being thrown into something even more complicated.
He was aware his new body had a spectacular metabolism, according to doctor Michaels wording. How, why and what does it mean for him really ? It was something he was ready to delay to later times.
But Daniel Thorne was no longer an ordinary human. As fate was going to remind it to him...
Daniel woke up. With a glance to the bedside clock, he realized it was 4am. He heard something during his sleep, something that awakened him...
He remembered Rachel told him her boyfriend wasn't going tonight, deciding, suprisingly, to have a quiet night
for once...
Clad only in panties and an oversized football shirt, he slowly came to the door and listened. Muffled sounds came to his ears... someone was entering the flat ! He barely heard the flat door being closed. Someone entering, someone who wanted to do this quietly. But someone who had the key !
His heart began to pound as his mind was trying to figure what was happening... the key... who can have a key ?
And suddenly, the truth hit him. Tony Clarke... The journalist seduced Angela, before offering her body to his Circle of Thorns master. And Angela gave him a key.
If Clarke was dead, the key might have been kept, or recovered, by the cultists.
Daniel heard two, or three, people slowly walking through the flat. He sounds of their cautious footsteps became closer and closer, they were coming for him !
And then, Daniel heard Rachel door opening.
"- Hey !! What the hell are you doing here ?", shouted Angela flat mate, followed immediately by a cry and the sound of people struggling.
Daniel opened his bedroom door, revealing three hooded figures wrestling with Rachel. The poor girl was panicking, crying and trying to escape their grasp.
One of the hooded aggressors turned his head toward him and Daniel saw two pinpoints of greenish light under the cowl.
A chill went down his spine.
After a moment of stupor, anger filled him as he saw the Circle cultist running to him. Anger became a cold hate and cold hate triggered something new.
Swirls of dark energies began to form around his wrists and forearms and Daniel felt an unexpected flow of new vigor overwhelming him.
The men abandonned Angela flat mate, Rachel, who dashed to the exit door, shouting so loud it could only be a matter of minutes before the police will be warned.
Daniel bursted into the room, heading right into the charging man.
With a sharp consciousness of his surroundings, fists raised, he struck, sending the man flying across the place. As he turned to face another opponent rushing on him, a dagger ready to strike, he ducked. But he wasn't quick enough.
The blade bite his flesh and Thorned moaned under the pain. Trying to flee out of reach of the knifeman, he saw the last one maneuvering to cut any retreat and attack from his flank. Cornered, Thorne focused his rage in a last ditch attempt to overcome his ennemies. Power flew through his body and darkness engulfed again his fists in a cold grasp. The sight was so impressive that the two cultists held their attack during a second. A critical second...
Thorne threw himself forward and hit the closest man facing him with a mighty blow at the jaw. The sinister sound of bone cracking resonnated in the room and the robed figure fell on the floor.
The last cultist was now slowly trying to maneuver to place Daniel in a disadvantageous position, a long sharp cutlass gleaming with that unholy green light in his right hand.
Thorne, overwhelmed by the hate for the Circle, growled as he prepared to attack.
Then, the cultist slowly and theatrically removed his cowl, revealing the face of James Patterson, Daniel Thorne old friend.
The eyes of the man were expressing utter hate.
"- Now you are going to die, Mr Thorne. You'll never get out this room alive. We, the Circle of Thorns, don't like to let something unfinished.
"- I am well alive, James. I survived your ritual, I survived the cave collapse. Don't bet on my death so quickly.
"- Don't call me James, you fool. Your friend is now long dead. You didn't understand ? I forced my own soul into this body. "
Daniel was shaken by the revelation. He intuitively knew James soul must have been victim of the Circle ritual. Actually, he prefered that. He wouldn't have like the idea the James Patterson he once knew turned to be a murderous cultist worshippping unholy powers.
The cultist occupying Patterson body studied Thorne posture, trying to find a weak spot in his defense. But Daniel moved accordingly, relying on Angela memories about the position of each item in the main room, trying to force his opponent to move over the rug, avoiding having a chair or a table in his back...
"- We'll defeat you. ", said Daniel, "even if you kill me, someone else will discover your activities. Your so-called Circle of Thorns won't last that long. Trust me."
"James" had a sinister laugh.
"- Because you believe your petty investigations were hampering our grand projects ? It's only a minor setback.
The identity of Thorne, district attorney, was slowly dominating Daniel while Angela's was resceding.
"- What's your grand projects anyway ? Hiding a caves ? Hopping from body to body ?
The cultist stops his maneuvers during a short instant. Daniel hoped the man was going to reveal him more about the Circle intentions.
"- The Circle of Thorns is almighty. We *already* control your town", said the cultist, with a ironic tone.
"- Unlikely, as long as I am living.
"- But...", said "James", "I am going to correct this situation immediately !"
The man was quick and obviously more trained than his acolytes. Daniel wasn't able to dodge completely the cutlass and the the magical blade sliced deeply through Angela chest. Daniel felt a torrent of pain running through his body.
"James" had a wicked smile, confident in his abilities.
His smile soon vanished when the bleeding wound closed almost immediately, to the surprise of both opponents.
Daniel fists crackled with dark power once more as he stroke into "James" stomach. The blow hit hard, the man gasped for air and fell on his back, fear in the eyes.
Unforgiving, Daniel came to "James" and stroke him violently with a kick in the head.
All three Circle worshippers were laying on the floor. Daniel looked once more where the blades hit him twice but the most severe wound, from "James" magical blade, was only a fainting scar now, when the first flesh wound left almost no trace.
The dark energies swirling around his wrists and forearms slowly faded as he was calming.
The police came less than ten minutes later, thanks to Rachel who awakened everyone in the building.
Daniel, unsure about the police reaction due to "Patterson" presence among the aggressors, prefered to speak about a mysterious costumed hero saving two young students rather than admitting he knocked out the three men by himself.
The policemen, while stunned to discover their chief, nonetheless took care of the three cultists.
6. The Dark Rose
The episode and the attack forced Daniel to reconsider the way he wanted to live, or try to live.
The Circle was well aware of his survival. Patterson tried to kill him, actually kill the main investigator who revealed the cult activities in town.
Daniel didn't know how many cultists were operating in the city, how many of them remplaced influencial people in town. At best, he could guess all the suspicious people he investigated on were cultists. Not a good news
The following morning, he started to write everything he knew about the Circle of Thorns. A summary of his investigation, his suspicions. He wrote a more detailed report about the rituals and the cave, painting it as a "forewarned report from unknown source".
When the work was done, in middle afternoon, he finally signed the whole document : "Daniel Thorne, Paragon City district attorney".
A surge of emotion overwhelmed him. He knew it was probably the last time he was going to sign using this name. He wanted to inform his successor, he hoped his work will be resumed and the Circle conspiracy finally defeated.
Agent Roberts was right, from the beginning. He couldn't be Daniel Thorne anymore. And he wasn't Angela West either.
After he dispatched the document to the attorney office, he headed right to MAGI offices.
As an attorney, he never visited MAGI. He had occasionnal contacts with the organization but only through reports and mail.
The offices were located in Atlas Park City Hall.
When he had to give his name at the entrance, asking for an appointment, he hesitated. He finally said "Angela West" to not confuse the town employees.
Agent Roberts came to welcome him, explaning how wise was Daniel decision to come here.
He led him to the basement where MAGI held most of its activity. Daniel expected to discover regular offices, desk and coffee machines in each corridor but, instead, entered a world of dim light, with rows and rows of books carefully placed on shelves. People were reading all over the place, sometimes mutterring. They almost all looked odd, wearing colorful clothes, talismans, or wielding strange staves and rods, some being heavily tatooed.
Daniel understood at that moment he was entering a new world he was only barely aware of. A world of magic.
He was introduced to Asuria, a young asian woman who welcomed him with a warm and charming smile. As agent Roberts told him, Asuria was in charge of guiding people newly invested with magical powers.
Roberts and Asuria intended to help Daniel to make the transition to his new life.
They discussed during hours about what happened to Daniel.
It became obvious when the CIrcle ritual was interrupted, the body of Angela kept some parts of the Circle magic.
Asuria informed Daniel the possessing sorcerer probably enchanted Angela to enhance his own capacities. When the ritual started, the sorcerer mind was transferred. The Circle would probably have strip all magicial enhancements from Daniel after the ceremony, leaving him occupying a totally ordinary woman body.
As the ritual was never completed, Angela physiology was still enchanted, which helped Daniel to survive the cave collapse.
The woman determined two sources of magical power. One was this extraordinary vitality, the other was darker, probably tied to the Circle own magic.
Roberts eased the fear of Daniel about sanity. He explained him the two personnalities, the two memories will slowly merge. Daniel would always be able to differentiate one from the other, but both will create a new personnality. So unless he was trying to struggle to maintain only one personnality, there was no danger of insanity. Confusion probably but nothing leading to madness.
Daniel investigating reflexes came back. Something was worrying him. He finally asked if MAGI had the slightest idea why the CIrcle of Thorns ended to capture a female student to place one of their own sorcerer soul in it ? as Patterson, or Clarke, had at least a social position useful for the Circle bid for power.
Asuria confirmed MAGI was also troubled by the fact. However, she was able to determine one odd thing about Angela West. The girl was born under an unusual concordance of stars alignement. Her best guessing was the girl may have been destined to be used in some ritual. By possessing Angela body, the Circle could have cheat some magic ritual requirements. Was it already done or not by the Circle, noone knew. The very possibility the Circle could again try to grab Angela body couldn't be ignored.
Asuria then offered to study Daniel's magical powers and teach him how to control them.
As Roberts stated, Daniel would have to decide what to do with those powers. Considering his previous role as an attorney, Daniel was strongly leaning toward justice and willing to fight crime.
However, reluctant to renew a night attack because ennemies could look for him, he agreed with MAGI representatives when they proposed him to adopt a pseudonym, and even a costume, to hide Angela West true identity.
Becoming a magical hero, backed by MAGI as mentors sounded a good option to Daniel.
The next days, Daniel came to MAGI each morning, spending hours with Asuria to learn to manifest his powers at will and he felt more and more confident about his new abilities. The dark energies, a legacy of Circle magic, .
He was ready to embrace this new life.
A week after starting to work with MAGI, Asuria welcomed Daniel morning arrival with an enigmatic smile.
"- Daniel, you have to meet someone today. Follow me now. We must hurry", she simply said.
The asian magician led him to one of the small and cosy reading rooms in the basement.
Several candles were gently burning, forming a circle on the floor and providing the only light of thr room. The smell of burned aromatic herbs came to him.
Daniel stared at the lone figure standing amidst the candles. The ghostly shape of a woman, the ghotsly shape of Angela West.
Asuria sat on an ornated chair and invited Daniel to do the same, while the ghostly Angela turned to Daniel, patiently waiting.
"- Hello, Mr Thorne. Glad to meet you again", said the ghost, with an distant and eerie voice.
Daniel glanced at Asuria, a silent interrogation about what to do. Asuria only smiled and invited Daniel to talk to the ghost with a hand gesture.
"- Humm", Daniel was uncomfortable, "You are... Angela ?
The ghost noded.
"- I am Angela West. Or rather what is left of her in the spiritual world. As you are controlling the body.
"- I didn't choose that situation you know ?", precised Daniel, slightly on the defensive.
"- I know, do not worry. I am not here to haunt you.
The ghost slowly approached to Daniel and touched his face with a spectral hand. Infinite sadness could be seen on the ghost own face.
"- I am sorry about you, your body, Angela. MAGI thinks the process can't be reversed.
The ghost, sligthly out of the candles circle, was slowly fading and Asuria reminded her to go back amidst the lights.
"- You had no choice, Mr Thorne. I didn't either. We are both victims of the Circle of Thorns.
"- Was it you I felt during the ritual ?", dared Daniel to ask
"- Yes", she confirmed with a warm smile, "I was bound in this mound since weeks. Since they practiced their blasphemous magic on me. They kept me for their own amusement, pleased to hear my cries in the dark.
"- Asuria thinks you disrupted the ritual. How was it possible ?
The ghost slowly hovered and sighed.
"- When I saw my body, once again used in their horrific ritual, I couldn't stand to see another innocent being the victim of a similar ritual. I... just gathered my strength, my will, my hate for them... and my compassion, my love, for you.
"- You didn't know me...
"- When you're reduced to a spiritual being, you quickly learn to cherish life. When you suffer because of this magic, you immediately learn to loathe it. No, I didn't know you but your coming suffering was already resonnating in my soul. I couldn't allow this, I wished to shield you, to free you if possible.
"- Angela accomlished a great deed that day, Daniel", said the calm voice of Asuria. The magician nodded respectfully at the ghost.
"- Yes, she did.", confirmed Daniel, "I cannot imagine what would have been my existence if their ritual was completed.
The ghost was now coming again to Daniel, exiting the circle of candles.
"- Don't go out of the circle, Angela.", warned Asuria.
"- I do not wish to continue to wander here, Asuria.", explained the ghost, "This place is not for bodyless souls."
Daniel rose from his chair, unsure about what to do. Angela gently kissed Daniel.
"- Receive my blessing, Mr Thorne. Your body was stolen, you now have mine. Now live fully and forget the past. You have no debt to repay. My body is my last gift for you. Be a Dark Rose and a thorn in the Circles side.."
Out of the circle, the magical energy allowing the ghost to manifest were far weaker. As Angela was slowly disappearing, Daniel looked at her face, his own, new, face. The two souls felt united during a short moment. The blink of an eye later, Angela was gone.
Asuria rose and extinguished the candles one by one.
"- Where did she go ?", asked Daniel.
Asuria looked around, still smiling.
"- She's probably still here, listening us. My magic only allows her to be seen.
"- I am glad you came", said Daniel to the unseen ghost, "... thanks."
"- We should let her to her own world now. Ours is the world of the living."
Asuria and Daniel returned to the main library. Unaware of the event, many people were here, studying the magical tomes of MAGI.
"- Will I see her again ?"
Asuria shaked her head
"- I hope not. She has to pass to another world now. Better for her to not try to stick to ours. She suffered a lot. Staying in the world of the living will only reinforce her sadness. She deserves better."
Asuria had led Daniel to another room where she handed him a package.
"- That's our gift, from MAGI, for you and the new life you choosed, Daniel."
Daniel opened the package and found a costume. He had spoke with Roberts and Asuria the previous day, about wearing a costume, to conceal his face, Angela's face.
However, he was puzzled to discover a skirt but no pants. Seeing his face, Asuria laughed.
"- Oh yes, Daniel. I took the liberty of having your design made up, with a minor adjustment. A skirt looks nicer on you than pants, you know ?"
Daniel smiled.
- Thanks Asuria, now I can begin to get some recompense for what has happened to me and to the original Angela West. Now Dark Rose can bring a little justice into the lives of those who need her aid.
[ Thanks for reading ]
