Pyromancer

The air was an odd mixture of stale beer and fresh hemp. A few bottles remained scattered on the floor with their contents soaking into the hard wood floor. Everyone had abandoned their drinks and was now thoroughly enjoying the moshpit by the stage. Demonic Fury wasn’t the most recognizable band on the heavy metal circuit (which was why they were playing in a red neck bar in the middle of New Orleans) but they were talented to a high degree. The music swam around the unruly crowd, who proceeded to pump their fists to illustrate their thirst for more. 1

Marcus Harrison (Cougar Face) was the lead guitarist in the band; he reveled in the spotlight whether it was upon the stage or under a street light playing for loose change. His fingers were moving faster and faster, he was in prime form for tonight’s performance. Demonic Fury had a couple of hot new singles but the crowd really flew off the handle when they played their tribute to Slipknot. In fact Marcus had learned the solo to Iowa before he could even play well at all. The song ended with a grand guitar shred courtesy of a little improvisation. A pair of lady’s underpants flew onstage and Marcus laughed with gusto. This was going to be a good night. “Thank you New Orleans!” Shane Turbot screamed. “The hurricane couldn’t bring this roof down, but tonight we sure as hell are! Are you ready for Lord of Fire?!” 2

Shane was the lead singer of the group so he of course got all the attention. He was also the loudest, proudest, and most arrogant person Marcus had ever met. But he didn’t mind; Shane was still his friend and he always would be. “All right! Let’s light it up!” Marcus howled as his fingers flew across the frets like a snake across a desert. The crowd cheered, pumping their fists and hopping up and down in the traditional fashion. The song had hardly begun and already the energy in the room had increased ten fold. It was about time to light the pyrotechnics, and then the crowd would really have some thing to shout about. They were timed to go off when Shane screamed the line: “I’ll set this city ablaze for I am the lord of fire.” It was a little corny but very effective. 3

The flames were just about to light when Marcus felt an uneasiness sweep over him. Though he had no cause to be alarmed something just felt off. His eyes instinctively scanned the faces in the crowd, and for a moment he thought he might just be paranoid, but then he saw him. Marcus saw him in there near the back with a smug grin on his face and malicious intent in his eyes. “Gideon.” Marcus mouthed.4

For a moment time stood still and only he and his old friend remained. The sound of the crowd muted, and the music waned to a small echo. Gideon chuckled and mouthed something that Marcus could not discern. And then time flashed back into focus and Gideon was gone. Marcus shook his head and continued to play. Then he saw something coming toward him from the corner of his eye. He barley had time to jump out of the way before the fireball came screaming towards him. It landed on the cloth backdrop and began to eat away at the cheap fabric. The crowd cheered wildly, still convinced that this was all a show. Then when another fire sprang up behind the bar everyone knew it was time to bail. The resulting chaos was unlike anything that Marcus had ever seen. Men pushed the women in front of them down in their efforts to get out and women did the same to their men. It was everyone for themselves, so naturally Shane was one of the first to hit the ground running.5

Marcus unplugged his guitar and slung it over his shoulder. Then he made for the exit like everyone else. He was stalled behind several wide framed men trying to get out and surrounded by a mighty inferno that was growing larger by the second. He saw an opening and was just about to run towards it when something struck him from behind and he was thrown to the ground. Marcus rolled over to come face to face with Gideon. “Hello old friend. It’s been a long time hasn’t it.” Marcus tried to protest but Gideon cut him off. “Don’t speak just listen. Three years ago you left me for dead in that god awful asylum. You ran off as it burned to the ground with me inside. And now look at you; famous with a band and fans and the whole nine yards. And what do I have hmm?” Gideon sneered. “I’ll tell you, nothing. My face was horrible burnt and mutated during that fire. This face is a construct of plastic, and lacks what I had before. You ruined my life!” 6

He slammed his fist against the bar to illustrate the point. “However,” he continued. “I should also thank you for without that little incident I never would have been able to do this.” Gideon held his hand out for Marcus to see. A small sphere of fire appeared in the palm of his hand. With a flick of his wrist it disappeared. “So In return I will make sure that your death is quick and relatively painless.” “Wait!” Marcus yelled. “It wasn’t my fault, I didn’t know you were still in there I’m sorry!” “It’s too late for apologies.” Gideon screamed. And before Marcus could respond he felt a huge shock as Gideon’s boot smashed into his head. The last thing he saw was Gideon standing over him and laughing mechanically. His eyes began to close as the fire consumed everything around him. His last thoughts were of Gideon and the phrase he had mouthed before the fire had erupted. “Encore.” Marcus whispered. “He said encore.”7