Chapter Twelve: Going Supernatural

Author's Note: Not very happy with this chapter, but I'm very done with it at this point and felt that it needed to be published. Might come back at a later point to edit/rewrite more. Dorian's not a bad guy, but he's not stupid nor unobservant. Given his own powers and abilities, I think he'd get nosy.

I've decided for the time being to move to shorter chapters (hopefully) posted more often than what I've lapsed to. New job and all that fun has left me with a whole lot less time to write. I usually write at night, so working second shift is putting a crimp in that...

Quotes in all italics denote internal/mental conversation, or as best as I can explain without directly spoiling. If it's too confusing, let me know and I'll try to come up with a better system.

xXx

"As I said, I do not wish to cause you any alarm. I've only waited for Solas to leave because I do not know what he has come to know of your powers," Dorian attempted to clarify upon seeing her uneasy expression. Further placating, he added, "I only wished to keep these matters private."

"Okay, so what does that have to do with me?" for she rightly didn't know. She settled some as his reasoning to wait for Solas to leave was at least believable.

"A very good question!" Dorian beamed. "I'm really only basing my observations on what I saw of that future you, so they may not even be applicable to your...current self."

"Future me was possessed?" Bevin exclaimed in confusion. Then her eyes narrowed on him, "How would you know?"

The Mage puffed up some, waving off his own words with a tone that said she was really supposed to find them impressive, "Well, I dabble in necromancy now and again. I have some limited control over spirits."

"But I don't think I'm possessed now?" When would that have even happened? At the beginning of all of this, months ago? Or maybe in that time she blacked out at Redcliffe? Was it like demonic possession? Wouldn't she know if some spirit was possessing her? Unless the new visions were tied to that… Bevin's breathing quickened, and she fought the urge to start panicking. This wasn't something she knew anything about, and it had tons of potential to get her into hot water. There was a painful prickling starting up at her temple, since a headache was just what she needed right now.

"It is quite possible that it only occurred in that other timeline. It didn't seem at all malevolent in nature, though potentially of some power considering that it was fighting in your stead while I was there." That's right! He had been there. Bevin hadn't Seen anything of the final escape and battle, though, so she wasn't sure exactly what he was talking about from his experience there.

She shook her head wearily, feeling exhaustion once again creeping on her. "I haven't Seen anything-" Bevin bit her tongue once she realised that her unintentional rush to give her own contrary version events would tell him that she was Seeing the other future.

But she hadn't done it quickly enough, and he smiled knowingly when he caught the words. "Yes, the other matter; I overheard from Solas' meeting with our Herald - she's really not all that quiet," he interjected with a sigh, "that you've been having trouble with these...other visions." He shrugged with a sniff, "The elf doesn't want me involved, but the Herald does. I figured that I would personally extend an offer of my assistance should you welcome it." She might have been tired and half out of her wits, but it didn't take a genius to be able to tell that he was keenly interested.

Bevin pursed her lips. "How would you be able to help?" What was his end goal here? Having her indebted to him should he be able to fix this? Digging for potential blackmail?

"I am far more knowledgeable in the Art of Temporal magic than he is, and three heads are better than two." That was a pretty compelling argument when not taking any of the consequences of including him into account. Did she want to risk these horrid visions never stopping? How would he and Solas react if they were connected to some kind of possession? Demonic possession, at least, was justifiable grounds for killing other Mages.

"Three heads? You're not counting...Nikki?" was the more innocuous question she decided upon asking.

"Maker, no." He sat back with a shake of his head. "She has...such odd views of magic and requires an in depth explanation for absolutely every show of it that I do in front of her. It was flattering...at first."

"Oh, yeah," Bevin snorted with a roll of her eyes. She could feel the tension between them finally dropping off. "It's, like, 'I know you want to understand it, but there's kind of only so much I can teach you as a non-Mage.'"

"Yes!" he enthusiastically agreed. "It is exhausting. The vast majority of the time she ends up referencing things the likes of which I've never even heard!"

Bevin snorted. "You haven't even been here very long!" she laughed. "And probably my fault since I usually have to relate it back to the fake magic of our world for her to have any chance of understanding." Her face reddened as she admitted, "I pretty much did the exact same thing to Solas when we first came here, though."

"I have gathered as much, which is also quite the fascinating phenomena that I fully intend on pursuing further with you in conversation...at a later point, of course," he imparted with a chuckle.

They lapsed into an awkward silence spent staring at each other. Bevin still wasn't sure what to make of him, but found that he had an easy presence. After all, being a super villain with that kind of facial hair would be so cliche that it would constitute a crime.

"So you were brought here with no prior knowledge of this world's magical workings and no prior ability to interact with it?" he lead. This was a familiar line of inquiry, though he was going somewhere with it.

"Pretty much," she answered, watching him carefully.

His brow furrowed and he started to speak, but held back, looking to rethink his words before beginning again. "Syphoning is certainly an intriguing Art. I've never heard of someone under its influence in a constant state, however. Is it intentional?" What did this have to do with her visions or the whole possession thing he brought up?

Well, he evidently knew what he was talking about in this area, so there was no use in denying it. "Well, no. I kind of 'fell from the sky' with the ability just 'on.' Our world doesn't have magic, so prior to coming here I'd never exactly done anything...magical." She canted her head in question, "How did you know it was syphoning? It took Solas and I - well, I was clueless, so just Solas - quite awhile to figure out what it was."

"Familiarity with general technique and the marks. Though, people don't generally put them on their face for reasons I'm sure you've had the pleasure of discovering. It's well known for making one's palms itchy." With a knowing grin, he held a hand up in demonstration.

She blinked as his words processed. "Are they moveable?" Bevin gasped.

"In your case, I have no idea," he shrugged. She shrank in disappointment. "They're rather iconic at this point, though. Would you even want to remove them?" Blargh, he had a point.

"I only bring the Art up because I believe that your syphoning may have something to do with your visions." She and Solas had already made a tentative connection between the two, being that the syphoning was powering whatever magic that lead to her visions. She wasn't sure how she felt that a complete outsider was able to arrive at the same conclusion so quickly. "The marks glow when you are entranced. Figure out the finer workings of your magic, and we may be able to work out why you are suddenly having these new visions."

It was at that moment that Bevin's stomach loudly announced its angry protest at the continued delay of procuring nourishment. Her face reddened as she apologized, "Sorry. I was on my way out to get food when you stopped by."

He merely smiled. "I suppose the least that I could do then is acquire us something to eat while we converse." He stood and gave a stretch, asking if she wanted anything in particular. Not feeling picky and thanking him, he was soon on his way out.

The tension that had been building up in her finally melted away. Perhaps he had sensed it and was using this as an excuse to build a better bridge between them. Well, the way to her heart was best travelled via her stomach.

"We should have ourselves a quick little chat before he returns, dear."

Bevin choked back a sudden squeak at the voice echoing around her, her wide eyes flitting around the room to find the source, though something told her that she wouldn't find one.

"Oh, do not act so surprised," the foreign, feminine voiced laughed. "I can hear your thoughts."

"Who are you?" Bevin demanded aloud, still not quite believing the lack of physical form for this voice. Was it really inside her head?

"I am not here to hurt you, child," she soothed. "I am the reason that you survived that eruption those months ago."

The claim caught Bevin's attention, outweighing her want to call out the dodging of the actual question. "Why would you do that?"

The voice sounded wistful, the lilting words dancing in her mind, "I was but an ever-weakening spirit, watching our worlds for over two thousand years from inside the Fade. I saw you pulled through that very first rift between the worlds. I believed that an outsider was the exact thing this tumultuous land needed, and used what power I had to protect you."

"But what about Nikki? You didn't have anything to do with her or the Conclave?" Was there more than one thing or person involved in their abduction from their world?

Bevin got a mental 'feeling' that the woman was shrugging. "I am afraid not. Her circumstances are a mystery to me, just as those surrounding the events that took place here."

"But who are you? I know you're not just some random person." Dorian had said that the spirit in the other timeline had to have been quite powerful, so she couldn't be any ol' random spirit or person, right?

She just further brushed it off, "That is not important at this time. You must keep the Mage from prying further. I know not the extent of his abilities, but if allowed to further 'poke' around, he may be able to sense my presence, however weak I still am. We do not know where his loyalties lie, and you can imagine what would happen if such knowledge got out." Bevin didn't like that it sounded as though the woman was purposefully trying to scare her into being compliant with this, but she was right.

Still, "Could he exorcise you?" Bevin wondered. "Do I even want you in me? Get out," she huffed, crossing her arms and pretending to scowl at an imaginary woman in front of her.

The woman snorted, "Ha! Oh, sweetie... You will need me. You have so many questions about this land and its peoples, and I can give a great many answers." At what cost, though?

Bevin scrunched her face up in more than a little annoyance when the woman replied directly to her thought, "I seek only to see the lands and People so dear to me reunited and prosperous once more!"

"Why only make yourself known now, then?" she countered. This was beyond frustrating.

"I did not have the strength to do so until fairly recently," the spirit admitted. "I am still recovering from using what power I had to protect you. And then I desired to wait for the right moment. This is far from how I wished to introduce myself." She grumbled, "You certainly are not the most trusting of people."

Well it wasn't like damn near everything seemed like it was out to either kill or use her in this world.

Bevin heard the spirit sigh and could almost feel her rolling her eyes. "I did not say that you are wrong to feel that way. To the contrary, it is wise to be wary to the motives of others. Were I to look upon this situation from the outside, I, too, would be very skeptical as to the motives of the spirit possessing another."

"The Mage is returning. Oh! And it seems he has picked up your dear mentor." The spirit woman laughed excitedly, likely in anticipation of potential drama. "Remember, you can communicate with me using only your thoughts, spoken words are unnecessary between us. Be careful."

"Well, that's good," Bevin tried to speak within her mind alone. Was this how someone schizophrenic felt? "Solas won't let Dorian get too close."

Said elf was visibly peeved upon entering their hut, going by the tick that had developed in his stiffened jaw. Dorian's cheerful demeanor conveyed that he was thoroughly enjoying having snuck around Solas' objections to his presence.

While Dorian seated himself back upon the nearby desk chair, Solas walked to stand guardedly in the small space between them. Bevin noticed Nikki standing with a goofy grin by the entrance.

There was a slight crackle and pop of conflicting energies as both Mages fought to erect their own barrier to soundproof the hut. Bevin rolled her eyes at their behavior and grumbled, "Play nice, you two."

Solas exhaled harshly but leaned a hip against her desk, gaze ever on the Magister. Still agitated, but now trying to downplay it. She could tell that he was biting his tongue for now, as much as he disliked the situation.

Dorian made a show of leaning around him to hand her the tray of food he had brought back. There was tittering laughter echoing at the back of her mind and she fought the urge to roll her eyes. At least someone was getting a kick out of this.

Bevin looked past them to make eye contact with Nikki, raising a brow in question of their behavior. The blonde merely shook her head, rolling a shoulder in a shrug.

"Okay, I'm just gonna assume you're all here for the same reason. What does everyone know?" Bevin decided to break them of the weird staring contest they were having and get this underway.

"Ever since Redcliffe, you've been having bizarro-world visions," Nikki supplied.

At hearing her voice, the other two Mages stiffened and turned to look at Bevin, casting furtive glances towards Nichole. They had forgotten the Herald was even there with them, but she caught on to their conveyed concern. Nichole was now the only one in the room who didn't know about her more 'off-brand' powers. What was safe to share in her presence?

"Nikki, what is shared here does not leave here," Bevin informed her. "Got it?" she waited for her to agree. "That means no Cassandra, no Cullen, no Varric." She didn't like keeping secrets from Nikki, but she wasn't always great at watching her words and those that she was closest to were also the worst ones to learn any of this.

Bevin brusquely cut off her objections, "Because it's about my weird-ass magic and doesn't concern them. Need to know - they don't 'need to know.'"

"But what if they could help?" Nikki argued.

She sighed around the spoon in the process of shoveling food into her mouth. "If we seriously can't figure this out between us, then we will consider going to the others for help. But right now, it would only worry and scare them over something they probably wouldn't understand anyway."

Nichole huffed and pulled the other desk chair out to sit close to the rest of the group. She sat and pulled a thick pile of papers up to her lap.

"What are those?" Bevin asked curiously with a jerk of her chin towards the stack.

Dorian beat the other two to the explanation, "Those are the papers we brought back from our trip to the future. We figured since you are the one having such visions that you would be the best party to discern if there is any relevant information within them that could help."

Looking miffed that Dorian had stolen his thunder, Solas asked of the other Mage, "Tell me, Dorian, how would you know the exact reasoning for why we brought the papers with us?" Seeing them reduced to petty squabbles would have been outright hilarious had she not been so completely exhausted.

Nikki answered as though the reason was obvious, "He was right outside the door the whole time we were talking earlier. He probably heard."

Solas was incredulous. "And you knew he was there?"

"Yeah, I saw him go by the window. And I seem to remember telling you that I could just go get him since he was right outside." Nikki looked confused over his tone.

Solas rubbed a palm over his face.

Having taken a moment to process what Dorian had said those were, Bevin suddenly became alarmed.

"Wait, wait, wait: you brought something back?" Bevin asked skeptically as she levelled an unapproving glower at Nichole and Dorian. The issue seemed plain as day to her now, but the others had varying levels of confusion written on their faces from her tone.

"Well, they seemed important at the time, and we were kinda rushing, so…" Nikki stumbled up with a reason.

"They are from the other time, so it's causing a continuity problem. They brought with them energy from the other future. Much like how the amulet had pulled you forward in time to another large source of likened energy, whatever powers my visions is being pulled to the energy being put off by those papers. Or something like that."

Nikki was staring at her blankly. "That sounds like something you pulled out of your butt with random words attached."

"Probably the basis of a Supernatural episode or something. But it totally makes sense!" Bevin didn't think she was actually convincing anyone, though Solas and Dorian at least seemed to be thinking her words over.

"If you say so." Nikki still wasn't buying it. What, was it too simple of an explanation?

"No, it does," Dorian finally spoke up in her defense. For all his supposed expertise, if she was right, Bevin felt like it was something he should have figured out sooner. Who knew what other kinds of consequences bringing something back from another time could cause?

Nikki finally relented with the second opinion. "So, if the papers are the issue, what do we do?"

"Well, we still have the amulet. We could…" Dorian started in with a plan to somehow open another temporal rift and toss the papers through. Solas thoroughly disapproved, citing the countless unknown dangers such a thing could cause, and the two spiralled on into more bickering and veiled insults.

"You think just lighting them on fire would work?" Bevin asked her second conscious, eyeing the unused fireplace.

"You do mean the papers, dear?" the voice teased, prompting the vivid imagery of lighting up the two other Mages by the seats of their pants. She earned an approving laugh, but the spirit conceded that she was unsure what effect, if any, that attempting to destroy the papers via fire would have.

"Well, I mean, that's what they usually end up doing in shows in this kind of scenario, though I can't quite think of one exactly like this. Usually it comes down to either destroying the item or returning it back to where it came from." Right? She never thought she'd be in a place where she found herself wishing she had paid more attention to the little details in her binge shows.

A shrug. "I shall defer to your judgment in this area. I cannot say that you are at any true disadvantage in this particular area knowledge-wise compared to these two."

"Well, if this doesn't work, I see no reason why sending the damn ashes back wouldn't then be an option." With that, she set her food tray aside and hopped up. Solas and Dorian had taken to scrawling out their ideas across pages of parchment while Nichole looked on bored.

Bevin snatched the papers out of Nikki's lap, who was too stunned to protest. Now in her hands, Bevin could sense that they did feel strange as she walked over to the fireplace and knelt down. She tossed the lot in, chased by a quick fire spell.

As it began burning, the fire swelled with a burst of energy, sending up a bevy of green sparks and smoke.

Bevin covered her face with her sleeve and kicked herself back from the flames in alarm. A barrier was placed at the mouth of the fireplace to keep the smoke from rushing out further. Bevin heard the door open and a chair was dragged over to prop it open. A puff of a magicked gust and the rest of the smoke was driven from the hut. The fire continued to burn hot and angry behind the barrier, but the smoke was now driven upwards.

"Bevin…" Hacking up the rest of the smoke from her lungs, Bevin turned to find Solas staring down at her disapprovingly. "What have I said about fire in the house?" He gave a sigh and began picking up papers that had been scattered around the hut when the smoke had been driven away. "That was reckless," he admonished.

"Oh, don't be so hard on her!" Dorian defended. "It appears to have worked."

"With minimal poking and prodding with us, I might add," the voice in her head cheered. "Although, now the Herald knows you have 'weird-ass magic' that you have been keeping secret from her."

"Yeah! Like you two buttheads would've come up with anything in a timely manner." Bevin settled back on her bed to finish her food. It had gone cold, but a quick rune drawing and the plate began to heat up. "Maybe she'll forget," she replied to the spirit, not highly concerned about that right now.

"I'm sure we'll know pretty fast if it actually worked or not. I was having those visions almost daily. Now, excuse me while I eat and then sleep the rest of the day away." And probably most of tomorrow, too. Hopefully, the recurring visions would be gone, but that didn't mean that the events wouldn't try to resurface in her thoughts and dreams. It would probably be awhile yet before she felt well enough to re-enter the Fade at night. If Solas didn't drag her there anyway to chide her some more over her actions today.


Nikki stood outside Bevin's hut taking in the beginnings of that evening's sunset while waiting for the guys to leave the domicile. While she'd planned to tell the others about the impending departure tomorrow, getting swept up in this mess had caused her to forget about it completely.

She grabbed them when they finally appeared and dragged them off a ways with little protest. "So," she began hesitantly, unsure of how they'd take this, either, "probably both the best and worst time to bring this up. But, there are plans to head out to the Storm Coast tomorrow. I got caught up in this...stuff," she waved a hand at the hut, "and forgot about it." Nikki saw their faces begin to sour as they undoubtedly began thinking through the logistics and hurried to explain the changes she had thought up. "Bevin's not gonna like it, but she's not really in a good enough condition to travel all the way out there right now. I'll take Varric, Vivienne, and Cassandra up there with me. You two can stay behind and continue to work this thing out with her if burning the papers didn't work."

Dorian nodded along, agreeing with the plan. "The Mages are due to begin arriving, so, if nothing else, we can help get them situated in the meantime."

Solas seemed more hesitant, knowing full well why they were going up to the Storm Coast, but she knew he wouldn't leave Bevin here alone while she still potentially had these visions to deal with. In the end, he swung the exact way she had known he would.

Nikki grinned, glad that this looked to be working out. "If she does get better, and restless or something, there's some matter in the Hinterlands that she's been itching to look into. Most of the rifts have been cleared, so I'm not really needed down there anyway, at least. And we have a good presence in the area now, so I hopefully won't have to worry too much."

"Drag Sera along, too, if you go, so she doesn't get bored here and start looking for trouble."