Excerpt: The Devil and The Tower

From Chapter Fourteen: Disks:

“Hm,” said Gregóire intelligently. “It would be awesome to be a pyrokine right about now...”
“You say that every time you are in a jam. Stop wishing for what the gods have not granted you.” Pyrokines were valued not only for their ability to create mundane fires, but also because they summoned the true nature of fire. Few constructs of Elsewhere would withstand a pyrokine’s purifying flames -- they could likewise burn down glamours, and even severely damage creatures of spirit that were otherwise nigh immune to mortal affect. Gregóire knew he should not keep wishing for it, but it would be so damned useful!
“Yeah, yeah, I know, sorry Isa,” he replied contritely. “I suppose I’ll try building a portal.”
“No, do not do that -- sometimes creatures build these realms in the hopes of trapping a magician. Many of those with power can build a portal, and many creatures of Elsewhere can use them too.” Isa’s voice was unusually polite. Either she was actually worried, or she was making an effort to be nicer. Gregóire hoped it was the latter.
“Well, let’s try a little of one of the talents I do have, then,” Gregóire replied. He concentrated a moment, and absorbed the glowing lines of his circle into his left palm. Then he held his right hand out, and called on his telekine powers. Slowly, one of the “cobblestones” in the shadow realm lifted up. Isa had been right, it was a well constructed realm, as the stone weighed almost as much as it would in the real world. But beneath it rather than stone or earth was an inky black substance that was the true nature of this shadow realm.