“Just lucky I suppose,” said Esmerelda.
“When this is all said and done, I’ll bet you’ll be happy to see your Gran again huh?” Sai remarked casually.
“Oh, yes. I miss her very much.”
Sai wheeled and pinned what looked like Esmerelda to the wall. The little girl’s initial look of surprise rapidly changed to a vile grin. Her small frame suddenly expanded to a size roughly twice as large as Sai.
“Changeling!” snarled Sai.
The Changeling flung Sai away, unsheathed its claws, long as fingers, and charged at her.
Sai dodged and ported away, but the Changeling was incredibly fast, countering most of her intended locations. Sai realized it was trying to back her into a corner. She blinked away to be behind it again and slashed her daggers to keep it back. But something tripped her, and she fell backward into deep darkness.
***
The wailing skeletons went down easy enough beneath Von Wilding’s sword strokes and Marie’s frying pan, but there were so many, they seemed endless, another two appearing for every one they took down.
“We have to get back up the stairs and hold the door. We can’t stay here,” growled Von Wilding as he smashed another skull and ribcage to splinters.
“I’ll get the door, you speed up after me,” she said.
He slashed again, breaking apart three skeletons at once and raced up the steps on Marie’s very heels, but they were only halfway up when the stairs suddenly slipped and became a slide, jetting them back down into the hands and swords of the shrieking skeletons at the bottom. But before they could be pierced by their foes, a hole opened up and they went tumbling down a chute into darkness.
They slid down the chute and while they fell, it seemed that a thousand skeletal hands grabbed and poked at them, stealing away all of their weapons and tools in the chaotic descent. Then they unceremoniously crashed together at the bottom, one atop another. It was dirty, dark, and pungent. There was straw on the ground at their feet, and then someone cried out, “Come any closer and you’ll get worse than the last!”
“Citrine?” asked Von Wilding. “You’re alive? Praise the Goddess!”
“Von Wilding?”
“It’s me,” he said.
“Well? What took you?” asked Citrine. “I’ve been rotting in this dungeon for weeks.”
“I got here as quick as I could.”
Citrine tossed her hands in the air. “And you’re captured now too. How lucky for me.”
“At least I’m here.”
“Ahem,” grunted Marie. “And who is this?”
Von Wilding brushed himself off, then said, “Marie, this is the Princess Citrine.”
“Oh, really?” she scoffed, not more than a little bit jealous.
“I hope you’ve got a plan,” said Citrine.
“We’re working on it,” said Von Wilding.
Just then a shouting and tumble sounded, thudding toward them, and Chev fell out of another shaft that opened on the opposite side of the cell.
He wasn’t quite so quick to get up as the others. “Oh, me aching head,” he murmured. When he got up on his hands and knees and saw figures standing over him, he shrieked, “Don’t eat me! I’m old and stringy!”
“It’s us, Chev,” said Marie.
“Oh, sorry. This is an unsettling place, ye know. Poking hands stole me weapons while I was falling.”
“It happened to us too,” Marie said.
“There are weapons everywhere in the manor,” Citrine said, “We just have to get them.”
Another tumbling sound of thudding above their heads made them all look, and from a different chute, Sai came crashing to the ground. A little thump came bumping from above, and Esmerelda followed after. Von Wilding caught the little girl before she could hit the floor.
“Well, now that we’re all here,” muttered Sai. “Let’s get out.”
Chapter 15: The Offer
“It’s no use. I’ve tried everything to break through these bars, to bribe a guard that brings me food, and pick the lock. They even keep the key where I can see it to torment me, and no amount of trying to fish for it has worked and trust me—I have been trying ever since the day they put me in here,” said Citrine, in a huff.
“For being such a famous warrior princess, you’re just a lot of talk,” Sai jibed.
“I suppose you can do better?” Citrine asked.
Sai looked at her and smirked, then ported out, grabbed the key, and strode to the door to unlock it.
“Now, why didn’t I think of that,” grumbled Citrine. “Oh yes, I’m not a treacherous Riftling.”
“Well, we’re all here now and we’ll get you safely back to Crystalia,” said Von Wilding.
“Not quite all of us,” Sai said sadly.
“And not without my sister,” said Citrine, firmly.
Von Wilding coughed, then asked, “Princess Amethyst is here? Where? I must help her!” he proclaimed, standing and pressing against the bars.
Citrine nodded, saying, “I haven’t seen her, but I could swear I have heard her voice, speaking to Von Drakk.”
“I suppose we must keep looking for her then,” he said.
“I think there are too many tricks in this Manor,” said Sai. “We should just get out while we can and count ourselves lucky in getting away.”
“I don’t know you, Riftling, but we don’t leave our people behind. I must find my sister,” said Citrine.
“And I don’t know you, your highness,” snarled Sai, “but I also don’t believe in wasting opportunities. We have paid a terrible price getting here and we should count the wins we can get over the losses.”
Citrine huffed. “I believe I am in command here, and I say, we find my sister. Follow me, all of you.”
Sai paused, and the rest did too. Citrine looked furious.
Von Wilding was the first to speak, “Princess, we should at least regroup. The element of surprise at our escape is on our side, but this place is twisting our minds. We can’t trust what we see here; it is dangerous. We should escape and reformulate our plan of attack.”
Citrine grumbled, “Is there another way you can see, and I mean soon? We can’t wait forever for my sister. Who knows what nefarious plans Von Drakk has for her?”
Von Wilding said, “I will never stop fighting Von Drakk, but we must bolster our strength.”
“All right,” she relented. “Let’s get out and figure our next course of action.” She threw open the doors that led from the dungeon, and there stood the vampire lord himself, Von Drakk. Behind him were a motley horde of his minions, skeletal warriors, liches, witches and worse.
“Leaving so soon, Princess? You have barely had a full month’s stay in my home. You have hardly even begun to taste the fates that await all of Crystalia,” he said, crisp as dead leaves crunching.
“I’ve had enough of you,” snarled Citrine. “Come any closer and I stake you like a tomato!”
Von Drakk chuckled malevolently. “My sweet summer child, you have no idea of whom you face, do you?”
The wall of skeletons moved together as one, their bones rattling like rotten twigs being stepped on. They advanced with crossbows, axes, and swords. Their teeth clacked hungrily.
Sai reached for her daggers out of habit before remembering they were all disarmed. This made her feel more vulnerable than anything.
Citrine frowned. “This is all a game to you isn’t it, Von Drakk? Next time, when I have a sword in my hand, then you’ll be sorry.”
Sai let herself be pushed back into the dungeon, planning on porting out and freeing them again at the next opportunity.
“Into the dungeons with all of them except the Riftling. Her I have an offer for,” Von Drakk said.
She looked to the others, some of whom were just as surprised as she was, while Citrine gave a look of “I told you so.”
The mob of skeletons advanced, and without weapons there
was little any of them could do. Von Wilding was ready to “wolf out,” but Marie made eye contact with him and slightly shook her head.
A group of the skeletons cordoned off Sai from the others while pushing the rest back into their cell.
Sai watched the heroes until they were back in the dungeon and out of sight. Their looks of disappointment burned into her.
Von Drakk turned and walked into another great room. The throng of skeletal warriors urged her forward, forcing her to follow. The doors shut behind her and they were in a room with red velvet-draped walls and a black and white checked floor.
“My dear Sai Delaronza, I am so pleased to meet you at last,” said Von Drakk. His dark eyes seemed to pour into her and she couldn’t look away no matter how much she wanted too. “Please allow me the pleasure.” He held a hand out and because she felt like she had no choice, Sai let him take her hand.
She worried that he was going to bite her wrist, and she pondered porting away at the last possible second and making a run for the outside. But something stayed her hand. Is it his hypnotic gaze?
He didn’t bite, but instead kissed the edge of her fingers. “Shall we dance?” Without waiting for a response, he took her and strode her out to the checked marble floor. Light like stars was suddenly shining in all directions from the darkness, and soft, staccato music began as he spun her about the floor.
Music came from nowhere. For a moment she wondered how that was possible, but then she was caught up in the melody. It was a beautiful song. And he was such a talented dancer. Sai wondered where the music came from and how the mood had suddenly shifted. She wasn’t afraid, she wasn’t angry, she didn’t feel anything but a sense of peace. How is that possible?
“These people, these humans with their petty kingdoms and squabbles, they don’t understand you. They don’t appreciate you.”
She just looked at him and let him lead her in the dance. His hands were cold, but his gaze was a like the fire of a volcano, burning into her soul. She wasn’t sleepy, but she felt like she didn’t care anymore about anything. Why did I come here again?
“I could do so much more for you. I have plans. I am going to rule a lot more of the world very soon. You will see. I can be very generous with my best servants.”
What is he hinting at? Sai wondered. Is he offering me marriage or a job? Her mind reeled as the music carried her to a distant land without vampires or stolen princesses, a place where life was without care and she could enjoy her days amidst good food, good books, and good friends. Why was she here again?
“What do you want?” she asked in a daze. She was tired but curious, drawn to be a winsome partner in his dark design.
“I want what is best for both you and me” he said mischievously, as he swung her far out but then whipped her back into his arms. “I’m going to have you alone return to King Jasper. You will tell him that the mission failed, and that the princesses are gone.”
“Why do you want me to tell him this?” She was curious but not disagreeable, that part of her inner voice seeming to have completely gone to sleep.
Von Drakk laughed without mirth. “I want to break his spirit before I break his body.”
“You would trust me to do this?” This felt like an honor. This great lord wants me to deliver a message for him. Why not?
“Yes. You are one of my kind,” Von Drakk said.
He spun her out as they danced, and in that moment, the magic blue crystal that Ikalos had given her finally shifted beneath her vest and touched her skin. The hypnotic spell that Von Drakk had used on her was broken. He has been trying to capture my mind and warp my own sense of self! She was so angry, it took all of her willpower to remain relaxed in his arms, rather than attack him right then and there. Perhaps she would learn something useful if she played along a little longer.
“I’m no vampire,” she protested. “But I’ll do whatever you want,” she quickly added.
“No, you’re not a vampire, not yet anyway. Perhaps someday. But you are of the dark realm. Serve me well and you will be richly rewarded. Serve the Dark Consul and you will be a part of the great beginning.”
Sai made as if she was pondering the offer. “What else will you need me to do? My master?”
He gave her that fanged smile and drew a brooch from within his cloak. It was fine-spun gold wrapped upon itself in intricate patterns with a large oval bloodstone in the center. “I can see through this. I will hear and see all that you do. I wish to see Jasper’s break, his pain and fear. It nourishes me almost as much as his blood.”
“Even without the princesses, there are still many more Heroes in Crystalia that will fight you.”
“Of course, there are, but that’s why you will be my eyes and ears in the court. You alone I trust to do this. You will help defeat all those who stand against me and the Dark Consul. This is a great day.”
“Why me?” she asked as he again swung her far out and back in hideously close. Von Drakk smiled again. She could see his protruding fangs.
“I know what you are. A thief and a liar. You are my kind,” he said. “We stand or fall together.”
The saying echoed in Sai’s mind and she wondered at it. Did he believe that? Can I really deny it?
“All right. I’ll do it.”
“Somehow I knew you would.”
His smile was unnerving, but Sai did her best to appear to still be under his spell. “What is the fastest way back to Crystalia Castle, my master?” she asked coyly.
“Let’s not worry about that. I shall have my soldiers escort you nearly to the door of Crystalia Castle. They will depart just soon enough so that you won’t be suspected.”
“What? You don’t trust me now?”
“I don’t trust anyone.”
“How soon can I go?”
Von Drakk gave her that wicked smile again. “Just as soon as I taunt your former comrades.”
Sai had not expected that. “You don’t need to do that,” she said. “Let’s get on with things.”
Ignoring her pleas, he led her back through the doors into the dungeon. Once the captives were watching, he said, “Sai has agreed to serve me. This will be the last chance I offer that all of you might serve me as well?”
An eruption of shouted insults and denial echoed from the cells. All of them shouted except for Esmerelda, who, with tears in her eyes, looked at Sai and asked, “Why?”
This only increased the heated words from Citrine. “I knew it! Never trust a Riftling!”
“Fight him,” called Von Wilding. “You’re better than this.”
“Don’t give in,” urged Marie.
Chev slumped down on the floor with a sigh, saying, “We’re doomed.”
Sai said nothing but turned her back to them.
Von Drakk took Sai by the chin and said, “See what fools they are to deny me? And this, your feelings on their betrayal, that is why I cannot trust you fully yet. You have much to learn, but under my wing, you will go many places.” He swept his cape and strode from the room.
Sai hurried behind him, haunted by the tears in Esmerelda’s face and angered at both her friends’ and Citrine’s words. I’ll show them, I’ll show them all.
Chapter 16: The Gamble
Von Drakk led Sai down a long hallway that sloped deep into the ground. It finally opened into a wide gloomy cavern. Their footsteps echoed in the massive dark.
“Where are we?” she asked, instantly regretting that she had spoken at all, as her own words repeated a half-dozen times back to her. Loud squeaks answered Sai. She drew her daggers, which Von Drakk had returned to her, expecting the rats again.
Von Drakk laughed and said, “Put those away. All who reside herein serve me.”
The beating of wings sounded from the gloom and flying things filled the great space above them. Red eyes blinked into view as the bats landed before Von Drakk. They were as large as ponies and fitted with saddles and bridles. They scuttled to
Von Drakk and lowered their heads in subservience. He stroked their snouts and tickled their chins. The bats squeaked their approval as if they were his lap dogs.
“Ah, these children of the night, their music is not too sweet,” said Von Drakk with a shrug.
Sai was grateful it was dark enough that the vampire lord couldn’t see her scowl.
A trio of vampires appeared from the pitch black. They were pallid and bald with both long fangs and ears. Sai wondered if they were once elves. They glared at Sai but said nothing as they mounted three of the four great bats.
“These servants of mine are most trusted and will escort you to Jasper,” said Von Drakk.
Sai fingered the brooch he had given her. “You can see and hear through this then? Will you always be available if I need to plan something with you?”
“Easy, child, I create the machinations, and I alone plan the destruction of my enemies. It is up to you to insinuate yourself with them, to be valuable enough to be a party to their workings.”
“And have you created a plan to help me do that?” she jibed.
A smirk crossed his face. “Of course. You will give Jasper this helm of Citrine’s. You can tell him it was all that remained of her. He will be grateful for the closure and allow you into his counsel when you also tell him of a coming invasion.”
“Invasion?”
Von Drakk gave her his crafty smile again. “He will think that forces are coming for him from the sea. He will rally troops to meet the threat, never realizing where it is really going to strike from. Whether such a plan succeeds or not, you will be my eyes and ears.”
Sai nodded sagely as if she agreed entirely.
“Remember, though, you are not my only servant there. I will have eyes and ears upon you too.”
“A good servant is not worried about doing her duty, my master,” she said, bowing her head.
Von Drakk smiled and his fangs seemed even longer than before. “Excellent. Then we shall have nothing to worry about.”
“But can you always see through the brooch? Can I speak of more that I remember? When the time comes, I mean?” she asked, trying to sound as reasonable as possible.
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