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Description
Chapter 8

Once back in the caves, the apple in Dreyfus’s hands disappeared.  Their clothing was back to normal and, to Neshae’s relief, he had the Fire Blade.

“Where’d it go?” Dreyfus asked when the apple vanished.

“It is just being magically stored so it won’t get in the way.” Giovanni answered.  “Next is the Egg.”

“Something tells me it ain’t a chicken egg.” Neshae said.

“And you are right.” Giovanni said.  “It is a dragon egg.  Or it at least looks like one.  It has been guarded by a dragon for centuries.  In that world, it takes a very long time for a dragon egg to hatch.  And so the mother believes it to be one of her babies.”

“Oh boy.” Neshae said.

“Indeed.  Follow me.” Giovanni led the two through the tunnel next to the one they had come out of, then through another portal.

Neshae was the one to recognize the scenery this time.  They were right in the beginning of one of his favorite games, Arcanum.  The only problem was they were at the very beginning.  They floated through the air in a machine that was like a cross between a cruise ship and a balloon.  Unlike the last portal, neither of them had changed clothes, but had a brown cloak over what they were wearing.

“We’d better get out of here.” He said and started towards the deck.

“Why?” Dreyfus asked.  “What’s going on?”

The sound of engines sounded in their ears, followed by gun shots.  People started screaming and bullets flew through the windows and the balloon.  The whole ship caught fire.

“That’s why!” Neshae said as they reached the deck.

Neshae picked up Giovanni and the three flew off the ship as it was crashing into the mountains.

“Everyone okay?” Neshae asked.

“I’m okay.” Dreyfus landed next to him.  Neshae put Giovanni down.

“Let’s see if anyone survived.” Dreyfus started toward the ship.

Neshae put a hand on his shoulder.  “Only one.  And they’ll come out soon.  We have to find that dragon egg.”

A figure emerged from the dust gathered up.  It was a man in a brown cloak.  “Oh my…what…how…who…” he started asking.

“I’m Neshae, this is Dreyfus, and this is Giovanni.  We are not the reincarnation of that elf guy, but that guy should come out of the ship in a minute.  Do you know where there are any dragons?”

Neshae caught the man off guard, but he recovered from his surprise and pointed north.  “There have been rumors of dragons in the mountains, sir.”

“Thank you.” There was a noise from the ship as a person emerged from the rubble.  “There’s your reincarnation.  See ya later.”

“Who was that?” Dreyfus asked.

“Virgil.  In Arcanum, he guides your character part of the way.  Nice guy to have around.  But whoever is in the ship needs him right now.” Neshae answered.

It was getting dark soon.  Winds blew in the cold mountains, freezing the three travelers.  They would have to find shelter before snow fell.  And before they were found by any of the creatures that Neshae remembered lurking in the mountains north of the crash.

Their hopes were lifted when they saw an inn at the base of the mountain they were climbing down.  It was a few stories high and its lights shone through the darkness gathering in the evening.

I don’t remember a hotel anywhere in the middle of nowhere, but okay. Neshae thought.

They reached the hotel and were happy to find that they each had gold inside the cloaks.  They rented a room and saw a room with a pool on their way up.

Once they all knew where the room was, Dreyfus wanted to swim in the pool.  Neshae decided to go with him, but wanted to get something from the room first.  He told Dreyfus to go on and he’d catch up.  Giovanni went to the cafeteria to get something for them to eat.

Once Neshae entered the room, he completely forgot what he had gone in there for.  For what he found in the middle of the floor was a plastic barrel of cheesey poofs.

“Alright!” he cheered as he picked the barrel up and sat down on a bed.  He took off the lid and took out a few of the puffed balls of orange cheese.  He loved these things.

He had just put them in his mouth when a net suddenly shot from the other side of the bed.  The vampire struggled to get free, and then struggled even harder when he realized the cheesey poofs had spilled, but the net had completely closed around him.

He heard footsteps as if people with invisibility spells were walking around him.  Then a cloth pressed against his nose, smelling of some kind of chemical.  He lost consciousness.

He woke up later in another room.  This one looked less modern.  He was laying in a bed, the barrel of cheesey poofs on the floor beside him.

Neshae picked up the cheesey poofs.  If he was going to escape he was taking them with him.  He opened the door and a woman walked in before he could walk out.

“Oh, you’re awake.” The woman said.  “I just left to get a drink.”

“What’s going on?” Neshae asked.

“Well, it’s a long story.” The woman said.  “But to start, my name is Oahei.  And I know who you are.  Please, sit and enjoy the snack food that I provided for you.”

Seeing it as more of an opportunity to eat cheesey poofs, Neshae obeyed.  He sat on the bed and continued eating.  The woman sat in a chair next to the window.

“You are descended from a great sorcerer.  And your fox friend is as well.  Your ancestors met at one point.  And they discovered the same connection that you two have now.”

“You mean Monster Brothers?” Neshae asked.  “I’m pretty sure I’m the first vampire in the family.  I wasn’t born this way.  I was bitten a few years ago.”

“I understand that.  But they did not call themselves Monster Brothers like you do.  They still had the same connection, nonetheless.  And their power because of the connection was great.

“But something happened to them.  I am not sure what.  But the secret to their connection was hidden in seven keys called the Aeaunce.  But be wary, for the Aeaunce has a double meaning.  I do not know what, but I sense great danger for you and your friend if you continue this journey.”

“So this connection thing has been passed down through the generations and the only reason no one else has known about it is because our families never met again?” Neshae asked.

“Exactly.” Oahei said.  “And when you find the secret behind your powers, you shall also find the secret behind the connection itself.  You have been wondering why you two have such a connection, what purpose it has, what destiny awaits the two of you.  That answer will come soon.  But it is there for a reason.  And you must keep it safe from the evil that seeks it.”

“Evil?  What evil?” Neshae asked.

“There is a close evil that seeks your powers.” Oahei said.

Neshae’s mind went to the beast.  “How close is it?”

“Very close.  You cannot stay long.  You must find the Aeaunce and master your abilities before the evil catches up with you and steals them.”  Oahei leaned closer to him, he face showing and voice showing concern.  “If the evil gets your abilities, you will loose everything.  You will no longer be a vampire, but a normal limbless person like your brother.  Your friend will no longer be a werefoxdeer, but a human.  And you will no longer be able to control your fire sword.  Protect yourselves from being lost, Neshae.  If the evil gains your powers, all is lost.”

Before Neshae could reply, another cloth was pressed against his nose and he once again blacked out.

Description
Chapter 8

Once back in the caves, the apple in Dreyfus’s hands disappeared.  Their clothing was back to normal and, to Neshae’s relief, he had the Fire Blade.

“Where’d it go?” Dreyfus asked when the apple vanished.

“It is just being magically stored so it won’t get in the way.” Giovanni answered.  “Next is the Egg.”

“Something tells me it ain’t a chicken egg.” Neshae said.

“And you are right.” Giovanni said.  “It is a dragon egg.  Or it at least looks like one.  It has been guarded by a dragon for centuries.  In that world, it takes a very long time for a dragon egg to hatch.  And so the mother believes it to be one of her babies.”

“Oh boy.” Neshae said.

“Indeed.  Follow me.” Giovanni led the two through the tunnel next to the one they had come out of, then through another portal.

Neshae was the one to recognize the scenery this time.  They were right in the beginning of one of his favorite games, Arcanum.  The only problem was they were at the very beginning.  They floated through the air in a machine that was like a cross between a cruise ship and a balloon.  Unlike the last portal, neither of them had changed clothes, but had a brown cloak over what they were wearing.

“We’d better get out of here.” He said and started towards the deck.

“Why?” Dreyfus asked.  “What’s going on?”

The sound of engines sounded in their ears, followed by gun shots.  People started screaming and bullets flew through the windows and the balloon.  The whole ship caught fire.

“That’s why!” Neshae said as they reached the deck.

Neshae picked up Giovanni and the three flew off the ship as it was crashing into the mountains.

“Everyone okay?” Neshae asked.

“I’m okay.” Dreyfus landed next to him.  Neshae put Giovanni down.

“Let’s see if anyone survived.” Dreyfus started toward the ship.

Neshae put a hand on his shoulder.  “Only one.  And they’ll come out soon.  We have to find that dragon egg.”

A figure emerged from the dust gathered up.  It was a man in a brown cloak.  “Oh my…what…how…who…” he started asking.

“I’m Neshae, this is Dreyfus, and this is Giovanni.  We are not the reincarnation of that elf guy, but that guy should come out of the ship in a minute.  Do you know where there are any dragons?”

Neshae caught the man off guard, but he recovered from his surprise and pointed north.  “There have been rumors of dragons in the mountains, sir.”

“Thank you.” There was a noise from the ship as a person emerged from the rubble.  “There’s your reincarnation.  See ya later.”

“Who was that?” Dreyfus asked.

“Virgil.  In Arcanum, he guides your character part of the way.  Nice guy to have around.  But whoever is in the ship needs him right now.” Neshae answered.

It was getting dark soon.  Winds blew in the cold mountains, freezing the three travelers.  They would have to find shelter before snow fell.  And before they were found by any of the creatures that Neshae remembered lurking in the mountains north of the crash.

Their hopes were lifted when they saw an inn at the base of the mountain they were climbing down.  It was a few stories high and its lights shone through the darkness gathering in the evening.

I don’t remember a hotel anywhere in the middle of nowhere, but okay. Neshae thought.

They reached the hotel and were happy to find that they each had gold inside the cloaks.  They rented a room and saw a room with a pool on their way up.

Once they all knew where the room was, Dreyfus wanted to swim in the pool.  Neshae decided to go with him, but wanted to get something from the room first.  He told Dreyfus to go on and he’d catch up.  Giovanni went to the cafeteria to get something for them to eat.

Once Neshae entered the room, he completely forgot what he had gone in there for.  For what he found in the middle of the floor was a plastic barrel of cheesey poofs.

“Alright!” he cheered as he picked the barrel up and sat down on a bed.  He took off the lid and took out a few of the puffed balls of orange cheese.  He loved these things.

He had just put them in his mouth when a net suddenly shot from the other side of the bed.  The vampire struggled to get free, and then struggled even harder when he realized the cheesey poofs had spilled, but the net had completely closed around him.

He heard footsteps as if people with invisibility spells were walking around him.  Then a cloth pressed against his nose, smelling of some kind of chemical.  He lost consciousness.

He woke up later in another room.  This one looked less modern.  He was laying in a bed, the barrel of cheesey poofs on the floor beside him.

Neshae picked up the cheesey poofs.  If he was going to escape he was taking them with him.  He opened the door and a woman walked in before he could walk out.

“Oh, you’re awake.” The woman said.  “I just left to get a drink.”

“What’s going on?” Neshae asked.

“Well, it’s a long story.” The woman said.  “But to start, my name is Oahei.  And I know who you are.  Please, sit and enjoy the snack food that I provided for you.”

Seeing it as more of an opportunity to eat cheesey poofs, Neshae obeyed.  He sat on the bed and continued eating.  The woman sat in a chair next to the window.

“You are descended from a great sorcerer.  And your fox friend is as well.  Your ancestors met at one point.  And they discovered the same connection that you two have now.”

“You mean Monster Brothers?” Neshae asked.  “I’m pretty sure I’m the first vampire in the family.  I wasn’t born this way.  I was bitten a few years ago.”

“I understand that.  But they did not call themselves Monster Brothers like you do.  They still had the same connection, nonetheless.  And their power because of the connection was great.

“But something happened to them.  I am not sure what.  But the secret to their connection was hidden in seven keys called the Aeaunce.  But be wary, for the Aeaunce has a double meaning.  I do not know what, but I sense great danger for you and your friend if you continue this journey.”

“So this connection thing has been passed down through the generations and the only reason no one else has known about it is because our families never met again?” Neshae asked.

“Exactly.” Oahei said.  “And when you find the secret behind your powers, you shall also find the secret behind the connection itself.  You have been wondering why you two have such a connection, what purpose it has, what destiny awaits the two of you.  That answer will come soon.  But it is there for a reason.  And you must keep it safe from the evil that seeks it.”

“Evil?  What evil?” Neshae asked.

“There is a close evil that seeks your powers.” Oahei said.

Neshae’s mind went to the beast.  “How close is it?”

“Very close.  You cannot stay long.  You must find the Aeaunce and master your abilities before the evil catches up with you and steals them.”  Oahei leaned closer to him, he face showing and voice showing concern.  “If the evil gets your abilities, you will loose everything.  You will no longer be a vampire, but a normal limbless person like your brother.  Your friend will no longer be a werefoxdeer, but a human.  And you will no longer be able to control your fire sword.  Protect yourselves from being lost, Neshae.  If the evil gains your powers, all is lost.”

Before Neshae could reply, another cloth was pressed against his nose and he once again blacked out.