What do we do? What do we do?! Matthias' voice rang in Matthew's head. But that was the least of his problems at the moment. His entire body was ablaze, and he was trying his best not to set fire to everything in Arthur's home. He curled and uncurled his body in a tight ball of pain, trying to hold it in. Nothing seemed to work against the flames but his pure will, and past the pain that was exploding through every bone in his body, that was becoming less and less reliable.
"We can't put him out- we'll end up killing him!" Someone- Lukas?- said.
"Then wha-!"
"Go… OUT!" Matthew shouted through clenched teeth, putting everything he had into the one command. The fire around him suddenly disappeared, and he lay on the ground, panting as his muscles and skin grew back slowly.
"That's… disgusting." Lukas said absently as he witnessed the regeneration.
"Well- it's better than nothing. What just happened, Matthew? I've never seen anything like that before." Vladimir said, coming up next to him and crouching down to get a good look. "That happened completely against your will."
"Yeah… I… Noticed." Matthew panted, accepting the help from the vampire to sit up. "Usually, tha… can only happen… if one o' us is… in really big trouble." He explained through gasps.
Well how does that work?
"If one o' us is forced to transform under fierce circumstance, we both end up turnin'."
"Does it at least help you locate your brother?" Arthur asked.
"Nah- but it does tell me 'e's close." Matthew groaned, forcing his legs under him in a standing position, but ultimately failing to rightly stand. "Real close. An' e's bein' tortured some way or another. I can tell."
"Tha's horrible." Berwald muttered, still in shock to what he had just witnessed. He had seen the deputy go ghost before. But no matter how many times he saw it, it would never not frighten him. The way that their skin just… burned. Melted away to nothing. It was terrifying.
"Well we best solve this riddle before it turns into something worse. And we all know that- unfortunately- it can." Arthur said while crossing his arms over his chest. "Are you still up for scouting the area with Matthias?" He asked.
"I'm going with you. Someone needs to keep the mutt out of trouble." Lukas said, standing. Matthew was about to object, but Lukas interrupted. "And don't try to make me stay. This is as much my problem as it is yours."
"I'll go-" But Lukas cut Berwald off as well.
"Keep an eye on Tino, Emil and Peter. We can't afford another stupid dog." Berwald just nodded, knowing he did have to keep an eye on the, currently, less capable family members.
You ready to go then?
"Yeah- give me a mo…" Matthew nodded. He stood, struggling to balance for a moment before he strode over to the table and retrieved his gun from the top of it. Clipping the belt across his waist and the holster along with it, he turned to the giant, blonde, dog and his brother. "Let's get." The wolf barked in response and the three were out the door before Arthur could tell Matthew and Lukas to put on his coat.
I don't smell anything particularly interesting here. Matthias told Matthew with a whine. He plopped his furry rump on the ground. Maybe this is just a waste of time.
"What did he say?" Lukas asked.
"He can't smell anything weird here."
"Don't think like that or it will be. What do you smell?" Lukas rolled his eyes. "We're not focusing on what you can't smell. What can you smell?"
It's like a jumble of a whole bunch of things. It's really hard to try and focus on one of them. Matthew translated.
"I see. What if I gave you something of Al's to smell? Would that help narrow it down?" The deputy asked.
Actually it might. Also… I have an idea.
"What is it?" Matthew asked, weary of who exactly he was dealing with. "He has an idea."
"Lord help us all."
Does your scent change when you guys go all fire explosion ghosties?
"How would I know that?"
Well we could find out if you transformed real quick. Maybe your scents are different like that and if you let me sniff ya- it might work don't look at me that way. It's for your brother.
"What does he want to do?"
"He wants me ta change."
"Why?"
"He wants ta see if my scent changes when I do."
"Ah."
"Fine. But don't get too close. Ya'll get singed." Matthew said with a groan. Matthias just nodded and padded back, sitting once again on the ground, wagging his tail. "Don't look so excited about it."
Matthias laid his ears back and bowed his head, just as a guilty pup would. Sorry. But this is my first time seeing you change… willingly anyways.
"It is rather fascinating." Lukas nodded, not needing Matthew to translate to know what was happening. He stepped back with Matthias, putting his hand on his head to keep him from bouncing out of his fur.
"Glad to entertain you." Matthew sighed, also stepping back. He closed his eyes and then opened them and was suddenly aflame. Matthias yipped slightly and quickly remembered what he was supposed to be doing. He sniffed the air frantically for a sign of change, and then whined. Lukas watched silently, not wanting to interfere with whatever he could pick up. Matthew's flaming skull kept turning and keeping it's blue, fiery eyes on the hound as he sniffed carefully at the air.
Oh yeah. Definite change. He told the Rider, who promptly stopped the flames engulfing his body and changing back.
"Is there? I never really thought about it." Matthew muttered as his skin regenerated.
It's weird though- it's not smoke... It's more like that weird stuff natives use in their tents. Or that stuff Kiku and Yao used to have.
"Incense?" Matthew asked, looking at him in surprise. He looked at Lukas, who shrugged.
The deputy had never thought of smell when he was in his rider form. In fact, he didn't have a nose in his rider form. So in all honesty, he hadn't ever cared or thought that it mattered. But now it was a key element to finding his brother, who was who knew where. "So is there a trail?"
Yeah! I just picked up on it- follow me! Matthias took off, his snout in the air, following a path unseen to human eyes. Matthew and Lukas followed closely. I can't believe that worked!
"Ya better hope so. I'm exhausted." Matthew reprimanded with a frown. "Just keep leading the way."
Do you think we should get Arthur or at least Ber? What if we find him?
"I'd rather not put 'em in danger. Although Arthur might yell at me for it later. And someone needs to keep an eye on the town."
Ber will too you know. And don't you care about putting me in danger?
"If I had a choice, ya wouldn't be here, but back at Arthur's place." Matthew said curtly. "Same with Lukas."
They found themselves crawling through underbrush and foliage that nipped and nicked at their skin/fur. Matthew hated feeling so enclosed, while Matthias seemed completely at ease about it. Lukas didn't say anything, but Matthew could feel the waves of worry rolling off of him. As silent as he was, Lukas still worried about Matthias being up front… mostly because he was an idiot. They kept going until Matthias suddenly stopped.
It stopped here. So I'm guessing this is where they have some sort of… secret entrance? It sort of just- wait! It's underground!
"Underground?" Matthew whispered, fearing that they might be found. "Is there a door or somethin'?"
Not that I can tell. You have a better sense of touch than I do, partner.
"Good point. Alright, le's jus' scout around for a mo- then see if we can find where the secret opening is, 'right?" The other two agreed with Matthew and they crawled forward in their endeavor. Fingers and paws clawed around in the dirt, feeling about for anything that was out of place.
"Over here!" Lukas hissed. The dog and Deputy turned towards him and crawled over to where he crouched over a strange line in the dirt.
Lukas dug his short nails into the crevice and worked to pry whatever it was free of its hold. Matthew joined in instantly and they pulled up a heavy, wooden, trap door. Matthias helped where thumbs were not required, but mostly stayed back.
The three peered down the, seemingly, endless pit that suddenly lay before them. They glanced at each other before leaping down into it.
They all landed with a mighty splash.
Arthur peered out his door, the full moon shining brightly overhead. It bleached the world blue and white, creating haunted shadows that danced with the breeze. It seemed almost peaceful- if not for the lingering fear that oozed from every soul living there.
"It's too quiet." Tino said from behind him, laying on the bed that he had provided. Berwald didn't say anything, from where he sat at the table. Peter was sitting with him, both holding tankards of water in front of them. "Like the quiet before a storm."
For once, they were sure Tino know what he was talking about.
Well that went well. Matthias' sarcastic tone filled Matthew's head, which was spinning from the vertigo of landing in a great lake of water. I'm officially sick of surprises.
"Aren't we all." Matthew muttered back. "Well I can't see anythin'."
"Neither can I."
I can see just fine!
"Then what can you see?" He kept his voice low, so that the echoing of his voice was muffled by the water. "Where are we?"
We're in a cave of some kind, there's water forever- but wait- there's something floating in it way over there! To your left.
"Can you tell what it is?"
No- but you're brother's scent is that way.
"His ghost scent?"
Yes.
"He can't transform down here without being at full power- he'll die." Matthew started swimming in the direction Matthias had pointed and swam as silently as he could. He felt Lukas and Matthias doing the same behind him, but his adrenaline was propelling him forward through the freezing water- not to mention that he had an internal furnace burning in him at all times, keeping him ahead.
Right in front of you, just a few feet I think.
Matthew confirmed this when he felt something cold and fleshy bump into his hand.
"Is it-?"
That's definitely Alfred.
"Al! Alfred, can you hear me?" He groped about, trying to find the front of Alfred, his collar hooked in his hand and he pulled his brother closer. His eyes had adjusted slightly, thanks to the tiny bit of light coming from where they had busted in. He barely saw that his brother's eyes were closed, glasses gone and something dark was dripping down from his hairline, despite the water that soaked him. "Al!"
"Mmmattt?" Alfred's response was slow and full of effort. But it filled the party with a sense of hope. The sheriff was alive.
"Thank God." Matthew said, pressing his forehead to his brother's in a sigh of pure relief. "You idiot."
"Not that this isn't touching and all, but we need to get out. Let's see if we can get him out of here, then we can check on his well-being." Lukas said firmly, grasping Matthew's shoulder. "Come on- we don't have long. If whoever is behind this comes now-"
"What, exactly?" A voice echoed eerily and loudly behind them. Matthew froze in place, eyes dilating in pure fury.
"Take Al and get." He said simply. "Take 'im ta Arthur an' tell him what's happenin'."
Matthe-
Matthew had already erupted into flames, whipping around and facing the enemy. Somehow, and even Lukas didn't know, the Rider had stood up- on the water. His smoking boots sizzled as they made contact with the cold surface.
"Go."
"Well- we'd better do as he said." Lukas muttered, grasping the much larger, unconscious sheriff under his arms and pulling him closer. Then he began a pathetic paddle towards the trap door and followed Matthias, who had his sleeve in his mouth, tugging him along. The two brothers did their best to ignore the sudden explosion of fire and water that indicated that the fight- had begun.
HOWDY DO Y'ALL?
So anyways, I have been busy with school and midterms! That's where I died to, but now I'm sort of coming back. Anyway- tell me what you think! There are only (If everything goes as planned) three chapters left!
