Chapter NINE

WOAH! Nine chapters, stacked up like blocks!

Oh, I'm sorry, but this chapter will be kinda short. Think of it as half of Chapter Nine but it's a fantastic cliffhanger in the middle, so that means Chapter Nine will be Chapter Nine Part One and Chapter 10 is actually Chapter Nine Part Two, see?

WHERE do they think the Sacred Stone is?

WHAT do taxis have to do with anything?

WON'T the Gods and Goddesses let Samara and Samantha have more training before they have to go on a Quest?

This and more will be answered in:

Chapter Nine: The Quest Begins, Part One

SAMURA

I was rather taken aback by this shocking news, thank you very much. How could they know the location of the Sacred Stone now? We had been looking and researching for months—months! And even with that, I was in a shock faze. FINALLY I could go on a Quest! I'd been waiting for a very long time, if you please. Which half-god wouldn't, I'd like to know?

After all, it's rare that us half-gods even get to hear about quests! Most of the time, the Gods and Goddesses handle it. Occasionally they let us hear the prophecies, but never go on a Quest before! I didn't know what to do on a Quest, but at least I'd had ANY training, unlike that Samantha and poor Samara.

So, now I had my chance. I tuned in to hear what Brahma was saying.

"We think that the Stone is a Stone called Lingum, a Stone Sacred to Shiva. There used to be hundreds around, but now there is only one Lingum Stone left. We thought that it should be in a museum. So we did some research and found out that it is in the Indiana Children's Museum"

"But I was just there!" exclaimed Samara. "We took a taxi here and I got lost!"

"What do taxis have to do with anything?" I wondered.

"They are Portals to Other Places that can only be managed by Gods and Goddesses on Quests. Unfortunately, we cannot use them for going back to Indiana, because you didn't choose a God or Goddess to accompany you at all, Samara." What an inconvenience!, I thought.

"So how are we going to get to Indiana?" asked Samantha. "I mean, now that we don't have taxis."

"Well, that is up to the Leader of the Quest, I suppose. But now at least you know where it is."

"When do we go?" asked Samara.

"Right now," announced Brahma.

"What?" protested Samantha. "But Samara and I only have had a day of training!"

"No time for that!" said Brahma. "No time, no time! We must make haste. Now go! First, the Gods and Goddesses shall bestow you with gifts, and then we shall lock you out of the hotel. Me first." He took out a large, bulky parcel. "This contains my head." I knew the story, but could his head still work? He had five heads, but one of them got cut off by an incarnation of Shiva. I guess that was the head. "Do not open it until you leave. Just murmur the incantation in the letter that is tied to the parcel, holding the head facing in the direction you want it. Then it will become your second head, and I do recommend having it be right behind your other head. But be careful; don't let my beard curl too much. I love stylish beards." Samara and Samantha laughed. I laughed the first time I heard it too, but now I knew he was serious. Brahma handed it to Samara. She looked uncomfortable.

"My turn." Durga spoke up. She gave them a small, brown bag. The stuff inside sounded crumbly. "This is Demon Feed. Give a Demon two teaspoons-" (she gave them also a teaspoon measurer) "-of this, and he'll fall asleep for the next 30 minutes. But use it sparingly. This is all you have." She handed it to Samantha, who looked eager.

Next was Kali. I assumed it would have to be my gift. It was a spray bottle. "I work part-time helping immune systems by making sure people get the mumps when they're young. Seven sprays on a Demon or anybody and they'll get a case of the Mumps or Measles. It's called BUMPS SPRAY." And she gave it to me. I wondered if I really wanted to use it. It seemed mean. But it still seemed pretty cool, at least.

Karttikeya gave the next gift. Samara wasn't too pleased when he said, "Here, Samara, you can borrow Pookie. She's good at eating serpents. And she's considerably well trained, if I do say so myself..." Samara scowled but took Pookie, who tried to nip at me, so Samara gave her to Samantha, who liked animals. She looked like a little kid on Christmas Morning.

Agni chose to give the final gift (you see, Lakshmi was trying to learn how to swim and didn't hear the announcement). He gave it to me. I don't know why. He should've given it to Samara. She was the Leader, after all, the Prophecy Child. He gave me a box. He told me not to open it under any circumstances, until the worst possible demon would come along. Then, I should open it as quickly as I could. I agreed.

"So be it!" announced Brahma. He pushed us out the door. There was a chorus of "Farewell"s and the door locked behind us...

Well, I guess that was a very short chapter, but the next chapter is still part of this chapter, remember? Please review! I'll try to update sooner if you review!