Chapter 25

The Good Old Days

While the sun might have fallen that didn't mean they had to return to their homes and waste their night sitting in front of a TV watching whatever was on, instead they had a better idea. The night was young and with his daughter under the protection of Al and his friends he figured that having a couple of drinks wouldn't hurt. After all it had been quite a few years since they both sat down together for a drink and with the owner of the join also being a fellow monster little Rorik didn't have to hide his true self since he looked the most human. Though things might have gotten a bit out of hand.

Being monsters normal alcohol didn't have much of an effect on them, but when a bit of magic is added that's when things could get a bit crazy. There was one challenge though that they wanted to show off, one challenge that only five other people had managed to complete without losing their lunch. It was time for the ultimate challenge.

"Breath of Death challenge!" the barkeep announced as the two of them sat at the front bar to await the challenge.

Breath of Death, oh the Breath of Death, how many feared it. In just one shot it could make even the most sober of customers drunk off their asses. It was as if someone combined vodka and tequila into one drink and decided to throw a party. What was so hard about the challenge though? Well first the challenge consisted of not one, not two, not three, not four, but five shot glasses full of the stuff and then not only did they have to drink all of them but they had to do it within ten seconds. If they puked they lost.

"Bring it on old man! We've got the stomach for it! We're not limp dicks!" exclaimed Vlad in great passion as he and his old friend readied themselves for the challenge.

That got everyone's attention. As they both sat there the sound of their fellow drinkers were getting louder and louder as more and more joined in to watch. It was extremely rare that someone actually accepted the challenge after hearing how much they had to drink but Vlad and Rorik were ready, willing, and damn well able.

"So you men fancy yourselves drinking do you? Well if that's the case then let's double the shots, what do you say?!" said that bartender as he brought out ten shot glasses full of the clear drinks.

"Bring it on old man, bring it on!" scowled Vlad as they both looked down at the shot glasses with such vigor.

"Oh ho we got a bad ass in the house tonight! You have ten seconds to finish all ten shot glasses, and that goes for the both of you. And go!" he shouted as the timer started.

Like guzzling down ten small glasses of alcohol would slow them down. One by one they took each and swallowed each shot in one gulp before moving on to the next. The clock was ticking as they closed in on the finish line. Only five second remained as the last three shots remained, nothing big. Instead of taking one after the other though they decided to pull a little twist.

"Ready?" asked Rorik as they picked up their remaining glasses.

"Yep and go."

With their mouths open wide they dumped the last three glasses right down their throats before their glasses landed back on the bar.

"Not bad, that was a pretty nice drink wouldn't you say?" asked Rorik as he slapped his friends stomach.

All he got was a loud burp just as the timer ran out and since their glasses were completely empty and they didn't upchuck like most that meant only one thing.

"Whoa, so how do you boys feel?" asked the barkeep.

"Kind of warm and fuzzy, but still alive and kicking." replied Rorik.

"Indeed we are, how about another round?" asked Vlad as he offered up his beer mug.

"Actually we need to get going. Tomorrow is a long day and that stuff will be kicking in any minute so we better jet. Thanks for the drinks though." followed Rorik as he forcefully pushed his insane friend out the doors of the bar.

It was for the best, if they hadn't shown any signs of intoxication they would have figured that something was up. Still it was only eleven o-clock at night and they still had an entire night to waste away on either watching over the city or instead they could find another place to party at.

"What was that all about? Things were getting good in there, we had 'em on the ropes. Come on let's go back just for one more drink." pleaded Vlad.

"You, no way. I've seen what you can do to a bar if you're there all night. Besides I need to get home and take a snooze."

"Right, speaking of sleeping when are you going to get back out there again man? It's been a long time since, you know."

"I don't know, I mean if I was to find someone out there wouldn't I just be putting them in danger? I don't want it to happen again, especially with my own daughter around. What would she think if something happened to her?"

"Well pappy if there's something I've learned over the centuries it's that if you really do love someone you'll do anything to protect them. You learn from your past mistakes and won't let it happen again. Come on man you can't give up on love and it wasn't your fault for what happened. Hell I should have been the one kicking his ass. You've got an eternity to live so you mind as well find someone to spend it with."

Maybe he was right, ever since his wife's murder he had been blaming himself for what had happened. If he hadn't fallen prey to that scumbag he could have saved her and while it still hurt inside to think back to that awful day it was probably best for him to move on. After all while she might not have been with him in person she was always with him in both spirit and heart.

"Thanks, I know over the years me and her use to pick on you, but you're still a great friend." he followed up until he was stopped.

"Something is not right here..." said Vlad as he sniffed the air.

"What is it? Is it him again?"

"Nope, but this smell it's really foul. Whatever is behind this door... can't be good!" he yelled as he forced open the door of the bakery.

His nose had deceived him? Impossible, his nose had never let him down before, but there it was before his eyes. No monsters, just a dark shop full of baked goods.

"I swear something doesn't smell right here." he followed as he took a step towards the bakery.

"Wait, just hold on a sec."

With really no one else on the sidewalks he had no worries of getting caught as he pulled out his ink pen. Once he had it firmly grasped in his hand the small utensil shattered as a long, golden staff took its place.

"Please be my guest." said Vlad as he stepped back.

If his suspicion was correct then revealing the truth would be a piece of cake. With a clear through and his arms limber he reached out with his staff and gently touched the air inside the shop. Being a mage he knew all about the many different kinds of cloaking spells that were still known among the masses and that was apparent when the diamond tip of his trusty rod touched the inside air. At first nothing, but then the air before them began to crack. Bit by bit it began to chip away until he forced his staff through the illusion.

"Nice sniffing there, looks like you were right." he said as the rest of the illusion faded away.

What was once a clean bakery had turned into some kind of strange factory. Looking around though it wasn't anything a human had built. The inside was large and expansive and upon the walls hung large blue and black orbs that sent out a very eerie feeling.

"Whoa, you don't see this everyday. Who do you think created all of this?" asked Vlad as he closed the door.

Like hell Rorik knew, very rarely were cloaks used on human structures, in fact they were mainly used to hide others or themselves from danger or just for nasty pranks. As his eyes scanned the pods that surrounded them Vlad heard his friend call out to him.

"Sup?"

"Vlad, there's people inside these. Humans Vlad, they're humans." he said as he backed up.

Alas it was true, within the swirling blue and black orb a lone human laid as a mass of black energy surrounded them. They didn't appear dead though for when they checked a few others they could be seen wiggling and moving around as if they were dreaming.

"Damn, who in the hell would do this to them?"

"I have a hunch but for now we need to free them and get them some help before whoever sat this damned contraption up returns, now."

"Right and I'll just take one of the ladies."

But nope, Rorik disapproved of that instantly as his lightning bolt shaped staff smacked his skull. They were home free, or at least they thought they were until a large blast of dark energy flew between them both. Someone was desperate for attention. When they looked up though the threat had no trouble revealing himself.

"Welcome my friends, I see you've stumbled upon my little work place here. What do you think, splendid isn't it?" the young beast asked as he jumped down from the rafters.

"Vorgin? Vorgin is that you?! How have you been old friend? Hows that ass after I fucked it up last time?" teased Vlad.

"Vlad this is no time to be messing around." growled Rorik.

"Maybe he would like some desert before he gets fucked?"

That seemed to break the last straw he had with them both as he jumped down from the beams above. Something was different about him though, he looked pretty much the same but the stench of his aura had gotten even worse. Whatever it was inside of him it was determined to achieve victory.

"Ignorant windbags, you really think you and your families stand a chance against my lord? His power is greater than all of yours combined and your precious humans, they'll be his source of power." he replied as he walked over to one of the spherical capsules.

They weren't morons, with their guards up they let him pass but not without caution. If he so much as raised his blade to them they wouldn't think twice about killing him. Though it seemed he didn't mean harm until he opened up the capsule and reached in.

"Amazing isn't it? How moronic humans can be? A simple bakery was enough for them to fall right into my trap, now they're nothing but harvesters."

"Harvesters of what exactly?" asked Rorik as he raised his staff.

"Dreams, those experience that mostly everyone experiences when they fall into the realm of sleep. Flying, building a sword world, super powers, they're all possible within the dreams of humans, but how easy is it to corrupt those fantasies?" he asked them as he pulled out a chunks of the swirling energy.

The look on his face, it was as if he enjoyed causing his harvesters pain and not only that but the presence he gave off was like that of pure darkness. One who lived in the shadows all they're life and who cared for no ones life but their own. He claimed to want to help the race of monsters get off their feet once more but in truth he was only doing it for himself.

"Nightmares, with just a bit of corruption thrown in all those happy feelings vanish and in their place this."

All it took was a simple wave of his hand as the black substance flew off and in its place three large monstrous canines with six eyes and razor sharp blades that stuck out their backs began growling as a second mouth shot out of their already drooling muzzles.

"Alright you know what..." said Vlad as he summoned his duel pistols.

Like those things could stop him as he let loose a nice spread shot that destroyed their foes creations. All they were reduced to were just a few puddles of black goop as he celebrated.

"Boom! Hah tell me that's not all you got."

No response, not a peep was spoken as he held out his hand. In ir formed a baseball sized black crystal before he tossed it at them, as if something like that was going to do something. Though their judgments were proved to had been a bit rash as the casing shattered as the same dark energy was released.

"Whoa big hoss." he said as they both backed up.

The beast certainly was large, standing at a height of almost twenty feet with no eyes but instead sensory organs along its neck, it's black skin rippled as its claws feet scrapped the ground, it's long slender arms proved to be its greatest weapon as it swiped at them.

"Alright, mhm yeah next time keep your mouth shut alright?" Rorik asked of him as they landed safely on the ground.

"Yeah, yeah more fighting less arguing." Vlas responded as his twin pistols vanished.

He was right, if they let that thing escape who knew what kind of outcry the humans would have. Still they had faced things much worse than that before. As their little friend watched in the background though the beast opened its mouth as it sprayed out some kind of acid like substance that ate through the floor of the building.

"Ready to go?" asked Rorik.

"I was born ready." replied Vlad as his own dark aura began surrounding his should.

It hadn't been perfected yet but his next summons was their best chance at killing that thing quickly. As the shoulder weapons took form Rorik used his reflective spells to bounce the next three acid shots back at the beast, which didn't seem to have any effect on it.

"Ready now?" he asked as the green, reflective screen shattered.

"Ok, now!"

Once he landed back on his feet his newest weapon came into view and it was pretty badass. He held no pistols or shotguns or even a rocket launcher but into two shoulder cannons.

"I would recommend you duck." he suggested to his friend as the barrels of the cannons began to glow.

True, they were heavier than any of his previous weapons of darkness but it was all worth it just to tear that thing a new asshole. Once the cannons reached its peak he let it all loose as two blasts of monstrous energy flew out and over his friend. So much power and it was all worth it just to hear that creature cry out in pain and suffering as the serpent blasts began tearing away at its flesh.

"Damn, cutting it a bit close don't you think?" Rorik asked as he brushed off his jacket.

"Eh maybe..."

Though their fight wasn't over yet, they still had that punk overshadowing them from above and it seemed he felt the same way as he jumped down once more to confront them.

"I must commend you on your power, though that experiment was nothing more than a fluke. Let's see how you fair against me!"

But before he launched into battle his body stopped as a soft whispering began to fill the building.

"Let me take control my friend, I'll finish them off for good this time." they heard.

"But master you're not strong enough. What if something happens?"

"That will not happen, now let me through!"

Both were prepared for anything as Vorgin's body began to change, his normal yellow eyes changed to black as his fingernails sharpened to a point, and the aura around him grew even stronger as all his power was let loose.

"Well, well if it isn't Vlad and his partner, tell me friends how do you want to die." he said in a very rough voice.

He wasn't playing around for as soon as he jumped back his back opened up as waves of pure nightmarish creatures began pouring it. What was he and what had he done with the real Vorgin? They didn't have time to ponder though as they jumped up to dodge only to the beasts to jump up as well.

"I got this!" Rorik proclaimed as he moved to cover his friend.

With a quick spin of his staff he summoned the element of fire to create a saw blade like attack that completely destroyed the nightmares but that wasn't all, with his free arm he grabbed Vlad and flung him straight at their foe.

"Crushing blow!"

With his right hand balled up he flew towards their foe like a rocket until their little friend side stepped. Once his hand was buried in the cement though he used his other hand to dig into the rubble and pull out a large chunk of it before he threw it at full force. Though that didn't have any effect as Vorgin just sliced it down the middle with his hand like it was butter. Even so the magic he had infused with the cement before it was thrown did leave him with a fractured hand.

"Ho looks like I got you good!" he heard as the dust began to settle.

With the dust from the cement acting as a cloak Vlad moved forward with his attack. Once he was in the darkness he vanished only to appear below him with his hands wrapped around his ankle.

"He's all yours buddy."

With his strength there was no way he could escape his fate. Out of all the monsters vampires were the strongest and fastest especially at night. Once he got the signal to attack Rorik moved his staff in front of him as he concentrated on his opponent. The black aura began to vanish as a purple outline began to cover his body, it was smashing time. With a whip of his weapon the mage sent his foe into the walls over and over again and thanks to the outline that covered his body every bit of damage counted.

"Ready to give up?" he asked of him as he slammed him into the ceiling rafters.

Oh he wasn't letting go until he felt like it that was for sure. Playing with him though was actually pretty fun, it was like playing with a rag doll, but they couldn't just stay there all night and they still had to set the humans free so with one last toss he sent him flying into the wall on the opposite side of the room until it crumbled on top of him.

"Nice work, though don't you think you were a bit loud?" asked Vlad.

It wasn't over yet as the pieces of rubble began to scatter. How had he survived such a devastating plumbing? That aura, it must had made his body stronger in some way thought it seemed he was finished for the time being.

"Dirty tricks that's all you got? Not strong enough yet, but I will be soon enough. In the mean time I'll let my pets have some fun."

And as he disappeared into the shadows of the building his demonic chuckles echoed through out.

"You, your families, and all the humans, you will die." he threatened before his shadow vanished from sight.

"Damn it he got away!" shouted Rorik.

"Relax, we'll get him but for now we need to come up with a plan in case he decides to strike again." replied Vlad.

"Ye-Yeah that sounds good, though we should probably find out where these people live and take them home."

Righto, though can't I have just one sip of a..."

"No! You've got Eva anyways."

"Awe man."

Even though he tried to mask his anger it just continued to enrage him that he had escaped. After what that bastard had done to his wife he wasn't going to let him live. He was going to remember her name, after he cut it into his heart.