SHADOW OF THE IMPALER-THE ENCOUNTER OF MYTHS
TRANSYLVANIA PROVINCE, AUSTRIAN EMPIRE, 1723
It was the night of St. Georges's Day, and I was busying myself with the restoration of my funds. Every year, blue flames mark the presence of buried treasure in the Land Beyond the Forest, and I return every year to dig up some artifact. I've uncovered gold coins, scepters, swords, boxes of silks, crowns, little statues, and crucifixes. Silver is also a populous item. Any furs that I found I gave to some gypsy servants as a reward for excellent service. Over the years, my catacombs were soon stuffed with the hiding places of various forms of wealth.
But, forgive me, I digress…
I had spent a rather successful night in the ruins of an old fortress. I had found several gold pieces and jeweled swords, so much that the box I used for collection of these items quickly filled as daylight approached. Seeing more blue blazes littered around the place, I commanded a squadron of Noctowls to stand on the spots to mark the places where I would find more treasure. (Ah, do not worry about these handsome Pokemon: the blue flames are like the common apparition. You could bathe in gasoline and safely walk through them.)
I then hefted the strap of my box over my shoulder and set off for my castle. The quickly rising sun brought down the utter of medieval curses on the situation. Fortunately though, I was near a cave that I had marked for just this sort of happening.
After descending into the cave to a level where the sun's rays could not burn my skin, I looked for an appropriate resting place. Finding a little cove etched by nature's hands into the wall, I took off my cloak and folded it to serve as a pillow. My box clasped in my grip, I lay down in the cove and slowly fell into the sleep typical of my kind.
My eyes were already open when I first heard the noises. This is not the symptom of an insomniac or a light-sleeper, but normal behavior for nosferatu. When we sleep, our eyes-serving as another block in the rather small wall that divides us from Breathing humans-stay open. As such, when we are resting we are completely aware of our surroundings yet in the dream state that Breathers associate with sleeping. This is partly a defense mechanism, allowing us to rally ourselves in case a would-be vampire hunter tried to attack us in our beds.
My senses told me that dawn reigned in the sky again, forbidding escape through the cave entrance. Admittedly, I sighed in some relief that I was out of range of the sun. I had seen too many old friends suffer terribly as they finally realized True Death.
It was then that I began hearing three soft, small heartbeats. As they approached I also detected six small lungs working hard.
…Hurry up! We can't let any humans see us!
I'm coming, I'm coming! Geez, it's spooky in here…
Come on, we can still make the castle!
They came into my cavern and my eyes shifted to see three odd little creatures with blue eyes and pink bodies. They looked like floating cats. Floating, arguing cats that is.
I can't believe you still want to go to that place. Haven't you heard all the stories about Castle Dracula?
One of them seemed to smirk and turned toward what appeared to be the younger of the group.
What? That vampire nonsense?
Yes! In case you didn't notice, none of the humans are too crazy about even building huts within two miles of that place.
Spare me, Anthony. You saw all those campfires by the castle…
Those are his slaves!
Followers, actually, I thought to myself as I went over the list of Pokemon that I knew of.
Nekiro, Anthony is obviously scared. I think we should…
No! No, Gerhard! I can handle it! Anthony tried to puff himself up and look brave.
Nekiro rolled his eyes and then seemed to notice something over Anthony's shoulder…of course, Anthony's back was to me.
A human!!
Anthony and Gerhard leaped into the air…and slammed into the ceiling.
After that, I began to summon my strength to move myself. I had no intention of being "discovered" by a bunch of strange looking Pokemon.
Gerhard floated close, appearing not to notice my steady gaze. He leaned his head against my chest and waited a moment. A sound of relief emerged from him as he turned back to his companions.
It's all right; this one is dead.
Small comfort, Anthony grumbled.
Are you sure? asked Nekiro, who regarded me with a nervous stare.
His heart does not beat, and his lungs have no air. He must have come here and died.
Anthony hesitatingly floated closer to me.
He looks a little young to be dead, doesn't he?
Gerhard shrugged. You never know with humans. They die when the time comes.
At this moment, the sleep-induced paralysis had faded away from my right hand and I promptly tightened my grip on my box. The three Pokemon continued discussing me while I fought to regain control of my body.
I wonder what he died of…
Probably some disease. That's probably why he was put in such an isolated place.
Hey, what's in this box?
Anthony hovered over me and tried to open my gold box. My right hand whipped up reflexively and wrapped my long-nailed fingers around the thing's throat. He cried out.
"Meeewwww!!!!"
"A Mew, is it?" I rasped tiredly. Gerhard and Nekiro were frozen with surprise. I reached over with my left hand and grabbed the box. I regarded the Mews silently. I then casually tossed the little creature aside.
"I'm in no condition," I said, a little wobbly from being risen from such a deep sleep, "to continue our little conversation further. If you're interested in visiting my castle, it would please me to give you a tour, though. Good day."
I turned my back and lurched deeper into the cave, leaving three shocked Mews floating behind me.