Back to the Darkness
Sabreur was the first to arrive. He seemed torn between joy and annoyance.
"Are you okay?" I asked gingerly.
"You see this!?" Sabreur howled, pulling his collar down to reveal two small cuts on his neck, "Von Roo woke up hungry! And he went after me first opportunity he got!"
"Oh. Sorry," I said weakly, "Whadya do?"
"Tried to stab him with the stake I brought along just in case. Then he kind of snapped out of it, backed off, apologized, and inquired of your health."
"And…?"
"Well, I told him to get the heck out of my house before I turned him into an oversized toothpick holder. But if you want, I'll let him know you're awake. From a distance. With plenty of holy water and garlic at hand. And a flamethrower. Just for kicks," he added thoughtfully.
"Are vampires even flammable?"
"Anything's flammable if you try hard enough!"
I smiled despite myself. This was the Sabreur I knew and loved all right.
"I really wish you'd told me what you planned to do," he said seriously.
"And if I had told you, would you have let me do it?" I retorted.
"No. And that's the point. Did you really manage to save Aldrai?"
"I snapped him out of his madness. Now we just have to find him."
"Neopia swallowed him up."
"So I heard. But we'll find him."
My brother grinned.
"Good! I thought you'd say that. I've been digging up anything involving the underground I could. You wouldn't believe how poorly documented most of Neopia is. So I've had to do a bit of my own research."
"And what have you found?"
He settled on the chair next to the bed.
"The Neopian underground is amazingly vast. About ninety percent of it is unmapped and the maps that do exist are horribly dated. The few texts that I could find contain very little information about what is down there. I've stumbled across a few references to something called Infernals, but I have no idea what it is. We'll be going in blind."
"Do you think I'll be able to guide us?"
"That's what I was hoping for. The doctors want you to stay in the hospital for at least another week. Gotta rest and all."
I was about to say more but Melody entered trailed by her and my pets. From there everything dissolved into confusion.
"I'm so glad you're alright –"
"We took turns watching – "
"Gotta see the remains of the castle – "
"How long you gonna be in here?"
" – ready to smack those idiot doctors before – "
"The faeries were a big help – "
I could hardly get a word in edgewise. Finally I managed to get everyone calmed down.
"Alright. Alright! I'm glad to be back," I said with a grin, "Now. We're going after Aldrai as soon as I get outta this hospital."
Everyone grinned and spread out to find what perches they could.
"I don't remember much from when I was in the coma but I do remember one thing: another presence was there. It was vaguely familiar but I can't quite tell who – or what – it was. But he – or she, or whatever – said that they had Aldrai. And that to find Aldrai we had to find them. So… someone or something has got Aldrai. And I betcha we'll find them underground."
A small cough from the door interrupted us. A green gelert wearing a lab coat stood near the entrance.
"Visiting times over," the gelert said sharply, "You all can't be in here at one time anyways. Didn't you read the restrictions on visiting patients in intensive care?"
"Yes. And we decided they're bogus," Un-eairkagh retorted sharply.
But everyone reluctantly stood and made to leave.
"We'll come back tomorrow," Melody promised.
"Alright."
Amidst a flurry of goodbyes everyone eventually straggled out the door and away down the hall. The gelert doctor gave me a reproachful look as if this was all my fault. Then he too walked away.
I slept for a couple hours then. When I woke it was night out. My room was dark and the curtains to the window were drawn.
"Good to see you again," a soft voice murmured from the shadows.
"Von Roo?" I said softly, surprised that I hadn't sensed him, "How'd you get in here?"
"I can pass by unseen quite easily, as you vell can imagine."
"I should have sensed you," I said crossly.
"No, you shouldn't have. You are still very veak from the fight."
"If you say so. And are you recovered?"
"Quite."
The blumaroo moved closer so that I could actually see his form in the darkness.
"I apologize for attacking your brother. But I was hungry and sometimes I cannot control my instincts."
"It's alright. He needs a bit of excitement every now and then anyways."
The vampire nodded slightly and remained quiet.
"What do you know of Aldrai?" I asked.
"No more than you. I stay avay from the underground. I cannot aid you here."
"You've done quite a bit already."
"I do not usually help mortals. It is a strange thing for me to do so… in all rights, I should not even be here. But I vanted to see if you vere truly awake."
"I am. Did Sabreur tell you?"
"He did. From a safe distance vith plenty of veaponry."
"I imagine so."
The vampire moved in the darkness, turning away as if to leave.
"Von Roo?"
"I am going. I do not associate vith mortals. It is only extraordinary circumstances that has forced me to do so now. I… do not think ve shall meet again. You are human. I am vampire. Farewell… child_dragon."
"Farewell… and thank you."
He stopped and turned to face me again. I could not see his face. He drew his cloak back and bowed formally, a gesture from a long-forgotten era. Then he vanished into the night. And I knew if we ever met again it would be as hunter and prey. Our time of friendship was over.