Chapter 6
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Author's Notes: Be grateful. I was going to make the unexpected reunion the last line of the chapter, so you would have had to wait a whole 'nother month to learn what their relationship was. But it didn't work out that way, so you know now. ^_^ Isn't that good? Also, sorry this chapter is so much shorter than the last one. -_- I've been very busy.
Dungeon Keepers I and II belong to Bullfrog, not to me. I am not making money off of this story, so please don't sue me.
Subtitle for this chapter: In Which There is an Unexpected Reunion.
Warning: This story contains slash (male/male romance). If you object to this, please don't read it. Keep in mind that if you flame me, not only did you ignore your fair warning, but you were stupid enough to go through and read something that disgusted you.
For notes on this story and this series, please go to this site for reference. (Note: If you are reading this on fanfiction.net, you will not be able to use that link. Please see my profile for the link to that reference page.) (Also note that this page is not the same as the one linked to in Dungeon Secrets; this one is more complete and contains the entire series.) Ramasha's picture is now up!
If anyone would be interested in beta-reading for me and you think you are capable, please contact me at kaged_tiger@hotmail.com. Also contact me if you have any information as to what happened to Vagabond. Did she just, die or something?
This is my story. If you would like to archive it, please inform me first. I will almost definitely say yes.
In case you didn't notice, I have formed an update schedule. New chapters, if I have them, will appear on the first of each month (possibly one or two days later on fanfiction.net). Thank you.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge one of the many people who give me the determination to keep going on this monster of a fic. Kulatu and RalKirGard were extremely helpful since the publication of the last chapter. They pointed out to me that Vampires cannot, in fact, cross water or enter it. >_
On with the fic.
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Kaelay's Dungeon
Tarkasas
"Are you alright?" Ramasha asks me softly, putting an arm around my waist and supporting some of my weight. I'm grateful for the help, as sad as that may be.
"I'm fine," I assure him. "I'm just tired, that's all. And I have a huge headache. Possession is tiring."
"I know," he says, and the expression that flits briefly across his features tells me that the thought brings up less-than-pleasant memories. I change the subject. "So, have you had a chance to analyze Kaelay's new breakthrough yet? I hear it's big."
Ramasha smiles, depositing me on our bed as we reach it at last and sitting next to me. Dark Gods keep him for creating a lair in this Realm already. I don't think I would have had the energy to do it at this point.
"No," Ramasha replies, "I haven't seen it. It will be pretty pointless to do so until Kaelay gets a finalized version of it down on paper anyway. But I heard all about it. It's really going to revolutionize troop movement throughout the Realms. With this spell, there's no way we can lose to Keepers who are forced to occupy only one Realm. It will be as though we have unlimited resources. Or at least as much as we can pull in from nearby Realms."
I smile. Good news is refreshing. "So what's this new Realm like?" I ask. And then I yawn. Oh drat. I want to hold a conversation with Ramasha, but I may simply be too tired.
Ramasha however is, as usual, completely understanding.
"Sleep," he says, kissing my forehead. "I'm actually supposed to go do some scouting right now. I was just waiting for you to get back. We'll talk again once you're rested."
I nod, feeling the grip of unconsciousness on me already. I'm asleep even before he leaves the bed.
Tharian's Dungeon
Dimitrus
Pathetically enough, I've spent most of the day trying to avoid Doryll. I'm not sure why, but I don't think I could take his whining at me. I know he would just look at me with those big purple eyes of his, getting all misty and... Well, I just don't trust how I might react to that. Damn him to oblivion for causing this turmoil in me anyway.
Now that Tharian has finished his conference with Zannos and is back in the Heart, I think it's time for me to give him this little bit of news that I've picked up. That's really why he keeps me around and pampers me so much: I keep him well-stocked in information.
When I arrive, I find to my surprise that my Keeper was expecting me.
Ah, Dimitrus. I was just about to send for you. You have something to report?
"Ah, yes," I say, the witty lead-up I was planning to use completely falling apart. Damn. There goes my image. I do my best to recover quickly.
"It has come to my attention, my Lord, that a certain creature in Zannos's Dungeon may be attracting the Keeper's... affections. Are you familiar with a Vampire named Doryll?"
The one you had a dalliance with? he asks. Damn! How did he know that? Yes, he is a Seer. Are you saying that Zannos is favoring him with attentions of a personal nature?
Ah, my Keeper. So delicate and formal about these matters. I know he's dying to get into Zannos's pants. ...Or whatever the metaphysical energy equivalent of pants is.
"Yes, my Keeper," I affirm. "Although it is possible that it is Doryll who is the one doing the chasing. The rumors have it that he kissed Zannos while the Keeper was in possession of the body of a Dark Knight."
Interesting, says Tharian. There is a moment of silence.
"You were going to summon me, my Lord?" I prompt.
Oh, yes. He comes out of his reverie. I would like you to do some scouting for me. There are two other Keepers in this Realm already. However, one of them is an old friend of Zannos's, and he thinks that we might make an alliance with them. Try to contact one of their creatures, but tread carefully. If they look hostile, then get out of there.
"Yes, Keeper," I say, and bow low. I head out of the Heart Chamber.
Oh, and Dimitrus, he says, halting me before I leave the room.
I look back over my shoulder. "Yes, my Lord?"
Keep an eye on this Doryll for me.
Evain's Dungeon
Garreth
Scouting is a Rogue's major job. And once again, I find myself trudging through cold water in the course of my duty to my Keeper. It's a good thing I don't get sick easily.
I must say though, this white wall thing on my left is kind of giving me the creeps. It shimmers all the time, so you can never really get a clear view of what's beyond it, and even I can sense that there's enormous power in it.
I'm supposed to be scouting the terrain and looking for signs of other Keepers. Apparently there are two more in this Realm. Great. As if we didn't have enough problems already. And to top it all off, if I see another creature, I'm supposed to try to talk to it. That goes totally against my grain. Normally when I see a creature, I either go invisible and avoid him, retreat, or try to lynch him from behind. Just walking out where anyone can see me and get a good shot at me makes me really nervous.
I hear a faint sound and pause, listening intently. It's a splashing noise, like water on a bank or a bridge of some kind. It stands out because the last I heard that sound was on our own bank; it makes a different sound against the undug earth around it and passes through the veil thing without being impeded. I must be close to the enemy camp.
I cautiously inch forward, trying to peer through the white dome. There's definitely something there. But I can't get a clear view! If it was just one layer of shield I might be able to see through it, but since I'm looking diagonally across, I have to look through the damn thing twice. There's no way I can see properly.
Taking a deep breath, I take the plunge and walk around the edge of the dome, coming in sight of the bridge I heard.
Someone is sitting on the edge of it. He looks up as I approach and I see a pair of familiar violet eyes.
"Doryll?!"
Zannos's Dungeon
Doryll
"Garreth?"
What on earth is he doing here?
It takes me a few seconds to recover from my startlement, but when I do, my face nearly splits in half from the width of my smile. I haven't seen Garreth in, God, years!
I jump off the bridge and into the water, running up to meet him. He embraces me happily as I reach him, ruffling my hair with a familiar affection that I missed so very much.
"Hey Kid," he says. "What in the Shadowrealm's name are you doing down here?"
I take a step back. I had forgotten for a moment that he has no knowledge of what happened to me. "I'm a vampire now," I say quietly, not looking at him. I can't bring myself to see his reaction, for fear that it might be scorn.
"No kidding?" His voice is soft, and almost regretful. I suddenly feel his hand on my cheek as he tilts my face towards me so that he can look at me. "That's rough, Kid. Sorry."
I shake off the hand, trying to muster a smile for my old friend. "No, it's alright. Really! I'm happier here than I ever was back in the Overrealm. People here understand me, understand what I am. And I have a Keeper who really cares for me."
Garreth grins in that lopsided manner that I recognize and I feel my heart constrict slightly. God, I've missed him so much. Back in the Overrealm, Garreth was the only friend I ever had.
"Well then, good for you," he says. "You deserved so much better than the way those assholes were treating you. I'm glad you've finally found some peace. I imagine you're pretty useful down here, huh?" His grin shows all his teeth, and his eyes sparkle behind his mask.
I nod. "Yes, I am. I can finally help my Keeper."
He starts walking towards the bridge and I follow him. Eventually we step back onto the firm wood, and I breathe an inward sigh of relief. Even though I can enter water, I still get an uneasy feeling when doing so, as if there is some part of me that is rebelling at the touch of it.
"So hey," he says after a pause. "I'm supposed to be looking out for creatures from the other Keepers' Dungeons. I guess it's a good thing that you're the one I ran into."
I blink. "There are other Keepers here?" I blurt. I feel kind of stupid now. I didn't think of it, but of course he would have to be from the Dungeon of another Keeper. I would have seen him by now if he were ours or Tharian's.
"Yeah, of course. My Keeper, Evain, and his lover Kaelay. Actually, we were hoping to form an alliance with you guys, which is why I was walking out in the open and not skulking around trying to kill you from behind."
I smile. "I had been wondering."
"Actually," he says, "I should probably go back and report to Evain that I found you guys. If we're going to be allies, then it would be impolite for me to just waltz into your dungeon all invisible-like and try to scout out your floorplan. So I'm going to head back. But hey, I'll come back later and we can talk more, alright?"
"Sounds good," I reply. And it is. I'm really looking forward to talking with him. I was pretty miserable after he left, and it's nice to be able to see an old face that actually brings back good memories for once.
"Oh hey, I've got something you might like," he says. He reaches into a large pouch on his belt and pulls out a scroll, handing it to me. "I found this a while ago in a library. It looks like a new sheilding spell of some kind. I was gonna sell it, but I can't think of anyone I'd rather give it to than you. Hopefully it will keep you safe."
He grins, jumping back in the water and waving at me as he takes off back towards his own dungeon at a swift jog. "See you later!" he calls. "And take care of yourself, Kid!"
"I will!" I promise, clutching the scroll to my chest.
Oh God, that was hideous. Take me back.
or
Oh God, that was hideous. Let me complain to the author.