AN: This chapter gets kinda heavy. Hence, the rating.
Act Two: Scene One
The housekeeper sowed them into a large hallway, with an enormous fireplace and mantle, over which hung a painting of Doctor Von Yugistein's grandfather. The housekeeper took down an oversized candelabrum, and lit the candles. Then, she turned and led them to a long, winding staircase.
"This way to your rooms," she said, floating up the stairs. Yami, Serenity, and Joegore followed her, but then she spun around, nearly knocking Yami in the head with the candelabrum, and said, "Be careful. The stair way is treacherous." Then she turned back, and led them on up, up, up the winding staircase to a set of rooms in the second level of the castle.
"These are your rooms," the housekeeper said. "I hope you'll find them comfortable." Serenity, reluctantly, left them and went into one room, while Joegore dropped the luggage and shuffled into another. Yami sighed, picked up his bags, and followed the housekeeper to the last door at the end of the hall. She took out a large key, and used it to unlock the door.
Inside was a very large bedchamber and library. Three bookcases took up one wall, and the bed looked big enough to fit in a swimming pool. Across from the bed was another large fireplace, with another painting of Yami's grandfather over the mantle.
"This was your grandfather's room."
"Quite an extensive book collection he had," Yami said, inspecting the books along the wall.
"Yes, he was ever the diligent scholar."
"If this is what his bedroom is like," Yami said, "I can't wait to see what his laboratory is like."
"His what?" the housekeeper asked., rather nervously.
"His laboratory," Yami repeated. "Surely my grandfather would have a laboratory."
"Why that's silly," she replied. "Your grandfather's offices, where he practiced medicine, are across town."
"Of course," Yami said, "It's just that… well, with all the rumors, I figured he kept a small set of offices here."
"You should know better than to believe in fairytales," the housekeeper said. As Yami then proceeded to unpack his belongings, she asked, "Now, is there anything I can offer you before bed? A glass of warm milk? Ovaltine? Hot passionate sex?"
"Uh… no thank you," Yami said, rather disturbed. She shrugged, and turned to leave. But as Yami got out a small mirror, he watched her reflection in the mirror. She whispered something, and kissed the painting of his grandfather. Yami turned around, just in time to see her float out the door.
"Good not, Doctor," she said.
"Good night, lady Kikyo," Yami said. Lightning flashed, thunder clapped, horses reared, a woman screamed!
"Knock it off, sis!" Joegore shouted from his room.
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Act Two: Scene Two
In the darkest time of night, Yami tossed and turned, his sleep invaded by dark and horrible thoughts. Thoughts of destiny, of fate! He was meant to come here… But why? To take up his grandfather's research?
"No!" he said in his sleep. "It's madness! I don't… I don't believe in destiny! I don't!" He yelled and sat up straight in his bed. He gasped for air, and as he lay down again, his face was met by two very familiar bosoms.
Yami moved away, and saw it was Serenity, lying in his bed, fast asleep. With her gown open. The doctor gulped. She was so beautiful. He thought for a moment. No. Could he? He leaned in close to her, and kissed her on the lips. She stirred, and put her arms around him, and he felt her kiss him back. Yami ran his hands up alone her bare thighs to her buttocks and squeezed it.
"Take me." She whispered to him as she licked his ears. He kissed her neck and bare shoulders. Then, Yami heard something. Violin music? He pried the girl's arms off of him, and got up. He strained his ears to find where the music was coming from.
Serenity got up then, and went to him. She put her arms around him and said, "Come back to bed."
"Do you hear that?" Yami asked her.
"Hear what?" she asked. "All I hear is the beating of your heart… and I'm lonely."
"There's no time for that right now," Yami said. "Someone's playing a violin somewhere." he put an ear to the wall, and found the music was loudest from the bookcases. He rushed to them. "there has to a mechanism. Something to trigger a trap door." He spied a white book among rows of black, and pulled it quickly…
Nothing. He put the book back, and then went to another bookcase. On either side of the case were sconces with big white candles in them. Yami felt along the rows of books, and said to Serenity, "Hand me one of those candles."
Just as Serenity removed the candle on the far right, the bookcase spun around, trapping Yami on the other side, behind it. "Put the candle back!" he shouted. "Put the candle back!" Serenity quickly put the candle back in the sconce, the bookcase revolved completely around, and once again trapped Yami behind it.
"What do I do now?" Serenity asked.
"Try it one more time, and I will use my body to block the bookcase." Yami said. "Now, take the candle out. "
Serenity obeyed, and as the bookcase it's revolution, he got stuck between the bookcase and the wall. It pinned him there, squashing him like a bug. "Now," he said, using his free arm to gesture, "Don't put the candle back. With all your might, push against the other side of the bookcase." Serenity nodded, put the candle down on a table, and pushed the bookcase so that it stood open. Yami then took the candle, and peered inside the passageway before then.
"Where do you think it goes?" Serenity asked, closing her robe.
"I'm not sure," Yami said, "But we're about to find out," he took Serenity's hand, and the two of them slowly walked into the darkened passage. They soon came to a cobweb infested stairs, with descended into darkness. Rats scurried over the floor, and a dripping sound came from only God knows where. Slowly, the two made their way down the stairs until they came to an old door that was partially opened. Yami pushed against it, and revealed a very old and dusty office. One side was the usual office trappings. Desk, paper, pens. But on the other side, was a set shelves on which sat a number of skulls. Serenity screamed with horror, and threw herself back intro Yami's arms.
"Hold me, I'm scared!" she cried.
"Not now my dear," Yami consoled her, "They're just skulls, they can't you. They're already dead." He held her hand tighter as they crept past the shelves. One bare bone skull was labeled '3 Years Dead'. The next, which still had some tissue on it, was labeled '2 Years Dead'. The next, which wasn't quite so decayed, was labeled '6 Months Dead'. Then, as they came to a label that read 'Freshly Dead', they looked and saw Joegore's head on the shelf, and Serenity shrieked as it stated singing , "I'm just wild about Mary! And Mary's wild about me!"
"Joegore," Yami said, as Serenity cringed, "What are you doing down here." Joegore came out from behind the shelves.
"I was just getting a midnight snack in the kitchen, when I heard this creepy violin music. So, I followed the dumbwaiter down."
"Did you find who was playing the music?"
"No but I found you guys. Which, brings to mind another question. Sis," Joegore asked, "WHat are you dong down here, dressed like that?"
"Well," Serenity said innocently, "We were in bed-"
"You were what!?!" Joegore shouted.
"That doesn't matter," Yami said, "We're all here now, and together we will discover who's playing that music." He led them onward to another large door.
"I suppose we should go through," Yami said. As he prepared to step forward, Joegore blocked him.
"Wait, master," he said, "It could be dangerous…. You go first." he said getting behind Yami and Serenity. They opened the door, and found themselves in total darkness. Not even their candle could fully illuminate it.
"Aren't there any lights in this place?" Yami asked.
"Well, there's two nasty looking switches over there," Joegore said, "But I ain't pullin 'em." Yami went to one of the two switches, and sparks flew in his face as he pushed it up.
"Curse you eyes!" Yami shouted.
"Too late," Joegore said, rolling his eyes around. Yami shook his head and flipped the second switch. The room lit up, revealing the lost laboratory.
"Then it's true," Yami said as he beheld the large gears, switches, dynamos, racks and tables. All covered with dust, cobwebs, and sheets. "The condition of this lab is deplorable."
"I don't know," Joegore said, "Some paint, a throw rug here or there…"
"It appears our mysterious musician is gone." Yami interrupted. It was true, the music has ceased. And as they looked around the room, they saw a door that had beams of light coming through the cracks. They approached it, and threw it open. Inside was table that had a violin and bow, and an ashtray, on it. "This explains the music," Yami said, "But who was playing it?"
"It's still warm," Joegore said, touching the wooden instrument.
"There's nothing here but old papers and books," Serenity said, losing interest.
"Paper's and books?" Yami asked excitedly. "Of course! Perhaps there's something to explain this all in my Grandfather's journal." he said, taking the book from his pocket.
For the next few hours, he read aloud from the old book. It's contents were so technical, it put both Joegore and his sister to sleep. As Yami reached the last page, and read it's marvelous secrets, he slammed the book shut, and jumped from his seat.
"Yes!" he cried. "IT CAN BE DONE!!!" he shouted, raising his arm up in a fist, his eyes widening with a look of madness. Outside, lightening flashed, and thunder clapped, and the portrait of Yami's grandfather smiled wickedly.
-------------------------------------------------------
Act Two: Scene Three.
The next morning, Yami paced about the kitchen as Serenity and Joegore stuffed their faces. The house keeper brought in more tasty local delicacies, and laid the local news paper on the table.
"Good Doctor," the housekeeper said, "Won't you please sit down and eat breakfast?"
"Yeah master," Joegore said as he shoveled more food into his mouth, "This stuff's pretty good."
"I can't," Yami said, "I must figure it out. My grandfather's notes say it can be done, but how? In order for his research to prove true… The only way that this can be done, is if we use the body of someone young, strong, and perfectly fit. And no one like that dies naturally."
"Maybe this'll help," Serenity said, looking at the paper, "They're hanging a foreigner today for murder. Let's see… 18 years old, no family or friends, and in pretty good shape. It's he hast to hang. He's pretty cute," she said looking at the picture of the felon. "Maybe I could go on a conjugal visit…."
"The only person you're gonna go visit today is aunt Sophie," Joegore said.
"No," Yami interjected, "We need her here. She must prep the lab while you and I steal this body."
"Steal the body!?" Joegore exclaimed.
"SSHHHH!" Yami warned.
"Well, okay," Joegore said, "But you better be paying me extra for this."
"Right, now hurry," Yami said, "We've no time to waste. We must be ready before sunset, when he hangs."
"What we gonna need?" Joegore asked.
"We'll need a horse, a buggy…and a brain," Yami said rather dramatically.
"A brain?" Joegore said loudly. "What's he need a brain for? He's already got one."
"I do not want the brain of a murderer in my creation," Yami said. "It must be an intelligent brain. Perhaps a doctor, or philosopher."
"Like Professor Maximillion Pegasus?" Serenity asked.
"Isn't he still alive?" Joegore asked.
"Nope, died last night," Serenity said, flipping to the obituaries. The departed Prof. Had apparently suffered a heart attack, and his priceless brain was being preserved at the local science museum.
"Perfect!" Yami cried. "Let's go!"
------------------------------------------------------
Act Two: Scene Four.
After a quick trip to the graveyard that night to fetch the body, Yami slipped a spare key to Joegore.
"You know what to do?" Yami asked Joegore. Then, after a double take, he asked, "Wasn't your hump on the other side?"
"What hump?" Joegore asked.
"The hump on your back."
"I've got a hump on my back? What am I, a camel?"
"Never mind," Yami said, "Just get the brain. I'll wait outside." Joegore took the key, and dutifully went to the Brain Depository of the local science museum, where in was stored the most brilliant mind that upper Transylvania had ever seen. Joegore slipped the key into the door, but it did not work. Then, he got an idea. He slipped his hand into the after-hours brain deposit slot on the door, and turned the knob from the inside. He looked at the name written on his hand, but found it missing! Then he realized the name was written on the other hand, which was still in the slot.
After retrieving his other hand, Joegore walked quietly to the rows upon rows of brains until he found the one he was looking for. He carefully picked up the jar, and started to turn for the door, when suddenly, lightning flashed outside, and Joegore looked to his right to see a hideous hunchback, carrying a disembodied brain, in front of him. He screamed, and dropped the jar. Little too late, he realized it was his own reflection. And now…
"We got no brain," Joegore said nervously, " My master's gonna kill me! Wait a minute," he thought, "I'm in a room full of brains! He won't notice the difference if I take on of the others. Let me see… Intelligent… Intelligent…" he spied one jar in particular that was covered in foreign writing. "This must be really important. In.. Inu- taishu. Huh. Must be a diplomat's bran. That'll do." he said, taking the jar.
When he emerged from the building, he shuffled over to the cart. "I got it," Joegore whispered.
"Perfect, now let us be on our way," Yami answered. Just then, they heard the clopping of footsteps coming down the cobble stone road. "Someone's coming! Quick, cover the body!" Yami instructed Joegore. But in their hurry, one of the corpse's hands broke out of a loose hand in the coffin. Yami groaned and pulled at his wild hair. Then, he looked at his hands, and said, "That's it!" he stuffed one of his arms inside his shirt, cover the rest of himself with his long coat, and stood next to the arm, and acted as if nothing were wrong.
"Good evening, good citizen," The constable who turned around the bend said. "I am officer Miroku. Do you need assistance?"
"Oh, no thank you," Yami said, "I have everything in hand."
"You're not from around here, are you?" Officer Miroku asked.
"Oh, no, I'm Dr. Yugistein, newly arrived from lower Transylvania." He nudged the dead hand with his elbow, and the officer shook it.
"Your hand is ice cold, sir. Perhaps you'd better go in for the night."
"I was just about to do that," Yami said.
"Good night sir," Miroku tipped his hat, and proceeded to the local tavern. Yami waited till the officer was long gone before he ordered Joegore from hiding, and leaped up to the cart. Then, they sped away back to castle to begin their night's work.
AN: Review!
Act Two: Scene One
The housekeeper sowed them into a large hallway, with an enormous fireplace and mantle, over which hung a painting of Doctor Von Yugistein's grandfather. The housekeeper took down an oversized candelabrum, and lit the candles. Then, she turned and led them to a long, winding staircase.
"This way to your rooms," she said, floating up the stairs. Yami, Serenity, and Joegore followed her, but then she spun around, nearly knocking Yami in the head with the candelabrum, and said, "Be careful. The stair way is treacherous." Then she turned back, and led them on up, up, up the winding staircase to a set of rooms in the second level of the castle.
"These are your rooms," the housekeeper said. "I hope you'll find them comfortable." Serenity, reluctantly, left them and went into one room, while Joegore dropped the luggage and shuffled into another. Yami sighed, picked up his bags, and followed the housekeeper to the last door at the end of the hall. She took out a large key, and used it to unlock the door.
Inside was a very large bedchamber and library. Three bookcases took up one wall, and the bed looked big enough to fit in a swimming pool. Across from the bed was another large fireplace, with another painting of Yami's grandfather over the mantle.
"This was your grandfather's room."
"Quite an extensive book collection he had," Yami said, inspecting the books along the wall.
"Yes, he was ever the diligent scholar."
"If this is what his bedroom is like," Yami said, "I can't wait to see what his laboratory is like."
"His what?" the housekeeper asked., rather nervously.
"His laboratory," Yami repeated. "Surely my grandfather would have a laboratory."
"Why that's silly," she replied. "Your grandfather's offices, where he practiced medicine, are across town."
"Of course," Yami said, "It's just that… well, with all the rumors, I figured he kept a small set of offices here."
"You should know better than to believe in fairytales," the housekeeper said. As Yami then proceeded to unpack his belongings, she asked, "Now, is there anything I can offer you before bed? A glass of warm milk? Ovaltine? Hot passionate sex?"
"Uh… no thank you," Yami said, rather disturbed. She shrugged, and turned to leave. But as Yami got out a small mirror, he watched her reflection in the mirror. She whispered something, and kissed the painting of his grandfather. Yami turned around, just in time to see her float out the door.
"Good not, Doctor," she said.
"Good night, lady Kikyo," Yami said. Lightning flashed, thunder clapped, horses reared, a woman screamed!
"Knock it off, sis!" Joegore shouted from his room.
--------------------------------------------------
Act Two: Scene Two
In the darkest time of night, Yami tossed and turned, his sleep invaded by dark and horrible thoughts. Thoughts of destiny, of fate! He was meant to come here… But why? To take up his grandfather's research?
"No!" he said in his sleep. "It's madness! I don't… I don't believe in destiny! I don't!" He yelled and sat up straight in his bed. He gasped for air, and as he lay down again, his face was met by two very familiar bosoms.
Yami moved away, and saw it was Serenity, lying in his bed, fast asleep. With her gown open. The doctor gulped. She was so beautiful. He thought for a moment. No. Could he? He leaned in close to her, and kissed her on the lips. She stirred, and put her arms around him, and he felt her kiss him back. Yami ran his hands up alone her bare thighs to her buttocks and squeezed it.
"Take me." She whispered to him as she licked his ears. He kissed her neck and bare shoulders. Then, Yami heard something. Violin music? He pried the girl's arms off of him, and got up. He strained his ears to find where the music was coming from.
Serenity got up then, and went to him. She put her arms around him and said, "Come back to bed."
"Do you hear that?" Yami asked her.
"Hear what?" she asked. "All I hear is the beating of your heart… and I'm lonely."
"There's no time for that right now," Yami said. "Someone's playing a violin somewhere." he put an ear to the wall, and found the music was loudest from the bookcases. He rushed to them. "there has to a mechanism. Something to trigger a trap door." He spied a white book among rows of black, and pulled it quickly…
Nothing. He put the book back, and then went to another bookcase. On either side of the case were sconces with big white candles in them. Yami felt along the rows of books, and said to Serenity, "Hand me one of those candles."
Just as Serenity removed the candle on the far right, the bookcase spun around, trapping Yami on the other side, behind it. "Put the candle back!" he shouted. "Put the candle back!" Serenity quickly put the candle back in the sconce, the bookcase revolved completely around, and once again trapped Yami behind it.
"What do I do now?" Serenity asked.
"Try it one more time, and I will use my body to block the bookcase." Yami said. "Now, take the candle out. "
Serenity obeyed, and as the bookcase it's revolution, he got stuck between the bookcase and the wall. It pinned him there, squashing him like a bug. "Now," he said, using his free arm to gesture, "Don't put the candle back. With all your might, push against the other side of the bookcase." Serenity nodded, put the candle down on a table, and pushed the bookcase so that it stood open. Yami then took the candle, and peered inside the passageway before then.
"Where do you think it goes?" Serenity asked, closing her robe.
"I'm not sure," Yami said, "But we're about to find out," he took Serenity's hand, and the two of them slowly walked into the darkened passage. They soon came to a cobweb infested stairs, with descended into darkness. Rats scurried over the floor, and a dripping sound came from only God knows where. Slowly, the two made their way down the stairs until they came to an old door that was partially opened. Yami pushed against it, and revealed a very old and dusty office. One side was the usual office trappings. Desk, paper, pens. But on the other side, was a set shelves on which sat a number of skulls. Serenity screamed with horror, and threw herself back intro Yami's arms.
"Hold me, I'm scared!" she cried.
"Not now my dear," Yami consoled her, "They're just skulls, they can't you. They're already dead." He held her hand tighter as they crept past the shelves. One bare bone skull was labeled '3 Years Dead'. The next, which still had some tissue on it, was labeled '2 Years Dead'. The next, which wasn't quite so decayed, was labeled '6 Months Dead'. Then, as they came to a label that read 'Freshly Dead', they looked and saw Joegore's head on the shelf, and Serenity shrieked as it stated singing , "I'm just wild about Mary! And Mary's wild about me!"
"Joegore," Yami said, as Serenity cringed, "What are you doing down here." Joegore came out from behind the shelves.
"I was just getting a midnight snack in the kitchen, when I heard this creepy violin music. So, I followed the dumbwaiter down."
"Did you find who was playing the music?"
"No but I found you guys. Which, brings to mind another question. Sis," Joegore asked, "WHat are you dong down here, dressed like that?"
"Well," Serenity said innocently, "We were in bed-"
"You were what!?!" Joegore shouted.
"That doesn't matter," Yami said, "We're all here now, and together we will discover who's playing that music." He led them onward to another large door.
"I suppose we should go through," Yami said. As he prepared to step forward, Joegore blocked him.
"Wait, master," he said, "It could be dangerous…. You go first." he said getting behind Yami and Serenity. They opened the door, and found themselves in total darkness. Not even their candle could fully illuminate it.
"Aren't there any lights in this place?" Yami asked.
"Well, there's two nasty looking switches over there," Joegore said, "But I ain't pullin 'em." Yami went to one of the two switches, and sparks flew in his face as he pushed it up.
"Curse you eyes!" Yami shouted.
"Too late," Joegore said, rolling his eyes around. Yami shook his head and flipped the second switch. The room lit up, revealing the lost laboratory.
"Then it's true," Yami said as he beheld the large gears, switches, dynamos, racks and tables. All covered with dust, cobwebs, and sheets. "The condition of this lab is deplorable."
"I don't know," Joegore said, "Some paint, a throw rug here or there…"
"It appears our mysterious musician is gone." Yami interrupted. It was true, the music has ceased. And as they looked around the room, they saw a door that had beams of light coming through the cracks. They approached it, and threw it open. Inside was table that had a violin and bow, and an ashtray, on it. "This explains the music," Yami said, "But who was playing it?"
"It's still warm," Joegore said, touching the wooden instrument.
"There's nothing here but old papers and books," Serenity said, losing interest.
"Paper's and books?" Yami asked excitedly. "Of course! Perhaps there's something to explain this all in my Grandfather's journal." he said, taking the book from his pocket.
For the next few hours, he read aloud from the old book. It's contents were so technical, it put both Joegore and his sister to sleep. As Yami reached the last page, and read it's marvelous secrets, he slammed the book shut, and jumped from his seat.
"Yes!" he cried. "IT CAN BE DONE!!!" he shouted, raising his arm up in a fist, his eyes widening with a look of madness. Outside, lightening flashed, and thunder clapped, and the portrait of Yami's grandfather smiled wickedly.
-------------------------------------------------------
Act Two: Scene Three.
The next morning, Yami paced about the kitchen as Serenity and Joegore stuffed their faces. The house keeper brought in more tasty local delicacies, and laid the local news paper on the table.
"Good Doctor," the housekeeper said, "Won't you please sit down and eat breakfast?"
"Yeah master," Joegore said as he shoveled more food into his mouth, "This stuff's pretty good."
"I can't," Yami said, "I must figure it out. My grandfather's notes say it can be done, but how? In order for his research to prove true… The only way that this can be done, is if we use the body of someone young, strong, and perfectly fit. And no one like that dies naturally."
"Maybe this'll help," Serenity said, looking at the paper, "They're hanging a foreigner today for murder. Let's see… 18 years old, no family or friends, and in pretty good shape. It's he hast to hang. He's pretty cute," she said looking at the picture of the felon. "Maybe I could go on a conjugal visit…."
"The only person you're gonna go visit today is aunt Sophie," Joegore said.
"No," Yami interjected, "We need her here. She must prep the lab while you and I steal this body."
"Steal the body!?" Joegore exclaimed.
"SSHHHH!" Yami warned.
"Well, okay," Joegore said, "But you better be paying me extra for this."
"Right, now hurry," Yami said, "We've no time to waste. We must be ready before sunset, when he hangs."
"What we gonna need?" Joegore asked.
"We'll need a horse, a buggy…and a brain," Yami said rather dramatically.
"A brain?" Joegore said loudly. "What's he need a brain for? He's already got one."
"I do not want the brain of a murderer in my creation," Yami said. "It must be an intelligent brain. Perhaps a doctor, or philosopher."
"Like Professor Maximillion Pegasus?" Serenity asked.
"Isn't he still alive?" Joegore asked.
"Nope, died last night," Serenity said, flipping to the obituaries. The departed Prof. Had apparently suffered a heart attack, and his priceless brain was being preserved at the local science museum.
"Perfect!" Yami cried. "Let's go!"
------------------------------------------------------
Act Two: Scene Four.
After a quick trip to the graveyard that night to fetch the body, Yami slipped a spare key to Joegore.
"You know what to do?" Yami asked Joegore. Then, after a double take, he asked, "Wasn't your hump on the other side?"
"What hump?" Joegore asked.
"The hump on your back."
"I've got a hump on my back? What am I, a camel?"
"Never mind," Yami said, "Just get the brain. I'll wait outside." Joegore took the key, and dutifully went to the Brain Depository of the local science museum, where in was stored the most brilliant mind that upper Transylvania had ever seen. Joegore slipped the key into the door, but it did not work. Then, he got an idea. He slipped his hand into the after-hours brain deposit slot on the door, and turned the knob from the inside. He looked at the name written on his hand, but found it missing! Then he realized the name was written on the other hand, which was still in the slot.
After retrieving his other hand, Joegore walked quietly to the rows upon rows of brains until he found the one he was looking for. He carefully picked up the jar, and started to turn for the door, when suddenly, lightning flashed outside, and Joegore looked to his right to see a hideous hunchback, carrying a disembodied brain, in front of him. He screamed, and dropped the jar. Little too late, he realized it was his own reflection. And now…
"We got no brain," Joegore said nervously, " My master's gonna kill me! Wait a minute," he thought, "I'm in a room full of brains! He won't notice the difference if I take on of the others. Let me see… Intelligent… Intelligent…" he spied one jar in particular that was covered in foreign writing. "This must be really important. In.. Inu- taishu. Huh. Must be a diplomat's bran. That'll do." he said, taking the jar.
When he emerged from the building, he shuffled over to the cart. "I got it," Joegore whispered.
"Perfect, now let us be on our way," Yami answered. Just then, they heard the clopping of footsteps coming down the cobble stone road. "Someone's coming! Quick, cover the body!" Yami instructed Joegore. But in their hurry, one of the corpse's hands broke out of a loose hand in the coffin. Yami groaned and pulled at his wild hair. Then, he looked at his hands, and said, "That's it!" he stuffed one of his arms inside his shirt, cover the rest of himself with his long coat, and stood next to the arm, and acted as if nothing were wrong.
"Good evening, good citizen," The constable who turned around the bend said. "I am officer Miroku. Do you need assistance?"
"Oh, no thank you," Yami said, "I have everything in hand."
"You're not from around here, are you?" Officer Miroku asked.
"Oh, no, I'm Dr. Yugistein, newly arrived from lower Transylvania." He nudged the dead hand with his elbow, and the officer shook it.
"Your hand is ice cold, sir. Perhaps you'd better go in for the night."
"I was just about to do that," Yami said.
"Good night sir," Miroku tipped his hat, and proceeded to the local tavern. Yami waited till the officer was long gone before he ordered Joegore from hiding, and leaped up to the cart. Then, they sped away back to castle to begin their night's work.
AN: Review!