Thanks for the nice reviews which motivated me to write more.
Chapter 2: Versus Jascha
Merlock and Sara stood and worked on their task. They were fortunate that the house was not so spacious, otherwise they would not be able to finish making the floors shine in a mere span of sixty minutes. Sitting on a chair with legs crossed was Jascha, grinning as his fingers played with his pink bangs. His crafty vermilion eyes never left the two persons.
"Maybe imagining that he is invisible will be of much aid, don't you think, Sara?" Merlock said softly.
"I suggest that you don't get rough with him," Sara replied in a whisper.
"And why is that?"
"Merlock, it's obvious that he isn't human and he doesn't appear to be vulnerable. This place is under his control. You know that yourself. So avoid being impulsive," said Sara, sounding like an experienced military official to a newly recruited soldier.
She received an undefined sigh from the vampire.
After ten minutes, Jascha suddenly got to his feet and rummaged through a cabinet. He shoved various objects rather violently and smiled upon seeing an empty basket. He took hold of the basket and made his exit without a word, leaving the other things scattered on the floor.
Merlock and Sara wondered about Jascha's actions, yet they continued to mop.
At the end of the hour Jascha entered the house.
"You better take a break," he said, motioning for Sara and Merlock to stop mopping and sit on the chairs by the dining table.
As Merlock and Sara sat, Jascha placed the basket at the center of the table. It was noticeably full of apples.
"Eat your fill," Jascha said.
"Why are you doing this?" asked Merlock, icily.
"Does that question need an answer?" came the reply.
"If I don't suspect something then I won't say anything at all," said Merlock.
"Don't worry, these fruits are not poisoned. And admit it, you are hungry," said Jascha, then he picked one up and bit into it.
"What's the next riddle?" went Sara's attempt to change the subject.
"Oh, that. I recommend that you consume at least one apple first because the next things I'll make you do will require a lot of your energy," Jascha replied.
"Are you trying to tell me that there's no way we can give a right answer?" Sara said sharply.
"Whoa! The temper's flaring up! I can sense sparks hitting my face," Jascha commented sarcastically.
"Actually it resembles a conflagration," Sara said with a smirk.
"Huh? Okay, I will make it easier for you. You have three chances to give me a puzzling question or to name a bet. If in case I can't answer your riddle or I lose a bet, I shall give you the key," Jascha said.
Sara glared at him, and then she took an apple and began to eat. She remarked that it was delicious. Merlock ate, too.
"I bet your parents' names are Sara and Merlock," Sara said.
Merlock was so surprised at her statement that he almost swallowed the whole apple he had in his hand. His face turned a bright shade of red.
Meanwhile, Jascha folded his arms on the table and his chin on them. He laughed aloud, causing some birds on the trees nearby to fly away.
"Sounds like you're truly desperate, Sara. Yeah, my mother's name is Sara, but she isn't you because she's an elf. My father's name is Charles, another elf. That would make me an elf as well. Not a vampire, but an elf," Jascha said, putting emphasis on each mention of the word "elf."
"And if you were our son, you would have some manners," Merlock said.
"In other words, I wasted my first chance," Sara said.
"Yes, so after finishing your apple, fix those," Jascha said as he pointed at the items strewn on the floor, "then fetch ten buckets of water from the well behind the house."
As they were drawing water from the well, Merlock jokingly said to Sara, "How dare you think of something like that!"
"Like what?"
"Us having a son."
"Oh, that. Must be, as Jascha said, out of desperation."
"You love me, don't you?" Merlock said, looking into her blue eyes.
She blushed and smiled, but did not say anything.
They were so tired upon accomplishing their task. They sat on the living room sofa. They could hear Jascha playing the flute while standing on the roof. The music he created soothed their souls, making them forget their exhaustion.
"Who would have known that he could play the flute so well?" said Merlock.
"Yes, the tune is indeed relaxing," agreed Sara.
Later, Jascha went into the house. He flipped his pink hair, then stared blankly at Merlock and Sara.
"You are a good flutist," Merlock said to him.
"That must mean that my mother taught me well. What you heard is an elfin folk song," he said, flashing a smile.
"I see. It has a pleasant melody," Sara said.
"Uh-huh. So what's the next riddle?" asked Jascha.
"All religions and all nations agree that there is only one thing between heaven and earth. What is it?" Merlock said.
"The word 'and'. Others would say that the answer is 'the horizon', but then you can't fool me with such tricks," replied Jascha.
"Another chance wasted!" Merlock blurted out.
"In a town called Sargas you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why so," came Jascha's riddle.
"Nobody there has a wooden leg," Merlock said.
"Nah. You cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg, but you can take a picture of a man with a camera. Get it? So, let's recap. You'll stay for two hours more, and you have only one chance left. I say you wash the windows and polish the furniture," Jascha said.
"It's getting unbearable. We must really think of something to outwit him," Sara said as her wet rag collided with the window.
"I trust you. He is cunning, but I believe you can match that with your cleverness," Merlock said.
"Thanks," she said.
"I will beat him at this game," Sara thought.
When an hour had already passed, Sara approached Jascha and said, "I bet you don't want us to be back in our home because you wish to have us as servants forever."
Jascha was astonished. His eyes widened twice their original size. If he said yes, then Sara would win the bet. If he responded that he had not so intended, then they could go free. He shook his head. He had to accept his defeat.
"Victory is yours, Sara. You impressed me," he said, finally.
"So can you give us the key now?" asked Sara.
"You must still stay for one hour as consequence for the riddle you did not answer earlier. Anyway, you can do whatever you like. You are no longer under my command," said Jascha.
Just then, the sound of a ringing telephone echoed throughout the house.
"Excuse me," Jascha said.
He took a circular-shaped device from his pocket and placed it near his ear. Merlock and Sara heard him utter a series of "Affirmatives."
"You!" Merlock shouted as he lunged at Jascha's back and held him tightly by the arms, making him drop the phone.
"What?" Jascha asked, shocked.
"There's someone behind all of these happenings. Who is he?" demanded Merlock firmly.
Jascha closed his eyes and refused to answer.
"When I ask a question, an answer is expected!" Merlock stressed, his anger felt in his voice.
Suddenly, particles of electricity formed in one of Jascha's hands. He aimed it at Merlock and released it. Merlock let go of Jascha and swiftly lay on his chest. The lightning bolt missed Sara by inches and landed on a spot on the wall, causing a large hole to form.
"Oops!" Jascha said then he covered his mouth.
His gaze, now fierce, bore through Merlock's eyes.
"I do not tolerate acts of violence against me. One more illegal move and you can anticipate your disintegration from the universe," Jascha said.
"Ugh. Pardon me!" Merlock yelled. He held Sara's hand then he led her out of the house.
"What do you think you were doing?" asked Sara as she pulled her hand from Merlock's grasp.
"Trying to solve the real mystery."
"Look Merlock, I want us to get back home in one piece," she said as she sat down on the grass.
"I'm sorry Sara. I simply wish to bring you back home immediately. Your family must be deeply worried," he said, sitting beside her.
"Thanks Merlock. I just don't want you to get hurt."
Together they watched as the sun disappeared in the west. Darkness started to unfold its curtains to cover the place. After a few minutes, stars began to cast their tiny glows in the sky. The moon shone, its silvery light spreading everywhere.
"It's wonderful," said Sara, resting her head on Merlock's shoulder.
"You are far more beautiful," he said as he stroked her hair.
Sara blushed, then wrapped her arms around him.
They lay on the grass and looked intently at the little twinkles of the firmament until they fell asleep.
"Rise and shine!" Jascha said, giving both of them a moderate shake.
Sara sat up, rubbed her eyes, and hid a yawn behind her hands. Merlock stretched his limbs then sat up.
"Good morni- um, I mean evening," Jascha said, simpering.
"You could have killed us when we were asleep," said Merlock.
"You could have eaten us as well," added Sara.
"Slow down! Even if I'm no human, I'm not a cannibal. I actually faint at the sight of blood! I don't see the need to do those things you mentioned. And I was not ordered to do so," replied Jascha.
"So you got a boss?" asked Sara.
Jascha did not speak anymore. Instead, he took a flower with petals whose hues are arranged as that of a rainbow from his pocket.
"Somewhere, a passageway shall open once touched by this flower," Jascha said.
He produced a flying skateboard out of nowhere. Riding on it, he left the place.
"So Sara, where do you think should we start?" asked Merlock.
"The wall!" exclaimed Sara.
"What wall?"
"The wall where his lightning power struck! Remember his reaction when he unintentionally hit that?'
"Well then, let's go there."
They rushed to the house and brought the flower near the wall. The flower emitted a few colorful rays.
"You're a genius, Sara!" Merlock said.
Sara just grabbed Merlock's arm and closed her eyes. When she opened them, they were on a windy knoll. The wispy clouds seem like they could be reached if an arm would be stretched upward. A village was visible downhill.
"This doesn't look like home," Merlock said.
"What surprised me is the fact that it's daytime here," she replied, tucking some stray strands behind her ears.
They walked to the village. There were so many people, each attending to their individual businesses.
"How do we find a key in here?" Merlock asked.
"Look for the letters 'DH'. Both Cerville and Jascha wore something that had them. I wonder what those two letters stand for. I was thinking, 'Die Humans'? But well then, I hope that's not the meaning" she said.
Merlock laughed.
They continued to observe the place, or the people. They tried to search for the keeper of the third key.
They came upon a tavern. Without giving it much thought, they entered. The place smelled of wine and mead. They were surprised at how young the people inside were. The oldest ones seemed to be about fourteen years old.
A girl waved at the waiter and yelled, "Hey swabbie! Give me another shot!"
Merlock and Sara was distracted that they examined her. She had wavy, dark violet hair that reached halfway down her back. Long eyelashes framed her pink eyes. Her face was red and had a foolish smile, undoubtedly effects of the wine she had been drinking. Her outfit was the same as the women of ancient Greece. On her leg was a golden anklet with a few beads and the letters "DH."
They approached her and told her about the key.
"Yeah, men. I used to take charge of the key ya talkin' 'bout, but I can't recall anythin' 'bout it at present. Ya hear me? Don't ya ever disturb me again!" she said, then she continued drinking her wine.
"What's your name?" asked Sara.
"I see no reason to introduce myself," she replied.
"Please. Then we won't bother you again," Sara said.
"It's Ylla. Contented, missy? Leave me alone!"
Sara and Merlock went out of the tavern.
"Why did you get her name?" asked Merlock.
"We can discover a lot out of it." Sara said.
That's the second chapter. Please review!