Nothing like a long car drive to get inspired for a story, that's what I found out this weekend. So, here I am, re-excited to write this story. I'd better finish the story quickly before I don't feel like it anymore.
The next few days went slowly for Frank. Here he was, still stuck in the stupid pit, with still no way out thanks to that good magic protection spell. The only company Frank had was, of course, Fare and Monkane, though Fare didn't exactly count, because the whole time Frank had been there, the girl had not stopped brooding. She just acted moody and sat in her little 'corner' of the pit.
Monkane seemed to be concerned about Fare, she didn't normally act this way. Frank just thought that Monk was overreacting, like he always did when it came to anything to do with Fare. Monk took the role of overprotective cousin to the extreme. This overprotectiveness led Monkane to become worried when Fare didn't get up one morning.
"Fare, are you alright?" Monk asked. When he went over to her he saw that she was still sleeping, though uneasily. "Something's wrong" Monk muttered when he saw this.
"Or she could just be sleeping in. It's still early." Frank pointed out.
"Sleeping in, right." Monk snickered, "Fare doesn't sleep in. She barely sleeps enough to get her enough energy, no more." Monk put his hand against Fare's forehead, and narrowed his eyes. "She's burning up." He commented.
This caught Frank's attention. "A fever? I didn't know demons could get fevers."
"In normal circumstances, they can't." Monk said. "There's magic involved in this. I can feel it." Monkane kept his hand on Fare's forehead and closed his eyes. A moment later he said "I thought so. Fare has been sick for a while, since before you got here. She didn't want me to know, because she didn't want me to worry. Fare doesn't know what's wrong, but she suspects that some animals may know a thing or two."
"And, you know this how?" Frank asked. Monkane was really starting to weird him out.
"I read Fare's mind. Even when unconscious, one's mind still goes on." Monkane said. "We'll have to talk to an animal to figure out what's going on."
"Great, just one problem." Frank said, "We can't get out of here!" Monkane finally opened his eyes and looked at Frank. His eyes had a new, wild look in them, one that Frank hadn't seen for years, but wouldn't forget anytime soon.
"Kane, you work quickly." Frank said. He would recognize Kane's twisted personality anywhere.
"Not much quicker than you." Kane replied, "And don't you worry yourself on how we're getting out of here. I have a plan, you know."
"Why am I not assured by that reassurance?" Frank asked.
"I told you to not worry." Kane said impatiently. "Just do what I say. Believe me, you're not the one who shall be injured here. Now, I would appreciate it if you would kindly use the power of the rooster talisman to levitate me up to the hole out of this place, and try to push me out of here."
Frank didn't know what kind of plan he had been expecting, but that wasn't anywhere close. "You seriously want me to force you against a barrier of good magic? Are you sure that's a good plan."
"No, but it's a quick one, so just do it." Kane said furiously. Frank put his hands up in defence.
"Alright, I'll do it. It's been nice knowing you." Frank said. He used the powers of the talisman to levitate Monkane, just as he'd been told. When brought close to the magic barrier, Kane used all his strength to break through it, to no avail. He didn't break through it, all he did was get stung harshly by the good magic. Kane wasn't about to give up so easily though.
Frank and Kane shoved against the barrier with all their might, and, finally, after what felt like forever, the barrier fell under their combined strength. Kane flew out of the cave and collapsed on the ground outside. It took Frank a minute to get over his shock. He hadn't honestly expected that to work, or for Kane to continue fighting against the barrier until it fell. When Frank got over his shock, he used his levitation powers to bring himself and Fare out of the pit next to Monkane.
Kane was lying on the ground, exhausted and in immense pain. Fighting against the good magic had taken its toll on him. He had severe burns across his body, and yet, he was grinning in satisfaction.
"That was a rush, but I knew I could do it." Monk said with difficulty.
"Yeah, that makes one of us." Frank commented. He took a seat on the ground, to wait until Kane was well enough to leave, which would be awhile. "You certainly think a lot of yourself."
Kane glanced curiously at Frank. "I really don't understand you, which is something I'm not used to. If you were fully Shendu, you would have left me and Fare here. But if you were fully Frank, you would be more humane and concerned about me and Fare. You're neither being, so what exactly are you?"
"You could say that I'm half Frank and half Shendu, part of both all the time." Frank answered easily. "Couldn't you tell that by reading my mind, as you so love doing?"
"I can't read your mind." Kane said, "It's too chaotic in there, I'm not sure how you can stand it. Both of you constantly shouting and arguing, your thoughts merging into one. I can't imagine either of you being content with this arrangement."
"What else do you suggest I do?" Frank asked, "This is the only way to not let Shendu gain complete control at the smallest push."
"No, it is most definitely not the only way." Kane said, "Trust me on this, I should know, considering my situation with Monk."
Frank didn't say anything, but thought about what Kane had said. He had a point. Though Kane took control of their body sometimes, it was with an equal agreement on both sides.
"How do you do it?" Frank asked.
"It's actually quite easy." Kane said. "We made an arrangement. Monk takes control until he chooses to let me have my fun, which would be when we're by ourselves, or if Fare is in danger. Monk by himself is physically weaker than me, nearly as weak as any pathetic human is. So when Monk needs it, he asks to borrow my strength, which I willingly give when he grovels."
"So, you're saying that you are willing to take second wheel as long as Monk lets you do all the hard stuff?" Frank asked. He really didn't believe it.
"Here's a lesson for you, boy." Kane said. "Demons love it when anybody humbles themselves and asks for their help."
"That's true." Frank admitted. "But somehow, I don't think that Shendu will be willing to let me take control until such a time as I decide to let him out."
"You'd be surprised what a demon is willing to do for a taste of freedom if there's no other chance." Kane pointed out. "Besides, I'm sure that Shendu hates being a shell of his former self, and I'm sure you're sick of it too."
"Maybe we could give this a try." Frank muttered, though he still wasn't sure.
"Great, glad that we have that settled." Monkane said. "Now, if you don't mind, I would like to talk to that young jaguar behind you." Frank jumped back, startled. There was indeed a young jaguar behind him. Not quite an adult, but not a cub either. Frank backed away slowly, while Monkane shakily stood up and went closer to it.
"Young one, my cousin is in need of help. I was hoping you may know something that may help us." Monkane said to the jaguar. The wild cat growled, though Kane seemed to understand what it meant. Kane listened to it for a while, questioning it occasionally, until he had the information he needed. Kane turned back to Frank.
"Fare isn't the only plagued by this illness. It's affecting most of the children in the village." Kane informed him. "The animals know these jungles, and know what caused this. There is a special blue flower that grows all over the place. The flowers are beautiful, but dangerous. The roots have a scent that is poisonous to humans, and the flower counteracts the poison."
"Why would Fare be affected by it then?" Frank asked. Fare wasn't even a human.
"Normally, the poison wouldn't be strong enough to make anyone ill, unless they breathed in the poison by having the root right against their nose." Kane said. "This plague is made more powerful with the aid of magic. Fare is affected because I suspect she really did have her nose right against the roots. It is common for the flowers to grow around here, so there would be roots underground, where we were."
"And we weren't affected because we just happened to not breath in the roots?" Frank asked, and Kane nodded. "Alright, so what happened to the flowers?"
Kane's expression darkened. "Pride likes the look of the flowers, so he had the children of the village pick them all and bring them to him. He's the reason why people are getting sick."
"But it's not his magical influence that's making the poison worse, is it?" Frank asked.
"No, that's because of someone else's powerful magic." Kane said. "But I don't know whose magic power, so for now I'm just going to forget about that and instead head back to the village to have a word with the great Pride." Monkane said this as if he would like nothing more than to pummel Pride into next week, though he knew better than to try to attack Pride like that.
Frank knew that Monkane was still weak and would have trouble getting just himself back to the village. So Frank gently, as to not enrage Kane more, picked up Fare and the two young men began the journey back to the village.
Okay, wow, that was fun. I forgot how much fun this series could be, seriously. I just need to keep writing, though I'm just winging it. I hope you enjoyed that chapter, and if you didn't, well, that's not my fault.