Chapter 19 – Don't Drink and Dragon

A grin widened across Seth's face as he examined the vial that his eyes were fixated upon. "A dragon potion? Is this for real?"

"After what I've seen happen today, I wouldn't be so fast to doubt it," said Zavarok.

"Oh man. If I were to drink this, I'd turn into a dragon! And if I were a dragon, then I'd be able to save the others!"

"Sounds like a plan. I say go for it. What have you got to lose?"

Seth, who was roughly the same size as the entire vial, examined it closely. "I guess I don't need to drink the full thing at my current size. "But how do I get it open?"

"Why don't you ask your fairy for help?"

Seth moaned. "Umbriel's not all that easy to cooperate with. But, given the current situation, maybe she'll be more inclined to help. I might have trouble if I can't get her help."

Seth formed a fist with his hand and concentrated on the ring. At that point, Umbriel magically appeared before him. At her regular size, she appeared to be roughly the same height that Seth currently was.

"Seth!" exclaimed Umbriel. "What happened to you? What's going on?"

Seth proceeded to tell Umbriel about the current predicament he and the others had gotten themselves into, and how they were now in the apartment of Matthew Alder.

"That's terrible!" gasped Umbriel. "Seth, if you really were in trouble, you should've called me the moment you got out of your orb!"

"Sorry," said Seth. "I didn't think to do that until Zavarok reminded me."

"Cut to the chase," said Umbriel. "What can I do to help?"

"I need to get out of here," said Seth.

Umbriel muttered to herself. "I could restore you to your proper size. But if you're under some enchantment, it wouldn't last very long. Or, I could help you escape."

"I found a dragon potion in this bag. Can you help me get it open?"

"A dragon potion? For real? Don't you think that's a bit much?"

"Look, if I were a dragon, I could rescue the others from the closet and get out of here easily. I might even be able to attack Matthew and Hespera in their sleep!"

"Seth, with the exception of fairy dragons, most dragons are enormous! And we all know full well that you possess anything but fairy-like qualities. You drink that thing, you might even hurt those you care about. And what if you aren't able to change back?"

"I doubt I'll grow huge, since I'm already tiny to begin with. And at this point, I've gotten pretty desperate. Please, help me with the potion."

"Oh, all right," moaned Umbriel

Seth directed Umbriel to the potion, and the fairy used her power to transfer the vial out of the bag and onto the floor. He then had her use her magic to uncork the vial, exposing its contents to the open air.

"Great," said Seth, as he placed his arms around the vial, then slowly tilted it back, positioning it so that the mouth was directly over his head. As he slowly titled the vial downwards, a drop of the green potion sploshed down onto his face.

Balancing the vial with just one hand, Seth used his other hand to wipe his face clean, then gripped the vial again. Adjusting his aim, Seth opened his mouth as wide as he could, and allowed the potion to pour down into it.

The potion guzzled all over Seth's face, dripping down his chin and the front of his shirt. It had a strange taste, almost like a blend between vinegar and licorice. While Seth would never combine such flavors under his own discretion, he told himself it was for his own good, and drank as much of the potion that flowed into his mouth as he could.

After a few seconds, Seth choked on all the fluid that was flowing into his mouth, prompting him to drop the vial, allowing more potion to spill out onto the carpeted flooring.

"Seth, are you okay?" asked Umbriel.

Seth coughed, and nodded in response. "I'm fine," he said faintly. "How much of this stupid thing do they expect me to drink? If I drink any more, I'll puke!"

"You do realize that potion was intended for a full-sized human, right?"

A churning feeling present in his stomach, Seth placed his hands over his chest. It felt as though he had a stomach ache, the pain of which was rapidly spreading to other parts of his body. He could feel as his body began to expand in size, bursting out of his clothes. He could feel as his skin transformed into scales, a snout extended from his face, while a tail and wings grew out of his backside. His nails and teeth had grown, and were now spiked, as were the horns that adorned his head and the ridges that had appeared along his backside.

Once the sensation stopped, Seth glanced at his arms and lower body. He was now a dragon, navy blue in color, and roughly the size of his normal human body.

However, before he or Umbriel could even react, Seth began to feel woozy. Not from the transformation, but just from his surroundings. Everything around Seth appeared to become blurry. It was if the world around him was fading out of existence.

Once the interior of Matthew's condominium had vanished, Seth found himself to be floating in what could best be described as a strange void. It was as though he was in the middle of the sky, only it was crimson-colored, and there was no feeling of gravity. Dark, grey clouds drifted by near Seth, as well as in the distance. Wherever it was that Seth had suddenly traveled to was too weird for words. Why it had even happened was probably weirder still.

"Seth?" asked a deep, booming voice from behind the newly-transformed dragon. Not even having had a chance to properly adapt to his new body, Seth turned around in midair and nearly froze in shock. Floating before him was, what appeared to be, Navarog.

A consequence of having been shrunk by Hespera, Seth was technically still at a greatly reduced size, even though he was roughly human-sized. Navarog, however, was at his true, full size, and he was looming over Seth.

A feeling of dread overcame Seth. Why had drinking the potion brought him to this place? And what was Navarog doing here? Wasn't he still confined to the knapsack? Whatever Hespera and Matthew had been planning was simply that, planning.

"Navarog?" asked Seth fearfully.

The dragon expressed a confused look, then beamed down at Seth. "Yeah, I guess we do look alike."

Seth sighed, feeling as though he had just awoken from a nightmare. "It's only you. But, why are you a dragon now? And, for that matter, why are you... alive?"

Zavarok groaned. "I'm not alive, I'm afraid. And neither are you."

Seth shook his head. "What are you talking about?"

"We're in the Netherworld, it would seem."

"The Netherworld?" asked Seth. "What happened? We've gotta get out of here!"

"No can do," said Zavarok. "Once you enter the Netherworld, there's no going back."

"But why are we here? You weren't dead, exactly."

"I was fading and feeling very weak. Once you summoned Umbriel, I think it was her light energy that did me in, and just as you transformed into a dragon, I was here."

"Well what brought me here?"

"Death, it would seem."

"How'd I die?" asked Seth, unable to properly grasp the fact that he had lost his life.

"The potion may have been poisonous. Possibly a trap."

"But it did turn me into a dragon. If this was a trap, why make it so authentic? Besides, if they had wanted any of us dead, they could've killed us easily."

"Maybe the drink wasn't safe for mortal consumption?" asked Zavarok..

Seth shook his head. "Poisoning aside, if I died, why'd I come here?"

"Let's see," replied Zavarok. "Are you dead?"

"I guess."

"Are you a monster?"

"I suppose."

"Are you demonic?"

"Well, I am a shadow charmer."

Zavarok groaned. "I hate to say it, but you do in fact qualify for the Netherworld."

"Well I never signed up for this! Just because I have certain qualities doesn't make me evil!"

"That's the story of my life. I was an outcast due to my very being. I mean, just look at me!"

"But, you're not evil, are you?"

"Might as well have been evil. The way everyone treated me."

"So, what do we do now?" asked Seth.

"Beats me," said Zavarok. "No one who's been to the Netherworld has ever been known to return."

"Why not? We got in easily enough."

"It might be possible. I have a theory that since this place is full of demons, it wouldn't surprise me if they're all at home here, with no desire to leave, even though leaving is entirely possible. My other theory is simple; leaving really is impossible."

Zavarok might very well be correct. An exit to this place was unheard of. Perhaps using something like the Translocator would work, but Seth didn't have access to it, and even if someone did, they would not only need to possess knowledge of him being in the Netherworld, but someone would have had to have been there in the past to travel there.

"At least try to to find a way," said Seth, as a large, menacing-looking monster floated up towards him and Zavarok. Possessing shaggy, purple fur and four arms, the monster towered over Seth, but was dwarfed by Zavarok.

"Who are you?" growled the monster. "Are you new here?"

"Uh, yes," replied Zavarok.

"And you?" asked the monster, pointing his grubby, purple hand towards Seth. Seth nodded in response.

"You know of a way out of here?" asked Seth.

The monster drifted up towards Seth, and suddenly grasped his entire body in his claws with a firm grip. "You no give orders to me like that!"

"Hey, let him go!" shouted Zavarok, peering down at the purple monster.

Somewhat startled, the monster released Seth from his grasp and backed away.

"Don't mind me," said the monster. "I didn't know he was with you. Me sorry."

"Why did you go after him like that?" asked Zavarok. "We're sorry if we entered your territory."

"What would I want with a place like this?" asked the monster. "There's nothing here! And why it you who is sorry for it? You're big. You're tough. I'm surprised you haven't already attacked me."

"Why would I attack you?" asked Zavarok.

"You're weird," said the monster. "But if you're new here, let me put it this way. In this place, the tough are top. The weak are bottom. Tougher you are, better you be."

"What if you're weak?" asked Seth.

"You suffer. Unless you have tough friend. Then you do okay."

"And how does one get out of here?"

"Out of where?"

"Do I have to spell it out for you? The Netherworld! How do we get out of the Netherworld?"

"I don't know. Demons have been here since before time was thought up. These same demons still here."

"You mean, escape is impossible?" asked Seth.

"I guess so. But why you want to leave? This place aradise. At least for a big demon like your friend. Who are you, anyway?"

"I'm Zavarok. Twin brother of Navarog."

"Navarog? A twin? Hmm. Me never met Zavarok. Never knew he had a twin. But I have heard great things about him. But I never heard of you before."

"Let me ask you, something?" asked Zavarok. If I really were Navarog, what would you have done?"

"If you were Navarog? I don't know. I heard that Navarog was very nasty. You seem less threatening for a demon so big and powerful."

"Let's just say that I'm the good twin," said Zavarok. "But if you don't treat me right, I can be every bit as nasty as my brother."

The monster shivered. "Oh, I'll be good."

"Then tell us how to get out of this place. For real! Or do I have to get cruel?"

"I told you!" exclaimed the monster. "There really is no way out of here! Believe me, I want you to leave! With you gone, that's one less bigger demon I have to worry about!"

"All right," said Seth. "If you can't help us, I don't really care. Just beat it and stay away from us."

"You got it!" said the monster, and he proceeded to float away, exhibiting a look of relief on his face.

"Well, now what do we do?" asked Zavarok. "I didn't like sounding like such a bully, but that monster was a jerk."

"What do you expect?" asked Seth. "You said it yourself. This isn't the place where all the friendly monsters go."

"My point exactly," said Zavarok. "A being like myself has no place in a world like this!"

"You think you're misplaced?" asked Seth. "My death was peculiar, and I'm not even a demon! You I can understand, but I have no reason to be here!"

"Hey, I don't like it any better than you."

"This whole thing is all your fault!" exclaimed Seth. "Possessing David. Leading us on a wild goose chase. Do you even stop to think about what you've done?"

"Sorry!" blurted Zavarok. "I didn't expect all of this to happen!"

"We'd have been better off if you'd never shown up at all! Your demise shouldn't be our problem! All you've done is get everyone into a lot of trouble! You may not come off as being mean like Navarog, but so what? You've still managed to make things worse when they didn't have to be."

"Look, I just needed the chance. I freed you from that orb, didn't I?"

"Leave me alone," said Seth. "Your one good deed wasn't enough. We've got no more chances, now. I was everyone's last hope. Now Matthew and Hespera are free to do what they want."

"But Seth,"

"I said leave me alone. Or are you incapable of doing that as well?"

"Okay," said Zavarok. "I get the hint. I'll leave you alone."

Zavarok flapped his wings and floated away, leaving Seth all alone to float by himself in the void. While he felt relieved to be free from Zavarok, Seth was already feeling regret for being so harsh. But Zavarok kind of deserved it, didn't he? He was the one who had triggered all of these recent chains of events.

Now free to move on his own, Seth proceeded to flap his wings. The feeling felt familiar, as he had gotten used to having wings when he had been possessed by Navarog. However, he never did get an opportunity to have control over them. Even still, wings seemed relatively useless in a void like this, as there appeared to be no such thing as gravity in the Netherworld.

As if by using his own thought, Seth began to float off in another direction, feeling as though he could control exactly where he wanted to go. Not knowing where he should go, or even where he could, Seth decided to just float in one direction until he found something.

Before long, Seth could see a massive, floating, spire-like piece of rock up ahead. It must've been the size of a large office building. Still, it seemed as good as any a place to land. As he came closer, he discovered a small clifftop along the side of the massive rock.

Seth came to a stop once his feet made contact with the cliff, and he stopped to rest himself. Although he was not tired-out physically, he still needed to rest his head after so much commotion.

Before long, a large, grey, serpent-like head peered itself around the side of the rock, and glared down at Seth.

"Who are you?" asked the head.

"Uh, who wants to know?"

"I am Mahkenchodi. And this is my rock!"

At that moment, at least ten more heads appeared, all of which were identical to the first. All together, the many heads looked fairly intimidating.

"Look," said Seth. "I really didn't know that this rock was yours. I'll leave, don't worry!"

"Don't leave," said all of Mahkenchodi's heads in unison. "All thirteen of my heads have been so bored ever since number eight swallowed my last guest."

One of Mahkenchodi's heads nodded. I think she's still inside me somewhere. She was a small demon, just about your size. Care to meet whatever might be left of her?"

"Uh, no thanks," said Seth, backing away from Mahkenchodi's many heads. Don't see why you'd want to eat me, anyway."

"I don't care about eating you, said one of the heads. "I just want to use you as a chew toy."

"I'm sure I taste awful," noted Seth.

"I'll be the judge of that," said Mahkenchodi, as her many heads lunged towards Seth. The first few missed him, but one of them succeeded in grabbing him in its jaws.

Seth could feel as the head's many teeth held him in a clasp, but failed to so much as pierce his skin. He then felt as another set of teeth clamped onto his lower body, and the two mouths attempted to pull Seth apart as far as they could. However, they were not successful in tearing his body in two. It then hit Seth that he should actually be in a lot of pain, but he couldn't feel anything.

"I won't make the mistake of loosing you," said several of Mahkenchodi's free heads. "I never let all of my heads sleep at once, so don't worry. We're going to be together a long, long time."

Seth fretted. His day just seemed to get worse and worse. First he got trapped and shrunk. After that, he turned into a dragon and died, ending up in an afterlife for demons. Now he was trapped in the jaws of a vicious monster, and knew of no way of escape. Everyone was in danger, and he there was nothing he could do. He had lost.

Although he was in no physical pain, Seth could feel tears forming in his eyes. He didn't care at this point. If Mahkenchodi saw him crying, so what? Seth just let it all out, as tears poured out from his eyes. He was crying, not that it would do him any good. Suddenly, Mahkenchodi's teeth slipped right through him. But they didn't pierce his skin, because Seth himself was starting to fade away.