Chapter Two
Heru threw the controller at Andreas, "fuck!" He shouted in defeat. Andreas laughed and ducked, the controller hitting the wall behind him and falling. "I want a fucking rematch."
"You've already had three," Andreas laughed and put his feet up, taking a shot of tequila and grinning.
"You suck." Heru pouted and folded his arms across his chest.
"You are all so loud," Saber growled as he came up from the basement, pausing to stretch in the doorway and sharpen his claws on the frame. Andrew walked by and smacked him.
"You're not supposed to do that on the frame." He said in annoyance, muttering that he was just as bad as an untrained house cat.
"I heard that." Saber hissed and looked down at his claws and then shrugged. He walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, "who was supposed to get blood this week?" He asked, slamming the door shut, angry he was out of food.
"Oops," Heru grinned and Saber grabbed his arm.
"Then you get to give blood." He grinned and Heru smiled.
"You know I always prefer to give blood rather than pick it up." He said, wincing only a little as Saber sank his fangs into his wrist. He sat down beside him and licked at the blood just as Ammon walked in the front door.
Ammon looked at the group of boys sitting in the living room and shook his head. He had only been gone a few hours in this world's time and already, they had destroyed the house. There was an open pizza box on the floor with a couple crusts thrown in it, two bottles of alcohol stood on the coffee table, opened with their lids tossed idly on the floor. Clearly, someone had spilled when they poured a drink because there was a small pool of liquid on the coffee table. Saber was sitting on the couch feasting on Heru and Andrew walked around, picking up beer bottles and empty bags of chips. Andreas was sucked into the video game and behind him where pieces of a broken controller. Here are the great heroes of Earth, thought Ammon and smiled.
Orpheus walked silently down the stairs when he felt Ammon come into the house and he looked at him, reading what he could of Ammon's mind.
"Middle Earth?" He asked in their language.
"Yes," Ammon nodded and turned to the rest of the group. "Hey!" He shouted over the noise and they all froze, now suddenly aware of the tall Glandian standing in the middle of the room.
"Sup Ammon," Heru grinned. Saber sucked on his wrist, licking the drops of blood and letting go of Heru's arm.
"You need to eat more, you taste like water." He licked his lips and turned to look up at his old friend, "hello." Andreas idly waved a hand; not taking his eyes of the tv and Andrew mumbled a hello and disappeared into the kitchen.
"I went to Middle Earth and spoke with Elrond," Ammon said, but no one seemed to hear him talking. He stood there for a few more moments, the boys seemed to have forgotten he existed as Saber went back to Heru's wrist and Heru was back to yelling at Andreas claiming he had cheated in whatever game they were playing and caused the death of one of the rather expensive X-Box controllers. From the kitchen came the sound of clanging dishes and Andrew humming quietly to himself. Finally, Ammon gave up and shouted,
"Who wants to go kill things?" Knowing it was the only possible way to get their full attention.
"What?" Andreas paused his game and turned to him and Andrew reappeared in the living room, chewing on a piece of cold pizza. Like magic Ammon thought as their attention instantly fell on him.
"Kill things?" Andrew asked and sat down, "I'm in."
"Oooh yes! Kill things! Yay!" Heru said excitedly and clapped at the idea.
"I'm always in for a good hunt." Saber added in.
"I can't believe I'm doing this." Ammon said to himself and shook his head. "You might not be so eager after I explain it to you." Ammon sat down and once again told of the war that was to break out in Middle Earth, the Quest that was before the nine companions, Elrond's call for aid and the decision of the Glandians.
"So you what? Volunteered us for war?" Heru asked sarcastically and looked at Ammon. Ammon was always so quick to sign them up for a battle.
"Well, you can all say no but I believe they'll need you." Ammon said gently and looked at each of them, reading their confusion and worry, but none of them were afraid, just confused.
"Elrond or whatever, he wanted Glandians. I don't think he's gonna be really happy when a bunch of kids show up instead." Andrew looked back at Ammon and shrugged.
"You're not a bunch of kids Andrew."
"To an elf they are. Even I'm still a teenager in an Elf's eyes." Saber, who was an 863 year old vampire said.
"You're all young, but that only adds to your value. You're young, strong, determined, eager for a fight. You might not have the respect of Lord Elrond in your age, but you will have it in the gifts that you all possess."
"What if we're not ready for a war? I mean, this is like… save the world or damn it kind of war, it's a lot different than fighting a couple demons or vampires in the cemetery." Andreas looked at Ammon worriedly. He and Heru were the least trained and the most vulnerable, the only two semi mortals out of the five.
"I believe you're ready and so does the council."
"You would be coming with us though, right?" Heru asked worriedly.
"No, I have other charges here that need me. Orpheus will look after you." Orpheus snapped his head to Ammon.
"What?" He blinked in surprise, "Ammon, this is beyond me. I-"
"I've been training you for six hundred years Orpheus. You've worked alongside of me for a hundred years and you have shared the responsibility of being their guardian. You can do this, if you're willing."
"I'm willing, but Middle Earth Ammon? With them?" He asked, looking at the boys who were looking back, blinking.
"What?" Andrew asked, finishing his pizza off with a beer and then burping loudly. Orpheus looked at Ammon pointedly and Ammon smiled.
"You studied the other worlds in Mayadar, you know how Middle Earth is. You can keep them in line."
"Whoa wait a second-" Heru held up his hands, "keep us in line? What are we? A bunch of wild monkeys or something?" He asked, scratching the wound on his wrist.
"No," laughed Ammon, "at least not in this world… well," he paused, considering that for a moment, "but in Middle Earth… yes, you're a bunch of foreigners. Their customs are completely different."
"We can learn them. But I'm not too sure that Heru and I are ready." Andreas repeated.
"Yea, I'm with Andreas. I mean, I barely have control over my thing. What if one of them surprises me and grabs my arm or something and then he's dead?" Heru chewed his lip nervously and looked at Andreas.
"They'll know all about your powers guys, it's not like you're just going to show up and not tell them anything. You'll have to and it won't be a risk. It's not like it is here, people believe in things they can't see and they believe in powers beyond themselves. You might be mutants here, but there… you'll be seen as wizards with great powers." This seemed to convince Heru a little more of going.
"Besides, you've all been training for this kind of war." He added and they looked at each other and then with a shrug, they all nodded.
"Sure." Andrew shrugged, "but wait-is this going to interfere with my oath? I mean, if I leave this world… do I become mortal again?" He asked worriedly.
"No. The Goddess is in every world and she will consider this still a fulfillment of your vows." Ammon answered and Andrew sighed with relief.
"Ok then, I'm in. Let me go call Dale to look after the shop… how long are we going to be gone?"
"I'm not sure but I know that time is very different. I've already been gone a day, possibly more in Middle Earth. It maybe be only a week here, but that could be a year there." Ammon was unsure of how any length of time would shift between worlds. "It's best to take a month off work, all of you."
"What about people who can't just up and leave for a month?" Ask Heru. He was an acting professor at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and it was only three months away before a performance.
"Family emergency." Ammon said and Heru glared.
"I've had so many days off because of "family emergencies" that I really doubt they're going to believe another one."
"I'll make it happen, you don't need to worry about it."
"Ok."
"I also suggest that you dig out comfortable footwear. You'll be doing a lot of walking I presume, across Middle Earth really."
"What should we bring?"
"Bring your mountain bags and pack it with clothes and non-perishable food. But not that many clothes," he made a point to look at Andreas then, "bring mostly food."
"I don't suppose there'll be a lot of hunting I can do hmm?" Asked Saber and Ammon thought for a moment.
"No, there aren't a lot of animals that you'll be coming across. But, you might and if you have time to hunt, then do so. Otherwise…" He looked at Heru and Andreas. Heru grinned and Andreas sighed.
"He can feed off me any time he wants." Heru said happily and Saber smiled wickedly at him, sending a chill down his spine that made Heru's eyes fill with fire.
"Yea, I guess." Andreas shrugged, "but I don't think we should be the only ones feeding him." He looked over at Andrew."Oh come on!" He whined and looked over at Saber and wrinkled his nose. Although Saber was like a brother to him, Andrew had no desire to let him feed off him.
"Oh pretty please?" Hissed Saber, giving a mocking pout and puppy eyes.
"Fuck you." Andrew smiled and put his fingers up in a cross. Saber hissed. "Fine, but only when they're too weak to be able to feed you."
"Ok, that settles it then. Now quick, go pack!" Ammon ordered and they all jumped up, three ran up stairs, followed more slowly by Orpheus and Saber disappeared into the basement. Ammon stood and began cleaning up the living room, wondering if he had in fact, made a mistake and was too quick to place his confidence in them. They were hardly adults in this world. Andrew held back a rage that if it went unchecked, could very well cause more damage than Sauron himself. And Heru was so unfocused that he often forgot to contain his power and had nearly killed Andreas several times, it was a good thing the others couldn't be affected by his touch. Andreas doubted himself more than anyone and with his telekinesis, that's what held him back. Ammon worried that Elrond would be insulted by Saber's presence. Though there were no vampires in Middle Earth, he would sense the demon in him and would be sickened with the very sight of Saber. He had faith in Orpheus, but he wasn't a leader and the boys never saw him as one and he worried they wouldn't take him seriously.
He wiped up the spilled alcohol that he now knew was tequila and closed the bottles. Carrying them into the kitchen along with the empty pizza box he set them on the counter. He looked out the window at the street. A woman was walking across the street on her cell phone, Ammon saw that she was some kind of business woman and her heart was cold with bitterness. The more he looked at people, the more his heart ached. They were all so angry, so bitter and closed off. There was a world of magic all around them, a beautiful world and they were all so mindlessly destroying it. He winced as a cut opened over his heart and he quickly pressed his hand to it.
There might still be hope for Middle Earth… if they can destroy Sauron and reunite the race of men, maybe it won't turn out like this world. He thought to himself and sighed. He knew there was a larger danger to Middle Earth than Sauron. Humanity was its greatest threat to itself, and from what he had seen in Elrond's mind, they were quickly falling into their fate. He was sending the boys to help the company fulfill its quest but he also hoped that with the defeat of Sauron it would save humanity from evil. He also knew that the boys needed this. There was so much they took for granted, so much of this world and the basic things in life.
"Ok so, I can't decide on trench coat or leather jacket." Heru announced as he came down the stairs, dragging his mountain pack behind him.
"I thought I said light on the clothes." Ammon looked at his pack which seemed to be stuffed with clothes.
"Oh, no it's not filled with clothes." Heru said quickly, "but I did have a question. Where are we gonna be staying? Are there like hotels or something?" Ammon burst out laughing and hugged Heru.
"I'm sure there'll be a couple inns but I doubt you'll be staying in any. My guess is that you'll be sleeping outside most of the time."
"Oh…" Heru chewed his lip for a moment while he thought that over, "then I guess I need a sleeping bag too."
"Yes." Ammon looked up the stairs, "here that? You'll all need sleeping bags too!" He shouted.
"K!" Andrew and Andreas yelled back at the same time. "And I would go with leather coat, I think a trench coat might be too heavy."
"Oh well" Saber appeared at the top of the stairs clothed in his own trench coat.
"But it'll be hot." Heru repeated back to him.
"I don't feel hot or cold." Smirked Saber, kissing his cheek as he walked passed him.
"You're not bringing a bag?" Ammon asked, looking at Saber.
"Why would I? I don't need anything else. I'll carry anything extra that they might need me to."
"Alright." Ammon shrugged. He often forgot what Saber was.
"Ok, I'm ready." Andreas came racing down the stairs, bumping into Heru who was standing in front of the mirror in the hallway putting on eyeliner.
"Hey!" He groaned as he stabbed himself in the eye.
"Oops," Andreas grinned.
"Heru, really? Eyeliner?" Ammon looked at him in bewilderment and felt the love that had grown for the strange, hyper young man.
"What?" He fixed the eye Andreas had caused him to mess up, "I wanna look good right? I mean, what if there's hot guys there?"
"Oh, that's right." Ammon looked at the floor awkwardly, "this is like… sixteenth century type of world guys. I'm sure there are some gay men and women there, but it's not really something that happens. The elves are a little more… open you could say but, people aren't 'gay' there necessarily."
"Ha," Heru laughed, stopping when he realized Ammon was serious, "well are they going to stone us for being gay?"
"No, no of course not. They'll just be… confused." He smiled, "but no, they won't try to hurt you because of it."
"Ok then I don't care."
Andrew came down last, holding his bag with one hand and a cigarette with the other.
"You guys also need to take your weapons." Ammon added, walking with them into the training room where the weapons were kept.
"At least our weapons are going to be appropriate for the time era." Andreas said and fingered one of his knives. He opened his bag and set the six knives inside and the chakram discs. Andrew pulled out a sword and it's sheath, packing it into his bag. Saber stood leaning in the door frame waiting, happy that he didn't need to pack anything.
Heru pulled his gloves out of his trunk and put them on and then pulled out the two knives that Araylen had given him as a parting gift. He looked at them and the light glittered off their smooth edges. His favourite weapon, one that always brought the lust to take a life to the surface.
"Are you set?" Ammon asked after the three of them had grabbed their gear.
"Yup." Andrew cracked his knuckles, "let's go."