Should I really be trying to write a chapter when I really don't have the motivation to write this—holy crap! I'm not used to this keyboard! So if there are any really obvious, really stupid typos you can blame this laptop. So there.

Oh, yeah, got the title for this chapter from a Happy Days episode because I'm not original enough to think up something unique on my own. I also don't have the energy.


The Files of Kazdan Kalinkas

Book Two: After the Storm

Chapter Five: Welcome to My Nightmare


"Yet sometimes it is easier to see the light when you stand partly in the darkness." - Monday's Dusk from Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom: Mister Monday


I woke up again when the motion of the wagon changed. It shifted slowly from rocking back and forth across the uneven ground of the Ravage Terrain to simply bumbling along smoothly with some slight bounces accompanying it. I opened my eyes and looked out the back of the wagon.

Drooping trees passed us by, their leaves green-black and wet looking. The sky overhead was dark blue-gray, tinged with velvet in the coming dusk, and heavy gray clouds hung low on the horizon. Mud and tall, wet grass were silent as the wheels of the wagon passed over them. The air smelled damp and old…very old.

Someone snorted and I whipped around to look. It was just Peyton, sleeping contentedly against the wall. Tom was against the opposite wall, Sarah at his side. Her head was leaning on his shoulder and he had an arm around her. I grinned.

"Say H'earring," I whispered, knowing the little Creature would be able to hear me perfectly fine, "Are we at Lake Ken-i-po yet?"

"Close." Came the reply, "We're taking a back road and going around the lake until we get to Najarin's."

"Does he know we're coming?" I knew Najarin wasn't big on surprise visitors.

"Uh…well…actually, no." H'earring sounded uncomfortable, "Tom tried to talk to him before but either he wasn't home or he wasn't interested in visitors."

"I hope he's home now…" I mumbled, looking down at what had become of me. I wasn't anywhere close to human now. Peyton was right, I did look something like a wingless dragon. I hated what I had become but couldn't deny that it was suiting the lifestyle I had led better than if I'd been human. It hurt to think about that so I moved towards the open back of the wagon again to watch the landscape go by.

It was relaxing; the land around Lake Ken-i-po was well nourished by the rain, moist air, and the damp earth and it made everything gorgeous in a dreary sort of way. I liked it. Dewdrops of moisture seeped into the tiny spaces between my scaly hide and I closed my eyes in pleasure. It felt really, really good after the dry heat of the UnderWorld and Ravage Terrain.

"Kaz?" I looked over my spiked shoulder to see Peyton rubbing sleep from his eyes, "You're awake."

"I guess so." I said teasingly and shuffled over to make room for him to sit by me, "Couldn't you guys have just ported here and waited for me and H'earring to show up?"

"Nah," Peyton yawned and rubbed his sleep tousled hair, "Tommy wouldn't have stood for it—got pissed when I suggested it." He stretched his arms towards the wagon's covered ceiling, "'Sides, I think you would've been lonely without us, eh dude? Probably've gone freaking emo…"

"I'm way beyond emo, Peyton." I responded, scratching my jaw line. It sounded like metal nails scraping against granite.

"What's beyond emo?"

"Mmmm, insane?"

"Must be."

"Mm-hm."

I looked at him and noticed something, "You've lost weight." I commented.

"Hm?" Peyton looked down at his stomach and shrugged, "Yeah, well, I was super worried about you. You expect me to stuff my face when I'm worried about my friend?"

I laughed at that, "I'm sorry! I guess I just wanted to talk about something normal!" I smiled, "I'm glad you guys came after me."

"Tch did you want us to leave you there!?"

"No way!" I shuddered, "I think I'd rather die than go back there…"

Neither of us said anything after that. We just sat in silence and watched the greenery pass us by. Tom and Sarah woke up a little bit later but they kept quiet too, occupied by their own thoughts, whatever they might have been. I was daydreaming about being a normal human again.

"Hey you guys!" H'earring called, "We're here!" The wagon pulled to a slightly jerky halt, "Everybody out!"

Peyton jumped out followed by Sarah and then Tom helped me clamber down to solid ground. I was a little unsteady at first, being weak with hunger and The Virus draining my energy. But I managed to stand upright on my own. I squished the earth between my clawed feet and sniggered.

"Come on," H'earring made a 'follow me' motion at the edge of the lake where the bridge to Najarin's castle connected with the shore, "The sooner we get there, the less ugly Kaz will look!"

"Hey! I resent that!" I called after him as he gave a whooping laugh and bounded out across the bridge. The four of us chased after him, Sarah in the lead, Tom close at her heels, and Peyton and I lagging in the rear. We quickly sobered when we reached the gigantic front door.

"I hope he's home." Sarah whispered as Tom stepped up to the entrance.

"Najarin!" Tom called, knocking a fist on the door, "Najarin, are you home? We need some help! Please, it's important!"

Silence. I licked my lips, nervous. What if Najarin wasn't going to answer because he knew I was the one who'd killed all those Creatures? What if he sent us away and The Virus just kept spreading further until—

The door creaked open and there stood the OverWorld Muge himself, clad in his usual blue. My jaw tightened. I had the sudden urge to bite him. I think Najarin sensed this because he looked right at me. For an instant, our eyes met and then he tore his gaze away and looked at Tom.

"What is the meaning of this intrusion, Thomas?" He asked in his baritone voice.

"I-it's Kaz, you know, my best friend." Tom pointed at me over his shoulder with a distraught expression, "The UnderWorlders, they—!"

There was a popping noise and a flash of blue light and the next thing I knew, we were all standing in a huge, living room-like area. The carpet was a thick blue thing, a large, round, wooden coffee table was sitting in the middle of the room, and an odd assortment of mismatched couches and chairs were situated around it.

"Sit." Najarin said, taking a high-backed wooden chair for himself.

H'earring took a footstool, Peyton sunk into a squishy armchair, Tom and Sarah sat in a love seat (probably without realizing what it was), and I managed to orient myself on a wide couch.

"What has happened?" Najarin asked, "No, Thomas, not you. Him." The Muge pointed and me and I suddenly felt we were doing something kind of stupid. Najarin had that affect on people.

"I think it's been six or seven months now…" I said slowly, "I was kidnapped by the UnderWorlders and…" I told him what I could. I didn't trust Najarin like I trusted H'earring and my friends. Najarin listened silently and so did my companions. It was harder telling it the second time around. When I'd finished, Najarin sat stroking his beard, clearly thinking.

"I can most likely rid you of this Virus," He said carefully and my heart soared, "But I probably do not have the ability to remove the armor." I felt crushed. It must have showed on my face too because Najarin said a little too quickly, "But I'm sure that Garv may be able to. After getting rid of The Virus, I suggest you go see him."

"Great, more traveling…" H'earring grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oh, don't act like you don't like it." I said, "Besides, it's not like you can go back to the Under World now…" I trailed off. I had suddenly realized the enormity of what H'earring had done. He'd betrayed his whole tribe just to help me. He would be marked as a traitor and if he ever showed his face in the UnderWorld again, he'd be killed. I'd driven him out of his own home.

"It seems that all of you have sacrificed something in order to help your companion." Najarin said, looking between all of us. I hated the way he kept scrutinizing me; it reminded me too much of the way Ulmar used to poke at me like a lab rat. I glared at him when I thought he wasn't looking.

"I suggest that you rest, for now." The old Muge continued as though he didn't see me glowering at him, "You've had a rather rough journey and—."

"Rest!?" Tom shouted, leaping to his feet. Sarah grabbed his arm warningly but he shook her off, "My best friend is being messed up by that Virus and you want us to rest!? No way! Why can't you—!?"

"Thomas Majors!" I flinched. Najarin's voice crackled with power. It made my scales itch, "I am doing what I can for you now! If you do not wish to have my help then leave!"

Tom fell back onto the couch, shocked. We'd never seen Najarin angry and it was frightening. H'earrng had ducked behind the footstool he'd been sitting on. The invisible cloud of power that had been frothing around the OverWorlder subsided and he calmed himself.

"I shall have rooms prepared for you." Najarin raised a hand and the door opened. A figure stepped into the room; a female Creature with goldenrod colored skin, curling golden horns, and a satyr-like appearance. With a pang, I thought of Cherri, "This is Atrum, my assistant. She will help you." He gestured, "Go on, follow her. You will find hot baths and meals in your rooms."

Sarah and Peyton stood up, followed by H'earring. I stretched and went into a spasm of agony. I remembered hitting the floor and screaming in pain but after that was nothing but the dark fury of the painful convulsions. The Virus had struck again.


I woke up to feeling of silken fabric catching on my scales, the smell of cinnamon and wood smoke, and the soothing sound of a pan flute. I pulsed with a thudding pain but it was dulled and felt only like a bruise. Over my entire body.

I forced my eyes open and saw a thick curtain of cerulean blue. I reached out and pushed it aside. A wall of pale blue-gray met my eyes, two dark blue plushy chairs were situated against it, and sparkles of white light danced across the wall. I stretched and slid out from underneath the silken sheet that was covering me. I heard it snag and rip on my scales and felt a little bad for ruining Najarin's sheets.

The floor beneath my feet was polished wood, a set of ivory double doors were across from the end of the bed, and heavy silver baubles rimmed in gold were strung from the ceiling on silver wires, reflecting the candlelight from the chandelier and smoking slightly. They were probably the source of the relaxing scent covering the room.

I walked stiffly around the other side of the bed and saw the Creature from last night—Atrum, I remembered her name was—sitting on a small couch against the far wall next to which was situated a dresser of drawers. She was playing a sweet tune on the pan flute in her hands and I quirked my head to the side to listen. She noticed the movement and stopped.

We stared at one another.

"So…you are the one they call Ghost." She said in a flat sort of voice like it didn't matter but there was a look in her eye that made me think otherwise. She didn't trust me. I couldn't blame her.

"I guess so…" I murmured and cringed at the sound of my own voice. It didn't even sound like me anymore.

"Are you feeling better?"

"What do you think!?" I snapped and regretted it immediately. Atrum looked hurt. I stared at the floor. It spun, I slipped, fell, and crashed into the wall, "Oooowwwww…" I wasn't as steady on my feet as I thought.

"Maybe you should eat something." Atrum hooked a hand under my arm and helped me upright and I instinctively leaned on her for support.

"I'll eat when I'm human again." I grumbled and when I saw the look on Atrum's face I said, "I hate it that you all think I wanted to become this." I pushed away from her, stumbled against the wall again, and fell out the door.

Atrum didn't follow me but I felt her eyes on me as I dragged myself down the hall.

I didn't care anymore.

I just wanted to be Kaz again.

Or, at the very least, I wanted to look like him.


This chapter was short too!? What the heck!? Oh well, at least it stopped at an interesting part. Think about that last line real hard; it's pretty deep stuff.

I remembered that Creature that was with Najarin in, um—what was it?—Eye of Maelstrom but I didn't know if she had a name or not so I just gave her one. Atrum is actually Latin for dark so…I guess it really doesn't make sense. But I was tired when I was typing it. So there.

Meh.