"Is she breathing?" Asked Edaniel, rushing to his brother's side.
"Yes…. But barely." He sighed. "Go get something to treat her burns and some water." Edaniel nodded and conjured the items. Edrear gently washed and bandaged her burnt arms and legs, whilst Edaniel (in his human form) rested her head in his lap and tried to get her to drink some water. Her breathing slowly became normal again.
Her eyes fluttered open just as the sun began to rise. Edrear's relieved face smiled down at her. Her cheeks felt warm.
"Feeling ok?" asked Edaniel, lifting her up to a sitting position. She slowly shook her head. Her whole body felt of fire.
"Fire! The town… the children… what?" she stuttered.
"It's all been fixed. But at quite a price," Edrear motioned to her bandaged form, "Those are pretty severe burns. I think you should stay put for awhile." Dinah shook her head.
"I can't my aunt is probably already wondering where I am. Don't worry I can hide these pretty easily under my school uniform." She tried to stand but collapsed as pain seared through every limb. Edrear carefully lifted her into his arms.
"Edaniel?" He nodded. Edaniel lead the way down a new passageway, lighted by blue torches and lined with glittering tiles of a deep green. At the end was a big gate, Edrear kicked the mausoleum's insignia in the center, the gates flew open and the room beyond lit instantly. In the center of the room was a big four poster bed engraved in swords and shields. The walls were lined with paintings of every size and color. A mirror was against one wall, a small chest against the other.
"Where are we and why do strange doors and passages keep appearing in this place?" Dinah quizzed.
"For one thing sweet cheeks," Edaniel began, "Shit keeps appearing 'cause we feel like making it appear. And secondly we are now in Edrear's room. This is where he stays when not doing random ghost business." He shifted into his cat form once again and hopped upon the bed.
She raised an eyebrow as Edrear set her next to his brother. He blushed slightly, and murmured a quick apology. "So… how am I supposed to pull off the fact that its morning and I'm not home and my aunt is probably freaking out?" She repeated.
"I sent a note saying you went to school early to catch up on random smart person stuff." Edaniel nodded.
"Yeah… If she believes that then I'm the luckiest person known to man." She sighed.
"Worry not Miss Dinah," Edrear intervened, "You shall be well soon enough to pull it off." She threw a glare his way. He backed away with his hands up. "Um… Brother, can you call her?" Edaniel laughed and waved his wand.
The lights flickered. "What ever is the matter?!" spoke a flash of purple light. "I was in the middle of something important." A woman stepped from the light. She was garbed in a long renaissance gown of deep crimson and gold. Her hair was a rich yellow and fell to her knees. Her face was small and her eyes were a shocking mix of blue and purple. She smiled at the brothers.
"My most humble apologies, sister." Edrear bowed, "But we are in dire need of your assistance." She jerked her hand and Edrear rose.
The woman glanced at Dinah's injured form. "Edrear? Why is the human agent girl in your bed?" she gave Edrear a skeptical look. Her face turned to an expression of sheer horror. "On second thought I don't want to know." She turned away laughing. Edrear turned a bright scarlet.
"No, no, no I swear it's not like that." His hands waved frantically.
"Uh huh sure," Edaniel smiled. Dinah's cheeks burned.
"Um…. Who are you? If i may ask..." Dinah asked, slightly embarrassed.
"Oh pardon me," Edrear started, "I forgot to introduce everyone. Dinah this is the fourth tower guard, my older sister Elala. Sister this is our newest human agent Dinah. Which you probably already knew that." He bowed again.
"It's very nice to make your acquaintance Miss Dinah." Elala smiled.
"Uh… likewise." Dinah returned, extending a hand. Which she pulled back when she realized Elala wasn't going to shake it.
"So why did you call me here?!" Elala glared in Edaniel's general direction.
"We need your help," he said, glancing sideways back at her. She raised an eyebrow again. "See Dinah there has gotten badly burned. We were wondering if you might… you know… like heal her. At least enough so she can go home today."
"Well you could have said so earlier. How rude to keep that poor girl in such pain. I knew it, you both need more training, and you can't keep killing off agents like flies." She sat and ran her hands down Dinah's arms. Instantly the burning sensation cooled. "Better?" Dinah nodded. She finished her spell and unwound Dinah's bandages. Dinah's arms and legs were slightly red and a little scarred but otherwise fine. "Those scars should fade by the end of the week." Elala gave Dinah a small smile.
"I'm gonna go now, I don't want to be late to school." Dinah said and made her departure.
"Well that was uneventful." Elala said raising her hand to open the passageway to her room but suddenly dropped it. "WEll, while im out and about i better make sure you didn't mess up anywhere else in the mausoleum. Shall we check the unbearable vaults first? How many do we have now? Two or three?"
"Two"The boys nodded and led the way. They opened the door and she descended the steps. A moment passed.
"YOU GET YOUR SORRY ASSES DOWN HERE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!" came her angered cries. The boys did as told, both shell shocked at her sudden outburst.
"What's the matter?" Edaniel asked hanging back slightly.
She pointed in fired rage. "There is only one here." She whispered dangerously, "And there is ONE BROKEN AND EMPTY VAULT!!!!!!!!!" she cried shoving the two surprised guardians at the shattered cell door. Neither moved, "You better fix this and fast. If I find that that thing has done anything to harm anyone, both of you are screwed for the rest of your immortal guardian lives."
"Meaning…?" Edaniel ventured, receiving a quick bow jab from Edrear.
"Don't push it." Edrear whispered.
"Meaning…" Elala smiled, "That you two will be training from dusk to dusk every day for a hundred years, you will have no contact with any human agent we may have in that time, and i will personally make certain you feel the fiery wrath of hell. Am i understood?!" She whispered, eyes blazing with rage. The boys nodded quickly. "Good! Now clean up this mess, I'll let Eniri know her meeting with Dinah has been postponed till you two catch that unbearable." With that she left.
"Well…" Edrear sighed, "that went… not so good."
"No kidding," Edaniel gasped, letting out the breath he had been holding the majority of the lecture.
"If that thing harms anything, our heads are skipping the chopping block…" Edrear started.
"And going straight to Elala's vengeful hands," Edaniel finished. Both shivered.
"You don't think?" The guardians said simultaneously. They bolted out the door.