Dragon Adventurer collection Page 10

My house had changed when I woke up, but the layout had mostly stayed the same. That floor plan was now gone. Instead, the whole ground floor was a large open chamber stretching out in front of me. The only thing breaking up the space was a large grand staircase, leading down, that had been set into the middle of the room.

  All my rooms were gone, eaten up by a dungeon. All of my stuff--the gold, my book, and the thing I think I secretly wanted the most, my chair--was gone. Anger swept in, and my tail began to lash out a furious rattle. I stomped back out.

  “Whoa! Hey Jake, are you alright?” Carah looked at me in alarm as she slowly walked over.

  “My stuff is gone.” I managed to growl out.

  “Looters?” Brittany asked, sympathy in her voice.

  “No. Dungeon.”

  “I’m sorry…” Carah stopped as what I said registered.

  “Wait! What?” Brittany asked.

  “That Dungeon ate my house!” I jabbed a finger at the house.

  “H-hold on!” Brittany stepped up to look into the house. “Are you sure?”

  “It’s my damn… It was mine!”

  “Jake! Calm down!” Carah said, reaching up to put a hand on my shoulder. “We understand. But getting angry isn’t going to fix it.”

  That was…annoyingly right. I let out a huff. “Not that easy,” I muttered as my tail continued to lash.

  “I know. Trust me. I know.” Carah gave my shoulder a quick rub. “We’ve been there.”

  “If this is another dungeon, we need to tell Axle! This is a huge find!” Brittany was standing in what used to be my doorway. “We have to head back to the city!”

  I blinked.

  “You want me to just leave this thing?” I said, rounding on Brittany. I almost growled out my words. “It stole my stuff!”

  She took an involuntarily step back, her eyes going wide.

  Carah stepped in between us, her hands held up. “Hey. Chill, okay? Yes, telling them is the right thing to do, but” she said quickly, seeing the look on my face, “we don't have to leave here to do it. I can message Axle really quick. Then, when the rest of the gang gets here we can-”

  A hole opened up in her shoulder. Her eyes opened wide. She let out a scream.

  “Wha...!” Brittany cried as she ran toward her sister.

  With a grinding pop, Carah slid forward and fell to the ground. Red drops were falling, seemingly out of midair. They drew a line as they withdrew as if readying for another strike.

  Oh, shit!

  I didn't have time to think. I grabbed Brittany by the waist, hauling her up before she realized what was going on. Even as she began to struggle, I leaned forward and spat a ball of fire at the trail of blood, but in my haste, my aim was off, and the blast veered to the right.

  “Shit!” a male voice cried out.

  The fireball burst on something. A voice screamed as a fiery shape threw itself to the ground, trying to roll out the flames. Two other voices cried out as bits of flame seemed to land on thin air to the sides of the first shape.

  Crap! Glad I hit something but, whoever it is, isn't alone!

  I dashed forward, grabbed Carah by the wrist and dragged her backward as I ran back into the dungeon. I threw the twins inside before slamming the door behind me and locking the latch. Thank god it was fixed. Must have been when my house became a dungeon.

  “Carah!” Brittany was at her sister’s side in a second. “Oh no. That was an Inquisitors…” Brittany struggled with a pouch at her waist. “Come on, come on!” she said impatiently. With a cry, she pulled out a small vial and fought with the cork.

  I didn't see what happened next as something slammed heavily at the door.

  “Shit!”

  Another blow rocked the door and made the hinges squeal.

  “I thought that Inquisitors were all Day One! That’s not something a human can do!” I shouted.

  “Well they couldn't turn invisible before either! I hadn't heard anything about them doing that!” Brittany yelled back.

  That made me wince. Should I have told them? I figured the news would have spread.

  Another loud slam. The door wasn't going to last long.

  My lamp had overrun the light of the room. With it here, we might have a chance.

  I spun to face the twins to let them know the plan and noticed two things.

  One, Carah was sitting upright. While she was still holding her shoulder, it wasn't looking nearly as bad.

  The other was that neither of them had any weapons!

  “Where the hell are your swords!”

  “We weren't exactly planning on leaving the city today!” Brittany snapped.

  “Don't have time for this!” Carah grunted. “Jake! Break a window at the back. B the swallow is in my right-hand pouch. Message Axle!”

  Sounded like as good a plan as any.

  I ran to the back of the room, releasing my great sword from storage as I went, and rammed the hilt into the window. Unlike in the movies, all that did was leave a small cracked hole in the window. Thankfully this was easily widened by dragging the handle to the right.

  Turning to face the twins, I saw the door buckle under the force of another blow.

  I ran back over to them as Brittany began to mutter to a clay bird that she held in her hands. Just as I reached them, she threw the bird into the air towards the broken window. With a firecracker-like pop, the bird blew to pieces. Before I could blink, a mist-like blue sparrow flitted out of the remains of the clay bird and flew out the broken window.

  Brittany looked over in alarm as the door shook again. “Will the door hold?”

  “No,” I said, shaking my head. “Maybe a few more blows? Most likely, not even that.” I looked over at the window. “We might be able to get out that way…”

  Carah shook her head. “Then Axle won’t be able to find us, and we’ll be running through the streets chased by invisible killers. No thanks. Only one way to go.” She looked at the stairs down. Waves of heat flooded up the staircase, warming the whole room to what was, for me, a nice temperature, but I was sure would’ve been uncomfortable for anyone else.

  “What? No!” Brittany jabbed a finger downward. “That’s way too dangerous! Last time we went down in one of these, we had trouble even with the whole team! And I only have one more of those healing potions!”

  A huge bang hit the door. The top hinge snapped free from the door frame.

  “No more time for arguments! Can you handle the heat?” I asked.

  It was the first time I had seen Carah glare. “Were half-demons from hell. We can handle it.”

  “Alright then.”

  A screech sounded from the door.

  Time to go! I ran forward and grabbed the girls by the waist as the sound of the splintering door came from behind us. I almost flew down the steps as it finally gave way behind us.

  We thundered down the steps. The stone around us shifted from the normal Ohio sandstone to red marble as we descended. The temperature increased as well, becoming… Well, for me it still felt only pleasantly hot, but from the heat shimmers in the air, I had to think it was starting to boil.

  “Holy hell! Its fucking hot!” Brittany let out before covering her mouth, eyes wide.

  I will admit I almost dropped her when that slipped out.

  Carah, on the other hand, just stared at her sister for a moment before bursting out in laughter. Eventually she managed to get it under control. “Oh, my shoulder! Don't make me laugh like that B!”

  Brittany was blushing a deep purple. “S-shut up!” She punched me in the arm. “Now put us down! They won’t be following us!”

  “You sure?” I asked as I dropped them. I turned to make sure my lamp shone on the stairs just in case.

  “Oh yeah. This would be tough for a Day One. It would be tough for just about anyone except the right type of Day Four or Five.” Carah glanced over at Brittany. “I'm not sure that Axle or Drake can get down here…”

  Something on the stairs seemed to st
ep into view. A shadow attached to jack diddly.

  They won’t be following us, my ass.

  Thank god whoever it was was going slow. Probably trying for a sneak attack.

  “Well, whatever comes next, let’s at least get you two slightly armed first.” I was trying to be nonchalant. I'm pretty sure I failed, but neither of the twins said anything.

  I searched my storage, wincing at the load of information that was shoved into my head.

  Shoot! I never pulled my heat dagger out of the chimney!

  Well, live and learn…hopefully.

  I pulled out two of the daggers, fourth-year and sixth, and handed them over to the girls. I picked those two, because they were the longest of the set. Fourth-year was a long dagger with a curved blade; it almost looked like a small scimitar except the hilt swung back up to support another blade that acted as a hand guard. Sixth-year was… a strange bugger. It had been built around a long, thin piece of lapis lazuli. The thing had twin blades that climbed out of the handle, slid up grooves in the stone and met at the top to completely seal the stone in place. It looked awesome and had cost more than I could afford at the time, but hey.

  “Wow…flashy.” I twitched at Brittany’s tone.

  “Well, if you don't like it, you don't have to use it.” I crossed my arms, using the movement as an opportunity to check on the shadow. It was about halfway down the steps now. Thankfully there only seemed to be the one. I still had no idea how to tell the girls without letting the inquisitor know that I knew he was there.

  “No, I’ll use it. Just wish you had something more functional.” She swung the blade at a nearby wall. The lapis glowed slightly as the blade telescoped out. It struck and left a path along the wall before the blade retracted back to its normal size.

  I felt my mouth hanging open.

  “Holy…!” Carah said quietly.

  “I take it back. Thanks!” Brittany smiled.

  “A loan. I want them back afterward!”

  “I never said I wouldn’t give it back!” she huffed, but I could see her shoulders droop a little.

  Glancing at the stairs again, I saw the shadow was nearing the bottom. If I was gonna make a move, this was the time.

  I turned, grabbed up my great sword and ran toward the stairs.

  I started by aiming a fireball at the spot where the shadow met the stairs.

  “Shit!” said a distinctly male voice. It sounded familiar, too.

  The flames outlined a shape that threw itself to the side as I swung my great sword through the spot it had just occupied. There was a clattering sound, and I saw a scorpion rapier appear as if from midair and go skidding across the room!

  Thank god!

  “What the…!” Brittany called out from behind me.

  “Grab that fucking sword!” I snapped.

  I swung my great sword back along its path as I stepped backward, hoping to keep the inquisitor off balance while my eyes readjusted.

  Note to self. Fireball is a good tactic, except when you need to keep track of something hard to see…like a shadow.

  There was a snarl from below and to the left. Something round popped into existence flying toward my head.

  I didn't even think. Bending low and charging forward to get under the thing, I aimed a kick at the point where the snarl had come from.

  I connected as something hit the scales on my side. It screeched at first as it was dragged back and then broke through to slice into my ribs.

  A fucking backup weapon!

  I swung down and out in a low sweep.

  “Fuck!” the male voice cried. It was almost right in front of me.

  I glanced down trying to get a bead on his shadow. There!

  I hacked down only to see the person throw themselves to the side again.

  My tail lashed out as he passed, blood dripping from its tip.

  “You…!” he shouted and lashed out, hacking deep into my tail.

  I couldn't help myself. I let out a scream as I whipped my sword around in an upward curve.

  With an answering scream, a figure popped into being. There was a wet, meaty sound as something hit the ground between us.

  Vinny stood there before us. The bleeding stump, where his arm had once been, was pressed up against his side as he tried to stop the flow.

  “Uncle Vinny?” Brittany let out a startled cry.

  “Fucking devil!” Vinny snapped. “Don't call me that! I can’t stand it! A Pure like me being related to a thing like you!”

  With a flash of movement, he swung his cleaver at me again. “Just die!” he roared.

  As startled as I was, I didn't get out of the way in time. The cleaver slammed down into my shoulder cutting through scale and muscle until it hit bone.

  “Gonna carve you up like the animal you are!” he shouted over my scream. He hauled back for a cut at my neck as I fell to my knees clutching the wound.

  There was a wet sound and Vinny jerked, the cleaver falling from his hands.

  Sticking out of his chest were two inches of steel, dripping with a sickly green slime.

  I watched the light leave his eyes as the steel retracted and his corpse hit the floor. Behind him, Carah stood holding the rapier.

  “Uncle Vinny!” Brittany screamed. “Carah!”

  “He was trying to kill us, Brittany.” Her voice was almost monotone as she spoke. “Us or him.”

  “But…!”

  “No ‘buts!’ You heard him!” Carah’s voice cracked as she shouted at her sister.

  In the moment of silence that followed, a flash of light shone from under my gauntlet. It bathed my shoulder wound in a blue light. I blinked down at my hand for a moment, before realizing that both girls were glaring at me.

  “Sorry!” I held up both my hands, realizing as I shifted that my shoulder didn't hurt anymore. I did feel pretty damn tired though.

  “You fucking should be!” Brittany snapped.

  “He didn't do anything!”

  “He cut off Uncle Vinny’s arm!”

  “Uncle Vinny tried to kill me!” Carah screamed. “There was blood on the blade! He’s the one who stabbed me!”

  Brittany took a step back. Her eyes went wide.

  This should feel more awkward or maybe scary. I should probably be thinking of something to do to calm them down, but all I really want to do is lay down. Maybe take a nap or something.

  “No. No, he wouldn't do something like that!”

  “He just did! Right here in front of you!”

  I felt myself sinking down. As I reached out to try and hold myself up, my hand hit something wet and quickly cooling. That was going to be very uncomfortable when I laid down. I mean if I fell over. I stored whatever it was.

  Much better.

  “Uncle Vinny,” there was loathing in Carah’s voice, “is a member of the Inquisitors!” She gestured at the body. The blood was already drying in the heat of the dungeon. “He may even have been the one…”

  I hit the stone floor, my sword clattering on the ground.

  The girls spun around looking like they were going to yell at me, but for some reason, they stopped. Looking at me, their eyes went wide.

  “Sorry…,” I muttered again as my eyes began to close. So tired.

  “Jake!”

  “Night,” I mumbled.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Chapter 13

  It was a struggle to open my eyes. Something felt wrong. I could feel my tail already starting to beat.

  I was in an unfamiliar room. I tried to raise my head, but my body felt like it had been strapped to the…

  I was strapped to a table.

  Shit!

  I could feel the straps as they passed over every limb. This was definitely not good.

  Then I realized what felt wrong.

  Everything was gone--rings, gauntlets, weapon, lamp, even my shirt! All gone! My eyes snapped open, and I began to desperately look around the room.

  Okay. I took a deep breath as I saw
my lamp flickering away. It dominated the light of the room. That at least was a little calming. But I still didn't know where the rest of my stuff was.

  Actually, I should probably be more worried about where I was, shouldn't I.

  “Jake?” A voice cut into my thoughts. “Jake, are ya awake?”

  I knew that voice. “Charlie, where the hell is my stuff!”

  “Ya really asked about that first?” she sighed as she stepped into my field of view. “Not, ‘Where am I?’ Or ‘Are Carah and Brittany okay?’ Or even, ‘Good to see ya, Charlie?’”

  “It’s good to see you, Charlie? Now, can you show me my stuff? And maybe unstrap me?” I paused a second. “How are they?”

  “They’re…doing alright, considering. They’re working with some counselors.” She looked down at the floor. “Never would have thought it of Vinny.”

  “He seemed nice when I met him. If I hadn't seen…” I thought back to that look of fury and hate on his face. “It’s only been what ten days? How does someone get that much hate in so little time?” I tried to turn my head only to be reminded that I was strapped down. “Not to break the mood, but can you unstrap me now? Please? And my stuff?”

  Charlie watched me for a second. “Ya know, when we tried to take everything off ya to check your wounds, ya punched out a doc. And he’s no slouch.”

  “I did?”

  “Yup.”

  “So…if I promise not to hit you, will you let me up?” It was worth a shot.

  She watched me for a second, then shrugged. “Fine.” She stepped forward and began to undo the straps one by one. “But if ya lie, I'm not gonna forgive ya.”

  Thank god. That was one thing but…

  Charlie pointed. “Your little hoard is on the table, there.”

  I sat up as she undid the leg strap. I did a quick visual count.

  Everything appeared to be accounted for. I let out a sigh and felt myself relaxing.

  And then I noticed I was missing a ring. The blue gold lapis ring was gone!

  “Charlie! I'm missing a…!”

  “It’s on your finger.”

  I looked down. Yup, she was right. “Oh, thanks.”

  “No need to thank me. The docs don't know why, but it wouldn't budge.” She shrugged. “It was black when we brought you back. Color’s been coming back while you slept.” Charlie was eying me. “Is it really that big a deal for ya to check on your stuff?”