Chapter Three Quest Lock

 The Beginnings Of A Quest

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew and Chashathrophogh were looking at many maps in his house, wondering where the dark lord would most likely be. They looked at all the maps in the house and they still came to a blank. Truth was they hardly knew anything about him, so, this made it just as hard for them to find him. They had been doing this for a whole week.

As the day wore on, she found it odd to see him like this. She could even see that the faces that he pulled and the thorough way that he scanned each map, reminded her of herself. In fact, over the past week, she had noticed that there were many things that did this. In fact she found it quite chilling to see. She wondered if this was why her mother and her never truly saw eye to eye.

She was about to speak. After all, she knew that they were both hungry, and just like her he pointed at her to be quiet. So she did.

Is this how he does it? Is this how he finds people like me and him? Maybe he used a spell? If so, then it is no wonder that he was able to find me! She concluded as he huffed out of frustration.

"I can't seem to find him. Why can't I find him?" He snapped.

"Tell me, how do you find us?" She asked.

He frowned slightly, as what she had just asked him was absurd. Yet she had to elaborate.

"Royals born out of wedlock."

"Oh, well, that is easy! After all, all I need to do is find out which royals are born with magic." He snapped.

"And there isn't any magic involved?" She asked.

He looked at her as he frowned for a moment, this quickly turned into a malicious predatorial smile. He then slowly nodded as the gears were working in his head. She got the grim suspicion that he put a dangerous idea in his head. Yet she knew that once he had this idea planted it was already too late.

"Yes…I think that I could…" He said as he looked down.

"I command the location to be shown to me, the one who bound me to thee!" He cast.

Is that it?

Soon the maps flicked in the air and one landed on the table in front of them. Bounty Hunter Bash Drew looked down, her eyes widened as she quickly recognised the place that the map was based off. She not only knew the place but how to get there.

"That's Kira Castle!"

"You know that place?"

"Yes! That was where Tiryoh the tyrant was hiding out. Although I do admit it was an underwhelming job." She explained.

"As in the Tiryoh who's kingdom fell fifteen years ago. I thought that he died years ago! How did you find him?" He asked, clearly impressed.

"Long story, let's just say, he got reckless. But that's not important at the moment, now I think that I can get us there within a fortnight from here." She said as she lit up. 

This was something that Chashathrophogh noticed with a sympathetic smile. He patted her on her shoulder.

"Enjoying yourself dear niece?" He mocked 

Her smile spread as she looked him in the eye.

"Why! Definitely dear uncle." She said, with an eagerness in her eyes.  "Now, when are we getting a move on?"

"Tomorrow, now, I'll show you where you could sleep. I can tell that none of us had a good sleep over the past week." He said with a yawn.

He led her up the stairs and she was guided to a room next to his. There she saw a grey bed and she saw a fair few symbols that were from the Desert Planes. She could see that the shelves were filled with artefacts of all kinds of places. She spotted a pendant in the centre of the room. It had a stone in it that lit up scarlet. She looked at it and soon recognized that it was the demon suppressing pendant.

"Who would usually sleep here?" She asked.

"A friend!" He yawned.

"Wait, you have friends?"

"Good night dear niece!" He sighed as he walked to his room.

They both slept through the whole night. Then in the morning they both got ready. During the early hours of the mooring, Chashathrophogh taught her how to make bread from scratch. Yet he also taught her how to use magic to make it last longer than usual. Once they both had an equal amount of food and clothes, some of which were Chashathrophogh's old clothes that fit her.

"Remember, magic is activated by your will."

She nodded.

His eyes widened slightly as he only just noticed that, beside some features that belonged to her father, she looked identical to him. 

"So, let's go! After all, I want my bounty!"

He let out a laugh, knowing that would have been something that he would say if he was in her position.

"Yes, and I want to get back to killing alone, and I don't want to get attached to you. After all, I don't want to be held back."

"All the more reason to get a move on! Also, what do you mean 'get attached' to me? Didn't know you could get attached to someone!"

He let out a sigh.

"Looks like I have said too much, dear niece."

They soon came to the door and Bounty Hunter Bash Drew suddenly stopped.

"What?"

"Let's make a deal." She said as she held out her hand. "No killing unless you have to and if anyone we encounter on our journey has a bounty on their heads, I get the bounty."

He thought for a moment. Then shrugged.

"Deal." He said as he shook and then they were off.

The Bounty Hunter

For a while the two of them walked in complete silence. Not because they did not wish to talk to one another, but because they had nothing to say. Neither of them saw the point of banter for banter's sake. In fact, both of them actually enjoyed the silence as they walked with the breeze in their long hair.

They did not see any point in getting to know the other, nor setting up a connection either. After all, Chashathrophogh wanted to kill Bounty Hunter Bash Drew, and Bounty Hunter Bash Drew wanted to collect her bounty. So what was the point? Even if they were family. Both of them knew that this was no factor in what they wanted to do.

They did look at each other, sometimes. Yet for their own curiosity, wishing to ask the other things about the family member that connected them. For Cashathrophogh, it was whether or not his sister made a good queen and if she married a good man. He could not deny that he was extraordinarily curious. 

For Bounty Hunter Bash Drew it was wanting to know what her mother was like as a child. She had often wondered which parent she took after at her age. (Although she was realising that it was neither.) She wanted to know about her grandparents on that side too… Yet she knew that after what she had heard, she was concerned that it would be too insensitive.

The silence between them was soon interrupted by the sound of wheels. They barely glanced at the carriage as it stopped by them.

"Ha! Where are we going at this early hour?" Asked the man pulling the carriage.

"We need to get to the next town as fast as we can. Mind if you gave us a lift?" She asked.

"Sure you 'n' your uncle can hitch a lift! I'm sure that it ain't cosy, but the hay's comfortable enough!" He commented.

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew gave a worried glance at her uncle. He shrugged but kept his guard up.

"Thank you sir. How very kind of you!" He said as he smiled with a relieved smile. "Tell me, my dear niece, is that not mind if the man!?"

Laying it on thick there aren't you? She thought as she too smiled her best naïve and relieved smile.

"Yes, and don't worry about the hay. After all, it's better than nothing and walking for ages and ages. Don't you agree dear uncle?"

He nodded enthusiastically, with also the same false naiveté.

"So, is this how you get from place to place?" She whispered.

He smiled deviously, almost as if he was showing off.

"A naïve persona makes people underestimate you." He whispered back as they got on the hay.

They looked at the man as they set off.

"So, where are you from, kind sir?" He asked.

"Ah! One o' the lower towns."

"A farmer?"

He chuckled.

"Yeah! Of sorts!"

"What type?"

"People!"

"Oh? You-you're not-" She stuttered timidly, pressing into Chashathrophogh, to make it more believable that she was scared.

He put an arm around her.

"Oh Strena no!" He laughed jolly.

She bowed her head as an uneasy feeling started stirred in the pit of her stomach as she knew that only one group of people cursed by that name. A name that, she too, cursed by. Her uncle gave her a look that he too knew what she had figured out.

"But, whatever it is that you do. Wouldn't it put a price on peoples heads?" He asked, giving something for his niece something to smile about.

"Sir, I collect them!"

"But does- does that mean that there could be a price on your head?" He asked, dropping his persona slightly.

He chuckled.

"Planning on taking mine, do ya?"

"No!"

"I wasn't asking you."

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew quickly realised that he was talking to her, and that the man knew who they were right from the beginning.

"Depends on how much is on it!"

"Well truth be told, far too much." He said.

"I mean, what price is it, exactly?"

"Oh, last I checked. Three emeralds and one gold." He said.

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew's eyes widened and lit up.

That's enough to last us quite some time!

"And how much is ours?" Chashathrophogh asked.

"Well, that's the interesting part. Far more than I'd ever seen!"

"The number."

"One Philosopher's stone. Each!" He said with a wide smile

Looks like my life as a bounty hunter is about to get more interesting.

She then drew her bow and took out her bow and quiver. 

"Looks like I'm going to cash in." She declared. "Uncle Chashathrophogh, leave this one to me."

He cringed slightly but quickly masked it.

"Please be my guest." 

The bounty hunter burst out laughing. Although it was more like a roar as he pulled over. They both got out and Cashathrophogh sat there. He looked carefully at them. Undoubtedly getting ready to analyse her fighting so that he knew exactly what she could do.

"I'd like to see you try princess." He said and then he looked at Chashathrophogh. "And you, what about you princey? You gonna just sit there 'n' watch your precious little dear niece get butchered?"

"No, if she says she can handle you, then I am inclined to believe her. Also, only I get to call her that."

"So I assume that there's no love between you two?"

"No."

With that said Bounty Hunter Bash Drew drew her arrow and fired. The bounty hunter dived aside but she anticipated that and fired another where he was going to be and it went deep into his shoulder. He pulled out a knife as he did, as he winced at the pain. He then flung it at her and she used her magic to fly away. 

Suddenly she was glad that she had magic, after all, if she didn't then she knew that she would be dead. She spotted another that dug itself into her shoulder before she could even react. This made it hard for her to use her bow. So the next shots missed, but in spite of that they almost hit their targets. As she soon was able to get her adrenalin up she was able to ignore the pain and she soon deflected another dagger with her arrow. She hit dagger after dagger until he no longer had any left. She then picked up the nearest arrow and soon had an arrow in his thigh. 

However he pulled it out and threw it aside and then drew a golden hilted blade, in the shape of a dragon and the blade looked like his silver fire. In the corner of her eye she saw that Chashathrophogh's eyes sparkled as they met this blade and a smile twitched at the corner of his mouth.

So, you like it too...

She picked up one of the blades and an arrow. With the dagger she deflected her blade and pushed it aside and then spun and with the point of the arrow slit the back of his neck right down to the bone. This caused him to fall, incapable of movement. She picked up the sword and unbuckled its sheath. She then looked at the blasé for the name but there was none. She cocked her eyebrow. She then sheathed it.

"Here!" She called as she threw it to him.

"Thank you, dear niece!" He said as he caught it.

"Your welcome, dear uncle."

"But I thought that you were not closely knit?"

"We're not!"

"They why?"

"Because, my weapon's the bow, and he liked it. And, as I'm the bounty hunter that took you down, I have the right to my spoils." She explained. "Speaking of which, time for me to collect that price!"

They then moved to the nearest bounty post, which was placed on the side of the road where bounty hunters would collect their bounty without going straight to a bounty hunter tavern. Turned out he lied, he was worth three silver. Her lip curled.

Not even worth it!

The Assassin

As they rode on that day, they both spotted a shadow in the trees, in the corner of their eyes. Ordinarily one would not have seen them, but as both were all returned fighters on high alert, they noticed it and quicker than they ordinarily would. Their eyes moved to each other, let the other know that the other had noticed. This told them that neither would need to tell the other. Nor should they speak up.

It was during this time, Bounty Hunter Bash Drew and Chashathrophogh were very appreciative of the bounty hunter, regardless of how bad an investment he was. After all, the horses helped them cover more ground then they would on for. Also the carriage would prove to be a good sleeping spot and place for storage.

Although Chashathrophogh had surprised her after dropping him off as he bound up her wounds. Even more surprising was just how gentle he had been about it. Yet she noticed the care in his eyes. This made bounty Hunter Bash Drew wonder, for a foolish moment, that maybe her uncle may have had a good side. 

However she had to remind herself who she was thinking about. She also had to give herself even more incentive not to give into her idea by reminding herself exactly how they met. She also had to keep in her mind what he would have done to her if they were not in the situation that they were in. She had to do this as clearly as she could.

Meanwhile he too was doubting that when this was all over that he would have it in him to kill her. After all he knew that part of him, just could not see him killing her anymore. Then he started to wonder something else too, would she have it in her to collect the bounty on his head too? Somehow he doubted that. He just could not see it. He just wanted to get this over with as soon as they could before, as he started to fear, they became close to each other.

Then his eyes glanced at the shadow that was following them, again. This confirmed it, whatever this shadow was, it was after them. 

Could it be another bounty hunter? If so then if he turns out to be another scam then I hardly care for her opinion I am going to kill him or her.

Meanwhile Bounty Hunter Bash Drew was making several observations. One, this shadow was far too silent to be a bounty hunter, no, only one bounty hunter was as quiet as that. Two, that if he had any magic they would be dead by now. No, this was not another bounty hunter.

In fact he acts more like a silent observer. I wonder if he is a spy to monitor us. If so then they might be a bounty on his or her head. If so, then if this is another scam then I am definitely going to let Chashathrophogh do what he wants.

She was so lost in her own thoughts that she did not notice the tiny dagger until Chashathrophogh had pushed her out of the way. Then the horses soon crashed down to the ground. Then the horses let out a loud neigh as three blades embedded themselves in their heads!

This was followed by a man with short black hair and cold grey eyes coming out of the shadows. By the F scar under his right eye, she immediately knew that they were not dealing with another bounty hunter. After all, there were only two bounty hunter assassins and they were always together. In fact one was the apprentice of the other. So no, this was an assassin.

Chashathrophogh gave Bounty Hunter Bash Drew the glance telling her that he was going to kill this one. Seeing that she was in no fit state to fight and that he had saved her life, she shrugged, giving him the signal that she was not protesting with this. He smirked.

"Good, now the two of you have no way to escape. I can deal with one of you one at a time." He taunted.

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew raised her eyebrow. 

That seals it, this one is an idiot!

"Dear uncle, whatever it is you're about to do, do it as fast as you can." She said, coolly.

"What? Not collecting the bounty?" He taunted jokingly.

"No, he killed our horses."

"Very well."

He then drew out the blade that Bounty Hunter Bash Drew got him. The assassin cocked his eyebrow as he too drew a blade. 

He then drew out tiny blades and threw them at him but he used his magic to curve them in the air so that none of them hit him and threw it back at him. He hit most of them away from him. But some of them dug into his shoulders. Chashathrophogh curled his lip at the pain. 

He then ran at him and was about to slit his throat when, with the flick of his wrist, Chashathrophogh blocked it. He then drew another blade and he went in to stab him in the ribs but he used his magic to stop it and then he looked the assassin in the eye and his blade flew out of his hand. He spun inwards and tried to slash the assassin but he ducked and drew his blade upwards. This too was blocked and hit his sword right out of his hand. It stabbed the bark of the tree behind him.

He then took out his blades and threw them at him and as he curved the assassin threw several more at him. But, again, he saw this coming and he used the curved blades and used them to block the blades in mid air. The assassin ran forwards and threw more but, this too was predicted and then dug even more of these tiny blades in his body.  He flew back and landed on his back.

"He told me that you were a challenge." He said as he laughed.

He rose up with a smirk. He then ran further on to him and then drew out a metal stake, but, before he could bury it in him Chashathrophogh took hold of his wrist and pulled him up and grabbed his stake and he dug it into his chest.

"You know I have a friend that uses those tiny blades. In fact he's a master of it. Unlike you. He was able to get many of them in me during our training sessions." He said as he dug the blade in deep. 

Leaving Bounty Hunter Bash Drew carried nothing but shock on his face. Knowing that she was way in over her head.

The Witch

They hardly spoke as they walked, already missing their carriage and the horses. Yet regardless of how much their limbs hurt, neither wanted to stop and take a break. So, by the time it was time to sit down to have tea, their feet throbbed so much that it felt like there were several hearts in them. If their feet could talk they would be swearing at them.

They, soon after they had eaten, went straight to sleep. Bounty Hunter Bash Drew woke up again from a nightmare that she could hardly remember. She looked over at Chashathrophogh. She, somehow, knew that whatever her dream was about, had involved him somehow. Yet she wished how. She looked at him sleeping and noticed that he looked quite pleasant despite who he was. She smiled as she went back to sleep.

In the early morning the following day they came to a small stable with a farmer out attending his crop in the fields. He looked over at them and squinted his eyes.

"What do you want?" He asked.

"Well, I want to buy a horse and a basic carriage." She told him   

"Why should I?" He asked.

She showed him some of her money that she had earned as a bounty hunter. He looked at this impressed. He then looked at her with a hungry look on his face.

"How much?" She asked.

He picked up three emerald coins. He smiled as he raised it up to the sun. He then disappeared and after a while Chashathrophogh became restless.

"I hope he isn't planning to steal those." He commented.

 "He'll be-"

He then guided a beautiful black horse with a long silver main and tail with neon green eyes. Followed by a dark brown open carriage, that was clearly for hey. He walked up to them.

"Deal!"

Soon they were back on the road with their new horse pulling the carriage. They looked at the beauty in front of them.

"What do you think that we should name him?" She asked.

"Is there any point?" He asked. 

"Yes." She said deadpan.

He let out a long sigh.

"Sedash." He moaned like he was dealing with a small child.

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew raised her eyebrow as a smile flicked at the side of her mouth.

"The first god of death, alright. I like it and it suits him." She admitted as her eye caught sight of a small old woman limping on the road.

"Thought you would." He said with a smirk.

She then heard a crash. She pulled over and looked back to see what it was. She then saw the old lady on the ground struggling to get up. 

"No, we don't have time." He told her before she had a chance to do anything.

"But, she is going in our direction and she's having trouble getting up!" She responded.

"Fine, but only to the next village. After all, we can't afford to have an old woman travel with us. After all, it is dangerous." Hewarned.

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew remembered what situation and then gulped. She nodded. She then got out and helped her up and then helped her onto the carriage and was back on the road again. 

"Oh thank you dearies. You're so kind!" She said sweetly.

"No we're not." He said deadpan.

"Oh you're such a handsome humble young man!" She said as she placed a hand on his cheek.

He huffed slightly.

"No, really I'm not."

"And modest too!"

"No, really he's not." 

"Well it doesn't matter, thank you two anyway." She said as she gave them both a kiss on the cheek.

Then just as Chashathrophogh was about to set off, their eyelids started to get heavy and then they crashed. They were asleep before they could feel anything as Sedash knelt and fell asleep too. 

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew and Chashathrophogh found themselves in a desert with an ink purple sky with crimson stars. The grains of sand that made the desert were maroon.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"A witches dream world. See I knew that we should not have pulled over." He snapped.

"How should I know?"

He huffed and rubbed his eyes.

"Never mind."

"Alright, now, how do we wake up?" She asked.

His eyes scanned the surroundings.

"We have to find the witch's dream avatar and kill it." He explained.

"And how are we to find out who or what that is?"

"Find someone or something that is out of place." He said as he looked around.

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew looked around throughout the bizarre landscape. Then she spotted it. A gigantic spider crawling their way at an unusual speed. She felt a chill run down her spine.

" Urm. Like that?" She asked, pointing at it.

"Yes! Like that!" He replied with a high pitched voice. 

He was just as pale as her.

"What?"

He shook his head.

"Nothing. Just imagine something that can be used as a weapon!" He shouted.

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew closed her eyes. She felt wood in her hands. She drew back the string and felt an arrow in her fingers. She opened her eyes and then aimed and fired. It hit the spider but it still came closer. She fired two and it hit the creature in two of its eyes. She then ran to the side and then hit the spider in the head and then another two in the butt. She then imagined the arrows lit up into an inferno that engulfed the spider.

"You're my niece alright!" He commented as the avatar died.

Their eyes flicked open just as the witch pulled down her knife. She was about to pull down the knife when they moved out of the way. With their hearts pumping and adrenaline coursing through their body. The witch looked at them dead in the eye. She looked both haggard and weakened by them breaking her spell and killing her dream avatar. 

Chashathrophogh ran to her as she dived away, but slowly this time. She raised her hands and the stones rose. She fired them at him. He dodged stone after stone and then stopped some and fired them back at her. She dodged  some but her old age made her slower. So some hit her. So she stopped. She threw her daggers one at a time at Bounty Hunter Bash Drew.

She dashed aside, glad of her small frame. She then dived and drew her bow and looked at her uncle. She loaded it away from the witch and fired it. Chashathrophogh and Bounty Hunter Bash Drew both used their magic to drive it into her heart and set it alight.  She screamed out in pain as the fire eclipse her. Chashathrophogh made the fire hotter to make her burn faster.  Soon she was nothing but ash. She looked at him realising he did this out of mercy.

"Thank you."

"Don't, I just didn't want to have to hear her agonising screams for hours. That's all."

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew wanted to challenge him on this and tell him that his eyes spoke of a different story. But she was far too exhausted.  

"That's why I'm thanking you." She said, trying to be more shrewd than she actually was. "By the way I didn't know that spiders creep you out too."

"Shut up! Only the giant ones do!" He moaned as they flung themselves on the carriage. Bounty Hunter Bash Drew. Looked up at Sedash. He was still alive. They fell back to sleep.

The Warlock

They travelled a greater distance than the day before. If they kept this up, then they would arrive at their destination within a good couple of days. Provided that there were hardly any interruptions along the way.

They were just another day's away from a good inn, when they heard the sound of an old man scream. She heard the sound of the uneven pitter patter of a slow old man with a limp. 

“Help!” he called.

They soon saw him. He was dressed in black and white robes. Clutching most of it in one hand as he ran. Swinging the other like a pendulum in order to run faster. His old face was covered in cuts and bruises.

 "Help! Help!" He cried as he ran over to Chashathrophogh and clutched his bony fingers.

"Please young man. You have to help me!" He begged.

Chashathrophogh curled his lip as he looked at him as if he was nothing but a piece of dirt.

"And why would I do that?" He asked coldly. 

"Because they're coming! By Sadesh! Why would the Hunger Highwaymen target me?"

Hinged Highwaymen? Now they could rack in some big prices! Bounty Hunter Bash Drew thought with her eyes flashed. 

"We will." She said, with an aggressive and excited smile on her lips.

Chashathrophogh looked scornfully at her. She took him aside and leaned in closely so that the old man would not hear.

"What? Why are we suddenly in the business of helping old men?" He asked, folding his arms.

"The Hungry Highwaymen are the most infamous highwaymen. If we help him then we will get a lot of emeralds for our efforts."

He raised his eyebrow.

"And you think that it's just a coincidence?"

Then the old man screamed. They looked back to see the gang had him at his throat! Knowing that they did not have any time to debate further. Bounty Hunter Bash Drew pulled out her bow and arrow. Chashathrophogh then pulled out his sword.

"Have it your way!" He sighed.

Then they spotted them but it was already too late for some already had arrows in their arms and legs. Then others had their heads off. 

"I thought that we had a deal!"

"I know, however, I had the impression that I had to remind you who I am." He said as he looked at the others.

They looked at them and dropped the old man and started to run away. 

He looked at the arrows in the ones that were alive. He focused his magic and pulled them out and before she could say or do anything the arrows flew in the air and the ones that were running away fell only seconds later. Leaving Bounty Hunter Bast Drew in nothing but shock. She looked at him in horror.

He then looked at the old man.

"Now old man, what do we get for saving your short life?" He asked, pointing a sword at him.

He flinched.

"Oh! How about this?" He whimpered.

He held out two of his pendants. One with a red crystal and the other had a blue. Both were on a black chain.

Chashathrophogh threw Bounty Hunter Bash Drew the blue one. She caught it. For some reason the moment that she did she felt an immediate emotional connection to it as she put it on.

"See? That is how you reap your reward." He said as he climbed on the carriage.

"Oh! Young man!" He called as he held out and caught one of his hands.

"My gods command of me to be your slave for a year now that my life is in both of your debt." 

His eyebrow raised.

"Fine, just don't slow us down alright?"

"A-alright."

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew climbed and held out her hand and helped him up. She looked at him concerned. 

"Are you alright?" She asked, taking his hand.

He smiled and nodded. She then gave him a hug. He pulled away.

"Oh you're too kind!" He chuckled.

She felt a sting in her arm. She looked at her arm and spotted a small cut. She then looked at the old man and spotted that he was awfully calm considering what he had been through. He then put hid hands in his pockets. She was about to warn her uncle but her mouth suddenly no longer obeyed her. Now she knew what her uncle was concerned about. She also knew that this man was a warlock, a mail witch!

She turned to her uncle but he was too busy at the reigns guiding the horses. Then she felt something cold in the palm of her hand. It was tube like but she could feel the leather indicating what it was. Her eyes widened as it sank in what he planed for her do. She tried to use her magic to stop her from moving. She tried to shout for help, she tried to use her magic to signal her uncle but then her arm rose and she soon spotted that the point of the blade was pointing to her. Now she knew what he wanted for her to do. She used her magic to keep her hand away from her. Then she felt magic work against her. The blade started to get closer, she knew that he was deliberately taking his time. No, if he wanted to kill her quickly she would already be dead. He was doing this just to prolong the agony. She focused more of her magic to her hand away but the power that was forcing her hand to edge closer and closer to her heart was stronger than hers. She could see that her hand and arm were shaking as she started to feel that her arm and hand were going paler and paler. They even started to ache. 

She knew that she had to stop him. She knew that she would even have to do something drastic to stop him. She suddenly focused all her magic on the warlock. She wanted willed her magic to stop him. She willed it so much that she could feel every part of her will for it. She willed him to stop once and for all. She heard him cough. Then scream. Then he fell. 

The carriage stopped. She looked. She knew what she did. The knife fell. Her vision became blurry. Tears fell. Arms embraced. She knew who they were. She cold not believe what she had just done. She did not mean to do it. She just wanted for him to stop. She did not mean to do it. She just wanted to live. She did not mean to do it. She just did not want to die.

Chashathrophogh knew what she did. He did not ask. He knew. He looked at the corpse. He wrapped his arms. He let her cry. Like he had done once. When it was his turn. She was so much like him. He would have done the same as she. He held no judgement. For this was where he started.

The Vampire

Chashathrophogh was growing concerned about his niece. She had not spoken a word since she had killed that warlock. He wanted to say something to her, but he just did not know what to say. Sure he had started the way that she had just done but he was too busy mastering his magic and then killing royals born out of wedlock to even remotely pay any attention to his shock or trauma. Then when the time did come for self pity he had already had his hands drenched in blood. 

Hold on, why do I even care? After all, I did say that blood didn't matter? So why, oh why am I even remotely concerned for her well-being? I should be enjoying this and making this worse, then why don't I?

He just could not understand this development. He would have dwelt further on this sudden and alarming shift of personality if he had not heard something behind him land with an ever so slight bounce throughout the carriage. 

He looked back thinking that his niece had finally stirred from her shock only for his eyes to rest on a striking young looking man with long black hair and deep crimson eyes, the colour of blood!

He felt his heart skip a beat but flair up in anger as he saw who he had in his claws. He then saw his fangs dangerously close to his niece's neck. He used his magic to force her out of his hands before he could drink a drop of her blood. 

He looked at him and smirked almost out of victory. He suddenly felt his body go stiff and as he blinked he was no longer near her and he felt his arms around him.

"Hello young boy." His dark voice whispered into his ear.

He tried to move but he felt his body become weaker and weaker. His hand moved to his throat. He raised his hand and gripped his wrists to stop him from choking him, but he found he was too weak. He felt his hand force him back and with his finger and thumb his head away exposing the bend of his neck. 

Anger and disgust truck his body like lightening as he felt his tong run across it to get the skin soft. He heard him giggle in his ear.

"What? Didn't you like that?" He asked.

Knowing that he was going to bite into his neck he, for the first time since he was a teenager, felt fear. He could not control his heartbeat as it increased. He even started to sweat and tremble.

What is this? What is going on with me?

"Are you afraid little boy?" He asked. 

He looked at him with disgust and anger.

"I can smell that you are." He said as he looked at Bounty Hunter Bash Drew. "Ohh! I must admit, I am surprised to find that you care for the girl."

"I-I don't." He said, trying to hide his weakness as she dropped his hand to his blade.

"Too bad. I would have enjoyed defiling her humanity with bloodlust." He sang.

Suddenly his fear was replaced by anger. The mere thought of him turning the girl into a vampire and forcing her mouth to be drenched in blood, filled him with such anger that he had never felt before. It was almost like the anger a woke had defending his pack. This development he could not nor bring himself to understand.

"Too bad. You talk too much." He said as she drew it and then pierced his heart. 

He heard a high-pitched scream that almost made his ear burst. Soon he was covered in the dust. His lip curled. He made his way to her. He didn't see any puncture marks. He felt suddenly relieved.

"Bash, you're going to have to take over if you can." He said as he collapsed. 

She looked at him and nodded. It was all too clear that she was coming out of her shock. However he had one to process.

The Werewolf

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew looked at her uncle as he slept. Thinking about the events that had passed. Knowing that they had greater consequences, which something told her, that these consequences went beyond the pair of them. Whatever they were, she had to accept that none of them were in control anymore. Something was stirring in her life and in the rest of the world.

My uncle just saved me again. Why? What angered him when that vampire was about to bite into me? What did he comfort me fore after I-I-I killed him. I'm a killer now. How can I even face mother and father now? Especially with him attached to me. Will I ever see them again?

No, probably not. I don't even think that I'll even meet my brother or father. No, I don't think that I'll ever see them again. If I do, chances are that it will not be a good reunion.

She felt lonely and isolated as she looked up at the moon in the sky. It would be a full moon the next night. She had always been aware of such things. 

She felt herself getting tired and sleepy. Even though she knew that she was getting close and should not stop, she also knew that, if she was tired, then she would not be at her best. So she pulled up and, against her better judgement, she lay down near her uncle. She had noticed that he looked similar to her but she knew that she would be nothing like him. Yet despite this, she has to admit that they were very much alike.

Did he even care for her? She wondered as her mind slipped into sleep.

When they woke up. The first thing that she noticed was her uncle's arm was around her. They broke up and then they looked up to see a man with pale brunette hair and brown eyes. He stroked Sedash's main. She could see the look of fear in his eye and she knew that he was not friendly. She turned to Chashathrophogh, however he was already awake. She then looked at the strange man. He was thin and he had weak eyes. 

This should have put her at ease but her gut told her to keep her guard up. He looked at them and smiled, he then waved at them. 

"Hi! I'm Wolphen Wonda. Sorry if I startled you. It's just I have this weakness for great stallions like yours. Where did you get him?" He asked lightheartedly. 

"A farmer sold him to us." Chashathrophogh replied, annoyed.

"Was he a royal farmer?" He asked excitedly.

"No, he was just a regular peasant farmer." He said. "Now get off him!"

He jumped back and shook his head and waved his hands in front of him.

"Okay! Okay! I get the picture! Man you're such a beauty, I wish that you didn't have such a master like him…" He muttered.

"What do you want?" He snapped.

"Well, I would like to come with you two. See there's this horse race in Eastown and I really, really want to go. It's just whenever I do make these kinds of plans I usually get delayed." He laughed.

Chashathrophogh rolled his eyes and looked at Bounty Hunter Bash Drew. She gave him an unsure look. She could not shake the feeling of danger coming from him. 

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because we're far too busy to give you a lift. Now if you know who I am you would go away."

"Please?"

"Do you want me to kill you?"

"Would this mean that I can tag along?" He asked unfazed.

He let out a huff.

"Fine!"

He gave an annoyed look on his face.

"Yey! Thank you!" He sang. 

She gave him a questioning look. He shrugged as if to say that he did not have to explain himself to her. She forced herself to calm down and to let the subject to slide. 

They were soon on the road again. To her discomfort Wolphen kept looking at her. Almost as if he was observing her.

"What?" She snapped.

"Nothing!" He exclaimed as his face went red. "I-It's just I want to know more about you that's all."

She let out a huff.

"Why?" She growled.

"No reason!" He squeaked.

"Why don't you talk to Uncle Chashathrophogh?" She asked.

He shuddered as Wolphen opened his mouth.

"No."

"Why?"

"Tough."

"What about you? Why don't you start?"

"That's better told at night."

Chashathrophogh narrowed his eyes. Soon it was evening. 

"May we stop here? I think that we all need to stretch our legs." He suggested. 

Chashathrophogh looked at Sedash and pulled up. 

"Yeah, I guess that you're right." He said as he turned to Wolphen. "Plus, I think that we ought to get away from the horse before nightfall."

He smiled and nodded as he looked at the horse.

"Good idea." He said as they got out of the carriage. 

They walked into the woods. As they did, Bounty Hunter Bash Drew wondered why they were going in so deep. She looked at her uncle with that questioning look. He gave her a warning look, almost as if he was telling her to keep her distance. His head nodded to Wolphen. Realising that he too had that feeling they knew that came from him.

That was when it became darker and darker. Suddenly Wolphen tripped. Bounty Hunter Bast Drew was about to go to see if he was alright but Chashathrophogh pulled her back as he started to scream. She tried to go to him but he kept his grip on her. She looked at him demanding to know why he was doing this. But as she looked at his pale face she knew that they were in danger.

"What's going on?" She asked.

"He's changing." He said.

Soon he grew hair all over his body and his bones snapped and elongated. Soon he got up and turned around in his humanoid wolf form. His eyes were black and his fur was the colour of his hair. He then growled and ran at them. Bounty Hunter Bash Drew quickly drew her bow and fired arrow after arrow at him as he came closer and closer. Then Chashathrophogh drew his sword and ran behind him as he was distracted by his niece. He then ran up to them and slashed his legs at the back. This caused him to fall as she fired another arrow and it struck his heart. He fell down and returned to his human form as he died. 

Looking into his eyes she felt herself shaking as she started to feel rise in her making her scream. She then started to breathe rapidly as her head became light and she soon collapsed. She just could not tear her eyes away from his dead body. 

She soon felt a punch that snapped her out of it.

"Drew, you better stop screaming or I swear to all the gods I will give you something to scream about!" He shouted.

"He really wants to kill us doesn't he?"

He shook his head.

"No, as I have already said, he wants us to kill each-other."

The Castle

It was evening when they finally arrived. Soon they knew that they would be free from each-other. All they needed to do was get to the castle. It was real with four towards and a large super in the centre. The walls were high and the windows were all dusty. It had a set of double doors at the front with the walls going back diagonally like an arrow. With the ends hidden by trees. She had noticed that the place had hardly changed since she was here last, only the plant life had become wild. 

She had thought about what he had said. It made sense but the question was why? Why is this even happening? What was the point of it all? Were they that much of a threat? Or was it something else?

"Drew!" Chashathrophogh snapped 

"'Bash'!" She snapped as she snapped out of her thoughts as they approached the castle.

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew secured Sedash and followed her uncle to the double doors. The double doors opened as they approached. Then the torches inside spontaneously combusted into bright green flames.

"You ready?"

"Yeah, you!"

He smiled and he nodded as they walked in side by side. As they passed through the doors their eyes met a riddle written in blood.

I look like one 

In the sight of the sun

I look like an o

When you are at

Floor zero

"Is that all we have to go on?" Bounty Hunter Bash Drew remarked, get lip curling.

He smiled.

"Yes, but I think that I know where to go." 

"Where and how did you come up with it?" She asked, pride hurt.

"The main tower, and think about it." He explained.

She looked at it and she soon got it. She then tailed him.

"You're really observant!"

He looked on and raised his eyebrow with a nod. 

"Part of my job!"

"And that is?"

"Why do I need to tell you?"

They soon found the stairs and they soon climbed them. They took their time to conserve their energy. Even though it was slow and steady, they soon came to the top. They came to a plain wooden door. Bounty Hunter Bash Drew looked outside and spotted that the door led to nowhere.

Dart! A trick! She thought angrily.

Meanwhile Chashathrophogh just opened the door revealing another room, impossibly, on the other side. Her eyes widened as she looked at the room. She just could not even get it in her head. How was there another room in there? Was it an illusion? 

"Magic. Remember?" Chashathrophogh remarked as he took a step forward.

"Hold on! It can do that?" She asked, incapable of getting it inside her head.

"Yes. In fact, there are very powerful magic users that can create their own miniature world. My teacher is one of them." He said, feeling slightly boastful.

"Can you?"

He let out a sigh.

"No, I'm not that powerful."

She frowned.

Strange, thought you would be.

"Right. So, we're dealing with a dark lord that powerful, eh? He must have a handsome bounty on his head." She said as she followed him into the room.

When they were both in the room lit with yellow flames the door closed and  their eyes rested on a skeleton. It had strange purple strings keeping the joints together. She then looked at Chashathrophogh as he looked at it and immediately drew his sword. 

"Drew, draw your bow." He ordered.

She frowned and drew it, just inn time too, for the skeleton rose up and ran at them. Bounty Hunter Bash Drew fired arrow after arrow, however regardless of how much she fired the arrows passed through the ribcage. She then hit the centre but, even though the arrow went through the bone it hardly did anything.

"Go for the purple string!"

She nodded.

"Right."

She dived to the side to get away to get a good shot and fired at the purple sting but she only severed one. The skeleton spun and jumped at her. She fired more shots at the string but the skeleton got to her throat and she was in the air. She could not even believe how strong the skeleton was. She pulled out an arrow and used the head and started sawing the strings. She could feel the hand squeezing.

She closed her eyes and used her magic to opened the hand but the fingers dug in deeper. She found that she could not breathe. She felt a pressure in her head that was pounding her brain. Then she dropped and coughed and she clutched her throat. 

Chashathrphogh then cut string after string with his sword. He severed the whole arm that had held her throat. He looked back at her and pulled her up.

"Now. Go for the neck!" He called.

She drew her bow and pulled back the arrow and fired. It hit and then she set the whole thing on fire. Then the skeleton raced over to the girl. She fired again and hit the kneecap this caused the skeleton to fall in front of them. She then hit the back of the neck again and again, just to let out just how freaked out she was. Soon the skeleton moved no more.

They took a break to gather their strength. Then, when they were calmer and as their energy returned to them. They then walked to the door.

"You ready?" He asked.

"We have to be. Also didn't I tell you it's 'Bash'!"

So Close  And 

Yet So Far

The first thing that they noticed as they walked into the room was the bed right in the centre. It had a dark blue grey silk bedding and as they approached they could see the crimson ivy pattern on the sheets where the dark lord was sleeping.

Bounty Hunter Bash Drew drew her bow and Chashathrrophogh drew his sword and was about to strike when his eyes flicked open and they flew back  to opposite sides of the room. They got up and ran at him but when they reached him he raised his hand. Suddenly they stopped and found that they could no longer move.

"I see that the pair of you have made it this far safe and sound." His eyes rested on Bounty Hunter Bash Drew. 

He gave her a false sympathetic smile. 

"Sorry, no. I am guessing that would not be quite right."

He slipped out of bed and his feet touched the stone without a sound. He did not even look cold even though it was a cold night. In fact, his breath was hardly visible even though it should be a small mini-cloud. In fact he did not even seem to be breathing at all. She couldn't even hear his breathing at all! Only the chest movements told them that he was breathing.

He soon walked up to her so smoothly, almost as if he was gliding. Even though his face was only inches from her she could not even feel his breath on her face! He looked at her up and down. He raised his eyebrow then gave her a malicious smirk.

"Tell me, little bounty hunter, how did it feel?" He asked, licking his lips.

"What?" She asked, confused.

He leaned in his face now centimetres now and still she could not feel his breath. He then placed a kiss on her hand but she could not feel it whatsoever! 

"Killing someone!" He sang.

Her eyes widened in shock. She wanted to back away but she was frozen in place. 

He let out a chuckle as he licked his lips.

"Yes I saw it. I have been watching the two of you. So answer me, how did it feel, to kill someone with your own magic?" He asked with a sadistic and excited glee.

She looked aside, knowing that she did not wish to answer that. She would only be giving him what he wanted, but her shame was written on her face. She could not get the moment out of her head. She could feel the guilt becoming almost overwhelming inside her.

"Was it that bad?" He asked amused as he looked at Chashathrophogh. "Ha!"

He then turned back to her.

"Do you want to know a little secret?" He said as he looked at him, almost like he was an adorable little kitten.

He leaned in his mouth next to her ear. 

"That's how your deer little uncle started out!" He whispered.

Her eyes widened. She felt a ripple run throughout her body making every hair stand on end. The air became colder and she felt tingles on her skin. However, her shock became complete when he saw no lie in his eyes. She looked at Chashathrophogh with horror in her eyes. 

Could she end up like him? Could she be looking at a gender bent future version of her? The thought shook her to her very core.

No! I don't want to be like him! I can;t be like him! No, he's just messing with me, that's all.

This calmed her down but very slightly. For she had to admit that they were very much alike. If so then if this was how he started, then who's to say that this was not how she would start down her own path to become like him?

He straightened out looking at her with a satisfied smile.

"Which means that you already know deep down that you could become very much like your deer little uncle over there! Well not unless you kill him first!"

Chashathrophogh let out a frightful forced cackle.

"What a load of Phorap whispers!" He laughed. "Do you even think that she's even capable of that?"

She felt relief run through her as he gave her something to latch on to.

"Well that depends, do you think she is? After all, you can not deny just how much alike you two are. After all, maybe being with you might unlock that capability. Maybe she might become your successor, your legacy, or, if you prefer, your apprentice?"

His eyes widened for a moment, he looked deathly angry. Yet he covered it up with a smile.

"Simple, I have no plans on teaching the girl anything. And I have told her that the moment that this spell is lifted, the first thing that I will do is kill her. Well,  after I have killed you. As she has made it clear that if I don't kill her, then she wishes to collect the bounty on my head." He said, shrugging.

He let out a laugh as he clapped and clapped.

"Woah, family member attacking family! I wonder if that will have any negative consequences for you?" He said as he walked over to him without a sound. 

He pretended to think. 

"I wonder what those parents of yours would think! You do know now that I was the one that turned them against you?"

Chashathrophogh's eyes widened and looked alarmed. If Bounty Hunter Bash Drew didn't know any better, she would have thought that he looked hurt. Yet she could see the water in his eyes as anger returned to his eyes.

"And what would you do if you were brought to your deer little sister?" He asked as he came closer to him.

He shrugged.

"What about her?" He asked, his voice more bitter than he intended.

"What would she say to you?"

"I hardly care. Why are you asking me this?"

"Do you care for her?"

Chashathrophogh used his magic to force his hand to his blade.

"Hardly!"

He now was in front of him.

"So, you would have no qualms if I snuck into  her bedchambers and killed her or worse?"

Both their eyes became dangerous.

"Or broke her heart by killing your brother in law?"

"No, but the girl would!"

"So, you would have no qualms if I-" 

He leaned in and whispered something in his ear.

Whatever it was caused his eyes to widen and he shoved his sword but no blood fell. He smirked.

"Like I would have said that if I was foolish enough to really be here." He said as he faded into nothing. 

His face was as white as a sheet of paper. He looked ill too. He looked at Bounty Hunter Bash Drew dead in the eye.

"We have to get home, now!"