Chapter 7

The cave was a large mouth on the face of a precipice. Guarding it were two ugly goblins with nail-spiked clubs.

Tyler had been raised on goblin tales. He knew all about their thick skin, brutal nature, but, they were quite dim. A direct assault would be pointless which was the kind of fight he liked.

He picked up a stone and threw it at a goblin. The one with the slight height advantage more favorable. Which just so happened to hit its mark, making it angry. Soon the guards were wrestling on the ground.

Larger they were, the more they oft had to lose and prove. Making for waspish, often ghastly rages.

Entering the cave his skin began to crawl. Stalactites hung over the arena sized chamber. In front of him was a five way crossroad.

A man almost camouflaged in the shadows. Tyler only knew where to turn as he clapped. On his far right was a warlock whose battle scars lined his hands. With him were at least ten other goblins all trained on Tyler.

"Well, well I must say, you are either very brave or very foolish," the man said. With a snap of his fingers the goblins charged.

He took the club of the nearest goblin and whacked it along with two others in a careening whack. One grabbed his cloak and Tyler sent the grubby thing flying. Sensing defeat he rocketed himself upward. Up there wasn't much better. He could sense the bats sleeping. Suddenly a bolt of magic struck his arm. The limb literally became stone dragging him down. The warlock came, ready to finish the job.

An idea came, a crazy and dangerous idea. Taking a breath Tyler allowed his beast to escape. His roar echoed across the cave shaking a swarm of vampire bats awake.

The goblins swarmed like fleas while their master tried to swat the beasts. Tyler suspected that magic may have deformed and cursed the bats. He hobbled off thanks to the imbalance of a stone arm.

What guided him was a new smell. A pungent, metallic smell. Human blood. Luckily this path was clear. At the end he reached a solid steel door. With a punch it came off its hinges. Tyler put it aside carefully then took a tentative step inside.

Unlike the rest of the cave a human touch was in this room. Torches with eerie blue fire threw light onto the large cage and captive inside. Except that was it. No goblins, no accomplice, not even the warlock. Just him and an unconscious Prince. He checked his surroundings looking for traps or triggers. Satisfied Tyler approached the cage. Bending the bars he lifted Prince Sammy's head.

He wore the red and silver of his kingdom. Fine clothes torn and slashed, revealing many injuries. More marred his face.

"Come on wake up," he insisted quietly though the other only grunted.

Tyler jostled, shook, and even slapped him multiple times. All much too loud and wasting altogether too much time. Then he began to stir. He was groggy as he smiled but soon terror awoke him.

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Sammy had been peaceful.

Languidly perusing an endless hillside. Atop his favorite, reliable stallion riding fast as he could dream while sun beat down on a tanned, muscular back.

Chipper, slightly playful laughter was never far away and though he could never discern the source or its direction Sammy was sure it was not a thing to fear. Rather, the noise sounded quite safe and loving.

Briefly there would be confusing moments.

Where he'd be in some different embrace of smells and textures, sweat beading different, stronger on his brow from heavy air and the turn of parchment from worn old tomes.

But then that world, it all began to tremble.

Cracks began to appear and he could begin to remember that Sammy had never become King.

He began to remember the fatal drip of one sharply pointed quill.

Color faded in and out, in and out to dizzying cycle.

Until the entire world, avalanched into white like a snow globe turned and abused, forgotten atop the shelf on its side.

He'd expected to wake up in his own warm bed until the firelight danced in his eyes. Then he remembered he was a prisoner. His tired self was greeted by a pale, dark-eyed new face. But his hope was soon dashed when the stranger's open mouth revealed fangs.

In a fear filled frenzy he began to scream and struggle against the rope. The stranger put a hand to his mouth with another finger to his own lips.

"Please your father sent me now shut up," he whispered. But Sammy's mind was still racing. So that's why Claudia had been so happy. Obviously she didn't need Sammy anymore and the vampire would dispose of him. The lie was probably a cruel joke. Even so he'd face his fate with dignity.

___________

It was a few seconds before he quieted down. Still no one was coming. Sammy's expression had turned detached as he looked Tyler in the eye. Though he ignored the behavior, being immensely familiar with the sight.

"Alright we have to be quick," Tyler said undoing the rope.

Sammy helped himself up with trembling legs. He turned to a small table where a knife shone on the dark wood.

With a shove Tyler was knocked aside as he went for his weapon. Before Sammy could point the blade his captors revealed themselves.

The duo had melted from the shadows. To Tyler's pleasure the warlock had new scars now carved into his face. Yet he still smiled with his accomplice.

Sammy had frozen, suddenly unable to trust his knife. But better to have some kind of defense. Wherever this leech stood it wasn't in his favor. As if reading his mind he shielded Sammy. From his back he pulled a musket.

The gun knocked Tyler back when shot then suddenly he was reeling.

Tyler clutched his arm as a burning pain shot through it. It hadn't healed in fact it was practically cooking. Silver, he realized. Horrid silver bullets. Suddenly feeling weak he crumpled to his knees.

"Well it's been fun but we won't wait anymore. Instead we'll rely on other measures," he heard the witch say.

It was those words that kicked Sammy. In a wild moment, feeling no fear not feeling anything he lunged for the gun. But with a thought the floor gaped open swallowing both boys.