Their lovely feast was finally over. Everyone had put their smiles back on, yet the smiles were what prepared them for the next final steps in saving the kingdom. Ezra, Garnet and Anabelle were stocking for their second trip into the tunnels. Anabelle’s saddle bags were filled with extra food leftover from the feast. Including meat, rice, and vegetables which Nicholai ordered them to take. Garnet packs their sweets.

Grimm, Nicholai and Katreena were all looking over a map of the city. Once the dinner had concluded, everyone was wondering the same thing. When would Juro arrive. The general had already eradicated 3 of the kingdom’s major cities. Dreamsky would of course be the last place he would go. The question was when. Ezra and Grimm deduced based on the time they spent within the tunnels from Shakes Town to Dreamsky, and his own ride to the city with Nicholai. He concluded it would take Juro around 10 hours. Considering the time they had already spent. The man was no more than 4 hours away.

Garnet mentioned that finding the missing patient in the tunnels would be simple as long as they had Anabelle. Yet it would still take some time. She theorized the tunnels stretch over just Dolsrin and not the rest of the empire, because of their structure and composition it would take too much time before anyone noticed.

While the others journeyed through the tunnels. Grimm was to plan a defense against the city. His first plan was a large dome around the city. Something Garnet disapproved of, because of the monsters ability to climb. So he began to think of an alternative. They also had to worry about the general himself as well. Including his second in command, a well talented artificer.

With all of their jobs settled everyone began. Ezra led the two ladies back into the church’s infirmary, then down the massive hole back to the tunnels. The three of them were not that excited to see the sight again. Their only real destination to go was opposite of where they came last time.

“Alright let’s get moving. Let’s stay lined up in case anything gets us.” Ezra stated. They all stood side by side. Anabelle was in the middle of the dracion and witch. She kept them moving throughout the wide tunnels.

“By the way Garnet. You said you were looking for a friend. Do they live in Dolsrin?” Ezra asked the witch.

“No. Actually they live further in the continent.” Garnet replied. “But don’t worry. He doesn’t like guys with better hair than him.”

“Then he is going to hate Ezra, and Grimm.” Anabelle said between the two.

“Of course he will, no one has better hair than me.” Ezra boasted as he began to rub his long scarlet hair. “It’s one of the things I must keep up with. Otherwise I look like your standard fool.”

“How do you know fools have bad hair?” Garnet questioned.

“Well they aren’t smart enough to keep up with themselves. I don’t expect them to even know where to start.” Ezra continued to boast about his personal attire.

“So. Since it’s the three of us since the market. Why don’t you tell me how you two met. It’s not everyday. You see a dracion and a talking horse together.” Garnet pondered.

“No. That isn’t the regular sight.” The dracion began as he looked to Anabelle, as she was also ready to relive the memory. “I used to hear and even read stories about special beings that exist in the world. One day. I heard about the Crimson Mare. It was said they were in the Freelands. So that’s where I went.’

“What made you choose those out of all the creatures?” The witch asked. Anabelle didn’t say anything, but the question was in her mind as well.

“Simple. The Crimson Mare was said to be the oldest. Everything else after that was irrelevant to me. Or at least it was the oldest one recorded.” Ezra quickly answered.

“So you picked me because I was the oldest.” Anabelle wondered.

“The older the rarer. I search for the most prized possessions in the world. And in the meantime. I found a friend. Lots of friends.” Ezra proclaimed making both woman happy,

An hour had already passed. The crew had stopped before a sight that proved them to be on the right path. A large plot of nearly dried blood, and some ripped cloth. They looked ahead as the blood trailed forward, with it expanding as it trailed.

“We’re getting closer. Anabelle let’s saddle up.” Ezra said as he lifted Garnet up the Anabelle, then himself. They started to take off in the direction of the trailing blood. Worrying evermore as it continued to go on passed their field of view.

It was around here they began to notice the tunnels were changing in appearance. The walls were brighter yet still held the look of age and ruin. The ground switch to less rocky and more metallic as Anabelles hooves became louder with each gallop. Until a deep roared filled the tunnels, overtaking the sound of the mare’s hooves. Then the shriek of a woman followed. The three feared for the woman’s life, making Anabelle run rapidly towards the victim.

FInally the roars and screams had been caught up, just as they met another wall. This one passes off as a large set of double doors. The middle had been smashed to pieces. Something they believed could have been done by the monster. Ezra dismounted and was the first to step in. The room was dark, His eyes trying to adjust. Thought they didn’t have to. Garnet summoned a miniature ball of light over the dracions head. It illuminated the room, giving him sight.

“Stay on guard both of you.” Ezra said as they began to walk into the strange room. It was filled with large devices unseen by the dracion. Railing on the walls and ceiling. Large hooks and glass cages. The three wondered endlessly about what happened here. Until Ezra’s thoughts were interrupted. Anabelle’s as well.

“Ezra. That room.” The mare informed the dracion.

“I know.” Ezra drew his sword slowly as he stepped toward another set of doors that had been broken into. The broken frame lead was lit up itself by an unknown source of light. But the blood trail continued there yet started to subside. Inside led to another hallway. Where Ezra saw another set of doors with the large label of Storge. As he approached. His sword was pushed on the door to slowly push it open. Leading to him seeing numerous papers scattered across the floor. He then peaked in himself, finding more of the room rather trashed from whoever came here in some fit of rage.

While the room was in the image of rage, all that was left in it besides the papers was the heavy breathing of something. It caught Ezra’s ear right beside him. Laying on top of blood soaked papers was the beast he was looking for. This was the first Ezra had seen. Its skin colored the same as his hair, as well as its body which was larger upwards then downwards, and the darkness of its eyes.

Yet he had no intention of attacking. He sensed a presence coming from it. Something alive.

“Are you awake?” Ezra said in the beast direction. Slowly, it turned it’s head to him. Revealing itself.

“I find it hard to sleep.” It spoke back, with a feminine voice.

‘Who are you?”

“My name is Evelyn. Are you here to kill me?”

“I don’t you’d be talking if I was. You two come in.” Ezra called Garnet and Anabelle. Who came in quickly after hearing his safe word.

“You must be the one who can transform out of…..this state.” Garnet said to Eveleyn.

“It’s happened once or twice. If I’m being serious. I’ve gotten used to this.” The she-beast said as she sat back down.

“What is this place?” Ezra asked to start off everything going off in everyone’s mind.

“Something Dolsrin wants to hide. Something they failed at.” Evelyn began. “I used to be an artificer for Dolsrin. There weren’t many of us with the ability to do such things.”

“Things like what? Magic?” Garnet asked.

“Magic, craftsmanship. Most things everyone needs. Dolsrin has always been a place of people unable to do what is needed of them. Which is why people like me had to be around. But they wanted so much more. To not have to worry about how things will be done. As long as they are. As long as they aren’t the ones to do so. This kingdom, everyone wants the benefits.” Evelyn sadly said.

“What does this have to do with any of that?” Ezra questioned.

“Dolls. Made for everything. Labor, Show, Sex….anything you could need really.” Evelyne explained.

“Dolls. Like toys for children.” Ezra was in disbelief of the explanation.

“These were for everyone. And children’s dolls can fit in your hand. Imagine having one the size of you. Protecting your farm at night. Or one that looks like you girl, to lay in your bed.”

Ezra and Garnet started to each other. Wondering more of the she-beast story. If they were to believe her it would explain her reasoning for coming down here. If she was false, then what was she hiding.

“Still in disbelief?” Evelyn asked the two.

“What does that have to do with you being here? Or the infection ruining the kingdom?” Garnet asked for she wanted to straight answer out of the woman. Evelyn sighed as she laid back down.

“I wanted to find a more peaceful place to die. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to normal. And neither will this land. But I will not watch as it dies. I’d rather leave my last moment. To the place with my most regrets.”

“You worked here?” Ezra asked shocked.

“I did. Alongside the magistrate and the royal artificer. Yet I backed off. Biggest mistake of my life. It’s still a good thing that they failed as well.” Evelyn proclaimed as she turned away from them. Garnet herself was done with the story. She cared not if it was true or not. She just desired what they had ran through miles of run down tunnels for.

“You really plan to sit here and die. If so. Give me some of your blood. I’m making a cure for those who want to live.” Garnet harshly remarked to the woman.

“You? It’s a good thing I get one last joke before everything goes black. Since we’re on the topic of failures. Go ahead. See if you can try to be the hero to this despicable place.”

Garnet took a jar from Anabelles saddle bag. Then a small knife and cut open the woman’s arm. Blood poured out and filled up the jar. Garnet’s face filled with anger that Evelyn saw all of. Once it was filled she stood up and walked away from the woman.

“Ezra, Anabelle let’s go. We got what we came for.” Garnet ordered. “And you. I couldn’t die in a place like this. I’d rather be crushed under boulders with blood pouring out my mouth, or gutted in some dirty alley. You wasted every opportunity you got. I spoke to you for less than 5 minutes and knew you were a wasteful person. It’s a good thing we didn’t plan on staying for long. If you had strength others didn’t then why not make the change you want to see.”

All was said to the woman before Garnet left. Ezra and Anabelle followed behind. And Evelyn, cradled the witches words in her mind.