10/04/2019
“Pupil.....Pupil..... Get up!” Eriana was shaking him violently as Erika peeped out the door toward the lobby.
“Ten more minutes mom, I won't be late.”
Eriana sat on the bed and put her feet in his back and shoved him onto the floor. Blankets and legs flew into the air. Once he stopped rolling on the floor, Pupil pulled the blanket off of his face and looked around the room. “I'm really starting to not like you.” He said.
“Shut up and listen.” Erika whispered.
“Why?!” Pupil said, trying to dodge kisses from Bambi.
Then he heard it. The roar of the dragon, and shouting voices, shouting human voices. He jumped up and was out the door before the girls could stop him. He came to the edge of the lobby, the dragon caught his movement and looked over at him, then back to the intruders.
“Were the hell did a dragon come from?!”
“Has to be Saurian.” some one replied.
“Some one else is in there, look, it keeps looking down the hall way.” returned the first voice.
“Who the hell is there?”
“You not ring bell, I no answer.” Pupil yelled out.
“What the hell.....”
“Ring bell rude person.”
“What ?” the voice sounded annoyed, and worried that they were dealing with a crazed mad man, or worse.
“Ring the bell or it gets the dragon again.”
“Okay, okay....... Ding Dong.”
“What the hell was that? Ding dong?”
“It was a door bell.”
“I not say door bell idiot, I said bell. It on desk.”
Pupil peaked around the corner and saw one of the men inch passed the dragon towards the front desk. He reached out a tentative hand and slapped the top of the bell.
“Who is it?” Pupil said in a high pitched voice, trying to his best to mimic a feminine voice.
The men decided to play along. “Colonel Jacks of the third Indiana resistance battalion.”
Pupil recognized the name. “Colonel?” he said coming out of his hiding spot. “How you get demoted?”
The tall, thin man was taken aback by both Pupils appearance and that he knew he was demoted.
“I did it myself, when we lost the Ransford family.”
“Most honorable, but silly. I have the daughters of the Master.”
“I don't believe you.” he said as Gryphon, Princess Luna, the tiger, and Bambi walked in behind Pupil.
“Is this a joke? You may have found the dog, but......” he trailed off, jaw hanging low when the girls walked in.
Pupil walked up to him and gently closed his mouth. “This is getting bad. Stupid looks must be spreading.”
The Colonel, Pupil and the sisters spent the rest of the day trading reports about what they saw. The remnants of the 3rd scattered around the hotel, some played cards, others read books, most slept. As the sun set, Jacks stood up and said. “Well, we leave in the morning, the Ransfords will come with us.”
“No, they will not.” Pupil said. “Their journey leads them east, after our business is done here.”
“There is nothing east but the dead, and the Saurian horde. It is advancing towards Cahokia en mass. They are leaving nothing living in there wake. Our best chance is at the new spire.”
“Yes, you're best chance is at the spire. Our path is ahead. Take dragon with you, he will never sleep, never fail, and never die. Safely he will get you all to spire. Avians, Nords, and humans await you there. Talk no more of taking Ransfords from me and their destiny.”
Something in Pupils eyes told Jacks not to argue. He dismissed himself and took his leave.
Pupil walked up and whispered to the dragon and then came over to the girls. “Come, we go now. Trust him at night I do not.” He climbed onto the tigers back and waited for Bambi to hop in her basket. Erika and Eriana climbed aboard their steads and into the night they went.
When they arrived at the mine there was a lake, the surface looked like a mirror.
“Yes, here they are. I can sense them.” He said as he looked at the sister. He seemed dismayed at there blank looks. “Can you not sense them? Do they not call to you?” They both slowly shook their head. “Closed yourselves off again did you? The power can be frightening to some, especially when as great as yours is. There is no evil that will slip in if you leave the door open that is not already inside you. Be not afraid. Reach out with your senses, your heart, your mind, and your very soul. Open yourselves to the world and all the energy it contains.” Bambi barked excitedly as she saw them glow, lights darted around them, swirling in bright streaks from head to toe.
The ground shook, water erupted from the lake and spilled out amongst the tailings and washed them away. One large spire and 8 smaller ones began to emerge from the lake, like giant emeralds. Pupil smiled at the girls. They had learned much in such a short time, he was very proud of them, and hopeful for the future. In just a moment, his smile faded. He knew there was only so much he could teach them. His part in there journey would soon be at an end.
The shaking stopped and 9 doors opened. One had a 12 foot goddess exit, the others had smaller nine foot women exit.
“It must be time for the final battle. For our cousins have set us free.” said the tallest, her voice sounded like wind chimes. “I am Mnemosyne, goddess of memory, and these are my daughters, the muses. Bringers of inspiration. We are at your service.”