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Alright, I am back. Let us see what happens with Vrahe, Teagan, and Isaac.

 

                                             

 

Having just revealed the name that he would be operating under, Vrahe waited to see what his new companions’ reactions would be. What would his brother’s alias mean to them?

“Cool!….What’s an Ermordung?” the less dangerous one, Teagan, asked with genuine confusion in his voice.

“It means murder.” The berserker replied, his body language registering obvious shock and fear, but also disgust and confusion. It was obvious the name meant nothing to him, other than it’s translation from Old German.

Do these people really not know of Chiv? (This is the real name of Vrahe’s brother.) Have I been transported to somewhere else. Is this another planet, dimension, or time? Or all three?! Is this how the government is choosing to contain and punish me? 

Vrahe saw Teagan stiffen as Franz translated the name’s meaning. He did an admirable job of hiding his newfound discomfort though. Perhaps this boy has more experience than I first thought. He will bear watching. 

“Everyone is a murderer in their own way.” Vrahe replied, borrowing a quote that his master had drilled into him whenever he questioned the morality of his actions.

Teagan had begun to search the cavern, but his head shot up at Vrahe’s words. These words mean something to him. What could his story be?  I must guard closely against his hidden depths!

“Look you two, we can work together or we can duke it out here and now. It’s up to y’all, but if it’s a fight you want, it’s a fight you’ll get. Y’all might get me, but neither one of you would make it out alive. Personally, I don’t want to take the risk of death that a fight brings with it! Now, since you all have been here longer than me, could y’all give me any sort of info?”

It’ll be important for them to believe that I’m only dangerous physically. I can’t let them know that I’m smarter than them as well. It’ll make them feel threatened!

Holstering his weapon, Franz made it obvious what his choice would be. “Alright, let’s compare notes. We all came here by unknown means. There are 10 of us at least. We all meet a few hours ago and have been trying to figure out this place. I don’t know were the others are currently. Some kind of defense system was activated and we got separated. That sums up what happened before you showed up. Now what can you share with us?”

As Franz spoke, Vrahe analyzed him more closely. He naturally compensates to conceal his weapon when it is holstered. He is obviously very used to having the gun with him, and needing to hide it. Even when seemingly relaxed, he is ready to spring into either defense or attack in a moment’s notice.  He seems to have extensive training. Possibly a high-level assassin’s apprentice, or a novice assassin. If he goes berserker, he might be as dangerous as me. The plot thickens! A berserker should not be this well trained.

“If it is possible, we would like to rejoin our friends before they are killed. Do you know where they are?” Teagan butted in with a mixture of hope and trepidation in his voice.

There is obviously someone he cares for in at least one of the other groups. I must watch to make sure that I don’t threaten the one he loves. He seems one who could be dangerous when protecting.

“Nope! I just got here. I got no idea what’s goin’ down.”

Teagan and Franz retreated, and carried on a quick, whispered conversation.

Abruptly, Teagan stepped away from Franz and demanded, “What’s in there?” while pointing towards where Vrahe had come from.

“Nothing. It’s a bare stone cube.” Vrahe replied offhandedly. Teagan obviously didn’t believe him though. His brow puckered, and he seemed about to question Vrahe.

Leave it kid. It isn’t worth calling me a liar. This isn’t a hill you want to die on.

Vrahe simply stared at the kid, using his “You question me and I’ll make you plead for death.” alpha male look.

Intimidated, Teagan turned away and began inspecting the hole that the last wolf had disappeared through in its effort to escape from Franz and Vrahe’s relentless assault. “What do you think might be in here?” he asked curiously.

Alright, let’s test whether they want to get rid of me. 

Vrahe stepped over to the hole and deliberately put his back to them, practically daring them to attack him. Pulling a penlight from his pack and holding Eldur in his other hand, Vrahe peered into the hole. While only around 15 inches in diameter at the opening, it appeared to quickly open into another room.

Willing Eldur’s flames to kindle, he stoked them higher with memories of his sister. Plunging his blade into the rock, Vrahe allowed the flames to burn the rock away in front of him, heat radiating around him. The more Vrahe remembered, the more his grief and rage returned, causing the heat to increase to an almost unbearable level, even for him. Quickly, he finished carving a man sized door through the solid stone and into the next room.

Perda, I’m sorry I didn’t do more. I didn’t mean to break my promise. I couldn’t find you. The slavers were too far when I realized what happened. I tried to hunt you down, but none would disclose your location. They payed for their crimes, but I just want you back. No, I must fight against the grief. I can not show weakness. My enemies must not know.

Pushing back his grief with a great effort, Vrahe stepped into the room he had just opened.

 

                                      

Alright, here is the most recent installment for Vrahe. Sorry about the representation of the emotion. I didn’t have much time, so I wasn’t able to make it very realistic. Also, the thoughts about being smarter and more dangerous than your characters are basically Vrahe’s underlying arrogance showing through. Often, he believes himself to be the most capable and skilled person in the room. I truly hope that Isaac is, in fact, more dangerous than Vrahe because that is a dynamic I haven’t explored much yet.