The rusty and tired jeep pulled into the driveway to the solitary mansion. Lengrat was the name of the house but also the town that had once been just next door. During the last war, the kryken responsible as it was for much destruction over the centuries, had destroyed the place. Anybody unfortunate enough to have been in the town when the fire hit, would not have suffered long as the kryken's fire burns so hot and so fast, nothing stands a chance. Only the ice demuns who were long gone were of any threat to it. Pulling into a small alcove near the pristine steps leading up into the house, Jolark parked the car and sighed heavily. He did not want to be back here, especially at this mansion. Only bad things ever happened here, which was a shame as the house itself was a magnificent structure, marble walls in some rooms, strongly decorated and beautiful, multiple windows. All still intact, nothing appeared to be broken or out of place. It was exactly as Jolark remembered it from all those years ago, back when he had stumbled here in confusion. Getting lost in the forest off Vodren was never a good thing for anybody, but especially if it meant you ended up here. He remembered the lady of the house, a rather stunning and at the same time sad woman with a son. Her husband had died not that long before the war started, apparently from injuries suffered in a previous battle so it was just her and her son. Jolark recalled him as he closed his eyes in the car. Tall, very thin and a questioning stare through a pair of glasses. His black hair slicked back and his clothes, like his hair, dark and fashionable. He had not said much to Jolark, if anything he stared at him in silent fascination.
"Okay," Jolark nodded and looked at the house from his seat, craning his neck back to see all three floors, "better get this over with."
Ulo looked around at the surroundings and tried to work out why the house was still standing if the town had been flattened. Surely any tremor of a building collapsing or the immense heat would have affected the mansion in some manner or another? His sensors picked up something surrounding the house but he would need time to scan it properly. Watching his friend get out of the car, Ulo stayed put and wagged his tail when asked if he wanted to stay where he was. The tynko was not sure, he did not feel safe here and thought it best to go with his friend. After all, he could scan the house better if he were inside. They both ascended the white marble steps to the front door, Jolark reaching his hand up to the gold loop that was used to knock on the door but stopping as the giant wooden door was opened from inside. A tall, old man on the other side regarded Jolark coolly.
"What can I do for you?"
"Uhm, is this the Tjed residence?"
"Yes." Codul stared at the visitor, he seemed somewhat familiar and he wondered if they had met before. But more importantly, he found himself wondering what species this person was and how to get him down to the dungeon. Pursing his lips together to stop any smile forming, Codul listened as the visitor spoke of his mother and how kind she had been to him after a battle he had ran from. His injuries severe, apparently, although he looked to be in perfect health. He went on to talk about someone else who had been here at the same time but had disappeared..
"I'm sorry, who?"
Jolark repeated the name and put his hands in his pockets as he watched Codul think to himself. Was this Mrs. Tjed's son? He looked so different now than he did the last time if it was the same person.
"I do not know that name," Codul paused his way through the sentence as if trying to work out if Jolark was being truthful or otherwise but if he was going to dissect him, he would have to play nice. "I'm sorry, I've been rude. Come in, I'll make some tea." The forced politeness was already wearing him down. "It's not often I see people, let alone those that knew Mam."
Jolark grinned and thanked the man for his hospitality before walking into the house. The interior was all the same way he remembered it. Nothing had changed, it was all completely the same and this made Jolark very pleased and at the same time nostalgic. He remembered the smell of Mrs. Tjed's morning muffins that she had made every morning he had stayed here, recovering from his injuries. That was the only thing missing, that and the lady herself. He dared not ask where she was as he did not want to pry or upset this gentlemen preparing some tea. Asking if he could sit down, Jolark did so when Codul acknowledged his manners, and sat the massive dining table not far from the pantry, admiring the paintings still on the wall as he remembered them.
"There is no milk, I'm afraid." Codul set the tray down and grimaced as the smell of the sugar hit his nose from the bowl. "I don't normally get guests." He looked off to the side and grinned to himself.
"Ah that's fine, I don't like milk anyway."
"Then this is perfect, sorry, what was your name?"
The two spoke for a little while about Coduls' mother and how hospitable she had been to Jolark when he was here for a few weeks in the past. The old man struggling to remember him at all, perhaps he could not recall him due to that tonic...
"And you lost your friend?"
Jolark nodded through a mouthful of tea before setting his cup back down on its saucer.
"Yes," he touched his lips as the heat had scalded them slightly, "we got separated-"
He continued to talk but Codul was completely distracted now. Out of the corner of his eye on the floor, a little metal dog had wandered into the dining room and was sitting looking at the man speaking. As he watched on, the boring man who would not stop talking, stooped over and picked up the creature and set him on the table. Codul was transfixed on the little animal, what was this new thing...
"Pardon me, Joyarb..." He nodded at the correction and pointed at Ulo, "what is that?"
Jolark looked at Ulo as the little dog sniffed around the table. He smiled at the older man and shrugged.
"I take it you've never seen a tynko before."
Codul stared at the little creature. Fascinated and immediately wanting to hold it, Codul reached out to Ulo who sensed his movement and dodged him.
"Ah, Ulo?" Jolark used a scolding voice to which Ulo stopped and sat still so the other man could reach.
Codul reached over and grabbed the little dog with greedy hands, flipping him over to see where his switch was or how it operated. Being unintentionally rough, the older man became angry when he could not see how this thing was seemingly alive. Jolark watched and being concerned for the little tynko, he asked Codul to be gentle.
"He's just a little one, no need to be so rough."
Codul sighed and set the dog down, watching him scamper across to Jolark and hide behind his arm as it rested on the table. Before he could ask any more questions about the tynko, the chatty man started up where he had left off and boredom descended on Codul again. If he could only get to that drawer in the dresser across from them, he had a needle in there that had that hallucinogen in it...
"Hey, Codul was it? Don't suppose I could use your bathroom..."
Codul did not answer, he merely pointed to the door off to the left and watched the cheery fellow thank him before jogging over to probably empty his bladder. With his guest not around, Codul wandered over to the dresser and retrieved the syringe which was, blissfully full of his concoction. He grinned as he stood beside the door to the toilet and waited patiently. Nothing would stop him from getting this new guest down to the dungeon now, especially since that strange metallic dog had wandered off again. Codul hear the flush and the sink afterward.
"At least he's got good hygiene." He muttered to himself and waited quietly. The door was pulled inwards as his guest exited the bathroom with a smile but was soon in a state of panic as Codul pounced. Grabbing Jolark but the arm, he lunged the needle into the visitor's neck and pressed the plunger all the way down, slowly. No need to rush these things, not now he is already subdued.
"This works quickly, don't fret," Codul shushed the whimpers of confusion as Jolark fell to the floor, completely unable to fight back as the tonic rushed through his veins and up to his brain, "don't fret."
Codul sat and drank the remainder of his tea while Jolark reacted to the drug in his system. At first he had crawled around on the floor, shouting nonsensical words and then had an argument with the fireplace. The most entertaining part for some reason to Codul, was when Jolark jumped on to the table, proclaimed he was the royal baker and tore his own shirt off to roll it like dough on the table. He was acting like a child, another new reaction to document later. The commotion had caused that little creature to run back in and was sitting watching the display from the doorway.
"Is your master acting out of sorts, little shit?"
Ulo knew this was not the Jolark he knew. Something had happened in his absence. Why did he go and do that scan to uncover the invisible shield around the house? He should have remained with his friend and now they were acting in a strange manner. What happened while he was gone?
"Ulo! Get help!"
Codul's head snapped around to the half naked man on his table and stared at him.
"Ulo! I've been drugged! Get out of here, it's not safe!!"
The old man dropped his cup, allowing it to fall and shatter on the marble floor below. How was this person seeing through the drug, how was he able to heal himself of the toxin?
"I think you need to lie down," Codul sneered and pulled out another needle from his pocket, this time not the hallucinogen but something far worse for Jolark, "there, there."
Unable to get away fast enough, Jolark suffered another injection and was out cold in seconds. Ulo saw all and felt great upset at the current state of his friend but knew he had to get away. Running as fast as he could, the little tynko panicked as he heard the evil man approaching and ran down the stairs towards the cellar. Maybe he could not find him in the dark? Maybe his eyesight was poorly. Codul watched the tynko run downstairs and laughed, before returning his attention to Jolark on the table.
"How am I going to get you downstairs too?"
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