Dark Realms 6: Count Necroix’s Revenge (Part 1)

Dark Realms 6: Count Necroix’s Revenge (Part 1)
Word Count:  6021
Brought to you by puzzleprompts

Episode 6
Near midnight on the planet Kless, a hooded figure walked through the cemetery carrying a bouquet of black roses. He was so focused on where he is going that he didn’t see the grave digger that was working late digging a grave for an early morning burial.

The grave digger climbed out of the grave and took a few steps toward the figure. “Sir? Excuse me. It’s late. Maybe, you should come back in the morning.”

The figure pushed back his hood and looked at the young man. “Simon, it’s only me. I have come to see my wife.”

Simon bowed his head. “Count Necroix! I’m sorry to have interrupted you. I ask that you watch your step. There are a few open graves.”

“I will be careful, Simon, as you should be out here at this hour on the night of a full moon.” In the moonlight his doglike features made him look sad before he pulled up his hood. “I won’t be long.”

“Yes My Lord.” Simon pointed to the grave he had been working in. “I better get back to work.”

The Count walked farther into the cemetery and came to a stop in front of a marble statue of an angel. He placed the flowers on the ledge of the monument and knelt down on one knee. He wiped some dirt of the inscription and bowed his head.

The inscription read: “Countess Anya Necroix, Beloved Wife”

“I miss you, my darling. Every single day. I will have my revenge against the foul beast that killed you and made me think you were still alive by masquerading as you. This vow I swear on the day of your birth. I swear to you, Anya.” The Count pushed back his hood and took a deep breath. He let out a howl that made the leaves on the trees shiver with fright.

Simon dropped his shovel and whispered a prayer for protection as he shook with fright. The Count had never done that before on any of his late night visits. Simon stayed in the grave until he was sure the Count was gone he didn’t like the man’s mood. It didn’t bode well for one responsible for the cause of that outburst.

Three months later…
In the dark and chilly manor house of Count Necroix, a little bat fluttered in a golden cage by the fireplace in the library. Her movements caught the Count’s attention.

“There. There. Fickle, my pet.” Count Necroix walked over to the cage and smiled then slipped a slice of apple through the bars of the cage. “Here is something sweet to calm you.’

The bat snatched the apple slice and dropped to the bottom of the cage to eat it.

“Better? The Count smiled. “Fickle, my friend, I have come up with a plan. I am going to kill all of the Casperian Shifters that I can. Eventually, I will kill the one that killed my Anya and impersonated her for months as the vile creature drained my coffers and conspired with my enemies. I don’t care if I have to kill every last one to find the one responsible for her death. I only wish that killing them could bring her back from the dead.”

The little bat sat on the floor of the cage waiting for another apple slice seeming to pay attention to every word the Count was saying.

The Count slipped another apple slice into the bat’s cage. “I see that you approve of my plan. It is tricky I cannot poison them all on their home world. No. That would cause too much attention. I must proceed slowly. I will start with those shifters that are off world. I have just the thing to do it.” The count laughed and slipped in two more apple slices. “Go to sleep, my friend. I have work to do.”

The Count blew out the candles on the mantle and walked out of the room.

Fickle sat in her cage happily munching on apple slices and not realizing that her master was about to commit genocide.

Six months later….
On Caspire, Izzie walked out of the Casperian council chambers with a look of frustration on her face.

Nellis knew it wasn’t a good sign whenever that look was on her face. He immediately stood up and waited for hell to be unleashed.

“They won’t fund anymore searches. They say that they will issue an off world warning and tell travelers that there is a risk to their safety but they won’t tell them some mad man is out there poisoning us.” Izzie started to pace. “The worst part is that there were five more found dead here on Caspire just in the last month. Same poison as the others. Nearly thirty dead and they don’t want to do anything about it. Politicians!”

“Come back to Centra with me. I promise that Wincet and the others will help you find the murderer.” Nellis reached out his hand to her. “Izzie this needs fresh eyes. You’ve been doing this all on your own for too long.”

Izzie stopped pacing and glared at him. “The families are depending on me to find answers, Nellis.”

“Then that’s what we will do. We’ll give them answers.” Nellis held out his hand again. “Come on. I think I have an idea.”

“What are you up to?” Izzie took his hand and let him lead her out of the capital building.

“Remember that rumor of the frogman in the swamp?” Nellis waited to continue then Izzie nodded. “It’s not a rumor there is actually a frogman in the swap. Well, he’s actually a Toal. They’re toads more than frogs.” Nellis shook his head. “We helped him out. Maybe, he has some idea who might be behind all this.”

“What do you think he knows? From what I hear, he’s been here for a while.” Izzie didn’t see where he was going with this idea of his.

“I’m pretty sure he’s been smuggling in banned goods. He’s used to having what he wants when he wants it.” Nellis walked over to his motorcycle and got on. “Come on. He can tell us who is bringing in the goods and then we can see what they know.”

Izzie climbed on the back of the motorcycle. “Where did you learn all this investigation stuff?”

“Jace was a policeman where he came from. He taught us all about following clues. Tona helped too. She used to be a mercenary.” Nellis started the motor. “Hang on the trails in the swamp are a little bumpy this time of year.”  

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at a small house deep in the swamp. Nellis got off the motorcycle and walked toward the door.

The door swung open before he could knock and the Grubhor stood in the doorway. “Not you again.” He looked around. “Where is the rest of them?”

“Back at our base. I’m here to ask for your help.” Nellis tilted his head. “Aren’t you going to invite us in?”

The Grubhor looked over his shoulder then back at Nellis. “The place is a mess. You don’t want to go in there.”

Nellis pushed past the Grubhor and saw why he didn’t want him to come in. “Damn! This place looks like a palace. You do know you’re supposed to be in hiding.”

The room was draped in tapestries and there were silk cushions on the floor. Several dishes of foods not native to Caspire were on a low table in the center of the cushions.

“I just had some niceties brought from my home planet.” The grubhor shrugged. “I’m homesick.”

Izzie walked in and shook her head. “You were right. He is having things smuggled in, lots of things from the looks of it.”

The Grubhor winced then went over to a covered dish. “Would you like a red tailed spider? They’re very tasty. These are dipped in pepper sauce.”

“Nellis!” Izzie wrinkled her nose then stepped over to Nellis and poked him in the ribs. “Ask him!”

“Look Grubhor, we need to know who your source is.” Nellis took a beat. “There is someone poisoning shifters. It started off world but now it’s here too.”

“Poisoning shifters? Interesting.” The Grubhor tapped the lid of the dish. “You know, the Duchess of Fel has a thing about cats. You all look like cats to me. Have you talked to her?”

“It’s not her. Your source?” Izzie asked him. She was getting a little impatient.

The Grubhor took a spider out the dish and popped it in his mouth. He thought as he crunched. Finally he answered them. “If it’s not the Duchess then it might be the Count. He hates shifters. Not that I blame him. I would too if one killed my mate then impersonated her for months while robbing me blind.”

“What Count?” Nellis asked.

“Count Necroix of Kless. He’s a dog soldier or part one anyway. He came to Toalnar right before you came. He was interested in obtaining a large quantity of poison. I sent him packing but there are other leaders less scrupulous than I am that would certainly give him what he wanted.”

“I doubt it.” Nellis scoffed. “What did he want?”

“Exa venom.” The Grubhor shrugged. “It doesn’t matter because I didn’t give him any. I had him escorted back to his ship. It wouldn’t have worked anyway. You have something here that’s similar to an exa and you serve it for supper.”

“Where are you getting your goods, frog.” Izzie was really impatient now.

“I’m a Toal, not a frog. I get my niceties from a man with a shop at the edge of the swamp. His name is Bronwer. He’s from Greeda. He hates the Metalis Alliance as much as I do.” The Grubhor held out the dish again. “Are you sure you don’t want a spider?”

“No! Thanks.” Izzie wrinkled her nose again.

“Grubhor, you’re taking a risk with this guy.” Nellis warned him. “You’re supposed to be in hiding. Why call attention to yourself? He could tell the Metalis Alliance where you are.”

“He won’t. I pay him very well.” Grubhor grinned.

“That will only work until someone pays him better or your funds run out.” Nellis reminded him. He turned to Izzie. “We better go see this Bronwer.”

“Hey! Shifter, when do you think I can go back home?” The Grubhor asked. “This is a nice planet but it’s not my world.”

“You know you can’t go home until the Metalis Alliance stops wanting to kill you which considering they are a bunch of androids that means never.” Nellis took Izzie by the hand. “Thanks and stay out of trouble.”

The Grubhor nodded and watched as they went out to the motorcycle and rode off. He shut the door and sighed. He hated this place with its strange bugs and grumbling volcano.  

Nellis and Izzie found Bronwer’s shop easily. They went inside and looked around. There was nothing there that would suggest that he sold smuggled goods.

“It looks normal enough.” Izzie whispered.

“Well, he isn’t going to advertise that he has illegal goods in here.” Nellis whispered back.

A human came from behind a curtain and smiled. “Hello my friends! I am Bronwer the shopkeeper. What can I do for you today?”

“Do you have any red tailed spiders in pepper sauce? My friend says they’re very delicious.” Nellis asked. “He recommended that we come here. You know him. He looks a lot like a toad.”

“Yes. I know your friend but I’m afraid your friend cleaned out my entire stock but I do have many delicacies from many different worlds.” Bronwer grinned. “But I’m sure your friend already told you that.”

“Do you have anything from Kless? Perfume or bath salts maybe?” Izzie asked. “My mother went there on holiday when she was much younger. She said it was a lovely place.”

“She must have been a very small child. Kless hasn’t been lovely for years.” The shopkeeper smirked. “Are you looking for a gift for your mother? I don’t have any scents but I do have a few modesty veils from Kless. They are quiet lovely. I have one in a beautiful shade of rose if you’re interested. I assume your mother is similar in coloring to you, dear?”

“Yes she is but…” Izzie felt Nellis bump her hip.

“We are definitely interested.” Nellis smiled. “Do you have any other things from your supplier for her mother?”

“The trader gave me a few cases of fire candy. He said he was having a hard time getting rid of it.” Bronwer laughed. “Candy! Can you imagine having a hard time getting rid of candy of all things? I will throw in a tin free of charge.”

“How much for the veil?” Nellis dug in his pocket for some coin.

“Two talons. I will be right back.” Bronwer grinned. “He went behind the curtain and came back with a delicate scarf and a tin of candy. “Should I wrap it?”

“No. We can do that.” Nellis slid the coin across the counter. “Friend, I was wondering how many other planets does your supplier trade with? What did you say his name was?”

“I didn’t. His name is Bex. He goes to about fifteen planets, I think.” Bronwer grinned. “He just started bringing goods from Kless. Lucky you!”

Nellis tapped the counter with a third coin. “Do you mind writing down all the planets that you know Bex visits for me?”
Bronwer was suddenly suspicious. “Are you the law or something?”

“No.” Nellis grinned. “Just someone interested in the niceties as my friend calls them.” Nellis tapped the coin on the counter again. “There’s a little something in it for you.”

Bronwer wasn’t sure what the shifter’s motives were but he took out a pad of paper and pen to write down all the planets that he had received goods from. “I don’t want any trouble.”

“We aren’t the law.” Izzie smiled. “And we won’t give you any trouble.”

Bronwer nodded and wrote everything he remembered down then slid the list across the counter to Nellis.

Nellis laid the coin on the counter and picked up the list. He handed the scarf to Izzie and pocketed the tin of candy. “Thank you for all your help.”

“Tell your friend that I will be getting another shipment of red tailed spiders in pepper sauce at the end of the month if he is interested.” Bronwer winked.

“We will.” Izzie waved as they walked out the door. They got to the motorcycle and she stashed the scarf under the seat in the storage. “Let me see the list.”

“Not here. Nellis shook his head. “We need to get to the rendezvous point. We can look at it when we get back to Centra.” He opened the tin and popped a piece of candy into his mouth. He made a face. “He wasn’t kidding when he said it was fire candy.” He offered Izzie the tin but she shook her head. He shoved it back into his pocket and got on the motorcycle.

“Nellis, I don’t think they really want me to come back with you.” Izzie got on the bike. “I get the feeling that they don’t completely trust me.”

“I have lived with them for a while and they don’t completely trust me either.” Nellis laughed as he started the motor and pulled away from the shop.

They headed to the forest on the outskirts of the capital city and pulled into a clearing. Nellis idled the motor and waited.

“How does he know we are here?” Izzie asked as she looked around.

“He uses that gazing thing and his magick.” Nellis sighed. “Look Izzie,I like having you there with me. I miss you.”
Izzie gave him a squeeze from her position on the back of the motorcycle. “I miss you too.”

The portal opened in front of them and Nellis slowly drove the motorcycle through onto the Traveler’s Bridge on the other side. They both got off the motorcycle as Wincet approached.

Wincet smiled. “Isadora! I’m glad you came back. We have been going through my books looking for the kind of poison that has the symptoms you described but we are not having much luck. I was hoping you would give us a little more to go on.”

Nellis pulled the list of planets from his pocket and handed it to Izzie. “We have some information from Grubhor about a Count on Kless and a smuggler. Izzie talked to the council this morning too. I’m going to put my bike away and take a nap. I have a bit of a headache.”

“Hangover you mean. He was out with his friends all night. I found him lying on my couch this morning.” Izzie shook her head. “Some things never change. Wait! My scarf!”

Nellis opened the seat compartment and handed it to her. “Two talons for a bit of material? That’s a little steep.”

“You didn’t have to buy it.” Izzie reminded him.

Nellis shrugged. “It’s your color.”

Izzie smiled as she watched Nellis push his motorcycle to a wooden out building.

“Isadora, you know he still cares deeply for you.” Wincet smiled.

Izzie smiled and looked at the scarf. “I know but it’s complicated.”

(Part 2)

Dark Realms 7: Count Necroix’s Revenge (Part 2)

Dark Realms 7: Count Necroix’s Revenge (Part 2)
Word Count:  6021
Brought to you by puzzleprompts

Episode 7
A few hours later, Wincet called everyone into the Vision Cave for a meeting. “Isadora and I have been going over what she and Nellis learned on their trip back to Caspire.”

Jace looked around. “Speaking of Nellis, where is he?”

“He said he had a headache and he was going to take a nap. He must be still asleep.” Izzie said. “I should go get him.”

“No. I’ll get him.” Jace walked off before anyone could say anything. He walked down the corridor into the living quarters and knocked on Nellis’ door.

“Hey Nellis! We have a meeting.” Jace waited a few moments then opened the door. When he found Nellis on the floor unconscious, he knelt down and shook him gently. “Nellis! wake up! I better get help.”

Jace ran back into the meeting. “Wincet, you need to come quickly. Nellis is on the floor and he won’t wake up.”

“I can help get him into bed.” Borne said to Jace.

“Thanks Borne. He is a lot heavier than he looks.” Jace nodded.

Wincet turned to Izzie. “Did he eat or drink anything while you were on Caspire?”

“He was out with his friends. He drank a lot and probably ate all manner of things but he was fine most of the day. The poison acts quickly so nothing he did the night before would be the cause.” Izzie closed her eyes and took a breath. “The fire candy! He ate candy just before we came back. He put it in his pocket. It’s in a little silver tin.”

Wincet, Borne, and Jace rushed to Nellis’ room. They managed to get him on the bed with Borne’s help then Jace went through his pockets while Wincet examined him.

Jace found the tin and opened it. “Red Hots?”

“What?” Wincet asked. He had never heard of anything called that before especially not candy.

“On my world, we have something similar to this.” Jace showed him the candy. “They’re called Red Hots. Basically, they’re cinnamon and sugar.”

“Cinnamon?” Wincet glanced at Jace. “Is that like dragon’s breath?”

“I don’t know.” Jace shrugged. “It’s the bark from a tree and you grate it over hot chocolate and put it in pies. On my world, they sell it ground or in sticks.”

“That sounds like dragon’s breath. It’s toxic to most forms of shifters but harmless to other species.” Wincet took the tin and smelled the candy. “It’s dragon’s breath all right.”

“Why did he eat it if he knew it was toxic?” Jace asked.

“He may not have known.” Wincet looked down at Nellis. “The dragon tree has been eradicated from Caspire for generations. He may not have even been aware it was poison. I’d say that was what happened with the others as well. I will get Dallys to help me make a cure for him.”

“If you can’t get it on Caspire then where did this come from?” Jace asked.

Wincet looked at the tin. He frowned when he recognized the language written on the tin. “This is from Kless and there just happens to be a forest full of dragon trees there.”

Izzie came to the doorway. “Has he been poisoned?”

“Yes my dear, he has.” Wincet stood up. “We also identified the poison and I should be able to work up a cure. We need to get back to the meeting then I can get to work while you go to Kless to track down that Count the Grubhor told you about. “ 

Wincet waved the others out of the room and they went back to the Vision Cave.

“Nellis has been exposed to the poison. It’s dragon breath.” Wincet turned to Dallys. “Dallys, you and I will make the cure. The others will go to Kless and kidnap Count Necroix.”

“Then what do you want us to do with him?” Tona asked.

“You will take him to Caspire and give him to the council. He will be tried for murder and imprisoned.” Izzie looked around the room. “Every shifter that died was on one of the planets that Bronwer the shop keeper put on his list. The evidence is pointing straight to this Count Necroix. The frog man said he had been scammed by a shifter that must be the reason that he is seeking revenge.”

Tona nodded. “So we get the Count and take him to Caspire. What about the poison that’s still out there? We have to find the smuggler that distributed it.” 

“The shopkeeper said that  the smuggler’s name is Bex.” Izzie told her. “We shall have to get the council to issue a warning about the candy. Hopefully, we can stop any more from dying that way until the candy can be collected and destroyed.”

“Are we going to have to do that?” Tona asked.

“No. The council will send out agents, like me, to do it.” Izzie looked at everyone. “Nellis is … I can’t lose him.”

Dallys gave Izzie a hug. “We will do whatever we can. I’m going to get started now.” She left for the workroom.

“You can’t go to Kless like that.” Tona said to Izzie. “Can you take human form?”

“Yes. That’s how I’ve been getting around on other planets.” Izzie smiled. “They are more likely to talk to a human than a shifter.” 

“You had better get going. I will meet on the Traveler’s Bridge in a few moments.” Wincet said. “I need to get something first.”

Everyone assembled on the Traveler’s Bridge to wait for Wincet. They only had to wait a few minutes.

Wincet handed something to Tona. “That is a whistle that will help you subdue any dog soldier still on Kless. I had heard that there were a few that survived the purging spell. They are actually hybrids but they will still be affected by that whistle.”

“Only the dog soldiers will hear it?” Tona asked as she turned it over in her hand.

Wincet scrunched up his nose. “Maybe bats and possibly shifters. I’m not sure about the shifters though.” He patted Izzie on the shoulder. “Good luck Isadora.”  

“Thank you all for everything.” Izzie had changed clothes and was carrying the modesty veil that Nellis had bought for her.

“We don’t have him yet.” Tona looked at Jace. “Are you armed?”

“Two blades and you?” Jace answered.

“Four.” Tona looked at Borne. “Borne, you better stay here. It will be hard to explain you. The Metalis Alliance is not very popular on Kless  Maybe, you can keep an eye on Nellis for Izzie so that she doesn’t worry.”

“I can do that.” Borne looked at Izzie and nodded. “I will help dallys and wincet nurse him back to health.”

“Thank you Borne. I'm sure you will make a very good nurse.” Izzie pulled the scarf around her head and she tucked the ends. “Let’s get this done so I can be the one nursing Nellis.”

Wincet opened the portal and they stepped through into a forest.

“Why is it that we always end up in the middle of nowhere when we go to another planet?” Jace complained as he stepped out of a mud puddle.

“Do you want to be caught? That’s what will happen if we are seen going in and out of portals.” Tona asked.

“I would just like to be near a road for a change.” Jace said as he started walking.

“Do you know where you’re going?” Tona said.

“There is a road in this direction I can smell animal dung.” Jace didn’t turn around to see if they were following or not. He just kept walking.

“Jace isn’t usually this rude.” Tona said to Izzie. “He’s just worried about Nellis. He, Borne, and Nellis spend a lot of time together.”

“I’m glad he has friends.” Izzie smiled under the veil. “I better make myself into a human.” She took a deep breath and transformed into a slight woman with short dark hair and big eyes.

“That’s impressive.” Tona blinked. “I can glamour but not as well as you can transform.”

“I’m a shifter.” Izzie shrugged. It’s what we do. We had better catch up to Jace.”

“Yeah. He’s going to get himself in trouble without us.” Tona laughed and she and Izzie took the same path through the forest that Jace had just taken.

They reached the edge of the forest and found Jace standing with a man. The man was covered in dirt and dressed in overalls. He was carrying a shovel.

Jace turned to the women. “This is Simon. He’s a grave digger in that cemetery over there. He says the Count lives just at the end of that road over there.”

“He walks down here sometimes at night. His wife is buried over there by that tree. He is still in mourning.” Simon told them. “Some vile being killed his wife and left her to rot in the root cellar while it stole from the Count. When he found her, all he had left to bury was her bones. What manner of creature would do such a thing?” Simon just shook his head. “Shameful!”

Izzie bit her lip to keep from telling the grave digger that the count was responsible for nearly thirty deaths.

“That is shameful.” Jace glanced at Izzie. “This is his cousin from out of town. We should get her up to the house.”

“I have another grave to dig. The fever has taken quite a few this year but not as many as last year. We had to add a whole new section last year.” Simon nodded goodbye and went back to the grave he had been digging.

Tona waited until Simon was out of hearing before she spoke up. “Why do I get the feeling that the Counts dead wife may not have been murdered but succumbed to last year’s fever outbreak? The shifter may have just took advantage of the situation. I can imagine Nellis ever killing anyone.”

Jace shrugged. “I have only met two shifters. I can’t make a judgement on how they all behave with so little evidence.”

“We aren’t usually a violent race.” Izzie defended. “Murder is almost unheard of on Caspire. That was why the deaths from the poison were noticed, This shifter must have been a woman. The only way that a shifter can transform into a female is because it is a female.”

“How many of the victims were female?” Tona asked.

“Four.” Izzie took a breath. “Most were male. Must be because we tend to be more careful about how much we eat then males.”

“For your girlish figure?” Jace smirked.

“No. It’s because we usually have more self-control.” Izzie glared at him.

Tona laughed. “Come on Izzie. Let him think about that for a moment.”

Izzie and Tona started walking up the road to the Counts house. Jace stared after them for a moment then followed.

When they reached the house, Tona hid against the wall as Izzie knocked on the door. Jace went around to the back of the house to see if there was another way in. 

“Yes what is it?” The Count asked impatiently when he opened the door. “Who are you?”

“My name is Isadora. I’m afaid that I’m lost. I was visiting my grandmother in the cemetery and I must have gone the wrong way when I left.” Izzie batted her eyelashes at the Count. “You’re Count Necroix, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I am.” The Count was growing impatient. “I am also very busy. What is it that you want again?”  

“Please can you help me? Will you show me which way to go to town?” Izzie moved so that he could come out where Tona was waiting for him.

As soon as the Count stepped out on the porch, Tona grabbed him from behind. She twisted his arm behind him and shoved him to the ground in one fluid motion.

“Stay down, if you know what’s good for you.” Tona said as she waited for Jace to come help her.

Jace appeared in the door way. “Good you got him.” Jace took out a pair of handcuffs and put them on the Count. “We can get out of this creepy place now.”

“Wait! Where are you taking me?” The count asked.

“We are taking you to Caspire to be tried for the murder of twenty eight shifters.” Izzie told him.

“Please. can you get my pet bat?” The Count begged. “She will die if I leave her here with no one to feed her. Her name is Fickle.”

“I’ll get her.” Izzie went inside and looked around. She found the bat in a golden cage. “There you are. Come with me, Fickle.” She took the cage off the hanger and looked at the bat closely.

Fickle looked back at Izzie and blinked.

Izzie carried the cage out to the front porch. “I’ve got her. We should go now.”

As if Wincet was listening, a portal opened by the front porch.

“How does he do that?” Izzie looked at it with wonder.

Jace and Tona half dragged half carried Count Necroix through to the Travelers Bridge.

Wincet smiled when they came through the portal. “Count necroix, I assume. Stand back and I will send a portal to Caspire.”

“You aren’t going to put it in the middle of the woods again, are you?” Jace asked. “I’m getting tired of stepping in mud and dung.”

“How about I put you right in the council chambers? You can drop off your prize and Izzie can present the evidence all at the same time.” Wincet reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial and a piece of paper. “Here is a vial of the antidote to dragon’s breath. I included the recipe to make more. It must be administered within twenty four hours to be successful.”

“Thank you.” Izzie took the vial and the paper. “How is Nellis?”

“He’s on the mend.” Wincet smiled. “He told you to hurry back. He will be out of commission for a week or so.”

Izzie nodded. She took a breath then transformed back into a shifter. She pulled the scarf from her head and turned to the Count.

“You’re one of them!” Count Necroix exclaimed. He struggled against the hold that Jace and Tona had on him. “You are one of those filthy beasts that killed my wife.”

Jace and Tona tightened their grip on the prison.

“Count Necroix, I have a question for you. Where did you get this little bat?” Izzie held up the bat in the cage.

“My wife got it from a peddler. Why?” The Count looked at Fickle. “It isn’t illegal to have a pet.”

Izzie shook her head. “No it isn’t but this isn’t a pet. It’s not even a bat. It’s a shifter.”

Wincet hit the bat with a burst of magick and it fell asleep.

“Thank you Wincet.” Izzie grinned. “It’s the shifter that impersonated your wife, I would say. The thief has been under your nose the entire time.”

The count looked at the bat. No! I thought that the thief was long gone. Why would it stay after it stole from me?

“That is a question you will have to ask her when she wakes up.” Wincet waved them back so he could make the portal to Caspire. “For now, I need to get you on your way.”

“Do you need us to come with you?” Tona asked.

“No just heave him through the portal.” Izzie grinned. “There are always plenty of guards in the council chambers. Thank you so much for all your help. I will always be grateful for the help.”

“You are coming back, aren’t you?” Tona asked. “If you don’t we will have to deal with a love sick puppy.”

“You mean a love sick kitten boy.” Jace laughed. “He was miserable before you came back in his life. Now you are all that he talks about.” 

“Tell Nellis I will be back as soon as I take care of this business.” Izzie handed the scarf to Jace. “Tell him to hold on to this for me.”

“I will.” Jace took the scarf. “Good luck Izzie.”

Jace and Tona shoved the Count through the portal when it opened and waved to Izzie as she stepped through with the sleeping shifter in the cage. 

A week later, Izzie knocked on the door of Nellis’ room. She opened the door without waiting for him to answer.

“Hey. Are you feeling better?” Izzie asked as Nellis sat up on the bed.

“Yeah. I finally stopped throwing up.” Nellis grinned. “Whatever Wincet gave me made me sicker than I have ever been in my lifetime.”

“Sicker than you were after Coty threw that week long party?” Izzie asked as she sat on the bed.

“Yes! At least I could stand up without the room spinning and having the urge to vomit.” Nellis rubbed his chest. “I suppose I should be glad I’m alive, huh?”

“Yeah.” Izzie hesitated. “Nellis, the council has asked me to be an investigator full time. I decided to take them up on their offer but I wanted to talk to you first.”

“Why? You don’t need my permission.” Nellis shrugged. “We aren’t married and even if we were you wouldn’t listen to me anyway.”

Izzie laughed. “You are right about that. It’s just that I will be off world a lot and I may need a little back up from time to time. I already asked Wincet if it was okay with him and he was delighted. His reaction was not exactly what I expected.”

“These people…we are starting to feel like family.” Nellis pulled at the blanket. “You are family too, through me, of course.”

Izzie smiled. “That’s nice. For so long loving, you was like loving the dead. It was like I was loving just a memory of you. Now that you are in my life again, I’m not sure that I want us to be apart again.”

“It’s because I nearly died, isn’t it?” Nellis shook his head. “Look Izzie, I will always love you but I will never stand in your way where your happiness is concerned. I will always be here and you can always visit or whatever.”

“I just might take you up on that whatever.” Izzy leaned over and kissed him. “I better go. I have to find a kidnapped baby.”

“Sounds like fun.” Nellis pulled her back and kissed her again. “Be safe.”

“You too, Nellis.” Izzie got up from the bed and walked to the door. She looked back and waved before she walked through and closed the door.

“And there goes my heart.” Nellis whispered.

I Have a Plan…I Think…Maybe

I think I have finally come up with a plan for NaNoWriMo. I am going to work from The Pile and just keep writing until each piece is done. I will aim for the word count every day but I suspect that once I start I will go over often. At least that is my hope.

Hopefully, a word war on Merlin Writers’ will give me the boost I’m going to need to get started. That is, unless, I have a panic attack like I did last year when I didn’t have a plan/outline already set up in advance.

There is a lot in The Pile to do. I will try to alternate between original and fan fiction. There is more fan fiction in The Pile but I want to get the original done as well.

There is always more fan fiction that I want to do too. I have a list of story ideas but I’m not going to touch them until I get some of The Pile done. It will keep me from feeling guilty and keep the new projects from ending up on The Pile too.

So wish me luck and pray for me a little too. I can feel a rocky NaNoWriMo in store for me this year too.