[A loud chatter masks the sudden reveal]
[A silence permeates the trio]
Egan stares intensely at the unwanted guest intruding on their evening. What are the chances that the future Duke of Vanitinova will be in this bar? The situation was sketchy to Egan, to say the least.
Something about this guy feels off.
"And I just have to say… This company is exquisite." Hadrian said, taking the ponytail from Liz and caressing it, "Who knew that such angels resided in my town. Oh, how careless I have been…"
With a sudden slam of the table, Egan gets up and looks directly into Hadrian. His eyes are filled with the intensity of a wild stampede. Sarah, shocked at the sudden stand-up, just looks at Hadrian, a look of disgust on her face.
Hadrian: "Watch it, big man, you might poke someone's eye out."
Egan, now done taking this guy's bullshit, begins walk around the table getting right in Hadrian's face. His gaze gaining in intensity. An aura of dominance surrounds the young dragon; it was as though you were staring into the jaws of a titan.
But to Egan's surprise, Hadrian never wavered.
"Don't seem to understand who you're talking to huh? Dog." Hadrian mocked, now standing tall facing Egan head on, "If I can't have that one, *Pointing to Liz* Then you wouldn't mind if I settled for this adorable little flower over here… now would you."
Hadrian now reaches his hands over the table to touch Sarah. Her eyes now clenched, not wanting to deal with this situation. Within an instant, Egan grabs the wrist of Hadrian S. Vanitinova, stopping his hand from moving any further. His grip was strong. Strong enough to break steel with a light squeeze. Most people would back off from that display, but instead, Hadrian now looks at Egan, facing him at eye level.
Hadrian: "It seems this pest doesn't know when to quit. Didn't know I would need to put down a wild animal today."
With another wave of intensity, the two have an incredible standoff exudeing a most heinous aura. It was as though the crashing of waves and the strength of the cliff were colliding at full force against each other. The whole tavern could feel the animosity. Egan, now letting go of Hadrian's hand as the nobleman rests his other hand on his rapier.
Whether it was overconfidence, or pure stupidity, this nobleman stared right into the eyes of a dragon.
"I don't remember ordering slop on the menu. If I wanted to see trash, I would have walked up to you sooner." Egan snarled, still staring daggers into Hadrian.
"You flatter me! Maybe I should pry off those disgusting horns of yours and shove them up your ass!" Hadrian yelled, now gripping the handle of his rapier, ready to strike at any moment.
"I would love to see you try," Egan said, calmly looking down at the nobleman before him. His eyes now radiating an orange light, so fierce it was like staring into the surface of the sun.
"Don't threaten me with a good time!" Hadrian mocked, now beginning to draw his sword.
[Speeding footsteps approach the standoff]
[A large hand can be felt on the back of Egan's head]
With a swift motion, a hand grabs the back of the young dragon's head and slams him into the ground. The surrounding floorboards flying around at random from the impact.
A hazy, tattered voice belows from above Egan
"Sorry' to intrude, but I can't be sittin' back n watchin' this." A raspy voice bellowed from the man who just slammed Egan.
"Berthold?" Liz said, still shaken from the situation transpiring before her.
A silence once again echoes throughout the tavern. Onlookers stare at the sight of the once-tall, horned man now crouched down in a deep bow, his face buried in the floorboards. Egan tries to get up, but Berthold once again slams his head into the ground.
"I apologize for this one's rudeness, your highness… I will see to it proper punishment 'n order." Berthold exclaimed, lowering his head as a sign of submission.
"What are you doing, old man?" Egan croaked from under the floorboards, his piercing eyes now fixated on the dwarf beside him.
"Jus' shut up for now, this is one guy you do not want' to get rough wit'."
"I shall forgive this insolence for now, but if this so happens again. I will take your head, worm."
With a stomp, Hadrian's boot now lay slammed against the back of Egan's head. It humiliated him, but if what the old man said was true, then he didn't want to cause any more trouble for the people he trusts.
"I think it's about time we leave. Sarah, you agree, don't you?" Liz said, gathering her purse and sliding a silver coin onto the table.
"Yeah, let's go, Egan!"
"Come on, son. Don't make this more difficult." Berthold whispered to Egan, who was now starting to get up from the floor.
Now standing fully up, he looks over at Hadrian, a twisted smile plastered on the nobleman's face. He was enjoying this.
A truly heinous creature.
Sarah, Liz, Berthold, and Egan now begin to walk out of the tavern. Sarah, sticking closely behind Egan for safety. With one final glance, Egan looks back once again at Hadrian.
Something hits him, a familiar presence.
Dark and dangerous.
The same presence he has been feeling all over the town of Vanitinova.
Is coming off of him, too.
***
Egan, a look of defeat strewn across his face, looks down at the floor. He is embarrassed by the sudden scene that unfolded just moments earlier. Berthold, now facing Liz, gives a warm smile from under his beard.
"It's been some time, Liz. It's good t' see you." He said, Liz lunging in for a hug.
"How did you know we needed help? You're a miracle worker, seriously!" Liz demanded, curious about how things didn't escalate further.
"I was sittin' at the bar next to the future duke when I heard 'im talking about wanting to introduce himself. Kinda figured that would happen next." Berthold explained.
"Thank goodness, I definitely would have lost my job if it weren't for you!" Liz stated, happy at the outcome.
Berthold looks at Egan, who was still looking down in disappointment at the whole situation. He felt weak, like he couldn't do the one thing he promised himself to do.
A light tap from a rough hand rested on Egan's arm
"Hey, kid, cheer up! I can tell you ain't from round here. No harm, no foul!" Berthold said, trying to cheer up the young man.
"Thanks…" Egan said, now getting a good look at the man who stopped him earlier. "Why are you so short?"
*THWACK*
"Really? That's how you say thank you?" Berthold yelled after landing a mean right hook to Egan's head. "Glad things didn't escalate, though. Anyways, I need to head back to the shop. Gotta gets all cleaned up for tomorrow. G'night!"
With a wave, the trio said their goodbyes. Liz offered to walk Berthold back to his shop, so they went off together. Sarah and Egan were now left alone outside the Tavern.
***
Vanitinova was still bustling with life. Everywhere Egan looked he saw happiness plastered across the peoples faces. The night sky still breathlessly beautiful as the artifical lights danced around it.
[A cool breeze shatters the awkward silence between the two]
*Achoo!*
"You okay, Sarah, you aren't feeling ill, are you?" Egan said, concerned at the shivering Sarah in front of him.
"I'll be okay, I think all that cold water being splashed on me from yesterday finally caught up. Let's just go back to the Inn."
"Right, I'll lead the way."
***
After some time navigating the crowded streets, they arrived at the Inn. The Innkeeper, upon seeing the tall man before her, makes a sly remark about Sarah's room being too small to support the two. After rolling her eyes—Egan, being completely confused about what she meant—began to head upstairs. Upon reaching the room, they noticed all of their stuff from the wagon, including Thaerin's coat, was lying on the bed waiting for them. The Innkeeper had some of her employees move all Sarah's luggage to her room. Very considerate of her.
Sarah, who is now almost beat red, lies down on the bed. Egan, not knowing what else to do, takes Thaerin's coat and lays it over her, hoping that two blankets are better than one.
[A cool chill blasts throughout the tiny room]
The window next to Sarah's bed was wide open. To prevent Sarah from getting even colder, Egan closes it and locks it shut. He begins to walk over to Sarah, putting his hand on her head. She was hot, too hot.
In a panic, Egan begins to run out the door, vaguely remembering where the apothecary was when he saw it in passing. Before he could, a small, weak hand grabs his pants.
Sarah, who was now hyperventilating, looks up at Egan, still tugging on his pant leg. Softly, Egan reassured Sarah he would be right back; no words were spoken, but the look in his eyes told Sarah everything she needed to know. Gently, he grabbed her hand, squeezed it softly, and rested it underneath the blankets with her.
In a flash, he bolted out the door, running by the innkeeper and out the main doors. He was eager to find medicine and find it quickly.
***
'God, where is this stupid apothecary?'
He bolts through town, bumping into strangers, jumping over wagons, and leaping through alleys. Upon doing so for a solid 15 minutes, he could feel the stakes getting higher. He believed that she needed the medicine now, for this was his first time experiencing illness. It scared him.
Unfortunately, he was lost. Considering he never went into the apothecary and only saw it out of the corner of his eye. It was practically impossible for him to find it based on memory alone. He was in a completely new place with new people and new sensations. Everything was a struggle, even basic crowds.
To escape, he walked into an alleyway to recollect his thoughts.
[A familiar presence looms over you]
[A quick dash of feet can be heard above the alley]
In an instant, Egan, who was peacefully resting against a wall to regain his breath, had been surrounded by three people in black coats. All of which bore the same marking, a red flame. Fast and precise, the trio of cloaked individuals started to charge at Egan, attacking him with blades from all sides. It was difficult to move around in this small alley, so these cloaked figures were talented. Bolting around at incredible speed. One lunges at Egan, dagger aimed towards his face, but quickly he maneuvers around the blade, catching the wrist. With a twist of his body, he slams the attacker into the wall beside him, knocking him out cold. Another one came crashing down from above, a long sword aimed directly at his head. With a small motion of his head, he used his horns to shatter the longsword. Before they could touch the ground, Egan grabbed their foot and slammed them into the floor, blood marking where they fell. The third figure, now hesitant, stands trembling further into the alley.
A dark gaze now turns to look at him from over Egan's shoulder. Egan's red eyes, now emitting a harsh glow, were the only light visible in this dark alley. It was intense, the pressure was weighing the bandit down as though an elephant was resting on his shoulders. With a quick dash, Egan lunges at him, claws bared, grabbing onto his face. A fierce shove forced the attacker into the wall.
"Who are you, and why are you following me?" Egan snarled, gaze intensifying even more.
"Like I would tell you-"
Egan pushed on his skull more, the pressure beginning to crack it. The ache of the bone pierced throughout his body. His brain screamed, wanting to escape from his head, but it couldn't. The pain shattering throughout his being.
"Answer me."
"We need you; that's all my boss said! I swear! I wasn't informed on why! I promise!"
Egan continued to glare at the man, piercing right into his being. It was as though his very soul was being judged, and if it wasn't worthy, it would be crushed along with his skull.
"Ha…Ha-ha! The boss also said, if we couldn't get to you personally. Your cute little girlfriend might be a close second!"
Egan's eyes intensified, fear bellowing through his body like a gong. He felt those words throughout his being, as though a knife were stabbed directly through his heart.
***
Fear and panic
Panic and fear
That was all he could feel in the moment. With a quick squeeze, he knocks the man out cold and leaps from the alley.
'Faster… Faster!'
'I need to get there faster'
Upon reaching the Inn, he runs upstairs once again, passes the Innkeeper, and right through the door. The door was locked from the inside. With one kick, he smashed the door down. Fangs bared and the cracks in his cheeks glowing, he enters the room.
*Crunch*
The crunching of broken glass echoes from under his feet. Upon looking around the room, he noticed the window had been broken in, and glass strewn around the floor. A cold wind now barrels into the room. The bed was messed up from Sarah lying in it. He walks over and throws the covers off. What he saw shocked him to his very core.
[A silence once again shatters throughout the small room]
"She's gone…"
Sarah Chatsworth is nowhere to be found.