Vampyre: Desire Immortal

Chapter 33

The Dare

The gauntlet thrown is but a minor thing.

Or is it?

*****

"Rotou? Are you crazy? That's just a myth," said Perdix.

"How do you know?" asked Dyryke.

"Those stories have been floating around for ages."

"Have you ever been to the caves?"

"No," said Perdix. "Of course not. It's too dangerous. No one who ever attempted to climb those peaks to get to the caves has come back alive."

"Huh. So what. Like you, I am strong and very young," said Dyryke. "I'm going to be the first to come back."

"And what if you're wrong?" asked Perdix.

"I'm not."

"But what if," said Perdix, "you climb to the caves and return. But they are only that."

"I don't know what you mean."

"I'm saying," said Perdix, "what if the caves are just caves. Holes in the mountain. Nothing more. Nothing less. What if no celestial anything lives there? What then?"

"Are you mad? Who cares who lives in those grottoes? I will be the only man on the face of the earth who lived to tell everyone what they looked like. I will be famous. Rich. I dare you to come with me."

Dyryke scoffed.

"But why ask me? Then, there would be two of us who scaled the mountain and lived to tell about it."

"You are yellow," he said.

"Not at all," said Perdix.

"You are the perfect one to ask, Perdix. You'd shun the glory. You know you would. Stuck up here in your hole in the tower. Mixing and experimenting. It's all you care about. As for me, I'd be singing the wonders of the caves. Of course, I'll never mention the fact that you came along unless I'm pressed. If the King thinks I'm lying, all I have to do is drag you before the realm as my witness."

"I see. A win-win for you."

"Exactly."

"Alright, I'll come along, but not for the reasons of fame like you. If the Celestials are indeed there, I will garner the wisdom of the universe. There's sure to be enough to divide between us two, with ample left over. Besides, I'm getting nothing done here. My pounding head refuses to let my brain do any work. Yes. I will go. If only to escape this intolerable bell that threatens to deafen me."