Fantasmical 2023 Entries

The Draining

I ruffled through the drawer of my father's bedside table, searching for anything related to my mother. File after file, I rummaged, making sure to keep the volume down. I patted the drawer a few times but was met with cold, smooth wood; it was empty. I dumped all the papers back in and shut it with force, tearing my hands through my hair.

"Nyx?"

I jerked up, panicked that my father had caught me in his chamber. But it was only my sister, her head tilted as she studied me critically. "Estelle," I breathed, filled with relief. I got to my feet and walked over to her, kneeling down so I was at her height. I tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. "Why aren't you bed?" I asked softly.

"I need to go to the bathroom," she replied, straight to the point. "And why are you in Daddy's room?" She crossed her arms, suspicious.

"Daddy asked me to get something for him," I said. "Now go on, and I'll tuck you in after you go to the bathroom, hm?" I led my ten-year-old sister out of the room. Once she left I exhaled heavily.

I sat down on my father's bed. Where else would he hide any traces of their marriage? I narrowed my eyes and scanned the remainder of the room. I've searched the dresser, under the bed, the nightstand, the-

Oh, I'm so stupid.

The closet.

I walked over to the closet. Immediately, my eyes picked up a white glow, light streaming from the cracks of the arched wooden door.

My curiosity peaked and I flung it open, only to be blinded by a bright, swirling...

A bright swirling portal.

I crept closer, keeping my distance from it. Why did my father have access to a portal? And of all places, why his closet? (A terrible hiding place, if I do say so myself.)

I took a step closer. Suddenly, a massive force of gravity pulled me into its arms, it's grip so tight it choked me. I was shoved into the portal as the lights blinded me. Tumbling down a lot winding tunnel, wind whistled past my ears and everything went by in a blur. My hair whipped around, smacking me in my face every time the tunnel took a sharp turn.

Finally, I was dumped onto hard floor. I laid there in a heap, heaving. I made my breaths steady. In, out. In, out. In, out.

It was when I heard the growl that I realized I wasn't alone.

I stood up and whipped out my sword, Esmeray. "Who's there? I shouted. My own voice echoed back at me. But my ears picked up a faint noise, so quiet I almost couldn't hear it.

"Help..." A hoarse voice whispered.

I ran over to where the voice was coming from. Its pants began to come closer and closer until I was right in front of it.

A shriveled up dragon slept before me in a cylinder tube. Wires were wrapped around it like deathly snakes waiting for their moment to strike. A timer counted down the seconds.

3:09:56

3:09:55

3:09:54

"You're a...a dragon," I said, stunned. Dragons were rare in the Vampire Kingdom - lots of rivalries and wars that didn't end well. I knelt next to the creature and placed my hand against the cold glass. It's eyes skin was sickeningly pale.

"Gee, ya think?"

"Never mind," I said quickly. "What happened?"

"He's...he's draining my powers," The dragon replied weakly. Its eyes fluttered as the creature struggled to stay awake.

"What? Why? Who's doing this?"

"He...one eyebrow."

Shit.

That had to be the Vampire King, Rhodes Evan Larson. Also known as—

"Dad." Anger built up like a volcano in me, threatening to explode and overflow. Of course he'd so something like this. Not surprising, but still. His cruelty just keeps rising like a balloon; expect this balloon never pops.

"Why?" I breathed. "Why? And what's with the timer? How is he even-"

Footfalls like thunder filled the entire chamber. The Vampire King, with only one, red-dyed eyebrow, hissed through his teeth. His voice held barely restrained fury as he gritted out:

"What the hell are you doing?"