Red Fang II

Chapter 34 (L/T Arc): Gold Diggers

We last read Chapter 33, in which Lily Ladair and Theo Ladair are regaled with the history of the Talking Skull's origin. In the process, they learn that, many centuries ago, he was the human known by the pseudonym "G", the very human that was responsible for bringing the injured vampire named Amber to the Vermillion Enclave, allowing her to connect with its then-sole ruler Lord Balfort Ladair and sowing the seeds for them to eventually get married.....leading to the births of Theo and Mavis Ladair a.k.a. Red Fang as a result. However, he became a talking skull after Balfort's younger brother, Prince Boripedes, hunted him down and brutally murdered him following the former's banishment from the Vermillion Enclave; G's blood was used to create the abomination called "Virulis", his skull was infused with his soul and given sentience—thus robbing him of a peaceful death—and the rest of his flesh and bones were discarded in a distant ditch.

The Talking Skull also informs Lily and Theo that the treasure which they are about to procure belongs to Prince Boripedes himself, and that he never comes down to the labyrinth anymore due to spending all of his time in his hideout planning his revenge against the vampires of the Vermillion Enclave and their ruler Balfort.....a plan which Lily and Theo take it upon themselves to warn Mavis and Garson of, oblivious to the fact that they already know. Lily asks if there is a quick exit back to the surface from the room where the riches are stored, and the Talking Skull responds affirmatively.....but is constantly brushed off when he tries to warn her about what lurks inside the treasury. The chapter ended with Lily, Theo, and the Talking Skull bolting off towards the treasure room, now more focused on notifying Mavis and Garson about Prince Boripedes rather than the treasure which they had just risked their lives to obtain.

This time, Lily and Theo finally initiate their plan to plunder Prince Boripedes's riches, but run into one final monstrous obstacle.....

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"So you're telling me you knew everything Prince Boripedes had placed between the temple ruins and the treasury, right down to the exact threats and what we needed to do to get past them?" Lily Ladair recapped as she, Theo Ladair, and the Talking Skull rushed down the final hallway towards the valuable riches which they had earned. "Somehow, I doubt that."

"Prince Boripedes walked me through the construction of this entire labyrinth," the Talking Skull answered. "He went in-depth about everything within it, thinking I'd never have anyone to tell its secrets to since no one ever came here besides him. Oh, how wrong he was....."

"Yeah, you're telling me!" Theo seconded. "Just wait 'till he finds out who made him penniless! What's he going to do? Kill you?"

The Talking Skull—who was, of course, technically already deceased—couldn't help but laugh at the vampire's remark. "No, I suppose not. He's already defiled my body and soul beyond repair, so it can't really get any worse for me."

"I wish there was some way we could free you," Lily suggested. "You know.....have your soul finally pass on to the afterlife after centuries of being trapped within that skull! It'd be the least we could do to return the favor after how much you've helped us!"

"I doubt there's anything that can free me now," the Talking Skull said. "As far as I know, I'm doomed to forever remain on this Earth, denied the peaceful death that I was going to have. But these adventures I've had with you have been some of the most thrill-seeking ones yet." Then, he thought of something. "You are Lord Balfort Ladair's children, or at least I assume so, since you share his last name."