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The Nightborne Estate

Chapter 2 The Elves, The Gryphon, and The Dragon

"Welcome to your new home Mr. Helukasti, Xaoto to the Nightborne Master." Its words rung in Xaoto's ears as he looked on at the creature. Xaoto shook his head once more looking around him, looking back up to the women at the top of the stairs. He still blushed just a bit, but it didn't take more then a few seconds for him to notice what was behind them.

Xaoto couldn't believe his eyes, looking at the portrait that was behind them. The portrait was huge, easily three times his own height, and portrayed an image of Xaoto himself from the waist up. Unlike Xaoto though, the image on display was very well kept, his hair combed back, even the fur on his ears was all nicely trimmed, just to go with the fancy robes that the image had him wearing. Resting in the center of the picture was the same amulet that Gregory had told him was his grandfather's good luck charm, the image of Xaoto smiling a bit as if showing off the amulet, a determined look on his face.

"This can't be real." Xaoto quickly stated as he rubbed his eyes.

"I assure you young master that everything you see is real." The creature that stood next to him stated taking a few steps forward. "The mansion has grown old and tired without a master in these recent years, but the magic that makes this place real is still very strong." It reached out a talon, taking Xaoto's suitcase and setting it on the floor and easily popping it open, pulling out the small box that contained the amulet. "I do not blame you for having a hard time accepting this, your sense of magic was never trained, the curse over you making sure to keep it that way."

Xaoto still had his eyes closed as he took a few more breaths. When he finally opened his eyes, he took a few steps back; the four women who were at the top of the stairs were now standing next to them. "Is something wrong, Master Helukasti?" One of them asked, the one in the oversized tee-shirt. Before he could look them over further though, or do anything else, his suitcase began to ring, the gryphon easily moved things around pulling out the phone and opened it presenting it to Xaoto, surprising him with how easily it could use its talons as fingers.

"It would appear that Mr. Williams is calling." The gryphon told him waiting for Xaoto to take the phone as he just looked on him. Xaoto took the phone slowly as he turned to see just what else was in the room.

"Hey, Gregory right?" He asked. "What's... what's up?"

"Hello once more Gelvorci. I am just calling to see if you have made it to your new home yet." Gregory responded. "You sound worried, is something troubling you?"

Xaoto looked back up at the gryphon as well as the four women that were next to him, finally noticing their pointed ears and other unique features. At least he could believe that they were real though, even if he had to wonder what kind of gene-tonics they had spliced with.

"I'm just hallucinating, that's all. That gene-attack hasn't quite passed entirely yet." He stated.

"Really now..." Gregory stated. "Are any of the staff members present? I would like to speak to Drydon. I am sure he can help you."

The gryphon merely tipped the phone back with a talon before speaking. "I am already here." He stated as Xaoto just looked back him. "You are correct though, he does seem to be a bit off, was he always so pale?"

Xaoto took a few steps back. "Okay, I'm pretty sure I'm just seeing things over here right now."

"Drydon is a real gryphon if that is your major concern. I regret not being there in person, but as I asked Quint to explain to you, I was called away. I'm back in Ulin overseeing a shipment that ran into some problems. Drydon, if you would be so kind, kindly show Gelvorci around his new estate." Gregory stated. "I must be going now, I just wanted to make sure that you were there by now. If I am able, I'll be out there tomorrow to explain things in greater detail."

Xaoto looked back to the gryphon, before once more speaking up. "How about you explain things right now." He countered. "What is going on here?"

He could hear Gregory sigh a bit even over the phone. "Very well, if I must. I will have to be brief however; I will not get much time alone where I am. In short, your ancestor, your 'grandfather' was a vampire, a true vampire noble no less. Everything you see around you, from the mansion itself to those who keep the mansion in proper order now belong to you. He made sure that he owned everything that went into the mansion, even snaring the souls of those he hired to service it."

"Wait, he did what?" Xaoto just looked at the phone.

"You heard me correctly. Kestorathi, or the Nightborne Master, as those of his... society... came to call him, only worked with two kinds of people, and I use the term worked loosely. He did not believe in servants, only slaves, controlling their souls to ensure obedience. Every one who works in the mansion knows that very well. The other kind of people he worked with were those like me. Make no mistake, I was in no way friends with him, he only saw me as tool to use for his purposes, just like all of his other mortal contacts." Gregory continued. "In the end, he set us up in places where we could do the most good for him. When I started this shipping company roughly 40 years ago, he approached me and made me an offer. He needed someone new to enter the market, to help balance things out in his favor, someone who wasn't already caught up in certain unfavorable habits. He was always picky about things. In the end, the matter was simple. I could work for him, in our world, for a price. As long as I did what he needed, his name would be my insurance policy and I would have all the money I could want. Of course, there were rules, and I was no less a slave to him then anyone else he wanted something from. The only difference is that I was allowed to keep my soul and work how I saw fit."

Xaoto was quiet for a few, before shaking his head. "Hold on, go back... He enslaved the souls of those who worked here?"

Drydon nodded as the four elves around him all looked down some, the smell of fear from them getting stronger. "Yes, he did. Every creature, from the proud centaurs to the curious fairies served him how he saw fit, whether they wanted to come here or not. Why even the lowest servant all the way up to his most trusted advisors had their souls bound and a curse placed upon them to ensure they could not betray him. Even those who sold their souls willing to him were cursed and knew their place very well, that he was always the one in charge. I am the only who managed to keep my soul and had my free will left untouched." The gryphon stated.

"Drydon there is the estate's historian so to speak. He knows the estate very well and I'm sure that he will be able to answer many of your questions. I would take his advice to heart and listen very well to what he says. I really must be going now, I have work that needs done and I can see the others looking for me. It would be best if they did not hear me explaining things to you." Gregory told him before he said one last good bye and then hung up.

Xaoto remained still for a few, before once again shaking his head. "Okay... so... all of this," He looked around again, still blushing at the sight of the women in front of him. "Is real then?"

Drydon nodded once more. "Yes, I image that it is a lot to take in though. I can understand your hesitation. The curse about you has weakened in recent years since the death of Nightborne Master, but it will still need a little push to be dealt with entirely. After that, I image that your own senses to the way of magic should awaken. You're mother would have been a powerful witch had it not been for the curse over her, and I'm sure that same power flows through your veins as well."

"You keep mentioning this curse?" Xaoto looked at Drydon. "Why would anyone want to curse me? Its not like I was rich or anything before coming to this place. Hell, every attempt I've ever tried to start up anything on my own somehow kept back firing."

"I am sure that the curse played a part in that. As for the origins of your curse, you can thank the Nightborne Master for that. He occasionally ventured out to the realm of mortals to breed for heirs. He was always so picky about them though, always placing powerful curses over them to keep them in line. That curse was a bit of a double-edged sword however." Drydon explained. "On the one hand, it made sure that he always had at least one heir alive at all times, the curse working to keep at least one of them out of harms way, well preventing any serious harm at least. On the other hand however, the curse also picked out their style of living, even who they would end up falling for just to ensure another suitable heir was born."

"Just what all does this curse do? You make it sound like it controls my life." Xaoto stated.

"For all intensive purposes, it might as well of done just that. The curse ensured that you survived, but only at a level that kept you under control. It would lead you to a steady job, if just a poor one, while preventing any attempts to find something better. Then, should you run into someone who would provide another suitable heir, the curse would move on that, and then be passed onto that child as well. He liked to keep at least one back up around, one of his own blood and power should he need to recover quickly should something have come up." Drydon told him.

"Back up? Now you're making it sound like I was nothing more then an insurance policy for him." Xaoto grumbled.

"As far as the Nightborne Master was concerned, that was all you were, which is why he cursed you all in the first place. You're mother died before he could reach her though, and having been so busy at the time, he was unable to figure out just where you had been sent. Unable to find you, the reaper came to collect him and while he was able to put up a great fight, he was already weakened from previous engagements. His magic kept all of his things still working properly for years though, but at last, that magic is finally starting to break down." The gryphon pointed around the mansion, the smallest cracks and splinters just barely visible.

"Okay slow down. What do you mean he tried to go after my mother, and then me? My mother died when I four, nearly twenty years ago." Xaoto shook his head; none of this was making sense, every answer he got only lead to more and more questions. "And would you please put some more clothes on?" He turned looking to the two women who were underdressed in his opinion. He didn't really mind women willing to show off like that, but right now it was nothing more then a distraction that he could do with out. "And just what are you spliced up on anyway, your scents... they... I can't place them and its not helping, no offense."

Both of the women who were less than fully clothed blushed some, but didn't move to change clothing. Instead, the one with just the over-sized tee-shirt moved forward and bowed to him. "I am sorry my master, but our curses prevent us from doing such right now."

"Reshara is right. The Nightborne Master made all four of them specifically to be his playthings, even going so far as to restrict what kind of clothing they could wear without consequence. Until you take your role as proper master of his mansion and fill the power gap that the Nightborne Master has left behind, they must abide by those curses." Drydon stated.

Xaoto stopped once more, his head spinning with questions now, trying to push them back out of his head. "Are you serious?" He asked rather softly, having a hard time believing any of the things around him. "Magic, gryphons, curses..."

"Hmmm, yes. I can see how this would all overwhelm you, the realms of magic and science have been separated for several thousand years as far as humans are concerned." Drydon looked him over, studying him for a few. "Perhaps it would be best to start somewhere smaller. Let us start with mere introductions." Drydon took a few steps back, bowing his head down low, spreading his wings, and from what Xaoto had to guess, the gryphon had a wing span of least fifteen, if not twenty feet. "I am Drydon, a gryphon of the Windrest Valleys as my kind knows then, although to humans, they are nothing more then an uninhabited jungle island out in the Bloodied Sea." Drydon lifted his head back up rather proudly. "As Gregory has mentioned, I am the estate's historian. I record all the events that take place here and have recorded the history of the Nightborne Master since his birth all the way through his rise to power until the time that the reaper came to collect the Nightborne Master. Now it appears that I shall record the marks you leave in history as well."

Xaoto nodded lightly, unsure how he liked that response. He just wanted a nice simple life, to be left alone. From the sounds of things though, he wasn't going to get that simple life. After a few, he then turned to the four women surrounding him. "And you all are?"

All four of them quickly lined up by the stairs again giving Xaoto a much better look at them. All of them looked young, not much older then he was, but he knew they had to be if they worked for his grandfather. As he looked over them further, he noticed a few other things. Despite looking so young, he could see that each of them had pointed ears, but not like his own. He couldn't even begin to tell what kind of gene-serum could give them ears that still looked human, but made them look pointed as well, the tops looking as though they had merely been pulled back above the tops of their heads into small points.

The one in the over-sized tee-shirt was the first one to step forward. "I am Reshara." She stated bowing down. Seeing as she stepped forward first, Xaoto looked her over. He had no idea where she had come from, she had a dark chocolate colored skin, but it didn't look like a natural color. It was just a single solid shade, no variations at all. He just shook his head and ignored that for now, he'd let them all introduce themselves before asking questions now. He paid attention to her clothing, wearing just the over-sized shirt that he could see through revealing her undergarments to him, as well as wearing some plain white stockings and a simple maid's cap. He easily noticed several scars over her, many looking like burn scars to him, but some he could hardly tell what would leave marks like that. With her standing so close though, he could very easily tell that most of the fear he smelled was coming from her, but they all were afraid of him.

Before he could inspect her further, she had stepped back and the second one in line had stepped forward. "I am Luna." The second one told him as she bowed just like Reshara. Her skin was the same tone as Reshara's, but at least she was properly dressed in a full black maid's outfit with white frills. The outfit was obviously custom tailored to her though, hugging her body nicely. Like Reshara, she also wore long white stockings, and Xaoto could make out a large white bow on her back around her waist. He gave her a quick look over, easily finding more scars on her, but not so many burn scars. Then, just like Reshara, she stepped back as the third one stepped up to him.

"I am Tina." She stated, Xaoto blushing again. Tina's clothing choices were the most revealing, her skirt barely coming down far enough to hide anything as she didn't have on any panties. Then there was the top of her chest, which has been cut so that her breasts were exposed, once again without undergarments. Drydon's words mentioning that they were cursed to such clothing once again coming to his mind. Still, he looked her over; more curious about what kind of scars she bore, trying to understand why they were so afraid of the Nightborne Master. Her much brighter skin tone, not quite pale, but white none the less made it easy to spot her scars though. He could see some odd scars that he couldn't place, but the rest of them over her, they sort of looked like bite marks to him.

At last, Tina pulled back as well, leaving just the forth woman now stepping forward. "I am Solana." She bowed. Her skin tone matched Tina's, but at least she was properly dressed, with the same kind of custom tailored maid's outfit as Luna, only green in color this time. While Xaoto couldn't see any visible scars on her, he knew that she had something wrong with her, noticing a slight limp in her left leg.

At last, Solana pulled back as well, all four of them standing next to each other, giving him one group bow now. "Okay, let's get the obvious question out of the way. What are you four spliced up on to look like that?" All four of them merely looked confused for a few, before Drydon spoke up.

"Spliced? Ah yes, that new craze that you humans have come up with, adding animal DNA to your own for any number of reasons." Drydon stated. "I can assure you though, that your servants are not spliced up on any such serums. They were crafted merely in the image of elves."

Xaoto stopped for a few, before looking at Drydon. "Crafted?" He repeated.

"Yes, The Nightborne Master was a powerful vampire. He enjoyed many dark pleasures, but found that flesh golems made much better toys for his needs at times. He could do anything he pleased to them and still keep them around without having wait for them to be nursed back to health. They also made perfect maids, he would not have to worry about certain kinds of company breaking them and having to find replacements." Drydon explained. It took a few for his works to fully sink in, before Xaoto looked back to them.

They all bowed once again before slowing looking up to him. "I hope that we will be able to take care of your every need." Reshara stated, the others nodding at her words.

"Why don't I like the way you said 'every'." Xaoto looked them over as Drydon spoke up.

"They are bound to you, as your toys more then slaves to be honest. All of them know how to cook and clean, but that hardly begins to cover what all the Nightborne Master had them do." Drydon explained.

"And just what did he have you four do?" Xaoto asked, almost regretting asking the question.

The elves all turned away some; shivering some as the smell of fear flooded the room. None of them spoke up at first as Xaoto just continued to look on at them, their silence striking his curiosity. He just had to wonder exactly how corrupt his grandfather was. "You don't have to give me the major details, but tell me... What did he do to you?" Xaoto stated a bit more commanding this time. As focused as he was on their words, he didn't even notice the slight and very brief glow that came from all of their chests, forced to follow the command that Xaoto had given them.

"We were his toys..." Luna started keeping her head down as she talked.

"Anything he wanted he from us, he would take." Solana added rubbing a few of her scars.

"He would take us in his bed, force us to play his demented games, feed us to his pets." Tina told him, lightly pointing out a few of the larger scars from bites she had received.

Finally, Reshara spoke up. "We were made strictly to be his, what little free-will we had was merely there to taunt us, we had no power around him, we existed merely for his convenience." She said, her voice very low as she slowly looked up to him.

Xaoto just looked on at them, unable to see how they could last so long, utterly disgusted with his grandfather's action. "And the world just let him get away with enslaving others?"

Drydon spoke up before Xaoto could continue, raising a talon to stop him. "The world we are familiar with is vastly different than that of humans. What is right and wrong in the world is determined by who has one of two things. The one who has vast amounts of strength, whether physical or magical and can rule by force, or the one who has the most brains, who can rise to power with mere slight of hand tricks, able to negotiate his way into power by manipulating others. The Nightborne Master had both, and while he was not the strongest creature among our society, he alone had enough power that those who could defeat him choose wisely not to risk fighting it out with him. All of this around us, the power he poured into this mansion and the estate grounds, to the souls he snared to keep his slaves under control, they were all shows of that power. Power that you must demonstrate yourself when the time comes in order to continue his work."

"Continue his work?" Xaoto's ears twitched at the words, his anger already sparking. "What, you mean enslaving souls? Or maybe torturing everyone around for fun? Or maybe even I'll just decide to start up a business with a focus on making these golems and selling them for all those people who want to do things that they couldn't normally get away with."

"You certainly have a wild imagination young one. I admit that the Nightborne Master had many dark tastes, but that is not the only thing he spent his life doing. Why, in truth, you owe the Nightborne Master everything that you know." Drydon explained, only to smile as Xaoto nearly snapped at him again, only to nearly fall over holding his head. "Let us save that argument for another day." He stated as two of the maids helped him to his feet. "I gladly welcome the chance to hear your views of the Nightborne Master as you get to the chance to learn of him. Of course, that would be best left for a day when you have the energy to make your views without falling over. Come, let us get you something to eat for now, and make another one of those special drinks, stabilizers I believe they are called."

"For being a supposed mythical creature, you sure do seem to know a lot about humans and our culture." Xaoto stated, panting some as he stood on his own now. "What's your answer to that one? Do you take tours of our cities at night or something, or can you take on a different body."

"Television." Drydon stated. "I am most fascinated by your culture as it has grown unhindered."

"You seriously watch television?" Xaoto stated.

"Why yes, I arranged a deal with the Nightborne Master. My section of the stables has 16 of what you call plasma screen televisions, and I appear to get every channel that your world seems to broadcast. You're educational and scientific programs are some of my favorites, but I am deeply confused by your constantly changing views of the ways of magic and the creatures they go with." Drydon turned to give him a most quizzical look. "Why, you're kind have at least thirty different kinds of vampires, and quite frankly, many of them are insulting to the true creature. The same could be said of so many others of our society as well."

"I wouldn't know too much about any of that, never had any interest in TV myself. I'd rather read or practice my martial arts." Xaoto looked around now wondering if he might have a place to continue his hobby here at this new home. "I will take that drink though, I have some of the mix in the suitcase."

"Then let us head to the kitchen. Luna, you have show promise in making drinks. Perhaps some tea will help him when mixed with this stabilizer." Drydon leaned over his suitcase, taking the drink mix as well as the case for the amulet before he moved to head deeper into the house, Luna at his side. "Tina, Solana, why not go and prepare the master bedroom. Our new young master could do well with some rest."

Tina and Solana quickly nodded, taking his suitcase up the stairs and out of view as Reshara helped Xaoto into another room.

"And what room is this?" Xaoto asked looking around the massive room. It was easily as long as a soccer field, and with the exception of a group of long tables with several chairs and a throne near the middle, the room was rather empty.

"This is the dining chamber." Reshara told him. "The Nightborne Master held many dinners here, open to all sorts of the guests of all shapes and sizes. I am sure that this will be needed soon again, word of your arrival has already begun to spread. Although no scrolls have come yet, I'm sure that they will come by the dozen soon enough asking for an audience."

Xaoto sighed a bit at the mention of word of him spreading. "So, aside from his fucked up hobbies, what exactly did my grandfather do?" He asked as they continued to follow Drydon and Luna around another corner, into what appeared to be a much smaller dining area.

"The Nightborne Master did many things, but perhaps the most important thing that would matter to you was that he kept the worlds separated." Drydon told him as he opened a large set of doors into an equally large kitchen. It definitely wasn't modern as Xaoto was use to, there were large cauldrons over what Xaoto assumed to be fire pits, and he could see a few stone ovens, which he assumed used wood or charcoal. Along one wall appeared to be some sort of herb garden, but Xaoto could only name a few of the plants he saw in it. There were quite a few however that he assumed were 'magical' as well, watching a few sway lightly back and forth, while another one appeared to be giving off some kind of bluish smoke. As he looked around further, he could see a section that appeared to be a large barbecue and spit roasting area, as well as a few meat hooks hanging down near them. In the end, the kitchen definitely wasn't up to date by what Xaoto considered normal means, but it appeared that it was prepared to handle just about everything, even if he couldn't find any form of refrigerator, but he assumed that they had some form of magical equivalent close by.

"So, what do you mean that he kept the worlds separated?" Xaoto asked as he kept looking around while Luna went to work, picking a few leaves off of some of the plants, making her own fresh batch of tea as Drydon moved over to one of the fire pits, merely blowing over it before it lit up for him.

"The entire human race as it is today owes the Nightborne Master quite a debt. He is responsible for allowing them to flourish as they have. He enforced rules that limited the hunting of humans, as well as keep humans in the dark about our world." Drydon picked up a tea pot for Luna, handing that to her as she moved over, Xaoto watching her as she moved to what appeared to be a small stream that took up a small corner of the kitchen. Xaoto shook his head, moving over just to make sure that he was actually seeing what he thought he had seen there.

"Somehow, I doubt that the my grandfather cared for humans." Xaoto stated after getting over the fact that there was a fresh water stream in the kitchen.

"You are partially correct. He took his share of humans as food, even a few as toys every over his life time. His primary reason for protecting humans were that vampires and other creatures were over hunting humans so to speak. He knew that things couldn't stay the way they were, so he took action. At first, it was merely to protect his food supply, but at some point, he started to grow curious about humans I suppose." Drydon nodded and pulled out a small book from beneath his wing flipping through the pages. "I would have to say that it was the ancestors of the Sungi Empire that peeked his interest the most. They were the first to truly fight back against those that use to hunt them. It was shortly after the rise of their small empire that the Nightborne Master started to separate the worlds for the most part. Of course, they didn't last that long though, another human culture invaded them and nearly wiped them out, only to merge with the survivors and form the Sungi Empire."

"So, you think that supposed to make him a nice guy then? He saved the human race, but you word it like its no different then a rancher putting up fences to keep out hunters, not that he minded a few going missing every now and then." Xaoto growled some.

"It is not my place to judge him, I merely recorded his actions, both the good and the bad." Drydon stated. "How he is to be judged is by the actions he has taken, after time has moved to accept the loss of him. I merely keep a proper set of records so that those next in line do not make him out as something he was not." He quickly dipped down to get himself a drink as Luna got herself a large kettle full of water and set it to a boil on top of the fire that Drydon had started for her.

With that taken care of, Luna moved over to where all the plants were growing, after picking up a tea ball and started to fill it with a few of the plants as she looked over the package that Xaoto's drink mix came in.

Xaoto once again caught his breath as he looked back to Drydon. "And what exactly was this asshole to you? Some hero, a villain, what?"

"My views are not so narrow as your own." Drydon replied. "My clan have sat back in peace for a thousand generations merely recording history as it is. Like with you humans, when a certain power starts to rise or fall, history is changed. When a new power rises from a good time, it hides the bad to make them look that much better, not telling just how they had reached such a time. When a power falls for whatever reason, many groups only write about the bad that they caused. In both cases, history is left with incorrect marks, marks that change the views of those that matter."

Xaoto growled just a bit, but the gryphon did have some points. With Gene-splicing on the rise, two major groups had risen out of it, and the verbal war that waged over the act was still going on. There were points on both sides after all, but he knew that in the end, history would be written by the one with more power.

"We will have plenty of time to debate just what the Nightborne Master was for both of us, but you're rather pale. I was under the impression that gene-attacks did not normally occur this frequently. I have studied the subject quite a bit to try and record its mark on history, but you do not appear to be a natural case." Drydon stated as he nodded for Luna to hurry up.

"I...I don't get it..." Xaoto stated holding his head now as Reshara quickly moved him to a chair. A scream once again pierced Xaoto's ears as he doubled over. "What is that noise." He demanded looking around as Drydon looked him over.

Drydon was the first to notice what the problem was, once again pulling out the box that contained the Nightborne Master's amulet. "Ah, I understand now." Drydon set the box and opened it up, the amulet giving off a dark glow as diamond heart inside the dragon's mouth pulsed some. "It would appear that amulet is trying to awaken to its new master, but you're body is not so readily compatible."

Xaoto looked up as the heartbeat from before once again started up over the screams. "And just what does that had to do with this?" Rather than answer, Drydon looked him over for a few, pulling out another book and reading a few passages, Drydon's eye's glowing just a bit as he gave Xaoto one long look.

"You're body is choked full of magic right now, magic that I can easily identify. It would appear that the Nightborne's curse over you is reacting very strongly to the amulet that is trying to bond with you. If I had to guess, you're body, no longer entirely human is being changed once again. The amulet is attempting to awaken your senses to magic, to allow you to channel power once more into the estate and regain total control as the master of the grounds." Drydon looked back over the amulet, tapping it a few times, only for Xaoto nearly double over once more, the sound of something tapping on glass now bursting through his head.

"Yes, that explains a lot." Drydon smiled, or what Xaoto assumed was smiling. "The curse left by the Nightborne Master may very well have been all that's kept you alive since your birth, magically forcing your body to stay alive. Your mother's rampant gene-splicing during her pregnancy no doubt should have killed you, but the curse kept you alive. And now, your body is trying to change again. The curse is still keeping you alive, but you're gene-attacks are not of a natural occurrence, they are being brought up by the amulet attempting to introduce at the very least a partial vamparic imprint into you so that it will bond properly. It is very possible that is what caused your previous gene-attack in the first place as well."

"Then make it stop." Xaoto half shouted as Reshara held him down a bit in his seat to keep him from acting out and hurting himself.

"Luna, add a large batch of gorgon's eye and a whole twilight tulip into the tea." Drydon told the elf as she looked at him a bit confused, but did as she was instructed, closing the tea ball, dropping it into the kettle, then reading over the drink mix before preparing some of the powder.

"I will warn you that this drink will undoubtedly taste horrible, but it should slow down the force the amulet is using to bond with you." Drydon explained to Xaoto. Xaoto didn't exactly care too much right now as he waited for the drink, if it stopped how he was feeling, a bad taste wasn't that much of a price to pay. "It may also have some other... side effects. Gorgon eyes are a good thing to use to boost the magic of curses, which is what is keeping you alive, while twilight tulips are perfect to help dispel magics. Together, the tulip should help you deal with all of the magical energies tied to amulet, while the gorgon eye should help keep the curse over you in place. Once the amulet bonds with you properly, the curse will be dispelled, but it won't be needed to keep you alive anymore." Drydon continued as Luna mixed up the drink and offered it to Xaoto, who quickly downed it as fast as he could.

The pounding screams and heartbeat in his head slowly started to fade as he nearly passed out himself, only to grab his stomach, the tea didn't taste as bad as he was expecting, but it certainly did mess up his stomach. "Reshara, Luna, assist him to the master bedroom if you could. I must go look up something for now."

Luna and Reshara nodded as they helped Xaoto to his feet once more, rather out of it now as he nodded. "Yes, bed is a good thing." He said softly as they helped him through the mansion to the master bedroom. Xaoto was much too out of it, feeling like he had just recovered from a gene-attack once more

~xXx~

Xaoto was slow to wake up, rolling over onto his side, pulling a few pillows over his head as he started to gain consciousness. He hated the early morning sun, it was always too bright for him.

It took him a few more minutes after he finally woke up to unbury himself. His head hurt, and he felt drained, but at least he seemed to recall everything. He removed the last pillow from his face, only to find something staring down at him. He quickly backed up against the headboard, searching around for anything that might offer a bit of protection from the several fangs he noticed over his head.

The creature hanging off of the top his canopy bed slowly closed its mouth, and tilted its head looking over him. The miniature dragon, no bigger then a large house cat had been holding onto the sides the canopy cover to keep itself hanging as it turned some.

"Do you mind." Xaoto quickly growled at it, getting it to finally move and crawl onto of the bed as he looked around his new room. It took him a few to look over the size of the room, not much smaller then the main hall of the estate. He still had some trouble believing that all of this was real, but some feeling in him kept nagging at him that this was the real 'normal' feeling of the world, where he belonged, and he didn't like it one bit, it was a very unnatural feeling.

The room was mostly bare in the center, just the bed on the one wall, while another wall was lined with series of wardrobes. The opposite wall was nothing more then a giant window, and he shielded his eyes from it, thinking that it was much too bright, looking for some curtains. He had to look on in confusion as the sun in the window quickly set, only to be replaced by a moon and starry sky. "That is not natural." Xaoto stated as he heard a door open, and saw Reshara walking in, still wearing what he had seen her in yesterday, pushing a small cart into the room. "Did the master sleep well?" She asked softly, Xaoto once again smelling fear enter the room with her.

"You don't have to be afraid of me." He stated looking over. "I'm not exactly the nicest guy, but compared to what you said my grandfather did you, I may as well be saint." Xaoto had to stop just for a second and think over his statement, not believing he had just compared himself to such a thing. "I won't hurt you as long as you and your... friends...sisters... how do I even refer to you four. That gryphon said you were golems, what does that mean, are you like machines or something? Do you bleed, can you think on your own... are you even female or do you just look and act the part?" Xaoto blurted out before he could even think on his words, only to go quiet as he realized what he had just asked.

Reshara didn't even think twice before answering him as she looked at him. "I do not understand this word machine." She said. "But we are golems, very powerfully enchanted and cursed golems. The master hand crafted us to his tastes, always enjoying the appearance of those of elven decent and so we were made to appear as such. We do not age, and some of us do not even require food or drink to survive. Our bodies are like that of females, we can do everything they can, short of giving natural birth." Reshara explained. "The magic that binds us is ever so powerful though, that should our bodies no longer be able to continue for us, new ones are crafted and our minds are moved to that new host."

Xaoto nodded, a bit unsure how to take her response. On the one hand, he was glad that she had answered him so easily, but at the same time, it sounded like the answer had been forced from her, like she did not exactly want to discuss the topic. "That's enough of an answer for now." Xaoto stated before she could continue. "What is all this?" He asked moving to take a seat in front of his bed on a small chest that was there.

"It is your breakfast." She said moving the tray to him. "Malmort is still out and has yet to return, but Drydon was able to show Luna how to fashion a normal breakfast for your kind." She told him as she removed the cover to the top of the cart. Xaoto had to stare at the selection before him, four different bowls of eggs, a large bowl of fruit, and several kinds of meat.

Before he could make any kind of comment however, something dove onto the cart, giving a light screech as it dug into the meat. "And what the hell is that?" Xaoto shouted.

"Blaze?! What... NO!" Reshara quickly grabbed the small golden dragon and pulled him from the cart, only for Xaoto to see that it was much larger then a house cat, with its wings spread even a bit, it now appeared to the size of a large dog.

"What the hell is that, some sort of baby dragon? And what was it doing in here?" Xaoto growled as it broke free of Reshara's grip, flying up only to dive down, grab a talon full of bacon and then fly up to the top of his bed.

"I am so sorry master." Reshara quickly bowed in front of him, shaking some fearing that he may beat her now. "Blaze is uncontrollable at times, but that is as large as he is going to get." She explained. "He is a goldarion dragon, a pocket breed as Drydon had called them, a planar creature whatever that means. The previous master was not able to actually capture one, so he made a deal with it, giving it partial free run of the mansion."

Xaoto shook his head some as he calmed down, looking over the now messed up cart, before looking back to Reshara. He took a plate and grabbed some toast, setting that on the side, making sure to cover it as he glared at the dragon who was looking back down at him. "Just take it away, share it with the others if they want any." He stated as he leaned back.

Reshara gave him a slightly worried look, but nodded as she did as she told, moving back towards the door. "Oh, and can you something else for me. Find that gryphon for me, I think you called him Drydon." Reshara froze hearing him call again, only to give her own little sigh of relief that it was something simple, he wasn't going to punish her.

She nodded as she turned and bowed to him again. "Yes my master." She said as she turned to walk back out of the room.

Xaoto just sat there for a few, breathing some to try and clear his head a bit as he once again looked out the windows, the sky still filled with stars. He had to wonder just what exactly he was looking it, it definitely wasn't natural as he looked closer, the ground seemed to be moving somehow. He didn't spend much time looking over it though, before something flew into his lap.

"Hey you, what are you doing now." Xaoto growled, as the dragon turned a few times in his lap, before curling up, spreading its wings in an odd way as it curled its tail around itself, giving a light yawn. Xaoto once more went quiet in confusion as he watched the dragon curl up into some sort of egg, its tail looking to melt into its wings showing a polished surface, highly decorated, but polished none the less as though it were a real egg of some kind. "What the..."

Xaoto slowly picked up the egg that now rested in his lap, turning it slow and carefully, not wanting to really upset the dragon in it, he had no idea what the dragon was capable of after all. Even if it was small, it was still a dragon and what Xaoto did know of dragons from some of his favorite books, they weren't exactly known for being friendly all the time. Having met a so many other strange creatures lately however, he had to question what all was true about dragons, but that didn't stop him from being careful.

He shook his head again, moving to put the egg down on the bed, before grabbing his toast and snacking on that as he moved towards the door. He moved outside the room and looked around. He was currently on the third floor of the mansion, looking down into the main hall. In the rush of events that had happened yesterday, he had barely even noticed the third story railing, and looking down, it was easy to see why. He was currently standing right on top of the spot where the portrait of himself was hanging.

He looked over the room once more, this time paying lots more attention. It wasn't that decorated, but he was okay with that, and he could see several passages that had been hidden from when he was looking at them from below. Once more, a feeling started to take hold, like this was normal for him as he shook his head once more to get rid of it. "As of 24 hours ago, I've encountered elves, gryphons, a dragon, learned my grandfather was some thousands of years old vampire noble who tried to control my entire life, essentially owned all of humanity, and here I am thinking that standing in his mansion is normal..." He growled. "What is wrong with me."

"There is nothing wrong with you, at least not in that regard." A voice called out coming up the staircase next to him. Xaoto turned to see Drydon walking up the stairs. "So, now that you seem to be more aware of things and not in danger of succumbing to another gene-attack, what shall I call you?"

"Xaoto will do just fine." He replied.

"Xaoto, hmm." Drydon looked him over as he moved up to join Xaoto. "One born of blood, a title of great power and often respect among the older lines. It is an interesting choice to have other refer to you as such. If you can prove that you have the power to uphold that title, you will make a lot of it, but openly declaring such a high title will cause many to challenge you."

"It's just a nickname I heard my stepfather call me from time to time before I got shuffled around between foster homes. I got sick of people butchering the name Gelvorci, so I used that." He stated.

"To humans, it is just a name, but it originates from the time of the Nightborne Master, when vampires and other powerful creatures ruled the world in the stead of humans. To be given that title was a great honor, one many would fight for, and often died to protect." Drydon informed him. "Among humans, it would make an interesting name, but in the world that you have now set foot into, it is a title, one that does not come unchallenged."

Xaoto just shook his head. "Okay, we'll discuss that later. For now, I have a few more questions. For starters, why do I feel comfortable here when any sane person would be having a mental break down."

"You have always been aware of certain things, haven't you?" Drydon stated. "That little twitch in the air, the spark of fire that wasn't there, a chill when you felt death around, none of them natural so to speak." Xaoto just nodded lightly. "While the curse over you is still strong, it was not customized for you specifically as it had been with your mother. To that end, your magical senses were not entirely shut out and you could still just ever so slightly feel things. Ever since you put on the amulet for the first time, your senses have grown and now, you the calm that you feel is the magical energy around us. This is your home, and it welcomes you."

"You understand how little sense that makes right?" Xaoto turned to him with an unimpressed look.

"You are the one who asked the question. I merely gave the simple answer." Drydon stated.

Once more Xaoto just shook his head. "Fine, next question. What the hell is that dragon in there and why was it the master bedroom. It acts like an untrained dog doing whatever it wants."

"Blaze is a goldarion dragon, a planar creature that caught the master's eyes. It was more trouble to capture then the Nightborne Master wanted to invest magic in at the time, but he was able to convince it to allow him study through alternate means. I am unsure just how intelligent Blaze truly is, but he learns quickly enough. The master offered him many things, including the creation of Tina for his benefit to come back and allow the Nightborne Master to take samples of him from time to time." Drydon once again pulled out another book from under one of his wings and flipped it open to a page giving a small diagram of the dragon. "Blaze's most unique feature would be that he could be considered a living form of untamed magic. That is the reason why the Nightborne was so interested in him and his kind. Of course, being such a creature, that made him often down right immune to most other kinds of magic, which is why the Nightborne Master set out to offer a trade to the dragon rather than put too much effort into trying to capture it outright. It was a much better bargain for him in the long run. You could say that Blaze was the Nightborne Master's pet of all things, and he was treated as such, becoming quite the pampered little dragon during his time here. While intelligent, Blaze and his kind are not..." Drydon paused for a few. "Are not as aware as we are. Much in the same way you humans train dogs, and they can learn to a great capacity, you do not fear talking about secrets around your pets, the Nightborne felt the way concerning Blaze. Had he been more aware, I'm sure that he would be have been enslaved like so many others."

"A pet?" Xaoto repeated slowly. "Well I guess everyone needs something of the sort every once in a while. I doubt he got to know very many people on an intimate level."

"I would not go so far as to say that the Nightborne Master sought companionship. His deal with Blaze was an easy way to satisfy his curiosity. Blaze was not of this plane, but was regular traveler of sorts." Drydon explained. "I do not know as much as I like of the dragon though, his kind and his history elude and fascinate me none the less however. If you would wish to know more of him, I would search through the library and the research notes that the Nightborne and his scientists left behind."

"I thought that he separated the worlds, so why would he have scientists here?" Xaoto asked.

"What we refer to as scientists and how you would refer to them are slighting different. You may be more inclined to call them mad scientists, alchemists, and possible even necromancers, but to the Nightborne, it was a science the same as any magic. Magic has its limits, it place in our world, and we have only mastered it so much, the same way that your kind has mastered medicine and magnets. With your own style of potions, or pills and you seem to produce more often, you can cure many aliments that some of our healers have yet to even understand. And your mastery of magnets, you can move so much more then normal, these magnetic trains of yours, why they hover over the ground without a care." Drydon stated.

"You're honestly comparing medicine and magnets?" Xaoto finally responded after a long pause.

"You have no idea how many wizards who check out your human 'magic' are utterly stumped by the little floating spinning piece of metal that just floats over those little plates of yours." Drydon countered.

"You our magnetic tops?" Xaoto sighed.

"Is that what they are called? You humans have so many words for the same thing, why every commercial is always calling similar items such weird names." Drydon nodded lightly as he looked down just in time for someone to walk in. "Well, I see Malmort has finally returned."

Xaoto looked down towards the main doors to see a hooded figure walk into the room, taking its time as Luna quickly ran up to greet the new figure. "I felt the call, the master has finally come back." A deep echoing voice stated. Even from up so high, Xaoto could once again smell a lot of fear as he turned to Drydon.

"Is there anyone the maids don't fear?" Xaoto asked hating the smell so very much.

"Fear is the centerpiece of the maid's design, it kept them in line and reminded them of their place, as well as encouraged them to work quickly. The Nightborne Master very much enjoyed the smell, but I can see that you do not. I should be able to find something to keep the smell to a minimum for you however if you wish." Drydon explained.

"I would like that a lot." Xaoto looked back down to the main hall just in time for the hooded figure to look up and lower its hood.

The figure was an elf as far as Xaoto could tell, the same long pointed ears as the maids, but his skin was so pale, he may as well have been bleached white.

"You are no Nightborne, but you still own my soul." The elf stated with a maniacal grin. "Still, a master has come." The elf looked down and licked its lip causing Xaoto to shiver a bit at the elf's black tongue, which was split in three places like some sort of mutant snake. "A FEAST IS IN ORDER!" The elf shouted out while laughing, quickly moving to the kitchen as his voice echoed around the estate announcing to all that he had returned. "Hurry Luna, I require Juro... and the full staff. We shall make a proper ten course feast, with all of the specialties. Humans prefer their meat thoroughly cooked, so prepare the spits, and get large kettles ready. I have new recipes that must be tried. And find that bloody dragon, his flames shall be perfect for the steaks." The elf cried out before his voice finally began to wane and he left the room.

Xaoto once again remained quiet before turning to Drydon once more. "Who... or rather what... was that?" He asked rather concerned.

"That was Malmort, the Nightborne Master's private chef. He is a dread elf, a unique variant with unnatural necromancer like talents. He cooked all of the Nightborne's food, from charred fay to roast centaur, even preparing a dragon on one occasion." Drydon told him. "I am curious to see how you enjoy his food. Most of it is often prepared for vampires and those of mythical decent, but he knows his way around all kinds of cuisine. It will be his first time cooking for a human to my knowledge; he usually prepared them for the Nightborne to enjoy. He was out looking for ingredients just before the Nightborne Master's demise. This it he first time I have seen him since he left to be honest, I have no idea what all he was doing in that time."

Xaoto looked back down to the main hall thinking about what Drydon has said, and how that thing was apparently his head chef. The fact that Drydon had mentioned that he usually cooked humans as food rather than prepare food for humans was very disturbing. "He wouldn't do anything like that right now would he?" Xaoto asked.

"I have no idea what he might prepare. As I said, I've never known him to cook for a human before." Drydon repeated.

Xaoto's ears twitched lightly as he heard Drydon repeat himself. "Why don't I think I'm going to look forward to dinner." Xaoto stated softly. "Is there anyway I can order some take out around here?"

"What is this 'take out' you refer to?" Drydon asked.

"Something like pizza or pasta maybe. I'd probably do well with some fast food even." Xaoto explained.

"I would not know about your fast food. It is certainly not very healthy and to be honest, I'm not even sure that most humans can even see the drive to the estate." Drydon replied as the door opened below them once more, this time Gregory coming into the estate.

Gregory looked around for a few, dressed in something similar to what Xaoto had seen him in before, finally looking up. "Greetings Mr. Helukasti." He bowed lightly. "I hope I am not intruding."

"You owe me one very big explanation." Xaoto growled looking for the quickest staircase down to join him, Drydon following along behind him.

"I will explain as much as I can, although as I stated before, Drydon would be a much better choice to ask such things." Gregory replied moving to meet Xaoto as he opened his own suitcase. "Let us talk in the northern study. I find that the most normal room in the estate if you would allow me to say so."

"Normal suits me just fine." Xaoto nodded joining him on the second floor and following along behind him.