Trapped in the Realm

My countenance drooped and my hands trembled. I clenched them tightly together in my lap, but I couldn't consolidate my emotions. They were scattered everywhere. There was apprehension, sorrow, unease, trepidation, bewilderment, inquisitiveness, and did I mention apprehension?

"Repeat that, please?" I inquired of him.

"You have stumbled into the realm of vampires, specters, hobgoblins, and similar creatures," he restated.

"And how exactly do I leave this realm, huh? I thought.

Bat leaned closer across the desk, and the lamp cast shadows on the wrinkles of his aged countenance. "I'm afraid there's no evading this realm. Once you have plunged down the rabbit hole, the sole path is forward, hoping nothing seizes you from the obscurity."

I reclined and winced. "Have you recently ingested your medication?"

His eyebrows shot up, and he settled back. "Now that you mention it, no." He opened an upper drawer, retrieved a plastic container of pills, and consumed a few. "There. All Good."

"So there's a way I can extricate myself from this predicament?"

"Oh my, you can't possibly get out of this predicament. Or rather, you find yourself in damnation, and there's no means of escape."

I stood there dazedly, and my unsteady legs attempted to give way, but I clutched the rear of my chair. "I-I believe I should return to my apartment. I have some-uh, some trousers to fold."

Bat grinned and shook his head. ""I fear that wouldn't be a wise idea. "You could perhaps as well sense that your prior identity no longer exists."

I glared at him. "Um, no? I'm not going to discard two decades-well, a significant number of years of existence due to a brief encounter with Count Eerie here." I gestured towards Victor, who found amusement in my nickname for him.

"You misconstrue my intentions, Miss Collins. You are greatly mistaken regarding my motives concerning you. I solely desire what is best for you and that band of metal adorning your finger." He gestured towards the metallic ring. "You two are the last of Ben that we still have, so I'm sure he'd want his friends and-" He sneered as he side-eyed Victor. "-associates to look after them."

"Firstly, I am not anyone's belongings. Secondly, I believe this is all a dreadful reverie, and if I were to collide with a wall, I would likely awaken," I countered.

Bat grinned and gestured with his hand towards the distant wall to my right. "Miss Collins, you may proceed as you choose, but please don't strike out too hard. We wouldn't want you to suffer a concussion in vain."

I gazed at the wall and contemplated that perhaps this was not a reverie. "Or perhaps I just need an extraordinarily long nap so that I can decide my next move," I said.

"I possess a comfortable sofa hidden amidst this chaos," Bat offered.

"I prefer not to disturb you all since I believe my bed to be more cozy. I gradually backed away from the door. "I mean, I have encountered enough trouble, and-" Suddenly, my back collided with something solid, and I didn't need to glance around to ascertain that it was Victor's physique. My countenance dropped, and I tilted my head back, finding myself gazing into his deep eyes. "You're not going to permit me to depart, are you?"

"We cannot, Miss Collins," Bat insisted as he circled around the desk. "It is in the best interests of all of us that you remain here, at least for tonight."

I glared at the elderly man. "If you believe I hold such importance with this ring, then why don't you possess this absurd object?" I stretched out my ring-adorned hand, tightened my grip, and gave it a strong tug. It did not yield, and my only reward for the effort was a throbbing finger. I pulled again, but encountered the same painful outcome. "Are there any lubricant or oil containers available?" I inquired of them.

Bat chuckled and approached me, indicating the ring with a pointed finger. "That is affixed to you until you can acquire the knowledge to remove it."

"Acquire the knowledge to remove it? I'm fairly certain rings are meant to slide off easily," I retorted.

"Not this one. This one is an exceptionally distinctive ring."

I rolled my eyes and let my arms fall to my sides. "I am aware that our bond was created through blood and mysterious voodoo.

Bat raised an eyebrow and glanced at Victor. "So this sack of hydrated dust has divulged certain details to you?" he speculated.

"Only that I'm stuck with him, but uncertain for how long and how to extricate myself from this predicament," I replied.

Bat chuckled. "I could possibly be able to answer both of those issues for you, but I'm afraid you won't be satisfied with the solutions," he told me.

I shrugged. "You just informed me that I'm trapped in this peculiar realm with two peculiar individuals, after being pursued by some deranged individuals with a lycanthrope. How could this night possibly deteriorate?"

"It could eventually become worse, he continued, "since you'll be going through this, let's say, intrigue for many more nights.

I gave him a sneer while jutting out my jaw. "Can you say that again?"

Bat smiled and strolled over to my chair. He swiveled it toward me and gestured to the seat. "I'll tell you everything I know about that ring that is firmly attached to your finger and our mutual buddy Ben, if you'd like to sit down once again."

I furrowed my brow but complied, making my way to the chair and taking a seat. I folded my arms tightly across my chest, crossed my legs, and drummed a finger on my forearm. "I'm all ears."

Bat paced in the space between my chair and the desk. "First, you really shouldn't put your trust in your buddy here, he said. Victor scowled but remained silent. "Secondly, that ring is the sole item preventing him from murdering both of us."

I said, "This item isn't exactly doing a remarkable job, considering he's already made two attempts."

Bat arched an eyebrow. "Truly? Was the bond awakened?"

"Once you fill me in on this connection, I can respond, I pointed my thumb in the direction of the still dead. For the first time, I wished he would speak up. "He informed me that I'm bound to him and that he would protect me. He also mentioned that this ring would grant me some form of vampiric powers."

"For once, he has spoken the truth," Bat pondered. "The ring does give you powers that are superior to those of a regular person, but only while you are wearing it.."

"Currently, that is not a concern."

Bat frowned and took a seat on the edge of his desk. "Perhaps I am approaching this incorrectly. Allow me to commence from the beginning with Ben. He inherited the ring several centuries ago from the original possessor, the mortal whose blood is encased within that ring."

I blinked. "Centuries? You mean years, right?" I inquired.

Bat smiled and shook his head. "No, I mean centuries. The ring bestowed upon Ben a form of immortality. As long as he wore the ring and this imbecile protected him, he would not perish."

My mouth slowly fell open, and vivid memories of our intimate encounters flashed through my mind. I shuddered. "Okay, that's just eerie. He didn't appear in a day over thirty."

"The ring halted his physical aging, though I wish his mental state had matured further," Bat mused with a mischievous grin playing on his lips. He shook himself out of his reverie and pointed at the ring adorning my finger. "Despite your ignorance, it has truly altered you in the same way. If there is no breach in security, you will lead a very long and adventurous life".

"What if I do not desire to live indefinitely?" I countered.

"I'm afraid that is not an option. Once the bond is forged, only death can sever it."

I stood up so abruptly that I toppled my chair. "So what the heck am I supposed to do for eternity? Collect Social Security until I drain it completely?" I asked them angrily.

Bat glided off the desk and circled around to his chair. "I suggest taking up a hobby or a career. In front of his chair, he took a moment to tap his chin with a long nail. His eyes had a cunning gleam to them. "Yes, I think that might work."

"What now?" I enquired since I was eager to gain insight on more useful facts.

"With Ben no longer among us, his business will require a new proprietor. I believe you would be a perfect fit for the role."

" I highly doubt that," I retorted. Every other predicament I had been dragged into that evening had spelled trouble.

Victor shared the same sentiment. He chimed in, "She's not competent enough to run the business".

Bat shrugged. "Maybe not, but you can still teach her."

Both Victor and I recoiled in surprise. "No!" we exclaimed simultaneously.

The old man sat down in his chair and smiled at us with his hands clenched together. "See? The two of you are already getting along splendidly. This should facilitate your partnership," he remarked.

"Are you even listening to us?" I demanded. "I don't know what this business entailed, but if it had any connection to Ben's demise, I have no desire to be involved."

"I believe it was precisely why Ben was eliminated, or shall we say assassinated," Bat replied. I flinched. That's how the detective had described it. "It feels like I just hit the nail on the head. What can you divulge about his demise?"

I winced and reluctantly shrugged. "Only that the police suspect foul play."

Bat reclined in his chair and nearly toppled over. "How intriguing that law enforcement became involved. Ben's affairs were beyond their jurisdiction as enforcers of mortal laws."

I had reached my limit with discussions of humans, vampires, and werewolves. Nervously, I smiled and took a step back from the desk. "You probably have a lot to contemplate now that Ben—well, now that Ben is no longer with us." The thought choked me up. "So I'll leave you gentlemen to deal with this and be on my way." I spun around, only to find myself face-to-face with Victor's overcoat. Startled, I jumped back and threw my arms up. "Come on! I have no clue what you two are discussing or what you expect from me, alright? I'm just an ordinary office worker who happened to have a peculiar roommate. That's it! Nothing extraordinary about plain old me!"

"Apparently, Ben believed you were special enough to share a dwelling with," Bat countered.

I pivoted around and glared at Bat. "Ben has passed away!" I retorted. I winced at my own words and the pained expression on the elderly man's face, but I wouldn't relinquish my chance to escape Crazy-ville. I sighed and let my shoulders down. "Please, just allow me to depart. I promise I won't divulge anything about this place, Victor, or anything I witnessed tonight."

Anticipating some smooth words to persuade me otherwise, I was taken aback when Bat sighed and nodded. "Very well. We will permit you to return to your ordinary existence," he agreed.

I narrowed my eyes and inclined my head toward him. "You're not deceiving me, are you?"

"Deceiving you?" he repeated.

"Yes, tricking me. Making me believe I can escape from here and then BAM! You drag me back forcefully and convince me to stay."

Bat chuckled. "No. You are free to go, and we won't impede your return to your previous life."

I stepped back from the desk, my gaze darting between the two of them. "Alright, then. I guess I'll head out now".

Bat bid me goodbye with, "Miss Collins, it was a pleasure meeting you".

"The pleasure was all yours," I muttered. Accidentally, I bumped into one of the research tables and sheepishly grinned at him. "Um, until we meet again."

I pivoted swiftly and sprinted toward the front door. There were no hurried footsteps behind me, no shouts commanding me to stop. I reached the door, flung it open, and burst out into the refreshing, unpolluted night air. Inhaling deeply, I choked on some vehicle emissions. Yep, I was liberated.