XIV

She just talked.

"No wonder, when you are so sweet and sweet."

Luckily the darkness hid her cheeks.

"And now, it's time to go inside."

Silent click again and part of the wall moved. A faint scent of resin and herbs reached her nose. They stepped inside.

"Hold on. The door closed. Stay there. I'm going to see if it's safe."

He went to the opposite wall, which was some five or six meters away, and opened the massive wooden door, peeked in and out. The door closed and she waited.

Alone. Her gaze began to explore the room. Lacquered wooden shelves surrounded the walls, and on them were sacks of medicinal and fragrant herbs, vessels and bottles of various sizes from which the divine scents of resin and oil came. In the middle are large wooden boxes closed with heavy lids with iron fittings.

"God, does this still exist in these modern times, with so many thin and light materials, plastics of all kinds. Just unbelievable, like in a time machine. Or as a backdrop for a film about a bygone era."

As she approached the crates, she smelled some other odor that made her sick. She felt a slight faint. As if someone was cutting her breath, she began to stagger and found herself almost leaning over the chest.

Horror!

It just emanated that horrible smell from which she panicked as her brain in agony tried to figure out what it was all about. Her heart starts beating in her temples and blood rumbles in her ears. She was deafened by some pressure. Her heart was pounding like drums from the jungle. Her vision blurred, the images doubled. Her legs knelt and she sank into darkness.

"... I think we'll have to face Drag... Maybe Damon will be able to... I don't believe... he's barely alive... how are we going to...? Pssssssssssst, she's coming to her senses…"

She stirred and slowly, as if lifting a thousand tons, opened her eyes.

Yeah, I'm sick. Mmmmhhh, what happened to me? Stink, poison, poison!

She nodded to jump. But she couldn't even move. On her, her chest stood a wreath of strange herbs and its scent took away her strength.

"What the hell is that?" she barely whispered.

Garlic.

"An ancient means of fighting vampires," said a strong and clear voice of a native speaker from somewhere.

Garlic?

"Yes, garlic, which most of today's humanity does not even know exists. A wonderful plant. The elixir of life. Enemies thought that he disappeared after the last great wars almost 5,000 years ago, when almost everything became extinct. Almost everything. But not garlic. You will not die, do not be afraid. Or, at least not right away. Later, during the fighting maybe. Confirm that you survive. You will remain on the altar for seven days and nights until the night of the full moon. Then and only then do you have to go "kidnap" Damon. It all depends on you. Onion will prevent Vlad from taking control of you and making you dream. Have you dreamed of him before? Probably how fiercely you make love? Yeah, you did. I see it on your face, and your body reveals it. Well, what's there is. Pay attention to this chant. Follow the trail that appears. It will be easier for you. After 48 hours, you will receive a cleansing drink. Damn vampire! It reached her as she sank into darkness."

Vampire ?! What vampire?

"A dream walker…"

The voice replied. A tall man with greasy hair appeared from the shadow.

"Sleep now."

Everything was dark.

Seth appeared from the darkness. Hilda knew that something is happening, something that she could only grasp. They were a group of Dragon worshipers. Their duty was to protect the people from the dream walkers and every other sort of monster. They were more than prepared for it. Hilda knew that and she also knew that Damon has disappeared from her mind, from her thoughts, like he was never there. She couldn't explain how. But she fell it. The bond was broken, if there was any bond in the beginning. Was there? Was it all real or just a dream… a nightmare? She knew that John still loves her. John… the merchant… of the guild… of that family…

Everything was clear to her now. She knew only little about him. Everything that was on the surface, nothing underneath. There is more to the puzzle that is him. That was a true fact. Some strange feeling told her so. Was it all truly like that? Was returning love that magic? She hoped so. Her mind is unclouded. Everything is precise.

For seven days she has drunk the potion, the current situation is favorable. The effects of the dream walker are for now stopped, but he will be back. She was the only one that knew something that he wanted. It was in her blood. Blood. Blood of the Dragon. She didn't know was it a curse or a gift. As time went on, she started to change. Her powers were more than welcome now.