WHO WAS IN ETERNAL SLUMBER?

23 February, Tuesday, Continued

I looked at the broken up ground. What was solid rock was now rubble. But that was it, just a pile of rocks in the ground. Strange... I was quite sure this was the spot. I guess it wasn't for treasure though. I wondered what it would be?

{So... should I have another go?} Ben's wolf asked.

"I think that's it." I sighed a little puff of mist, "I thought there would be treasure here."

"It's all beta's fault, goddess!" Ki beamed, "He must have smashed the treasure to smithereens."

{Shut up dog.} Ben growled.

I looked at his black wolf form... Literally, a pot calling a kettle black.

{What?} Ben's irate turned to me.

Seriously! I was the Alpha! But Ben was never good at keeping his bada** attitude in check.

Ki beamed like a flower to the sun, "Beta, please help us dig out the rocks. Perhaps what the goddess is looking for is beneath it."

{Dig it yourself, dog!} Ben's wolf snapped. Ki backed away, saving his hand by pure reflex.

I patted Ben on the head. I had meant to rub it in with Ki and tease Ben just a little, but then I ruined the moment, "Ah-Choo!"

"Apologies, goddess." Ki immediately retreated through the broken hole and returned with a Ben's backpack and jacket. The backpack straps had snapped off when Ben shifted, but the rest of the bag was intact - well almost intact. Ki plucked out the arrow and threw it to the side. Then he unzipped the bag and took out a pair of boots. Oh! That's right! I asked them for shoes. I looked down at my muddy fluffy socks... Ki took out a pair of clean socks too. My betas were really thoughtful like that!

"Thanks Ki." I said. I sat down on the nearest couch to don on my clothes.

{Who leaves their jacket lying around on the ground when its cold?} Ben scolded.

"I needed something to help me mark my way out." I explained and then waited for Ben to scold me for being stupid or ask why I didn't do this or that instead, but it was Ki was spoke, "But its a relief that you are well, goddess. We had feared you were captured and brought into a hidden lair."

As if anyone could catch me! I gave him my biggest smile to show him I was alright, "No, I just got bored waiting for you guys and decided to go exploring."

Bell popped out and called to us, "Guys, I think Sam was right."

Eh? Right about what?

I was sure the treasure was right under our feet - not upstairs, in fact, I was quite sure upstairs was a bad idea. But I wanted to know what I was right about. I followed Ki and Ben up the stairs carved into the cavern wall - was this entire hidden lair carved out of stone? The ground that Ben had punched though was solid rock. Could it be possible for vampires to carve out and entire mountain? That would really be something. Could I hire them to carve out the mountain under Princess Town? Hahaha... when hell froze over and pigs flew and... well you got the idea.

Bell showed us the room. He had lit the chandelier in it, as well as several reading lights at a table, "I was just looking at books when I accidentally activated a hidden door."

I watched Bell's expression carefully. Something was off - that's right! He didn't looked p***ed off or like the whole world owed him money. He looked really serious.

He showed us the bookshelf that had slid sideways to open.

There was a hidden door at Heller's place too (but I had broken through it by brute strength.) Sigh, it wasn't just in sophisticated settings or the media limelight, Bell was starting to make me look noob even in my own dream travel.

"How curious." Ki said.

"Ben, guard my princess." Bell bossed, "Ki, with me."

"As you wish, Luna." Ki smiled.

Bell barely bothered to spare Ki a glare. Was whatever in the room that amazing that Bell forgot to be p***ed off at Ki?

I looked at Ben's large wolf. He was standing right next to me, his massive rock crushing head at my shoulder.I reached out a hand a absently stroked the black fur. What should I do?

Why was I even asking? Of course I should follow Bell and Ki in and see for myself what I was right about!

I hadn't really felt like I was right about anything tonight, so it would be nice to experience a bit of affirmation.

The moment I entered though, I completely regretted it. I was right... but it was in something I would rather have been wrong about! There, in the middle of room - roughly the same size as my own, was a four poster bed.

Bell turned around and kicked the black wolf next to me, {I told you to guard my princess!}

I guess Bell didn't really kick Ben hard, because his wolf only chuffed at that, {I AM guarding her.}

{Why are we mindlinking?} I asked.

{Princess, go back outside.} Bell sounded just a little exasperated.

Nuh uh. I pointed to the bed, {There's something bad inside.}

{That's why I told you to wait outside!} Bell sounded a little more exasperated.

Ki was glowing. He was all the lightsource we had again. He cracked open one side of the curtain.

"Please excuse me." he said politely to whoever or whatever was inside the bed. There was no response. Ki looked in and then he dropped the curtain back in place, "You are right, Luna. It's really her."

Who?

"She is in eternal slumber though." Ki informed us, "I don't think she will wake so soon."

Urm... wasn't that like pretty obvious since you just said she was in "eternal slumber". I mean, eternal was a long, long, long time. It was probably even longer than forever.

Bell nodded in all seriousness, {We should leave. Trevor would be wondering what's taking us.}

I looked uneasily at the four poster bed, {Why can't I sense her flame?}

{She is in eternal slumber.} Ki explained carefully, {Very powerful vampires can go into eternal slumber when conditions are not favorable. They may be awoken by blood. Until they are awaken, and had quenched their thirst, their flame would also sleep.}

Bell stopped in front of me, and then he frowned at the objects on the dresser. There were only two things on the dresser, a jeweled box and an old diary. Bell opened up the jeweled box, {Nice.}

He took out two rings and showed it to us, {Which one is the counterfeit?}

My betas looked to me. What? How would I know?

{What? How would she know?} Now Bell was truly getting irritated.

{Sam's always lucky.} Ben said.

{Why would we need luck?} Bell snapped back.

{Since Luna, who is wearing such a ring, has to ask us, then it cannot be simple to differentiate.} Ben reasoned.

Ben was right, as usual. This was a vampire ring, or at least one of it had to be. The two rings looked exactly alike though, even their magic signature was the same.

Hold it! Wait! Goddess! There must be some mistake! Didn't we already fulfill this quest? Bell was already "master to the ring of vampire."

I looked from one ring to the other. I wanted to say they were both real, but the thing about magic items - even vampire ones, was that each magic item would have it own unique signature - some more unique than others. Both these rings had the exact signature so only one of these rings were real, the other was the copy - like the one Lord Edward was currently donning while Mate wore the real Ciara Coven Ring. But Edward's ring was easy to spot - the magic was much fainter.

Oh well, I guess I would just have to use my lucky sense of direction. I pointed to the one on the left, {That one.}

Bell took the one on the right, {I don't need luck. I will choose my own destiny.}

Yeah, but your destiny was is the fake ring.

{Let's go.} Bell led the way, {Let sleeping vampires lie.}

I signaled for Ki to follow and then I opened the jeweled box and took out the second ring. I looked at Ben who watched with his large emerald eyes, {Better go, Sam. Your Luna isn't stupid.}

Oh yeah? Then why did he take the fake ring? But I had no way to prove that it was a fake. And just on an impulse, I took her diary too. So vampires kept journals too! I'm not sure why I took it. Maybe it reminded me of my own journal and I wanted to know WHO WAS SHE? What? I was curious!

Oh well, my lucky sense had never been wrong. I should have had more confidence in myself.

Just as I thought this, we got out to the second floor corridor.

"Ben." I said, "Let's try to break open the floor again."