Then Slain guarded us as we dragged you into the inn…

  Davren looked on completely astonished as Kaylen completed her story. The others were enraptured by her take on their salvation.

  Trapped.. Davren said

  What was that? Jada said

  Do none of you see anything wrong with this story? Davren looked around

  He expected to see confusion or shock but instead he was greeted with blank faces as if he had spoken in a foreign language. They all seemed uncharacteristically clueless and to him that said a lot. All of them with the exception of Kaylen, the useless one, had been guzzling the green liquid as if their lives depended on it. If she hadn’t been unconscious for days Davren had no doubt she would have likely been in the same situation.

  Looking around at the occupied and listless people at the tables Davren raked his hands down his face.

  Nothing for it, he mumbled. Kaylen get ready

  Davren spoke while not taking his eyes off Slain who had a devious grin that grew more menacing as the seats continued to fill.

  Ready for what? Kaylen said, reaching for a cup that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

  Davren, still focused at the bar, slapped the cup out of her hand and in the same motion grabbed her wrist.

  How? Kaylen began

  Davren was in front of her in an instant surprising her but barely disrupting the conversation of everyone else. No one seemed to notice he moved or that she was being accosted.

  Let me go!! Kaylen said frantically, attempting to free herself from his grip. Jada help!

  Jada continued her conversation as if nothing was happening. Not one person in the entire room stood to help or could be bothered.

  This is NOT acceptable you beast! Release me, this is not how to woo a lady. I would be flattered if you weren’t…well.. You. Kayen said

  Quiet, Davren hissed. This is a single use item and we have precious moments left. You are in a perception bubble. To everyone else in this place we are still seated at the table, he said as he forced her from her seat towards the side of the bar.

  I have to stay in constant physical contact or you will be outside of the field's control. We are in extreme danger.

  What do you mean danger, she gulped. Wouldn’t Javen be a better choice? Or Jada?

  No, Davren barked, there is no way of knowing what to expect from them. You and I are the only ones in this place not under the green liquids control. Under that beast's control.

  Something in Kaylens mind clicked into place as she turned to look at the once kindly older man who now had a grin that was beastlike as he stood as still as a statue watching the crowd. She immediately jerked back as Slains eyes seemed to make a slight shift towards their location. The pupils of his eyes seemed to split off, literally. Slain’s two pupils had similar sized ones tear off from the original and turn slightly and slowly towards their direction as the originals stayed still. His eyes grew, seeming to bulge as the new pupils searched. His head never moved, the sickly smile still in place.

  Kaylen almost fainted, if not for an increased pressure in her wrist from Davren she would be passed out on the ground.

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Listen to me girl, Davren warned, you and I seem to be the only ones with control of our thoughts and fully aware. I also do not completely know what we are facing or what the dungeon as a whole is doing. I need you to keep it together if we are going to survive and save everyone.

  What, she squeaked. How? I don’t have any real abilities, I can’t help, I can’t even fight, what if I get killed? What are we going to do?

  For the love of.. Davren started before calming himself down. Stop!! We don’t have time for this, I've already wasted half the time of this item and whatever this Slain is is catching on to us. I don’t think it’s figured it out yet but either way we need to hurry. Take these..

  Davren handed her four wooden carved triangles with symbols that glimmered as they hit the light. As she turned them in her hand the images disappeared as if they were never there.

  No questions, Davren barked before calming himself again. Those create null fields, I'm not sure what we are dealing with here but they might be strong enough to halt the influence of that drink. I think he’s somehow feeding off of them, he’s definitely creating some sort of hive mind. Look at the room…

  Kaylen took a good look around, she couldn’t believe what she hadn’t noticed. How had Davren picked this up? While keeping the conversations going the crowd was now also searching around. They moved their heads in unison searching for something.

  From what I gathered from each of your accounts he sees me as a threat. The problem is that when I used my analyze ability, Slain first appeared in my vision outlined in white and as more of these people awoke he has shifted to blue and is now beginning to turn yellow. I suspect he is waiting for the person to fill that empty seat there, he points to a seat in the front. I suspect that once that person enters the room this beast will be powered up.

  Steeling herself Kaylen gripped the three triangles in her shaky hands. This was never supposed to happen, she thought. She was going to gain a few levels and then go back to her father ready to help lead the barony. This was just a quick trip before adventuring was put behind her. Now she had to save everyone, this was so frustrating she could cry.

  Kaylen!! Focus, Davren said, shaking her by the arm. We only have seconds left on this thing. I need you to control the crowd. Throw one in each cluster of people, the fields will overlap. Your job is to contain the panic as they are freed from whatever control they are under. Hopefully that will also bring this thing back to his original level.

  He snaps his finger in her dazed face bringing her to focus.

  Are you listening? I battle Slain, you manage the crowd.

  As he was speaking a long dark haired mountain of a man lumbered into the room drinking out of a cup. Slain’s devious grin widened even more as his color shifted from pink to a deep red. At the same time an ominous aura filled the room. His head quickly snapped to his right inhumanly fast where Davren and Kaylen stood. His pupils flowed back into each other as he opened his mouth to reveal rows of needle-like teeth. His mouth tore as the split ran up both sides of his face reaching his ears. Gone was the kindly old man Kayen saw, gone was the weird off-putting being Davren saw. In their place was an emerging beast, it began to speak in a deep menacing tone that reverberated throughout the room.

  Finally… I found you!! Slain said as the null field broke with a pop.

  Go.. Now!!! Davren pushed Kaylen towards the crowd as the stirring began. People began to stand and grab at their weapons. The entire room's focus was on the two of them as Kaylen fumbled with the triangles dropping one and stuttering..

  I..I..I’m sorry, she said… I can’t do this… I can’t…I need to.. I can do this.

  Davren turned his attention to Slain, unable to waste the time to see if Kaylen gets it together

  Don’t die, I need you to buy me time and keep all these idiots off me. Davren said

  Finally, I'm ready for you. Slain said. I’ve waited so very long without a meal. Being locked in an F- Ranked dungeon in the middle of nowhere means no food. But now that all the F- Rank dungeons are connected I have a feast. I plan to savor this and never go hungry again. These F-Rankers would have done it but oh now I have you. Imagine my surprise when I realized a B- Rank roamed these tunnels. I thought maybe, just maybe I would run into the odd E- Rank here and there but a B- Rank… never in a thousand years. Oh am I so glad that you decided to break rules Davren.

  You know me beast? Davren said as he positioned himself in the path between Slain and Kaylen

  Yes oh yes, did you know your brother idolizes you, Jada and Duran fear you and from what I can see Kaylen is going to hate you before she dies here. Slain laughs maniacally. Once I consume you I will finally be allowed to leave this F- Ranked hell. I will definitely grow in rank, maybe two, he says in a contemplative tone while scratching his chin.

  To get to the next level dungeon, you and all this food must die!!! Slain said as tentacles lunged forward to engulf Davren.