the oberron

true title: the mysterious parlors of mr. dark #47

the two walked away from mad mary, silence surrounding them. the air around them seemed to thicken as they walked onward. ivey struggled with the new sword, it's weight growing heavier and heavier in the cloying air. percy marched ahead of her down the dark hallway, listening closely. he was about to say something when he began to perceive the sound electricity makes through live wires, a sharp rhythmic sound that made him just a little nervous. within a few more steps a fog formed about them, strangely fast moving and when it cleared, it was the oberron who stared at them with his black-hole eyes.
"well, well," he spoke, his voice filled with amusement,"finally the fated pair arrives. through the grapevine, i have heard of you both and i've been waiting and waiting...wondering if something or someone had devoured you before we'd have the pleasure of meeting....." before percy or ivey could say a word, the bunny-eared figment spoke again, "and my, you both look absolutely traumatized. so many things to see. so many things. the horrors of the catacombs are many and varied...so i have for you a map, so as to shorten your trip." he then let out a loud whooping sound and began laughing hysterically. "so much mad laughter," percy whispered to ivey. she nodded, never letting her eyes leave the cackling oberron for he made her very uncomfortable. suddenly the cackling ceased and oberron spoke to percy," tell your friend to leave her sword over by the doorway... and both of you must come close to me so that i can bestow upon you the map. percy, you in particular must come closest, for you will be the keeper of this prized gift.....i must whisper the great secret into your ear."
the pair obliged oberron and when ivey had sat, percy leaned close. oberron's whisper started with that wild electric sound. the live-electricity-in-wire sound and then grew in percy's ear like a crazed unfolding bloom. he threw his hands to his ears and backed away, an image of a map etched inside his mind in green-glow-light....along with a thousand terrible things that lay along the way...and he knew the ways around the terrors, the shortcuts past the frights, the horrors, the atrosities. he knew too much too fast and wanted to scream, but found himself silent. for a few seconds, his ears burned like fire, then cooled.
ivey rose and took his hand in hers, sensing a change in him. "lets go now," she said inside his head with urgency and he nodded. oberron chuckled, "yeeeeeeeeeessssss, you should go now. ssswiftly and without pause."
and as they made their exit, they heard oberron yelling, "much more than a landmark!!! ohhh, much, much more than an interesting mile marker if my prize and duty are to be believed!!!!!"

artist note: got a lot of stuff to upload for this series and i'm getting alot of feedback. so find it in your beautiful black hearts to forgive me if i don't get a chance to reply to your comment. i'm sending out a mass thank you right now, so THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!