The way to stop Nigreos was to find a snake pearl. This can be used to trap her till someone can get the blood of a questing beast. Since Dracula killed the last one four hundred years ago the possibility of release was impossible. All I had to do was acquire one. I asked if she had any. She said, "The closest one is in India. There are places where you can get it." I asked if she could direct me to the nearest pearl and she opened a portal and came with me. As I stepped forward Ibrahimovic was against it since the place is a dark and dank cave. People who go in rarely come out.
I promised to back be back in a jiffy. I walked through the swirl ring of grey smoke and found myself in a cave that was humid. Bat poop on the floor. Hot air was funneling around. I heard a hiss sound. I turned around to see a golden snake with diamond encrusted zigzag patterns on its back. It looked into my eyes and tried to hypnotize me. But I snapped out of it. I explained that I need the pearl to imprison someone and the snake gave me a pearl lying in the heart of the cave. I thanked her for her generosity and she laughed. I didn't understand the joke. Angharad promised me that it wasn't something I needed to worry about.
When we reached Skull island I had to play negotiator to make sure that there would be no barbecue mermaids. After an hour there was an understanding. Dragons came to soak some vitamin d and swim in the lagoon. The other mythical creatures started to happily chat with their colleagues. Drakov asked me to show her the pearl. I made him promise that it will not be destroyed. Once I showed Tiamat that her mother Nigreos will be imprisoned permanently the hypnosis ended and I saw that I was wrapped up by the snake like dinner. The snake let me go and gave me a pearl. It turns out Nigreos killed her children a few thousand years ago. She is pissed that she was forgiven so easily. She happily gave me a pearl belonging to one of her dead children after I promised her that she will remain trapped there forever.
Angharad was amazed because usually Naga Rani eats the one who comes to get a pearl. Someone has to distract her by being eaten so others can get the pearl unnoticed. I told her that Nigreos killed her children so she gave it out of revenge. The woman smirked, "I should have known that Nigreos had hurt her. Snake eggs are used in all sorts of spells. Newly hatched ones have a special effect on the spell." I shook my head as we left for Skull Island to start negotiations. It took half a day but everyone was satisfied with their end of the bargain. Dragons came pouring in as Angharad cast the spell to imprison Nigreos. I sat in my hut remembering the days I had hid from Drake. Drakov was observing with curiosity. Yuri sat down laughing as he recalled the day I hid from a Dwergi. Drakov asked me how that was possible. I couldn't show him what had happened since I had no clue. He wasn't so pleased.
I asked what Dwergi was. He said, "They are dracula's most faithful servants. They serve him loyally tirelessly and eagerly. What they lack in size they make up for with will. If you want a physical description they are the ones who are weight length in height and are mostly wrapped in bloodied gauge all over their bodies. Their language consists of clicking sounds. They are sometimes seen wearing armor as though they are just about to head out to war. All anyone can see is their razor sharp teeth and the talon like nails. If they catch you they will rip you to shreds so fight like your life depends on it. Because they will inflict worse." I grimaced as I recalled seeing Dwergi dragging all sorts of creatures to the dungeons, "Thank you for the warning."
Angharad opened a portal and walked into land made of mushrooms. There appears to be chicken of the woods swirling around trees like they form a flight of stairs. Wood ear mushrooms shaped beings walking around holding a mushroom like an umbrella. There was a light drizzle. Spores were rising systemically in the air like smoke from the chimney. Glittering moss was all over. There was a mushroom that was rolling like a tumbleweed. It resembled a spongy porcupine. All sorts of fungus weaved all over the place in a decorative fashion.
Angharad came with a basket full of moss and another basket filled sludge. She closed the portal behind her and exhaled loudly. She summoned her cauldron that stews over lava. She poured a fist full of red powder. Two handfuls of moss. A cup of sludge. She emptied a vial that had bluish smoke and asked Tiamat to give her something that belonged to Nigreos. Tiamat gave her a lock of hair with a cracked seashell barely attached to it. Angharad wrapped it around the snake pearl and dropped it. Immediately Nigreos fell out of the sky and she was sucked into the pearl.
One problem down and one more to go. We needed to find a way to imprison Poseidon's son Perseus. I asked for the pearl and Angharad gave it to me. She asked me where I was going to take it. I smiled, "Naga Rani will take care of that" Angharad thought it was overkill but she was overruled by the dragons. The dragons huffed and puffed a smoke ring. I walked through the portal and watched as she transformed into an old woman. I presented the pearl and she blinked a few times before she got a good look at the pearl. She thanked me happily as she stared at the petrified face of Nigreos. She summoned her children as I slowly stepped back. She promised me that her children won't harm me. They all said thank you in unison. The dragons poked their humongous heads through the tiny silver ring of smoke and asked me to come home.
I walked into a war room discussion. The mermaids were promising that they will not hurt anymore dragons and promised to keep them in the loop. The dragons promised to help an eye out for trouble and guard the island from certain types of dangers. I sat down to admire a moment of serenity and so did the witch queen. I saw a ceramic garden gnome hop out of the water. Smoke was emitting from its ear. I ran as quickly as possible and grabbed it. I flew into the air and flew as far as possible before dropping it into the sea. The things exploded in mid air. The shock sent me hurdling into the sea.
I woke up an hour later to see the dragons were dangling a woman in an orange jumpsuit. She was bleeding from her neck. A steady stream of blood was dripping down towards my forcefully opened mouth. I raised my hand to say stop and the woman was yanked out of the way. The claws that were holding my mouth open slowly retracted. I took a deep breath. As Angharad asked me politely how I knew that it was trouble. I said that ever since I became this thing. I have been developing an internal alarm system to detect nonsense and trouble. I study how I feel around each person as I study their body language. And also factoring other things that I haven't been able to describe. Angharad chuckled as I asked her to direct me towards someone who can help me understand my gift. I feel like I may have gifts that are useful. I also am afraid that I might lack a gift that could prove useful. Angharad laughed, "So far you are the most useful person in my life. As far as your gift is concerned. I know a spell that could make things easier. Since the other side has learned of your healing blood. The running price for your blood has begun." Drakov asked her if this involves me being injured to which she said that I will not be harmed in any shape or form. He gave her a look of death as she opened a portal to the past.
I was asked to walk through and was told to stay away from Baba Yaga. I promised her that she is the last person I will be having any conversation with. Drakov promised that the dragons would take me. I promised to behave properly. He gave me a good luck wink as I walked through the vortex of black smoke. I was spinning like I was in the drying cycle of the washing machine. I was about to puke when the spinning stopped. I landed on a pile of mulch. I got up swearing like a sailor. I looked up to see the old witch queen and Dracula. I swallowed hard as I called out to Angharad. Asking for an explanation. Unfortunately she didn't respond. I was back in the ebony woodlands. This is going to be complicated. The woman cut the tip of my finger and told him that I was the doppelganger of his deceased wife. He stared with curiosity and awe. I asked to see someone who can help me learn my skills as a vampire and Dracula was speechless. He got his old lady returned to him as a vampire no less so he is least likely to grow gray hair over her safety. Drakov is going to kill Angharad when I get back home. I can picture her bursting into flames. The mini dragons turning into huge hydras and blasting her with lava. The female dragons with burst of lapis lazuli fire balls. Or even Drakov himself crushing her under his body weight.
I tried to look around and found no way to go back home. I was getting anxious as Dracula shook hands with the witch queen. I realized that the only way I can get out of here was to find Tiamat. She has a pool that travels between worlds. I pulled out my two way mirror and called out. Zuni answered and asked who was calling. I spoke in mermish and she said that she will send an emissary to get me to Skull Island. A moment later Tiamat came out of a pond not far away. She gave me a once over and I extended my hand to show her where the pearl of wisdom was. She shrieked with delight and she noticed my hand. I am guessing she saw the tattoo. She gave me a smirk as she took me to the pond. The whirlpool that awaited us looked gruesome. Dracula grabbed me and pulled me back. He hugged me tightly as he asked her where she was taking me. She said that I am helping her with something and will be back soon. He kissed my forehead and scooped me up before he jumped into the whirlpool too. I showed Dracula that this is something I must do by myself. He looked visibly annoyed but said nothing to contradict me.
We arrived at the Himalayan mountain ranges and I took the ropes to find the ice maiden. I used hypnosis to force her to give me the pearl and I ran as fast as possible to Tiamat. The sun was rising and Dracula cried out in pain. He watched as the sunlight covered the open plain. He watched as I walked carefully without baking. I walked in and he had a lot of questions to which I just pressed my hand against his face. He saw and said nothing. I faced Tiamat and opened my fist to show her the pearl. I extended it towards her and she took it quickly. I stroked her hair and showed her that we were friends. She gave me a look of curiosity but said nothing further. I was going to say something when the portal opened to reveal Arroyo. He asked Tiamat to send for the fountain of youth to heal an injured Dragon. I said that I can heal him faster. Arroyo gave me a look of contempt but said nothing further. He blew a smoke ring and we walked into Skull Island. Drakov was writhing in pain. I ran as fast as my legs would take me. I cut my hand and fed him my blood. His cuts started to smoke and heal really fast.
He thanked me profusely till he saw the dragon insignia. He took me by the hand and dragged me towards the pool. Dracula grabbed me and it became a tug of war till I screamed in pain. Dracula let me go but Drakov grabbed me like I was his favorite toy. The two had an intense staring competition and I had to explain why Drakov was being graby. Dracula wasn't taking no for an answer. I said that I came to learn how to be a vampire so I can go back to the future. I explained that Poseidon and Nigreos were creating havoc. This was news to the residents and I had to spend the rest of the day showing anyone who was interested. Drakov was curious why I was pressing my hand against people's faces. He demanded to know what was going on so I showed him. He had a look of absolute shock. Dracula took the moment to grab me and drag me towards the inland side. The tug of war resumed and I had to yell in pain. They both stopped tugging but they held on tight. Finally I made it clear that I have to do this since there is a running price to kill me. I am here to learn what my skills are to remain alive.