Chapter 2 Peculiar Rendezvous

Slowly, I slid out my bag and my sling bag out of the backseat and I baby crawled away from the car, far away enough for me to crouch walk to cross the two lane road where tall dense pine trees are at the other side, the place where I'm going to hide from Sebastian. I run as soon as I'm in the pine forest, climbing a bit higher to a slope, hopefully far enough because Sebastian just finished buying some treats from the 50s looking gas station. As I saw from afar, he got in and was shocked to see the backdoor slightly open and quickly went outside to look for me, panic crossed from his face.

Waiting for more like a few minutes, I leaned a bit to get a glimpse of what's happening below, and to my surprise Sebastian was freaking out and even the old man was alarmed, seeing his state. Good thing as soon as the old man was all the more suspicious based on what I'm seeing, Sebastian went inside his car and left, driving fast along the road. A sigh of relief, I can't believe I almost got in trouble for being with a murderer and witnessing his potential crime. Stupid, for letting myself get advantaged with, Mom will kill me if she finds out a broke Rule 134, 'Never allow yourself to accept a car ride if there's anything unusual at the backseat or trunk'. Remembering that, I can hear her voice and scolding me for not following it.

With Sebastian gone, I went down the slope and started to walk along the road. If I'm going to believe the alleged murderer's words, then I suspect I'll be in Prigoria if I follow this long path of road which will be a killer for my legs and feet. As I walk down the side of the road, I hear a rumble amongst the bushes and as a person who just got away from a murderer, I quicken my pace, not even minding what creature or person is hiding or moving there.

Come to think of it, the old man seemed not fond of Sebastian the moment they talked, and it's a logical approach for me to just get help from him but I won't risk myself, they could've been partners or Sebastian's accomplice for all I care. But the plan is if Sebastian drives back, I'll just hide from the pine trees again. Lucky for me, nothing came back which is a sign of relief. Until, I heard a faint rumble at the top of the pine trees.

I began to run, the rumble got more frequent and carelessly I wasn't paying attention where I'm running. I tripped and tumbled down the grassy incline, face flat on the ground with the leaves breaking my fall. A noise starting to ring inside my head, pain throbbing and feeling like I'm hallucinating things of I'm with Sebastian and I'm tied on my seat while he's maniacally laughing. I tried mumbling myself that what I'm imagining isn't real, covering my ears to cancel the foreign noise out of my head. And soon enough, it was gone and slowly I opened my eyes and stood up, brushing dust and leaves off my clothes.

A few vehicles drive by as I continue my walk along the pine trees and as I got out of the mountain range, sunlight shone on this pristine lake from afar, and beyond is an upwards sloping cliffside with an astonishing medieval castle on top, looming over near a waterfall. I might get some help if there's people living in there, hoping not Sebastian though or else I'm dead.

But I have to risk it, since I can't even get a good cell reception to even call for help so I might as well go over there and see what is in store for me, fingers crossed for a working telephone. And if there are other people in that castle, I can warn them of a murderer on the loose, driving a fancy swanky car made from the 40s.

After minutes of walking, and my feet are killing me. Thankfully, there's an open patch ahead and I groaned when I heard that rumble again and this time it's much louder and getting closer, like it's chasing after me. God knows who did what and I'm not waiting to find out, I ran as fast as I could towards the clearing since the pine trees are less dense there and if what's moving at the top of the trees won't hopefully jump out to be seen. A loud crash of thunder resounds and looking back, I can tell it's going to rain soon.

While I still had sunlight left, I started to walk when I noticed there's that rumble again and it came from across the other side of the road. I stop and squint my eyes to see what it is, then something comes out fast, heading towards me. I prepare myself for the worst, bracing myself when unexpectedly enough, nothing happens.

I slowly open my eyes and to my surprise, there's a young guy, for what it seems like he's frozen in place in a running position, in the middle of the road. I'm just as badly confused as the other guy if there is one with me as I look from afar and ask myself, 'What in the actual heck is going on?' and if I'm guessing myself, I believe this person is the one chasing me all along?

Pfft! Even I am asking myself crazy questions. I might be hungrier than I thought I was.

But if I'm crazy in Romania then might as well ask him. "Are you the one that keeps chasing me all afternoon?"

The guy didn't respond and judging from the look of his face, he's not very happy to be seen, if I'm making total sense.

"Hey guy, I hate to be rude but can you please un-froze yourself and move out of the road or you might get hit by a passing vehicle" I shouted.

As if the guy didn't hear me, he continued to stand in his pose like a statue. I can't even leave him there, risking a permanent accident that might or will happen if he still continues to pose in the middle of the road. I tried a couple more times warning him but the guy isn't moving. For what seemed like more than 3 minutes, I got annoyed and just bailed out, walking away and leaving that guy and what he's doing is not even funny.

In the distance, I heard a loud honk and turning back there's a wheeler truck approaching. U shout from afar, warning the guy to get out of the road but he's really not moving away. The honk gets louder and I'm not about to witness a gruesome event under my watch, without hesitation. I did the inevitable.

I unslung my bag, let go of the other and I just ran as fast as I could, quickly dashing as I went and racing against the clock. I'm neck and neck with the wheeler truck as it approaches, honking the horn louder. I made it a few seconds ahead, built my momentum then ran towards the guy, running as fast as I could and lunged towards the guy, tackling him out of the road just in time as the wheeler truck passed by moments later. We tumble, the ground bracing our impact, the second time in a row for me.

With the remaining sunlight blocked by dark cumulonimbus clouds, I recover myself from the impact, groaning pain as I rub my forehead. I looked around and saw the guy sitting still nearby and looking kinda alright. I averted a hit-and-run in Romania, this is one weird day.

As the guy saw me sit as well, he started to push himself away from me, struggling to get away in utter panic. He was muttering something and I ask;

"What are you saying and why are you getting away from me? I'm not carrying anything contagious" I shouted.

He didn't respond and got a good distance away from me, still panicking. On the other hand, I slowly stand up and brush the rest of the dust and leaves off my clothes and check the guy, who's still in panic and not even looking at me. I clear my throat which got his attention and said;

"Hey guy, are you okay? You've been panicking there for a minute, is anything broken?" I ask him.

He looked at me, rage in his eyes and said, "Why did you do it? What have YOU DONE!?" The guy growled and shouted.

Taken aback by his answer I replied, "What? Why are you getting angry at me for? I saved your life and what I'm hearing from you is 'Why did I do it or why have I done it'? ... That's some stupid way for saying thank you or your welcome"

"I deeply disagree, I should be furious at you because of what you did, not for saving my life rather the ACT of you SAVING ME is the problem! Why did you just have to do it? You disgraceful human" He said rather threateningly.

I'm confused to the whole ordeal and riskily ask him, "An act? My act of saving your life is what you're pissed out of? Why? I'm so confused" I said.

The guy didn't respond but he got even more angrier because of my question. To my surprise, he looks at me in deep vexation as he approaches, a growing dark crimson aura comes out. I quickly stood up and slowly backed away from the guy, preparing myself to make a run for it.

"What's happening to you? What are you doing? What are you?" I asked as I backed away.

The guy mischievously smiled and said, "What am I doing? WHAT AM I DOING!? Well, it's none of your business because you're not going to be alive to find out, given that you're going to DIE for what you DID!" He screamed.

With haste, the guy sprinted towards me, with his sharp nails out. I scramble my footing off the ground and run away as fast as I can. But he was too fast and as I look back, he lunges towards me, bracing myself again for another collision. The barrier glows brightly and deflects the guy away from me, sending him pummeling to the trees and shrubs nearby. I got knocked right off too from the impact, another painful thud as I hit the ground by my back.

He freaking ATTACKED ME!

Getting myself off the ground, a loud crack rumbles amongst the dark clouds, it sounded differently from the usual bang I'm used to hearing. The guy pops out of the shrubs and yelps out saying;

"What in the actual blazes is that!?" He retorted.

I sat back up again and brushed off the dust and leaves off me. I looked displeased at the guy and infuriatingly shouted, "What the actual heck too!? What was that for and what just happened! You know what I'm done" I said, slowly standing up.

I started walking away from all the craziness when this guy just magically appears out of nowhere, in front of me then swats my shoulder.

"What the hell, man! Get away from me!" I blurted out, pushing him away.

By my retaliation, he withdraws out his sharp nails again and aggressively strikes a killing blow directly where my heart is when the magical barrier swiftly appeared again, deflecting his attack away and separating us with another colliding shock. The guy slowly stands a few feet away, starting to panic again by pacing back and forth while I recover myself the forth time from pummeling on the ground. I was getting pissed by all of this and I had the last straw.

I walked towards him and shoved him down on the ground. Shaking his head, the guy looks at me utterly confused of what I did and said;

"What was that for!? How dare you push me! As a matter of fact, I should be the one pushing you off because this is ALL YOUR FAULT! You despicable, brainless, too good for nothing of a pathetic human!" Spewing full on insults at me.

I lashed out of anger and kicked the dirt right at him and said, "HOW IN THE ACTUAL HECK IS THIS MY DAMN FAULT!? And how DARE you speak those meaningless insults at me when in part is your OWN DOING! I had enough of this, or you or what the heck is even happening, I HAD to push myself off the ground 5 freaking times now, THANKS TO YOU!"

"How is this NOT your fault? Have you even noticed the up and about barrier that's forming around when I attack you or the uncommon sounding crack of thunder earlier, OR are you just idiotic imbecile to even notice it" He disparagingly said.

Twitching in rage, I grabbed him by his shirt collar, lifting him up to see my pure vexation and said;

"I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU! I didn't come to Romania to be pushed around, berated to the core and be spewed insults by a damn shell of a person who can't even appreciate someone who saved his own life and just to hear him complain and blame for what I did? You know what, SCREW YOU! Alright, I've had enough of this--"

I was cut off because the guy was about to respond back but I stopped him by pointing a threatening finger at his face and continue, saying;

"NO- don't you even dare! And if this is what I get for saving your damn life then, I should've left you to be run over by that wheeler truck in the damn first place! Ironically enough, if this is the type of hell that I'm going to experience in this country then I made the biggest mistake of even coming here, hospitality be damned if this is the way folks like you treat outsiders ... No wonder Poland hates you guys" I said, letting go of him.

The guy didn't respond back, like he's shocked that I stood myself up. I brush the last of the dust and leaves off me and turn back to look at him one last time and said;

"I should've changed my mind before coming here if this is what I'm going to experience here, it was a mistake I made for leaving Cluj-Napoca, I better get out of this country and fly to Poland than to be stuck with you in the middle of nowhere ... I hate to say it but that taxi driver did warn me and I didn't listen" I said to him and walked away.

This sucks, I hate to say it but the taxi driver and his pride of country is a complete baloney, he didn't mention there's jerks like that guy who lunges at people and calls out insults. Either way I should better get back to the city and leave Romania all together.

As I head towards the road, without warning, the guy lunges towards me and tackles me to the ground, pinned down by his knee pressing on my back and holding my arm tight. I squirm around as I can, struggling myself to be let go yet no prevail.

He turns me over and with a free hand I swat his hands off me, but as I manage to get off his grasp to make a run for it, an unknown force holds my arms, pinning me on the ground along with my legs, unable to move. He looks at me, showing that mischievous smile of his as it starts to rain. I budge and shift my body, hoping to free myself but no luck.

The rain got denser, getting us soaking wet. The guy grabbed my collar, lifting me up with his other hand, curling to a menacing knuckle, retracting for a painful looking punch. I crooked my head to the side, bracing myself for the imminent pain because even the barrier isn't coming out to save me this time. His fist rushes to the air, already going to hit my face but in a split second, he stops it just inches from my cheek. A light shines over us, a roaring sound of heavy engine approaches, it's Sebastian's car.

I swallow as the guy just stares at the car driving towards us, the front window rolls down and Sebastian said;

"You there, you better stop what you're doing? We didn't approve of this and you're needed to be escorted back, both of you are" He shouted.

The guy and I looked at each other, rather thinking of the same thing, like 'What is he doing here?' in thought.

I got surprised when Sebastian clears his throat, eyes looking at the rearview mirror to check up on us and said;

"You, can you explain to me what happened? No- better yet explain to me fully why you do it?" Sebastian said to the guy, not even unfazed by his voice.

The guy threw a fit and said, "It's this dunce-like, very gullible and addle-brained human's fault! I'm just doing what needs to be done, even without their help or intervention" The guy said in his defense.

I gave him a look and chimed in, "I just did what I had to do, so don't you blame me for sticking up like a sore thumb in the middle of the road and act all daredevil while there's a speeding wheeler truck heading your way and was AND will going to run over you! So stupid why even blame me for it or even act this way!" I said, in my defense.

Sebastian looked at me and asked, "Lad, repeat what you just said again?"

"I just saved his pathetic little life from potentially getting hit by a speeding wheeler truck, that's what I said" I replied, then giving the guy another menacing look.

The guy was attempting to hurt me but Sebastian hissed at him to stop, then he looked at me again and asked, "Okay, more specifically why did you save him?"

I explained in detail the side of my story, of what happened earlier. Sebastian nods, looking at the guy rather disappointed and asks me, "If that's the case, lad ... Did this person with you tried to 'put you down'?"

I nodded and replied, "Yes! He did and multiple times actually, not just that I got a series of threats to be killed because of what I did and a lot of dirt covered encounters, leaves included" I said.

He nodded at my plea and said, "I believe you, lad ... It was selfless of you to risk your own life for the sake of others, more specifically, to a person like this guy right here who should learn to show some manners" Then, he looked at the guy, who's also giving him a displeasing look.

The guy threw another fit again, fuming in anger at Sebastian, saying;

"You giving commendation to this human? You've lost your marbles there and I even consider you a smart person, Sebastian!" The guy shouted.

"I consider you lost yours for defying orders if I'm being correct, and furthermore this lad right here didn't do wrong on what he did and based on what I heard from him, you did this act on yourself, he's just doing what needs to be done ... And I know, he isn't lying about it either" Sebastian said.

That made the guy next to me retort back at him, saying; "That human didn't do anything wrong? He DID DO SOMETHING! You just mentioned it so we had to kill him immediately!" The guy said, looking at me.

"Young master, can you please calm yourself down and not assert extreme measures ... Dmitri, this isn't like you" Sebastian said, unveiling the name of the guy next to me.

Dmitri grunted, kicking the front seat and said, "Sebastian, I told you plenty of times to call me 'Lukas', isn't that hard to remember? And don't call me 'Dmitri', especially not with the human here ... So can you call me 'Lukas'?" He said.

I'm very confused about what's just been happening at the moment, why did Sebastian call Dmitri 'young master'? Am I sitting with royalty here? As far as I know Romania hasn't had royals since the time of war ended or did I leave out more research unchecked long ago. Ugh, my head is kinda painfully pounding from stress.

"Dmitri, if you ever want to be called 'Lukas' properly as you request, I suggest you to de-escalate your emotions and quietly behave, we'll discuss this later when we get to the manor and sort out this mess you've made" Sebastian said.

I chimed into their conversation and asked, "Uh? What ‘shall need to be discussed’ and ‘we get to the manor to sort’ Dmitri's mess out? Can someone explain to me what's happening?"

Dmitri pointed a threatening finger at me and said, "Let me make things perfectly clear, DON'T YOU ever call and acknowledge me as 'Dmitri' or 'Lukas', better yet don't even recognize me at all" He said to me.

"I agree, because you never deserve TO BE recognized! By the way, what you talk or say out of your mouth means no sense to me anyway" I backfired a petty sarcasm.

"Lad, I know you had a lot of questions on your mind, and I don't blame you for being involved into all of it because you're just doing what's right and I'll thank you on my behalf or saving Lukas's life which I am in no partition to question otherwise but I confess, what you partially did are putting a lot of pressure to everyone, with 'Dmitri' and myself included" Sebastian said, while looking on the rearview.

"I do and you're right on that one but I have to ask this obvious one first, why am I putting you and this person right here as well as everyone in deep stress, the one I think I did is heroic putting you guys in distress" I asked Sebastian.

Nearby, Dmitri expresses a loud 'tch', a frustration lingering across his face. Sebastian hisses at him to behave then looks at me to answer my question.

"Lad, as you can see and to make things a lot simpler, long story short and we have time to further discuss it in detail at the manor, but what you and Dmitri did back there, where you saved his life is an indication that you and him formed a what we call, a 'Pact' between you and Dmitri or 'Lukas' whichever you prefer calling him ... By that, it caused a problem and unlike anything else on this planet, humans such as yourself aren't supposed to form this kind of act which is the main problem everyone will have when they find out" He explained.

As Sebastian said, I let that sink in for a moment, which still gets me even more confused and needed to ask more questions, regarding the situation I'm now in. But even so, what gets me is that Dmitri or Lukas and I cause a problem for all of 'them' which, who is the other 'them' Sebastian mentioned. But what does he mean about establishing an unwanted 'Pact' between me and him that caused this whole ordeal?

In the rearview mirror, Sebastian looked and saw me, in deep thought. He called me and said;

"Lad, I can assure you all your questions will be answered and explained in full detail soon enough, but I should inform you that what happens next won't be easy ... You don't actually have a choice" He said, with his eyes now back on the road.

I swallowed at that last bit he said. Dmitri puts on his mischievous smile, looking at me and said, "You should hold on for dear life, because you don't know how much detrimental this will come to you and expect the worst, I consider death will come to you and I can assure you, it won't be pleasant" Dmitri sinisterly said.

Beyond is a old medieval gateway, and Sebastian calls out to me and said;

"Lad, I welcome you to the magnanimous and palatial, Grand Constantine Manor!" He warmly greeted me.

We drive through the gateway, surprisingly enough when I saw it down below, it was smaller than I imagine, but I gotta say, this place is kinda eerily magnificent to behold, the manor even has its own long roundabout driveway with kinda overgrown hedges and shrubs along the unmaintained garden all around to commendate the manor's gothical-like vibes.

Around the corner, there are walls all around, I'm guessing it was constructed around the regal times if my guess is correct. With the rain still pouring, Sebastian ushers for us to wait inside the car while he gets the umbrella by the front entrance. As he was about to came back, Dmitri didn't wait any further and went outside, walking on his own and pushing Sebastian away from him, saying;

"The pathetic human needs it more than I do so better give your service to him, I can handle myself especially dealing with this godforsaken bloody rain" Dmitri said.

He lets himself get drenched in the rain and disappears inside. Sebastian assisted me instead, holding the umbrella over our heads as we walked towards the main entrance. While walking, Sebastian sighs and I ask;

"Hey Sebastian, you okay? I swear that no good for nothing 'Dmitri' or 'Lukas' or whatever the heck he be called has a lot of nerves treating you like that, even if I don't know what you're relationship is with him, I know for a fact that he is such a evil, egotastic person and I should know I met some people like that long ago" I comfortingly said.

He chuckled and replied, "Thank you for your concern but I'm fine, lad. I'm already used to Dmitri like this but somehow today, it's much more hostile and aggressive than usual ... Regardless of what happen earlier, you and I know why that is, it's because what he did is what you humans called a term of expression 'an oopsie' hence why he's much grumpier and hotheaded than before"

I wanted to ask something and he respond, "Sure, what's your question, lad?" He said.

"If I'm being correct, I saw something at the entrance that caught my attention, it appears there's something embroidered on the side of the wall, spelling out 'Inn', is it possible that you're going to bring me to this inn if I didn't bail out at you at the gas station earlier?" I asked him.

Sebastian hesitated for a moment, then afterwards looked me in the eye and said, "Yes, before you somehow bailed out, I was about to bring you here like I mentioned back at Cluj-Napoca ... "

"Then, either way what's awaiting for me inside the manor, I will eventually meet regardless ... And if Dmitri is telling the truth, then the people you identify as 'them' are inside and ultimately decide my fate because of the recent unwanted encounter happened" I said to Sebastian.

Sebastian nodded, patting my shoulder and said, "Yes, your keen observance is impeccable in times of unknown doom or otherwise comes to pass, but I can give you my word that whatever happens inside will not give you any kind or gesture of harm ...--" He said.

"Oh thank goodness ... For a second there--" Sebastian cut me off and continued the rest of what he's saying.

"...-- I'm not done, but in terms of the situation, you could end up not much worse than I'm hoping for to not happen such as death, which certainly might be or not part of the options nonetheless ... But hey lad, I am right about you being a brave adventurer with a kindred spirit that keeps you from going ... So take this as a challenge on a perilous adventure because I can give you my word that beyond those doors are the greatest venture of your life and if it all goes south, either way it was a thrilling ride in the end" He said rather confidently.

I'm shocked by what he just said but he was right nonetheless. "You know what, you're right. Whatever happens to me, it might be my first or my last ... So I'll face it head-on, I was born for this and traveling is in my blood so ... Whatever or whoever is awaiting me inside, I'm ready!" I said.

Sebastian smiles, putting the umbrella neatly at the metal rack nearby. He holds the doorknob but I stop him just in time, because I had something else to say before he opens it.

"Yeah there is, I never quite tell you my name so before I traverse inside the utter peril or grand discovery, I should tell you otherwise ... My name is Theodore, Theo for short, nice to formally meet you, Sebastian" I said, extending a hand.

Sebastian smiled and accepted, shaking it and replied, "Well lad, or should I say Theo, it is a pleasure of meeting you or in any case know your name and address you correctly now ... So Theo, formalities aside, are you ready to enter?" He said, holding the doorknob.

"I'm ready!"

And with that, Sebastian opens the front door, for what I'm about to witness will change my life forever. That is, if I live the tale to tell ... That said, the quote of Anais Nin says goes ...

'The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery.'

Because I find it to be true, mystery lurks within, we just haven't opened our eyes to the possibilities. And believe it or not, for what I'm about to encounter beyond those doors, let's just say it's the most unbelievable revelation I ever come across ... and I never regret what goes on past those doors.

Because truly, that's all part of the adventure and I'm already part of the journey. With that said, I better brace myself because what is about to come next, I can tell will be the greatest venture unlike any other.

Take it from me, that's saying something ...