The Crimson Dragon raised both hands and the entire party disappeared in a flash of light leaving the cavern entirely. She placed an elemental guardian at the original entrance to ensure the passage remain closed.

******

Quake looked at the swordsman, "Wow, that was some crazy noise down there. I'm glad I was up here."

"Me too!" Irzen replied, "My ears are still ringing from that one."

"Man. I thought the one under Storm Haven was bad, this one was like a giant heart beat. Good! Finally we can enjoy the rest of our stay here." Quake huffed.

"A hot meal. A warm bed. A well told story. And good company would be nice." The Swordsman agreed.

"Something tells me the Lady and the Bronze Man are going to take a vacation, a short one away from the drama here until we're ready to leave because they've hadn't had any real down time." Quake shrugged.

"If you say so," Irzen quipped, "I don't count the number of times Alyson and Lazheros get hot and heavy around each other so I really don't know if a vacation is even warranted. But I do know this, with the Black Gate closed and with the vampires on the run, life in East Port should be pretty quiet from now on."

There was a flash of light and others who went below now stood in front of them both. The rift shrank and closed finally. The armor of the Crimson Dragon vanished once more.

"I don't know about you guys but I'm tired." Alyson quipped, "Forgive my manners of late, Prince Birch and Princess Cauladra. I'm retiring for the evening."

"As you wish, Lady Alyson," Both Prince Birch and Princess Cauladra gave Alyson a courtly bow.

Lazheros muttered some words in draconic and his legendary armor disappeared. He then joined Alyson as they left the throne room towards the guest chambers.

Even Madeous agreed with their request to retire, "I take my leave as well. While I still have energy to fight some more, I am not as young as I once was. Good day."

"Of course, Platinum Knight, and maybe on the morrow you will regale us with tales of your travels and wonders that you have seen?" Prince Birch inquired with a knowing grin.

Quake looked around to notice she was alone with Irzen, Birch, and Cauladra, "Umm. That's okay. I'll be fine here...all by myself...well not completely."

"Nonesense!" Prince Birch slapped Quake upon her back, "Come! Let us make merry! Thanks to you, Lord Drow and the rest of your friends, the Black Gate is now sealed and East Port is now free of a great evil which could have devoured it whole."

"Indeed," Princess Cauladra smiled as she offered her arm to Lord Irzen, "We have every reason to celebrate in spite of the fact that our friends lack the constitution of Elves."

The Drow Swordsman took Cauladra's arm a little uncertainly but then smiled as she smiled, "Agreed! Now is as good a time as any to celebrate, Quake."

Quake shrugged and followed suit. She was wary of the fine wine of elven kind. Sweet or dry, it gave the unsuspecting person the worst kind of hangover. But it was her stomach that growled loudly this time and her last meal was interrupted yesterday.

As they walked back to the main dining hall, a sumptuous feast was being prepared for all of them.

******

Captain Lion made his way back up to the airship and was immediately greeted by Maxim, "As you were."

"Aye, captain." Maxim stood next to him. "The girl is resting in your cabin, sir. All this excitement and lack of sleep finally caught up with her. Spencer is keeping vigil at the moment."

"Thank you, Maxim. Inform the crew that I have returned." Captain Lion told him.

"Aye, captain."

The vampire opened the cabin door to see Spencer sitting at the table reading a book. He motioned to him to be quiet and relieved him of his post. "You may go now, lad. For I am in need of rest myself."

"Aye, sir." Spencer gave a nod and left the cabin.

Captain Lion walked over to the desk and pulled out a bottle of blood wine, emptying the entire bottle to sate his thirst. Then sat down in the high back chair and closed his eyes to rest.

The kurori opened her eyes and wrinkled her nose to the sound of Serna sleeping. Slowly she sat up and looked about to see Captain Lion sitting in the high back chair resting, "Ulp."

"Behave, kurori, or you may find yourself elsewhere." Captain Lion said with his eyes closed.

Caliaphy blinked out of the shield maiden's lap and onto the chair opposite of the captain's desk. "Umm....so how long she been asleep?"

"Not long, Eladrin. Now that I know what you are, my perspective has changed, however, you have yet to make amends." He opened his eyes and looked at her.

"Hmph!" Caliaphy's wings twitched, "Still looking for the one to fill the gap. Didn't work with Alyson, Vampire King."

Captain Lion leaned forward now, "Careful, you don't wake the girl. I have not forgotten the agreement between your king and I. She is your charge, Eladrin. I know this now what you could not have with Alyson, you are making up for lost time with Serna. Regardless of my old status, it doesn't exist here in the Realm. I am just an ally, friend, and servant of the Guardian of Asylum."

Serna moaned in her sleep wistfully.

At the sound, Caliaphy turned in Serna's direction. A look of pure mischievousness appeared across her face. She tip toed across the captain's quarters and produced a multicolored brush. She went about 'painting' Serna's face like a flower and added the finishing touch with glitter.

Captain Lion took a deep breath and leaned back. He was partially amused by the Kurori's artistic side but at the same he knew full well it would be only a matter of time when Serna woke up and saw her reflection.

Serna slowly began to wake after Caliaphy finished applying the last of the glitter to her face, "Huh? Wha--what is going on? Did I fall asleep or something?"

Caliaphy hid the paint brush behind her wings, "Oh. Hi Serna. I was just drawing like Alyson used to do. You'll know when you see it."

"Oh! Hey, Caliaphy, what happened to you? Where did you go?" The Shield Maiden asked the Kurori.

The captain watched quietly as the Kurori's paint brush vanished. He stood up and walked over to the table where a plate of fresh roast beef lay. Something his crew always prepared for him when his true nature came out, a pleasant way for him to sate his hunger.

"Captain Lion, um, how did things go? Did you and the rest of the others defeat those mean, nasty vampires?" The Shield Maiden asked the Captain.