Isfet-Iah - I See You

"I see you, Mr. Vampire," said Princess Iba Algi.

"I don't see!" said Nin. "Do you see, Harlecuin Sols?"

"I don't see!" said Harlecuin Sols. "Where's the vampire, Iba Algi?"

That question was repeated by a hundred little ghosts. Princess Iba Algi was having a slumber party. Everyone wore cute pajamas. Isfet-Iah emerged from the shadows in a corner of a dining hall. He also wore cute pajamas.

"Is he really a vampire?" asked one little ghost. "His ears are sharp too!"

"He's a vampire," said Iba Algi, "and also half an elf."

"Elves are make-believe!" said another little ghost.

"Elves live in the world of make-believe," said Iba Algi. "But people who make-believe hard enough can have babies who are half an elf."

All the little ghosts thought that was amazing. When Isfet-Iah pulled out his golden sword, they thought it was the shiniest sword ever. Isfet-Iah presented the weapon to Iba Algi.

"Oh my gosh!" she said. "Why give the sword to me?"

"An extraordinary weapon should be in the hands of an extraordinary person," said Isfet-Iah. "Extraordinary people are defined by extraordinary deeds. By that measure, how can there be anyone more extraordinary than the little girl who returned the Asamati Polemarch to the Willow Realm so that he could sleep beneath the roots?"

"That's right, Iba Algi!" said Nin. "I don't think there can be anyone more extraordinary."

"I don't think so either!" said Harlecuin Sols.

"But what about Cute Boy?" asked Nin.

"You can call him Cute Bite, now," said Isfet-Iah with a wink.

"Oh my gosh!" said Nin. "You turned him into a vampire? Really?"

"It was the best option," said Isfet-Iah.

"Is he going to help hunt bad guys?" asked Nin.

"He is already hunting bad guys," said Isfet-Iah. "Princess, I wonder if you might answer a question?"

"I'll try!" agreed Iba Algi.

"With the God of War removed from this world, what became of the others?"

"Which others?" asked Nin.

"I think he means the other vampires," said Harlecuin Sols.

"Oh of course!" said Nin. "That's a good question, Iba Algi! What happened to the other vampires?"

"Well…," said Iba Algi.

"Are they alright?" asked Nin anxiously.

"When you and Snowblind Tigress cut the chains…," said Iba Algi.

"Oh my gosh!" said Nin. "Did we let the other vampires go?"

"At first I thought that was what happened," said Isfet-Iah. "But I've looked for the others and they are nowhere to be found."

"Oh no!" said Nin. "Did we destroy them? I didn't mean to!"

Her great big eyes filled with tears.

"No, no, no," said Iba Algi. "They're fine."

"Really?" asked Nin hopefully.

"Yes," said Iba Algi. "They are in the Willow Realm too."

"Really?" asked Nin, sniffling.

"Yes," said Iba Algi. "When you cut the chains, Harlecuin Sols and the Empress moved the bell. You also broke the link that tied the other vampires to the bell."

"I see!" said Nin.

"I see too!" said Harlecuin Sols. "But the poor vampires were still stuck in their tombs!"

"Then how did they get to the Willow Realm?" asked Nin.

"I understand," said Isfet-Iah. "The God of War freed them."

"Correct!" said Iba Algi.

"But how did he find them?" asked Isfet-Iah.

"Well…," said Iba Algi.

"Oh my gosh!" said Nin. "You told him where they were when we weren't watching!"

"I did," confessed Iba Algi.

"But you didn't know where they were either, Iba Algi," said Harlecuin Sols.

"I knew where they were once Nin cut the chains," said Iba Algi.

"Why did the God of War ask you to find them?" asked Isfet-Iah.

"You were all connected for four thousand years," said Iba Algi. "He didn't want to leave the others trapped."

"Oh my gosh!" said Nin. "I didn't think of that. Now I feel bad for the other vampires. We almost left them trapped."

"The way the world is now," said Iba Algi, "the God of War knew that if we just let the other four go, it would be a problem."

"At least there wouldn't be any bad guys left," giggled Nin.

"There might not be anybody left," giggled Iba Algi. "So the Empress, or Snowblind Tigress, or maybe the three of us would have been forced to do something. So the God of War did something first, and took them to Willow Realm. It's a good place for vampires to sleep too. Mr. Vampire?"

"Yes, Princess?" asked Isfet-Iah.

"Do you want to go to the Willow Realm?" 

"But Iba Algi," said Nin, "who will eat the bad guys?"

"Cute Bite should be strong now," said Iba Algi.

"He will eat a lot of bad guys," agreed Isfet-Iah.

"Do you want us to make you a door?" asked Harlecuin Sols.

Isfet-Iah had spent thousands of years imprisoned in a crypt, and also thousands of years imprisoned in ice. The world now was nothing like anything he remembered. As its most powerful vampire, he could do almost anything he wanted – particularly if he remained on good terms with Princess Iba Algi. But what should he do? Rebuild his ancient kingdom for the third time?

No. He did not want to do that.

"Yes," said Isfet-Iah. "I would be grateful for a door."

"Oh my gosh!" said Nin. "Where should we put it? We shouldn't put it here in the dining room. I think we should put it in a spooky garden."

"I think so too!" said Harlecuin Sols.

"Where's the spookiest garden you can imagine, Harlecuin Sols?" asked Nin.

"I know!" said one of the little ghosts.

"I know too!" said another.

A hundred little ghosts and Iba Algi's astral body led Isfet-Iah to the spookiest garden they could imagine. It wasn't far. In fact, it was a couple hundred feet beneath the surface of Old Keep. In its center, a great big hole in the rock provided access to the sky. Along the western edge, a columned loggia looked across the Feng River plains. The garden was full of menacing trees, brambly bushes, and leafy ferns that could survive with little to no light. There was also a lot of moss growing on decorative rocks.

Humongous koi lived in the garden's ponds.

Little ghosts liked to stand on the water long enough for the koi to come up underneath, open their great big mouths, and swallow them in one gulp. Getting swallowed by a humongous koi was so much fun, the little ghosts did it over and over and over again.

"Let's put the door on that island!" said Nin. "In the little tea house!"

"Okay!" said Harlecuin Sols.

Neither the island nor the tea house were large, but both were charming. The ghosts ran across the water giggling and squealing. Anyone who got gobbled up by a koi had to start back on shore. Iba Algi got gobbled up by a koi, and a hundred ghosts thought that was the funniest thing ever.

The embarrassed princess started back on shore.

Once the hundred ghosts were crowded onto the island, Iba Algi told Isfet-Iah to go inside the tea house and close the door. The ancient vampire slid the door open carefully. It was not as dilapidated inside the tea house as might have been expected, but everything looked fragile. Isfet-Iah went inside, slid the door shut, and waited. The little ghosts went to work on the other side of the door.

As far as Isfet-Iah's senses were concerned, it didn't matter if the sliding door was open or closed. He knew exactly where the little ghosts were, if not what they were doing. Their tiny hands were busy. After not too many giggle fits, a hundred ghosts crowded into the tea house.

"It's ready!" said Harlecuin Sols.

"I guess we won't see you anymore," said Nin sadly.

Isfet-Iah felt a strange melancholy. He would miss the little ghosts. It was the first time in twenty thousand years that he felt any such thing.

"We can use the door too," said Harlecuin Sols.

"Is it safe?" asked Nin. "We won't get stuck on the other side?"

"Only if you forget where the door is," said Harlecuin Sols.

"I might do that!" said Nin. "Will you remember, Countess Niwa?"

Nin held up her doll and looked into its eyes.

"I'm sure Countess Niwa will remember," said Iba Algi. "You can open the door now, Mr. Vampire."

Ordinarily, Isfet-Iah would not have expected much. As far as his senses were concerned, there had been no change. The spooky garden was still there. Despite their giggling, however, he knew the little ghosts were divine talents. The ancient vampire slid open the door expecting a miracle.

As the door opened, the tea house was still a tea house, but the spooky garden disappeared. Isfet-Iah stepped onto a cobblestone porch. The little island was no longer so little, but it was in the middle of a lake. The water was clear. There was no bottom. Gargantuan trees surrounded the lake. Each one rose so high, its top was lost in silver mist. It was quiet. But not completely quiet. Leaves and branches rustled. Owls hooted. Squirrels barked. Something terrifying screamed a while and fell silent.

"That was so cool!" said a little ghost.

"That was a jabberwocky," said Iba Algi.

"Oh my gosh!" said Nin. "Really? Are there big fish in the pond?"

She peeked over the edge of the island.

"They're way down deep," said Iba Algi. "Goodbye, Mr. Vampire!"

"Goodbye!" said all the little ghosts. 

Rather than linger in sweet melancholy, Isfet-Iah bowed to his saviors, became mist, lifted into the sky, and disappeared into the realm of dream, imagination, and wonder.