To the Temple and Back Again

Due to his new choice in company Demo and Erin travel under the light of the moon. Being asleep, one might forget just how alive the world can still be; the flittering of bats, the hooting of owls, and the rustling of creatures in the bushes on this particular night. Aristodemo could see how this put Erin on edge, so he took this opportunity to flaunt a bit of his power.

Four children-sized creatures are thrown from their cover onto the dirt path before Erin and Demo with a mere flick of his wrist. A smirk grows over his face before he steps towards the cowering goblins. "Do you know who you're stalking?" Demo asks the four goblins as they look at each other, not sure what to say. The tallest goblin, probably just over 3 feet tall, stands keeping his distance.

"Who are you, wizard?" The creature barks.

"It does not matter who I am. She is the Erin Monte, legendary vampire Sired by one of Lamia's children." Demo steps aside, presenting his assistant. The goblins don't know who she is, but hearing she's one of Lamia's vampires strikes fear into their hearts.

"We didn't mean to..." Now all of them cower and beg for forgiveness. Erin now realizing the fun Demo is having steps in closer.

"Why should I spare you? Three of you could make quite the snack." She licks her lips, making intense eye contact with the goblins.

"Please no," a goblin shouts, and "Run!" screams the smallest, the four of them quickly scattered to the woods. The Sorcerer and Erin left to chuckle before continuing on their path.

"How do you plan to go to see her? I always was told there was no way to her."

"We are heading to an extraordinary temple—one of the dozens spread across the physical world. The Minotaurs built them before they were run extinct." Demo hands her a journal as they walk. "An old colleague wrote this. He's one of the few people who intimately understood interdimensional travel, outran an apocalypse that way. Using his notes, we should be able to find a key. That will get us in."

"So, where are we going?" Erin asks, skimming the journal.

"A dwarven city, Moore Cliffs. The Chief of the guard owes me a few favors, should help us to uncover the key."

"How does the Chief of the guard in a bustling dwarven city owe a favor to a human that lives nowhere nearby?"

"I helped him a long time ago. Despite being remote, I've traveled the world at one time."

"How, though? What did you do for him?"

"I'm The Sorcerer; I can do anything." Demo scoffs. "You can't say you only know me as Lamia's brother?"

"She's a legend to most of us. Only her children got to meet her. You're even more of a myth among the vampires I know. All we ever hear is how effective when you fight. No one has survived to tell the tale of crossing you."

"One did."

"No! You're saying someone beat The Sorcerer." Erin playfully hits Demo with the journal.

"Quite a clever wizard; it's his journal you're holding."

"What happened there? I thought you said you worked together."

"We had his name is Octavian the Necromancer." A smirk escapes him as he thinks back. "He found a way to banish me from his universe after stealing something from me. Then he had to leave his universe after the physical plane lost a war to the nine hells. To this day, I have no clue where he is, though I must admit he is genius."