Cramel, The Sunken City
The smell of rotting flesh, old sewage, corrosion, death, and just about anything that could smell horrid was the first thing that hit the two travelers when they had entered the once revered town of Cramel. It was so bad, that Silver nearly fainted. �I've got ya.� Vex said as he caught Silver, saving her from falling. �I'm sorry Vex. I just can�t stand this odor.� Silver spoke with her hands over her face, attempting to block out the stench. �We will be to our destination soon.� Vex spoke reassuringly. �My mother is right up ahead.� Out of nowhere, a figure materializes before Vex and Silver.
�My son, you have kept your promise and have returned to me.� The voice was happy, sweet, and familiar. �Mother�� Vex blurted out with surprise. �I told you Vex, don�t call me that. Call me by my name, please.�
�Josie. It has been ten years since we last saw each other. What has happened here?� Vex pondered out loud. �Nothing has happened to Cramel son. It is right under you. You see, when you left, we found out about a plot to destroy Cramel. We hid the great city underground, beneath all this garbage. Isn't it clever.� Josie spoke proudly. �It was my idea.�
�Well, mother, it is genius. Who would ever think to look under a pile of rubble, junk and debris?� Vex coolly replied. �The Albhed soldiers have been coming more often now to check on us. It is getting really hard to do anything in town.� Josie spoke will a cool yet worried tone of voice. �If they keep coming like this, they are bound to stumble upon something.� An alarm went off in Vex�s head. �Did you say they were Albhed mother?�
�Yeah. And no-one knows how to speak it.� Josie whined. �Well, while I was on my journey to get the Bloodstone, I met an odd little shop owner named Doon. He knew the Albhed language. I could tell �cuz it was an Albhed shop. That and the first thing out of his mouth was �Hela du saad oui�. That means nice to meet you. I can speak the whole language.� Boasted Vex as he slowly sank to a sitting position. Josie looked at Vex with kind of an irritated look. �What is wrong mother? You look upset.�
�I told you�call me by my name, please.� Josie said with moderate expression. �Sorry, Josie.� Vex corrected himself. �Let us venture to our underground paradise.� Josie smiled as she let the two toward the entrance when, all of a sudden, there came shouts from the other direction. �WAIT FOR ME! PLEASE DON�T LEAVE WITHOUT ME,� screamed a figure running toward them. With speed as fast as a blink, Vex drew his Six Footer and activated it in stun mode. The figure stopped in a shadowy area and said, �Don�t attack me. It�s me Vex. You know�Wish.� Vex deactivated his sword and put it away. �Wish, it is good to see you again but why did you follow me?�
�I wanna go with you. I don�t like being alone at the hospital. Besides you could use my medical expertise to your advantage.� Vex leered at her with an intimidating glance. �Alright. I suppose you could come along, if you don�t get in the way that is.� Wish jumped gleefully. �You wont see any trouble outta me. I promise.�
Vex nodded as he turned back to Josie who was opening the door to the secret underground city of Cramel. As Josie led them through a tunnel leading through the garbage of the �ruined� city, they saw faces hidden amongst the garbage walls with weapons ready to fire on any unwelcome intruders.
�They surely are protective of this city, aren�t they?� Wish looked around wondering why they wanted to protect it, not knowing that it was the only city left with a powerful gem called the Stone of Eyeless Sight. This gem is one of the remaining stones of God, which were rumored to have disappeared long ago. There were twelve stones when they were first made. Only 5 remain.
They arrive at a great door about nine feet high and about ten wide. Josie scratches something into the door and within a couple of seconds, the doors began to open. A flash of bright light hit the group. In actuality, it wasn�t all that bright. They had just been in the dark stairway for a while. As the doors finish opening, the group is stunned by the look of the actual Cramel. "My God Josie. How did you all manage to hide this?" Silver asked quizically. "Quite simple actually. But I am affraid I cannot tell you. It is very confidential." Josie said with a small sigh. "Here, I will take you all to my quarters. They arent much, but it works for me."
As the group walk down through the halls of Cramel, vast sights and scents fill thier noses. The entire city smelled like a big rose garden with scents so potent, you could almost get lost in them. Several times Josie had to look back and tell Silver to stay with the group. The four continue on to a small hallway where Josie stopped. "Here we are. I hope it is to your liking everyone." Josie went to open the door as a soldier walked by quoting, "Hello commander. I see you have guests so I will keep patroling the halls. Have a nice evening." Josie suddenly turned a beet red as she said a simple, "Good evening to you to Geret."
"Josie," Vex started, "why did he call you commander?" As if it wasn't obvious when he said it, Josie happened to be the mayor, or "Commander" of the city. "I am son. I am the mayor of this fine city." Josie turned away somewhat embarassed. "Im proud of you mother. This is a great thing for you."
"Thanks honey." Josie took a deep breath. "Why don't we go in now?"
As she began to open the door, a new aroma entered the air. One of beauty. It smelled, of course, exactly like the perfume Josie had sprayed on Vex's dagger like rock that he still kept in his pocket. Vex's hand found it instantly as Josie sighed once more. "You actually still have that rock? I feel glad to know you think so much of something so little."
"I wouldn't give this up for the world. I will cherish it even after death." Vex hardened his grip on the stone as they all enter Josies quarters. Within seconds, Wish and Silver were looking and touching almost everything. Vex took one look around and sat in a comfy armchair. "Mother, how did you get all of this?"
"It was donated to me by the towns people. They did it because of my idea that saved the city. I only did it because I was responsible for the Albhed wanting to destroy this place." Josie shut and locked the door and then sat down in Vex lap, giving him another huge hug. "I have missed you so much. I love you son. I'm glad to have you back here." Vex hugged Josie back and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I love you to mother. And I am glad to be back. I think that tonight I will teach you Albhed mother. It will take all night though."
Josie smiled as she snuggled up closer to Vex. "I'm ready to learn. This will probably be the only thing that I have learned from you. Usually you are learning from me." Josie smiles again as she kisses Vex on the lips. Wish silently thought to herself that something with Josie and Vex wasn't right. If only she knew. She wondered if she should ask, but though better of it. �Josie,� Silver began, �Why did you seem so embarrassed when that soldier greeted you?�
�Simple Silver. Geret likes me. He has for a while now. But I told him that there is no chance for him with me. He just doesn�t listen very well.�
�I think he was kinda cute. I think you should give him a chance Josie,� Wish had to get in on the conversation or feel like she was being left out.
�I already have someone I love,� Josie said as she looked at Vex.
�But you cant love your son. It isn�t right. It is disgusting.�
�So if you had a child wish, would you choose not to love it? I ask you what is wrong with loving your family?�
Wish stared blankly back at Josie. �I guess not. I thought you meant something different.
�Don�t worry about it Wish. The reason I cant love Geret is because last time I fell in love�My son left. I paid almost no attention to him. So as long as I don�t have a boyfriend, I can spend all the time I want with Vex.� Josie gave her son a loving kiss on the right side of his face. Wish still didn�t quite understand, and she still thought that something wasn�t right between them.
Josie got everyone�s attention as she rose up out of Vexs� lap. �I believe we should all get some sleep. We need to rest so that we can be up early tomorrow to help with the work around here. And don�t even think that you can get out of it. Even though you travel with my son, you all still need to earn your stay. Even Vex will be working. Silver, Wish you two come with me. I will show you to your rooms. Josie led Silver and wish into the back of her quarters and into a nice hallway filled with random articles of things from the past and present that Josie thought would be nice to keep around. �Silver, you can take the room on the left. Wish you take the one on the right. Don�t worry, they are both the same except color wise.� Josie yelled back down the hall to Vex. �I love you honey. Sleep tight. I�m sorry but I hope you don�t mind the couch.�
�Thank you Josie. You sleep good as well. I love you too. Kuut hekrd. Means good night.� Vex laid down on the nice comfortable sofa that Wish and Silver had been sitting on. �This isn�t that bad at all,� he thought to himself. �I cant wait to see what tomorrow will be like. I cant wait to see this place during the day.�
Wish and Silver called out their goodnights to Josie, Vex and each other. Josie and Vex returned them.