Chapter 5

I Kind Of Sort Of Get An Explanation

"Spindler!" I exclaimed when I saw his stunning blue eyes.

"Avery, be quiet," he whispered. "It's very late at night and with you talking at that volume, you might wake the neighbors."

"Sorry, Spindler," I said. "I just needed to tell you something."

"I'm willing to listen," Spindler said.

I sighed, hoping Spindler would help me more than Theodore did. "It's Raven," I said. "I found her in her room with a bottle of pills."

"Those are probably the blood substitutes," Spindler stated.

"Wait, what?" I said, unsure if I had heard Spindler correctly.

"You haven't figured it out yet?" Spindler asked.

"Figured what out?" I didn't see the need for Spindler to be so cryptic about this whole thing.

"Raven is a vampire."

I laughed. "Really Spindler? Vampires aren't real."

"Yes, they are."

"So why doesn't Raven have gigantic fangs and try to suck my blood?"

"Raven's fangs are retractable. And it's those pills that keep her from sucking our blood."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense," I said.

"By the way, I figured out a plausible location for the Azurro Crystal and a route to get there. Theodore!" Theodore turned towards Spindler. "Tell Raven to come here!"

"Will do," Theodore said. A few minutes later, Theodore returned with Raven, who was looking a little less pale.

"I have discovered that the Azurro Crystal is indeed in Yang Yang Restaurant. I have also plotted a potential course to get there. First, we must drive to Boulder Creek and attempt to evade the water spirits. Then, we shall venture into the Elmwood Forest, where my Uncle Orodon lives. We can spend the night there. Finally, we shall enter the Yang Yang Restaurant, conquer the monster, steal the crystal, and I will return home. Any questions?"

"Yes," Raven said. "Why aren't we just driving to the restaurant?"

"The monster could easily spot us on the highway," Spindler explained. "Therefore, we will follow the route that I proposed earlier. Any other questions?"

"We get it, Spindler. The route's perfectly fine," Theodore said. "Plenty of opportunities to talk people into supporting the teddy bears," he whispered to me.

"Fantastic," Spindler said. "We shall meet tomorrow morning to set out on our quest."

I glanced outside. The stars were dancing across the jet black sky. The moon shone bright and full, begging me to come outside and return home. It was almost midnight, and I was certain my parents were furious at me for being at Raven's house for so long.

"I probably need to go home," I mentioned.

"That's fine," Raven said. "See you tomorrow, Avery."

I waved as I stepped out the door. I breathed in the cold, fresh air and started to wander back down the alley where I met Spindler. This wasn't the end of my journey, I reminded myself. It was only the beginning. Tomorrow was another day. Tomorrow I would discover my "powers" that Spindler and Raven kept talking about. Tomorrow my life would begin.