The Tale of Gabriel Mandrake pt5

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The horse just neighs at her. “Yeah, I suppose you need me to tell you where to go. Let’s see, the capital has strong mages, but I could be in danger going there. I could also go to the Dundhent, the city of monsters, there I’d be able to walk around free.”

Gabriel puts her hand on her chin. “No guarantee I’ll find someone who’ll know how to change me there. I need to decide what to do fast. Who knows when those knights will come back, I don’t want to be here when the one on the ground wakes up.”

Gabriel thinks for a moment. “There’s no way I can walk around the capital like this, so I guess I’m off to Dundhent.” Gabriel jumps on her stolen horse and begins the long ride toward the city of monsters.

For the next several days she rides all night and hides in caves or other secluded areas to avoid being caught by humans. After a week of travel, she makes it to the gates of Dundhent. “Alright mister horsey, we’ve made it.”

Gabriel jumps off the horse grabs the reins and starts walking with it. “I’ve never been here before, I’m a bit nervous. Humans aren't exactly welcome here.” Gabriel looks around and sees several monsters walking around her.

Lizardfolk, werewolves, and even dragons all walking around shopping and chatting. “I’m a little surprised how calm it is here. I always imagined it would be wild since it’s filled with monsters, but honestly, they seem more well-mannered than humans.”

Gabriel walks around town until she comes across a tavern. “Here might be a good place to get some information.” Gabriel ties the horse up to a post and heads inside the tavern, then she walks up to the counter.

Working behind the counter was a succubus. Gabriel sat down on a stool and waved to her. “Once second hun, I’ll be with you next.” Gabriel nodded and patiently waited while the woman brought a dirk to a slime man a few stools down.

After that, she walks up to Gabriel. “Whoa, I just noticed you're a fairy, haven’t seen one of your kind in a couple thousand years. I heard you were extinct, but clearly, that's not quite true, well not yet.”

Gabriel laughs nervously. “Yeah up until recently I thought the same, but I recently discovered a whole village of them, and I’ll tell you, they were pretty nasty.” The succubus then laughs. “That makes sense, back in the day wild fairies caused all kinds of problems.”

A frown appears on the succubus’s face. “I guess that's why the humans hunted them so much, but that's all in the past. Now how about you tell me what can I get you?” “Oh, uh I was actually wondering if you could help me find something.”

“You need info? Then you’ve definitely come to the right place. You’d be surprised at the secrets people will tell me, especially when we’re intimate.” The succubus puts her hands on top of Gabriel’s and smiles at her.

Gabriel turns bright red but quickly removes her hands. “I uh, I just wanted to know if there are any powerful mages here in the city. Especially any capable of reversing high-level transformation spells?”

The succubus looks at Gabriel sternly, before putting her hand on her chin. “Hmm, mages are very popular here Dundhent, due to master mages being rare among monster species, and high-level transformations are incredibly rare as well.”

The succubus closes her eyes and tilts her head. “Honestly, I don’t personally know anyone like that, but I have a friend who lives in town. If someone like that exists here, he’ll know about it, or find out.”

The succubus pulls out a napkin and writes down the directions and hands it to Gabriel. “Here follow what I’ve written on this page, it’ll take you right to his house. Oh and make sure you mention Selena sent you.”

Gabriel grabs the napkin. “Thank you so much!” Gabriel turns and runs right out the door. She hops on her house and follows the napkin through town. It takes her to an old run-down church, that has a single lantern lit.

“I guess this is the place. It’s pretty dark here, but it is late, maybe the guy the succubus mentioned is asleep. I suppose I’m about to find out.” Gabriel walks down the path leading towards the house and knocks on the door.

A few knocks later Gabriel heard someone approach the other side of the door. “Who are you? How did you find this place?” “Oh, I’m Gab… Gabby, and Salena sent me. She said you could help me.”

Gabriel could hear some mumbling, but then she heard the lock on the door move, followed by the door opening. Standing before Gabriel was what looked like a normal human male with short black hair and large round glasses.

“Wait, you’re a human?” The man looks annoyed. “No, humans aren't allowed in Dundhent. I’m a shapeshifter, I’m merely taking on the appearance of a human.” He pulled Gabriel in and slammed the door. Locking it back up tight.

“Now, tell me what You need from me, and do it quickly.” “Right, ah, I’m looking for a powerful mage, preferably a master of transformation magic, or even reversals.” The man looks at Gabriel and then starts to walk around her.

“I see, so you haven't always been a fairy? How did you turn into one?” “That’s correct, I was ambushed by a group of wild fairies in their hidden village, and they tried to recruit me by turning me into one.”

The man smiles. “Yeah, those wild fairies are crazy, too much time secluded in the woods playing with themselves if you ask me. I think I might have something that might help you.” The man leaves the room.

He returns with a dark-looking pocket watch. “This watch is used to dispel magic, it should turn you back. All you have to do is stare at it while I activate it.” Gabriel smiles, finally, her struggles will soon be over.

“That’s perfect, thank you so much. So all I have to do is stare into it?” Gabriel begins to watch closely as the pocket watch begins swaying side to side. “That’s right, all you have to do is focus on it, and relax.”

“Alright… Sounds easy…” The man begins swaying the watch faster. “You’re very, very focused. You’re even starting to get tired.” Gabriel’s eyes start to feel heavy. “I’m... Focused, and… I’m tired.”

The man lets out a chuckle. “You’re so very tired. How about you go to sleep?” “I’m… So.. Very.. Tired… I… Think… I’ll… Lie.. Down.” Gabriel falls over passing out onto the floor in front of the man.

“Now Gabby, you may be asleep, but you can still hear me. You’re fully under my control. Anything I tell you to do, you’ll do happily, without question or resist me.” The man puts his hand on his head.

“Oh, and from now on you’ll call me master. Now enjoy your nap. I’m going to figure out what to do with you. I might keep you for myself, or sell you on the market. Perhaps I could even rent you out to the brothels, or transform you into something else.”