As there just happened to be four Eeees willing to share a room (Squeaky being banished to the farthest room, where Lucy keeps him quiet by wrapping her tail around him and his pack of Chibix whenever the make noise) it isn't surprising that they all ended up here. Alptraum was given the mattress, as he is the only one used to actually sleeping in one, while Phlagaea, Mave and Lilith hang down around him.

At first, it probably seemed like a good idea, but the small ceramic heater in the room altered the equation in a way Alptraum wasn't expecting: it was warm enough that each of the women didn't bother with nightclothes. And with Mave at the foot of the bed staring at him (she apparently could sleep with her eyes open) the gypsy was having difficulty falling asleep – and when he did doze off, he kept dreaming about one of them slipping under the covers to join him in the bed, which also tended to wake him up.

Dozing off once again, the same dream starts up with someone slipping under the covers and crawling on top of Alptraum.

"Whomever says men fantasize about sharing a bedroom with multiple women needs to die," Alptraum growls softly. He's lost track of how many times tonight that feeling of 'can't sleep, Yodh will eat me' returns … followed quickly by something crawling into the bed. This time he throws off the covers and yells, "Okay, this isn't funny!"

"Excuse me?" Kaira asks, pulling up a sheet to cover herself. "It's your dream, I'm just visiting. Didn't you want to talk?"

Alptraum blinks a few times as he recognizes the dragon. He lets out a sigh of relief, noting, "Ah, good. I kept having this dream that one of them was sneaking into my bed while I was sleeping." Then the Eeee actually pulls Kaira close and kisses her. On the lips, even. "You're safer," he says with a grin and reclines on the dream-bed. "Yes, I did want to speak to you. About the future of 'us', as it were."

The dragon lets out a surprised squeak, but recovers by saying, "If it's any consolation, it was supposed be Tulani joining you this time around – but there was enough of a sympathetic connection that I could slip through in her place."

The Eeee drapes an arm lazily over the dragon. "I'm glad it's you, actually. If it had been her … that would have been weird," Alptraum says with a grin. "As much as I would want to do things to make Arkold jealous, we should probably talk. I've been thinking a lot on what was said the last time that we talked, about my possible limited time for being of any help to you. To be honest, I'm worried about that. I know we've had our rough moments, but I've liked being your partner in this odd mess with the dagger."

"Hmmm, if we're going to discuss the future, mind if I change the venue slightly?" Kaira asks. "Mave staring like that is giving me the creeps."

"Want to hear something scarier? She's been nice to me lately," Alptraum remarks, peering down at the hanging Eeee. "Please. Let's go to someplace more romantic. Heck, a volcano is more romantic than having her stare." He grins.

"Alright, close your eyes and count backwards from ten," Kaira requests.

Alptraum lies back on the bed and closes his eyes. "Ten, nine, eight," he recites slowly.

At the end of the countdown, Alptraum finds himself still reclining, only this time it's on some sort of padded-leather lounge in a wood-paneled office. There are lots of certificates on the walls, and sunlight is coming from somewhere behind him. A leather chair is next to the lounge, with Kaira sitting in it. Her mane is tied up in a severe bun and she's wearing glasses and a professional looking business dress. A pad of paper is in her lap, and she's holding an unfamiliar looking writing stylus in her hand. "Now then, where do you see yourself in five years?" she asks.

Alptraum's brow arches as he looks around the office. "Hm, I've never seen a place like this," he notes, then reclines back on the lounge. After getting comfortable, he looks over to the dragon, saying, "Five years from now? Hopefully working on strengthening Sylvania, or having a good role with one of the ruling families dealing with threats to these lands. I like to stay moving, but want to have a good purpose in life. Plus, I need to stay active to actually continue help releasing souls from the dagger. I can hardly do that just sitting around."

"Unless you become the high priest of a death cult and have sacrifices brought to you," Kaira notes, scribbling something on her pad. "Hmmm. Any thoughts on starting a family?"

"Yes, I've considered it. But I'm not sure I can, nor am I sure of Phlagaea can. I'm pretty sure Mave can, though," Alptraum notes. "I imagine it would be hard for me to be a father, all things given."

"Alright, let's look at more immediate concerns then," Kaira suggests. "Whatever happens in Draco County, you're still intent on facing Dack. Obviously, you need to survive doing so. I can probably help with that a little."

"Right. I definitely need to stop him. I hope to be able to use the dagger on him too, and make the … jerk … useful," Alptraum says slowly.

"Well, our recent little outing with the Light of Nala shows that it can be used to manifest spirits as hard illusions," Kaira points out. "A bit like the dragon illusion that Tulani wore to fight Vorgulremik. The main trick is to bypass using the dagger to channel the energy, but you can learn to do that."

Alptraum nods slowly. "Okay, I think I follow that. What exactly do you want me to manifest?" Alptraum asks. "The spirit bound to me currently?"

"That is a possibility," Kaira notes. "I can also manifest, and we know that Dack is wary of dragons. Likely, a third spirit can be manifested through Ravenia as well."

Alptraum nods, "So, to give us a miniature army of a sorts. That would be interesting. I don't mind using my own body for this, though I would wonder of the effects of it. But Ravenia I would be more concerned about. I don't want to hurt her."

"I'll have to look into it further, but there may be a way for her to remain unpossessed while still serving as a host," the dragon notes, tapping her pen against her chin. "Tulani has been affected like that once so far, so she may be susceptible to the same thing again."

Alptraum nods, "So, try to re-summon the dragon form she had?" He tilts his head curiously at Kaira.

"It's worth a try," Kaira says, adjusting her glasses and scribbling on her pad some more. "With the Light as a power source, it might be made even stronger than last time. It all depends on how well you can master illiaster transfer without using the dagger."

"What do I need to do to work on the transfer, then?" Alptraum asks and sits up, leaning forward now. "And, how dangerous is this to me?"

"To you?" Kaira says, looking to Alptraum now. "As long as you aren't the source or the target, there shouldn't be any danger at all. When you did the transfer from Smashengrab to Hekatt, you were using Vorgulremik's power, but the same ability is within you. You'll just have to… practice. Find an old person, have Tulani draw the Light, and try to transfer the energy from the Light into the old person."

Alptraum nods, brow furrowed. "That would be … I'm not sure, really. All I can do is try it," he agrees. Then looking at Kaira and in all seriousness, he asks, "Will it concern you if I start tapping more and more into that power? I know you once said you didn't want me becoming another Vorgulremik. But effectively to continue helping you, I'll have to, right?"

"Hmm, the Light changes things," Kaira says, looking thoughtful. "It's a pure source, but it's energy obviously isn't coming from anything that's actually alive. For the tests, you should find someone close to death anyway – I'm sure that won't be difficult for you. That way if there are nasty side effects, the impact will be lessened. And to start with, you'll probably need to make physical contact between the Light and the person, so you'll want to be really careful as well."

Alptraum considers this and nods. "All right, I'll have to trust you on this," he agrees, "And will do the best I can with it. I imagine there is a hospice in these lands I could practice at. I somehow imagine this feeling like I'll be trying to direct the flow of a river with my bare hands."

"Getting that river down to a trickle will be the key," Kaira says. "Then you can move on to doing it without direct contact. And as for finding someone close to death – they'll probably be able to see your Barsunala aspect, if they've already got one foot in the spirit world, so to speak," the dragon suggests. "Once you can handle the flow remotely, we can try multiple flows. Then you'll be able to have a few extra allies to fight with, and keep everyone healthy."

The Eeee rubs the bridge of his muzzle and nods. "Sounds complicated, but I can't just keep hoping things will work, I have to make them work," he says firmly. Remembering something, he looks up and asks, "You said the spirit bound to me will eventually fade. When will that happen? Do you know? Can it be stopped? Once that goes I'll be useless for you."

"It might fade," Kaira says, rubbing her chin. "I don't have much to go on as far as precedent. In the absence of the big ritual that spawned it, something must be keeping it going – most likely you. That would keep it going for as long as you remain relatively healthy and robust, and also puts a limit on its abilities."

"It may also just be Sylvania itself that is propping it up," she adds in a mumble.

Alptraum nods and frowns.

"Is there a way to better integrate it into me so I am what is keeping it around? Or merge it with me so that is isn't so separate?" Alptraum asks, then looks a little worried. "Admittedly, I would be worried about the side effects of that."

"It may merge with you naturally as you use more of its abilities," Kaira suggests. "Each time you do something Barsunala-ish, it would strengthen the ties. Just as each time you and I communicate, it becomes a little easier to get it going the next time."

Alptraum blinks. "So, the more I embrace that side of myself, the more it binds to me," he says, "That would make sense." He then asks, "Have you seen it?"

"And wait, does our communicating mean you're bonding with me?" Alptraum asks as an afterthought.

"No, but I'm not able to look at you from the proper perspective," the dragon says. "We interact in either a mental realm or a physical one, not a spiritual one."

Alptraum hmms. "Do you think I could try to manifest it here? Would you want to see it?" the Eeee asks.

Kaira turns her pad towards Alptraum, and asks, "Does it look like this?" She's been scribbling some sort of bat-monster, with a huge mouth full of fangs, flames for eyes and the build of a demon. Why there are little bows tied to the streaming hair is anyone's guess though.

"Not exactly, no," Alptraum has to admit. "Why were you drawing that?"

"It started out as a bunny," Kaira admits, looking at the pad again. "I never claimed to be an artist. But I assume it's a more Sunala-resembling version of you. You could probably show it to me here if you concentrated a little."

"More or less, yes, it looks like that. Let me see if I can shift how I look here," Alptraum agrees. The Eeee then closes his eyes and thinks back on that odd moment when speaking with Nala and he was inside the spectral version. He tries to imagine his physical form and that spectral one merging into just one form, at least for a short bit.

"Oooo," Kaira croons at the result. "Talk about your tragic brooding bad-boy image… no wonder the bat-babes are swarming you."

Alptraum tries to keep the form and actually open his eyes. Of course, he has no idea if he'll be able to see, since the form had completely white eyes. "Swarming?" he has to ask, "The only one that has swooned has been Phlagaea. At least, I think she's the only one."

"Yeah, and Lilith and Mave are just hovering over you in their all-together because it's warm, right?" Kaira asks, one eyeridge arched.

"I'm not sure what to make of Mave," Alptraum admits, "I just figured she's plotting some new plan." He blinks a few times as things just look rather odd to him right now: all shades of gray and hazy. He can't help but pull around his now shredded wings and feel over the strips. "And Lilith? I've never gotten a feeling she likes me. I wonder if she'll continue travelling with us or stay home."

"You're tall dark and mysterious," Kaira notes. "If any dark elves saw you like this, they'd be all over you."

"Now, that I don't believe," Alptraum says and crosses his arms, still blinking those white and 'sightless' eyes. "They'd more likely want to cook me over a spit."

"You'd be surprised," Kaira notes. "Vampire demi-god of death? They're into that sort of thing. Which brings up another question: should I start looking for a suitable elf sorceress in case Ravenia agrees to play host to one?"

"Yes. Would you pick a dark skinned one to match Ravenia's coloration?" Alptraum asks, "Want me to go with you to meet a few?"

Kaira thinks about that for a few moments. "Do you think Ravenia could handle meeting a dark elf, and the obvious association it might stir within her?"

"I really don't know. Perhaps we should pick some candidates, then ask her which she would want to meet?" Alptraum suggests.

The dragon nods to that suggestion. "I'll work up a short list. We may be stuck with dark elves since the high elves may be too stuck up to enter Ravenia without being forced. It might also be possible to… hmm… nevermind, I'll really need to think about that possibility for awhile yet."

"What possibility?" Alptraum inquires.

"Well, there is one other dragon that can be manifested without a host," Kaira points out. "Vorgulremik himself. May have to consider it as a final resort."

"Uh, I would rather not manifest him," Alptraum says quite firmly.

"Neither would I," Kaira says. "But on to more pleasant topics, like: do you intend to kill Dack's followers?"

"It depends. If they choose to fight to the death; yes. If they do not; no. The woman, if I must kill her, I may try to re-unite with what may remain of her sons spirits. I can't resurrect them, but perhaps I can bring them all peace," Alptraum admits. "I don't want to kill them, but … I'll do what is required to protect the world."

"Resurrections are tricky," Kaira agrees. "But the more people you can kill, the better. With the Light to draw on and practice keeping people alive with it, you could pump a lot of souls, without the nasty morphic-resonance effects that happened with Hekatt."

"That had one good side effect, though. It scared Roogi bigtime." Alptraum says with a toothy grin, which probably looks rather creepy right now. "I must admit, I wonder what happened to her. She was odd, but then that's a hallmark of a Yodhblakat."

"Hm. Here's a question; should I allow Mave to observe me trying to hone my abilities?" Alptraum asks. "I get a feeling she's trying to figure out a way to use me for her benefit."

"She can draw off the Light as well, supposedly," Kaira says. "If you practice together you can keep an eye on her. And of course she's trying to figure out how to use you for her own benefit. She may be a Yodh, but she's also a woman, and that's what men are for, practically."

Alptraum crosses his arms and tries to look hurt. Whether he can in the form he's in is questionable, though. "What's wrong with just liking to be around someone. But, I … " he says, pausing for thought. "I bet if I phrased it such as I am trying to increase my power as the Barsunala, she would help as much as she could. After the reaction to her being my personal Yodhinala, well, I get the feeling she wants to have the benefits of my abilities. Heh, if she could see me now."

"She'd glom onto you for sure," Kaira says. "Sex and power sell. And if you don't understand the sex appeal part – well, if you are the son of Death, that would make you The Little Death, which is also a euphemism for… well, I probably shouldn't bet telling you about the bats and bees, if your mother hadn't already."

Alptraum smirks. "I know what you're talking about. I'm half tempted to pull her in here and have a talk with her. With you hiding, of course, just to judge how she reacts to it. Two can play at this using game," he says.

"Well, be careful with her, Alptraum," Kaira warms, wagging her pen. "She almost thinks like a dragon, and may just let you think you're getting your way with her."

"Oh, I know," Alptraum says with a shrug. "I'm honestly still trying to figure out what to do with her."

"Dealing with Dack will be simpler than dealing with Mave, I'm certain," Kaira notes, holding her pen up straight for emphasis.

"Dack I just have to kill. Mave I have to keep reigned in, while letting her think she's in charge," Alptraum says with a chuckle and a nod. "The first is relatively easy, I just stab him. The second is … potentially a different kind of stabbing, I guess. Complicated ones, at that."

"Well, if it helps just think about the things I do to keep you reigned in for inspiration," the dragon suggests, smiling innocently.

"Anyway, getting back to you and me," Alptraum says as he leans back in the lounge. He looks at the dragon oddly, then asks, "Seriously, do you feel you need to keep me under control, or do you trust me? I mean, really, trust me."

"Hmmm, difficult question to answer," Kaira admits. "I am a dragon, after all. Trust and control go hand-in-claw for my type. That is, we only trust what we can control. Probably why we so seldom trust other dragons. I have confidence in you and your word, Alptraum, and certainly respect your decisions. Maybe it would be easier if you didn't threaten to throw me into a well or lake every so often though."

Alptraum runs his claws through his hair. "Point taken," he concedes. "I have to keep it in mind you don't mean to come across the way you do sometimes. I've wanted to establish us as a 'friends' sort of relationship, since we may be together in some form for a long time. I've just … never dealt with someone like you before. It can be frustrating some days. I know logically you're just a spell, but you're a person to me and someone, for good or bad, that I care about. If that makes sense, anyway."

"Well, I don't know if it means anything, but I am rather insecure about all of this," Kaira admits, taking off her glasses. "In this relationship, you have all the power. Even my limited authority over the inhabitants here flows from the promise of freedom that only you can provide. It's not a happy position for a dragon, believe me. But I think I'm doing well. I mean, I haven't resorted to trying to seduce you or anything yet."

"If you need something from me, just ask," Alptraum says and holds his hands out to Kaira. "I mean that. Even if it's just to talk, or vent. If anything, I listen well. Big ears and all that. Heck, like this I can barely see, so I listen all the better. Which is interesting, I must admit, to be mainly seeing by sound right now," he jokes. "Okay, joking aside, I'm here for you. I do want this to be a… what is the word? Geh. Symbiotic? I think that's it: a symbiotic relationship."

"Thank you," Kaira says, sounding a bit odd. "I'll try to act on that. I hope this also helps you understand your relationship with Mave. She likely sees you as having all the power in that as well, and I'm sure it makes her uncomfortable."

"Really? I never thought she would feel that way," Alptraum says, looking rather surprised by it. "She was earlier trying to get me to get a nose ring."

"Just because she feels like she has no control does not mean she shouldn't act like she really does," Kaira points out, sitting up straighter and putting her glasses back on to look all prim and professional once more. "Image means a lot, and it keeps you from thinking you have the upper hand."

"Honestly, I considered doing it," Alptraum admits with a shrug. "I want her to feel comfortable around me and a part of our group. It would have been a small cost ultimately if it would have made her more comfortable."

"Oh, I'm sure she was just having fun with you," Kaira says, waving a hand. "A Yodhinala would not show dominance by having a ring placed through someone's nose, after all."

Alptraum laughs. "Well, at least she's trying to have fun. I guess that might be a good sign," he admits.

"When in doubt, hide behind Phlagaea," Kaira advises.

Alptraum has to smile at that. "We have a good relationship, at least," he says with a smile. "Hard to believe I find a priestess of disease attractive … but I really do. I always feel wanted around her. That's a really nice feeling. I hope I can keep her feeling the same way around me."

"Well, you are all she has left right now, aside from the Fnerf," Kaira points out.

"Yes, but … even if that wasn't the case I would hope she would feel that way," Alptraum says with a frown

"When she has more, you will know," Kaira says. "But she also seemed to like you when she had everything, didn't she?"

"Yes, she did. I was the only person I think that ever just talked to her and didn't care about what people thought," Alptraum notes. His brow furrows, then he observes, "I have an odd attraction to that which is dangerous for me. Think it's the influence of this?" He motions towards his current form.

"That depends," Kaira says. "Who were you attracted to before the Seven Sisters ritual began?"

"Well, I never really had any girlfriends before that. We traveled too much. There weren't any Eeee in the tribe other than those who adopted me. And the feline dancers of the tribe, well, I grew up with them. That's like dating your sister. Ew," Alptraum notes.

"And your being a secret vampire didn't play into it?" Kaira asks. "If your gypsies where anything like the ones I remember, then you likely had plenty of girls to choose from when you passed through a town or village."

"Well, that wasn't talked about. We didn't often spend much time in the towns," Alptraum says and thinks back. "But honestly, I think I've always been drawn to the more dangerous women. I don't understand why."

"Hmm, well, perhaps because they danced with Death, so to speak?" Kaira suggests, doodling some sort of frog on her pad now.

"Hm, speaking of dangerous women… Do you think Mave would feel better if I just asked her for help and deferred to her as a Yodhinala while I practiced? Made her think she was in control?" Alptraum inquires after a bit more thought.

"It would help in that she may have some actual useful insight, yes," Kaira notes. "If it boosts her ego, that's fine too, so long as she actually tells you what she knows."

"I will have to consider that. I should probably refer to her by title more," Alptraum admits.

"A little respect can go a long way," Kaira admits. "Maybe you should sleep with her too, if you think you can get away with it. Phlagaea should be understanding of the politics involved."

"She may require it, if I am asking for Inala's blessing," Alptraum notes, "Though I would have to clear that with Phlagaea first. I doubt Mave would allow me to include Phlagaea in the, ah, worship."

"If she could gain some influence over Phlagaea – and by extension, you – I'm sure she would," Kaira notes. "You should be able to handle them both at once. If not, you can always call on Arkold as a backup."

"I'd rather not call on him. I'd never hear the end of it," Alptraum says as he rubs his chin in thought. "Anyway, I will need to speak with Mave and ask her to tutor me in the arts, to grow my abilities. I'll have to see what she then asks for as payment."

"She may ask for nothing. She's surprised me before," he admits.

"Hmm, I'd be very suspicious if she asked for nothing," Kaira notes. "I'll try to keep a watch on her during the practice."

"Thank you. What could she possibly do during practice? Is there a way to try and assert control over someone with her powers?" Alptraum asks.

"Her abilities deal with emotional states," Kaira notes. "She could try to make you fall in love with her, perhaps. Or dampen your feelings for the others. You will have to watch yourself, and she will need a 'volunteer' for her practice, no doubt."

Alptraum nods at that. "Good to know. Thank you again," he says and gets to his feet. Sauntering over to Kaira, he leans down and says quietly, "And who knows, maybe she'll teach me about seduction and I'll try it on you." There's a pause and then he laughs, "Sorry. I … I really need to control my impulses of being a rogue."

The dragon raises her eyeridges and ears, but only comments, "Perhaps Mave is working some magic on you right now, unless your dreams are normally so lusty."

"Nah, I'm just teasing," Alptraum remarks, "I wanted to see your reaction. I should let you get back to work and resume my nightmares about being devoured by them."

"Alright then," Kaira says, standing up and giving Alptraum a big kiss in revenge. "Shall I send you back to your dreams then?"

"Yes. I'm sure we'll speak again soon. Would you like it if I could arrange times that you can manifest outside with us now and then?" Alptraum asks.

"If you draw the Light, I can peek in on things without becoming visible," Kaira suggests. "So arranging times when I do become visible will keep the others from thinking I can spy on them."

"All right. I'll arrange them. I'll be sure to not pick nights when Arkold has had a lot of beer and boiled vegetables, though. I think I'd rather go spend the night with the dark elves when that happens," Alptraum says. The Eeee, still in his creepier form, gives the dragon a hug, tattered wings and all. "Thanks for just being you. Wish me luck with them."

"Good luck, break a leg," Kaira says, then produces a funny looking mallet and hits Alptraum on the head with it, sending him back into his dream – already in progress. Ravenia is on top of him this time, and it's probably for the best that he isn't coming in at the beginning, since Arkold is snuggled up next to him and already snoring.

Upon entering into this dream, Alptraum starts checking to see if any part of his body hurts. But, thinking better of it, he just puts his arms around Ravenia and murmurs, "Well, this brings back memories of Worms… Well, except for the snoring wolf next to me. Ah well. Can't have everything."