MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

Blake's mind raced with thoughts of home as the gravity of their situation settled over him. The warm glow of dawn was now filtering through Dumpheries' windows, casting long shadows across the book-strewn room. Despite the exhaustion of their all-night research session, Blake felt a surge of restless energy coursing through him.

"Dumpheries," he said, his voice tight with urgency, "is there any way we can check on Rose? I need to know how she's doing, if there's been any change. The cell phone signals here are all scrambled up,"

Reggie spoke up, his voice tinged with a mix of relief and frustration. "I left a communication crystal with Gunther for exactly this purpose. But we'd need another pair to establish a connection from here."

Blake's brow furrowed in confusion. "A communication crystal? What's that?"

Reggie turned to Blake, realizing he needed to explain. "It's an enchanted quartz crystal, used for long-distance communication in our world. They work in pairs - one sender, one receiver. They're especially useful in areas where modern technology is unreliable or non-existent, like here."

Dumpheries stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I believe I have a spare set in my study. Give me a moment to retrieve them."

As Dumpheries left the room, Blake's mind reeled with this new information. Just when he thought he was getting a handle on this supernatural world, something new would emerge to remind him how much he still had to learn.

Reggie noticed Blake's bewildered expression and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I know it's a lot to take in, Blake. But these crystals could be our lifeline to Rose right now. Usually, Randal might be able to get through to Gunther through his telepathic abilities but the entire city is covered with a barrier that prevents us from reaching outwards,"

Blake saw the truth in what Reggie had just said because he had witnessed the barrier first hand.

With Dumpheries rummaging through drawers, Blake paced anxiously. Reggie and Randall exchanged concerned glances, aware of the emotional toll this ordeal was taking on their friend.

Blake paced anxiously as Dumpheries rummaged through drawers. Reggie and Randall exchanged concerned glances, aware of the emotional toll this ordeal was taking on their friend. Finally, Dumpheries produced a small, multifaceted crystal that seemed to glow with an inner light.

Blake stared at the crystal, his brow furrowed. "How are we supposed to connect directly to Gunther with that thing? It's not like a cell phone where we can just dial a number."

Reggie stepped forward, a reassuring smile on his face. "Actually, the idea is quite similar to a cell phone, Blake. All I need to do is tap a few specific facets on the crystal and match its energy signature with the one Gunther has. I've already memorized his signature, so it should be straightforward."

The crystal in Reggie's hand pulsed with a soft blue light as he concentrated, his eyes closed in focus. After a tense moment, the crystal's glow steadied, and a familiar voice emanated from it.

"Reggie? Is that you?" Gunther's voice, though slightly distorted, was clear enough to understand.

"Gunther," Reggie replied, relief evident in his tone. "How's Rose? Any changes?"

As they waited for Gunther's response, Blake leaned in closer, his heart pounding with anticipation and fear of what news might come through this mystical device.

"Hello? Blake, is that you?" It was Dr Martina. Gunther had gone over to hand over the crystal to her.

Blake practically lunged toward the crystal. "Dr Martina! Yes, it's me. How's Rose? Has there been any change?"

There was a pause, heavy with unspoken concern. "She's... she's holding on, Blake," Dr Martina finally replied, her voice strained. "The episodes are coming more frequently now, but she still has moments of lucidity."

Blake's heart clenched at the news. "And Celena?" he asked, dreading the answer.

"She's scared, naturally," Dr Martina said softly. "But she's a brave little girl. She's been reading to Rose during her good moments."

The image of his daughter, small and vulnerable, trying to comfort her ailing mother, brought a lump to Blake's throat. He swallowed hard, fighting to keep his voice steady.

"Tell them both I love them," he managed. "And that I'm doing everything I can to make this right."

"I will," Dr Martina promised. "Blake... whatever you're doing, please hurry. I don't know how much longer Rose can hold on like this."

As the connection faded, Blake turned to face his companions. The determination in his eyes was tempered by a deep, aching worry.

"We need to move fast," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Every second counts now."

Blake turned his attention back to the list of required items, a sense of unease settling over him. He couldn't shake the feeling that some of the items seemed nearly impossible to find. His eyes scanned the list once more, lingering on each entry.

Despite his initial assessment that two of the items might be relatively easy to acquire, Blake caught himself. Recent experiences had taught him to temper his optimism, especially when it came to matters like this. He'd learned the hard way that what appeared simple at first glance often turned out to be far more complicated.

"Some of these items," Blake muttered, shaking his head. "I don't even know where to begin looking for them. And the ones I thought would be easy... well, I'm not so sure anymore."

Reggie noticed Blake's concerned expression. "What's on your mind, Blake? Something about the list bothering you?"

Blake hesitated for a moment before responding. "It's just... some of these items seem impossible to find. And even the ones I thought would be straightforward – I'm starting to have my doubts. Nothing's ever as simple as it seems, is it?"

Dumpheries nodded, already reaching for a map spread out on a nearby table. "I've been thinking about where we might find some of these ingredients," he began. "The moonflowers, for instance – there's a hidden grove in the Whispering Woods where they're said to grow."

Reggie leaned in, studying the map. "That's at least a day's ride from here," he noted. "And we'll need to time our arrival with the full moon."

"Which is in five days," Randall added, consulting an almanac. "It's going to be tight, but we should be able to make it if we leave today."

Blake nodded, his mind already racing ahead to the next challenge. "What about the lightning-struck yew tree? That seems like it would be impossibly rare."

A sly smile crept across Dumpheries' face. "Not as rare as you might think, my friend. There's an ancient yew in the Garden of Whispers that's been struck by lightning so many times, the locals consider it cursed. Its ash should be perfect for our purposes."

As they continued to plan, mapping out their journey and discussing strategies for obtaining each ingredient, Blake felt a glimmer of hope beginning to grow. Yes, the task before them was daunting, perhaps even impossible. But they had a plan now, a path forward.