How Ghoulish

As the ghoul came charging at Bryson, he quickly clasped his left hand and closed it. The sheet of cards that the undead beast slammed into earlier scattered apart before reforming in front of Bryson.

The ghoul once more slammed into the wall of playing cards. But this time the creature did not stop. Pushing against the wall of enchanted paper it attempted to tear through. Bryson answered this attempt to break through by raising his hand and enforcing the cards.

This shoving match turned in the ghoul’s favour as the card wall began to wane. How strong it this thing? Bryson thought as he took a step back as he struggled to keep his defence up. A hand was suddenly placed upon his shoulder.

Bryson looked over his shoulder in surprise, seeing Viola now standing next to him with a hand firmly placed on his shoulder, her heterochromia eyes glowing.

“Your magic needs more work.” She said as she channeled magic into the cards alongside Bryson.

The extra flow of magic reinforced the waning wall. The wall of cards pushed itself back into shape, all progress made from the ghouls’ efforts were halted. The force in which the cards violently snapped back in place sent the massive creature flying backwards and smashing through the wall of the bungalow.

“Nice to see you back to your normal self.” Bryson said to Viola now that they had a moment of respite.

“Watching you nearly get eaten by that thing does wonders in helping. Don’t do that again.” Viola berated.

“I’ll try not too.” Bryson said before their attention was once more brought upon the ghoul.

Getting back up the ghoul looked like its neck muscles were torn apart. A large bulge on its neck had appeared and it seemed to be unable to rotate its head that way. With a vicious snap, it forcefully popped contents inside the bulge back into place and reared to charge again.

“Hey, get me out of here!” Keddrick called out.

With a roar the ghoul charged forward, smashing another hole through the wall and bounded towards Keddrick. Halting before him the ghoul clasped its massive hand around the stake.

Bryson immediately sent the cards hurtling towards the ghoul, they embedded themselves into the monster. It did not react.

“That’s disheartening.” Bryson mumbled as the ghoul tore the stake out of Keddrick’s chest.

“Daahhh! Finally!” Keddrick grunted, “Time to teach you a lesson.” He said glaring at Bryson.

Before he could do anything however, Keddrick noticed two sets of hands arise from the hole in the middle of the room. Nico and Ben’s, seeing the rage in Ben’s eyes Keddrick decided that it was best to leave.

Chanting something, Keddrick and the ghoul turned into an inky black smoke and dissipated into the night sky. The cards scattered onto the floor.

“Damn it!” Ben cursed hitting the floor in anger once he got up from the hole.

“How deep is that thing?” Lila asked as she ran over to Nico.

“Several stories.” Nico said, “The whole thing was just a pit to store that thing.”

“Hold on. What the hell is going on?” Viola demanded.

“You were charmed by a vampire.” Ben answered as he stared out into the night sky, trying to find the vampire that was now long gone.

“A vampire?” She said loudly in disbelief, “What the hell has been happening?”

“Do you remember what happened?” Bryson asked.

“Somewhat.” Viola said as she tried to recall, “I remember meeting the… vampire I guess, and when I talked to him, he seemed trustworthy.”

“Probably because you were charmed.” Ben said.

“Anything else you remember?” Bryson asked.

“I remember sneaking out of the hotel. I don’t remember how I got here exactly and then the big monster attacked.” She said.

“So what do we do now?” Lila asked.

“The vampire is still out there. But I don’t think we’ll be able to find him tonight.” Ben said as he angrily kicked a piece of broken floorboard into the pit.

“Still, why did he bring Lady Viola here of all places?” Nico asked.

Ben took a pause and thought for a moment, “Good question. I thought it was to feed, but now I’m not too sure anymore. He set things up way too much for it to just be him trying to grab a quick meal.”

“I think there’s someone who might know the answer to it.” Bryson said, “You have Communicator?” He asked Ben.

“Yeah, who you calling?” He asked.

“My teacher.”

“That weird horned lady?” Viola asked.

“Actually she’s a flower lady.” Lila said.

“What?”

“She’s like some sort of flower nymph.” Lila explained.

“Okay, how exactly is she going to help?” Viola asked.

“She helped me figure out that you were charmed. Maybe she’ll know some more information about the vampire and his ghoul friend.” Bryson said.

“Worth a shot.” Ben said handing over his Communicator over to Bryson.

Typing a few things into the Communicator it lit up and a few seconds later Primrose’s surprised face was shown on the display screen.

“Bryson? You’re calling again? Did you get your sister back?” She asked.

“Yeah, but we have another problem.” Bryson replied.

“What kind of problem?” She asked cautiously.

Bryson tilted the display so that Primrose could see everyone else and the ruined bungalow.

“What… what in the Great Six happened?” She asked in disbelief.

“A vampire.” Bryson answered.

“Please explain.” Primrose asked after a stagnant pause.

“Long story short, the person charming Viola is a vampire. The Gallagher is a hunter chasing the vampire. Vampire lured her to a hidden bungalow on a small island. The rest of us chased, fought the vampire, it had a ghoul then they both turned to smoke. Now I’m calling you.” Bryson explained.

“Is that all?” She said sarcastically before rubbing her brow, “So let’s start with your sister. Lady Viola, correct?”

“Hey, I’m right here. Don’t try to talk behind my back.” Viola said, arms folded.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to offend.” Primrose apologised, “But you were charmed into travelling a long way to meet this vampire?”

“It would appear so.”

“When you all encountered the vampire, it had a ghoul in the same building?” She asked.

“Yes.” Ben answered.

“So it had its minion stored here. That means that this acted as its lair...” Primrose said, eyes widening as she came to a realization.

Ben seemed to come under the same realization, “No way.” He whispered.

“What? What does that mean?” Viola asked agitated.

“It means that… he wasn’t looking for food but trying to turn you.” Primrose said.

“Turn me into what? A vampire?” Viola said aghast.

“Why?” Bryson demanded.

“Because he wants a wife.” Ben said.

Everyone turned to him and said in unison, “What!?”

“A wife.” He repeated, “Vampires need to turn people in order to keep their race alive. As you saw already, this one charms women to swoon over him. Meaning he was in a phase looking for a spouse. So a powerful one like Lady Coldwater here would be perfect for him.”

“Yes, what he said.” Primrose said.

“What? But he looks old enough to be my father!” Viola said in disgust.

“Honestly, probably old enough to be your great grandfather.” Ben said. In response, the fourteen-year old’s look of disgust only grew.

“But this could be a good thing.” Ben said.

“How?” Nico asked.

“It means that it’s likely that Keddrick’s still around trying for another opportunity.”

“How do we find him then?” Lila asked.

“Not sure.” Ben admitted.

“Use me.” Viola said getting everyone’s attention.

Once more, everyone else in unison said, “What?”

“Use me as bait, then we get him.” Viola said.

“No, no way.” Bryson argued.

“Bryson, shut up. I’m not going to let this freak get away with trying to turn me into a monster. I want it dead, and this seems like the simplest way to do it.” Viola said, hushing Bryson.

“You’re insane if you think I’m going to let you do this.” Bryson said staring at Viola.

“I don’t need you to let me do anything.” She said glaring back, her heterochromia eyes staring into the inky black eyes of Bryson. Everyone else in the room nervously looked between the two. Before Bryson could say anything, Primrose interrupted the two.

“Hey, it’s pretty late already. Why don’t you two stop arguing and get some rest and discuss this tomorrow.” She recommended trying to alleviate the tension.

“Fine.” Bryson said after a moment.

“Whatever.” Viola said with a huff as she walked out of the bungalow. The rest slowly followed her out.