Cobwebs Tend to Want Revenge on Halloween

I don't own anything but my OC's.

Chapter 10

Kranium never understood death. Looking at Jack, he saw someone different. Different from the person who had found his chamber a few years back. That Jack had been kind and gentle. This Jack wasn't as talkative. This Jack just talked to the little shard of bone. Of course, Kranium understood that a relative's death is a painful experience, for both the relative and the victim. Though he'd never known the depressed relative to put on someone else's clothes.

Jack brushed some dust away from his- or Maverick's- hat.

At this, Kranium tilted his head. Jack Skellington was a pure mystery. A mystery…

Cracking codes was something Kranium was never good at.

Knowingly, Shadow got up and sat next to the confused skeleton. Kranium turned his head to her. "Hello."

"Hello." Shadow replied.

"Jack is different." Kranium observed. "He doesn't act normally."

"He's upset. Maverick was very special to him."

Kranium nodded. "I understand that completely."

Shadow smiled. "But I think it's sweet that you're willing to talk to Maverick for him."

"Hm."

"Did Maverick really tell Jack that he loved him?" Shadow asked excitedly. After all, the two men rarely told each other they loved one another.

"I don't know."

Shadow paused. "…But you said he did."

"I heard nothing as I held the shard."

Shadow's eyes widened. "You mean…You lied to Jack?"

"Do you really think he wanted to know that I can't hear Maverick? I told him what he wanted to hear."

Shadow pondered this. If Kranium had told Jack that he couldn't hear the king's late grandfather, that would probably set off another bout of sobs and tears. "Oh…I suppose that makes sense."

Sally scooped up some soup and held it to Cobweb's mouth, the teenager sipping it. The skeleton had woken up a few hours ago, though he still hadn't said a word.

"What do we do now?" Shadow asked. Everyone turned their heads to her. "Alucard is still out there and Alistair is with him."

"Isn't it obvious? We get revenge."

Everyone gasped and turned.

Cobweb was frowning deeply at them, like it was obvious. "He killed Teacher and kidnapped Alu. We get revenge."

Sally placed the bowl of soup down. "Cobweb, you're talking!"

"Indeed, because I have a voice box." He replied, turning his head to her. "Now, as I was saying," He turned his head back to everyone else. "We get revenge."

"Violence is not the answer, Cobweb." Shadow spoke, her voice laced with seriousness.

"But what's the point of having a new arm if I cannot test it?" Cobweb asked, clenching his new, metal fist. His new arm resembled his old one greatly. The metal gleamed and glimmered in the light. The arm itself was thick, several layers of metal piled on top of each other to make sure the arm was stable. Inside the arm, they were told, was a series of wires and tubes of oil. On his hand, nails and screws were in the place where his knuckles should be. When Cobweb bent his fingers, they could see the wires inside. Cobweb climbed out of bed. "Father," He pointed at Jack. "You've been moping around these past few days because of Teacher's death. You're even wearing his clothes, for God's sake! Don't you think it's time we took Alucard down? And Alu…" He sighed. "He's gone…" He took a breath.

"You know what?" Jack spoke. "…You're right."

"What?" Shadow asked.

…

Alucard sat down on his throne, smiling to himself. "Well, that's Skelton gone." He rubbed the Witnessing Orb. "Show me Jack Skellington…"

Fog developed inside the orb. Once the purple mist cleared, an image of Jack appeared. His mouth was moving, like he was talking. Unfortunately, the Witnessing Orb did not have the power to allow Alucard to hear what was going on, only see. Alucard's crimson eyes narrowed. "Well, this is just excellent. Jack's going a little bit nutty." Alucard muttered, noticing Jack's change in clothes. The vampire rubbed his temples. "I can't believe I'm going to do this…" He rubbed the orb again. "…Show me Maverick Skellington…"

The haze appeared again. The vampire waited until it disappeared. Just darkness. Suddenly, white eyes opened and a large grin broke out. Alucard raised his eyebrow, though showed no signs of fear. The grin opened, as if the thing was laughing. Alucard tilted his head. His lips twitched into a smile and, suddenly, he began laughing; throwing his head back. "Dear God, I can't believe it! He's with them!" Alucard wiped a tear away from his eye. "Oh, Maverick, I'm sure you're having a wonderful time! After all, they do take care of you!" Alucard laughed. He grinned. "Beside, they make you who are…"

…

"Think about it." Jack said, pacing. "Think about all the times Oogie did horrible things. I didn't just stand down."

"But, Jack," Shadow replied. "Alucard appears to be more powerful then Oogie. He destroyed Cobweb's arm with a single touch! Imagine what he could do to you!"

"That's a risk I'm willing to take." Jack muttered, clenching his fist.

"Jack, Jack, please." Kranium spoke. "Let us be reasonable. This 'Alucard' fellow appears to be a formidable foe. Let us not rush into battle."

Shadow turned to the skeleton. "You mean…You're going to help him?"

"The man set me free. I've been stuck in that chamber for over fifty years. It's nice to flex my limbs now, for they felt numb before. I must do something to return the favour."

"But you have, Kranium." Sally spoke up. "You talked to Maverick for him."

Kranium stiffened as Shadow glanced at him knowingly. "Well…Yes. Although that is not much." Kranium turned his head to Jack. "I shall assist you in any way I can."

"Thank you." Jack nodded. "Though Kranium is correct. We need a plan." He placed a hand to his chin in thought. "Does anyone actually know where Alucard lives?"

"I do…" Shadow raised her hand timidly. "I've never been there," She added quickly after seeing the look on Jack's face. "Though he told me about it. A castle with a large, stone tower, I think. It's just beyond Prickly Forest, he said, you can't miss it."

Jack nodded.

"We must save Alu as well." Cobweb said, sitting on the edge of the hospital bed.

"Indeed." Jack agreed. "But how do we kill Alucard?"

"Easy. We go there, beat the stuffing out of him, tie him up, put a stake to his heart, leave a cross on his chest, stuff garlic down his throat, bathe him in Holy Water then leave him out in the sun." Cobweb replied spitefully.

"Gruesome…" Jack muttered. "…I like it."

"Pardon my intrusion, but who is this 'Alu' you speak of?" Kranium asked, cocking his head to the side. "Is he an ally?"

"He's my best friend…" Cobweb mumbled.

"He means Al." Shadow told the skeleton, who turned to her once she started speaking. "Alistair Skelton."

"I see…" Kranium murmured.

"By the way, Dad," Cobweb looked up at Jack. "Where's Teacher's body?"

"Back home."

"Oh…"

Sally's face fell. Hearing Cobweb talk about how they were going to kill Alucard wasn't at all pleasant, nor was the thought of Cobweb actually killing someone. It's for Maverick, she reminded herself. They're doing this for Maverick.

"How about this then." Jack spoke thoughtfully. "Cobweb and I will go to Alucard's castle and confront him, as well as saving Alistair. If we aren't back in ten hours, Kranium and Shadow will come and get us."

"I'll come too." Sally said, putting on a brave façade.

"No!" Cobweb suddenly shouted, sounding more panicky then angry. Everyone went silent and stared at him. The prince cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I mean…No, Sally. You stay here." He reached over and took her hands in his own. "We don't want you getting hurt."

Sally nodded, biting her lip and trying to ignore the blush on her cheeks. Unfortunately for her, Cobweb noticed and tilted his head. "What an interesting colour your cheeks are…" He muttered thoughtfully. "Are you sick, Sally?"

"Oh…No, no, I'm fine." Sally replied.

"Oh…" Cobweb's expression told everyone that he thought he'd figured something out. "I know you're afraid, Sally, but everything's going to be ok." He gently stroked her cheek with his index finger.

Sally's blush deepened and she wanted nothing more then to cup his face and kiss him and, with any luck, he would kiss her back.

Jack watched them for a second before going over to Shadow. "Did Alucard ever…try something with you?"

Shadow raised an eyebrow. "Try something?"

"You know…" Jack rubbed the back of his head. "Anything like…kiss you, or something…"

"What? No! Even if he did, Jack, I wouldn't have reacted well to it." Shadow replied.

"Oh, well…Good…" Jack muttered. The skeleton turned to Cobweb. "We should prepare."

"For Maverick." Cobweb nodded.

Jack nodded back. "For Maverick."

…

Author's note:

Ooh! There getting ready to go to battle!

Some nice romance there for Salweb and Jadow fans!

So, Cobweb's talking and moving again, Kranium lied about Mav and Jack's determined! How will the battle go? Will Jack and Cobweb defeat Alucard? Will they save Al? And will Kranium and Shadow need to go and save them? Find out next time…

Please vote on the poll on my profile!