--
Saying that you needed a plan was much easier than actually figuring one out. The group of monster hunters had been sitting together for over an hour and hadn't gotten any closer to having a solid plan.
"We need to know who they're planning on raising." Stated Max in his distinctive brogue and Phoenix looked over at him.
"And exactly how do you plan on doing that? This is a coven of vampires and werewolves working together. Whatever it is that they're raising, it won't be good for us, and invading their space to find out what it is won't get us anywhere."
"She's right, we can't risk getting exposed. If they know that there are more of us then they'll know that we're on to them, and then they'll be able to modify their plans. We can't let them know that we know." Anthony spoke, his grey eyes tired.
"Well we can't go into battle blind."
Phoenix sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"You're both right. We can't let them know that we know, but we can't not know who they're raising."
"So we need a plan where we can gather information without them knowing what we're up to." Van Helsing joined the conversation and Phoenix smiled over at him.
"Exactly, the only question is, how do we do that?"
Silence echoed around the room as each monster hunter looked to the next for a new idea.
"It sounds like you're going to need spies." Carl spoke up and Phoenix turned to look at him as the men around the table all smiled.
"Carl, you're brilliant."
More silence.
"I am?"
"That's exactly what we need, spies."
"They're vampires and werewolves, how can we get spies?" Gabriel asked and Phoenix sighed, nodding.
"You're right, but it's still a good idea I mean, if we could have someone on the inside, then we could get important information without anyone being hurt."
"What if we didn't have someone on the inside, but just got someone in the coven's hiding place long enough to gather information?" asked James, and Phoenix smiled at him.
"That's brilliant. We create a distraction and steal the information. I like it."
"What kind of distraction?" asked Carl and Phoenix's eyebrows furrowed.
"Oh, I didn't think of that. What is going to distract a coven of vampires and their legions of werewolves?"
--
Carl stood in place next to the large corral of horses that was set on the edge of town. Max and Anthony stood next to him, each with a whip. They stood in the falling dusk, awaiting their signal from Phoenix and Gabriel that the rest of the groups were ready.
"Do they really think this will work?" asked Max. Carl shrugged.
"I don't know, I never know with Van Helsing."
Anthony chuckled.
"Well, the plan was thought up by a woman."
Carl nodded, looking out over the horizon.
"True, but it would be in your best interest not to underestimate her."
Anthony looked over at Max for a moment, and then shrugged.
Then the flash of a torch was seen through the trees.
"That's the signal!" cried Carl and both Anthony and Max cracked their whips at the nearest horses, frightening them and sending them off. It was a domino effect; the horses took off in a mob, in the direction of the coven's hiding place, Max and Anthony running after them to make sure that they ended up where they wanted them. The perfect distraction.
--
The ground shook, knocking items off shelves, rattling the furniture, and frightening the coven inside.
"What is that?"
Each vampire and werewolf looked around in slight fear, none having any idea what could shake the ground so horribly.
"Look!"
The windows were rushed upon and each undead eye was fixed on the dark, moving mass that was speeding towards them.
"What the hell is that?"
The mass got closer and then it was very obvious what it was made of.
"Horses."
They all looked around in a stupor, none sure of what would drive horses to stampede but none wanting to stay around to find out. The werewolves each transformed and tore off into the woods, howling in fear and anger. The vampires took off next, exploding in a fury of teeth and wings, shooting off into the sky like a black mass of birds, shrieking their displeasure at having to start their hunting early.
--
Phoenix, Gabriel and Michael stood in the woods, silent, listening as the horses sped towards the coven's hiding place and the shrieks and howls of anger could be heard as the werewolves and vampires took off into the night, avoiding the massive stampede.
"Let's go." Phoenix took a step forward, but Gabriel took hold of her arm.
"Wait, we have to wait for the signal."
Phoenix sighed unhappily. She was jumpy, not looking forward to entering the coven's home. The last time she had done that, it hadn't worked out so well, for anyone involved. She wanted to get in and get out, preferably with the plans of the coven in hand. Her hands twitched impatiently.
"Look, there it is, the signal!" cried Michael, pointing towards the east, where two flickers of light alerted them to the fact that it was safe to go ahead with the rest of the plan.
"All right, let's go." Gabriel led the way, Phoenix tight on his heels, and Michael trailing behind, crossing himself as he went. They reached the dilapidated home and nodded to Anthony and Max, who melted back into the night, keeping watch for the return of the members of the coven, and watching the now calm horses.
"What should I be looking for?" asked Michael and Phoenix shrugged.
"Anything that could tell us who they're planning to raise."
Michael nodded and headed into the house, his eyes sharp, looking for evidence. Phoenix took the front rooms as Gabriel headed up the stairs, shooting one last concerned glance back at the only female monster hunter left alive, her hat square on her head, and her chin held high in defiance, as though she was daring her imagination to try and run away with her.
Phoenix let out a heavy stream of air, pushing her hat back from her eyes so that she could investigate better, her tinted glasses in hand to expose as much light as possible. She rifled through old papers and several hand written letters, none of them telling her too much until she came across a letter. It had been written a little over five years earlier.
Dear Mr. Frankenstein,
It is vital to our and your survival that you stop working for Dracula. We need your expertise to create a new breed. A new, stronger, faster, smarter, vampire. If you continue to create this monster, then we will have to end your research. Permanently. Dracula can pay you, but can he protect you? It is necessary for you to respond formerly, and soon. If not, we will assume your answer is no, and then we will have to take drastic and lethal measures to end what it is that you are doing. Do not underestimate our power over the people of your village. End your experiment for Dracula and start the research that we pay you for or you will not survive to see what will happen to the creature that you are currently working on. Do not forget what our agreement was. End the experiment. Now.
The letter wasn't signed, but it was written on a sheet of stationary with an elaborate letter G at the top. Phoenix's heart pounded rhythmically in her chest. She knew who the vampires were raising, she knew what they wanted, and she knew what would happen if they got it.
"Gabriel!" she shouted, and her fellow monster hunter tore down the stairs, his eyes wild and a silver stake in his hand. Michael appeared from the back rooms, the cross from his rosary held out before him.
"Adalia, are you all right?" he asked her as he reached her side. She nodded, her hands shaking as she held the letter out to him.
"I know who they're going to resurrect, and why."
Gabriel looked confusedly form her to Michael and then back. Michael gasped, his own hands starting to shake.
"Who?" asked Gabriel.
Michael gulped.
"They want to resurrect Frankenstein, to create a new vampire."
Gabriel look from Phoenix to Michael and his eyes grew wider with each pass. A shrill whistle came from outside and the trio turned, looking out the broken windows.
"They're back."
"Time to go."
The three ran from the house, Phoenix leaping out of an already shattered window just as a group of werewolves appeared in the back of the house, slobber and foam drenching their muzzles, and their panting heavy. Each turned back and stood in the moonlight, their skin glistening with sweat.
"They missed the house."
They sounded surprised that there was a house still standing for them to come back to.
"Mistress isn't going to like this, it seemed too fake."
The others nodded their agreement.
"But who could control so massive a movement of horses?"
Their leader sighed and shook his long hair out of his eyes.
"No need to tell her what happened until we are sure who created it. After all, we don't want to end up like Edmund, do we?"
The others shook their heads and broke off by themselves, weaving throughout the house, putting things back in order, the fear they felt for retribution from their mistress palpable.
--
So now we know whom they're going to raise. Bum, bum, bum. What will our beloved monster hunters do now? And will Phoenix and Gabriel ever hook up? Stay tuned and find out.
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Andrew's Slinky
