The two cars stopped in
front of an old house, the splintering wooden frames the only thing
from keeping the structure collapsing. Orsanos opened the door of his
black car, standing and looking around for any sign of danger before
going around and opening Jackie's door for her. Adolph's yellow
car pulled up behind him, and they all piled out.
"You sure this
is the place, Orsanos? It doesn't look like a place anyone in their
right mind would want to go." Adolph looked suspiciously at the
house, wrinkling his nose at the putrid smell of mold.
"Indeed,
it is. In fact, we could probably convince them go come out with the
help of your dear little siren." Orsanos looked at Carol, who was
looking at the house uneasily. "Would you do the honors, my
dear?"
Carol looked ahead at the house, not knowing whether or
not anyone was actually in it. Orsanos thought there was though, and
even though she didn't know him very well yet, she trusted him. She
nodded softly, biting her lip nervously as she stepped forward, ahead
of everyone.
As she opened her mouth a soft melodic note flowed
through the air, reaching into the house and searching for its
occupants. Next a deeper and more insidious note followed, beckoning
to come out, even in the sense of danger.
Trevor looked up in
surprise as three men piled through the front door of the house,
stepping closer so that Trevor immediately recognized them. He
gritted his teeth in anger as he recognized Richard, Steven and
Hunter stumbling out onto the front lawn. Carol stopped and looked
surprised at it had worked, but Orsanos grabbed her shoulder and
pushed her back next to Trevor again.
"Thank you, Carol. I
believe the rest of us can take it from here." Orsanos said, a wry
smiling coming over his face as Steven looked at the group in front
of him in horror, taking a step back in an attempt to run.
"Do
not try to flee, Steven. I will find you again, if you do." Orsanos
called out, his green eyes wild. He loved the thrill of battle,
though he rarely actually went into confrontation.
"Who- how?"
Steven stammered, and kept backing up so that the other two men were
in front of him as shields.
"Why are you after Carol?" Trevor
demanded, gently pushing Carol back so that he was in front of
her.
"Where's my mother?!" Jackie yelled from beside
Orsanos. Carol looked over at her in surprise as Richard
sneered.
"Oh, it's you." He chuckled. "I haven't seen
you since you were a little kid. Does the little girl miss her mommy?
Is she going to cry?" Richard mocked and laughed. Jackie growled in
anger and started forward, but Orsanos grabbed her arm to stop her
and pulled her back.
"Not yet, little one. Vanessa is alive in
the basement." Orsanos said into Jackie's ear, and released her.
"Well, since you've worked so hard to find us, let's
negotiate." Steven smiled knowingly at Carol, his eyes blazing.
"Give us Carol, and we'll let it live."
"Let what live?"
Adolph growled and looked over as Carol gasped in pain, doubling
over. Trevor held Carol's shoulders as he tried to figure out what
was happening. He looked up to see Richard smiling, his hand
outstretched and balled into a fight fist.
"N-no… please…"
Carol said, gasping out a sob of horror as she felt her insides twist
in pain. "our…"
Trevor's eyes shot wide open in
realization and terror.
"SOMEONE STOP HIM!" He yelled,
holding on to Carol tightly as she tried to fight off the pain.
Adolph looked at Carol in confusion, but knew he could do nothing
while the sun was still up.
"Please!" Carol gasped, and
Jackie let out a yell of anger, twisting herself out of Orasanos'
grip and running toward Richard. She tackled the man to the ground as
both of them burst into flames, Richard's screams echoing
throughout the area. Orasanos watched in frozen horror as Jackie
burned along with Richard, her yells joining his. She finally let go
of the man, who was burned into an unrecognizable mass of flesh, and
stumbled backwards into Orasanos' waiting arms.
"Sorry…"
Jackie said, her voice raspy. "couldn't help it."
Orsanos
stared at her with fearful eyes, trying to gather her to him to
assess the damage to her. Carol sighed in relief, and looked at a
shocked Steven and Hunter still standing in the yard, looking down at
the remains of Richard. Hunter looked at Carol, then to Steven and
furrowed his eyebrows, disappearing in a sound of rushing air, and
reappearing next to Trevor.
"Richard's abilities can be
harmful. I can check for any damage, if you allow me to." Hunter
said, bowing his head to Trevor politely. Trevor looked at him warily
again, but finally nodded. Hunter set a hand gently over Carol's
stomach, his palm letting off a warm white glow. He closed his eyes
for a minute and when he opened them again, it was with a smile.
"There is nothing to be worried about. Your child is very
strong, and I congratulate you both." Hunter said, chuckling when
Trevor let out a long sigh of relief.
Trevor looked up, smiling
in gratitude. "Thank you." He said, and shook hands with Hunter
in a nonverbal act of alliance.
"Hunter- what do you think
you're doing?!" Steven yelled, his eyes wide and wild with fear.
"Do you want your family to die?"
Carol watched with
confusion as Hunter stood up, his long black hair hiding his
expression as he stood silent momentarily. "They are not in any
danger any longer, Steven. It was the only reason I listened to a
work you said. You have lost, and you are now helpless." Hunter
looked up at Steven, his teeth bared. "My parents will be safe- I
am free of your restraints and I will not follow you any
longer."
Orsanos nodded happily, knowing that he had just gained
another member into his group of students. He looked up as the sun
started to set and smiled wryly. "Say Adolph, what do you think we
should do with this evil man?" Orsanos said, setting Jackie
carefully in the passenger seat of the car before turning back
around.
"Gee, I dunno Orsanos. Do you think we should wait a few
minutes and let him see the more wild side of the people he was
trying to control?" Adolph chuckled, looking over to Dela, who was
smiling with her fangs clearly in view. "Would you like to have the
first bite my little kitten?" he asked as golden fur
started sprouting from his face, his wolf ears and tail forming as
well. Dela continued to form, until a humanoid leopard stood beside
Adolph.
"You ready for me to add to those claw marks, you slimy
bastard?" She hissed, and lunged toward Steven. Everyone looked
away from the carnage as Dela had her way with Steven, except for
Adolph who looked on with a wide grin saying proudly "That's my
girl!"
