The Werewolf and the Wampyr

by Green Platypus

Dark forces gather in the world. When Shaggy, Velma, and Scooby are kidnapped by an ancient evil, it is up to Fred and Daphne to save them with the help of a secret order dedicated to fighting the darkness. So begins a race across the globe for the mysterious Chest of Demons, while Shaggy finally faces the strange power within him. AU Sequel to the Gargoyle and the Gangsters. S/V.

37. Into the Fray

"I'm Not a Hero" from The Dark Knight.

Part 36: Into the Fray

Fletcher arrived well before sunrise to personally escort Fred and Daphne from their room. They were given their armor, leather chest pieces and metal gauntlets, which they put on over their clothes from when they had left Coolsville the first time. They felt slightly silly, standing in armor with their green and orange scarves and their purple coats and fuzzy white sweaters, but it also felt good, familiar, like they still had a connection to where they had come from.

Van Ghoul had said that they would not be taking the plane. Rather, this operation demanded a subtler entrance. A portal would be opened with Kate as an anchor, as close to Shaggy as possible. The Fletchers would guard the portal while Fred, Daphne, and Van Ghoul retrieved Shaggy, Scooby, and Velma.

Kate was positioned in the center of a chamber in the monastery. It was an old chamber, with carvings along stone walls that had been cut from the mountain itself. Sam stayed as close to her as he could while Van Ghoul, Fletcher, and a few more of the Brotherhood witches and warlocks worked their ritual. Kate, for her part, never looked scared or regretful. She kneeled in the center of the circle the witches were now forming, head held high. Cliché as it might have been, one could not shake the image of a proud wolf, standing atop a mountain peak.

"I won't lie to you Katherine" Van Ghoul said. "This is going to hurt. Once the portal opens, we will have maybe ten minutes to retrieve the children. Once it closes, you will be completely sapped of your strength."

Kate looked Van Ghoul in the eyes. "Do it."

Van Ghoul nodded and the assembled witches began chanting. Kate lurched forward. Sam moved to steady her but Rachael held him back. Lines began to glow along the floor, forming concentric circles until the glow hid the floor itself. Or perhaps the floor had gone. One could now see deep into the glowing circle, like it was a hole in the surface of the cave.

Kate's eyes rolled into the back of her head. Her chin kicked back, followed by the rest of her body. Her mouth hung open, wisps of silvery smoke pouring from it. The smoke drifted into the portal followed by a lone name.

"Norville."

The image in the portal sharpened and, at Van Ghoul's urging, everyone jumped.