Welcome everyone to the next chapter of 'Ghosts of the past'. Okay I admit things have been kind of ominous but slow thus far bur I promise in this chapter things will be picking up. In the last chapter David confronted the resident ghost of the Wilbanks Inn. And discovered that the ghost had once been a man who was planning to work for David's great grandfather, Matthew Cardigan. David also met Dr. Ben Harrison's team and among them is a certain blonde girl that David met en route to Clarksdale, Indiana. But the group doesn't realize that they're being watched by dark forces, and these dark forces have some particularly unpleasant plans for them. What's next, find out as 'Ghosts of the past' part 4 begins now.
Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh and all canon characters are strictly the property of Kazuki Takahashi. I'm just borrowing them for this trilogy but will put them away when done. David cardigan and all original characters in this saga are strictly my property.
The van pulled up to a one-level house on a hill. A blue Jeep Wrangler was parked in the driveway. So the van had to park near the street curb. David and professor Harrison got out and walked towards the door. Ben said, "David, I know you're a detective and I understand you've dealt with this sort of thing, but please let me handle this. The townsfolk here know me."
David nodded and said, "The floor's yours, doc."
Ben Harrison nodded his thanks. The 60ish man knocked on the screen door. A voice from inside called out, "Who…who's there?" In a tone filled with fear and terror.
"It's me, Mrs. Christian, it's Dr. Ben Harrison from Indiana A&M."
"Benjamin, Benjamin is that you?" the woman said then asked, "Wait how do I know you're not one of them?"
"Remember the monogrammed plate I gave you, the one with the picture of Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, William Frawley, and Vivian Vance from the old I love Lucy show?" he ventured.
The main door opened and David stared at a woman in her late 70's with grey hair dressed in a shirt, slacks, and tennis shoes who was holding a Calico cat. The green-eyed woman who looked to usually be strong and sure of herself gazed on the black Englishman and said, "Benjamin, Benjamin it is you!"
The science professor said, "But of course it is, may we come in?"
She opened the screen door and said, "Of course you may, but…who's this?"
Ben looked at David. David took off his cowboy hat and said, "David Cardigan from Portland, Oregon ma'am. I'm here investigating the series of happenings here as well as the disappearance of a couple of officials from the professional Duelists league."
The woman nodded. "A detective hmm, well you know how to be polite and if your with Benjamin you must be of good character, please come in."
She stepped aside and went to a chair. She sat down on it with the Calico who looked much happier to be on its feet again. Benjamin and David took chairs in the living room. Benjamin said, "Mrs. Christian I noticed the Wrangler in the driveway. But…I thought you gave up driving."
"I did." She explained. "My youngest son and my grandchildren arrived today. They're with my husband getting some stuff from the local Safemart."
Ben ventured, "I heard about Felix, I'm very sorry."
A tear came to the older woman's eyes. David understood that kind of pain all too well having had cats himself in the past. David gently asked, "Mrs. Christian, can you tell me what you saw that night? I realize this is hard for you, ma'am, but this is important!"
The woman said stroking the calico, "I've seen a lot in my 78 years of living. But what I saw last night…" She said her voice quivering her body shaking in open fear. "Was something no one should ever see! I was heading downstairs to let Felix in as I always do. I was about to reach the sliding door when…" she hugged herself as she openly trembled and let out a sob. "That's when I saw my granddaughter or what looked like her grab poor Felix and…and…and…"
David winced and thought, What a horrible way for an innocent kitty to go.
"I watched as that thing that had been my granddaughter kill Felix and then turn towards me. She was in the cheerleading outfit that she always wore at games. But her face, her face was like the devil himself, those red eyes and those canines, they were like an animal's canines! Then her fingernails changed into claws as she leaped at me!"
"What happened?" David asked
The elderly woman showed her crucifix pendant. "This was a gift to me from my father. He was a preacher who took trips to Africa spreading the word. This was a gift he gave to me when I married my husband."
David walked over and asked, "Mrs. Christian, if I may?"
She nodded and said, "Of course."
David carefully examined the pendant. He easily detected he aura of holy energy about it. It was a simple commonplace magic that no one paid attention to but it was attuned to Mrs. Christian. David got up and went back to his seat. "Mrs. Christian, first off I wish to offer my own condolences on your loss. I've had cats myself in the past and I know it's hard losing one. Especially in such a horrible manner."
The older woman gazed at David then nodded, "You do understand." David nodded, "I do, all right is there anything else you can tell me about that night?"
The woman thought for a moment and then her eyes brightened. "I did notice one thing on that creature that looked like my granddaughter. She was wearing a necklace of some kind. The center…it had a black circle-shape…with a…gold skull that had tiny blood red rubies in it."
Ben's face furrowed. "Wait a second, did you say black circle-shape with a gold skull?"
The elderly woman nodded. Ben said, "David, Allyson if you'll excuse me a moment. I need to get my team in here."
David asked the rhetorical question. "You're on to something aren't you?"
"Possibly, it's times like this that I'm glad I have a team member who's a history major," The professor said as he scrambled out the door.
Ben returned a few minutes later with the rest of his team and a lap top. Jonathan was typing away on the laptop. After several moments Jonathan brought up the picture and yelped, "Bingo!"
David walked over to the laptop and took a long look at the grotesque grinning skull with tiny rubies engraved into the onyx moon-shaped jewel on the necklace. David and Ben walked over to Allyson. Ben asked as Jonathan showed her the picture, "Is this what you saw?"
The woman's face paled in horror and she let out a yelp of surprise. "That's it, that's it!" she said.
Jonathan thought for a moment. "This necklace with the skull engraved moon is the symbol of a cult that's rumored to have existed around here ever since the town was founded. This cult was called the fellowship of the Black Moon."
David said, "I don't like the sound of that name!"
Jonathan said, "That's the weird thing. I checked out the history and as I understand it, Ulysses S. Grant, when he was president, sent a team of men into this town and wiped the cult out."
Just then the group heard another car pulling up. The team looked out worrying whether the sheriff was on to them. But as it turned up it was a four door van. A built man with pepper-colored hair that went down to his neck at the back and stayed short at the front dressed in street clothing got out of the car. A couple of teen boys, one with curly brown hair, another with his long hair tied back got out and helped an elderly man out who was in a wheelchair. The elderly woman got up and walked over to the door. Allyson sighed in relief. "Thank God, it's my husband and the rest of my family."
David said, "Ben, why don't you talk with Allyson here. Young ones, come with me."
Lisa asked, "Where are we going, Mr. Cardigan?"
David said, "Outside, to save some lives!"
The four family members were commenting on the van. Then they saw the David and the three others. The teens eyes widened in stunned shock. The elderly man looked clueless and the middle-aged man looked outraged. "Who the hell are you and what are you doing on my parents' property?" the middle-aged man demanded.
"Dad?!" one of the teen boys shouted. "Chill out, Dad, don't you know who this is?"
The man said, "He's an intruder on my parents' property and…" he spouted ready to protect his elderly mother and father to the best of his ability.
The boy with his hair tied back answered, "Dad, this is David Cardigan!"
That brought the middle-aged man up short. "Wait," he said. "You mean this is the man who won the Pacific Northwestern Championship and wrote the two Dragon Heroes novels?"
David smiled and answered, "Guilty as charged. I see you're avid readers and dueling fans."
The man turned to David and said, "I…I must apologize, Mr. Cardigan, for my behavior. It's just with recent events and sheriff Miles' peculiar behavior my nerves have been on edge."
David asked, "Was there anything in particular that got your attention, Mr. Christian?"
The man nodded and said, "Kids, why don't you take your grandpa in the house."
David nodded and said, "Good idea, I think you'll find your mother talking to Dr. Ben Harrison, Mr. Christian."
The middle-aged man's face beamed with relief. "Ben's here? Oh thank God! And thank you for calming my fears, Mr. Cardigan."
"But Daaaaad!" the curly haired boy complained.
"Quincy and Bradley Christian!" The middle-aged man said in a commanding tone.
The boys sighed. "Yes, Dad." They said as they took their grandfather into the house.
As soon as the elderly man was out of earshot the middle aged man looked at David and explained, "Ever since my Dad had his heart attack, the doctors have said nothing too stressful. He's gotten to the point where he can take leisurely trips to Indianapolis now but I don't want to take any chances."
David nodded and said, "I understand completely. Now, what was this incident that freaked you out?"
The man explained, "Well, it was actually when we first arrived in town. We were on our way to my parents' after hearing about what happened. Next thing I know sheriff Miles pulls us over. Basically he told my kids and I to get out of town and not bother seeing my Mom and Dad. When I told him that I wouldn't follow his suggestion, as I care for my parents, he let me know that he had his eyes on me."
David thought for a long moment then nodded to the students. "Mr. Christian, how well do you know this town?" he ventured.
The middle-aged son of Allyson Christian and her husband answered, "Like the back of my hand, I was raised here."
David explained, "Listen to me carefully, you're aware of the disappearance of your niece Persephone?"
The man nodded. "Yeah, my brother called me up after it happened. He and my sister-in-law were devastated. We figured she was dead. But…why do you ask?"
David explained, "Sir, I can't tell you everything because 1. I don't have enough evidence yet, 2. If my hypothesis is true than it's something so horrible and frightening that it would be better off you not know the whole truth."
David had Jonathan and Brenda walk up with the lap top. As soon as they showed Mr. Christian the picture of the necklace the older man's face paled. "Sweet mother of God!" he said in a hoarse whisper.
David asked, "I take it you know this necklace?"
The man nodded, "Everyone who lives or has lived around here knows of the fellowship of the Black Moon! When this town was founded back in the early 19th century, a number of people who lived here either joined or were already members of the cult. As the troops who took them down later reported they conducted rituals in a building which stood where Indiana A&M stands now! Specifically the cult performed bizarre rituals that included the sacrifice of humans and animals! I think it was called the Festival of Souls, really spooky stuff! But what's this got to do with whatever's going on here?"
David said, "Sir, your niece is alive, but unfortunately you won't be able to try and free her from the cult."
Understanding dawned on the man. "Mr. Cardigan, do you mean to tell me…?" he asked fear dripping in every word of his sentence.
David nodded and said, "I'm afraid so, the fellowship of the Black Moon, Mr. Christian, after a century and a half, it's back!"
Mr. Christian looked absolutely panic-stricken. "Sweet mother of Jesus, to think my parents have been living in the same town as an old bloodthirsty cult! Felix's death was sad but when compared with what could've happened! God, what do I do? How can I help?"
David explained, "Sir, I've had experience dealing with this sort of stuff before, what you can do is this. Tell your parents to get their things together as fast as they can. Get into your vehicle and get out of town for a while. All hell is going to break loose here very soon and I'm afraid the sheriff may be involved willingly or more likely unwittingly. I know this may seem like a lot but…"
The man shook his head. "I remember the incident with the branch Davidians in the 90's. I know how dangerous cults can be. And I'll do anything to protect my mom and dad. I'll get them as far away from here as I can! Is there anything else I can do?"
David nodded, "I'd like to use your parents' house, sir. I promise you I'll make sure when your parents return it's in one piece."
The man nodded and said, "Just make sure you keep up your end of the bargain.'
David said, "My stepfather instilled in me that a man is not a man at all if he doesn't keep his word."
The middle-aged Christian male nodded and said, "Fair enough."
The man walked over to the entranceway to the house. Lisa whispered, "What are you doing, Mr. Cardigan?"
David explained, "I think the fellowship of the Black Moon is targeting the Christians. And they're using sheriff Miles to see that their adult children stay out of town. And there is no way on God's green Earth I'm allowing an elderly couple to become victims of this dangerous cult! As for us, we're setting a trap for tonight."
Jonathan asked, "What happens tonight?" David explained, "We start to get some answers!"
X X X
The cloudy sky and the leaves falling off the trees added to the eerie feeling of fall. In a bedroom of the Christian household two figures slept soundly. The well furnished room beckoned back to another time. A strange fog settled over the large window several steps from the bed. The fog got thicker and thicker permeating the bedroom. From the fog a figure dressed in cheerleader attire floated towards the window. Red eyes glowed on the brunette girl. The girl tapped at the window. The window which was unlocked easily opened. The girl floated into the room her skin as pale as the fog outside. The girl landed daintily on the floor in spite of the white tennis shoes she wore. "Grandma," she coaxed as she walked in an almost ghostly fashion towards the bed. Had the vampire been paying attention she would've noticed the shadowy figure ready to spring. She whispered, "It's time for you and grandpa to join me. Yes, join the fellowship, join the night."
She opened her mouth and hissed as her elongated canines extended. Her eyes widened with an inhuman anticipation. Then the vampire cheerleader threw back the cover to strike. She shot forward…and came up short when she saw it was a dummy with a magical aura on it. "Huh?" Was all she could get out.
The light to the room flipped on and David stepped forward one hand within his jacket. "Surprise, bloodsucker!" he snapped.
The female vampire hissed and shot at him like a cobra striking. But David danced aside and pulled out the crucifix in his jacket. The female vampire let out a startled cry and took two steps back her fingernails turning into claws as she covered her eyes. David slowly moved towards her. But then in a burst of speed she leaped out the window the fog clearing. But David, his magical sense activated, already knew what she was trying to do. "Oh no you don't!" he snapped.
The wizard leaped over the bed and through the window. Pushing off from the outside wall of the house, David's jump spell carried him over to some nearby trees. He leaped across the rooftops of houses and trees. David finally landed in front of her on the street. The female vampire looked shocked and clearly unsure of herself. David smirked and said, "Come now you who were formerly Persephone Christian, didn't it ever occur to you that if vampires can exist so can wizards?"
The girl gazed at him and called, "Come…here!"
David knew what she was trying to do, holding his crucifix in front of him, and balled his hands into fists save for his thumbs and index fingers which he pressed together. David began a Buddhist chant. It was something he'd learned from some monks when his Taekwondo school had visited South Korea years ago. The girl gasped and stepped back as the mental block took effect. David said, "Sorry, girly, your mind control techniques ran into a road block."
She hissed at him and moved to attack. But David's crucifix was at the ready. The female undead snarled and backed away. She turned to run…but David's keen hearing had already picked up what this fledgling vampire hadn't! Ben Harrison and the others were behind her all armed with crucifixes and squirt guns filled with holy water. Ben Harrison and his team surrounded the girl who looked like an animal trapped in the headlights of a car.
"No! I don't want to die!" she screamed.
David said, "I know, Miss Christian, but this has to be done, it's the only way, the only way you can find peace."
The group moved closer as the girl hissed and lunged at them only to be driven back by the extended crucifixes. The vampiric girl was forced to the ground. David drew out a mallet and stake. Ben looked at David and said, "David, please let me do this. I feel partly responsible for this mess so I should help deal with this nightmare."
David handed the stake and mallet to Dr. Harrison while he kept his crucifix pointed at the female vampire. Ben Harrison grimaced as a tear fell from an eye. He said, "May God forgive me, for what I must do!"
Putting the stake over the terrified girl's chest he raised the mallet over his head paused only for a second then let out a loud roar as he brought the hammer down and drove the stake into her body. The girl let out an inhuman scream as she disintegrated leaving only her torn cheerleader attire, white socks and shoes behind. Jonathan made a cross sign and muttered a prayer for Persephone's soul. Brenda who looked openly fearful said, "Is…is it really done?"
David shook his head. "No lass, it's nowhere near done. Persephone was a fledgling. The master vampire and whoever else is with him are still around there somewhere."
Lisa asked, "Why isn't anyone coming out of their homes?"
David explained, "People are probably too scared with the recent attacks, which is a mixed blessing."
David created a portal and slipped through. He found himself back in the bedroom of the Christians. He quickly found his backpack and duffel bags with his gear. He stepped back through the portal, and shut it with a wave. Jonathan asked, "What's our next move, coach?"
David said, "Get your gear together and stay together we're going up to the Indiana A&M campus to have a look around." David looked at them and stated. "Remember no matter what you hear up there, you stay together, no ifs, no ands, no buts!"
They nodded and headed over to their van. They climbed in and headed off to the campus.
X X X
The campus of the prominent university was deathly quiet tonight. But considering that it was about curfew time and the recent attacks had caused security to be heightened by the chancellor it was not unexpected. A nippy wind blew indicating it was fall and winter was just around the corner. David and the others walked along one of the many walkways of the school, all were looking around warily. The only thing they could hear were their own footsteps. David's supernatural senses were up and they were telling him that the group was being watched. While he couldn't see anyone, partly due to his limited vision his magic was telling him it was a certainty. And David had learned long ago to know better than to second guess his magical instincts. That's when they saw the woman who stumbled out of the bushes. As the group drew closer they saw the woman was wearing faded dark blue sweat pants, a sweatshirt with the Indiana A&M logo on it, and a ball cap with the same logo. The woman's long, blonde hair had been tied back. "Angela!" Ben said in recognition.
David asked, "You know this woman?"
He nodded, "She's the girls' volleyball coach and the woman in charge of a prominent sorority of girls Phi Kappa Theta."
David kept himself schooled but he sensed something dark from this woman, it was faint but it was there. "Please," the woman begged her face a mask of someone bruised and battered. "Ben, someone please help me!"
David asked, "What happened?"
The woman's face teared up. "They…whoever or whatever they are they stormed into the sorority dorm. They were like animals, I barely managed to escape with my life."
Jonathan helped her up and asked, "Do you know what they looked like?"
The older woman looked terrified as she said, "I…I think they looked human but…but they had these misshapen animal faces and…and mouths full of sharp teeth. And their faces were wrinkled and they had yellow eyes like an animal."
David winced and said, "Oh hell, ghouls!"
Ben looked at David and asked, "Are we talking about another form of undead?"
David nodded grimly. Ben said, "Jonathan, why don't you help Miss Hanson."
David noted Ben start to walk a short distance away. David followed him. Ben whispered, "Mr. Cardigan, I think you should know Angela is one of the staff here on the campus who's been acting peculiarly."
Angela suddenly rushed over to David and said, "You, I know you, you're the one the sheriff has been all in a huff about. You're David Cardigan, you must come, you must help me."
Wait just a second how is it she knows I can help her, and why would the sheriff tell her about me? David asked suspicion creeping through him.
David said, "Give me a moment and I'll go with you."
A smile crept over her face as she said, "Thank you."
She turned to walk away. As soon as she was out of earshot Ben said, "Doesn't her behavior seem rather odd? And you are aware that's it's probably a trap?"
David nodded and said, "Oh I know it's probably a trap, in fact…I'm counting on it!"
David withdrew to a safe distance and gave his walking staff a good test whirl. Finding it suitable he then looked in his pack and saw his duel disk. He then patted the deck carrier on his hip and said, "Don't worry about me, Doc. you guys just stay together. I always think everything could be a trap, that's why I'm still alive."
David walked over to the woman and said, "All right let's go, Miss Hanson."
She smile and said, "Yes, yes we have to go, you must help, I'll show you the way."
David followed the woman off into a wooded area of the university. Soon enough they approached a two story Victorian house. "There it is!" she whispered.
The house was dark and no sound was heard from within. David dumped two of his bags off in some brush when Angela Hanson wasn't looking. The faint aura of magic he felt was getting stronger. And David while he didn't say anything recognized the aura, necromancy! There was a necromancer somewhere close. He recognized the icy death-like aura that hung around this place. David walked up to the door. As David entered he heard the woman whisper, "Can't you hear the girls' screams on the wind?"
David heard a ghost-like cry of horror. And then the door slammed behind him and strange ghost white sigils lit up in the room. David stepped cautiously into the large living space. The furnishings were knocked over. David heard Angela let out a sinister laugh. From out of the shadows a number of ghoulish women with pale green skin, black onyx–colored claws dressed in various attention grabbing women's attire came forth. One of the young women was wielding a nasty looking large chainsaw. "Welcome to initiation night, wizard!" the girl with the chainsaw said in surprisingly good and intelligent English. "Don't be surprised, Mr. Cardigan, we've been aware of you ever since we learned of that idiot Cowl's failure! Feel privileged, Mr. Cardigan, you're about to be the main course at the first ever all ghouls sorority."
She started the chainsaw and looked around at the other ghoulish girls. "Now ladies, make sure you eat up every bite…" she then pointed to a wall covered in blood and gore and stated, "Or you'll end up on the wall of shame."
The ghouls moved in to strike. David however had anticipated this. He slammed a front kick into one ghoul and then hit two others in the head with his staff. He deftly danced out of the way of the ghoul with the chainsaw as she lunged at him. Catching two ghouls in the face with his staff, he then used his weapon to vault over the pack. And make his way to some stairs. The lead ghoul said, "Your magic won't work here, wizard, the mistress has taken steps to ensure that!"
David tried to let fly with a magical force attack, and discovered that he couldn't. David chuckled sheepishly and said, "Okay, problem."
David scampered up the stairs as the wrinkled hideous ghouls rushed him. David found himself in a large room with doorways into several bedrooms. Near the staircase he saw a cabinet full of various crockery. David thought, Hate to destroy good eating dishes like this but this is an emergency.
He pushed with all his might against the cabinet and found the thing responded much to his delight. And although the thing was heavy, with all his strength, he managed to push it to the stairway and sent it crashing downward as the ghouls were rushing up it. David backed away from the staircase and into the largest room. He'd helped make the stairway a choking point but with that chainsaw-wielding ghoul this wouldn't last long. David spotted a window large enough for him to get out of. He ran over to it and pulled at it. David danced away as he let out a yelp of pain from the electrical jolt that got him. David heard Angela's voice laughing at him derisively. "Your fate is sealed, David dear boy!"
Angela laughed again as her voice faded away. David heard the chainsaw cutting through the wood of the cabinet. David's heart raced with fear and frustration. He couldn't try his martial arts against the door because no doubt Hanson had seen to that too. Then David felt an idea race into his head. He quickly drew out his duel disk and activated it. Putting his deck into place he drew. David's eyes widened with surprise and delight when he drew the five monsters he'd wanted. David said, "Duel disk, deactivate safety mechanisms…priority override 001!"
The voice from the duel disk said, "Voice recognition and pass code accepted."
David smiled and said, "All right you ghoulish freaks…bring it!"
After several moments and a lot of dust several ghouls came up the stairs. "Come on, David, we only want to rip your flesh off and eat it!" one said in mock gentleness.
David quipped, "Somehow that fails to assuage my paranoia, ghoul!"
The ghouls came up some of their clothing torn from clambering through the remains of the cabinet. David smiled and said, "You didn't really think I'd come unprepared?"
David slapped down X-Saber Airbellum, Celtic Guardian, XX-Saber Souza, XX-Saber Pashuul, and Saber Fulhelmknight. The force of monstrous warriors appeared before David. The ghouls laughed. "Sweetie, you really think holograms are going to harm us?" one said in derision.
David smiled and said, "They can when Seto Kaiba makes improvements on a certain former KaibaCorp employee's little energy enhancement tactic, and the safeties are shut off!"
"What?" one of the female ghouls squawked her already pale face widening in horror.
A deadly and devilish grin crossed David's face as he pointed at the ghouls and yelled, "SIC!"
The female ghouls never had a chance to scream or anything as David's monsters tore into the supernatural undead creatures giving them a throttling with their swords or, in X-Saber Airbellum's case, razor-sharp claws. David heard the lead ghoul say, "What's going on up there? It can't be that hard to take down one powerless wizard!"
X-Saber Airbellum let out a snort and mentally said to David, "These undead creeps don't know ya' very well do they, boss?"
David softly chuckled and thought, Nope, X-Saber Airbellum, they don't. Why don't you take the lead on this one?
The big humanoid feline duel monster gave a toothy smile and said, "I was hoping you'd ask. Once ya' slice up your first undead you just can't stop!"
X-Saber Airbellum leaped down the stairs and let out a bellowing lion-like roar. David heard the ghouls scream in inhuman horror as the monster descended, Celtic Guardian, XX-Saber Fulhelmknight, Souza, and Pashuul close behind. David descended to a scene of carnage as his five duel monsters tore into the sorority of ghouls slicing them with their weapons, or claws, and tossing them into the walls, or out the windows. After a seemingly endless symphony of destruction the remaining ghouls lay unmoving on the ground, the walls had holes or human-shaped dents in them, and all the windows were smashed open to the night air. David pointed to the front door and said, "Celtic Guardian, smash that door!"
The elf warrior launched himself at the door his sword raised over his head. The duel monster sliced into the door and soon it fell off its hinges giving David easy passage. David looked at his monsters and said, "Come on everyone, we have a score to settle with a deceptive sorority head!"
David and his duel monsters left the wrecked remains of the undead-infested sorority house and headed back towards the main campus. David took time to pick up his two duffel bags. And though he knew he was in danger he knew that with his duel monsters with him he could take down most anything thrown at him. David heard a familiar voice scream in terror. "Lisa!" David yelped.
As best as he could ran in the direction he'd heard the noise. He arrived to a scene of chaos. Several vampire students, ghouls, and skeletons surrounded the group. And judging by the amount of dust, several mangled and burnt bodies, and the smashed bones around them, they'd been holding their own. Angela Hanson was standing to one side unharmed and watching the group struggle with a sadistic smile on her face. David muttered, "Duel disk, defense mode!"
The holders for the deck instantly puled themselves into the disk as plastic shutters covered the deck. Those same shutters enclosed the cards David had set on his disk. David shouted, "X-Saber Airbellum, XX-Saber Fulhelmknight, XX-Saber Souza and Pashuul take those monsters down!"
Angela Hanson turned with a start as David's four synchro monsters tore into the undead with a deadly and wild abandon. Angela Hanson gazed on David as hate flared on to her face. "What…?" she said with a choked gasp. "You live, but that's impossible!"
David felt his own anger burn brightly in his soul as he fished out a sutra enchanted with the power of Shinto. Infusing his own magic into the charm he pointed an accusatory index finger at the woman. He could now openly sense what she'd been hiding, and he knew exactly what she was. He snapped, "Reveal yourself…" and then flung the sutra at her as he finished with, "Necromancer!"
Before David, as he flung the sutra, the kanji word for truth appeared in a glowing golden light. The sutra struck Angela Hanson in the face and knocked her back as the illusion of her attire vanished. Before him was the blonde woman dressed in a black silk robe which had a slit in it to reveal some bare leg and a boot that went up to her thigh. Her face blazed with rage. And David could see her eyes had golden empty orbs where the pupils should be. This was an indication that the person had surrendered their soul to Necromancy. And this was part of why David detested the art so much. The female necromancer let out a scream of rage and fired energy bolts at David. David extended his free hand and created a shield before him. The bolts hit the barrier and knocked David back a little bit but he was still standing. The woman began to mutter a spell. David said, "I don't think so, Celtic Guardian, go!"
The elf warrior wasted no time leaping over the shield with inhuman strength, high into the air only to drop down at the necromancer. The woman saw what was coming and discontinued the spell as she was forced to leap back with inhuman speed. Celtic Guardian swung his sword at the female necromancer again and again. Each time Angela Hanson danced back. After dodging one stab she turned in time to catch a knee in the ribs from XX-Saber Fulhelmknight. X-Saber Airbellum finished her off by grabbing her in a choke hold, lifting her into the air, and then proceeding to drive her into the concrete with a chokeslam. Jonathan winced and said, "Chokeslam into the walkway, ooh brutal!"
David turned to see the others approach. "Is everyone okay?" He asked.
Brenda was the one who answered. "Nobody bitten by those ghouls or bloodsuckers, Mr. Cardigan. And we're glad to see you but why did Miss Hanson attack us?"
It was professor Harrison who answered, "The short of it my dear is Miss Hanson has sold her soul to the fellowship of the Black Moon. And chances are there are other staff members who've done the same."
David said, "I think we'd best get over to the Wilbanks Inn where we'll be safe."
Professor Harrison said, "I'm in complete agreement."
The small group left the scene of carnage behind them. Hoping it would be the last for the night.
Whew, what a way to end the chapter. Looks like the fellowship of the Black Moon is still alive and kicking, and they're out for blood. But how did they take over the campus of Indiana A&M? And who else do they control in the college town? And what other nightmarish things are in store for David and those with him? Come back for the next action-packed and terrifying chapter of 'Ghosts of the past.'. Until next time, read and review.
