Hey there, Yu-Gi-Oh fans, once again comes The Rainwalker! It's time for another amazing and terrifying chapter of "Ghosts of the past'. When we last left off, after meeting Ben Harrison and his small crew of supernatural investigators David and his new allies got their fair share of action and then some. First they ambushed and staked Persephone Christian who had been transformed into a vampire. Then David was lured to a sorority dorm whose members were in fact ghouls who wanted to eat David's flesh as part of an initiation ritual. And to ensure David couldn't try anything the Necromancer woman responsible put wards in the dorm house to nullify David's magic. However David suspected he was walking into an ambush and showed the ghouls just how dangerous he was by unleashing his duel monsters on them, with the safeties on his disk shut off. David then confronted the woman who sent him into that ambush Angela Hanson. David then confirmed the terrible truth. A dangerous cult of Necromancers known as the Fellowship of Black Moon, a group thought exterminated by the U.S. government in the 1800's, had returned and were taking back control of the town they'd established for their own dark purposes. David's really stepped in it this time. Get ready as the adventure and the terror continue as 'Ghosts of the past' part 5 begins now!
Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh and all canon characters are strictly the property of Kazuki Takahashi. I'm just borrowing them for a while but will put them away when I'm done. David Cardigan and all original characters are strictly my property.
Shawna and Ralph Wilbanks looked positively horrified. "The fellowship of the Black Moon?" Ralph said in stunned astonishment. "But I thought they were wiped out in grandpa's time!"
David said, "I'm afraid the military wasn't as thorough in their dealing with the cult as they thought. Though it shouldn't be a surprise since the technology of the 1800's when compared with the 21st century was rather lackluster."
Ben Harrison said, "Unfortunately that's all too true. How they managed to survive though is an important question. If the fellowship of the Black Moon has returned, then that means none of us are safe. We have to find out who the leader is and we have to make dealing with them a priority."
David nodded. "I'd like to have a long talk with Jezebel Miles." David growled.
Shawna said, "Good luck with that, she's always busy with her husband or hanging with her friends or some of the local big shots in this town."
David swore. The last thing he wanted to do was expose his secret in front of the town big wigs. As it stood the fact he'd alienated the Sheriff had him on edge. David thought for a long moment and then decided, "I think we should call it a day. However, I'm not so sure going back to your dorms is a good idea."
Shawna said, "Since no other duelists have come, we have space."
David looked surprised. "None of the other duelists have shown up yet?"
Ralph nodded and said, "We got an e-mail from Pele this morning. She's decided that until the missing P.D.L. officials have been found the tourney is being postponed."
David swore again. Ever since 9/11 the P.D.L. wasn't taking any chances. David however was disappointed because he wouldn't get the chance to duel anyone, at least not yet. Still, on the bright side Pele was giving him some extra breathing space to take care of business. David said, "I think we should call it a day. Maybe a walk tomorrow morning will clear my head."
The group headed off to their room. David went to bed wondering how he was going to be able to end this nightmare before it got out of hand.
X X X
The next day true to his word David went for a walk. He soon enough found himself at the diner where he had some grits with honey in it. He wasn't feeling all that hungry this morning since he was on edge. Since he'd left the inn David had been having a sinking feeling that he was being watched. Some of the townsfolk were looking at him funny. It had been a while since David had been the spotlight like this. And this time having that target proverbially painted on his chest gave him the creeps. David had just finished his bowl of grits and his Orange juice when he heard the door to the diner open. David heard quiet murmurs of conversation, mostly of astonishment. David turned to see a woman in her mid thirties enter who overall looked quite attractive with her shoulder-length blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, and skin that seemed to glow with health and vitality. David however in spite of this felt his magical alarms go off. The smile she gave to most looked like a friendly one. But David sensed that it was more the smile of a hunter who had just sighted their prey. She spotted David and said, "Ah…Mr. David Cardigan, I presume?"
David's face furrowed as he asked, "Who wants to know?"
"Jezebel Miles, I'm Gregory's wife."
David felt his mental alarms go off again. He'd been planning to go find her but to have her come to him was no coincidence. David put on his most pleasant face. "I'm surprised to see you here. Is…is there something I can do for you?"
She put on her best smile and took the seat in front of him at the booth he was sitting in. "I'm here to make some things clear to you, my husband has told me all about your little investigation. And I'm here to politely ask you to stop."
David chuckled and said, "Nope, nope afraid I can't do that Mrs. Miles. Something's going on in this town and I mean to find out what."
David suddenly felt something push at his mental barriers. Jezebel was staring at him intently with her big blue eyes. "I don't think you understand, there's nothing to see here in this town. You couldn't find any sign of any P.D.L. people and there's no disappearances going on."
David was about to offer another counter when he was jarred by a stronger assault on his mental barriers. "You WILL end this nonsense and do as my husband and I ask!" She said a sweet tone with an underlying tone of command.
David felt another jarring assault on his defenses. And felt a cold shiver race through him. He recognized the type of magic that was being plied against his mental defenses. Witchcraft, evil magic that was an abomination of the mystic arts. A momentary burst of savagery burst on to her face as Jezebel stated, "You WILL obey, wizard!"
David felt something creep through his defenses and a coaxing voice whisper to him to obey. It was okay to just give up his free will. She wouldn't harm…NO! David mentally shouted just barely pushing her out of his head.
David got up and quickly paid his bill and said, "Excuse me."
David stepped out. But he heard footsteps following him. "You can't run, wizard!" Jezebel coaxed seductively.
David walked into a nearby alley and used his magic to leap on to the roof of the restaurant and then leaped to the roof of another building. David felt his mental alarms go off. Give up, Cardigan, you can't escape me! He heard the witch coo in his mind.
"Get out of my head!" he snapped as he continued to leap from building to building trying to escape from the powerful and obviously well-trained witch.
David looked around desperately looking for an escape.
X X X
Had David and his pursuer been paying attention they would've noticed the young man on a motorcycle watching. The man was clad in leathers with football player-like shoulder pads on his own shoulders, goggles on a forehead that were covered by wild brown hair. A lock of his hair went right between the muscular young man's blue-green eyes. The man noticed the two leaping from building to building and said to himself, "Crikey, looks like those reports from the boss's boys may be true after all. Well, time for me to save the day."
He put the stone and the special card he kept away as he started his motorcycle and took off in pursuit.
X X X
David continued to leap from building to building desperately trying to escape from this powerful witch. But for every leap he made she countered. And slowly he felt his mental defenses being whittled away. Just give up David, it would be easier for you if you did.
At one point David was so busy trying to get her out of his head that he missed a leap and fell earthward. He was only able to keep from hitting the ground with a last minute levitate spell. Getting to the ground he sensed her heading off. Okay, that fall worked in my favor. But it won't for long. I have to get out of here!
Then he heard her coming back his way. He looked around and noticed he was in an alley between a couple of stores. He raced towards the street. And just as he got there a strange looking motorcycle screeched to a halt in front of him. David stopped short and got into a fighting stance. "Hey whoa, whoa, whoa there, mate. No one's gonna' harm you here," the Australian accented voice said.
David's asked, "How do I know you're not with her?"
The man shrugged and said, "Considering that the witch is heading back this way, you want to stay and find out?"
David noted the bag on the back of the motorcycle that was open. He pulled off his long coat and stuffed it in. "Smart move, mate," the guy replied.
David got on the back of the motorcycle after he closed up the bag and said, "You'd better be for real!"
The young man answered, "Trust me, I am. You'd better hold on tight cause I'm really gonna' open this baby up!"
David got wincing wrapped his arms around the man's waist. "I sure as hell hope no one gets the wrong idea!"
The Australian answered, "Don't worry, I swing towards girls also."
David sighed and said, "I really hate…" and the motorcycle roared to life and zoomed down the street. David yelped, "MOTORCYCLES!"
David looked around and saw the woman was following, but she wasn't gaining on them. The motorcycle was fast, insanely fast! It was hard for David to keep track of how many buildings flew by. It wasn't long before they'd reached the edge of the town and drove off into a large wooded area. David sensed that the witch was nowhere near. As soon as they pulled off into a nearby wooded area, the young man replied, "We're safe here, guv'. Looks like we lost her."
David got off the motorcycle in a wobbly fashion, his nerves still reeling from the frighteningly fast motorcycle ride. David managed to spout, "I claim this land…for Spain," then collapsed to the ground.
The young man took off his helmet and let his messy hair flow forth as he chuckled and said, "Not used to such speeds aye, mate?"
The brown-haired biker helped David up. David said, "You'd be right on that. I took a ride on my stepfather's Harley sportster once, and it was the most frightening ride of my life, until now. Still, thanks for saving my neck back there."
The young man smiled and said, "No problem, by the way, the name's Valon."
David nodded and said, "David Cardigan."
"Well, well none other than the P.D.L. Pacific Northwestern champ. I saw the match you had with that creepy bloke Bennett. Good riddance to that clown I say."
David did a magical scan. That's strange I sense a faint dark power about this one but…I don't sense any malicious intent in this guy at all. Very odd, indeed.
David nodded and said, "Yeah, Bennett did have it coming. Although I do admit, Valon, you know me but I'm afraid I don't know you. Who are you, and how did you know what Jezebel Miles was?"
The young man smiled and said, "So that's that witch's name, aye? Well I'm actually a duelist, but I like to keep a low profile. I'm also a drifter, and I've had experience dealin' with the supernatural stuff. I'd been comin' here for the Indiana A&M tourney when I got word of some strange goings on. So I decided to have a look. And it looks as though there's more to those rumors than I thought."
David said, "I'm afraid it's much more serious than you realize, Valon, there's not only a witch here, there's vampires, ghouls, and Necromancers. You've come into a real hornet's nest. If I were you, Valon, I'd get back on your motorcycle and get out of here fast as you can!"
The man chuckled and said, "You insane, that witch almost got you, mate! Looks to me more like you could use my help! I've dealt with bloodsuckers, flesh-eaters, as well those spell castin' nasties! I can hold me own."
To emphasize that point he opened the bag and pulled out some sharp looking stakes. "And I always come prepared, mate."
David looked openly surprised. He didn't completely understand or trust this guy. But on an instinctual level David realized this was a young man who did understand the supernatural. David said, "All right, Valon, in that case, I think it might be best if you stuck with me and my team. They're off at the college at the moment. You'll meet them later. Is…there a place in town you were planning to stay for the tournament?"
Valon fished a piece of paper out of a pocket. "Yeah, a place called the Wilbanks Inn."
David looked surprised. "That's where I'm staying, it looks as though someone's put us in position to be of help to each other."
Valon nodded and said, "So it seems. So Mr. Cardigan, when do we go to work?"
David said, "Tonight."
David thought to himself, I sure hope what I'm doing is the right thing.
X X X
Shawna was checking Valon in as David collapsed in a chair and sighed in relief. After coming back to the Inn, Valon had parked his rather cutting edge motorcycle in the lot of the small Inn. Ralph sat in a chair across from David his face going deathly pale. "Are you certain, Mr. Cardigan, you think that Jezebel Miles is a witch?"
David nodded and explained, "I'm pretty certain of it. What's even more terrifying is she's an especially strong witch, that kind of dark Earth magic only comes from years and years of practice. I'd probably be under her control if it hadn't been for Valon's intervention."
Ralph had checked Valon earlier and seen that he wasn't bitten or marked by the vampires or any type of magic. Ralph turned to David his face a mixture of uncertainty and trepidation. "Are you sure Valon can be trusted?"
David sighed and said, "To tell you the truth, I don't know. On the one hand I sense no malice from him. On the other hand I can't help but sense something odd about him."
"What do you mean odd?" Ralph asked.
David said, "I don't know," he whispered in aggravation. "I get this feeling of some kind of odd, cold, alien aura about him. I don't know what it is but it's got my nerves on edge. That one is a mystery in and of himself, the only thing I can do for now is keep him close."
Ralph said, "Okay, I'll go with you with this one, Mr. Cardigan."
"And there you are Mr. Valon, your room is set up for you." Shawna said with a smile.
Valon smirked and said, "There's no need for that formality stuff, Mrs. Wilbanks, just call me Valon."
She said, "All right Valon, I'll show you to your room."
Valon and the woman headed off to his room. David sighed and went to get a book from his bag. David said to himself, "I think a little Terry Prachett might be just the thing to calm myself down."
David settled into reading until he heard someone knocking at his room door. "Yes?" He called.
"Mr. Cardigan," Ralph said from the other side of the door. "I think you'd better get down here. There's someone here to see you."
David headed downstairs to the lobby…and found himself face to face with the blonde policeman he'd seen a few days ago. "You," he said pointing at the man. "It's…Barker right?"
The man nodded. "Deputy Adam Barker, Mr. Cardigan." He looked around. "To tell you the truth I came here to find you. Gregory doesn't know I'm here. And that's perhaps for the best as I'm not sure how I can trust him anymore."
David took out a pen and paper, "Why don't you explain everything to me."
Barker sat down and said, "It's good to finally get this off my chest. I've actually heard about your good reputation with law enforcement from Portland and Seattle. Perhaps you can help me deal with this situation. Gregory claims he's investigating this case here in town involving the disappearances and the weird figures appearing at night. But the way this case has dragged on is leading me to believe that he's actually hampering the effectiveness of this investigation and of the police in this town as a whole."
"What makes you think that Deputy Barker?" David asked as he wrote the information down.
"Gregory used to be one of the most honest, and respectable cops on the town force. But ever since he married that…woman and since he won the last election by default he's been behaving very oddly. He's been snapping at people, reassigning others, bringing in people with questionable backgrounds, and even hampering cases involving when one of our own disappears. With things having gotten as bad as they have I've had to send my children and my wife to Indianapolis to stay with her sister until this is over. And here's the killer, Gregory's paranoia really started to get bad after the disappearance of his opponent. Here's the odd thing, the house that his opponent, William T. Marker, bought when he moved here was declared off limits to the public by the Sheriff shortly after the disappearance. Nobody has ever thought to look in there because everyone is too scared of Gregory and of what's been going on."
David felt an icy cold hypothesis race through him. It would account for the Sheriff warning him to back off. And considering what his witch wife could do it left David with a cold and hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. David said, "Deputy Barker, if you would be willing to work with me, I'd like to take a close look at Mr. Marker's house."
The man sighed in relief. "I'd hoped you'd ask, I'll be happy to assist you in this. If I get fired I don't care, I'm getting sick of the Sheriff's actions!"
David nodded. "You're a brave man, Deputy, but be warned you're about to step into a world far more terrifying than anything you've ever known before!"
The deputy Sheriff said, "With everything that's been going on lately I think I can handle it."
David nodded noting the determined look in Deputy Barker's eyes. This was a man who understood the law and took his oath as a police officer seriously. "Good, I'm also bringing in someone else I'd like to help. I'll bring him down shortly."
David raced upstairs and quickly found Valon's room. He knocked on the door. The muscular Australian man answered, "Hello David, what's up?"
David asked, "Valon, how would you like to do a little illicit breaking and entering in the name of helping solve a potential crime?"
Valon got an excited smile on his face. "What did ya' have in mind, mate?"
X X X
An hour later the police car Deputy Barker drove pulled up to the end of a dirt road. Barker got out followed by David and the young Australian who was attired with vampire killing equipment. The Deputy looked around and said, "We're all clear. I must say Valon, I can't thank you enough for helping us on this case."
A dark look crossed Valon's face. "Believe me, I know more about dirty dealings than you know." he stated with a touch of anger.
David asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Valon said, "Oh it's nothing, come on let's see about getting inside that house."
As they headed off David made a mental note to do some research into Valon when he could. Creeping through the woods they soon found the house that was sealed off by police tape. Climbing under the police tape they saw no policemen around. "Wonder why there are no police around?" Valon asked.
Barker said, "Gregory's been channeling resources into security for some kind of event going on later this week."
David asked genuinely curious. "What kind of event?"
"it's a little holiday that's been established by the town to celebrate the anniversary of the town's founding. They're calling it Spirit Day."
David whispered to Valon, "I got a bad feeling about this, good buddy."
The brunette Australian nodded and said, "If you're thinkin' setup, mate, considering everything that's happening in this town I think you're on to somethin'."
David murmured, "Watch yourself, Valon, there could be trouble in the wind."
The short Australian nodded and said, "I can do that, David."
The three made their way over to the house. Barker pulled out a key. "I had a copy of the key to the house made for such an occasion. Just remember we can't legally use anything we find here."
David said, "I understand but perhaps we can get some answers."
As the two entered David thought he heard Valon mumbling to himself something about how he couldn't believe he was actually helping the police. What are you hiding, Valon? David thought to himself as they quietly entered the deserted house.
The place was in surprisingly good shape although it was a little dusty. David sniffed the air and coughed. "Lots of dust here, and a faint scent of something stale and rotten."
The three looked around the house and found nothing…that is until they came to a doorway to the cellar of the house. David touched the door handle and leaped away as he let out a yelp from the volt of electricity that shocked his hand. David shook some feeling back into it. Deputy Barker stared wide-eyed as did Valon. "What the hell was that?" the Deputy asked.
Valon walked up to the door and looked it over. He gently touched the doorknob and backed away when he got shocked. He whistled in admiration. "It's some kind of warding spell I think, designed to keep anyone from playing with the doorknob. And it's a bloody nasty one!"
David said "No kidding, all right, time for me to go to work."
David flattened his right hand and put it mere inches from the doorknob. David concentrated on muttering the words of the disarming spell. It wasn't long before a crimson red pentagram appeared on the door and vanished. David opened his eyes and sighed. "There we are, so much for pesky wards."
David then turned the knob…and found that he couldn't. David swore and said, "Damn it, whoever locked this thing made double sure we can't get in by physically locking the door."
"I don't remember there being a lock on this door before!" The deputy exclaimed.
David examined the lock closely. "From the look of this lock, deputy, this is recent work."
Valon said, "Whoever these jokers are, they're not messin' around I'll give ya' that."
David nodded, "Indeed, Valon, these are very smart, and very dangerous opponents we're facing."
Valon smirked and said, "Don't worry all, fortunately I've picked me fair share of locks in my time."
Valon pulled out some picks. He placed some in his mouth while his free hands moved to fiddle with the lock. One by one each pick was used. David and Barker meanwhile kept watch in case someone came in. Since what they were doing wasn't exactly authorized they had to be careful. As they watched they heard Valon mutter, "These blokes may be good, but I've picked harder locks in my time."
Finally they heard an audible click of the door unlocking. Valon got to his feet and wiped his brow. "There we go, boys." He said smugly.
The door opened up…and David, Deputy Barker, and Valon's poor noses were assailed by the foul scent of decayed meat. "Blimey, what a stench!" Valon managed to choke out.
Deputy Barker covered his nose and said, "Yeah, it reminds me of my Dad's old farm. Stale and rotten…"
David said, "Yeah it's as if something has…" and then his face paled. "Oh, no!" he finished in a shaky tone.
"You all right, David?" Valon asked genuinely concerned.
David without another word clambered down the stairs. "David, where are you going?" the deputy asked as he and Valon followed close behind.
Subjecting his nose to the foul scent of decayed flesh David led them to the center of the room. David used his magical senses and was assailed by the overwhelming force of foul and powerful necromancy. David stumbled backwards the force of the dark magic and the scent overwhelming him. Deputy Barker and Valon caught David. "Easy there, mate. You look like you've just seen a ghost," Valon commented.
David's face paled. "No, Valon, it's worse! The room is oozing necromancy magic. And I recognize the type of necromatic art that it is, it's blood magic!"
"B-b-b…blood…magic?" was all the deputy could get out clearly shaken.
"Not too familiar with that stuff, David, what's blood magic?" Valon asked.
David explained, "Magic that comes from a sacrificial rite."
Valon continued to stare at David confused, "Sacrificial rite how is tha…" David watched as the implications of his words sank into Valon's head. The confident to the point of cocky duelist and drifter suddenly looked as pale as David. "Bloody hell, you don't mean…?"
Deputy Barker turned green as he made a warding sign against evil. "Sweet mother of Christ!" He whispered hoarsely.
David noted the trap door at the center of the room. David said as he looked at Valon and the Deputy. "Deputy, Valon, if you could give me a hand."
The three men managed to open the rather heavy trap door. "NYAH NYAH!" David yelped as he leaped back when he saw the decayed remains of four people in the chamber underneath the trap door.
"Blimey," Valon said in a hoarse whisper.
Deputy Barker turned and fled the chamber his face turning a sickly shade of green.
"Odds are, this is that Marker bloke who disappeared not so long ago." Valon said.
David looked at Valon and said darkly, "I think the Sheriff has been a very naughty boy."
Valon snorted and quipped, "Understatement of the year, mate."
The deputy returned a short time later. "To think that my own boss could be capable of doing something so horrible." The deputy then explained. "When William T. Marker came to town he brought his wife and little girls with him. They disappeared along with Marker shortly before the election."
A dark look flowed on to Valon's face. "Rather convenient ain't it, the Sheriff's opponent disappears right before the election."
David said, "Yes, I know, and I'd bet any amount of money Jezebel Miles had something to do with this also."
The deputy gazed on the walls of the room and the strange runes. "What the hell are these things?" he asked.
David scampered over to the deputy and put a hand to him to keep him from touching them. "They're blood rite runes, don't touch them they're still active. Which means this place has been used regularly for sacrifices." David thought for a moment before continuing. "Deputy Barker, we have to get back to the Inn, and I have to call the others over for a meeting. If my hunch is correct…we are in deep trouble!"
Deputy Barker and Valon chimed in, "No kidding."
"Come on, Deputy, let's hightail it back to your car, we're done here." Valon said.
"Absolutely," the Indiana state trooper said as he and Valon raced out.
As soon as they left David whispered, "The world is facing an evil as powerful and as dangerous as the Soul Reapers."
David turned and ran out of the room.
Uh-oh what do we have here? Why it's blatant deliberate murder! And now we know what happened to Sheriff Miles' opponent prior to the election. It would appear the Sheriff and his wife have been involved in some dark rites and they used William T. Marker and his family in those rites. Just when things couldn't get any darker and more grim for David and those with him this happens. Still there's also the question of why is Valon helping David? And what pray tell is he hiding? Get ready because in the next chapter things get faster-paced and nightmarishly frightening. Ghosts of the past part 6 continues next time on Yu-Gi-Oh GM Book 1: The Rise of El Loco Desperado.
