Chapter XX: A Sticky Wicket
Tucker
"This place is incredible!" I said looking at the vast array of devices. "It's like Dr. Frankenstein's lab," A voice says it's more like the Hammer version than the Universal one, I turn around and see Danny, Sam, and Wednesday enter the room. "Were you able to get the skull back?" I ask him. He says it is safely in Mrs. Addams' possession.
"Vlad is still a threat though. He's knocked out but it won't keep him down." Danny says looking at all the devices in the room. "We need something to negate Vlad's ghost powers" he looks over the pile of devices. Wednesday suggests we built a containment cube. It wouldn't hold Vlad forever but enough that we can make sure he doesn't harm anyone from awhile.
"I suggest you start with the elctro-vaccum. It's drains the energy from any living thing." Of course, we can rewire it to drain Vlad's ghost powers. "I would also say you use this as well," she removes locket from her neck.
"A mini-phylactery. I use it to test soul transfer but I think it could hold Vlad's power." Sam smiles saying it's brilliant.
"I suggest we hurry," Danny says looking out the window nervously.
Morticia Addams
"Something isn't right," I warn Jack and Pugsley. "I sense the vultures but not the Grail," I turn to Reznor who focuses on the item. He says whoever has is cloaking it from even his view. Pugsley asks what should we do? "Reznor, dearest, would you cast a third eye spell on Mr. Fenton?" I ask as the skull smiles and says he would be honored.
"A what now?" Jack asks as energy surrounded him and the boy. I explain it them it will allow them to see hidden things. "Like the Grail?" I am not sure about that but it will allow them to find the birds and not fall for all those traps.
"Thanks mom," Pugsley picks up his halberd and leads Jack down the corridor. I wish them both luck.
"Tish, we best be careful," Reznor says looking up at me. "I sense the fool who took it is nearby," I tell him to lead to him. He opens a portal and I step through it.
Jazz
"Hanc oblationem suscipe, o inferne profundissime!" the demon said as they shackled my ankles. "Your time is come," they fasten more chains around my wrists and waist. "Open thy gates! o house of damnation!" the black gates open and the demons begin to drag me towards the door.
"Come on Come on!" I say trying get my body to move. "If I...," suddenly I feel my fingers move. "It's working!" the demons hiss and try to grab me but are burned. I hear Mr. Addams voice ask if I am all right. "I think so. I can move my fingers," he says that his blood working then. "Blood?" He says he put some drops of his blood in the wound. An infernal pact grants protection to who those who have Addams blood.
"The mortal is interfering in our affairs," the leader says opening a portal. "Rend the flesh from his bones," he orders opening a gateway. Two of his minions enter it before he turns to me. "Come Jasmine, Hell awaits your entry,"
"No." I tell him as he growls at me. I focus on moving again, this time I can move elbows. "Things have changed," I try to grab the chain from my captor. He draws a sword from his side. He says that nothing that can stop them. Something whispers something in my ear. "Sub Signo non me...tanges!" the energy flows from the chains and shocks the demons.
"Well done child," Mr. Addams says. I ask if it was him who told me to say it. "I did, it should buy some time," he says as the fiend lowers his sword but I am able to grab it with my hand. "Keep going Jasmine!" Mr. Addams says triumphantly.
Uncle Fester
"There should a hidden passageway coming up," I say as I feel something touch my face. She tells me to forget this madness and come with her. "I suggest you do as I say," I warn her removing her tail from my face. "Go see if there any traps ahead!"
"I don't want to Fester," she says trying to sound upset. "I'd rather stay here with you," she wraps her tail around my neck. "You know I can give you everything you want." I shut my eyes so not fall under spell. "You want me don't you Fester."
My mind goes back to my battle with the succubus. I was a young ghoul seeking the forbidden things in life. "Je cueille volontiers le fruit défendu" was my motto. Gomez had warned me about succubi, but I wasn't scared. I had tamed countless demons before.
"Do you remember how it felt to be in her arms," the lamia asks. "You loved it, why not submit again?" I take a breath and gather my strength. I breathe deeply and order her to check for traps. "Why leave when I can be everything...," she screams as her hand touches the medallion.
"Now obey me!" she hisses for awhile before realizing she lost and slither ahead of me to check for traps.
Maddie
"Why don't you make this easy on yourself Vlad," I tell the man as I scan the rec room. "You couldn't have gone far...," the scanner beeps picking up the rat's signature. "You're only making worse on yourself," I hear him laughing. He says it didn't have to be like this. I could have been his queen. "You are...," he kicks me in the back,"a...pathetic king."
"I don't need powers to deal with a pest like you," he sneers as I look up. "Oh Maddie, why must it be this way?" he said as I did a side sweep forcing him to his knees. I tell him he will pay for turning me against my child. He laughs saying that he's surprised I didn't find out sooner. I take out the ecto-crossbow and tell him he will harm Danny no longer. Before I can fire he opens a portal and escapes.
"You can't get away that easily!" I follow him and find myself in another room. "I don't know what's more pathetic? That you don't have the guts to face me or that you use your inventions to fight me." he laughs and says I will know soon enough.
The room seemed empty. I order that Vlad show himself and stop hiding. "You really want that?" I noticed the ground felt strange on my feet. Not at all like stone. "Here I am," the fruit loop said coming into the light. I try to move but am stuck. I look down and see that I'm trapped in quicksand. "Another lovely gift from the Addams," he comes closer to me. I look around for something grab onto. "I could help you," he said as my knees sank into the mud. I try to pull my feet out but am stuck. "I thought you would know it wouldn't work," he taunts removing a rope from shoulders. "Look what I have," he says in feigned ignorance.
"Forget it Vlad," I spit as my legs vanished into quicksand. "I am not giving you the pleasure." Masters look at me and rolls his eyes. "I am not surrendering to you," I am now up to waist and am starting to sink faster. I take out an ectopistol and fire at him.
"Ha! You missed!" he says as a chunk of stone lands on his head and knocked him out.
"That still doesn't solve my other problem," I shuddered as the quicksand touched my abdomen. I look up and see what looks like a passage way. "Please let this work," I silently prayed as the mud climbed towards my chest. I fire a mini grappling hook from my glove and hit the entrance. I pull myself out of the trap and onto terra firma.
"I think I hear something," I hear Puglsey say as he, Jack, Thing and Morticia come into view. "Mrs. F is that you?" the child asks as they race towards me. "How did you get here?" I tell him Vlad lured me. I look down at the still unconscious Masters. "He has the Grail."
Morticia closes her eyes and begins to levitate. She heads down to where Vlad lays out cold. She walks up to him and takes a satchel from him. "Here it is," she says triumphantly. Jack asks if there is time left. "There should be," she snaps her fingers and Jack and Pugsley vanish.
Danny
"It should work," Tucker says overlooking the plans. "We just need an electrode," Wednesday begins looking around. "It has to be something...," The knob on the door begins to turn as Lurch walks in the room. "We thought you were...," Tucker says looking at the spear. "That would be perfect."
"I am not sure, it's a family heirloom," she says. I promise that we will treat it with respect. She looks at the weapon and then at Tucker for a minute before signifying Lurch to give him the weapon. He thanks her begins wrapping wire around it.
"This just like in Level 29 of Doomed," Tucker comments, "Remember you had to electrocute the metal golem in order to advance." I tell him it won't electrocute Vlad, just negate his ghost powers and any residual energy he has from the skull. "I doubt Vlad will just come here," he says as I think for a second.
"Can you create an energy pack," I ask Tucker as he smiles. "I can wear it and use it on Plasmius. Don't worry I will return the spear." I assure her as we to work on the power pack.
"Lurch, you think you could keep an eye out for anything?" Wednesday asks as the massive butler nods and stands by the door.
