Dublin, IrelandRuins of
the McLaren Family Castle

53 days since the trio arrived in Chateaumorand, it was already the last days of the winter of that year, a Monday, March 12, 1551, that's the day where the first part of the girls' journey comes to an end, covering a distance of 1899km through Europe, the decisive day arrives, a rainy morning, What the day before had already been when Diana saw her sister's red eyes for the first time in ten years, Hellene was no longer the same child as before, since she was only four to five years old, the girl was already fourteen years old and knew very well how to manage alone in all these years.
Living in an immense loneliness, her only companion was Banshee, a ghost that is a spiritual embodiment of a pact made by the McLarens to try to protect Hellene before they were executed by the church practically the day after Laura McLaren's death. The other living family members committed a group suicide, the older ones entered into an agreement to protect little Hellene who was left alone, while they were captured and unfairly judged. Elisabeth, Emma, Joanne and Chelsea, also managed to convince little Holly who at that time was only eight years old and would be brutally murdered by the church were needed five witches for the creation of banshee, a spell of the family itself used to create protection, the five killed themselves in exchange for it, drawing a pentagram dug in the ground and then the cavities were filled with their blood that was performing a spell with a pact made by death. The protection of Hellene in exchange for five lives.
Since that 18th January 1541, when Laura McLaren was killed, the Banshee has been successfully invoked and only serves the purpose of protecting Hellene, having its own conscience, a ghostly creature that is capable of emitting ultrasound waves, by means of screams that can burst eardrums, so there are reports of people who have heard the creature's screams many times in the early hours of the morning. Little McLaren was always immune to those screams, having to turn alone in many cases to get her food, even with the protection of the Banshee.
But even with the Banshee, the McLaren castle did not escape unscathed, there were fires, mass demolitions of cannonballs and with that only some debris of the place remained, such as some towers and halls that still escaped, but are with holes in the ceiling and somewhat abandoned, full of vegetation, but that did not stop Hellene with time to study herself about her own powers, with help from the few books she had there, With the help of the few books she had there, she learned to be independent by herself, always staying only in the surroundings of the old castle, hunting some animals for her own survival and drinking water from a nearby river, but she could never get through because she had a magic barrier that prevented her from leaving, created by the Banshee herself, being necessary for her to defeat it in order to escape from that prison too.

On the day that the girls would go into action, Diana asked with all understanding that the girls wait until nightfall, trying to convince them that it was better and the vote was even tight, Marianne, Lotte, Sucy and Constanze voted to attack during the day, on the other hand, Akko, Amanda, Jasminka and Croix opted for the night, leaving a tie, and the tiebreaker criterion was Diana, who opted to go out at night, many of those who refused to go out during the day were afraid and also because they wanted to go on a safe route.
The girls that use firearms were preparing their weapons and ammunition, Akko and Diana sharpened their swords, Marianne was always alone, carrying what she always carries, but with an extra protection using an iron chestplate so as not to get seriously hurt, Amanda and Sucy were preparing arrows, they took the time to bless them, which would make them efficient against the creatures of the night. Lotte gathered what she had of potions and taking advantage of the free day she left some with her girlfriend. With that she was perfecting, already leaving sheets of paper with glyphs drawn on hands to already speed up the process of using spells.

The night falls, they leave the hiding place, with their weapons ready, from there they walk to where they approach the castle ruins, where Diana stands in front, she takes a deep breath, wearing a necklace with a moon pendant, she just stares from afar from the entrance and also looks back seeing the expression of the girls.

Diana: We're here at last, Hellene, I just want to say that I'm already here sis, I came to get you.

Akko: I still don't understand why it's so much easier at night, being that the creatures are exactly from the night itself, this idea only makes it easier for you outside that you don't have any light, it's just going to be at the disadvantage.

At the moment Akko complained a series of lamps were lit in the middle of those ruins revealing the path, where it was already possible to see that there were some creatures of the night, including some skeletons that kept playing from one passing to the other, as if they were playing at being silly and with that Diana took a deep breath.

Diana: I have a moonstone around my neck, this thing is not decorative, I kept it for this moment, it gives me an extra magical power, now let's go inside, you don't just wait for something to happen, this here is not much different from what we have been through before.

The girls shrug and already arm themselves, Diana is the first to pass, the creatures continue to be relaxed, as if they didn't care about Cavendish's presence there and also the other girls that little by little were passing, having a feeling that they had passed as if by a force field and at that time the creatures stop, face the nine and from the ground comes out the Banshee, a ghostly creature that reminds a lot the McLaren, with red hair, freckles on the face, although it has a kind of bluish colour, floating on the air with a white outfit that covered the body from the feet to the neck, the eyes were a deep void and the expression is intimidating.

Banshee: Oh let's see what we have here for Hellene, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight and nine, this here is the biggest feast, it will really bring my girl food for a whole month, especially the one with the little red eyes, a little smell of familiar blood, the big sister has come to fetch her, but it will turn out to be a full plate for my Hellene.

Diana: There's only one way to find this out and it won't be the normal way, it's time to put an end to you Banshee, I know well the story involving your protection, I know well that with the sealed pact my sister is bound to this place, but now she is no longer a helpless child, I have come to seek and free my sister from your hands.

Banshee: If you think you are such a good and protective sister, then you and I, the two of us will fight, only one will survive, your friends turn around in these ruins, they won't get very far and in the end they will become prey for my Hellene,

At this time the Banshee uses a spell, by which she takes Diana to another place with her while the creatures of the night go towards the other eight that are already preparing themselves to defend themselves with Lotte creating a force field, while the three girls with firearms are loading the ammunition to shoot. The creatures are attacking, but little by little each one is being quickly killed by all of them, which are moving forward, opening the way to meet Hellene.
On the other hand Diana and the Banshee arrive at the supposed place where they would fight, it was another point of the house, which reminded a little the arena, being possible to notice the many bodies, dead hunters on the floor, with a very noticeable thing on those skulls, which was the bleeding on the region of the ears.

Banshee: Now let's settle this once and for all, me against you, if you win, you get free access to go see your little sister, but if you die, then I can't do anything, I will kill the rest of your friends.

Diana: Didyou ever tell Hellene that you keep her trapped here? That the curse has sealed her in this place and everyone who comes near is also trapped in these ruins, until she dies, have you told her that?

Banshee: Shut up! Don't open your mouth! Hellene can hear that, she can't know, Ahhhhhh!

The Banshee screams with everything towards Diana, who jumps back when she notices that it was a sound wave of a scream given by the creature, which hit a wall and even caused a slight damage on it, showing that the power of that monster was around sound and that way Cavendish goes up too.
She tries to hit it with the sword, only that the ghost dodges the dhampir, propelling itself up and preparing to give a scream, this one hitting Cavendish and making her give a forward impulse, but it didn't hurt, she only turned her head and raised her cape throwing fireballs.

Banshee: What? Are you supposed to be affected? It's enough to make you deaf! Banshee: You bastard!

Diana: I happen to be immune just like my sister, we have the same blood, your attacks won't work on me Banshee, although it did hurt a bit that scream of yours in my head.

The Banshee, goes into the ground in a rage, Diana is just left trying to concentrate, when she feels the creature holding onto the Cavendish's ankles, it turns into a bat, running away from there and then the Scottish woman goes back to normal giving a stab from below, but at the time the sword just goes through the ghost, proving to be a somewhat useless attack, but at the same time useful, since that creature was left bawling in pain with some burning, due to the sword going through, even getting two halves that soon come together,

Banshee: You're full of your tricks too, a blessed sword, who knew, very ironic to see that a creature like you is wielding an object that causes holy damage.

Diana kept quiet, just kept staring at the Banshee, without stopping concentrating, the same one kept staring at the Cavendish back, until they got back to each other, the ghost went with everything towards the Scottish, who used the sword as a shield, this way the creature dodges, deforming itself and on the other side it screams towards her, throwing her against a wall with the supersonic wave. In this way the dhampir was getting trapped in a screaming force field that was pushing it more and more against and inside that wall, even if it didn't affect Diana's ears.

Meanwhile in the city, all this screaming can already be heard, in a castle of a noble nearby, there was Daryl and the twins in a banquet with the nobles, almost finishing, when they hear the recurrent screams of Banshee, being heard from far away, this way the local noble starts to talk with Cavendish about the screams.

Noble#1: Once again the Banshee attacks, another idiot adventurer who wants to take the reward for the capture, a foolish attempt and in vain, he'll never succeed, I bet he's probably dead and deaf by now.

Daryl: So does that mean there's someone now in the ruins of the McLaren castle? I've heard about what goes on there.

Noble#1: Everyone already knows the history of that place, the McLaren made a pact with the devil when they were about to die, trying to protect that castle that was in ruins, an effort in vain, since they all died and that place is still all in ruins.

Daryl: A very interesting story for this venue but well deserved, that bloody Laura McLaren messes with magic, they died because of the familiar who betrayed the values so cherished by the church and you know how that is playing with fire.

Noble#1: I know so much about this that I prefer to keep everyone in line, because anything could cause the worst for these people.

Daryl wiping hes face and getting up from the table: That was a great talk, but I have to leave, I wish you all a good night.

The nobles answer Daryl the same way and she goes to her room, together with her daughters, when arriving there the Cavendish gives her daughters some weapons, being a crossbow for both of them to attack from far away, with some arrows and a short sword for when they leave to attack, then the oldest gives her hand to her daughters signalling them to leave that castle.

Merrill: Mum are you sure they really are already around here and also that it's really Hellene?

Daryl: I have no doubt, follow where the screams are, you will soon get there.

Maril: Why the doubt sis? Are you scared of Banshee? We'll just watch everything from afar and then we'll kill Hellene, simple as that.

After that Daryl tells them to get out of there and they go down the tower by the window of the castle holding on to a rope until they reach the ground, starting from there towards the screams they are hearing, all of them from the fight between Diana and the Banshee.

Back at the castle ruins, the group of eight girls was making their way through the castle, killing creature by creature that appeared and went on top of them, the lights of that place were bizarrely lit, while the group walked through the corridors that were in pieces of the place.

Akko: Diana is gone, she went to fight that ghost and now we are here alone with these creatures, I hope she makes it.

Sucy: Worried about Diana? She's the strongest among us.

Akko: It's us that I'm worried about, we have to stay here making way so that these creatures don't attack us, we are wasting our strength, when Diana's sister arrives and she doesn't receive us well, we will die easily, did you hear what that ghost said? She will make us food.

Amanda: Well that's the fun of it, danger in our faces, at least there'll be some action here, we just have to be smart enough not to end up getting killed for stupidity.

The eight continue their way, the creatures aren't very strong, nothing much different from what they were used to find by the other places where they went, being practically a quiet journey, going all over the girls that were killing them almost as if it was nothing, little by little by the ruins they were getting closer to Hellene. She was on the other side of those ruins just waiting for the arrival of the girls, in a dark room, illuminated only by a gap in the ceiling where the light passed, she was devouring the leg of a deer she found.
Diana was also in an intense fight against the Banshee, little by little she was learning the patterns of the creature that kept screaming trying to corner the Cavendish that was starting to show some signs of injury with a bleeding nose and that way she took a deep breath after being so defensive and even gave a smile, as the ghost continued to find strange the Scottish woman's reaction.

Banshee: Of all the hunters you have been the hardest to kill so far, none have gone as far as you, not even the ones I have tortured to death.

Diana: I'm not giving up on my sister, I want her to be rescued, she doesn't deserve this prison, she doesn't deserve to stay here for eternity.

The Banshee screams again and with that Diana moves her sword towards the sound wave of the creature's scream, this one where it hits the Claymore that keeps swinging, then the Cavendish throws fireballs, what the ghost flies up and didn't expect for a surprise attack, with the Scottish girl giving a stab that caught well down in the region where is the Banshee's chest that screamed again making the same let go of the sword and fall against the ground with the strength and intensity of that wave.
The Banshee continued to scream, forcing Diana even more against the ground, which was remarkable with the same even getting the shape of the Cavendish, but in spite of that she was trying to get up, even though she was having constant screams given by the creature, which continued to scream, forcing her with everything against the ground. Soon the Scottish girl stood up, a little dizzy and with her legs wobbly and the Banshee just stared at everything with an expression of confidence.

Banshee: Any hunter at this point would have lost their mind, this literally, I'm screaming with an intensity that was to blow your brains out.

Diana: Soul Steal!

Diana doesn't give a damn, she starts to absorb the Banshee's soul using the spell to steal souls, what the creature didn't expect not only that, but the red of her eyes became more alive, as if it was illuminated, she makes a point to take a sword from a dead man, where she bathes lamplight oil, passes by one of those catching fire and goes quickly towards Banshee, who can't predict Cavendish's movements, but at that time no movement would even pick up, the Scottish woman gave several cuts towards her with the sword like that and only passed everything going through, which she turns around and gets even a little frustrated.

Banshee: Not bad, until you have an agility on par with your sister, you seem to be able to access your right part as well.

Diana simply throws the sword to the side, she takes her own sword, even if her hand started to give a slight burn, the same one holds firm the pain and attacks with everything using the added agility of vampire to top the Banshee that didn't have time to react, the Scottish woman gives several cuts, these even catch with the sword being blessed, and this way the Cavendish even lets go and turns back.
The Banshee had several burn lines on her "body", that way Cavendish again uses another soul stealing spell, which also helps her heal her hands that were in flesh at that moment because of the attack used by the Scottish woman.

Banshee: Wretch! I won't take it easy and I won't play games anymore! I'll finish you off you cursed one! I will not allow myself to be beaten by someone from the wrong side! Never! Never!

Diana: You asked to fight now hold on, for I am not here to take it easy either, I have a purpose, so do you, may the best of both win in this battle.

This way the Banshee floats, she gets a little higher and starts to use her ghost powers to move some swords and shields, putting them to levitate creating a circle around her, already Diana stays on the defensive, the creature soon starts to attack, throwing the blades towards Cavendish and also with sound waves to disturb even more and at that time the Scottish girl takes a shield and starts to run towards the Banshee.
The ghost throws some swords towards Diana, she uses the shield to protect herself from some cuts, she also uses the sword to defend herself, then she supports herself on the shield that she throws, turning into a bat and propels herself towards the creature that aims a sequence of swords to Cavendish that is right in front of that wall, she turns into a bat and soon she is shot by the blades, which she flies passing and dodging many that get close.
This while a rain fell on her, she was passing from gap to gap, until she passed the last one and with that she returns to normal, but she is surprised by a scream, but the Cavendish had a surprise, she took out of her pocket a small mirror and this one with a bit of demonic magic from the Scot ended up reflecting the scream coming back to the Banshee that was hit, then Diana passes with a cut in the middle of the ghost that was all divided in two halves, but soon it fit again and the Scot knew that would happen.

Diana: Soul Steal!

Again the Cavendish uses the spell of stealing souls, then she also raises her cape throwing fireballs, which ends up making the Banshee, have more to worry about, she was dodging the fireballs of the Scottish, but she also had to deal with Diana getting close to her with the sword, which she already arrived giving multiple cuts, little by little ending up weakening more the powers of the creature of the night, which kept trying to dodge, but the sword's attacks, were more and more efficient, leaving more burns by the ghostly body of the creature, as the sword was getting honeyed with ectoplasm, the Scot was soon noticing a pattern there and decided to stop attacking, starting to face the Banshee that soon regenerates.

Banshee: It's no use using the same attacks you use against other creatures, I'm immortal, I can't be defeated like this! Neither you nor even Hellene will be able to defeat me by your sheer strength, you'll just stay in this cycle.

Diana: I'm sorry Hellene, I guess we'll be stuck here forever then, it looks like you and I still have a lot to talk about here, better to accept once and for all this fate that we'll be stuck here forever and ever.

Banshee: You're an imbecile Diana, did you really think a mission like that would work out for your side? Really? Right against us, now feel the power of the Banshee! I won't leave you alive for your sister, you'll be a dish for her!

At that moment The Banshee goes on Diana and the same opens a smile, noticing that the creature was almost falling for the bluffs of the Cavendish that takes the sword from the sheath and then shouts again Soul Steal, making the ghost split again, which ends up making the creature a little weaker, the same creature stays that way and as it gathers itself it screams angrily, but the Scot, uses the mirror against it which dodges being hit by its own attack, starting to disappear on the floor and walls, trying to surround the place, which makes the Scot keep a closer eye on the surroundings.

Banshee: You beware Diana Cavendish, I will not let you off that easy, you just want to lie to me and keep trying to attack me, but I repeat, I am immortal, it is no use trying I am invincible, you are doomed to be stuck here! Mwahahaha!

Diana: I'm just defending myself from your attacks, who would feel comfortable being attacked? I accept my fate, but I won't accept being killed either, take me to my sister, leave me at least that?

Banshee: But no way, you're going to die now, no one told you to question Banshee's abilities.

[Diana's Thought: Come on body, get that magic back soon, just one more and this creature will end up dying, I only need one more soul and that will be the end of the Banshee, I have to roll as much as I can before I give the last Soul Steal].

Diana continued to be attentive, that room of the castle was getting more and more strange, with walls moving, the Banshee appearing in random walls attacking the Cavendish throwing swords and spears towards the Scottish girl that was defending herself of those attacks, keeping an eye in all sides for that stage of the ghostly creature.
Meanwhile in another part of the castle ruins, the eight girls were getting closer to Hellene, only one corridor was missing, this one had a minotaur demon holding an axe right in front of the door and also a werewolf, the eight were appearing in the corridor, Croix, Jasminka and Constanze shot, But the shots were dodged, that way Marianne and Akko go to attack the creatures, Amanda and Sucy launch arrows towards the minotaur and Lotte already prepares to launch omnicrones glyphs on the floor, that way the werewolf ends up stepping on it, summoning one to attack the creature.

Sucy: That can only be a sign that we are coming.

Amanda: This place is kind of fun I have to admit, it's not for nothing that most of them died here.

Akko dodges the onslaught of the minotaur and hits a slash, when the same would give a kick to Kagari, Marianne gives a precise whip in the same that catches well in the wrist of the creature, which gives space for the same to get the sword of the leather of the creature and that way she turns and goes towards the werewolf, seen that Croix gave a shot that caught well in the head of the minotaur that fell backwards, already the werewolf went with his agility for top of the group, but was hit in the back for a cut of Akko, the same one turns for the Japanese and gives a scratch that catches in the sword raising until a spark, but next he is shot by Constanze in the back of the head, which makes him turn around again and with that he was hit by a whiplash from Marianne that ended up finishing the job and making him burn to dissolution, leaving only the minotaur that was still standing, That is until Sucy throws a potion towards it and swallows it, but then starts to melt, crumbling all in a pool of blood, which makes Marianne start to look disgusted and Leblanc to vomit when looking at that pile of bloody bones.

Sucy: You see it all the time Marianne and yet you still can't get used to it?

Marianne: There is a difference between killing creatures and leaving a mass of blood that has a strong smell afterwards, now let's go before it gets any worse, we are almost there.

Akko: It seems we are already arriving at least, just a few more steps and soon we will be facing Diana's sister and I don't seem to be that tired at least, it seems that it was quiet, if I can handle a fight.

Amanda: Since you're such a fuck up, then go there first, we don't care about that, we'll just watch.

Akko just shows the middle finger to Amanda and this way, they pass by where was the limit of the corridor, coming across an open room, this one was full of fog, a little dark, but as they walk forward the candles were lighting, indicating that this was the room where Hellene was waiting for the presence of the girls.
In another place of the ruins, Diana was keeping calm dodging the room that was spinning around her, which was even real, the Banshee managed to make a part of the castle leave the ground and keep moving, creating some traps with spears to catch the Cavendish that just smiles, with an animation on her face, showing an expression that is going to start acting.

Diana: Soul Steal!

With only two words she takes the last remaining soul of the five souls that make up the Banshee, absorbing more of the creature's vital energy and in this way the ghost loses even the manipulation of the room, leaving it half fallen on its side towards the castle, a little starting with the structure to collapse and in this weakened way the Banshee stares at Diana with hatred.

Banshee: You've really done it you wretch, you've found my weak point and now I'm slowly wasting away, but don't get your hopes up yet, your friends must be dead by now, if they're not dead at the hands of the creatures of this place, they'll be dead soon at Hellene's hands! Mwahhahaha!

The Banshee disappears, indicating that Cavendish has managed to defeat her and with that she cracks a smile, but that same smile is interrupted with the structure of that room collapsing, which causes the Scottish woman to turn into a bat and exit through the window of the place that in a few seconds starts to collapse entirely and with that Diana stands up, observing the room where she fought the Banshee in ruins and also stares at the surroundings.

[Diana thought: Someone was watching me all this time, it's not Hellene, it's two people and that smell, that smell is of something familiar, it's not something that reminds me of my sister, but at the same time it's something that looks like someone I know, I better think of something else, keep an eye also on those two people watching me, I'll play dumb, pretend I'm not being watched by those people].

Diana noticed the presence of Merrill and Maril who was behind the ruins from afar watching them noticing that Diana had defeated the Banshee and the Cavendish's power was really something impressive, they had never seen a dhampir able to do that, not even seen a ghost being defeated, they even looked at each other and with that they were soon whispering to each other.

Merril whispering: Are you sure we have to kill Hellene?

Maril whispering: You're going to question an order from our mother, just because her sister defeated that thing with ease that doesn't mean her sister is as powerful.

The two leave that observation post and go to another place, where would be the entrance of those ruins of the castle, on the other hand Diana was continuing by her way in the corridors of the ruins of the castle and could already have a huge difference, because of the death of the Banshee, the creatures of the night completely disappeared from the place, remaining only the illumination by lamps which are a more natural phenomenon. Little by little, walking attentively through the surroundings, the Scottish girl was trying not to raise suspicions to those who were watching her and also became aware of the dangers of the castle, even if there aren't any, a few meters away from seeing again her sister who she hadn't seen for 10 years.

See you, ghost witches...