Aryca Storm walked down the hall to her father's room. As she neared the door, she noticed a faint buzzing sound, like a motor, emanating from inside.
'He staid up all night again.' She pounded on the door.
"Dad!"
"Is that you Aryca?" a tired voice called.
"Who else would it be? Were you up all night again?"
"I was working." He opened the door. Madison Storm's tousled jet-black hair was pushed up out of his jade eyes by some goggles. He looked at a watch dangling from his neck on a platinum chain. His brow furrowed.
"What are you doing up? It's only four thirty.
"I promised Brent that I would help him and his dad set up the clearing for the party."
"That's today?"
"Yes. Why didn't you sleep?"
An explosion shook the room.
That's why I didn't sleep." Madison ran to a machine that dominated the room. Aryca raced after him.
Her father ran his fingers through his hair before replacing the cover back onto the control panel.
After surveying the scene Aryca asked, "Can you fix it?"
"I can fix this," He said motioning to the control panel, "but I'll have to replace the main sensor. And I think the hydro-engine's been obliterated." He closed his eyes and waved his hand out in front of him. A portal showing undulating scenes of a far away city opened.
"I'll need to go and get replacements."
"You be careful over there." Madison started towards the portal, "Hey! Don't you need some money, Dad?"
"Do you really think I need some?" he said with a mischievous grin.
"If you get caught Dad..."
"Aren't I the one that supposed to worried about you?" he squeezed her hand, "Go and have fun, hopefully I'll make it back in time for the, err, 'party'." He stepped through the portal.
She ran down the stairs and flew out the door into Horrorland.
"What a beautiful day!" Aryca said to herself as she breathed in the cool air. The sun wasn't up but a sheet of gray could be seen covering the sky .
She unlocked the rusty iron gates that led into the park. They swung open with a creak. She left them open since it was a rare occasion that any human lived long enough to reach her fathers personal section of the park. She took the dusty path into the even darker shade of the forest. A hissing started up almost a soon as she step into the leaves.
"Hush! Uruloke you know better!" She spoke into the trees. The hissing died down and a green snake floated down to her shoulder. She stroked his head as he wrapped himself around her arm.
"Are you going to help me with the party today?" She cooed in a singsong voice.
"How come you don't talk to me like that?" a voice came from the darkness.
Aryca jumped and the snake streaked back into the canopy.
"You're unusually jumpy today." A man in a black trench coat with short hair to match stepped out of the shadows. He wore sunglasses with silvery polarized lenses to protect his onyx eyes from the sun. He grinned at Aryca, fangs flashing.
"Brent! Why do you always have to appear out of nowhere?" Aryca demanded.
"I love to see you scared. Your really cute when your afraid." He smiled again.
She smiled in spite of herself, "Why do you have to be so charming?"
"I'm a vampire. It's my nature. Besides , it gets me out trouble." He winked over his sunglasses, "Why do you always have to be late?"
"It takes me a bit longer to get ready since I sleep and all. Also, the Monster Attracter exploded. Ever since those damn preteen brats screwed around with it he hasn't been able to get it to work right.
He started laughing, "Will he make it back in time?
"As long as he doesn't terrorize people, yes."
"I'll tell my dad he'll be late then."
Aryca laughed, "You don't give him enough credit." She gazed up into the trees, "Come on Uruloke! Your fangs are far more deadly than his." The tree snake drifted back down to her shoulder. His amber eyes flashed with anger towards Brent. Aryca started walking .
"Don't be so sure." He murmured under his breath. Uruloke hissed. He spoke up, "We better get over there before Jeff throws a fit."
"Jeff's there?" Aryca groaned, "Don't be surprised if he picks one of the pretty ones for himself."
"Dad already gave him consent. He's waiting for us to get there so he can scan the park for one."
"There are people here already?"
"Thrill seekers, the park's starting to get popular. Your ad campaign is doing cool."
"There are actually lines now?" the shadows dissipated as they stepped into a clearing
Brent jumped back into the shade and covered his eyes, "I hate that."
"You ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, just gotta let my eyes adjust."
"You need stronger sunglasses? I can go get you some from the city."
"No, that's ok." he looked up at her, "Hey, you sound concerned. Is that some human emotion coming from the unfeeling Aryca Storm?"
She blushed and turned away, 'No, I just-"
"Hurry up you two!" A tall, muscular guy ran across the clearing.
"Simmer down Jeff you don't even know if there are ay single girls in the park yet." Brent stepped slowly out into the light again, shading his eyes, "Let's go check in with Dad and then you can go."
Jeff looked at Aryca, "You had to bring the snake didn't you?"
"And hello to you too," Aryca glared, "You act like you've already met this girl."
"Actually I have she came yesterday and I invited her to the party tonight."
Aryca's eyes widened, "Really? Does she know that since it's gonna be a full moon tonight, you might just rip off one of her limbs?"
"I have a bit more self-control than that."
"You just hope that she isn't wearing any silver."
"Aryca and Jeff. Must you two always be bickering?" a man in a deep vermilion cape crossed the clearing
Jeff turned around and quickly straightened up when he saw who was talking, "No sir."
"I didn't think so. I didn't put you head of this project for nothing."
Aryca who was giggling behind Jeff, stopped and took a step back, "You made him head of the project?"
"Ah, Aryca," He threw back his cape with his pale hands and bowed, "So nice of you to join us on this fine morning. Will you and your father be joining us tonight?"
Dreyk Hollow was the twelfth great grandson of Count Dracula himself and seeing the way he carries himself, he knew it. His pale face defied his age with his strong jawline and flawless skin. He, and his son like him, shiny black hair and midnight eyes that shone with smoldering embers of deep emotion.
"Yes we will. Thank you for the invitation." She said politely as she could manage.
He glanced at Brent, "The pleasures all mine." He smiled.
"Um, Mr. Hollow, Sir, I was wondering if, um, I could;"
Dreyk cut Jeff off, "Yes you can go. The Horrors will finish up with the stage and lights," He said motioning towards a group of grotesque monsters lounging in the shade. "Son, you and Aryca go too. You're to young to be working here when you can act your age and have a good time." He turned and signed to the Horrors to start working.
"Go home Uruloke. We don't want to scare away Jeff's new trophy." She knelt and let the snake slither back to the forest.
"Do we really have to watch him try and make it with some ditzy blonde?" The three started off away from the clearing.
"You don't. You two could always go off alone and, well, how did you put it Brent?" Jeff grinned nastily at Brent.
"Where did you say you were going to meet her?" Brent quickly changed the subject.
Jeff bit his lip, "Uh, actually, you two may want to leave or at least you Brent." The path turned to cobblestone as the stepped into a plaza.
"Why? Oh, you didn't pick that as... Jeff your stupid sometimes you know that?" Aryca said.
"I totally forgot! You know how it is Brent, you see the girl, your mind goes blank, and you just agree with everything she says."
"Yeah, but if you wanted to show her off you shouldn't have picked The House of Mirrors."
"Brent!" Aryca yelled. Brent looked up and instinctively covered his face with his trench coat. Even Aryca had to look away as a tiny bit of sun reflected off the House of Mirrors and created a blinding flash.
"Jeff, we'll stay back here and wait for you. I think she's already there. Is that her?" Brent pointed to a blonde girl standing with her hands on her hips looking annoyed.
"Yeah that's her. Shit! She looks pissed. Wish me luck!" Jeff ran towards her already thinking up excuse and explanations. Aryca and Brent sat on a bench and waited, Brent still shading his eyes from the light.
'He staid up all night again.' She pounded on the door.
"Dad!"
"Is that you Aryca?" a tired voice called.
"Who else would it be? Were you up all night again?"
"I was working." He opened the door. Madison Storm's tousled jet-black hair was pushed up out of his jade eyes by some goggles. He looked at a watch dangling from his neck on a platinum chain. His brow furrowed.
"What are you doing up? It's only four thirty.
"I promised Brent that I would help him and his dad set up the clearing for the party."
"That's today?"
"Yes. Why didn't you sleep?"
An explosion shook the room.
That's why I didn't sleep." Madison ran to a machine that dominated the room. Aryca raced after him.
Her father ran his fingers through his hair before replacing the cover back onto the control panel.
After surveying the scene Aryca asked, "Can you fix it?"
"I can fix this," He said motioning to the control panel, "but I'll have to replace the main sensor. And I think the hydro-engine's been obliterated." He closed his eyes and waved his hand out in front of him. A portal showing undulating scenes of a far away city opened.
"I'll need to go and get replacements."
"You be careful over there." Madison started towards the portal, "Hey! Don't you need some money, Dad?"
"Do you really think I need some?" he said with a mischievous grin.
"If you get caught Dad..."
"Aren't I the one that supposed to worried about you?" he squeezed her hand, "Go and have fun, hopefully I'll make it back in time for the, err, 'party'." He stepped through the portal.
She ran down the stairs and flew out the door into Horrorland.
"What a beautiful day!" Aryca said to herself as she breathed in the cool air. The sun wasn't up but a sheet of gray could be seen covering the sky .
She unlocked the rusty iron gates that led into the park. They swung open with a creak. She left them open since it was a rare occasion that any human lived long enough to reach her fathers personal section of the park. She took the dusty path into the even darker shade of the forest. A hissing started up almost a soon as she step into the leaves.
"Hush! Uruloke you know better!" She spoke into the trees. The hissing died down and a green snake floated down to her shoulder. She stroked his head as he wrapped himself around her arm.
"Are you going to help me with the party today?" She cooed in a singsong voice.
"How come you don't talk to me like that?" a voice came from the darkness.
Aryca jumped and the snake streaked back into the canopy.
"You're unusually jumpy today." A man in a black trench coat with short hair to match stepped out of the shadows. He wore sunglasses with silvery polarized lenses to protect his onyx eyes from the sun. He grinned at Aryca, fangs flashing.
"Brent! Why do you always have to appear out of nowhere?" Aryca demanded.
"I love to see you scared. Your really cute when your afraid." He smiled again.
She smiled in spite of herself, "Why do you have to be so charming?"
"I'm a vampire. It's my nature. Besides , it gets me out trouble." He winked over his sunglasses, "Why do you always have to be late?"
"It takes me a bit longer to get ready since I sleep and all. Also, the Monster Attracter exploded. Ever since those damn preteen brats screwed around with it he hasn't been able to get it to work right.
He started laughing, "Will he make it back in time?
"As long as he doesn't terrorize people, yes."
"I'll tell my dad he'll be late then."
Aryca laughed, "You don't give him enough credit." She gazed up into the trees, "Come on Uruloke! Your fangs are far more deadly than his." The tree snake drifted back down to her shoulder. His amber eyes flashed with anger towards Brent. Aryca started walking .
"Don't be so sure." He murmured under his breath. Uruloke hissed. He spoke up, "We better get over there before Jeff throws a fit."
"Jeff's there?" Aryca groaned, "Don't be surprised if he picks one of the pretty ones for himself."
"Dad already gave him consent. He's waiting for us to get there so he can scan the park for one."
"There are people here already?"
"Thrill seekers, the park's starting to get popular. Your ad campaign is doing cool."
"There are actually lines now?" the shadows dissipated as they stepped into a clearing
Brent jumped back into the shade and covered his eyes, "I hate that."
"You ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, just gotta let my eyes adjust."
"You need stronger sunglasses? I can go get you some from the city."
"No, that's ok." he looked up at her, "Hey, you sound concerned. Is that some human emotion coming from the unfeeling Aryca Storm?"
She blushed and turned away, 'No, I just-"
"Hurry up you two!" A tall, muscular guy ran across the clearing.
"Simmer down Jeff you don't even know if there are ay single girls in the park yet." Brent stepped slowly out into the light again, shading his eyes, "Let's go check in with Dad and then you can go."
Jeff looked at Aryca, "You had to bring the snake didn't you?"
"And hello to you too," Aryca glared, "You act like you've already met this girl."
"Actually I have she came yesterday and I invited her to the party tonight."
Aryca's eyes widened, "Really? Does she know that since it's gonna be a full moon tonight, you might just rip off one of her limbs?"
"I have a bit more self-control than that."
"You just hope that she isn't wearing any silver."
"Aryca and Jeff. Must you two always be bickering?" a man in a deep vermilion cape crossed the clearing
Jeff turned around and quickly straightened up when he saw who was talking, "No sir."
"I didn't think so. I didn't put you head of this project for nothing."
Aryca who was giggling behind Jeff, stopped and took a step back, "You made him head of the project?"
"Ah, Aryca," He threw back his cape with his pale hands and bowed, "So nice of you to join us on this fine morning. Will you and your father be joining us tonight?"
Dreyk Hollow was the twelfth great grandson of Count Dracula himself and seeing the way he carries himself, he knew it. His pale face defied his age with his strong jawline and flawless skin. He, and his son like him, shiny black hair and midnight eyes that shone with smoldering embers of deep emotion.
"Yes we will. Thank you for the invitation." She said politely as she could manage.
He glanced at Brent, "The pleasures all mine." He smiled.
"Um, Mr. Hollow, Sir, I was wondering if, um, I could;"
Dreyk cut Jeff off, "Yes you can go. The Horrors will finish up with the stage and lights," He said motioning towards a group of grotesque monsters lounging in the shade. "Son, you and Aryca go too. You're to young to be working here when you can act your age and have a good time." He turned and signed to the Horrors to start working.
"Go home Uruloke. We don't want to scare away Jeff's new trophy." She knelt and let the snake slither back to the forest.
"Do we really have to watch him try and make it with some ditzy blonde?" The three started off away from the clearing.
"You don't. You two could always go off alone and, well, how did you put it Brent?" Jeff grinned nastily at Brent.
"Where did you say you were going to meet her?" Brent quickly changed the subject.
Jeff bit his lip, "Uh, actually, you two may want to leave or at least you Brent." The path turned to cobblestone as the stepped into a plaza.
"Why? Oh, you didn't pick that as... Jeff your stupid sometimes you know that?" Aryca said.
"I totally forgot! You know how it is Brent, you see the girl, your mind goes blank, and you just agree with everything she says."
"Yeah, but if you wanted to show her off you shouldn't have picked The House of Mirrors."
"Brent!" Aryca yelled. Brent looked up and instinctively covered his face with his trench coat. Even Aryca had to look away as a tiny bit of sun reflected off the House of Mirrors and created a blinding flash.
"Jeff, we'll stay back here and wait for you. I think she's already there. Is that her?" Brent pointed to a blonde girl standing with her hands on her hips looking annoyed.
"Yeah that's her. Shit! She looks pissed. Wish me luck!" Jeff ran towards her already thinking up excuse and explanations. Aryca and Brent sat on a bench and waited, Brent still shading his eyes from the light.