Chapter VII: Deliver Us From Evil
Clockwork
"Entrez," I said as we arrived at my tower. Jasmine looks in awe at the millions of screens. They show countless timelines and deviations. She asks me what is this place. "My home," I tell her as I clear away the screens so we could concentrate.
"Clockwork, Vlad's captured Danny. We tried to...," I hold out my hand. I bring up a screen showing a ring of trees. "Is that where he took him? That forest?" I warn her that something is blocking my sight and am not sure exactly where he is. "How can that be you know everything." Normally yes, but sometimes magic can cloud my vision. She turns pale but I assure Freakshow did not return. "Thank God," she sighs in relief.
"What are we looking at?" Jasmine asks curiously. I tell her the entrance to the Holiday Worlds. "Holiday Worlds?" she tries to make sense of it as Sam's eyes grow wide.
"I thought they were just a story. Nothing more," They are quite real and the answers you seek is there. I swing my staff and open a portal. I tell them this will take them to where they need to go. "Aren't you coming with us?" I shake my head. I have other business to tend to. "Thank you," she says, "uh Jazz you coming?" she asks her friend.
"Are you sure you want to see that?" I ask her as she looks at a screen. "It might bring up memories of what happened when you were five." Jasmine gasps that I know about that incident. "Right now Danny needs you," I point to the portal as she smiles and follows Sam. "Good luck."
Sally
"Whatever happened must have been awful. Have you seen anything like it?" I ask Jack as I finish up stitching his wounds. He shakes his head. He says there are ways to hurt a ghost but they are locked up far away from prying eyes. "This one looks like it was done by a person," I point to the hand shaped welt on his stomach.
"Yes, but if it is him. Why would anyone want hurt him," he takes out a silk nightshirt. "It's a bit long but it should keep him warm." I slowly help the boy sit up as Jack places the shirt on him. He lets out a moan when I place his head back on the pillow.
"it's all right," I stroke his hair trying to calm him. "Jack would you hand me the nightshade?" He hands me the bottle. "This will help with the pain," I tell him placing the bottle to his lips. "Did you find out anything new?" I ask as I wrap the blankets around the boy.
"Yes, and it's not good. Aleister confirmed that Lock, Shock, and Barrel did come see him about performing a ritual." I ask him if they really can bring their boss back. "I am not sure, it's been ages since I studied necromancy. If they were to do it, the conjunction is the perfect time. I've told the mayor to make sure everyone stays inside."
"Do you think that's what brought Danny here," I ask curiously. "From what I heard the halfa acts a guardian between worlds. If they plan to open a gate to Hell that would set off alarms." Jack shakes his head. It's more likely someone brought him here so he would never be found. "Well it is good that the ghosts recognized him."
"Would you mind looking after him while I do some research." I nod as Jack walks out of the room. "Be careful."
Vlad
"Is anyone here?" Jonathan asked as he rode his bike into the room. I ask him if it was necessary to ruin my carpets. "Hey you don't like my style I'm splitting," I chuckle and tell him not without hearing what I have to say. "You think your money means you can me push around?!"
"Of course not, however if you leave you won't know what I have in store." he raises an eyebrow. "If I am correct Daniel stood in the way of you bringing you beloved into this human world?" He sits down in a chair. "You had your eyes set on dear Jasmine as the vessel."
"What are you getting on about?" he asks as I tell I am offering him a chance at revenge. "Now we're talking." I tell them Samantha and Jasmine are heading to the Holiday Worlds to rescue Daniel. "What are the Holiday Worlds?"
"It's nothing to worry about. I just want to follow them and make sure they fail." He asks me what he gets out of it. "I am glad you asked. Once you have prevented them for finding the boy, you may do with Jasmine as you wish. I will even aid in bringing your 'Kitty' back. I have sway in the Ghost Zone and the technology to perform the switch."
"What about the parents? They'll start to worry if they don't hear from their daughter?" Don't worry about Jack and Maddie. I will make sure they will not interfere. "Add in five-thousand dollars and we have a deal," I ask him about the request. "In case my bike gets banged up."
"Very well," I tell him handing a check for the amount. "Bring the goth here, I want to take care of her myself," I open the portal. He tells me he will take care of it. "Excellent!"
Mayor
"What is going on?" I asked coming out of my office. A group of monsters were gathered outside. The zombie father asked if it's really true. "What is?" He said he heard from the banshees that the halfa was in Halloween Town. I switched to my happy face, "The halfa?! Here?!"
"I heard the ghosts found him in the graveyard. He was near death...pardon the pun," the harlequin monster said. It makes sense he is a guardian of worlds and was probably attracted by those hooligans attempt to free their master. "The ghosts said he Jack and Sally carry someone into their home." I can't believe Jack would host him and not tell me.
"Mayor where are you going?" Mr. Hyde asks as I bolted towards my car. I tell him I have to prepare a celebration to welcome this distinguished personage to our humble town. I will need the finest food, the best music and a speech.
I jump into my car, "attention citizens of Halloween Town! We are pleased to welcome the halfa here! Please stay alert for farther news!" I call out as a large group of monsters swarmed my car. They asked me if I was it was really him. "Yes, Jack is hosting him."
"Come on let's go see him," one of the witches says as they fly off to see this amazing individual.
Maddie
"I am still not sure about this," I told Jack as we pulled up to the door of Vlad's mansion. He tells that Vlad is one of oldest friends and has something important to tell them. He says that Masters probably want to make us Ghost Hunter Generals. "Really?" I raise an eyebrow in disbelief.
"My five times great uncle, John Fenton-Nightingale was Witchfinder General of Salem. He studied under the great Mathew Hopkins." I remind him that Hopkins was an evil man who used his 'position' to take advantage of innocent people. "Well, yeah, the power got to his head and went a little kooky."
"A little kooky? He raped a woman. He said the only she could 'escape damnation' is for her to give herself to him." Jack shrinks back realizing the man he once idolized was a monster from Hell. "Let's just get this over with," I walk up the door as it opens and Vlad's greets us.
"Thank you for coming," he says wiping his eyes. Jack asked if he was all right. "Yes, it's just been rough. Please come in," he motions for us to enter.
"Thank you," I tell him as he smiles at me.We walk into the parlor and sit down. He asks if we would like anything to drink. Jack says he would like a gin and tonic like they used to drink. Vlad claps his hand as his butler comes in. He asks me if I would like anything. "No, thank you," I tell him as kind as possible.
There was something about him that sent a chill up my spine. I instinctively grab the crucifix around my neck and recite the St. Michael prayer in mind. Vlad and Jack look at me worriedly. I assure them I was fine just had a mild panic attack. "I'll get you something to ease your nerves," Vlad says as I tell him it's not necessary and to get on with what he has to say. "I am afraid I have some dreadful news concerning young Daniel. He was attacked by a ghost earlier today.
"That those Fenton genes in action!" Jack shouts triumphantly as Vlad looks confused. "I mean, continue Vlad." He says a ghost attacked the Nasty Burger today and Danny was one of those wounded by the ghost. "Oh no!" Vlad says he is in critical condition at his private clinic.
"Even with all the advance medical knowledge. Daniel is dodgy at best." I turn to Jack who asks if we can see him. "I am afraid not. It is best that he be left alone."
Barrel
"We'll never get him now." I said watching ever monster and ghost headed towards the house. "Jack probably has him under lock and key." Shock hits me over the head with her mask saying this couldn't be more perfect.
"Hello, did you see all the monsters heading towards Jack's? We'll never get past them." Shock rolls her eyes and says we can blend in the crowd and when the moment is right nab him. "How do you expect to get past Jack and the mayor?" She says Jack will be busy trying to get rid of the crowed so the boy could have privacy. He'll be too busy to notice us.
"What the boy attacks. I mean he fought the ghost king and won...," Shock tells me to shut up. The ghost king is nothing but a myth. It's just a story to keep wayward ghosts in check. Besides once we have him the town will be ours.
"The boss will want to take care of the Ancien Régime and install new leaders in. Who better than his loyal henchmen." That does sound awesome. We could make Halloween super scary and force the people to give us all their candy. I drooled at the notion of endless candy. "Just follow my lead and soon the world forget Jack Skellington ever existed."