Out in Epping Forest, Edward navigated his way through the trees, followed closely by Jacob, who was already in his wolf form. It had been decided almost immediately after they'd left the estate that it would be better if Jacob phased right off the back, on account that he couldn't afford to lose what little period clothing he had. The pair had barely traveled a mile from the estate when Vermundr instantly appeared in their path, a look of incredulity on his face.
"What do you two think you're doing?" he exclaimed.
"We know that you lied earlier when you smelled something on the return trip from Baba Yaga's tree," Edward said. "Jacob and I both agreed it was a bad idea for you to come out here on your own." Jacob huffed through his nose, almost in agreement.
"Do not think I am ungrateful for your concern, but you need to turn around and get back to the estate," Vermundr ordered through clenched teeth. "While I have been able to see how you're both decent enough fighters in your own time, you're in a completely different century now. This world is a much more savage place than the one you've come from. These woods, and the surrounding areas, are filled with creatures neither of you have ever…"
Vermundr's warnings were cut off by an unearthly shriek. As one, Vermundr, Edward and Jacob's heads turned in the direction of the shriek, just in time to see the figure hurtling at them in an oppressive manner. Even before the trio dodged out of the way of the attacking creature, they managed to get the full effect of the distinct rank smell of rotting flesh emanating from the monster. The reason for that smell became evident when the creature doubled back to attempt a second attack. It looked as if the creature had been a human man once but half of its face was decomposing, with maggots heavily infesting his skin.
"Zombie," Vermundr whispered in shock.
No sooner had Vermundr identified the creature, it let out another shriek and launched itself at them once again. This time, the zombie somehow managed to latch itself onto Jacob's back and proceeded to relentlessly tear out large patches of his fur. Howls of pain slipped from Jacob's throat as he tried in vain to shake off the attack. Moving quickly, Edward leapt up onto Jacob's haunches, trapping the zombie into a headlock and peeling it away from his friend.
"Edward, move!" Upon hearing Vermundr's command, and seeing what he planned to do in his head, Edward jumped back from the zombie. Less than a second later, Vermundr launched his sword at the zombie as an improvised spear. As a result, the zombie became pinned to the trunk of a nearby tree. Even with Vermundr's sword protruding from its chest, the zombie continued to screech and writhe around in a blatant attempt to continue to attack Jacob, Edward and Vermundr.
"There really are zombies, then," Edward commented, carefully examining Jacob's back for any injuries that would be too serious to heal properly without outside assistance.
"They're not as common as you might think, but yes. They can exist," Vermundr confirmed, walking up to the pinned zombie. "Abraham and I faced a fair amount of them over the years."
With no hesitation, Vermundr grabbed the zombie's shoulders and roughly shoved it downward in such a way, the sword cleanly split the creature's upper body into two halves, instantly silencing the monster permanently. Stepping over the zombie's remains, Vermundr pulled his sword out of the tree trunk and secured it to his back. Only then did he turn his attention back to Edward and Jacob, just in time to see Jacob phasing back into his human form.
"You fairing alright there, Jacob?" Vermundr asked, noticing his wince as he bent his back to pull the trousers back on.
"This is nothing," Jacob insisted. "I wouldn't be surprised if it was gone by morning."
"Even so, I suggest you take it easy for the rest of the night," Vermundr instructed. "Zombies are notably relentless in their attacks. I will not be too surprised if your back is still tender after two days." Pausing momentarily, Vermundr crouched down and threw the zombie's remains over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"We're taking that thing with us?" Jacob exclaimed.
"Only because Abraham should see it. I want to know what he has to say about this," Vermundr explained. "However, I should thank the two of you before all else. While I still stand by what I said earlier about how neither of you have any true inkling about the dangers that exist in this century, even for people like us, I most likely wouldn't have been able to take care of the zombie without your help."
Back at the estate, Abraham, Carlisle, Bella, Renesmee, Alice and Cassie all listened in shock as Edward, Jacob and Vermundr related their story about the attacking zombie, which Vermundr had placed on display on the floor in the withdrawing chamber.
"A zombie." Abraham shook his head, looking over at the body. "That's just… impossible. How could a zombie be out wandering in Epping Forest?"
"Why do you make it sound so unusual?" Edward asked. "As a monster hunter, Abraham, you probably have faced zombies before. Vermundr even confirmed that this wasn't the first one you've encountered."
"Yes, but the conditions around here are completely wrong," Abraham explained. "A zombie can only be created in areas where there is rich soil. Around here, the soil is far too thin to successfully create a zombie."
"Maybe it was created in an area with rich soil and made its way here," Jacob suggested.
"Highly unlikely," Vermundr said. "Zombies cannot travel long distances on their own. They decay far too quickly to be able to do so. A zombie can only maintain itself for a maximum of five days before they completely disintegrate. The only possible way for this zombie to even be here is if someone brought it into this area and set it loose. The problem is, who would be so idiotic and foolish to attempt to do so?"
"Abraham? Vermundr?" Cassie interrupted suddenly, her voice shaking. Looking over, everyone saw that she was kneeling next to the zombie's remains, her eyes wide in shock. "I… I think you should see this."
After a pause, Abraham and Vermundr stepped over to Cassie's side in silence. Glancing up at their faces in a cautious manner, Cassie carefully opened the zombie's torn shirt, exposing the creature's chest. The responses were immediate. Abraham let out a strangled gasp and took a step backward, his face paling in seconds, while Vermundr's lips curled back, fully exposing his teeth as he released a wild roar of unbridled rage. In curiosity, the others all stepped forward to see what had inspired such an intense reaction from the pair. In doing so, they all saw a mark on the zombie's chest, positioned over where the heart would be. The mark, which looked to have been made by a hot branding iron, was four intersecting lines within a circle, with the lines forming the overlapping letters C and D in a dalek font.
"What is it?" Bella asked, looking from the symbol to Abraham and Vermundr's expressions.
"It's the mark of the Carnival of Darkness," Abraham whispered, his voice hoarse with audible horror.
"What's the Carnival of Darkness?" Renesmee inquired. Abraham didn't reply immediately and appeared to be recovering from his shock, but after half a minute, he took a breath and began explaining.
"The Carnival of Darkness is essentially a group of men who have managed to capture a great assortment of mystical beasts and monsters. Each one of the creatures they capture are given this brand mark with the use of an iron rod heated over hot coals coated in magically amplified powdered quartz. Once a creature is branded, they're invisibly tethered to their confinement, as long as the enchanted seal remains attached to the top of the cage."
"It's a traveling zoo," Jacob said in realization. "That doesn't sound so bad."
"NOT BAD?!" Vermundr boomed, fixing Jacob with a withering glare, his expression fully showing his true vampire nature. "Do you have any idea what it is really like to be held prisoner by them? Those beasts and monsters are not simply exhibited, they are exploited! The creatures that are placed in the carnival were taken from their homes, robbed of their freedom, and forced into cages smaller than my forge out back. And that is nothing compared to how the more feared inhabitants are treated. Oh, they do keep the well-loved creatures that humans would give anything they owned to have the chance to see just once, such as unicorns, faeries and mermaids. But they also keep the most despised monsters, allowing paying patrons to mock and jeer them without fear. Because when the monsters are successfully kept restrained, what's to stop the humans from relentlessly torturing those monsters? The human patrons and the carnival workers are free to pelt the monsters with mud, rocks and whatever they can get their hands on. Or even purposely draw their own blood to torment a vampire who has been made to starve for two years, standing just out of reach of that thirsty vampire."
"Vermundr," Carlisle said, speaking slowly. "That's a very vivid description of what it's like in this carnival."
"It should be," Vermundr hissed, reaching up to unbutton his shirt, just enough for him to show everyone his upper chest. In doing so, he revealed the exact same brand mark that had been found on the zombie's chest, positioned in the very same location.
"Yes, that's right," Vermundr said, giving a dry laugh as he took in everyone's expression. "I was held prisoner by the Carnival of Darkness, myself. Years before I even met Abraham. And as I have just said, I was on display in the carnival for two years. With the brand mark in place, along with the dried bloodroot that was constantly kept in the incense burners secured to my cage, I was unable to get out of my cage, and therefore unable to obtain blood of any form. The humans who ran and visited the carnival all took great delight in seeing my torment and took every chance they could to increase it. There were many times I felt myself going mad as each day passed."
"But you clearly escaped," Alice pointed out.
"It was a chance in a million," Vermundr agreed, nodding in confirmation. "It was raining very heavily that night. We were all being transported to a new location when one of the wheels on my cage became wedged in a small depression in the path. As a result, my cage toppled over. When that happened, not only was the bloodroot incense burner extinguished, but the enchanted seal that was affixed to the cage was disrupted. Without those two restraints in place, I was free to escape." Pausing, a slow, sinister smile formed on Vermundr's face. "Although, I stuck around long enough to make sure those fools who kept me confined so long gained a new appreciation for that human saying, 'you mess with the bull, you'll get the horns.'
"Of course, I won't make any of you listen to any of the… minute details of that night," Vermundr added quickly, casting a particularly cautious glance at Renesmee. "Let's just say that, at the time, I was sure I put a permanent end to the Carnival of Darkness upon escaping from my cage. Until tonight, when we were returning home from Baba Yaga's tree, and I caught that old smell on the breeze. It was the same smell that emanated from the coals they used when branding the captured beasts and monsters. And now, because of this branded zombie, we've got further proof that the Carnival of Darkness has come back. Not only are they back, but they're here in Epping Forest."
"That means they probably captured more creatures," Bella surmised.
"Most likely, yes," Abraham confirmed. "So it might not be a wise idea for any of you to… Vermundr! Stop!" Abraham's words were cut off when his vampire partner suddenly ran out of the room at vampire speed. Less than a second later, Edward was off after him, catching up to Vermundr in time to block his path before he could step foot outside.
"Edward, get out of my way!" Vermundr barked, rage filling his every syllable. "Please don't make me force my way past you!"
"Vermundr, I can see what you're planning to do," Edward replied, refusing to step aside. "I understand that you have a personal vendetta against the carnival, and I do not blame you for wanting to put an end to the whole thing once and for all. All the same, you shouldn't simply run off without a plan. Or rather, with a plan that doesn't involve you charging into the forest and resorting to the methods you used last time. Besides, seeing as the carnival has returned, that didn't work as well as you thought."
"He has a point, Vermundr," Abraham said, stepping up to his friend's side. "Do not forget that the carnival successfully managed to capture you once. It would be wise to take the time to come up with a well thought-out plan. Otherwise, the carnival could manage to capture you again." A visible shiver washed over Vermundr's body as that thought sank in.
"Very well, Abraham," Vermundr complied after a lengthy pause. "I will wait. But please think up a plan quick. I'm only willing to wait until tomorrow morning."
AN: And here is when the plot starts to pick up a bit. Please tell me what you think so far.