Chapter 9. Nos Ver Ashtu
Ash picked up the blood covered boomerang and studied it. It appeared to be hand made with great care. The black painted metal shined in the light of a nearby torch. Ash looked around, seeking out who, or what had thrown it. He seemed to be in a courtyard of some kind littered by bodies.
"Well, whoever it was, they must be long gone." Ash placed the bat-shaped metal into his Shadow Pocket and looked around some more. In a flash of lightning, a massive castle was lit up in front of him. "Let's see who's home." Ash made his way to a pair of huge oak doors that showed signs of years of decay. Ash pushed on the doors but to no avail. "I never did take no for an answer." He fired up his chainsaw and cut his way in. He grabbed a torch and entered the castle. Behind him, another corpse slowly sat up. It looked around as it made it's way to his feet. It stood up strait and started to make it's way in Ash's direction. After a few steps, a pair of white eyes appeared on the shadows behind the lumbering vampire. A quick shimmer of light reflecting off metal shone in the darkness and dark blood sprayed out of the front of it's neck. With a swift flick of the wrist, the figure in the shadows decapitated the creature and it's body fell to the ground. The figure, wearing a black mask and cape, then thrust his weapon down into the heart of the vampire, impaling it.
Meanwhile, Ash was walking up a long, stone staircase. He was starting to breath heavy because of the weight of his gun, saw and sword.
"I kinda figured that all this hero stuff would get me in better shape." he said as he continued up the long stairs. His steps echoed off of the stone walls while he wiped a little bit of sweat off of his brow. A faint noise made it's way into Ash's ear and he stopped. He turned around and gazed down the stairway. After listening for a moment. He shrugged it off and made his way along. Along the wall to his right, he saw a mural that appeared to have been painted centuries ago. It depicted a lone vampire dressed in a red cloak standing among blood and human corpses.
"I bet that guy was popular." Ash turned his eyes away from the painting and came face to face with a hideous monster. He jumped back and discovered that it was just a statue of a winged demon. "This thing is pretty realistic." He went to take another step when the demons head suddenly snapped in his direction.
"Oh boy." Dust fell from it's stone body as the statue stood up from it's crouching position and stepped off of it's pedestal along the wall. Ash backed down a couple of steps as the grey eyes of the statue lit up into an erie green. "I never was a big art buff." Ash dropped his torch and grabbed his shotgun with his left hand. He fired off a shot that echoed loudly against the stone surrounding him. The demon was hit in the chest, knocking off a chunk of stone. The statue didn't even seem to notice. "That's not good." With amazing speed, the demon swung it clawed, stone hand around. Ash began to tumble down the stairs while his stone adversary continued it's pursuit. Ash lost his gun before he finally came to a stop. He looked up the steps to see the demon walk over his weapon, separating him from his firearm. Ash's back popped as he stood back up.
"Look's like it's time for a little old school." Ash made a fist with his robotic hand and began to swing. He landed a firm shot on the beast's jaw. Small pieces of stone fell to the ground as Ash connected two more hits. The demon then swung it's left hand around and pinned Ash to the wall. It brought it's face to Ash and let out a low growl.
"How does a statue have bad breath?" The statue reeled back with it's other clawed hand. Just then, a hook with a cable attached to it wrapped around the statue's arm. Ash looked down the stairway to see a caped man quickly tie the other end of the cable to a iron hook sticking out of the stone. The figure then sprinted up the stairs. Ash was released and he fell to the ground. He watched as the statue squatted down and opened it's mouth to roar. The caped man jumped into the air, stuffed a small object into the statue's mouth and landed behind it.
"You'd better get down." the stranger said in a low tone as he reached for a small button on his yellow belt. Ash hit the dirt as the button was pushed. The statue's head exploded and fell to the ground. It's body froze in place before it crumbled onto a pile of dust. The caped man then made his way to Ash.
"I appreciate the help, but I had it all under control."
"It looked like it." he replied as he put a hand on Ash's face and pivoted his head left then right.
"Just because you helped me out a little doesn't mean I want to marry you."
"You're clean. Everything in this castle heard that explosion, follow me if you don't want to be seen." Ash picked up his gun and followed him up the stairs. Ash was having a very hard time keeping up with the mysterious stranger in front of him. They reached the top of the stairs and they took a sharp left down a dark hallway. Darting in and out of shadows, up and down long passages in no particular order. All around him, Ash was hearing rustling noises, accompanied by screeches and growls of all kinds. Ash looked behind him to see several dark figures pass through the light of a torch. They appeared to be human but they were moving extraordinarily fast. After several minutes of dodging in the shadows, the mysterious stranger stopped and ducked into some shadows. Ash followed.
"Who are you?" Ash asked quietly. The masked man put his finger up to his lips and gestured out into the hallway. Ash turned just in time to see four pale skinned vampires pass only a few feet were they were hiding. After a moment, Ash question was answered.
"Batman."
"How long have you been here?"
"Only a few hours."
"Only a few hours and you know this whole place?"
"Most of it. Who are you?"
"The names Ash. What's going on here?"
"Vampires."
"Okay... is that all?" Ash asked, a little annoyed at how little this Batman talked.
"They seem to be guarding this place." Just then they heard footsteps and peeked out of the shadows and down the hall. Several vampires had wandered in and were looking right at them. Without a word, Batman emerged and threw a batarang with each hand. Four vampires instantly fell as the sharp metal tore through their hearts. Ash was once again amazed at how fast he was. Ash then moved out and fired a couple of rounds, dropping two more of the undead. Batman jumped over the top of an attacking vampire, grabbed a torch and started it on fire. He then kicked it hard in the back and in staggered into another, catching it on fire as well. The two fell to the ground, writhing in agony. Ash drew his sword and swung it around, decapitating the last assailant. Batman calmly walked over and stabbed it in the chest.
"You have to get 'em in the heart."
"I knew that." The two took off running again. After a few more stairs, they exited through a window and onto the roof. It was raining outside and the wind was very cold. After leaping onto a balcony, they entered through another window. Batman opened the door and looked into the hallway.
"No one's here for now, but it won't be long." He turned to Ash.
"So, Batman, huh? You're mother give you that name."
"Bruce Wayne, and my mother died long ago." Ash suddenly felt a little foolish.
"Oh, sorry. Batman's a good name."
"I use the name and the appearance to induce fear."
"It seems to work. What do we do now?"
"I don't know, these vampires don't seem to speak, so I haven't gotten any information."
"Yeah, they suck." Ash said, amused at his own pun. Batman's expression didn't change, just as serious as ever.
"I suggest we keep moving." The two exited the room and cautiously kept moving.
The two heroes had been sneaking in and out of shadows for over an hour, slowly making their way toward the top of the castle. Along the way, Ash had told the tale of the Book of the Dead and explained how everything had become so misplaced.
"That's some story." Batman said when Ash had finished.
"Yeah, but I make it look easy." They slowly opened a heavy door and peered in. The room was, at one point, a grand ballroom. The floor was covered in a bright red carpet with huge matching drapes and a elegant chandelier adorned the ceiling. Of course, everything was covered in a thick layer of dust that dulled the colors, but, Ash could tell that this was, at one time, quit a room.
"Well, this certainly is a very large room." He said as their steps stirred the dust on the floor.
"Nothing has been in this room for a long time." The two made their way to the canter of the room and Batman stopped. Ash nearly bumped into him.
"Something's coming." The Dark Knight said after a brief silence. Ash looked at the large windows on the other end of the dance floor. Glass was thrown all over the room that forced Batman and Ash to roll out of the way of the shards. They both looked up at the window from the floor. A large man stood before them, his skin very pale and his hair jet-black. He sneered, exposing a sharp fang while his red eyes stared at the heroes.
"The master said you would come." The vampire said. "My name is Sebastian. You have been given to me. The two of you will make excellent slaves."
"Eat me." Ash declared as he and Batman rose to their feet.
"I intend to." Ash pulled his gun and fired. Sebastian disappeared. "Well that was easy."
"Don't believe what you see." Batman said, scanning the whole room. They both looked up at the sound of laughter. Sebastian had made it up onto the chandelier in the blink of an eye.
"I admirer your courage." The vampire said as he stood on the golden steel above the heroes. "It is a marvelous quality for dogs." Sebastian then leaped down onto the floor.
"Hey ugly!" Ash yelled. "We're in the right room. Let's dance." Ash fired toward his adversary. Once again, Sebastian moved out of the way with inhuman speed and made his way toward Ash. He landed a hard fist right on Ash's jaw. He staggered back a step or two and from behind him, Batman leapt into the air and swung at the vampire. The blow was ducked and Sebastian retaliated with another clenched hand that landed in the center of the Dark Knight's stomach. He tried for another blow that Batman dodged and hit the vampire in the side of the head with an elbow. Sebastian stood up strait and crossed his arms.
"No one has hit me in over one hundred years, you will make a fine vampire. I may even call you friend." Batman didn't say a word. He just clenched his fists. Sebastian began to make his way to the caped hero. He leapt above Batman and came down hard with both feet. The Dark Knight swiftly dodged out of the way. Sebastian crashed into the floor, making a small crater were he landed. A loud shot then rang out that struck the vampire in the thigh. Another blast tore through his stomach. Black blood poured out of the wounds as Ash blew the smoke out of the barrel of his gun.
"You hit pretty hard suck face." Ash dropped his gun and started his saw. Sebastian stared at the hero with hate in his red eyes. The vampire stood up as his wounds healed. He took a step toward Ash when a batarang ripped through the right side of his chest. Sebastian turned around to be hit hard in the face by the Dark Knight. The vampire staggered a bit, giving Batman the perfect opportunity to land several more punches and kicks. Sebastian was finally able to leap out of the way. He landed between Ash and Batman. The vampire reached up and pulled the batarang from his chest.
"Dogs huh?" Ash said before he revved up his saw. Sebastian swung a clawed hand at the hero. Ash dodged to the side and grabbed his adversaries arm with his robotic hand. Bones snapped as Ash clenched his metallic fist. The pain caused Sebastian to drop to his knees. Ash then swung around with his rotating chain, lopping off the vampire's head. It rolled along the floor and stopped at the feet of what appeared to be an old man. Ash and Batman stood together as the man began to speak.
"Sebastian." he said. "You have failed me." He gave a swift kick to the decapitated head.
"Alright pop's." Ash said. "What's going on here?"
"My name is Dracula." he replied in a deep voice that carried a heavy accent. "You have invaded my home."
"Some home. You really need a woman's touch in here." Ash turned to Batman hoping to get a laugh out of him, but to no avail.
"Oh, but I do." When Dracula finished speaking, three winged women entered the room. Their appearance was grotesque. With pale skin and clawed hands and feet, they landed next to Dracula. When their feet touched the ground, they transformed into three of the most gorgeous women Ash had ever seen.
"What are three hot girls like you doing with a hunched over, wrinkled up, old man with wig boobs on his head." Ash turned to Batman again, he didn't move.
"Allow me to introduce my brides." He gestured toward the heroes. The three women took flight again, transforming into the beasts they were when they entered. Batman and Ash each dodged an attack from the first two brides, but the third knocked them both to the ground, Batman rolled over and grabbed a batarang from his belt. He threw the spinning weapon, stabbing one of the three in the back as she flew. It pierced her heart and she screamed in agony as her body turned to ashes. The remaining vampire harlots screamed at the lost of their sister and swooped down consecutively at the heroes. When they neared Ash and Batman, a barrage of silver arrows whizzed though the air, killing another one of Dracula's brides. Everyone in the room turned in the direction that the arrows had came.
"Van Helsing!" Dracula yelled at the man in the doorway wearing a long trenchcoat and a wide brimmed hat.
"That's right Drac. You miss me?" Helsing walked up and stood next to Batman and Ash. "Who're you two?" he inquired.
"The name's Ash, and this ball of sunshine here is Batman."
"It's a pleasure." Helsing said. "What do you say we rid ourselves of this vermin." When he finished speaking, a large black figure leapt through one of the few remaining windows. He had a large mouth with rows of sharp teeth and a long slithering tongue that was dripping with a pungent, green drool. He took his place next two Dracula, as did the last of his brides.
"What the Hell is that?" Batman said upon seeing this hulking creature.
"This," Dracula said with a hint of pride in his voice. "Is my son. The book has delivered him to me. He possesses an alien being inside of him that contains the power and strength unimaginable." Dracula produced the Necronomicon from his robes. "This has granted me the opportunity to breath life into my vampiric children, and bring the world to it's knees."
"Hey Grampa," Ash said. "Why don't you make this easy on yourself had over my book. Otherwise the old folks home is gonna have one less crotchety old turd to look after."
"Your insults will only add to your agony."
"I've heard this speech from you more than once, Dracula." Van Helsing said. "I grow more weary of it every time."
"You will learn to hold your blasphemous tongue." Dracula turned to his son. "Venom, destroy these curs." Dracula then disappeared into a slithering shadow and his last bride flew off out of the window. Ash, Batman and Van Helsing were left with Venom, who was drooling profusely onto the floor. Ash took a step toward him.
"Careful Ash, we don't know what he is capable of." Batman said as Venom crouched down.
"Oh don't worry you're pointed little head. I've handled guys a lot bigger than him before." When Ash finished speaking, Venom shot out a rope like strand from the top of his hand that wrapped around Ash's waist, and with a effortless pull, Ash was slammed into the wall. Venom then jumped back and landed on the wall, sticking to it. Ash made his way back to his feet.
"Told you." Batman said. Ash stared at the Dark Night while he cocked his gun.
"Hey, Van." Ash said. "How 'bout we bag us a monster?"
"Works for me." The two of them began to unleash a volley of slugs and silver arrows in Venom's direction. The spider-like villain began to crawl up the wall at an amazing rate. He made his way to the ceiling as Ash was reloading his gun, behind him, his path was full of bullet holes and arrows. He dropped down to the ground, and swung his muscular arm around, catching both Ash and Van Helsing. The two heroes were tossed across the room and their weapons were knocked from their hands. Helsing slammed into a pillar and fell to the ground while Ash crashed right through the wall, dibre covering him. Venom turned around and was face to face with Batman. His long tongue slithered around in the air while it oozed a vile, green saliva that dripped to the ground. Venom reached out with his clawed hand only to have it ducked under by Batman, who thrust his fist up into Venom's gullet. It was like hitting concrete. Venom came down with both fists that forced Batman to roll out of the way. Venom continued his assault and Batman was barely fast enough to dodge the blows but his enemy kept following him. Just then, a whizzing sound was heard, and a silver arrow buried itself into Venom's back.
"That's enough beasty." Van Helsing said as Batman, from on his back, kicked up hard with both feet, nailing Venom in the chin. The monster's head snapped backward as a black tendril slithered out of Venom's back. In a flash it shot over to Helsing and wrapped itself around his face, making it impossible to breathe. As Helsing was struggling for air, another tendril shot out of Venom's chest and grabbed Batman around the neck and lifted him into the air. Venom's long tongue found it's way to the arrow jutting out of his back. It wrapped around it and yanked the silver spear out. The tongue came back around the front and dropped the arrow into his hand. With a quick thrust, Venom pushed the arrow into Batman's left shoulder. Blood rushed to the wound in the Dark Knight's arm as Venom dropped him to the ground. The villainous creature leaned over Batman with a huge grin on his long jaws, drool dripping off of his teeth. Just then, a square stone from the wall struck Venom in the side of the head. The black tendril loosed its grip on Helsing's head. Venom turned to his left to see Ash holding another stone in his hand, tossing it into the air and catching it.
"Hey ugly," he said before he paused to shake dust out of his hair. "Let's rock." He threw the stone and hit Venom in the side of the head again. Venom lumbered toward the hero menacingly. Ash swung forward with his robotic hand and hit the monster in the jaw. Batman pulled his grappling hook from his belt and threw it at his adversaries feet. The hook wrapped around Venom's ankles and Batman pulled hard, toppling him. Across the room, Van Helsing reached into one of the pockets on his trenchcoat. He pulled out a smooth, black object. He brought it to his mouth and whispered into it.
"Ignus Fatuios." He then threw it in Venom's direction. "Don't look!" Batman and Ash covered their eyes and looked away. The object came to a stop and erupted a blinding light that bathed the entire room. The three heroes heard Venom roar in pain for a moment before the light subsided.
"Everyone alright?" Batman asked his comrades.
"Yeah." Van Helsing replied as he put his hat pack on. "I've never seen anything like him before.
"Super, thanks for asking." Ash said sarcastically as he gathered up his belongings. "What was that thing."
"It was an untested light-bomb." Helsing said. "It's supposed to be bright enough to drive darkness from a persons soul, or burn you alive."
"I think that was a successful test." Ash replied. The three of them looked down at Venom just to see his black skin disappear into his body, revealing a man underneath.
"He's coming to." Batman said.
"We've got to ask ourselves something." Ash said as he pointed his gun at the man. "Do we really want a him to?"
"What's the matter?" Helsing asked. "You afraid of another go with the big fella?"
"That doesn't bother me." Ash replied. "I like a good rumble as much as the next guy, I'm talking about the fact that he's naked. What if he want's to grapple some more? I don't think I could handle that." The man looked up right into the barrel of Ash's gun.
"Hey, what's going on here?"
"Well buddy." Ash said. "You were just trying to kill us and now you're naked." The man looked down at himself and quickly the black suit reemerged and produced a swift set of clothes. It didn't make a fashion statement, but he looked respectable.
"How did you do that?" Batman asked. The man stood up.
"The names Eddie Brock by the way. My other did that."
"Other?" Ash and Helsing asked at the same time.
"Yep. That black suit is actually an alien symbiote, and together, we are Venom."
"We figured that part out already." Ash said.
After quick introductions and bringing Eddie up to speed on the situation, the four exited the room and headed down another hall. After a few minutes, Eddie stopped and looked around. The other three turned toward him and watched as the alien symbiote crept over Brock's body. Venom then crouched down low to the floor.
"Something is near. We can smell the blood of the innocent."
"What is it?" Batman inquired. Venom didn't answer, he simply jumped onto the wall and proceeded on all fours along it at a rate that the other three were barely able to keep up with. Venom rounded a corner and dropped to the floor. The other three stopped and surveyed the area. They were in a large, stone room. The buttresses that supported the stones were in a terrible state of decay, sagging under their own weight. As their eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room, Ash wished that he could unsee what lay before them. All over the room, decaying copses littered the floor and were even pinned to the wall. The faces of every body seemed to have been peeled off.
"Blood." A low voice growled in the darkness. "It has been so long. The thirst is upon me. It is finally time to feed." Out of the shadows, the source of the voice was revealed. A grotesque being dragged it's long carcass into view. It's skin was covered with the faces of hundreds. Their expressions all had a look of terror upon them. There were no detectable legs, just a large lump of rotting flesh that the beings massive arms forced onward. The overpowering stench of decay burned the nostrils and stung the eyes. Ash looked at the other three.
"Not it."
"Only sustenance is allowed in my chamber."
"You don't entertain much do you?" Helsing said.
"I have little need for guests. All I require is the sweet nectar that is now rushing through your veins in fear."
"What manner of creature are you?" Venom asked the hulking mass.
"Me name is Melchia. I have spent countless centuries in this chamber feasting on beings far more powerful than you."
"Well Lumpy." Ash said. "I think it's time to dance." He turned his head and looked at Batman.
"I don't do one liners."
"None shall survive." Melchia swung his huge rotting arm around that the four were barely able to dodge. A chainsaw slash caught him in the forearm, putrid, black blood poured from the wound. Melchia pulled his arm back toward his body and let out a slow laugh. Venom shot out a webline that struck their adversary in the side of the head. With a swift tug, the rotting vampire's head slammed into the wall causing several stones to crash onto the beast, knocking him to the ground. A volley of silver arrows came next. Piercing the chest of the revolting creature. Melchia reached out with a massive hand and grabbed Venom before tossing him into Van Helsing. Melchia lumbered back upright and with his hand, pushed down on the arrows protruding from his chest. The metal arrows tore out of his skin and fell to the ground. Batman jumped into the air and landed on the vampire's shoulder. He quickly pulled out a Batarang and stabbed Melchia in the left eye. Batman was quickly grabbed and flung to the ground. The Dark Night was then pinned by a massive hand.
"How dare you?" Melchia brought his face to Batman's. The smell of his breath was far worse than that of his decaying skin.
"Van," Ash yelled. "Distract him. Venom, get me to that beam." Helsing pulled out two round blades that began to spin. He charged at the beast and began to hack into any part of his body the was in reach. Venom grabbed Ash and swung up to the buttress. Ash began to cut away. Batman had managed to escape the crushing weight of Melchia's arm as he attempted to block Helsing's slashing. The Dark Knight shot out a grappling hook that buried itself into Melchia's neck. Up above, the beam Ash had been cutting on began to break.
"This is taking to long." Venom said. He secured a webline to Ash's back and stuck the other end to the ceiling. Venom them tore the rotting beam from the wall and began to fall. Leaving Ash hanging, Venom guided the jagged end on the beam downward as he fell. Batman and Van Helsing leapt out of the way just as the beam forced itself through Melchia's heart. The beast fell to the ground, a final, foul breath left his body as black blood trickled out of his mouth. Up above, Ash loudly cleared his throat.
"I don't mean to be a nuisance, but can I come down now?"
After Ash had been cut down, the last few minutes had been filled with poor jokes at his expense. Apparently Venom and Van Helsing had found Ash hanging from the ceiling quit humorous. As usual, Batman never cracked a smile. Venom then said something useful.
"We can smell him, him and his brood. He thought he could control us, but we will teach him." Ash leaned over to Van Helsing.
"I don't think he's playing with a full deck." he whispered.
"You can find him?" Batman asked.
"Yessss. We can sense him, we will eat his face."
"What's this brood you spoke of?" Helsing asked.
"They are his children. Thousands of them, enough to topple the worlds population in a matter of days. Millions of innocent lives taken, we cannot allow that."
"Well," Helsing said. "I happen to have another light-bomb. That should be enough to burn the little bastards to soot." The four then jumped at the sound of a high pitched scream coming from above. They all looked up to see the last of Dracula's brides swooping down at them. Caught of guard, none of them were able to draw a weapon in time. Her massive wing span knocked all of them to the ground. Ash was hit the hardest, tossed away from the group. The winged beast landed on top of him and sank her fangs into his neck. Ash tried to struggle but was unable to move, his body locked up as she drained his blood. The bite was broken when a black tendril wrapped around her throat and pulled her back at Venom. She screamed and clawed but was quickly silenced when a sickening snap echoed off of the stone walls. She lay limp on the floor, her neck broken. Batman then stabbed her in the heart with a batarang.
"You've been bitten." Helsing said. "You will become a vampire within the hour. Once that happens, we will have to kill you."
"Is there any way to cure him?" Batman asked.
"We have to kill Dracula, the father of all vampires."
"That shouldn't be to hard." Ash said as he rose to his feet.
"Noone knows how to do it."
"We can do it." Venom said. "Rip out his eyes and eat his brain."
"I bet you're great at kids parties." Ash said as he walked on. "Well, lets hurry up. I would like to stay human."
For most of the last hour, Venom had been leading the way while Van Helsing and Batman were keeping a close eye on Ash.
"We are nearly there." Venom said with glee in his voice. As they walked, Ash could feel his fangs gradually becoming elongated and sharper. The four came up to a huge oak door that Venom easily kicked in. "Knock, knock." The symbiote slithered off of Eddies face and the two began a conversation with each other.
"Who's there?" When Eddie finished, the symbiote covered his face again.
"Wewanna."
"Wewanna who?"
"Wewanna eat your heart."
"That's charming." Ash said. The four of them looked around. They were in a huge room that was covered with green, pulsating sacks.
"Those are the eggs." Venom said. "Quickly destroy them." Van Helsing reached into his trenchcoat for the other light-bomb. When he pulled it out, a blur whizzed in front of him, pulling the weapon from his hand.
"I am not so easily defeated." Dracula said from across the room. In the blink of an eye he had moved an amazing distance. He dropped the light bomb to the floor and began to approach the heroes. Venom tried to engage him.
"You killed my brides." he effortlessly slapped Venom to the side. "You killed Sebastian, my servant of over four hundred years." He grabbed Batman around the throat and threw him aside. "And you stole my son." Van Helsing was knocked to the ground. "You will not deny me my children." He was face to face with Ash. He sniffed the air. "But it seems that a new servant is near."
"Oh, you'll get served alright." Ash swung him metallic fist at the vampire. Dracula swiftly dodged to the side.
"It is only a matter of time." When Dracula finished speaking, Ash fell to the ground in pain. He looked at the other three heroes and they watched as his fangs grew and his eyes turned yellow.
"We don't have much time." Helsing said. The three leapt at Dracula. Venom was able to web his feet to the ground and grab him around the throat. Dracula hit him in the stomach and slammed him into the floor. Batman was able to sneak up behind him and stab him in the side with a batarang while Helsing scrambled for the light-bomb. Batman was sent flying with a kick to the face. Dracula pulled his feet free and jumped onto Helsing. After grabbing his trenchcoat, Helsing was tossed across the room like nothing. Dracula then made his way over to Ash. He knelt down and spoke to him.
"Do you feel it? The power coursing through you're veins. In only a few moments, the transformation will be complete. You will make a fine son."
"Don't count on it, Dad." with speed that amazed even himself, Ash struck the vampire in the face, sending him crashing into the wall on the other side of the room.
"How is this possible?" Dracula asked in shock.
"I guess I'm not so easy to sway asshole." With eyes glowing red with anger, Ash leapt at his would-be father, pinning him against the wall. He drew his Deadly Knightblade and stabbed Dracula through the stomach, tacking him to the wall.
"You cannot kill me." Dracula said.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Ash reached into his shadow pocket and pulled out the twisted bottle. He then pulled the batarang from the vampire's side and dunked it into the green liquid. "The quickest way to a vampire's heart." He plunged the weapon into the dark being's heart. Ash then reared his head back and opened his mouth before plunging his fangs into the ancient vampire, drinking his blood.
"He's letting the evil corrupt him." Helsing yelled.
"I thought killing Dracula would stop that." Batman yelled back.
"He's not dead yet, Ash is stealing his power. If he does that, he will become just as evil."
"Allow us." Venom grabbed Ash by the back of the shirt and tore him away. Ash thrashed madly with blood on his mouth and chin as Venom tried to hold him down. Across the room Dracula touched the wall with his hand. A lightning like energy crept out of his hand and spread around the room to all the eggs.
"You may have killed me, but me children will live." The eggs started to pulsate and shake. In seconds, small creatures emerged from the deflating green sacks. These vampires shared very little human characteristics and scrambled along the floor like rats. Ash threw Venom off of him and stood up. The tiny vampires looked at Ash inquisitively.
"Now," Ash said to the little creatures. "That Grampa's gone, looks like you answer to me. I think I'm gonna like being a dad."
"Helsing," Batman yelled. "Were is your bomb."
"I don't know. I can't see it."
"Make way." Venom charged through Batman and Van Helsing before tearing into the small blood suckers. "We may not get to have Dracula for dinner, but we will just fill up on appetizers." Venom savagely ripped apart the little vermin with his hands while at the same time biting off heads and chewing others in half with his sharp teeth. Venom made his way to Ash and he two began to exchange blows. Behind them, Batman and Helsing were holding off more of the creatures. Venom knocked Ash to the ground and jumped on top of him. Not to far away, he spotted the light-bomb. Venom shot out a web-line that stuck to the little black ball and swung it around.
"Helsing, catch." The bomb landed right in the vampire hunters hand. He whispered the magic words into it and tossed it into the fray. Light began to emerge from the ball as Venom jumped off of Ash and joined the other two around a corner. The light exploded and the little vampires screamed in agony. When the light faded, Ash was lying on the floor, covered in what looked like green jell-O.
"So, they exploded, huh?" Venom said.
"Was I just neckin' with Dracula?" Ash asked while he slowly stood up.
"The darkness almost took you." Helsing said.
"So I was almost turned gay?"
"Yep." Batman said. "It looked like it came pretty natural."
"Was that a joke?" Ash replied as he walked over to the pile of robes were Dracula once stood. "You're outdoing yourself." Ash pulled his sword from the wall and gathered up his other belongings. "As much as I enjoy comedy hour, I got other worlds to save." Ash bent over and pulled the Necronomicon from the clothes. "See ya round gents." When Ash disappeared, the other three turned and left the room.
"There's a town about three miles north of here." Helsing said. "Who wants a drink." Venom gleefully jumped up and down and raised his hand.
"We do! We do!" The three exited the castle and headed toward town as the sun was just beginning to rise.
Ash surveyed his surroundings. He was in a desert with nothing to behold except sand.
"This is just swell." He said as he began to walk in no particular direction. "Halloween Town at least had some scenery, but, on the other hand, too much singing." Ash wandered around the desert for some time before he came to the top of a huge dune and saw what was on the other side. He stopped to gaze at a huge pyramid. "And me without a camera." He approached the weathered stone structure. As he neared, he once again saw Doom and Maleficent. Figuring the same thing would happen as last time, he began to follow. He was correct, they could not hear or see him. They made their way into the pyramid until they emerged in a large room in the center. In the middle of the room, a huge coffin sat upright. Maleficent pointed her staff in it's direction. The stone cover on the front opened slowly to reveal a very large figure inside.
"Who dares awaken the mighty Apocalypse?"
"It is I, Maleficent."
"Your recent actions have garnered my attention, witch. But that will do little to impede your destruction."
"I come bearing news of an artifact that can make you even more powerful."
"Impossible. I am the most powerful being in the universe."
"I speak of Pandora's Box." Apocalypse's brow turned down in interest. He thought for a moment before speaking.
"That object is no more than a myth." Doom stepped forward, carrying what appeared to be a horn.
"This gives you the ability to summon Kronos, upon which the Temple of Pandora is latched." Apocalypse grabbed the horn.
"If this does not work, I will see to your demise."
"I assure you." Maleficent said. "The power of a God will be yours." Apocalypse pushed in a stone on the side of his coffin, causing the floor to raise toward the ceiling. The top of the pyramid opened and the floor came to a stop. Touching the horn to his mouth, a loud roar erupted from the horn. Apocalypse, Maleficent, Doom and Ash peered out into the desert. After a moment, a hulking being came in to view. The titan Kronos slowly crawled his way toward Apocalypse's pyramid.
"Pandora's Box," Maleficent said. "Is hidden within. Find it, and you will be granted the power of a God."
Ash looked around his general area. Everything, from the buildings to the ground, was metallic.
"This certainly is a shiny place. Hey cool car." Ash approached a vehicle parked near to him. "At least I can find the book in style this time." He climbed in. The door shut all by itself and the engine fired up without aid.
"Welcome to Cybertron Ash, we've been expecting you." the car said as it sped off with Ash inside of it.