Chapter 10
Gwen resigned herself to waiting for Andromeda to heal the wound when the door flew open and everybody poured out onto the balcony. "You guys! I told you to stay downstairs!"
"With the annoying fortune teller?" Noah asked. "Are you daft?"
"What's that glowing thing around you?" Beth asked before Izzy popped out of Courtney's hair.
"It's Andromeda, silly!" The shrunken ginger haired girl giggled.
"And she's already healing my wound, thank you very much," Gwen said, assuming that Aurora had allowed them to watch her. "Why do you people have a death wish?"
"The mansion's pretty much ghostless on the first two floors Gwen," Geoff said. "And the lights are all on. Except for Aurora and that granny ghost we didn't see anything else."
"Well now you're on the third floor...which still has ghosts!" Gwen said irritably.
"We were worried Gwen," Bridgette said as she helped Gwen to her feet.
"I can appreciate that and I know that I'd be worried for any of you...well most of you," She passed her gaze over Heather, Courtney and Justin. "If any of you were doing what I do. But look, I have this handled and Andromeda is with me."
"It's a little hard for a glowy thing to fight off giant ghosts-" Suddenly Andromeda's spectre shot out one smoke like tendril that grabbed Noah's nose and twisted. "Ah-ah-ah! Ow."
"Normally I would ignore such comments since you have no idea what you are talking about," Andromeda said sweetly. "And that it's obvious your parents were unable to teach you manners. But my student has had to fight off a lot of spirits to save you all, and got injured several times now, leaving me in a foul mood. Some respect would be appreciated, alright?"
"Yes!" Noah nodded his voice a high squeaky pitch. "Yes! Respect!"
Andromeda released his nose and gasped in relief, holding his nose with both hands.
"Anyone else have any funny wit to share?" Andromeda asked, her spectre form crackling with white energy.
Everybody shook their head, waving their hands and shouting repeated 'no's' and other exclamations.
"Nope!"
"Not me!"
"I'm too dumb!"
"I'm too young!"
"Be thankful to the nice spirit for helping us, got it!" Izzy nodded, hiding back in Courtney's hair...only to somehow pop out of Cody's hair seconds later.
"Good!" Andromeda retracted her hand and then vanished into the necklace, Gwen's wound fully healed.
"Yeah, I should have told you, Andromeda may not be able to manifest her true form into this world but she can manifest a small spectre out here when needed. It's not as strong as the real thing but she can be dangerous when she's ticked." Gwen smirked as she stretched her arm. "She manifests her power through me in a fight."
"So you get super powers?" DJ asked.
"Only a bit. I can only handle about ten percent of her power. Anymore and I might die." Gwen shrugged. "Or have a mental break down."
"How powerful is she?" LeShawna asked.
"Let's say if we were to measure the strength of the spirits I have seen here they'd be a point zero five with Andromeda around fifteen." Gwen said. "Meaning that while these guys can throw things around, maybe hurt or kill somebody if they're good enough, Andromeda can vaporize a crowd or bring a city as half as big as Toronto down without trying...if I could use her full power."
"Holy!" Cody said.
"Yowza," Noah added.
"Cowabunga!" Izzy said out of the blue, drawing stares. "...I don't know what word game we're playing but I like it!"
"Gwen, you should move on, you still have several humans to save," Andromeda said.
"You're right," Gwen nodded. "Can I trust you all to not put yourselves in danger again for ten more minutes?"
After several moments of silence she sighed. "Of course, why did I bother asking?"
"We're with you like glue Gwen!" Izzy said as she somehow popped out of Gwen's hair-when she had been in Noah's moments before.
"That's what I was afraid of." Gwen picked up her sword.
"Uh, Gwen?" Lindsay walked up to her and held out the blue coat Gwen had given her to keep warm. "Here's your coat back."
Gwen smiled as she took the coat. "Thanks, Lindsay."
She put it on, covering the tear on her shirt from the attack. "There's a door on the far left side of the balcony. Anyone who comes with me will do exactly as I say, no matter what. No questions, no hesitation, got it?"
"Got it!" Geoff replied.
"Sure thing!" Izzy said.
"All hail Gwen!" Cody shouted.
"First thing...is to be quiet." Gwen said. "So we can hear the ghosts if they start coming."
Their answers were more hushed this time as they all said they would obey her commands.
"I'll stay out of this." Heather raised one hand. "Not because I want to take orders from you it's just that I don't want to run into anymore ghosts."
"I'm a lover not a fighter." Justin shrugged.
"Could have fooled me." LeShawna rolled her eyes.
"Me and Beth would like to stay here too." Lindsay and Beth hugged each other.
"I think I might stay put too." DJ raised his hand. "Way too scary."
"That's fine." Gwen nodded.
"I'll agree, since you know what you're doing." Courtney said, even though her reasons was to make sure Gwen didn't do anything with Duncan but after what she saw from Andromeda reacting to Noah it might not be a good idea to insult Gwen with the spirit in ear shot.
"Going off on a crazy quest for everyone else while risking life and death? I'll sit this one out." Noah sat against the railing.
"Chicken!" Izzy shouted, sticking her head out of Gwen's hair.
Gwen walked over the door on the far left side of the balcony and opened the door. There was a dark hall behind the door but Gwen used a bit of Andromeda's power to light up the hall. This hall was smaller than the others; there was a door on the left side, just several feet away. Gwen walked up to the door with everyone else still behind her as she slowly opened the door and knocked it open.
Inside she saw a large room, perhaps larger than any other room in the mansion filled with all sorts of objects. A large cabinet was on the west side with a small table and a small couch. At the far east side there was a cabinet identical to the other one. In the middle of the room Gwen could see three telephones side by side.
"Stay out here and let me check if anything's in there." Gwen said as she walked inside the room.
She stopped in the center of the room, seeing if there any lights to power when several drones appeared out of the floor around her, surrounding her.
"Gwen!" LeShawna and Bridgette shouted but they didn't need to worry as Gwen swung her sword and slashed the drones in half with one swing.
"This is easier than basic training." Gwen said as she released Andromeda's power into the lights.
"WHO'S THERE!" A voice shouted it jumped out of hiding behind Gwen.
Gwen reacted by launching her foot into the figure's chest and sent him into the wall. "OW!"
"TRENT!" Two girls jumped out of hiding and ran over to the downed teenage.
"Trent? Katie? Sadie?" Gwen turned and saw Trent sitting against the wall, a hand over his stomach where her foot had hit and Katie and Sadie were hugging him.
"Owwwww..." Trent groaned. "Can I ask why I deserved that?"
"Sorry, I got startled," Gwen said as Katie and Sadie helped Trent to his feet.
"GWEN!"
"No hugging!" Gwen stuck both hands out to stop Katie and Sadie. "No hugging! I swear I broke a rib from everybody hugging me today!"
"Ok," Katie backed up with Sadie, sounding embarrassed for flying off the handle.
"When did you show up Gwen?" Trent asked. "When those ghosts showed up everybody was there but you."
"I ran a little late," Gwen replied. "Have you three seen any of the other contestants? Specifically Owen, Tyler, and Duncan?"
"Well I think I saw someone running through here," Katie said. "But we were all kinda...hiding." She looked away as she realized they had not even tried to help.
"It's fine," Gwen said. "I found everybody else already."
"Hey guys!" Izzy said, popping out of Gwen's hair.
Katie and Sadie just stared and started to babble senselessly until they both fell over backwards while Trent just stood there and stared at Izzy like she had appeared out of a magician's hat.
"Izzy?" Trent managed to say.
"Yep! I'm my own action figure!" Izzy cheered. "With kung-fu grip! Hay-yayayayayayayayayaya!" She reached down and grabbed Gwen's nose. "Got your nose!"
"...ha ha." Gwen sighed. "You are making it really hard not to lock you back in that kid's room."
"But then you'd miss me!" Izzy whined.
"Can I miss nausea?" Gwen asked.
"...maybe."
"Behave yourself Izzy, you already made things hard for these three," Gwen said sternly.
"Okay!" Izzy sank back into Gwen's hair.
"What...was...?" Trent started.
"She got shrunk and used as a ghost baby's dolly, end of story." Gwen said.
"Action figure!" Izzy protested.
"Can we get back on track here?" Courtney ran up to them, followed by the others. "Where's Duncan?"
"I think he ran into that room over there." Katie pointed at the door far east corner of the room.
"Hang on, Duncan!" Courtney ran for the door.
"Courtney, stop!" Gwen shouted, chasing after her.
She opened the door looked inside. There were no lights like the other rooms but they could see clocks and lots of them. All over the room, on the walls, and several tables each had an old looking clock. At the other side of the room were three small houses with the biggest in the center.
"Duncan! Are you in here?" Courtney went in with Gwen just behind her.
"Watch it, I keep telling everyone that you never know what-"
"BOO!"
"AH!" Courtney and Gwen jumped back as a spirit resembling a fifty year old man appeared in front of them, waving his arms as he made a scary face.
He was bald and wore a brown suit. His face was long and wrinkly with yellow glowing eyes as he made a groaning sound.
"You cannot move beyond this room." The spirit said in a loud voice slowly. "I am the oldest spirit in this house, I'm scary when I get cranky and people get scared of me! I am Uncle Norbert! BOO!"
He kept on waving his hands while groaning while Courtney and Gwen just stood there while everyone watched outside.
"Is this guy for real?" Courtney asked, not impressed with the spirit.
"It's sad. I've met some people who become spirits and try to scare people because they think it's their job when they die but this..." Gwen shook her head.
"Hey! Hello! I am scary!" Norbert shouted, annoyed that no one was screaming.
"Yeah right!" Izzy popped out of Gwen's hair. "That is so not scary!"
"Give it a rest, sir. You're not really that scary." Gwen put her sword away. "Just go away and nothing bad will happen. By the way did you see anybody come by here?"
"I am not here to give directions I am here to scare you!" Norbert shouted, getting upset no one was afraid.
"I don't think he knows." Gwen sighed. "Great, better keep looking."
"Would someone tell me why no one is afr-AH!" Norbert screamed as Gwen drew the Seal of Constraint and he got sucked into the symbol.
Gwen picked up the card and looked at it.
"He's a lot better now that he's not talking." Gwen put the card in her pocket.
"But now what? No one's here! And there's no other door." Courtney looked around the room and found no door.
"I guess Duncan never showed you movies with horror houses." Gwen walked forward.
"He tried but only got me to watch one. What are you getting at?" Courtney asked as the other contestants that had volunteered to come walked in.
"There's always a secret passage and so far I haven't seen any stair case that leads up to the roof." Gwen replied as she looked at the three houses that took up half the room. "Think back to Total Drama, Courtney."
"Oh! A secret passage!" Izzy popped out of Gwen's hair. "Let me look! I am great at secret passages!"
"I've got this." Andromeda lit up the room as she gave power to the lights.
She then brought a light on the houses and several sets of finger prints were seen.
"There are three finger prints that have left an imprint of someone's life energy meaning that the remaining three contestants were in the room." Andromeda receded back into the necklace.
"Thanks, now for this..." Gwen touched one of the finger prints with her Omni-Glove. "Show me the Past."
All three of the clocks were being spun as several voices exchanged heated words and curses. They all stopped on the twelve, and the middle house opened up, splitting apart at the middle and opened outwards like a pair of doors.
"Take them up."
Gwen snapped out of it and then went over to the clocks, adjusting them so their hands reached the twelve at the top of each one.
"What are you doing?" Courtney asked.
The house split open, surprising everyone and revealed an elevator.
"Well that was conveniently easy." She looked around suspiciously. "No traps? No other ghosts?...man I'm lucky."
"How'd you know this was here?" Courtney asked.
"Trade secret. Anyways, they took the elevator up to the roof." Gwen replied as she walked inside with Courtney following her.
"Wait for us." LeShawna called out as she and the others tried to get into the elevator but Gwen held up one hand.
"Sorry, LeShawna but there's only room for two. We'll be back." Gwen replied as the doors closed.
The elevator took Gwen and Courtney up to the roof. The doors opened to reveal the very top of the mansion that had several pillars meant to hold up something with a railing to keep anyone from falling over. Gwen stepped out of the elevator and looked around; taking a few steps she passed a pillar and heard a sound of movement. Something jumped out behind her but she spun and grabbed an arm before twisting it behind her would be attacker's back and knocking their knees out from under them to make them fall down.
"Ow!" The attacker replied sounding like...
"Duncan!" Gwen and Courtney exclaimed as his face was revealed.
"Gwen? Courtney?" Duncan stopped struggling.
"Let him go!" Owen jumped out, ready to attack.
"Owen!" Izzy shouted, popping out of Gwen's hair.
"Izzy? Gwen? Courtney?" Owen asked as Tyler came out.
"Oh man! I thought it was another gh-gh-ghost!" Tyler exclaimed.
"False alarm, Tyler, but that doesn't explain why you attacked me." Gwen let Duncan go and allowed him to stand up.
"We're trying to figure a way out of here and thought more of those ghosts came up. You never know what shows...Even if it's you." Duncan smiled at her but Gwen managed to keep herself from smiling back knowing it was not a good time to deal with him.
"Duncan!" Courtney hugged him. "I was so worried!"
"Oh man. Izzy, what happened to you?" Owen leaned to look at Izzy but his face was so close to Gwen's that she stepped back.
"I got shrunk by this baby ghost but Gwen rescued me and everyone else!" Izzy jumped out of Gwen's hair and hugged Owen's face.
"Great! We can escape through that!" Duncan pointed to a rope over the railing. "We climb down that rope, land at the bottom and make a run for it."
"That won't work." Everyone turned and saw...
"Ghost!" Owen and Tyler screamed while Duncan put Courtney behind her.
Meanwhile Gwen didn't pull out her sword as the ghost was just...a little boy. He looked to be around ten years old, dressed in 17th century clothing. She walked over to him to the shock of everyone else and knelt down in front of him.
"Who are you?" Gwen asked, attempting to look harmless.
"Vincent." The boy replied, having a look on his face that told Gwen he seemed to have lost all hope. "And you're an avatar. I saw how you defeated all the others. Are going to do the same to me?"
"Did you harm these guys?" Gwen gestured to Duncan, Tyler, and Owen.
The boy shook his head.
"Then no." Gwen stood up. "I don't like hurting kids, human or spirit. But that does leave me to ask if you're here to stop me."
"I'm not," Vincent shook his head. "I've been stuck on this roof ever since I died." He pointed off to a corner of the roof. The shadows seemed to clear away from it, revealing...a skeleton!
Courtney squeaked hiding behind Duncan as he, Owen and Tyler turned pale.
"You died up here?" Gwen looked at the boy.
"Only after everybody else died," Vincent sighed. "I couldn't get off, and I starved to death...and I was still stuck when I woke up as a ghost. I only get to hear screams from below these days."
"So you're not like most of the other ghosts here," Gwen whispered. "Poor kid...I think that I might have a way to help you though."
"Really?" The ghost sounded hopeful.
"I have something, a Seal of Constraint," Gwen said. "I can temporarily imprison you in a card with it. The method can be used to displace some ghosts, if an Avatar Sanctuary needs them for research. I could release you outside of this area, so you wouldn't be trapped here anymore."
"I'd really like that," Vincent smiled. "But before you do...I should tell you about The Master."
"You know him?"
"I heard of him," Vincent said. "From ghosts who talk too loud or come up here. I always hide from them...but they always come up to talk privately. And I know that The Master is in the lowest part of this mansion, behind a warded door."
"Maybe we should let everybody hear this," Gwen looked to the elevator as it brought Bridgette and Geoff up.
"Is everybody okay?" Geoff asked as he stepped out into the open.
"Yeah, but I need everybody up here before we go any further," Gwen said. "I think we should all hear this."
After all of the contestants were gathered on the roof, Gwen introduced them two at a time to Vincent and assured them that he would not hurt them. Vincent sat in the middle of a circle of contestants, who relaxed as they learned that no other ghosts would be bothering them up here.
"The Master is the one who owned this house, and built it, and is the one who is responsible for all of us being brought back as ghosts," Vincent said. "This forest was rumoured to be cursed long ago, but he didn't believe it until the mansion was built. Then it happened...mysterious sounds, objects lifting into the air, people grabbed and dragged, hit, slapped by invisible entities. It became a nightmare for him and his family, until he got a hold of something. A way to turn the spirits here against his enemies and to control them. It was a book, something that allowed him to imprison and control the spirits. In time he passed away, but he left an imprint on the mansion...and a powerful imprint of himself in that book. His children and spouse wisely left, only staying long enough to learn a spell that would leave them safe from his spirit following them. Sadly people came to occupy this house over the years and fell victim to the ghosts within. They became trapped too, and were left in the rooms where they died."
"When did you live here?" Gwen asked.
"I moved in about...what year is it?"
"2008."
"I moved here in 1683," Vincent said. "With my brother Gilbert. He bought the house for us to live in after our parents passed away."
"Gilbert? I fought him on the balcony! He was stronger than most of the other spirits here," Gwen said.
"Yeah...he found the book before the ghosts got us...he tried to break it, but The Master got to him. We were hiding on the balcony as he tried to translate a spell from the book to cleanse the mansion when we were attacked. I ran up here...and the rest is history as they say."
"And the book is with The Master?" Gwen asked.
Vincent nodded. "He guards it closely, he always has since Gilbert came close to finishing him. If you can get it... maybe you can stop this madness. I really just want to pass on...where mom and dad are waiting for me and Gilbert."
Gwen looked around. Many of the contestants looked touched by the boy's story. Even the usually stoic Noah and apathetic Heather couldn't help but empathize with him.
"Why'd he bring us here?" Gwen asked.
"As an Avatar you know that some spirits have an addiction to life energy, whether it is to become stronger or deceased spirits like us want to fill the void in our souls that appeared when we became spirits from the loneliness of never being able to pass on or see anyone we care for again." Vincent pointed to his heart. "The forest around this mansion is dead; the life energy from it and everyone who died was taken as the Master has become addicted to the power needed to fuel himself and the book. He needed a group of people who were young, the younger they are the stronger the life energy which can make the Master strong enough that he can free himself from the book and leave this place to places with living people and take their energy."
"He heard of us and sent fake invitations about another Total Drama Contest being held, hoping we'd accept it and come here." Gwen realized.
"And be trapped in the rooms of the people who died who take your life energy and give it to the Master in the hopes he would free them." Vincent finished. "But it's a lie. The Master cares for no one but himself now. Any emotion other than self-interest died with him and no longer exists."
"So why can't we just leave? Gwen cleared out the ghosts, there's no one left and someone would call the police when they find out we're missing." LeShawna pointed out.
"It wouldn't work. People have disappeared here for years but when they disappear their existence is forgotten through a powerful barrier placed around this mansion. It freezes time here and makes it impossible to find a way out or call for help." Vincent shook his head.
"Sounds like an Unauthorized Method." Gwen leaned over the railing.
"A what?" Geoff asked making Gwen sigh as she turned around.
"It's the technical term for spells since even though it looks like magic it's a special ability that spirits can give an avatar or done through something that has the right power." Gwen held up her Omni-Glove. "There's an Authorized Method and an Unauthorized Method. The former refers to Methods that spirits teach avatars when they believe the avatar is responsible enough to use it without causing damage to anyone or anything and some spirits are allowed to use these methods after given permission from the nearest high ranking spirit. The latter's what identifies Methods that have been used against the laws put in place and used without permission from the higher ups which most of the time is used to cause destruction or steal life energy. This makes it easier to know when a spirit uses a Method and whether or not it was cleared and allowed to be used out here."
"And in this case it would be an Unauthorized Method that would warrant immediate execution of the Spirit responsible," Andromeda said.
"So this book...do you know what it was called?" Gwen asked Vincent.
"The title said 'Collection of Alphaeus'," Vincent replied.
At that moment Andromeda's power flared momentarily from Gwen's necklace. "Does that sound familiar, Andromeda?"
"Alphaeus...yes, an avatar from long ago...but there will be time for that later," Andromeda said. "You must find The Master and retrieve the book. If it is an Avatar Artefact then it must be secured and brought to an Avatar Sanctuary. We have one hidden in the Sahara Desert for storing such dangerous objects like this."
"Fine. Where's the way to the basement?" Gwen asked.
"It'd hidden behind an illusion on the first floor, at the end of the hall where Madam Aurora's room is." Vincent replied.
"Okay, I'll deal with this and then I'll get you out of here." Gwen smiled down at the boy. "Thank you for the help."
"What about us?" LeShawna asked.
"Don't follow me this time and to make sure you don't-"Gwen was cut off as a circle of light appeared the rest of the contestants.
"Gwen what's hap-"Bridgette screamed along with everyone else as they were pulled into a portal of light beneath their feet.
"No!" Gwen shouted, but she was too late.
They had all vanished.
"A teleportation Method." Andromeda said. "Done without a Hexagon gate, meaning a spirit of high power did that."
Gwen spun around to face Vincent. "Where are they?"
"The Master has taken them." Vincent replied, his face having a fearful look.
"Where?"
"Down below, in the basement." Vincent pointed down.
"Okay, stay here and I'll be back." Gwen ran for the door.
Xxx
It was easy to find her way back to the ground floor and followed the directions Vincent had given her. Walking down the hall she passed Aurora's room and stopped at the end, finding that there was no door. But Gwen now knew there was an illusion to keep intruders out.
"Show me the Unseen." She whispered as she touched the wall and the wall started to distort itself and a door appeared.
Gwen kicked the door open and saw a stair case leading down but no lights on. The star necklace glowed bright allowing Gwen to walk down the stairs without fear of tripping and falling down. The room she was walking into was dreary looking with stone walls and a floor with several oil barrels stacked against the wall. A door was seen beneath the stair case beside a shelf full of old looking glasses.
"No drones or ghosts here? I was expecting something to try and trip me." Gwen noted as she landed at the bottom of the stairs.
"There are no more rogue spirits or drones standing between us and the Master." Andromeda said. "That surge of power I sensed before, it's stronger now than ever. You're close."
Gwen opened the door and peeked inside. She walked into a stone hall that surprisingly enough had lights on so she didn't have to use Andromeda's power to make any lights. She walked down the hall looking around carefully if the lights suddenly went out. At the end of all was a simple door, no guards, no barriers, nothing blocking her.
"I hated these dramatic build ups." Gwen said as she kicked the door open.
Inside was perhaps the only clean room in the whole mansion. The room was golden and sparkling and looked almost religious. A throne was seen on the east side of the room with two torches flanking it. On it sat what looked like a man in his early thirties with a slight beard, medium length dark hair, and wore the clothing of a typical Victorian gentleman, a tuxedo, a top hat, and a monocle. Gwen had to admit the man was quite handsome, for an evil spirit that had wanted to drain the life energy of her and everyone from Total Drama.
"I have been expecting your arrival for some time now," The man looked up and smiled. "When Aurora identified an avatar in the mansion I thought either I was really lucky or I had a problem."
"Still haven't made decision on that one?" Gwen asked, pulling out her sword.
"That might not be a good idea."
"And why's that?" Gwen glared.
"You've been fighting for about two hours now. I can tell, you're tired, exhausted, a little sore, and the only thing keeping you up is the power from the spirit that is your partner." The Master pointed at her necklace. "In a fight against someone who's well rested and fresh, that's not a good idea."
"Coming here was not a good idea but I still did it." Gwen shrugged. "Where's the book?"
"Safe, from you." The Master stood up. "I have no plans to let you have it."
"That book was created by a rogue Avatar who took the laws into his own hands. He controlled spirits and had them attack each other. You're a victim as much as you are the puppet master. No matter how much life energy you take you can never free yourself from the book's power." Andromeda spoke up. "You can never leave, whether wanting to fade into the next life or leave this mansion and move out into the modern world."
"I have neither interest nor intent to leave this world," The Master replied. "I am quite content to consolidate my influence here."
"Consolidate? Practically every ghost in this mansion is going to become part of a series of trading cards when I'm through with them," Gwen patted the pack where the imprisoned ghosts were kept. "And the rest don't follow you. Now give me the damn book or I'll-"
"Do you really want it?" The Master chuckled, slowly withdrawing what looked like a small journal from his coat. "Truly?"
"Wow, here I expected a big heavy dictionary sized book," Gwen said, staring at the journal.
"This is the journal of Alphaeus, the avatar to whom I owe all of my power," The Master said. "He discovered potential in Avatars and Spirits that would make your skin crawl."
"Foolish is a good way to describe Alphaeus, arrogant even...but I know that he always had the best intentions," Andromeda hissed. "And were he alive now he would slaughter you for using his book for this."
"Well sadly for you he isn't, meaning that you don't get to take the easy way out," The Master shook his head and stood up, opening the journal. "So many things...Methods, creatures, secrets that I doubt even you know of Andromeda...it is enticing to most, especially its primary feature: Alphaeus' ultimate weapon against spirits. The Seal of the Abyss, aptly named for a good reason. You do recall that Dante described hell to be cold, correct? So cold that the worst of its occupants were trapped in ice to the point where they could not even open or close their eyes? Alphaeus found a...practical application for Dante's Inferno."
"He imprisoned spirits within the book, and there they would lose their life energy and fuel the book's reserves...the same was done to rogue avatars and humans whom Alphaeus found guilty enough to fit the punishment," Andromeda said. "He never shared his secret with anybody, not even his own partner for fear that one would use it against him or other true Avatars. The worst part is shown here tonight...even normal humans can master the book's powers, the book eliminates the need for a human to possess a spirit to use the Methods."
"Very accurate," The Master turned the book towards Gwen. "Would you like to see where your friends are?"
Suddenly Gwen was blinded by a flash of searing light. She screamed, shutting her eyes and throwing one arm up to ward off the shine of the book's pages. Then she was lifted off her feet, and the light vanished...she was falling now!
Thud!
The breath was knocked out of her, and she found the courage to open her eyes back up. When she did she saw dark clouds above her, lit only by flashes of distant lightning. As she sat up she found herself on the roof of the mansion, all of the electric lights replaced by torches. The place looked much worse than it had been when she arrived, windows shattered and tiles cracked or missing. And there was no land beyond the property fence to be seen, just darkness.
"Welcome...to the Abyss," The Master appeared behind her from a portal of dark energy. "The very power source of the Book of Alphaeus, and my source of nourishment. Do not fear though, you are not alone here...far from it."
As he spoke, many images, mere outlines with glowing red eyes appeared on the roof and on the lawn below. They all stared at the two standing across from one another as if waiting...
"They see us, the afterimages of those consumed by the Book," The Master sneered. "And here they will rot for eternity, with you and the great Andromeda to join them."
Gwen looked around, searching for her friends. She spotted them further towards the back, all of them struggling to get up, afterimages of dead humans and spirits flying around them.
A sudden shove brought her back from her concern for them, and she steadied herself and took three steps back as the Master held up the bag, which he had taken after rushing to her side in the blink of an eye. He opened it and poured the cards of all of the captured ghosts out. "Nice collection...of useless minions. Honestly, I should have done away with them beforehand."
The deck of cards was consumed in a blue flame, and the shapes of each ghost flew out of it and circled The Master in a cyclone of energy. "But they do have one last use to me."
Slowly each spirit entered the Master, who sighed in content as though having finished a meal. "Yes...good."
As the final spirit sank inside him, the Master opened his eyes. "So little talent but so much collected power. Yes, they will do nicely...as will these three." Almost as if he had summoned them Aurora, Granny and Vincent were shoved from the crowd of shades by an invisible force.
"I do not abide traitors in my home," The Master growled at the three. "And from the only three competent members of my circle. But of course the stronger always do resist my control."
"You might have us now you bastard," Vincent growled. "But we will see you finally dead in return I swear on it! Gwen will be your end!"
"I would heed his words...but I know you won't," Aurora said sagely.
"Fools," The master held one hand out, and streams of energy poured from the three and into his palm. They did not scream or struggle, but they each turned to Gwen as they slowly faded.
"This is it Gwen," Vincent said. "This is what we've been hoping for...it's all you now."
As they finally disappeared the Master chuckled. "Fools, they go to the trouble of rebelling and lose all trace of their existence."
He turned to the Total Drama contestants who were watching and shivering in fear. "You asked what fellow made your fellow contestant agree to fight for the balance between our worlds. Allow me to show you why."
He held out his and they were picked up by an invisible force.
"What's happening?" Lindsay screamed.
Katie and Sadie hugged each other in terror.
"She lives this life because of people like me." The Master smirked. "Don't fret. Some form of you will exist in this place...after all your life energy is needed for it to exist."
"Spectral Volt!" Gwen shouted as she fired a blast of lightning that made the Master dodge and drop the contestants.
Gwen got between him and the contestants whipped her sword out and took a stance, holding it two handed and presenting her left side to the Master. "That's what you get for being a greedy bastard."
"It was the days where the rich had limitless grab...and fewer voices to whine about it," The Master replied. "Are you truly surprised that I took advantage of my find? I saw power, and like any of my class I took it for myself. That is the essence of humanity Gwendolyn: to take as much as possible and give little away."
"Says the man who was a spoiled rich man child in life, and is just a spoiled rich super powered man child in death," Gwen replied.
"I can see why Damien lost to you."
Gwen's eyes widened and then narrowed. "You're the spirit who blackmailed Damien!"
"Yes, I wanted a way to gain access to a fountain of power. When you stopped it, I knew I had to find a way get rid of you. That's what this whole plan has been, the Avatar of Andromeda and the Total Drama cast, fuel to give me more power since you stopped my other plan." The Master crackled with Life Energy as he flexed both hands. "Enough talk Gwendolyn...time to die."
The Master's wrist flexed and in a flash of light of sword with a golden hilt appeared. He twirled expertly in his hand before he settled into a stance. He launched himself at Gwen with incredible speed that the young avatar was barely able to dodge as the Master slashed where she had stood. The moment the sword hit the ground there was a blast of energy the left a huge hole that would have killed Gwen if it had hit her. Gwen took the chance and launched a counterattack; her sword slashing through the air towards his head but the Master's sword moved with shocking speed and met her blade easily.
Gwen was forced to jump back as she two quick slashes that were easily blocked. The Master pressed the attack by pointing his finger at her and with a blast of yellow light Gwen was sent into the railing of the roof with a loud thud. Gwen didn't bother to look up as she rolled to the ground as the Master slashed the railing behind her and spun around to drive her blade through him. Gwen jumped over the blade and aimed a kick at the Master's head but the he easily ducked under her foot.
As Gwen landed the Master aimed his blade at her but Gwen had taken the time to draw a symbol with her Omni-Glove. "Spectral Volt!"
The Master blocked the blast, but the force of the attack sent him flying back. He aimed his own blast of lightning at her which she only managed to dodge by dropping the ground and rolling out of the way. As she got up the Master flew at her again, the blade cutting the air where her head had been. Gwen rolled out of the way in time and quickly made a run for it, hoping to gain some distance between them and come up with a plan.
However the Master moved with super speed to catch up with her. Gwen gritted her teeth as she dodged and leapt up onto the railing and jumped off with her sword above her head as she slammed into the Master. The Master was pushed back slightly and Gwen launched fierce strikes at him, taking advantage of her surprise. To her dismay the Master blocked with ease, shrugging off her blows.
Gwen quickly drew a symbol with her Omni-Glove and pointed it at her sword. "Phantom Flare!"
Her sword was engulfed in blue flames as she sent a huge strike the Master's mid section, hoping that with her sword enhanced by the power of her Offensive Method it would burn the Master's life energy but to her dismay the Master deflected the blast. The flames from the Phantom Flare were easily extinguished when the Master blocked her sword.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Gwen gritted her teeth.
The Master laughed and unleashed a shockwave that sent Gwen flying back. She screamed as she slammed through the railing and started sliding down the roof towards the edge. She gripped the edge just as she fell over, managing to save herself from falling to the ground below and possibly dying on impact. Groaning she tried to pull herself up but the edge started to crack. Gwen gasped as it broke but luckily a hand reached and grabbed hers before she fell.
"You okay?" DJ asked, having reached her in time.
Gwen could only nod as he pulled her back up onto the roof.
"Thanks." Gwen gasped as she needed to catch her breath.
"Gwen, where are we now? One second we're on the roof, the next we're in some freaky dimension." LeShawna knelt next to her.
"It's a pocket dimension created in the book the Master holds. It holds spirits and humans and leaves them for the Master to take their life energy to fuel him and the book." Gwen explained as she got back up. "And frankly, I'm not sure I can take this guy."
"So we might die here!" Bridgette hugged Geoff.
"I'm not ready to give up yet. There still might be a way." Gwen picked up her sword. "I just haven't thought of anything yet."
That was when a barrier surrounded the contestants just as the Master was about to attack.
"Would you like assistance, avatar?" A voice made Gwen turn and see a man floating behind her. "The barrier around you and the other humans has protected you from the fail safe I created. A time freeze method that only works in this dimension that only activates when an avatar is present."
"Another one!" DJ squeaked as he jumped back.
"Are you one of the spirits caught in the book?" Gwen asked, turning to face him.
"I am more than that. My name is Alphaeus." The man replied, shocking Gwen.
"Alphaeus? The man who made the book that's responsible for all of this?" Gwen pointed her sword at him. "So you got trapped in your own book huh? That's what some people would poetic justice given the torment it's caused!"
"I know, it's sad to see my book used in such a way." Alphaeus glared at the Master. "So many humans and spirits trapped here. This is not what I wanted when I made it. But now, the Master has brought the one thing here that might destroy him and the book." He looked down at Gwen.
"I'm not exactly doing so good. He's got a boat load of life energy to power him up from years of using the book on anyone who's been in the mansion." Gwen glared at the Master. "I don't have the strength or experience to take him out."
"There a way is to save everyone, young avatar. What is the name of your spirit?" Alphaeus asked.
The silver star glowed bright as Andromeda spoke. "You should know of me, Alphaeus."
"The spirit that is hailed as Heaven's Star, Andromeda." Alphaeus said in surprise. "One of the most powerful spirits in both realms."
"What's that guy's weakness?" Gwen asked eager to get everyone out.
"An avatar as young as you cannot defeat him in this dimension, the life energy powering the book gives a huge advantage plus this dimension gives him the ability to warp reality here. But...if a spirit was summoned here, a spirit with such power that the book would be unable to contain from the sheer power of the spirit it could drain the life energy powering this dimension and shatter it." Alphaeus explained.
"A powerful spirit..." Gwen looked down at the Star Necklace.
"Absolutely not! Gwen, I know what you are thinking of and I forbid it! Such an attempt would endanger your life and there is no way to guarantee you'd survive!" Andromeda exclaimed.
"You have any better ideas!" Gwen retorted. "Because frankly the way I see it we're dead either way! I try best case scenario everybody else survives! Worst case I lose and we all die anyway!"
"What are you guys talking about?" Courtney spoke up.
Gwen sighed. "Remember when I said how powerful Andromeda was? Since this guy believes that only a very powerful spirit can break out of this place and there's only one spirit here that might do that." Gwen looked back down at her necklace.
"But you said she can't come out at full power." Bridgette replied.
"Unless...I perform a Ceremony of Summoning." Gwen replied. "I summon Andromeda by releasing her full power through me. Depending on how long I can hold it my body will essentially become a vessel for Andromeda."
"But you fail to mention that once my powers are released into your body the resulting flood would extinguish your life energy!" Andromeda retorted. "You've only been able to handle about ten percent of my power, anything higher your life energy would burn out two seconds after the ritual! Not to mention the toll that is required for the Ceremony to be a success. You also seem to forget that ninety percent of all the avatars that have preformed the Ceremony throughout history have died from it, their lives taken as the toll needed to summon their spirit partners!"
"Well in the worst case scenario we're all dead either way," Gwen reasoned. "There's no other option."
"Despite what my reputation may be after so long, I never lie in such a dire situation," Alphaeus added. "And I would not suggest it unless I thought it was the only thing that would work."
"Be silent." Andromeda growled. "You created this book and you have the audacity to ask my student to sacrifice herself to destroy it?"
"Don't worry. I know a way for her to survive." Alphaeus raised his hand. "The reason I created this book was to find a way for avatars to summon their spirits without dying. By gathering large amounts of life energy the summoned spirit would use that energy to keep their partner alive by constantly adding the life energy from the book to the spirit's human partner. Adding fuel to the fire, keeping it alive, however at best Andromeda would only be able to achieve thirty to fifty percent power between the summoning, destroying the book, and keeping her partner alive."
"That should be enough, it's all we've got," Gwen said firmly.
"Gwen, if you do this you could die and there will be little that I can do to stop it." Andromeda tried to plea with her avatar.
"Andromeda...I'm doing it," Gwen replied.
"...alright," The spirit gave in. "Let's get this over with."
"You better retreat to a safe distance." Alphaeus said, looking at the other Total Drama contestants. "Once I drop the barrier you should head for the graveyard. If you're not already aware the Ceremony drains the life energy of anything nearby meaning these humans could end up with their life energy taken."
Gwen nodded. "I'm ready."
"Gwen hold it!" LeShawna put a hand on her shoulder. "I may not get this but you're crazy if you want to pull of something like what this guy says!"
"Yeah, actually risking your life like that?" Trent asked. "There's got to be another way. This guy made the book, right? Can't he just fix it?"
"Unfortunately no, since I am not even the real Alphaeus. I am an imprint left when he imported a small amount of his life energy into the book as a guide just in case the book was against its purpose." Alphaeus replied.
"Then I guess we got that one move left." Gwen shrugged.
"But Gwen..." Bridgette started.
"Oops! Got to go!" Gwen jumped out of the barrier as it faded and the Time Freeze method wore off.
Just as the Master was about to attack again Gwen drew a circle in the air with her Omni-Glove and vanished into a portal. The Master growled as he turned to the graveyard behind the house. Gwen appeared in the center and turned to the house raising her hand and lifted one finger, beckoning to the Master in a way that said 'Bring it'. The Master growled as he snapped his fingers.
Gwen looked around as various spirits, all of them victims of the book came out of the gravestones and surrounded her.
"Okay, surrounded on all fronts, good more meals." Gwen smirked.
"You have some nerve joking in a time like this." Andromeda sighed.
"Hey, if I'm going to die at least it's on my own terms...too bad I can't say bye to mom or Alex. Hopefully Kurt can tell them that and keep them safe."
"You will not die if I have anything to say about that." Andromeda replied firmly.
"Well, if you put it that way." Gwen smirked as she brought her hands together. "Give me the words."
Slowly she felt Andromeda feed the proper incantation into her mind...
"Unlock the gate that binds the power of my companion and ally, let her walk among mortals with me as her vessel," She whispered. "Let her bring her power against my enemies and bring them down. If my body shall burn in the light of her power, let it be so. If I am to perish in my contribution to her endless journey, let it be so. Release Andromeda, the Star of Heaven, let it be so!"
Light gathered around her and shot out in all directions as she finished the incantation.