At Grimwood Marcus and the girls were working out in the gym. Now that he had decided he was going to let his students fight alongside him, he wanted them to be in top shape.
-Alright girls. No pain, no glory.- Marcus said.
Sibella was doing aerobics. Winnie was punching a punching bag. Elsa was lifting weights. Ghost was jumping rope and Tanis was doing push-ups on the bar.
-1.2.3.- Tanis was counting the push-ups.
It was noticeable that Tanis was putting a lot of effort into her training. Since she was the smallest in the school, she wanted to prove to everyone that she could get strong too.
-Alright Tanis. Keep it up.- Marcus said.
-Soon I'll be fighting alongside all of you.- Tanis said.
The other girls listened to what Tanis said.
-Don't try too hard.- Elsa said.
-I don't know if you're ready for action yet.- Ghost said.
Tanis got off the bar when he heard them.
-But I can fight too. You'll see. I'll get stronger to be a hero like Sibella and Winnie.- Tanis said.
Sibella and Winnie heard what Tanis said.
-I don't know. I think it would be better if you stayed out of it.- Sibella said.
-Why?.- Tanis asked.
-You're too small to fight the possessed.- Winnie answered.
-Look who's talking. You're only a few inches taller than me.- Tanis said.
Tanis felt like her friends wanted to leave her aside. She trained hard to be able to fight by her side.
-Master, can I be a hero too, right?.- Tanis asked.
-Eeeehhhh. You see Tanis, the girls aren't wrong when they say you're too young.
Tanis couldn't believe what she heard. Her master and all the others considered her just a little girl.
-But don't worry. Leave everything to us.- Elsa said.
-This is something for older girls.- Sibella said.
Tanis admired Marcus, Sibella and Winnie for having fought to save them. From the first moment she saw them she wanted to have the same powers as them so she could fight by their side. However, they and her master didn't consider her fit to be a heroine.
-I see. So I wasn't part of the group, right!?.- Tanis asked.
-Don't take it personally. We just want you to be safe.- Marcus answered.
-Of course! Since I'm just a little girl I wouldn't be in their way. Well, there's no need for me to be here. I'll leave you so you can train. Excuse me!.- Tanis said.
Tanis angrily left down the stairs.
-It seems that she got angry.- Ghost said.
-I didn't mean to make her think that she would get in our way.- Sibella said.
-I'm going to go talk to her. You two continue training.- Marcus said.
Marcus went to find Tanis to talk to him. While the others continued training.
Meanwhile in the spider queen's lair.
-Since Fenrir failed, I expect results from you two.- Tirannica said.
-Mistress if you allow me, I have found someone who can bring the Grimwood girls to you.- Doby said.
-I hope so. I won't accept any more failures.- Tirannica said.
-Come in!.- Doby said.
A possessed man with the appearance of a witch emerged from the shadows. His form was humanoid. He was wearing a dark green wizard hat with a gem as decoration, he wore a light green raven mask, a brown animal skin cape, a grey shirt, purple gloves, a belt with a pocket, grey pants, armor covering his left foot and brown boots. He carried a crossbow and a dagger as a weapon.
-I am Alucard. Nice to meet you.- Alucard said.
-He will be able to bring you the Grimwood girls my mistress.- Doby said.
-Do you think you can do it?.- Tirannica asked.
-Of course. I plan to lead those girls into a trap that they will not be able to escape from.- Alucard answered.
-Very well. Go then.- Tirannica said.
Alucard bowed and went to find his targets.
Back in Grimwood. Tanis was outside sitting on the stairs. She was still upset about what the others told her.
-If I can't be a hero. Then what am I supposed to do.- Tanis wondered.
At that moment Marcus arrives to keep her company. He sat down next to her on the stairs.
-Hi Tanis. How are you?.- Marcus asked.
-Fine. Shouldn't you be training the others?.- Tanis asked.
-They are training on their own now. I wanted to go down to see how you were.- Marcus answered.
-I'm fine as you can see. Just sitting here trying not to get in the way.- Tanis said.
-It's not that I think you're going to get in the way. It's that I think that the less of you have to fight and risk your lives, the better.- Marcus said.
-But you, Sibella and Winnie risked your lives to protect us. Haven't you changed your mind?.- Tanis asked.
-Yes. I did, but...- Marcus said.
-But what?.- Tanis asked.
-Yes. I did, but...- Marcus said.
-But what?.- Tanis asked.
-The idea of losing them terrifies me. You see me as some kind of superhero who isn't afraid of anything but the truth is that I am. You should have a normal school life and not be fighting against those things.- Marcus answered.
Tanis saw that his teacher cared a lot about them. He put his hand on his shoulder to reassure him.
-Everything is going to be okay professor.- Tanis said.
-Really?.- Marcus asked.
-Really.- Tanis answered.
The words of his student calmed Marcus. Tanis previously believed that his teacher didn't want him to fight because he thought he was just a little girl but in reality it was because he was worried. The happy moment between teacher and student didn't last long, when Marcus saw an arrow heading towards them.
-Careful!.- Marcus said.
Marcus grabbed Tanis and they got down on the ground, dodging the arrow.
-Ah, I missed.- Alucard said.
Marcus and Tanis saw who was responsible for firing that arrow.
-Who are you?!.- Marcus asked.
-My name is Alucard and I have come to take the Grimwood girls to
the spider queen.- Alucard answered.
-Tanis go hide.- Marcus said.
-But...- Tanis said.
-Go now.- Marcus ordered.
Tanis went to hide in a place where she could observe from a distance. Once again her master was fighting a possessed and she could not do anything.
-First you will have to fight me.- Marcus said.
-It's fine by me. I like challenges.- Alucard said.
-DEAD JUSTICE TRANSFORMATION!.- Marcus shouted.
A light of energy surrounded Marcus' body turning him into his cowboy form. The two stared at each other ready to fire their weapons. After a while they unholstered and began shooting at each other. They moved back and forth trying to hit each other. Marcus took cover behind a water fountain and Alucard took cover behind a tree. The two continued to shoot bullets and arrows at each other, where they were covered. Tanis could only watch from where she was hiding. This was not the first time she was just a spectator. The other times while her teacher and her friends fought she couldn't do anything either. She thought that if she really wanted to be a hero she had to prove it.
-I can help too.- Tanis said.
She came out of her hiding place and went to help her teacher. Alucard also came out from where he was covered to get closer to Marcus. When Tanis got close enough to Alucard, she used her power of movement to wrap him with her bandages.
-I got it.- Tanis said.
Marcus from where he was covered saw what Tanis was doing.
-Tanis, get away.- Marcus said.
-Why? I already have him.- Tanis said.
Or so she thought. Alucard took out his dagger to cut the bandages that had him. He easily managed to free himself from Tanis.
-Did you really think you had me? I'm not that easy.- Alucard said.
Tanis panicked. He wanted to run but he was too scared to move.
-Tanis!.- Marcus said.
Marcus ran to save his student.
-I have something special for you.- Alucard said.
He takes a grenade out of his pocket and throws it at Tanis.
-Careful!.- Marcus said.
Marcus arrived just in time to push Tanis away from the Grenade but he ended up receiving it himself. A sleeping gas comes out of the grenade that knocks Marcus out, causing him to fall to the ground asleep.
-No!.- Tanis said.
Alucard approaches Marcus and carries him on his shoulders. At that moment the other girls come outside.
-What is all this noise?!.- Elsa asked.
-Look over there!.- Winnie said.
The girls saw that a possessed man had Marcus.
-Professor Marcus!. Ghost said.
-Free him!.- Sibella said.
-If you want to see him again go look for him at the Wildwood cemetery to the north.- Alucard said.
Alucard threw a smoke grenade and disappeared with Marcus.
-He's not here. They disappeared.- Winnie said.
-Tanis. What happened?.- Elsa asked.
Tanis didn't know what to say to the girls. His teacher had been taken away because of him.
-Professor Marcus was fighting a possessed man. He wanted to go help him but...but...I ruined everything.- Tanis answered.
-Wait. Are you saying that our teacher was taken because of you? - Winnie asked.
- I just wanted to prove that I can be useful. - Winnie replied.
- What a way to prove it. - Elsa said.
- Okay girls! Our teacher needs our help. - Sibella said.
- We must go rescue him. He always rescues us, it's time to return the favor. - Winnie said.
- Yes. Let's all go for him. - Elsa said.
- Count on me. - Ghost said.
- I'm going too. - Tanis said.
- Sorry Tanis, you're not going. - Sibella said.
-But I want to help.- Tanis said.
-You've done enough.- Winnie said.
Tanis felt that the girls were angry with them for what happened and that they didn't want their company.
-Professor Marcus is in trouble because of me. I have to fix it.- Tanis said.
-If you want to fix it, stay here and don't get in the way.- Ghost said.
-The four of us are enough.- Elsa said.
-But...- Tanis was interrupted.
-I'm sorry Tanis, you'll have to stay. I promise we'll bring Professor Marcus back.- Sibella said.
-Come on! Let's get going.- Winnie said.
The girls went off to rescue their teacher, leaving Tanis alone. She returned to school and told Miss Grimwood and Matches about the situation. Some time passed since they left. Tanis was sitting at the table waiting and depressed.
-I just wanted to prove that I can be a hero too and now the girls hate me.- Tanis said.
-They don't hate you dear, it's just that they're upset that Marcus was kidnapped.- Miss Grimwood said.
-Yes. I hope they can bring him back.- Tanis said.
-Oh, poor Professor Marcus. I don't want to even imagine what he must be going through.- Miss Grimwood said.
In the Wildwood cemetery where Alucard had taken Marcus. In an underground crypt Marcus was chained and unconscious. When he began to wake up he saw that he was in an unknown place.
-What is this?!. Where am I?!.- Marcus wondered.
-You finally woke up.- Alucard said.
Marcus saw that in front of him was the possessed man he was fighting before.
-You!.- Marcus said.
He tried to get out of the chains but he couldn't.
-You're wasting your time. I made those chains especially for you. It won't do you any good to transform either.- Alucard said.
-Why haven't you killed me yet?.- Marcus asked.
-Because you will be the one who will attract the Grimwood girls.- Alucard answered.
-What are you going to do to them?.- Marcus asked.
-Once they come I will make them fall into my trap. Then when I have them in my power I will give them to my mistress.- Alucard answered.
-You won't get away with this.- Marcus said.
-That remains to be seen.- Alucard said.
Back in Grimwood, they were knocking on the front door.
-Who could it be at a time like this?.- Miss Grimwood wondered.
Miss Grimwood went to open the door and was surprised to see who it was.
-Good morning ma'am.- Alador said.
It was Alador who was at the door. This time he came in person.
-You are...?.- Miss Grimwood asked.
-Yes, I am Alador. Nice to meet you.- Alador said.
Miss Grimwood, seeing who it was, let him in.
-So this is Grimwood?.- Alador wondered.
Tanis saw that the person his teacher worked with was at his school and went to meet him.
-You are Mr. Alador?.- Tanis asked.
-Yes. You must be Tanis.- Alador answered.
-What brings you to Grimwood?.- Miss Grimwood asked.
-I found out about the situation through my crystal ball and came as soon as I could.- Alador answered.
-Aren't you supposed to tell Professor Marcus when a possessed person appears?.- Tanis asked.
-I was having an argument with my daughter and I wasn't paying attention.- Alador answered.
Tanis and Miss Grimwood didn't know that Alador had a daughter. Marcus forgot to mention it.
-Ma'am, I need to take Tanis.- Alador said.
-What?.- Miss Grimwood asked.
-Do you mean it's my turn to get powers?.- Tanis asked.
-Yes Tanis. Your turn has come.- Alador answered.
-Wait a moment sir.- Miss Grimwood said.
-Miss Grimwood I have to do this. All this happened because of me and now I have the chance to fix it.- Tanis said.
-I will be watching her all the time.- Alador said.
-Okay. Just make sure she is safe.- Miss Grimwood said.
-I will. Let's go Tanis.- Alador said.
-Yes.- Tanis said.
Alador activated his teleportation spell and left with Tanis.
-Good luck little one.- Miss Grimwood said.
In Alador's castle. He and Tanis had already arrived.
-So this is his castle?.- Tanis asked.
-Come. Follow me.- Alador said.
Tanis followed Alador. As they walked Tanis began to have his doubts and stopped.
-What's wrong?.- Alador asked.
-Maybe I shouldn't go.- Tanis answered.
-I thought you wanted to be a heroine?.- Alador asked.
-Yes but...what if I'm not cut out to be a heroine? What if the girls were right?. Because of me they kidnapped the professor. If I go I might just ruin everything again.- Tanis answered.
Tanis was afraid of being a nuisance to the girls if he was going to help them. Alador thought of doing something before giving him a spirit.
-Come with me. There's something I want to show you.- Alador said.
Alador took Tanis to his study. She looked at all the things he had. She noticed that there was a crystal ball on a table.
-Is that what you use to see those things?.- Tanis asked.
-Yes, with it I can see everything. Do you want to see how your friends are doing?.- Alador asked.
-Can I?.- Tanis asked.
-Sure. Come closer and let's see.- Alador answered.
Tanis came closer to see. Alador used his magic to show him how the others were doing.
At the Wildwood cemetery the girls had already arrived.
-This is where that monster has our teacher.- Sibella said.
-Winnie. Can you smell something?.- asked Ghost.
Winnie started sniffing around looking for any trace of her teacher but she couldn't smell anything.
-I can't find any trace of the teacher.- answered Winnie.
-What do we do now? Don't we split up and search?.- asked Elsa.
-Don't be silly Elsa. Who would split up in a cemetery?.- asked Winnie.
-It's better if we all look for him together.- said Tanis.
-That's using our heads.- said Ghost.
The girls started searching around the cemetery but what they didn't know was that in the shadows, someone was watching them. While they were searching, Winnie heard something.
-What was that?!.- asked Winnie.
-What happened?.- asked Sibella.
-I thought I heard someone.- answered Winnie.
The girls kept searching while being alert. The cemetery was very big and their teacher could be anywhere. Suddenly, they heard something again.
-What is that?!.- Asked Ghost.
-Is anyone there?.- Asked Elsa.
They were already getting nervous. If an enemy was close they thought it best to stand back to back. As they moved to stand back to back, they fell into a trap and the four were locked in cages.
-What is this thing!?.- Asked Sibella.
Sibella in her cage was trapped in something sticky that prevented her from transforming into a bat.
-IT BURNS!.- Said Winnie.
Winnie burned her hands when she touched her cage to try to break it.
-I can't open it.- Said Elsa.
Not even Elsa's strength could break the cage she was trapped in.
-I can't get out.- Phantom said.
Phantom tried to use his ghost powers to get through the cage but he couldn't. It seems that his cage was made of some special material.
-HAHAHAHA.- Alucard laughed.
A sinister laugh could be heard from the shadows. The girls looked for where it came from.
-Who's there?.- Phantom asked.
-Show yourself!- Sibella said.
Alucard came out from the shadows.
-You've fallen into my trap.- Alucard said.
The girls recognized that it was the possessed man who took Marcus.
-You!.- Winnie said.
-That's right, me. I've been waiting for you.- Alucard said.
The girls struggled to try to get out of their cages.
-You're wasting your time. I designed those cages especially for each of you. For the young vampire, a cage filled with the spider queen's web, which will prevent you from transforming. For you, my little werewolf, a cage made of silver. As for you, daughter of Frankenstein, a cage made of a metal so strong that you will not be able to break it. Lastly, for the ghost girl, a cage made of iron, the weakness of ghosts.- Alucard said.
He had them completely at his mercy. The girls felt like fools. After everything they said to Tanis, now they were the ones who could do nothing.
- One is missing.- Alucard said.
- What did you do to Professor Marcus?!.- Sibella asked.
- He is fine. I would worry more about you if I were you.- Alucard answered.
Alucard took the cages and took the girls away.
In Alador's castle. Tanis saw everything through the crystal ball.
- Girls!.- Tanis said.
- This is bad.- Alador said.
Tanis saw her friends and her master being taken away by that monster. She was the only one left and she knew she could only do one thing.
-Lord Alador! Give me a spirit please.- Tanis said.
Now was not the time for doubts. It was not about whether she could or not, it was about doing it. It was time to muster up her courage because at this moment Tanis was the only one who could save her friends.