The misty, Appalachian town of Witega.
A small place with a modest population, Witega had been known as one of those quiet towns where not a lot happened. It was the kind of place where people went to live in peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. But that's not to say there weren't any secrets.
In fact, there was a lot to hide. Especially in the case of the local vampire.
A young girl ran through the woods near Witega, attempting to flee a swarm of bats. These creatures were relentless in their pursuit. They had been chasing her for quite some time now.
The young girl, wearing nothing more than her pajamas and a blanket, tripped over a branch. And from there, she fell down to the ground. Her body was scratched by thorns and sticks. She screamed for help. But there was nobody to come to her aid.
She tried getting up again, only to be knocked down once more. The bats flew around her and surrounded her, preventing her from escaping.
"Help me..." She pleaded.
But there was no one around to save her from the creatures of the night. No matter how much she pleaded or begged, nobody would hear her cries. Soon, the bats all merged together, forming one entity. A young boy emerged from it. A boy with rather pale skin, wearing an old-fashioned outfit. And from there, he'd smirk at her.
"Don't you worry. You'll be a great way to help me get recognition. Enough to join the Cult of the Blood Red Moon." He said to the girl, reaching towards her as she screamed for her life, her voice echoing through the night sky.
And as morning rose, at the moment, The Tennysons and Jon had approached Witega, and the town looked as though it had a bit of an old-timey feel. There was a sense of isolation, even if they were in a mountain area. It wasn't that big, but it wasn't small either. But there was this strange, yet calming, feel about it.
"Here we are..." Max would say, parking their car on a road, near a gas station.
"Finally..." Ben said. "I thought we were going to have to keep on driving for days."
"Could just be this part of the country. Driving by it feels sluggish." Gwen said.
"It does have a really cool look though. It looks like a town straight from a horror story!" Jon exclaimed. "Look at how old it is!"
"Old is right...? When was the last time a place like this had a big upgrade?" Ben checked out the town, seeing old it presented itself.
"Oh, that would be 1958." Max casually answered. "Come on. I hear they have great food in this town."
Max walked on in as he'd check out a diner that had been nearby, prompting the kids to follow. They'd follow him in and look around.
The place was empty. It was quiet and there weren't any customers at all, which made it seem a bit creepy. But they were greeted by a man behind the counter who smiled at them as soon as they came inside.
"Hello there. Welcome." He greeted, wearing an old uniform. "I haven't had a lot of visitors in quite a bit. How about something to drink while you're here? I've got some fresh orange juice and lemonade if you want something cold."
"I guess...Sure. We'll take four glasses." Max would order.
"Right. I'll be right with you. Take any seat." The man would get to making them, leaving the family to take a seat.
Max sat down and the kids took seats with him.
"So what do you kids wanna do today?" He asked them. They looked around and then back at him.
"We haven't thought that far. This town looks really nice though." Ben said. He looked at Jon. "What do you think we should do?"
Jon shrugged his shoulders.
"Guess it doesn't matter. But I'm sure we can come up with something. We always do." He smiled. And just as they spoke, the waiter returned, placing four drinks on their table.
"There we are. Nice and fresh. And let me guess, you're passing through." He asked. Ben was about to sip, but was stopped by Gwen.
"Hold up, Ben." She looked to the man. "What do you mean, we're passing through?" The man would smile at her. "Oh. Well, this is the first time I've seen anyone come in here. The only people that visit this place are usually on their way to other places."
"Ah, I see..." Jon chuckled. "No, we aren't passing through. We're just visiting for a little bit."
The man chuckled and nodded. "Well, I'm happy you're staying for a while."
"Uh, sure..." Ben nodded, a little unsure how to respond to that.
"Well, I'll let you folks have a drink. Then I can serve you something to eat." The man left the four, and now the four could speak to each other.
"So what should we do then?" Ben asked. Gwen rolled her eyes.
"Figure it out ourselves. Let Grandpa do what he wants. You know he's going to have us come to some boring history museum or whatever. We should just do what we want." Gwen said. She looked around, noticing how quiet this place was.
And she wasn't the only one. "It feels really quiet..." Jon said. "Is this normal?"
"I mean...we are in a small town, right?" Ben replied. "Maybe it's just not busy at all?"
"But this place looks like it hasn't changed since the 1800's..." Gwen commented, looking at how dated the diner was. "I mean, look at the furniture. The design of this place looks old."
"Yeah, I noticed that too. It feels really weird here." Ben added.
"Grandpa...do you know what year this place was founded in?" Gwen asked.
"Let me check." Max would reach for a map, looking into it. "Says here it was founded in 1840. The town's gone through a few changes here and there, but for the most part, the buildings have stayed the same for a long time." He said, looking through the information. He would then look up. "It also says that Witega's known for its peaceful nature. And the mountains are said to be beautiful in the spring and summer. The air is crisp and the scenery is stunning. People travel from across the world to experience this beauty. So I thought I'd take us here."
"Really?" Gwen was skeptical.
"Yeah." Ben nodded. "But it still looks pretty old. Like, really old. The whole town. Like it's been preserved in a time capsule."
"Still...I like it here." Jon smiled, taking in the scenery of the town. "I can see why people would want to visit this place."
"I can see the charm too." Max would chuckle.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Gwen shrugged her shoulders and took a sip from her juice.
"It is wonderful, isn't it?" Suddenly, a voice spoke to the group nearby. They all turned their heads to see a boy who was around the same age as Ben, Gwen and Jon standing there. His hair was black, his eyes were green, and his skin was rather pale, looking as if he hadn't seen the sun in years. The boy wore an old-fashioned, yet elegant outfit, one that looked like it came out of the Victorian Era. And he was smiling, looking at them with interest in his eyes. He had his arms folded across his chest, his eyes fixed upon the Tennyson Family, but mostly Gwen.
"...?" Ben blinked a couple of times. He didn't say anything for a few moments. "What...is?"
"Isn't the town beautiful? Its isolation and atmosphere. I love this place. I'm really fond of Witega." He smiled.
"Uh...I guess so. Not my taste, but I guess it works." Ben replied. The boy was looking at him. He was staring intently at Ben. As if studying his face. "Uhh...Can we help you or...?"
"No. Not at all." He smiled. "I just thought I'd introduce myself. I don't get to see many visitors in this town. Especially not some as beautiful as her." His gaze went to Gwen.
"...What?" Gwen froze on the spot before smiling, putting her hand over her hair fringe. "O-oh. Thanks..."
Ben and Jon both looked at each other with a bit of confusion on their faces, while Gwen smiled at him and blushed a little bit.
"I'm Calin. It's a pleasure to meet you. And what is your name?" The boy smiled, walking up to her. His eyes were locked on her as she spoke.
"I-I'm Gwendolyn, but you can call me Gwen. These are my friends. Benjamin, Jon." Gwen said, introducing the three boys to Calin.
"A pleasure, Gwen. And a pleasure to meet the both of you." Calin smiled. "You look like interesting individuals."
"Benjamin...? Hey!" Ben realized Gwen used his full name and pointed at her.
"Here on vacation? It's summer around this time." Calin said to Gwen, paying no attention to Ben.
"Yes...I guess we are. On vacation, that is." She said, her voice a bit soft and a bit flustered. She smiled. "My grandfather thought it was a great idea. I didn't, but he did."
"I'm glad he thought it was. And so do I. We could use more visitors in this town." Calin chuckled. "We've had a few in the past couple of weeks, but that's about it. Mostly from nearby towns. But you folks look like you come from farther places."
"So, why's this town so quiet?" Jon asked. "It's unusually quiet."
"You can thank summer for that. When that comes around, things simmer down here. Especially since this is an area that doesn't get a lot of tourism in the first place." Calin explained.
"That sounds really boring to me." Ben grumbled. "Can we go already, Grandpa? Nothing's happening here."
"Oh, but the food, Ben." Max rubbed his hands while looking at the food on the table. He was too eager to try it out after what he's heard.
"That stuff? It's good. But you won't find the best of Witega's food in here." Calin wagged his finger. "My grandma has authentic food."
"Oh, does she now?" Max looked at Calin.
"She does." He nodded. "I'm sure she'd love to cook something up for you all.
"Mmm..." Max was already imagining that. One common thing in the world was the excellent cooking skills of a grandma. They seem to be unmatched with how wonderful their food turns out.
"Hey, how about I give you all a tour of our little town? It'll help make your time here much more worthwhile." Calin asked. "I know everything about this place. Every inch and nook of Witega is like the back of my hand. And you'd get to meet the others too. They'd like some new people."
"I'd love to." Gwen smiled, still feeling a bit of blush. "I mean, we'd love to."
"Great. I'll lead you to my home while we're at it." Calin would lead the way as Max picked up the bowl of food, bringing it along with him.
And so the Tennysons and Jon followed the young boy, leaving the diner. They followed him for a bit until they arrived at a rather nice house. The front yard was beautifully decorated with flowers and a large tree. The grass was neatly mowed, and there were various types of flowers growing in pots.
The house itself seemed rather old-fashioned, with a Victorian style of design, and yet looked as good as ever. The wooden panels had a nice brown color and the windows were clean and sparkling, giving it a warm appearance. The door was made of solid oak and had a beautiful brass handle, along with an iron gate that surrounded it. "My home." Calin smiled. "I live here with my Grandmother, Maria."
"Oh. She lives alone here?" Max asked. "That sounds awfully lonely."
"Somewhat." Calin said. "We get visitors here and there. Usually from her friends and others. But for the most part, she's alone."
"Sounds awfully quiet." Gwen said.
"Quite the opposite actually. My grandmother is quite lively. She loves to sing, play music, and dance. But above else, she loves things even before her time. You'll see from her collections." Calin smiled, walking up to the door, opening it, and leading them in.
They'd enter the home, and inside, it looked even more elegant than the exterior suggested. There was a lot of old furniture and decorations that were well preserved and maintained. There were also some old paintings on the walls. It really had an antique feel to it, making it feel like you had walked into the 1800s.
"Come, come." Calin would lead the way as the group walked into a large living room. There, an old woman with silver-white hair and blue eyes sat in front of the television. She was wearing an old-fashioned dress and looked to be in her early sixties. The old woman had her back turned towards them as they came inside.
"Hey Grandma." Calin would speak to the old lady.
"Ah, hello, my little boy. Back so soon?" She asked as she looked behind her. She had an accent, one that was a mix of British and French. And upon seeing the group behind her grandson, her eyes widened. "Oh my! Who are these people?"
"They're visitors. We have some new guests in Witega, so I thought I'd bring them over." Calin said.
"Well, I suppose that's fine." Maria said with a smile. "Welcome to my home, young visitors."
"It's nice to meet you, Ma'am." Max said, smiling back at her. "My name is Max Tennyson. These are my grandchildren and their friend, Gwen, Ben and Jon."
"I'm pleased to meet you as well. You can call me Maria. That's what everyone else calls me." The old woman smiled. "Calin is my grandson, my little boy. I raised him since his parents abandoned him when he was just a baby. He was my only grandson. His parents are gone, so he lives with me. He helps me with the chores, helps keep the house tidy. And in exchange, I help him learn about life and make him happy."
"That's sweet of you." Gwen commented.
"Well, yes. He needs a home. And I need someone around. I may not be as spry as I used to be. So he helps me a lot. But I'm more than capable of handling myself. You'll see that when we have lunch." She said. "Now then. Let's go to the kitchen. We'll be eating in a little bit. It's not every day we get to meet visitors from outside our town."
She got off the chair and began to make her way towards the dining area of the home. As she left the room, Max followed after her. Ben, Gwen, Jon, and Calin followed behind. They all headed down the hall and entered the kitchen.
Inside was an old-fashioned stove and refrigerator. The counter had various items sitting on it, including a large bowl of fruit, some jars of jam, and a box filled with spices.
The table itself was large enough for everyone to sit down. The plates, silverware, and other utensils were already laid out. Maria went straight to work, preparing food. She opened up several jars and began to prepare meals. "Oh my, oh dear...It's been such a long time since I've had guests." She smiled.
"Gwen. How about I give you a special dish? Some of the best in here and hand-made by me." Calin suggested, placing his hand on the wall suddenly. And by doing so, all of a sudden, a secret room had opened up, that being a second dining room that looked far more extravagant, as if it belonged to a fancy mansion. And in it was a long, elegant table, a chandelier that hung above it. The room itself had an old-timey feel to it, much like the rest of the house. But it felt like a place of elegance and luxury.
"Wow..." She smiled. "For me?!"
"Only for you." He grinned, walking over to a seat. "Come sit. Let me get something for you."
"Oh...I'm sure the others want something." She looked behind her, seeing the others. Max was eagerly awaiting whatever was going to come up, and Ben was a bit jealous and even a little upset. But Gwen had other concerns. "You said it yourself. We don't get a lot of visitors."
"Uh, I uh...want something." Jon looked at this scene, wondering what to make of it.
"Please." Calin would say to Gwen, holding his hand out and offering her a seat at the end of the table.
"Mmm..." Jon pouted as Gwen and Calin went to that special room and shut the doors, leaving Jon, Ben, and Max alone.
Max was smiling, rubbing his hands as Maria continued cooking up some delicious meals. But as for Jon and Ben, they were a bit jealous and annoyed at Calin's special treatment of Gwen.
"Come, children. Lunch is ready." Maria said as the others were still sitting down, looking at the food that had been prepared.
Jon and Ben were both still sitting in the dining area, waiting for their meals. But they didn't seem all that happy about being left out. They both looked at each other, not knowing what to say. Jon right now, was feeling some kind of way about Calin being so interactive with Gwen.
"Uh...what kind of food are we getting anyway, Grandma Maria?" Jon asked, trying to change the subject.
"Oh, just a simple meal. I hope you all like it." Maria said with a smile as she served the food to the group. She placed plates in front of them, filled with steaming hot dishes of food.
"Looks good. Can't wait to taste it." Max smiled, taking a bite from his plate of food and instantly feeling a tingle of pleasure from the flavor.
But elsewhere in that room that Gwen and Calin had gone to, the two would have lunch as well, Calin having his arm wrapped around the back of her seat, and leaning in close. "So...you like the food?" He asked. "I'm sure you've never tasted something as good as this. It's made by one of the finest cooks in Witega. The best, if you ask me. I know the owner of this place, and he makes some of the best food around."
"Thanks." She said, looking at the dish in front of her. Right away, she started eating, and instantly, she tasted the delicious flavors in it, her mouth feeling a tingle of happiness. "Mmmm..."
"Good?" He smiled. Gwen nodded. "Great. I'm glad. It's my personal favorite."
"You have great taste then. I'll say." Gwen complimented him, eating more of the food. She was already starting to feel happy from how good the food was. "It's so nice to meet such a gentleman like you."
"Oh, I try. I do." He chuckled, taking another bite from his own dish. "I'm just glad you came to this town. I'm sure you'll like it here. I can tell. I can tell from how beautiful you are, and from your taste in good food." He smiled, eating more of his dish. Gwen felt a little bit more flustered now, her cheeks turning red.
"W-Well I!" Gwen stuttered a little bit, her voice becoming soft as she tried to talk. She felt nervous and shy. Her heart was racing as she felt a bit more heat rising from her body. Calin's smile had an affect on her.
"Hey, don't be shy." He put his hand over her shoulder. "Enjoy your meal. After this, I'll show you around. You'll love the collection for sure."
As for Jon, he wasn't really in the mood to eat, still thinking about what Calin was doing with Gwen. He wanted to go to that room and see what was going on, but he knew he couldn't. Not with the other Tennysons and Calin's grandma in the room. And he didn't want to seem like a jealous jerk.
"Mm. I guess the food is pretty good. I'm checking out the place. You don't mind. Right, miss?" Ben stood up. Maria didn't mind one bit, allowing Ben to roam.
And so he did. Ben would wander around the house, looking around. He didn't have any real purpose. He just wanted to check things out. He was interested in what was going on in the house, and what was up with this family, but most importantly, he wanted to see how Calin was interacting with Gwen. "What's that guy's problem?"
He walked up the stairs, checking around the house. There were many doors and rooms that were available for him to explore. And so Ben did, checking them out one by one. Some were bedrooms. Some had bookshelves full of books, while others had closets filled with clothing. There was a bathroom, and a large closet with a lot of cleaning supplies.
There was also a room that had a large window, and Ben walked over to it, looking outside. It seemed like it was overlooking the town, which was nice, but he noticed something odd about the window. The glass had an odd tint to it, making everything look slightly off-color and blurry.
"...That's weird." He said to himself, touching it. And as he touched the glass, he noticed something. "Is that...?" It felt wet. Wet like water, and yet not like it at the same time. The texture of it was weird and strange to the touch. "What is that...?"
He then pulled his hand back, confused by the strange texture. He first assumed it had to do with how old this place was. It was probably just something that happened over time, he figured.
But as he went to another window, he'd feel the same texture. It felt the same as before, but now he was starting to feel like it was odd and strange. Something wasn't right with this house.
Ben made his way down the hall. And he'd look around. "Huh...That room looks interesting." Ben saw a room at the end of the hall, one that had a sign that said 'Library', with an arrow pointing at it. Curiously, Ben approached the door and opened it up.
And when he did, the room he saw was vast, like an endless abyss. The room was full of books, and they seemed to stretch on forever. "What is this?" Ben looked around the library, taking it all in. He then took one of the books out of curiosity, flipping through it, reading some of the text on the pages. The writing was in a language Ben didn't understand, and he had no clue what any of it meant.
The more he read through it though, he could feel a cold chill run down his spine. He felt uneasy, like he was being watched. And that feeling was getting worse and worse.
Ben closed the book and looked around again. "This place is giving me the creeps." Ben said to himself, walking away from the bookcase. And he'd keep walking until he'd come across a wall. A wall with a painting. And in that painting, he'd see the woman herself. Maria. She looked beautiful in that painting. She looked like a young and beautiful woman. But as he looked at her more and more, he realized she had the same facial expression as the one he saw in the living room. The same look of happiness.
"Boy, she's pretty..." Ben had to admit. But then, something came to mind in that head of his. He let out a mischievous grin, wanting to try something. And that involved the Omnitrix. He propped it up, immediately pressing down on it to take on an alien form.
At the same time, after Jon had finished his meal, he too decided to roam the place, looking around, seeing if there was anything of interest. He went down the same path Ben did, checking out the various rooms and whatnot.
As Jon walked around the house, he heard a sound. It sounded like a small animal. "Huh?" He wondered if there was something in the walls or attic of the house, and he followed the sound, coming straight from the picture of the young woman.
And then, all of a sudden, the sound got louder, causing him to stare at the picture longer. Jon readied himself, wondering what was up with the picture to warrant this. And that's when a certain figure popped out of the picture, startling Jon.
"Boo!" It was Ben. Or rather, Ben as the alien Ghostfreak, having taken that form for a prank.
"Geez! Ben!" Jon groaned, his eyes twitching in annoyance as Ben just laughed.
"What? You got spooked?" Ghostfreak was teasing Jon, laughing at his reaction. He looked around. "What are you doing anyway? You look lost. You looking for someone? Like maybe that guy that took Gwen away from us?"
"No." Jon lied. He was looking for them, and Ben saw through it.
"Yeah, you are. You totally are." Ben smirked, his eyes glowing bright. "You know I can tell you're jealous of that dude."
"No. No, I'm not." Jon shook his head. He turned around, not wanting to look Ben in the eye.
"Dude. Come on. I saw how you reacted." Ben smirked. "I saw your expression when Gwen went with that guy. It was so obvious. So obvious."
"I was not jealous. Just worried for Gwen." Jon looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Sure thing. But at the same time...being into Gwen? Gross." Ghostfreak shuddered at that thought. Somehow, that was more terrifying in his eyes. And that's when Jon had a realization. He was right, in a sense.
"You know about that, Ben?" Jon asked.
"I figured. Based on the way you act around her." Ghostfreak replied. Just then, another sound was heard. One that didn't come from Ghostfreak. The sound of footsteps. The sound of someone coming up behind him. And it didn't take long for Ghostfreak to realize it either.
And then, the sound got louder, causing Ghostfreak to turn around. He turned to face whoever was there and then saw that it wasn't just any random person. It was a vampire. A vampire that looked like a bat. It had a dark, almost pitch-black skin tone, a set of red eyes and a pair of wings.
The vampire hissed, revealing its sharp teeth and fangs. "You're one to speak." The bat hissed at Ghostfreak before pouncing at him, attacking him. It grabbed him and bit down on his shoulder, drawing blood.
"Yagh!" Ghostfreak gasped in pain. He tried fighting back but couldn't. He couldn't even use his intangibility. He was being bitten, drained of his energy and blood.
And that's when Jon stepped in, running in and striking the vampire creature with his fists, punching and kicking at it, and then sending a punch to the ground to cause a tremor, knocking it back. But that's when another vampire appeared and grabbed Jon. The vampire was much larger, looking more like an ogre than a human, and it had large hands and claws. Its mouth was full of sharp fangs, and it had a large nose that was dripping with blood. It also had red glowing eyes. The vampire was strong enough to hold Jon in place.
"Geez!" Jon cried out. Ghostfreak looked on, watching in horror as the vampires continued their attack. They were feeding on the boys, draining their energy. And as the vampires were draining the boys.
"Let me...GO!" Jon bellowed as his eyes would glow red for a second. But with brute force, he pushed them both away with a shockwave around his body, sending the vampire creatures back, freeing himself from the grasp of those monsters.
The two vampires got up from the floor, hissing, and snarling. "You'll pay for that." They growled, and began to approach the two boys.
But Ghostfreak got in front of Jon, showing his hidden tendrils within his body to intimidate them both. But before this could continue, the door to this room would open. And when hearing that, the two vampires would suddenly vanish.
From it, Maria appeared. "Oh. You're here." She looked to the two. "You must have been scared by the bats that sometimes infest the house. Yes. I do wish they'd stop coming here, but I can't keep them away."
"Bats...? Those were bats?" Ben said. He turned back to normal at the right time when Maria entered and looked at the window, and now it made sense. The weird liquid that was on them...that was the same liquid he had on his body.
"I'll have to clean this up. I'm sure the bats will come back if I leave them be. Come, let me lead you out of here." Maria smiled, walking to Ben and Jon and taking their hands, leading them away from the room and closing the door.
"But, miss Maria. Those bats...they weren't normal. They were huge!" Jon was confused and concerned.
"Ah...yes...the bats in this area can get quite big." Maria said to him, nodding in agreement. She led them to the living room. "You must be tired from the trip. Rest up in here, and I can call for the others."
Maria left them both in the room, and the two looked at each other in concern and confusion.
"...I'm gonna go see if I can talk to Gwen." But Jon took a different route. After that encounter, he had to check up on Gwen.
Speaking of Gwen, Calin was showing her the collection this place had. And that collection was massive, consisting of old and rare books from all over the world, some of them dating back centuries, even thousands of years old. And it wasn't just limited to literature either. There was a huge selection of music too, from classical pieces to rock n' roll, to jazz to modern day pop and everything in between. It was like stepping into another world altogether. "I love this." Gwen smiled, taking in the sight. It was amazing how much history and culture were stored in here, and it was all accessible to her now. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome, my dear." Calin said with a smile, looking at her with a bit of interest.
"Is that...an actual copy of Les Fleurs du Mal?! The original printing of it?!" She saw a book sitting there on a table and picked it up, looking at it in wonder. The title read 'The Flowers of Evil'. "It's real! Oh my god!"
"Of course." Calin said. "The book was printed back in 1857 by a French publisher called Librairie Nouvelle."
"And you have a first edition copy of it!" Gwen couldn't contain her excitement.
"Yes. Yes, I do. I have many rare and unique copies of books, some of which date back centuries. Some are even thousands of years old. And that's not even including the other collections here. There are also some music albums in here that I have, which you can listen to on my record player. Or my cassette tapes. Or my CD collection. Or the MP3s." Calin pointed towards the shelves full of music. "I have a lot of stuff here."
Gwen was in awe, and then she noticed something in particular. She saw a shelf that had a row of vinyl records. She went over to them, picking one up, reading the label on it. It read 'Journey To The Unknown'. The cover depicted a young girl holding an old book in her hand, staring at a dark, shadowy figure behind her.
"...What is this...?" She asked.
"That is a very rare album from 1978. The only known copy in existence." Calin smiled, walking towards her. "And it contains some very interesting information about a mysterious group of people that lived in Witega during the 1800's. And how a tragedy led them to the brink of destruction. And it has some really interesting information about vampires as well. It's fascinating. I'm surprised no one else has heard about it. I'm surprised I'm the only person who knows of it."
"Wow..." Gwen was amazed, looking through the record collection. She saw many more records like that one, all with different titles and covers. "So this place has everything...even the unknown...?"
"Indeed. It does." Calin smiled. He placed his hand on her shoulder and leaned close. "But there is a reason I brought you here. A reason why you should know this information. You see...my family has a secret."
"A secret?" Gwen was intrigued by what he said, but felt nervous as Calin leaned in closer, looking her in the eyes.
"Yessss...a secret. A very important secret that my family keeps from everyone. Even our own kind." Calin uttered before switching the topic. "You know, Gwen...It's rather lonely in this town. As humble as it is, it can get very stale. Having someone like you come around is great."
"Oh, thank you. But I'm not really sure what I'd offer to you, Calin." Gwen uttered. "I'd say I'm pretty average."
"That's not what I see." Calin said softly while smiling at her.
"Y-You mean that?" Gwen stuttered.
"Of course," He said under the warm glow of the chandelier. "I can see and tell that you've got a lot going for you. You're pretty amazing in my eyes to be interested in all of this. Not many are."
"I-I am?" She stuttered again, blushing. She was surprised by his words. She didn't think anyone could see her as anything more than just an ordinary girl.
"Mm. But that's only because I'm not so ordinary myself. I've got a lot that I'm interested in. A lot I want to achieve...especially when it comes to proving someone wrong. Gwen. Have you ever had that feeling?"
"Yeah, honestly. Back aat school anyways. There's a lot of times I just feel that urge to prove someone wrong. I guess you go through it too." Gwen admitted that she was the type to do so.
"It's only natural. But I want to prove someone wrong to become something better. And I think you can help me with that, Gwen."
"Really? Well, if there's something that's difficult, I guess I can help." She chuckled, a bit unsure how to react to that, but she smiled nonetheless.
"That's nice of you. Gwen. If possible, could you-"
"Gwen!" But as he went to put his hand on his shoulder, someone entered the room, calling Gwen's name. That being Jon, who ended up finding Gwen.
"Oh, Jon?" She looked to him.
"Oh. Hey..." He paused and then looked to Calin. "Sorry. Just wanted to make sure Gwen was okay."
"She's fine. Right, Gwen?" Calin asked, looking to her, but she felt a bit of uneasiness in the room.
"Uh...I'm good. Jon. But what happened?" Gwen asked, concerned for the two of them.
"Bats! Big bats just showed up and attacked us! I had to make sure you were okay." Jon replied.
"Ah, those bats. Apologies for that. They are rather big here." Calin smiled.
"You don't find that weird? Miss Maria didn't either?" Jon scratched his hair.
'"Not at all. How about we chat later, Gwen? Head out and explore the town if you want." Calin then walked off, heading to another part of his home, leaving Gwen with Jon. And the moment he was gone, she was ready to question him. "So, how'd you find the house?"
Soon, Jon, Ben and Gwen were outside, roaming the streets of Witega and checking out the stores. The three would wander through the streets and alleyways of the small, old town. And as for the town, there was the notable sight of many of its citizens being indoors at this time instead of outside in the summer heat.
And as they explored, the trio passed by many stores and businesses, most of them having old signs and buildings that looked as if they hadn't changed much in decades.
As for Jon, he wasn't sure how to approach Gwen about this, and he was looking to Ben for help. "Uh...Gwen...I was wondering...uh..."
"What?" She asked him.
"I uh..." Jon continued. "...I uh...I...just wanted to ask you about-"
"Oh, weird. "But Ben cut him off, noticing something. When looking at the buildings, he saw how the people were constantly staring through the them, looking at the three of them as if they were being observed by an unknown force. It made him uneasy.
"...Is it me, or is everyone just looking at us?" He asked. "I mean...it feels weird. Like, there's something off here."
"It does seem that way. "Gwen said. "But, it's probably because we're outsiders. Maybe they're not used to visitors."
Jon looked to the windows, seeing the same thing that Ben was. And that was people watching, and staring at the three. At the same time, the sky turned orange, showing that it was getting late in the afternoon.
"Uh, maybe we should get going." Ben said. "Maybe we can talk to Max and ask him about what's up with this place. It feels creepy."
"I agree." Gwen nodded. And the three went back to Calin's home to meet with Max. As they did, the townspeople continued to watch them leave. Their eyes were focused on them the whole time until the door of Calin's house opened. It was only when they heard a howl in the distance that their attention turned elsewhere. And it was then that their faces became worried. Some even afraid. They all retreated back into their homes.
And then, at that same moment, a figure emerged from behind the building. A man with red eyes and sharp teeth, wearing a dark cloak and hood. His eyes glowed in the night, as he looked to the direction of Calin's home. And after that, he vanished from view.
The group returned to the house, seeing Max in the living room with Calin, the two of them talking to each other while Maria was cooking something in the kitchen.
"Oh. Hello again." Maria said as she was making some kind of soup. "Are you hungry? Dinner's almost ready. It'll be good. And I'm sure you'll like the taste."
"Thanks for the offer." Max smiled. He looked to the kids and then to Maria. "I think we're going to take off after this."
"Oh. That's a shame. It's getting rather late though. You should stay. The town doesn't get visitors much. And you'd like to stay longer. Right, children?"
"I uh...Well..." Gwen stuttered.
"We're fine." Jon shook his head.
"But it'd be a great idea! You'd all get to see how this town is at its finest." Maria suggested. "It'd be a great way to experience this place. And the food will be ready soon. And the people should be out by now."
"Out? They were all inside for some reason. What's up with that? I know it's hot here but..." Ben questioned.
"You'd be surprised. It gets colder during the night. So much so that it is a perfect opposite to the day, but not too cold that its unbearable." Maria replied.
"Well, I don't know if-"
"It'll be great. I promise you." Maria insisted, and she was being quite persistent about it, making it seem as if she really wanted the Tennyson family to stay. But the moment Calin walked over, Gwen was more interested in him, staring at him as she spoke up.
"Hey Calin." Gwen smiled, walking over to him.
"Gwen. Did you enjoy seeing the town? I'm sure it's wonderful around this time of year. Summer brings the best to Witega."
"I did. I loved the library. There was so much in it. You know so much."
"Aw. I'm just glad to have helped you." He smiled. "It's getting late. How about you show you to your room? I have one I think you might like, Gwen." Calin offered.
"Really?" She smiled. "Sure thing. I bet it's nice."
"Of course it is. For you after all."
"Wait, hold on. I still have to get back to that Rustbucket." Max spoke up, a bit confused.
"Don't worry, Mr. Tennyson. You're welcome to come back to it whenever you please. It's just down the road from us." Maria replied. "I'd say you can go right now, but you should eat. You'll need energy for your drive."
"Yeah, I don't think-" But before he could say anything else, Calin and Gwen had left the scene, heading up to a room in the home.
As they entered the room, they saw a bed, and it looked comfortable, but it was nothing compared to the view that lay ahead. There were paintings hung along the walls, depicting scenes from history. Some of these were historical events, others were landscapes, while some showed various creatures such as dragons or monsters.
But the one that really stood out among them all, was the painting of the moon over a large forest, shining brightly upon it, casting a silver light across the land below it. "Wow. It looks beautiful." Gwen smiled, admiring the artwork.
"Yeah...it's beautiful." Calin smiled. But his gaze wasn't on the paintings or the scenery. He was staring at Gwen with a smirk. And with that smirk, his eyes flickered for a moment.
As for Jon and Ben, they were still with Maria as the Moon was starting to rise, lounging about in the living room. Jon and Ben would both sit on a couch and stare out at the town, seeing how the streets were empty, yet the moon was shining bright and high, as if it were day again.
And as soon as the Moon came up, when they looked at Maria, something shocking happened. The old lady's smile would suddenly dropped as her eyes would widen. And from it, she gasped, as if something had shocked her.
"YOU HAVE TO LEAVE HERE AT ONCE!" Maria suddenly screamed, startling Jon and Ben as her voice suddenly grew deep.
"W-What?" Jon asked.
"THIS TOWN IS DANGEROUS! DANGEROUS I TELL YOU! I-It's the people. The town. IT'S CURSED! THAT BOY IS EVIL!" Maria yelled. Her eyes widened, as if she'd seen a ghost or something else terrifying.
"Cursed?! What do you mean by-" But Jon couldn't finish that sentence.
"It's all his fault! He's turned everyone here into a vampire with his own power! And he will do the same to you all!" Maria put her hands on Ben's shoulders and shook him. "I can't let that happen to you. None of you!"
"What the..." Naturally, both Ben and Jon were taken aback by this.
"The Moon. Only when it comes up can they all leave their homes properly, away from the Sunlight. I was once human as well...but that boy. He changed me. He knew that I could use that weakness to my advantage...and he turned me into a vampire! Just like the rest! Only when the Moon rises...can I be normal...But the boy...Calin! That boy is pure evil!"
"Vampire? Evil?!" Ben said. And that's when it clicked for them both. Those bats that attacked them were not normal whatsoever. "GWEN!" Both Jon and Ben exclaimed, realizing Gwen was trouble. With her being alone with Calin, she could become a vampire as well
Realizing this, Jon took off at high speeds, leaving a trail of wind as he dashed. Ben would do the same, propping up the Omnitrix to try and gain someone fast. Someone by the name of XLR8. He slammed down onto the Omnitrix, transforming himself. With a green light, he had transformed into XLR8, a blue and black velociraptor-looking alien that could run at high speed, and catch up with Jon.
"About earlier, Gwen. We didn't really get to finish." Calin said as he held something in his hands within this room. A type of robe with an ornate design and a red gem on it. He walked up to Gwen, deciding to give it to her. "Here. Have this robe. It's even older than this mansion and town."
"Oh, it's beautiful." And by loving the sight of it, Gwen had Calin put the robe on her, wearing it. The fabric of this robe was so smooth, and it felt soft against her skin. She loved how comfortable it felt.
"It is. And now it belongs to you. But back on topic. There is something I must say to you." Calin would speak again. And that's when the two heard vicious howling from outside.
"Oh, sure." But Gwen didn't seem to pay it any mind. Her eyes would suddenly hollow out a bit as her pupils glowed red, just for a moment. "You can tell me." And that glow was enough to make her mind become foggy for a moment.
"I want you to be by my side for as long as possible, Gwen. Here at Witega." And as he said that, her eyes were becoming fully hollow and her expression rather cold and neutral with a faint smile. "And it's all to prove that I'm capable of joining the Cult of the Blood Red Moon. And to prove myself to her. My mother."
"Oh. Who's that?" Gwen said, not showing much emotion at all. Whatever happened to her, made fully obedient to listening to Calin's words as if this were fully normal.
"Mary, Queen of Blood. I'm one of her many blood descendants. But an exiled one. I was part of the Vaelmont Family, considered a rogue bloodline of vampires and a forgotten coven of Mary's original vampiric empire. I was abandoned. Left to rot in the shadow of her legacy."
"Oh, that's so sad." Gwen said with little emotion and only a monotone voice. Gwen blinked slowly and her posture almost doll-like. She was standing still, like a puppet held up by invisible strings. "I had to earn my way back into her favor. To prove that I am worthy of her blood...and her power. Then, she would notice my existence."
Calin turned away for a moment, walking over to a strange mural etched into the stone wall as Gwen just mindlessly stared at him."The Cult of the Blood Red Moon only accepts the elite. The ruthless. And those who can turn others as beautifully and flawlessly as she once did."
He turned back to Gwen, eyes glowing crimson now. More of his vampiric side was now startnig to show.
"You, Gwen… you're the final step. The first of many, yes, but the most important. You're pure. Intelligent. Curious. And you've already accepted the robe, which binds you to the Vaelmont bloodline now... at least symbolically."
"Gwen slowly tilted her head. "I understand... Calin."
"Good girl," he whispered. "Now... hold still."
He drew close, brushing Gwen's hair gently to the side, exposing her neck. And just as his fangs hovered above her skin...
CRASH!
The doors blew open, wood splintering across the floor. And from it, Jon had appeared along with XLR8. And both boys had a shocked and angry look on their faces. "Get away from Gwen!"
"Oh. You found out?" Calin said to the two, with a wicked smile on his face. He then hissed at them both, now that he had been found out. No use hiding it there as he bared his fangs.
"You really are a vampire..." Jon glared at Calin. "What did you do to her?!"
"Gwen!" XLR8 shouted, trying to break Gwen from her dazed trance. And she looked at him. She didn't seem to react, as her eyes were hollowed and glowing.
"I think you're too late. She's already becoming one of us. This will help me get into the Cult of the Blood Red Moon. I'm so close to being worthy of her. Who knows? I might be lucky and even have Gwen be with me forever. Like how most vampires choose a wife." Calin uttered.
"No way...!" Jon growled, clenching his fist.
"You see...Witega is filled with the Vaelmont family vampires. The ones I turned to serve my cause. You're not getting out of here." Calin said. "And if you're lucky...you might become like us too."
"AS IF!" Jon bellowed as his eyes lit up and he launched his fists forward, ready to strike at Calin. But the boy was quick, using his inhuman agility and reflexes to dodge, moving with incredible speed, like a blur of darkness in front of them. His body became one with the shadows themselves, his movements almost imperceptible to the naked eye. And that's when the vampire dashed towards Jon, striking him in the chest.
"Agh!" Jon grunted as he felt the pain of being punched. He tried to push Calin away but couldn't as he felt himself being slammed into a wall. But it didn't end there, because Calin was able to grab hold of his shirt with his hand, gripping tightly onto him.
"Jon!" XLR8 shouted, seeing Jon in trouble. And so the Kineceleran sped on over, moving fast to try and save him. But as he did that, a shadow would suddenly grab XLR8's tail, stopping him from saving Jon. From it, the shadow began to change and take shape.
"Ah, ah, ah." The figure spoke as it became a female figure. One that was dressed in a maid's outfit. And it was none other than the one and only, Maria. The old lady who was a human, now a vampire, like the rest of the townspeople.
"Ah!" XLR8 gasped. "Let me go!"
"Apologies" Maria grinned. "You're all going to be one of us soon!" And that's when the maid began to drain the energy of the alien.
Jon saw it and glared at Calin, pushing him back and punching the boy with a strike, knocking him to the floor. Jon flew to help Ben, tackling Maria away. He didn't want to do it since she wasn't in her right mind, but right now, he had to do it. He had no time to waste, not when his friend needed help. "Hold on, Ben!" He shouted as he pulled him away from the maid.
"Gwen!" XLR8 shouted at her, looking at her. The vampire just stared back at the alien with hollowed-out eyes, still wearing the robe that she wore.
Gwen's expression didn't change one bit, and she seemed completely unbothered by anything else happening around her, not even reacting when XLR8 called out her name.
"She's under a trance, you idiot!" Calin said to the Kineceleran as his body started to regenerate from the blow. And after regenerating, Calin unleashed a swarm of bats from his hands, the creatures swarming all over XLR8. "She's becoming a beautiful creature of the night."
"No...I'm not letting you do this! Gwen! Get out of that robe!" XLR8 yelled, trying to fight off the bats and swatting them away.
"Gwen. Don't listen to him." Calin commanded, speaking to her. "Stay with us and join our coven." Calin said to the young redhead.
"Oh. Okay, Calin..." Gwen nodded, still in that trance. It seemed like she wasn't even aware of her own situation. She was completely oblivious of the danger that surrounded her.
"Why you!" Furious, Jon roared, clapping his hands together to unleash a shockwave, dispersing them from XLR8. After doing so, he flew towards Calin, unleashing a powerful strike. But Calin managed to block it, using his clothes to do so.
"As a vampire, I too have superhuman strength. Like so!" Calin yelled as he slugged Jon's face with his fist, staggering him. After staggering him, he showed his claws that replaced his nails, slashing at Jon. He ended up tearing apart Jon's hoodie, revealing the Superman Logo underneath his shirt.
But Jon wouldn't let up, as he'd fly around Calin, trying to get at his back, punching him with all of his strength. He pushed Calin back, delivering a barrage of heavy blows to him, trying to keep the pressure on him, but it wasn't enough, as the boy was still standing.
"You won't get her back." He smirked, showing his sharp fangs. "She'll be perfect. Beautifully pale skin...fangs...and her own power." He was talking about Gwen as he was being assaulted. But even though the attacks hurt him, they weren't enough to truly put him down. "No human can resist it!"
Jon had an angry look in his eyes, his eyes flashing red. He flew towards him and delivered a powerful punch to his stomach, sending him crashing to the wall behind him, but that was a big mistake. As soon as he was close, Calin's hand touched Jon's arm, gripping it tightly. The boy was starting to drain his life energy, just as he did to Ben. And as he drained it, the vampire began to glow with energy.
"What?! NO!" Jon shouted in pain.
"I'm taking her with us! And she will be mine. My beautiful vampire bride." Calin smiled, draining Jon's energy. "I will be worthy to her."
"No...you won't!" Jon clenched his teeth.
"Jon, use it! Your Heat-" But before Ben could finish, vampires from the outside barged in here. Just like bats, they swarmed over, approaching Ben and striking at him.
"Let me go!" Ben yelled as he was grabbed and pulled back. And at the worst time, he timed out, the Omnitrix returning to normal.
"Ben!" Jon shouted as he struggled against Calin. The more Jon struggled, the tighter Calin held him, his claws digging deeper into Jon's flesh. Jon cried out in pain as he tried to pull himself free from Calin's grip, but it was no use.
"You can't resist it. The more you resist, the stronger it becomes. And soon, you'll be like the others in town. My loyal vampire servants." Calin grinned. "You can't beat me. Not while you are a mere half-blood." He uttered. "A mere Dhampir! Now, out of my sight!"
And with that, he let out a powerful push onto Jon's chest, a red pulse coming out from the impact. A red sigil suddenly bloomed beneath Jon's feet.
"I do dabble in some magic as well." Calin said as in an instant, shadowy chains erupted from the sigil, snaring Jon's limbs midair. They weren't physical, they phased through his body and latched onto his soul, dragging him down. And soon, he was being dragged away along with Ben.
Calin smiled, seeing as the two were gone. "Now then. Where was I? Oh, right. You'll be a perfect vampire bride." Calin said, walking over to the hypnotized Gwen.
"G-Gwen!" Jon yelled as the doors closed and the last thing he saw was Calin near Gwen. And that was enough for Jon to scream her name again. "GWEN!"