markdown-monster-club/chapters/chapter_08.md

# Chapter 8

“Abraham, wake up.” Abraham heard the voice, but refused to open his eyes. He groaned and rolled over in bed, trying to ignore the sound coming from the foot of his bed.
“Leave me alone.” Abraham groaned in response. There was a pause and there was the slightest sound of movement. Suddenly there was a squeaking and creaking sound as a weight suddenly hit the bed. Unwilling to open his eyes, but becoming more and more concerned, Abraham turned his head away and rolled over onto his back.
“Wake up, you silly willy.” Abraham cracked his eyes open at this. The sound of that voice was in no way familiar to him. It sounded like a little girl…but what was a little girl doing in his room? He opened his eyes and looked to the other side of the bed. Kneeling on the mattress next to him! She was wearing a blood red sundress and her little body was smooth and clean. She had black hair that feel down to the bottom of her neck and her eyes were a familiar dark red. She was smiling at him with a sweet little girls grin. Abraham had to blink multiple times to make sure that he was seeing this right.
“Who…who are you?!” Abraham asked. He blinked and opened his eyes to look at the girl again. The girl was staring at him…but her face had changed to a frown. She was glaring at him…and her red eyes were almost glowing. Was she another monster?
“Stop being such a lazy ass, and get up.” She snapped. Abraham bolted out of bed and stared at her in stunned amazement. Only moments ago she had sounded so sweet and childish…but now seemed so serious and adult in character. The girl crawled off the bed and walked towards the door. The door opened…to reveal Tamil and Sarah, who were both bent over in fits of laughter. Tamil was leaning against the wall, trying hard to hold in his laughter. Sarah wasn’t even trying to hold back, as she was laughing hysterically. Abraham was thoroughly confused.

“Sorry Abraham, we couldn’t resist!” Sarah laughed.
“What are you talking about?” Abraham demanded. “Who’s the girl?” The question only made Tamil and Sarah laugh louder. The girl gave Abraham a cold look…and suddenly her eyes glowed red! Her body began to morph and reshape into shadows and masses of black energy. Her body grew and shifted until she didn’t look young and sweet anymore. When the shadows cleared, standing in her place was a full grown and tired looking Asher. He smirked and turned to face Tamil.
“Alright, I did it, now pay up.” He chuckled. Tamil high-fived Asher’s hand before pulling out a small wad of cash.
“Perfect, Asher!” Tamil gasped, through tears of laughter. Abraham couldn’t help but stare with shock and lack of understanding. Asher took the money from Tamil and then glanced at Abraham.
“Well, it really is time to get up…breakfast is waiting.” Asher then walked off into the hall. Abraham pointed and stared stupidly as Sarah and Tamil howled with laughter.
"We should go now," Sarah chuckled, "it really is time to get back to work." She scurried off, giggling the whole way, leaving Tamil and Abraham together, as Tamil was still laughing into his bandaged hands.
"Wh-what just happened?!" Abraham asked. Tamil smiled and patted Abrahams shoulder.

"Asher has power to change shape." Tamil explained. "Can look like anything or anyone. Thought would be fun if Asher woke you as Ashley."
"Ashley?"
"Yes," Tamil laughed, "that name for Asher's girl form."
"Does he do that often?"
"No! Does not like that form...we talk him into it." Tamil laughed again, and Abraham started to calm down...and blush a little in embarrassment.
"That wasn't funny, man." Abraham growled.
"It was!" Tamil cackled. "Really, it was!" Abraham walked around him and made his way into the hallway. Suddenly he slowed down as he came by Michelle's room. No sound could be heard from inside, which caused a small lump of concern in his stomach. Tamil stopped laughing and rushed to join him.
"Is she..." Abraham began to ask.
"Best not to worry." Tamil said warmly. "Michelle tired...best leave her alone." Abraham nodded and joined Tamil as they both walked downstairs. Sarah and Calypso were busy setting the table as Asher was sitting on the couch, rubbing his shoulder...the same shoulder that he had injured when Michelle had thrown him into a tree. But how could that be hurt? Hadn't he regenerated?

"It will be a few moments before breakfast is on the table," Calypso said to him as he came downstairs, "Why don't you wait with Asher?" Abraham nodded and went to go sit with Asher as Tamil came to join them. Asher scooted over so that Abraham could sit down. Abraham turned and smiled at Asher and then looked at his shoulder.
"How's the wound?" Abraham asked.
"It's healed." Asher said calmly. "It regenerated from last night."
"Then why do you rub it like that?" Abraham asked. Asher gave him an odd look and shrugged.
"As a vampire, I can regenerate any wound or injury almost automatically...but I still feel the pain and the agony of the injury when it is inflicted." Asher explained. "I guess I'm getting over that." Abraham nodded, and then Asher placed his hand on Abrahams shoulder firmly. "Listen to me, Abraham." He said darkly. "Don't mention anything about last night to Michelle."
"Why not?" Abraham asked.
"Does not need the reminder." Tamil said sadly, his eyes downcast, despite the fact that he couldn't see anyway.
"He's right," Asher said with a voice as firm as his grip, "Michelle has never gotten out of control like that before, and I don't want her to dwell on that. She has no memory about what she did as a wolf, and we don't want her to worry because she got loose once." Abraham cocked his head to the side.
"You mean...she really doesn't remember anything?" Asher shook his head.
"The werewolf curse activates the feral part of the brain. When the transformation takes place, her mind slips into a primal and instinctive state, and it cuts off all logical thought and memory. She isn't aware of what she's doing or even who she is...but the strangest part of it, is that the wolf will act on her subconscious."
"I don't understand." Abraham said.

"It means that, even if I am in wolf form, the wolf will connect with my perceived conceptions and act on them. If I perceive a threat in my human form, then the wolf in me will also see it as a threat and do what it can to remove it." The whole room turned around to look at the stairs, where Michelle was standing. Her face as tired and her hair was a mess. She looked so thin and weak...like she hadn't eaten or slept in days. Asher rose to his feet as well as Tamil. Michelle took a few hesitant steps downstairs and walked to the den.
"Asher, thank you for last night." Michelle said.
"There's no need to thank me, Michelle." Asher said kindly. "I was just helping a friend." Michelle smiled.
"Either way...thank you. I'm sorry if I hurt you." Asher shook his head.
"Michelle, why don't you eat something?" Sarah called. Michelle shook her head and walked past Asher and stood in front of Abraham.
"I need a word with you." She said. Abraham nodded hesitantly and rose to his feet. He followed her out of the den as she lead him to the front hall, where no one could see them. She stopped and turn to face Abraham. There was a look of dead seriousness on her face.

"Did I hurt anyone last night?" She demanded. Abraham opened his mouth to answer, but he remembered Asher's order not to mention last night, so he quickly tried to think up a lie. His hesitance was a dead give away to Michelle. "Look, I know that I lost control last night...I saw the damaged room and the claw marks. I also saw the broken chain outside. All I want to know is how much damage did I cause? Did anyone get hurt?"
"No one!" Abraham said, happy that he didn't have to lie. "You didn't hurt anyone." Michelle gave him a cold look...as if searching his soul for the truth. Her cold, husky blue eyes bore into his.
"And Asher?" She demanded. "How did he get me under control again? How far did he push himself?" Abraham wasn't sure how to answer.
"He um...I...don't know what..."
"Please, Abraham." Michelle walked forward and placed her hands on Abrahams shoulders...her hands were shaking. "I have to know...how bad did it get?" Abraham locked eyes with hers...and he knew that he couldn't lie.
"He used something called...a blood rage." As he said this, Michelle moaned and let go of his shoulders.
"Damn it." She muttered. "Then it got that bad, huh?" Abraham gritted his teeth angrily, knowing that he had some how told her too much.
"It's okay, really." Abraham said. "No one was hurt and everything turned out okay." Michelle shook her head.
"Not for Asher." She said. "My guess is he was rubbing his old wounds this morning?" Abraham stopped and nodded slowly. Michelle growled and looked away. "The blood rage is a state that Asher enters when he's under a great deal of stress, anger, or exhaustion."
"Yeah," Abraham said, glad to know that he wasn't totally lost. "Solomon told me that it was like when a human has an adrenaline rush."
"He's right...but what happens after the adrenaline rush passes?" Michelle countered. Abraham's grin faded and he stared at her. "When the adrenaline rush passes, your body goes into recovery mode...it feels sluggish and heavy and you feel weak. It's the same with a vampire. His body is going through a recovery phase. He's weakened...his regeneration powers are slower...and he's exhausted. He over worked himself to keep me under control." Michelle walked to the wall and leaned against it. "I'm dangerous...Asher shouldn't have to go through that every full moon....none of you should."
"But Michelle, he does it for you."
"I know he does." Michelle snapped. "He does it to keep me pacified." Abraham shook his head and stormed forward.
"No, he does it because he wants to protect you and the club! He doesn't do it because he hates you or because he thinks your a monster...I think he goes that far so that you don't hurt yourself or others...so that you can be safe. If he really thought you were a monster...then he'd just kill you, wouldn't he? I mean, who would put themselves through all that every month for someone that they didn't care about?" Michelle turned her head and glanced up at Abraham sadly.
"You're a good kid, Abraham." She choked. "Thanks." She stood up and walked past him, patting his shoulder with her hand, in show of gratitude. As she walked past, Asher came to the door. Michelle paused and took a moment to hug Asher around the middle before walking past him and into the den. Asher watched her go and then shrugged, turning back to Abraham.
"I don't know what you said to her...but thanks. I think you cheered her up." Abraham nodded and then frowned as she watched Asher make his way to the staircase.
"Where are you going?"
"Bed." Asher said. "I'm exhausted." Abraham watched him move slowly up the stairs...and couldn't help but notice there was a pained expression on Asher's face. Michelle had been right...he was still recovering from using that shadow power of his. Asher had so much power...but all of it lead back to being a vampire. What was it like to be a vampire? Are they really that powerful?
"Asher, I have a question to ask." Asher stopped and turned to look at Abraham.
"Ask then." Abraham paused and thought how best to phrase his thoughts without sounding offensive or stupid.

"Um...what's it like to...." Asher stared at him for a moment...and Abraham suddenly felt the need to change the question. "What's it feel like to be in love with someone?!" Abraham felt the need to slap himself across the face as he asked the question. Asher gave Abraham a nervous look and cocked an eyebrow.
"Abraham," he said, "you do realize that I don't stay in girl form, right? That was just a joke Tamil and Sarah wanted to play. I'm in no way interested in...." Abraham blushed and shook his head.
"No, no! That's not what I meant I just..." He turned his head and growled. "I've seen the way that you look at Calypso and...."
"HUSH!" Asher hissed fiercely. His eyes were horrified and they were darting towards the kitchen where the others were, hoping that they hadn't heard. "I don't know how you figured out about that, but you can't tell anyone! Don't tell anyone about that!" Abraham nodded his head quickly.
"I promise!" Asher sighed and turned to make his way back up the stairs. He paused for a moment and then turned to glance at Abraham.
"It makes me feel alive again." Asher answered. He then stalked off to his room. As he did, Sarah's head poked around the corner to see Abraham. She waved and gave a big smile.
"Come on, silly willy, it's time for breakfast!" Abraham groaned and followed Sarah into the kitchen where the rest of the table was already eating. Solomon was sitting at the head of the table. He turned and saw Abraham come in and he smiled.

"Good to see you, son!" He laughed. "Sleep well, last night?" Abraham sat down at the table and pulled a cut of bacon over to his plate as well as a spoonful of scrambled eggs.
"Yeah, I slept fine." Solomon smiled and leaned close to him.
"Today is just going to be a simple day. The club is going to clean up the house and the yard area. You can help out, or you can just relax for the day." Abraham shrugged and looked around the table. Sarah and Tamil were talking more so than eating. Calypso was carefully eating into, what looked like, fish sticks. Michelle wasn't eating much, but she did look much more awake than before...and a little more happy. As he watched them eat, a thought came to his mind.
"Where do you get the food from?" Abraham asked. "How do you afford it?"
"Good question." Solomon said with a chuckle. "Well, we get money from Sarah, who sells her clothes and designs. Michelle and Calypso usually go shopping for food, but now that you're here, you can probably help with some of that." Abraham nodded.
"Anything I can do to help." Abraham finished eating his food and then looked around at the group as they continued eating. "I'm gonna step outside for a moment." He stood up and walked back to the front hall. He opened the front door and opened it up to reveal the beautiful front lawn. He sat down on the steps and looked around at the lush green grass and the trees before him. The house just seemed a bit stranger every moment. After last night, he didn't know what to think anymore. What else would he see and learn? There was so much to take in.

A sudden rustling of bushes and trees caught Abrahams ears. He looked up to the woods and saw a strange creature moving and crawling its way through the bushes. Abraham climbed to his feet and stared at it. He felt an urge to call the others, but he couldn't look away from the bushes as the creature crawled out. His breath caught in his throat.
It was a long and strange creature. It's upper torso looked like that of a young girl with long and dirty hair. Her skin was slightly tan, but it was covered in cuts and bruises. Blood coated her small and delicate hands. Her head hung low, not allowing Abraham to see her eyes. She was a poor and lost creature...but the strangest part of her was below the waist. From her waist down, her body was a long and scaly snake tail. Her scales were caked with mud and clay and blood. She looked so weak, and her hands clawed desperately at the ground, trying to pull herself across the front yard and away from the woods...it was like her snake tail simply would not work. Abraham took a cautious step towards the injured creature.
"Are...are you alright?" He asked. The girl turned her head upwards and her sad and empty eyes looked up at him with a look of absolute desperation and fear.
"H-help...me..." Her head suddenly fell and collapsed on the grass. Abraham jumped back and turned to the door.
"HELP! SOMEONE, COME QUICK!" Within moments, Sarah and Michelle were at the door with Tamil and Calypso closely behind them. When they saw the creature in the lawn, their reactions were devastating. Sarah gasped in horror and turned away to bury her face in Tamil's bandages. Tamil, who couldn't see what had caused such horror, only patted her head and looked ahead blankly. Michelle suddenly went weak kneed and had to grasp the door in order to hold herself up. Calypso ran past all of them and dropped down next to the snake creature. She placed her hands over her and began touching her wounds, inspecting her and looking over her.
"Get Asher! Quickly! I need his help!" She screamed. Michelle turned and ran inside, sprinting up the stairs to Asher's room. Abraham dropped down next to Calypso. She grabbed Abrahams hand and pressed it against one of the larger cuts. "Keep pressure on that. We need to stop the bleeding! Once Asher get's here, we can get her inside." Abraham couldn't help but notice the deep seriousness and firmness that Calypso was displaying.
Within seconds, Asher was at the door. He looked over the scene and rushed outside. He cried out in pain as the sun beat down on his skin, causing a burning smell to fill Abrahams noses. Asher ignored it and wrapped his arms around the snake girl and lifted her up as easily as if she was a sack of feathers.
"Grab her tail, Abraham!" Asher barked. Abraham wrapped his arms around her tail and lifted it up, following Asher inside. As they walked in, Abraham could smell Asher's burned skin, but nothing looked badly burned. Asher ran into the kitchen. "Clear a space!" Sarah and Tamil were already at work throwing plates and silverware off the table. Solomon was just watching them all, a terrified and shocked look on his face.
"What on Earth..." Asher placed the girl on the table and stepped back, collapsing on the ground. He was breathing heavily and his skin looked tanner than before...as if he had been sunbathing. Calypso ran to the table and began fussing over the creature. She was naked and Abraham felt the urge to turn away, but he couldn't look away from this creature...and how much attention the house was giving her. Calypso placed her hands on the creatures body and began healing her injuries and rubbing water on it. She barked orders at Tamil and Michelle who ran to do their jobs. Sarah was leaning against a wall, unable to look at the image before her.
"What's going on!?" Abraham cried out. Solomon stepped forward next to Abraham.
"Abraham...I believe that introductions are in order." He placed one cold, ghostly hand on Abrahams shoulder and held his other hand out, indicating the snake girl.

"Abraham...meet Katie."