Adding chapters 6-30.

chapters/chapter_06.md

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+# Chapter 6
+
+After the conversation with Solomon, Abraham went up to his room and lay down. He stared up at the ceiling from his bed and considered all that had been going on. So many thoughts and feelings flooded his consciousness…most of them about the strange group of monsters he now had to live with. Though he was starting to like them, he couldn’t help but think of them as monsters or something sub human. Something deep down told him that this was a cold stereotype…almost as if he was being somewhat racist…but he simply couldn’t help his thoughts. After all, he barely knew them.
+A dridder that is open and friendly and likes to sew clothes. A werewolf girl who is a strong and loyal leader for her family. A shy and timid mermaid with a little girls crush. A vampire with unbelievable power and intimidating abilities. And finally, a young mummy with a sense of humor and a few secrets of his own. Top it all off with a ghost who owns an old lake house that several potential buyers are interested in…you’ve got one very strange but oddly interesting group of misfit monsters.
+“What have I gotten myself into?” Abraham muttered. “All of this is happening so fast...I’m not sure what to do.” Abraham rolled over in bed and listened to the sounds around the house. Despite his fatigue, he couldn’t sleep. There was too much on his mind.
+
+*knock, knock*
+
+“Who is it?” Abraham called. Suddenly the door opened up and Abraham had to stifle a scream of terror. In, on all 8 legs, walked Sarah! He still was trying to get over the shock of her appearance. It’s not easy to simply overlook a beautiful young girl with spider legs. Sarah was smiling, her fangs glinting against the light of the overhead light. She beamed and scuttled over to Abraham. Her hands were behind her back, as if hiding something.
+“How are you, Abraham?” She asked. Abraham shrugged.
+“Still getting used to the house.” He admitted. Sarah giggled.
+“I’ll admit…it was all a little strange at first for me too, but you’ll get used to it over time.” Sarah grinned and suddenly pulled her hands out from behind her and showed Abraham what she had been hiding. In her hands was a long and lovely jacket! It was blue with a sliver stripe running along chest and another one running down the sleeves! It was so nice!
+“Sarah…what is that?” Abraham asked.
+“It’s a jacket, you silly.” Sarah giggled. “It’s yours…please try it on.” Abraham took the jacket from her hands as he threw off his own dirty and mud splattered one. He slipped on the new blue jacket and suddenly felt a smooth sensation all over his body! The inside of the jacket was made of pure silk! It felt unbelievably smooth to the touch and it hugged his boy knightly. The arm length and the size of the jacket were all perfect! It felt wonderful on his body!
+“Sarah, it fits perfectly…and it feels so good!”
+“Of course it does,” Sarah said with a proud smile, “I made it with my own silk.” Abraham stopped and stared at her…then at her abdomen. Suddenly…this jacket had a very different feel on his body.
+“So…you mean that the material in this jacket…came out of your butt?!” He cried. Sarah burst out into a fit of laughter that even made Abraham grin a little…that was something he noticed about Sarah; no matter what, she was always so happy and joyful…it was uplifting, especially considering all that he had been through.
+
+“No!” Sarah cackled, “My silk comes from the silk glands at the base of my spine just at the tip of my abdomen, just like any normal spider.” Abraham blushed and rubbed the smooth jacket.
+“Sorry.” Abraham said sheepishly. Sarah waved it aside.
+“Oh, don’t worry about it.” Sarah said with s smile. “Tamil picks on me about that all the time.”
+“Do you make clothes for the others?” Abraham asked. Sarah nodded.
+“Oh, all the time, in fact!” Sarah said. “But do you like your new jacket?” Sarah asked. Abraham pulled on the jacket and felt how strong it was and then admired how nice it felt on his body and how smooth the material was. It was a wonderful jacket.
+“It’s remarkable! How did you make it so quickly?” Abraham asked. Sarah blushed and smiled, flexing her arms a little.
+“You’re looking at the best weaver ever! I can make clothes lickety-split!” Sarah said gladly.
+“But she can’t clean her room in an hour.”
+
+Sarah and Abraham spun to the door to see Michelle standing by the entrance. She was grinning at the two of them. Sarah beamed and turned to face Michelle. Michelle looked to Abraham and then back to Sarah.
+“I just wanted to tell you two that supper is almost ready.” Abraham’s eyes widened in shock.
+“Supper?” Sarah and Michelle both just stared at him.
+“Well, yeah…we may not be human, but we still eat.” Michelle said stiffly. Abraham shook his head.
+“Well of course, I knew that but…I didn’t realize that you guys all ate together.” Abraham said. Sarah and Michelle exchanged glances.
+“Of course we eat together….we’re a family after all.” Michelle said. Abraham nodded as he considered this obvious fact.
+“Sorry, I just didn’t….I didn’t think that…”
+“That monsters could be social?” Michelle finished coldly. “Well…today is just full of surprises for you, isn’t it?”
+“Michelle,” Sarah moaned, “please be nice. He’s still getting used to us.” Michelle sighed and nodded her head in understanding.
+“Regardless…it’s suppertime.” Michelle walked away from the door and vanished. Sarah turned to face Abraham, a sad look on her face.
+
+“Sorry about that, Abraham.” She said.
+“No, I’m the one who should be sorry.” Abraham admitted. Sarah grinned and moved to the door.
+“Well…are you coming?” She asked. Abraham nodded and hurried after Sarah as she walked towards the steps.
+“Oh, Sarah?” Michelle had turned around to face them from the bottom of the stairs. “I didn’t wake Asher. Could you get him please?” Sarah almost turned, but Abraham stopped her quickly.
+“Go ahead, I’ll get him.” Abraham said. Sarah smiled her gratitude and rushed downstairs. Abraham spun to face the door that Asher had vanished into a while ago and pushed it open carefully.
+The inside of the room was quite unlike Sarah’s. It wasn’t quite as large but there was still plenty of room to move around in. It was rather dusty and dark, with very little light to speak of accept for the setting sun that glowed through the window on the wall. Abraham turned to see where the bed in the room was…but there didn’t seem to be one! There was a great amount of room in the place, but the only furniture was a closet, a dresser, and a small refrigerator. At the far end of the room there was a large box that looked longer than Abraham was tall. He walked closer and suddenly discovered what it was!
+“A coffin!” Abraham hissed in horror. It was indeed a coffin and Abraham quickly remembered the stories he had heard that vampires slept in coffins. Could Asher be sleeping in that? What would he do if he opened the coffin? Would Asher be mad? However, at the moment he knew that Michelle was in a bad mood and he would rather not make her mad. He walked over to the coffin and knocked on the lid.
+“Hey, Asher…um…it’s supper time.” There was no response from within the large black coffin. Abraham began to question whether it was really his bed or not. There was only one way to know for sure. Abraham placed his hands along the lid and pulled away the lid. He leaped away, expecting to be a very pissed vampire jump out at him…but nothing happened. Abraham dared to take a look in the coffin….there was nothing there! Nobody was inside it! Abraham looked down over the coffin to see what might be in it.
+
+“Can I help you?”
+
+“AHHH!” Abraham nearly jumped 5 feet in the air as he jumped backwards…falling up against a hard object right behind him, causing him to leap forward again in terror! He spun quickly around to see a very familiar figure standing behind him. Asher was there, standing in nothing but dark jeans and his cross necklace. His feet and his chest were bare and his hair was a bit of a mess. His red eyes were boring into his curiously. Abraham felt torn between wanting to run away and stand his ground.
+“I said, can I help you, Abraham?” Asher asked. Abraham opened his mouth to speak, but just as he was about to talk, the door opened up.
+“Abraham, what’s taking you so-” Michelle stopped speaking when she saw Asher standing in front of him. She grinned. “Well, look who’s finally among the living!”
+“Funny, did you spend all day coming up with that one?” Asher asked with a smirk. Michelle shook her head and turned to leave.
+“You wanna throw something over your chest so you can join us for supper, Asher?” Michelle asked. “I’d say you could just come down as you are…but I think it might give Calypso a heart attack.” She then walked out, leaving Abraham alone with a half-naked and blushing vampire.
+“Anyway, is there something you wanted, Abraham?” Asher asked as he walked to his dresser and began pulling out shirts.
+“Um…no…just….”
+“Let me guess, Michelle asked you to come and wake me up, didn’t she?” Abraham could only nod. He was still shaken from the scare Asher had brought on him. “Well, you can head on down for supper…I’ll be down in just a moment.” Abraham started to leave, but then paused and looked at Asher. He couldn’t help but notice the sleeplessness behind his eyes…he was tired…and he was sad.
+
+“Asher, I know about Katie.” Asher suddenly stiffened and his eyes widened. His red eyes seemed to ignite and turn to rest on him.
+“Do you?” Asher asked.
+“Yeah…she’s the one you’ve been searching for.” Abraham said nervously. Asher looked back down as his fist clenched up in frustration.
+“You’re correct.” Asher snarled. “I almost closed in on those damn bastards…if it hadn’t been for that storm.”
+“Asher, who are the Dawn Bringers? Are they really strong?” Asher closed his eyes and breathed slowly.
+“The less you know about them, the better, Abraham. Don’t worry about it, Abraham. This is for me to worry about.”
+“Why you?”
+“Come on…supper is waiting.” Asher said. He threw on a black t-shirt and walked to the door. Abraham could tell that there was much on Asher’s mind, and that the poor creature was exhausted…but there was no point in pressing the matter now. Abraham was quite interested to see what supper was like for this family.
+
+The kitchen was a lot brighter than it had been the last time I had been in it…there was also food everywhere. There was normal food like spaghetti and salad, but there were also some other things that I didn’t believe belonged at the table. There was a bottle of wine, although no one looked older than 19 or 20…there was also raccoon that appeared to be frozen in place…as if petrified. There was raw stead that still looked a little bloody sitting on a platter on the table, and there were also different sushi and fish delicacies! There was no theme, no rhyme or reason! What was with half of these dining options? Everyone was taking their seats at the table…with the exception of Sarah who seemed to be hanging from the ceiling like a spider.
+“Abraham, you’re sitting beside Tamil and Solomon.” Michelle said, pointing to an empty chair. Abraham walked around the table and sat down. Tamil smiled and Solomon nodded in his direction. Michelle looked around the table and saw that everyone was there and grinned. “Alright, Solomon…all here.” Solomon smiled in reply.
+“Abraham, in this household, it is a tradition that we say grace before eating.” Abraham nodded his understanding and bowed his head along with everyone else.
+
+“Father, we thank you for this meal that you have prepared for us. We pray that you will strengthen us and guide us in days to come. Also…as you know…there is one missing from our number tonight.” Abraham couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotions sweep over the table as this phrase was said. “Please, keep her safe and bring her back to us in one piece…if it be your will. Bless this food…and in Your name we pray, amen.” As he said the final words, movement could be felt around the table as everyone began to dig in.
+
+Abraham watched as he observed everyone eating away at the feast before them…but how they ate astonished him. Solomon watched quietly as everyone ate, since himself was unable to. Michelle had thrown a raw slap of steak down in front of her and was now cutting into it with her teeth! She growled softly as she tore away at the meat and ripped it apart in her teeth, that Abraham couldn’t help but notice, looked a little sharper than his own canines…but not quite as long and sharp as Ashers. There was something so feral about her…perhaps it was her werewolf blood. Tamil wasn’t eating a whole lot, but he would occasionally reach across the table and grab a piece of fruit to chew on.
+Calypso’s eyes seemed to brighten over the sushi dishes as she took her time selecting which ones to try first. When she got hold of one she ate it so fast that it was almost like she had never put it on her plate! Abraham had never stopped to consider that mermaids probably had a real liking for sea food. Meanwhile, Asher had nothing on his plate…however there was a bottle of some sort in front of him. Every now and then he would lift the bottle to his lips and take a swig of its contents. At first, Abraham couldn’t tell what was in it…until a small trickle of red liquid dripped down the side of Asher’s cheek…it was blood. Asher was drinking from a bottle of blood, which made Abraham both mystified…and horrified all in the same moment.
+However, it was Sarah that caused Abraham to squirm in his chair. Abraham finally discovered what the paralyzed raccoon was for. Sarah lifted it up to her perch above the table and she held the animal close to her face. She opened her mouth, revealing her long and terrifying fangs as she plunged them into the animals body. The animal didn’t move…but Abraham could tell that it was a most unpleasant feeling. Suddenly, Abraham noticed that Sarah looked almost like she was chewing on it…and slurping sort of. And then he pieced it together! Abraham had read somewhere that spiders inject venom into their food so that the insides turn to mush…they then drink out the fluids inside…and that must be exactly what Abraham was watching. Abraham forced himself to look away.
+
+“Is everything alright?” Solomon asked.
+“Just…not very hungry right now.” Abraham muttered. There was a small echo of laughter around the table as they all could tell that Abraham was not accustomed to their eating habits.
+“Don’t worry…you’ll get used to it.” Solomon assured him. They continued to eat for another hour, swapping stories and laughing with each other. Abraham soon began to enjoy their company…it was like he was with a real family. He forgot that they weren’t human and he forgot that their eating habits were less than civilized. He couldn’t help but enjoy everything that he was seeing and hearing. It was a wonderful experience. After a while, the talking and laughing died down and Solomon cleared this throat for everyone to pay attention.
+
+“Alright…it’s getting late (for most of us anyway) and we have a very big day tomorrow…it’s one that we’ve known has been coming for a while…and we have to be ready for it. So, you all know what to do.” Abraham looked around the table and saw mixed expressions…but none were positive. Everyone looked anxious or nervous about something…especially Michelle.
+“Asher, I know you want to get back on the trail…but I need you here for tonight and tomorrow, if you don’t mind…I’m going to need you.” Solomon said. Asher nodded his response.
+“Of course. I understand.” He said darkly. Michelle nodded in his direction, as if offering a silent thank you.
+“Calypso, I want you on standby when things settle down…I have feeling that your abilities will be necessary…and Sarah, I need you to start blocking off the yard tomorrow morning with your webs, dear…I don’t want this getting out of the yard.” Both Sarah and Calypso nodded quietly, and Michelle smiled sadly at them, again with that unsaid thank you expression. Abraham however, was very confused.
+“Hold on…what’s happening tomorrow?” Abraham spoke up. The whole house turned to look at him in surprise. Michelle looked down at the floor, unable to look at anyone…Abraham had never seen her look so anxious.
+
+“Tomorrow is the full moon, Abraham.” Michelle whispered. “Tomorrow…I transform.” Abraham stared at her in shock. How could he have forgotten!? Of course she would transform on the full moon…that kind of goes along with being a werewolf!!
+“Every full moon, the house prepares so that we can keep her from getting loose and losing control.” Solomon explained. “Sarah uses her webs to create a fence around the yard for Michelle to stay in, and Asher keeps her…occupied.”
+“Occupied?” Abraham asked. Asher took another swig from his bottle, but didn’t answer.
+“He’s the only one who can keep me under control when I’m like that.” Michelle muttered.
+“It’s not a problem.” Asher muttered, trying to reassure Michelle, who was looking more and more depressed by the second.
+“How exactly do you keep a werewolf under control?” Abraham asked hesitantly.
+“You don’t,” Michelle said, “Asher fights me every full moon to keep my attention on him and away from the rest of the Monster Club.”
+“Michelle, you’re being too hard on yourself.” Calypso chimed in. “You can’t help it…it’s not your fault.”
+“It might as well be.” Michelle stood up and walked away from the table. “Thanks for the meal…I’m gonna go to bed.” Abraham turned and watched her go. Solomon sighed and nodded for the rest of the table to leave as well. The rest of the table rose to their feet and began cleaning up the table. Abraham didn’t move but only watched everyone work. He then looked to Solomon.
+“What can I do?” Abraham asked.
+“Abraham,” Solomon said, “I appreciate how willing to help us you are…and it warms our hearts to know that you are so outgoing and caring. However, this is a much more serious matter than simply investigating a disappearance…this is a life or death matter. I must ask that, tomorrow night, you stay in your room and not come out until we have called you.”
+“Sorry, I only wanted-”
+“I know what you wanted…and again, we appreciate it…but there is nothing you can do.” Solomon said more firmly. Abraham nodded in defeat, knowing that there was no point arguing anymore. He stood up and went to go help the others put away dishes and clean up. The rest of the house was quiet as they worked.
+An hour passed before Abraham finally went up to bed. Sarah and Tamil had gone off to bed not long ago. Asher was downstairs reading a book and Calypso was taking a bath somewhere upstairs (he could still hear the water running and he was beginning to wonder if she planned on flooding the room). As he walked up to bed, he walked by Michelle’s room. The room was locked, and he didn’t bother stopping to knock. However, just as he was turning the corner, he could have sworn he heard the faintest sound of a sob come from behind the door. His heart fell as he realized just how upset and nervous Michelle was…and that she must feel this way every time the full moon comes around…
+“I wish I could do something.” Abraham muttered darkly. He climbed into bed and lay down…the thoughts of tomorrow night filling his mind and dreams.

chapters/chapter_07.md

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+# Chapter 7
+
+When the night of the full moon finally came, the entire house was on edge. Abraham could feel the tension. Even Sarah, who was always so chipper and happy seemed slightly out of focus and a little lost in her own thoughts. She spent most of her time in the yard weaving her webs around the borders of the yard over and over again. Solomon stayed cooped up in the kitchen, staring out the window. Tamil sat quietly in the living room, not talking. His humor was dry and his spirit wasn’t in the humor. Calypso was even more clumsy than normal. Her gaze was somewhere off into space and she was easily distracted.
+However, of everyone in the house, it was Asher and Michelle who were acting the most odd. Asher would spend the day cleaning a pistol while occasionally slipping off into a short nap, which he would quickly wake up from and curse himself for falling asleep. When someone tried to speak to him, he was slow to respond, if he responded at all. Michelle stayed cooped up in her room. Unlike the other night, Abraham didn’t hear her sobbing or crying…but he could feel a great deal of stress and emotions coming from the other side of that door.
+
+“Abraham?” Solomon muttered. Abraham jerked up from his thoughts and looked up at Solomon, who was standing over him.
+“Sorry, Solomon, I was just thinking.”
+“I understand that; I really do. But it’s time.” Abraham turned to look outside…the sun was setting. Abraham felt his heart speed up.
+“When will she…change?” Abraham asked.
+“I’d say in another 30 minutes.” Solomon said. “I wanted to remind you that you are to stay inside and not go near Michelle or Asher tonight.” Abraham nodded. Suddenly, he detected movement. In from the back porch door walked a very distressed and sad Sarah.
+“Sarah, is it done?”
+“Yes.” She whispered. “The web will keep her from escaping the yard.”
+“Thank you, Sarah.” Solomon said. Abraham was about to open his mouth when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Everyone turned to look as they saw a very depressing sight. From down the stairs walked Michelle…she was wearing nothing but a torn up old shirt and shorts. She was barefoot and she looked very scared. Wrapped around her neck was a large and heavy collar. Behind her was Asher…who was clad in his coat and red shirt. Strapped to his side was a pistol and a knife, causing a chill to run down Abrahams spine. He watched the two of them walk out of the door before speaking.
+“Why does he have a gun and knife?! Is he going to hurt her?” Abraham asked.
+“A werewolf can only be killed by silver, but they can be hurt by normal weapons. He uses those weapons to keep her under control…but this happens every month…she’ll be fine.
+“She doesn’t look fine to me.” Abraham muttered.
+“Would you be fine if you knew that it a matter of minutes you were going to go through an unimaginable transformation?” Solomon growled. Abraham fell silent and walked to the window. He watched as Michelle stood in the center of the yard. She turned and gazed up at the setting sun…and watched as the glow of the moon began to grow brighter and brighter. He could see a tear roll down her cheek. Asher walked behind her and pulled something out from beneath the long grass. It was a large heavy chain…which he latched around Michelle’s large metal collar. He had tethered her to the ground.
+“Werewolves act on a destructive impulse…they must destroy and devour everything in their path. Asher will be her primary target…but to ensure that she doesn’t come after anyone in the house, we chain her to the yard so that she can’t get to the house.” Solomon explained. As he said this, the sun finally set. Sarah covered her face and quickly scurried to her room. “Abaraham…I suggest going to your room now. This isn’t something that you should see.”
+Abraham walked into his room…as the light of the full moon shown through his window. He looked outside to see it in all of its beauty…and then he looked and saw Michelle. She was looking up at Asher with the most terrified and sad eyes he had ever seen on any living creature. Asher walked forward and removed the shirt from her body and tossed it aside...and then he stepped back.
+The light fell on Michelle…and it happened.
+
+“AAAAAAAHHHH!” Michelle suddenly arched her back as if electrocuted. She screamed in agony and there was a tremendous popping and sucking sound as her bones were realigning and readjusting. Asher just watched her, unfazed by what was happening. He didn’t try to go near her or offer her any aid…but rather just watched her with sad and helpless eyes. There was nothing he could do for her. Michelles body began to grow larger and her hair began to grow out. There were more ripping and snarling sounds coming from her as her body continued its grotesque transformation. Unable to watch anymore, Abraham pulled himself away from the window and closed his eyes tight…but that didn’t stop the sounds coming from outside.
+“Aaaaah! Arrrgghh!” Michelle screamed as if in dire pain. The sounds of cracking and tearing of skin and bone could be heard as her body continued to alter itself into that of a monster. There was the sound of a loud rip as her shorts were torn into pieces and the sound of a loud cracking and disgusting sound of bones and muscles aligning. The screams that Michelle was making began to sound less and less human as they changed from cries into howls and growls. Finally…after almost 5 minutes…the sounds seemed to die down. Abraham dared himself to look out the window…and what he saw both mystified and horrified him.
+
+Michelle was gone. Under the light of the full moon stood a creature that Abraham could only describe as a giant wolf. It stood on its hands and legs and its snout was long and lean. It’s ears were perked up as if listening to the sounds of the night. Its teeth glistened with saliva and its claws were sharp like knives. It was twice as large as Michelle had been and it was covered with fur and hair. From its rump was a long tail that swished back and forth. Asher simply stared at the creature. While there was still sadness in his eyes…there was also a hint of anger in his eyes too. The werewolf suddenly stood on its hind legs and stared up at the gorgeous full moon. It reared back its large head and let out a long and powerful howl. Abraham felt chills run through him at the cry.
+
+“Abraham, are you watching this?” Abraham turned to see Tamil and Calypso at the door. They were both staring at him.
+“I’ve…never seen a werewolf before.”
+“Seen many time…” Tamil muttered. “Never get easier.” Abraham believed him. He couldn’t imagine having to see that horrifying change occur every full moon.
+“What happens now?” Abraham asked.
+“Michelle’s mind will lose itself to the beast…and then…” Calypso choked on the last words.
+“Watch, if you must.” Tamil growled, looking away. Abraham heard a growling sound and looked outside to see Michelle on her haunches, snarling furiously at Asher.
+“Doesn’t she recognize him?!” Abraham cried. Calypso shook her head and hugged herself as her body trembled.
+“A werewolf doesn’t recognize friends…it only sees two things. Enemies and food.” Abraham looked back out to see that Asher hadn’t budged and inch. Michelle snarled and began pulling against her chains...but the powerful bonds held her back, keeping her away from Asher. Asher sighed and walked a little closer.
+
+"Michelle...are you still in there?" He asked. The wolf barked and yanked again at it's chain. "I'm here to help you...take everything out on me."
+"What's he talking about?" Abraham asked.
+"Werewolf fill with destructive anger." Tamil said darkly. "Asher let Michelle attack him...let out anger." Abraham nodded and turned to watch what happened next. Michelle let out a howl of anger and leaped forward, her jaws outstretched and her claws flailing. As she did, the chain began to strain an creak under the stress. Asher lunged at her and fired off a hard kick into her chest, sending her sprawling backwards. Michelle jumped back on her feet and roared again. Suddenly, Michelle stopped and began sniffing the air...her nose pointing towards the window that Abraham was looking out of. Asher's face went pale as he watched this.
+"You smell him don't you?" Asher whispered in terror. Michelle suddenly got a light in her eye...and she licked her chops. "You smell Abraham!"
+
+Abraham tried to watch what happened next...but it happened so fast that he couldn't quite believe it. In a matter of seconds, Michelle whirled around and bit the chain holding her with her jaws, snapping the iron in half! She was free! Asher went on the attack and charged her. He fired off a combination of punches into her stomach, causing Michelle to fall back and howl. But Michelle was hardly fazed. She rushed Asher with claws extended.
+"ASHER!" Abraham cried. It was too late. Michelle leaped on him and tore him to pieces! Her claws tore away at his flesh and clothes as her fangs bit deep into his body, slashing and cutting away, sending blood and guts all over the floor. Abraham stumbled away from the window in horror as Michelle let out a blood curdling howl to the moon, her bloody teeth flashing red.
+"He...he's dead!" Abraham cried. Michelle turned away form the beaten and bloody vampire and began to sniff around the yard...searching for a new sent...Abrahams sent. "She killed him!"
+"No." Calypso said...there was a hint of awe in her voice. "It takes more than that to kill Asher. Look now." Abraham turned his head to look and, to his surprise, the blood and guts that had been ripped from Asher's body were flowing back into it...as if they had a mind of their own. Shadows and bats began to reform his broken flesh and bone...within moments, he was back on his feet again, as if he had never been harmed. The werewolf spun to see Asher back on his feet...and she looked genuinely shocked. Asher's face was obscured by shadows...but from that shadowy face, Abraham could see his eyes glowing a bloody red...and his fangs parted in a vicious and malicious grin.
+
+"Not a bad try, Michelle...Sorry about this" He snarled. Suddenly from inside his coat he pulled the pistol and fired off two shots at Michelle's arm and stomach. Michelle let out a howl of pain and bent over in agony as the bullets tore through her stomach and ripped her arm. However, she had no time to recover. Asher has disappeared in a shadow and from that shadow sprang a large black wolf! It's eyes glowed red...like Ashers!
+"What the...Asher just...!" Abraham shouted in disbelief.
+"Asher is a true vampire." Solomon had walked in behind them...and he was watching the battle. "Many forms of media today try to water down the vampire into a virus or some form of superhuman genetic defect. The truth is that Bram Stoker's Dracula was closer to the truth than any of the others ever were. Vampires have incredible powers of regeneration, shapeshifting, hypnosis, and even combat." Abraham didn't take his eyes off of the fight he was watching. The black wolf that was Asher roared and attacked the werewolf. Michelle was far bigger than he was, but she couldn't stop Asher's jaws from closing around her throat and ripping away with intense malice. However, she used her powerful claws to fling Asher off of her and slam his body into a tree. With a loud yelp, Asher returned to his vampire form and sank to the ground, clutching his head dizzily. Michelle turned her eyes towards the house and howled furiously. Solomon suddenly realized what she was doing.
+
+"EVERYONE GET BACK!" Abraham felt Tamil and Calypso yank him away form the window just in time for the giant wolf to burst through the window. Glass and wood flew and Abraham found himself sprawled on the floor. He looked up to see the cold blue eyes of the werewolf leering down at him hungrily. Michelle's teeth were clamped in a furious snarl as a growl rumbled in her throat.
+"Michelle, calm down!" Calypso cried. She ran between the werewolf and Abraham, blocking its path. Next to her, Tamil came darting forward, both prepared to protect him. Michelle stared down at them for a moment, as if processing this new development. She then growled and prepared to pounce. Abraham trembled in fear...his time was up! He was going to die!
+
+Suddenly there was an explosion of shrieks and howling. Abraham looked up to see a tornado of bats fly in through the broken window, flying in a typhoon of shrieking cries and flapping wings. Michelle barked and roared, swiping at the bats with her claws, but she couldn't rid herself of the vermin.
+"Asher," Solomon shouted to the twister of bats, "get her out of here and pacify her!" The bats suddenly began to join in formation and fly into one solid mass....until the mass of bats took on a very familiar form. Asher stood before them...but his body was different. Instead of flesh and blood, his body seemed to be made of twisting and moving shadows! His eyes glowed red with fury and his body, though human in shape, was nothing but a mass of darkness. What in the hell was this?!
+Michelle made a move to attack, but the shadow Asher moved first, slamming itself with all of its might into Michelle, tackling her and sending them both flying out of the room and back to the yard. The shadow engulfed Michelle and slammed her into the grass. With one hand on her throat and another on the pistol, The shadow Asher raised the gun and pointed it at Michelle's chest...and he pulled the trigger.
+
+*BANG*
+
+Michelle let out a howl of pain...and then sank to the ground, eyes closed. Abraham pulled himself to his feet with Tamil's help...but he still couldn't quite find his balance. He couldn't believe what had just happened...what all he had just seen! He stumbled to the broken window and looked out to see the shadow form of Asher standing over the unconscious werewolf. He had his gun drawn...and it looked like he was moving it to aim at her head.
+"Asher!" Abraham turned to see a figure running out to the two creatures. It was Calypso! "Asher, please stop! It's okay!" She kept running towards him...but suddenly, her feet caught beneath her and she stumbled to the ground clumsily. Asher's glowing red eyes turned to look at her, and Abraham saw that his eyes seemed to be dimming. The shadows were lifting. Calypso picked herself up and practically crawled to Asher, who was slowly returning to his normal appearance. The shadows dissipated and began to vanish from view. His eyes were no longer glowing and his body looked tired and beaten...but still unharmed over all. He leaned down and helped Calypso up, who wrapped her arms around his waist.
+"I-it's okay, kid." Asher whispered. "I'm alright." Calypso held on tight, as if letting go would bring back that shadow monster. Abraham watched the two for a moment, and then looked down at the werewolf.
+"Is she dead?" Abraham asked.
+"No," Solomon said, "Asher didn't shoot her with silver...she will feel like she was hit by a train...but she will be alright." Tamil walked Abraham to the bed and sat him down. He tried to ignore the mess and broken glass all over the floor.
+"What the hell was that?" Abraham asked. "Was that really Asher just now?" Solomon nodded.
+"I haven't seen him like that in a long time." Solomon said. "Not since the day that Katie went missing."
+"What was he?"
+"It's a blood rage." Solomon said. "When a human body goes under a great deal of stress or fear, their adrenaline increases and they temporarily become stronger and faster. It's a survival reflex. Vampires experience something similar. They're blood pumps faster and they're power increases, two fold. We call it a blood rage...and while in this state, Asher takes on the form of a living shadow. That is why he is tasked with protecting this family. " Abraham nodded his understanding, still trying to process all that had just happened.
+"But why did he feel so much stress and fear? Michelle couldn't hurt him."
+"Yes, but she could hurt you, or Tamil, or Calypso. My guess is that his fear of any one of you being hurt sent him into that rage, and he used it to stop her."
+
+"You okay?" Tamil asked finally. The sun was starting to come up, and Abraham looked out to see what had happened. Calypso had let go of Asher, and Asher was holding Michelle's unconscious body which had returned to human form. Her body looked tired, beaten and bloody. Her shirt had been ripped away and her shorts were torn to ribbons...but she was breathing, and she would recover. Asher had tears in his eyes as he walked her back into the house. Sarah was outside, taking down the web gate that she had built. She wasn't looking at Michelle or Asher...she was trying to keep her focus on her work.
+"What happens now?" Abraham asked.
+"We go about our business." Solomon said. "We clean up this mess...and we prepare for the day. But I must ask that you not bother Michelle or Asher about what happened tonight. Perhaps...we could all use some sleep before we do anything else." Abraham and Tamil nodded their agreement and Abraham lay back on his bed. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow. His dreams were dark...with moving shadows...and a wolf howling a sad and lonely tune to the full moon.

chapters/chapter_08.md

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+# 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."

chapters/chapter_09.md

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+# Chapter 9
+
+"This is Katie!?" Abraham cried. He looked at the long snake girl laying on the table. Her eyes were closed and Calypso was leaning over her, bandaging her wounds and rubbing them with some kind of ointment. He had heard so much about Katie from the others, but he hadn't expected this. He shouldn't have been surprised though...after all, he had known she was a monster like the rest of the house. Asher pulled himself to his feet and nodded.
+"Yeah...it's her." He groaned. Michelle spun around to see him...and she noticed that his skin was tanned and burned in some places from being exposed to the sun. She ran forward and held him up, making sure that he didn't fall over.
+"Asher, you've been through enough...go upstairs and sleep. We'll handle things from here."
+"But...I need..."
+"Please, Asher." Calypso said, turning to glance at him. "Don't overwork yourself...you're already weak from last night...please just rest." Asher gazed at her and his eyes seemed to glint a little.
+"Alright...I will." He turned and hobbled up the stairs to his room. Abraham watched him go and then gave Solomon a worried look. Solomon didn't look away from Katie, but he seemed to notice Abrahams concern.
+"Asher will be fine. Once the sun goes down, he'll be back to his old self again. Right now, I'm more concerned about Katie." Abraham nodded and took a hesitant step forward to get a better look at Katie. She had long dark hair which was mangled and dirty. Her body was tan, and she had an almost oriental look to her...perhaps she was from India? Her long snake tail was bloody and bruised, but he could still make out it's gorgeous emerald green scales. He looked up her body and saw that she was naked. He blushed, but he couldn't look away from her.
+
+"What exactly is she?" Abraham asked.
+"She's a lamia." Solomon explained. "Much like Sarah is half human and half spider, Katie is half human and half snake. She is the youngest one of us...and we were so worried that we had lost her forever." Sarah, who still refused to look at the unconscious Katie, suddenly let out a sob and tore herself away from the room, scurrying up stairs quickly. Abraham watched her run and looked at Solomon, puzzled. Solomon shook his head sadly. "Pardon Sarah...she and Katie are very close. They're practically sisters. Seeing Katie like this is extremely hard for her." Calypso and Michelle moved rapidly around the table, cleaning Katie's injuries and taking care of her. Tamil was leaning against the wall. His pale eyes were locked on the far wall. Though he couldn't see what was happening...he could feel it, and it was plain to see that he was just as anxious as everyone else.
+
+It was about 2 hours before Calypso and Michelle finally finished patching up Katie. Calypso sat down and Michelle dabbed her forehead with a wet towel, like a nurse would do to a surgeon in the middle of surgery. Calypso breathed slowly and the room was eerily silent. Solomon walked to the table and looked down at Katie sadly. If he could have cried...he would have.
+"How is she, Calypso?" Solomon asked.
+"She's exhausted." Calypso answered. "She's suffered minor lacerations and she has a small concussion. Judging from the blood on her hands and fingers, she's suffered trauma to her lower body and was forced to crawl most of her way here. I've patched her up the best I could, but all she can do now is rest." Abraham was stunned by her professional attitude! This was the same ditzy mermaid who stumbled and tripped over herself when walking around. The same girl that blushed when Asher's name was mentioned...and here she was talking like a highly trained M.D.
+"Will she be okay?" Michelle asked. Calypso smiled and nodded.
+"She should be just fine." Calypso said softly. Tamil breathed out a long sigh of relief and the color came back to Michelle's face. Solomon leaned back and beamed happily.
+"Thank God." He cried. "Our lost lamb has returned." Abraham watched the room brighten up a great deal. There was a gasp of joy and Abraham turned to see that Sarah had come back downstairs. Seeing that Katie was okay, she ran forward and wrapped her arms around Katie's body, hugging it tightly and sobbing. Tamil finally stood up and gave a small nod.
+"Needs rest...should take Katie to bed." Everyone gave a nod of agreement. Michelle and Sarah both stepped forward to either side of Katie.
+"Asher's sleeping...we'll take her." Sarah said. Sarah placed her hands under Katie's shoulders and lifted up her upper body while Michelle lifted the lower snake body up. The two carried her together through the den and up to the stairs. "We'll take her to her room...you don't mind, do you Abraham?" Abraham shook his head, remembering that his current room was originally Katie's.
+"No, not at all!" Sarah smiled and lead Michelle up to the stairs, carrying Katie's body carefully. Solomon and Tamil followed after them, Abraham found himself tailing the group. He glanced back at Calypso who was still sitting. She motioned for him to go.
+"I'll be fine...I need some fresh air anyway." Abraham turned back to the group and followed them to Katie's room.
+
+Hours passed on and the evening was already upon them. The entire house, with the exception of the sleeping Asher and the tired Calypso, were all sitting in Katie's room, watching her....praying for her to wake up. Abraham watched the group as well. Sarah stood next to Katie's bed, stroking her hair and watching her through her big red eyes. Solomon stood by the door, keeping a close eye on everyone. Michelle sat with Tamil; breathing quietly as Tamil placed his arm around her shoulder. Abraham could see the amount of emotion flowing through the group.
+Suddenly, they saw movement! Katie's eyes opened to reveal golden eyes. Her pupils were slits like a snake, making her appear exotic...but strangely beautiful. She moaned a little, causing a ripple of response through the whole room.
+"Katie!" Sarah cried, "are you okay?!" Katie looked up at Sarah and blinked a little, not sure what to make of her.
+"...Sarah?" she moaned? Sarah burst into tears and wrapped her arms around Katie again in a tight hug.
+"I missed you, little sister....I missed you so much!" Katie slowly and painfully wrapped her arms around Sarah's middle and hugged her back, small tears rolling down her cheek.
+"I missed you too, big sister." She looked up at Michelle and Tamil and beamed. "Michelle, Tammy!" Abraham let out a small chuckle when she called Tamil "Tammy," but Tamil didn't seem to mind as he practically glowed at the sound of her voice.
+"Hey, Katie." Michelle said kindly. "We've all been so worried about you." Katie glanced to Solomon and suddenly frowned.
+"I...didn't mean to scare you all." Solomon shook his head fiercely.
+"It wasn't your fault, dear!" Solomon answered firmly. Katie grinned as more tears joined the trickling streams rolling down her face. Suddenly her eyes fell on Abraham.
+"Who is that?!" She hissed. Sarah frowned and held Katie close.
+"His name is Abraham. He's new." She whispered.
+"He's a human." Katie snapped. Solomon moved forward and pulled Abraham to his feet.
+"He's not an enemy, Katie. He's one of us now." Solomon said. Katie didn't look convinced. She turned away and buried her face in Sarah's shoulder again. Solomon pulled Abraham outside of the room.
+
+"Does, Katie dislike me?" Abraham asked. "Did I do something wrong?" Solomon shook his head.
+"It's not you, Abraham...try to be patient with Katie." He looked back toward the room and sighed. "Katie has a prejudice towards humans...especially men." Abraham stared at him for a moment.
+"Why?" Solomon sighed and looked to the side, as if looking for a way out of the conversation.
+"It's a very long story, and I don't think I'm the right person to tell it." Solomon muttered. "Just give her some time. She'll get used to you."
+"What do I have to do to win her trust?" Abraham asked. "I really don't want any enemies around here."
+"Well, you...." Solomon trailed off and looked off into the distance. His eyes suddenly became anxious and concerned. Abraham saw him tense up. From behind him, Michelle came running to Solomon.
+
+"You sense them too, don't you?" She growled. Solomon nodded.
+"How did they find us?!" Solomon snarled. Abraham stared at both in confusion.
+"What are you talking about?" Michelle didn't seem to hear him, as she and Solomon began discussing earnestly what needed to be done.
+"We have to hide...we'll lock ourselves in the basement." Michelle offered.
+"Not an option," Solomon responded. "We'll just be trapping ourselves, making us easy targets. We need to get Asher, he's the only one who can handle them."
+"But he's exhausted, he won't stand a chance!"
+"When the sun goes down, he'll be good as new." Solomon said hopefully.
+"But the sun is only just starting to set!" Michelle barked back.
+"Then we need to stall for time. We've got to do everything we can to buy time until the sun goes down." Solomon answered.
+"I only smell two of them, I can handle them." Michelle offered. Solomon shook his head.
+"You're just as exhausted as Asher, you won't last." Solomon spat. "Go get Sarah, we've got to keep the house safe." Michelle turned and ran to the room. Solomon spun to face Abraham. "Abraham, I know that this is confusing right now, but I need you to listen carefully. The Dawn Bringers have some how found us...and they've sent professional hunters to wipe us out."
+"What?!" Abraham cried. "What do we do?" Solomon raised a hand to silence him.
+"The only chance we have is Asher...but he's still exhausted. We need to stall long enough for the sun to set, and give Asher the chance to regain his strength."
+"What do you have in mind?" Abraham asked. "I'll help." Solomon smiled sadly.
+"I know...and you're our best shot. You're human...they won't kill you unless they know that you're one of our own. We need you to go out there and meet the enemy. Try to buy us time...lie to them...tell the we kidnapped you...that we'll offer you as a trade. Tell them whatever you want to, but just give us time!" Abraham felt a chill run down his spine, but he quickly shook it off, knowing that he had no other choice.
+"Alright, I'll do it." Abraham said.
+"If anything happens, don't panic. I'll bail you out if things get ugly." Abraham nodded and ran downstairs to the front door. As he opened the door, he couldn't see anything strange at first. The sun was setting in the distance, giving off a bright orange glow to the world as shadows snaked across the ground. The evening breeze caught the tall grass and caused it to ripple slightly. It was a lovely evening, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary....until he saw two figures appear down the dirt rode...walking side by side toward the house. One was shorter than the other and both had on trench coats. One wore sunglasses and had a buzz cut hair. The other was a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. They walked swiftly...and with purpose. They were the hunters...the ones who had kidnapped Katie and had caused the whole house to worry. Abraham felt his resolve strengthen and ran out to meet them. When they saw Abraham, they stopped and stared at him.
+
+"Hey!" Abraham shouted! "Over here!" The two glanced at each other and marched toward Abraham.
+"What are you doing here?" The man asked. Abraham quickly began to think up a lie...working his hardest to make up a story that they might believe.
+"There were monsters in that house!" Abraham cried. The man nodded.
+"That's why we're here...we're going to rid the house of them." They started to walk around him down the front lawn, but Abraham ran in front of them again.
+"But, they aren't there anymore!" Abraham shouted. This caused the two to pause.
+"Where did they go?"
+"After they heard you coming, they packed up and left." Abraham said quickly. His eyes darted to the setting sun. It still wasn't down yet...he needed more time.
+"How do you know this?" The woman asked.
+"I saw them leave! They took off in that direction." Abraham shouted, pointing down the road. The man shot Abraham a glance that, even with his sunglasses on, looked cold and menacing.
+"I don't believe you." He growled. Abraham felt cold sweat build up on his forehead. "We interrogated the lamia...and she told us about the inhabitants here...they'd sooner die than abandon this place. Besides, even if they did, the ghost Solomon cannot leave this house. His soul is bound to it." Abraham opened his mouth to tell another lie, but the man shoved Abraham to the side. "Don't worry boy, you have merely been brainwashed by these demons. We shall not punish you. Just stay out of our way and let us do our job." Abraham watched as they walked past him and on to the front yard. He spun to see that the sun, though lower, was still not gone!
+"Wait, please!" Abraham shouted.
+"Enough." The woman answered. "Stay where you are, and keep silent." Abraham felt a great feeling of anger and guild fill him. He had failed...and there was nothing he could do.
+
+Suddenly, the woman was lifted off her feet by an invisible force, which launched her into the air and onto the grass. The man spun to meet it, but he too was knocked to the side by the force. Abraham watched in awe as Solomon suddenly appeared before his eyes. He was glaring furiously at the two hunters.
+"You will not touch ANYONE in this house!" The male hunter climbed to his feet and chuckled.
+"The ghost, Solomon...do you really think we didn't come prepared for you?" Solomon lunged forward to strike the hunter again, but the female hunter had moved as well. She slipped on a glove and reached out. To Abrahams horror, the gloved hand grabbed Solomons arm and threw him away. Solomon landed in the grass and stared in shock. The woman laughed.
+"This glove was soaked in ectoplasm...it can touch ghosts, and even hurt them." Suddenly from the front door, both Sarah and Michelle appeared, with Calypso right behind them. The hunters turned to look and both smiled.
+"How nice...we don't have to waist time looking for you...we can finish you all right here." The male hunter laughed.
+"How did you find us!?" Michelle snarled.
+"Keep your leash on, werewolf." The hunter barked in reply. "We simply followed the lamia here. We allowed her to escape so that she lead us right to you. She had no idea that we had been tailing her." He then reached into his jacket and pulled out two silver stakes. The woman next to him pulled a pistol and aimed at Calypso and Sarah. "Enough talking...it's time to take out the garbage in this place."
+
+"I agree."
+
+There was the sound of a gunshot and an explosion of brains and blood as the female hunter went flying backwards, an enormous bullet wound in her head. The male hunter spun to look at her dead body and then turned back to see what had shot. Standing on the roof was a figure that was about as tall as the hunter...but he was shrouded by a leather jacket and a hoodie covering his face. In on hand he had a pistol which was still trained on the hunter. His other hand was tucked in his jean pockets. Even from under his hood, Abraham could see Asher's glowing red eyes. Abraham looked at the sun and, to his horror, it still wasn't fully down! If only Asher had waited a few more minutes!
+"So, you're the vampire of this little group." The hunter snapped. "The lamia kept telling us how badly you would kick our asses when you found us...and at first that caused some concern...but seeing how you can't walk out into the sun without covering yourself...you are no longer the hunter, but the hunted. Now, you shall be the first to taste the sweet embrace of death."
+"I really wish you'd shut up." Asher snapped. He fired the gun again, but this time, the male hunter rushed backwards. Asher dropped from the roof and landed in the grass. The hunter pulled the stakes again and bowed.
+"Warren Matthews," the hunter said loudly, "this is the name of hunter that finally defeated the so called Monster Club." With that, he lunged forward and swung the stake at Asher. Asher leaped away from the stake and spun, trying to aim his gun at Warren. He fired, but the shot missed, as Warren was already circling around Asher to deliver an attack from behind. Asher turned to meet the attack, but Warren, without warning, stopped in mid attack and threw something into Asher's face. It looked like some kind of powder, but it mustn't have been good for Asher.
+"AAARRGGH!" Asher screamed. He dropped his gun and cupped his hands to his face. Warren just laughed.
+"I know your weaknesses, vampire. Your kind are fiercely allergic to garlic...so I was sure to coat my weapons in garlic, as well as carry along some other handy little tricks. Garlic powder for instance." Asher didn't answer but only tried to rub the powder out of his eyes. Abraham tried to warn Asher as Warren moved forward with the silver, garlic drenched stake.
+"ASHER!" It was too late. Warren buried his stake into Asher's stomach. Asher screamed in pain and fell backwards. His hood fell off of his head, exposing it to the setting sun. His face began to burn and Abraham could only watch in horror as his face turned from tan, to red, to white. Asher tried to stand, but Warren was already on top of him. He pulled a knife and held it to Asher's throat.
+"Rest in peace, blood sucker." The world was plunged into darkness as the sun finally vanished beyond the horizon...and Warren swung the knife.
+
+Abraham screamed as Asher's head fell to the ground, leaving a pool of blood behind. The bloody stump of Asher's neck still pumped blood as his corpse hit the grass with a thud. Abraham shook his head in disgust and in agony as he saw Asher lay motionless. The rest of the house had fallen silent...clearly in shock. Warren stepped back and wiped the blood from his knife.
+"Now that I've taken care of that...now I'll deal with you're lot." He leaned down and picked up his fallen stake and walked towards Michelle, who was standing between him and the rest of the club. "Any final words, werewolf?" He demanded. To Abrahams eternal surprise and shock, Michelle smiled at him. She was actually giggling!
+"Actually yes I do." she growled.
+"And what's that?" Warren asked, raising his stake. Michelle just glared at him with a look so venomous that Abraham felt the need to step back.
+"You talk to much." She laughed. Warren gave her a puzzled look. "The sun set before you delivered the killing blow, you idiot...why don't you take another look at that vampire you decapitated." Warren, as well as Abraham both spun to look at the fallen Asher. The blood on the ground was flowing back into Asher's body. Warren turned fully around and watched with amazement as Asher's body suddenly stood itself up, with it's head reforming onto his neck. He looked as good as new, if not better! His eyes were glowing blood red and his fangs were bared furiously.
+
+"How in Gods' name did you..." Warren demanded. Asher didn't give him the chance to finish that question. With a snarl he darted forward with blinding speed and struck Warren across the face. Warren responded by shoving the stake into Asher's chest, but before it ever made contact, Asher's body exploded into a swarm of bats, shrieking and screaming angrily, striking and biting at Warren until he was forced to drop the stake and start flinging his arms like a drunken ape, trying fend off the bats. Soon, Warren had to drop to his knees and cover his face to block the attack. As he did, the bats flew into each other, reforming Asher's body. Asher roared and yanked the hunter to his feet.
+
+"You hurt, Katie." Asher snarled furiously.
+"Let go of me you monster!" Warren shouted.
+"You struck Solomon and Abraham."
+"Go to Hell!"
+"And then you threaten my family." Asher finished. "I should shoot you through your goddamned heart and be done with you." Warren Matthews just smirked and shook his head.
+"Go ahead...do it." Asher stared at him for a moment. His eyes fell on Solomon with a questioning gaze. Abraham look up to see Solomon gave a slow and solemn nod. Asher growled and faced Warren again.
+"Abraham, go inside...now." Solomon hissed. Abraham didn't move...his eyes were locked on Asher and Warren. Asher grabbed Warrens coat and ripped it from his body.
+"Go on you freak....shoot me!" Warren shouted. Asher's eyes suddenly glowed red. He leaned close to Warren's face, gripping his shoulder with one hand and his chin with the other...exposing the hunter's neck.
+"Normally I would....but after a fight like that...." His eyes flashed and he showed his fangs, causing Warren's smirk to quickly change to a terrified expression.
+
+"I'm hungry." Asher whispered. Asher reared back his head like a snake and opened his mouth, exposing his long and razor sharp fangs. With one swift and devastating motion he brought his fangs down onto Warren's neck. There was the sound of a crack as Warren's neck broke under the force of the bite, and an explosion of red blood flew from Warren't neck. Asher's jaws stayed locked on the neck, drinking in the blood. Warren's eyes widened in pain and in horror...his face slowly began to turn pale. Abraham couldn't look away.
+
+"Let's go inside, now." Solomon urged. He took Abrahams hand and lead him to the house, away from Asher and Warren. The rest of the house all had different reactions to the sight before them. Michelle looked on sadly, but firmly...slightly sickened. Sarah was covering her ears and shutting her eyes tight, trying to shut out the image and the sounds. Calypso had turned away. There were tears in her eyes and she was struggling to keep a straight face. At long last, Warren's body sank to the ground, dead. His pale face still twisted in terror and agony. Asher turned to face the house, blood all over his mouth and chin. He reached up and wiped it away, and then he saw the looks on everyone faces. He looked down darkly and walked forward.
+"I'm sorry." He muttered. He then moved past them and inside. "I'm going to go check on Katie." Sarah and Michelle turned to follow him. Solomon and Calypso stayed at the door with Abraham.
+
+"Thank you for buying us enough time, Abraham." Solomon said. "If you hadn't helped us, Asher would have been killed. There's no way that Asher could have recovered form that decapitation if the sun hadn't set at that moment."
+"It's nothing." Abraham said, still in a daze. "But...just..."
+"It's never easy watching a vampire feed." Solomon explained.
+"It's hard on Asher too." Calypso added, her face still filled with tears. Abraham wondered what she meant by this, but she was already walking back into the house. Solomon stood with Abraham and smiled slightly.
+"I know that it may not seem like it...but we won a victory today." He said. "We got Katie back...and we saved the house from destruction."
+"And them?" Abraham asked, indicating the two dead bodies. Solomon shook his head.
+"Sometimes....we have to do things that we aren't proud of for the sake of the ones we love." Abraham turned and smiled at Solomon. Solomon put his hand on Abraham's shoulder and walked him to the den, feeling peace wash over the him at last.

chapters/chapter_10.md

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+# Chapter 10
+
+Dinner had been quiet. No one really spoke as they ate. Abraham sat in silence, as he could only watch and observe everyone eat. Only Asher and Katie had been absent from the table. Asher was in his room resting, as he had expended a lot of power earlier, and Katie was in her room, still sleeping off her injuries. Everyone else at the table barely touched their food. None were very hungry after witnessing Asher feed on the Dawn Bringer assassin, Warren. Even Solomon, who was always uplifting and upbeat, had a dark look across his face the entire time.
+Now Abraham was sitting on the couch in the den. He was staring off into space and trying hard to wrap his mind around everything that had taken place in the past few hours. Katie, the lost lamia, had returned to them. The Dawn Bringers had sent a pair of killers to their home, and Asher had killed both, feeding on one. What else could happen before he went to bed that night?
+
+"Abraham," Abraham whirled around to see Michelle behind him. Next to her stood Sarah, who was looking down nervously. "we need to talk with you."
+"Um, sure what's wrong?"
+"Not here, come with us." Sarah whispered. She and Michelle turned and walked to the porch door where they pushed open the doors and rushed outside to the yard. Abraham stood up and hurried after them following them into the middle of the yard. The moon was still out and the sky was a beautiful deep indigo blue. The stars above twinkled merrily, as if none of the horrors that had been witnessed earlier had ever happened. Michelle and Sarah stopped in the middle of the yard and turned to face Abraham. Abraham paused and looked around him.
+"Why'd you want to talk out here?" Abraham asked.
+"We wanted privacy." Michelle explained. "Now listen close, because we've got a lot to tell you and we don't have long to tell it. We'll talk and you listen, we clear?" Abraham was taken aback by Michelle's attitude. It wasn't her normal tough and can do sort of persona, but more like nervousness and anxiety that filled her voice.
+"Um...alright. I'm listening." Abraham said. Michelle sighed and looked at Sarah who gave her a nod. Michelle faced Abraham and inhaled.
+"You need to stay away from Katie."
+
+"What?" Abraham asked.
+"You heard me." Michelle snapped.
+"What did I do wrong? Does she hate me or something?" Sarah stepped forward, her red eyes were filled with sadness.
+"Oh, it's nothing you did, Abraham!" She said reassuringly, "we trust you and we know that you wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone here."
+"But Katie doesn't see it that way." Michelle interjected forcefully. "She doesn't trust men."
+"But she gets along with Asher and Tamil just fine." Abraham pointed out defensively.
+"Only somewhat," Michelle explained, "Asher and Tamil aren't human...so she trusts them fine...but you..."
+"I'm a human." Abraham growled. "So she hates human men?" Sarah and Michelle both nodded. Abraham groaned and stared up at the sky. "So what can I do?"
+"Stay clear of her...for her safety and yours." Michelle said forcefully.
+"We'll talk to her and try to help her understand why you're here...but until then, she's only going to see you as a threat." Sarah finished.
+"Why does she hate humans?" Abraham asked. Michelle and Sarah exchanged a glance with each other and looked down. Michelle's stern attitude dissipated.
+"How much do you know about lamia?" Michelle asked.
+"Up until now, I've never seen one or heard of them." Abraham admitted.
+"Then you wouldn't understand." Michelle said darkly. "In time, maybe Katie will tell you herself...but it's not our right to tell you that." Michelle walked around Abraham and back to the house. "Just be careful, Abraham...for your own sake. Either way, I’m going to bed…I’m exhausted." She then dashed back to the house and into away from the yard, leaving Abraham with Sarah. Sarah had a sad look across her face as she started to head back inside as well.
+
+"Sarah," Abraham asked, "Solomon said that Katie is like a sister to you...why?" Sarah's body stiffened and she shivered a little.
+"Calypso, Katie, and I are the only ones here who were born the way that we are." Sarah choked. Abraham could hear the tears behind her words. "Asher was once a human. So was Michelle, Tamil, and Solomon. Calypso was born a mermaid, but she lived on the other side of the world. Katie and I...we met before we came to the Monster Club...and we understood each other. We looked out for each other." Abraham listened to her, and couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy for Sarah and for Katie as well.
+"I'm sorry."
+"It's alright, dear." Sarah said, turning and trying to regain her composure and charm. She brushed her hair back and grinned. "Regardless, we need to find you a new place to sleep at night, don't we?" Abraham suddenly slapped his forehead with his palm. He had forgotten that Katie would be moving back into her room, which left him with no place to sleep.
+"Oh yeah, I guess I can sleep in the den for now." Abraham said. Sarah gasped.
+"No! Absolutely not!" Sarah shook her head furiously. "You can sleep in my room if you like! I can make you a bed out of my webbing and everything."
+
+"Probably not good plan." Sarah and Abraham turned to the house to see Tamil standing up against the wall, staring off into space. He couldn’t see them through his glassy eyes, but he could hear them just fine, and he seemed amused. He had a small grin on his face. "You sleep in Sarah room...you not get out again." Sarah flushed and scowled Tamil.
+"I'd clean the webs off the floor, Tamil."
+"Actually, Tamil has a point," Abraham said kindly, putting a hand on Sarah's shoulder, "maybe it would be better if I slept in Asher's room? He's always out for the evening, so I wouldn't be bothering him."
+"No, Asher doesn't like other people in his room." Sarah said. "Besides, he might be tempted to feed on you if you stay in his room." Abraham shivered a little at the thought of that and placed his hand on his neck, imagining Asher's fangs ripping into his flesh. He grimaced and shook his head trying to rid himself of that thought.
+"My room have space!" Tamil offered. Sarah suddenly brightened.
+"Now that's a good idea!" Sarah said happily, "How'd you like to room with Tamil for a while?" Abraham considered this and smiled.
+"Yeah...that sounds fine to me. I just need to get my clothes and move them to Tamil's room." Abraham moved past Sarah and Tamil and made his way into the house. Tamil hurried after him towards his room, likely to make space for Abraham. Abraham moved quietly to his old room, and then paused. Katie should be asleep right now, and wouldn't be a problem. All he needed to do was grab a change of clothes and move them to Tamil's room. It shouldn't be a problem. With a small nudge, he pushed open the door and stepped inside.
+"Um, Katie?" He peeked inside and saw that Katie was fast asleep in bed. She didn't move or even open her eyes as he tip toed inside. He crept past the bed and to the chest of drawers. He grabbed the stack of clothes and made sure that he had everything.
+"Okay, that should be-"
+
+There was a furious hissing sound as Abraham was thrown to the ground. He felt a long and scaly mass slam on top of him. He looked up to see Katie, wide awake and furious, laying on top of him, staring at him with golden, serpentine eyes that were filled with rage. She looked beautiful...and her body looked completely healed! There wasn't a scratch or injury on her! How had she healed so fast?
+"Katie!?" Abraham grunted, having trouble breathing.
+"Shut up!" She spat. Abraham could hear a slight accent to her voice and he realized that she was Indian after all. However, that knowledge really didn't help him here. “Who the hell are you!?”
+“I’m Abraham! We met earlier!” Abraham whimpered. Hearing this only seemed to make her angrier.
+"What the hell are you doing in my room!? Trying to take me back to the Drawn Bringers?!"
+"I was just getting my clothes so I could move to Tamil’s room!" Abraham groaned, trying to get away from her. “I swear, I’m not going to hurt you!”
+"Liar!" Katie snapped. "You're a liar!" Abraham grunted and wriggled, trying to escape from Katie, who was leering down at him. She opened her mouth to reveal her fangs.
+"I'm not lying!" Abraham cried, hoping that someone outside would hear him.
+"All men lie! Now shut your lying mouth!” Katie reared back her head like a cobra prepared to strike. Her long dark hair silhouetted against her almost looked like a cobra's hood!
+"STOP PLEASE!!" Abraham screamed.
+
+As if prepared for the worst, the door burst open. Tamil came stumbling blindly through the open door with Asher right behind him. Asher took one look at Katie and acted instantly. Tamil rushed forward and threw himself in the way of Katie. Unable to stop herself, she struck and sunk her fangs deep into Tamil's shoulder. Tamil let out a cry of pain, and fell backwards. Suddenly Asher dashed to Tamil's side and grabbed Katie, using one hand, he pushed her off of Tamil and back to the bed. Before she could say or do anything, Asher's eyes suddenly glowed a very familiar red. Abraham turned away so that he wouldn't be caught in Asher's gaze, but Katie was already locking eyes with the vampire. Her eyes glazed over and her body went limp.
+"Sleep." Asher commanded. Without a moment's hesitation, or a second thought, Katie collapsed on the bed, unconscious and breathing softly. Asher stepped back and made sure that she was asleep.
+
+"What were you thinking?" Asher spat.
+"I...I looked at her bed...she was asleep, I swear." Asher walked around the bed and looked to see what was in it. He pulled out something long and snake like...but it was see through and it looked badly beaten and torn.
+"It wasn't her," Asher growled, "it was her skin."
+"What?!"
+"Lamia can heal wounds by shedding their skin. She must have been shedding it while you were all eating." Asher growled. "That's what you saw." Asher turned and pulled Tamil and Abraham to their feet. "You're real lucky, kid...lamia venom is extremely toxic. It would have killed you in minutes." Suddenly Abraham spun to face Tamil, who still had the puncture wounds in his shoulder from Katie's bite.
+"Tamil was bitten!" Abraham cried. Tamil burst out laughed.
+"It okay, I already dead. Poison does not hurt me." Tamil rubbed his shoulder and placed his hand around Abrahams shoulders. "I got room cleared up for you." Just as he said this, Sarah and Calypso came into the room.
+"We heard Abraham scream...is everything okay?!" Calypso asked.
+"Yeah, we're fine." Asher answered quickly. Sarah looked towards Katie's sleeping body and then at Tamil's shoulder. She then moaned and shook her head, realizing what happened.
+"I'll talk to her when she wakes up." Sarah said. "She needs to learn to trust Abraham...or we'll never have peace in this house."
+"It can wait for now, Sarah." Calypso pointed out. "Don't beat yourself up for this." Calypso reassured. Sarah smiled, but her face was downcast. Calypso moved to Asher's side to help him move Katie's body back onto the bed and under the sheets. Tamil reached his hand out to touch Abraham's shoulder so that Abraham could walk him out of the room.
+
+"Are you sure you're okay, Tamil? Maybe Calypso should take a look at that?" Abraham offered. Tamil waved it off and continued with Abraham to his room.
+"Takes much to hurt me." Tamil chuckled. “Problem is, cannot see. Need help finding way back to room.” Sarah scurried up past them and stopped at Tamil's room.
+"Abraham, I want you to see this!" She opened up the door for Abraham and Tamil to walk in. When Abraham saw the room, he gasped. The walls were painted a sandy color with strange hieroglyph like symbols on the wall. There was a sarcophagus by the wall, but it looked awful big to hold Tamil's smaller body. Abraham scanned the far corner of the room and saw a twin sized bed. Abraham smiled, realizing that Tamil likely slept there. Tamil wandered into the room. He moved with ease and speed like one with perfect sight. It was likely that Tamil was familiar enough with his room that he didn't need to see anything to navigate through it. Tamil sat down on his bed and stared off blankly.
+"Do you like where you're sleeping?" Sarah asked. Abraham looked to the other side of the room and he suddenly groaned under his breath. The corner of the room had been covered in what looked like a hammock of silk and webbing. Sarah must have built that for him.
+"It's...nice." Abraham uttered. Sarah gave a small hurt look.
+"You don't like it?"
+"No, it's not that!" Abraham shouted quickly. "I appreciate it, but won't I get stuck in it?" Sarah giggled.
+"Oh, no you won't. I decide when the silk I produce is sticky or not. You can sleep in it just fine until we can find you a real bed." Abraham felt skeptical, but shrugged off the suspicion as he was starting to become accustomed to the unexpected.
+"Everything going okay in here?" Calypso asked, sticking her head in the door.
+"Yeah, we're fine." Sarah laughed. "Just getting Abraham accustomed to his new room." Calypso peeked around to see the web hammock and laughed.
+"I should've known." She then turned to face Sarah again. "Sarah, Katie is fine. I checked her over and she's okay." Sarah breathed out with relief.
+"Thank you, Calypso. How's Asher?"
+"He's sleepy. Morning is coming, so he's getting tired." Calypso said. "I'm a....I'm just gonna go...check on him real quick." Calypso gave a small blush and then disappeared down the hallway towards Asher's room. Sarah and Tamil both laughed at her behavior, and Abraham only looked between them.
+"What's so funny?"
+"Nothing." Tamil replied.
+"Well, I'll leave you two alone now." Sarah chuckled. "I'm going to go sit with Katie." Abraham got up and ran to the door with her.
+"I'll go too." Sarah stopped and stared at him.
+"Are you sure that's a good idea?" She asked.
+"I just want to learn more about her. Is it okay if I just tag along?" Sarah thought for a moment and then shrugged.
+"Alright, but just stay quiet please." The two walked down the hall into Katie's room. Abraham stood by the door, watching as Sarah wandered over to her bed and knelt down on all 8 legs and stroked her hair. She had such a sad look in her eyes....her normal cheerful demeanor was gone and replaced by a look of hopelessness.
+
+"Sarah, are you okay?" Abraham asked. Sarah glanced up at him and shook her head sadly as tears started coming to her eyes. "Can I help?"
+"No, Abraham...not with this." Sarah said sadly.
+"Sorry." Abraham muttered. Sarah smiled, but then went back to looking down at Katie's sleeping form.
+
+"It's okay, Katie." Sarah whispered. "I'm here...just like before, do you remember? I remember that night so well…" The room around Sarah dissolved into memories and thoughts as her memory took her back to that night…when she met that scared young lamia, Katie.

chapters/chapter_11.md

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+# Chapter 11
+
+I could only stand there...I could only watch and listen to them as they pointed and laughed. I was on a stage in front of an audience of people who were all shouting and laughing. The bars of my cage felt so cold and they made me feel so confined. I was dirty, and I was freezing. The ring master did not consider me human enough to deserve clothes...so all I could do was curl up in my cage...exposing myself to the cold, to the elements, and to the crowd of onlookers. The ring master was standing on stage in front of my cage, introducing me to the crowd, but never calling me by a name. The little sign under my cage read "THE SPIDER GIRL." That was my name, as I had not been given one. I was not human enough to deserve a name either, it seemed. I had nothing to call myself.
+When he called his show workers and assistance up to assist him, I shivered and backed as far to the edge of my cage as I could as the two show workers came to my cage and opened the door. The crowd in front of the stage leaped and screamed in fear, terrified that I'd leap out and attack...but I wouldn't have, even if I had the strength or desire. My spirit had long since broken...and the show workers knew this. Even so, they put a collar with a long chain around my neck and pulled me out of the cage door. Standing in plain view of everyone, my naked body exposed and each of my eight legs trembling....looking out at the crowd through tear filled and defeated eyes.
+
+"Behold, a real freak of nature!" The ring master shouted. I winced at his words...I hated that one word...freak. I hate that word so much. That's all I was to these people...a freak. "She's part spider, and part girl...what was God smoking when he made this monstrosity, huh?" the crowd chuckled, but I only sobbed. God hadn't made a mistake with me, had He? Surely I was just as loved as everyone else, right?
+The ring master walked towards me and lifted my dirty white hair back so that my breasts were exposed to the world. I blushed and closed my eyes tightly as I heard the whistling and cat calls. "Such a twisted combination of beauty and beast, wouldn't you say?" The ring master continued, egging the crowd on as they laughed and jeered at me. I didn't resist and I didn't speak, for that would earn me a lashing. I had been a part of this freak show for 9 months...I was more than used to this kind of treatment...but that didn't make it any easier.
+"So, what do you think, ladies and gentlemen? Is she a beauty or a beast?" I couldn't bear to hear their answers...and everyone had different answers. I hated all of them. I wasn't a beast and I wasn't a beauty...I was just me...but I didn't know who I was. I had no name after all. I threw my face into my hands and began to sob into them. I wasn’t a freak…I wasn’t ugly…I was just…just…
+“I’m me.” I tried to whisper. I wanted to scream it…I wanted to shout it to the world that I was someone…that I had feelings and that I was someone worth knowing…but what would these people know of it? What did they care? To them, my abdomen and 8 legs were enough to earn me the label of freak and to strip me of any title worth remembering. Who was I to them…but just another sideshow attraction? All I could do was keep my face covered by my own hands.
+
+"Well folks, tonight we have a real treat for you," the ringmaster laughed, "a new addition to our show that no one has seen before." I looked up from my hands, a little surprised. I hadn't heard about this. "We just picked her up this morning...bought her off of a trader all the way from India." As he spoke, the assistants were dragging a new cage out onto the stage. I looked inside and saw her...she was so young...so scared...and so angry. Her tan skin was scared and her eyes were wild and fearful. She thrashed around in her cage, struggling to break free. Her hair was uncombed and all over. Her arms were tied behind her back, so she couldn't swipe at anyone...and when I looked at her waist...I saw that the rest of her body was a long snake's tail. She was like me!
+“This is a rare specimen…half serpent and half girl. I wonder if she’s related to our dear spider here?” I doubted this highly, but one thing I did know was that this girl had known pain and humiliation. She was no stranger to it…and she was about to be paraded in front of all of these people like some sort of animal. She didn’t deserve this…no one deserved this. As I thought these things, the men went to her and dragged her from her cage, keeping her shackled by a large chain tied around her neck. She struggled and hissed furiously trying to fight back. The ring master only grinned that same arrogant smirk. He walked closer to her and leaned close.
+“So, why don’t you tell us a little something about yourself, freak?” He muttered. She didn’t answer, instead she bared her fangs at him and gave him such a venomous glare that I could feel her blood lust from the other side of the stage. “What? Having trouble talking?”
+
+The ringmaster leaped back as the girl lashed out, striking like a viper. Her fangs nearly bit into the ringmasters face. He jerked back with a shock and the entire audience let out a scream of shock. The ringmaster stared at her angrily and embarrassed. “A fighter, huh?” He asked. “Well, we can fix that.” I shuddered as I watched him reach for the whip. The dreaded coiling menace that he beat us all into shape with. My back still knew those lashes…still felt the weight of their sting as they cut into my flesh like burning fire. This poor girl was about to feel that same suffering, and I could only watch from beside my cage.
+The whip cracked once…twice…three times. I could hear the girl crying in pain, but I refused to look. I turned my head away and winced with each snap of the whip. There was a pause and I turned to look at the child. She was laying on the ground…her body bleeding steadily. She looked so beaten…so weak. But the ringmaster wasn’t done. I could see it in his eyes. He enjoyed making us suffer, and he got a kick out of bringing us pain. She was down…she was unable to move…and he wouldn’t stop. The audience seemed to enjoy it too…but of course they did. We aren’t human, so our pain is enjoyable, right? I couldn’t take it…I just couldn’t stand it.
+
+“STOP!” I screamed. I rushed forward and threw myself over the bleeding girl. The entire audience was in complete and utter shock. Not only had I spoken…but I had run to the aid of another creature, defying my owner. I knew that I would probably be lashed repeatedly for this…but I couldn’t ignore this. I wouldn’t let her get hurt anymore. The frightened snake girl stared up at me through pain filled tears.
+“What did you just say to me?!” The ringmaster spat.
+“That’s right,” I growled, “I can speak. The monster can talk. Does that surprise you?! It shouldn’t…because you can’t seem to shut your mouth, and there’s no bigger monster in this entire nation than YOU!” I had said it. I had gone too far. I knew that I had done the unthinkable and had brought a world of hurt on myself. I didn’t care though. I couldn’t bear to see this child beaten any more than she already was. She didn’t deserve this life…she didn’t deserve this treatment. I would gladly stay locked up for the rest of my miserable life to see this girl slither away and make a life for herself…make a name for herself…be someone other than a sideshow monstrosity.
+
+“How dare you speak to me like that you ungrateful little…” he didn’t finish speaking. He was too furious. I closed my eyes and waited for it to come...and come it did.
+One.
+Two.
+Four.
+Eight.
+Eventually, the monster stopped his lashings at 20. I was bleeding so badly that I thought for sure my body had been permanently stained the color of crimson. He was breathing heavily and staring over us growling furiously. I could only lay over the girl, protecting her with my destroyed back.
+“You’re extremely lucky that I still need you for the show.” The ringmaster spat. “You’re going in lock up…with no meals for two days…get them out of here.” The stage hands ran up and lifted the girl and myself back to our cages and toted us off of the stage as the ringmaster tried to restore order in front of his adoring public. I looked toward the girl who was laying in her cage, trying hard to recover from the pain of her lashings.
+
+“Are you alright?” I whispered to her. She didn’t answer me. She simply stared ahead without turning. “Do you have a name?” I asked. Again, she stayed silent. I felt so sorry for her…she was repressing, and I couldn’t reach her like this.
+“Katie.” She finally answered. She had spoken so softly that I thought I hadn’t heard her. I looked up and smiled at her, but the act of smiling was a painful action.
+“Katie, it’s nice to meet you.” I answered weakly.
+“No it’s not.” Katie moaned. “There’s nothing nice about this place or those people.” I frowned and reached out my hand through the bars of my cage to her.
+“Still, I’m glad to meet you.” Kaite stared at my hand and then at me.
+“Why did you help me?” She asked.
+“Because I know the sting of the whip…and you don’t deserve that pain.”
+“And you do?” She asked. I shook my head no. She then gave me a stern look. “Then don’t do that again…I don’t want you hurt for me.” I smiled and then extended my hand further for her to take.
+“Alright…but I still want to help.” Katie began to reach for my hand and tried to smile at me…but the pain in her eyes made it hard for her.
+“What is your name?” She asked. I shook my head.
+“I don’t have one…I don’t deserve one.” Katie shook her head.
+“No…everything deserves a name…and I’m calling you Sarah.” I stared at Katie for a long time. The back of the stage was empty except for us…and I felt the new presence of that name wash over me.
+
+“Sarah?” I whispered. Katie nodded.
+“I think it sounds nice…and you’re…nice. I guess there’s at least something nice here after all.” I felt tears build up in my eyes as she spoke to me.
+“Okay, Sarah it is.” I laughed.
+“It’s nice to meet you Sarah.” She reached out and finally took my hand. We looked at each other and smiled. We were bonded from that moment on…we were friends…we were family. We were all each other had. We were sisters in chains.

chapters/chapter_12.md

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+# Chapter 12
+
+“Abraham, you listening?” Michelle asked sharply. Abraham’s head snapped up to attention. He had been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn’t heard Michelle speak to him. The entire club was seated at the table and were just finishing up breakfast. Michelle had apparently been addressing the entire table to give an announcement.
+“Sorry,” Abraham replied sheepishly, “just a lot on my mind.”
+
+A week had passed since Katie’s return and Asher had displayed his devastating abilities. For all respects and purposes, it seemed as if the house had returned to normal…for the most part. Living in Tamil’s room was nice and quiet, if a little dank. Tamil often joked that Abraham didn’t need to worry about snoring or noises…because it was quiet as a crypt when he slept. Abraham had laughed at this, but the first night that he’d slept in the room, he noticed that Tamil hadn’t been joking, the nights in the Monster Club were extremely quiet. Perhaps it was from all the excitement with the return of Katie, but somehow everything seemed deathly quiet at night.
+Also, to Abraham’s surprise, he felt a slight twinge of discomfort whenever Asher was around. Of all the members of the club, it was clear that Asher was the most powerful and deadly, and though he knew Asher was his friend, Abraham couldn’t help but feel very uneasy. That night when Asher had fed on the hunter, Warren had horrified him, and he couldn’t help but feel as if Asher would just as easily decided to do the same to Abraham. He tried not to let his discomfort show around the others, but it was hard not to wince a little when Asher walked into the room. Abraham couldn’t help feeling guilty about his feelings on the matter…and that meant he couldn’t tell Michelle about them.
+
+“Well, regardless pay attention.” Michelle leaned back and looked around at everyone else. Katie was coiled up at the far end of the table, unable to sit in a chair. Michelle looked in her direction as she spoke. “Katie has now officially recovered, which means that our schedule is going to return to normal from here on out.” When she finished saying this she looked around at everyone and sighed. “However, we’ve expended most of our medical supplies and food, which means we need to make a store run.” There was a murmur around the table at this news. Tamil and Calypso both perked up excitedly while Asher just shrugged. Sarah and Katie exchanged a look and nodded to each other. Solomon, the only one not at the table, was behind the kitchen counter wiping up some spilled tea.
+“I’ll put together a list of things you’ll need to pick up.” Solomon said, before vanishing into thin air, the rag he had been using, falling on the counter. Abraham couldn’t help but notice how unaffected he was by this sight. Rather, he’d grown quite used to such things by now. Abraham watched as the table came alive with movement. Sarah went to the counter and picked up a couple of dish rags and began picking up dishes while Katie wiped down the table top. Asher stood up and nodded at Abraham (causing a shiver to run down his spine), and then made his way upstairs. Calypso watched him go and climbed to her feet as well.
+“Michelle, I’m gonna go get myself ready to go.” She said quickly before hurrying off to her room upstairs.
+“So Michelle,” Abraham spoke up, “how do you go shopping? What happens?” Michelle stared at him and laughed.
+“Sorry, I keep forgetting that you’re new to our routines.” She stood up and walked to the den, motioning for Abraham to follow. “Well, when we go shopping, Tamil, Calypso, and myself go to the store together and pick up whatever Solomon puts on the shopping list…after all its his money that we’re using to pay for our necessities. Today, you’ll be coming with us too. It helps to have an extra set of hands.”
+“What about Katie, Sarah, and Asher?” Abraham asked.
+“Katie and Sarah stick out like a sore thumb.” Michelle explained. “Usually they’ll go and do something together while we’re gone. Asher can’t leave the house in the daylight, so he stays here and sleeps or just does his own thing.” Abraham nodded in understanding.
+“Alright, I’ll come with. So what do I have to bring?” Abraham asked.
+“Nothing,” Michelle answered, “just give the rest of us some time to get ready. See what you can do to help out…actually, go up to help Tamil get dressed.” Abraham stopped and stared.
+“Tamil is going to get dressed?” Abraham gasped. Michelle giggled.
+“Well of course…what do you think people will say if a mummy just walks in the store?” Michelle inquired. “Just get going.” Abraham nodded and ran upstairs to his room. Tamil was sitting in his bed, staring off into space with pair of long pants in his hands. He sat up at the sound of Abraham walking in.
+
+“Abraham?” He asked. “You are here to help me?”
+“Do you normally need help getting dressed?” Abraham asked. Tamil laughed darkly and then shrugged his bandaged shoulders.
+“Do not wear clothes, Abraham.” Tamil joked. “Not used to them.” Tamil slipped up the pants over his bandaged legs and then began feeling around for the button down jacket on his bed. Abraham stepped over and picked it up for him.
+“Here.” Abraham proceeded to help Tamil find and put on his clothes, which consisted of long jeans, a button down shirt, a coat, and a hat. He then watched as Tamil carelessly removed some of the bandages around his head so that parts of his face were showing.
+“This way, I just look like I get in accident.” Tamil explained. “I can handle rest.” Abraham smiled and then opened the door to go into the hallway, but was stopped short as he nearly ran into a figure standing in front of him.
+
+“Whoa!” Abraham had nearly run right into Michelle. “In a hurry?” She asked.
+“Sorry!” Abraham cried. “I didn’t see…I mean…”
+“Don’t worry about it. I actually needed to talk to you for a moment.” She said calmly. She walked back down the hallway and passed the bathroom where Abraham could hear the shower running.
+“Who’s in…”
+“Asher’s getting a shower…which is why I wanted to talk to you while he can’t hear us.” Michelle muttered. She stopped at her room and opened the door, allowing Abraham in. Abraham looked around and was surprised to see just how nice it was inside. It was rather normal looking, but of course Abraham wasn’t quite sure what he expected a werewolf’s room to look like.
+“What do you wanna talk about?” Abraham asked. Michelle sighed and rubbed the back of her head.
+
+“Abraham, I noticed it going on all week,” Michelle groaned, “something’s been bothering you, and it has to do with Asher.” Abraham stopped and stared at Michelle.
+“How do you know that?”
+“Come on,” she smirked, “wolves smell fear…and you stink of it.” Abraham moaned and nodded.
+“Okay, yeah…you’re right.” Abraham said.
+“Abraham,” Michelle said kindly, “please understand that I understand how you must feel. You’re living in a house of monsters…and after that whole thing with Katie…and of course the Warren incident…I can understand that you’re uncomfortable.”
+“Really?” Abraham asked, relieved that Michelle seemed to understand.
+“Of course,” Michelle answered, “but you also need to realize that this is what we are. Every night, Asher goes out too feed…he’s a vampire and it’s what he does. Can you live with that?” Abraham looked at his feet and shrugged.
+“I’ll try…it’s just…” As he spoke, they heard the water go off in the other room and Michelle silenced him.
+“We’ll discuss this later when we’re alone…let’s go downstairs and get ready to leave, please?” Michelle hissed. Abraham nodded silently and followed her out the door. “Go make sure Tamil is in disguise please?” Abraham turned and ran into his room to find Tamil, who was no fully dressed and sitting on the bed.
+
+“Is all well?” Tamil asked.
+“Yeah,” Abraham answered, “we’re just getting ready to leave…I wanted to make sure you were good to go.” Tamil stood up and made his way to the door. For being blind, his ability to navigate through the room was excellent. Not once did he have to slow down or check where he was going.
+“I will see you downstairs then.” Tamil stepped carefully around Abraham and out into the hallway. Abraham followed him out, when he suddenly heard a voice from downstairs.
+“ARE YOU GUYS READY TO GO YET!?” Michelle shouted. “I got the list! We’re leaving in 5 minutes!” As she spoke, Asher stepped out of the bathroom and grimaced. He had on a shirt and boxers, and his body was still a little damp from the shower.
+“Do you have to howl so loud?” He growled. “Please keep it dow-”
+“Oh no! Don’t leave without me, Miche-EEP!”
+
+There was an exclamation of shock and a squeal as Calypso came running out of her room fast, wearing a lovely sundress. She came out too fast to stop herself and tripped over her two feet, flying head long into Asher, who turned just in time to catch her as she slammed into his body. The house went deathly quiet as they looked to see Calypso in Ashers arms…pressed against his body. Calypso hesitantly looked up at Asher, a deep blush on her face. Asher stared down at her and, to Abraham’s surprise, he was blushing too.
+“I…um…hi.” Asher stuttered nervously.
+“…..H-hi….” Calypso whispered. The two stared awkwardly at each other for a moment, before Calypso finally looked down, unable to keep her eyes on Asher’s.
+“Um…are….are you okay?” Asher asked. Calypso nodded in reply, unable to speak back. “Th-that’s…that’s good.” Abraham couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. This was the same creature that had ruthlessly destroyed a monster hunter, and had singlehandedly a rampaging werewolf…but he was stuttering and blushing, unsure of what to say…like all the self-confidence he had been knocked out of him by Calypso. He looked nervous…embarrassed…scared. Calypso wasn’t any different. Her blue tinted face was now glowing a deep red and she couldn’t even make eye contact with the vampire.
+
+“Hey, let me know when you two are done making out, and then we can leave.” Michelle laughed from the top of the stairs.
+“Oh, are those two at it again!?” Sarah’s voice echoed out. “Can I go get my camera!?” Asher and Calypso both flushed and moved away from each other, as they brushed themselves off, trying not to look at each other.
+“Did they kiss yet?” Tamil asked.
+“No, but I wish they’d just get it over with.” Michelle joked, nudging Tamil in the side with a giggle.
+“Would both of you stop?!” Calypso whimpered back, clearly embarrassed. She then turned and looked at Asher, but didn’t quite make eye contact with him. “Um…th-thanks for catching me Ash…” She whispered to him. She opened her mouth as if to say something else but then squeaked, blushed, and ran off to go downstairs. Asher tried to call back to her, but she was already gone. He groaned under his breath and shot a dirty look at Michelle and Tamil.
+“Really smooth guys…thanks.” He snapped and then turned to go back to his room. Michelle only laughed back.
+“Yo Abraham,” Michelle chuckled, “did you think that scene looked a bit like something out of Twilight?” Asher stiffened at this and growled back at Michelle.
+“Don’t even get me started on that shit!” He snarled. Abraham couldn’t help but chuckle a little. He hated the Twilight series…but he had never considered how a real vampire might feel about it. To see Asher’s response to it was not only funny…but the truth was that Michelle was right…it DID make him think of a Twilight joke. Asher then turned and walked into his room, blushing furiously as Michelle and Tamil both roared with laughter. Abraham could only smile sheepishly.
+“Yeah, Asher isn’t nearly as mean as he seems. He’s a big softy for a certain fish.” Michelle whispered to Abraham.
+“I heard that!” Asher’s muffled voice shouted from inside his room. Tamil and Michelle both burst out laughing.
+“We’d better go before he goes on one of his rants again.” Michelle took Abraham and Tamils hands and lead them to the stairs where Calypso was waiting for them down below. Sarah was standing by the door with Katie at her side. Sarah was holding a coat out for Abraham.
+
+“It’s going to be chilly out there, you’ll need to bundle up.” Sarah said as she handed Abraham his coat.
+“That goes for you too, Michelle.” Katie said as she handed a second coat to her. Abraham followed Michelles lead as he put on the coat given to him.
+“Thank you.” Michelle giggled. “I suggest getting outside and enjoying the sunshine…it’s a beautiful day outside.” Katie nodded happily.
+“That’d be so nice!” She laughed. Michelle then motioned to the door.
+“Alright, let’s get this pack of misfits moving!” Michelle called out. Calypso and Tamil both followed with Abraham closely behind them. Michelle had been right. The sun was shining brightly and glowing down on them. The air was alive with a slight breeze as the bushes and trees swayed in its breath. Calypso and Tamil beamed at it while Michelle seemed to be much calmer under the suns embrace.
+“This is the nicest weather we’ve had in a long time.” Calypso informed Abraham. “It’s a good sign. I think today is going to go perfectly.”

chapters/chapter_13.md

@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+# Chapter 13
+
+Abraham walked silently with the others, careful to remember where they were going and starting to wonder how far away they had to go in order to go shopping. Michelle was in the lead, walking briskly and with purpose. Tamil was hanging back slightly. He was smiling and looking around him, clearly enjoying getting the chance to be out and about. Calypso was looking at her feet, still a little embarrassed from the incident with Asher earlier. Abraham didn’t quite know what to say or who to talk to, thankfully, Michelle took care of that for him.
+“Abraham,” she said loudly, “you’re a little new to all this, so here’s how we do things. When we get to the store, we’ll split off into groups. One group will go to the food sections and pick up anything food related. The other group will go to the clothing and toiletries area and pick up anything we need from there. When we’ve gotten everything that we’ll need, you are to go to check out line 16. ONLY go to 16, you understand?” Michelle said sharply. Abraham nodded.
+“Yeah, I got it…but why 16?” He asked.
+“Because cashier knows us and don’t ask questions.” Tamil explained happily.
+“Once you get done checking out, we’ll meet in the parking lot outside. Any questions?” Abraham looked from Calypso and Tamil and then nodded.
+“Yeah, I got one…how do we explain Tamil’s bandages and Calypso’s skin to everyone?” Abraham asked. Michelle paused for a moment and looked at Calypso and Tamil.
+“Show him.” She said. Tamil nodded his head with a smile and straightened up.
+
+“I am sport athlete from foreign country who get hurt in accident. Still recovering.” He said in an impressively straightforward manner. Calypso spoke elegantly and with a slight accent herself.
+“And I was born with a genetic mutation that affects the pigment of my skin making it a bluish tint.” Calypso said with a giggle. “We’ve been going off of those excuses every time anyone asks us.”
+“And that’s the story you’ll tell if anyone asks you.” Michelle said sharply. “Think you can handle that?”
+“Sure.” Abraham said, a little relieved. “I can remember that.” Michelle smiled and continued walking down the road with Abraham and the others following. Suddenly Tamil stopped walking, his smile replaced by a look of nervousness and uncertainty. Michelle and Calypso stopped and looked at him.
+“What’s wrong?” Calypso asked. Tamil’s gaze turned to the woods, as if he could sense something in them.
+“Something following us.” Tamil said.
+“How can you tell that?” Abraham asked.
+“Blind, but not stupid.” Tamil answered darkly. “I hear it following for last 10 minutes...do not know what is.” Michelle followed Tamil’s gaze and glared into the trees.
+“Could it be Asher?” Abraham asked. “Or maybe Katie and Sarah?” Michelle shook her head.
+“No. Asher can’t leave the house at this time. Plus, Sarah and Katie know better than to follow us. Whatever it is, it’s not a member of the Monster Club.” Michelle answered. Calypso hugged herself and trembled.
+“I wish Asher was here…he’d take care of it.” Calypso whispered.
+“Is that the only reason you want him here?” Michelle smirked. Calypso blushed and scowled Michelle.
+“Oh stop it, Michelle.” She snapped. As they spoke, Tamil seemed to relax a little.
+“Whatever it was…it not there now.” Tamil said. Michelle relaxed as well and nodded to the group.
+“Then let’s keep going…but be cautious.”
+
+At long last, the group made it down into a bustling suburb where there was a large Walmart not far from the road. Michelle indicated it to the team and they walked to the doors. Before they entered, Michelle stopped the group.
+“Calypso, make sure your ear fins are covered, and Tamil…stay close to me.” She handed the clothing section of the list to Calypso and then turned to Abraham. “You’re going to go with Calypso to the clothing and toiletries section. I’ll take Tamil with me to get food.”
+“Why can’t Calypso go with you?” Abraham asked.
+“Because Calypso only get sea food and Michelle not know how to buy good food.” Tamil laughed. Michelle and Calypso both slapped the back of Tamil’s head, causing his hat to fall off as he laughed at them. Abraham laughed too. All the stress and nervousness from earlier was gone.
+“Alright, I’ll go with Calypso then.” Abraham said. Michelle smiled and pat his shoulder.
+“Good luck, newbie…see you out here when we’re done.” Michelle said. She then took Tamil’s hand and led him into the store. Calypso wandered into the store after them, but then took a left. Abraham followed her to the toiletries and clothing section. When they reached the isle, Abraham looked to Calypso and nudged her.
+
+“So, what’s first on the list?” Abraham asked. Calypso pulled up the list and looked at it. Her eyes narrowed and she kept looking and staring at it as if it was a foreign object.
+“I…I don’t know!” She gasped.
+“Huh?”
+“I can’t understand this writing!” Calypso said in a panic. “I can’t make it out! What’s wrong with me!? Did Solomon write this in some new language or code!? Am I disoriented!?”
+“Calm down! I’m sure there’s an explanation. Can I see it?” Abraham asked quickly, trying to calm Calypso down. She held out the list for him to see. It took all his effort not to burst out laughing. “Calypso, it’s upside down.” Abraham laughed. Calypso pulled it back up and flipped it over. She then blushed and slapped her hand to her forehead.
+“I’m so stupid.” She groaned. Abraham shook his head trying not to laugh at her.
+“No offense, but you act like a fish out of water.” Abraham chuckled. “You’re always tripping and stumbling over yourself. Are you okay?” Calypso blushed and looked away, trying to focus on the list.
+“Well, I…um…I’m kind of clumsy on two feet. I prefer the water.” Calypso whispered meekly. “It…doesn’t bother you does it?” She asked. Abraham shook his head.
+“No, it’s just funny.” Abraham answered. Calypso picked up a container of detergent and handed it to Abraham to carry.
+“Well, I feel like it bothers everyone else.” Calypso whimpered. “Especially Ash.” Abraham walked beside her as they walked down the aisle.
+“Why do you say that?” Abraham asked. Calypso shook her head.
+“I’m always tripping over myself around him…and he must think I’m such a loser, always having to help me.” Calypso moaned. “I mean, did you see the way he looked at me when I fell on him this morning? I was so embarrassed!”
+“I don’t think he minded it that much though.” Abraham said smirking a little. He reached up and grabbed a few bars of soap and looked back at Calypso “Maybe you should ask him about it sometime?” Calypso looked down and gave a small smile.
+“I don’t know…maybe…let’s just get back to the list please?” She said fast, trying to return her focus to the task at hand. Abraham was still filled with a lot of questions…and he knew that Calypso would be the perfect person to talk to. Unlike the others, Calypso wasn’t very good at keeping secrets, so all he had to do was ask the right questions and he might be able to get some real answers from her.
+
+“Calypso, what’s the story behind the Dawn Bringers?” Abraham asked. Calypso stiffened and turned to look at him.
+“W-why do you want to know that?”
+“Well, if they’re dangerous, I think it might be important to know everything I can about them.” Abraham said innocently, pretending to be more focused on the shopping than the question. Calypso sighed and looked lost in thought.
+“Well,” she muttered, “the Dawn Bringers are a society of monster hunters. They dedicate themselves to purging the world of all inhumane or supernatural creatures.” Calypso explained.
+“Are there a lot of them?” Abraham asked.
+“I’m not sure. I know that there are enough of them to be considered dangerous.” Calypso answered darkly.
+“Why haven’t they attacked before?” Abraham asked. “I mean, they managed to capture Katie…so they knew where you lived.”
+“No,” Calypso said. “Katie was kidnapped outside of the house…they wanted to use her to make her show them where our home was. They’ve never been able to find our home before. The only hunters that know where we live are now dead, thanks to Asher.”
+“I see.” Abraham said, trying to process everything. “So Asher keeps the house safe from them.”
+“Before him, all we could do was hide when the Dawn Bringers were near….it was our only choice. But then, when Asher came, we didn’t have to hide anymore.” Calypso said, continuing to pull items from the shelves.
+“Does Asher normally feed on the Dawn Bringers he kills?” Abraham growled darkly, remembering the night Asher had killed Warren. Calypso shivered and closed her eyes.
+“Asher is….” Calypso tried to explain, but stopped short.
+“He’s what?” Abraham pressed.
+“…Asher is not a monster, Abraham.” She mumbled. “Every night, Asher has to go out and feed to keep up his strength. It’s not because he wants to, it’s because he must.” Abraham paused and just watched Calypso, realizing that he’d gone too far.
+“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend.” Abraham said.
+“It’s alright,” she said calmly with a weak smile, “just try not to be too harsh about him.” Abraham followed her in silence as she continued to pick up items from the list. At long last it seemed like they had collected everything that they needed.
+
+“Do you think the others are done now?” Abraham asked.
+“I’m not sure. Let’s check out and wait in the parking lot, like Michelle said.” Calypso replied. Abraham nodded and went with her to isle 16. There a young woman was waiting. She looked up to see Calypso and suddenly began looking around nervously.
+“Hey, Calypso.” She whispered softly, “how ya doing?” She asked. Calypso smiled and put the goods in front of the woman.
+“I’m fine, just a little tired.” Calypso said. “Michelle and Tamil didn’t come by here already did they?” The woman shook her head.
+“You’re the only club member here so far. I’ll let them know you got here first.” She then looked at Abraham and frowned. “Who’s this?”
+“He is Abraham, he’s new to the club…he’s a human.” Calypso explained. The woman went about checking out the items and nodded at Abraham.
+“Used to these guys yet?” She asked.
+“Getting there.” Abraham answered. The woman laughed.
+“Believe me, they’re an interesting bunch. I’ve known them for about 10 months, and I’m still not quite used to them. Names Abbey by the way.” She answered. When she was done checking everything out she looked at Calypso. “So, who’s paying?”
+“Michelle has the money…you’ll have to wait on her.” Calypso said. Abbey nodded.
+“Alright, then I suggest taking your stuff and heading out…I’ll let Michelle know that you came by.”
+“Thanks, Abbey.” Calypso laughed.
+“Take care.” With that, Abraham and Calypso picked up their bags and walked out into the parking lot. The sun blinded them for a moment, but they kept on walking. Suddenly, Calypso stopped.
+
+“Abraham,” she whispered, “something is wrong.”
+“What do you mean?” He asked.
+“I can’t place it…I feel like…”
+“Excuse me!” Abraham and Calypso spun around to see a middle aged man running up to them. He looked rather fat and out of breathe. He was balding and he had on glasses. “I’m sorry for bothering you, but I was wondering if you could help me. I’m late for a meeting and I was wondering if you knew how to get to Ridge Crest Lane?” Abraham smiled.
+“Yeah, it’s about 3 blocks in that direction.” He said kindly. The man smiled and held up his hand.
+“Really? Oh thank you! Also, you should probably know…” he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small water pistol. “…that you’re about to get wet.” He squirted Calypso with the water pistol and she suddenly squealed as her legs fell out from under her…or rather, they vanished from under her. Her legs quickly melded together and transformed into a long mermaids tail, as she fell to the ground in a heap. She couldn’t stand! The grocery bags in her hands clattered to the ground as she had dropped them when she fell. Abraham stared in shock.
+
+“What the hell!?” Abraham gasped.
+“Mermaids are forced to return to their original form when in the presence of water.” The man said sternly, losing all of his warmth and kindness from earlier.
+“No, he’s one of them!” Calypso cried, quickly trying to crawl away from him. The stranger only grinned fiercely. “He’s a Dawn Bringer agent!”
+“You’re free to go, human…my business is with the mermaid.” Abraham looked around and saw that there was no one else nearby to see her, but he couldn’t risk anyone seeing Calypso like this. He ripped off his jacket and threw it over her lower half, covering her tail. The Dawn Bringer agent stared at him with a frown. “I said leave boy.”
+“I…I can’t.” Abraham stuttered. “I can’t do that.” The Dawn Bringer sighed.
+“Very well, then you shall die with the mermaid. When you two have been dealt with, the two in the store will die next.”
+“It was you!” Abraham cried. “You’re the one that Tamil detected following us in the woods earlier!”
+“Yes.” The man said. “My name is Gregory, an agent of the Dawn Bringer organization. After the loss of Warren and his partner, we couldn’t ignore your little club any longer.” Abraham felt a small spark of anger course through him.
+“Warren was killed by a vampire…and he’ll kill you too if you don’t leave now!” Gregory just laughed.
+“Why do you think I chose to attack you in broad daylight in the middle of a public location? You’re pet vampire isn’t here to save you…and now you all die.” Abraham felt his heart fall as he realized the truth of these words. It was all true…Asher wasn’t here now…and he had no way to protect Calypso or the others when they came out. Gregory pulled a real pistol out of his jacket and cocked it. “Any final words?”

chapters/chapter_14.md

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+# Chapter 14
+
+“Let them go!” Abraham spun to look behind Gregory’s gun. Behind him was a furious and dangerous looking Michelle. Her eyes flared with an intense anger and her fists were clenched. Behind her was Tamil, who looked slightly confused. He couldn’t see what was in front of him, but he knew what was going on. There was much to be worried about. Abraham dared not move, as the hunter, Gregory turned to face Michelle.
+“So, the werewolf rears her head? So does the mummy.”
+“I said let them go, bastard.” Michelle snarled. She made a dangerous move towards him, but Gregory made a threatening motion with the gun back towards Calypso.
+“You’re in no position to make threats, werewolf.” He mocked. Michelle growled dangerously, but slowly lowered her fists to her side, fighting herself to keep from attacking.
+“What do you want?” Michelle asked him dangerously.
+
+“Purity.” Gregory snapped. “You and your kind have been polluting this earth like a plague, and the Dawn Bringers will not rest until all of you have been erased so this world can finally be free of your filth.” As he spoke, I suddenly noticed that his gun was slightly lowered…he wasn’t focused on me. I slowly began to move toward his gun arm.
+“You touch her and I’ll-”
+“You’ll what, werewolf?” Gregory barked. “You have no full moon to aid you and your pet vampire is locked inside to keep from burning to ashes. You have a beached mermaid and a mummy who can’t see. I on the other hand, have 3 members of the cursed club in front of me.” Abraham was getting so close. Abraham reached out my hand cautiously to grab at the pistol. “Tell me, werewolf…what have I to fear from the likes of you?”
+“ME!”
+
+Abraham leaped forward and grabbed the gun. With a jerk, Abraham yanked at the pistol, trying to rip it away from Gregory’s hands. He pulled back and suddenly remembered that Abraham was a threat to. They struggled as Abraham fought to get the gun out of Gregory’s hand. Michelle dashed across the lot to the two of them.
+“HOLD ON, ABRAHAM!” She screamed. She ran forward and swung at Gregory. He ducked the hit and kicked her in the abdomen, then kneed Abraham in the stomach. Abraham let out a grunt and stumbled as he pulled the pistol away from Abraham.
+“That was brave boy…but very foolish.”
+
+*POW*
+
+Abraham didn’t scream or cry out as he felt a powerful and shocking feeling flash through his side. It felt as if a bolt of lightning had torn through his side and exploded in his stomach. It stung like fire…and then there was this cold and horribly sick sensation running through his very blood as he felt the object tear through his skin and flesh. He fell over and clutched his side in agony, too shocked and stunned to cry out. The world seemed to flash different colors as he could hear the sound of Michelle screaming furiously and Calypso shrieking. There was a small trickle of blood from his side and he could feel his torn shirt.
+“I missed you deliberately boy, because you are not my enemy…but oppose me again, and I shall kill you.” Gregory sneered. He turned and pointed the gun at Michelle. “No, where was I?”
+“EATING GRAVEL!” There was a sudden swoshing sound as Calypso’s hands grabbed the ground and she spun her body across the rock and dirt. Her swung across the ground and struck Gregory’s legs, knocking him off of his feet and sending him sprawling to the ground. With a grunt and a cough, Gregory hit the earth face first. Abraham could only watch from where he sat.
+Michelle let out a roar of rage and leaped on Gregory, kicking the gun away from him and pounding him with her fists. Despite being a head smaller than Gregory, she showed impressive strength with each swing of her fists, crashing into Gregory’s skull.
+“Abraham, Oh my God, are you okay!?” Calypso cried as she crawled over to Abraham, looking at him with concern. Was he okay? Abraham couldn’t really tell. He was breathing, but why? He had been shot, right?
+“I…I think so.” Calypso layed herself next to his side and began to inspect the bleeding wound.
+“It looks like he only grazed you…thank God.” She whispered. Abraham was only half paying attention to her though. He was lost in his own thoughts.
+
+Here he was being looked after by Calypso…after being saved by her. Here he was, an untrained, and weak human being, laying with a wound in his side as Michelle viciously pounded the hunter into the ground. What did he have to offer this club? Asher was so powerful and Michelle was incredible too! Even Calypso, who was beached and unable to stand, could put up more of a fight than him. What good was he? Tears weld up in his eyes at the thought of his own mortality and his own pathetic status in comparison to what was plain perfection.
+“Oh, am I hurting you?” Calypso asked in surprise, noticing his tears. She was bandaging his side as she spoke. “I’m sorry. I’m just trying to stop the bleeding.”
+“No, it’s alright.” Abraham muttered. There was the sound of a yelp as Michelle climbed to her feet and kicked the unconscious hunter in the mouth.
+
+“I should kill you…but I’d much rather let you explain yourself to the authorities.” She stood up and kicked the gun back over to his hand. She walked over and threw her coat over Calypso’s tail. “Dry yourself off.” She then sat down by Abraham as Calypso got to work. “Tamil, come here, quick! Are you alright, kid?”
+“I’m fine, Michelle.” Abraham protested. After a careful analysis, Abraham could tell that he was okay. His wound was just a small graze…but the real injury had been to his pride. Michelle nodded and stood up as Tamil came closer.
+“Tamil and I are going to get back to the house and inform Solomon about what’s happened here. He needs to know. Calypso, you stay with Abraham and make sure he gets back safe.” Abraham shook his head.
+“No, I can-” Abraham tried to speak up, but Michelle shot him a look that clearly told him she wasn’t interested in his protests.
+“Sorry, Abraham…but this is my call.” She turned to Tamil and put her hand on his shoulder. “Let’s move.” Michelle took off down the street with Tamil holding onto her shoulder. He ran after her, and managed to stay close to her side. Calypso continued to dry off her tail and Abraham could see it slowly converting back to a pair of legs.
+
+“Abraham, I’m so sorry that you got mixed up in all this.” Calypso whimpered. Abraham stared at her and closed his eyes in defeat.
+“I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything to stop him.” Abraham admitted. Calypso looked back at him.
+“What are you talking about? You were trying to save us!”
+“But I didn’t. But you…you were amazing!” Calypso blushed at this and shook her head.
+“Oh…well, I thought he’d hurt you bad…or worse. I guess I just lost control. It was nothing special.” Calypso laughed.
+“Yeah, well…why can’t I be like that? I’m just…” Calypso finally finished drying herself off and she stood up on her own two legs again. She leaned down and held her hand out to Abraham.
+“Enough…let’s just go, please?” Abraham reached up and took her hand. She pulled him to his feet and he stood up. His legs suddenly felt so weak that his knees buckled. It was as if the gunshot had taken all the energy out of him.
+
+“Hold on!” Calypso cried, holding his arms so that Abraham didn’t fall.
+“I’m okay, I’m fine.” Abraham insisted, trying to regain his balance.
+“No, you’re not. You’re still rattled.” Calypso answered. There was force in her voice, which sounded so odd to Abraham. Normally she stumbled over her words and stuttered out of nerves, but now she was stern and concerned. “You need to move slowly.” She kept her hand on his shoulder and walked beside him slowly toward the street.
+“Where are we going?”
+“We’re headed back home. You need to see Asher.” Abraham suddenly felt a cold sweat come over him.
+“Asher?! Why him?” He asked.
+“The wound may be infected. He can clean it.” She said in frustration.
+“Why not just put alcohol or something on it?” Abraham asked in fright. The thought of Asher having to help him scared him considerably.
+“We never buy the stuff…because it’d be a waste of money. Asher’s saliva is a natural catalyst and blood cleaning agent. If anyone ever gets an infected cut or scrape, we take it to him, now let’s go please. I’m sure that the police will be here soon.” Abraham tried to argue, but the force in Calypso’s voice was so shocking that he found himself tailing her despite his wishes. He shot a glance back at the unconscious and beaten Gregory.
+“What about him?” Abraham asked.
+“The authorities can take care of him, now come on!” She pulled harder on his arm until at last, Abraham tore his eyes away and obediently followed her to the street.
+
+The walk home was long and quiet. Calypso didn’t say a word, and whenever Abraham tried to speak, she would shush him, saying that he needed to keep quiet until they got home. The street eventually gave way to trees and soon they found themselves walking through the forest again. The sky was growing dark and the moon was starting to rise, glowing in the distance beautifully. It was a cresent moon…and the sight of it reminded him of only a few weeks ago when it had been full…and Michelle had gone on her rampage. The power he had seen that night from Michelle and Asher had been so devastating. What good was he? What could he offer the club when they had such power there already?
+“I’m sorry, Calypso.” Abraham whispered.
+“What for?” Calypso asked. The sound of frogs and crickets announced that they were close to the lake.
+“For making you go through this.”
+“Abraham, you were trying to protect us.” Calypso said with a smile.
+“Yeah, my mistake was thinking I was strong enough to do that. I’m weak…I’m not like Asher or Michelle.” Abraham grimaced. He suddenly felt a sharp pain in his side and had to stop. Calypso gasped and lifted his jacket to look at the wound.
+“Oh no, it’s deeper than I thought. Come on…we’ll go to the docks. I’ll clean it off some.” She walked Abraham down to a nearby dock and helped him down to sit by the wooden plank near the water. She lifted his jacket and began to clean off the area where he had been hurt. “It’s probably infected…we need Asher right away…but I don’t want to move you as you are.” Abraham just looked off at the lake, clutching his side, feeling a little bit of blood trickle down.
+“Yeah…I screwed up big time, huh?” He asked.
+
+“You stop that!” Calypso snapped. Abraham looked up at her to see that her eyes were fixed on his now and she looked rather pissed. “You’re not weak! No, you’re not like Asher or Michelle, but you’re no weakling! You tried to fight for the Club, and that makes you strong!” Abraham sighed and tried to sit up.
+“And getting shot like this? Getting my butt kicked when I had the advantage?” Calypso shrugged.
+“Well, we all have our weak moments…even Asher. Why, you should have seen him when I first met him.” Abraham looked up in shock and stared at Calypso.
+“Asher was weak?”
+“Yeah, I had to save him that night actually…the night we met.” Calypso stared off at the lake and smiled sheepishly. “I’ll never forget it.” Abraham couldn’t help but feel slightly interested.
+“What happened?” He asked. Calypso blushed and looked at Abraham.
+“Well…it was about a year ago…maybe a little longer…and I was out here by the lake. I was just out here by myself. When Asher showed up he-”
+
+“C’mon Calypso, the kid’s suffering enough already without having to know that story.” Abraham and Calypso both whirled around to see a dark figure standing by the dock. Asher stood grinning, the moonlight flashing against his fangs.
+“Eep!” Calypso let out a frightened squeak and blushed terrifically. Without a moments thought, she dove into the water, where her feet instantly turned back into a long and beautiful mermaids tail. She splashed into the water and dove out of sight, her embarrassed expression still fresh on Abrahams mind. Asher let out a small laugh.
+“Hahaha! I didn’t mean to scare her. I’ll apologize later.” Abraham suddenly realized that he was alone with Asher on the docks…the very last person he wanted to be near. “Michelle told me that you got hurt by a hunters’ bullet. I came to see the damage.” He knelt down by Abraham who quickly tensed up and tried to move away. Asher caught this movement and then sighed sadly.
+
+“I see.” He muttered. “Well, I can’t really say I blame you…I’d be scared too.” Abraham flushed and looked down.
+“I’m sorry, I just…”
+“No, I understand.” Asher then turned to look at Abraham. “With that said…I do need to see that wound.” Abraham hesitated for a moment and then finally lifted up his jacket to show the cut. Asher’s eyes flashed red for a moment at the sight of the blood, but he shook it off. “It’s a minor injury…but it might be infected. Better safe than sorry. Hold still please.” Asher raised two fingers to his mouth and proceeded to lick them carefully. He then held his hand down and ran his fingers along the cut. Abraham felt a sudden burst of ecstasy shoot through him from the cut. His body felt limp and he felt so weak.
+“Ah!” Abraham moaned.
+“Sorry, vampire spit has that effect on humans.” He explained. “It’ll pass.” He finished running his hand along the cut and sat down on the dock next to him. “I’d stay still while the spit does its work.” Abraham nodded weakly and just stared out at the lake with Asher.
+
+“Asher?” Abraham asked.
+“Yeah?”
+“What…what was that story that Calypso was going to tell me?” Asher let out a small laugh.
+“Oh, she was going to tell you about the night I met her…and the day that I joined the Club.” Asher explained.
+“Well, I’d still like to know it.” Abraham pressed. Asher turned and looked at him with a smirk.
+“You really wanna know the story?” Asher asked. Abraham gave a small nod and Asher shrugged. “Alright…I suppose it couldn’t hurt.” He suddenly paused and looked at Abraham calmly with a sad look on his face. “Abraham, the thing you need to understand is that, before I joined the Club…I was a real monster. I fed to survive, and I quite often…had trouble controlling that hunger.” Abraham gulped a little but didn’t say anything. “The night I joined the Club….It was a little over a year ago…on a night very much like this…”

chapters/chapter_15.md

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+# Chapter 15 - Asher's Memory
+
+I hungered. My body was on fire with it. I staggered through the cursed forest searching…sniffing…and growling. I hadn’t eaten in so long…I couldn’t afford to. Every day was a battle with myself. I couldn’t become a monster, I was myself…I was Asher…I wasn’t a beast. I needed to control myself. I had to. And yet, it was a hopeless struggle. I felt the rage within…the thirst.
+Suddenly I perked up…I smelled it. The smell of flesh and blood…the smell of a human. My eyes darted from left to right, scanning for that smell. I could see him…about 300 yards away. There was something laying in front of him, but the man was closer…and his smell was so…delicious.
+
+I felt my hunger take hold of my senses. I gave in to madness and hunger as logic fled my mind. I drove through the undergrowth with full speed, the world flying past me as the shadows of the night coated my body in their unholy shroud. My eyes blazed with an insane fury and I felt my thirst drive me like an animal bent on carnage. I was not a being of nature…I was a shadow, a creature spawned and fed by darkness. I was a beast of the night…human no more. I was a vampire…blood was what I desired and death was my method. I would kill…I would feed. Thus I feed and therefore I live. I live…but forever alone.
+
+I threw myself through the forest silently, stalking the man. He had a bow in his hand and an arrow prepared to fire at the other figure. My body faded into the shadows and moved as silently and fluidly as a stream of water, until I materialized behind my prey. The meal mentioned something…a threat perhaps…but it mattered little. I was upon him in a moment.
+“I hunger…” With a swift movement I clutched his head in my shadowy hand and yanked him up from his kneeling position and snarled at his shouts and bellows for help. “…I thirst…” I ripped his shirt back, exposing his neck…but I saw through the flesh to what lay within…the pulsing red nectar…the beating of his heart was intoxicating as it quickened and the feel of his blood was already too much to resist. I wasted no time and plunged my fangs deep into his neck. He couldn’t even scream as his blood erupted in a gush of red that filled my mouth and neck, which the shadows quickly consumed, feeding me more. I didn’t let go of his body, clinging to it with my unhinged jaws and draining every last drop of his precious blood. It was life pouring into my mouth, and I craved it. He made a weak gurgling sound and began to go pale as a sheet, the blood leaving him and flowing into myself.
+I felt relief wash over me as the blood flowed through me and filled me. His body went limp as his heart had nothing more to pump. I let his shell collapse as I swallowed the last of his blood and bits of his flesh. The shadows that had become my body consumed all that was left of his blood so there was nothing left.
+“M-my God…” At the sound of the voice, I spun, remembering the other being nearby. I glared at the figure, when my eyes finally adjusted and saw her for what she was.
+
+I froze. The moonlight cast its elegant glow across her beautiful and sleek body. She was a mermaid with long flowing bluish silver hair and gorgeous features. The scales of her tail, reflecting the light of the moon seemed to practically glow before my eyes. Her penetrating blue eyes were as deep and as lovely as the ocean itself. Every part of her captured my attention and my body felt weak just at the sight of her. Deep within my mind, I felt the beast retreat back from her gaze, ashamed of what she was looking upon. I was ashamed…embarrassed…and simply horrified at the thought of standing before such beauty. What was I to her? I was a monster…a freak. We stared at each other…beauty looking upon the beast. I felt tears start to come to my eyes, and I quickly fled from her, back into the embrass of the darkness. Twas darkness that I thrived within…I didn’t deserve to be gazed upon by such brilliance.
+
+I hid within the shadows as I felt the blood rage pass. My body resumed its mortal appearance and the shadows sank from me. I coward behind a nearby tree and watched her shamefully. She couldn’t see me…she must have thought I’d left. I stayed there for a long time, praying that I could forget…that I could put it behind me, but I couldn’t. That look on her face when she saw me, and what I had done. It was too much to bare. After a few moments I dared to look and see her again.
+She wasn’t there. She must have run off. I looked at the ground where she had lay and saw dainty footprints. I knew that I should probably forget her and go. I didn’t belong with anyone…I was alone. I was a vampire, and a monstrosity. Where did I belong if not to the night? But something kept drawing me towards her, like a sirens song. I wanted to know more about her…that thing of beauty that I had never seen before. I resisted all logic and reason and decided to follow her.
+
+I took the form of a bat and took to the sky. As a bat I am much smaller and much more vulnerable, but it allowed me to move quickly and undetected. I darted quickly across the trees, following her scent. I could practically see her image in my mind…her face…that beautiful body. The thought itself made me fidgety.
+Soon I was looking upon a house…a house that I had never seen before. The scent lead me to that building. I flapped my wings slowly, debating my next move. This was my chance to leave her behind forever…to go back to the night and abandon her. It would have been a smarter choice, really…what good could I be to her or her kind? But the thought of leaving her was so depressing that it made me want to cry. Why? I’d never grown so attached to something before. I looked…and there was an open window. I made up my mind and flew to it. Within moments, I was inside the house.
+
+“Ack! What the hell!?” I was stuck! I couldn’t move! Something had snared me out of thin air and was holding me, keeping me from even flapping my wings. I tried to fight and struggle, but no matter what I did, the invisible force held me. I looked around and saw that the invisible force was webbing! I was surrounded by webs! What kind of room was this?!
+“Aww, look! A little bat!” My eyes darted to the side of the room to see a young woman by the door. She wasn’t normal though…while most women have two legs, this one had 8…and all were spider legs. She was a dridder. I’d read about them, but never seen one! I felt a great deal of fear wash over me, at the thought of what she might do to me. I trembled and tried to fight the webs again. “Oh no, don’t struggle, little guy.” She urged. “You’ll only hurt yourself. Here, I’ll go get Calypso, she’ll know what to do with you.” She quickly scurried out of the room and I was left alone in the webs again. I thought about resuming my normal form, but to do that while trapped in these webs would be a death sentence…I’d be just as trapped…and she’d see me for what I was.
+“He’s right here.” I looked to see the dridder running back in with someone.
+
+It was her!!! She didn’t have her fins this time, but she was just as gorgeous as I remember. She looked up and saw me and smiled.
+“Aw, you poor little guy. Sarah, cut him down, I’ll take care of him.” I felt my body shake as she spoke. Her voice was just as lovely as she was. The dridder walked to the web and cut it with her finger, allowing me to fall…into the hands of the mermaid. “There, that’s better isn’t it?” I stared up at her, feeling my whole body trembling and shivering in fear. “Are you okay, you’re shaking little guy.” She reached her soft fingers behind my head and began to rub it gently. I couldn’t contain myself anymore. Within seconds I dropped out of her hands onto the floor and resumed my normal form. Sarah let out a shriek and I could only look up shamefully at the mermaid.
+
+“Please…I’m sorry…I…” I tried to find the right words to say. Should I apologize for what she saw in the forest? Should I tell her my name? Should I say thanks for saving me from the webs? I just didn’t know. All she could do was stare at me in a mixture of shock and awe.
+“What’s going on!?” Another girl ran in this time. She had piercing blue eyes like a dog and she had a feral look about her…like an animal. “I heard screaming and...” She saw me, and the look she gave me was vicious. “WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?” She didn’t wait for my answer. With a swift movement, she grabbed me and threw me out of the dridders room and into the hallway. She jumped on top of me and raised her fist. Instinct kicked in and I snarled back at her. I grabbed her fist before it struck and threw her off of me into the nearby wall. I jumped to my feet, ready to fight, and the girl seemed ready for the same.
+
+“STOP!” The mermaid screamed, running between me and my opponent. She turned to my attacker. “Michelle, don’t hurt him! He saved my life!” There was a moment of silence as these words sank in.
+“Saved your life?” Michelle gasped. “Calypso, that thing is a vampire! He was probably saving you for his dinner.” Calypso nodded but then turned to look at me with those beautiful eyes. She had a blush on her face.
+“Maybe…but…I don’t know…he seems more like a lost little bat to me.” I blushed heavily and looked down.
+“I…I apologize for scaring you. I…I’ll leave if you want.”
+“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I turned to the sound of the voice and saw an old man walking up the stairs. He had a small beard and a smile on his face…and he was also see through. “The sun will be coming up soon, and if you don’t have shelter, then you won’t last. Why not stay here until it goes down again?”
+“What is it with you Solomon?” Michelle barked. “How can you just trust him so easily?!”
+“Because, Michelle…he’s no different from anyone else here. A lost and misunderstood boy.” Solomon winked at me and I felt a cold chill. How could he know me so well? What else could this ghost know? Michelle paused at his words and fidgeted a little.
+“Well…alright, but if he tries anything, I’m staking him myself.” Michelle said roughly, although I detected more humor in her words than anger or threats. A part of me wanted to decline the offer, but then my eyes fell upon the mermaid…who they called Calypso. And I felt myself respond without meaning to.
+
+“Thank you…I’d love to stay.” I whispered. The blush on my face, did not compare to the happiness and the anxiousness that filled my lonely heart.

chapters/chapter_16.md

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+# Chapter 16
+
+Abraham and Asher walked through the doors silently, without a word. Abraham wasn’t quite sure what to say to Asher after hearing what he had. He still knew so little about Asher…and that made him nervous, but at the same time, he couldn’t help but find Asher’s story a little comforting. He wasn’t a soulless monster, or just some beast…he did have feelings and he did care. This knowledge was somehow helpful.
+“Abraham!” Michelle came walking out from the den with a smile on her face. “I see Asher found you well?”
+“More or less.” Abraham answered. He looked to see Solomon standing in the far corner, looking up with a sad smile. There was something on the old mans mind, but he wasn’t letting anyone in on it.
+“That’s good to hear.” Michelle commented. “Listen, Asher…we need to talk.” Abraham turned to see that the smile on Asher’s face had faded.
+“Yeah, no kidding.” Asher moved forward to stand in front of Michelle. “I need to know what happened at the store. Did he mention my dad?”
+“Asher, please…not here.” Michelle hissed, eyeing Abraham.
+
+“Abraham, come with me please.” Abraham turned to see Sarah standing by the hallway, she was motioning for him to come with her. Abraham was interested in the conversation going on in front of him, but there was a look of urgency on Sarah’s face that told him that he really didn’t need to hear it. He turned on his heel and hurried over to the concerned dridder.
+“What’s the deal with them?” Abraham asked. Sarah sighed and started to move to the stairs.
+“Abraham, try to understand that we all trust you…but there are some secrets about this house you aren’t ready to learn yet.” Sarah explained.
+“You mean like Asher’s dad?” At the sound of this question, Sarah freezed up in anticipation and anxiety.
+“We…we don’t talk about that, around here Abraham.” She whimpered. Abraham was shocked to hear genuine fear in her voice. Abraham chose to drop the subject. Sarah remained silent as they walked up the stairs past Katies room and to Tamil’s room. She opened the door carefully and went in, Abraham right behind her. Tamil was sitting on the bed. His head perked up at the sound of them entering.
+“Abraham, you are unharmed, yes?!” He cried.
+“Yeah, I’m fine, Tamil.” Abraham said. “But I am a little confused.” Sarah and Tamil both looked very concerned now. They appeared deep in thought, as if having to make a tough decision. How much to tell…and how much not to. Sarah looked at Tamil who sighed sadly and lay back on the bed.
+“His life in danger as well today…perhaps best he know now.” Tamil offered. Sarah nodded her agreement.
+
+“Abraham, the first thing you need to know is that we’ve been pestered by the Dawn Bringers for a while now.” Sarah said solemnly. “Their organization was formed a long time ago with the sole purpose of hunting beings that they deem unworthy to live for the reason that they aren’t human.”
+“I know that,” Abraham said impatiently, “what I want to know is what they have against this club.” Sarah looked to Tamil who was frowning darkly.
+“Well…I suppose you could say that Asher has something to do with that.” Sarah said. “The Dawn Bringers were originally vampire hunters…only about 10 years ago did they start hunting other creatures. This means that vampires are their primary enemies. And Asher has been their target.”
+“Before he was part of club, Asher feed freely on innocent people.” Tamil elaborated. “Dawn Bringers track him to us and discover us.”
+“And ever since, the Dawn Bringers have been trying to catch us off guard. That’s why Asher defends us…he feels it’s his responsibility.” Sarah explained.
+“So…it’s not his job or anything?”
+“No…certainly, he is the strongest one of us but…he blames himself too much.” Sarah admitted sadly. “None of this is his fault…I’m certain the Dawn Bringers would have found us anyway, even if he hadn’t come to us…but he has convinced himself that he is responsible for all of this.”
+“Tried to tell him he is not…did not listen.” Tamil finished for her. Abraham took in all this and turned to Sarah again.
+
+“So they’re after all of you? What do you do about it?” Abraham asked.
+“Usually they only send one or two assassins and Asher can handle them easily. But their attacks have become increasingly more frequent…and after Katie got kidnapped, we knew that action needed to be taken. After the incident at the store…I think Michelle understands that the time for waiting is over.” Sarah explained.
+“So what’s the plan?” Abraham asked.
+“Dunno.” Sarah admitted.
+“That is what Michelle speak to Asher and Solomon about.” Tamil threw in, a smile on his face. “They are making plan.”
+“I hope that doesn’t mean we’re going to war with them or anything.” Abraham said nervously.
+“Oh, nothing like that!” Sarah cried. “That would be reckless and dangerous. No, we’re probably going to relocate for a little while…or Asher will leave for a while to go and lead them off our trail. They consider him and Michelle a much higher threat than the rest of us.” Sarah slowly made her way to the other side of the room and crossed her arms.
+
+“It’s all too much.”
+“Huh?” Abraham asked. He suddenly heard Sarah sniffle and sob softly.
+“First Katie gets abducted…then they follow her back home…and now they attack us at the store? It’s just becoming too much for me to handle…for any of us to handle. And then, of course after what happened with Drake…”
+“Drake?” Abraham asked. Tamil lurched up from the bed and shivered as Sarah covered her mouth with her hand, as if she’d uttered a bad word.
+“Who…is Drake?”
+
+“My father.” Abraham spun around to see Asher standing by the door. He looked very serious and his red eyes were fixed on Abraham.
+“Asher, I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to…” Sarah started to whimper, but Asher held up his hand and smiled.
+“It’s okay Sarah. I understand.” Asher explained. He then turned to Abraham and gave a soft smile that seemed to make Abraham feel comforted. “I’m also sorry to you that you had to deal with the Dawn Breakers.”
+“No, it’s not your fault.” Abraham assured him.
+“All the same…this fight was never yours.” He continued. The room feel silent for a long moment as everyone considered the events that had taken place. Abraham felt an odd sense of conflict build up within him. This wasn’t his fight…but had it become his ever since joining the club?
+“How Michelle?” Tamil asked quickly, trying to help change the subject.
+“She’s fine.” Asher answered. “But she’s worried…and I can’t blame her. I am too.”
+“What are we going to do Asher?” Sarah asked.
+“That’s what we need to discuss. Calypso came back, so we’re all meeting in the den.” Asher turned on his heel and walked down the hallway. Tamil climbed out of bed and slowly walked to the door. Despite being blind, he moved to the door very well, obviously well acquainted with his own room. Sarah walked out with Abraham behind her. When they got downstairs, Calypso was sitting on the couch silently with Michelle beside her. Katie was coiled up by the coffee table with Solomon standing in the corner. When Katie saw Sarah, she slithered across the carpet to her and they hugged each other. Tamil found his way to the armchair and sat down. Michelle looked around at everyone and stood up. She looked to Asher who nodded solemnly.
+
+“As you all know,” she began, “today we were attacked by a Dawn Bringer agent. This has been happening entirely too often. We tried to just ignore them and go along with our business…but I’m afraid that we can’t do that anymore. Action needs to be taken.” She shot another glance at Asher, whose expression hadn’t changed. “We’ve decided that it might be best if Asher leave for a while.”
+The response to this was met with mixed feelings. Sarah and Katie both hugged each other sadly as Tamil lowered his head angrily, but unable to speak against it. Calypso gasped and jumped to her feet.
+“LEAVE?! But Asher is the only thing keeping them from killing all of us!” Calypso cried. Michelle nodded sadly.
+“But he’s also what’s drawing them to us. If he leaves for a while, the Dawn Bringers might pursue him and leave us alone for a while so we can think of another option.” Michelle stated.
+“It’s the best idea we could come up with.” Asher said darkly.
+“I have an idea.” Abraham spoke up. The entire house turned to look at him in surprise. “Well…what if we all left the house for a while? Like…take a vacation somewhere?” Abraham offered.
+“They would still follow us. I’m sure they’d find ways to track us.” Michelle responded.
+“You said that they were tracking Asher…but what if Asher wasn’t Asher? He could travel as Ashley or something and throw them off our trail?”
+“It might confuse them for a while…but they’d still figure us out.” Asher argued.
+“But a while is all we would need….we could go somewhere that they’d never expect us to…like the beach. Who ever heard of a vampire going to the beach?” The entire house fell silent for a moment.
+
+“Abraham, I really appreciate your input but, I’m afraid that it’s just too risky.” Michelle said.
+“Actually…it’s not that crazy.” Solomon spoke up. “No Dawn Bringer agent would ever expect to find a vampire at the beach…and if he’s disguised as Ashley as they travel, they won’t know it’s him until it’s too late to do anything about it.”
+“Solomon, are you serious?” Michelle asked. Solomon just chuckled.
+“Well why not?” Solomon asked. “I’ll stay here and take care of the house while you all are gone, and you all can take a break from all this insanity. It won’t be that bad.” Michelle groaned in frustration.
+“What about the rest of you? What do you think?” The club all began to consider the option of a trip to the beach.
+
+“Well, might be fun to feel sand on feet again.” Tamil laughed. “I’m in.” Michelle then turned to Katie and Sarah.
+“What about you two? You’ll be the hardest ones to get there…what do you think?”
+“I’ve never been to the beach before.” Katie admitted.
+“Neither have I.” Sarah giggled. “We’d love to go!” Michelle turned to Calypso.
+“I don’t even have to ask you, do I?” She asked. Calypso shook her head with a big smile on her face. She finally turned to Asher. “Well…it’s up to you Ash…what do you wanna do? The beach is a very dangerous place for a vampire…how do you feel about this plan?” Asher leaned against the wall and closed his eyes in thought. All eyes were on him now, waiting for his decision.
+
+“My only concern is for this club’s safety. I thought that by leaving, maybe it could be safe…but I also have fear that even if I should leave, this club will still be a target of the Dawn Bringers. So, I think it is a good idea for us to stick together…and Abraham has given a very clever idea. I think we should follow through with it.”
+“Even if it means turning into Ashley for a day or two? Or that you’ll be exposed to the sun a great deal?” Michelle retorted. Asher shrugged.
+“Worse things could happen. Being Ashley for a little while won’t kill me…and as for the sun? I believe that sunblock and a little time in the shade should suffice. I could use a good tan.” The group laughed at his joke…even Michelle.
+“Alright, it seems the decision has been made for me.” She announced. “Pack your things tonight, because tomorrow we go to the beach!”

chapters/chapter_17.md

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+# Chapter 17
+
+Packing took almost no time at all, as no one really had that much they were looking to take with them. Everyone was excited for the beach and were all acting out of the ordinary! Sarah was giddy and trembling with excitement, running around looking for clothes to wear and helping other to pack their luggage. Tamil stumbled around his room wildly, trying to find his suitcase. When asked why he needed it, he would answer “You take suitcase with you when travel, yes?” Abraham found his response hilarious and pointed out that he didn’t need to pack anything...just a towel.
+Michelle was in her room packing. She had been to the beach before, and already had some idea of what she was doing. She had a small bag of towels, a book, and her swimsuit. Katie was by far the most reluctant to pack. She seemed a little reluctant, but in the end, she couldn’t her excitement at the thought of seeing it for the first time. Abraham didn’t have much to pack, as he had very little to call his own. It was by far Calypso and Asher that were acting the most out of character.
+Calypso had never looked so excited before. The thought of going to the ocean had affected her attitude and actions greatly. Rather than shyly shuffle around the house, doing whatever she could to help out, here she was happy, and bouncing around the house, asking everyone if they needed any assistance and trying her hardest to contain herself, and failing at it. Asher on the other hand was nervous. He seemed kind of distant now and a lot more on edge. He was nervous about going to the beach where there was no protection from the sun and, furthermore, he would have to turn into Ashley for the journey up there. He was also packing his bags, but along with his swim trunks and clothes, he was packing monstrous amounts of sunblock and Abraham even saw him squeeze an umbrella in. He was taking all the precautions necessary.
+
+“Abraham, a moment before you all leave.” Abraham turned to see Solomon standing by the door. He walked outside and joined him in the hallway.
+“What is it?” Abraham asked.
+“Since my spirit is tied to this house, I can’t go with you all, but I trust all of you to stay safe and look out for one another.” Solomon explained.
+“Right.” Abraham said with a grin.
+“Abraham, you may not be a monster or a supernatural being…but you are, without a doubt, one of us.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out seven tickets for a train. “Catch the 11:45 train to take you to Key West. If all runs smoothly, you’ll reach your destination by 1:30.” Abraham nodded and stuck the tickets in his back pocket.
+“I’ll take good care of them.” Abraham said. Solomon suddenly became very serious and leaned close to Abraham.
+“Listen, child…there are three things you need to keep in mind on this trip. The first is that the full moon is only a week away. Michelle will be acting a little odd, as this comes closer. Try to keep her calm and keep her focused on the beach…not on the lunar calendar. Second, Katie is just starting to get used to you…but don’t push your luck. She’s got a long way to go before she trusts you. I suggest keeping some distance between you two.”
+“I understand.” Abraham whispered.
+“Finally…Asher is walking into very dangerous territory going to the beach with you. I almost don’t want him too go, but I don’t want him to miss out either. Listen, keep an eye on his condition. If he starts burning, tiring out, or sweating really bad, get him out of the sun and somewhere shady fast.” Abraham nodded, considering the possibility of messing up or the thought of Asher dying. It was enough to make him shiver.
+
+“Hey Abraham, you coming?” Abraham looked to see that everyone had gathered downstairs. They were all carrying large bags and were waiting on him. Abraham couldn’t understand the need for bags as big as they were carrying.
+“I’m here, what’s up?” Abraham asked. Michelle looked around the room at everyone.
+“Okay, we’re almost ready to go. Abraham has our train tickets and we have our supplies, tents, and food. Now there’s only two things left to do. First, Katie and Sarah, take these.” Michelle handed Katie and Sarah two giant suitcases each. Both had wheels on the bottom for them to roll. “When we get to the train station, you two will hold those on either side of you to cover your lower half as you move. Once we reach the ticket booth, it will be up to Calypso and Tamil to make a distraction while you two board. Any questions?”
+“No.” Katie answered. “We understand.”
+“Excellent, and lastly,” Michelle turned to Asher who was standing behind the group, looking quite nervous, “you need to get changed.” Asher grimaced and nodded.
+“Fine…gimme a sec.” Asher breathed in slowly and then shot a dangerous glare at Abraham and Sarah “Don’t laugh.” Suddenly Asher’s body began to turn darker and darker until it looked like a living shadow. The shadow began to shrink and remold itself until, standing in the middle of the room where Asher had been was the small form of Ashley. “Okay, I’m ready.”
+“Not yet your not.” Michelle laughed. “Go put on your dress and hat. We gotta keep the sun off of you.” Ashley sighed and walked off to go get changed. “Abraham, while we’re going there, Ashley is going to pretend to be your little cousin. Keep to that story, okay?”
+“Uh, right.” Abraham said nervously. Though the thought was funny, he also feared what Asher would think of this plan. A few moments later, Ashley walked back in wearing a large brimmed hat and a cute yellow dress. She looked adorable…but also very pissed. The others were stifling giggles.
+“What’s so funny?” Ashley snapped.
+“Nothing,” Michelle smiled, “but we need to get going now.”
+“How do we get there?” Abraham asked. The question had been on his mind for a while as to how they got to the train station. It was about 30 miles away…how would they get there without arousing suspicion? Solomon suddenly stepped beside Abraham and dropped a set of keys in his hand.
+“There’s a van out back…used to be mine. It should have enough gas to get you there.” Solomon explained.
+“Abraham, you’re the one who looks the most normal…you’ll drive.” Calypso explained. The truth was that Abraham had never driven before. However, the looks on all their faces was too much to resist. Everyone was so excited about this trip, and he couldn’t let them down.
+“Alright, let’s hit the road…how hard can it be?”
+
+Apparently it was very hard. Abraham had nearly wrecked twice and everyone in the car was clutching their hearts, terrified of the prospect of eminent death. When they had finally made it to the train station, Abraham couldn’t help but blush and feel embarrassed as his friends all threw themselves out of the car, practically kissing the ground.
+“Okay, it wasn’t that bad.” Abraham said, trying to retain some dignity.
+“Yes it was.” Katie snapped.
+“Abraham, don’t bother getting your liscene…cause no one will let you get behind the wheel EVER.” Sarah laughed.
+“Why does the world spin under foot?” Tamil teetered on his legs, trying hard to stay balance. Abraham ignored their complaining and motioned for them all to follow him. The group made their way to the trainstation. Sarah and Katie both pulled out their suitcases and walked with them on either side of their bodies. The cases did a good job of keeping their lower halves hidden, but it didn’t stop people from looking and wondering what they were doing with such large luggage. The others were getting their own share of attention. Calypso and Tamil were both the subject of a lot of stares and whispers. Calypso couldn’t hide her blue skin and Tamil’s bandages were very easy to see. They tries their best to act natural and continue onward. Michelle and Abraham didn’t get much attention as they looked rather normal, but it Ashley had less luck as plenty of people commented on how cute she looked. Ashley would simply smile and say thanks to everyone who said this, but it was clear there was frustration behind her voice.
+“Just bear with it, Asher.” Michelle whispered. “We’ll be there soon.”
+“Don’t talk to me until we’re on the train.” Ashley hissed back. She rushed forward and took Abraham’s hand and walked with him, playing the part of a little cousin or sister very well.
+
+“Tickets?” Abraham stopped at the front of the line and reached into his pocket for the ticekts.
+“There are seven of us.” The man took his tickets and suddenly frowned.
+“These tickets look old…not even from this decade.” Suddenly Abraham realized that these were tickets from long ago when Solomon was still alive to get them himself! He’d messed up!
+“I…um…” Suddenly Ashley pulled on Abraham’s sleeve and smiled.
+“Can I ride on your back?” She asked. Abraham nodded and lifted her onto his back, giving her a piggy back ride. She then smiled and stared at the ticket man. Her eyes glowed in a familiar hypnotic way.
+“The tickets are fine.” She whispered. The man stared at her and his eyes glazed over.
+“The….tickets are…fine…”
+“Let us get on the train, please.” Ashley said firmly.
+“Of course…you may board…” He stepped aside. Abraham carried Ashley onto the train car with the others following closely behind.
+“Wow…nice work Asher.” Michelle whispered. Ashley giggled.
+“I’ve been at this for a long time now, Michelle.” Ashley replied.
+“Well, thanks to you, we didn’t need to cause a scene just to get in.” Michelle commented.
+“Shame too…Tamil and I had brought fireworks for that purpose.” Calypso said.
+“We save them for beach.” Tamil said kindly. He had his hand on Sarah’s arm as she escorted him onto the train. Katie brought up the rear, and slithered onto the car, closing the door behind her and locking it.
+“Okay, we won’t be bothered now.” Katie said assuredly. All of them gathered in the middle of the train car and sat down. They were tired, but happy. They’d finally managed to make it, and their next stop would be the beach! Everyone was itching with excitement and anticipation. Abraham looked around and noticed that Katie had taken a seat in the back. He made sure the others were preoccupied with conversation before going to take a seat across from her.
+
+“Hey.” He said. Katie looked up at him and gave a stern gaze.
+“Hey.” She replied. There was an awkward silence for a moment. “Did you need something?” She asked.
+“Just, wanted to know if you wanted some company.” Abraham replied. Katie looked at him and then out the window as the train was pulling out of the station.
+“Why do you care?” She asked harshly. “I haven’t been especially welcoming towards you.”
+“Well…you’re still part of the family, right?” Abraham asked. Katie gave a small laugh.
+“Listen, Abraham…the others all consider you one of us, so I will too. But don’t expect me to trust you right away.” Katie stated.
+“Why don’t you trust me?” Abraham asked. Katie suddenly glared at him darkly.
+“Boy, you have some lousy tact.” She sneered. “Fine, I don’t trust you because you’re human and you’re male.”
+“And you hate me for that?”
+“I’ve been surrounded by your kind since the day I was hatched…you’re all nothing but trouble, and I have yet to be proven otherwise.” Katie muttered.
+“Well…maybe I can prove you wrong.” Abraham said hopefully. Katie laughed darkly.
+“Ha! I doubt that.” She snapped. She then closed her eyes and leaned against the window. Abraham got up to leave. “But I hope you can.” She whispered, almost inaudibly.
+“What did you say?” Abraham asked.
+“I didn’t say anything. Now let me sleep.” She hissed, before turning away. Abraham knew what he’d heard though, and was now more determined than ever to reach her…but that would have to wait. It looked like Sarah was trying to sort through luggage and he needed to help her.
+
+When the train finally came to a stop, the group held back for a while. Michelle had explained that it wasn’t safe for them all to leave with the crowd of people. It was best if they waited for the crowds to clear first. After about 10 minutes, Abraham led the group of the train. Ashley was riding on his back like before, just in case they ran into anyone else asking questions. Michelle walked behind them with Sarah and Katie following, carrying their enormous luggage. Tamil and Calypso followed behind, keeping their eyes out for a place to slip away if things got ugly. They were all working in sync.
+“Okay guys, we’ll be at the beach soon…so go find a bathroom and change into your beach clothes.” Michelle announced. The group scattered and headed off to the bathrooms. The only ones who didn’t leave where Abraham, Tamil, and Ashley who were all fine in what they had on. After a while, the others did return. Michelle was wearing a bikini and so was Calypso. One look at Calypso caused Ashley to blush and turn away, which looked incredibly odd. Sarah and Katie had put on bikini tops, but their lower halves were wrapped with a strange sash to cover themselves. The sight of their smooth skin was breathe taking and Abraham couldn’t help but gaze at them.
+“What’s wrong with you?” Michelle asked.
+“Um…nothing.” Abraham answered, trying to regain his composure.
+“Then stop staring like an idiot…let’s go to the beach already!” Michelle laughed.
+
+The trip to the beach would only take about 20 minutes…however, they wanted to avoid the populated areas, so instead the trip was much longer than that. With all the sandspurs, crabs, and other nuisances waiting in the sand, it felt like they would never reach the sandy shores…however as they made their way to the beach, everyone was growing excited to the point of bursting. Calypso took the lead and sprinted ahead of the rest as the sound of the surf could be heard. The rest ran to keep up with her, but this was a hard thing to do, as Calypso seemed unnaturally drawn to the sound and the smell of the shifting tides. When she made it over the hillside, she gasped.
+“Oh…my…God…” She fell to her knees on the sand and wept slightly, staring in awe at the sight before her. The sea was gorgeous. It’s rippling tide ran across the powdered white sand and licked it’s edge. The rocks and formations surrounded the area and dotted the crystal clear waters. The suns light reflected off of the turning tides and waves like diamonds floating in the ocean. The relaxing roar of the waves was breathe taking and the clear skies covered everything as far as the eye could see. The sand tickled their feet and welcomed them to its warm and beautiful shores.
+As everyone caught up, their reactions were all very similar to Calypso’s. Michelle walked down the sand and smiled a big smile, gazing from the beach to her friends. Katie and Sarah wandered down the sand with Tamil holding onto Sarah’s arm. Tamil could feel the sand under his feet and he smiled, staring blankly around, as if he could take in the sight into his being rather than see it. Abraham carried Ashley down on his back, and she looked happy, but she also looked tired. The suns rays beat down on Ashley, and despite the big hat she was wearing, the heat and the light was starting to affect him, making him weaker.
+“You okay, Asher?” Abraham asked nervously.
+“I’ll be fine…I just need rest is all.” Ashley answered, resting her head on Abraham’s shoulder. Abraham watched as the others all got to work setting down beach towels and umbrellas. One was quite large so that Ashley could fit under it. Abraham walked Ashley to the umbrella and let her sit down under it. She relaxed and looked out over the water.
+“Abraham?” Ashley whispered sadly, “What’s it feel like…to walk in the sun? To embrace the light of day freely?” Abraham didn’t know how to answer her, but only stood watching her. “There was a time, when I could walk in it like you do…until that right was stripped from me by that cursed bite.”
+“I’m sorry, Asher.” Abraham muttered. Ashley laughed and waved it away.
+“Don’t worry…I’m just being kind of melodramatic I suppose. Go enjoy the beach.” Ashley reached into her own bag and pulled out a book and began to read, the coastal winds whipping at her dress and hat. Abraham nodded and turned to look at the others. Calypso was already in the water, swimming and splashing with her tail. She was clearly having the time of her life. Tamil was on the edge of the shore with Katie. He had his bandaged hands in the water and was feeling it, as if the touch of the ocean was a new experience for him…which it probably was. Katie was giggling and spraying water in his face, which caused him to gasp in shock. Michelle and Sarah were wading through the surf and letting the water wash over their legs as they laughed and splashed each other.
+“It seems like they’re all having fun already.” Abraham commented. “Don’t you want to enjoy yourself?” Ashley shook her head.
+“This is enjoying myself…don’t worry, when the sun goes down, I’ll come out and join you. But for now, I will wait.” Ashley assured him. “Now go.”
+“Okay, but I better not come back and find a pile of ash where you are sitting.” Abraham laughed.
+“I’ve got sunscreen,” Ashley snapped, “now GO.” Abraham chuckled and ran out to the water to join the others. Ashley watched him run off and then shot a glance at everyone. There were smiles on everyone’s faces. They all seemed so happy…so carefree. This was all he wanted to see.

chapters/chapter_18.md

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+# Chapter 18
+
+The beach was gorgeous and, as the afternoon dragged on into evening, things only became lovelier. Ashley had been confined to the umbrella all day, but as the sun began to set, she anxiously kept looking out, waiting for it to fully set. Her strength was returning to her. Tamil had enjoyed the feel of the water, but he seemed more interested in playing in the sand. He and Sarah had started building a giant sand castle together. Katie had gone out with Calypso into the surf and were swimming together around the rocks. Abraham was sitting with Ashley and Michelle. The moon was coming out now, and things were starting to cool down. The chill of the air mixed with the sea spray and made everyone feel soaked, even Ashley, who hadn’t touched the water all day.
+“We staying out over night?” Abraham asked.
+“Yeah, we’ll pitch a camp and stay a night or two.” Michelle said. “But if we’re gonna do that, we may need firewood. I’ll bet there are a few trees not far away we could use.”
+“Let’s not worry about that right now.” Ashley spoke up. “The sun isn’t quite down yet, we have some time before it becomes an issue.” Agreeing silently, Michelle stood up.
+“Then I’m getting back in the water one more time before it gets too cold to.”
+“I’ll join you.” Abraham said, standing up. He shot a look back at Ashley. “Will you be okay by yourself?”
+“Abraham, I look like a little girl…I’m not one. I can take care of myself. Get going.” Ashley gave Abraham a kick wich proved to be quite powerful for one so small. Abraham stumbled and bumped into Michelle, who laughed as he tried to steady himself. Tamil’s head came up as he heard them coming.
+
+“Michelle, may we set off fireworks?”
+“Tonight, yes.” Michelle said kindly. “But why do you wanna do that so bad? You won’t even be able to see them.” Tamil shrugged.
+“Can still feel them…and hear them. Is enough for me.” He went back to building a sand castle as Sarah gazed up and winked at Abraham.
+“He just likes to hear explosions.” She giggled.
+“They sound cool.” Tamil admitted. Michelle and Abraham laughed as they walked down to the water. When Abraham got to the water, Michelle paused briefly.
+“Something wrong?” Abraham asked.
+“Just wait a moment.” Michelle said, smiling. As she stood there, the surf began to climb up the sandy shore until it rushed onto Michelle’s toes. She let a loud squeal and giggled uncontrollably, doubling over. She seemed like a happy puppy. “OH GOSH THAT FEELS SO GOOD!” She took off running into the water, splashing around and laughing. She seemed so carefree…so happy. Abraham quickly followed after her. The water eventually reached up to his chest and Abraham could feel it washing on his bare body.
+“Michelle?” Abraham called. “Don’t go too deep, it’s not safe.”
+“Abraham, you worry too much. Who do you think I am, Ashley?”
+“I HEARD THAT, YOU MUTT!” Ashley shouted.
+“Bite me!” Michelle laughed.
+“Haha, you’re a regular comedian!” Ashley responded. Michelle smirked and swam out a little further. She grabbed hold of a nearby rock sticking up from the water and climbed onto it.
+
+“Abraham, I wanna show you something. Come up here.” Michelle held out her hand for Abraham. Reaching up, he took her hand and allowed her to pull him up onto the rock. He sat down next to her and Michelle pointed to the beach.
+“What is it?”
+“Just look, Abraham.” Michelle whispered. Abraham looked and saw the club. Sarah burying Tamil in the sand, laughing and carrying on. Ashley sitting under the umbrella reading her book. Calypso was swimming and splashing around in the water not far away.
+“I see the club…” Abraham said stiffly.
+“You see our family. You see them all happy.” Michelle corrected. “For the first time in a long time…everyone is so happy and carefree. There is no fear in their hearts, and no worry. This is what I want for my family.” Abraham smiled but then paused for a moment and looked back over the sight before him. There was something wrong…something missing.
+“Where is Katie?” Abraham asked. Michelle glanced over the club and suddenly frowned as well.
+“I don’t see her…we need to find her quickly.” Michelle quickly leaped into the water and swam toward the beach. Abraham looked around and saw an odd shape in the water. It was long…snake like…and unmoving. It was slowly drifting out to sea, further away from the shore. As Abraham stared at it, he could make out a face…with closed eyes.
+
+“KATIE!” Abraham leaped into the water and swam to her. He dove down and wrapped his arms around her middle and tried to swim toward the shore. He grunted as he felt the weight of her long body fight against him, and the pull of the tide was starting to pull him further away. He wasn’t strong enough to pull her alone. “Hold on, Katie!” Abraham reached out and grabbed the side of the rock and held on, keeping his other arm wrapped around Katie’s body.
+Suddenly, the tension fell off as he saw another figure swimming up to meet him. Calypso was on Katie’s other side. She had her arms around her too, kicking her tail as hard as she could. “I’m so sorry! I left her out of my sight for only a moment!”
+“It’s alright! Just help me get her to the shore!” Abraham called as he began to kick his feet. Calypso and him worked and kicked hard, slowly fighting the tide and bringing Katie towards the shallows. Calypso was tired…and Abraham could barely kick anymore. They were so close…and yet the shore seemed so far away. Abraham reached out his hand as if to grab at the sandy beach, but his strength was failing him.
+
+“You idiot!” A hand reached out and grabbed his wrist. He looked up to see a familiar figure over him. Standing over him was Asher…not Ashley anymore. He was gripping Abraham’s hand and with a mighty tug, he yanked all three, Abraham, Katie, and Calypso free of the water, sending them sprawling on the beach. Abraham rolled over and looked at Asher.
+“Thanks Ash…” He suddenly stopped and saw Asher wince and fall to his knees. The sun had not yet set…and his skin was burning.
+“Asher, get back under the umbrella!” Michelle cried as she and Sarah ran to his sides and held him up, dragging him over to the umbrella again. “Thanks for helping, but we got this.” Asher didn’t bother to resist as he lay down under the umbrella, trying to cool off.
+“Sorry.” Asher muttered, as he lay on the towel beneath him.
+“Don’t worry Asher, in little bit, sun will lower ‘nough for you to come out.” Tamil said encouragingly. Asher smiled but then looked to Katie.
+“What happened?”
+
+“She wanted to go swimming,” Calypso explained, “She seemed to be doing okay…but I think a wave caught her and she bumped her head on a rock!” Abraham looked and saw a small bump on Katie’s head hidden by her hair. “This is all my fault.”
+“No, Calypso,” Sarah said kindly, putting a hand on Calypso’s shoulder, “Katie was being reckless. Just give her some time to wake up and she’ll be back to her old self in no time.
+“I’ll keep an eye on her.” Asher offered.
+“No, the sun is about to go down and you need some time to play too.” Michelle retorted.
+“I’ll stay with her.” Abraham spoke up. The entire group stopped and looked at Abraham for a moment. “Well…I’m kinda tired and I wouldn’t mind just staying put for a while.”
+“Well, as long as you’re sure…I have no objections.” Michelle muttered. “Just let us all know if something goes wrong.” She then turned to Sarah. “You and I are going to go grab some firewood. We’re building a bonfire tonight and I need your silk to hold all the wood together. The rest of you, do what you want until we get back.” Michelle and Sarah walked up the beach toward the trees and nearby forests. Shortly after they left, the sun finally began to lower over the horizon and Asher dared to step out from his hiding spot.
+
+“It feels so good now…like a whole new chill in the air.” Asher commented. The moon was out and Abraham couldn’t help but note how bright it was…and how close to full it was.
+“Asher, I’m a bit concerned.” Abraham said. Abraham lay back on the towel and looked up at the moon. “We planned on staying out here for two days I think…but the moon is so close to full…what if something happens to Michelle?”
+“Michelle won’t change unless it’s a complete full moon, and it’s not time yet…but rest assured, I will deal with any problems that may come. You’re on vacation, kid…try to relax.” Asher reassured him. Abraham started to respond when suddenly he let out a gasp of shock.
+“Wha!?” Katie, who was sleeping soundly next to him, had suddenly rolled over in her sleep and was now cuddling up against Abraham, her long tail looping itself around his leg and her hands clutching his shirt.
+“Hahahaha! It looks like Katie’s managing to stay relaxed.” Asher laughed.
+“What do I do?!” Abraham hissed fearfully.
+“Settle down and go with it, Abraham.” Asher winked. “Most boys would die to be in your position.”
+“Yeah! I’m sure she’s the one who killed them for it!” Abraham shouted back. Asher laughed and walked down toward the water. He looked a little tanner than normal…possibly from the sun. His gazed seemed fixed on the ocean…at a certain mermaid who was reclining on a rock, looking out at the moon. Abraham turned his head to look at Katie.
+She had snuggled into him and was clinging to his body. She looked so peaceful, and admittedly lovely in the light of the moon. Her scales were a lovely emerald and her wet hair cascaded over her body. If it were anyone else, Abraham would have been very excited about being in such a predicament. However, the fact that it was Katie made him that much more nervous. Katie could be very dangerous and he had no idea how she would react when she woke up and found out that she’d been snuggling into Abraham’s chest. Part of him wanted to get her off of him…and another part of him didn’t mind this at all.
+
+After a while the sun had fully disappeared from view and the only source of light was coming from the gorgeous moon overhead. The salty sea air made everything feel damp and Abraham was feeling himself calming down considerably. Though it felt odd having Katie on him, he couldn’t deny the fact that he was glad to have the company. His gaze turned next to the beach where he could see two figures on a rock in the water…one was Calypso…and the other was Asher. They were sitting together, but what they were doing was a mystery, Abraham couldn’t quite make it out. He tried to adjust himself to get a better look, but as he did, Katie made a soft groaning noise and he knew that stirring her would only upset her. He settled down again and allowed her to cling to him still.
+“She must think you are pillow or something.” Tamil chuckled. How had he known what Katie was doing without being able to see it? Could he hear her? Could he sense her sleeping?
+“What makes you say that?”
+“She cling to you like child does to parent.” Tamil laughed. “I can feel her.” Tamil continued to work on his sandcastle quietly. Abraham stared at him for a moment…and then decided it was time to ask.
+“Tamil, how did you join the club? Michelle said that you were the first one here…” Abraham asked. Tamil stopped his work and leaned back a little. His sightless eyes gazing off into the void. There was a frown upon his face.
+
+“I once was able to see…” He muttered. “Long time ago…I was just normal boy. But being locked in crypt for centuries…make me lose sight.”
+“How?” Abraham asked, dreading the answer.
+“You not know what it like…” Tamil whispered, “locked in darkness…with only images in memories past…these images…all I have left.” Tamil curled up and wrapped his arms around his knees. Abraham quickly dreaded that he’d ever brought up the question.
+“I’m sorry, Tamil…I didn’t know.”
+“No,” Tamil answered, “best you do know…I tell you my past…how I come to this place.”

chapters/chapter_19.md

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+# Chapter 19
+
+“Hey, save your stories for later, Tamil!” Michelle called out as she walked past them, carrying a stack of firewood. The sun was setting and she looked ready to start the fire. Tamil stood up and smiled.
+“Abraham, would you give me hand to fireplace?” Tamil asked. “I cannot find my way.” Abraham started to get up but then felt Katie stir on his chest.
+“Um…what about her?” Abraham asked. Tamil chuckled.
+“I almost forgot!”
+“What should I do?” Abraham asked.
+“Pray perhaps?” Tamil suggested. “Seems like a good idea.”
+“Look, just help me.” Abraham hissed. Tamil shrugged and reached out with his foot to kick Katie.
+“Katie, wake up. Abraham wants to move.” Abraham’s face went very pale and he looked to see Katie grumble and open her eyes to see Abraham’s face. There was a long pause as the two stared at each other, and the look of sleep and tiredness in Katie’s face suddenly changed to shock, fear, and then rage in a matter of seconds.
+
+“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO DO!?”
+“I-I…I’m sorry I…”
+“LET GO OF ME!” Katie quickly slithered away from Abraham, blushing furiously and fuming.
+“Not his fault, Katie,” Tamil chuckled. “You cuddled up to him yourself.”
+“Oh shut up, Tamil! You didn’t see it!”
+“Doesn’t mean I do not know.” Tamil grinned. Katie huffed and slithered away, trying hard to focus the other way. Tamil didn’t move, waiting on Abraham to help him. Abraham watched her go and just sighed.
+“Thanks Tamil…really helpful.”
+“I try…you thank me by taking me to fire?” Tamil asked. Abraham stood up and took Tamil’s arm. “Thank you.” Abraham walked Tamil to the fire pit where everyone was starting to gather. Michelle and Sarah were setting down the wood and putting into a pile to light up. Katie was grumbling and blushing in a corner, watching them work, refusing to make eye contact with Abraham or Tamil. Sarah and Michelle just giggled at this. Up from the beach, the figures of Asher and Calypso could be seen. Her tail still wet, she was unable to walk, so Asher was carrying Calypso to the fire. Calypso had her arms around Asher’s neck and Asher was holding her gently in his arms.
+
+“So we’re all here?” Sarah asked. “I brought marshmallows and stuff to cook!” Everyone sat down. Asher set Calypso beside him and layed her tail close to the logs so that they could be warmed when the fire was started.
+“My Asher, you’re quite the gentlemen, aren’t you?” Sarah laughed. Asher blushed and looked away, as Calypso smiled sheepishly. “Michelle?” Everyone turned to see Michelle who was staring absentmindedly up at the sky…the moon was shining brightly…and it was almost full. There was a look of dread in her eyes.
+“Michelle, don’t think about that right now.” Asher said sternly. Michelle blinked and looked away, as if pulled out of a daze.
+“Sorry…sorry.” She said quietly. “Asher, would you mind starting the fire?” Asher nodded and stood up from his seat. He knelt down by the logs and picked up a pair of sticks and some moss laying by the sand. He stuck the moss between the sticks and began rubbing the sticks between the moss….fast. So fast that Abrahams eyes could barely follow the movements and rotations of the twigs. Soon, smoke was rising from the moss as it began to burn until, at last, a small fire was started on the two sticks. He threw the burning sticks into the stack of logs and began to toy with it until a small fire began to roar to life.
+“Thank you Asher.” Michelle said with a smile. She sat down by the fire and watched the flames come alive. Asher leaned back and sat down beside Calypso.
+
+“So now what do we do?” Katie asked. Sarah got up and began passing around sticks and marshmallows for everyone to cook. Calypso had to help Tamil put his marshmallow on as he stuck his own finger several times.
+“Well, how about we tell stories…or play a game?” Sarah offered. Suddenly her eyes brightened and she squealed happily. “Let’s play Truth or Dare!” The group laughed around the fire and nodded.
+“Alright, but you have to start, Sarah!” Michelle announced. “Truth or dare?” Sarah pondered this for a moment and then shrugged.
+“Truth then.” Michelle and the others looked at each other and then turned back to Sarah. Michelle leaned forward and smirked.
+“How do you poop?” The entire group giggled at this question, including Sarah. Sarah just beamed and whispered.
+“I don’t poop! I just hold it all in! Why do you think my abdomen is so big?” She giggled. Abraham gasped.
+“Really!?” At this the whole gang burst into howling laughter.
+“Of course not, you dummy! I do too poop! But that’s not something you just talk about!” Sarah cried through tears of laughter. Michelle then grinned and shrugged.
+“I guess since I asked the question, I’ll go next.” Michelle offered. This time Calypso jumped up.
+“Truth or dare, Michelle?” Michelle smirked arrogantly.
+“Dare!” Michelle challenged. Calypso smiled and pulled out some string.
+“I dare you to tie your hair in a ponytail.” She laughed. The whole gang ooed and turned to look at Michelle who suddenly looked very concerned.
+“But…but I don’t like hair stuff…I like it hanging free.” Michelle whined. Calypso held firm, and after a few moments of silence, Michelle groaned and took the string. “Okay, Sarah gimme a hand with this.” Sarah scurried over and began tying Michelles hair back. Michelle’s face was filled with disgust. Tamil leaned close to Abraham to whisper.
+“Michelle does not like hair ornaments. She like her free hair. What you call it, Michelle? Natural hair?” Tamil asked.
+“I like my hair to hang naturally…I can’t stand ponytails and crap in my hair.” Michelle grumbled. “Someone get back at Calypso for me!” Tamil leaned back and chuckled at this.
+“Truth or Dare, Calypso?” Tamil asked. Calypso thought about it for a moment and then smiled back.
+“Dare.” Tamil gave a broad smile.
+
+“I dare you to kiss Asher.”
+
+Calypso’s smile vanished almost instantly and Asher nearly fell over in shock. The entire group gasped and looked at Calypso to see if she would do it. Tamil just grinned, knowing that he’d caused quite a situation. There was a look on his face of sheer amusement…as if this was his plan for a while. Had he? Tamil was a mystery…it was hard to tell what he was thinking sometimes, but it was quite clear that he was intelligent; far more than Abraham had given him credit for.
+
+“Now hold on a second!” Asher stammered. “She…she doesn’t have to do that! Don’t I have some say in this?”
+“Oh don’t pretend like you don’t want it.” Sarah giggled.
+“I’m willing to bet that’s what you two were doing out on that rock earlier anyway.” Michelle snickered. “What’s wrong with letting us see it?” With each comment made, Tamil only smiled bigger.
+“Oh stop being so bashful and just get it overwith!” Katie shouted happily, smiling just as big as everyone else. Asher turned to Calypso who wasn’t looking at him, but staring at the fire.
+“Calypso, you…you don’t have to do this…it’s fine.”
+“No Asher,” she whispered quietly. She turned her body to face Asher and placed her hand on his shoulder near his neck, pulling herself to him. Asher made a slight twitching movement, as if to escape her, but then he relaxed and watched her look up at him with her beautiful blue eyes. “I do have to do this.” She leaned up to Asher and closed her eyes as her lips touched his.
+At first it was just a light brushing of the lips, barely a tease. Asher just stared for a moment, his eyelids fluttering over his blood red eyes. Finally he began to close his and give in to her advance. He leaned into the kiss and their lips met. They shared the silent kiss…and not a sound was made from anyone. Nobody laughed…nobody catcalled…nobody whistled. They watched the always silent and strong Asher, kiss the lips of the shy and beautiful Calypso.
+“It’s about freaking time.” Katie whispered with a soft smile.
+“Amen to that.” Sarah whispered, as Calypso and Asher finally broke the kiss. As they broke apart, the two only stared at each other for a long moment, with a slight blush on their faces. Calypso quickly scooted away from Asher bashfully, almost ashamed of what she’d done. Asher just sat still, processing what had happened.
+“Ya know, I’ve always pictured the two of you kissing…I was expecting something more…I dunno…steamy!” Michelle noted.
+“Shut up.” Calypso muttered.
+“I mean, after reading those Twilight novels and other vampires love stuff, I thought-”
+“DON’T EVEN START!” Asher barked. His uproar caused a surge of laughter from the others, breaking the awkward silence. Abraham found himself laughing as well, joining in the fun. He then turned and realized that it was Tamil’s turn.
+
+“Tamil,” Abraham spoke up, “truth or dare?” Everyone turned to look at Tamil.
+“Truth.” Tamil answered. “Am not so good at dares.” Abraham thought long and hard about what he wanted to ask Tamil. He knew so little about him…but he could only ask one question in this game. What did he want to know most?
+“Tamil, how did you join the club?” Abraham asked. The club all groaned and laughed.
+“C’mon, what kind of question is that?”
+“That’s not embarrassing at all!”
+“Do another!”
+The only person who didn’t laugh was Tamil, who only stared off into the void. Abraham waited until everyone calmed down. Tamil breathed in and sighed loudly.
+“It is…interesting question.” Tamil pointed out. “I was last to come to the club, as you know.”
+“But how did you find it?” Abraham asked.
+“The same way everyone else did…Michelle.” Tamil said.
+“It’s true,” Calypso said quietly, “Michelle was the first to join the club, and she’s the leader…which means she’s in charge of recruitment. Whenever she hears word about a monster in need, she goes to them and brings them to Solomon. That’s how most of us got here in the first place.”
+“So…where did Michelle find you, Tamil?” Abraham asked. “Were you in Egypt?” Tamil didn’t look up at Abraham but only stared out into space…as if deep in thought.
+“Not Egypt…found me in dark and cold place.” The club fell silent as Tamil spoke…all listening to his tale. “I tell you whole story.”

chapters/chapter_20.md

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+# Chapter 20
+
+“Moma…Baba…”
+Tamil’s words, like his world, were lost in darkness. He could see nothing; not even his memories were visible. What did the sun look like again? What is color and what is it’s meaning? Does wind even have a feeling? It had been so long…so long in this darkness. Only two words rang true in his mind…true words he repeated again and again, trying to grasp them…feel them…touch them…see them.
+“Moma…Baba…”
+He reached out, trying to push away the darkness. His hands hit solid matter. He pushed and shoved against the surface, struggling to move it away. He was so sick of the darkness, and yet also, he felt hesitant…he hated the darkness so…but he feared to leave its embrace. With a loud grinding sound, the object moved and fell away, and still darkness trapped him. Why was it still there? Had he not removed the darkness from his path?
+
+“Hello?” He stumbled forward, reaching and grasping for the light that he couldn’t find. The floor he fell down upon was cold to his bare feet. He gasped and pat the ground, feeling it again…feeling that it existed. He tripped once again and fell to his elbows and knees. He still could not find his way through this inky black.
+“Help me!” Tamil cried. “I cannot see! Please, I cannot see! Please, someone turn on the light! Turn on the light!” No light came on, but there were loud footsteps that he could hear growing louder. As if they were coming to him, they seemed to echo and grow. Tamil attempted to rise to his feet again, but wobbled on his tired and weak legs. The steps began speaking in a strange language…could they see him in this dark? But then that meant…that it wasn’t darkness to them, but only to him.
+
+“I can’t see…” Tamil screamed, backing up against the wall. “I CANNOT SEE!”
+“It’s talking!”
+“What?” Tamil cried. What was that voice just now? What had it said? The language sounded so strange…and yet so familiar…like he’d been listening to it for the past few years.
+“The damn thing is alive! The mummy is alive!!”
+“Who is there?!” Tamil asked. “Please…please help me!”
+“Shoot the blasted thing!”
+
+*POW POW*
+
+“AAAAH!” Tamil screamed and fell backwards, feeling two powerful objects rip through his chest. He feel backwards, clutching his chest and leaning against the pillar. “What is happening!? What did you do!? I can’t see!!!”
+“It keeps talking that weird language! Shoot it again!”
+
+*POW POW POW*
+
+Tamil shouted again and rolled away, trying hard to stop his shaking hands. What was this pain that he felt with each one of those wretched sounds? Why couldn’t he see anything? Why was it still so dark? He could feel the heat of light around him…but he could not pierce this veil! What was this strange language that he was hearing, and why did it sound so familiar to him? He struggled to his feet, tears dripping from his empty sightless eyes.
+“Please…please stop!”
+“Goddamn, the thing won’t die! IT WON’T STAY DOWN!”
+“Quick, call the police! The firemen! I don’t care who! Get help for God’s sake!” The sound of running footsteps told him that the odd men had left. He felt alone again, and he almost wished for their return. Was it better to have men around who wished to kill you…or to be left alone in a cold and empty blackness you knew you couldn’t escape. Now the truth was sinking in…the unavoidable truth of why it was so black…of why he couldn’t see.
+
+“I am blind!” Tamil whimpered, tears rolling down his face. “I cannot see…because I have been struck blind!” Tamil fell against the wall and wailed, his voice turning to a long and mournful howl that echoed in the large room he was trapped in. He wanted to escape, wanted to see, wanted to feel the sting from the light of the Egyptian sun again…but no. Now he was locked within the infinite blackness of his own eyes. “I am blind!”
+
+Tamil gasped as he heard the footsteps returning, but there were more this time, and they were all shouting in that language again. Tamil struggled to remain balanced, unsure about which way he should go. He didn’t like those horrible painful things that kept hitting him when they spoke. They were like arrows of burning fire, but they felt so much worse than that! Though they didn’t kill him, they were very painful. This wasn’t the feeling he wanted. Tamil made a sprint to the left, where the air felt oddly fresher. Perhaps he could escape his prison that way. It was worth a shot.
+“It’s down there! See it!?”
+“Damn it, you weren’t kidding! Is it a curse!?”
+“I don’t give a damn, shoot it! Shoot it!”
+Tamil heard their voices and tried to run faster, but his legs fell out from under him as he slipped on a flight of stairs that he had not seen. He tripped and rolled down the stairs, each crash feeling like iron spears had been thrust at his sides. It hurt so much…so much pain in the dark.
+“It fell! Shoot it while it’s down!”
+“Who is there?!” Tamil pleaded desperately. “Please, help me! I just want my moma and baba!”
+“KILL IT!”
+“MOMA, BABA!”
+
+There was the sound of rustling and struggling, and then crashing. The voices were mixed in with two others. There were screams and the sound of snarling and even a sick sound that was a combination of what appeared to be a snap and a gurgling sound. Soon, all the noise died down, but Tamil felt no pain…felt no harm. The arrows no longer struck him.
+“Are you alright?” This was a different voice than before…it was not a mans voice but a girls, and it was much younger.
+“Who is this?”
+“I’m sorry, I do not speak your language…do you perhaps know English?” She asked. English? What is this? Was that the language that they spoke. Yes, it did have a familiar ring to it…as if he’d been listening to it…for a long time.
+“Y-y-yes.” Tamil whispered, struggling to imitate the language he was so new to. He could feel her smile.
+“My name is Michelle. What is yours?”
+“Name…Tamil.” Tamil whispered. “Where…Moma and Baba?”
+“Tamil, where are you from?” Michelle asked.
+“Egypt…”
+“You are not in Egypt now, Tamil…you’re in America.”
+“A…amer…” Tamil rolled the word around in his mouth, trying to repeat it.
+“It’s a different country…far far away from your home…and from what I read on your exibit…you’ve been in a coffin for 5,000 years or more.”
+“5,000 years?” Tamil gasped, struggling to maintain his own breathe…fighting the reality he was now exposed to. “That…that so long….” The tears built up once more in his eyes and he began to shiver and shake. “No…it not…it not true!”
+“Tamil, I’m sorry.”
+“Why you lie!?”
+“I’m not lying.”
+“IT A LIE! IT NOT TRUE!” Tamil began beating and swinging at the girl in front of him, but she held onto him with unusual strength. “Say…say it a lie…” The girl wrapped her arms around him and held him close to her…like his moma did.
+“I’m sorry Tamil…I’m so sorry.”
+“It not true…it not…” He began to cry uncontrollably. The loneliness…the darkness…it all trapped him. He could remember nothing…he could see nothing. He was trapped in the truest dark. It was terrifying. It was cold. So very cold.
+
+“Michelle, we need to go. I smell people coming.” A second voice spoke up. It was male…but also young.
+“Okay, Asher…keep them occupied.” Michelle answered.
+“Will do.” Asher responded. Michelle took Tamil’s hand and helped him to his feet.
+“Tamil, would you like to come with us?”
+“With you?”
+“Yes,” Michelle said. “You’re not alone, Tamil…there are others like you, and we’re trying to build a group of us where we can live in peace!”
+“Other…Egyptians?”
+“Oh, no…you’re the first mummy we’ve found. But we have others. We’re a family.” Family. That word was a comfort…it was warm. Tamil gripped Michelle’s hand tightly.
+“Family…sound nice…” Tamil said weakly.
+“Then come along, Tamil. Be part of our family! Asher, clear us a path out of this place!” Michelle wrapped her arm around Tamil’s shoulders and walked him up the steps.
+“Alright…museum security is on it’s way. Keep moving, and I’ll keep them back.” Tamil felt an odd sense of security from Michelle and Asher…but more than anything…from the word family. It was a light in the darkness.

chapters/chapter_21.md

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+# Chapter 21
+
+The next day had been almost as fun as the first day. Abraham’s mind was still wandering back to the night before, after hearing Tamil’s story and seeing Asher kiss Calypso. It had been an amazing experience getting to mingle and feel a part of the Monster Club. It felt like they were becoming more than just a group of people he was living with. He cared about each of them and began to learn about them all…they were becoming more than friends…more like a family. And yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was…not quite true either. How could they be family if he was so normal and plain. All of them contributed to the club and did something to keep it functioning. However, Abraham could do so little. Here he sat in the sand, near the umbrella, watching all the others running, swimming, and laughing.
+“Something on your mind?” Abraham turned to see the little girl, Ashley. Asher was still weakened by the sun, and to conserve his own energy and keep himself fully shaded, he remained in the form of Ashley while under the umbrella.
+“Just thinking.” Abraham sighed.
+“The beach isn’t a place for thinking…it’s a place for fun.” Ashley replied. She reached to her sunscreen and began lathering it on her already tanning skin. The sun must be effecting him even under the umbrella.
+“You don’t seem to be having fun.” Abraham smirked.
+“You’re lucky to be a human Abraham.” Ashley said sadly. “When you become something like me, so much is taken from you. I can never walk in the sun again…never taste garlic…never go a week without the taste of blood in my mouth.”
+“But you have so much too! Super strength, super speed, shape shifting…” Abraham argued. Ashley didn’t look at him, she stared out at the beach where all the others were laughing and enjoying the sunshine and the surf.
+“I’d give it all up…to be over there right now.” Ashley whispered. Abraham stared at her for a long moment and then looked out to the others. He hadn’t considered what Ashley was going through. However, he’d been given a small glimpse. “Get over there and join them.” Ashley urged. “I’ll be alright.” Abraham gave Ashley a smile and then got up to go play. Sarah beckoned him over to build sand castle with Tamil, and with a laugh, he ran to help Tamil, who felt more at home than ever in the powdery sand. Calypso splashed and leaped through the water with a large beam on her face. Katie stuck to the shore, but did dare to dip her scaly tail in the surf every now and then. Michelle swam out with Calypso and splashed around with her. With the exception of Ashley, everyone was out in the sun, enjoying themselves.
+Time trickled by like sand in an hourglass until, inevitably, the sun was beginning to set. Asher dared to venture out from under the umbrella and assume his real form. The others welcomed him with open arms as they began to settle themselves on the shore, preparing another fire. The group began to gather the wood needed, but it wasn’t until Sarah let out a groan that they realized something was wrong.
+
+“What’s going on?” Michelle asked.
+“We’re out of logs for firewood.” Sarah said. “We only had enough for last night.” Asher stood up with a grin.
+“I’ll go get it.” He said. “I wanna stretch my legs anyway. I’ll be back in 5 minutes.” He took off without another word, sprinting into the forest not far off. The others began to chitchat and talk. Abraham listened in and giggled at a joke that Tamil was telling. Michelle was laughing too, but her laughter seemed to fade a little. Her eyes seemed slightly out of focus as she looked down at her feet.
+“Are you alright Michelle?” Katie asked.
+“I…I don’t…” Michelle tried to speak but her words seemed strained. Along the sand an eerie and familiar glow could be seen, covering them all in its blue hue.
+“Oh my GOD!” Calypso squeaked. “THE MOON!” Everyone turned to see what Calypos had indicated. Indeed, the moon was out and beautiful…but it was also completely round. They were experiencing a full moon. It was as if the world had been set in slow motion. Everyone’s eyes went from the moon to Michelle, who dared not turn out of disbelief. Slowly, and with great pain, did Michelle turn to look at it. Her eyes filled with nothing short of absolute terror.
+
+“GET AWAY FROM ME!” Michelle screamed as her body began to shake furiously. The group leaped to their feet and scattered. Calypso made for the water as fast as she could and dived in. Sarah and Katie ran together, Sarah pulling a stumbling and screaming Tamil behind her. Though he was unable to see, the expression on his face made it seem like he’d witnessed a horror movie made real…which is what seemed to be the case. Abraham could barely move as he witnessed the terrifying transformation.
+As he watched her, he couldn’t help but notice certain details to her transformation. As she changed, scars began to appear on her side and on her face. Long gashes that he’d never seen before, and they seemed to burn her. Her teeth became fangs and her hair began to grow ever longer. Her ears became pointed and began to migrate up her head. Her finger nails became sharp and long. Her eyes…her gorgeous blue eyes…were now filled with horror and a hint of rage that was growing stronger.
+“ABRAHAM…GET…AWAY! NOW!!” Michelle pleaded, falling to her knees and clawing at herself, fighting to remain in control. “ASHER…GET…ASHER!” Abraham tried to flee…but his feet were like concrete shoes. Her soft skin began to rip away from her body as if she was shedding skin. With each slash of her claw like hand, she ripped away more flesh, revealing fur…long and glistening fur that was the same color as her hair! The wolf was coming out of her! Michelle screamed in agony as she continued to rip away her flesh and fur became more visible. Her legs grew longer and like long paws, while her hands became larger and more claw like. From above her butt, a long and shaggy tail could be seen emerging. Despite these changes, Abraham couldn’t shake his gaze away from her eyes. Those sad and scared eyes. There was more to them than just fear or sadness…there was a plea. She was asking for something. There was something in her face that was begging for Abraham to do something. Just before her snout began to grow out like a wolf, he saw her whimper it.
+
+“Help me…please.”
+
+She was gone. Her eyes which once held warmth and kindness were cold and malicious. She bared her fangs dangerously and drool dripped from her muzzle. Her furious gaze rested on Abraham and she licked her chops. She raised back her head and howled to the moon, a long and terrible sound that caused Abraham to shake involuntarily.
+“ABRAHAM RUN!” Sarah came running out of nowhere. She leaped forward, all 8 legs outstretched to cover ground. She shoved Abraham away as Michelle swung out her claw at him. Abraham hit the sand with a hard thud and looked up to see that Sarah had fallen on top of him. She lifted him up and shoved him forward. “Go! Michelle will kill you! You have t-AAAAH!” Sarah screamed as Michelle lunged at her. She used her own size to counter Michelle, but it wasn’t nearly enough as Michelle easily tossed her aside. Abraham, finally coming to his senses, took off running away from her.
+Michelle’s attention fell back on Abraham and she started chasing him on all fours. Abraham couldn’t out run her, and the loose sand was causing him to trip and stumble over himself. He would never get away. Michelle was almost upon him!
+“STOP!” Suddenly, Michelle was stopped in her tracks as Katie had slithered in out of the blue. She coiled herself around Michelle’s arms and legs, using her bodies constricting power to hold her. Michelle roared and snapped, struggling. Though Katie’s hold was strong, it was clear she was straining to keep Michelle down. “RUN DAMN IT!” Katie screamed. “IT’S YOU SHE WANTS!”
+“Why!?” Abraham asked.
+“Werewolves crave human flesh above others!” Katie snapped. “Now stop talking and run! I can’t ho-GYAH!” Katie was grabbed by the neck and thrown to the sand by a furious Michelle. Michelle snarled, prepared to bite down on Katie and end her life. Suddenly, a wave came rolling in from behind and forced Michelle away. Calypso was perched on a rock, building up more water by swimming around it fast, sending waves constantly at the blood thirsty werewolf. Abraham started running again, but he could hear the annoyed and hungry wolf behind him. He felt her breathe, heard her growl. Her fangs were at his back.
+“HELP!”
+“AAAAAH!” Abraham heard a scream and turned to see Sarah. She stood between him and Michelle, but she was clutching her shoulder and neck in pain as red blood trickled from it. Her long braid had fallen to the ground as, Michelles claw had cleaved it from the rest of her hair. Sarah fell to the ground, in agony, clutching her wound, her now mangled hair laying out.
+“NO! SARAH!” Katie screamed, slithering to her side as fast as she could. Michelle took no notice and, once again turned to Abraham. Abraham felt tears in his eyes as he watched Sarah, gasping for breathe and Katie doing everything she could to save her. There was nothing he could do. He couldn’t outrun Michelle…he couldn’t fight her. What was he? Just a weak human. A piece of werewolf food.
+“No…no, Michelle…please don’t do it!” Abraham whimpered, falling over, trembling from fear. There was no trace of the old Michelle in those eyes. She was gone. All that remained was the animal within…the animal that was gazing at him hungrily. This was the end. A long shadow fell over him as the wolf lowered herself to feed. Abraham shut his eyes tight, ready for death.
+
+“RAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!” Abraham’s eyes burst open to see Michelle stumbling back as a tornado of bats screeched and forced her back. The bats reformed and standing between him and the wolf was Asher. His face was contorted in rage and fear.
+“Get away from here!” Asher ordered. Abraham stared at him for a moment in disbelief. “I SAID MOVE!” Asher snarled, his eyes flashing red. “Help the others!” Michelle roared and charged, but Asher was ready. He held nothing back as he slammed his body into Michelle and the two titans clashed. It was like something from a movie…the two most deadly monsters in horror and myth were fighting each other under the full moon. Abraham had seen this before, back at the house, but this was different. This wasn’t like before. Michelle had been restrained back then, and no one had been hurt. Also, it had been clear that Asher was holding back for her safety…but Asher didn’t seem as reserved this time. There was rage in his eyes…a fury. Would he actually kill Michelle to save them?
+No. That wasn’t what Asher wanted. Abraham knew deep down that Asher would avoid such an outcome. Even so, it was clear that Asher was going to put everything he had into stopping Michelle. He couldn’t imagine the pain Asher had to endure. Having to hold back against an opponent who wouldn’t show him the same courtesy. Abraham leaped to his feet at last and ran to Katie and Sarah. Tamil was there as well, he was crying over Sarah who was now bleeding heavily.
+“I run got Asher when Sarah go save Abraham!” Tamil explained through the tears.
+“Asher will take care of her.” Katie agreed. “But what about Sarah?” Calypso came crawling up the beach, her fins still too wet to become legs again.
+“Her cut isn’t deep. She was just scratched, but we need to stitch that up quick or she’ll pass out.” Calypso said. “Get her down the beach. Abraham use your towel to dry me off.” Though she spoke to them all, her eyes were locked on the battle between Asher and Michelle which was escalating with each moment. Every time Michelle attempted to flee and go for Abraham or anyone else in the club, Asher would leap in her way, forcing her back with fangs bared and eyes glowing with wild fire.
+
+“I’ve never seen anything like this.” Abraham gasped, watching the war waging before his eyes.
+“Oh Michelle…” Calypso tearfully cried. “She must be so torn apart.” Abraham ripped off his shirt and began patting Calypso dry, but he still watched the fight. Asher was forcing Michelle up a steep rocky cliff on the far side of the beach. The two were locked in a supernatural struggle, their bodies shadowed and eclipsed by the full moons light itself. Abraham was interrupted from the fight when Calypso’s fins finally turned to legs and she climbed to her new feet. “Help me to Sarah.” Calypso ordered. Abraham lifted her up under his arm and ran with her to the far end of the beach where Katie had set Sarah down. Sarah was still breathing, but she looked really pale. Calypso knelt down beside her and began to look over the wound.
+“Calypso, will she-”
+“She’ll live,” Calypso barked, “but you need to calm down.” Abraham had seen her like this once before when Katie had been brought back to the house. The normal shy and timidness that Calypso showed was gone, and replaced by a sense of urgency and seriousness. She was in charge here, and she was letting them all know it.
+“She won’t become a werewolf will she?” Tamil asked in fear.
+“No.” Calypso said. “Only humans can carry the curse of the werewolf. Besides, she was only scratched, not bitten.” Tamil breathed a sigh of relief and backed off to let her work. “Katie, I need a hair pin and some fishing line. Go grab a fishing pole and bring it to me.” Katie slithered off to go do as told as Calypso continued to treat the injury. When she returned, she handed the hair pin to Calypso and extended the pole. Calypso took the pin and then turned to Abraham. “Look in Asher’s bag and you’ll find his knife. Get it and cut me about 16 inches of fishing line.” Abraham did as he was instructed and found the knife, cutting the line at about the right length. All was deathly quiet as Calypso worked. Abraham dared to look back up at the fight and saw that Michelle and Asher were still locked in combat.
+
+It looked as if shadow fought with the wolf. Asher’s body kept shifting from his physical form into shadows and bats. It was beyond a simple fight now. He didn’t know what this was, but whatever it was…it was unbelievable to witness.
+“I’ve stitched her up as best as I can.” Calypso whispered, finishing the stitching and breaking off the line. “It’s rushed but it will hold until we get home and I can properly treat it.”
+“Thank you, Calypso!” Katie cried, hugging the now sleeping Sarah. The color was returning to her face and her breathing wasn’t as labored.
+“I’m so sorry.” Abraham whispered. “This was my fault…I put you all in danger and Sarah got hurt for me.”
+“No.” Everyone turned to look at Katie who had spoken. Everyone, including Abraham, seemed shocked by her response. “This wasn’t your fault. Don’t blame yourself.”
+“Where Michelle and Asher now?” Tamil asked. Everyone turned to look up at the top of the cliff where Asher and Michelle were now glaring at each other furiously. They were close to the edge. The next move would be the last one. Asher shot a glance down at the others and saw that they were alright. He then nodded and charged Michelle. Though he couldn’t hear it, Abraham could have sworn he saw Asher’s mouth form a simple sentence.
+
+“I’m sorry.”
+
+Asher crashed into Michelle and the two of them plunged over the edge of the cliff, falling into the crashing waves below and out of sight. The last thing that could be heard was the sound of a terrified and furious howl from Michelle. The sickening smack as their bodies hit the water was so loud that it caused Abrahams stomach to turn over in his gut.
+“ASHER! MICHELLE!” Calypso screamed.
+“What happened?!” Tamil begged, desperately waiting to hear what had happened.
+“They’re…they’re gone.” Abraham muttered.
+“That wouldn’t kill Asher or Michelle though!” Katie gasped. “That couldn’t kill them! They’re too tough!”
+“You’re right.” Calypso whispered. “We’ll wait for them.” She sat down beside Sarah and Tamil joined her. Abraham didn’t sit. His eyes stayed on the spot where they had both fallen. There was no movement, but he couldn’t see a body. He knew they were right…a fall like that wouldn’t kill either of them. But what had happened to them? Who would emerge from the water the next morning? Abraham could only watch the moon travel across the night sky and silently curse it for what it had done to Michelle and to Sarah.
+“Michelle…please be alright.” Abraham muttered desperately.

chapters/chapter_22.md

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+# Chapter 22
+
+The sun was starting to rise. Sarah and Katie were sleeping side by side and the look of fatigue on their faces was apparent. Sarah was doing much better, and the cuts on her body had been stitched up very well. Her color had returned to her face and, according to Calypso, she would be okay for the trip home. Calypso wasn’t asleep though. Rather she had run to the water and had been gone for hours looking for Michelle and Asher, who still had not resurfaced. Her fear had driven her to sheer hysteria. How could anyone bear the thought of losing two friends so suddenly? Tamil, who usually had some funny wisecrack or a humorous outlook on things, was now as silent as the grave, with an equally dark look on his face. He stared off into the void, listening and waiting for any indication that everything was alright.
+Abraham was sitting on the sands, and his eyes were gazing down at his feet. He felt guilt running through his mind. Had this all been his fault? Katie had said that a werewolf will always attack a human first…and because he didn’t run away or fight back, the others had been hurt trying to protect him…and now it was possible that Asher and Michelle were gone forever. Why wasn’t he stronger? Why couldn’t he do the things the others did? Why did he have to be the weak link in this family? As these questions filled his thoughts, his fists tightened and he bit his lip, fighting back tears of frustration.
+
+Suddenly, out over the water, a silhouette could be seen. The suns glare made it hard to make out, but Calypso’s fin like ears were distinguishable. She swam over to the shore and climbed up onto the sand. Tamil’s head perked up at the sound, as if hoping it was Michelle or Asher he heard.
+“Any sign of them, Calypso?” Abraham called, running over to help her crawl onto the beach. At this statement, Tamil’s face darkened again. Calypso shook her head sadly, tears in her dazzling blue eyes.
+“I can’t find Michelle or Asher. I’ve looked for hours but haven’t seen anything!” She cried. “The current might have taken them out to sea…and if Asher doesn’t find shelter soon, the sun will kill him!
+“Let’s not panic, okay?” Abraham whispered. “I know that it looks bad…but if we start screaming, then everyone else will panic.”
+“What is the point?” Tamil grumbled. “Why they not back yet, anyway?”
+“I’m beginning to fear the worst.” Calypso sniffled, rubbing her eyes. “How could this have happened?” The three just sat in silence for a moment, waiting on Calypo’s legs to reform. When they finally did, the sun was now clear in the sky and was beaming down on all of them, causing the sand to heat up as well. There was no more time…the train to take them home would be leaving in a few hours, and they needed to get back to it.
+
+“Guys…we need to go.” Abraham mumbled, hating the words himself. Calypso hiccupped sadly, but she nodded as well. Tamil stood up and began working to pick up towels, silently swearing in his Egyptian language. Sarah and Katie began to stir. They glanced around sleepily and began to take in the situation.
+“What about Asher and Michelle?” Katie asked. There was no answer. Everyone just kept their heads down and allowed Katie to take in the answer herself. She looked away and buried her face in her hands, trembling. Everyone began to pack their things, and Sarah offered to carry more to make up for the absence of Michelle and Asher.
+“We should…at least pay our respects.” Sarah said.
+“We don’t have time.” Abraham argued. “The train will leave without us.”
+“We can’t just go like this.” Calypso argued. “Michelle and Asher were important to all of us…and…I can’t go without saying goodbye.” The tears in her eyes and the heavy lump in her throat caused Calypso to sound on the verge of a crying fit. No one could blame her though…it was too much. The others all glanced at each other and nodded their agreement. This was something that needed to be done.
+“We’ll say our goodbyes before we leave.” Katie said.
+
+The group gathered together on the edge of the water and stared out at the crashing surf. The sun was higher now, and there was no doubt that the inevitable had happened. As this sank in, Calypso couldn’t hold it in any longer and began to sob terribly. Abraham just stared out at the water, unblinking and unsure what to say.
+“I’m really not good at this sort of thing.” Sarah muttered. “I…I really hate goodbyes.”
+“Abraham?” Tamil whispered. Abraham turned to face the mummy who now looked more depressed and distant than he’d ever looked before. “Would mind saying goodbye for us?”
+“Why me?” Abraham asked.
+“Asher and Michelle both human once…both miss being human. Perhaps it right that human say farewell to them…as if they were still…” Tamil’s voice trailed off and Abraham nodded softly.
+“Okay, I’ll do my best.” He said.
+“Please, let’s just…let’s just get this over with.” Katie sniffled, rubbing her eyes. Abraham stepped forward and stared at the water, as if he could look out and see their bodies floating in the distance.
+“We’re here to…say goodbye to Asher and Michelle. Both were dear friends and like family to all of us.” Abraham started. There was a long pause as they took all the words in. “We shall honor their memories by-”
+“WAIT!” Tamil shouted. Everyone stopped and looked at the mummy, whose eyes were wide in surprise.
+“Tamil, what’s wrong?” Sarah asked.
+“Hear someone…in the water!!”
+
+A collective gasp came from the group and everyone turned to look out at the ocean. At first, nothing was visible…but slowly and surely, they began to see a strange figure rising from the water.
+“It…it can’t be!” Katie squeaked.
+“ASHER!” Everyone stared in stunned amazement as, from out of the water, staggered the wet and exhausted vampire. In his arms was an unconscious body…Michelle’s body. Calypso was the first to move. She sprinted to the water, but the instant her feet hit the surf, they transformed back into a tail, and she fell on her face, sending water everywhere. Tamil and Sarah both hurried to Asher to help him. Asher shot them both a furious look and they all stopped in their tracks.
+“H-help…M-Michelle…” He whispered. He then fell to his knees on the hot sand as his body was smoking and burning before their eyes.
+“Quick, over Asher!” Katie cried. Abraham and Sarah both grabbed a beach towel and threw it over Asher, shielding him from any further sun damage. While he lay in the sand, trying hard not to burn, Katie and Sarah both hurried to Michelle. Calypso crawled her way out of the water and lay next to Michelle, checking her pulse.
+“She’s alive…but she’s really weak! She needs shade and rest now more than anything.” Calypso announced. Sarah and Tamil went to work immediately setting out an umbrella for Asher to lay under. Katie, meanwhile, set out some bedding for Michelle to lay down on.
+“What can I do?” Abraham asked.
+“Get some of our food out of the bag, then head into the woods over there to find some firewood for tonight…we’re staying.” Calypso ordered. Everyone paused and stared at Calypso.
+“But we need to get home!” Sarah said.
+“I know, but given Asher and Michelle’s condition, they aren’t fit for travel. They might not survive the journey. We need to stay if we want to help them.” Calypso explained. Everyone hesitantly nodded and went back to work. As soon as the umbrella was up, Katie and Tamil moved Asher’s body under the umbrella in the shade. Asher instantly took on his little girl form once again, becoming Ashley so that he could curl up under the umbrella more easily. The transformation required energy, however…and within seconds after the transformation into Ashley, he slipped into unconsciousness…his body horribly burned and scarred by the sun.
+“Poor Asher.” Sarah sighed as she brushed Ashley’s hair a little.
+“We’ll let him rest. For now, let’s make sure Michelle is alright!” Katie urged. Abraham took this chance and ran to the woods to get the firewood as asked. He didn’t want to be in everyones way as they worked.
+
+The day wore on slowly. Everyone was concerned about Michelle and Asher. Of the two, Asher looked in the worst physical condition, as his body was unbelievably burned and beaten. Michelle looked more intact, but it was clear that she was in worse shape, as she still hadn’t woken up, and her breathing was so faint, that more than once they panicked and thought she’d died. Time wore on, but the fact that they’d discovered their friends pleased them all, and their spirits were greatly lifted…until the sun began to set.
+“Asher should be feeling better by now.” Sarah whispered. “But he’s still too weak to even move.”
+“I know, but what more can we do for him?” Katie asked.
+“Give blood?” Tamil offered. “If vampire is weak…he drink blood. Asher drink blood, he get better too, yes?” The group looked at each other, liking the idea, but they still had a problem.
+“Asher can drink any kind of blood, but only human blood will bring him back to 100 percent.” Calypso explained. “Abraham…you’ll have to let Asher feed from you.” Abraham felt his face grow pale from this news.
+“What!?”
+“Don’t worry, we won’t let him bite you and we won’t let him drain you either. We’ll all keep watch and remove him the moment he’s got his energy back.” Abraham looked at Ashley and sighed.
+“Will I turn into a vampire?” I asked.
+“No. He has to bite you to make you a vampire. And we’ll make sure he doesn’t.” Calypso assured him. Abraham thought long and hard for a moment and then, at long last, nodded his agreement.
+“Fine.”
+
+Abraham knelt down beside Ashley who looked up at him, too weak to even open her eyes all the way. Calypso helped Ashley sit up a little and then smiled gently. “Ashley…you need to feed from Abraham.” At this, Ashley shook her head.
+“N-no…I can’t.”
+“We won’t make you bite him, but you need blood.”
+“I don’t mind, Ashley…I agreed.” Ashley stared at Abraham as if puzzled, but she didn’t protest again.
+“If you’re sure that you’re okay with it…” Ashley whispered. Abraham nodded. As he did, Tamil handed over a small pocket knife and Calypso used it to make a large cut on Abraham’s neck. The blood began to flow almost immediately. Calypso lifted Ashley up to Abraham and he leaned forward as Ashley, almost instantly, began to drink from the open wound.
+
+The feeling that washed over Abraham was like nothing he’d ever felt before. It was pure bliss…almost pleasure. This was the effect of the vampire saliva…to release pleasure hormones through the hosts body and make sure that they had no desire to resist. The more Ashley drank, the more weakened and excited he felt. He couldn’t move…didn’t want to either. It was heavenly. He’d experienced a small piece of this feeling when Asher had healed his wound on the docks, but this was something beyond that. This is what it was to be fed on by a vampire. Ashley’s eyes glowed red as she fed hungrily, all inhibitions and hesitation lost now. He was her prey now, and the only chance he had of being saved from her was if Calypso and the others could remove Ashley before it was too late.
+“Ashley, that’s enough.” Abraham suddenly felt the weight of Ashley come off of him and he opened his eyes to see that Ashley was no sitting on the blanket. Her eyes were open and her body looked a bit better than it did before. Many of her burns had healed and she smiled softly.
+“Sorry, Abraham…lost myself for a moment.”
+“It’s okay. How do you feel?” Abraham asked.
+“Better and better.” She laughed. She looked up at the sun as it was setting and gave a little smirk. “And when the sun dips below the horizon again…I’ll be perfect.”
+“And what about Michelle?” Sarah asked. Ashley looked over at the still sleeping Michelle and frowned.
+“Well, she’ll wake up soon…but let’s just give her some space for a while.” Ashley muttered.
+“She’s going to be really upset, isn’t she?” Abraham asked.
+“None of this is her fault.” Ashley snapped.
+“She won’t see it that way.” Sarah moaned. “To her, this was all her doing.”
+“But it wasn’t! It’s simply not true.” Abraham argued.
+“This club was created,” Ashley explained calmly, “because people often forget that there is a difference between what is true and what is paranoia. We ourselves sometimes forget that difference. To Michelle, she is a monster…but we know different. We know that this is not the truth.”
+“So what is the truth?” Abraham asked.
+“The truth…is that the only real monsters are those that don’t try to forgive and understand.”

chapters/chapter_23.md

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+# Chapter 23
+
+The sun finally disappeared behind the horizon and Ashley was free to become Asher again. With his strength returned and his wounds almost completely healed, Asher looked quite satisfied. The others were all beyond excited to see him back. Abraham, however, couldn’t help but shoot glances at the still unconscious Michelle. How long would she be out cold? She had to wake up some time right? It worried him to see her like this…and it made him feel guilty to consider that all of this could have well been his fault.
+“Something on your mind, Abraham?” Sarah asked, walking close to him. “You keep staring at Michelle like you think she’s going to run away.”
+“No it’s just…”
+“Just what?” Sarah asked, lowering herself down onto the warm sand with him. The moon gazed down at them all and Abraham could hear Asher, Calypso and Katie playing in the tides while Tamil listened from the sand. He didn’t like the water that much. Abraham looked at Sarah and suddenly saw how short her hair had been cut from the attack and again felt a twinge of guilt. Sarah touched her hair, realizing what he was looking at. “What, this?! It’ll grow back, Abraham. It’s just hair. Besides, I think it makes me look cute.”
+“It shouldn’t have happened at all. It got chopped off because you were trying to save me from Michelle.” Abraham grumbled sadly.
+“Abraham, you can’t blame yourself for any of this. Michelle can’t control herself when she’s like that.” Sarah reassured him.
+“But if I could just stick up for myself…protect myself…then you all wouldn’t be burdened by me.” Abraham snapped. “Maybe it would have been better if-”
+“Don’t you dare say it!” Sarah snapped angrily. “You’re part of our family now. We’ll always look out for family, whether you like it or not! I don’t want to hear you being down on yourself like this again.”
+“But-”
+“No ‘buts!’” Sarah pushed, giving a playful shove. “Things’ll be okay. You’ll see.” As Sarah got up and turned to go Abraham rose to his feet too. As much as he was grateful for her reassurance, there was still a great fear that nagged at him. Michelle would turn again in a month…and in that time, would he have to be saved again by the sacrifices of the club? Would they have to keep putting their lives at risk to protect his? He looked to Asher and Calypso, who were helping carry Katie back onto the sand, as she was having trouble maneuvering in the water. Abraham suddenly had an idea and walked to the three of them.
+
+“Hey Abraham.” Katie spoke up. Her voice was kind…not harsh. For once, it seemed like Katie had forgotten (or at least put aside) her hatred for humans. Abraham smiled at her and then looked to Asher.
+“Hey…could I speak to you…in private?” Asher blinked for a moment and nodded.
+“Yeah sure, come on.” Asher waved to Calypso and Katie and walked off with Abraham up the beach behind a large tower of rocks. They were completely out of earshot or sight of the rest of the club. Asher stared up at the sky and breathed in deeply.
+“Gotta love this sea air, right? Feels great!” Asher laughed.
+“Yeah…it’s great.” Abraham answered absentmindedly.
+“Abraham, if this is about me drinking your blood, I’m sorry…I wouldn’t have done it if-”
+“No, it’s not about that at all.” Abraham gasped, smiling sheepishly. “You were exhausted and needed blood. I understand.”
+“So…then what’s bothering you?” Asher asked. Abraham twiddled his fingers unsure of what to say, or how to say it. He knew what he wanted to ask…but it was such a big question.
+“Asher…last night when Michelle attacked…everyone put their lives on the line to save me. Sarah and you were nearly killed trying to protect me.” Abraham muttered.
+“Abraham, it’s not your fault.” Asher sighed.
+“But it is my fault. Katie said that werewolves are more drawn to humans than any other creature. Michelle was going after me when the others had a chance to get away, they knew I was too weak to take care of myself, so they all tried to save me and got hurt!” Abraham barked. “This IS my fault.”
+“Abraham, what are you getting at?” Asher asked.
+“I saw you fight…you’re amazing.” Abraham whispered. “With powers like yours, you’re not afraid of anything. No one has to protect you…” Asher’s eyes flashed for a moment.
+“You want me to teach you how to fight?” Asher asked.
+“No…I want you to make me a vampire.” There was a brief pause…a moment as the words sank in. “Please…I just want to be able to be fearless and powerful like y-”
+
+“SHUT UP!”
+
+Abraham was thrown backwards by the unbelievable punch Asher gave to his cheek. He practically flew backwards and landed against the rock. Before he could recover, Asher grabbed him by his neck and held him against the rock wall, his eyes glowing a dangerously angry red.
+“DON’T YOU EVER SAY THAT AGAIN!!” Asher snarled.
+“A-Asher!!” Abraham gasped. He’d never seen Asher this angry before…this furious.
+“Do you realize what you’re asking!?” Asher snapped. “Do you know what you’re asking me to do!? You just wanna throw away everything you have just like THAT!?” Asher let go of Abraham and he sank to the sand, clutching his throat.
+“Asher, I was just-”
+“Abraham, you have no idea…you have no earthly idea what it means to be a vampire!” Asher snarled, practically shaking with rage. “Yes, I have power…power that would make any man shake in their boots and whimper like babies. But at too high a cost.” He held up his hands to his eyes, as if looking at them for the first time. Looking at himself. “I can never walk in the sunlight again…I can never feel the warmth of a summer day. I am free to eat normal food, but it cannot satisfy my never ending thirst for blood. I must feed once a week to keep up my strength. Every day, I fear that I will lose myself to the thirst…that I will become a savage beast. I dread when the day comes that I enter a blood rage and never come out again. Then who will I hurt? Who will I kill in my need for blood? Do you know how much that thought terrifies me?” Abraham could only stare at Asher as he lamented.
+“I…didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
+“Abraham,” Asher muttered darkly, as tears rolled down his face, “you can never know how much I envy you…how much I wish I could be human again.”
+“But I’m so worthless…” Abraham retorted.
+“No! You give us hope, Abraham!” Asher cried. “Do you even know why this club was created?” Abraham shook his head no. “We created it as a safe haven for monsters…a place to hide from the rest of humanity. We feared humans…hated them, because they hated us. But then you came! Rather than fear us, you dine with us. Rather than try to kill us, you open your hearts to us. You live among us, despite what we are…and that fills us with hope! Hope that we are not monsters, cursed to hide from humanity like garbage…but that we can exist with humans once more. You prove that we do not have to hide from all humans and that humans CAN live alongside the supernatural.” Abraham listened and his eyes widened, never once realizing how much his presence meant to the club. “You’re a braver person than any of us, Abraham! You accepted us as family…something that many of us were hesitant to do for you. But if you become a vampire…if I blood you…what will that say? What kind of message will that send to us?” Asher snapped.
+“It…um…” Abraham struggled, trying to contemplate what kind of image that would bring.
+“It would mean that everything we’ve done…and all we’ve worked for…have been for nothing. It would prove to all of us that humans can’t live alongside monsters. That either the human must destroy us, or they must become one of us.” Asher explained. Abraham gasped and sank to his knees at these words. Asher was right…what other way could it be interpreted.
+“I had no idea…” Abraham whimpered.
+“If I made you like me, you would have power…but you would be cursed. Not only that, but any hope you gave to us about humanity…about living in peace with them…would be dashed. Do you know just how much of a change you’ve brought to our family? Tamil, who was always reserved about himself and his past, opened up to you! Calypso, who fears humans like a plague, has brightened up and begun to show a more confident side to herself. And Katie…a girl who hated humans with a deep passion that you could never comprehend, now smiles when she sees you…and speaks kindly to and of you! Don’t ever tell me how worthless YOU are…when we can see the impact you’ve left on ALL of US!” Asher bent down next to Abraham and pulled him to his feet, grabbing his shoulder gently, but with a strong grip. He looked into Abraham’s eyes and smiled…it was a warm and loving smile. The anger was gone, and deep down Abraham could see sympathy…and a bit of pride shine in his eyes.
+“You are our family, Abraham…just the way you are.” Abraham smiled in response and took Asher’s hand, shaking it firmly.
+“I’m sorry for…you know.” Abraham said sheepishly.
+“It’s okay…just don’t ask me again, unless you need another reminder.” Asher said, shoving his fist playfully at Abraham’s cheek. The two laughed like brothers…and what other word could be used to describe them? They were brothers, if not in blood, then in bond.
+
+“Asher!” Asher and Abraham both turned at the sight of Calypso stumbling up the beach towards them.
+“What’s wrong?” Asher asked.
+“It’s Michelle! She’s gone!”
+“What!?” Abraham gasped. “How!?”
+“She probably blames herself for the events of last night.” Asher explained. “I’ll go find her. Abraham, you should come too…you might be able to help talk some sense into her.” Asher turned and ran for the woods. Abraham nodded to the worried Calypso and followed him as fast as he could.
+They ran for about 30 minutes before Asher stopped and sniffed the air. He looked around and then walked towards the south, coming upon a clearing.
+“Wait here, Abraham.” He said. “I’ll go in alone and-”
+“No.” Abraham said. “I…I want to talk to her first. Just watch my back.” Asher stared at him a moment and then smiled.
+“Alright, but take it slow.” Abraham silently nodded his agreement and then walked out. The clearing was nothing but grass and fallen twigs. Michelle was there…curled up and shivering in the center of it, whimpering quietly and hugging herself.
+
+“Hey.” Abraham said.
+“Go away.” Michelle hiccupped. Abraham didn’t move. “I said go back to camp!”
+“Not without you.” Abraham argued. “The rest are all worried about you.”
+“I saw what I did to them!” Michelle cried. “I nearly killed you and Asher! Sarah’s got such a horrible scar on her shoulder…and her hair…I could have killed you all!”
+“But you didn’t.” Abraham defended. “You didn’t….and that’s what matters. Let’s go back, okay? Nobody blames you.”
+“They should!” Michelle snapped, turning and glaring at Abraham with her angry, tear filled eyes. “You most of all! You’re a human! I targeted you above the others! As long as I’m around you, you’re in the most danger!”
+“Then in that case…it’s my fault for sticking around. I’m putting myself in danger by being around you…” Abraham agreed. Michelle sniffed and rubbed her eyes like a sad little girl “…but I think it’s worth the risk.” Michelle stopped and looked up at Abraham.
+“What?”
+“You’re right…I don’t know what it’s like to be a werewolf. Being around you is probably the most dangerous thing for me. But I couldn’t imagine this club without you.” Michelle’s eyes brimmed over with tears and she cupped her hands, throwing her face into them, sobbing desperately. Abraham hesitated a moment, and then wrapped his arms around her in a hug. Michelle didn’t hug back, but she leaned into his embrace, crying into his shoulder.
+“I went to Asher not long ago…asking him to make me a vampire so that I wouldn’t be so helpless anymore. I saw how powerful he was…and I wanted that kind of power too so that I could be a useful part of the club” Abraham explained. “But Asher reminded me that…I’m not helpless and…that if I accepted his curse, I’d be throwing everything away. So don’t you throw away everything either.” Behind him, Asher was smiling.
+“Atta boy.” He chuckled. Michelle looked up at Abraham and wiped her eyes clean. She hiccupped a little and smiled.
+“You’re so stupid.” She giggled. “But…you’re also really sweet.” She leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on Abraham’s lips and stood up, leaving Abraham dumbfounded and blushing as red as a beat. She then stood up and stumbled past him towards Asher.
+“As for you Asher…” She quickly threw a punch at Asher’s arm causing him to double over.
+“OW!” Asher grunted.
+“That’s for making Abraham jealous of you.” She snapped. She then grinned and smiled. “But…thanks for knocking some sense into him…and me.” She leaned up and gave him a kiss as well, causing Asher to turn red and step back in surprise. Michelle winked and walked past him. “Better not tell Calypso I did that…she’d never forgive me.” As she headed back toward camp, Asher and Abraham just stared at each other.
+“Well come on you two, let’s get home before the sun rises!” Michelle shouted.
+“I don’t think I’ll ever understand her.” Abraham said.
+“Bro, I’ve known her a lot longer than you…and I still don’t get her.” Asher groaned.

chapters/chapter_24.md

@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+# Chapter 24
+
+“I still don’t think it’s a good idea.” Sarah grumbled.
+“We don’t have any better ideas.” Michelle argued. The entire group was sitting around the beach with the umbrella out. The sun was now in the sky and, as such, Asher had turned back into Ashley and was hiding under the umbrella while they all discussed the one thing that was on their minds. They had missed the train home…how were they supposed to GET home!? The group had been spending all morning talking about possible ideas…and Katie had presented one that all agreed on except Sarah.
+“It’s just not right guys!” She said. “It’s stealing!”
+“It’s necessary.” Katie argued.
+“I agree with Katie.” Abraham said. “We can’t stay here any longer.”
+“Yes. God forbid Asher get more of tan than already has.” Tamil joked.
+“I HEARD THAT YOU BANDAGED BASTARD!” Ashley snapped. The group laughed, but the joke wasn’t entirely unfounded on truth. Asher, while protected by the umbrella and horrendous amounts of sunblock, was still getting weaker with every passing day on the beach. He needed to get back home. Plus, the longer they were gone, the more worried that Solomon was likely becoming.
+“Look, we all saw that school house on the way in, right?” Katie argued. “We just sneak in there, hotwire a school bus, get Sarah and myself in through the back, and everyone else drives off.”
+“But who will drive!? None of us are any good at it.” Michelle asked, starting to lose hope again.
+“Um…hello! I drove you all to the train station, remember?” Abraham pointed out.
+“Yes…your point?” Tamil laughed.
+“Shut up.”
+“No, he’s right…Abraham’s the only one who can possibly drive us home.” Ashley muttered. “So just don’t eat too much before leaving.”
+“You’re all jerks!” Abraham growled. Calypso giggled and stood up.
+“Guys…as much as I love the beach, we really need to go home, and I think that the only option we can afford is to take a bus. A car is too small for all of us, and the next train that goes from here to our home will be in a few days…we can’t wait that long.” Calypso announced. It was miraculous how much she’d changed in the short time Abraham had known her. She was still a little shy…but she was much better at speaking her mind than she had been in the past.
+“Well…I still don’t like the thought of stealing a public school bus.” Sarah grumbled.
+“We’ll do it tonight.” Michelle announced. “As soon as the sun sets and Asher is ready to travel. Get your stuff together!”
+
+When night finally came, everyone was ready for action, even Sarah. Despite her misgivings, she was not prepared to abandon the family, and she too grabbed gear and hurried off of the beach. Michelle lead the way for the ragtag family of misfits. Up ahead they could see the school building in all its dark and forboding aura. Abraham had memories of school…and they were never much fun.
+“What’s school like, Abraham?” Sarah asked.
+“Imagine being stuck in a room with a bunch of people your age who are all sitting quietly as an older person does nothing but talk in a monotone voice all day long. You’re not allowed to speak or get up unless told to, and all you can do is just take notes on what the older teacher tells you.”
+“That sounds unimaginably boring.” Katie noted.
+“It’s worse.” Abraham assured her.
+“At least you had the chance to enjoy it.” Michelle argued. “Now stay focused!” Calypso was a little slower than everyone else as she was holding Tamil’s hand, who needed a guide to keep up.
+“Tamil, are you still good to-”
+“Yes, I get it done. Just get me under hood.” Tamil shouted. The group finally managed to get to the back, behind the school. It was too dark for Abraham to make out, but with their keen eyes, Asher and Michelle were already staring at the bus…but there was a problem. It was fenced off by a large fence and the gates were locked with a padlock. Asher and Michelle began discussing how to get to the bus quickly when it was blocked off by a fence.
+“I’ll jump the fence in bat form and land on the other side.” Asher offered.
+“We’re not all gifted with such remarkable talents, bat brain.” Michelle growled.
+“Then we should…” Asher grumbled. “Damn…how will we get everyone over that thing.
+“Maybe I could climb to the top and help lift people over?” Sarah offered.
+“I would agree with that, but Katie might be too heavy for you to lift.” Asher groaned.
+“Are you saying I’m fat?” Katie snapped.
+“No I’m not! Just…ugh!” Asher snapped.
+
+“What you doing?”
+
+Everyone spun around at the sound of the voice. Standing behind them was a little girl, who only looked about 12 or 13 years old. She was standing in a school uniform and a wool jacket on that was clearly too big for her. She was oriental and had short cut black hair. In her left hand, hanging on by its arm, was a small black stuffed cat, making the girl in front of them look even smaller by comparison. She spoke with a thick accent as if she was from a different country.
+“Um…nothing. Just go back home, kid.” Michelle said quickly.
+“Are you trying to get in?” She asked. The others all looked at each other nervously. This girl had found them out.
+“Y-yeah…” Calypso whispered. “B-but you can’t tell anyone.”
+“Asher, you might need to hypnotize her. Make her forget us.” Michelle whispered.
+“Yeah, just let me-”
+“I can get you in.” She smiled broadly. Before they could even respond to this, the little girl ran to the fence, not even taking notice of the strangeness in front of her and she stopped at the padlock. She grabbed it with her little hand and squeezed it.
+*click*
+The padlock fell away with a soft clunk. The entire group was dumbstruck. How had she done that!? The girl pushed the gates open and smiled.
+“See?” She giggled.
+“How the hell did you just-” Abraham gasped.
+“No time!” Michelle snapped. “Thanks kid.”
+“My name is Annie.” The girl replied.
+“Yeah, well thanks Annie! Take care!” Michelle ran into the open gate with the rest of the club right behind her. Annie acted as if she wanted to say something else, but she wasn’t given the chance, as everyone was already running to the bus.
+“Wait, how did she do that?! I wanna know!” Abraham argued.
+“It’s never a good idea to keep ourselves exposed to people who see us.” Calypso explained.
+“It lead to questions we not want to answer.” Tamil agreed. They reached the bus and Asher threw open the door with his massive strength. “Now you excuse…I have work to do.”
+“Wait, you’re going to hotwire this thing?” Abraham asked in surprise. “But you’re blind.”
+“Lots you not know about me.” Tamil laughed. “Some things learn by touch not sight.” He crawled under the drivers seat and began fiddling with things. Michelle helped him by moving aside obstacles from his way.
+“Abraham, Asher, go and open the back of the bus for Katie and Sarah!” Abraham nodded and with Asher behind him, he ran to the back of the bus. Grabbing the handle, he threw it open. Katie slithered up to the door first and held up her hands.
+“Help me up!” She cried. Abraham reached down and Katie hesitated for a moment, seeing that it was Abraham. Her eyes glazed for a moment with distrust…but then she slowly wrapped her hands around his arms and allowed him to pull. Abraham grunted and pulled as hard as he could, but Katie was unexpectedly very heavy considering her snake lower body.
+“You’ve almost got her!” Asher said proudly. He jumped the seat and rushed to Katie’s side, wrapping his arms around her and tugging the rest of her body in. Katie let out a loud grunt of pain as she plopped down on the hard floor.
+“OW!” She shouted.
+“Sorry.” Abraham muttered.
+“No, it’s fine. Just go help Sarah.” To their surprise, Sarah had less trouble getting up to the door than Katie, it was fitting in that was difficult. She had to slip all 8 of her legs in first while Asher tried to squeeze her large abdomen through the small doorway.
+“These things weren’t made for dridders!” She moaned as she was struggling to fit through.
+“Just hang in there!” Asher growled, pulling harder until at last her whole body poped through and landed on top of everyone.
+“GYAH!” The back of the bus was a mass of struggling arms and legs as people tried to find out who was who and who’s feet were in whose face.
+“Damn it, this was such a bad idea!” Katie groaned.
+“Shut up.” Asher growled. “At least we made it.”
+“Okay guys…think I got it!” Tamil shouted. As he said that, there was suddenly a loud roar as the bus came to life. It was a sound that Abraham new well, but for the first time, he was glad to hear it. The bus was on.
+“Well Abraham, get going!” Sarah laughed. “Drive man!” Abraham nodded and ran to the front seat.
+“Everyone get seated!” Abraham shouted. “I’ve never driven a bus before, so this could take a moment to get used to.”
+“Has anyone had time to write their wills yet?” Michelle joked.
+“Not funny, Michelle.” Abraham growled. Abraham punched the gas and the bus began to lumber forward like a giant sleepy beast. Asher jumped into the back seat and Katie coiled up in three seats at once. Sarah was forced to remain in the isles, squished between the seats. Calypso threw herself into a middle seat next to Tamil who was clutching her for dear life. Calypso wasn’t exactly in the best of moods either. Apparently she had a fear of vehicles. Michelle was sitting behind Abraham’s driver seat to direct him. Her animal instincts were the only direction they had to get back home.
+“Okay, here we go! Ya’ll ready?!” Abraham shouted as he turned onto the highway.
+“Ready to what? Crash?” Katie laughed. Before Abraham could tell her off there came a strange sound from under his seat.
+
+“HAHAHA! That was funny!” Abraham looked down to see a very familiar face poke out from under the chair.
+“It’s you!” He cried. Sure enough, the little Asian girl from before, Annie, was hiding under his chair.
+“Yes!” She laughed. “I wanted to come to.” Michelle growled and yanked her out from under the chair with a snarl.
+“What on earth is the matter with you!?” She snapped. “Don’t you have any sense?!”
+“Nothing is the matter.” She answered kindly. “I just wanted to come with you.”
+“But why!?” Calypso asked, looking over at the girl.
+“You all so amazing!” She exclaimed. “No one steals school bus from school before! It was so cool!” As she spoke, Abraham suddenly heard a puttering and looked at the gages on the bus. Everything seemed fine…until he saw a little red indicator that looked like a battery.
+“Damn it! This bus was in the empty lot for a reason! It’s battery is almost shot!” Abraham shouted.
+“You mean we’re stranded!?” Asher shouted.
+“Sorry guys!” Abraham apologized.
+“Move.” Annie giggled, running to the dashboard. “Sit here, Mr. Blacky!” She laughed, setting the little black cat on the dashboard. She then placed both of her hands on the black dashboard and closed her eyes, as if in deep thought. She then pushed down.
+“Beongae.”
+There was a flash of light that blinded Abraham and Michelle for a moment, but the rest of the Monster Club could only stare in stunned amazement as a small torrent of power soared from her hands and into the bus. The indicator on Abraham’s dashboard vanished and the bus roared to life with the same vigor it had before. Despite it’s loud rumbling, no one dared breathe a word. Everyones eyes and expressions were fixed on the little creature standing before them with the stuffed cat toy, but their expressions were not impressed.
+Michelle was in shock, and Sarah had her hands clasped over her mouth in stunned amazement. Katie was backing against the back of the bus, almost terrified. Though he couldn’t see it, the way Calypso was gripping Tamil made him uneasy as well. Asher was almost on his feet staring at the girl, his red eyes wide in surprise.
+“Magic…you just used magic!” Asher gasped. She turned around and smiled her cute little smile and giggled.
+“My name is Soyeon…but you call me Annie. I am MaNyeo… a Korean witch girl.” No one said a word…it was like the world had gone completely quiet. She then gasped and picked up her cat. “Oh, and this is Mr. Blacky!”

chapters/chapter_25.md

@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+# Chapter 25
+
+“This can’t be real!” Calypso whispered to the group. The entire club was huddled together in the front of the parked bus as Annie sat quietly in the back, watching them. After she had announced what she was, the group had told her to wait in the back while they talked. She did so very compliantly, but now the conversation among the club was hushed and very tense.
+“It’s real alright. We all saw her use some kind of spell to power the bus!” Michelle growled.
+“I didn’t see it.” Tamil joked.
+“Not now, Tamil.” Katie snapped. “What do we do with her?!”
+“How can you all even be debating this?” Sarah asked. “It’s obvious what we do. We take her with us!”
+“And put our family at risk?” Michelle asked.
+“Risk?” Abraham asked confused. “She’s a kid…she can’t be that dangerous. Even if she is a witch.”
+“The fact that she is a witch is what makes her so dangerous.” Asher whispered.
+“I don’t understand.” Abraham admitted. The club exchanged glances and then they all looked to Michelle for her to explain.
+“Witches…well they were supposed to be extinct for the last 3 centuries.” Michelle said. “A long time ago, witches were all over the world, and all of them had a taste for trouble. They possessed the ability to manipulate the ethereal and arcane elements around them in the form of magic…a power that humans and monsters alike could not hope to possess or compete with.”
+“I don’t see the problem.” Abraham said.
+“Look, witches used to use their powers to oppress human kind, and they were also more than willing to use monsters in their schemes and plots as well. It was thanks to humanities superstitions and fears that lead to a complete irradiation of witches all around the world. Since then, no one has even heard of any real witches in society today.”
+“Witches also in Egypt.” Tamil spoke up. “Remember when was little…very mean and bad witches in desert. Steal souls and do great harm….” Abraham looked back at Annie, who was still sitting quietly with her stuffed cat and hugging it tightly.
+“Maybe so but…do you really think that kid could be such a threat? She seems harmless.” Abraham spoke up.
+“Many things do.” Asher admitted. “But I don’t want to potentially put our family at risk.”
+
+“Now hold on just a second!” Sarah snapped. “You can’t honestly be suggesting we abandon her simply because she’s a witch?”
+“Sarah, I understand how you must feel but-”
+“But what? Are you all forgetting what our club was made for!? It was to help people just like her find a home!” Sarah argued.
+“…Sarah’s right!” Calypso mumbled.
+“Calypso?” Everyone turned to look at the timid mermaid.
+“If…if we turn her away simply for what she is…then what kind of club would we be. She’s no different than Abraham right?” A wave of silence washed over everyone as this information and this thought sank in.
+“What if she does turn out to be dangerous?” Katie asked.
+“Do you really think that Asher can’t handle a child like her?” Sarah argued. “If she is a threat, then Asher can certainly take her down…but just look at her! Does that look like a cold hearted wicked witch to you?” Everyone shot a glance at Annie. Annie looked up, seeing them all staring at her, she looked a little flustered by their gaze.
+“Wh-what?” She asked. Rather than answer, the group went back to looking at each other and discussing what to do with her.
+“Okay look…we’ve been stationary for too long. Abraham, go get the bus rolling back for home. We’ll talk to Solomon about what to do with Annie when we get back. For now though, she stays.” Michelle finally said. Abraham nodded and ran to the front of the bus. As he sat down in the front seat, he looked out of the windshield and saw at least 4 beams of lights scanning the area…flashlights! There were people out there looking for them!?
+“Guys, there’s people out there!” Abraham called out. Michelle ran to the front and looked out as well.
+“Why didn’t I smell them coming!?” She gasped.
+“Oh no…” Everyone turned at the little squeak that Annie had given out.
+“You know them?” Michelle asked.
+“It’s those men…the ones looking for me.” Annie whimpered. “Please don’t let them get me!”
+“What do they want with you?” Katie asked.
+“It not matter!” Tamil shouted. “If they here for her, they find us too! We need get out of here!” Abraham nodded and powered up the bus. The headlights came on and fell on the 4 men…only to reveal there was a 5th. He was tall and bald. His eyes were a terrifying dark red and he was wearing a long coat over his body. His face had a few scars on it and his hands were reaching into a holster by his waist as if to pull a gun. When the lights fell on him, Michelle let out a small scream.
+“It’s him!” She screamed.
+“Who?” Abraham asked.
+“ABRAHAM DRIVE!”
+
+Abraham kicked the engine and forced the bus forward, causing all of the men in front of the bus to leap out of the way. The only one who didn’t dive for cover was the mysterious 5th man who had no flashlight. He was already running after the bus with unbelievable speed! At the rate he was running, he’d actually catch up soon!
+“Can’t this thing go any faster!?” Katie screamed.
+“I’m going as fast as I can!” Abraham shouted. Sarah was holding Annie close, who was crying in fear. Asher was gripping the seat in front of him tightly and trying hard not to go insane with rage. Michelle looked at him and growled.
+“I know how you feel, Asher…but this isn’t the time!” Michelle growled.
+“Wait…Asher, you know this guy!?” Abraham gasped.
+“I would hope so.” The entire club let out a shout of shock as they spun around to see the emergency door hanging open and the bald man standing inside the bus. He had an amused smirk on his face and he was looking around at everyone. He saw Annie and moved towards her. Sarah leaped out to attack him, but with a simple shove, he threw Sarah off of the seat and into the isle.
+“SARAH!” Katie screamed, slithering out to her fallen friend. The man grabbed Annie’s wrist and yanked her up.
+“It’s time for me to go…I’ll take this little one with me. Consider yourselves lucky that I’m not here for any of y-” Whatever it was he had wanted to say, he never finished. Asher was on his feet in seconds with his pistol out. He fired off 3 shots at the man, causing him to stumble back and drop Annie. The look on Asher’s face was one of pure loathing and rage.
+“You bastard…you goddamned bastard!” Asher snarled. The man leered at Asher and finally gave a sneer.
+“You’ve not changed since I last saw you, Asher.”
+“You’re wrong…I’ve changed a lot! Now I can kill you for what you did!” Asher barked.
+“As interesting as a fight between us sounds, I’m afraid I’m not here to fight you to the death. I’m here for the witch.” He laughed.
+“The girl is with us!” Michelle shouted, causing Annie and Abraham both to turn and face her.
+“I didn’t ask for your permission.” The man made another move for the girl.
+
+It all happened in a flurry of movements that Abraham’s eyes could only barely follow. Asher darted forward, his pistol out and ready to meet the man in front of him. The man moved back to avoid the attack, but Asher was a few seconds faster, pointing the gun at the man’s chest, and he unloaded his clip into the man who was being knocked backwards with each shot. Even after he finished shooting, Asher kept coming after him, finally hitting him so hard across his jaw that he could have sworn he heard the jaw break!
+“I’LL KILL YOU!” Asher roared. He grabbed the man’s throat ready to rip it out. There was so much hate in Asher’s voice…so much rage. He’d never seen Asher this way! It wasn’t like him at all! How did Asher know this man? Why did he hate him so much? And the bigger question was…after being pumped with so much lead, how come this man didn’t seem phased by Asher?! Yes, the stranger seemed rather…amused! He was even smiling! What WAS he!?!
+“You really want to do this now, son?” He laughed.
+“SON!?” Abraham gasped.
+“Oh, you didn’t tell your little club I was your father?”
+“You’re NOT my father! You forfeited that title long ago!” Asher swung a kick at his father’s chest, sending him stumbling to the emergency exit in the back of the bus. Asher was about to throw him out of the bus when his father grabbed hold of Asher’s collar and grinned.
+“Looks like we need some father/son time, huh? Well no time like the present!” He leaned back, still holding onto Asher and the two fell out of the bus into the night.
+
+“ASHER!” Calypso screamed. Michelle threw on her coat and ran to the door where they’d fallen out.
+“Abraham, turn the bus around the first chance you get and come back to pick us up! I’m going to go and help Asher!”
+“Michelle don’t!” Katie cried.
+“You no match for Drake! Asher best chance we have!”
+“Asher is in over his head…he’s not thinking clearly! We don’t have time to debate this! Just do as I say!” Michelle didn’t wait for their protests but flung herself out the door and toward the father vs son battle going on. Katie slammed the door shut behind her and spun to Calypso.
+“Calypso, go get Annie and take her to the front of the bus! Abraham, turn this thing around!” Abraham nodded and began turning the bus, but it wasn’t easy considering they were still on a paved road and he was struggling to get the giant vehicle to stay in control. After a few moments of fighting the steering wheel, Abraham managed to get it turned around. As he was driving it around, Calypso and Tamil worked together to pull down the bus emergency exit window.
+“Once it’s down, Sarah, you use your web to lasso Michelle and Asher back to the bus! Abraham, don’t even think about slowing down!” Katie shouted.
+“I got it, I got it!” Abraham called back, scanning the street for the fighting. After a minute or two he could just make out the figures ahead of him…and what he saw was shocking!
+
+Asher and Drake were both locked in a vicious exchange of punches and kicks which were clearly far stronger than those of a normal human. He could almost feel their impact just watching them. Michelle threw herself in whenever Drake was about to make a fatal blow on Asher and she would attack to distract Drake. She clearly knew she wasn’t a match for Drake, but she could at least handle him long enough to throw off his timing and aim. It was a very effective tag team they had going…but the real victor of this battle wasn’t a mystery. As strong as they were, Asher and Michelle were both tired from the events of the last full moon, and Drake still had enough energy to keep going.
+“Sarah, reel them in!” Calypso cried. Sarah stuck her upper body out of the window and flung her long thread of silk out to Michelle and Asher. Michelle managed to grab hold, but Asher was, at the last moment, grabbed by Drake and held back.
+“NO!” Sarah screamed. “ASHER!”
+“Sorry, but I’m afraid my son is grounded indefinitely.” Drake laughed. Asher thrashed and struggled, but Drake’s strength seemed to be on the same level as Asher’s…he couldn’t free himself. Abraham prepared to slam on the breaks…
+
+“Hwajae!”
+
+The air ignited like fireworks and Drakes coat suddenly was alight with flames! With a roar of pain and shock, Drake threw Asher to the ground and began beating at his blazing coat as fire jumped all over his body. Asher watched Drake burn but then ran to Michelle and jumped up, grabbing her hand, allowing her to pull him back in through the window. Standing by the other window of the bus was none other than Annie…the little witch who had cast the spell to free Asher!
+“Annie? Did…did you do that?” Sarah asked.
+“Yes.” She whispered. “I…I didn’t want him to get anyone else.” Abraham smiled and kept driving the bus onward until the monster was far off in the distance.
+“Thank you Annie…we owe you our lives.” Asher nodded, breathing heavily. Annie smiled meekly and gave a small nod in reply.
+“Was…was that guy really your dad?” Annie asked. Abraham glanced back as well, wanting to hear what Asher said. Asher didn’t answer right away, but instead leaned against Michelle, who was helping to support his exhausted body.
+“His name is Drake Cross, he was my father yes…and he was also the one that turned me into a vampire.” Asher explained.
+“You mean…”
+“Yes…my father is a vampire. He killed my mother…and he made me a monster like him.”

chapters/chapter_26.md

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+# Chapter 26
+
+“Are you serious?!” Abraham asked.
+“Just drive, Abraham!” Michelle shouted. Abraham nodded and went back to focusing on the road, but he couldn’t remove that news from his mind. Asher’s father was a vampire…and a powerful one! Not only that, but it was Asher’s own father who had bitten him in the first place? But why would a vampire be helping a group of witch hunters? His head was swimming with confusion. He glanced in the mirror to see the rest of the group…how were they holding up? Asher was sitting in the far back of the bus, trying hard to rest. Calypso was helping treat Sarah, who was slightly bruised from her clash with Drake. Tamil and Katie sat together, neither speaking, but both looking very concerned. Annie was silently looking out the window as they drove. Michelle sat behind Abraham’s seat, and she was staring out at the dark winding road.
+“You’re confused, huh?” Michelle asked.
+“More than slightly.” Abraham admitted. “But I don’t know if Asher would want to talk to me about it.”
+“He probably wouldn’t…it’s not something he likes to share with other people. Then again, I suppose family matters are like that for everyone. No offense.” Michelle said, remembering that Abraham was an orphan.
+“None taken. But…I don’t mean to pry…I just want to know-”
+“You want to know what happened between Asher and his father.” Michelle said. “Normally, I would tell you that it’s Asher’s call whether you know or not…but since Drake now knows you’re with us, you’re in just as much danger as the rest of us. You have a right to know.” Michelle paused for a moment and then leaned forward, resting her cheek on her hand.
+
+“There are three ways to become a vampire. The first way is blood consumption; drinking a vampires blood will make you one. The second way is through the classical biting…but the bite isn’t enough. The bite must penetrate a vein and then the vampire must insert some of his saliva or body fluid into the bite so it mixes with the blood. The third way is a very…unseemly way. By drinking the blood of a human with your dying breath. If you spend your last moments of life drinking the blood of another human, you will be reanimated as something inhuman.”
+“And what happened to Asher? Which happened to him?”
+“Slow down and give me a moment, okay?” Michelle snapped. “Asher’s father, about 4 years ago, was a soldier in the army. While in Iraq, his truck hit a road side car bomb. His entire squad was killed in the explosion. Terrified of dying, Drake desperately tried to cling to life…he needed water, so he crawled to one of his comrades and tried to drink his blood…thus reanimating him as a blood drinking vampire. Revived, and rejuvenated, Drake returned home to his family.”
+“I’m guessing they weren’t too pleased with his new vampire self.” Abraham asked.
+“No we weren’t.” Asher hissed. Michelle and Abraham both spun to see Asher standing next to them. His red eyes stared forward furiously.
+“Asher, I’m sorry I-”
+“No…it’s fine.” Asher said. “I’ll tell you what happened.” Asher sat down next to Michelle and continued the story. “My mother resented him for what he’d become and my father attacked my mother in a blind rage. Unwilling to let me live either, he tried to bite me and kill me too. However, the moment he bit down on my neck, his chest touched my cross necklace…my mothers gift to me…and it burned his chest, forcing him back. I had no means of fighting back, so I did the only thing I could…I bit him back, and in doing so got his blood in my mouth. He retaliated by striking me across the head. I feel dead…or so my father thought. I woke up an hour later as a vampire. After all, I had bitten him and tasted vampiric blood…plus he’d bitten me and gotten his saliva in my veins. There was no doubt I wouldn’t become a vampire.”
+“Asher…”
+“When a vampire is born…it must feed immediately. So I fed from the only source of blood available…my mothers body. I couldn’t stop myself. But in doing so, I carried a piece of my mother with me from that place. I hated myself for what I was…I wanted to run away and die…but I needed to punish my father for what he’d done to our family. For his cowardice…” Asher finished.
+“But why is he helping those witch hunters?” Abraham asked.
+“Those weren’t witch hunters…they were the Dawn Bringers.” Michelle explained. “Drake works with them.”
+“But I thought the Dawn Bringers hated vampires and monsters.”
+“They do, but they have an understanding with Drake.” Michelle answered. “Drake is still a coward, and he fears that he may be killed by another monster one day…so he helps the Dawn Bringers rid the world of monsters so that he won’t be challenged or threatened with death.”
+“That seems risky…a vampire working with vampire hunters.” Annie whispered, having listened in on the conversation. Asher nodded darkly.
+“I’m sure Drake intends to kill them if he no longer sees them as useful…and I’m sure the Dawn Bringers feel the same.” Asher pointed out. Abraham didn’t speak but just absorbed this story. He’d never have guessed that Asher’s past was so horrible. He couldn’t imagine having been turned into a monster in such a sudden and horrific manner…and then being forced to feed from your own mother. It was disgusting and terrifying. How had Asher lived like that for so long? It was unreal.
+
+“Where are we going?” Annie finallya asked, breaking the deafening quiet.
+“Back to Solomon’s cottage.” Michelle said. “It’s our home…and yours too.” Annie giggled and hugged Michelle’s arm. Michelle flinched a moment, not used to this display of affection. “I’m sure we’ll find a place for you to stay.”
+“We’ll need to explain all this to Solomon of course.” Sarah spoke up, finally sitting up after being treated for a while. Calypso helped her sit up and Sarah smiled at Asher and Michelle. “You think he’ll be okay with us being home a few days later than we planned?”
+“He’ll be fine…unfortunately we’ll have to wait to see him tomorrow.” Michelle sighed. “Abraham pull over at the next gas station.”
+“Why?” Annie asked.
+“We took a train to get here originally, and we’re also having to take an alternate route home. We need a map, supplies, and rest.” Michelle said. Abraham looked around and found a gas station. He pulled over and rolled around behind the building, parking the bus.
+“Alight, listen up gang…we’re camping here tonight.” Michelle announced. “We need to get a few things done before we turn in though. I know everyone is hungry and sleepy…so we’re going to get some food and a place to rest.” Abraham stood up and stretched his legs from after sitting so long.
+“Hate to ask but…how are we going to get food?” Abraham asked. “I didn’t bring any money.” A small chuckle emerged from the rest of the club.
+“Abraham…what time is it?”
+“Almost 3 in the morning.”
+“I’d prefer it were midnight…but we’ll make this the new haunting hour.” Michelle laughed.
+“Can I help?” Annie asked, tugging on Michelle’s arm. Michelle nodded.
+“Oh yes. Everyone gather around…I’ll explain the plan!”
+
+Abraham and Michelle climbed out of the bus and stretched their bodies. Michelle walked around back and opened the back door for the others to get out and go to their positions. When he was done, she walked to Abraham and took his arm, hugging it tenderly and leaning against him.
+“Ready?” She asked.
+“All I gotta do is just play the role, right?”
+“Don’t worry, you’ll do fine. Right now, you’re my boyfriend okay?” Michelle whispered.
+“Got it.” He lead her to the gasstation door and opened it. Michelle giggled and leaned against him, acting uncharacteristically girly and upbeat. The cashier behind the counter looked up.
+“Can I help ye?” He asked gruffly.
+“Yes, please sir…seems we have a bit of a problem.” Abraham said, holding Michelle. “We ran out of gas about a mile back. Can we borrow a canister to fill with gas?”
+“Um yeah, guess so. Just wait here a minute.” He turned from the counter and began to walk toward a closet nearby. As he was heading there, Michelle looked to the glass door and winked to Abraham.
+“Show time.” She whispered. “Tamil is in position.” Abraham nodded.
+“OH MY GOD! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?” The cashier spun around and looked to where Michelle was pointing and his face went pale. Banging against the door, lumbering and moaning horribly, he saw a mummy, his eyes glazed over and his mouth hanging open.
+“uuuuuuuggggghhhhhh~” Tamil moaned.
+“I-It’s some kind of zombie or…or mummy or something!” The man screamed.
+“OH NO…THE CURSE FOLLOWED US!” Michelle screamed.
+“WHAT CURSE!?” The cashier shrieked. Suddenly all the lights went dead and the entire gas station was plunged into darkness. The cashier couldn’t see it, but three more figures silently entered the station from the back door.
+“We’re all gonna die! We’re gonna die!” Abraham started screaming! “RUN GET OUT OF HE-AAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHH!” Abraham screamed as suddenly 8 long spider legs grabbed him from behind and yanked him into an isle, out of view of the cashier. Sarah let out a loud shriek of evil laughter and she pretended to bite down on Abraham. The cashier couldn’t see what she was doing…but he could see her 8 long legs…and her terrifying body.
+“WHAT THE LIVING HELL!? GET ME OUT OF HERE!” He cried, running for the door. Just as he got there, Tamil managed to break through the glass and started moaning, reaching out to him like a mindless zombie. The cashier was surely pissing himself now. Michelle let out a loud scream as she was grabbed by the shoulders by another figure. The cashier spun around to see a dark shadowy boy, gripping Michelle tightly. His red eyes fell on the cashier as he pretended to bite down on Michelle’s neck. Asher snarled and Michelle screamed, pretending to be dying.
+“HEEEELP! HEEEEEEEELLLLP” Michelle let out one last loud scream and finally passed out. Asher tossed her body aside.
+“I’m still hungry.” He growled. The cashier would have screamed, but he was too busy crapping his pants. With a shriek like a scared little girl, he blasted past Tamil and out into the night, screaming and crying about monsters.
+
+“Nice work guys.” Michelle called out. The entire club burst into laughter and walked out into the open. Sarah helped Abraham to his feet and Asher rubbed his spit on Michelle’s shoulder, where he’d accidentally cut her shoulder. Katie slithered in from behind the drink maker.
+“What a shame, I was hoping I’d get to play too.” She laughed.
+“Next time, maybe.” Sarah giggled. “Abraham, you did well for you first ‘Haunting Hour.’”
+“You guys do this often?” Abraham laughed.
+“Well sometimes.” Calypso explained, walking inside, holding Annie’s hand. “See we only do it on occassions where we need to clear people out of a building.”
+“We call ‘Haunt Hour.’” Tamil said, brushing the broken glass off of his knuckles. “We pretend be monster. Scare away humans.”
+“And let’s all give a big round of applause for Annie, who did a great job killing the lights for added affect.” Sarah cried. The group started clapping for Annie, who blushed and covered her face with her hands.
+“Stop it! It was nothing!” She laughed. Abraham just smiled at his happy family.
+“Well guys,” Asher annoucned. “There’s food and drinks all around. Eat up.” The gang seperated and began grabbing snacks and foods to eat while Abraham helped Tamil find his way to the different snacks. He even tricked Tamil into eating a spicy potato chip, which caused Tamil to cry out and guzzle water like a fish. For the first time since the werewolf incident…everything seemed so happy and carefree. Who cared that Drake and his crew were still after them? It was a wonderful evening to be together.
+
+Suddenly, Abraham became aware of the gentlest of tuggings on his shirt. He turned and there was Annie, holding a bag of potato chips in one hand and her stuffed cat Mr. Blacky in the other.
+“You’re Abraham, right?” She asked.
+“Yes, I am.” Abraham replied kindly.
+“You are not like the others…you’re a human, aren’t you?” She asked. Abraham smiled.
+“Yeah, you’re right.” Abraham replied. Annie sat down next to him and stared at him for the longest moment. He began to wonder if she’d just asked the question to confirm it, but then she turned and watched the party once more.
+“Why did you join this club?” She asked.
+“Hmm?”
+“You’re a human…among creatures.” She said. “Aren’t you scared?”
+“Well…maybe at first I was.” Abraham admitted. “But I’ve come to really love these guys. They’re not really creatures or monsters to me anymore. They’re…just family.”
+“Family…huh…”
+“What about your family, Annie?” Abraham asked. Annie shook her head.
+“I don’t want talk about it.” She answered darkly. “I’m just happy to be here.”
+
+“EVERYONE!” Tamil suddenly stood up and shouted. “KATIE AND I TALK! SHE SAY WE NEED GO BACK TO BUS!” He cried.
+“Why? What’s wrong?” Sarah asked.
+“There are cops coming!” Katie snapped, pointing out the window. Everyone looked and, sure enough, there were police officers walking their way carrying flashlights. Annie squeaked and buried her face in Abrahams shirt.
+“What’s wrong?”
+“I don’t like police…” She whimpered.
+“Why not?” She didn’t answer, but there was no time for her to. Asher and Sarah were on the move.
+“Michelle, get everyone to the back of the gas station. Sarah, Katie, and I will handle this.” Asher said.
+“Asher, we can’t kill them! They’re innocents.” Michelle barked.
+“I know that. Just trust me, alright?” When the police finally showed up outside the door, Katie and Sarah were positioned on opposite sides of it, ready to spring. The door opened.
+Both officers were attacked at once. Katie lashed out and coiled around the first one so fast, it was like she was a living spring. Sarah moved in and began wrapping her web around the second one, securing his arms to his sides. The two let out cries and screams of terror, but Asher walked out of the shadows next, and his appearance silenced them. Abraham couldn’t see it, but from the slack jawed look the two cops were giving, Asher was using his hypnosis.
+“Both of you are fine.” He whispered seductively. “This is all just a bad dream. You dozed off on patrol. Walk back to your cars and go to sleep. Tomorrow, this will all be over.”
+“Right…of course…”
+“Everything is just fine.”
+“Everything is….just…fine. Right…”
+“Now…go back to your car.” Sarah unwrapped the officer and Katie released her hold on the other one. They stumbled out the door as if zombies in a trance, moving slowly but steadily to their car.
+
+“Okay, all good.” Asher said. Annie looked up at Abraham and blushed a little.
+“I’m sorry.” She whispered. “I didn’t mean to…you know.”
+“Hey, don’t worry…we’re gonna keep you safe, kid.” Asher winked, walking by and laying down. “But I’m pooped. We should all go ahead and turn in for the night.” Annie smiled and hugged her stuffed cat close, laying down.
+“Abraham, you get some sleep too.” Michelle whispered. “We need you to drive tomorrow. You need more sleep than the rest of us.” Abraham nodded sleepily and stretched out. As he did, he felt a small body move up against him, hugging him like she was his baby sister, Annie nuzzled into Abraham’s chest and Abraham just smiled down at her. She was so frightened of everything…she needed this family more than he realized. But he’d gladly be here for her…just like the club had been there for him.

chapters/chapter_27.md

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+# Chapter 27 - Katie’s Memory
+
+“Wake up!” I felt myself being shaken. The floor was so cold and I longed to remain in this blissful sleep. In sleep…in my dreams…I could forget the hell I was in. The Indian moon stared down at me and the other sleeping concubines. I had been born into this life. From hatching to now, I had been raised to be a slave in the service of a rich governor. Once I reached the age of 13, I was mature enough physically to be one of the governors concubines. A sex slave. It was the fate of my mother before she’d died…and it was to be my fate for the rest of my life.
+In that time I’d grown to hate the man I called master. Every piece of piece of my being loathed the men of the estate, as every one of them had touched me and done things to me that I would never be able to forget. Would I ever be able to love myself, knowing what had been done to my body by these monsters?! All of them were despicable, loathsome creatures. All except one…there was one young man who I’d grown fond of. He was different from the rest of them. His name was Daman. He too was a servant in the service of the governor. We could relate to each other…and never had he ever mistreated me or hurt me. He’d always been kind to me. And now, as I was shaken awake, I thought I felt his warm hand on my cold bare shoulder.
+
+“Katie, you must wake up!” I finally looked up to see who was speaking, and sure enough, it was Daman, looking down at me with an anxious expression on his face. He was shirtless, and over his back was thrown a large bag.
+“Daman? What is it? The sun is not up.”
+“Yes, and when it does come up, we will be far away from here!” Daman cried. “We are running away!” I bolted upwards in shock.
+“We’re escaping!? But the governor will hunt us down and-”
+“I don’t care about that! I’m running, and I’m taking you with me, Katie. Let’s flee together!” A piece of me was afraid to flee with him. A small piece of me felt tied to this estate and to the governor…but then I looked into his eyes. This was the only man I trusted…the only man I could depend on. If he said we would escape and be happy together, then I believed him. I took his hand and he helped me onto my coils.
+“Come, we must get to the gardens and out of this place!”
+“I’ll follow you!” I laughed. I felt myself become uplifted with happiness as we both slithered away from the room and down the hallways. There were few guards wandering around at the time and we could easily get out of the building. The trick was now getting to the forest! We had to pass through the gardens and into the forest beyond where we’d be safe. The jungle would be our safe haven…we could live there for the rest of our days…or maybe go somewhere else! Daman had spoken of flying to America some day! Could we do that? How would we do it? It didn’t really matter…we were free! We would escape!
+“It’s not much further.” Daman ran through the gardens and I slithered after him, being careful to stay off the wet ground where my body would leave marks for the guards to follow. I didn’t have any possessions to carry with me…I had nothing in this life worth holding onto! Soon we’d broken through the hedges and were near the fence. It was too tall for us to jump, but Daman didn’t let that stop us.
+“I need you to give me a boost, then I’ll pull you over!” Daman cried. I nodded and I placed my hands under his foot and gave him a lift up to the top of the fence. He climbed to the top and turned to me. He held out his arms and I took them. With a mighty effort, he pulled me up over the edge and I could slither the rest of the way down! We were there! The jungle was only a few meters away from us! As we escaped into the forest, I let out a great laugh of joy and rolled down the great hill that led to the depths of the jungle. Daman was already down there, breathing heavily.
+“Daman…Daman, we made it! We’re free!” I exclaimed! “Thank you, Daman! Thank…Daman, what’s wrong?” Daman was just staring at me. His eyes were a mixture of anger and…a very familiar glare that I knew all to well. It was the same look that the governor would give me when he brought me to his bed chambers.
+“Yes…we made it. So now I can do what I never could when I was the servant of that bastard governor.” As he spoke, he began to remove his pants.
+“D-Daman what’re you…”
+“Just shut up.” He snapped. “I’ve waited long enough for this. Now be quiet and give me the same pleasure you give that fat governor.”
+
+I felt hot tears build up in my eyes as I finally understood. As Daman exposed himself to me I cried bitterly at the sight of him. This was not the same Daman I’d known. This was a beast. He was a monster. This couldn’t be the man I trusted…the man I put all my faith in. He’d been so kind to me. However, the truth sank in slowly and with great agony. In the end…he’d used me. He was no different than the others. It was forbidden for servants to use the concubines, or else they would be killed…but now that we were free, he’d finally get what he really wanted from me. He didn’t care about me…he didn’t love me.
+“Now hold still you beautiful freak!” He hissed, leaping on me like a wild animal. He ripped away the decorative bra I was forced to wear exposing my naked body to him. I screamed and struggled to break free from his grip.
+“YOU LIED TO ME! YOU USED ME!” I screamed.
+“Don’t take it too personally.” He sneered as he began kissing my neck. I screamed louder, wanting him off of me. I thrashed and finally I struck him hard across the face. He fell back and rubbed the spot I’d hit him.
+“OW! Why you no good little-GET BACK HERE!” I had turned and was slithering as fast as I could into the jungle. I had to get away from him. I wouldn’t let him use me. I couldn’t…I couldn’t! Suddenly I felt his weight on me and he knocked me to the ground. I spat up dirt and muck from my mouth and he turned me over. He grabbed my breasts and began licking my neck like the perverted animal he was. Like all men were. How could I have not seen this? How? He was no different than the governor…than the officials…than the estate attendants.
+“I HATE YOU!” I shrieked.
+“I’ll live with that.” He laughed as he was about to violate me. “At last I’ll get to appreciate this bizarre and rare body of yours.”
+
+No. Not this time!
+
+“GYAAAAAH!” With a furious hiss, I launched my body forward and bit his neck, sinking my fangs deep into his neck. My tears rolling down my face mixed with the venom I was pumping into his veins. I pulled back and watched him clutch his neck in agony as his face went white.
+“K-k-katie?” He whimpered, his body quivering weakly as the venom took affect.
+“You used me…you never cared about me. All of you men…all of you men are the same! I TRUSTED YOU, DAMAN! I LOVED YOU!” Daman didn’t respond but just fell forward, the life leaving his eyes. As he lay there passing away, I screamed at the stars and cried in pain and in loss. I’d escaped captivity…but had I really escaped the pain? Was this my fate? To be used and mislead by men? How could I ever trust another man again after this? I didn’t know…perhaps I never could. All I knew was that I had to get far away from here. I was on my own again…maybe I always was. But my greatest fear was that I always would be.

chapters/chapter_28.md

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+# Chapter 28
+
+When Abraham awoke the next morning, he awoke to see that the sun was shining in. Glancing around the room, Abraham saw the rest of the club all fast asleep but…one was missing.
+“Katie?” Abraham sat up and easily moved Annie out from under him so she could sleep still. He stood up and began scanning the room for the snake girl. After a few moments he turned and saw her, resting by glass door, still broken from last night. She was gazing out at the sun shining, casting a glow upon her soft scales. Her hair caught the rays and it seemed to illuminate every ray. Her eyes, reptilian as they were, were so hauntingly exotic that Abraham could not get them out of his thoughts. What a beautiful girl she was.
+“Katie?” Abraham asked again.
+“Good morning.” She whispered.
+“You’re up early.” Abraham muttered.
+“I’m worried about Asher.” She said. “The sun is coming up and he’s not back yet.” She said darkly.
+“When did Asher leave? Abraham asked in shock. Katie laughed.
+“Night time is the only time when Asher can go out in the open…he went out around 3 o’ clock last night to get a ‘bite to drink.’” Katie giggled. Abraham shuddered at the way she put that, getting the mental image of Asher, dressed as Count Dracula and biting the neck of some defenseless person.
+“Yeah, I’ll bet…but I’m sure he’s fine.” Abraham sighed.
+“Maybe, but he’s cutting it way too close.” Katie growled. She paused a moment and then looked to Abraham. “Abraham…I want to apologize to you.”
+“For what?”
+“It’s no secret that I…didn’t really like you at first.” Katie smirked.
+“Didn’t like me? You tried to kill me once!” Abraham laughed.
+“Yes, I did.” Katie admitted. “But…I was wrong, Abraham. You’re a good human, one of the few I know. I was wrong to pass judgement without knowing you better first.”
+“If you don’t mind my asking,” Abraham dared to question, “could you tell me why you dislike humans?” Katie didn’t answer but just stared out at the horizon, a definite rage and pain in her eyes. “Sorry, I…I probably shouldn’t ask. That was wr-”
+“I was betrayed by the only human I ever truly loved and admired.” Katie hissed darkly. “I’d like to just leave it at that, Abraham.”
+“Right, sorry.” Abraham moaned. “I really didn’t mean to prod at old scars, you know?”
+“I know.” Katie moaned. “I know you didn’t mean to offend…you’re too kind for that.” Katie gave a quick smile. “Just make me a promise, Abraham.”
+“Sure, what is it?” Abraham asked.
+“Promise me…that you won’t hurt this club…” Katie muttered.
+“Of course I promise! I would never hurt any one of you!” Abraham cried. Katie glanced at him a moment.
+“I want so badly to believe you…but I fear to trust another human man with that kind of faith.” It was the pain in Katie’s voice that fully made him realize just how deep the wounds she had went. The betrayal at the hands of humans was far worse than he’d thought. The way her voice cracked was like that of a child who had done nothing wrong but felt that a spanking waited for her all the same. He felt pity for her, though he knew that was the last thing she wanted from him.
+
+“Asher!” Before Abraham knew what to say, Katie had spotted a figure running to them smoldering under the rising sun. Asher threw himself inside to hide from the sunlight and gasped in exhaustion.
+“Asher, are you-”
+“I’m fine.” Asher wheezed. “Give me a moment.” Asher leaned against the wall and clutched his chest as it heaved in and out. His skin looked slightly burned, but it would heal with time. His hands were dirty and his boots stained with mud, clay, and what looked suspiciously like blood.
+“Why were you gone so long?” Katie demanded.
+“I took a side route to throw the Dawnbringers off of our trail.” Asher chuckled between breaths. “It was tricky, but it bought us some time before they find out the truth, plus since its daylight, they can’t use my father to track us anymore.” Katie helped Asher up and looked around at the others.
+“Then it’s time we moved out, right?” Abraham asked.
+“Wake them up.” Katie encouraged. Abraham hurried around and got to work waking the club. Like zombies, the gang all rose to their feet, rubbing their eyes and yawning. The events of last night had left them all exhausted. Michelle was the first to rise though and she began taking in the group around her and what needed to be done to get things moving.
+“We leave in 20 minutes!” She announced. “Everyone get some food, gear, and whatever else you need to move out. Asher, turn yourself into Ashley and get under an umbrella. Sarah, I need you and Katie to be the first ones on the bus so that we don’t draw too much attention with you two. Calypso, help Tamil get some fresh water in a cooler. Abraham, you and Annie grab some first aid equipment from the back so we can restock. Let’s move people.” The entire gang began moving together. Abraham lead Annie over to the back of the desk and began hunting for first aid boxes and bandages. After some searching, Annie pulled out a small blue box with a red cross on it and grinned.
+“Think this is it?” She asked.
+“I’d bet money on it.” Abraham laughed. “Go take it to Michelle…there’s something I need to do real quick.”
+“Okay, sure.” Annie climbed to her feet and scurried away from the desk to deliver her find to Michelle while Abraham turned and gazed at the rest of the group. Asher was already in his Ashley form and standing under an umbrella that was red and blue in color. Katie and Sarah were packing materials to carry to the bus, and Calypso was helping Tamil to the hose outside. The group was mending from the last few nights. The battle with Michelle and then the arrival of Annie had all been surprising and frustrating in their own right, but to then be faced with the threat of Asher’s father…it was like Abraham’s arrival had caused a strange sequence of events like dominos crashing into each other. For good or bad, these things were going to play out, and Abraham feared what might happen if he was no prepared.
+
+“You okay, Abraham?” Michelle asked, putting her hand on his shoulder and snapping out of his trance.
+“Wha? Oh right, yeah.” Abraham said quickly. Michelle grinned and tussled his hair.
+“Let’s move daydreamer. Help lift Sarah and Katie into the bus.” Abraham hurried to the bus with Michelle behind him. “You get in the bus and pull them in while I go from behind and push, okay?”
+“Sure.” The two were hiding behind the bus so passing traffic couldn’t see them. When Abraham climbed on the bus, he opened the rear door and knelt down, waiting for the first one. First was Katie as she held up her hands. Abraham grabbed hold tight and pulled up, allowing Katie to get her upper body into the bus. Michelle came from behind and lifted up the coils of Katie’s body and pushing her inside carefully. Katie continued to hold onto Abraham until she was fully in the car. Sarah came next and was far more difficult as her large abdomen got caught in the doorway.
+“Ow!” Sarah cried as she felt Abraham and Katie both pulling on her arms. “I’m just not getting through! It’s a miracle I fit in last time.”
+“Hold on Sarah, I’m gonna pull you out okay?” Michelle asked. Michelle pulled back on Sarah’s abdomen and helped her back out of the bus. “Let me open this a bit.” Michelle climbed up to the door and placed her hands on the sides of the doorway.
+
+“RAAAAAAAAAHHHH!” Michelle’s roar changed from human to an animalistic howl…which sounded frighteningly like her werewolf voice. Abraham leaped back in surprise as she pushed opened up the doorway further by spreading the doorway apart! The bus might as well have been made of cardboard!
+“How did you do that!?” Abraham cried. “I’ve never seen you show THAT much strength before!”
+“It’s my werewolf blood.” Michelle explained. “I have a small portion of that extra strength and stamina while human…I just have to tap into it from time to time. It’s always greater the closer it is to a full moon. Since we only had one a few nights ago, I still have some of that excess stamina.”
+“Yeah, but I never like when you do that.” Sarah said firmly, lifting up her body to get back into the bus. “When you tap into that power, you act a bit too harsh.”
+“Yes, I know. That’s why I try not to, but this is much easier for you to get in now.” Michelle shoved Sarah upwards so Katie and Abraham could pull her back in again, and as Michelle said, it was far easier to pull her inside this time. However, the rear of the bus wasn’t going to be able to close now. Michelle shrugged that off. “Don’t worry about the door, just don’t let anyone sit near it, okay?” Abraham shook his head at her stubbornness and also at his new discovery. It felt like the more he learned and revealed about the Monster Club, the more things he didn’t understand…and the more things seemed to shock him. Would he ever grow used to his family?
+
+After about 10 minutes, Calypso and Tamil were helping each other carry a cooler to the bus. With Calypso leading, Tamil hobbled after her, holding onto the cooler with all his strength. His teeth were gritted in pain as he fought to hold up the heavy, water filled chest. Abraham hopped out of the bus and helped him by grabbing his end and lifting it into the back of the bus.
+“Thank you, Abraham.” Tamil sighed clutching his fingers.
+“Go ahead and get on man.” Abraham laughed.
+“Show me way please?” Tamil held out his hand and Abraham took it, escorting him to the stairs of the bus so he could climb on. When Abraham had seen Michelle display another one of her abilities, it made him all the more curious about Tamil, someone he knew very little about.
+“Hey, Tamil…being a mummy…does that give you any abilities?” Abraham asked.
+“Abilities?” Tamil asked questioningly, stopping at the steps.
+“Well yeah…like summon plagues of locusts?” Abraham asked, in a joking voice…but Tamil’s face remained rigged.
+“I hope you joking, Abraham.” He said grimly. “There no such thing as ‘mummy curse.’” Shocked by Tamil’s stern response, Abraham backed down and flushed shamefully. He had no idea that Tamil would take the question so harshly.
+“Wow…sorry, Tamil. I didn’t mean to offend you, really. I j-”
+“HA! Got you!” Tamil laughed, shoving Abraham a little with a big playful smile. “I just fool with you bit.” Tamil chuckled and shook his head. Abraham stared and blinked a moment. He’d been playing a joke with that serious and offended response? Truly, Tamil’s sense of humor was completely unpredictable…or perhaps Abraham just had no sense of humor?
+“Man, I can never read you.”
+“And I cannot read anything.” Tamil laughed, using the bus railing to help him up the steps. “But do have few skills as undead.” Tamil admitted. “Can detach limbs and reattach.”
+“Wow!” Abraham cried. “That…that’s amazing, Tamil! Can you show me?”
+“Can…but won’t.” Tamil snickered. “It very painful…and limbs only reattach if Sarah sew them back on.” He pointed to his finger which Abraham could just barely see some faint scarring where it looked like his finger had been sewn back on some time in the past.
+“Oh…so you can lose limbs, just not die?”
+“Right!” Tamil smiled. “Not so fun be dead.”
+“I could’ve told you that.” Ashley said, as she climbed on after Abraham. She was holding her umbrella over here to hide from the sun, but she was still sweating heavily to the point her clothes were getting wet. “Just get me out of this sunshine, please?”
+“Remind me again why you needed to be Ashley for this trip?” Abraham asked.
+“It’s because Ashley is smaller and can hide from the sun much easier than Asher can. Right, Ashley?” Michelle snapped.
+“Yeah, yeah, I got it.” Ashley grumbled climbing into a seat and laying down, trying to cool off.
+“Good, everyone’s here other than Annie and Calypso then?” Michelle asked.
+“I think Calypso going bathroom before leaving…Annie maybe with her?” Tamil offered. Abraham stood up and headed to the door.
+“I’ll check it out.” Michelle said.
+“No,” Abraham spoke up, standing, “I’ll do it.”
+“You’re going to go heck a girls bathroom?” Michelle giggled.
+“No!” Abraham snapped. “I’m just going to see if they’re in there or not.” Abraham hurried off the bus and ran inside before Michelle could object. As he walked in he saw the light to the bathroom was on, sneaking through the crack of the door.
+“Anyone in there?” Abraham called.
+“Yes, give us a moment!” Calypso cried back.
+“Is Annie in there too?”
+“Yes, I am washing my hands.” Annie responded.
+“Well hurry up, we’re getting ready to lea-AAAVE!!!” The bathroom door flew open as Calypso stumbled out and crashed into Abraham.
+“OW!” Calypso and Abraham crashed to the floor as Abraham rubbed his head where he’d fallen.
+“Oh I’m so sorry!” Calypso cried.
+“What’s wron-oh no!” Abraham looked and saw that Calypso’s legs had turned back into a long fish tail! Annie must have splashed her accidentally while washing her hands. She was a in her mermaid form!
+“Calypso!? What happen!?” Annie cried, running out with wet hands.
+“Don’t panic, okay?” Abraham said as Calypso struggled to get up on her arms. “Annie…um…go back to the bus. I’ll take care of Calypso.” Annie nodded and grabbed Mr. Blacky in her arms and rushed to the bus. Once she was out, Calypso rolled over on her back for Abraham to lift her up. He scooped her up and grunted as he felt her weight on his arms and back.
+“Oh dang…” Abraham groaned. “You…you’re heavier than I thought.”
+“Don’t be rude!” Calypso squeaked, blushing heavily. “It’s not polite to pick on a girl about her weight.” After adjusting her in his arms, he walked quickly to the bus where everyone was waiting.
+“I hope Asher doesn’t mind this.” Abraham whimpered.
+“Asher will understand.” Calypso nodded. “We’re all family here…we understand one another.” As he helped Calypso onto the bus and everyone began patting her dry, Abraham thought about all that he’d learned today. Katie’s history with men, Tamil’s strange ability to lose limbs and then have them sewn on, Michelle being able to tap her werewolf strength…all of it was new to him, despite him being with them for so long. He was beginning to understand them….but would he ever fully understand them like they did each other.
+“Don’t just stand there,” Michelle snapped, “get us moving, Abraham. Solomon is waiting for us!”
+“Oh, sure.” Abraham climbed into the seat of the bus and Annie ran up to the dashboard, placing her hands on it.
+“Beongae.” The bus engine roared to life and Abraham put his foot on the gas, startling Annie that she fell against Abraham and leaned on his arm.
+“Watch yourself.” Abraham laughed. Annie giggled and looked back at the group.
+“These guys are so weird…but they’re all so nice!” Annie noted.
+“Yeah. They really are.” Abraham smirked, leading the bus back towards home.

chapters/chapter_29.md

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+# Chapter 29
+
+The whole day passed by in peace, as if nothing had or would happen. Abraham occasionally would look back at the club behind him, checking to make sure everyone was okay. Ashley was still asleep under the umbrella, her body tanning from the sun, despite her efforts. Tamil sat beside Katie who was reading a magazine to him that she’d taken from the gas station. Though it was a woman’s clothing magazine, he seemed attentive, as if someone giving him attention was enough. Calypso sat with Annie who was helping her fill water bottles so that everyone would have something to drink. Sarah, unable to fit into a bus seat, just sat in the far back of the bus, watching cars pass by and humming to herself some strange song that Abraham had never heard before. Michelle sat behind Abraham, with her hand on the drivers seat and watching his progress. The night was falling and her eyes were more keen than Abrahams. She could better see road signs and where to go.
+
+“Take the next right…we should end up on a dirt road that leads to our home.” She whispered. Abraham complied and turned, leading them off the paved road and onto a dirt pathway. It was like he’d driven onto the road less traveled as the top of the bus kept getting scrapped by low hanging tree limbs and the ground was soft from rained on mud. The bus moved slowly through the forest until at last the familiar light of a house was up ahead….the cottage! It was their home at last! As they drew closer, Annie ran to the front of the bus and looked out the window.
+“That’s your home?” She asked.
+“Yes it is!” Sarah giggled from the back. “And guys, it’ll feel so good to be home, right?” Everyone seemed to nod their response…except for Tamil, who had a very serious look on his blank face. He was gripping the seat in front of him in a fearful manner. Something was troubling the young mummy, and Abraham could see it.
+“What’s wrong, Tamil?”
+“Something…very wrong.” He said. “I just…feel something is wrong.”
+“Yeah…” Asher said, sitting up and throwing the umbrella aside. With the sun down now, he could become himself again. “I feel it too. Everyone gather to the back of the bus…we’re going to approach this cautiously.” There was a terrified hush that fell over the group. Asher jumped off the bus first and helped everyone down as well. As Abraham looked at the cottage, everything did look normal…but slowly a chill fell over his spine as well. Indeed, he understood what Tamil meant. There was something not right about the air…something was out of place. It was like the dripping faucet in the bathroom, or the slight chip in the paint on the wall…something so small, yet something very noticeable.
+“What do you suppo-”
+“Hush…” Asher whispered. He drew his pistol and loaded it. “Everyone…follow behind me, but keep some distance. If I yell run, all of you get out of the house.”
+“Right.” Came the response.
+
+Asher entered the house silently and with such stealth that Abraham had to check once or twice to make sure he still had eyes on him. The house seemed in one piece…everything seemed nice and tidey and in its place. Solomon must have cleaned it up a bit. As they made their way through the entry hall, they came to the den…and there stood Solomon, facing the back door, with his back to them. Asher held out his hand for everyone to stay back as he moved closer to the ghostly figure that was his old friend.
+“Hey…Solomon, are you okay?”
+“Asher?” Solomon spun around to see Asher behind him, but Abraham felt his heart stop cold when he saw the look of fear on his face.
+“Old man, what happened!?” Asher demanded.
+“Get out of here, Asher! Run while you still-”
+*POW*
+“AAAAAAAAH!” Solomon crashed to the ground as something heavy struck him. As he hit the ground, he vanished in a whisp of smoke. Asher leaped away in horror and saw salt splattered along the ground.
+“Salt rounds!?” Asher cried.
+“That’s right, blood sucker.”
+
+The entire club turned their heads to the kitchen door where out walked a man they’d never seen, and looked like something out of a Halloween dress shop. He wore a grungy and dirty trench coat with a long brimmed hat. A scraggly beard covered most of his face and he had the coldest blue eyes you’d ever seen. In his gloved hand was a pistol that was aimed where Solomon had been. In his hand he held a piece of paper with a nail in his finger. There was a crossbow on his back, a rifle, a sword, and about 5 different knifes on his belt. He stank of salt and some kind of blood. Were there blood stains on his coat?
+“A hunter?” Asher demanded. “Are you with the Dawn Bringers?”
+“Once.” The man scoffed. “But they lost their honor and their dignity by bringing in that vampire, Drake to be their lap dog. They’ve forgotten what it means to hunt the filth of this world. I no longer serve alongside those weaklings. That said, tailing them has given me great information on this club…in particular how to locate you…and kill you.” As he spoke he took the paper and nailed it to the door behind him. As he did, Asher suddenly trembled and he hand to lean against the couch next to him. He looked…tired! He looked weaker and sluggish! What had just happened!?
+“Y-you son of a-”
+“Save your breath, vampire.” The man growled. “Because soon you will not take another.”
+“ASHER!” Michelle ran forward and tried to reach Asher, who was no struggling to even stand. However, as she got close, there was a flash of light, Michelle screamed and flew backwards, clutching her hand.
+“WHAT THE HELL JUST-”
+“It’s a spiritual barrier.” The man explained. “When I arrived here, I took the liberty of placing those barrier pages on each entrance and exit to this room. No monster can get in or out once it is set. Any supernatural creature within this barrier cannot get out, and they are stripped of their power. In this room, only humans have the power.” Michell grimaced and tried to push against the invisible barrier, but was met with the same result.
+“We can’t get through! Asher! Asher!!” Michelle screamed. Abraham looked around and saw that every entrance and exit was covered by a paper similar to the one that the man had carried before. This was the barrier! The pages all together kept Asher in and drained him of strength. Who was this guy? He’d planned this all out to the letter! How did he know where they were? How was he so well prepared?
+“I’ll kick your ASS!” Asher aimed his gun at Morgan and fired twice. Morgan was out of the way moments before the trigger was pulled and he kicked at Asher. Asher blocked with his forearm, but he was straining to even do this. It was like his body weighed a ton to him! He was so sluggish and weak, it hurt to see him like this! What kind of power did this barrier have over him!? Asher again made a move to shoot Morgan, or to at least hold him off, but Morgan wrenched the gun from Asher’s hand, struck him across the face, and kicked him into the wall.
+“STOP IT!” Calypso screamed. Michelle again ran at the barrier, but was blown back. Tamil was shuddering in a corner, feeling powerless as Sarah could only stand back and comfort Annie, who now was crying like a baby. She was scared…and with good reason. Katie was shaking with something…was it rage or fear? It was hard to tell. But whatever she was feeling, Abraham knew what he was feeling: Horror. For the first time in a long time, Abraham felt true horror at the sight before him. But it was not a monster that terrified him…it was this man. What true irony…to be scared of the man instead of the monster.
+
+“My name is Morgan. Arthur Morgan. I am the last face you shall ever see vampire. When you are done, I shall deal with your friends as well.” He explained to the groaning and bleeding Asher. He pulled his cross bow and loaded it with a silver tipped arrow. Asher acted quickly and tried to charge Morgan, but his speed was pitiful in his weakened state. Morgan dodged, pulled the bolt from his bow, and strike Asher in the chest with it.
+“AAAAAAAAAAH!” Asher roared in pain and fell back, blood seeping from his chest. He wasn’t regenerating! He really had lost his power! He fell backwards and lay on his back, clutching his wound. It must have been some time since he’d been in such pain. Morgan got down on his knees and pulled out dagger, the blade made of blessed silver. He raised it over his head and began to murmer under his breath.
+“E nomine padre…” He began his prayer.
+“He’s going to kill him!” Calypso screamed, trying to fight her way past Sarah and Katie, who were holding her back. “Michelle, save him!”
+“I can’t do a thing!” Michelle shouted back. Suddenly Abraham’s eyes widened.
+“But I can!” Abraham ran with all his might at the doorway and…passed clean through it! Morgan stopped his chanting and looked up in surprise.
+“You are…”
+“Yeah, I’m a human!” Abraham shouted back. “But I’m also part of the Monster Club!” Abraham grabbed the nearest parchment and ripped it from the doorframe…and instantly a calm hush fell over the room…it was like a viel had been lifted. With the paper missing, the barrier was incomplete…and a new strength returned to Asher.
+“DAMN YOU!” Morgan raised his dagger again and brought it down on Asher.
+
+It was too late.
+
+Asher’s body exploded into thrashing and screaming bats and shadows, lashing at Morgan and reassembling themselves into Asher’s fully healed body. He was snarling furiously as he aimed his gun at Morgan’s head. Michelle ran in after Abraham and stood behind Asher. Morgan dared not move as he was being stared down by Asher and the others. He was outnumbered….and without the help of his barrier, there was no prayer for him now.
+“It’s over, Morgan.” Michelle shouted.
+“Not quite.” Morgan shouted. He grabbed a small pouch and threw it at Asher. It exploded in his face and Asher screamed as a smelly powder struck his face…powder that smelled like garlic!
+“Asher!” Michelle and the others turned to Asher quickly as he fell over, growling and trying to rub the powder off of his face. As he did, Morgan took off running for the exit.
+“We should go after him!” Katie cried. “He knows where we live so he’ll surely come back.”
+“NEVER MIND THAT!” Everyone turned around to see Solomon reappear. The salt had only knocked him from the room for a brief period, but he was back and looking even more terrified.
+“No need to worry, Solomon.” Asher said with a painful smile. “We took care of that hunter bastard. Morgan’s running for the hills.”
+“THAT’S NOT WHAT I WAS TRYING TO WARN YOU ABOUT! GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE NOW! HE’S RIGGED BOMBS UNDER THE FOUNDATION! GET OUT NOW!!”
+
+The club barely had time to react…most didn’t even feel the sensation of the heat and the impact. The thunderous roar of an explosion filled their ears, their senses, and their bodies. Abraham felt himself knocked off his feet by a massive eruption of power, flames, and force. He could only make out brief glimpses of the others. Asher had his arms around Annie and was yanking her towards the door…Tamil was in Sarah and Katie’s grip as the threw him to the other end of the house. Michelle and Calypso were caught in mid sprint as wood and mortar shot around them like gunfire.
+The club was blasted off of their feet, into the air, and out of the house. Soon, all of Abraham’s world turned black. He saw no more. His final thoughts before slipping into unconsciousness were as weak as his vision:
+“What happened…what happened to my family?”

chapters/chapter_30.md

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+# Chapter 30
+
+“Abraham?” Abraham didn’t want to wake up. His head was ringing and pounding like a drum set. His body felt completely shattered…his arms didn’t want to move. Did he even have ligaments anymore? Surely he was just a jumbled pile of pieces and body parts.
+“Abraham, get up!” Abraham felt something grabbing him and trying to lift him.
+“Don’t move him, Katie! He’s in critical condition!”
+“Damn it, where are the others!?” Abraham could hear the voices…they sounded so close and…so worried. That was Katie and Calypso…there was no question. But how were they still alive? The explosion. Abraham remembered the explosion. The heat of the fire and the sheer impact of the bomb. The horrible smell of ash and smoke filled his lungs and he couldn’t breathe.
+“Ugh…it hurts…” Abraham moaned.
+“Don’t try to move, Abraham. You have a broken rib and several major bruises all over your abdominals and I’m worried you might have a concussion.” Calypso cried. The fog was lifting and Abraham was beginning to get his vision back. He could see again. But the world was blurry, and the glowing light of the fire was burning his eyes. He tried to lift his hands to his eyes, but even the thought of such an act hurt his acing body.
+“Where are…the others?” Abraham coughed.
+“Well we’re looking for them. Asher is okay, and he’s helping move debry. We found Sarah. She’s unconscious but Calypso thinks she’ll be fine.”
+“What about Tamil…Solomon….Michelle…and Annie?” Abraham asked, trying to sit up. He felt a pair of hands shove him down and he cried out in pain.
+“We said don’t move you numbskull!” Katie snapped. “We’re looking for them, okay!? You stay here and let Calypso treat you.”
+“But they’re in trouble.” Abraham pleaded. “I have to help!”
+“The best thing you can do is just rest. We ca-”
+“I FOUND ANNIE! CALYPSO GET OVER HERE!” It was Asher’s voice! Calypso leaped up.
+“Coming!” She wasted no time running to the voice. Abraham again tried to get up but he was being held down by Katie.
+“You just stay put!” She growled. Abraham began to see a bit clearer and could make out Katie’s face. She had two cuts on her face and her lip. Her eyes were brimming with tears and her hair was muddy and matted with blood. Her yellow serpentine eyes were large and scanning his injuries.
+“Katie?”
+“Good, you didn’t lose your memory.” She laughed sarcastically. She looked around to see if anyone was near and then she leaned down, close to Abraham’s ear. “Thank you, Abraham.”
+“What?” He whispered back.
+“You saved us…all of us.” She whispered tearfully. “You ran in and ripped down the barrier that Morgan guy set up…if you hadn’t done that, he’d have killed us all.”
+“If I’d really saved us…we wouldn’t be looking for our missing friends.” Abraham grumbled.
+“If you hadn’t saved us, then none of us would be here at all.” She growled back. “Learn to take some praise.” She then planted a kiss on his cheek and smiled a little. “Tell anyone I did that, I will constrict you until ALL of your ribs are broken.”
+“Understood.” Abraham smiled back, blushing.
+
+After a few minutes of searching and cleaning debry, Abraham finally managed to climb to his feet. Calypso wasn’t pleased, but she knew they needed to find the others. Sarah had been found not far from the road covered in dirt and pieces of the building. She too was okay, but one of her legs was broken and she’d suffered a cut below her chest that was bleeding badly. Calypso was working fast to patch it up.
+“Abraham, find some bandages fast!” Calypso cried.
+“I’m okay, Calypso, really.” Sarah moaned, wincing in pain.
+“Just be still. We’ll fix this.” Abraham assured her, running threw the remains of what was left of their house. It was just a pile of wood, glass, and stone now. The foundation was still in tact, and three walls were still standing, but the front of the house was burning and smoldering and the roof was all but gone. Abraham dug through the trash until he stumbled across some strange…and familiar bandages!
+“TAMIL!” Abraham yanked away the stones to find Tamil’s limp hand under the rubble. He grabbed it and pulled….and fell back in horror. The only thing that came out was Tamil’s hand!
+“AAAH!” Abraham cried, tears coming to his eyes. “Tamil!? What happened to you?!”
+“Abraham, stop crying.” Abraham looked down to see Tamil’s head sitting by the rocks. His eye was black and his lip bloody, but he was fine otherwise. “Just got…blown up. We’ll sew body back together.”
+“How are…how are y-”
+“I am undead body, Abraham.” Tamil smiled weakly. “Broken body can be fixed. I think the rest is over there.” Tamil leaned his head to the west and Abraham set down his hand to go and find it. Sure enough, torn and tattered, but not gone…was the rest of Tamil’s body!
+“I found it! When Calypso is done with Sarah I-SARAH!” Abraham leaped to his feet and began to search the trash again for bandages. He’d completely forgotten about Sarah’s condition. After a few minutes of looking, he finally found a small box of them. As he hurried to Sarah, his thoughts went back to the mangled body of Tamil…the cuts all over Katie…the bruises and the burns on Calypso. His family was suffering.
+
+The entire night was just a matter of searching for and finding their family, and mending wounds. Sarah was back on her feet with some webbing wrapped around her leg like a splint. She was helping Calypso sew Tamil’s body back together while Katie was tending to the still unconscious Annie. The little girl had not waken up, despite all of her vitals being okay. For all they knew, she could have been merely sleeping. Asher was moving in and around the group, searching for any sign of their missing leader, Michelle.
+Dawn was beginning to break…the fires had died down. The club was all sitting around the broken house, though Asher was not with them. He was searching around for Michelle and Solomon.
+“I can’t believe this.” Katie muttered.
+“It’s….it’s horrible.” Calypso agreed. “How could this have happened?”
+“It was that bastard Morgan!” Katie shouted. “If I ever see him again I’ll….I’ll…”
+“Katie calm down, you’re getting too excited…just relax.” Sarah urged her. Katie calmed herself again but didn’t stop snarling.
+“And what about Michelle!?” Calypso whimpered. “What if she….”
+“NO!” Sarah shouted. “She’s okay! She’s okay I swear it!”
+“Nothing kill her.” Tamil muttered darkly. “She too stubborn be killed that easy. I know…I know she okay. She need be okay…” Tamil was merely staring blankly ahead, unable to see any of the destruction…but it was clear he felt it. “Can’t…lose family member again. Just…just can’t.”
+All of them had just lost the one place they called a home. Thanks to the hands of a radical monster hater. To the hands of a human. This fact only struck Abraham even harder. One of his kind had done this. Abraham clenched his teeth and his fists tightly.
+“Abraham?” Sarah looked over at him, sitting on the boulder near them. “Are you okay?”
+“A human did this.” Abraham grumbled. “A human like me.”
+“Abraham, I know what you’re thinking, but Morgan and you are nothing alike!” Calypso cried. “Just because you’re both human doesn’t mean that all humans are like him!” Her words were little comfort for the pain in Abraham’s heart. It was little wonder why the club feared humans like they did. It was no surprise now as to why Katie had hated Abraham so much when they first met. He was just a human. Another bigot. Another hateful creature.
+“This isn’t your fault!” Everyone looked down at Annie, who was just now beginning to stir. Her eyes were half closed and she looked so sleepy. Her voice was horse and she was speaking loudly, as if her ears were ringing and couldn’t hear well. “It’s not…don’t blame yourself Abraham.”
+“But he’s a human like me. He nearly killed us all…his hatred nearly destroyed everything.”
+“Yes, and he would’ve done it too if you hadn’t broken his barrier!” Sarah argued. “Humans can cause a lot of destruction and hatred…but they can do good too!”
+
+“We can’t let the actions of one dictate our opinions of the whole.”
+
+That voice! It couldn’t be! They all spun around at the sound and looked to see Solomon. It was indeed their ghostly friend, but his body was…different. Like a television screen that was struggling to find a connection, his figure kept glitching and shaking. His eyes were filled with the saddest tears, but his smile was the most genuine happiness they’d ever seen. Everyone leaped up and hurried to him, though Annie stayed back, not sure who this was.
+“SOLOMON, YOU’RE OKAY!” Abraham cried.
+“Well…not entirely.” Everyone paused and stared at Solomon as he shook his head. “My connection to this house was all I had left…and I can feel my spirit slipping away from this realm. I don’t have long.”
+“No.” Katie snapped. “NO! You can’t go! You’re like our father! You gave us this home! We’ll rebuild it and you’ll be alright!”
+“I’m afraid it’s not so simple dear.” Solomon muttered. “Using new parts to fix this house will not bring me back because I am tied to what it was. But don’t be upset. I am so happy for all of you. I was lucky to know you for this part of my afterlife. Now I can rest in peace. I can move on.”
+“Solomon don’t say that!” Sarah cried, hot tears rolling from her bloody cheeks. Tamil wasn’t even facing them anymore but only staring at the ground, unable to handle the sounds he was taking in. “Please stop! You’ve got to stay!”
+“Normally, I would be worried.” He laughed, though his laugh sounded more like a cough. “I would be worried for you all, without me around to keep you in line…but I’m not. Not anymore. I’m proud of you kids. You’ve all grown up, and you don’t fear humans the way you did. And I owe that to you Abraham.” He turned his eyes on Abraham who was trying hard to fight the tears of guilt and depression. He bit his lip and chocked back his frustration, trembling like a leaf in a storm.
+“I…I didn’t do…anything!” Abraham sniffled.
+“You gave them hope, Abraham. You made them believe they could exist in a human world. You did more than anything I ever could. Thank you Abraham.” He then looked to Annie and smiled. “And is this a new friend?” Annie stepped forward, holding her torn up black stuffed cat and her finger near her lip as if she wanted to suck her thumb.
+“I’m Soyeun…but everyone calls me Annie. I’m a witch.”
+“A witch?” Solomon asked. His body glitched again, but his smile seemed to last through it. “Well Annie, welcome to our sad but still solid little family.”
+
+From out of the bushes behind them, there was the sound of rustling and thrashing. They turned and out came Asher…holding Michelle in his arms. She was bloody, bruised, and her hair was soaked in mud and blood. Asher was grimacing as he walked her back to the group.
+“Is she-”
+“She’s alive.” Asher growled. “But she was on the verge of death….her breathing couldn’t be any weaker.”
+“A-A-Asssh-ee-er?” Michelle whispered, trying hard to sit up.
+“Stop! Your body is a mess. Stay still!” Asher ordered. Michelle, stubborn as ever, ignored him and tried to look through the bloody bruise that was her eye and see Solomon and the others.
+“I-Is…every-*cough*-one accounted…for?”
+“Yeah…we’re all here.” Calypso cried, dropping down beside Michelle to treat her. “Just don’t talk right now! You’ll be okay. You’ll…you’ll be…” She broke down. She threw her arms around Michelle and cried desperately. Michelle winced in pain, but didn’t stop her. Abraham felt a slight relief knowing Michelle wasn’t dead…but there was a loud cough and a shudder of cold air as Solomon once again began to disappear.
+“OLD MAN!” Asher rushed forward, but Solomon held up his hand to stop him.
+“It’s time…oh I’m so proud of all of you. I have no regrets.” He smiled widely and his body began to blur…and soon it was becoming hard to see at all. “Rebuild, children…rebuild the club. Don’t let our family die.” Abraham made a movement as if to grab his hand…just to touch that lifeless, transparent hand…but just as he came close, he was gone. The chill of the air that Solomon carried anywhere he went…was missing from the world. And not one person breathed a word.
+The rising sun and the chirping birds set the tone of bitter tears that rolled down everyones face. Asher had to turn away as he slammed his fist into a nearby tree, leaving a huge dent, shaped like a fist. Michelle trembled on the ground, tears mixing with the blood on her cheeks so it seemed she was crying tears of red blood. Katie slithered away to be alone, morning his loss while Tamil cried pathetically in the corner, the closest thing to a father he, or any of them had, was now gone…and he felt like he was in the dark once more. A light he’d been holding on to had been snuffed. Sarah held Annie close as the two cried together, while Annie did not cry as loudly or as passionately, her tears were no less real. Abraham though, merely stared where Solomon had been moments before, as if expecting him to reappear and reassure them that it would be okay. That his smiling face would welcome them home once again. Make it all a bad dream…make it all a horrible nightmare. Solomon…they’re friend and family….couldn’t be gone.
+“Solomon…” He whispered, his voice drowned by the cries of his family. “We won’t. We won’t let it die.”