markdown-monster-club/chapters/chapter_03.md

# Chapter 3

"Alright, well we've done enough standing around." Solomon said firmly. "The sun will be coming up soon and we have work to do." The house suddenly seemed to come alive as everyone started rushing off to different locations. The only one who seemed to remain behind was Asher. Abraham watched them all go and looked back at Solomon and Asher.
"Where is everyone going?" Abraham asked.
"To do their jobs." Solomon explained. "This house is not just my home anymore…it's theirs as well. As residence here, they have to do their part to take care of the house. Just because it's a haunted house doesn't mean it needs to look like one." Abraham smiled and nodded. It made sense in a strange sense. They were monsters…but that didn't necessarily mean that they enjoyed the unpleasant and ugly." Solomon pointed outside and indicated the lake and backyard. "Some of them do yard work…like Tamil. Others do work to benefit the rest of us like Sarah…and others, like Asher here do what they can to keep the house safe."
"So what do you do?" Abraham asked. Solomon shook his head sadly.
"My soul is bound to this house…it's where I will spend the rest of my time on this earth. If anything ever happened to it, my spirit couldn't stay connected. So my job is simply to keep this house safe and standing. I spread rumors that this house is haunted to keep pestering people away from it." Solomon placed his hand on the wall and ran his fingers along it tenderly. "It's all that I really can do after all." Abraham cocked his head to the side in confusion. Noticing his expression, Solomon laughed.
"Okay, time for your first lesson about monsters." Solomon sat down on the table and sighed. "Ghosts are the souls of human beings who either had a strong connection to his mortal world, or had some form of unfinished or unresolved business." Abraham suddenly gasped in understanding.
"Oh! So this house is your connection!" Solomon nodded kindly. He then turned to Asher…his face going slightly dark.

"Asher, I assume that you've been out the last few nights." He asked. Asher nodded darkly, not saying a word. Solomon sighed in frustration. "That was foolish of you, boy…you should have come back sooner…I mean…with a storm like that…"
"Sorry." Asher muttered. Solomon waved the apology aside.
"And what did you find?" Asher's face fell and he couldn't look Solomon in the eyes.
"The storm was too strong…I lost her trail." Solomon sighed again and shook his head. Abraham felt incredibly lost.
"Who are you looking for?" He asked. Solomon and Asher turned to look at him as if just noticing him.

"It's nothing to worry about, Abraham." Solomon said warmly, trying to pretend like nothing had been said. "Anyway, I'm sure you must be tired…why don't you let Asher show you to your room so that you can get some rest?"
"No, I'm fine!" Abraham said quickly. The truth was that with all that had happened, he was beyond exhausted…but he was so anxious to learn more and find out more about this new family of his, that he couldn't help but want to stay up and see more. "If everyone else here has a job, then give me one as well…I'll help in any way I can." Solomon looked Abraham over and grinned.
"Well, I still say you need your rest, but if you insist…I won't stop you." He stood up and looked up the stairs. "First, I want you to go up with Asher so he can show you your room and get you situated…while you do that, I'll start thinking about what you can do." Abraham smiled nervously and turned to Asher. Asher nodded and started walking up the stairs.
"Come with me." Asher said calmly. Abraham turned and took off after Asher who was moving up the stairs steadily.
"Asher!" Asher stopped and turned to face Solomon, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at him with understanding and reassuring eyes. "Get some rest…I know you're doing everything you can." Asher nodded, but he didn't smile back. Instead he turned and kept marching up the stairs with Abraham close on his heels.

"Sorry that we haven't been formally introduced," Asher said, turning to shake his hand, "names Asher." Abraham took his hand and shook it kindly. Abraham followed him up to the top of the stairs as Asher turned to point to the far door to the right. "That door over there is your room. It's big enough…and I'm sure that you'll find it very roomy. If you need anything just give a shout." Abraham nodded, but there was something eating at his mind. Something he was dying to know.
"Um, can I ask you a question?" Asher suddenly smirked and gave a friendly grin.
"Don't worry, I won't feed on you, while you're here." Abrahams eyes widened.
"Wait…you're a vampire?!" Asher smiled, and Abraham suddenly noticed a pair of extremely sharp and pointed canine teeth in Asher's mouth.
"You catch on quick." Asher said with a chuckle. "Yes, I'm a vampire. Also, the sun is coming up…and I need to get some shut eye." Abraham suddenly took a step forward.
"Wait!" Abraham said. "I have more questions." Asher sighed and gave Abraham a tired glare.
"You'll be staying here for a while…we have a long time to get to know one another….but I suppose I can answer two more questions. Make them quick please." Abraham stopped and thought his next few words over carefully. It's not very often that one can have an interview with an actual vampire…and here he was, able to speak to one face to face.

"Who is it that you're looking for?" Abraham asked quickly. Asher gave a dark look to Abraham and looked away.
"A friend." Asher muttered. "I'd rather not talk about it." Abraham instantly regretted the question. "And your last question?" Abraham looked carefully at Asher and then noticed something odd around his neck…a very strange necklace…especially considering who was wearing it.
"You're a vampire," he said carefully, "so why are you wearing that cross necklace?" Asher looked down and stared at the small cross around his neck. "I thought that crosses repelled vampires." Asher grinned and touched the cross.
"They do." Asher said mysteriously, "but this was a gift to me from my mother…I've been wearing it since before I became a vampire…so I've built up a resistance to the cross. I'm the world's only Christian vampire." He then opened up a door across from the stairs and waved Abraham towards his room. Before he did though he turned to the other end of the hall.

"Hey, Sarah!" From her room, Sarah's head came poking out from behind her door. She gave a big smile and waved.
"Yes, Asher?" She asked.
"Would you help Abraham here get settled in his new room? I'm exhausted." Sarah placed her hands on her hips and gave Asher a very accusing glance.
"Well no wonder," she laughed, "the sun is coming up…you should have been in bed an hour ago! I'll take care of Abraham, you get some rest." Asher chuckled and winked at Abraham.
"You're in good hands kid." He then walked into his room and closed the door. As he did, Sarah came scuttling out on her long 8 legs and quickly walked past Abraham towards the room. She opened up the door to show Abraham the inside. The bed was enormous…probably a kingsized. There was more than enough room for him. A large window to the far side of the room allowed light to poor in. There was a dresser next to the door that was covered in dust, as if it had never been used. It was a very impressive room.

"This is your room." Sarah explained. "It was Solomons before he died…after that he gave it to Katie and…." At the mention of that name, Sarah's face suddenly fell and she went silent.
"Katie?" Abraham asked. Suddenly it clicked…he had put it together! "That's who Asher's been looking for, isn't it?!" Sarah didn't look up at Abraham, but she nodded her head yes. "Who was she…or…what was she?"
"She was a friend…" Sarah said. "About a week ago…they took her." As she said these words, a chill seemed to run through her. She wrapped her arms around herself and turned away, as if afraid.
"Who took her?" Abraham asked. Sarah shook her head in response…unwilling to say anything else.
"Anyway," Sarah said, trying to force a smile, "is there anything else I can get you for your room? Anything at all?" Abraham shook his head.
"No…but can I ask you a question?" Sarah nodded hesitantly. Abraham wanted to know more about this Katie person…but he knew that Sarah probably didn't want to continue discussing this subject.
"Um…what's your job around here?" Abraham asked, trying to change the subject. Sarah brightened up at the question.
"Oh, I make money for us!" She grinned and folded her arms. "I use my silk to sew and make clothing…I then give my clothing to Michelle to sell to local stores." She then looked at Abraham and began picking at his jacket and shirt. "I think I better make you some new threads!" She cried. Abraham blushed and shook his head.
"No, that's not necessary!" Before he could stop her, Sarah had pulled out some measuring tape and was measuring Abraham's arms and body length.
"Hold still, I need to get your measurements." Abraham quickly learned that Sarah's legs could be used for more than just walking! As her arms were holding the measuring tape, her front two legs would pull on the bottom of his jacket to stretch it out and give her a more accurate measurement. Her hind legs had reached up behind her abdomen and were extracting a long thread of silk from the rear end. The silk was pure white and it looked moist. She picked it up and held it out just like she had done the measuring tape. "Right…this should do." She then smiled and stepped back towards the door. "I'll get started right away." Abraham nodded in defeat, knowing that she would make him a new outfit, whether he wanted her too or not.
"Thanks, Sarah." He said. Sarah beamed and then hurried out the door. Abraham turned back to look at his room. Questions were still filling his mind. He couldn't help but wonder what on earth could have happened to this Katie person that would cause Sarah and Asher so much distress. Who was she? Who had taken her? So many thoughts and puzzles floated around in his head. However, he knew that the only way to get any answers, was to keep digging…and he needed to find some work to do around the house. Without a word, he ran out of his room, down the steps and into the kitchen to find Solomon.

"What do you think about your new room?" Solomon asked. Abraham smiled back.
"It's very nice…I really like it." Solomon nodded.
"I had a feeling that you would…now, what brings you down here?"
"I want to help out." Abraham reminded him. Solomon grinned and looked at him carefully.
"Anything specific you want to do, kid?" Abraham shrugged.
"Well, I guess I could help the others with their jobs…I could always help dust around the house…or maybe pull weeds…or…" Abraham saw his chance…and he took it, "…I could help find Katie." At the mention of her name, a shadow passed over Solomons face as he glanced up at Abraham dangerously.
"How do you know about her?!" Abraham backed away cautiously, realizing he was on thin ice now.
"I just…heard her name mentioned somewhere." Solomon grunted disapprovingly.
"Sarah, then?" He growled. It was clear that there was no hiding anything from the old ghost. Abraham built up his courage and pressed again.
"What happened to her?" Solomon gave him a very cold glare and then looked down.
"We don't know." Solomon admitted. "She went missing about a week ago. I'm sure you've pieced together that she was one of us…so her going missing was quite a hard blow to all of us."
"Sarah said that someone took her." Solomon shook his head.
"We have no proof of that…but yes, I believe that Sarah is correct. They did take her." Solomon felt his heart pound faster. He moved closer and pressed a little harder.
"Who are they? Why did they take her?" Abraham demanded.

"ENOUGH!" Solomon barked. Abraham backed away from him…he'd gone too far. The old ghost looked furious…but it wasn't an anger behind his eyes but an intense sadness…a look of hopelessness.
"Abraham, listen to me carefully," Solomon said quietly. "people will always fear things that they don't understand. People like us, what humans would dub as monsters or creatures, will never be understood and probably never be accepted. And when humans fear something…there will be certain humans who will do everything in their power to destroy it."
"So…you think humans came for Katie?" Solomon shook his head.
"It's not that simple, I'm afraid…if it were just humans, then Katie could have taken care of herself. I believe it was…something worse." Solomon's voice sounded unbelievably sad…and hurt as he spoke.
"What do you think it was?" Abraham asked. "Whatever it was, you clearly think that she's alive…otherwise you wouldn't be trying so hard to find her!" Abraham stood up and tried to look brave. "I'll help you find her!" Solomon gave a weak grin.
"You're very brave boy…and I appreciate it. But this enemy is not one that you can face. Leave that business to Asher…if anyone can find Katie, then he can." Abraham opened his mouth to protest, but Solomon held up his hand. "This conversation is over." He said firmly. "I want you to go out and find Calypso by the lake…I believe that she could use your help…now go please." Abraham bowed his head, knowing that he was beat and walked toward the porch door.
"And, Abraham!" Abraham turned to face Solomon, who was staring at him with a very serious gaze. "This business about Katie ends here…please don't bring it up again." Abraham nodded obediently and walked out the door. However, he knew deep down that this was far from over. He was going to find out more about this, but for now he would let his questions rest, as he looked outside to see the lake.

With the rain finally passed, the grass and grounds looked extremely lovely. There was a misty feeling about the area and the trees dripped water delicately. The lake looked slightly larger now and the air was clear. The leaves on the ground were gorgeous as their soaked frames carpeted the earth. The sight of birds in the sky, calling after the storm was a welcome sight. Abraham pulled himself together and ran down to the grass. As he rushed to the lake, he saw a figure sitting on a rock just next to the water. He recognized her silvery blue hair and tinted blue skin. Her legs swung back and forth merrily as she fiddled with something in her hands. He walked quietly over to her until he was a few yards away.
"Hey, Calypso?" The reaction that he got was not what he expected.
"Eek!" Calypso suddenly dropped what she was holding to the ground in fright and lost her balance on the rock, tumbling backwards into the lake water with a loud splash. Abraham had to keep himself from laughing at her clumsiness.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Abraham laughed. Calypos looked around nervously and when her eyes fell on Abraham she backed away quickly.
"I wasn't making anything for Asher! I wasn't doing anything, I swear! I'm just…just…uh…" Abraham couldn't help himself and burst out laughing.
"Hey, calm down!" He laughed. "I was just coming to say hello." He looked down to see the object that she had dropped. He carefully picked it up and rubbed the mud and dirt off of it. It was some kind of very fancy bracelet! It looked like it was made of small red shells, seeds, and stones. The design was very pretty and really well done. He walked over and held out his hand for her to take so he could pull her back to her feet. "Here, let me help you." Just as he did, he saw something sweeping out of the water up and down. He looked at it…and gasped.

Stretching all the way from Calypso's waste line down, where her legs should have been, was a long and beautiful fish tale! Elegant and gorgeous, the scales on it reflected the light of the sun and made her look as if she was dazzling or glowing. Abraham backed away in stunned amazement.
"You're…you're a…"
"A what?" Calypso asked.
"You're a mermaid!?" Abraham cried.