12 KiB
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.”