“Status report.” Raollet commanded and laughed as he breezed past Patricia desperately pulling Franco out of the holy water. Seeing that the elder vampire was barely moving and letting off smoke as the water kept its relentless shower, Captain Mattson shook his head. “Leave and live a better life, neck junky.” He walked out of the door and stopped when he reached the balcony that overlooked the rest of Phantasmagoria. Smoke from the burning vampires seemed to be all over the three leveled building and getting thicker by the second. Screams from the humans trying to figure out what was going on added fuel to the fire.

“Captain. No alarms yet and the last truck is in place. All four ways to get to the site are blocked. That should buy you a few extra minutes.” Heather announced over their shared open line.

“Perfect, Captain Addison.” Raollet smiled and clenched his fists. “I am on the balcony watching. Captain Kino hold at the doors and wait a few, I have an audible play here.” “Roger that, Cubby.” Kino laughed at her own joke.

“Brian. When Captain Kino and crew open the doors, I want you to send in super-heated rocks. Aim for the pools of holy water on the ground. I will outline them for you.” Captain Mattson saw that the many Thralls were dragging their masters much like Patricia had been. “Three…Two…One. Mark.”

Opening his palm, Captain Mattson’s magic flared to life and the lines of lime green flowed through the building and highlighted the pools that had or were forming on the floor. Moments later Raollet watched dozens of fist sized blazing hot lava rocks shoot through the open doors and land precisely where he’d outlined. “Geomancer…hot damn!” Raollet jumped with excitement as the rocks landed and sent streams of purified steam into the air. A scream from his left made Captain Mattson jump and aim his palm defensively. Seeing a vampire covered head to toe in thick theatre curtains, the old farmer had been unaware of Livia’s presence until the holy steam penetrated her defenses. Captain Mattson stumbled back from the voluptuous vampire that melted before his eyes, scrunching his nose as the plumes of burning flesh and bone arose from the undead puddle. “Right, Beauty is truly skin deep.” Waiting for the aerosol vapor to finish its job, Raollet snickered, “Bang, Bang…he shot me down, Bang…bang..I hit the ground..” as he quoted Nancy Sinatra. Half kicking the smoldering woman out of his way, Captain Mattson calmly walked to the central staircase. “Perfect Brian.” He paused. “Kino, come on in and start cleaning up the thralls.”

“About time.” Angelia commented and rushed the front doors and was instantly in combat with thralls that had finally given up trying their masters. “Captain Mattson, Fuck me this smells like sh…” She cut off her comment when she was jumped by a thrall. “They see through the fog!” She screamed and was pinned to the floor by a pair of overzealous thralls.

Captain Mattson sprinted down the steps as fast as he could, trying to reach his pinned friend. “I am com…” His voice was cut off when another set of thralls tackled him as though he were a football player. Rolling on the ground, the elder captain began punching the best he could at the enhanced bodies of his enemies doing little to no damage. Taking a punch to his side, Raollet felt his ribs crack and break from the impact. Devoid of a breath and only his focus left, Raollet summoned an ink cloud that formed tendrils of points and jammed themselves in the attackers eyes, forcing them off and clutching their eyes. “Use your focus, focus, focus…” Captain Mattson grabbed his Cubs hat from the floor right when he was pulled up and held in the air by an exceptionally big thrall. Knowing that there was very little that he could do, Raollet pulled at the thumb that was gripping his throat.

Across the street in a Civil War era abandoned four story home, Brian stood with The Darla watching as the events of Phantasmagoria unfolded. Brian walked to the edge of a broken window and kicked the glass onto the ground. It didn’t take Brian long to understand why the two were on the upper floor of the decrepit house that seemed to be falling apart around them. He could see the front doors of the vampire’s den and had clear sight to use his practiced spells when The Darla commanded. His hands fingered the blue rock in his coat pocket nervously for a few moments before he pulled it out and looked at it again. “Want me to open the portal now?”

The Darla had her heavy parka pulled over her head as she watched the battle through the broken windows. “Not yet.” Pointing one of her tiny gnarled hands, The Darla’s magic flared to life and encircled the giant thrall that had gripped Captain Mattson. Black and green vines wrapped around the man and delved into his ears. The Darla twisted her hand and the vines turned to a cocoon. “Captain Mattson…” her voice sweetly poisoned, “You should be able to break free.”

Brian raised his eyebrow at the change in tone from Denise’s voice. “Are you alright, Loved One?” He pointed to the trapped thrall, “Are you going to let him go…”

The Darla spoke calmly, “Brian.” She took a deep and exhilarating breath, “If you could assist Captain Kino. Her squad is pinned down.” Half turning to look at her student, The Darla’s eyes glowed a butterscotch yellow. “She doesn’t have much time.” The Darla’s magic pulsed from the crystal and her palm once more, wrapping another thrall.

Forgetting what he was about to say, Brian heard the subtle words and turned his attention to the failing battle. Flaring pine green, Brian’s tendrils crept into the small cracks of the floor and within seconds the ground around Captain Kino seemed to come to life. Amorphous mounds of dirt rolled around, yanking and throwing the thralls across the foggy room. “Loved one the fog…fog is keeping me from being able to see everything. I can’t tell if I am just getting the thralls.” Brian desperately confessed.

“I..I will try and outline them, Brian.” Raollet coughed. “No, that is too much. Everyone, pulse your aura for Brian.” Raollet commanded.

Captain Kino came over the link, “Folks get your batons out, let’s crack some thrall skulls.”

Brian witnessed the shift in battle once more and one by one the few people that were left started to outline themselves in green. “I still can’t really see the thralls, damn it.” Brian growled in frustration, “Should I focus on what I think are shadows, Loved One?” Sighing deeply once more as a black tentacle seemed to send a red pulse into her, The Darla clenched her withered fist. “You and I both see Captain Kino and crew. They are fighting hand to hand. Don’t panic like you see the others doing.” Twisting her dark hood so her eerie yellow eyes were looking directly at her student, The Darla continued. “Magic is about focus. We are safe up here, focus your efforts in front of our people. Where they are swinging you can be certain that they are hitting something.” She slowly turned and quietly resumed her spellcasting.

Brian felt the rush of energy pulsing from his mentor and disregarded the deep yellow glow from her hood as a side effect. “Yes, Loved One.” Analyzing the line of fighting, Brian rolled the big dirt mound to the first person in line and ordered it to start swinging at the first shadow in front of an outline.

Captain Addison came over the link, “That’s the alarm. Folks you don’t have much longer. Code went out from inside the building.”

The Darla growled in frustration and sent out multiple thin strands of green twisted with black. “Captain Jonah, Feel free to use any delay possible to keep EMS from reaching the building.” The Darla watched as a few black strands wrapped around people trying to escape, sending more pulses of red into her. “Jonah?”

“I have already flattened the tires on the trucks, Loved one. We have maybe two minutes of holy water left in all four tankers.” Captain Jonah paused to speak to the other casters within his small four man unit. “Apprentices.” He waited for them all to respond, “When your truck runs dry, get a distance away and light the gas tanks. Create a wall of fire.”

The Darla chuckled to herself, “No…none of you can escape.” Flinging her ropes of magic again, she captured another five people, with a couple outlined in green. “Brian. Look right, I think you might be interested in the side door.” Pulses of red streaked up to The Darla and she sighed once more. “Captain Mattson, head to your left. There is a door that is about to be breached.” The Darla smiled at the hole in the floor where Brian had ripped up the soil. “Perfect.” She waved her thin fingers and the bones of her fallen disappeared into the pit.

Hearing the advice from The Darla, Brian pulled himself out of the battle and looked to the side of the building and knew instantly the female form that came sprinting out. “Casey..”

Squinting to see beyond the mist that trailed behind his ex-girlfriend Brian cursed to himself, “Fuck..Who’s that she’s carrying?”

The Darla cackled with delight, “We are short on time, Brian. Don’t go..” She laughed to herself as she watched the big man take off down the steps. “Good. Good…” The Darla resumed capturing and draining everyone she spotted with her twisted tentacles.

-I have to go!- Brian thought to himself as he bounded down the three flights of steps. Once outside the cool air cleared the young mage’s mind enough to remember that there was an operation going on. He tapped his Bluetooth earbud, “Captain Mattson, I am headed your way. Side entrance, If you need me I can get you out.”

“Great. I could use the help, I think those groupies broke my damned ribs.” Raollet coughed and felt the pain radiate through his body. “The best thing about this building is that it was built in an old city park.” He paused for a moment. “Let me amend that. It is the best part, but also a detriment. Whoever escaped can be hiding in the woods ready to take us apart.” Raollet took a painful breath, “We can also hide in the woods.”

“Get off….me, you blood hounds.” Captain Kino yelled and the distinct sound of an electrical charge and a thud came across the link. “....and….fucking…stay…down.” Angelie huffed for a second, “One down and a few more to go. Captain Mattson, are we just going to lay the beat down on the Thralls or are we taking the building down? What’s the …” Captain Kino stopped her question and swung her baton again, “...Where the fuck are they all coming from?”

Raollet stopped stumbling his way to the side entrance. “Loved One, I am going back to help Captain Kino.”

The Darla spotted the group that had managed to almost surround Captain Kino’s little squad. “No, Raollet. I will assist Angelie.” The Darla flicked her wrist and sent a twisted greenblack coil of thorns to grab the thrall attacking her captain. The Darla heard the thrall’s scream across the street, “...So potent.” She waved her tireless arms in a circular motion and encased the thrall, once more sending pulses of red along the tethered connection and into her body.

Seeing that the streets around Phantasmagoria were devoid of any traffic, Brian sprinted to the door just as Casey came bursting out of it, carrying a smoldering body. Finding himself frozen, Brian couldn’t initially say anything and simply admired the woman he’d loved for two years. -Maybe she will see reason now that she’s holding a boiling husk.- A little strength came back into his legs and he took a couple careful steps to his ex-girlfriend. Brian had just opened his mouth to speak when Casey set the woman she was carrying on the ground and offered the lady her wrist.

“Sylvie…” Casey panted, nearly out of breath. “Come on, open your eyes.” She whispered something in the vampire’s ear and leaned back up. “Damnit, come on.” Casey held her wrist to Sylvie’s mouth.

Brian took a deep breath and let out a surprised gasp. “Casey.”

The ward looked up with a smile on her face, “Brian!” She pointed to Sylvie laying on the ground. “Come help me get her out of here.” Her chocolate eyes pleaded with the big man. “I can try to explain it all later if you really want to know.” Casey looked down at Sylvie who had started to move her head. “Something inside just started the sprinklers and somehow this water..”

“It’s holy water, Casey.” Brian said flatly and opened his lightly glowing palm for Casey to see. “They are vampires, Casey!” He paced around and balled up his fists in frustration and inner conflict. “I am here to save you from these monsters. Look at you…JUST LOOK!” He screamed, “You are trying to give the fucker your BLOOD!” He raised his hand and the green light started pulsing. “No, I have to save you.”

Casey didn’t take the time to think, she just acted. Using the new strength of her enhanced legs, Casey lept at Brian in the effort to tackle the mage before his spell would go off.

Watching as the green glowing palm veered away from Sylvie, Casey prepared for some impact that would stop her hasty tackle. The next thing the young ward knew, she had sand and dirt in her eyes and was completely blind. Unable to stop herself mid-air, a second later she hit the ground with a thud, knocking the wind out of her chest.

“The blindness will be gone in a second, Casey.” Brian looked around and climbed on an abandoned car. “You belong to me, not this witch on the ground.”

Casey cleared the dirt from her eyes and glared at Brian standing on his higher position. “I don’t belong to anyone.” Casey felt the tug of Vivienne in her heart and took a breath, “Well, I do. It just isn’t you.” She pointed her finger at Brian. “Vivienne wouldn’t ever say it though. She also wouldn’t attack me.” She stood up and brushed herself off. -Damnit.- Casey slowly backed away and started walking in a semi circle away from Sylvie, hoping that Brian would follow her. “Tell me, Brian.” Her words dripped with sarcasm, “Who did you hook up with to learn what you know? Last I saw you, that was a birthmark.”

Brian smiled as his rolling mound of soil tunneled its way to where Casey was walking. “I thought it was a birthmark.” He quickly shrugged, “Turns out I am what my new friends call a geomancer.” He waved the fingers on his glowing hand. “I didn’t believe it at first either.” Recalling how Denise flicked her wrists and how she maintained control of the magic and talking, Brian commanded his little mound to grab Casey from behind.

Sensing the ground moving beneath her feet, Casey waited. “You are really going to do this?” Casey felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand. Not waiting for Brian to respond, Casey in a fluid move crouched and sprung off the dirt pile that had started to rise up and grab her. Knowing that Brian had the higher vantage point, she aimed for the car rather than the big man himself. Inertia and her more solid form plowed into the car, turning it on its side.

Before tumbling off the car like a sack of potatoes, Brian’s plan had been to grab his girlfriend with the mound or to blind her once again. Knowing that the thrust from the vehicle would make him land somewhere hard, Brian’s mind quickly thought about loose soil. His pine green light flared from his palm and zapped the ground where he was going to land. A small mattress-like section of earth pulled from the surrounding area and caught the new geomancer. “Yes, I am really doing this.” Brian whispered a fast thank you to Gaia and continued, “Sometimes the best love is tough love.” Brian stopped the mound with another quick flare and made the blob take the form of a giant humanoid, complete with lava rock eyes. “Contain, capture.” Brian watched as the runes from his commands imprinted themselves in the root twisted soil with an eerie green hue. Feeling the rush of power from the commands and the free flow of magic, Brian started trembling. “Never in two years did you hear what I was saying to you.” Summoning a pillar of ground similar to the seats he’d carved at the quarry a day before, Brian felt himself rise on an earthen pillar surrounded by twisted roots that seemed to be guarding the approach.

“Tough love?” Casey responded from the cover of another car. “What the hell has gotten into you in just a few days, Brian?” The earth golem flowed as one with the ground and was beside her in an instant, reaching for the ward. A set of blue eyes flashed in Casey’s mind and she followed them to the top of the car she’d been crouching on. Deftly sidestepping both of the creatures hands, Casey landed with grace, not denting the vehicle. Upon seeing the pillar with his guardian roots slithering like snakes ready to strike, Casey knew that the only way to her ex-boyfriend was from above. -Come on Rivers, think of something.-

“I know what it is like to be charmed now, Casey.” Brian paused and saw the helpless Sylvie on the ground barely moving. Ordering the roots of his protected pillar, Brian grabbed the vampire and hurled her high in the air by one leg. “These damned things!” Brian’s green eyes began glowing deep as his rune, “Blood sucking killers. You know the damned stories.” The branches flung the helpless vampire across the street, causing her to smash through the brick wall of Phantasmagoria. Confident and drunk with magic, Brian used the roots like a mechanical arm and pointed to the massive bus sized hole in the wall. “Yet, you joined with that.” He shook his head and summoned his magic once again, pulling up two more earth golems. “I saw how you acted when the two fed on you at the same time, like tapping a keg for beer.”

Casey gasped when she saw Sylvie flung like a doll into the building. “Monster.” Casey saw the second and third creature pull itself from the ground. -Break his focus.- Casey quickly thought to herself. Taking the initiative, Casey reached for the closest automation. Clasping her hands around what she perceived was the thing's wrist, Casey mirrored what she’d seen Brian do moments ago with Sylvie. “Take that!”

When the metric ton of dirt was hurled at him, Brian simply waved his hand once and the densely packed ground separated into its granular form and washed over him harmlessly. “I know you Casey. I just need to push you until you give up.” Clasping his hands together, the two remaining golems caught Casey and held her firm. “Just like in bed, all I have to do is pin you and make you…mine.”

Huddled in a quiet corner of the rooftop, Vivienne finally felt Faye finally suckling her blood from the open wound on her wrist. “Slowly, mon amour. You have substantial damage to your body.” The doctor in Vivienne took over and she scanned the welts and open sores where the holy water had made contact with Faye’s skin. “My love, you should be fine. A bit sore and a few scars, but nothing permanent.” Counting to eight, Vivienne pulled her wrist free and licked the fang holes closed.

Faye grumbled and started moving slowly. “I feel like I got hit by a brick.” She looked at the holes in her shoulders and dedicated some of the blood Vivienne had nourished her with to repairing the damage. “You have to save them, if you can Vivienne.” She pointed to the mist rising from the hole in the roof. “I also have to get the hell off this roof.”

Spotting the final moments of the battle between Brian and Casey, Vivienne pointed below. “I’ll go back inside and see if I can save anyone. Casey needs your help. I will meet you down there when I finish my search.”

Faye groaned and reluctantly stood up then spotted Casey trapped between the earth golems. “What the hell can I do against that?”

Vivienne’s battle mind seemed to come to life in that instant. A rush of events unfolded in her mind, as she put all the pieces that she’d missed before into a puzzle that now made sense. “The detours, the trucks..” She pointed at the four approaches to Phantasmagoria. “Perfectly planned.” She thought about the note from Franco. “They even knew when we’d be here.” Threads that didn’t seem to make sense suddenly burned from her blue eyes. “They are coordinated.”

Faye watched as Vivienne seemed to go into a light trance pointing out all of the factors that led to the current chaos. After noting that her wounds had stopped bleeding, Faye flexed her neck and arms in the effort to shake off the pain she was in. “Keep talking. What should I expect?” She pointed to Brian.

“Just break his concentration. Watch his hand, wherever it goes the magic flows.” Vivienne spotted a pair of hazy muddy-yellow eyes a block away. “I see you there.”

“See what?” Faye slowly turned and spotted the tiny orbs of light. “Ohh…”

Vivienne heard the wail of sirens coming from all sides of the city. “This was to get my attention, Faye. If we are going to find out more we have to capture the ones left. You try to get Brian.” Vivienne dashed back down the hole of the roof and out of sight.

“Okay, Brian. Let’s see what I can do about distracting you.” Faye crawled down the darkside of the building and headed into the night.

The Darla pulled out the small doll tethered together by the fine wire and reinforced silk thread in her hand. “I see you too, darling.” Denise looked at the doll once more and shook her head. “No. Now isn’t the time.” Shoving the doll back in her parka pocket, The Darla spotted a couple more fleeing people running away from the building. “More.” Lashing out with her twisted black and green magic, the people froze and were wrapped like the others. “I knew I would see you again, my love.” Denise whispered to herself as the red pulses from her last two victims pulsed into her. “Just as I remembered you.” Denise felt the twinge of excitement flutter in her belly when explosions erupted from all directions. Tapping her bluetooth earbud to activate it, The wicked voice of The Darla warned her companions. “Captain Mattson. I do hope that you and Captain Kino are headed out. Your time is up.” She paused for a moment and caught another screaming person in her tendrils. “Captain Jonah, the portal will be up in a couple minutes, get a move on.”

Captain Kino broke through over the coms, “I am knee deep in thralls, I can’t move.” She swung her charged nightstick in a wide arc hitting a couple in front of her. “Get me the fuck out of here. The mist is lifting. I won't have cover much longer.”

The Darla sighed, “Control yourself Captain Kino. If you are stepping in water, get clear fast.” The Darla focused her magic on the power lines leading into the building and sent thick strands from the transformer to the puddles of water closest to her lady captain. A loud crack and screams of agony came from the building as the power went out and doused the area in complete darkness. “Your way should be clear, Anglie.”

“Fucking beautiful, that was amazing Loved One.” Captain Kino laughed and saw her way clear to the abandoned house. “I am the only one from my squad left though, sorry I failed.” “We will assess when we get back to the farm, you performed well..” The Darla released the magic from the wires. “...Don’t worry about the others right now, they all knew what could happen.”

Raollet stopped moving when the lights went out. “Fuck.” The old farmer adjusted his baseball cap once more and pressed his hand to his broken ribs. Passing by the empty theater, he picked up a piece of broken wood from the ornate bar that had been splintered somehow. “Nice. Nothing like vampires giving you the weapon you need,” he chuckled and winced. Making his way to the side exit closest to where Brian, Raollet caught a swift whiff of chai and blood before he held up the makeshift stake. “Blue eyes, I bet that is you.” Squatting and peeking from behind the door, Captain Mattson watched the black-pink haired vampire dart and weave between the barbs that Brian had crafted for his own defense. “You are resilient, Ashburn..I will give you that.” Looking at the shaft of wood in his hand, Raollet knew that his broken piece of wood was unbalanced and slightly curved. Turning away so that his magic use wouldn’t be immediately seen by the Korean vampire, Captain Mattson focused his magic to reconstruct the shaft in his hand. Imagining bent reeds at first, the hard wood resisted the force for a couple seconds then against its nature, straightened out with a few strained moans like a stiff wind were bending it. Swirling his lime green rune over the top of the shaft, Raollet peeled away layer after layer of the stick and honed it like a pencil. “Perfect.” Crawling back to his hidden location, Captain Mattson seemed to catch the situation at the perfect moment.

Faye groaned and weaved between the branches, breaking them as they attempted to stab at her chest. “I did not sign up for this.” Feeling the tigress within her swell up and take control, Faye’s exposed skin broke out in black stripes of camouflage. Agility being her best friend, Faye danced and clawed her way to the top of Brian’s pedestal. Digging her claws firmly into the densely packed dirt, Faye reached out and grabbed Brian by the neck. “Kindly let Casey free, I would hate to hurt…”

Captain Mattson had come to realize that the short haired vampire didn’t hear his presence due to all of the commotion going on around her. Raollet stood up and hefted his magical spear and threw it with all the strength he had in his arm. When the shaft left his fingers, He called his magic to aid in the trajectory and the spear landed true, piercing Faye through the back and protruding through her chest. “Gotcha!” Raollet watched as Brian’s magic failed and the two came tumbling down from the pillar of dirt that had vanished. “Brian…Brian….” Raollet rushed over to the young mage. “We have to get out of here.”

Faye lay helpless and covered in dirt. Unable to move she merely looked at the tall man with the baseball cap. “Why?” She coughed up blood. “I was only trying to stop him from hurting..C..Casey.”

Raollet helped Brian to his feet and ignored Faye, “Hey sport..shake it off.” Raollet pointed to Casey. “She’s free though…can you..” Captain Mattson patted Brian on the back when he watched the girl start sinking into the ground. “Mud and quicksand. I love it.” He tugged on Brian’s frayed shirt, “Get that one and let's get out of here.”

Vivienne walked around the remains of the council chamber and noted that no other vampire in the room escaped the onslaught. Amid the puddles of vampire parts, Vivienne made her way to Patricia who’d killed herself with a hunk of metal jammed into her femoral artery and lay atop of what remained of Franco Tarsey. Vivienne looked down at the empty open eyes of the elder, “Sorry this happened. All of it was a ruse to get me here, for some reason.” She knelt down beside the man, “I will do my best to avenge you.” Vivienne reached down and closed Franco’s eyes. “I hope you two find each other in whatever afterlife you have.” The lights went out in a loud pop and doused the ancient vampire in near complete darkness, with only the emergency lighting kicking on. Feeling her blood supply getting low, Vivienne looked once more at Patricia. “Nothing left, I am sure.” She huffed and walked out of the council room. Vivienne reached the third floor balcony and spotted Captain Kino retreating into the distance. All around the room bodies laid charred on the floor, either dried husks reminiscent of a mummy or in a pool of bloody ooze. “Who are you…” Vivienne wondered aloud.

“I bet it was their leader that did that last part.” Kody calmly walked up to Vivienne while holding an umbrella in their hand. “That knocked out the power, so I gathered what I could and came out. I figured it was safe at this point since the sprinklers were done.” Kody scanned the area with their HUD. “I have already checked the rest of the building, you and I are the only ones left in here.” Kody pulled off the backpack they were wearing. “I hid in the refrigerator.” Opening the pack, Kody handed Vivienne a couple bags of blood. “I took what I could, It won’t stay useful with the power out.”

Vivienne quickly punctured the first bag and drained its contents in a few gulps. Wiping her lips free of the excess, she perked one of her eyebrows. “Here I thought Faye was a quick thinker.”

Kody twirled the umbrella and shrugged. “It seemed like the logical place to hold out. There is only one sprinkler in the walk-in and it seals shut, air tight.” Kody drank from a bag of blood, “I broke the one sprinkler with a shelf and waited for all the commotion to stop.” Fastening the buckles on the backpack, Kody swung the back over their back again. “I just stumbled across the umbrella. Seemed prudent.” Kody started walking with Vivienne for the exit when they stopped. “We don’t have long, word is EMS has one truck almost out of the way. Less than five minutes?”

“Are you sure there is no one else here, Kody?” Vivienne asked once her second bag of blood was depleted. “I made a promise to Faye to make sure that I would save all that I could.” Vivienne sensed Faye close but in the wrong direction. “I sent her to take care of…” Vivienne followed her instinct and dashed out of the front entrance of Phantasmagoria, just in time to see a brilliant flash of light and the group disappear like nothing had happened. “Damn it!” Stomped her foot and shattered the red brick pavers that made the entrance. “Mon amour…” Vivienne took a deep and steady breath, “You’d want me to get the others out of here.” Vivienne mumbled and kicked the dust of the brick she’d shattered.

Kody tapped Vivienne on the shoulder. “Nothing you could have done, Doctor Moreau.” They scanned the house. “Nothing but latent magic…left over.” Kody shrugged and pointed to Casey. “Look there, your ward is safe at the very least.”

Vivienne dashed over to Casey, “Are you alright?” Vivienne ran her fingers over the length of Casey’s body to make sure she was alright. It was only after Vivienne had performed her inspection that she saw Sylvie sitting on the ground crying. “Luna?”

Kody silently walked up and sat down beside his moon gifted friend. “Sylvie?” Kody whispered, showing a hint of emotion for the first time. “Here..” They pulled out a couple more bags of blood and handed it over.

Sylvie felt her wounds still oozing blood and gratefully took the two bags that Kody offered. Draining one slowly, Sylvie’s red rimmed eyes dimmed and began to shine like a full moon once more. She looked up at Casey. “I couldn’t leave you trapped after your valiant defense.”

Kody darted their power button eyes, reading the information being transferred from their HUD in real time. “This is already going to be a mess for the Veil Council to fix, we can’t get caught.” Standing up and handing Sylvie a small card, Kody nodded once. “When you are ready, that is where you can find me.” Waiving to Vivienne and Casey, Kody shifted into what looked like a metallic steam powered seagull and flew off into the distance.

“You are welcome at the manor should you choose to follow, Miss Miakoda.” Vivienne offered.

“I will gladly take you up on that offer, Vivienne.” Sniffling and standing up, Sylvie gave Casey a hug. “You saved me at the cost of losing someone close to you.” She plucked another feather from her headband. “I am in your debt, give that back once you feel the debt has been paid.”

Casey watched Vivienne shift into a raven and fly off fast towards Ravenstead Manor. “We need each other right now. You are a mess and I need to get out of here before we are seen.”

Sylvie looked at the moon that had just started peeking through the cloud cover. “I know the back alleys of this city pretty well.”

Casey looked down at the mud and quicksand that Brian trapped her in. “I loved him, you know.”

Sylvie tugged on Casey’s hand, “Tell me about it as we run.”

When Dusty started wildly barking Heather stopped what she was doing in the medical cabinet and knelt down over the yellow hair dog. “What is it boy?” Heather softly coaxed and rubbed the dog behind his ears. “Don’t worry, Denise will be back in a little bit.” Feeling the hair on the back of her neck rise, the older gray-brown haired woman hugged the cute dog and smiled. “You are more in turn with her than any of us I think, Dusty.” Heather received a light yap in response and the dog ran around her legs, his tail wagging in a blur.

Seconds later a bright pine green doorway appeared out of thin air and crackled close to the empty stretchers that Heather prepared before the crew had departed for the mission. Heather quickly scanned her triage area and first saw Denise step through the magical door. “Loved One.” Heather quickly bowed.

“Heather, good.” Denise stepped to the side and pointed to the portal. “There are six of us. One is, well, a treasured find.” Pulling back her hood, Denise shook out her dusty-blonde hair. “Captain Mattson is injured.”

A shocked look appeared in Heather’s brown eyes. “Six out of what thirty?” Captain Addison couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Everything sounded completely normal here, Loved One.” Heather flicked out her bluetooth device and it landed on her medical cart with a little flick of her white rune. “Ho…how did we lose …”

Denise raised one eyebrow and slyly smiled. “They were a bit more prepared than Captain Mattson indicated.”

Captain Kino and Captain Jonah stepped through next, “So fucking cool!” Captain Kino balled up her fist and waved it at Heather, “I am telling you right now Heather, The Loved One.” Angelie was half out of breath from running, “Her and Captain Mattson, they are the best team ever. Fuck Yeah.”

Heather saw Captain Jonah walk-stumbling and rushed over to help him stand. “I got ya Charlie.” She walked the thin mage to one of the beds and carefully helped him onto the stretcher. “What’s wrong with him?” Heather gazed at the others standing in the room.

“He used quite a bit of magic setting the trucks to explode.” Denise said flatly and slipped off her parka. She knelt down in front of her faithful dog, “Good evening, Dusty.” A hectic yelp and a flurry of licks across Denise’s cheeks made the small woman giggle. “Yes boy, So glad to see you too.” Denise scratched under Dusty’s chin. “Sorry I couldn’t take you with me, it was a little too dangerous for you.” Denise’s eyes scanned her barn and then back to her dog. “I hope Heather was a great substitute.” Dusty hopped in place for a second, then ran around Heather’s legs and back to Denise. Petting the dog on his head a final time, Denise walked over to a bench and sat down. “I take that as a yes.” Unbuckling her boots, Denise slipped on her paint-stained sneakers. “We will have company very soon, Captain Kino.”

“What do you mean, Loved One?” Angelie walked over and sat down beside Denise. “We just kicked their collective asses. No way they are coming now.” She kept her fist balled up, “I didn’t see any of them alive.” She grinned, “That electric shock was amazing timing, Loved One.”

Denise pointed to the portal when Raollet and Brian walked through, carrying Faye. “That is the reason, Captain.” Denise got up and walked upstairs to her studio. “I suspect we have less than an hour to prepare.”

Raollet dropped Faye on the floor with a thud and gripped his side, “I am sucking wind, Heather.” He coughed up a few drops of blood.

Heather made sure that Captain Jonah was safe and rushed over to Captain Mattson and touched his side. “Jesus, Raollet.” Closing her brown eyes Heather let her fingers probe the injury. “I detect three ribs that are broken.” Heather pointed to the helpless vampire laying like a sack of potatoes on the floor. “Captain Kino, get that thing out of my triage area.” “Copy that.” Angelie snickered and grabbed Faye by her black-pink hair and dragged her to the backside of the barn. “Why Captain Mattson bothered to stake your sorry ass, I’ll never know.” Captain Kino balled up her fist and she heard The Darla speak.

“I wouldn’t try to punch her, Captain Kino.” Denise had situated herself on her stool with a blank canvas. “You’ll break every bone in your hand.” Denise studied Faye a bit more and started mixing paints. “You knew that.” Denise snickered. “The attack was both a success and a failure, Captain Kino.”

Angelie unclenched her fist and walked away from Faye, “I don’t get it.”

“We failed to take off the head of the serpent.” The Darla commented and made a few paint swishes on the canvas. “If that one lives, then the snake does as well.”

“Well that sucks ass, Loved One.” Captain Kino sputtered and turned to face Brian. “Good work, Novitiate.”

Brian sealed the portal closed and walked over to help support Captain Addison. “How can I help? He saved me from the thing on the ground.” Casually pointing to Faye in the corner, “That was close to biting me and that spear of his got her dead to rights.” Getting a nerdy look on his big face, Brian half smiled and awkwardly waved to Captain Kino. “Sure.”

Heather shook her head, “No thank you, Brian. I can handle Raollet.” Captain Addison worked the old farmer into a bed beside Captain Jonah. “Loved One?” Heather walked to her cabinet and pulled out a small vial and needle. “Captain Mattson really needs a hospital. I need an x-ray at the very least.”

The Darla looked away from her painting. “We can’t. Emergency services will be on high alert.” She pointed her paintbrush at Captain Joah, “His diversion will have caused a pretty big panic. Those diversions do not even account for the initial response.” The Darla started mixing different shades of green on her palate, “You will have to patch Captain Mattson up the best you can here.”

Rubbing her white glowing rune for a couple seconds, Heather looked up at The Darla. “I haven’t been able to really use Gaia’s touch since…since…Derek passed.”

The Darla put down her supplies and made her way back downstairs. “Captain Addison.” Denise turned to her medic to face her, “You can do this, I have seen you perform what most people would consider a miracle.” Pointing to Raollet, “He needs you Heather. We need him for what is about to descend on us.” Denise rubbed Raollet’s shoulder. “It was his idea that balanced the odds this evening. He will be crucial in defending the farm.” Denise winked and then swung to point at Faye. “I am sure he had his reasons for capturing that one.”

Captain Addison pulled her brown and gray hair into a ponytail and took a few steady breaths. “Alright.” She put her hand on Raollet’s chest softly. “Raollet, I will try. This is a pretty bad break.” She raised her runic hand and the egg white light started pulsing slowly. “You are lucky to have survived.” Heather quietly observed. “You have one that is dangerously close to puncturing a lung.” Heather stopped her assessment for a second and used her angelic white wisp to bring her a set of scissors. Captain Addison looked at Denise. “Thank you, Loved One. I think I can handle it from here, unless you want to watch.”

Denise’s eyes flashed yellow briefly and backed away. “No dear. This is your department, I have other things to do.”

Refocusing on her duty, Heather cut Raollet’s shirt away to reveal heavy bruising all over his torso. “Jesus, Captain Mattson. What the hell happened?” She asked as the ghostlike tentacle started probing once more.

“I took a punch to the side among other things.” Raollet grunted and coughed up more blood. “Th..this can’t be good.” The farmer turned his head and spat the red goop to the floor.

“Quiet now, Raollet. Just give me one finger for yes, two fingers for no.” Heather’s calm and professional voice took over. “I can give you something for the pain, if you like. I am looking for the bleeding now.” The cleric smiled as the soft rush of healing pulsed through her body and out of her palm. Heather felt a certain peace that came from the magic as it gently pulsed and weaved its way through the injured man. “Raollet, I found it.” Heather spoke vibrantly.

Breaking his protocol, Raollet spoke to Heather, “You are glowing, Heather.”

“Shhh, Let me focus. Fingers only. Do you want anything for pain?” Captain Addison queried once more. Seeing two fingers pop up from the man, Heather snickered. “Very well.” Multiple silky strands started crawling over the bruises. “Raollet, open your mouth.” Heather ordered. When the farmer opened his mouth, the healing threads drove into Raollet and made the older man start pulsing white and green at the same time. “Loved One.” Heather felt the power flowing from her naturally. “It is like riding a bike.” She looked away from Raollet and winked her pearl glowing eyes at Denise. “Thank you, Loved One.”

“Heather, you love Captain Mattson.” Denise walked back to her painting and started swishing the green mixture on the canvas. “Love has a way of fixing everything. Captain Addison, you have my blessing and support. Bring health to our beloved Raollet.

Threads of wavy white pulsed deeper over and into the injured captain, seeking out his injuries. When a tendril found a tender spot, they circled and left a crystal-like marker for Heather to see. “Spleen first.” The cleric spoke gently. “This might be a little uncomfortable.” Heather took a deep breath and thought about the organ and how it was supposed to look and how it supported the body. White pulses slowly took on a blue hue and rushed into Raollet. “Gaia and The Darla be praised, Raollet. Your wounds are healing perfectly.” Heather commented as the wisps of blue found the spots, repaired them and rejoined Raollet’s ribs without any hesitation. Satisfied with the work that her healing magic performed, Heather pulled her magic back to her palm. “Don’t move yet, Captain Mattson. Let me look you over.”

Finally able to breathe easily, the grizzled old farmer nodded to Heather. “You’re the doctor. I am not moving.” He added, “If it means anything, I don’t have a lick of pain.”

Captain Addison felt her way along Raollet’s ribs and inspected where the bruises had been.

“Looks like we got everything.” Walking over to pick up her stethoscope, Heather listened to

Raollet’s heartbeat and breathing. “Sounds normal.” Counting in her head for a couple more seconds, Heather nodded. “Normal blood pressure too.” Shaking the hand where her white glowing runic-symbol pulsed softly, Heather looked at Denise. “All clear, Loved One.”

Denise swished her brush across the canvas with a flair and looked to the remains of her group. “You all performed lovely!” She stood up and pointed to the far side of the barn close to where Faye had been unceremoniously dragged. Waving her hand once, a few thermal blankets pulled away and revealed a table full of food and lots of drink. “My darlings eat, refuel yourselves! We will have company soon, you will need all of your strength.”

“I will eat after I look after Captain Jonah, Loved One.” Heather announced and started hovering over the sickly mage.

“We would be weaker without you, Captain Addison.” Denise winked and pointed to the buffet. “Everyone, celebrate our victory. The Awakened are here to stay.” A little cheer erupted from the four as they walked over and started to gorge themselves and Denise sat down on her stool and spun slowly until she looked upon Faye motionless on the ground.

“Tough love..” She whispered to herself and resumed her work on the painting.