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Benedict cautiously approached the edge of the forest, as his eyes scanned the clearing. He knew he was getting close. He slowed his pace and took extra precaution as he approached his destination. He was unsure what to expect, but swiftly noticed an isolated cabin facing what should be Helena’s bog. Slightly squinting, he scrutinized the area, analyzing the cabin, its surrounding, and its structural integrity.
Nothing seemed out of place. If anything, the atmosphere was eerily welcoming.
The cabin, of course, was in a bad state. Down-trodden, with overgrowth promising to swallow it whole. He knew that the Verdons probably never made a visit to the lodging, until now.
No goons were in sight, and Benedict concluded that they were most likely guarding Ally from the inside. How in the hell did the Verdons manage to hire so many goons without attracting any attention? It was beyond his understanding. That household had truly gone mad.
At that moment, he realized how thankful he was for Janelle’s help. Without her gemstones, taking down the goons would have been nearly impossible. They were an unpredictable race. During his studies at the High Council Academy, he remembered that when ambushed or cornered, Goons could display an impressive level of rage and aggression. Benedict knew that one could very easily subdue him, while the other killed Ally. The thought sent shivers down his spine. Banishment of the goons would be the safest course of action. He just had to be quick about it.
Janelle gave him the instructions to follow, and he knew what he had to do; cast the spell from inside the cabin while facing the beasts. Trying to dispel them from the outside, which would have been quite advantageous for him, was sadly not an option. So, now he had a new problem to deal with. How was he to enter the shack without drawing any attention to himself, and still be able to utilize the element of surprise? He exhaled, uncertain what he was going to do. Undaunted, he proceeded towards Ally’s confinement. He hoped somehow to have a plan by the time his hand reached the cabin’s doorknob.
●●●●
As Benedict peered through the window, he stiffened. Ally was unconscious, and tied, with two other humans, to a single post. Quickly, he realized that the other beings were the girls he saw at Flambé. Why were they here? What does Moira want with them? But the real shocker was finding Gabriel Harlan among them! How did Gabe find them? Why was Benedict not warned? Anger started to build up inside Benedict, but he stifled it. If anything, it was quite the relief that one of the best ally’s he could ask for was here.
Concentrating, Benedict tried to sense Gabriel. He would try to telepathically communicate with him, before barging into the cabin. Instantly, Gabe sucked in his breath when he felt Benedict’s familiar presence within his head.
- Fuck! Where the hell have you been?! It’s about bloody damn time!
Gabriel was ecstatic! What perfect timing! He was beginning to have doubts about Benedict. He even feared his best vamp would commit the unthinkable and marry Moira. But, boy, was he wrong! Ben was finally here. Ally was going to freak... as soon as she regained consciousness.
- What happened? How are you here? Why didn’t you warn me?
- Geez, I missed you, too, bud...
- How did you manage to find Ally?
Gabriel’s eyes twinkled. He couldn’t fault his friend. So much was on the line, and his current state was understandable. Rather than being defensive, he met Ben’s suspicious gaze and quickly brought him up to speed. He explained how he received a random call from one of Moira’s servants. This one, in particular, sounded deeply concerned for her mistress’s welfare. She eventually spilled the beans, and the mysterious caller revealed Moira’s whereabouts and the details of her sordid plan. Unfortunately, when he reached the bog, Moira managed to catch him off guard and smashed his jaw with the Harlan House Halberd. When he finally came around, he discovered he was securely restrained with enchanted rope.
- How did she manage to catch you off guard?
- I was distracted...
- By what—
- What’s done is done! So, what’s your plan? How are you going to deal with these brutes? Sadly, I won’t be much help to you.
Benedict’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t satisfied with Gabriel’s answer and pivot. It was too vague and a little too hostile. He knew his friend was purposely dodging the question. What was he hiding?
Gabe wasn’t one to be sloppy with his investigations. Was he reckless? Yes, absolutely! But, while in tracking mode, he was focused, determined, and relentless. He was invincible. In fact, it was a curiosity to many vampires how well he excelled in tracking down beasts, humans and various type of resources. Benedict felt there was more to this than a plain distraction. There was something he was not saying. But, he would let it go, for now.
It was now Benedict’s turn to give an update on his latest misadventures. He reported to Gabe how he had been swamped with work at the High Council. He began lamenting how he had to work late, before catching glimpses of Gabe yawning or rolling his eyes. Irritated, he skipped to the part where he finally lost patience and hurled the stack of documents onto the floor. At this tidbit of information, Gabe nodded his approval. Benedict declared that he had finally seen the light. That, after all these years, he was wrong to have questioned him. He saw the Verdons for the parasites they truly were.
He proceeded to tell him how he was ambushed by Vincent. How Vincent planned to keep him under the watch of two of the biggest goons he had ever seen. However, in a bizarre turn of events, Janelle Verdon showed up at Vincent’s office and decided that it would be safer if Benedict were physically restrained. She sent one goon away to fetch a bundle of enchanted rope, and upon his departure, killed the remaining goon. She quickly revealed that she wanted to help Benedict, and promptly, they left the High Council and headed for Helena’s Bog.
Gabe looked skeptical. Why would Janelle help Benedict? Although he had a soft spot for Janelle, she couldn’t be trusted. Yes, she helped his household by permitting them to keep some of their possessions. But, that friendly gesture was more akin to letting them keep a few crumbs.
- Why would she go against her husband and daughter to help you? This must be a trap.
- I thought the same. I still think it could be a trap. But, she gave me enchanted hematite to banish the goons. Even if this is an ambush, I’ll take my chances to free Ally. How is she faring? I can’t connect with her.
- She’s very weak. Right now, she’s unconscious. Let’s say you arrived just in time.
- With any luck, her nightmares will end once I banish these goons. I’m going to need you to distract them, before charging in and taking them by surprise.
- Excellent, plan! I will get them to—
A deafening, piercing scream was heard from all parties, as they turned and faced a blanched Ally. She was violently thrashing her head from side to side, terrifying Pam and Trish. She continued screeching uncontrollably, as foam dripped from her mouth.
Gabe was visibly concerned.
The goons, alarmed, gaped at the morphed, uncertain what they should do.
Benedict, wide-eyed with horror, knew this was Ally’s final battle cry. He was too late. Once these symptoms appeared, the results were always fatal.
As she continued to scream and moan, she muttered unintelligible words. She started gasping for air, her eyes rolling madly in their socket. She was convulsing and finally, she managed to say a sentence, which everyone understood: “Help me.”
“What’s going on?!” Trish cried.
“You have to do something!” Pam yelled as she pleaded with Gabe.
“There’s nothing I can do. I’m so sorry. Ally is dying.”
“NO!” Pam and Trish screamed in unison.
“Stay away from her as much as you can! She lost control and is no longer herself!” Gabe warned. If Ally had to die, he hoped it would be quick with no other casualties.
“I feel so weak. I-I can’t feel my legs...” Ally mumbled, looking around the room, begging for someone, anyone, to come to her aid.
At that moment, without any regard to the consequences of her actions, Trish arched her neck towards Ally, exposing her skin to the famished vampire.
“Do it!” Trish ordered. “Bite me!”
“No! Stop!” Gabe bellowed. “This is not a game! We don’t know what will happen if a morph bites into a human! Get away from her!”
“Fuck off!” Trish retorted. “This is between me and Ally. No one else. Just us!”
“I-I can’t...” Ally said weakly. “I don’t w-want to...”
“Do it now!” Trish screamed as she gritted her teeth.
All at once, something took over Ally. She lost control of herself. Nothing mattered anymore. She was free, and at peace with her new identity. She opened her mouth wide, wider than she thought was humanly possible, and eyed Trish’s neck. She spotted the artery; its pulsations inviting her to come closer, welcoming her. She reached forward, reared her head back, and sank her fangs deep into her best friend’s neck.
