cHAPTER oNE - III - sURVIVAL oF tHE sICKEST

1

"Aight, Timmy..." Tempest says within their speeding blur, zooming in on the cemetary gates. "This is where ya need ta get in dat Hummer n scoot."

Tempest swats Timmy's pocket and out pops the Amulet Of Legends. Timmy looks down to see Tempest is putting the Amulet of Legends away, as they fly through the cemetary gates and out in to the street. Tempest reaches out and grabs the edge of the gate and releases Timmy, who goes sprawling to the hood of the Hummer with a thunderous crash.

Timmy looks up into a startled Rob's eyes.

"GO, MAN!" Timmy pounds the hood of the Hummer. "GO!"

Rob stomps the accelerator and the Hummer is in motion.

Tempest is trying to slow himself, with the yanked off cemetary gate in his hand. He turns to see the zombies are pouring out of the cemetary gates. He hurls the gate like a frisbee, knocking some zombies to the ground, aggravating others. Some, even in their deadness, were able to avoid the incoming gate, as it crashes inside the cemetary behind them.

Tempest runs down the curve of the street to in front of the club, where he finds the motorcycle left for him. He hears the muffled clank of a metal latch. He looks up and to his astonishment, Miss Music is closing her yard gate and she looks up and smiles when she sees Tempest.

"Good morning, Tempest." Miss Music smiles.

"Would ya like a ride ta work, this mornin?" Tempest tries to smile, best he can, trying not to seem anxious or give away the fact that the street behind them was filled with attacking zombies.

"Why, thank you, Tempest." Miss Music agrees, as she walks over to the motorcycle and hops over the back of the seat.

Tempest cranks the motorcycle to life and revs the engine.

"Hold on, sweetness."Tempest warns and guns the engine.

A little startled yelp escapes Miss Music, as the motorcycle is blazing down the street with extreme speed.

"You're going to pass..." Miss Music began. "You passed it! Is there any in particular reason why you're going so fast?"

A leather gloved thumb points directly behind them both.

"Them." Tempest said, maintaining the motorcycle handlebars.

Miss Music turns around to see an armada of rotten bodies running after them with alarming speed.

"I totally understand now!!!" Miss Music says, tightening her grip around Tempest's waist with her arms.

"Yer gonna hafta come up here , sweetness." Tempest says. "They're gonna try ta take ya."

"Why do they want me?" Miss Music asked.

"Explain it when we safe."Tempest assured Music. "Right now, ease yer legs around me n' get up here where I can protect ya."

Miss Music slowly and steadily makes the transition from behind Tempest on the motorcycle, to in front of him and facing him. Her arms lock onto his waist tightly and her eyes scan the tinted shades.

"Atta diva." Tempest winks. "Now hold on, this gonna get ugly."

Tempest whips out a pistol with his right hand and fires it, as a zombie roars and clutches fer Miss Music. It's head explodes and it's body begins to skid along the street, as others trip over it, trample over it and keep the pursuit. He wills his scythe to life with his left hand and does a complete circular motion around his head, sweeping the feet of two jumping zombies, causing them to flop to the tromping feet of the hordes of zombies that chased them.

The scythe is willed away and his left hand returns to the handlebar. Tempest fires two more shots at attacking zombies and has to holster the pistol to manuever the speeding motorcycle down the upcoming curves.

Miss Music gently lowers the tinted shades of Tempest's down to where she could see his light brown eyes had a hint of prismatic smoke dancing within them.

"You're not from around here, are you?" Music asked.

"I'm here ta protect ya." Tempest assured her.

A series of harsh turns ensue and with each harsh turn, Tempest manned the handlebars with the opposite hand and held onto Music's waist with the other. Tempest's light brown and smoky eyes look forward with a bit of unpleasantness.

"What?" Music asks.

"Don't look, just hold onto me." Tempest says, unsheathing a pistol in each hand for a moment, unleashing an array of shots, as nearing zombies are droppin in their steps.

Tempest sheathes the pistols as the blaring air horn of the eighteen wheeler begins to deafen everything around them. He leans to his left hard, tipping the bike with him. His left arm completely under Miss Music as she is horizontal with the ground and mere inches above it as it speeds under her. His right arm mans the handlebars. His left boot is their anchor, it's scuff mark leaving a trail behind.

Music's eyes grasp the fact that they are passing the underneath side of an eighteen wheeler's trailer. Huge metallic thuds can be heard, as the pursuing zombies are all crashing into the trailer. Music's eyes can see the bright morning sky again and Tempest stomps the ground and whips the motorcycle upright. Music bounces up and plops down in Tempest's lap with an astonished little gasp.

"I'm guessing that wasn't the gas cap." Music blushes.

Tempest sneers, pushing his tinted shades back over his eyes, as he speeds along the street, Music watching the wreck between the eighteen wheeler and the zombies from over Tempest's shoulder.

"We need somewhere safe to go for a while."Tempest says, hoping for a suggestion.

"To the lagoon." Music says. "I have friends there."

2

Helly and Ice King have regrouped after the escapeof the Amulet Of Legends from the Holy Grounds. Ice King is furious, as he keys his radio and finally the jammed frequency is clear for transmission.

"All units, be advised. It has begun." Ice King says, gritting his furious teeth. "I repeat. It has begun."

Ice King releases the key to his radio and Helly comes up to her lover and gives him a warm and submissive hug.

"Ya gonna be fine, lover." Helly promised her Ice King. "Da full moon's a comin."

Ice King looks down at his loving significant other with a smile. She was indeed correct. The full moon was coming...and all would be fine. He kisses her lips ever so gently with an evil sneer.

"You're absolutely right, my love."Ice King smiles. "Only a matter of time."

Suddenly, the radio cackles in...

"...speeding southbound towards the lagoon!" the radio voice crackled.

Helly and Ice King exchange a smile, as they enter their beat up squad car, fire it to life and screech away from the gates of the Holy Grounds. As they slowly make their way out of the cemetary gates, they see Darkus, with his summoned zombie queens amongst the mayhem.

Ice King pulls up next to Darkus.

"I should have known, Darkus." Ice King smiles.

Sinz and Dakota both hiss at Ice King.

"You don't know the half of it, Ice King." Darkus assures Ice King.

"Well, I know the amulet got away." Ice King sighs.

Darkus rolls his eyes in disgust.

"But, we know where it's going."Helly grins.

Darkus turns with interest.

"I'm listening." Darkus says.

3

A brilliant day at the lagoon. The sun is warm in the morning sky, without a cloud to disturb it. The water is calm and cool, as Niagra slips out of her sandals and tests the water with her bare foot. She had been swimming mornings here for years. She drops her towel and slowly steps into the water for her morning swim. She walks out waist deep and drops to her knees and tilts her head back, wetting her hair and then standing once again. She clears water from her face and that's when the brilliant flash overcame her and then the low rumbling became impactious.

She felt herself thrust back into the water, as a thunderous wave overcame her...

4

"...all units, be advised. Meteorite has struck lagoon." the radio crackled. "Repeat. Meteorite has struck lagoon."

Ice King looks over at Helly.

Helly grins.

"I think this is going to be too easy."Ice King grins wickedly.

"Indeed, baby."Helly agrees. "Indeed."

5

Tempest pulls up to the Miami Diastillery and pauses, as the flaming streak across the sky crashes into the edge of the lagoon.

"What on Earth?" Music asks.

"Go inside." Tempest says softly. "We need to stay outta sight fer now."

Music enters the club and the cool blast of air conditioning hits her. Tempest slowly follows her in and secures the door behind them.

"Hello?" Music calls out to the empty club.

"Not open yet." a young voice calls out, as Strawbeery returns to view from the cooler.

"Think I know that, girlie." Music winks and Strawberry smiles.

"Hey, Auntie!" Strawberry smiles and her eyes catch Tempest behind her "And...who...is that?"

Music glances back at Tempest with a smile.

"That's Tempest." Music smiles. "Where's Dia?"

"She's in the office, with Stills." Strawberry says, double checking Tempest uneasily.

"Go let them know I'm here." Music says softly.

Stills and Dia were already on their way out from the office area.

"My God, and it hit the lagoon!" Dia is talking into the cordless phone, as she walks out to the open club window, where you could see everything from there, including the lagoon shoreline.

Stills stands next to her with binoculars, scouting the shoreline.

"I've never seen anything like it!" Stills says softly. "We're going to be packed tonight! People are going to want to see what's going on from up here."

Strawberry and Music join Stills and Dia in the huge bay window of the club, looking down at the lagoon shoreline.

"Unbelievable!" Stills exclaims out loud.

"What?" Dia asked, muffling the cordless phone.

"There's...a...woman...down there!" Stills points.

Tempest slowly approaches the window and lets his eyes focus down on the shoreline, where Stills was pointing.

"What?" Dia's eyes crinkle, looking down at the shoreline. "Wow! There is! Oh, but look, there's a cop car coming, she'll be just fine."

Tempest notices that the cop car is missing a driver's door.

6

Ice King and Helly get out of the driver's doorless squad car and slowly approach the kneeling woman. Their eyes crinkle as little illuminances of orange scatter and disappear. She slowly stands.

"I...think...it took the breath out of me." Niagra coughed, her hands feel the back of her neck to make sure her hair covered the back of her neck.

"I'm sure it did." Ice King says softly. "Are you allright?"

"Why...yes..." Niagra says, with a slight smile, her eyes turn upwards towards them as she rises to her feet. Her eyes flash a bright orange for a moment. "I think everything is going to be just fine."

Ice King and Helly look at each other a little confused and then back at Niagra.

"Are ya sure, honey?" Helly asks Niagra. "Ya about got run overed by a meteorite."

"I've never been more positive about anything in my life." Niagra smiles. "I feel like I could swim the entire lagoon!"

Ice King strolls over towards the edge of the smoldering crater and peeks in. It appears that whatever orange slime-like substance that was in the meteor burned up uopn impact.

Ice King does notice there was some form of flow from the impact. His wolf like eyes follow those trails to where Niagra stands.

"Are you sure, you're okay, Miss..."Ice King asks.

"Sure." Niagra said. "Odd as it seems, I can't think of a time when I ever felt better."

"Maybe you should come with us and we get you checked out." Ice King suggests.

"Just to be on the safe side." Helly agrees.

"If you insist, officer."Niagra agrees.

Ice King's eyes resurvey the tracks from the meteor to where Niagra stands.

"I think it would be wise." Ice King nods, leaning into his shoulder mic. "Lagoon shoreline. Send paramedics. Repeat. Lagoon shoreline. Send paramedics."

Niagra's eyes briefly glow orange and she whispers in some ancient dialect that Ice King clearly understands after years of studying it.

"It is near." Niagra whispers in this ancient dialect. "I can feel it. It is near."

Niagra's glowing orange eyes fade, as she looks up towards the strip mall above them, unaware she was even whispering.

Ice King's eyes shift up towards the strip mall and grins wickedly.

7

"Whoa." Stills said, with a chill in his voice. "I think she looked up here at me."

"She did." Tempest said coldly. "And that ain't good."

He slowly pulls da Amulet Of Legends from his pocket to feel it's warmth even in his leather gloved hand...and how it was slowly pulsing in an orange glow....

cHAPTER oNE - II - tHE hOLY gROUNDS

1

The black Hummer pulls to a slow stop just shy of the cemetary gates.

"This is as far as we go, Reaper." Just Rob turns from the driver seat and looks at him. Timmy Titus opens his backseat door and steps out. Reaper follows behind Timmy Titus.

"Aight then." Tempest nods. "Get dat gate open."

Tempest and Timmy Titus walk across the street and enter the cemetary.

As they walk amongst the gravestones of the dead, Tempest pauses.

"What?" Timmy Titus whispers.

"Somethin ain't right." Tempest said softly.

"They're just dead people."Timmy Titus whispers. "I thought you were supposed to be some bad ass Reaper of somekind."

"Dead people present a problem." Tempest says softly.

"What kind of problem?"Timmy Titus cant believe his ears. "They're DEAD!"

"Indeed. They are dead." a voice calls to them.

Tempest and Timmy Titus pause again, looking up. A few graves away, a dark cape flaps in the wind and you can hear the chuckle from within his hood.

"Darkus." Tempest's expression frowns furiously.

"The beauty of the dead..."Darkus begins to chuckle and waves his hands in between some indistinct ancient enchantment. "...is that they do your bidding...if given life again."

The graves and ground around them begin to rumble.

"Life again?" Timmy Titus asks Tempest in disbelief.

"Ever heard of a zombie?" Tempest asks, willing his scythe into form within his leather gloved hand and twirls it.

"Only in the movies."Timmy Titus says puzzled.

"They ain't just in da movies, kiddo." Tempest assures Timmy Titus.

"What?" Timmy could not believe his ears.

"GO! NOW!" Tempest orders.

Timmy Titus is up the path with amazing speed.

Tempest lets him get far ahead, turns to face Darkus again.

"You will not get the amulet." Darkus laughs.

Tempest glares at Darkus and pulls out the radio from his pocket.

"Change of plans, Rob." Tempest says.

"What?" Rob's voice comes back over the radio.

"Get dat gate open now." Tempest orders. "We fixin ta have a whole lotta company."

"What kinda company?" Rob's voice comes back.

"Da zombie kind." Tempest says and stuffs the radio back in his trenchcoat pocket.

The gravestones begin to stir, as boned hands begin to crawl out of the Earth from each grave that surrounded them. The entire Earth of the cemetary was animated with dead returning to life.

Tempest starts up the path, willing his scythe to dissipate and begins to make haste towards the Holy Grounds gate.

Darkus roars with laughter.

"We'll be waiting for you, Reaper!" Darkus taunts, as zombies crawl out of their graves and gather around him by the dozens. "WE'LL BE WAITING!"

Darkus is joined by two female zombies, each stand in front of him in all of their rotten, undead glory. Maggots fall from Dakota's eye socket, as she hisses in question to the other, white haired zombie, not long dead, still with skin.

"Ah, Sinz and Dakota, my goddesses of the dead."Darkus says with pleasure.

"Why...does thee summon ussssssssss?" Sinz asks.

"Yesssss...why does thee summon usssss?" Dakota agrees in question.

"The amulet, my dears." Darkus points to the Holy Grounds. "It must not escape. Bring it to me."

Sinz and Dakota share a glance at each other and then back to Darkus.

"As ye wish."Sinz nods.

2

"Awww, Ice baby. What are we doing out here again?" a vibrant red head turns and asks a highly decorated cop.

"We got a disturbance call for the Holy Grounds." Ice King says, his eyes scanning the cemetary below from in front of his squad car. "Just wanted to see personally that all was still in order, Helly."

"Things look in order from here." Hellz says playfully, as she checks out her man in his uniform.

Ice King glances at her with a smile.

"Just let me make sure..."Ice King says and draws his pistol with trained precision and aims it out at the younger man running up the path.

Timmy Titus stops, a little out of breath, glances back a minute as he catches his breath and looks up at the police officer with his gun drawn on him.

"State your business." Ice King says firmly. "The Holy Grounds are off limits untill further notice."

"I think..." Timmy Titus huffs. "...we're going to have a big problem...in a minute."

Ice King's eyebrows crinkle with curiosity.

"What kind of problem?" Ice King asks.

"He...he said..." Timmy Titus puffs. "Zombies."

"Zombies?" Hellz shoots Ice King a look of surprize.

"Who said?" Ice King interrogates from behind his drawn pistol.

Prismatic smoke begins to appear in between Ice King and Timmy Titus. A scythe is twirled and the staff of the scythe sends Ice King's pistol flying into the night air and into the darkness of the cemetary grounds. The prismatic smoke all forms solid to reveal Tempest.

"A Reaper?" Ice King cannot believe his eyes.

"No time fer games." Tempest assures the cop. "I'm goin in there."

"I don't think so, Reaper." Ice King glares at Tempest.

"Suit yerself." Tempest outstretches his hand and pulls the red head's soul from her and holds it out in front of him.

"She'll live, if ya cooperate." Tempest tells the highly decorated officer. "She'll die, if ya don't."

The gate beeps and the enormous concrete gates begin to slide open.

"Timmy, do yer thang." Tempest orders and Timmy vanishes from sight.

"What the..." Ice King mumbles, as he watches Timmy Titus shrink out of view and watches the stir of leaves from his amazing speed shoot by his feet.

"I'm going to enjoy killing you, Reaper." Ice King growls at Tempest. "Come the full moon, you are dead!"

"I don't think so, Scooter." Tempest sneers, taunting him with the soul of his love.

Every part of Ice King wanted to transform and shred him to pieces, but he was powerless untill the full moon, where he reigns as king of the werewolves.

"You really think you're going to fulfill somekind of stupid prophecy that's been dormant for centuries?" Ice King asks. "Do you realize how long my reach is?"

Tempest's eyebrows crinkle a little with this thought, as he studies the height of Ice King.

"Yer gonna needa stepladder, Hoss." Tempest sneers.

"You son of a..."Ice King growls, steps forward, but pauses as Tempest holds Hellz soul in front of him.

3

Timmy Titus runs with intense speed, as his size begins to grow back to his normal self. He runs up the path of the Holy Grounds to the sanctuary. He hops up every other step with athletic agility and pushes the sanctuary doors open. He took a snoozing police officer by surprize, startling him awake from his chair by the door and with a simple elbow to his face, he was silent again, slumped back in his chair as if he had never been disturbed.

"Night night."Timmy Titus sneers and his attention is drawn up the dark red velvet carpet, in between the rows of pews to each side. The altar ahead laid host to the Amulet Of Legends.

He slowly walks towards the altar and ascends each step slowly. It was illuminated within itself, lighting up da front of the sanctuary with it's mysterious brilliance.

"I feel like Indiana Jones." Timmy Titus whispers.

His eyes dance over it's intricate carvings and it's glowing essence of things he does not understand. His hand outstretches and pauses over it a moment. He can feel warmth from it's surface, power from within it.

"No wonder they've been fighting over this thing for centuries." Timmy Titus says.

His hand touches the Amulet Of Legends and he pulls it from the altar, holding it out in front of him a moment. He sticks it in his pocket and heads for the sanctuary doors.

"I got it." Timmy says into his radio. "Heading out."

4

Ice King turns from his knelt position over his lifeless Hellz.

Tempest hears Timmy's voice on the radio. He sends Hellz soul back into her body and Ice King holds her, as she stirs to life. Tempest seizes the moment and steps into the Holy Grounds. He feels his training taking hold of him. He accepts the spirits of the Holy Ground.

"Baby..."Hellz looks up at Ice King. "What happened?"

"Nothing I can't take care of, love." Ice King assures her. "Be right back."

Ice King rises and follows Tempest into the Holy Grounds.

"You think you run this show, Reaper?" Ice King shouts through gritting teeth and takes a precision swing at the back of Tempest's head. He pauses in puzzlement when his swing passes right through him.

Ice King is furious and swings again, only to become more puzzled for a moment as it passes right through him. Any other entity would be on the ground...swing after swing, all of his training coming to life in his fury and every last one passes through Tempest, as if he wasn't even there.

"The Holy Grounds!?" Ice King almost roars into a question. "How can they protect you?"

"When ya work with Heaven and Hell..." Tempest sneers. "Anythin can happen."

Tempest catches Timmy Titus and turns towards Ice King.

"Step aside." Tempest says.

"That is not an option, Reaper." Ice King says. "The amulet does not leave the Holy Grounds!"

"Today, it does." Tempest assured Ice King.

Ice King is noticing his wolf senses entering him, his compliment of the Holy Grounds. His sense of smell, his athletic prowess...all coming to him in human form.

"I see why you like it here, Reaper." Ice King almost howls.

"Timmy...GO!" Tempest ordered.

Timmy takes a long escape route around Ice King, as Ice King stays focused on Tempest.

Ice King leaps high into the air with a howl and comes down towards Tempest. Tempest side steps, as Ice King makes a crater in the sidewalk with his fist.

"Oh, I see why you like it here!!!" Ice King taunts.

Ice King spins and swings at Tempest again. This time, Tempest is forced to block with a forearm.

"Only one drag ta ya discoverin yer powers in here, Ice..."Tempest says calmly, blocking each attack from Ice King with forearm crosses.

"What could possibly be a down side to this magnificent power?" Ice King roars, as he swings again.

Tempest clamps down on Ice King's forearm and for a moment and they are eye to tinted shades.

"I can hit back." Tempest sneers, as sends an elbow into Ice King's chest.

Ice King flies backwards up the path from the tremendous blow and crashes through the sanctuary doors.

Tempest turns and begins to run towards the Holy Grounds gate. Even with Timmy's brilliant speed, he is gaining on Timmy with unbelievable momentum.

Timmy glances over his shoulder.

"Hey...slow down!" Timmy huffed, as the Reaper opens his arms and grabs Timmy.

"WHOA!" Timmy shouts, as everything around him was becoming blurry from the speed they were gaining.

Hellz looks up in time to see the dark blur rushing towards her and she gets to her knees. She gets to the squad car and pulls it in front of the gate. She glances out the window to see that not only is the blur not stopping, but coming even faster, right towards the squad car.

"Oh, sh..." Hellz mutters and dives out of the squad car.

Tempest penetrates the passenger side door of the squad car and the driver's door blew off and flipped in the air a few times, before it came crashing down close to where Hellz landed.

"How the hell did you do that?" Timmy manages to ask from within the whizzing blur they were in.

"It's da Holy Grounds..."Tempest says. "But it gonna wear off soon now dat we left 'em."

"Wow!" Timmy says. "How are we going to stop?"

"I ain't got dat far yet." Tempest said.

"You WHAT!?" Timmy shrieked.

5

"Something's coming on radar..." Lady Eva announces inside the Hummer. "...and it's really fast."

"They're frequency is jammed. He won't get any back up." Baby confirms.

"We got movement all over the cemetary!" Lady Eva panics.

Rob turns to face the cemetary gates from the driver's seat.

"Zombies." Rob sighs, picking up his radio.

"Timmy! The sun is rising and the vampires had to back off! Tell Tempest they left him a motorcycle just down the street, in front of the club!"

cHAPTER ONE - I - oPEN yOUR eYES

1

Tempest follows Livid out to a balcony, where the night sky is filled with stars and rolling clouds. The breeze is cool, gently flapping the ends of his trenchcoat in the night air. He follows Livid down the left side of the balcony to the corner. Her head lowers a moment, in thought.

"If you're going to fulfill this prophecy, you need to open your eyes, Reaper." Livid speaks firmly.

"I'ma listenin'." Tempest nods.

"The werewolves already have the advantage. They have recovered the Amulet Of Legends and placed it on the holy grounds of the cemetary." Livid sighs with disgust.

"So, since it's on 'holy grounds', ya'll cain't go in an get it."Tempst calculates.

"The werewolves are clever. They have used their human disguises within the Moove Police Department to protect the amulet at all times, untill the next full moon." Livid informs the Reaper. "The only chance we will have at it is when they transport it to the Pillar Of Persevereance and attempt to unlock it."

"So, ya need someone ta go in there n get it." Tempest said.

"That would be advantagious, however, we could not assist you untill you returned out from the holy grounds." Livid nods, glancing at the Reaper, whom stares out towards the holy grounds.

"Are ya'll prepared fer their retaliation?" Tempest asks the warrior.

Livid throws her head back with hearty laughter.

"I live for the moment to kill them all." Livid sneers.

Tempest sports a little smirk after hearing this.

"Aight...so I go in there n get da amulet n' then we gonna kick some ass. Got it." Tempest says.

"Only one problem, Reaper. How can we trust you?" Livid asks.

Tempest rubs his chin and nods in agreement.

"Tell ya what, Livid. I'll hold a word a bond with ya." Tempest proposes.

Livid investigates the Reaper cautiously.

"Ya willin ta put da amulet on da line like dat. Perhaps, if I offer a fair trade, trust can be found tween us." Tempest explains.

"As you say..." Livid ponders. "I'm listening."

"There's a musician. She lives across da street. She told me bout some folks harassin within yer lil club a fangs..." Tempest says.

"Ah, you fancy the musician, do you?" Livid teases, with an ancient tone of sarcasm.

"No one messes with da musician an' I'll bring ya yer amulet." Tempest offers.

"And how do we really know you will bring the amulet back to us?" Livid asks.

"Who better ta save yer asses than da one sent ta kill yas?" Tempest's expression matches the ancient tone of sarcasm of his own.

"You do have a point." Livid agrees. "I will protect the musician myself."

"Then I suppose I oughta go get yer amulet." Tempest sneers.

Livid and Tempest enchange an ancient handshake, honored for centuries amongst the finest of warriors.

"Agreed." Livid smiles.

"THIS CANNOT BE!" a voice roars.

Livid and Tempest turn to see they are not alone on the balcony.

"Darkus..." Livid sighs. "Should you not be casting spells or encantations somewhere?"

Darkus sneers at Livid, as his feet momentarily rise and turn towards the wall. His feet meet the wall and begins to walk the wall towards them. The long cape of his hood drags the floor.

"You really think this Reaper is going to help us?" Darkus ridicules Livid.

"It cannot be any worse than your own desire for the amulet, Darkus." Livid says coldly.

Darkus' laughter fills the cool night air.

"At least I, barbarian...would know what to do with it." Darkus returns the cold shoulder to Livid.

"Watch your tounge, Darkus..." Livid says with a flash of her fangs. "...or I'll spill your blood where you float."

Darkus' sneer can be seen within his hood. His eyes dance from Livid to the Reaper.

"I doubt that, Livid." Darkus chuckles. "If you think I am going to sit back and watch this Reaper destroy us, you are sadly mistaken."

"Hey bubba...yer like a fly on da wall. Wanna get swatted?" Tempest asks, with an assuring gaze.

Darkus chuckles once again.

"Point proven yet, livid?" Darkus asks, turns and walks the length of the wall and leaps out of sight.

"He has a point. You said we have a word of bond, Reaper." Livid said.

"It isnt me that's against ya." Tempest says. "Like ya say, open yer eyes. Dat fella's gonna be a problem fer ya at some point."

"If he presents a problem, then it shall be solved." Livid says.

"Aight then." Tempest agrees. "I'm gonna needa little assistance gettin inta da holy grounds. I know ya'll nightwalkers got humans dat work fer yas. Do some a yer work durin da day. Stuff like dat. Whatever I'ma gonna need ta get in there...better call some folks up."

"Consider it done." Livid agrees and leaves the balcony.

Tempest stares out at the holy grounds at the top of the cemetary. He notices the dark cape of Darkus flapping in the wind on the street and heading towards the cemetary that rests below the holy grounds.

His eyes squint behind the tinted shades.

Darkus pauses in the shadows a moment and flips open his cell phone.

"Yes...I hear there is a disturbance at the holy grounds." Darkus pauses to listen to the operator. "Yes...I believe you should send the police."

Darkus closes the cell phone and chuckles. He continues his way towards the cemetary.

"Come forth, Reaper!" Darkus laughs, as he dashes on. "I have something for you!"

2

Tempest enters the back of the club from the balcony. A mixture of reception from the patrons within. Count Barnabas Collins and his wife Di, greet him.

"So, it is done? We shall return the amulet to the pillar?" Count asks.

"Yeah, it's gonna go back where it belongs, so alla this fightin over it will stop." Tempest agrees.

"Finally, a Reaper with some wisdom." a voice says. Count Barnabas Collins and Di turn to see they are joined by another elder amongst them.

"Ah, Lady Vampiress of the Two Hundred and Twenty Fifth." Di welcomes Lady.

Tempest studies her, of ancient Egyptian descent. There was no doubt in Tempest's mind that she had walked the Earth for many, many centuries.

"So tell me, Reaper. Why is the amulet not an interest of yours?" Lady studies the Reaper closely. Her eyes lock on his even through the tinted shades.

"Da feud needs ta end. Da amulet does me no good. Think I wanna walk on Earth forever?" Tempest sneers.

Vampire Lady smiles with humorous delight.

"Is that so? One sent to slay my people is suddenly going to save us?" Vampire Lady questions.

"Dat's da plan." Tempest nods.

"Plans fail." Vampire Lady said.

"Not mine." Tempest assures Vampire Lady.

"Good. We shall fight alongside you." Vampire Lady assures the Reaper.

Tempest nods.

"They're here..." Livid walks up. "You should come meet them and discuss your plans."

"Aight then." Tempest nods.

Livid leads Tempest into another part of the club.

"Can we trust him?" Di asks Count Barnabas Collins and Vampire Lady.

"I think he is genuine." Count Barnabas Collins says.

"A complete Reaper...and will fight with us? I have seen many things in my time...but never this. We are going to write history as we live it." Vampire Lady smiles.

"If he betrays us, we cannot stop him!" Di hisses.

"Neither can the wolves." Count Barnabas Collins sighs.

"That alone, brings us hope, Count." Vampire Lady shows her wisdom with those words and Count Barnabas Collins nods in agreement.

"I overheard Livid speak of the pureblood musician!" Di whispers.

"Oh?" Count Barnabas Collins asks. "What of her?"

"Ahhhh." Vampire Lady smiles. "The Reaper fancies the pureblood musician?"

"I think so." Di nods.

"Then he has a word of bond." Vampire Lady smiles.

"Indeed." Count Barnabas Collins agrees.

3

Tempest enters a back room of the vampire club, where he sees a long business like table and at the other end of it, four humans are seated.

"Reaper, meet your accomplices." Livid introduces.

The first rises, his hair long, his physique is in shape and has a laptop computer in front of him.

"I'm Rob." he greets.

"Rob?" Tempest asks, as if there might be a last name with it.

"Yeah, Just Rob." he smiles. "These are my partners, Baby, Lady Eva and Timmy Titus."

Tempest nods at each.

"So, what's da story?" Tempest asks.

"Pretty simple stuff, the holy grounds are surrounded by security gates now. You will need the code to get in. Leave that to me." Just Rob says.

"They will be all over the radio, so leave frequency jamming to me." Baby smiles. "But you will need a clear line to communicate with us so..."

Baby tosses Tempest a radio. Tempest catches it in his leather gloved hand.

"Don't lose it." Baby says.

"While I decipher the codes, Lady Eva will be running surveilance." Just Rob says.

"Aight then." Tempest says and looks over at Timmy Titus. "And whadda ya do?"

Timmy steps up onto the table and concentrates. His body begins to shrink, not only in height, but in every dimension simultaneously. Soon, he is but a mere version of his usual stout self, but about an inch tall on the table.

Tempest actually lowers his shades for a moment to let his eyes register this magnificent feat.

"I bet dat comes in handy." Tempest agrees, sliding his shades back into place.

"Especially when the ladies wear short skirts!" Timmy Titus shouts to be heard.

He begins to transform back to his usual size and sits indian style on the table.

"So, I'll break the code and get you in. Baby will jam their radio frequencies. Lady Eva will run surveilance, and Timmy will assist you." Just Rob says.

"Aight then." Tempest agrees.

"We will be waiting to assist you in the cemetary." Livid adds.

"Sounds like it's party time." Tempest nods. "Let's do this."