Welcome to Deepdweller's Gulch!

[Blood and Roses]

The attacks from the floating sphere had caught Conrad by surprise, but only for a moment. Once he had some distance from the fighting, he was able to watch the Star Ball come and easily deflect it. As it had twice before, the ball returned to its point of origin, someplace behind the wagon. A vicious grin crept onto Conrad's face as he watched it arc away, revolver trained on the glowing golden sphere as it dropped, coming to rest just above the back of the wagon. His finger tightened on the trigger, the hammer levering back--

The sound of breaking glass at his feet made Conrad pause. He looked down at the shingles beneath him, saw the shards of the vial and its lavender contents splattered across his boots. Pink vapors rose up from the fluid as he turned his eyes back to the wagon. There stood the witch from the Chemist shop, watching intently. The grin on Conrad's face became an evil sneer as he retargeted, the revolver's sight resting on the witch's pale chest.

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Virgil and James trailed after Clover as she leaped into the fray, charmed pistols blazing as she battled back the tide of demons. Virgil called warnings as monsters approached, but James cheered and whooped with each shot Clover made. "Woooo! Damn good shootin', girl!" the big ghost hollered as she fired another round into the face of a winged demon, blasting it to dust. James beamed as he watched Clover work, nimbly hurtling a chasm and dropping another beast at the same time. Pride showed clearly on his spectral face.

Clover turned to watch Conrad do battle with the demons, and her eyes narrowed. "What is that!?" she exclaimed, watching in horrified fascination.

"That," droned Virgil, "is Atta, the Angel of Desolation." He shook his head, standing beside Clover as they watched. Virgil's eyes focused on something in the crowd. "What in the hell--" His eyes suddenly went wide. "Steven!" he screamed, voice seized with hysteria. He sped like an arrow toward his brother.

James watched in stunned disbelief as Virgil threw himself into the crowd of demons. In life, valor had never been one of his studious brother's virtues, and despite his incorporeal state, Death hadn't changed that. To watch Virgil leap into the thick of the action was like watching a hare charge into the waiting jaws of a wolf. He scanned the crowd, finally catching sight of Steven, or rather his Star Ball, hurling his golden bauble at Conrad and screaming a challenge. Conrad deflected the attack, his blessed revolver following the ball back to where Steven hid behind the wagon.

"Stevie, no!" James cried. Clover raised her pistol, following Conrad's movements with a sure, steady hand as Caelyn stepped behind Steven, arm poised to hurl something of her own at the possessed Sheriff. James didn't know what the witch's game was, but she was making her play now. He feared that Clover and Caelyn would spoil each other's shot.

James reached up and put a large hand on Clover's shoulder. "Check fire, Rosebud," he spoke quietly, careful not to disturb her aim. The charmed revolver hummed audibly as Clover aimed. It practically vibrated, James noted.

"Hold," James muttered. Caelyn launched her strike, a purple missile crashing at Conrad's feet.

"Hold," James urged as the pink vapors rose up toward Conrad's face.

"Hold!" Conrad turned his aim on Caelyn as the pink fumes curled up around his face.

"Fire!" Clover's shot was a burning comet that hurtled straight and true.

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A streak of light ripped through Conrad's shadow, and his face changed, the sneer replaced by an expression of shock. He gasped, sucking in a great lungful of the pink vapors that swirled around him. As he breathed in the fumes, the entire pink cloud followed behind, forcing its way into his body, an impossible quantity of air to fit into a man's lungs.

Conrad's body jerked straight up, rigid and shaking violently. Every muscle locked as he trembled like one in the throes of a grand mal seizure. His eyes opened wide, glowing a brilliant rose-colored light that grew lighter, brighter, until they shone as white as the light of Redemption.

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The shadowless prison was suddenly filled with smoke, a pink effervescence that permeated the air. Conrad couldn't help but breath it in, and as he did he felt a surge of strength blaze through his veins. Vigor returned to his limbs, clarity sharpened his mind. He felt stronger, sturdier, and with a shout he strained against the thick coils that bound him. The beast howled, filling the prison with a cry loud enough to crack stone, but Conrad struggled on. He felt the coils starting to give way.

The black cloud walls shot through with pink lightning that raced around and around, leaping out to strike at the serpentine coils and thick scaly ropes of demonic flesh. Each flash of light made the beast roar with pain and anger, each blast against its body causing spasms and shudders along its length. Conrad felt its grip on him loosen, not much, but enough that his joints slid back into alignment. He surged against the monster each time a glowing lance ripped into the demon, and with a powerful heave, Conrad tore himself free from the monster's grasp.

Conrad swelled and expanded as the beast attempted to grapple him again, but he quickly grew too large for it to trap. His body rapidly expanded to fill the prison until he strained against the walls around him. The coils of the demonic beast were at his feet, and he seized it in one titanic hand. It curled around his wrist, and Conrad squeezed with all his strength. The beast thrashed like a snake in his hand, but he has finally seized control of the demon.

Conrad felt his body straining against the invisible ceiling, against the cloud walls. He curled his body tight, then with one last mighty surge, Conrad broke through the walls and fell into an endless tunnel of blinding white light.

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The sheriff gave one final shiver, and the light left his eyes. He collapsed bonelessly, his knees striking the roof of the sheriff's office before the rest of him fell over the edge. Conrad struck the ground like a discarded ragdoll and lay still.

Six spectral voices cried out as one, calling their fallen brother's name. Six ghostly figures raced through the town, streaking toward the sheriff's comatose body. Six brothers swarmed over their youngest sibling, crying out to him in frantic voices as the demonic plague began to close in around them.

[Plot Puppets]

Conrad fell from the roof of the Sheriff's Office to the street below. The holy blade Redemption bounced out of his lifeless hand and clattered to the dust, coming to rest in the middle of the road. The earth trembled and the sheriff's office gave a final shudder and collapsed upon itself as if the fall of its last resident signaled its demise. Dust and debris filled the air with a choking cloud as the building came to its final rest. For a moment, all was silence and stillness.

A cry rose up from within the horde, the thin soprano wailing of a willowy humanoid beast that was soon joined by the deep bass rumbling of a toad-like monstrosity with a maw full of short fangs. The cry was taken up by others, growing and swelling until it swept through them like a wave of demonic jubilation. The demonic plague, once united in purpose and drawn by the light of the blessed blade now resting in the dust scattered across the town, seeking warm flesh and souls ripe for plucking.

The rider on his pale horse watched all from afar, observing the slaughter through every demonic eye, tasting each drop of human blood and meat on demonic tongues. It shuddered in vile ecstasy as cold, hard darkness penetrated Cat Wilson's warmth, violating her in body and soul, and exulted in the dark seed planted therein.

The sheriff's blade and revolver had been like cold fire on its skin with each demon banished by their touch. His fall sent a thrill through its wicked being, and otherworldly laughter rang out across the desert landscape. The rider turned its attention to the last survivors of Deepdweller's Gulch.

Most had taken shelter in one of the few buildings still standing, the Saloon that had refused to fall despite the tremors that rocked the rest of the town Some were fighting back, firing at the demonic horde through windows and doorways to provide cover for the last stragglers as they stumbled in, or opening fire on any beast that dared to venture too close. The rider waved his hand, and a slew of demons turned its attention to focus on breaking into the Saloon and slaughtering all within.

A strange, antlered woman was putting up resistance from the covered porch of a shop across the street from the Saloon, enchanted pistols blazing. The rider dispatched a squadron of flying devils to end that resistance but could see it would do no good. The shop was protected by powerful enchantments, their arcane energy pulsing in the night air.

That same energy radiated from another, far more potent source. A witch of unmatched power battled its minions in the street, destroying the rider's pets with sickening ease. The rider frowned, and sent a wave of slithering, wriggling, crawling monstrosities to try its luck against the woman. Perhaps it could overwhelm her with sheer numbers.

The rider turned its attention to an odd pair of women who did battle in the shadows of Deepdweller's Gulch. One was mercurial of form, sliding between animal shapes to something halfway between human and beast. The taint of dark power lay thick upon her, and her energy had a familiar smell. The other smelled of death; no heat warmed her pale skin, no heart beat in her breast, and her slender fangs marked her as a vampire. The women were absorbed in their battle, paying little heed to the monstrosities around them. The rider nodded, and several of its favorite minions turned their attention to them as the shapeshifter collapsed to her goat-like knees.


A towering beast, a great stone in the stream of demonic flesh, turned and lumbered away from the crowd. It knuckle-walked on four pillar-like arms that ended in massive fists and two short legs. Fur stained red with blood covered most of its enormous torso, and sharp bones protruded at its elbows, knees, hips, and shoulders. A heavy, ape-like head sat atop a thick neck, complete with a wolfish snout and lolling tongue. Three beady eyes stared down at Pattie and Sparrow.

"These don't smell edible," the blood ape said, sniffing toward the pair with its lupine snout as it approached. It squinted at Pattie and Sparrow from the other end of the street.

"They don't look too appetizing, either," said another demon. This one was serpentine, a thick tail of smooth, leathery gray skin topped by a humanoid torso with long, boneless tentacle arms and a shark-like head. It scuttled between the blood ape's great arms on a hundred long human fingers.

A screech split the night air as a third demon joined them. It resembled a human woman, nude and of desirable form, long legs and wide hips curving into a trim waist below large, perky breasts. A slender neck led to a face of striking, statuesque features. The image of human beauty ended there, as long black needle-like growths curved back and down from the demon's skull and shoulders instead of hair. Great black wings sprouted from the creature's back, covered in the same long, sharp spines instead of feathers. It lit upon the blood ape's broad shoulder, delicate feet coming to rest beside the bony protrusions that crowned it. "We don't have to eat them," she said. She shook out her wings, and the nettles on them rattled against each other. "We can just play with them a while."

The three demons smiled toothy, demonic smiles as they advanced slowly toward Patti and Sparrow. The two were still fifty yards away, but blood ape's long arms quickly ate away the distance as the serpentine slithered up to crawl along a rock face like an insect. The spiny angelic figure ran a hand down her naked body, exulting in the promise of fresh blood.

[Pattilia Longfellow]

• 'I wonder if I can bring your daddy back from the dead...'

The present danger dropped from her conscious, and Patti couldn't see anything but red as the anger and bloodlust filled her being from Sparrow's taunting. Instantly she was on her hands and feet in a sprinter's pose, but looked more like a feral animal. The faun's moment of surprise was all the time she needed to cover the distance between them, fangs bared. Sparrow's own clawing at the collar and tiara blocked Patti's attempts to tear her throat out, and the vampire screamed in frustration, shoving back on the smaller woman amidst the pleas for help. If Sparrow wanted the tiara off, Patti could help with that, especially if it involved inflicting pain.

Fingers wound and hooked into the golden device's thin metalwork, and her other hand indelicately braced against the top of Sparrow's head. The tiara proved stronger than it looked, Patti heaving with all her strength, but the satisfying rip of metal from flesh and bone quenched her thirst for misery and pain. The collar was next, shoving the heel of her boot into Sparrow's breastbone while ripping the strange jewelry from her friend's neck.

The blood tears, the oozing wounds -- it was a touch too much to keep the redhead at bay, and she dove on her old friend, licking off what she could from the punctures without adding new ones. It wouldn't be enough to slake her thirst, of course, but it had the welcome effect of clearing her consciousness, like a breath of cool, fresh air on a stuffy day.

At first.

What Patti didn't realize until now was there was an excellent reason Sparrow hadn't been drained dry by the vampires of the whorehouse during her employ. While Pattilia felt a surge of strength to her undead muscles, she also felt the sudden horrible headache and stomach cramps that went with it - like drinking too much from Old Man Jasper's coffee pot in one go. Patti could only guess that Sparrow was something between human and supernatural, and thankfully not undead - Tamassa has been clear about not drinking dead blood and the effects it could have.

Clutching her head, Patti just barely had the sense to look around to catch sight of the three approaching demons. With Sparrow inexplicably unconscious, the taunts were gone, and Patti's anger was replaced with an acute survival instinct. The redhead swallowed the lump in her throat, and realized she'd left her gun in the dirt with her knife. How many shots did she even have left? Not enough to kill any of them was her best guess, but she could still cover her retreat. Scooping up the gun, the first shots rang out at the slithering human centipede monstrosity. The knife was sheathed, and she ducked and buried her shoulder into the slumped Sparrow, hoisting her up before firing another shot and making her retreat. The sound of gunfire from the saloon was a dwindling beacon of hope, so Patti made a run for the rear of the whorehouse to avoid getting herself caught in the crossfire.

[Clover Stardust]

Clover watched in horror, feeling the desolation and exhaustion in Sheriff Conrad as if it was her own. She ran towards his lifeless body, snarling at the demons that surrounded them with an animal rage. The spectral antlers that appeared on her forehead glowed with a brilliant white and blue, the aura seemed to suddenly rage around her, encasing her body like flames. She saw Redemption, lying in the dust, somehow not as impressive when not wielded by Conrad, she could feel the blade pulse with energy with her third eye. She crouched towards it and felt the energy churn as she tried to pick the blade up. Her revolver stull purring in her hand.

‘Come on, swordy, don’t you backfire on me now, ya’hear’.

Clover whispered as she pushed her hand through the energy.

~ Elsewhere ~

Pattillia ran with Sparrow draped across her shoulders, when the Demon struck, huge, obscene creatures from the pits of hell. Something happened to Sparrow, she moved, ever so slightly, suddenly she was a woman no longer, but a brilliant green python, wrapped around Patti’s shoulders. Her body changed again, shifting off Patti, in one smooth motion, a massive, ferocious African Elephant, exploded where the Snake once was. If Pattillia would allow it, the elephant would scoop her up in her trunk and sit her atop the elephants back. Sparrow reared up, her trunk high in the air, her tusk low and sharp. She raged. Running at an alarming speed, there was nothing quite like a charging African Elephant. Sparrow aimed to charge through the Demon, her tusk, pointed decided at the biggest of their rank.

[Plot Puppets]

Clover ran toward Conrad's lifeless body, snarling at the demons that surrounded them with an animal rage. The spectral antlers that appeared on her forehead glowed with a brilliant white and blue, the aura seemed to suddenly rage around her, encasing her body like flames. The demons skittered back, startled by this sudden display of arcane power. She crouched to retrieve Redemption from where it lay on the street.

‘Come on, swordy," Clover muttered, "don’t you backfire on me now, ya hear?".



The blood ape roared when Patti looked its way, and the snakelike beast scuttled up along the rock face that made one side of the dark alley as she opened fire. The shot ricocheted off the ground where it had been moments before, and the monstrosity chomped its gaping shark jaws in anticipation. The dark angel let out an ear-piercing shriek and took wing, swooping low in front of the charging blood ape. Its beauteous face was frozen in an obscene leer, lips parted in ecstasy as it closed on the fleeing pair. Patti's second shot tore through one black wing, and the creature crashed to the ground, rolling over and over in the dust. The blood ape let out a roar and leaped over its fallen companion, heavy fists pounding the earth as it landed.

Sparrow's transformation and the sudden appearance of a raging African elephant caught the blood ape unaware. It backpedaled, scrambling to ready itself to receive Sparrow's charge, but its great bulk couldn't stop quickly enough. The beast skidded in the dust, two great arms dragging behind to slow its rush. It held out the other pair to seize the elephant's tusks, the two behind braced against the ground. The elephant collided with the blood ape with a crash of flesh against fur, sending out a shockwave that made the earth tremble. The two titanic beasts surged against each other, the elephant's massive trunk-like legs churning as the blood ape attempted to twist its head aside by its great ivory tusks.

With an angry, blaring trumpet the elephant tore loose of the demon's grasp. The ape fumbled to regain its grip, but Sparrow's rage was too potent, her strength too great, for the demon to stop. Huge tusks slashed clean through the thick muscles of the monster's belly, rending the ape nearly in half. As its vile innards spilled forth onto the ground, its bracing arms buckled, and the ape crashed to the dirt with a howl of agony. The elephant's legs kept pounding, carrying it right over the demon, its great feet smashing through bone and flesh as it trampled on toward the Saloon.

The corpse white centipede-like demon launched from the rock face as Sparrow trampled past, scuttling quick as a snake around one thick leg and onto the elephant's belly. Huge shark jaws opened wide as it rushed around the elephant's torso and up onto its hips. It reared up high above the elephant's back like a cobra preparing to strike, jaws gaping wide and tentacles waving madly. Patti screamed a challenge as she turned to raise her revolver. She fired a shot that bounced off the creature's rubbery hide. The demonic head descended with blinding speed, jaws extended as it struck.

The monstrous shark-jaws snapped shut with a crack, mere feet from closing on Patti. It struck again, but couldn't breach the distance between it and the fiery-haired vampire. It reared back, gurgling in rage as it prepared to strike once more. The beast's long body thrashed as it slid backward by a foot. The human fingers scrabbled to find purchase, but it slid further. The demon realized too late that the elephant had seized its tail with its muscular trunk and was attempting to drag it down.

Patti grinned and cocked the hammer of her revolver. "Tryin'na eat me, you ugly sumbitch?" Her face twisted into an ugly sneer. "Have a taste o' this!" The revolver spat hot lead straigt into the demon's gaping jaws. The demon reared up high above Patti, frozen. Sparrow gave one last mighty heave, and the demon fell back and away, a smoking hole in its squaline head, falling limply beneath the elephant's charging feet.


The rider on its pale steed scowled as its champions fell; two of them were dead, and the third injured and retreating. The plague of demons was being battled back by a small band of survivors, including the witch and the strange antlered gunslinger. He clenched his fist, and the demonic horde howled as one. They surged forward once more, railing at the survivors in the Saloon, at the witch, at the gunslinger who now raised the fallen sheriff's sword.


The horde of demons hesitated in their advance against Clover, warily eyeing Redemption clutched in her fist. With each move they flinched, expecting the blade to leap into action and cleave their flesh. Clover swung the blade back and forth, sending demons scrambling back, and though each stroke of the blade split the air with a razored hiss, the magic within remained inert. After a minute of observation, the rider smiled and raised its fist. The beasts closed in around Clover in a howling, cackling, screaming tide.


The stench of burning flesh and singed hair caused those around her to cough and gag as Cat Wilson threw the final.bucket of water over the now smoldering storefront. Wiping the sweat from her soot stained brow she stood up and dropped the bucket back into the horse trough, the wooden bucket making a loud clang against the empty metal. Men and women ran around screaming as the last remaining demons picked them off one by one. Feeling eyes upon her, Cat looked up towards the second story window of the saloon which was surprisingly untouched. Madame Tamassa was watching the scene unfold beneath her, her golden eyes glowing as they took in the sight of bloodshed, torture, and misery. She watched as Cat turned away from the smoking buildings and starting shepherding the few remaining survivors towards the saloon. Despite the huge number of demons still ravaging hell around her, Tamassa looked on as Cat walked through the centre of town completely untouched. Cat met her gaze, her arm around the shoulder of a young girl who had lost both her mother and father in this horrific battle. Murmuring words of encouragement to the girl, Cat broke her staring standoff with Tamassa long enough to lock eyes with a horned beast that was heading straight for the girl beside her. The demon visually balked and skirted to the left, grabbing a skinny farmer waving a pitchfork and ripping his head from his torso with one bite. The girl screamed and Cat pulled her tighter, picking her up as she reached the steps on the porch of the saloon. Inside was organized chaos as the injured survivors were treated in a makeshift triage at the rear of the bar. Horrified people hovered at the grimy windows, unable to look away from the nightmare outside. Cat put the girl down gently beside her, her lips curved into a gentle smile as the girl whimpered and clung to her leg. Stroking the girls golden head, Cat whispered sweet nothings as she led the girl over to a group of women. One of them recognized the girl and rushed forward to hug her niece, fresh tears rolling down her cheek. Leaving the duo to their reunion, Cat joined the group by the window. Tutting under her breath she sighed as she joined the group in watching their sheriff in action. "I can't believe what a mess we are in, can you?" She muttered as the others turned and nodded. " I mean did you see all of these beasts arrive??? Seems to me they followed the sheriff into town?! So much for him keeping us safe!! If you ask me.. this is all HIS fault.." leaving the group to mull over her words, she offered another smile and a slight curtsey before moving on to the next group. Tamassa watched it all from the top landing of the stairs, her heightened hearing picking up Cat's poisonous gossip despite the din of the people below. "What the fuck are you up to?" Tamassa hissed before an explosion from the middle of town drew her attention back to the window just in time to see a large black wing swoop past the glass. It was still a few hours until the sun was due to rise and Tamassa folded her arms in front of her as she considered going out to lend a well-manicured hand to the fight outside. After a minute to consider, and directing her whores to administer more drinks and bandages, she decided she would do better to keeping me the saloon operating as the only harbor in the raging storm of misery that appeared, at least at first glance, to be Conrad's undoing.*


The six ghosts of the deceased Conrad brothers screamed and railed at their still-living brother, lying motionless on the street. Walter thundered, Steven begged, James and Silas hollered and hurled insults in hopes of stirring him. The sheriff gasped and let out a ragged cough. Samuel cheered.

"Get up, boy!" Walter barked.

"Up, Alister!" Virgil urged, watching as Clover desperately battled back the demons. "She can't stop them much longer!"

James stood beside Clover, shouting out warnings and watching her back. "Come on, Rosebud! Hold on, he's coming to!"

A piercing screech filled the air as a flying beast with the head of a crone and foot-long talons descended toward the fallen sheriff. Clover quickly stepped over his body and raised her charmed pistol high. Conrad's eyelids fluttered open weakly as Redemption hung low above him. As Clover blasted the feathered monster out of the sky with a well-aimed shot, Conrad seized the enchanted blade in one hand. "Clover," he croaked. "Speak--" he coughed again. "Speak it's name." Then he ran his hand down the blade, leaving a trail of blood on its sharp edge. His eyes closed as he whispered, "Banish the demons."

The six spirits of the Conrad brothers grew stiff as they moved into a ring around Clover. Their eyes glowed, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, as the specters began chanting in an otherworldly tongue. Their voices echoed and reverberated, growing stronger and louder. The world within their ring went negative, white on black, as glowing lines of power traced a circle around them, and from each ghost to the others, forming a glowing, arcane seal that sizzled and seethed with otherworldly energy. The world seemed to rotate around them as the seal grew brighter, a shaft of black light pouring up toward the heavens.

Time stood still at the center of the seal, where Clover stood protectively over Conrad. She could feel the power of the sword reaching into her, pulsing in time with her heartbeat. Her anima flared brighter, roared higher, the antlers on her forehead shining a brilliant white light. She raised the saber aloft reverently and cried out, "Redemption!"

The light of the seal burst forth into the material plane, erupting in a column of blinding white light that seemed to reach the heavens. The demonic plague on Deepdweller's Gulch cried out in terror, fleeing as the light grew and expanded. Those not fast enough to escape the holy light disintegrated in the brilliance, their evil essence wiped from the existence. The fires burning within the town were snuffed as the illumination passed. The light spread rapidly, the seal within expanding with it until it was large enough to encircle the whole town in its protection. The town was lit like high noon, and not a shadow existed in any corner.


The rider let loose a scream of agony that echoed across the desert, clutching its eyes and shaking violently. Its pale horse shuddered and bolted, carrying its master away from the mine and the town beyond. The demons that survived the holocaust of divine power scattered into the desert, fleeing the holy destruction in terror to seek their retreating master.


Clover stared about the town, lit bright as noon. The six Conrad ghosts stood around her, clear and visible with her own two eyes. James stood before her, and his face held a strange look of pride and satisfaction as he looked her over. The others had similar expressions as they moved to clap her on the back or shoulder, and Steven threw his arms around her waist in a small, ghostly hug.

The light of the magic seal began to fade, and so did the image of the Conrad brothers, along with the nimbus of power surrounding Clover. In its wake, it left a sensation of peace and safety. As night returned to Deepdweller's Gulch, the last light to fade was that of Redemption itself, the brilliant luminance dwindling down to a single twinkle that ran along its edge to the saber's tip, where it twinkled a moment longer before winking out.

[Moridanu]

Darkness..

Although it seemed impossible for something so dark to be so transparent and light at the same time, she felt an uneasy heaviness settle all around her. Reaching out a hand, she gingerly tested the air around her, almost expecting to feel something blocking her outstretched hand, but her fingers pierced through the darkness as though she was gliding through weightless water. For a frightening moment, she feared she might be blind, but although she could feel her eyelids close as she blinked repeatedly, there was no change to her surroundings.

Only darkness…

No sound permeated the inky ebony mass that swirled around her whilst also being still. Drawing in a breath, she screamed into the void, dismayed to hear that no sound escaped her lips. She wanted to throw herself down on the ground and kick and scream as she had done in her youth, but with a sickening dread deep in her stomach, she realised she wasn’t sure if there was even ground beneath her. Although her twisted mind knew that there must be something beneath her as she would feel the sense of falling otherwise, the fact remained that she felt nothing solid beneath her feet. Her mind began to drift as she wondered if she even had feet still attached to her legs, as she certainly could not feel them. The outstretched hand that had been groping in the darkness now reached down to tentatively feel if she could touch her leg. Though she reached for what felt like an eternity, her cool skin continued to elude her as her mind questioned whether she even had a hand at all. In desperation she shook her head back and forth, desperate for the familiar feel of her long, dark tresses trailing down her back. But there was no sensation of hair against skin or otherwise. Did she even have a back? She could feel her neck turn, and she knew that she had blinked but apart from that she had no feeling throughout the rest of her body. Perhaps she was just a head, floating in the darkness. Her mind raced as she considered the possibilities, an impossible feat in this dark world of uncertainty. There was no sound. No wind. Nothing.

Only darkness…

Time passed. How many hours floated by, she did not know. Perhaps it was days… months even? She hated to think years had passed with her floating in this dark void and she resolved to keep her mind sharp. It was the only part of her that she knew she still possessed, so she did the only thing she could do. She thought. And tried to remember…

Memories came slow at first. Icy fingers of fear, dread and self-loathing lingered on the edge of her tortured mind before seeming to laugh at her and dance just out of reach. She was agonisingly aware of more time passing and although she was tempted to give into the void and relax, she knew that if she had any hope of escaping this hell then her mind was the only tool she had left at her disposal.
A slow, deep throb began to pound in the place where her temples should be and she was achingly grateful to feel anything at all. If she had any experience with modern technology, she might hear the sound of fingers tapping as they flew across the keyboard, but the few years she had been alive had been lived in a world far different from the modern world. With a fierce determination that held a shadow of her former self, Elyza focused all her strength and will as she tried to remember.

Her minds eye finally began to open, though only slightly as it allowed small glimpses of colour and images. Concentrating so hard she could feel her teeth grinding in her jaw, she began to see full images. Memories of an elderly man… was that her father?... she struggled to remember what he had looked like, though he did seem achingly familiar. A woman with a kind smile was brushing her hair in front of a fire….she looked so young.. so small sitting on the chair in front of a roaring fire… the flames… so bright… hot… she felt herself falling into the flames and dragged her mind back with a snap. The elderly man was there again, nodding approvingly as a young teenager with her dark hair pulled back in a practical bun, practiced her ballet on the barre he had made her in the barn. Her horse… what was his name… was whinnying in the corner of the barn… alarmingly, she remembered that the horse had been warning her.. but she had failed to notice…. And then there was those flames again… so hot.. so red… and the horse’s whinny had changed to a scream… of pain? She searched for the man… she was sure he was her father… but his face continued to elude her… then nothing… for so long.. nothing came. When she finally saw the woman with a kind smile, there were lines etched on her beautiful face. The kind smile she had remembered was now gone…her lips seemed pursed in a forced grin.. or was it a grimace? Beside the older woman, she saw another man… though she couldn’t remember his name.. or even his face… she remembered vividly the feel of his touch on her skin..

Although she had no body to feel, an involuntary shudder ran through her core as she remembered how he had made her feel… dirty… dark.. loathsome. Flashes of memories burst through her senses in such quick succession, she struggled to focus or even process what she was seeing. Her mother.. yes she was sure it was her mother now.. sitting in her chair in the kitchen… rocking back and forth while staring into space… she saw herself from behind.. taller now.. those long dark curls almost reaching down to her waist as she begged her mother to listen… to hear her.. to understand.. to make him stop. But she knew, without even knowing how she knew that her mother never listened. If she had, she hadn’t cared… she had known that her new husband had taken a ‘special shine’ to Elyza…

Another silent scream left her lips and she tried to ball her hands into fists, but no sensations reached her mind. She remembered, oh so vividly now… all the horrible things that man had done to her… what he had made her do to him. Although she doubted she even had a heart anymore, she nonetheless felt the pain as her imagined heart broke in two. Wetness crept down her cheeks… was she crying? With no hand to reach or feel the tears, she supposed she must be.

Time passed… for the longest moment there was only darkness and she gratefully succumbed to the numbness that the darkness promised. Days.. months.. years… eons.. she had no idea how long she drifted for… grateful for the aching pain in her heart to drift away into nothing… nothing… it seemed so final and yet… was it a beginning?

The thought pierced her mind. A beginning? What the hell was that? At the thought of hell… again.. those flames leapt before her… so warm… hot… blistering her skin. Inwardly she gasped as she thought, for the briefest of moments, that she could feel her skin starting to peel away. Although she remembered the agonising pain this had caused, she begged for the pain to come back now.. anything.. pain, torment, misery… it meant that she could still feel. But no pain would come, nothing would come for the longest time….

Time passed… alone in the darkness. When the first pinprick of light appeared in the distance, she almost didn’t believe it. But as the light grew larger, she sensed she was moving towards it… or was it coming to her? Suddenly, time sped up until the light was upon her. She dove headfirst into the light… but it was full of deceit and offered nothing but more memories.. vivid flashes of colour and light… and then… there was him.
She saw herself as a young woman.. selling herself on the side of the cobbled lane that ran alongside the tavern… drunken louts shouted and hollered inside.. she could hear them! Although she could see her feet, clad in dark crimson boots that laced up to her knees, she knew that they only existed here.. in this memory. She watched as she lowered her skirts, popped her breasts back into her white peasant blouse and held out a hand for the precious coin she had expected as payment. Instead this… I suppose you could call him a man… had laughed at her. She watched him punch her across the face, sending her sprawling into a heap on the cobbled road as he spat on her before walking away, buttoning his pants as he left. How long she had laid there.. she did not know. But then… she gasped silently as she watched a long, thin, dark mist seep its way down the lane towards her. Before she saw him appear, she knew who it would be.. Lucien.

His name alone, although silent on her tongue caused so many memories and feelings to wash over her at once that she felt physically sick. How easy she had been for him. He had found her in her lowest moment and as one slender hand had reached down to pick her up, she balked at the sight of the look of stupid adoration on her once beautiful face.

Repulsion, disgust, anger, lust, excitement, fear, dread, ecstasy… they all raced through and over her as she watched rapid flashes of her time with Lucien seep through her pores. He hadn’t needed much time at all to convince her to become his whore. They had danced in Hell.. laughed at the scorned.. and had plotted revenge against some… fuck.. what was her name… Elyza hissed silently at the image of that face as it popped into her brain, consuming her entire mind with its dirty, bloody features. Auburn hair flew wildly around a pair of green eyes, so brilliantly beautiful that they hurt to look at them for too long. Unable to turn away, Elyza watched as the woman smirked at her before turning to walk away… a long, golden leather coat billowed behind her as she disappeared down a path.. tall trees… some green, some the everchanging colours of Autumn.. towards rolling hills of the deepest green. She was unable to stop herself from following this woman… what WAS her name??

She was floating now.. high above the most beautiful landscape she had ever seen. She watched as the amber haired woman met with a large group of men… they all had weapons of various sort. Vaguely the word ‘war’ came to her ear as the woman roused her men in an Irish brogue accent that Elyza struggled to understand. The men cheered “For Morthika!” as the woman looked on happily.

Then.. they were gone as quickly as they appeared. From high above, she watched as the woman rolled another body into a large pit already filled with dozens, if not hundreds of bodies. Elyza recognised some of these men as being part of the first army she had just seen. But now… they were dead.. missing limbs… heads.. she felt her dark lips curve into a smile as a the first clear thought appeared in her tortured mind. “I did that.”
Almost as though these words were a catalyst, her minds eye burst open and she saw it all. The battlefield.. her place beside Lucien on his throne of skulls.. the blood.. the death.. it was all so clear to her now.

Her last memory had been standing beside Lucien as he claimed his rightful place on the throne of Kendelah. She knew it wasn’t his… it belonged to.. she struggled to remember and then it appeared in her mind as though lit by neon lights: Moridanu. So entranced was she by this trip down memory lane, Elyza mistook the sudden gust of wind for a breeze in the memory world… but it wasn’t.. it was here.

Here in the darkness.

Here in the darkness.. with her..

First there was wind. It blew strongly now, carrying with it the familiar stench of death. Sound abruptly returned to the void, a deep groaning growl that caused her to scream in agony as she raised her hands to her ears. It took a moment to register that her scream had echoed out amongst the void before being caught by the blustering gale that now blew all around her. She felt her hair before she saw it, long dark curls whipped around her face as she found that she could now turn her head to see… to see …. What could she see?
Peering into the void, she found that pinpoint of light again. As she suddenly realised she could feel her legs… and now her feet!.. she began to run for all she was worth. She ran towards the light as it grew larger… brighter… and then … there was nothing.
……
No darkness… nothing..
Groaning, she realised she was laying on something hard. Thick lashes fluttered as her dark eyes opened and she looked down at the hard floor beneath her. Thin, elaborate knots appeared in the wooden floorboards next to her head as she lifted herself gingerly and sat up. Drawing her bare legs up so that her knees were under her chin, she felt a small wooden box bump against her foot and go sliding across the floor. The box itself was covered in sigils and markings that seemed to glow impossibly and she saw the lid close with snap as it came to rest against the leg of some shelves. Although the box was impossibly small, she couldn’t shake the thought that she had been inside it.. somehow…?

Blinking against the sudden light, she sought the source to find a single candle glowing by what appeared to be a door. A sign hung in the doorway. From her vantage point, she could read OPEN though the door was clearly closed. A strange sound reached her ears.. almost like someone was hitting a steel drum lightly.. and .. was that .. music? She strained to hear and her head began to pound instantly. Just as she shifted her weight to try and stand up, the ground rumbled beneath the floorboards and she fell back to her knees several times before she carefully climbed to her feet. Her bare feet drew her attention and she looked down to see toenails painted red as they wiggled and tested out the floorboards. Once she was certain that her shaky legs would hold her, she stood to her full height and looked around the room. Shelves lined two walls to either side. Small boxes and vials littered the surprisingly clean shelves as she looked from the closed door to the other wall opposite the door, where a strange curtain made of glass beads hid the room beyond.
~* Elsewhere..*~
Caeyln let out a deep sigh as she slid her naked body into the claw foot tub, the warm bubbles tickling her skin as she sunk into the pink tinged suds that felt like she was slipping between silk sheets. Closing her eyes, she breathed in the sweet smell of her scented candles. Coconut tonight… it always made her feel like she was on a tropical island, sipping cocktails by the pool. Her mind drifted away as she remembered tropical nights in Jamaica with a wonderful friend she had met by the name of Ruben.. or was it Raul… Ricardo? It didn’t matter. He spoke no English and Caelyn had no clue what language he did speak, but they had quickly realised they didn’t need words to communicate. She chuckled as she remembered all the tricks she had taught Ruben/Raul/Ricardo and wondered how many women around the world were now in her debt. Just by thought alone, music drifted through her apartment.. a steel drum and guitar carrying her mind even further away as she sunk deeper into the warm bubbles.

How much time passed, she didn’t know or even cared. But soon, she felt some bubbles start to form in the tub and it caused her eyes to flicker open, causing the music to stop. Silence filled the apartment as she looked down at the water. Her special concoction she used to run her bath produced the most perfect iridescent bubbles that swirled with all the colours of the rainbow as they merged with the steamy water to create a truly sensual experience. Still, her magic could only do so much and she noted with dismay that her rainbow bubbles had long since popped as she had drifted away on a heavenly coconut dream. Now the bubbles that began to form in the water were no longer luxurious or beautiful. She watched in growing horror as more and more formed, as the water she had been soaking in quickly began to boil. Steam hissed around her and she stifled a scream as she sat up in the tub, her back and torso already taking on the red tinge that a lobster might have while being boiled alive. Quickly climbing out of the tub, she soon stood on the lush purple mat on the bathroom floor as she gazed down at the boiling water that was now taking on a sickening red hue. ~It looks like boiling blood..~ she said to nobody but herself as she stood there, water droplets dripping down her toned thighs and legs to form a puddle on the floor. A slender dark brow arched precariously above her violet eyes which, unbeknownst to her, had started to glow and burn a deep purple as her dark hair which had hung wet down her back only minutes before now dried instantly. All of her senses heightened, she turned her attention away from the tub and looked towards the bathroom door. She had left it open, as she always did and a trained ear strained to hear any sound. Holding her breath for a moment, she tilted her head listening…

She heard it before she felt it. A low growl.. almost a groan.. rising in a crescendo before it became a deafening roar that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. The black and white tiles beneath the bath mat shuddered beneath her wet feet, and she instinctively reached out to grab ahold of the tub to steady herself. Almost too late, she realised her mistake as an arm reached out from the boiling water to grab her hand a second before she ripped it away from the porcelain rim. Long, bony fingers, withered and worn reached for her, tapping their elongated nails against the bath tub before sinking back down into the bubbling, crimson water.

A slender dark brow arched in surprise, Caelyn found her attention drawn away from the dark maroon water which was already starting to clot as though formed from real blood, by a sound elsewhere in the apartment. Straining to hear, she padded silently across the tiles, her feet leaving wet footprints as she crossed the threshold and entered her bedroom. The roar had gone, replaced by a deafening silence as she approached the bed and reached for her robe. The thick carpeted floor was steady beneath her feet, and just as her hand outstretched to snag up the black, silk robe she heard another sound. This one sounded as if something had slid against the floor.. the floorboards. Knowing she only had floorboards in her shop, she snarled and dropped the robe on the bed as she stalked through the adjacent door that led into her loungeroom. The computer on her desk beeped at her, but she chose to ignore it as she reached the beaded curtain and threw it open before stepping through. There in the shop stood a woman, as naked as Caelyn herself with hair even darker than hers. The other naked woman turned to look at her as she entered and she found a pair of black eyes lock with her own. Lavender eyes glowed as she hissed ~Demon!~ at the same time the woman snarled ~Witch!~

They stood staring at each other. Caelyn took in the demons form, trying to see past the human shell the demon wore and noting the scattering of bruises and scars that bore the tell-tale signs of mottled skin being burnt. Surprisingly she couldn’t see the demon hiding within, but she knew it was there. This nude girl was clearly no longer human though Caelyn suspected she had once been… many moons ago.

She sensed him before she saw him: a thin wisp of indigo mist hiding in the corner. The silver ball she had given him was standing forgotten beside him and as she watched, the indigo blushed a bright pink. ~Damn child..~ she chided. ~You shouldn’t be seeing this.. go in here..~ she reached back to pull back the beaded curtain as Steven raced past her. Peering into the dim light of the shop, she saw the yellow mist that was Samuel hiding behind a shelf. ~And you child! Go with your brother!~ The yellow mist seemed to fade, as if deliberately trying to hide before a deep sigh said ~Fine!~ and followed his brother into the apartment. ~And don’t touch anything!~ she yelled after the youngest Conrad brothers. Turning her lavender orbs back towards the demon, she cocked her hip and placed a hand on her right hip.

~As for you demon! What the hell are you doing in my shop? Actually..~ a thought occurred to her and she muttered ~HOW are you in here??~ she had enough wards and barriers in place to stop anything evil crossing the threshold.

Elyza baulked. ~How the fuck do I know?! I don’t…. ~she gazed around the shop as first one candle, then two burst into flame. Soon the formerly dim interior was lit up as though by neon lights. ~Where am I?~ she whispered, her eyes blinking rapidly to adjust to the sudden brightness.
Caelyn laughed, shaking her dark head. ~Uh, no bitch.. I ask the questions here. So I will ask again, how the hell did you get here?~
Elyza glared at her. ~I told you! I don’t know! I was…. Somewhere.~. she gestured around hopelessly. ~Somewhere.. nowhere.. I don’t know. It was just darkness… everywhere and nowhere.. ~her words now spilled out in a rush. ~And then.. there was a light.. and.. I ran and then.. I was here..~ Her eyes fell upon the small wooden box she had seen when she had awoken, still laying next to the shelf where she had kicked it to. Caelyn’s eyes, now a dark purple, followed the demon’s gaze to see the box. Striding over to retrieve it, she bent over and picked up the box. Instantly it began to light up, sigils and wards glowing in a matching shade of violet to her flashing eyes.

Turning it over her hand, she studied the box before looking back at Elyza. ~You were in this?~
Elyza shrugged and finally became aware that both of them were standing, facing each other in a naked stand off. ~Where are your clothes?~ she whispered.

Caelyn laughed ~Bitch, please! You’re more naked than me! I can see your insides where your skin is peeling off.~ She watched as Elyza’s eyes turned upon her own flesh, seeking these wounds that Caelyn had alluded to. But beside bruises and scars, she couldn’t see any insides on the outside, or whatever the crazy witch had just said.

~What happened to me?~ she wondered out loud and for a moment, Caelyn almost felt sorry for this miserable wretch. Dismissing any empathy she may feel with a flick of her head, she shrugged.

~Beats me. All I know is you can’t stay here.~

Elyza looked around wildly. ~Where is HERE?! Where the fuck am I?~

Caelyn held up her hands. ~Okay.. first off. Chill. Secondly.. HERE is my shop. As in MINE. As in YOU CAN’T BE IN HERE! As for out there..~ she pointed towards the door which magically flew open with a tinkle of the silver bell hanging above it. ~That’s Deepdwellers Gulch. Its uh… an interesting place.~ Realising that she didn’t have any clothing or technology to guess what time this beast was from, she interjected ~From what I figure.. year is 1800 something. So like.. the old wild west? If that means anything to you?~

Elyza’s bewildered look showed her that it didn’t. Caelyn shrugged ~Whatever.. so there’s like.. cowboys and tumbleweeds.. horses..~ Did the beasts eyes just light up at the mention of horses? Weird. She continued talking while slowly walking towards the demon ~ Cactus.. and lots of open land. There’s also a huge THING going down.. or about to go down.. I don’t fucking know anymore..~ she rubbed her temples. ~Heaps of your type out there though.. the place is overrun with demons from what I can see. And some of them are even as good as hiding what they are as you are. We had something.. I dunno.. erupt? And then there was flames.. big holes in the ground.. blah blah blah. ~ She shrugged again. ~Place is quiet now.. at least for now.. so out ya pop! Go and see if you can find your kind.~

Elyza looked miserable as she turned to face Caelyn. ~ I don’t know what my kind are though? I don’t remember…~ Though her sadness was etched across her once beautiful face, Caelyn noted with a sigh that her feet weren’t taking her towards the door. Deciding she needed a little push, Caelyn continued walking towards her and watched in delight as Elyza’s sad face turned into a look of surprise as she glanced down at her feet to see them sliding her towards the door.

~Stop it!~ she screamed. ~How the fuck can you control me like that?~ She reached out to grab ahold of a shelf as she passed but it eluded her grasp as she continued moving towards the door.

~I told ya pet.. its MY shop. I can do whatever the fuck I like.. which, right now, is getting you outside.~

Elyza was already at the door and she reached out with both hands to grab a hold of the door jam. Screaming in pain, she winced as she pulled her hands away which were now burnt a dark crimson.

~I told ya… you shouldn’t be in here. You’re not allowed. So don’t even think about trying to come back. ~

Elyza had now crossed the threshold and started screaming and hopping in pain as her bare feet burned against the warded floorboards on the front stoop of the shop. ~Best run, love.. it will stop hurting as soon as you hit the road.. or.. dirt in this case.. Laters!~ she cooed as the door slammed shut.

The box still in her hand, she turned it over absently as she walked back towards the beaded curtain. Stepping through the doorway and back into her apartment she was surprised to see a youth of about 15, tall for his age with sandy hair and brown eyes. He was standing in front of her large screen TV mounted on the wall of the loungeroom, his eyes practically bugging out of his head.

~Hi Samuel. Welcome to my humble abode.. ~her violet gaze lingered on her TV. ~She’s a beauty huh? Biggest screen I could find. You should see the high definition… oh shit… you haven’t seen a TV before have you?~

A giggle sounded from the couch and she peered over the cushions to see a young boy of about 8, the same shade of hair and eyes as his older brother. He was practically consumed by the thick cushions on her custom made couch and was throwing his silver ball in the air.
~Careful Steven.. don’t drop it.~

Both boys turned to stare at her. Realising for the first time that she was standing there in all her naked glory, she had the decency to blush before tutting at the two.

~Okay.. you two stay here and I’ll go throw some clothes on. And remember.. DON’T touch anything!~

Leaving the brothers, she turned on her heel and walked back to the bedroom, the computer beeping at her again as she passed. Pausing to click on her mouse, she saw that there was a message from Barton waiting her. She cried out in surprise more than pain however, when the silver ball rolled to a stop at her feet. Without thinking, Steven scrambled to his feet and ran after the ball. He dove on it, laying in a heap at her feet. Gripping the ball triumphantly, he raised his eyes to look up at Caelyn. His huge brown eyes trailed up her legs, her thighs and lingered far longer than they should have at her lady parts before continuing up past her taut stomach before coming to rest on her ample breasts. He didn’t move or even blink. Stifling a laugh, she glanced over at Samuel who was scurrying after his brother.

~Sorry Miss Caelyn.. we didn’t mean no disrespect.. honest…~ He trailed off as his eyes too found her breasts. With his mouth hanging open, he stared at her chest. Neither brother made a sound or moved an inch. Caelyn laughed.
~Okay boys.. I know my girls are impressive and you probably aint seen anything like them before, but you need to close your mouths. You’re drooling all over my carpet.~ Both jaws closed with an audible click in unison.

~Let me go make myself more.. respectable.~ She turned on her heel just as the computer beeped again. Three unread messages now.
~You’ll have to wait m’love..~ she purred as she sauntered into the bedroom. Deciding the thin silk robe would do little to erase the image of her naked form from the two impressionable minds currently residing in her loungeroom, she crossed to the walk in robe and quickly chose a pair of her favourite jeans and a loose, cashmere sweater in pale blue. Padding out into the loungeroom with bare feet she found both brothers where she had left them.

~Okay.. so, you’ve probably figured out this aint my first rodeo. I’m from .. a different time and space from you, so there’s lots of things in here that you aint never seen and probably never should. There’s also no veil or filter in here so I can see you two handsome boys for exactly what you are. Why don’t we sit down and get better acquainted? You can tell me all about your brother… the sheriff. Oh and if you don’t mind, maybe fill me in what the hell is happening out there?~

Outside, Elyza’s feet gratefully sunk into the cool earth, quelling the fire that had burnt her skin moments ago. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the darkness as the sun finished her descent to disappear behind the mountains and she looked around the town. Deepdwellers Gulch, the witch had called it. The street (if you could call it that) was deserted. Several properties still burned, while others had been reduced to piles of rubble. She saw many of the deep holes the witch had told her above, chasms cracked wide and far and she made a mental note to step lightly. But in what direction she should go, she had no clue. The smell of death and rotting flesh wafted on a breeze that blew from the East, whispering in her ear while her hair blew around her. Turning her dark gaze towards that direction, she smelled blood and saw a few people staggering up the steps of a building that had the word SALOON painted in fading white paint above the swinging doors. Humans were holding their heads, blood pouring onto the porch as they limped inside. The sound of chaos and cries reached her ears and she muttered ~Fuck that!~. Feeling eyes upon her, her own dark orbs trailed up the exterior of the Saloon to a window on the top floor. A woman stood in the window, framed by dark velvet curtains. As soon as their eyes locked, Elyza hissed ~Vampire!~ Raising her hand with her middle finger fully extended, Elyza gave the vampire the finger as she muttered ~And fuck you too!~

Turning away from the saloon, she started walking in the opposite direction. She didn’t know where she was going, or why but she knew she didn’t want to be anywhere near anyone right now. She had to think. To figure out where she was, how she got there and more importantly.. why she was here.

From her vantage point in the attic, Madame Tamassa watched as the naked demon flipped her the bird before taking off down the street. She had seen her come out of the Chemist, hopping around like an idiot before taking in her surroundings. What was it with that place?! She wondered, as she looked up at the night sky in time to see the first stars twinkle to life. The stench of blood reached her nostrils and her eyes flared as she licked her lips. No! She had to stay up here. There was nowhere to go that was further away from the triage that had been set up in the bar. So much blood… open wounds. Her stomach growled as she felt her fangs elongate. ~NO!~ she hissed, clenching her fists so hard her sharp nails pierced crescent moons in her palms. As the first drop of her own precious blood came to the surface, she licked it eagerly while pacing the floor of the attic. Whatever was going on down there, she knew that for now at least, she couldn’t be a part of it. A deal was a deal.. and as her thoughts turned to the Sherif, she wondered, for what seemed to be the hundredth time… where was he? *

[Plot Puppets]

24 tense and horror-filled hours have passed since the demonic invasion had consumed Deepdweller's Gulch. The horde of unholy spawn swept the town like a flash flood, bringing atrocity and leaving death in their wake.  Streets cracked open with deep fissures, buildings burned, people were slaughtered like cattle.  The Gulch, already a sleepy town struggling with a dwindling population, was unprepared to fight back the tide of demons and had lost many lives that day. 

It was only by the heroics of a few brave souls that the demons were repelled -- a dimension-hopping witch and her shop of magical oddities; an outlaw with second sight and charmed pistols; a miner-turned-vampiric enforcer; a possessed sheriff surround by ghosts.   Mystical might, brutal muscle, and enchanted iron turned back the abyssal tide, but these great feats were punctuated by smaller tales of courage.  Hardy townsfolk bunkered in the saloon, the bank, the jailhouse, holding back the horde through grit, survival instinct, and a hail of hot lead.  The injured were dragged bloody and broken into the whorehouse, where the madam and her staff set up a makeshift infirmary to care for those injured in the invasion.

When the outlaw Clover Stardust unleashed the holy power of the sword Redemption, the resulting blast of light had banished every demon it touched.  Those that escaped its power scattered across the desert sand, tearing furiously into the night and baying for blood. The blast left the residents and structures of Deepdweller's Gulch untouched, the streets swept clean of all trace of demonic flesh and blood.  However, the sand still runs red with the blood of the fallen. Screams of terror and agony across the town have faded into cries of pain and despair coming from the saloon.  The fires have been extinguished, but their burnt ruins still fill the air with a smoky haze that has only begun to clear.  Survivors dare not venture into the street alone, and no one moves unarmed.  The town holds an air of anticipation, as though waiting with breath held for the next catastrophe to reveal itself.

[Plot Puppets]

The pounding of hoofbeats filled the night air with their rhythm. The staccato snare of gunfire, punctuated with the whooping calls of riders, sang a familiar song that floated on the wind, growing steadily louder. A couterpoint could be heard beneath the main notes, the cry and call of otherworldly howls and roaring from demonic throats, as it approached the ruined town of Deepdweller's Gulch.

A trio of monstrous beings soared into view as they hurtled over the wall of the ravine, then dropped down to cruise above the gold dirt road that snaked toward the town. Against the backdrop of the night sky, they should have been barely visible, except that they emitted an eerie luminescence that grew brighter as they approached. Long, serpent-like bodies covered in soft, doughy skin, porcine faces with elongated jaws full of protruding tusks. A dozen short, knobby legs tuck against the soft underbelly as they undulate through the air on two sets of leathery wings. The smokey haze coming from the ruins of the town was dispelled under their wingbeats as powerful gusts of air forced the smoke out and away.

100 yards behind the ghastly beasts, riders tore around the edge of the ravine, lanterns bouncing on a saddles, a dozen bobbing lights and the occasional flare of red fire from the muzzles of pistols marking their pursuit. They rode hard, but slowed their breakneck pace and fell into a column formation as they approached the mouth of the ravine. The riders continued their pursuit, at a slower pace, their lantern light shining along the walls of the ravine as they made their way toward the town. Their quarry pushed harder, doubling the distance between them.

As the monstrosities approached, the three let out cries that were somewhere between a pig's squeal and an infant's wail as they dropped down from the air and hit the ground in clouds of dust. They never slowed their pace, short legs propelling them forward in a disturbing scuttle as they charged toward a lone figure stumbling naked down the road. Their cries ceased, their feet were silent on the sand as they approached.

As they drew near to her, they ceased their charge, rearing up like serpents poised to strike. Their bodies began to shudder, skin rippling in repulsive waves as it stretched in some places, or narrowed in others. Knobby legs tucked against their soft bellies and folded into the skin, disappearing, as the skin took on a palid human tone. Flesh along the back of pig-like heads stretched and flattened, turning dark and taking on a texture like dark curls of hair as snouts flattened into pointed human noses. The transformation took bare seconds, and when it was done, three near-perfect copies of the nude woman stood in the road, staring with hungry looks at the figure that they mimicked.

Behind them, the riders were pounding up the ravine, lanterns shining ahead. The voices of riders cried out in dismay, having lost sight of the beasts they pursued. It would be only minutes before they arrived. The three clone beasts looked back over slender shoulders at the riders, then back to Elyza. One bared its teeth and let out a low hiss.

[Moridanu]

*How long she walked, she did not know – or even care. Soon the cries of the wounded and damned fell behind her, the odd sound of wailing reaching her ears if blown her way by an errant breeze. The dirt beneath her feet was blissfully cool, soothing her bare soles as she stepped lightly over the loose stones and compacted earth. Lost in thought, she wandered aimlessly, following the road that stretched on endlessly before her. The breeze was gaining momentum behind her, carrying with it the stench of death and decay, of destruction and despair as it blew through her long dark tresses. The air was cool against her skin and she glanced up at the sky, her eyes growing wide at the sight of the full moon hung low, a golden orb nesting in a mass of purple and red clouds that were scattered across the midnight sky.

Twisted memories of her life before… this.. scratched at the corners of her tormented mind as she remembered a night like this. A brief vision of her standing out in her father’s field, gazing in wonder at a similar moon while trying to ignore the sounds of her dark house perched high on the hill of the land they were in danger of losing behind her, those sounds of her mother’s desperate wailing.. crying and then screaming.. drifting towards her ears before she raised her hands to cover her ears while letting out a silent sob..

Just as quickly as it came, the memory was gone and she was left standing in the middle of the road, looking up at that golden moon, hanging heavily in the sky like an over ripe peach. The crimson clouds started moving, slowly at first before chasing each other to cross over the moons surface, casting the previously illuminated road into darkness as shadows danced around her before dancing away to reveal the white, worn timber of a fence she now noticed was snaking along the right side of the road.

Without knowing why, she found her feet taking her over to the fence and she watched absently as her hand raised to trail her fingertips along the twisted timber of the old fence. Behind it, an overgrown field was filled with long, golden grass, dipping and swaying in the breeze in a fluid motion that gave the illusion of a golden wave as it ebbed and flowed across the land. Her eyes could make out a figure standing in the distance, and her dark gaze narrowed as she found herself pressing her naked flesh against the cold, splintered wood, peering into the dark field. So transfixed by what she saw, she failed to notice a rusted old nail pierce the tender flesh on her bare breast or the familiar feeling of blood trickling down her abdomen.

What was that?! She wondered as she found herself climbing over the fence, landing on the other side with a soft thud that was immediately captured by the rustling reeds as she made her way silently through the field. The grass was so long, it tickled the sensitive skin on her thighs as she walked slowly towards the figure that she could now make out to be a man. He was tall, standing still with his arms outraised by his sides, and wearing a wide brim hat silhouetted against the bright night. Despite her slow approach, he was becoming larger the closer she grew, but still he stood there, tall and silent. Even before her vision cleared enough to make out any detail, she knew before she saw him that this man was different. Something was wrong.. and her brow furrowed as she fought her way through the golden reeds that threatened to coil like rope around her muscular legs. Something cold and wet slithered around her ankles before disappearing into the grass as she approached the strange man and she looked up at him, a laugh freezing in her throat.


Now within metres from this vision, she could see that she was looking at someone’s half hearted attempt at making a scarecrow. A worn, battered coat comprised of more holes than fabric fluttered in the breeze and she could now see fragments of material that must have once been a checked shirt designed to be stuffed by the mouldy yellow straw that hung in loose clumps from every hole. His pants were surprisingly in good repair, and she glanced down at her naked legs while she considered taking them to wear. Her neck refused to let her look away however, her dark gaze drawn to the wide brim hat that hid its head from view. There was no face, no form.. nothing but darkness under the wide brim and, led by nothing but curiosity, she raised a surprisingly trembling hand to reach out towards the hat. Intending to lift it, to see what the long lost farmer had chosen as a head for this sad, pathetic and worn out scarecrow, she was absently aware of a sudden coldness emanating from the ground beneath her feet as something wet and slippery brushed against her skin once more. Something slid over her left foot, its long wet body soon encasing her right ankle before slipping around her calf and sliding up her thigh.

Distracted momentarily, she blinked while still peering into the shadows of the void under that huge hat and baulked visibly as two glowing amber eyes peered back at her from the darkness. The rustling of the reeds around her combined to make it sound like a loud hiss was surrounding her as she watched the amber eyes grow until they were as large as the ridiculously round moon that chose this exact moment to disappear behind the crimson clouds which were now heavy with rain. The field was plunged into darkness, so dark it reminded her of the void she had been in before waking up in the witch’s shop. Thunder rumbled as lightning lit up the sky, illuminating the scarecrow briefly enough for Elyza to see that it was no longer standing still, its arms no longer outstretched beside it. Flashes of dark and light, blinding and dazzling flickered across the sky, a strobe light show that revealed in terrifying clarity the scarecrow reaching out its arms to her as it began to bend.. then darkness for a long, agonising moment before jagged forks of purple lightning struck the tree to her left, illuminating the dark field in a blinding light as the dried out wood ignited in flame. Despaired at how long her took her eyes to readjust to this sudden blinding light, she gasped as she realised the scarecrow had disappeared from her view and she was now staring in wide mouthed horror at nothing but a tall, withered post where it had once stood.


The wet, cold slimy serpent coiled around her leg began to squeeze, causing her to cry out in pain and look down just in time to see a three headed serpent hiss and strike her right between the legs. Three pairs of elongated, sharp fangs sank into her most sensitive area and her knees buckled as she tried to stay upright. A silent scream froze in her throat as her eyes couldn’t tear away from that frighteningly empty pole despite the familiar feeling of poisonous toxins entering her bloodstream, making its way to her heart. Although she couldn’t see, she felt the dark veins of venom appear against her luminous skin, as it made its way up from her groin, over her taut stomach as it moved towards the twisted mass that used to be her human heart. The blazing inferno that had been a tree once upon a time, was now so engulfed with flames that the fire quickly spread to the surrounding golden grass, igniting the dry kindling and racing towards her like wildfire.

The memory of hungry flames.. of being burnt alive caused something in her to snap and she was spurred into action, turning on her heel and racing towards the white, worn fence. The golden grass pulled at her legs, trying to capture her in its cool embrace as the roaring flames chased her and she lost track of where the three headed serpent was now. Despite feeling as though she was moving through molasses, she hit the fence with such a suprising speed that her poisoned belly smacked against the splintered wood, driving more shards of rotten timber into her flesh. Crying out, she scrambled up and over the fence, the heat of the flames behind her showing her how agonisingly close she had been to burning alive. Again.
Falling in a crumpled heap on the cool, compacted earth of the long, lonely road she had wandered only minutes before, she rolled a few times, grazing her naked form with large red scratches before rolling to a stop. Laying on the ground, gazing up at the sky in shock, she shivered as the cold rain fell upon her. Her mind was blank.. incapable of even processing what had just happened, let alone trying to make sense of these recent events. Finally she sat up and glanced back towards the field, expecting to see it ablaze but blinking in shock at what she actually saw. Climbing unsteadily to her feet, she gaped at the field – blinking rapidly as her feet betrayed her once more and took her back to the fence.


The field stood before her, a gorgeous sea of golden grass swaying in the breeze, ebbing and flowing like waves washing across the shore. There were no flames. The old, long dead apple tree stood where it always had, flagged on the left by the ragged scarecrow with its arms outstretched beside it. Her eyes gazed down at her body.. there was blood.. so much blood on her breast and stomach, but no black veins of venom. No poison flowed through her veins and she realised with a start that no rain was falling. The storm that had raged moments ago was gone as if it had never existed. She crumpled back to the ground, pulling her knees up towards her chest, hugging herself as she found herself rocking slowly back and forth.
From beneath her naked ass, the ground began to rumble as the sound of hoofs thundering down the road reached her ears. Following the sound, she peered down the road, terrified of what might be racing towards her. Her dark hair whipped around her as she twisted her head in the opposite direction and looked back the way she had come. That way lead back to the twisted mess that was the town.. back to that witch.. and the bitch in the window. There was no way in Hell she was going back that way. Steeling herself, she used every ounce of resolve to rise to her feet and turned back towards the way she was heading. She knew that something was racing towards her. She could feel it as well as hear it. Tossing her dark curls over her shoulder, and with one last shuddering glance at that golden field, she snarled ~ Fuck it. Come get me whatever you are!~ and followed her feet as they finally turned her away from the scarecrow and back towards the road before her. *

[Moridanu]

*The moon had dipped slightly, hanging low in the sky with an eerie golden glow that gave it the appearance of a bruised peach, while its radiant light still illuminated the foreign landscape as Elyza continued her journey. The compacted earth beneath her feet was deliciously cool against her bruised and bleeding soles, the vibration of the thundering hooves she could hear in the distance sending a slight sensation through her skin that she felt deep in the muscles of her strong calves and thighs. An owl hooted somewhere in the distance, and she could not help but ponder if it was a warning call – telling her to turn tail and head back towards the twisted scarecrow and the field of imagined flames. Stubbornness and sheer will alone rendered any possible consideration of heeding the warning fruitless as she squared her shoulders and unbelievably picked up her pace. The road ahead curved slightly to the left, and she watched as the golden road disappeared around the bend. The sound of beating hooves edged ever closer, the wind carrying with it the stench of rotting flesh along with that thundering roar. Something was coming, and she’d be damned if she would wait for it to find her.
Walking faster so that she was soon one pace behind a casual jog, Elyza rounded the bend and stopped short as her dark eyes widened at the sight before her. Three women stood before her, each a carbon copy of the wild eyed demon she knew from her own reflection. Both of her brows shot upwards towards the night sky as her full lips parted with a slight ~huh?~ escaping her lips.

Almost as one, all three of the apparitions before her stared back at her, eyes wide with mouths hanging open. Elyza snapped her jaw shut with an audible click before snarling ~What the living fuck??!~ Immediately, and in unison the three before her did the same.

There was no time to react however, as the sound of hooves thundering down the road reached her ears. She could see now a large posse of at least ten.. maybe twenty?? horses were charging towards the newly formed quartet, their nostrils flaring as wild wisps of smoke filled the air. Each horse was ridden by a dark rider, their features hidden in shadow despite the bright night. One of her reflections, turned to look at her just as the sound of gunfire ripped through the air. Elyza gazed in horror as the turning apparition grinned at her and shrugged before her chest was torn apart. Blood and bone rippled out of the cavity that was once her chest, and Elyza had a brief memory of fireworks shooting against the sky before the bloody corpse vanished in a puff of dark smoke. The other pair of Elyza’s turned back to face the oncoming horde, skilful hands deflecting each bullet with a flick of their slender fingers and Elyza could’ve sworn she heard one laugh.

The posse was closer now, so close that the horse in front of the pack charged towards Elyza, filling her view with nothing but the sight of black shoulders and twisted thighs, running towards the trio with an intensity that chilled her to the bone. The rider moved in quick succession, raising his arm high enough to emit a loud crack before a long, thin ebony whip reached out to wrap around the neck of the closest spectre. Clearly unsuspecting such a close attack, the apparition had no time to claw at the whip around its neck as the rider pulled it back with enough force it ripped the head from its neck. Blood spluttered, pumping into the sky like a rupturing volcano before this body too disappeared into a puff of black smoke.

Although transfixed by the gory scene of destruction before her, Elyza still noticed as two dark clouds hovered above where their bodies had stood mere minutes before. The clouds grew in volume, quickly turning from a dark grey transparency to form a thick, dark opaque black that soon merged into one swirling storm that seemed to rain down on the last remaining Elyza form. Bullets rained from above, horses grunted and men shouted but all Elyza could hear was the thundering of her own heartbeat pounding in her ears as she finally heeded the owls warning and turned on her heel. With a speed that surprised even herself, she ran back down that long dusty road, leaving the sounds and the smells of that bloody battle in her dust.

The mountains around her were a blur of shadows as she ran, faster than her feet could possibly take her. Soon the warped, peeling wood of the white fence appeared on her left and she made a beeline for the fence, vaulting over it with the grace only a trained dancer could possess. Soon she was back in that sea of reeds, each one reaching out to slow her pace as she ran through the field. The scarecrow still stood, silhouetted against the white glow of that magnificent moon with its lonely companion standing beside it. The apple tree was long dead, its gnarled and twisted branches reaching out to claim her skin.. a strand of hair.. something. But Elyza pressed on, running through the field and up a hill towards the farmhouse she had seen earlier.

As the towering structure came into clearer view, she slowed her pace to catch her breath while sizing up the house. Memories of her childhood home washed over her and she shook her dark head quickly, dispelling any nostalgic wallowing that she might feel. In reality, this house was nothing like her former home and her feet slowed to a walk as she approached the wrap around porch and began to climb the stairs.

The night was still around her. The sound of horses, bullets and shouts had faded to nothing. Crickets chirped and the owl hooted again, closer this time and with less of a foreboding tone than before. The steps creaked under her feet as she climbed the stairs, bent and rusty nails tearing at her skin as she stepped onto the porch. The house was shrouded in darkness but the glowing golden moon shone brightly enough to see the windows had all been boarded shut. Deciding that this might be just the place to rest and gather her tormented thoughts, Elyza reached out a trembling hand to close around the dull, brass doorknob. Surprised to find it turn with ease, she pushed open the door, wincing as the hinges squealed in protest at being disturbed. A darkness so black that it brought visions of her nightmare time in hell back in full force was all that she could see. Absently gnawing on her bottom lip, Elyza took one last deep breath and crossed the threshold as she stepped inside. Back into darkness. *

[Plot Puppets]

The night air is filled with the shouts of the riders, accompanied by the crying and stamping of their mounts. The orderly double-line is broken into a disorganized mob as the riders in front wheel their mounts, while the ones further back saw at their reins and force their horses to a stop. In the milling mass of flesh and sweat, lanterns blaze around chaotically, illuminating riders, horses, and ravine walls in a disorienting riot of flashing light. Finally, the mob settles as riders take positions along either side of the gulch, leaving a single mounted rider in the center.

The rider dismounts and carefully examines the sand before them. The rider's lantern light shines over the place where Elyza and her clones had stood moments before. It kneels, running fingers over the earth before lifting a handful of sand and allowing it to fall slowly through its gloved fist. The other riders shift nervously in their saddles, their mounts panting and blowing hard, and another rider dismounts to join the first as they study the area. There is a brief exchange in low voices. One gloved hand points down a short bend where the road branches away toward nearby farmland. The first rider gestures with its pistol toward the nearby town of Deepdweller's Gulch.

The riders return to their mounts, and after a few barked orders from the lead rider, the posse is underway once more. The troupe thunders down the ravine at a gallop toward the traumatized town of Deepdweller's Gulch. As they ride past the branching path, four riders break off from the back of the formation and follow the road leading toward the nearby farmland. The small group rides until they come to a field of golden grains waving in the moonlight. The lead rider holds up a hand and the four riders slow to a trot as they follow the picket fence until they reach the gate.

As they reach the gate, two riders dismount. They each hand the reins of their horses to a mounted rider, lift their lanterns from the hooks of their saddles, and with pistols drawn they push open the gate. The gate groans in protest as it swings open, the jarring noise spooking the horses. The riders swear and pull tight on the reins, as each grapples to control their own mounts and an extra horse. The two on foot proceed into the field toward the distant farmhouse.

[Hangman Jack Hardy]

Jack pulled hard on the reins of his steed as the riders approached the town square of Deepdweller's Gulch.  The smell of death had grown stronger as he approached, and here seemed to be the epicenter of the charnel house stench.  Buildings lay in shattered ruin, collapsed on themselves or blackened by fire.  What remained of the boardwalk that once ran from door to door of the businesses that lined the square was now a mess of uneven planks scattered or fallen into the frame.  Great cracks rent the streets, dark lines like black lightning shot through the earth.  In some places, the earth had opened wide enough to swallow a wagon.  Jack started hard into one of these chasms, but in the dark of night, it was impossible to tell how deep these great tears went.  He turned his gaze to the one building in view where the lights still burned -- what appeared to be a saloon, a two-story affair with a balcony overlooking the square below.

The rest of the posse reined in behind Jack as he dismounted his horse, each rider surveying the town in mute horror.  The light of the gathered lanterns revealed the dirt in every direction stained with blood.  A wagon loaded with human remains was parked not far from the door of the lit building.  Each of the riders hurried down from their horses, and one stumbled and fell over before retching onto the bloodstained earth.  The horses neighed and pulled hard at the reins.  One reared high and lashed out with its front hooves, scattering the riders, before bolting back the way it had come.  Its rider prepared to give chase, but Jack waved him off.  "Leave the horses," he called.  "They won't go no further."

Jack glanced around, and saw that one of the horses had found a trough of black water nearby .  "Gilbert!" he shouted, and one of the posse came trotting over.  "Stay with the horses, make sure they all get water."  He gestured toward the trough. "And don't let no more of 'em bolt."  Gilbert nodded and took a rein in each hand to lead the horses to the trough.  The rest followed without guiding, attempting to push their way in to drink.  Soon the horses had completely overwhelmed their caretaker, heedless of his orders as they muscled against each other at the trough.

Jack pointed his hand, index and pinky extended, at two riders.  "You two, scout to the end of town, then report back."  The two nodded and put their hands on the butts of their pistols.  "If you spot one o' them devils, you know what to do."   The two raised lanterns and warily walked in the indicated direction.  Jack turned to another rider.  "Elmer, take that longshot o' yours and get somewhere up high."  Elmer grinned, revealing gapped brown teeth.  "Listen for my whistle."  Elmer nodded and hefted his rifle onto his shoulder before slinking away into the shadows.  Jack turned again.  "Suzy."  The rider had risen from the dirt and wiped one sleeve against her mouth, her stomach contents nearby.  "Stay with Gill.  Once the horses have a bit to rest, you ride back to camp and tell 'em what you seen."

Suzy shook her head unsteadily. "Nuh uh," she said, voice shaky.  "Ain't goin' back alone."

"Don't argue with me," Jack looked severely at the young woman.  "I need someone to report back to camp and tell them about the demons, the town, the folk.  Someone to tell Ms. Mayhew what we found.  That's you, kid."

"Ain't no way, Jack!" she spat.  "I ain't no city bitch's errand girl!"  She stood as tall as she could, all traces of shaking gone.  "I ride with Hangman Hardy! I'm a fighter!  What if there's a fight?  What if ya need me?"

"Look at you, Suzy," Jack sneered.  "I sure don't need you like this."

Suzy looked indignant.  "I'm fine!  I just didn't expect the smell, is all."  Suzy pulled the bandana up from around her neck to cover her nose and mouth.  "See, I got this."

"What you got," Jack said quietly, "is a long ride back to camp.  Now, I said it nice the first time," Jack said, his hand straying to the whip coiled at his right hip.  "Next time, I won't say it so nice."

Suzy's eyes above her bandana went wide in a moment of fear, then narrowed angrily.  She spun on her heel and stomped away, and kicked a fallen barrel with a curse before plopping down to sit on the edge of the ruined boardwalk.  

Jack watched her for a long moment before turning to the remaining two riders.  "Jonny, Donny, with me."  The two riders nodded and fell into step behind Jack as he turned toward the lit saloon.  As they approached, the door banged open as two people, a man in a banker's vest and a woman in what was once a very pretty dress, carried a sheet-wrapped burden between them.  The woman cursed and hefted the load, and the man puffed red-faced as they hustled the load over to the nearby wagon.  They struggled as they attempted to heave it up and over the side, but were clearly exhausted and not up to the task.  With a final curse, the two dropped their burden into the dirt beside the wagon.  

Jack and his escort approached, the light from the windows of the saloon revealing his features.  Sandy hair fell from beneath his hat and into the inky pools of his eyes, above sharp cheekbones and a square jaw dotted with blonde stubble.  His garments were caked with road dust from the hard ride, but there was no mistaking the quality of his boots, the oiled duster, or the fine waistcoat above the wide leather belt supporting twin pistols that rode on each hip.  A coiled black whip hung from a hook near his right pistol.  Behind him, the twins Jonny and Donny came into view, a couple of grimy thugs with similar sloping foreheads above red brows, and mashed noses that had seen many fights riding above fiery muttonchops.  

Jack raised both hands to show empty palms, and called out to the pair.  "Beggin' yer pardon," Jack said, pasting on his friendliest smile.  The pair both spun to face the three riders.  The Banker looked fit to shit his fancy trousers, but the girl was game.  Quick as a blink, she hiked her skirt with practiced ease and reached between her thighs, producing a pistol that looked all too at home in her hand.  She trained the pistol on Jack's head as Jonny and Donny pulled their irons and cocked back their hammers.  "Hey-ey-ey-ey!  Slow down now, miss!  Boys, put them irons down."  He waved back at the two red-headed riders, who slowly lowered their weapons.  The girl, however, kept her pistol aimed between Jack's eyes, but her face was lined with exhaustion, and despite her best efforts to appear fearless, Jack could see the slight tremor of her hands.

The smile was still locked in place.  "Look, Miss," Jack said in a soft and reassuring voice, his eyes locked with hers, "We're riders from Flatbush, come looking for some answers.  And clearly," he said, stepping slowly forward, never blinking, "y'all could use some help."  The pistol aimed at his face waivered.  "Now listen, I've got a posse with me, we was hunting down whatever the Hell's been turned loose 'round these parts.  I already done sent a rider back to Flatbush, tell 'em y'all need support."  He took another step.  "Food, water, shelter." Jack cast a meaningful glance at the sheet-wrapped bundle at the girl's feet.  "A doctor."

Banker barked out, "For heaven's sake, Daisy, they're here to help!  Put the gun down!"  His high voice was on the edge of panic, glancing nervously from Jack, to the twins, to the girl and her gun.  Daisy's face was hard, but it was clear that she was near collapsing.  Finally, she lowered the revolver.  

"Good choice," said Jack.  Then fast as a striking viper, he clouted the Daisy on the ear.  Banker shrieked and covered his head with his hands.  Daisy's eyes rolled up in her head, and as she began to collapse Jack snagged her around the waist and effortlessly hefted her over his shoulder.  Jonny and Donny closed in on Banker, broad grins on their thugish faces.  Donny drew a knife from his belt.  With his free hand, Jack put his hand out and stopped the twins' advance.  He turned to address the man cowering in the dust.  

"Hey there, slick," Jack looked the man over.  "How 'bout you run ahead inside and go get whoever's in charge of this outfit?  I'll be needin' a word."  The cowering man huddled in the dirt, arms over his face, and blubbered unintelligibly.  "Hey!" Jack shouted and lashed out with one booted heel, sending the poor sod sprawling.  "Go!  Go get whoever's in charge, now!"  He lashed out again, propelling the man toward the saloon door.  Finally moving, the man crawled frantically toward the door when a boot from Jonny caught him square in the backside.  Banker cried out in pain as he went sprawling onto his face, one hand clutching at his rump as he crawled away and into the saloon door.  

Jack hefted the unconscious Daisy up further onto his shoulder, then with Jonny and Donny in tow, entered the saloon.

[Moridanu]

*Standing at the large bay window that was her favourite feature of the attic, Tamassa cast a disapproving glance towards the road below. A posse of riders had just arrived in the Gulch, and Tamassa felt her stomach drop as she considered the implications of this latest development. The sweet coppery scent of clotting blood still invaded every pore and she felt the familiar blood lust begin to boil the blood in her veins. Her ears began to throb as the sound of her pounding heart beat against her eardrum, boom.. boom.. boom. In desperation, she began to pace, continuing on her earlier path along the worn, warped floorboards of the attic. The sound of her boot heels seemed to tap in perfect unison with her beating heart as her temple pounded, long red fingernails massaging the offending area absently as she paced.

Her golden eyes kept straying towards the door of the attic and finally she could take it no longer. In a flash she was yanking the door open so hard that it almost fell off its hinges. Flying down the narrow staircase that led to the third floor, she walked over to the edge of the balcony that ran alongside the hallway and peered down to the first floor below. Instantly her nostrils flared as her eyes began to glow a deep amber, the smell of blood and rotting flesh hitting her with such force that she actually reeled back for a moment, rocking on her heels. Taking a moment to compose herself, she wrapped her black shawl around her shoulders, before hoisting one side of her crimson skirt to her hip as she turned and made her way to the stairs. Taking her time, she was soon on the second landing, the smell closer and more invasive as ever as her boots stopped at the top of the stairs that led down to the bar room below.

From her vantage point at the top of the stairs, Tamassa dropped her skirt to fall down, covering her knee high patent leather boots so that only the toes were revealed. Her crimson fitted jacket sinched in at her waist, its lone brass button struggling to contain her heaving bosom that was straining against the cream lace negligee she wore underneath. Dark curls tumbled over one shoulder before she brushed her mane away, letting it fall down her back as her glowing amber eyes searched the sea of people below.

The town drunk Cat Wilson was still busying herself, bustling back and forth between the injured and dying, applying cloths to stop the bleeding and topping up tumblers of whiskey for those able to drink. ~I hope you’re paying for that..~ she snarled as her eyes refused to move away from the buxom blonde. Her dark head tilted on her neck as she raised one slender dark brow in surprise. There was something different about Cat tonight. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, not with the thundering pounding of blood in her ears as her nostrils quivered and she felt her tongue flicker out to lick her lips. Blood. So much blood…

Snapping her jaw shut with an audible click, she reached out to steady herself, a cold hand holding onto the nearby banister; fingers wrapping around the smooth, polished wood. Almost as though she sensed she was being watched, Cat looked up at Tamassa, her dark lashes opened wide to reveal eyes of the purest blue. Without a word escaping her lips, Tamassa stared at Cat and thought ~ You! Here! Now!~ Cat blinked, more than once before nodding and gathering her skirts around her. She wiped her hands on her pinafore before walking past Daisy and Banker Bob who were carrying a body wrapped in a sheet through the saloon door. Trembling hands reached for her, and she was vaguely aware of cries for help as she moved through the people scattered across the room, her sapphire eyes focused on nothing but the vision at the top of the stairs.

As soon as she saw Cat following, Tamassa turned on her heel and flew up the staircases until she was back in the attic. Resuming her pacing again, she counted silently in her head and had just reached 23 by the time Cat appeared, hesitating at the threshold.

~About fucking time Cat!~ Tamassa snarled, turning her amber eyes towards the figure at the doorway. ~Don’t fucking dawdle! Come in and shut the fucking door… that smell.. I can’t..~

Cat blinked again before shuffling inside, pulling the door closed behind her. She took a few hesitating steps towards Tamassa before coming to a stop a mere metre from where Tamassa now stood. Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, Tamassa felt her dark lips force a smile as she turned to face Cat. Not needing the air for her long dead lungs, she still drew in a deep breath before exhaling in a long, slow sigh. Finally, feeling more in control, she forced an even bigger grin to her lips. Without realising her fangs were showing, she almost laughed when Cat recoiled in horror and started backing up towards the door.

~Oh come now Cat! You trying to tell me that you didn’t know what I really am? What the fuck do you think we do here, you stupid slut?!~
Cat’s eyes were as wide as saucers as she continued walking backwards until her back hit the door with a loud thump. Her eyes locked on Tamassa as her hand reached behind her, searching for the doorknob.

~You can stop that. Now. ~

Immediately, Cat’s hand fell to her side. She glanced down at it in surprise before her blue eyes found Tamassa’s yellow ones once more.

~Okay..~ the vampire purred. ~ That’s better. Now.. come closer. So we can….. talk.~

Clearly against her will, Cat found her boots taking her closer to Tamassa.

Deciding there was no time for pleasantries, Tamassa took another deep breath before she continued.

~Good girl…~ she snarled, licking her lips. ~Alright… now just stand still and do what you’re told. This won’t hurt much if you’re a good girl and just do what you’re told, understand?~

Cat nodded, her blonde locks bouncing against her shoulders as she stood before Tamassa, her entire body trembling. ~ Yes..~ she mumbled.

~The correct response is Yes Mistress.~

~Yes Mistress~ was the automatic response.

~Good girl..~ Tamassa drifted closer, her fangs elongating as she reached out one slender hand to take Cat’s trembling hand in hers. ~Now.. you’re going to feel a little pinch.. not too bad right?~

~Yessss Mmmm..istress…~

Tamassa lifted Cat’s hand to her mouth, her left canine piercing the tender flesh of Cat’s palm. Resisting the urge to suck and drink, she satisfied her blood lust with a slow lick along the puncture, as Cat’s sweet blood slid down her throat like a 100 year old malt whiskey. Biting her own hand, she held Cat’s hand as their blood merged and she established her cosmic connection with Cat. To ensure that this ancient custom was having the desired effect, she began to sway slowly from side to side. Smiling as Cat began to match her movements, she gave the hand a quick squeeze before letting it drop. The hand still hung in the air as Cat swayed side to side, a silent tear slipping down her cheek.

~See? Told you it would be alright..~

~Yes Mistress..~

~Good.~ she purred, wiping her hand across her mouth, her pink tongue darting out to lick up the last drops of blood. Seeing Cat still swaying, she stifled a laugh as she ordered ~You can stop moving now.~

Cat stood still, her hand still outstretched, hanging in the air.

~Put that hand down.~

Cat’s hand dropped to her side. The tear had now slid down her cheek and found its way to her chin. Her lips no longer trembled, her hips no longer swayed and there was no external evidence of the inner turmoil that was racing through her entire being.

~Alright.. so.. you’ll have time to process all this later. I’m sure you will have some questions.. and I’ll do my bet to answer them. But right now, we aint got the time. I run this joint, but as you now know, I’m limited to managing our business during daylight hours. That’s where you come in. You can still go about your business, doing whatever the fuck you do in that store of yours but when I need you, you will hear my call and come running. Immediately.~

~Yes mistress.~

~Good. I used to have a girl… ~ she sighed as she reminisced about the good old days. ~ But time is short and my patience is shorter. So now.. you’re it. ~

~Yes mistress.~

A sinister grin creased her lips as Tamassa nodded in approval. She was just about to start giving Cat orders when the attic door flew open. Immediately the aroma of blood filled the room and she turned her glowing feral gaze upon the woman standing in the door. \

~What the fuck Isabelle? You know better than this!!~,

Isabelle immediately began to cower. ~Pardon Mistress… but… well.. you’re needed downstairs..~

Tamassa cocked her hip, her right hand tapping her nails against her hip bone. ~Oh am I now? Well.. Cat just got promoted. She can handle anything down there..~ she trailed off as she saw Isabelle’s mouth open and the word ~but~ escape her lips.

~YOU DARE TO FUCKING INTERUPT ME??!!~ she screamed, causing Isabelle to flinch.

~Uh… nnnnn..no! I would never Mistress.. please..??! Iiiiii its ju ju just… there’s a man downstairs.. he’s got Daisy over his shoulder and two other men… he.. uh… he asked for you especially.~

Even as she spoke, Isabelle knew to back away and disappear out the open door before Tamassa could respond. Turning her feral eyes to flash at Cat she snarled ~Great.. looks like we got company. Come on pet, you’re about to earn your keep.~

Cat stood where she was, still swaying slightly as she struggled to gain some semblance of control over her body and mind. Once again, her feet betrayed her and she felt her shoulders rise with an exasperated sigh, resigning herself to the fact that she was quickly following Tamassa out the door. Although she saw she was keeping pace with Tamassa as the vampire stalked towards the stairs and began her descent, Cat felt as though she were moving through quicksand. A scattered thought.. a random musing as to why it was called quicksand but felt like she was moving slowly.. danced at the edge of her mind, tantalisingly touching down lightly before flying way, always out of reach. They had reached the third floor landing now and she followed Tamassa as they began to climb down the second flight of stairs to stand on the second landing. Seeing Tamassa stop and look down at the front of the saloon from her vantage point at the top of the stairs, Cat came to a complete stop before she heard Tamassa hiss in her ear.

~Right, you’re in charge down there. Go and tell the girls to patch up those they can, throw away the ones they can’t and clear everyone out of my fucking bar will you? Once everyone’s gone, you can go home and catch your breath. I suggest you try to get some rest while you’re there… you’re going to need it.~

Knowing the words were on her lips without any conscious thought of a reply, Cat whispered ~Yes Mistress~ and descended the stairs.

Tamassa watched her go, her eyes lingering on the blonde curls that fell halfway down Cat’s back. She took a moment to focus on those curls, to listen to the sounds of the empty glasses slamming upon wood, the liquid sloshing in the glass, the sound of the crying.. anything to distract her senses from the delicious scent of all that blood. Taking a few extra minutes to get her bloodlust under control, Tamassa only began her descent when she was sure her feral eyes were no longer glowing pools of amber. Blinking rapidly, she bit her lip as she forced her fangs to retract while mentally going through the many colour choices she had for her ‘everyday eyes’ as she called them: deciding on a deep, emerald green. With a slight shake of her dark head, she squared her shoulders, lifted her skirts and began to slowly descend down the staircase.

Green eyes surveyed the scene before her, and she nodded curtly in Cat’s general direction, pleased to see her new drudge had already cleared out half the saloon and was leading her other ladies to do the same. Banker Bob was still hovering by the door, his eyes shifting back and forth between Tamassa and the floor. A bloody rag was laying on a nearby table and she looked in Isabelle’s direction just as Cat reached down to claim the rag and stuff it in her petticoat’s pocket.

~Good girl..~ she purred under her breath, noting the smile that sprung to Cat’s pink lips at being praised by her mistress. Fixing a welcoming smile upon her own dark lips, Tamassa turned her head toward the door of the saloon to see just who had entered this evening, demanding to see her. Bob was flapping his hands by his side, daring a quick glance at Tamassa before looking back at the man who still had poor Daisy flung over his shoulder.

Nostrils flaring, Tamassa’s eyes widened as she drank in the sight of the blonde stranger standing just inside the front door. In seconds, she had taken in every minute detail, from the sandy hair falling beneath his hat to the shadows hiding his dark eyes. With her senses already heightened, she noted every blonde hair that dotted his square jaw. Although his duster and visible attire were caked with the red dust of the Gulch’s roads, she noted the apparent wealth that he must have acquired to afford such high-quality waistcoat and boots. Without flinching, she had seen the black whip and twin pistols that hugged each hip, and had even noted the two redheads that flanked him on either side. Paying them no mind, she bestowed upon him her most dazzling smile as her green eyes locked on his dark orbs.

~You sent for me?~ she purred, drifting closer until she was a mere metre from this stranger. ~And I see you brought a gift? Though.. I dare say…~ she made a show of inspecting the lifeless lump that was only just starting to stir, her legs kicking weakly against the man’s broad chest. ~ Pretty sure that’s MY girl you have there. Best put her down so we can send her home eh?~

Without waiting for an answer, she focused on Daisy’s backside as the legs began to kick harder now, a painful sob emitting from Daisy’s mouth. Turning towards Cat, while keeping her eyes locked on the enigmatic stranger before her, Tamassa called out ~Cat.. be a dear and help poor Daisy home? Look’s like she took a tumble…~

Cat appeared immediately at the strangers’ side and helped Daisy climb down from the mountain of a man who towered over them both. Daisy wobbled unsteadily on her feet; a hand held to her bloodied ear. She turned to look at Tamassa, her mouth open to mutter her indignation before Cat expertly wrapped an arm around her waist and led her outside.

Within a few minutes, the other patrons of the saloon had either vacated or were taken upstairs by her ladies to provide some much needed sustenance after an exceptionally long night. Once they were alone, Tamassa bestowed her best smile upon the stranger.

~Now..~ she purred to the two red bookends on either side of this mysterious blonde. ~ Why don’t you two hop outside and keep watch while your boss and I exchange pleasantries?~

Although the redheads opened their mouths, it was a silent protest as they blinked in surprise to find themselves turning and heading outside as they had been directed to.

Tamassa took a moment to register the silence of the now empty room before gesturing towards the bar.

~Now that we are alone… why don’t we have a drink and you can tell me who you are and what the fuck you are doing in my town?~ *

[Moridanu]

*Cat stepped through the saloon doors, the fresh night air causing her to gasp in shock as she slowly became aware of her surroundings. Daisy was moaning and clutching her ear as Cat led her down the creaky wooden stairs and stepped onto the red, compacted dirt that formed the main road of Deepdwellers Gulch. The further she moved away from the saloon, the more in control she felt, slowly becoming free from Tamassa’s icy grip upon her brain and heart. She was aware of a string of profanity coming from Daisy’s twisted mouth and nodded absently, offering what she hoped were soothing sounds of comfort whilst still guiding her forward with a strong arm around her waist. She had to walk past the few remaining buildings that still stood erect in the main street, despite the earthquake and resulting flames that had ensued, and she felt her brilliant blue eyes stray to the Chemist door as they passed. A soft light burned from somewhere inside the shop and Cat wondered what the new proprietor could be up to, this late at night. With the brilliant full moon their only companion on the empty streets, Cat quickened her pace, took a few turns and was soon depositing the now raging Daisy on the front stoop of her modest home. Without waiting to see if Daisy made it safely inside, she turned back the way she had come before turning left to approach her small, equally modest home at the back of the General Store.

Once inside, the familiarity of her home helped her to feel much more in control of herself. Everything was as she had left it, and she moved silently around her house, her body on autopilot as her mind raced. What the hell had happened to her tonight?! She began to straighten her bedroom, absently folding and refolding her clothes as she struggled to recall recent events. She remembered the screams.. the cries of pain.. the flames..
Blinking at the dress that was currently in her hands as if it magically appeared from nowhere, she shrugged and unfolded it before draping it over a crude wire hanger and hanging it in her small wardrobe. There were only a few modest dresses hanging in this robe and as she stared at the thin, coarse material, she was taken back to Paris and her magnificent wardrobe; overflowing with garments made of the highest quality and richest colours and patterns. As with any memory of Paris, she could smell pastries; hear the happy chatter of the busy streets as people stopped and took the time to converse and admire her paintings. A smile briefly lit upon her pink lips as she bathed in the joy of this memory of her time in Paris. It was only a fleeting moment however as the image of that handsome face flashed in front of her eyes. Her smile faltered instantly and the familiar twinge of tears forming at the corner of her eyes caused her to shake her blonde head ruefully and slam the wardrobe door shut with a loud bang.

The sound echoed out in the empty house and she stalked angrily back to her bed, her mind forcing the image of her beloved from her head as she turned her thoughts back toward tonight. The townsfolk; what few survivors there were at least, had all turned up at the Saloon and she had found herself there. She nodded slowly as she remembered the cries, the smell of blood, the gaping wounds and the wretched sound of her neighbours taking their last breath before dying in her arms. She remembered the smell of her whiskey as she had poured one shot after another before losing the glass and drinking straight from the bottle. As if by thought alone, her legs moved towards the kitchen as her mind was still in the saloon. She heard Tamassa’s voice in her ear.. then… nothing.

Her blonde brow furrowed in exasperation, she reached automatically for the half full bottle of whiskey she had left on the kitchen counter. Popping the lid off expertly, she took a quick swig, relishing the burning sensation as the liquid slipped down her throat. The memory of her whiskey at the saloon brought her mind back to Tamassa. Her voice. Cat frowned as she started to recall walking up the stairs… finding Tamassa in the attic.. and then… nothing.

She cursed and took another swig from the bottle as she turned to make her way to the small sitting room off to the side of the kitchen. Her hand ached and she glanced down at it, surprised to see the small pinprick of blood still visible on her palm. Instantly the memories came thick and fast.. Tamassa’s eyes, her teeth, the painful bite on her hand, the merging of their blood.. it all dawned on Cat with a sickening feeling of dread, shock and disgust. Her stomach churned and she heaved, barely able to resist the urge to retch and vomit all over her carpet. She turned and staggered towards the small bathroom, barely making it in time before she threw up the contents of her churning stomach. Wiping her shaking hand across her mouth, she stared into the mottled glass of her small mirror, searching for answers to questions she could not ask. Her bright blue eyes just stared back at her, and although she wondered how it could be true, she could not help but think her eyes were looking back at her in an accusatory glare. *

[Moridanu]

Elyza

*The dark room greeted her like a long lost friend, and she let out a shaky breath she hadn’t even realised she was holding as she crossed the threshold and pulled the door closed behind her. The darkness… so thick and so complete it threatened to take her back to that place… that empty, dark void of nothing. Instead of feeling fear and dread however, she felt surprisingly at home here and she sighed audibly as the dim light provided by the full moon outside began to slowly illuminate the room around her. Still encased in shadows, the corners of the room refused to reveal their secrets but she could just make out a large, comfortable looking chaise lounge barely covered by a draped sheet. Two chairs stood at either end of the room, the shadows clinging to their colours and fabric, but she could just make out that they too had been covered by a sheet. The windows were boarded up as she had noticed from outside, but in here the planks were nailed into the wood that framed the long rectangular panes of frosted glass. Moving towards the nearest window, she marvelled at the small particles of dust that seemed to dance in the thin, milky white light that was shining through the cracks between the wooden planks. A slender hand drifted up and away from her side, her fingers twirling through the air like a pianist tinkling invisible ivory keys. The floating dust settled upon her naked skin before taking flight once more and she stood there for far longer than she should, lost in this moonlit dance.

A sound from outside whispered in her ear, so faint that at first she thought she had imagined it. Startled from her thoughts, her attention turned to the nearest wooden plank and the rusty nails that had been crudely hammered into the timber window frame. Long nails searched for the nearest nail and, after a few minutes; she expertly removed the rusted metal from its prison. It fell to the floor with a soft thud as she moved to the opposite window frame and made equally short work of the last offending nail. The board groaned in protest but gave in surprisingly easily as she hefted it down from the window to place gently against the wall below. A pale hand rubbed at the dusty glass, creating a small circle of transparency to look upon the world outside her window.

The moon still hung low in the sky, clouds of indigo and violet caressing it with a lovers kiss and the midnight blue sky remained peppered with hundreds of diamonds as stars twinkled and smiled down upon the farm below. The golden reeds still waved from the nearby field, their silent swaying almost lulling her into a trance that was only broken by the sound of a rusty gate squealing its protest at being disturbed. Although she peered towards the source of the sound, even another hastily cleaned circle of window pane refused to yield the secret source. Her dark brow furrowed as she peered as far towards the road as she could see. Was that movement out there? A quick, stealthy shadow darted in and out of view, appearing and disappearing so rapidly she doubted if she had even seen it. Thinking of the outstretched branches of the apple tree in the long dead orchard, her dark eyes sought out the tree and she sighed in satisfaction to see the wind was causing the warped and twisted branches to cast dark shadows against the golden sea of reeds. Satisfied that this was the cause of her stealthy shadow, she turned away from the window and leant back against the glass that was cold against her naked ass.

With the silver light of the moon now illuminating the room behind her, Elyza turned on her heel and cautiously began to explore; her hands reaching out in front of her as her bare toes groped the wooden floorboards before taking each step. Shadows still stubbornly clung to the walls, refusing to yield but unable to resist the penetrating silver light as they slowly began to reveal more furniture. A long gone cold and dark fireplace appeared on the far wall, its open dark mouth yawning at her, as if warning her of creatures from beyond. Beside it, a small occasional table held a strange item, which upon closer inspection revealed itself to be a brass lamp. Amazed to see that it still contained some oily liquid, she twisted the small brass knob to turn up the wick before realising she had nothing to light it with. Lady luck was smiling upon her however, and the milky white light shone on a thick, broad battered box that sat next to the lamp. Crude matches were tucked inside, and she selected one carefully before flicking her long nail over the head, a spark instantly flaring to life.

Flames of golden yellow lit up before her, reflected in her dark eyes that widened as pupils dilated, drinking in that golden light. Although the fireplace was still empty and dark, and although the match clutched in her fingers burned for mere seconds, she was immediately transfixed by the dancing flame. Instantly, she was back in the barn… watching as the flames leapt and danced, eating the warped wood that her father had used to build the building by hand years before. Her horse was screaming, begging her to rescue him and her stinging feet blistered and bled as she ran into the fire, unmindful of the danger she was putting herself in. Midnight was pacing in his stall, his magnificent dark head butting against the door as his ebony eyes watched her approach, the roaring flames reflected in his eyes in much the same way as the dying match was shining in Elyza’s. He kicked open the door just as she approached, and she grabbed a handful of lustrous black mane to hoist herself up onto his back. Together as one, they raced through the flames and escaped out into the cold, dark night. Pulling his hair, she had forced him to finally come to a stop, before turning him around so they could watch the barn burn together. A cold wind blew through the trees, causing her dark curls to billow around her head; bringing with it the acrid smell of burning hair, merging with the dark smoke that swirled all around her. A piercing, agonising scream reached her ears and she absently patted her steeds muscular neck before she realised the scream was not coming from him. Dark brown eyes widened in horror as she peered into the smoke, trying to make out the remains of the once tall, proud structure of the barn. Who could be screaming like that? Surely… not…??!! Instantly she gasped ~Father?!~ and kicked her heels against Midnights flanks, urging him to run back the way they had just come. The black horse reeled and raised both legs; pawing at the air with his ebony hooves, causing Elyza to slide back along his rippling back to fall on the hard ground below before he turned and raced off into the darkness.

Darkness…. Always darkness… she was back in the void. Blinking angrily to stem the tears that were already beginning to fall, she glanced down at the burnt match still clutched between her forefinger and thumb, the spark of flame long burnt out, leaving nothing but a charred stick of wood in its wake. Letting go, she watched it as it slowly fell to the floor before selecting another from the box. This time she managed to ignore the golden flicker of flame long enough to light the wick before blowing the match out. Replacing the moulded glass lamp shade, she turned the brass knob a bit more until the lamp was filled with a soft, golden light. The yellow light merged with the silver moonlight in a lovers waltz as she picked up the lamp and began to move around the room. Shadows ebbed and flowed, as if asking for a dance but then thinking better of it to retreat to the corners of the room once more.

Moving silently around the room, Elyza found herself drawn to the mantle over the fireplace. Here several photographs drew her gaze, the golden light from her lantern casting flashes of gold to bounce against the gilded frames. Staring at the largest picture of the trio, she gasped in shock to see a photograph of her standing beside her horse, Midnight. Raising the lamp so that the light revealed more of the sepia toned image, she realised that while the horse bore an uncanny resemblance to her long lost friend, the girl in the portrait was a fair haired beauty of no older than sixteen. Dark eyes danced upon the other images, taking in the sight of this beautiful blonde standing with other figures; a tall man wearing a wide brim hat had one arm around her waist while a buxom matron with hair as fair as her daughters beamed for the photographer. Another image showed the girl, older now as if in her early twenties; waving to the people below as she boarded what appeared to be a gangplank leading up to a boat hidden just outside the framed picture. Just as her free hand reached out to pick up this portrait for a closer look, Elyza heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps upon floorboards. The sound came from the other side of the farmhouse’s door. The same door that she had walked through moments before. The very door that she had forgotten to lock behind her, and with a sickening feeling of dread forming in the pit of her stomach, she watched in frozen horror as the brass doorknob began to slowly turn. *