Daniel sat in the woods by the Collins family crypt. The huge winged stallion, Brightwind, had taken back off into the night sky, but Daniel suspected that he hadn't gone very far. A stick snapped behind Daniel and he quickly spun around to see Barnabas Collins standing there.
"Mr. Collins, I'm glad to see you", Daniel said to the grim man.
"What are you doing here, Daniel?", Barnabas asked. "Why are you not helping Agatha?"
"Agatha sent me here", Daniel replied. "She's almost finished with the spell you have her working on. There's something going on at Collinwood and Agatha told me to find out what it is and get in touch with you or Quentin."
"At Collinwood? That's what I feared", Barnabas said. "Have you found out anything?"
"Not yet, but I'm fixing too", Daniel smiled.
And with that, two small squirrels came rushing up and climbed into Daniel's arms. Barnabas stood there, transfixed in amazement, as Daniel chirped back and forth with the two squirrels in what appeared to be a very detailed conversation.
"Vampires are inside Collinwood", Daniel told Barnabas. "There are probably fifteen of them, including two dressed like Sheriff Deputies. And there's some old, bald headed man who seems to be in charge."
"The Master",. Barnabas said under his breath.
"So far, everyone is okay. The Master is keeping everyone in the living room and it seems like they're waiting for someone. My guess it that it's you", Daniel said.
"Most likely", Barnabas replied. "Well, if the Master wants me, we shouldn't keep him waiting long."
"So what do we do?", Daniel asked.
"I noticed a flash of light at the old house when I flew here. I was going to investigate, but I saw you here and came here instead", Barnabas answered. "But I believe that Quentin, Dani and the others are at the old house now. We'll regroup with them and then go pay the Master and his minions a visit."
"What about Agatha at the Institute?", Daniel asked.
"We'll have Jacques contact her telepathically and be prepared", Barnabas said.
"Be prepared for what?", Daniel asked.
"For what she has to do", Barnabas said.
"What about our friend hiding over there in the bushes?", Daniel asked.
"What about him?", Barnabas said.
"Should we let him know the gig is up?", Daniel asked.
"I suppose we should", Barnabas answered.
And then, looking over towards the woods, Barnabas said loudly, "Come on out, Bradley."
And the young werewolf, Bradley Black, stepped out of the brush.
"How did you know I was there?", he asked.
"Vampire senses", Barnabas replied.
"Your eyes glowed in the moonlight", Daniel added.
"Damn!", Bradley sighed.
"Work on it", Barnabas smiled grimly. "Now let's go to the old house and meet the others."
**
In the living room of Collinwood, things were getting tense as the large group of vampires and The Master made themselves at home. Julia, Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, Willie Loomis and the two students from the Institute, Link and Mickey, sat quietly on the couch and watched.
"I'm sure that Mickey and I could take them long enough for the three of you to escape", Link whispered to Julia.
"There are too many and all that would happen is the two of you would be killed", Julia whispered back.
"We'll be okay. Barnabas will be here soon", Willie whispered.
"I surely hope so", The Master cackled, indicating that he had heard every whisper. "But if he doesn't show up soon, I may just have to slaughter each of you and have my children tear this grand old house to the ground instead. I am not a patient soul."
"What do you know about souls, you fiend?", Elizabeth spat out at the evil old vampire.
"Do you want to die, Mrs. Stoddard", The Master sneered.
"No, but I assume that you do", a voice echoed out and there, in the foyer, stood Barnabas Collins.
"Awwww... the infamous Barnabas Collins", The Master smiled. "And how, pray tell, did you get into this house and this close without my minions noticing?"
"I know ways into this house that no one else does", Barnabas said grimly. "And now, you will take your vampire lackies and leave immediately or else."
"Or else what, Barnabas", The Master laughed. "There are twenty-three of my minions here. If you attempt anything, your friends die immediately. But I'm feeling generous tonight, so if you surrender immediately, I'll allow your friends to live a few hours longer before I kill them."
"I have no plans to surrender", Barnabas replied. "Again, I demand that you let my friends leave here and then we will settle this between us."
"No", The Master said.
The Master looked around at the large vampire group waiting for his orders and smiled.
"Kill them all", he said quietly.
The vampires moved as one towards the couch where Link, Mickey, Willie, Julia and Elizabeth were sitting. Link responded immediately by unleashing a telekenetic burst of energy that swept across the room and drove the vampires back. A burst of light and a loud popping noise suddenly appeared as Jacques teleported into the room. Wrapping his arms around Julia, Elizabeth and Willie, he muttered, "Time to go", and with another loud popping noise, they were gone.
Link and Mickey bombarded the vampires with their telekenetic abilities. A window shattered as a large wolf and a man-sized wolf creature leaped into the fray and began to rip apart every vampire that they could get close too. The Master stepped back against the far wall and watched the carnage as Barnabas Collins used his vampiric strength to literally rip the head off a younger vampire, causing him to explode into a pile of dust.
The vampire minions, watching their fellows being slaughtered, quickly chose flight over valor and headed for the exits, attempting to escape the wrath of the vampire, Barnabas, the two werewolves and the two telekenetics. But as they exited the windows and doors, they were quickly met by arrows and stakes and a waiting Dani Moonstar, along with Mantis, Streak and Vapor. The few that managed to escape this ambush found themselves bombarded and attacked by birds and bats and owls sweeping down from the night sky under the command of the boy Daniel, also known as Piper. While distracted and fighting off the fowl and animal attacks, the vampires found themselves easy prey for Akiko and her holy-water dipped throwing stars and samauri sword. The young feldgling vampire, James, who had started all of this, found himself pierced by a wooden spear held by the young mutant, Vapor.
In just a matter of moments, it was all over and all the vampires were destroyed. All but The Master. He stepped out of the stately house and swatted Mantis away as she tried to pierce his heart with a wooden stake. Quentin and Bradley attempted to attack him, but he quickly repulsed their attacks and sent them flying through the air towards the trees. Only quick intervention by Link, quickly forming a telekenetic bubble, saved the two werewolves from serious harm.
"Back up and regroup", Dani shouted at her students as they lined up to surround the elderly demon.
"No!", Barnabas said. "This fight is mine!"
Barnabas signaled the others to step back and circled around The Master. The Master smiled the most sinister of smiles and with a speed that even Streak would be hard pressed to match, lunged at Barnabas Collins. Barnabas was ready and barely managed to dodge the attack, responding with a hard judo-thrust to the throat of The Master, who just shrugged it off and landed a vicious slap that sent Barnabas flying through the air.
The Master moved quickly to press his attack, but Barnabas was already up on his feet and ready and scored with a powerful blow of his own that sent The Master sliding across the yard. Barnabas moved with blinding speed, but was caught by The Master with a resounding blow that stunned the vampire and left him senseless. The Master moved quickly and wrapped his arms about the head and neck of Barnabas Collins.
"And now... it ends!", he laughed, preparing to literally snap Barnabas's head off.
And a loud popping noise and a blast of light filled the air as Jacques teleported once more into the scene. And with him was the witch, Agatha Harkness.
"More fools to die after I finish with this whelp", The Master sneered.
"There will be no death here, save yours", Agatha smiled grimly.
"And who are you, old woman?", The Master sneered.
Agatha made a gesture with her hand and immediately the sky began to darken. With The Master momentarily confused, Link used his TK powers to jerk Barnabas Collins away from him and out of The Master's grasp. Streak ran at her quickest speed and grabbed Barnabas, moving him to safety. As The Master moved to grab Streak and Barnabas, a large figure flew down from out of the sky as the winged stallion, Brightwind, swooped down and attacked The Master with a strong kick of his hind quarters. The Master went sprawling back on to the ground as Streak and Barnabas made their escape.
With a loud snort, Brightwind landed and strolled up to his mistress, Dani, nuzzling her hands.
"I'm glad to see you too", she told the horse. "But let's take care of business too."
"Winged horses? Freaks? Amazing", the Master sighed. "But still, it looks like I'm going to have to kill you all"
"Is it ready Agatha?", Barnabas moaned at the elderly witch.
"Whatever it is, let 'er rip", Bradley shouted. "Cause it looks like pug-ugly is getting mad!"
"We need to hold The Master immobile" Agatha shouted.
"I'll encase him in a TK bubble", Link shouted.
"And this one shall help as well", Mantis said.
And using her control over vegitation and plant life, Mantis concentrated and vines and weeds quickly rose up and wrapped themselves firmly around the raging Master, who was, at this point, livid with anger.
As the powers of Mantis and Link momentarily held The Master in one spot, Agatha Harkness began to chant in a language not heard of in thousands of years and make gestures. The sky grew darker still and thunder echoed throughout the night. A bolt of green eldritch energy flew forth from the old woman's hands and plunged itself directly into the chest of the being known as The Master. He screamed in a combination of agony and anger.
Agatha continued to chant and The Master continued to scream. His eyes were blazing red as he spit and cursed in anger and fury. And then, a light green flash of light surrounded the Master and he bellowed in anger.
"Now Dani... fire one of your arrows", Barnabas shouted to Dani, who was standing by, arrow notched in bow, wating for the word.
Dani let the arrow fly and it pierced long and deep, straight into the heart of The Master, who quickly exploded into a cloud of dust. And where this evil vampire had once stood, only a skeleton remained.
"It's over", Barnabas sighed.
"Not yet", Agatha said as she stepped forward once more. "These bones must be kept seperate and destroyed or else the Master will return one day."
"I'll take care of that", Quentin said as he walked up. "Hey Link, use your TK powers to gather up the bones, but keep them seperate. We're going to the stables where I have a sledge hammer. Let's go crush these things."
Quentin and Link walked off, followed closely by Bradley, Mickey, Vapor, Streak and Daniel.
"So Julia and the others are safe at the Institute as we planned", Barnabas asked Jacques as he walked up.
"Yes", Jacques replied. "I teleported them to the school from the living room and teleported Agatha with me when I came back."
"Good work", Barnabas smiled.
"Are you okay, Barnabas?", Agatha asked as she glanced at the grim vampire.
"I feel as if I've been in a fight", Barnabas admitted. "But I'll be fine. What was that spell you used? That wasn't the Montessi spell we had spoke of."
"No", Agatha smiled. "The Montessi spell would have affected you as well since it destroys all vampires in the vicinity. I used a variation of the spell, which was even harder, to remove The Master's access to his powers, albeit temporarily, so Dani's arrow would take effect. It was not easy and I am exhausted."
"Thank you, Agatha", Barnabas smiled.
"Well, that was exciting", Dani smiled as she walked up. "But now comes the fun part. Paperwork."
"Paperwork?", Barnabas asked.
"Yeah", Dani frowned. "I have to write all of this up in a way that SHIELD and the local Sheriff's Department can be happy and consider the case closed."
"I almost forgot", Barnabas said grimly. "There were two bodies of Sheriff's Deputies that I discovered earlier."
"Well, show me where they are and I'll call in the clean-up crew from SHIELD", Dani sighed.
"Take along some holy water and stakes", Agatha reminded. "Since they were killed by vampires, they may be changed themselves."
"Good idea", Dani said. "Let's take the car, Barnabas. I'm too exhausted to ride Brightwind."
"Very well", Barnabas said. "We'll see you back at the school before dawn."
As Barnabas and Dani left, Mantis and Jacques came up to Agatha.
"So we're fixing to head back to the school, I guess", Jacques remarked.
"This one and her son shall go get Quentin and the others and teleport back. Are you coming with us?", Mantis asked.
"No... go ahead", Agatha smiled. "I shall be along directly. I want to see if I can do something about this mess."
The three looked at Collinwood. The stately old manor showed the signs of the fight. The yard was destroyed, windows were broken and furniture was wrecked. The once proud house had suffered quite a bit of damage.
"This one had not even thought about that", Mantis sighed. "Elizabeth will be crushed when she see's her home in such a state."
"Then we shall endure to make sure that she doesn't see it", Agatha smiled.
"How... ", Jacques started to ask, but stopped and smiled as he saw the look on Agatha's face.
"This will essentially tap me out for a while, but a treasure such as Collinwood is well worth the effort", she smiled. "Now stand back."
As Jacques and Mantis stepped back, Agatha Harnkess concentrated and using all of the magic powers and energy at her command, made a series of gestures and movements. And Collinwood was restored. As it once was, so it was again.
"Wow!", Jacques said.
And Mantis, Jacques, and Agatha stood there, just enjoying the splendor that is Collinwood for several moments.
"And now, let's go get the others and head back to the school", Agatha smiled. "It's been a long night."
THE END (?)
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