One Six Go: HELLOWEEN 2023

 

 

 

Helloween 01
Clairemont River Valley College - October 29th

"Hey boss....uh....we got a hit on that atmospheric anomaly - the Pietronella Zampa thing from the Moore Estate." The two college students double check the numbers. "The numbers are friggin' twisted. Like there's a pinpoint magnetic hole or something. Doesn't make any sense. It flared up, then stopped right away. We would have missed it without the alerts set."

Their teacher growls, "Sh!t...punch it over to me, please?" He waits and the message flips up on his screen. He clicks it and checks the location and readings. "Very f^cking weird..." he mumbles at the readings. He mutters, "How did that she know...." He checks the coordinates. "Just outside of San Ravelo...the mountains...."  He nods. "Yeah...call the Moore Estate. This is what they were talking about." He whispers, "...but I have no idea what it is...."

"On it...."  The male student rolls his chair back towards his table. This was the easiest $1000 he's made in his life.

 

Helloween 02 & 03

"Oh mio Dio, Olivia! Il college ha chiamato!" Grazia shakes her head and speaks English for the others. "The college called. The got a flash of the atmospheric magnetic thing," she waves her hand, "Whatever it is...that Pietronella said might happen if the demons came. Just now in the San Ravelo mountains." Grazia's heart is racing. 

"We could be out there in 30 minutes if they have a location. Scout it?" Sid looks around at the others. 

Tanner shakes her head no. "Don't think it's worth the risk ta be honest. They spot yer people and they'll rip ya apart."

Olivia says, "If Janice and Siuxxothran are right, Ruri Von and the others need to get to us on Samhain, not before. I want everyone here tomorrow night - the women at The House...everyone." She looks at Grazia. "Please have the staff start the phone chain?"

Grazia nods and rushes out of the room.

 

"Mr Barnett, would you be so kind as to initiate the security protocols we discussed?"

"On it," Sid says before briskly walking from the room. 

"Hiroto dear, please work with Kado and Grazia on the additional wards and spells. With luck Pietronella and Velia Balotelli were able to find the additional demon banishments." 

Hiroto nods and moves out to get her sister and Kado.

"And...I assume you don't want to go and play with Angel and your friends?" Olivia smiles, knowing Tanner won't leave her side.

"No, Miss. Angel's got it. Same as last time for us. Ray's out wit' 'em, poor sod." Tanner laughs. "No...I'm yer shadow, Miss. Hell 'n back, ya?" Tanner winks.

"Thank you, Tanner," Olivia says softly. 

 

 

 

 

Helloween 04

 

Morgause feels herself ripped into the darkness, then appears in a cold, wooded area. It's a dark part of the Veil. Evil. Rotten.

"We can't have you ruining Ruri Von's plans and saving your witch pets, Mother Morgause...oh great healer....good personified...." The woman before Morgause spits on the ground at Morgause's feet. "Don't worry...I'll make good use of what's left of you...to feed my hounds."

Morgause snarls her lip and raises her sword....

 

 

 Helloween 05
- October 30

• France

Elke and Danuta thought that this Demon situation was an Olivia Moore problem. They'd pray to Hecate for her well being and when Morgause came at them after Moore was dead, they'd cry out with sadness. Boo hoo.

When the first wave of demonic zombies crawled their way at them, they knew they made a terrible error.

The Fantômes de Sang use their Blood Magic and set some of the hoard aflame. The dead try to smash through the wards, but Elke holds them.

"Danuta be ready!  I'm not sure how long I can hold them off and the Fantômes de Sang are starting to run!"

Danuta growls, "We need to get to the garage! NOW!"

• Spain

Santi shouts the spell that brings the axe to life. Flames burst from it and he stands at the ready as Chelsea's guards fire wildly at the undead that approach the Villa.

"Are....are you laughing?!" Santi scowls.

Chelsea is beaming, her magic lashing out to protect her guards when one of the dead gets too close. She laughs again.

Santi thinks she's insane.

 

 

Helloween 06

 

The Demon Lawthe stares out at her lands and whispers, "Thank you for coming directly to me for your execution, Siuxxothran. It would have been so tiresome to have to hunt you and your little blonde jester down."

Siuxxothran can hear Lawthe's pet slithering above her. "Lawthe...I come to you not as an offering...but as a voice of reason."

Lawthe huffs out a laugh, her pet moving faster now. 

"You and the others backing Ruri Von in this...frankly insane quest of hers...is not wise." Siuxxothran's silver tongue coils around the words like Lawthe's serpent. "I've removed her little sibling plan from the table, so she doesn't have the promised soul to slip into nor the sacrifice promised." She holds out her hands as she says, "And do you really think that the Father of Hell and that of Heaven...will let her rule more than a moment before one of those babies strikes her down?" She laughs. "Or Al Mawt the Death Mother? And how long do you think it will be until Oolsebet or Tameraina turn on Ruri....or you?"

Lawthe turns to face Siuxxothran, her pet slithering down behind her. The giant serpent hisses. 

"And what do you suggest, Siuxxothran? Betrayal? For what?" She snarls. 

"Ruling here in your lands...alive...with Hecate, Morgause, and Al Mawt being pleased with you. And all it will cost you is looking the other way...and a sword...."

Helloween 07

"Well...Darcy, Claire, Heather and the others are in the basement. Lizzie is going to run her spells of protection through the machine and the structure of the house. They'll get out through the Wine Cellar passage and out of the back if it comes to it." Cindy nods.

"Hiroto is with Masami protecting the staff that wanted to stay behind. I'll check on them if things get close." Kado sighs. "It still seems unreal."

 

Olivia says, "Mr. Barnett has more teams at his disposal, but I've told him to retreat at once if they are overwhelmed. They won't be any match for Ruri Von if she brings more demons or worse into this."

Tanner watches the front doors, but narrows her eyes when she feels the air in the room change - ozone and a new smell. She grips the shotgun and shouts, "Something's here!"

 

 

Helloween 08

 

Poe appears suddenly, her massive gun in hand.

Tanner aims.

"Poena?" Cindy whispers, her heart skipping as she wonders who's side she's on.

 

"In the flesh. I couldn't let you have all the fun, now could I?" She winks, then looks at Tanner. "Easy there - I'm on your side, Lovie Lupa. I brought a new toy for your Security Chief. He looked really happy about it." Poe grins. 

 

Tanner stares, then raises the shotgun up and away. "Better safe than sorry."

___________

Outside, Sid examines the new weapon. Gifts from devil women for a war with demons? This has to be the most f^cked up gig he's ever had...and he loves it.

Helloween 09

 

Ruri Von smiles at her minions with Jepthah at her side. 

 

(( Images created with Midjourney AI art ))

 

 

 

The leaders of the demonic tribes of the underworld await her words eagerly.

"We gather here on the brink of a new world. A world of darkness. Our world! We bring our power forward. Up through the veil...and we cradle this world in our beloved...darkness!"

The group before her roars their approval.     

"Now...call forth your followers. We march on the House of Moore!!!!"

 

 

 

Helloween 10

 

The first wave of Ruri Von's warriors tears through the woods like a forest blaze. 

Sid's people make sure they keep to the safe zone - the Moore Coven's protective circle around the house. But something is wrong. While some of the wild things stop short like running into an invisible wall, some fight their way through and press on.

 

Poe growls, "The Demon has done something to break down the spells! BACK TO THE ESTATE!" She fires her gun and a jet of red flame explodes from the barrel tearing through several of the creatures. 

"You heard the lady! FALL BACK!" Sid fires, taking out more monsters as they get close to a fallen member of his team. Even as he fires again, he knows they are way outnumbered. This is bad.

 

 

Helloween 11

 

 

That's when Sid and Poena hear the howling.

From all sides, more monsters come. But these monsters seem to be on Sid and Poe's side. 

Werewolves of all shapes and sizes come out of the darkness, slashing and tearing through Ruri Von's hoards. Chaos ensues.

Sid and Poe race back to the manor.

 

 

 

 

Helloween 12

 

A ways away, the witches that have gathered to help continue to try spells of protection, but can feel Ruri Von's counter-spells undermining them at every turn. 

"Sisters...we are losing this battle...."

The witches stare down from the hilltop...and watch Ruri Von's army swarm Moore Manor.

 

 

Helloween 13

 

All seems lost.

In an act of desperation, Olivia retrieves the tainted crystal ball that Cindy had long ago and tries to rework some of the Spells of Protection around the estate.

Grazia pushes energy to Olivia to try and help as Cindy lashes out at the monsters with White Magic.

"They're startin' ta break through!" Tanner growls. For an instant, she wonders about Angel and the others.

_______

Downstairs, Rainier Villeneuve and Hiroto draw power from the spirits and energy of the Manor and channel it through Martine's Boîte à Bijoux de la Mort and towards Velia Balotelli. Velia reads from the book she and Zampa found to try and banish the monsters, but it doesn't seem to be working against Ruri Von's magic.

________

And in the cellars....Claire whispers, "Are we all going to die here, Darcy?"

Helloween 14

Cindy feels the broom in her hands grow heavier...and suddenly it flares and shifts in her hands.

"Da f^ck jus' happened?!" Tanner growls.

"Cindy?" Olivia whispers.

"Well well...it's much easier to get in here now," Janice says with a laugh, ignoring Tanner's shotgun. "I know it's not usually the way you Path of Light walkers do things, but that sword is a gift from your Auntie Siuxxothran. The Sword Of Lawthe." She motions to the sword. "You stick the pointy bit there at the tip through that b!tch Ruri Von and....poof."

Cindy shivers. "It's...terrible..." She wants to drop it, but can't seem to make her mind do it."

"So is what Ruri has planned for you, darling. Olivia...the White Death...Elke...and that little wildcard Chelsea. We'll need them, too. You need to do your little wonder triplets thing while Snow White here sword-f^cks Ruri. Hard part is getting close enough."

Cindy thinks. "I can do that....."

 

 

Helloween 15

Ruri Von slithers towards the Moore Estate - triumphant. The souls of Moore and Slater will be delicious. Then, she'll take the others in the estate. Jepthah can have his pick of the other witches. He can finally have his little brunette toy. She smiles.

_______________

Olivia, Elke, and Chelsea focus on Cindy at the same time. They all whisper prayers in their own ways - a coordinated effort for a common goal....
_______________

"Sniper....you see him?" Jepthah glares.

"No matter." Ruri laughs.

Jepthah is lifted off his feet and lands six feet back as Tanner's special bullet finds its mark. He feels like he's been hit by a car.

 

 

Helloween 16 - The End

Ruri feels a shift in the world behind her as Cindy slips from the Blank Dimension and up behind her, but too late.

Cindy rams the sword through Ruri Von without a thought, whispering a prayer to Hecate as she does.

Ruri Von screams wildly as the Sword of Lawthe sends her to the deepest, darkest part of Hell. The betrayal hurts almost as much as the sword when Ruri realizes what Lawthe has done.

Jepthah screams when Ruri Von is ripped away and turns into a rotted piece of meat before Cindy's eyes.



Helloween - Epilogue

November 1st

The light of day.

The fires around the estate did not touch the main house, though a few of the demonic monsters managed to break a few windows and almost make it inside.

When Ruri Von was defeated, everything she brought with her was taken away as well - monstrous creatures dragged back to Hell.

Chelsea, Olivia, and Elke all have people missing as well...including Angel. Tanner and Sid search for her with the security teams.

The strain of the battle takes its toll on everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

• Clairemont River Valley News Broadcast •

"Thanks, Stacy. The Clairemont River Valley is still recovering from its own version of DEVIL'S NIGHT. We have Mark Thomas reporting on the scene downtown. Mark?"

"Hey there, Jess. Yes, things got a bit out of control last night and authorities are still trying to put the pieces together to find out just how this all started. I'm here with Miranda Schuman who witnessed some of the...well..madness of it all last night. Miranda, what did you experience last night?"

"My God...it was really weird. My friends and I were leaving the parade here in town to go over to San Ravelo and that's when we saw the fire? Up on Lone Rock. We were calling 9-1-1 about it when these dudes ran RIGHT out in the street in crazy skull masks! When we stopped, they started banging on the car and we took off. It was terrifying!"

"Well we're happy that you are ok. That had the potential for being a really bad situation. What was the situation over in San Ravelo? I assumed you still went over there?"

"Totally fine. Normal Halloween stuff. It seems like whatever these ((bleep bleep)) were doing was just a Clairemont thing. Some guys dressed as scarecrows were running around with torches in the valley. I bet they're the ones that started those fires."

"Thanks, Miranda. Jess, fire crews are still patrolling the area, but it looks like things have finally calmed down here."