Wicked Remains: Part 2

The kids stood frozen in shock. They'd never seen a ghost before. And this one was mad! It growled and roared like a wild animal. They watched for a heartbeat; then a sense of survival kicked in. They ran!

But the only possible escape was the cellar. They couldn't go back upstairs, not with the Death Devils lurking.

Mariner: What are you waiting for, Paladin? Move it!

Paladin: If we get out of this alive, Mariner, I'm never listening to you again!

Faith: Everyone search for a way out. That thing is slow, but it can pass through walls and floors!

Paladin: This side room's boarded up. We can't get in.
Faith: No, that's a broken room divider across the doorway.

Faith: Think we can move it?
Paladin: I don't know. It looks heavy.
Mariner: Doesn't matter. We have to try!

Paladin: Faith, you grab one side and I'll get the other. Mariner, help Faith.
Mariner: I hear the ghoul! Hurry. We just need to move the divider far enough to slip through.

Mariner: You guys go in. Check the room while I distract the ghost. But if there's nothing in there, we're in big trouble 'cause we'll never make it back upstairs. Not all of us.

Faith: Mariner, come on! We might have a chance. Something's here.

Mariner: It looks like a trapdoor, but covered over with dirt. And what's that hole for?
Faith: Light is shining through it. Could be a tunnel down below.
Paladin: Hey, you see that symbol over there? The swirling fish? I think it's a clue.

But they didn't get a chance to investigate the hole in the floor or the symbol. Suddenly the ghoul appeared in the room behind them. Desperate, Faith tried to banish the spirit, but nothing happened.

Faith: My Genie powers are being blocked by another spell!
Mariner: Most likely a ward to lock or hide something. ... Look! The ghoul is staying clear of the trapdoor. Maybe it's a gateway he can't enter, or doesn't want to.

Paladin: Either way, I say we go through it ourselves!

As the children stepped onto the mound of dirt in the middle of the room, the ghoul roared in angry frustration. He knew if they made it through the portal, he wouldn't be able to reach them.

In an instant, a rushing whirlwind surrounded Mariner, and he soon vanished beneath shifting soil. The other two children quickly followed him into darkness. The ghoul merely watched, a cruel snarl on his face.

Antwon hovered over the gateway, laughing to himself. Sure, the brats were lost to him now. But they were also lost to Faraz. Nothing ever came out of that hole!

_____

Faith: What happened? I don't see any tunnel! Where are we?
Paladin: A dungeon! And the only way out is through the ceiling.
Mariner: Which is sealed with magic ... and too high to reach even if it weren't!

Mariner yelps: That spider is bigger than the centipede we found! Keep an eye on it!
Faith: Oh god! Skeletons! Do you think they're the family who died?
Paladin: Yah, and that weird skull probably came from their farm llama.

Mariner: The villagers must have tossed them all in this pit because of the plague.
Paladin: Well, we gotta get out of here--fast! I don't want spiders chewing on my bones!

Faith: Poppa will come for us! I know he will.
Mariner: This is an oubliette, Faith. They'll forget us ... even Father.

Faith: I feel like I'm disappearing already. What an awful place!
Paladin: You two stop the whining. We're not giving up!
Mariner: All right. Then find a way to break through that warding spell.

Wicked Remains: Part 1

While The Kraken was hunting far away, the kids hid their Aqua-Sleds and quietly searched the small island. They kept a careful lookout for their father the whole time. But he seemed to be nowhere near the ugly old house or the rickety bridge.

Mariner: He must have gone into those hills on the other island past the bridge. No place else he could be.

Paladin: Man! That's a big area to search in the dark.

Mariner: We should come back when it's daylight. We can look around then and not worry about getting caught.

Faith: Best idea you've had all night! Let's go home now.

The ghoul Antwon May crept back into the shadows and listened to every word the children spoke. He wouldn't show himself yet. No, he'd wait until these pests braved the inside of his house. Then he'd reveal himself.

He'd bury those spoiled brats just like Faraz had buried him, doomed to haunt this crumbling hell hole forever. By the time Faraz found his precious children, it would be far too late!

Paladin: I want to see what's inside the cottage. What if we find hidden pirate loot?

Mariner: Nah. But there might be ghosts ... and evil spirits too!

Paladin: Cool! That's even better. I'll go in if you go in.

Mariner: Deal.

Faith: I don't believe in evil spirits! The house is probably just full of dust and bugs.

Paladin: Could be rats.

Mariner: Yah, could be rats.

Faith (shivering): Gross!

Mariner: You're the Genie-Girl. Just blink your eyes and clean up the dirt!

Faith: Not funny! Have you thought about broken boards and stuff like that, Genius? It's dangerous!

Paladin: All we have to do is watch where we step, Faith. We'll be careful.

Mariner: Wow! Look at this place! I bet it's been here for centuries.

Paladin: Smells like it too--like rotten dead things. Hey, what's in that jar? ... Guys, I think it's a giant centipede!

Faith: Yuck! I told you there'd be bugs!

Paladin: Maybe I'll take it home for my collection.

Mariner: Don't take anything away from this house! The whole cottage feels cursed! I'm telling you, there is Evil here, and I need to find where it's coming from! Come on, I'm going upstairs.

Mariner: This painting must be of the family who once lived here. I think they all died in their beds. The plague probably. And they were gone long before Lost Cove was destroyed.

Mariner: Check under the beds. Evil always haunts spots where horrific deaths occur.

Paladin: How do you know that?

Mariner: I can sense Evil, Paladin. It's in my nature.

Mariner: Death Devils!

Mariner: We need to get out of here now!

Paladin: Holy crap ... he's right!

Paladin: Faith, run now!

Faith: What? What did you see?

Paladin: I said run!!

Faith: OMG!

The children rushed downstairs and fled towards the door. But an angry ghoul blocked any hope of escape.

It was too late.

Secrets of a Genie: Part 2

Emad avoided the old home and headed straight for his Bridge. He was more than ready to embrace the sea again. To be uncivilized, to not worry about other people's feelings. Feelings! When had that word ever become part of his vocabulary? Emad growled in disgust at himself.

How could marrying for money create such a damned trap? It wasn't that Emad didn't care about his family. He just wished he didn't. Hadn't he learned very early in life to break free of family shackles?

A memory of Majid's smiling young face flickered into his mind, but Emad quickly dismissed his little brother. Oh yeah, he had definitely spent too much time at home. Now he was getting maudlin!

Emad unlocked the Bridge's hidden ladder and quickly climbed down to the bricked hall below. He ignored the dankness and cobwebs.

He descended the spiral stairs to his secret lair.

No one else knew about his sanctuary. Emad had added a few creature comforts, but the important secret was the well in the middle of the room. It connected to a large water cave where The Kraken could lurk ...

... where he would silently slide into the sea, a stalking shadow who hunted, killed, and devoured.

Emad could already taste the blood.

As the water surrounded his body, he began to shift.

Once he was in the cave, he would expand in size and become The Kraken.

_____

The Kraken drifted slowly through the depths. He'd already sated his hunger with sharks and swordfish. They were his favorite prey because they fought for their lives. But they were no match for him.

Then he heard the soft purr of an engine overhead. Some landwalker had ventured out on his ocean. Instinctively, The Kraken prepared for battle.

The thrill of hunt surged through him.

And the stench of fear roused him to attack.

Nothing matched the heart-pounding pleasure of taking down a landwalker!

The Kraken rushed upwards, his tentacles rising far into the night sky.

With one swift snap, The Kraken broke the small vessel, and the landwalker was left struggling beneath the waves.

It would only take one quick bite to end his victim's struggle.

But something of The Kraken was still Emad, and Emad knew the nature of landwalkers.

The Kraken slunk back into the depths of the sea, leaving the man alone. Emad could not risk vengeful land hunters discovering his lair and destroying it--as Majid had once done in Rinn Fada.

_____

All in all, it had been a most satisfying hunt! Even better than mating. Well, maybe not.

The erotic hunt was far more gratifying! ... Emad wondered if Bebhinn was still awake.

Suddenly Emad's Djinn awareness triggered. He felt the presence of another genie close by. Faith? No, this was not his daughter's imprint.

The genie he sensed was powerful, and Emad instantly recognized the mark. Majid! His cursed brother was here!