Chapter 23

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((Heads up, the Native American tribe name is made up along with the characters names, they are fictional only. I didn't want to step on anyone's toes or show disrespect.))

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Chief Joel StormWalker of the Fire Blaze Tribe sat around a fire with his two trusted advisors. Shaman Terry Dancinglight and foreseer Iris Nightsinger.

The whole tribe felt a great disturbance, and now they must discuss what it was and what to do about it or let it pass.

Whatever this was, it was dark and not of the earth or sky. This was a creation not made from the great creator but of the evil of men.

Soon the Chief felt that they would be asked to help, and they needed to know what they would do and what would be involved.

Their Tribe was small and sacred; they were all shifters but not like those that roam on earth today; they could take any shape they chose and had spirit animals to help them see what must be seen and what direction to take.

Fire Blaze Tribe was modernized to a point; it practiced the old traditional ways and kept the ancient knowledge of all peoples. They made a point to stay hidden from the modern world.

Only other Chiefs knew of their existence but not their location. You had to go to many places and leave messages to gain an audience. Then if they felt your need was worthy, they would contact you.

After the meeting, they all knew that they would have to intervene and take care of the problem themselves from the ordinary people. It was a great evil that they had unleashed, and they had no idea how to stop it.

As payment, they would ask for the one responsible for creating the Monster. They will not speak the evil ones' name in fear of invoking it upon them.

Be ready. We three will be the travelers and help the others from their ignorance. We wait for the great bear to come to tell us the time to go.

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While all this excitement was going on, The Wraith had his plans; he was aware that something nasty was happening, but he was pissed that it would take the spotlight off of him, and he wanted the spotlight.

You know what they say you are only as good as your last show. Got to keep the audience happy, or you might as well pack it up.

He liked talking out loud to no one. It made him feel that out there was someone who was reading his story or listening to it.

Getting all the bodies in position; three was more challenging than one. It was well worth the effort when he gazed at his creation; it was magnificent. He should have put it in an art gallery.

The Park bench was right smack in the park's center and could be seen from all directions. Anyone walking along or working in the buildings would be able to see his latest piece of art.

Giving it one more once over, he quickly vanished into the night.

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Noah grabbed Daisy and carried her up the stairs to their room. She was going to pack some clothes, and they were getting out of here. He would come back if his Dad needed him, but there was no way Daisy would stay in this house.

As they were packing, there was a knock on the door. "It's Micheal. May I come in?"

Noah opened the door, allowed Micheal to enter the room, and quickly locked it behind him.

I know you want to leave and keep Daisy safe Noah, but there is more going on than you know. I think it is best to sit down and tell you everything.

I told you about the Elixir and the fiend that was killing everyone; I still have held back something. I haven't told you who Daisy is in the Vampire community.

You both and most of the world know me as Micheal Deveroe, and that is the truth. It is part of my name. I am Micheal Devenari Caspien Thomas Deveroe of the house of the Blood Rose.

"No insult to you, but what does that all mean? Noah asked impatiently. He wasn't trying to be rude. He just wanted to get Daisy out of here as quickly as possible."

"It means, my dear boy, that you are now part of the royal family, I am for all intents and purposes the King of the Vampires, and Daisy is my only heir. She is a princess, and you are now a prince.

After that revelation, both Daisy and Noah were a bit dumbfounded.

"What does this mean? Do we have to become vampires now?" Daisy asked.

"No, you are fine as you are, but there will be some oldtimers who will no doubt form a protest. They are not listened to anymore, and their ways are ancient before women had any rights at all."

"There might also be a small fight between the families because you are already mated, and they may wish to challenge it so they can offer you their sons."

"This isn't going to be an easy road, but I promise you that I will protect you and guide you through it all."

"All that I ask of you two is that you keep an open mind and don't run away. I would also like it very much if you don't go too far away until I can arrange a guard for your transport."

"You can go anywhere you wish. I ask that you go with my guard, who will be quite pissed at me for sneaking off on them. I felt that I could get more done if I was alone. They will not be that understanding."

How about tonight you both go and stay at The Lake House. That will give you a little distance, and I put safeguards on the house so that no one can come inside without asking for permission first. That should keep everything unwanted out.

It will also keep all vampires no matter their unique abilities. Also, like my daughter, you, Noah, will be able to resist the pull that some vampires like to use to get others to do their will.

If something should decide to use force to get in, then the spell will also work to rebound them back to where they started on their way to your house.

You should know that in that situation, it will only work once. You will need to either seek another shelter or be prepared to fight.

Micheal reached over and tentatively touched Daisy's hand.

"I know I missed out on most of your life so far. I would love to have an opportunity to get to know you in the future and be a part of your life if you want me to."

Daisy was in tears, but she wanted him in her life, even as messed up as it felt at the moment. She wanted to have her father with her and one day be with his grandchildren in the capacity he was denied for her.

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Sheriff Brad Thompson and Sheriff David Whitmore were staring at the single most horrific thing in all their long careers that they had ever seen.

On the bench in the center of the park sat three people or what was left of them.

It was a gruesome version of the 'Hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil.' They were all recognizable in their faces only.

The mayor's wife was so white she looked like drywall. Her hands were glued over her ears. Looking at her compared to the other two, it was like she was better-taken care of, almost as if the killer didn't want to humiliate her.

The mayor was missing all of his genitals; the skin on his hands and his eyes were gouged out, his hands were also glued over his mouth. There might be more, but there was no way to tell until they removed them from the bench.

The other female they recognized was Kimberly, the Mayor's secretary. At least that is who they thought it was; all of her skin had been removed except for her face, breasts, and genitals. Her hands were glued over her eyes.

"Geez, Brad, what kind of town is this? We go out because of a real blood-curdling scream that wasn't human and find this instead. It is as if your serial killer was jealous of something poaching in his territory."

"I know, David, it is getting out of hand fast; I don't have any idea what that was that let out the scream. It sounded like it came from the other side of the lake. As for this asshole, he enjoys tormenting me and likes to play games."

"I wanted to inform the people about what was going on. The Mayor ordered the Sheriff's department to not say anything in fear of causing panic and because it is tourist season."

"That shit doesn't matter now, though, because there sits the mayor. That means that I am in charge now, David, and I will not wait or be worried about tourist season. That is why I called you in on this; I need your help. This asshole isn't human."

"Well, let's call this in and get the coroner out here to take care of this, whatever this is."

You should also know David that I think there are quite a few more nonhumans here. I felt them, but you know me, I can't tell any more than that as to what they are, I don't know.

"It is ok, Brad; I will help out. Perhaps have another few of my kind around to help out too. They will stay out of sight but will let us know when they see things out of the ordinary and provide a little extra security for the people of this town. Also, I intend to seek out the non-humans around here and find out why they are here and what they are doing; perhaps they can even help find and stop this asshole turd."

"There is one other thing I should tell you about this turd; He likes to leave notes in places that only the coroner can find them; they state where he is looking for his next victims, it is an act of narcissism and ego on his part just like any serial killer. I don't care if he is brought to justice in the normal sense; I want him dead and gone."

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Nicholas Lucas and Micheal Deveroe were not prepared for what they came face to face with.

Whatever that was, it was no longer his wife. It wasn't done forming yet, but it was straight out of nightmares.

It was in a fetal position, and a clear cocoon substance covered it but what was inside was not a butterfly.

"I guess that answers the question of whether she found flesh to eat." Nicholas pointed to the half-eaten hand twitching. It looked like it was in the process of growing back.

The other hand was horrific; it was growing as well, but in its current form, the fingers were at least ten inches long, and the nails were razor-sharp and added another five inches.

The rest of the body was just as gruesome. It was also in the process of growing, and it looked like she was developing a set of antlers.

They left the room, and Micheal put up the strongest safeguards he knew, and the elder that Nicholas brought along cast several spells to bind it, hopefully. For how long was anyone's guess.

"Nicholas, we are going to need help that none of us will be able to find in our communities or clans. We are going to have to find a native shaman. I am not even sure she can be killed, but at least they will know how to deal with her, so no one gets hurt or worse eaten."

One thing was for sure, what time they did have wasn't going to last for long.