Annie walked back along the path from the gardens, a basket slung on her hip with fresh herbs for today's class. It was the Wednesday after the Rituals and life was back to normal within the walls of the Ministry. A slew of new ghouls had been assigned here, some familiar and some new along with many new siblings. Many were sisters who had children of varying ages. Copia had told her they were still merging smaller abbeys with those large enough to accommodate them, to better protect the flock, so there would be a lot of new faces. Annie had no issue with it, and found it quite adorable when she stumbled across him the day before walking down the hall, trailed by several young children tugging on his cassock asking him question after question. His smile never wavered and he answered all he could, even slowing his pace and lifting one little girl up into his arms when she was having trouble keeping up.

While Annie was in the garden gathering the herbs needed for today’s class Mysti and Ace, much to their disappointment, were sent off to gather the other last minute supplies she needed for today's class. The students were proving to be very good learners and it was time to see how much of their limited knowledge could be put to use and what better way than to spring a test on them. In the real world there was usually no warning, and she hoped the siblings could work well under the pressure.

Her skirt whipped around her legs with the petrichor laced breeze that rushed in the door behind her and she had to hold her flying hair back out of her face until she closed it with her hip. If the wind was that strong already, they would probably be in for quite a storm later. Perfect cuddling weather, and she couldn’t wait.

"You!"

The loud growl of the word startled her and Annie stopped, looking up to the hall in front of her. Amid the siblings mulling about between classes stood a tall ghoul just more than halfway down the hall from her. She didn't recognize him, but something felt almost familiar. He was trembling, rage radiating off him as his fingers curled into claws at his sides. The siblings closest stopped chatting and looked over with expressions of mixed fear and confusion.

"Me? What?" Annie asks, forcing her voice to reflect the calm she didn't feel.

"Don't play dumb. You know what you did," he snarled, taking a step forward.

"You, uh," Annie stammers, taking her own step back even though there was already a great distance between them. "I think you've got me confused with someone else."

"Like hell I do. There’s no mistaking you. I've waited so long for this." He advanced closer and Annie ran out of room, her back meeting the hard wood of the door behind her.

"You need to stop, ghoul. I don't know who you are or what you're talking about."

He ignored her and continued his advance. His amber eyes blazed behind his mask and for once, Annie was scared of a ghoul.

"You should run now. Attempt to flee. Because once I get my claws in you you'll be screaming for mercy. Not that I'll give you any for what you did."

He flexed his fingers, his palm igniting with fire and before she could think her body moved. Dropping the basket she flung the door open and raced back outside, his loud crazed laughter echoing. Even knowing the gardens, running a fast as her legs could carry her, she soon heard his loud footsteps catching up to her.

"Run, Witch! But it's no use!" He yelled after her. A sudden wall of fire rises in front of her and makes her stumble to a stop. The hairs stood on the back of her neck and a voice within urged her to turn so she did, her arms moving before she could register what was going on and she caught the ball of fire that was thrown at her, extinguishing it between her palms.

"Impressive. Won't save you, though," the ghoul laughs, thrusting his hand out as another ball of fire launches at her. She bats it aside and stares at him with wide eyes.

"What is wrong with you? I've done nothing to you! I don't even know who you are!"

"No doubt the years have changed me. But you…you look exactly the same." Both his hands were engulfed with flames as he stared at her. "I've waited so long for this. To finally get my revenge."

Before she can speak he thrusts his hands out, palms cupped together as a long plume of fire streaks towards her. Something within her snaps and she stomps her foot down on the ground with a wince as she raises her arms, ducking behind the thick slab of rock she called from the earth. The fire split against it, roaring past her but leaving her untouched.

"Earth can't save you either!" He shouts, much closer now. Suddenly the rock shatters and Annie rolls away just before his claws reach her and she takes a deep breath, turning to face him. He launches from his crouch and she blows out her breath, the amplified wind knocking him back into a tree. Out of air, Annie pants and watches him slump to the ground.

"I…don't know…who you are, or why…you're attacking me, but it needs…to stop." She huffs, stumbling to her feet.

"You took my life away." His whisper was barely heard as he looked up at her, amber eyes blazing with hatred and rage as he clutched at the dirt by his side. "So now I'm going to take yours."

She turns to run again only for her to be snarled by rapidly growing thorny vines that wrap around her legs, tripping her and sending her back to the ground with a whimper of pain. She turns and struggles, trying to rip them off as he stands and stalks closer. His hand raises, sharp claws glinting in the fading light as dark clouds fill the sky. She brings her arms up to protect herself, waiting for the strike but it never comes. Instead there's an animalistic screech and the sound of bodies colliding and rolling on the ground.

"Stay the fuck away from my queen you bastard, or I'll gut you myself you disgusting codfish!" Mysti hisses, her normally sweet voice tainted with malice.

Booming laughter fills the air as he pushes himself back to his feet. "Big words for such a little guppy. I'd rather not kill a ghoul, so stand aside."

Mysti responds by letting out a growling hiss, showing her fangs, her finned tail twitching behind her as she crouches in a defensive stance in front of Annie.

"Mysti, no. Get out of here!" Annie pleads, finally ripping free from the vines and moving to get to her. The ghoulette turns to her and Annie's eyes widen when the ghoul takes the chance to dart over to her, slashing upwards with his hand. Blood flies, following his movement and Mysti's face contorted with a pained grimace as she stumbles before slumping to her knees.

"No!" Annie screams out, her power exploding out of her like a shockwave, knocking the ghoul several yards away and rattling the old stone building. Eyes widened in horrified shock she kneels next to the ghoulette who's now clutching at her stomach as her torn shirt grows dark and damp, the pale skin underneath bathed in crimson.

"I'm…I'm fine sugar cube," Mysti coughs with a wince. "Get out of here, while he's still down!"

"I'm not leaving you!" Annie sobs, ripping off a large section of her skirt to hold to the wound.

"Go!" Mysti pushes her away, her bright blue eyes pleading. "I've still got one trick up my sleeve to hold him til the others get here."

Annie stumbles back, torn beyond torn before she nods. She trusts Mysti so, against her better judgment, she turns and starts running.

"Get back here!" The ghoul roars, once more on his feet. His mask is cracked, crumbled under the right eye as he glares after her. Claws curled and ready he takes off after her only to be yanked back by something warm wrapping around his wrist.

"Oy! Codface! I'm still your opponent!" Mysti huffs, her hands grasping the other end of the red rope of blood that's wrapped around his wrist.

"What the fuck!" He yells, fighting to break the blood rope but it won't budge. "How are you doing this? It's impossible!"

Mysti laughs before groaning with a stumble. "No one.. fucks with a Syren. I'll hold you, as long as it takes. "

"Until you pass out from blood loss, you mean." His amber eyes glare at her and his lips quirk up into a smirk. "Fine by me."

He's on her before she can blink, swiping with his claws. She stumbles back but not before they scrape down her face and dig into her shoulder. She lets out a pained cry, falling to her knees under his weight. Her control over the blood falters and it falls to the ground in a puddle. He raises his other hand, ready to strike when a flash of black and gold tackles into his side. The two ghouls roll a ways before the smaller one leaps back up to his feet, crouched low with his spade tail swaying behind him, fangs sharp and bared as he hisses.

“I’ll rip your fucking throat out with my fangs if you touch them again!” The enraged fire gremlin snarls with another warning hiss, spittle flying as his eyes blaze with fury.

“Yet another I have to face to reach my quarry. Fine by me,” the other ghoul growls.

“You can try.”


The masked ghoul launches himself forward, palms erupting in flame as he strikes out with his fist. Dew blocks it, knocking his hand aside to counter with his own blow that’s blocked with ease. The two fight, fists engulfed in flames as they try to land punches on each other but they’re evenly matched. The ghoul sees an opening after a wild strike from Dew and grabs hold of the blond’s hair, yanking his head back as he brings his leg up in a violent kick that lands on his side knocking the wind out of him. He sputters and coughs, quickly countering with a sharp jab that the ghoul blocks before kicking him away with stronger force, sending him into a tree, the wood groaning and leaf heavy limbs shaking violently.

“Almost had me there, old man. That the best you can do?” The ghoul taunts with a smirk. He stalks over to the downed ghoul, fire engulfing his arms and growing brighter. As he nears him, the gremlin groans and pushes up onto his knees, one hand clutching at his side.

“I ain’t downed yet,” he smirks, shifting to a crouch. He waits until the ghoul is closer before he launches forward, jamming his shoulder into his torso as he tackles him down to the ground. As soon as they hit, Dew is straddling him, one clawed hand gripped around the ghouls throat, the other covered in flame as he punches down on the mask, shattering it. He raises his fist again but before he can land the blow the ghoul roars out and is swallowed by the earth, dragging Dew down with him so his lower half is trapped in the dirt. He struggles and growls, clawing at the dirt to try and free himself. Behind him the ghoul rises back from the ground, his eyes blazing and bleeding from a gash in his forehead.

“Look downed to me.”

Dews eyes widen and he struggles harder to free himself from the crushing dirt. It’s no use, and he feels the ghoul walk up to him, feeling an intensifying heat. He snarls and claws harder at the ground, desperate to break free.

“Goodbye.”


He raises his flaming fist and is about to bring it down when a shriek fills the air and he’s thrown back by an invisible force that knocks the air out of him. Scrambling back to his feet he whips around to see Annie standing over Dew, her hair flying wildly around her as her eyes glow a vibrant shade, her arms outstretched and trembling in front of her.

“Don’t you touch my friends!” She yells, her chest heaving.

“Darlin? Get the fuck out of here!” Dew hisses, craning his head to look at her. “I’ve got this, just go!”

Annie laughs and looks down at him, her smile forced as she shakes her head. “You’re stuck in the dirt. I dont think you’ve got much of anything.”

“Then get me the fuck out and then go!”

Annie lowers her arms and crosses her wrists, palms down as she slides her foot to the side in a wide stance. Muttering to herself she gestures downwards before turning her palms out as she raises her arms, wrists still crossed. The ground trembles and Dew is slowly lifted from the dirt, his arms pinwheeling to maintain his balance until he's standing on solid ground.

“Thanks Darlin. Now- DUCK!”


He lunges and shoves her out of the way, taking a heavy blow across the face that sends him sprawling to the ground where he lands unconscious.

“Dew!”

The ghoul rounds on her, lashing out with a fire coated fist. Her hands come up just in time to block the blow but the force behind it sends her sliding back several feet.

“You’re mine, witch!”


“I don’t know you!” She screeches at him, her arms moving to block his next strike. “Stop this madness!”

“No, I suppose you wouldn’t. A lot has changed since I saw you last. But you… You’ve stayed the same. No doubt thanks to your witchcraft. It doesn’t matter. It ends today.”


Annie looks at him in confusion, his words making no sense. She doesn’t have to question him further when he’s launching another plume of fire towards her. She reaches out and catches it, redirecting it back towards him but when she turns he’s not there. She panics, looking around the area but he’s nowhere to be seen.

Wet drops on her face turn her eyes skyward at the dark clouds. Her lids flutter as more water falls, landing on her face and in her eyes, quickly soaking her hair and clothes.

Under her, the earth trembles and she gasps, drawing her eyes down. Wrists coming to cross in front of her she moves, trying to pinpoint where he would come from. She freezes when she backs into something solid and warm and she hears a growly laugh in her ear before a thick arm is wrapped around her neck quickly cutting off her air supply. Her hands come up to claw at the arm, but he doesn’t budge and pulls back tighter against her neck.

"Fitting you should go this way, gasping for air like he did."

Annie gasps and chokes, struggling to take in air, her nails clutching and clawing at his arm, trying to pull him off. Her vision grows fuzzy and she panics, thrashing her body and trying to swing her arm back to hit him but her blows are weak from this angle.

"Let her go!" A voice roars and her eyes flutter to the side, taking in a drenched tall and lanky form.

The ghoul turns with her to look at the newcomer and his grip loosens just enough for her to cough and inhale a barely restricted breath.

"...You.." The ghoul says in a soft voice.

"I said let her go, Kali!"

"Or what?" The arm tightens again and she gasps, struggling once more. "We both know you're no match for me, Rain."

"Last warning." Rain's voice was the coldest Annie had ever heard. "Let her go. Now."

"And if I don't? I've waited years for this chance. I'm not letting you take it away from me!"

“Very well…”

Rain disappears then, sinking down and dissolving into nothing. Kali turns around, his eyes alert as he pulls Annie with him. With a wet splashing sound Rain jumps out from a close puddle behind him and takes him in a similar hold, arm around his neck as the other wrenches his grip off of Annie who slumps to the ground, now unconscious.

The ghoul roars, pulling himself from Rain's grasp, turning to face him with his fangs bared. Rain mimics him, his own fangs bared as he snarls. Lightning flashes above them and when the thunder rolls they move, launching themselves at each other in a mess of claws and fangs. There’s nothing coordinated or thought out behind their attacks, just wild swings that the other barely dodges or blocks. Kali’s feet slip on the slick grass after a punch with his right hand and Rain takes the opportunity to grab his shirt and pull him close, slamming his forehead against the other ghouls, letting go as he stumbles back.

“I see you’ve gotten better, Rainy,” Kali pants, looking up at the tall ghoul as he stands tall, running his hand through his shaggy dark hair to slick it away from his face. Rain stands opposite him, breathing heavily as a trail of blood flows from a gash on his forehead like a river with the water rushing over his face. “But not good enough. You’re the last ghoul I want to hurt, so please. I’m asking you. Stand aside.”

“No. I don’t care what happens to me, I won’t let you hurt her.”


Another bright flash of lightning and Kali moves, rushing towards Rain. He barely gets his hands up when he’s tackled to the ground, landing in the mud with a loud squelch as they slide. Rain claws at his arms, fangs bared as he hisses, doing everything he can to fight him off. He roars out in pain as Kali lands a solid blow across his face, feeling his lip split open at the impact.


The earth trembles violently before it splits open around them, several large rocks flying at the ghoul and knocking him off of Rain. One catches him in the side of the head and he grunts, bringing his hand up as he glares towards the newcomers. Swiss rushes over to Rain followed by Mountain. The multi-ghoul helps Rain to his feet and all three face the seething Kali. His face contorted with rage, his eyes blaze as his breath comes faster and sharper in heated huffs that expels a thick cloud of steam when he exhales. His form contorts, growing another foot as long horns sprout from his blackened skin just under his hairline. His claws lengthen into even sharper points as he roars out, launching himself forward. One hand ignites in a white hot fire, the other collecting water that turns to ice around his fist. The ghouls are ready for him, dropped in defensive stances, and when he’s near enough they launch forward.


Three against one, you would assume that they would easily be able to subdue the raging ghoul, but it was anything but. He called on his powers, lashing out with his flames as he punched, shook the earth as he moved his feet, trying to throw them off balance turning the rain slicked grass to ice. Every time the trio would gain some ground he was countering and pushing them back once more.

Mountain takes a wild swing and Kali dodges it, the momentum turning him towards Swiss who connects a solid kick right to his stomach, knocking the air out of him. Rain jumps forward then, grabbing at his arm and throwing him off balance as Swiss grabs the other in an arm lock. The two ghouls kick the back of his knees, making him fall to the ground as Mountain comes up behind him, grabbing him in a tight headlock, his knee pressed into his lower back. Still he struggles, snarling and snapping his fangs at the ghouls, trying to break free.

Suddenly the air pressure around them increases tenfold, their ears all popping and the sound of the storm fades away, replaced with a deafening roar. The three ghouls hold tighter as they watch Aether walk calmly across the grass, his face set in a cold mask of silent rage. Kali struggles fiercely against the three ghouls, trying to get away. He even tries to phaze but the pressure holds him in place, preventing it. He looks up at the quintessence ghoul as he stops in front of him, his eyes wide and, for the first time, filled with fear. He flinches when Aether reaches a hand out, pressing his palm  to Kali’s forehead and after a moment his body goes totally lax, the broad ghoul’s eyes glowing a vibrant lavender.

“Good job guys. He’s tranced now. Go tend to the others.”

The three hesitate before slowly releasing their holds on him. His arms fall to his sides and his head lolls forward but he remains kneeling there, swaying slightly. One last look to Aether and they rush off to the fallen. Swiss goes to Dew, rolling him over and brushing his hand over the gremlins cheek, giving it a soft pat.

“C’mon, Dewdrop. Rise and shine now, baby.”

The fire ghoul groans and his head rolls to the side, brows furrowed as he edges towards consciousness.

Rain and Mountain rush to Mysti’s side, carefully rolling her over. She groans and whimpers, cracking her eyes open to look at them.

“Did… Did you get him?”

“Yeah, squirt. We got him,” Mountain says with a soft smile before turning to Aether. “She’s in bad shape, Aeth.”

“Phaze her to the infirmary. Go!” Aether says, keeping his glowing eyes focused on the ghoul kneeling in front of him. Mountain nods and carefully scoops the ghoulette into his arms, disappearing in a faint green mist as three more people come running over, two women and a man, his cassock turning a dark shade of red as the rain pours over them. He drops down to his knees by Annie, pulling her into his arms. She groans, her body shivering from the cold rain as her eyelids flutter.

“Annie, come back to me. You’re safe now.”

Kali groans and lifts his head, his eyes unfocused as he tries to look around, his hand rising to reach out blindly. His face is laced with confusion unsure he heard correctly.

The ghoulettes growl at him, their eyes flashing as Copia pulls Annie onto his lap, smoothing his hand over her hair. Her eyes flutter and she groans, leaning into his hand.

“Annie, come back, cara,” he whispers. Kali’s eyes widen and focus on the woman.

“What..? A…Annie?”

Aether narrows his eyes and growls lightly. “Yes, Annie. The woman you attacked.”

“N…No.” Kali shakes his head, closing his eyes tightly to try and think through the fog of the trance he’s in. “No, that’s…That’s Morrgan. The witch who killed my father...”