Chapter 29:

-

“Madam S?” Larry stared at the pale woman.

“Let go of me,” Madam S slid out of Silhouette’s grasp and stumbled until she reached one of the walls. “Please do not touch me.” She leaned against the slime-covered surface for support.

“What is wrong with her?” Kamron asked. “She looks sick.”

A sigh came from Avery’s direction. “I hate to say this, but she has become infected.” His hand enclosed around the stake in his belt. Howls grabbed him by the wrist and Larry stood in between the leader of the Hunters and the older woman.

“Don’t you even think about it,” Howls said in a low and slow tone. “Don’t you ever think about it.”

“I’m sorry if she is a good friend of yours,” Avery never lost his calm tone.

“Don’t you even dare,” Howls balled up his hands into fists. “I swear that if you do then I will break that pretty face of yours.”

“I thought you have understood,” Avery stared into the older man’s eyes. “She is lost to us all. She is becoming a vampire.”

“Is she?” Kamron’s voice shook.

“No,” Squishy and Howls answered in unison.

“Look, I know how it hurts,” Avery’s hand never moved away from the stake. “I had to stake one of my own, because they have become infected.”

“I won’t let you to step near her,” Larry blurted out before he had even thought about it.

“Neither will I,” Silhouette added. “I didn’t even see her get bit.”

“Yeah,” Larry nodded. Madam S was a Boo through out the entire battle. She didn’t turn back until after they had left. He examined her. She was still leaning against the wall and panting. She did have the eyes and ears of a vampire, but there were no bite marks. “She hasn’t even been bitten.”

“You see that,” Howls did not turn away from Avery. “There are no fang marks on her neck. Even if she was bitten there was not enough time for her to consume any blood.”

“You were with us when we fought against the Hell Beast,” Larry added.

“And she was a Boo,” Hoodie brought up. “She can’t be turning into a vampire. She never had gotten infected.”

“Forgive me,” Avery placed his stake back. “I should have never jumped the gun.”

Howls pressed his finger into the other man’s chest. “Don’t ever allow this to happen again. Squishy, I want you to carry Madam S back to the library.”

“I’ll be a gentle,” Squishy scooped the ill woman up into his arms.

“I…hunger,” Madam S’s voice warbled.

“We’ll get you your medicine and then we will get you something to eat,” Squishy held her to his chest. “Out of the way folks.”

“You heard him,” Larry said. “Out of the way.” He growled, causing several people to jump back.”

-

They made it well ahead of the others and they would have made it inside if the damn doors were not locked.

“Son of a bitch,” Larry struck his fist against the surface. A long echo followed the bang. “I don’t suppose you have any keys?”

“No,” Squishy lowered Madam S to the ground. She would have fallen if Larry hadn’t caught her. “I do know the knock.” He drummed his fist against the door in several beats. After nearly a minute without a response he knocked again and was halfway through when the door opened.

“I know the password,” Larry said. He was close to Howls when the old toad had uttered it. “The Password is Captain Lou.”

A frail girl opened the doors. Her small round eyes widened when she saw them. “Are you the only ones to make it back?”

“We all survived,” Larry, said He felt something damp against his chest and looked down to see that Madam S was licking his blood stained shirt. He stared dumbfounded at the woman and then searched Squishy for any possible answers.

“She needs her medicine,” Squishy didn’t even seem to notice Madam S’s odd behavior. “That is why we are ahead of the others.”

“Inside,” the girl stepped back.

“You take her to someplace comfortable,” Squishy instructed.

“This way,” Larry was close to dragging the woman across the floor towards one of the small sofas. At least she had stopped licking his blood. “Squishy is getting your medicine.”

“You need medicine yourself,” the girl at the door said. “Unless that is the blood of the enemy.”

“It’s mine,” Larry set Madam S on the sofa and helped her lie down and get comfortable. “I should get these looked at.” He felt cold hands grab him by the wrist.

“Don’t leave me,” she gasped. “Stay.”

“I want to stay.” It was only a half lie. Earlier she had reminded him a bit of Kammy, but recently she had freaked him out.

“Stay,” she brought his hand against her cheek. “Stay.” Her lips brushed against his wrist.

“Not trying to be rude but-“ she started to gnaw on his wrist. “Okay,” he pulled away. “That is enough for now.”

“I hunger,” she reached for him.

“I need bandages,” Larry stepped away.

Squishy ran up to them with a small glass bottle containing a strange pink liquid. “Here you go Madam S.” He handed the bottle over to the frightening woman. “Don’t drink it to fast.”

Madam S brought the bottle to her lips and took in a slow sip. “Thank you Squishy.” She took another sip.

“She’s going to be better now,” Squishy, said. “She didn’t mean to scare you.” He stared at Larry’s chest and frowned. “You better do something about those claw marks.”

“Yeah,” Larry stared at his wrist. There were only a few teeth marks and they were fading away. She hadn’t broken any skin.

-

Larry closed his eyes. The part he had been dreading was approaching. He could smell the pungent scent of the medicine before he felt the cool liquid and the burning sting. “Gah.” He screamed.

“Don’t be a baby,” the frail girl said. She had tied her long dark hair back into a bun. “You’re just lucky we have everything that you need.”

“This stuff burns,” Larry said through clenched teeth.

“We have to disinfect before we can sew you up.” The girl finished mopping up the scratches.

“Do you even know what you are doing?”

“I’m a second year med student,” the girl smiled. “That is why they want me to stay behind, so I can heal everyone when they get back from the hunts.”

“They should be here now.” Larry said.

“And if someone is hurt then the know where to find me.” She held up the threaded needle. “You might want to look away.”

Larry turned his head towards the direction of the door. He didn’t remember anyone being too injured, nearly everyone had taken on the Boo guise and only able to become physically harmed when they were returned to their true forms.

The door opened a handful of humans and toads entered. Several had noticeable bleeding cuts, but nothing near to what Larry had.

“Don’t mind them,” Howls was the last to enter. “They just need a few band-aids.”

“How is she?” Larry could feel the medical girl working on him.

“Madam S is still drinking her medicine.” Howls lifted his sunglasses. “That Hell Beast tagged you good.”

“It could have been worse,” Larry smiled. “Do you have any idea how long those claws are?”

“I have seen pictures,” Howls nodded. “I could say that you pretty much dodged the bullet with that monster. I have heard about people who have gotten too close to them and ended up having their intestines torn out.”

Larry swallowed. He did not want to think about that. “Good thing I’m spry.”

“Don’t scare my patients,” the medical girl gave Howls the stink eye.

“I’m sorry for that miss,” Howls leaned against his cane

“I wasn’t scared,” He can tell the others knew he was lying. “I’m just not used to these hell beasts. I know of Blargs, Dino Rhinos, Rexes, Boos, Eeries, Thwomps, Dry Bones and Chomps, but I have never come across Hell Beasts, or harpies, or vampires.”

“I have never heard of these other creatures, and if I do come across them I would be certain to ask for your advice on how to kill them.”

“What happened with her?” Larry asked. “Why did she get like that?”

Howls inhaled and stared at the medical girl as she finished putting in the final stitch. “I met Madam S in hospital in a town outside of Diamond City. I was tracking more vampires and gave advice on how to treat those who have been bitten. She was in one bed. They had drained so much of her blood and had a transfusion already hooked up to her.”

“But you have to share blood to turn someone into a vampire,” Larry said as his stitched up wounds were being dressed.

“I didn’t know at the time.” Howls said. “I gave the advice of cleaning her bite wound with holy water and gave it to her to drink.”

“The holy water cured her?”

“Yes and no,” Howls glanced at the entrance. “They have forced some blood down her throat, but it wasn’t enough and they took to much. It has to be a certain amount both ways. The holy water cleansed most of the evil away.”

“There is some left,” Larry noted. Everything was starting to make sense. The reason for the veil, the medicine and the sleeping chamber. “She is like half vampire?”

“Some would say that, but she isn’t. You have seen her at her worst. She cannot grow fangs, or turn into a bat or possess their strength.”

“I don’t think I want to ask what is in that medicine,” Larry had a feeling that it might contain actual blood.

“I don’t think anyone does. We should get something to eat ourselves.”

-

Luigi placed another small log into the developing fire and stirred around the embers. If he were still a Koopa then all he would be able to do would be to spit out a few flames to get the fire going. He needed to put a foot down on that thought. He wasn’t a Koopa. He was human and he had to think like one, at least until he was able to turn into a Koopa again. And then what would happen? There was no guarantee he was going to stay a reptile. He might change back into a human once he was tired enough. The transformation might have been slow again.

He had already talked to Wendy and it made him feel better. She had told him that one of Morton’s fans had mentioned they visited Sugar Land a couple of months ago and they have said they hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary.

“What a catch,” Mario called out in triumph. He was carrying several large fish behind him. “I hope everyone loves smoked fish for dinner.”

“How many fish have you caught?” Luigi looked up from the flames. He was followed by a dripping wet Peach and Yoshi. “Peach, what happened?” He stood up.

“I fell in the river,” Peach was shivering. “Yoshi and Mario pulled me out.”

“You should have seen it,” Mario set the fish down. “She caught the biggest fish, but the fish had thought it had caught her and tried to take her for a ride.”

“I used my tongue to grab her and try to pull her back.” Yoshi said. “And I pulled her back, but then we were both nearly pulled in, and Mario grabbed me and we both pulled her and the fish out of the water.”

“This is the guy that gave us trouble,” Mario pointed at the largest fish in the clutch. It was over three feet long, silvery blue in color and had a mouth like chain chomp.” It better be delicious.

Luigi wasn’t looking at the fish. He was staring at the still shivering Peach. “Uh Mario, did you pack any extra clothes?”

“I only brought along a sweater.” He turned to Peach. “You need to sit by the fire.” He guided his fiancé to the flames. “I’ll go get you that sweater.”

Luigi shook his head. “What did you pack?

“You mean besides the sweater?” Mario pulled out the thick red wool knit sweater from his pack. “I also brought a compass, an extra pair of socks, a spare hat, a wrench, a screwdriver, a few feathers and leaves a couple of starmen, and a package of graham crackers, a bag of marshmallows, and some chocolate bars.”

“I brought my coat,” Peach held out her arms. “And a second gown.”

“Mario bring the sweater and the socks,” Luigi grabbed Peach’s pack from her tent and ran over to her. She needed to change immediately. Wait a second. She couldn’t change in front of everyone. “Bring them over here.”

“Shouldn’t she change in front of the fire?” Mario had wrapped his arms around her.

“Where everyone is watching?” Luigi asked.

“You have a point,” Mario guided Peach towards her tent.” I guess you put this on over your dress.” He handed her the sweater and the socks.”

Luigi sat back down next to the fire and the fish He needed to get them on some sticks and prep them for cooking.

“I didn’t steal any of the fish,” Yoshi had his head on the ground. “Even though I’m about to die from hunger.”

Luigi gave his friend a pat on the head. “I don’t think you will have to wait long. The fruit patrol will be back soon and they will give you some raw fruit to eat.” Luigi didn’t mind the idea of biting into a big piece of fruit, but he also enjoyed the appeal of cooking it first.

He looked up at the sound of crunching and saw Iggy, Daisy, and Kammy returning with their arms loaded with fruit.

“Do we have to cook all of it?” Yoshi asked. “I like the idea of sushi.”

“This might not be the best kind for sushi,” Luigi had finished preparing the first fish and held it and the stick over the flames. “I can’t remember the last time I went on a camping trip like this, although I am certain the weather was much warmer.” He had remembered to pack not only a sweater, but also a coat in case the weather did dip below freezing levels.

“So much has fallen already,” Daisy set her pile of fruit down next to Luigi. “Wow, who caught that monster?”

“Peach did,” Mario answered. Peach was following behind wearing a purple and less showy dress with Mario’s sweater on top.

“I fell in the river,” Peach sat down by the flames. “That is why I’m wearing my spare gown and Mario’s sweater.

“You stay here and try to get warmed up,” Daisy selected one of the fruits from the pile. “The rest of us will cook.” She tossed it too Yoshi who gobbled up in a single swallow.

“I can keep going for a few more minutes,” Yoshi smiled at her.

“Somebody get him a golden statue,” Iggy rolled his eyes at Yoshi. “He is almost as bad as Morton.”

“How much longer till we get there?” Luigi asked.

“About nine more hours by the way we are traveling,” Iggy glared at the fruit ka bob he had just prepared. “I wonder if there is a way where I can cook this much faster.”

“You shouldn’t trouble yourself,” Daisy said before she threw another fruit towards Yoshi. “You have done so much.”

“I know,” Iggy held his kabob out over the flames. “I just want to make things easier for people who have to camp like us.”

“Camping shouldn’t be easy,” Mario finished tying another fish to the stick and held it out over the flame. “It helps you develop skill and strength.”

“There is a bigger question at hand,” Kammy had used her wand to float the largest fish over the flames. “What will we do when we arrive? If no one is allowed to enter or leave, how will we get inside?”

“We can fly,” Iggy said. “Well except for Yoshi.”

“They also might have weapons and aircraft to take anyone who flies over down,” Kammy told him. “I could try to teleport everyone inside, but then we might be attacked the second we appear.”

“Then we fight back,” Mario said.

“No,” Peach shook her head. “That isn’t the right way. We are going to ask if we can enter.”

“Peach?” Luigi raised his eyebrows. “I think others might have attempted that.”

“We are going to tell them they have representatives from the Mushroom Kingdom, Sarasaland, and Dark Land,” Peach said. “I am certain they will want to notify King Gluten that he has two princesses and two princes to see him.”

“Wait,” Mario was staring at everyone. “You and Daisy are the princesses, Iggy is one prince and who is the other.”

“Your brother,” Peach stared at him. “He is a prince by marriage.”

“I never thought of that,” Luigi pulled back on his stick. The first fish was cooked.

“I agree with Peach,” Daisy finished assembling her shish kabob and held it over the flames. “We are going to try diplomacy first.”

“And what if that doesn’t work?” Mario asked.

“Then we’ll get in by force,” Daisy struck her fist against her palm.