Monster Hunter_ Kablooie.

Monsieur Alu Drac: (coughs) Come closer my dear.

Tarina: My darling. You look so pale. Please, take a bite. You’ll need all your strength.

Mr. Alu Drac sinks his teeth into Tarina’s neck. She closes her eyes as Sir Alu Drac takes a quick bite.

****************************

Vanessa: Time to see what Purth has in his workshop. I need more weapons, and other monster hunting tools. (Vanessa says to herself).

As the Monster Hunter opens the door, the bell rings alerting the workshop owner there’s a customer.

Purth: Oh my stars. Vanessa?!

Vanessa: (smiles) Hey. I need more weaponry.

Purth: Say no more. You’re my number one most valued customer.

Vanessa: (slams a pouch full of gold coins on the counter).

Purth: (whistles) For all these gold coins right here- you’ll receive special new & incredible weapons. Right this way my lady.

Vanessa is led to another room where all the weapons are stored. Purth places the pouch of gold coins in his treasure chest.

Purth: Okay. (Rubs his hands together) Let’s get to business. Let me show you what I got on my table.

Vanessa: Hmm. These all look brand new. I see you’ve been busy.

Purth: But of course Vanessa. A gal like you has to get the best of the best- weapons! (Winks at her).

Vanessa: (Laughs) Thank you Purth. Show me how they work. They look kinda tricky to handle.

Purth: No problemo. Here we have what I like to call the sun beam, one turn of the switch of this & all light sensitive monsters either a- turn to dust, or b- will be completely disintegrated with one mighty blast of the sun beam.

Vanessa: I like the sound of that. And what about this contraption?

Purth: Whoa. You gotta be careful with that one. Now this- (grabs the gadget from Vanessa’s hands), is a special arrow range target device. All you have to do is place the arrow onto the slider, and then pull the tiny lever. Aim at your opponent and it shoots.

Vanessa: What do you call it?

Purth: Uhm...let me see- a crossbow.

Vanessa: Is that all the new merchandise?

Purth: (Chuckles) No, that isn’t it. That was just a tip of the iceberg of weapons I have in store.

Vanessa: There’s more?

Purth: Mhmm. This next one I like to call the wide-range explosive bubble launcher. You just shake it, and throw it at your target. It lands near them, and they think it’s a useless weapon. Then- BOMB!! (Imitates an explosive sound & moves his hands forming hand gestures like an explosion).

Vanessa: (Stares in great wonder) I love explosive devices. One shake is all it takes to bring the monsters down. Purth, you’re a mad weapon genius.

Purth: I mean- I really do love making weapons. (Smiles).

The door bell to Purth’s workshop rings.

Purth: I’ll be right back. Let me go see what my next client needs.

Vanessa: Okey.

Purth heads to the service counter and in a matter of a short time Vanessa is called to the counter.

Old man: I need your help Purth.

Purth: Vanessa, this is your duty.

Vanessa: How can I help?

Purth: This kind old man’s daughter has been missing for a few months now.

Vanessa: Did she leave town?

Old man: No. I believe that she may have been placed in a trance. And abducted. Taken away from this here quiet place.

Vanessa: By who?

Purth: He thinks it was Alu Drac.

Vanessa: (Gasps) I thought he was dead. My father told me he died many decades ago.

Old man: I don’t know. It’s hard to kill such monsters. Maybe he was brought back to life somehow. My daughter needs to be saved, please. Will you help me?

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Vanessa stared at Purth.

Purth: Come on. Stop giving me that look. How am I supposed to know where his daughter could be? Is she even alive? I don’t know. I haven’t the slightest clue. I’m not the bad guy, or monster. Trust me.

Vanessa: Think. Where could this Alu Drac be hiding?

Purth: There’s one place that comes to my mind. The strange dark shadow place in the tall hills that are right past the Behingu cascade.

Vanessa: Time for me to try out my latest toys.

Purth: Be safe out there. It’s such a creepy place to be. I’ve never stepped foot there, but I’ve heard that people who go there never return.

Vanessa: I’ll be returning for sure. I will even bring back the missing girl.

Purth: Carry all your weapons. And whatever you do- don’t let Alu Drac get into your head.

Vanessa: He’s going to regret ever coming out of the shadows.

———————————

The further away from Purth’s workshop Vanessa moved, the greyer the sky, & land became. There was less vegetation, and sunlight beyond the Purth’s workshop. Even the Behingu cascade seemed to be really depressing. As the water descended from the top of the cliff, it’s rushing waters sounded like a mix of screams of agonized souls. This was a place of nothing. No one would want to live in such an area. That would be a total nightmare.

Vanessa reaches a vast terrain of hills. Then on one hill, there lies an ancient castle. The castle looks vacant. She walks to the front gate. And the gates open all by themselves. The Monster Hunter walks in. Ms. Helsing takes a look around the castle. On the walls are pictures of one person who seems to never age. That must be Sir Alu Drac.

She walks into the living space. There she sees a shadow move behind the curtains.

Vanessa: Who’s there?

A voice laughs & the room gets frighteningly cold.

Vanessa: I’ve come looking for a young girl. I know that she’s here.

Mr. Alu Drac uses his mind to lead Tarina towards Vanessa. Tarina appears out of the shadows behind the curtains.

Vanessa: I’ve come to save you. Your father is worried about you. He’s been searching for you for months now.

Sir Alu Drac: (Chuckles) She’s not going anywhere my dear.

Vanessa: Stop hiding in the shadows. Come out and face me. How dare you place this girl under your control?

Mr. Alu Drac: Do I know you? Have we met by any chance? You’re a stranger in my home. You just came uninvited.

Vanessa: You may not know me. But you know my father.

Sir Alu Drac: (Laughs) I see the family resemblance. You both like to walk into your own death traps.

Vanessa: My father may be be gone. But he’s spirit still lives on- inside of me. (Vanessa quickly grabbed her crossbow and aimed for the curtains).

The arrow went flying towards Alu Drac. Then Vanessa thought she had injured her enemy. Alas, it was only a dark shadow form.

Vanessa: (Screams) You can’t keep hiding. Sooner or later I will find your physical body.

Mr. Alu Drac: This is my home young Helsing. Try your best and catch me.

Vanessa: Don’t worry. I plan on doing just that. By the way, my name is Vanessa Helsing.

The young Helsing searches all the places, and rooms of the castle. As she does so, Alu Drac keeps toying with her mind. He appears in one spot and when she shoots...the image fades away revealing that it’s not his physical form- only one of his many sneaky tricks.

Vanessa: Stop these silly games Alu Drac.

Alu Drac: I haven’t had this much fun in ages.

Vanessa: (shuts her eyes and opens them).

She focuses on the places of the castle she’s been. She’s been to most of the upper rooms- except the lower & darker spaces. Now was the time for her to act quickly.

Monsier Alu Drac: Where are you running to? Oh no. Don’t tell me you’ve figured out my plan.

Vanessa ignores his words, and rushes to the dungeon.

The door creaks as it gradually opens. There before her very eyes Vanessa finds a coffin. She slowly lifts the lid- it’s empty.

Sir Alu Drac: Ha! The game isn’t over yet Vanessa Helsing. I must say I thought you had it all figured out already.

Vanessa stood and thought of what Alu Drac just said. How did she not see it? There was a greater force at play here. She was going to do her best to save the girl, and also shake off Alu Drac’s control over her.

Alu Drac’s body may have been destroyed, but he found a way to take over someone else’s body. The young girl, Tarina, served as a perfect host.

Vanessa ran back to the living area. Where was the young girl now?

Tarina was hidden in the shadows. Vanessa smiled as she knew what to do. She grabbed one of her new weapons and tossed it toward the curtain. The device had been shaken & now it was ready to release all it’s energy.

Alu Drac laughed when he saw the tiny device. He had control over Tarina’s body and nothing was going to ever change that.

Then out of nowhere there was a bright flash. Vanessa covered her eyes. Alu Drac screamed in pain. The light was blinding. And it was tearing his dark soul away from his host. What kind of sorcery was this?

Vanessa waited for the light to dim. Tarina was freed form Alu Drac’s control.

Ms. Helsing smiled at Tarina, and told her that she came to save her. Tarina hugged her & soon was back in the comforts of her own home.