As the sun set and the moon rose to take its place, Viola Coldwater stood by the beach shore alone. She looked around and waited for Keddrick to appear. A small distance away in a clump of foliage where the rest of the group laid in wait.

“This still feels like a terrible plan.” Bryson whispered.

“Don’t worry, he’ll come.” Ben assured, “And when he does, I want you and Lila to stay back. Lila will watch over you, only join when it starts to turn against us.” He reminded him.

“How long are we even supposed to wait?” Bryson asked.

Immediately it seemed as though his question was answered. A cloud of smoke wisped through the night sky and plumed onto the ground before Viola.

The mass of smoke then changed and formed into two different shapes. One of a humanoid and the other of a large bipedal beast. The black smoke concentrated into these forms changing state and transforming into Keddrick riding atop his ghoul.

Standing before Viola, the ghoul stared at her before it lowered its head and Keddrick dismounted. A wide grin was plastered on his face as he approached her.

“Viola, you look wonderful. Approach.” He said as he waved his hand and his crimson eyes glowed momentarily.

Viola however, did not react. With a perturbed frown, Keddrick waved his hand again, once more nothing. Viola stood there looking unimpressed.

“What is going on?” Keddrick wondered aloud.

“Are you done?” Viola asked bored.

“Shut up and listen to me!” He screamed, crimson iris fully glowing now. Viola could feel the magic behind those words as they harmlessly brushed past her.

“So that’s what’s suppose to happen when someone tries to charm a Coldwater.” Lila murmured.

“Yeah.” Bryson breathed out, fist tightening with worry.

“Viola, my love. Would you not join me.” Keddrick offered.

Making a look of disgust Viola said, “Eugh, no way. You’re disgusting, I’m here to make you pay.”

“Where are the others then?” Keddrick hissed at Viola.

“They’re coming.” Viola said as she snapped her fingers. A glowing gold line appeared behind her and traced itself across the sand in a large circle that surrounded herself along with Keddrick and the ghoul.

Each time the glowing line made a sixth of the way around the circle a smaller magic circle appeared there. Each one of these magic circles were intricately written with various symbols and patterns.

Once the glowing line made a complete rotation and met its tail the final magic circle appeared where it stopped. Surrounding the three was now a glowing gold circle. A transparent shimmering wall of light erupted above the golden line, stopping at around four or five stories tall.

Keddrick eyes widened in horror as he realized what was happening. Transforming back into thick inky black smoke once more Keddrick raced upwards. Only to bounce of the shimmering ceiling that had just finished forming.

A rage-filled scream could be heard as the cloud of smoke slammed into the ceiling and walls again and again to no avail. Hurtling back onto the sandy beach he transformed back to his humanoid form upon making contact. Sand spewed across the circle as a small crater formed on the ground from where he landed.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Seething with rage he bared his fangs at Viola, “You dare trap me?” He screeched.

“Watch your tongue worm.” Viola growled back.

“Worm? Worm?! WORM?!” You stand before a true-blood vampire!” Keddrick screeched, “Now you will fear me! Minion! Get her, alive.” He growled.

“Fire.” Ben commanded Nico.

From where Nico was he raised up a small strange-looking mechanised canon. Getting the ghoul in its crosshair he fired. The ghoul hearing the noise of the weapon turned in confusion.

Out from the barrel fired out a ball that expanded out into a large metallic net. It bypassed the magic barrier with ease and crashed into the ghoul, wrapping around it. The net however did not stop there.

Now carrying the added weight of the ghoul, it continued straight, it flew its way past the other side of the barrier and crashed into the sand.

Roaring and thrashing around the sand the ghoul was trapped inside the net. Small engravings of magic were etched into the metal net that kept it enforced.

Keddrick stared at his ghoul in utter disbelief. Turning back toward Viola he was greeted with an energy blast that nailed him right in the face.

“Gaahh!” Keddrick screamed in pain, wiping his face as the pain disappeared he opened his eyes he saw Viola stepping out of the barrier. Sending an energy blast of his own at Viola it was harmlessly absorbed by the barrier.

As Keddrick shrieked in anger some more Ben nudged Nico, “The undead barrier is up, let’s go.”

As Bryson moved forward Ben stopped him, “Hold it. You stay here.” He said.

“Why?”

“Because it’s not safe yet. You heard him scream, he’s a true blood, they’re good with magic. He might still have tricks left. You stay here where it’s safer and where you can aid if things get dicey.” Ben explained.

Giving an annoyed sigh, Bryson gave a reluctant nod as Nico and Ben bounded toward the barrier, leaving Bryson and Lila still hiding in the shrubs.

Lila looked over toward the populated strip and saw no signs that anyone there noticed the commotion they were making, “Glad this place is far away from everything.” She said.

“Helps that everyone is too busy doing things like having fun to pay attention.” Bryson said as rested a hand on his chin a hint of disappointment on his face.

“Don’t tell me you want to fight that vampire.” Lila said.

“I don’t… but I don’t like feeling so useless while everyone else is busy fighting.” Bryson said.

“Very noble of you.”

“Well, I guess I am a noble.” Bryson joked.

Their attention was quickly turned back onto Keddrick. Who was currently screaming his head off. His anger only increased when he spotted Ben and Nico approaching.

“You dare try to trap me?!” He yelled.

“We didn’t try, we did trap you.” Ben said coolly.

“Did you now?” Keddrick asked through gritted teeth, pale face now red with anger. From his back, two large leathery wings erupted outwards. Flapping his wings a few times to stretch he launched himself into the air. Still trapped inside the barrier, he was now hovering a couple of stories in the air.

“What are you going to do up there?” Ben shouted.

A nasty grin appeared on Keddrick’s face, “This.” He said as he started to generate magic. A small purple and red ball of energy began to form between the two palms of his hands. Bolts of power sparked out of the ball and smacked into the barrier, causing small ripples on each impact.

Ben raised a small crossbow hidden in his wrist and fired. The bolt passed through the barrier but disintegrated before reaching Keddrick. Ben clicked his in tongue frustration. Keddrick continued his spell.

Once the ball of energy increased to the size of a coconut he slapped his hands together, crushing the ball of energy between them, the ball of magic scatters. The scattering magic went everywhere inside the barrier.

Upon the magic hitting the barrier, the barrier began to ripple and shake violently. One spark of magic hits one of the magic circles on the floor. Upon contact with the circle parts of the marking disappeared.

The barrier flickered, then another spark of magic hit another circle, the barrier flickered more. Then another. Quickly all six magic circles disappeared, and the barrier shattered. A massive wave of energy expanded outwards as the barrier broke.

The force of the wave sent Nico and Ben flying backwards, the two were swept away by a torrent of sand and wind force. Viola quickly put up a shield and was able to avoid the force of the blast.

Once the sand settled Viola was able to see again. Her shield shimmered out and she looked up. There she saw Keddrick floating in the air, the barrier gone. On Keddrick’s face, his anger was replaced with a nasty smile.

“Just you and me now, dear.” He hissed.