Eduardo and Roland stood just behind Kylie, wearing what could be described only soft leather fighting gear. Off of their belts hung an array of evil blades and mysterious objects, each looking as deadly a weapon as the next. His eyes flicked to the barely distinguishable pattern on the inside of their right wrists. Tattoos, a sword dripping with blood, encircled with a black crown.
Kylie stood forward, also dressed in leather, a tight sleeveless bodice and short skirt were all that protected her frame. Her hair wasn’t the same. Black curls tumbled in a haphazard ponytail down her back to her waist, and a silver crown encircled her head.
The fourth figure stood facing them, dressed in black robes with fur linings that swept along the floor, from which a thick, choking grey fog rose in beckoning tendrils. A deep voice spoke; “ Troy, you have cheated those whom you belong to. It is time to take your place as King, and destroy those who rebel, those whom you hold so dear, even though your kin denies it.” The form of Eduardo replied in a tone filled with hatred and disgust, “ You are no longer my father and master. Find someone else to take up the crown of evil. Even if it takes ‘til the end of time I shall fight for freedom.”
A hiss of anger echoed through the room as the figure turned to Roland. “ You, my most trusted advisor. Why did you turn away from me? The control of the world could have been in your hands, there were so many battles that you could have overseen and won, and yet you too joined the rebellion to fight for what will never be.”
“ Lord of Darkness you might be, but you have not won and will never have the power you dream of.”
The shadowed character faced Kylie, pure hatred and rage rang in each word. “ And you, the leader of those who battle for what is good, you could have sat at my side as Queen, yet it was Troy who you chose to love, you turned my own son against me. Without the Orb of Destiny you will never have the power to achieve your desires, and sadly, that power is lost forever, shattered into a million pieces on the rocks of evil, just as it should have been millennia ago. Tragic really, how so many of your hosts died so young at my hand, as you shall now. This is the end spirit Anya. Death is on my side.” The fog grew visibly thicker, more clogging and from the billowing clouds stepped the skeleton with the scythe in his bony grip.
Garrett pulled out his blaster and aimed, but before he could fire at the killer the ghost child stopped him. ‘ No, Do not aim for Death, he is but an illusion. Look behind the King of Evil.’ Partly hidden by the fog was a small box glinting dully in the faint light, it lay invitingly open. “ So, what about it?”
‘ Trap the King in that box, then place it into your containment unit. Not Yet, Listen once more, Learn of the strength of the freedom fighters.’
Roland and Eduardo moved closer to Kylie. “ My name, Oh evil one, is Anastasia. It means ‘ To Rise Again.’ Our cause stretches far throughout the mortal realm. Even if you succeed in destroying us three, there are others. Good always triumphs over evil.” She removed the crown from her head and the three placed one hand on the silver circlet. It burst into steely flames, letting off a smoke with a smell like that of myrrh. It battled the darker fog, mixing and blending. ‘NOW!
The stream hit the King full in the stomach and swiftly encased him in blazing light. Garrett wrestled as the ghost attempted to break free of the huge grip of the proton beam. The glare of the white light forced Garrett’s eyes shut and it was only when he heard the ‘click’ of the box snap shut did he open them again. Only three ghosts had remained. Anya smiled at him, “ We knew you’d come, protector, it may have taken a while, but you got here in the end.” They walked oven to their hosts bodies and merged back as the inck darkness that had imprisoned them seeped away.
With a sigh of relief he watched Eddie’s eyes flicker open and mutter something. “ You okay peach fuzz?”
“ I need an aspirin, and a holiday......”
“ Whatever. Just get up and we’ll get outta here.” Roland staggered to his feet, looking slightly ill and pale. “ Ghosts?” The one word question came from the floor where Kylie remained. “Zapped and trapped.” Roland looked out of the door to where the car had been. “Ecto-1?” They all turned to the empty spot where the car had been and for the first time saw the towing sign. “ Looks like we’re walking home.” Garrett picked up the samll metal box and led the others out of the door.
They walked with their backs to the chapel, completley unaware that as they left it shrank and disappeared in a pinpoint of brilliant light, leaving behind a small white marble gravestone, wreathed in white roses, where at last, the ghost child lay at rest.
THE END.