A Multi Participation Story

[Rising Dead Man]

I was looking through some old ones, and I think we really need a new one.

The bells rang three times. It was the Devil's Hour. Leaves rustled around stone teeth that could barely be seen in the darkness had someone been looking.

[jadewik]

Just to be certain that no one was looking, the stooped man carefully ambled through the towering monoliths marking each grave, periodically looking over his shoulder to check the darkness. In his left hand, he held a shovel. His right hand held a lantern, which was lit but had been meticulously closed so no light would escape. Occasionally, the man would stop and let a small sliver of light shine through the lantern to examine his path before closing it and beginning his slow trek through the cemetery.

[Rising Dead Man]

After an hour he found the stone.

Aleister Crowley

1875-1947

He zipped open his pack and took out the items for the ritual.

[ilovemichaelmyers]

then he had the sudden urge to relieve the bowel movement he'd been holding for the past two hours. Damn, no toilet paper.......

[Rising Dead Man]

The grave was open. He had a knife on him. Crowley's face looked so smooth.

[jadewik]

Pulling out a well-worn copy of a July 1935 copy of The Occult Review, the man flipped to an article titled "The Resurrection" by Clare Cameron. His brow furrowed as his fingers traced the words in the article he was skimming.

It was difficult to read in the low-lighting cast by the lantern. Already, he had taken too long to open the grave-- that quick BM in the bushes didn't help his nerves either for he'd felt so exposed. The lack of waste paper had forced him to use a few of the blank pages from inside The Occult Review. It was a shame to do; but after tonight, he wouldn't need the book.

Ah! But here it was-- the part of the ritual which he needed! Quickly, the man re-read the passage thrice. He nodded and closed the periodical, stuffing it back into his pocket before facing the open grave.

[Pumpkin_Man]

As he prepared for the ritual, he hears something flapping around near by. He felt something soft brush up against the side of his neck and then fly off. He opened his lantern a little wider and there he saw it. Two red eyes, staring right at him. The wing span had to be a good 12 to 14 inches wide, and the fangs that protruded from the gaping mouth of this most foul creature had to be as long as sewing neadles. He swated at the bat with his hand, but it kept trying to attack him, screaching and snapping. He then tried to grab the foul creature. It clung to his arm and sunk it's fangs into his wrist. The pain was escruciating.

Mike

[Nostalgiascape]

Tearing the creature away from his arm and falling to the ground the middle aged man known only to the locals as Burt cursed the bat.

"Flames to you foolish beast! You are of Darkness, I am trying to ressurect the one who can call forth Lucifer!! Ahh youre just a big ugly bat!" Burt yelled as he picked up the shovel as if to attack the creature. Suddenly the Bat hissed out the word
"Fool!"

Burt swung the shovels edge towards the bat, but in less than a second the bat had become a man. A very pale man, with grayish white skin. Long dark hair, and piercing red eyes. The man stopped the blow of the shovel and knocked Burt back 10 feet which sent him hurdling into a headstone.

"Arogant humans. You all disagree who your good savior is and what your rules are, yet you assume all darkness follows one bannished Angel?? Who are you to folly with our existence by ressurecting the one man who would summon and empower Lucifer?? We don't need Lucifer. We don't want Lucifer. WE own the night. We own the earth in darkness!!!" the pale nude figure shouted out.

"Whoo? who are you..." Burt asked in a week and strained voice.

The pale man with the blood eyes and long black hair laughed.

"You're not worthy to know my name but I'll grant you this honor before you die. I was once known as Vlad Ţepeș. Enemy of the Muslims Impaler of the unruley...actually was a man of faith. But you, like your children do every October 31st, can call me Dracula. Now ..die."

[Pumpkin_Man]

Vlad Tepez?? Hissed the man. "Yes. Vlad Tepez, or Count Dracula. " At finishing his sentence, the ancient vampire grabed the man by the throat, pulled him to his opened faangs, and sunk them into his jugular vein. The blood drained out almost instantly as the evil Count drank raviounsly. When he was finished, he tore the head off of his victim so he couldn't come back as a vampire himself, and threw first the head, and then the body into the opened grave of the High Priest of Lucifer. "WE own the night" he reitterated, and then with a wave ofhis hand, he filled in the grave, and flew off into the night.

Meanwhile, the Aleister Crowley coven was not convinced that the middle aged pledge was up to the task, so they sent some one to keep an eye on him. After seeing what transpired, the young woman chosen to keep an eye on the middle aged pledge fled in terror. But Vlad Tepez knew of her and fo the coven she represented.

[Nostalgiascape]

When the young spy named Ellaine Holder made it back to the subteranian compound of The Alestier Crowley Coven, formerly known as the Coven called Loyal Sufferers for Lucifer, she explained everything she saw to the leader of the cult whose name was Nathanial Brackwell.

"This is very disturbing news indeed. We have been naive." Nathanial said as he paced the floor.
"We assumed all evil was in favor of lucifer. Yet with the opposition of one being so powerful as Vlad and Devils know how many vampires he leads, we may never ressurect crowley, or even live past the week!! Our spells we must summon our most powerful demonic spells." Nathanial commanded.

Then a voice from the darkened shadow of the stone room almost echoed in a most eerie way.

"Yes, use the spells from the great book of damnation. But rest your fears for you aren't alone. I am Veistferaut, a demon soldier and watcher for Lucifer who is as we all know trapped right now. We Demons deem you humans in this room worthy. Your attempt to ressurect Crowley was admirable if clumsy. But Crowley is the key, you are correct!" The darkened Demon spoke.

Nathanial, like the rest of his followers were guarded and in fear, but when they learned that they would recieve help from Demons, relief settled them. Nathanial Brackwell, Ellaine Holder and the rest of the dangerous cult members kneeled at once.

"We are honored to serve you Veistferaut." Nathanial spoke shakingly

"Gooood...very good. But know this, there will be a war between demons and vampires over who will rule darkness for all time. You humans must use your minds for you are in every other way weaker then demon and Vampire." Veistferaut spoke

"Yes, Veistferaut, our commander." Nathanial shouted. Then the rest of the members repeated what Nathanial had said.

[Pumpkin_Man]

As the sun rose, Jacob Erikson, who prefered to be called Biker Jake was mounting his Harley to head of on what he liked to refer to as one of his "Haunted road trips." He had read about Aliester Crowley, and varius other rumors about the cemetery whre he was burried. Stories about Crowley, and about the Pinwood Grove Cemetery abounded of demon worship, vampirism, murder, and every kind of diabolical intrigue that could happen in one spot. It was rumored that Pinwood Grove was actualy a lot older then what was originaly thought. There were rumors that it was, in fact, an unholy place where criminals, murders, witches and the most depraved were burried. It was believe that it was a burial spot for those who were deemed unworthy to be burried in a church yard or any other holy ground.

Biker Jake mad a few final checks. He tested his tire pressure with a guage, and then he pulled out his Cannon 5 D Mark II camera to be sure that it was set to shoot in the Camera RAW format. He wanted everything to be perfect, as he was approached by the editor of "The Haunted" Magazine, which has circulation in England, France, Austrailia, Germany, Ireland, and the United States. "The Haunted" also hosted about 4 web sites that were visited routinely by millions of people. This was his big break more or less. There could be a million dollars in it for him, and that was just a start. Biker Jake allways prefered to shoot in RAW, but this time it was of the utmost importance as that's what "The Haunted" insisted on. '

After making all his checks, Biker Jake hopped on his bike, started up the huge, loud V Twin and headed off down the road. The morning sun was at his side, but the morning air was brisk and refreshing. IT would be about a 6 hour drive to Pinewood Grove.

Elain Holder and Nathanial Brackwell listened intently to Veistferaut as he outlined what they would need to do in order to bring Crowley back from the grave. It would require a blood sacrofice of a single male, who was born at the 6th hour, of 6th day of the 6th month. 666. Nathaniel knew exactly who fit that requirement, and he told Veistferaut "I know of just the man, and how I can get him here." Veistferaut seemed pleased, and then he faded away. Nathanial pulled out his Press I D which read "The Haunted Editor in Chief"

Biker Jake loved his 'Haunted Road Trips," but he missed his girl friend when he made them along. She couldn't get time away from her job as a Registered Nurse, so he had to go alone. Besides, she hated the motorcycle. Jake thought about her, and the wild party they had on his Birthday the following month. She threw him a suprise party, that was cast in the theme of his favorite horror movie. "The Omen." Jake could relate to Damien in one aspect. Though Jake was no antichrist, he was born at the 6th hour, on the 6th day in the 6th month. 666.

Mike