Search the Community

Chapter 12: Over the Castle on the Hill Hannibal King looked out the window of the study as he listened to the busy signal on his cell phone. Finally, there was a click and a voice. “Hannibal? Where the hell are you?!” “Hello to you too, Terri,” Hannibal replied. “Did you get back from the restaurant alright?” “Are you drunk?” Teri said incredulously. “That was last night! You haven’t been answering your phone, you didn’t come in for roll call. DeWolff is demanding explanations and Soap is ready to get you kicked off the force!” “Terri, please, just listen,” Hannibal said. There was a sound of slamming doors and shouting from the upper floors. “What’s all that noise? What’s going on?” Teri asked. “It’s alright. I’m with the Night Shift.” “Nothing is alright if you’re with the Night Shift. Is that what you want me to tell the captain? You’re hanging out in a haunted house with a bunch of wanted criminals?” “Look, Teri. Shroud’s been giving us some intel. We have a new… organization in town. They have people with powers and are extremely dangerous. You need to get DeWolff to have LAPD on high alert.” Hannibal heard Terri give a deep sigh. “Look, Hannibal, I can’t keep covering for you. You need to come in. Tell DeWolff what you know and we can do something.” Hannibal turned to the stairwell as the sounds of arguing grew louder. “That isn’t a good idea at the moment. DeWolff will be forced to try to bring the Night Shift in, and right now they’re ready to rip each other apart. If the cops show up, these guys aren’t gonna hold back. I can monitor them and make sure they don’t…” There was a squeal of static across the phone, making Hannibal pulled his head away from it. He put it back to his ear. “Terri? Terri, are you there? I just had some weird interference or…” “Hannibal, keep quiet!” Hannibal instantly heard the tone of fright in Terri’s voice. Followed by the sounds of screams and gunfire. “Terri! What’s going on?” Terri’s hushed whispers barely were heard over the tumult. “We have intruders! There are these weird…spots on the ceiling and these men carrying…swords? Oh God! They’re attacking the officers! Hannibal! Hanniba….” The phone line went dead. “Terri! Terri!” Hannibal looked at his phone in shock, turned around, and saw the Shroud standing behind him. “It has begun,” he said. Hannibal pointed his phone at Shroud. “You knew this was coming? This is those Kali people you were talking about?” Shroud nodded. “In preparation for the ultimate transcendence, Nekra will send out her thuggee to eliminate any and all threats. This will instill terror in the city, leaving them vulnerable for Kali to return and unleash her fury on the world.” “I don’t want to hear more about your damned prophecies!” Hannibal snapped. “Terri’s in trouble! You have to help me!” “I’m sorry, Detective,” said Shroud. “But the battle to come is a greater threat than just to one individual. We must find Nekra and stop her bringing Kali forth. This Brother Jonathan who follows Nekra has the power to create portals. Perhaps that is how the cult will restore Kali to this plane.” Hannibal pushed past Shroud and headed into the lobby. “Fine. You deal with Kali, and I’ll save Terri!” At the same time Misfit, Hangman, and Barton Grimm were storming down the stairs with satchels. Percy Grimm, Tick Tock, and Tatterdemalion chased after them. “You can’t just walk away! Dansen and Moth are in trouble!” said Tick Tock. “Yeah, and if what Shroud was saying about Kali was true, we’re all screwed anyway,” grumbled Misfit. “I refuse to remain in this house of lies!” shouted the Hangman. “Very well, then,” shouted Tatterdemalion. “Go ahead and run away, traitors!” Percy looked over at Barton. “Please, Bart. We’re brothers. We’ve been through all this madness together. You can’t walk away now!” Barton gave a disgusted look at Percy. “Just watch me.” He turned and headed for the door as Jack looked on. He turned to Digger and Needle. “Aren’t you going to say something?” Digger shrugged. “Needle’s a mute, and I never really cared for those guys anyway.” Before Barton could reach the door, a black portal appeared before him. Barton jumped back in surprise as the rest of the Night Shift looked on in shock. Out of the portal stepped Ohn, Fritz, and Ernest. Ohn held up his hands to the ceiling. “Greetings, those who have received the blessings of Kali!” he proclaimed in over the top style. Digger rolled his eyes. “Great. We get to deal with dalmatian boy again.” Ohn glared in annoyance at Digger. “Excuse me. I have been practicing this speech! I would prefer not to be interrupted! Hmm. So. Um. Where was I? Oh yes!” Fritz and Ernest shared a look as Ohn raised his hands again. “By the order of the High Priestess of Kali, Nekra, you are all ordered to join the followers of Kali for the goddess’ return. All your blessings will be needed in order for the ultimate transcendence to take place. Your two women have already been captured. You either join them, or we shall strike you down with fury and.. and… um.. other stuff. Um, yeah. Kind of botched it up at the end but you get the idea.” Shroud stood in front of the Night Shift in defiance. “Listen to the words of the Shroud, fool. I told your priestess she isn’t welcome here. We will make sure that your ritual will not succeed.” “Hold up!” Misfit said. “What is it with this ‘we’ crap? We aren’t on your team no more!” Ohn shrugged. “Oh well. If you don’t want to come quietly, I guess we have to go with the ‘strike you down with fury’ route. Have it your way!” Ohn snapped his fingers and multiple portals started appearing around the room. Thuggee soldiers jumped in with weapons drawn. Barton looked at Percy and sighed. “I guess I’ve got one more fight left in me.” Percy grinned and raised his hand to his face. Barton followed suit. “Once Upon a Time!” the two brothers shouted, and instantly transformed into their Grimm costumes. Shroud turned to Hannibal, who held his revolver at the ready. “Thank you for your service, Detective.” Hannibal didn’t even look at Shroud. “Spare me the gratitude. I don’t care what happens. After we deal with your Kali buddies, I’m out.” Shroud inhaled and looked back and the army of thuggee. “Very well. Let us begin!” OK: Fight takes place in the Tower of Shadows. Night Shift: Shroud, Tatterdemalion, Digger, Needle, Brother’s Grimm, Misfit, Hangman, Jack (not in Werewolf form), Tick Tock, and Hannibal King. Spot, Swarm, and Ernest are also accompanied by 30 thuggee. Can the Night Shift hold off the onslaught of the Cult of Kali? Stay Tuned and Find Out! Game On!