Magic Spawn Origins

Magic Spawn: Chapter 11

by Meredith Skye

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Five people, dressed in medieval clothes, peered down at the dead skeleton laid out in the back of Zane's pickup: Zane, Harlan, Edward, Ray (still dressed as an Orc) and Grandma Baggins.

"Well, you see something new every day," quipped Grandma Baggins as she climbed down and went back over to where Rian sat, taking off his armor. "Now let me have a look at that."

"I cannot believe that we actually have a real live, undead creature right here in Millersfield, Nebraska!" said Ray.

"All the other guys will be so jealous," agreed Edward. "I have got to post this to Facebook." He snapped a photo with his phone and got down from the truck, fiddling with his phone. After that, he and Ray spent a few minutes posing for selfies with the remains, using their phones so they could post them.

"Did you kill it with an magical weapon?" asked Harlan in an accusatory manner.

"Yes," responded Westin. "I killed it with my +3 Skeleton Ass-kicker." He held up his pistol.

"Westin, you can't kill an undead skeleton with a pistol," insisted Harlan, going into dungeon-master mode. "You are going to regret this," he said ominously.

Grandma Baggins was checking Rian's wounds, now that his armor was off. She used to be a nurse. "Let me get the first aid kit. These cuts look pretty nasty," said Grandma Baggins.

"Look, can we just focus on what to do now?" said Rian to the others.

Just then, a couple of men, dressed like hunters, walked into their camp. They wore matching green plaid Mackinaw caps, plaid shirts, camo jackets and looked like a couple of mountain men. "Evenin'," said the taller one. They looked vaguely family. "Bit foggy out. I'm Vernon and this is Jessie."

Everyone stared at them. They glanced over at the skeleton in the truck. "Halloween party, eh?" said Jesse.

Ray explained. "A crazy wizard and some skeletons have come from another dimension through the graveyard. We're organizing to protect the town."

"Oh," nodded Vernon sagely. "Sounds like a great party. We are definitely in the right place.

"Don't I know you?" asked Jesse. "You're the son of that poor guy that jumped off the cliff all those years ago, aren't you? Don't you have a crazy little brother?"

"He's not crazy!" said Rian, defensively. "What do you want." He was growing impatient.

Vernon glanced around furtively. "Nothing."

"We just wondered if you had any weed ... you know ... for sale?" asked Jesse confidentially.

"No, I don't," said Rian. "And this isn't a Halloween party."

"Of course not, and trust me," the man said confidentially. "I'd never tell anyone if it was."

"Do you mind?" Rian said to the two men. They nodded and stepped back a little, just waiting around. Rian looked at the others. "We need a plan."

Zane crossed his arms. "You're not the Steward right now, Edward is. He's in charge."

"Yeah, I am," said Edward, straightening up a little and trying to look authoritative for a few moments.

Rian rolled his eyes. "Well, then he should take charge."

"We should call the cops," said Zane.

"You're not the Steward, either," said Rian, annoyed.

"The cops?" asked Vernon, nervously, edging back a little more.