Welcome to Willowbrook

The Lord of Darkness

September 28
Raegan Westminster's house
Willowbrook
Wisconsin

Marceline's dark blue Bentley Continental GT V8 convertible and Thunder's black 2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV parked in front of the old house. Danny and Marceline climbed out of the Bentley while Thunder, Ivy, Vlad and Arian climbed out of the Escalade. "Where are Horse head and Frostbite?" asked Ivy. Vlad pointed to behind them and they turned and watched as Pegasus landed with Jack on his back. Jack got off and Pegasus turned back into a teenager.

"So, now that we're all here, let's get to work," said Marcie. "Aurianna, if you would be so kind." Danny walked to the door and tried to open it. It was locked. "It's locked." she said. "Well that was anti-climatic," Marcie muttered. "Okay, you super strong morons, time to put your strength to good use. On 3, 1 2 3." Once Marceline said 3, Thunder and the vamps all rammed at the door, only to be thrown back with equal force. "Ow," Vlad whined, "I haven't felt that much pain since I was 15."

"That didn't work," Marcie shook her head, "he must have used a protection spell, a really powerful one too." "Try using magic?" Danny suggested. Marcie took one look at the door and summoned her staff. "Whoa," said Jack, wide eyed, "what is that?" Marcie rolled her eyes, "Family staff. Passed down to me. Now," she pointed the staff at the door, "patentibus." The house visibly shook but the door remained shut. Marcie huffed. "Now what?" she raised her hands exasperatedly. "Just what kind of enchantment did your dad use on the door?" she said to Danny. Danny shrugged. How would she know? She never even met the guy.

Danny studied the door and noticed a small hole where the key hole was supposed to be, but the hole was too small for a key. She looked at her hand and an idea came to her. She raised her hand and unleased the claw in her index finger. "Ria," Marcie said slowly, "what are you doing?" Danny said nothing and walked to the door. She put her claw into the hole and turned it slowly. The door opened with a loud creak.

Jack whistled. "Go Ria. Damn girl, that was good." Danny grinned and bowed, "Supernaturals first." Ivy coughed and Danny looked at her hand. The claw was still there and she immediately retracted it. "Sorry," she said sheepishly, "shall we go in?"

They walked in to see a completely empty house and were in shock. "It's empty. Like, just moving in empty." Thunder said. Ivy rolled her eyes, "We noticed doofus." "Let's not get carried away people," said Marceline, "Ivy, Pegasus, Thunder and Vlad, you guys should go search upstairs. Look for anything at all that might be even remotely suspicious. The rest of us will check down here. See anything, give us a holler. All good?" The four of them went upstairs while the rest stayed down. But their search turned futile as the house was cleared.

"Okay, I'm just gonna say it," said Jack as he checked the kitchen cabinet, "where the hell did your dad keep all his stuff?" Danny felt hopeless. How was she supposed to find her father like this? "Aurie," Vlad said as he came downstairs, "you need to see this." They followed him upstairs and met the others standing outside a room with large double doors. "We think it's your dad's room," said Pegasus, "but we can't be sure, it's locked and has that hole where you put your claw." Danny saw the hole and immediately grew her claw. She put it in the hole and turned it slowly. The door opened and they collectively gasped.

The room was large with a plush black carpet. The walls had a black and gold pattern. The king size bed in the middle had a black duvet with gold trims and all around, the room walls were covered in pictures. "Whoa," Thunder said disbelievingly, "can't believe this is where little Aurie was created." They all turned to look at him with raised brows. "What?" he asked. "Arian," said Marcie. On cue, Arian slapped the back of Thunder's head.

Danny looked round the room and studied the pictures. There was one of her dad and Thanatos, one of him and her mom on their wedding day and the one with all of them that she already had. She saw one and froze. This one had both her parents and a baby who she immediately knew was her. She rubbed the glass frame in longing. She turned and saw an old hard cover book with intricate gold patterns on the cover. "What's that?" she pointed. Marceline replied, "Oh, that's a grimoire. They are usually used for powerful magic or to summon the dead," she trailed, "oh," she snapped her fingers, "check if there's anything inside. It must be for your dad."