“FOR CENTURIES I HAVE SLUMBERED, IMPRISONED IN HELLISH TORMENT!” the echoing call of Killgrov the Devourer rang out across the lands. “TO WHOM DOES THE GREAT ELBERT KILLGROV, DEVOURER OF SOULS OWE HIS FREEDOM?”

Elbert? I looked to Elvira who seemed more frightened than concerned. Guess it was just me than...

“That would be me, Elbert.” Morticia shouted up, standing at full height, speaking to him with an odd familiarity. “You know the drill, by now I hope. Let’s get this over with.”

I squinted at that, as Elvira turned to me. “Isaac I...I don’t know that we can stop this, what should we do?”

I didn’t answer, I barely registered to be honest, I was too distracted by how bizarre their interaction was as Elbert looked to her and gave a chuckle. “Aaah Morticia, we meet again. I should have known! Yes, my most faithful of allies, I shall grant what you desire once more...”

The demon Elbert drew a sigil of fiery orange into the air, and tendrils of blood lifted Morticia up, swirling around her. Suddenly, the blood burst out into a red vapor, and Morticia floated back to earth, looking now more in her twenties. She pulled out her scry mirror and grinned at her reflection.

“And now I am free!” Elbert the Devourer called out to the heavens, arms stretched skyward. “And soon the world will know my wraith!!” Demonic wings spread out, and he flew off into the horizon, as the eclipse slowly began to wane. 

And that was that. The end times, supposedly.

“How could you be so short sighted?” Elvira yelled, waving her arms up. “You won’t be able to enjoy your youth during the apocalypse!”

“Oh do not be so dramatic, darling.” Morticia waved dismissively. “Everything will be fine.”

I pointed my staff at her, everything clicking into place. “You’ve done this before, haven’t you?”

“Yes.” She answered, looking at me approvingly. “You’ve caught on rather quickly. Though that is to be suspected of a council member.”

“Wait...what?” Elvira asked, turning from me to her. “You’ve...how many times has this happened?”

“With me personally?” Morticia asked with a scoff. “Oh three times previously.”

“Explain.” Elvira said, taking a step towards her professor.

“Elbert is the Devourer of words and bringing of the end times and an immensely powerful being, that much is accurate.” Morticia said flatly, looking at her nails. “However he is also entirely inept. He crafts these grandiose schemes in his attempts to bring upon the end times, and yet is always thwarted...sometimes by his own actions.”

“It is still irresponsible to risk it.” I countered.

“Hardly.” She rolled her eyes. “Do not worry your little heads about it any. Someone will put him back in his cell eventually. Maybe Layton if he gets bored enough. Well if you’ll excuse me I must be going.” She summoned her broom and was off before we could stop her. “Ta-ta!”

“Get back here you-” Elvira started, beginning to hover, though quickly deflated, landing next to me. “Oh what’s the point...”

“I’d report her if I thought it would do anything.” I muttered, with similar defeat. “But it sounds like Layton was perfectly aware of all this...and summoning demons isn’t technically illegal.”

“Well one thing’s for sure.” Elvira said, turning to me, and pulling out her scrying mirror. “We need to stay in contact in case Elbert ever tries anything. If no one else is going to do something, it’s up to us.”

I looked up at her for a second, a little lost, but nodded. “Uh yeah. Yeah you’re right.”

After we exchanged information, Elvira began to fly off. “See you later, Isaac! Let me know if anything happens!”

“Uh yeah you too!” I waved. As she disappeared into the horizon, Cornelius landed on my staff and cawed at me. I grinned at him. “Hey buddy. I think I just made a new friend!”