Eclipse Retold by IRIS The true story of what would have happened that night in New Orleans, if Season 2 writers hadn't made Hadji a zombie and Jessie a wimp. And what was up with that outfit, anyway? And how come the women Hadji always falls for are supposed to be young girls but look 35? This episode would have rocked if it were Season 1 because it would have had a lot more attitude (plus the animation wouldn't have been the ubersuck). So here's what it might have been like, and let's see Mook do this! Enjoy! The man ran through the deserted alley, his dark trenchcoat billowing behind him, following the echo of retreating footsteps ahead of him. He pulled out his cellular phone and barked a quick message: "I've got her!" But as he reached the end of the alley and looked around, the fleeing girl was nowhere in sight. "Uh, I had her," he muttered, perplexed. "Where'd she go?" Then something grabbed him from behind. He screamed, but it was too late. ********************************************************************* Jonny, Jessie, and Hadji stood on the docks, waving at their fathers as their steamboat departed. "Have a nice time!" yelled Jonny. "So long!" called Jessie with a smile. "Goodbye!" added Hadji. Jonny sighed as they turned to walk back to the van. "Well, guys, New Orleans was supposed to be the best place to see the lunar eclipse." "Sorry we are not going with them?" asked Hadji. "Yeah, if this fog doesn't lift by tomorrow night," said Jessie disappointedly, glancing at the sky. Hadji tried to be optimistic. "Well, there is still much to see here," he pointed out. Jonny grinned. "And I've got the perfect way to get around." He walked to the van and triumphantly pulled out his hoverboard. Jessie rolled her eyes in disgust. "I can't believe your dad let you bring that thing." Jonny laughed. "Jealous?" "Yeah, right," Jessie snorted. "C'mon, Hadj. Why don't we let Sky Boy hover back to Bourbon Street?" Jonny shrugged and activated the hoverboard. "Fine. We'll see who gets to the hotel first!" he challenged over his shoulder as he took off. Hadji smiled at Jessie and opened the door of the van. She was about to climb in when they heard a gunshot and someone shouted behind them. "There she is! Stop her!" It was an old man wearing a dark coat, brandishing a sword-cane after the terrified girl that came running towards Hadji and Jessie. The old man was accompanied by a burly younger man who pulled out a pistol. Seeing the frightened girl rush past, Hadji lashed out at the younger man and knocked him down. But the old man shoved Hadji aside. "Do not interfere, boy!" he growled, turning back to the chase. Meanwhile the dark-haired girl kept running toward the docks. "Out of my way!" she cried, pushing Jessie out of her path. "Hey!" yelled Jessie, then "Oof!" as the younger man ran into her and knocked her to the ground. She looked up to see the girl cornered at the end of the dock. The old man pointed his sword-cane. "End it, now!" he ordered, and the girl's eyes widened as the younger man raised his pistol. "No!" cried Hadji suddenly, leaping towards them and knocking the gun away. It clattered to the ground and went off, sending a bullet into the wall of the alley where Jonny had just reappeared on his hoverboard. "I thought I heard gunshots!" exclaimed Jonny, taking in the scene on the docks. He sped towards the strange attackers, but the old man turned and stabbed his sword-cane through the hoverboard. Jonny yelped and jumped off. Suddenly the wail of an approaching siren split the air. The old man quickly retrieved his weapon and vanished with his companion into the fog. The three friends turned to see the girl approaching them. She looked to be about their age, with long black hair and large blue-gray eyes. She smiled at Hadji. "You, you saved my life." She had a soft voice and a French accent. Hadji shrugged. "Oh, it, it was nothing." He found he could not look away from her eyes. The girl raised her hand to touch the heirloom jewel atop his turban. "Beautiful stone." Hadji answered her as if mesmerized. "It is from my native Bangalore." Behind them, Jonny coughed. "Ahem." Hadji seemed to start. "Oh, forgive my rudeness," he said. "These are my friends Jonny Quest and Jessie Bannon, and I am Hadji." The girl smiled. "I am Elise Lenoir." "Hi," said Jonny, shaking her hand. Elise turned to Jessie. "Jessie?" "We already met," said Jessie, keeping her arms crossed in front of her. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong here. "Now what was that all about?" she demanded. But before Elise could answer a patrol car pulled up and blinded them with its headlights. The driver rolled down the window and leaned out. "Miss Lenoir! Is everything OK? We got a report of gunshots." Elise approached the car. "Muggers, Sergeant," she answered. "Fortunately, Hadji came along, with his friends." Jessie was skeptical. "Muggers! With a French accent and a sword-cane?" The sergeant laughed good-naturedly. "This is Nawlins, miss. Anything's possible, especially at night. Now y'all should be gettin' on home. Hop in, y'all." "Wait!" Hadji cried, still staring at Elise. "I have a car." He pointed to the van. Elise smiled appreciatively. "Then Hadji can take me home," she told the sergeant. Hadji offered her his arm. "It would be my pleasure, Elise," he said, brushing past his friends on the way towards the van. Jessie was shocked as the two walked by without so much as a glance in their direction. "Hey!" Hadji seemed to have completely forgotten his friends as he held the car door open for Elise. Jonny didn't seem to find the situation unusual. "We can ride back in the prowl car," he pointed out to Jessie. His mouth quirked into a mischievous grin. "Unless you wanna go tandem on my hoverboard," he added teasingly. Jessie watched Hadji get into the van, then turned back to Jonny. "Prowl car." "Her mother is one of the wealthiest widows in Nawlins," the sergeant commented as they approached the car. "Adopted Miss Lenoir six months ago." Jonny raised his eyebrows in surprise, opening the car door for Jessie. "Some guys have all the luck." Jessie shrugged as the van drove off. Getting into the prowl car, she couldn't help worrying about her friend's sudden strange behavior. It was very uncharacteristic of Hadji, usually so courteous, to abandon his friends for a stranger, even a beautiful stranger. Hadji pulled to a stop before the ornate iron gates in front of Elise's mansion. Elise leaned over him and reached out the window to enter the security code that would open the gates. She sat back down with a sigh. "Life today. It is nothing like the old days, Hadji." Hadji chuckled in surprise. "As if you would know about the old days, Elise!" Looking at the house, he saw an elderly woman gazing out of one of the windows. "Is that your mother?" Elise smiled. "Yes. Mrs. Adrian." She turned to face Hadji. "I must go." Hadji was suddenly upset. "Will I see you again?" he asked fearfully. Elise's eyes held his gaze. "Would you like that, Hadji?" she queried in a soft voice. Unable to look away, Hadji nodded. "I would, very much." Elise smiled in satisfaction. "Tomorrow then," she said, getting out of the van. A young butler in a white suit opened the door as Elise climbed the porch stairs. "Thank you, Andrew," she said, pausing in the doorway. She turned and waved as Hadji drove away, then quickly went inside and shut the door. She leaned against the solid wood, rubbing her temples in exhaustion and relief. "Arnaud has found me," she explained wearily. "I was almost killed tonight!" Andrew gasped in dismay. "Killed?! So close to the eclipse?" Mrs. Adrian approached with concern. "Oh, what an awful thing, my dear!" Elise composed herself. "It does not matter. I have found the one I need." She smiled, already formulating her plan. "Everything is under control." Jessie emerged from the hotel into the bright sunlight, ready for an exciting day of sightseeing with her friends. To her surprise, Hadji was already in the van and about to drive away without her and Jonny. "Hey, wait!" she cried, hurrying to talk to him. Hadji spoke to her through the open window as Jonny came up to the van. "I must meet Elise in Garden District Park," Hadji said urgently. His eyes took on a far away look and he smiled oddly. "She wants to see me again." His tone was filled with awe and gladness. Jessie stared at him, dumbfounded. Even Jonny was taken aback. "Wow. Guess you made quite an impression last night there, buddy," he said, obviously impressed. Hadji looked off into the distance, his eyes glazed. "She is so beautiful," he said incredulously. Jessie protested as he drove away without another word. "But we were supposed to tour the old cemeteries!" She could not believe what she had just witnessed. It was unlike Hadji to be so concerned with physical beauty. Jonny looked at Jessie in bewilderment. "Why are you so upset? Because she's rich, beautiful, or because she likes Hadji?" Jessie was not amused by Jonny's half-serious comments. This was not a laughing matter. "There's just something strange about her," she said, unable to come up with a more tangible explanation. She turned away, trying to formulate a plan. "I think I'll take a stroll to the park." "Fine," Jonny replied as she walked away. "I think I'll go riverboarding." The beautiful atmosphere at the Garden District Park went unnoticed by Jessie. Concealed in a large tree, she focused on two figures seated at a table below. She normally would never consider spying on her friends, but Jessie had to know what was wrong with Hadji. Elise sat across from the handsome young Indian. "Tell me about Bangalore, Hadji," she entreated softly. "Is it beautiful there?" Hadji answered briefly, "Oh, yes." He was not thinking of Bangalore. He continued to stare at his beautiful and mysterious companion, placing his hand over hers. "But it is also very beautiful here." Listening from her perch, Jessie felt her stomach turn. "Flatterer!" Elise laughed coquettishly. She pointed a delicate finger at the smooth stone in Hadji's turban. "Any beauty I might possess pales beside that." Hadji smiled. "Ah, it is a precious heirloom, given to me by my mother, Neela." Jessie watched in amazement as he removed the jewel and handed it to Elise for inspection. "I would never part with it." Elise ran her fingers over the surface of the stone. She looked again at Hadji, her lips curved in a sly smile. "But, would you give it to me, Hadji?" she asked quietly, tilting her head to one side. Jessie smiled in relief as Hadji shook his head, glad her friend hadn't completely lost his faculties. Then she noticed a strange gleam in Elise's eyes, glaring intensely at Hadji. Jessie observed in horror as Hadji nodded. She could not believe his next words. Hadji was lost in Elise's eyes. His voice seemed detached as he replied, "Anything you want. It is yours, Elise." Elise smiled triumphantly. "Because I am like no girl you have ever met before." "Yes," Hadji agreed mechanically. "Because you are like no girl I have ever met before." Jessie's mind was racing. What was happening to her friend? "Men are so pathetic," she said to herself. "It's like he has no brain of his own." She found it hard to believe that Hadji could be so easily manipulated by a beautiful face, and could not help wondering if the strange look in Elise's eyes had been her imagination or something far more serious. Disgusted and confused, she turned away, unable to watch as Elise leaned over and kissed her best friend. Meanwhile, Jonny was thoroughly enjoying himself as he skimmed the surface of the river on his hoverboard. Feeling the wind whipping past him, he thought there was no better way to see the city. Rounding a corner, he was surprised to see a group of police and medical personnel examining a body in an alley near the docks. He quickly deactivated his hoverboard and crept nearer to see what was happening. One of the policemen stood over the body. "Just like the others, Doc?" The doctor, kneeling by the body, nodded. Jonny switched on his watch and used the magnifying screen to get a closer look as the doctor responded. "All male victims, totally drained. Almost mummified." The body was shriveled and dry, the face sunken. Jonny shivered in horror. "That makes seven in six months," the officer observed. Another policeman held up a fancy gun. "Poor guy never even got a shot off." Jonny looked closer. "Wow! That looks like the same kind of gun I knocked into the river." The policeman opened the chamber and started in surprise. "Get a load of this, Cap'n," he told his companion. "Silver bullets!" "Silver!" Jonny exclaimed to himself. "For a mugger, he sure uses expensive ammo." Having seen enough, he reactivated his hoverboard and rode away to do some investigating of his own. A minute later he was back at the docks where they had met Elise the night before. He hovered by the alley wall where he had nearly been shot, and spotted the bullet that had missed him embedded in the wall. Peering closer, Jonny saw that it too was silver, and he pried it from the wall to take back to the hotel. At the park, Hadji walked Elise to her limo. "We will meet again soon, Hadji," said Elise from the backseat. "Until then, I will keep you in my thoughts." Her hand clutched the heirloom jewel. Hadji waved as the window rolled up. "And I will keep you in mine." Jessie watched from the tree as Hadji got in the van and drove away. At the same time, a man on a motorcycle emerged from behind a hedge and sped off after Elise's limo. "This is all too weird," said Jessie, not a little disturbed. In the limo, Andrew noticed a strange motorcycle in the rear-view mirror. "We are being followed," he said in alarm. "Arnaud's man," Elise replied confidently. "He took my bait. Let him come. And Arnaud's car?" Reassured, Andrew smiled. "I took care of it." Once Hadji was out of sight, Jessie jumped down from the tree and began walking back to the hotel. Suddenly, the strange man with the sword-cane from the night before appeared and came towards her rapidly. Frightened, she turned and ran from the park. Desperately trying to escape, she stumbled into a busy street, directly in the path of an oncoming bus. Luckily, Jonny appeared out of nowhere on his hoverboard and knocked her to safety. Jonny sat up on the pavement. "Are you OK?" Jessie nodded appreciatively. "I'm fine." She looked back for any sign of the man in the dark trenchcoat, but he had vanished. "He's gone." Later that evening, Andrew and Elise were in the midst of a heated discussion. "Why is this Hadji any different than the others?" Andrew asked in annoyance. "Because he can bring me what I need," Elise snapped. She pulled the heirloom jewel from her pocket. "And this will ensure he does my bidding." She gazed at it for a moment, then turned back to her butler. "Do not be jealous, Andrew. It does not become you. As long as I remain here, you will be my faithful servant." Andrew smiled, then Elise laughed. "Although in Bangalore, I might have hundreds!" she added gleefully, and Andrew's smile quickly turned to a scowl. Mrs. Adrian spoke suddenly, pointing out the window, "Dear, I believe someone is outside." Elise hurried to look down into the yard, where Arnaud's man watched the house from behind a tree. She turned to Mrs. Adrian. "Why don't you go make dinner, Mother," she said in an authoritative voice. "I'll take care of him." The elderly woman nodded blankly and headed out of the room. "Yes. I think I'll make dinner, Elise." E Elise stood at the window and raised her hands, watching them change into claws. "Let me freshen up a little," she cackled. Back at the hotel, Jessie sat on the couch and watched Jonny set up the telescope. She had been attempting to explain to him her fears about Elise, with little success. "So you don't think it's weird that Hadji handed over his family heirloom to a, a complete stranger?" she asked again. "A beautiful stranger," Jonny pointed out. "Face it, Jess. He's in love." Jessie's heart sank. She looked away to hide her hurt expression. How could Hadji abandon his two best friends for a girl he just met? She didn't want Hadji to be hurt, but she hoped her doubts about Elise were true if only to account for his rude behavior. Jonny saw how dejected Jessie looked and opted to change the subject. "You know, I think the fog's lifting," he observed, moving to the window. "Hey, we might still get a shot of the eclipse." But Jessie was not to be sidetracked. She picked up the silver bullet Jonny had found earlier. "Well, what about the guys with the silver bullets? I mean, why were they chasing---" Jonny interrupted her, taking the bullet and putting it in his pocket. "Forget it, Jess. Elise is no werewolf, although she did look pretty spectacular under that full moon last night." Jessie snorted in disgust. "Men! Well I still want to see if I can talk some sense into Hadji." She got up and walked towards the door. "I'll go see if he's back in his room." Jonny turned back to the telescope. "I'll get ready for the eclipse." Jessie stood in the hallway in front of Hadji's door, nervous about what to say to him. She was just knocking when she heard him call her name. "Jessie!" Hadji came towards her from the other end of the hall. "I have wonderful news! Elise has invited us to watch the eclipse with her." His face was lit with excitement and he had changed into his formal robes. Jessie was astounded. "Hadji, you look--" she began in admiration. Hadji did not wait for her to finish. "So, you approve," he said with no trace of his usual modesty. Smiling, he sighed with contentment. "I have never been happier. And I want you to share it with me. Come." He took Jessie by the arm and led her down the hall. Unable to break his grip, Jessie protested as he pulled her firmly along. "But, what about Jonny?" Hadji replied without looking back. "I will call him from downstairs. He doesn't mind." Upstairs, Jonny finished adjusting the telescope in the window. He was just turning away when he saw Hadji and Jessie get into the van and drive off. "Hey! Where are they going?" Annoyed, he grabbed his hoverboard and went after them. He was so intent on their pursuit that he failed to notice the horse-drawn carriage about to cross his path. Too late, he swerved to one side, colliding with a high wall and flipping off his hoverboard. He cried out as the frightened horse reared up over him, but strong hands pulled him from beneath the massive hooves just in time. Jonny turned to thank his rescuer as the buggy hurried off and found himself staring at the eccentric old Frenchman with the sword-cane. "You!" he gasped in surprise. The old man did not release his hold on Jonny. "Into the car!" he ordered urgently. Jonny started to protest. "Now, listen--" The Frenchman cut him off. "No! You listen. My name is Arnaud, and your friend is in terrible danger!" Jonny's eyebrows rose in alarm as he got into Arnaud's car. "Hadji?" Arnaud kept his foot on the accelerator and his eyes on the road as he replied, "No. The girl." In the van on the way to Elise's mansion, Jessie tried to explain her apprehensions about the beautiful stranger and warn Hadji to be careful. Normally a very clear-headed person who always assessed both sides of an argument, tonight Hadji seemed utterly unwilling to take her seriously. "Hadji, you haven't heard a word I've said," Jessie said in rising frustration. Hadji ignored her complaint. "You must get to know Elise. After tonight, you will feel differently." Jessie was unconvinced and growing more and more skeptical with each moment. "I don't think one night is gonna make me change my mind." Hadji was unfazed. "You will see," he said with cheerful certainty. Speeding towards the mansion, Arnaud finally broke the silence. "The eclipse has not started, and one of my men is watching the house," he told his young companion. "She is safe for the moment." Perplexed, Jonny asked, "Safe? Safe from who?" Arnaud looked at him in surprise. "The demon, Elise Lenoir." "Elise!" Jonny exclaimed. So, Jessie had been right. He hoped fervently that his two friends were still far away from the mansion. Suddenly the telephone rang, and Arnaud answered quickly without slowing. "Alo, Berger?" Jonny strained to hear the deep voice at the other end of the line. "All's quiet, Arnaud. Too quiet." "The girl and boy are on their way," Arnaud said, his voice tense. "Do not let them enter that house!" "Affirmative," came the reply, but it was immediately followed by a strangled cry. Arnaud gasped in alarm. "Oh, no! Berger, answer me!" But he knew that it was too late. His boot pressed the gas pedal harder against the floor, urging the old car to pick up speed. A minute later, Jonny was still having trouble accepting the situation. "I still can't believe that!" "No one ever does," Arnaud said sadly. "But she is a demon who drains the life essence of others to sustain her youth." "And all those bodies the police found?" Jonny asked, already knowing the answer. "Were merely to sustain her beauty until tonight's eclipse, when a new victim must come of her own free will." Arnaud's voice was filled with disgust and sorrow. He pulled a photograph from his coat and handed it to Jonny. "I tried to show this to your friend today, but she ran away. Do you know who this is?" Jonny squinted at the dark-haired girl in the picture. "It looks kind of like Elise." Arnaud nodded. "It was taken fifty years ago." Astounded, Jonny looked at the photograph again. "Fifty years?!" "My sister, Celeste," Arnaud said, indicating the photograph. His face was grim as he told Jonny the sad story of his involvement with the demon. "I was only sixteen. It was during an eclipse in Lyon." His next words were full of bitterness and anger. "The creature cast her spell on me, and it was I who led Celeste to the chateau, where the creature stole my sister's youth and her face. I have hunted her ever since." Jonny was horrified. "And now she's hunting Jessie." "Yes," Arnaud nodded. "It is her life force which will rejuvenate the creature for another fifty years." Jonny was suddenly anxious to fight. "Unless we stop her." Arnaud agreed, but his voice implied that it would not be easy. "She can hypnotize those around her into doing her bidding, like servants, or the woman who adopted her." "Or even my best friend," Jonny observed quietly as they sped on. Elise was waiting for them as Hadji and Jessie arrived at the mansion. She greeted them warmly, seemingly the perfect hostess. "Hadji, Jessie, glad you could come." Jessie tried to be open-minded, but she couldn't help frowning as Elise took Hadji's hand and kissed him on the cheek before introducing her guardian. "My mother, Mrs. Adrian, has prepared a light, pre-eclipse supper for us." The friendly old woman protested modestly, "Nothing fancy, mind you." In the lavish dining room, Mrs. Adrian offered Jessie a second helping. "More shrimp Creole?" Jessie smiled but declined politely. "No, thanks. I've had quite enough." She was not referring to the meal, however. Throughout the meal she had become increasingly sickened by Hadji's strange behavior and Elise's apparent influence over him. He agreed with everything she said and never took his eyes off her. Elise turned to Jessie with a smile. "Hadji has told me he would like me to meet his mother, and if she approves..." Hadji took Elise's hand and finished the sentence. "If she approves, perhaps Elise and I might be betrothed." Jessie stared at Hadji in shock and horror. This just couldn't be happening. Steady, dependable Hadji, always reserved and cautious around strangers, was talking about getting betrothed to a girl he had known all of two days? Jessie suddenly felt as if she were looking at a complete stranger. Vaguely, as if from a distance, she heard her own voice repeating, "Betrothed?" Elise was smiling triumphantly, holding Hadji's hand. "Bangalore sounds like a very comfortable place to spend the next fifty years." Behind her, a jealous Andrew frowned. "The eclipse has begun," he said gruffly. Elise stood up, her eyes gleaming. "Let us go up to the conservatory." On his hands and knees, Jonny shone his watch light up underneath the stalled car. "Somebody cut your fuel line," he said in dismay, getting to his feet. "How far is it from here?" Arnaud was frantic. "Another mile or so. We are running out of time." Jonny grinned suddenly. "Ever ride a hoverboard?" Elise stood in the center of the conservatory, staring up at the bright full moon. "You do not know how long I have waited for this night!" she said ecstatically. "Andrew, show Jessie to her seat," she ordered. "My pleasure," said the butler, grabbing a surprised Jessie and shoving her into a large chair. "Hey! Back off!" Jessie cried as Andrew began to tie her up. Squirming, she struggled to get away. "Hadji!" Her cry seemed to startle Hadji, and he shook his head. "Jess!" He leaped forward to help her, but Andrew was not to be thwarted. "You keep out of this!" he growled, punching Hadji and pinning him to the floor. "Andrew!" Elise barked. "This is not the time. Let him go!" Andrew kept his fist poised to hit his perceived rival again. "What do you need him for, now? You've got the girl. You just want to replace me," he accused Elise angrily. Elise came closer, her eyes glowing dangerously. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I want to see India. Now let him go!" As she spoke, she placed her hands at Andrew's temples. Blue lightning flashed around her hands, and Andrew screamed, releasing the unconscious Indian, as Elise turned him into another wrinkled corpse. Jessie looked away in horror. She strained against her ropes, trying to remember what Hadji had taught her about knot tying. She turned to Mrs. Adrian, trying to buy herself more time. "Do something!" she pleaded. "Help me!" But the old woman simply stood there staring, and Elise laughed. "She can do nothing. She is under my power. Go to your room, Mother." Mrs. Adrian nodded. "Yes, dear. Call me if you need anything." She walked slowly out of the room. Elise turned back to a glaring Jessie. "Everything I need is right here." The hoverboard carrying Jonny and Arnaud crashed through the front door of the mansion and paused in the foyer. "Jessie, where are you?" cried Jonny. There was an answering scream and the sound of a commotion from upstairs. "Hang on!" Jonny warned Arnaud, and they sped up the staircase. They reached the landing and flew down the hallway, when suddenly a clawed hand shot out from a doorway and grabbed them. Elise the demon dragged them into the conservatory, holding them by the fronts of their shirts. She threw Jonny to the ground and blocked Arnaud's attempt to stab her with his sword-cane, tossing the weapon aside. "Sorry, I'm not looking my best!" said Elise, her voice rough. She clutched Arnaud by the coat and glared at him. "Still the persistent teenager from Lyon, eh, Arnaud? But now you are old. Why try to hurt me? Do I not have the face of your own sister?" "Your face is hers, but your soul is a demon's!" growled Arnaud. He struggled with Elise, but she was too strong for him and tossed him against the wall. Jonny picked up the sword-cane and charged at Elise, who grabbed a lamp-post and blocked him easily. They circled each other, neither one managing to gain the advantage. Jessie watched them as she loosened her ropes, biting her lip until Jonny finally succeeded in knocking Elise to the floor. Arnaud raised himself weakly from the floor as Elise recovered. "Get the girl away until the eclipse ends!" he shouted at Jonny. Jessie had almost succeeded in freeing herself when Jonny ran up and cut the last rope with Arnaud's sword-cane. As they raced out into the hall Jonny kicked the chair at a screaming Elise, momentarily blocking her path. Jessie and Jonny found the hoverboard in the hall and made a break for the stairs, but Elise was right behind them. They spun to face her, Jonny holding her at bay with the sword-cane. He threw it at her with all his strength, but Elise dodged and the sword thudded harmlessly into the floor. With a screech Elise suddenly rose into the air, transforming into her true demon form. The bat-like creature flapped its leathery wings and lunged at them with a cry. "I must have her, now!" Gripping Jonny's waist, Jessie spun them around and headed for the stairs. She could feel the wind from the pursuing demon's beating wings at her back, and ducked, making them turn sharply. They crashed through the dining room, hovering over the table and dodging the chandelier, scattering china and silverware behind them. Finally they smashed through the window and flew towards the river. Back in the conservatory, Arnaud recovered his sword-cane and crawled to where Hadji lay crumpled on the floor. The old man slapped the boy's unconscious face. "Snap out of it! Your friends need your help!" Hadji sat up immediately and shook himself, finally able to break the spell now that the demon's concentration was weakened. "What must I do?" he demanded, scrambling to his feet. Arnaud handed him the sword-cane. "This might stop her, if it is not too late. Go!" But Hadji was already out the door. Jonny and Jessie glided swiftly over the river, the eerie half-light of the moon reflecting on the water. Jonny glanced up at the moon and saw that it was already emerging from the shadow. "The eclipse is almost over!" he said over his shoulder. But the demon was not about to lose its last chance to live. It lunged forward and plucked Jessie from the hoverboard. "Jonny!" she cried, struggling in the creature's grasp, and Jonny leaped after them to catch the demon's tail. Jessie grabbed the claws digging into her shoulders and tried to pull them apart, but the demon only howled and gripped her tighter. Then Jessie felt herself weakening as the creature began to drain the life force from her body. Meanwhile Jonny remembered the silver bullet he was still carrying in his pocket. Quickly he grabbed it and pressed it against the demon's side. The creature screamed in rage and pain, thrashing wildly. Jonny lost his grip on its tail and plummeted into the river below. Hadji burst out of the mansion and raced along the riverbank. Ahead of him he could see the horrible demon flying above the river, carrying a still-struggling Jessie. A greenish light surrounded them as the creature used its magic to drain Jessie's life essence. Hadji was enraged. How could he have let this happen? Hadji raised the sword-cane and hurled it with all his might at the demon, whispering a fervent plea. "Let my aim be true!" The creature shrieked in pain and anger as the silver shaft found its mark, and Jessie's limp form dropped towards the river below. Hadji immediately dove after her, oblivious to the wailing demon plummeting from the sky. He surfaced with Jessie in his arms and quickly swam towards the shore, where Jonny had just pulled himself out of the water. Revived by the cold water, Jessie coughed and opened her eyes. She raised her head to see Hadji looking down at her worriedly as he waded toward the riverbank. To her immense relief, his eyes were no longer clouded and vacant under Elise's influence. Suddenly a horrible scream made Jessie break her gaze from Hadji's and look over her shoulder, just in time to see the thrashing demon rise from the river. The dying creature howled in fury, phasing through several different demonic forms in an effort to sustain itself, before crumbling completely into vapor. Jessie shuddered, and Hadji's shoulders drooped in relief. He splashed up the bank and set Jessie down gently on the grass, sinking down beside her in silence. Jonny came to stand beside them, watching Arnaud bid his sister goodbye. The old Frenchman kissed the worn photograph for the last time and let it fall into the river. "Now, Celeste, you may finally rest in peace." Turning, he walked slowly back toward the mansion, leaving the three friends alone on the shore. Hadji put his hand on Jessie's shoulder, biting his lip. "Are you all right?" His voice was heavy with concern. She nodded. "I'm OK, just a little freaked out." Hadji looked up at Jonny, who nodded in agreement. "I'm fine, too. But we better get back to the house and call the police." Still a little dazed and not quite able to believe what had just happened, Jessie snapped back to reality and rose shakily to her feet. Hadji quickly reached out to steady her, and she found herself very grateful for his supporting arm around her. She glanced up at him as they made their way back to the house and noticed a far-away look in his eyes. "Are you OK?" she asked softly, eyeing a bruise on his cheek. Hadji met her gaze and laughed dryly. "I am not the one who had my life force drained by a demon, Jessie. You should not be worrying about me." Unconvinced, Jessie continued in silence. Back at the mansion, police questioned Arnaud and recovered Andrew's withered body from the observatory. Wrapped in warm blankets, the three teenagers described the night's events to the sergeant from two days previous. When they were through, he surprised them all by laughing. "Now even for Nawlins that's quite a story," he drawled, shaking his head. Then he gestured to the back of the police car, where the wealthy old widow sat in quiet incredulity. "But Mrs. Adrian confirmed it. Says she's been in a trance for six months." The sergeant shrugged. "Heck, maybe we were all under that girl's spell." He pointed to the prowl car, "You kids need a lift back?" The three friends shook their heads emphatically and simultaneously cried, "No!" They had had enough excitement for one night. "No, officer," Hadji answered more calmly, raising his keys, "we are fine." The sergeant nodded goodnight and turned to leave with the rest of the police. Jessie looked at Hadji again, still worried about his reaction to the whole situation. "Are you sure you're OK?" Hadji smiled briefly as he rewound his turban and replaced the heirloom jewel. "Yes." He hesitated, and Jessie's worry grew. "It is just I will never meet another girl like her again." Jessie's heart sank at the sight of his long face, but her fears were quieted when Hadji brightened, his old mischief returned. "I hope!" he added fervently. "Yeah," Jessie agreed. "Pretty scary." Jonny chimed in with his usual lame sense of humor. "Hey, at least you got a great view of the eclipse!" Jessie was not amused. Back at the hotel, Jessie sat on her bed and brushed out her damp hair. She felt better after taking a hot shower, but she was still tired and a little dazed from her ordeal. She still couldn't quite get over the weirdness of the whole situation. Jessie was roused from her reverie by a knock at the door. "Come in," she called, half expecting another demon. But it was only Hadji, looking tired and a little uncertain. Jessie smiled, and he came in and sat down across from her. "Feeling better?" "Yeah," she nodded. "You?" "I'm fine," he answered, smiling slightly, "although I would not recommend demon possession as a hobby. It gives you quite a headache." Jessie looked at him curiously. "What was it like?" she asked. "I mean, did you know what was happening?" Hadji looked thoughtful. " It was very strange," he said. "It was as if I was there but I could not get out. I remember wanting to do one thing, and then having to watch myself do just the opposite. It was very frustrating," he added, rubbing his temples. "But, on the bright side, I did not have my life force drained, so I should not complain." Jessie shrugged her shoulders and tried to speak lightly. "Hey, I've been through much worse than that." Hadji shook his head, looking at her seriously. "But not because of me. None of this would have happened if I hadn't fallen under the demon's spell." "You can't blame yourself, Hadji," protested Jessie. "It's not like anyone could have expected to be possessed. And besides, you're the one who killed the demon and saved my life. Which, by the way," she added with a smile," I still need to thank you for." "Please don't," said Hadji. "It was the least I could do after what you went through on my account. But I wanted to thank you, for knowing me well enough to be suspicious of Elise, and for trying to protect me." Jessie blushed. "I was just doing what anybody should do for a friend." But no one else saw anything odd about my behavior, which I am ashamed to say would have been inexcusable even if Elise hadn't been a demon." "You mean the part about dumping your friends to run off with the first pretty girl you meet?" Jessie asked with a hint of mischief. Hadji groaned. "Please don't remind me! I certainly hope I would never do such a foolish thing." "Me too," agreed Jessie. "I'm glad I was right about you. Besides, I really didn't think Elise was your type," she grinned. Hadji laughed. "Yes, she was a little old for me, by about a few hundred years!" They looked at each other, relieved to be able to find humor in the grisly events of the past day, but still a little worried about their reactions. "So," said Jessie slowly, "are you going to stop feeling guilty about everything anytime soon or do I have to resort to violence to make you see the light?" Hadji nodded. "It is just for a while there I was afraid we were going to lose you." Jessie smiled at his look of concern. "You know I'm not that easy to get rid of. I guess it runs in the family." "Thank goodness for that!" said Hadji earnestly, and surprised them both by giving her a quick hug. "I'm sorry about everything that happened," said Hadji softly against her ear, then drew away to grin at her. "I promise that if I ever get possessed again, I'll make sure not to get my closest friends involved." "And I promise to carry a supply of silver bullets at all times, so we can make sure your next girlfriend isn't a demon!" quipped Jessie in return. "I wouldn't worry about that for a while yet, Jessie," said Hadji seriously. "Right now, I am perfectly happy with the friends I already have." The End Hope you all enjoyed my version of this episode^�check out the pictures of Elise and Hadji and Jessie at Wendy's incredible Eraser Dust JQ Art Gallery!