Summer holidays are finally over, bringing America the chilly autumn month of September. The green leaves had turned into a pretty golden maple in colour, though some had shed their pretty leaves to be bare.
People in the streets had started wearing warmer garments such as thick jackets, woolen caps, woolen scarves and gloves are being worn to keep the populace warm. And there's no exceptions for the students in Columbia University.
Glenn had just emerged out of the gates, wearing a maroon-coloured woolen cap and woolen gloves that let his fingers peep through. He can't wait to go to Dante's to get a nice hot cup of peppermint mocha that makes him curl his toes.
"Glenn, hey Glenn, wait up."
Francis came sprinting into view, his hair all around his face. He also wore a woolen cap, his a bright yellow with white stripes, and cyan woolen gloves.
"Glenn, my man. How are you feeling really?"
"Fine."
They walked through the gates before Francis said, "Just to let you know, I'm taking the flat next door to old Mrs Harris. At least I can get away from Vargas."
"Oh, cool." Mrs. Harris is a little like Yoda from Star Wars. She sees all, knows all, even though she's a dotty old lady who rarely come out of her house unless needed. But still... She is a nice person really.
"I missed Mahler." Francis sighed as they walked down the pavement. "It has only been two weeks but I already missed her."
Glenn said nothing, but in truth, he missed her too. It aches him to know that Mia had went back to Malaysia though she is not going to stay with her parents. She had said so in her last letter. And since she's already gone, she had put up her room for sale, which Francis had snapped up. Plus he have a Volvo, which means now they both can go to Columbia together, which means no more bus.
"Want to get some coffee?" He asked.
"Sure. Let's go." Glenn led him to Dante's.
*************
V.V. was frowning to her bed, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. Her bed, or rather, sleeping bag is how she exactly tidied it. Her Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck plushies were tucked in between her flower-shaped pillow quilt, just the way she like it. Although she doesn't need blanket, Lloyd had loaned her his warmest jacket to be used to keep herself warm, which she folded it beside her sleeping bag. Everything does look nothing out of place.
Except for the black rose which lay on top of the jacket. Its petals are genuine midnight black. The stems are the usual green, but darker. It looks so alluring, yet mysterious at the same time.
V.V. picked it up and twirled it around in her fingers. She had a flashback vision of Dario twirling it in front of her, looking seductive.
She shook her head, shaking the thought out of her head.
"V.V., are you in there?" Lloyd called out.
V.V. stuffed the rose into her sleeping bag. She doesn't feel like sharing the rose just yet.
"Hey, V. I thought we could take a day off today." Lloyd pulled off the scarf he's wearing. "And that lazy bum Glenn haven't came back yet."
"Day off?" She looked puzzled.
"Yeah. You know, like a holiday. You can do whatever you want to do."
V.V. looked puzzled. "What do you do on day off?"
"Me? Well, usually I'll just rest or go and visit Serenity's grave." Lloyd said, looking thoughtful. "And Glenn usually go to Dante's for a caffeine boost or sleep like a log."
"Anything... I want?" V.V. said.
"Yep."
Hmmm, she thought. Then I might just know what to do.
**************
After her shift at the bookstore, V.V. headed down to the local internet cafe by using her recently acquired Metro Card. Even though Lloyd had already payed the bill for the broad band, she thought it would be better to not let him know what she's up to.
Occupying a table in the corner, she opened Google.com and typed Midnight black rose on the search box. Results popped out one after another like a tidal wave. Not knowing which to choose, she took the first hit, half taking in the important words.
Roses...been... popular for Valentine's....colour from red, pink, yellow, white and cream....For years.... researches...making blue and black roses... Many had tried dyeing.... But now... leading manufacturer Twilight Inc...... solution in producing black roses... with modern technology.....
V.V. stopped. One word had caught her eye.
Twilight Inc.
During her time at Stellar Inc., Erica had brought someone to the lab where she was produced. V.V. shut her eyes and let the vision take her in, That time, she was locked in her cell and it was so dark till she can't see who it was.
"This.... is one of our masterpiece." Erica said proudly, making a sweeping movement with her hand. "The perfect bio weapon after many attempts."
The figure had peered into the cell, holding a black rose in his hand. At that time, she had wrapped herself tightly with a thin piece of cloth, curled up in a corner, looking emotionless.
"Is this her? Your perfect bio weapon is a child?"
"She's not a child, Mr Darkmatter." Erica had retorted. "And appearance could be deceiving, why don't I show you a test run?"
After that, there has been several tests of her killing intruders, their blood drenched on her. She only remembered lots of blood and blurred faces of those who had screamed or begged for mercy. After she was cleaned, the figure had forced her to face him. She remembered his dark eyes that seems to show empty expression.
"V.V. eh? You'll be mine soon."
Despite herself, V.V. pushed his hands away, wrapping her arms around herself. The figure had laughed and said, "Not very friendly, is she?"
"She's not meant to be." Erica then said, "What's your company's name again, Twilight?"
"That's right. Perhaps we should discuss it in the office."
Come to think of it, V.V. thought to herself. It has been Dario all along...
Maybe I should go and pay Twilight a little visit, she thought, scribbling down the address.
*************
Lloyd who was busy sorting out another round of bills in the huge glass salad bowl, gave a sniff. " I smell...chocolate."
"Bingo."
Glenn was holding out a tall Dante's paper cup of chocolate, the aroma tempting him with the smell of fresh chocolate.
"With whipped cream?"
Glenn nodded. "Frosted with chocolate chips."
"You're well prepared." Lloyd took the cup from him and took a greedy sip.
"Well, if I got you the wrong order, you would've given me a long punishment." Glenn shuddered at the time where he gotten decaf, Lloyd's least favourite drink, which caused him 200 laps around Grand Central Park. Although Lloyd had let him took bottles of Evian water, it had shuddered him to the point where you should never risk his temper.
"Good. You learned at least." Lloyd took another sip.
Glenn took a look around. Besides bringing back a cup of hot chocolate, he had made a trip to the pretzel stand and bought a caramel almond pretzel and a small cup of lemonade for V.V. who doesn't seem to be around.
"Where's V.V.?"
"Dunno. Must be spending her free time somewhere." Lloyd said, chucking a bill aside.
"I'm going to visit Serenity's grave later on."
"Sure." Glenn said. "I'll just stay here and wait for V.V. Give you some privacy."
"Thanks."
************
"Upper Manhattan, 59th Street." The bus driver announced.
V.V. paid the driver and stepped out. She took in her surroundings. Upper Manhattan is nothing like Midtown. 34th Street is full of sights and wonders and tourists, well, there are not much tourists. Many native New Yorkers tend to treat Upper Manhattan like another borough, its distance from Midtown Manhattan and comparatively lower rents leading many to exclude this northern neck from the area New Yorkers call "The City".
V.V. took in her appearance. For the first time in her entire life, she's not wearing just a thin piece of dress or the simple white gown with blue edges and ribbons that she often wore majority of the times. This time, she's wearing normal garments that regular girls wore. A white and cyan shirt decorated with two interlocking hearts with ruffles and ribbons at the sleeves, a short dark cyan skirt and light blue wedges, matching her hair. Yup, looking like a regular girl alright.
Twilight Inc was just across the road. It's impossible to miss it. For a start, it's a huge building made out of glass that seems to made her eyes water when she stare at it in the harsh sunlight. Besides that, the name TWILIGHT INC was printed across the topmost floor in dark bold letters. Its logo is a hidden sunset behind some clouds, creating a twilight effect. What a suitable name.
V.V. took a deep breath, and pressed onwards to the huge elegant double glass doors, where there's a huge security guard armed with rifle, walkie talkie and security pass guarding the entrance.
"Halt." He said. "Who are you?"
V.V. stared back at the guard calmly. "I am a student journalist from Sacred Heart Convent." She fibbed smoothly. "We are asked to do a report on the leading manufacturing companies that creates possibilities of blue and black roses. Might I have a look around?"
The guard frowned. If it had been an adult, he would've not trust the person easily. But this is just a girl. A student from the Convent. What harm could she do? "Sure, kid. It's on the 2nd floor." He swiped his pass to a silver box located at the side of the double glass doors and said, "Go ahead."
V.V. murmured a word of thanks and stepped into the cooling hallway. She expected something more sinister. But this is totally normal. A huge crystal chandelier hung high in the towering ceiling. The hallway is whitewashed and spotlessly clean, the kind that you see in universities. Scenery of landscapes painted with water colour framed in gold hung on the walls. The floors are made of polished white marble tiles, so that you could see your own reflection being reflected back to you. In the middle of the hallway, there's a huge pond in the shape of a maple leaf, with a miniature zen waterfall with lush greenery and tiny stone lantern in the background. Red and white Japanese koi fishes swum gracefully in the water, waving their fins in a really comical way. Despite the fact that it is a manufacturer company, the place is stylish like a 5 star hotel.
The stylish granite reception counter stood at the far end, with corridors leading to the left and right. Two young receptionists with headphones and speakers were busily tapping away at their keyboards, looking too busy to take any notice of her.
As V.V. approached, two trendy phones rang and both receptionists simultaneously picked it up at the same time, like clockwork.
"Good morning. Twilight Inc. How may I direct your call?"
"Good morning. Twilight Inc. How may I help you?"
V.V. waited til their occupied then whisked into one of the corridor, taking care not to look insiquitive nor panicky. The corridor is also decorated with landscapes, though it's painted by using oil pastels for a much more realistic effect. Three classy lifts stood the end of the corridor and a door that reads FIRE EXIT, EMERGENCY ONLY. V.V. jabbed the UP button and a lift pinged, sliding open its doors.
The lift is huge enough to hold about 30 people. There's a silver railing that runs around the entire lift, leaving only the front walls bare leaving a panel for the buttons. Each one had a tiny printed label beside it telling you which floor or department you'll end up in if you pressed it.
1ST FLOOR - ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT AND CUSTOMER SERVICES
2ND FLOOR - CLERK OFFICE AND GUEST ROOM
3RD FLOOR - HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OFFICE
4TH FLOOR - HEAD OF BUREAU SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
5TH FLOOR - CONFERENCE ROOM
V.V. paused, wondering which one to pick. Before she could do so, a shadow swooped in and everything blackout.
*************
The caretaker was busy sweeping up some fallen leaves off a grave stone when Lloyd approached him and said, "Hey."
The caretaker didn't look up. Instead, he just said, "I had already taken care of the leaves and weeds, if that's what you're wondering."
"Thanks." Lloyd said, shifting a bouquet of callas lilies over to his other hand as he rummaged for his wallet. "The usual?"
"Aye." The caretaker nodded, handing him a cash bill. "The same as always."
Lloyd handed him some cash as he murmured his thanks. The caretaker then said, "You know where it is. Right over the next hill."
Lloyd nodded and headed off in that direction, towards the gravestone that is shaded underneath a huge oak tree. The gravestone is shaped like a cross with an elegant design. Underneath it, s small stone slab reads
SERENITY ARKS
Oddly, the photo of the girl that was placed on the gravestone looks exactly like V.V. Except for some differences. This girl has shoulder length dark hair with strands of brown framing her heart-shaped face with stunning eyes as gold as heaven's eye with a teasing glint.
He placed the lilies on the stone slab and prayed.
*************
"Get up."
V.V. squinted her eyes at the harsh lights and gave a silent groan.
She's not in any bright corridor at all. This place is dim and dark with various of liquids in test tubes, beakers and flasks, all labeled and arranged neatly in shelves. Various diagrams of humans and some other creatures that she can't identify were taped all over the walls. A blackboard with complicated equations scribbled in white chalk took up the remaining space.
And she couldn't move.
She was sitting under bright spotlights in a high-backed steel chair, bound into place with extremely strong chains that seems to be made of adamantite or titanium. No matter how much she struggled, she couldn't get free. She try to shift her hair into weapons, but it didn't work as well. That was when she realized. Her hair was placed into some sort of tank attached to the back of her chair like a hair salon furniture. The liquid, as far as she could tell, it's translucent blue. And it seems to have the function of neutralizing her hair.
"Well, well, well, who would've thought it's you?"
V.V. stiffened as a figure came into view. The flaming red hair and eyes, and that boyish face that has the word murderer written across it.
"I don't know whether to say that you're bold or you're an idiot." Guy snickered. He's wearing a casual t-shirt and jeans, looking just like a regular guy, except that his hair is slowly lengthening. "Bold because you have the guts to come here on your own, or that you're an idiot for trying to head into the enemy's hideout head on."
Revarie slowly shifted into view. For the first time in his life, he's not wearing any of his aristocratic Italian garments. Instead, he wore a dark suit, dark blue neck tie, dark pants and leather shoes that is polished so thoroughly til she can see her own reflection.
"I recognized her at once when she stepped into the lift." He commented. "Tell me, how's sweet Tiffany doing?"
V.V. tightened her lips, refusing to answer. Tifa's condition is still unstable. She has lost a lot of blood, her body is still weakened and she looks as though she's in comatose. Dr Chang had said it might take a while for her to recover from all of it.
Revarie must've known what she was thinking, because the next moment he went, "That retarded scum..."
"Well, ain't it too bad." Guy said mockingly. "Do you like the roses that I gave you, V.V.? You were having such a fun time hunting down the Magimaster."
V.V.'s intestines twisted. It was him all along?
Guy gave a laugh. "Why so surprised? It just shows how much I love and hate you, V. Especially that time during the war."
V.V.'s usually calm expression turned into shock. She already know where this is going. "You wouldn't..." She managed to choke out.
Guy leaned in menacingly towards her. "Oh, I would."
V.V. struggled as he step towards her, holding out what looks like a syringe filled with clear liquid in his hand. "This...won't hurt much."
************
Dario was in the studio that takes up part of the ground floor, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling mirrors. He had just finished his weekly tap dance class and was unlacing his black and white Oxfords when his bell phone rang. Taking a look at the caller ID caused him to be surprised.
It was Reo.
Without hesitation, he said, "What is it?"
"I just thought you should know," Reo's voice came down into the line. "That you might want to check out the basement of the company."
"Why?"
"V.V."
*************
Dario had changed into a dark corporate suit and as soon as the lift doors open, he went straight into the room that says NO ENTRY and said, "Guy, what did you just do?"
All of them, Reo and Allen included were there. Guy was giggling madly as he stepped away from a high steel backed chair. V.V. was bound to it but she seems so wrong. Her fringe had grown out and falls into bang, partly covering half of her face. But what is wrong is the eyes. They are blank and mad with rage, or to be more precise, berserk.
As soon as she had seen him, she gave a roar and started fighting against the bonds that held her. She didn't talk, but just roar and shriek til the beakers on the shelves were rattling.
"Isn't it great?" Guy laughed. "That was the V.V. I know many years ago."
"Don't let her go, for God's sake." Mind's Shadow adjust emerged. "You brainwashed her into her original form. You can't just let her out without her attacking us."
"I don't intend to." Guy said. "But I do want to let her rampage."
"Are you mad???"
"Shut it." He went over to the thrashing V.V. and said, "Calm down, V. I'll free you."
Using his hair, it sliced through the chains easily.
And that was when all hell broke loose.
V.V's hair, freed out of the neutralizing tank, braided itself into blades, and went thrashing around the entire room. Allen had to telekenetically stop a metal table from smashing into him. Reo had took out his gunblades and was swinging it at the obstacles that were being flung towards him. Revarie moved with inhuman speed as tons of silver scalpels went flying towards him, each one bouncing of the walls with a tinkling sound. Dario had to duck as the metallic chair went flying towards him.
When all of them were busy to move, V.V. gave another roar, and with the speed of a lioness, ran out of the room, her killer hair trailing behind her.
"Great. Just great!!!" Allen gasped, pulling himself out of the now thrashed lab.
"Did you see that?" Revarie roared. "She's a berserker."
Reo silently pulled himself up while helping Dario up.
"To you, she may be a berserker." Guy said. "But to me, she's a goddess."
"What are you doing?" Revarie demanded.
"Having some fun with my partner." Guy left, leaving them dumbstruck.
Revarie was about to go after him when Dario said, "Leave him."
"You sure about that?"
Dario nodded. "I'm interested to see what will happen to V.V."
**************
Francis was driving his Volvo to 34th Street. First thing first, he got to go and get some of his stuff from Vargas's place, then he needn't go back there anymore. He just can't wait.
Something in the corner of his eye made him turn.
V.V. was walking down the street, looking really expressionless, as though she's numb. Even the way she walked, she looked like a zombie, bumping into everyone on the pavement.
"Hey, lassie."
Francis watched as V.V. was stopped in her tracks by three menacing-looking men. All of them unfriendly.
"Where do you think you're going eh, lass?" One of them said.
Francis had stopped his car in an illegal space but he don't care, something just doesn't feel right. V.V. never wander around alone, and certainly never look so....cold.
"Answer me, lassie." Another man grabbed V.V.
Without warning, V.V.'s hair grew out rapidly and without warning, it became blades and...
Francis can't bear to watch. It's too... horrible to describe. He feel like vomiting. How could she just...do that? Dicing him into pieces as though it's child play.
"Oh my God!!!!!" The man shouted.
People on the pavement had saw what happened. Without warning, they screamed and ran. Away from the man's corpse, and the girl with dangerous hair that is now streaked with blood.
"V.V.!" Francis yelled, fighting his way through the screaming crowd.
Even as he watched, another boy with red hair came over to V.V., his face twisted with cruelty.
Guy.
"That's right, you lousy humans, scream all you want." He said, his hair also growing out rapidly. "But it won't do you any good."
In answer to that, he grabbed a couple of people who were running and without warning, stabbed them mercilessly. Their blood splattered all over the sidewalk.
Francis had finally managed to beat the crowd away just as Guy turned to face him.
"You are... that boy from before." He said, his face with malice delight. "Yes. Yes. I remembered you. Tell me, how do you want to get killed? Flayed or diced? I'm giving you a choice."
"You're sick..." Francis said, shaking his head. "Glenn's right. You're a nutcase."
Guy's hair suddenly lashed out like snakes, swirling around him and binding him into place. Like a fish on a hook, he was reeled in and without warning, Guy gave him a swift punch on the jaw. Darn, it hurts.
"I am not a nutcase." He said coldly. "I am just doing what I take pleasure of." That was when he turned to V.V. who still looked numb. "Come to think of it, you maybe useful to me in some ways..." Using his hair to tighten him, he added rather casually. "What do you think, V?"
V.V. stood still, silently staring at him. It scares Francis a lot. He don't know who is much more scarier. V.V.'s blank look or Guy's psychotic one.
"Yeah, I thought so too." Guy said outloud. "Right then, let's get to work V. I'll deal with him, you hold him tight."
Blue meets the red, and Francis couldn't help but scream as Guy set to work on him.
************
Lloyd jerked up from his sleep. Confused, he stared at the pile of bills on his desk. Oh yeah, he thought dazedly. I seemed to have fallen asleep while sorting through the bills, waiting for V.V.
A sizzling sound make him jump but it was a plate of nicely fried bacon and eggs, sunny-side up set near by his desk. The eggs had been arranged to look like eyes and the bacon to look like a mouth, so that it looks as though it's smiling.
"Well, hello to you, Mr Smiley." He commented to the plate down.
Lloyd rubbed sleep from his eyes. Judging from the mess, he must've dozed off. V.V. still isn't back yet. Glenn had gone down downtown to get some groceries and look for V.V. if he happened to run into her.
To distract himself, he picked up some of the scattered bills and dump them back into the large salad bowl that he often use to dump bills, then opened the Chinese takeout catalog menu. He was wondering if he should order some General Tso's chicken when there was a loud yell and screams coming from outside the apartment.
Annoyed, Lloyd drag himself up and stomped over to the entrance of the apartment. Must be some tourists getting robbed, they always ended up getting robbed at least once. Usually he is forced to do a gentleman act, that is, help them tackle the thief and call the police for them, but personally, he's getting annoyed. Why can't they just take better care of their belongings?
He was surprised to see Glenn standing outside, much to his relief. There are some tourists as well, but not much. Their face is a look of of horror, Glenn's is a mixture of horror, disbelief, shock and anger.
Looking puzzled, he strode up to him and said, "Hey Glenn. What's going on?"
Glenn wasn't staring at him, but staring pass him. Slowly, he faced behind him and gave a loud gasp.
Francis was crucified above the building entrance. His arms were pinned into place by wooden stakes and his entire body is bloodied. Open scar wounds and cuts were all his bare chest, which was exposed for everyone to see the horrifying sight. If that is not bad enough, the blood are dripping all over the place, leaving a trail of red streak.
"Oh my God." Lloyd said, feeling sick in his stomach.
"Frances? Francis?" Glenn yelled out to Francis's bloodied looking body.
Francis's ears twitched at the voice of Glenn's voice. Ah yes, he thought numbly. Opening his mouth, he started to sing twisted poem.
Underneath the twilight,
I ran into the ice.
And then I met the fire,
Who insisted to pass Anderson and Skyler a tune.
"Meet me where we first met at the old place," says the fire.
The ice said nothing, but stare numbly at us.
"If you both do not come, then you'll never get to see the ice ever again." He says.
I wait underneath the full moon. - Guy Moon
Glenn stared back in disbelief. When some nosy tourists tried to take a snapshot, he yelled, "Get out of here!!!!"
"Guy....Moon?" Lloyd said, looking confused.
Francis opened a lazy pussy cat eye, then said rather weakly. "Did you get it?"
"What?"
"Maybe I should sing again..." He then sang that twisted song again. "Underneath the twilight..."
Glenn, without thinking, recklessly clawed up the wall with his nails and started tearing the wooden stakes and throwing them onto the ground, where it splintered into bits of wood and blood. Francis seemed to smile as he went slumping onto Glenn's arms.
The tourists gasp and started blabbing at one another, pointing out Glenn with their fingers and trying to snap his picture but Lloyd herded them away, saying, "Nothing to see. Go on. Shoo."
Offended, they left, leaving them alone. Francis lay on the floor, eyes shut. Glenn was blinking hard at him, trying not to get teary-eyed.
Francis opened his eyes again and mumbled, "He kept torturing me, man... Kept forcing me to sing his twisted tune..."
"Francis, I'm so sorry..." Glenn muttered.
"Don't you...worry about me..." Francis coughed out a little blood. "It's V.V. you should be...worrying about..."
"V.V.?"
Francis seemed to slumped into his arms, looking peacefully asleep.
Lloyd went over to him and checked his pulse. "He's still breathing."
"He said something about V.V." Glenn said darkly.
"I heard him." Lloyd said. "Guy must've taken her."
"I'm going over to him..." Glenn muttered rapidly. "And rip his little twisted face out..."
"I think..." Lloyd cut him off loudly. "You had better get him to hospital first. You looks like you could use some treatment as well." He nodded at Glenn's nails, which are bleeding underneath.
He eyed his nails warily and muttered, "Yeah. I guess..."
"If he did something to V.V., I'm going to make sure he pays for it." Lloyd said, taking out his Zanmato. "He meant Blaze's old hideout. Meet me there after you're done. Got it?"
"Alright." Glenn nodded.
*****************
Moments later, Lloyd found himself sitting on a crate in front of the old warehouse. It had not changed much at all. It's still the same as ever, the grafittis, the old crates and dented steel shutters. The only thing that is different is that it's current inhabitants had moved to a much more comfortable setting, thanks to him.
A sound stirred him out of his thoughts and he got up, not knowing what is laid out for him and stared.
V.V. is standing in front of him, dressed in her usual white gown. Relief douse him like ice cold water.
"V.V." He said in surprise. "Why are you here? I thought Guy did something to you..."
V.V. didn't answer, but kept staring at him with an odd blank look on her face.
"We were worried sick, you know when you didn't get back." He said. "I don't know if you know this or not, but your old friend Guy dropped us a message by making him sing some of his own twisted tune."
She still kept looking at him with that odd look that seems to stir some uneasiness in him.
"V.V., are you alright?"
That was when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. A streak of red.
He leapt away just in time as a red streak fist came slamming down where he had stood moments before.
"You're sure fast."
Guy commented, standing back up. His hair like writhing fiery snakes.
"V.V. We'll do a side attack, alright?" He said, taking out his Zanmato.
V.V.'s hair extended and braided itself to make it stronger, just like Inari's golden fiery blue tipped hair. He found himself silently impressed. Since when could she do that?
That impressment was only short-lived, because the next moment it became a powerful axe-like blade and start crashing down on him.
"V.V.!!! What are you doing?!" He couldn't help yelling at her.
V.V. didn't answer but her hair went swinging wildly, lashing out at all directions. The axe had unbraided itself and had became like javelins, trying to pierce him. He was lucky that his Zanmato is big enough to block her hair, but what he didn't count on was Guy's hair, which had formed into sharpened razors and planned to strike him from behind. Only at the last minute he managed to kick himself upwards to avoid the hair from stabbing him.
"V.V.!!!" Lloyd shouted. "What's wrong with you?"
There was a small a laugh coming from Guy. "I brought her back. The real V.V. back in World War 2. She doesn't give a care to anything except me." He gave another laugh. "That boy was dumb, trying to attack us head on. But we-" He gestured at the numb V.V. "-Took care care of that." He then mimicked the tone that Francis used to sing the tune.
"You're inhumane." Lloyd spat. "You think Francis is some sort of-of paper that you can just carve on?"
He didn't get a chance to answer though, because the next moment, V.V. came gliding past him, her hair transformed into a hook-like scythe, trying to behead him. Although Lloyd was lucky that it missed him by a few inches, he received a slight cut on his cheek.
"V.V., it's me, Lloyd, remember?" He tried as she landed on her feet. In response, her hair started to lash out at him again, causing him to snarl in frustration.
Meanwhile, at the top of a building, Reo was staring at the scene below with a pair of binoculars. His gunblades hanging loosely on either side of his waist.
"Any luck yet?" Allen asked, sitting beside him.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" He handed the binoculars over.
"No, she's scary." Allen shuddered and tightened the zip of his hoodie.
Reo frowned as something familiar came floating back to him. "When you said she's scary...Did you mean the time when you read her mind at the Brooklyn Bridge?"
Allen nodded. "Yeah, surrounded in flames and....corpses..." He shuddered again.
Back in the battlefield, Lloyd was unable to hit V.V., mainly it's because of the fact that it's still her, even though she's on a rampage. Besides, the one he wanted to hit the most is Guy.
"Stop running like a bug." Guy said, lashing his hair out at him. Thick strands of hair lashed out and looped his legs, throwing him against the building. He gave a loud gasp as the wind was knock out of him. It hurts a lot, some more he could feel his head spinning.
V.V. was suddenly on top of him, her foot on his back and her small pale hand grabbing his neck just as Guy said, "Nicely done, V."
"V.V..." Lloyd muttered, staring at her blank face. "Don't..."
"Sayonara..." Guy said, his hair braiding itself into one and spinning fast, becoming a piercing drill, ready to maul him.
Glenn came leaping out of nowhere and armed with a knife, grabbed Guy and sliced his hair, causing long strands of fiery hair to hit the floor.
"YOU!" Guy roared, grasping at his now short hair.
Without a second thought, Glenn spun the knife and stab him at the abdomen. If he was a normal human, he would've been bleeding. But instead, like V.V., a large crack like splintering glass appeared.
"Glenn..." Lloyd muttered.
V.V. glanced at Lloyd, threw him aside and went over to Glenn, who sensed her coming and said, "Hey, V. What's with the blank look?"
"Get him, V.V.!!!" Guy yelled.
V.V.'s hair became a large battle axe and started swinging at Glenn, who snarled and grabbed Guy in front of him, using him as a shield. The blue axe stopped just inches before his throat.
"What did you do to V.V., you scum?" Glenn said, his eyes cold.
"Like I'll tell you." Guy panted, beads of sweat appearing from his forehead. He was inches close to death and that's very true.
Glenn gave a sigh and said, "Guess we'll just have to do this the hard way." From within his pocket, he brought out what looks like an explosive pack. Lloyd have to admire his nerve for smuggling it all the way to here. He could've been branded as terrorist by the authorities if he had been caught.
Guy's eyes widened in shock and said, "What are you trying to do?"
"I'm going to blow you up..." Glenn said in a matter-of-fact voice.
Guy snarling in anger and his hair, cut short, began to grow rapidly, eventually becoming long and lashed out at him, knocking the explosive out of his hand. Grinning in a twisted manner like a hyena, his hair became grappling hooks and started to swing around him by ripping him to pieces.
Lloyd struggled to get up but instead, he couldn’t move. Then he realized why. Tendrils of shadows have latched itself onto his legs. In other words…
He looked up to see Allen standing on his shadow.
“Sorry.” He said. “But I think it’s better to leave them three alone.”
Glenn was dodging red and blue hair strands, even being forced to do some kind of weird ballet movement just to avoid V.V.’s mace.
“What are you doing? Ballet?” Guy taunted as Glenn did a sort of pirroutte to avoid his hair which became fists.
“You better let go of me.” Lloyd warned.
“Or what?” Mind’s Shadow loomed over him. “Going to explode on me???”
Lloyd managed to break free from the tendrils and flung himself onto Mind’s Shadow, who retreated back into the shadows. Allen’s eyes glowed, raised his palms and the old crates levitated and flung themselves at him, smashing into splinters of wood. Lloyd swung his blade down but a pair of gunblades deflected him.
“Reo!” said Allen.
Lloyd spun his Zanmato around and tried to knock Reo out but he’s good. He maybe’s Glenn age, but the one thing he noticed about him is his movements, which are graceful as an assassin.
“Get out of the way, Reo.” He warned.
“Sorry, but I’m not going anywhere.” Reo started to trade blows after blows with him, looking as though he’s dancing. Sword dance, Lloyd thought dazedly as one blow after another bash him over and over. Like that anime Glenn loves so much, the one about the samurai who held dual katanas and move with graceful movement like the water flow.
As Guy’s hair lashed past him, Glenn yanked his hair despite the fact that it’s dangerous and shot Guy in between the eyes. A blow like that would’ve killed him, but instead, he just said, “Ouch. That hurts.” And he added a four colourful letter word that ticked him off and he shot his arm, causing him to yelp as part of it cracked.
“You crazed psycho.” Glenn said coldly. “You turned V.V. into your tool, tortured Francis, made him sing your twisted tune and taunted us as though we’re morons.” He withdrew his knife out again and started hacking away at his hair. “You-lousy-psychotic-sadistic-inhumane-twisted-bloodthirsty-mad-devilish-moronic-SOB.” As he said each word, he kept hacking away at his hair, who roared with anger. V.V. tried to reach him but Glenn managed to keep her at bay by using Guy as a leverage to avoid getting pierced or stabbed. Great locks of red hair kept thudding on the ground as he kept hacking away.
Reo spun one of his gunblade and started shooting non-stop at Lloyd who grabbed him by the head and thrust his Zanmato hilt at his throat, causing him to gasp and cough for air. Allen tried to run but Lloyd caught him and knocked him uncouncious by giving him a swift jab at the abdomen.
“Very good… You grown…”
Lloyd’s ears twitched at the sound of unhurried footsteps coming towards him. Yep, it’s him alright. They haven’t set eyes at each other since the Blaze incident but he seems to have grown taller, dressed in a charcoal leather jacket and dark pants. His rapier visible in the dim light. Beside him, dressed back in his usual aristocratic garment, is Revarie. Somehow the vampire seems to be more menacing, he seems to have been feeding well tonight, he thought silently.
“Why are you here?” He snapped.
“I came to pick up my…companions.” Dario said, nodding at Reo and Allen, who are both down. And Guy, who’s screaming in rage as Glenn kept hacking at his hair. When he saw them though, Glenn slammed Guy down, causing his face to get cracked.
“Enough.” Revarie said, looking at him. “You should not have acted rashly.” He added at Guy.
“I’ll do whatever I like, vampire.” Guy snarled, finally managing to throw Glenn off balance, pulled V.V. to him and said, “I’ll get you back for hacking at my hair.”
“V.V.!” Lloyd shouted.
V.V. just stare at him silently before Guy whisked her out of sight with the others, though Dario lagged behind.
“Sorry, but taker’s keepers.” Dario said with false cheeriness.
Lloyd swung his Zanmato but he deflected it with his rapier.
“Still haven’t changed much, little brother.”
That effect caused a deafening silence that suddenly roared into the night.
“W-What???” Glenn stuttered.
“What???” Lloyd gasped.
Dario suddenly swung his rapier upwards near his neck. Something flashed at the tip and dropped into his outstretched hand. A pendant of some sort, shaped like a tiny teardrop, made out of precious red sapphire.
“This was our family heirloom, yes?” He said, dangling it in front of him with his dominant hand, whereas the free one was rummaging near his neck to held out another pendant, identical to his.
“Oh. My. God.” Glenn said, awestruck.
“So that is why we have the same face.” Lloyd said, the wheels behind his brain is finally turning.
“It took you so long to figure it out.” Dario tossed him back his pendant. ”Tell me, do you remember anything that happened in your past life?”
Lloyd looked stunned, speechless, frozen to the spot. Glenn tried to strike Dario from behind but even without using his rapier, Dario grabbed him by the wrist and tossed him over his shoulder.
“Ouch!”
“Don’t try anything foolish on me,” said Dario. Then he added to Lloyd, “If you really want to find out so much, then come to my manor.”
He then left, leaving the silence deafening.
No one spoke for a very long time until Lloyd broke the silence, saying, "I have...a brother?"
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Supernatural Demon Slayers : Chapter 25 - For Mia ( ミアのための )
"You can't do that!" V.V. shouted to the dragon.
"Reinforcements?" Ira sneered.
"And an Ouija board." Lloyd quipped, holding out the wooden board.
"You found me with a wooden board?" Glenn asked, looking confused.
"Look out!"
Glenn turned just in time to meet the spiked ends of a tail sweeping for him. He gave a yell and, despite being bound in the air, kicked the spiked ends of the tail, ripping leather apart.
"You fool!"
V.V.'s hairs became spiked spears and started raining down onto Ira the dragon, whose wings were trapped in between the spikes. It didn't try to struggle, but instead, it gave a creepy grin.
"You think you got me cornered? Well, think again."
The dragon suddenly writhed and twisted, as though something is trying to break out of it. Right before their very eyes, the dragon started to shrink and started to shift shape. The black became olive tone, scales shifted to human flesh. Cropped short blonde hair that shone like molten gold, eyes that resembles chips of ice. He wore a mage robe that is covered with gold ancient symbols that no one seems to recognize. Tucked underneath one arm is his book whereas in his other hand he carries the wooden wand that Mia had passed to him.
"Even though the seal is not fully broken yet, I still have at least half of my powers." He said. Whipping out his wand, he cried, "Tenebris Incaendium!"
Dark purplish hell flames erupted from his wand and scorched V.V.'s hairs. She gave a gasp and withdrew her hair, turning it back into its original length and blowing at the scorched part.
With no magic to hold him, Glenn started going into freefall. Although Lloyd had awkwardly held out his arms to capture him, he let himself plummet to the ground, but at the last minute tucked himself into a ball and landed on his heels, though he stumbled onto the floor, banging onto the side of his face. If he were a normal human, he would've sustained broken bones, but all he suffered is a big bruise.
"Darn." He clutched the side of his face.
"That's one big bump on the side of your face." Lloyd commented.
"I know." He picked himself up.
Lloyd then tossed over something to him. "You dropped this."
Glenn checked the ammunition clip before saying, "I guess I did. But...why is the ammunition empty?"
"Tonitru Aestate."
Green and yellow thunders crashed down onto them, though they narrowly escaped in time. Static electric were cackling softly despite the thunders are gone.
"My goodness." Lloyd gasped. "We're nearly sizzled like bacons."
"Seriously, Lloyd, what happened to the ammunition?"
"How should I know?" Lloyd managed to duck just in time just as another green and yellow thunder came crashing down, though he made the mistake of going too near a metal pillar that caused him to get a slight shock. "Ouch!" Ira laughed but was soon attacked by a flurry fists from Glenn which sent him flying onto the other side.
V.V. was crouching near Mia, nudging her gently to awaken her. When it did not, she gave her a few gentle light slaps when finally her eyes fluttered open.
"Uh, what happened?" She groaned. "I feel as though I had a splitting headache."
"Well..." V.V. began but was cut off by her, who went screaming, "Oh my God, what is that????"
The water from outside was slowly rising. Higher and higher, becoming menacing by the second.
"Aqua Profunda." He waved his wand in a certain way, just as the tsunami came crashing down onto them. The entire building was smashed into pieces and swept away. The only thing that remained in intact was the sand-drawn pentagram. The torrent of water swept around it as though an invincible bubble protected it and Ira who picked himself up and stand back in it.
When the water had subsided, all that remains left is the pentagram and Ira.
Blast it, he thought. That was only half of my power, but I seemed to have swept all of them away.
He didn't notice V.V. emerged from behind and bashed him with her hair, sending him flying into the water, which erupted as though a rocket had just crashed into it.
Lloyd and Glenn, who was carrying Mia came running in view. Although the current had swept all of the building, a quick thinking V.V. had anchored her hair deep into the concrete ground and the others had held onto her for dear life, though Mia was screaming all the way.
"Well, that'll keep him busy for a while." Glenn said, setting her down and taking off his wet shirt to reveal his skinny lean body. "You okay, Mahler?"
Mia was gawping in horror at the sigh of V.V.'s hair. Her brown hair that is usually tied into a ponytail hung loose and wet all over her pale face. Her misty chocolate brown eyes are wide with shock and disbelief. The robes that she wore clung noticeably onto her chest and legs, but thank goodness she was wearing dark colours to avoid see through.
"Oh my God." She gasped. "Vivien, your hair..."
V.V.'s hair had turned back to normal but that doesn't stop Mia from gawping at her.
"Oh my God," she repeated, apparently noticing her change of clothes. "Why am I wearing something that makes me looks like a tacky witch?"
"Er, it's very hard to explain." Glenn said awkwardly.
"Glenn, I know that you're doing a part-time job as a demon-slayer." Mia said in a panicky voice. "But I didn't expect it to be real. Oh my God... Oh my God...." She started to become more panicked and flustered by the minute.
"Well," Lloyd said. "Believe it or not, but supernatural exists around us."
"Oh God..." She moaned, burying her head into her hands. "I'm going to MURDER aunt Pru for sure."
Both guys looked confused. "Aunt Pru?"
"My wacky aunt." She explained.
WHO ARE YOU CALLING WACKY?
Lloyd gave a little jump. "Oh yeah. I think this belongs to you." He handed the Ouija board sheepishly to Mia, its planchette spinning wildly, though they took no notice of it.
Mia winced away from it as though it's some venomous spider. "No, I don't want it! Take it away!"
V.V. had came over to them. "I examined the pentagram. It's a very basic pentagram that is most often used for basic protection and spell casting. I erased it just in case."
She pointed at the place where the pentagram used to be. It is now a faded outline.
"Only thing is we have to kill him off, or send him back into the book." Glenn said, punching a fist into his palm to emphasize his point.
"I say we seal him off." Lloyd said darkly. "Then burn the curse thing into the oblivion."
"I second that." V.V. nodded. "But for that...." She turned to Mia who is standing a little further apart from them. All of them were staring at her.
"What- Why are you all looking at me like that?" She stuttered.
"A witch." All three of them finished each other sentences simultaneously.
"Oh no." Mia shook her head. "No no no no no no no no no no NO."
"Come on, Mahler." Glenn said gently, the Ouija board in his hands. "All we just need you is to cast one itsy-bitty spell to seal up that jerk."
"Oh no no no no no." Mia repeated, pulling herself together. "I am no witch. So I can't help you put in this."
WHAT?????!!!!!!
The Ouija board jerked violently in Glenn's hands, spelling out the words. It seems to add the question and exclamation marks in its words.
"I don't even know why I believed aunt Pru. Uh-uh, I'm not a witch."
YOU CAN'T DENY YOUR HERITAGE GIRL YOU HAVE TO EMBRACE IT
"I don't want to be one!" Mia cried, grabbing Glenn, who passed the Ouija board to Lloyd for safety. "I want my normal life back, Skyler!"
Glenn was looking at Lloyd and V.V. for help, but they both turned away, though the Ouija board planchette is spinning furiously.
"How can you be so calm slaying all these....things?" Mia was saying. "Does Francis even know any of these things?"
Glenn felt his stomach flip over. Francis had never been normal from the start, he had admit that part himself. He was with Blaze's gang due to the radioactive incident for a while before defecting them completely. That's the reason why he could accept it. He even came face to face with Dario and the others, despite the fact that they're all dangerous. And quite recently, Francis had even used his Mafia heritage to help them get into the black market auction and even came to experience with Inari, Goddess of the kitsunes and rice, Daimones, Leviathan, and the half-Ultima Kujaku.
But Mia, he thought. Mia was unintentionally pulled into this. She had always been normal. She came from a no-nonsense kind of family. Even though her parents are American-Asian, they don't believe in the world of supernaturals, demons and certainly not magic, unlike the normal typical Chinese. He had even met them a few times when they came over to check on her. John Mahler is a psychologist, and Rosalia Mahler is a lawyer. Both of them are really the kind that will not believe in the unexpected. This is the reason why they often refuse to meet Lloyd, who had met them once. But when they found out what he does, they hurtled insults and even threatened to take him to an asylum. He was forced to say that he is working part-time not at S.D.S., but at Ray's Pizza. And that was that, though they still disapprove of Lloyd.
"Mahler, I didn't want you to get dragged into this." He said quietly.
Suddenly there was a stabbing pain in his stomach. It look as though he had been pierced by a sharp metal knife.
Slowly, he looked down and stared.
A rune dagger was sticking out of his stomach.
"Mahler?"
Mia was staring up at him with a crazed look in her eyes. When she opened her mouth, instead of her voice, it was Ira's.
"Stupid fool. My essence had never left the girl. I'm thinking of keeping her for a while even though her witch genes are dormant in her right now."
Glenn slumped onto the floor. The blood was everywhere. He could hear shouts, coming from either Lloyd or V.V., he couldn't tell. He's losing too much blood.
And he's feeling thirsty. Very, very thirsty.
"Glenn!" Lloyd shouted.
Mia flew off into the night, laughing. Her hair and robes trailing behind her.
"Oh my God, Glenn, are you alright?" Lloyd grabbed the hilt of the dagger and yanked it upwards. He didn't scream, he couldn't. He's feeling too thirsty to do anything.
"V.V., go to the Land Rover and get some bandages in the glove compartment." Lloyd said, trying to close the wound, his hands already smeared with crimson.
V.V. ran off, hurrying to where the Land Rover was parked. It was a miracle the tsunami did not wash it off since the torrent didn't went there.
"Glenn, just hang in there."
Glenn was staring at the vein at Lloyd's wrist. It looks so tempting... That pale bluish vein that is snaking out like branches of a tree... He wonder how it tastes like.
Lloyd was saying something to him, but his gaze was focused on the vein. It wouldn't be that hard to sink his teeth in to draw the blood out.
"Glenn, are you with me?"
With a vice-like grip, he grabbed Lloyd's wrist and said throatily, "Thirsty..."
"What?"
"Thirsty..."
As the realization hit him, he tried to yank his wrist away from him but Glenn's eyes were glowing into a darker grey in colour, signifying his thirst.
"Whoa, hold it!" Lloyd said as Glenn tries to bite his wrist. But Glenn wasn't listening. His eyes were fixed on the vein which is pumping blood to the heart. "Wait a minute!!!"
Glenn managed to calm down a little but his grip did not loosen. The thirst is maddening him, especially when he lost so much blood. It's the same as last time when he drained Reo's blood at the Brooklyn Bridge when Revarie drain him off his blood, thus awakening the vampire genes in him.
If that's the case...
Lloyd slowly held up the gripped wrist up to Glenn's eyes, which widened with hunger.
"Go ahead then." He said.
Without hesitating, Glenn bite hard, drawing the blood out of the veins.
So, Lloyd thought calmly as he felt as though a vacuum is slowly sucking him. This is how it feels like to be drained off your blood. With willingness.
V.V. had came back with the bandages but there's already no need for that as Glenn's wound is slowly healing itself as he drains the blood. After a moment or so, he stopped, slowly withdrawing his teeth from the wrist, where there are two fresh punctured holes on them.
"Better?" He asked.
There's still a little blood on his mouth, which he didn't notice. "Y-Yeah..."
V.V. took out a roll of bandage and said, "Hand."
He held his hand out and let her wrap his bleeding wrist. Glenn was wrapping his arms around his bare body. The wound had closed and is knitting itself, thanks to his distant vampire genes.
"I'm sorry." He said softly, staring at Lloyd's wrist. "I didn't know what happened to me."
"I don't blame you." Lloyd said, tightening the bandage.
Glenn seems to have noticed the blood on his lips because the next thing they knew he was wiping his lips furiously, getting rid of the evidence while licking his lips nervously.
V.V. gave a sigh and sank down on the floor beside him. "So, what now?"
"Go after Mahler, of course." Lloyd said in a matter-of-fact tone, as though it's something that he do everyday.
"Alright, how?" She asked.
"She's headed for south." Glenn pointed out helpfully.
"We know." Lloyd shoot him a look. "But where would she go?"
"How would I know?"
They all sat quietly among the debris, just like stranded islanders, the sea gently splashing to and fro. All was silence except for a funny clicking sound, like the sound of wood clicking.
All of them turned to the source of the sound. Among the debris, there's a rectangular wooden board, its planchette spinning around and around.
All of their eyes widened at once. "Oh."
Three pairs of hands reached out for the Ouija board and grabbed hold of it at the same time. All eyes are on the planchette which is still spinning around.
"Wow." V.V. said. "I'm surprised the Ouija board wasn't destroyed with all the ruckus going on."
Something in Glenn's head clicked. "Pru."
Lloyd and V.V. turned to him. "What?"
"Mahler said she got that Ouija board from her aunt Pru, remember?"
Lloyd's head snapped up. "You don't think Ira is going after Pru, aren't you?"
"Well, Pru is a diviner..." V.V. said slowly. "It probably makes sense, after all."
Lloyd got up and said, "Anyone fancy catching the train to Malibu?"
***************
Hours later, they had ended up in Malibu station. They had also managed to hail a cab (Not speedy Arnie) after dialing the operator for Pru Mahler's address.
Pru lives in one of those houses on the cliff that stood on stilts that overlook the sea. There is no fence or walls to keep trespassers out of the boundary but then again, there's no need for that. There are no grasses growing around the area but there are potted colourful geraniums that are placed in pairs. A steep gravel path leads up to the porch.
"Are you sure this is the right address?" Glenn asked V.V. who had called the operator.
"Positive." V.V. nodded at the several wooden signs that are hammered to the ground. Most of them reads PROPERTY OF PRUSCILLA MAHLER
"If you're sure, then."
They all made their way up to the cliff. V.V. is having difficulty due to being short whereas Lloyd and Glenn has it easy due to their long legs. When they made it up to the porch, the door had protective amulets stuck on it. An old fashioned bell-pull hung beside it. Potted geraniums hung from the rafters, giving off their sweet fragrance.
Lloyd pulled the bell and a ringing sound could be heard coming from the inside. After a few minutes, there's the sound of a chain sliding and a woman peered out. She
is fully as tall as any of them, and very thin til you could see her bones prodding out of her skin. Her hair is elbow length, as dark as dark matter that seems to shimmer softly. Her eyes are clear cerulean, almost crystal clear.
"Yes?"
"Pruscilla Mahler?" Lloyd inquired.
"Aunt Pru, darling." She has a thick Latin accent.
"May we-"
"I know why you're here." She cut in smoothly. "You are carrying my Ouija board, or should I say, Mariah's Ouija board."
She pointed at Glenn's hands where the planchette is still spinning wildly. He held it out to her, looking unsure of himself.
"You shouldn't have come, you know." She said as in a matter-of-fact tone, as though they had all dropped by for some tea. "He's coming you know, he took over her body and is coming for me."
"Why?" Lloyd asked.
"My great-great-great grandmother was the one who sealed the Magimaster in his own spell book. She put a complex seal that requires the power of the elements, the blood of a hybrid, and last but not least, the Eye of the Witch."
"What's that?" V.V. asked.
"It's unnecessary to keep interrupting me, since I'm about to show you anyway." Pru sighed.
When she was sure they're silent, she hurried into the room, the others followed suit. She disappeared behind a door and they were surprised to find a stairway leading all the way down to an underground basement, lit by oil-wicked lamps that are strung on wires.
Making their way slowly down the stairs, they reached the bottom of the basement. An old-fashioned door is set into the stone wall, the kind that you see in dungeons. Pru slid the bolt back and entered, motioning them to follow.
The interior of the room is the same as the outside, also lit by oil-wicked lamps. It's a wide circular room with nothing but a square-shaped stone that is greying. Pru murmured a few enchanted words and the stone lid creaked with effort and slid to the side. She then reached into the hollow and brought out an object that seems to resembles an eye. The golden shine had long since faded but the aquamarine jewel set in the middle still shines like a luminous gemstone, about the size of a fist. A golden chain trailed behind the metal.
She then handed it to Lloyd. "Take it. That is what the Magimaster wants. If you leave now, you'll have a chance while I keep him at bay."
Lloyd shook his head. "We'll beat the crap out of that Magimaster. You might as well keep it safe."
Pru didn't bother to argue. Something in his eyes told her that somehow things are going to be alright. "As you wish."
As she set it back again, the oil-wicked lamps suddenly puffed out. One by one, they are thrown into total darkness. There was a booming laughter and he appeared.
Or rather she appeared. The same as always, though the eyes looked maddening than before.
Oh dear.
"Mahler!" Glenn looked stunned.
"Give it to me, witch." Ira roared. The force of his voice is enough to send them all stumbling to the back.
"Enough with the power voice, for God's sake!" Lloyd yelled.
"If you want it, then you'll have to take it." Pru said, holding her palm out. Flames erupted from her fingertips. They all merged into one flaming fireball and went soaring towards him. Mia, whose movement were robotic, just brought out the wand and spun it around and seemed to lash out at thin air. The fireball was cut into pieces and it flickered out like tiny little embers.
"Don't underestimate me, witch! Mortuus Ventus!"
A huge howling wind erupted from nowhere, spinning wildly like a twister. Lloyd stabbed his blade into the ground whereas V.V. stabbed her hair into the ground, with Glenn holding onto her for dear life. But Pru wasn't fortunate. She was swept off the ground and suck into the center of the typhoon.
"Pru!"
"You want her to live, then bring me the Eye of the Witch." Ira said.
Glenn turned to the other two, looking lost. Agreeing means Ira will get to break the seal. But not agreeing will cost Pru's life.
"Alright." Glenn made his decision. He can't risk Pru or Mia getting hurt anymore. Though he's not sure how to break Mia free from Ira.
With jerky movements, he went over to the stone and withdrew the Eye of the Witch. It's a good thing that Pru didn't seal it off fully otherwise he could not reach it. He held the object by its dangling chain, swinging back and forth like a pendulum.
"Give it to me." Ira said, his eyes filled with greed.
Without hesitating, Glenn suddenly set the object down and without thinking twice, heaved the stone lid-
"NO!" Ira screamed.
"Glenn-" Lloyd shouted.
But he took no heed of them. Next moment, he brought the lid smashing down. The Eye of the Witch was destroyed into pieces. The gem burst into shards and the metal shattered as though it had been crushed.
Everyone was stunned for a moment, staring at the broken bits on the stone. Then, next moment, the Magimaster gave a srceam of outrage and without warning, ripped himself out of Mia's body. His eyes blazing in anger. Mia went crashing onto the ground, unconscious.
"PAY THE PRICE FOR YOUR IGNORANCE!" He roared, turning into his dragon form. The tail went swinging towards them, smashing into the wall, making a hole that leads out to the sea.
At least several feet high.
The dragon opened its wings wide and started flapping violently, causing a whirlwind. They were thrown out through the hole and would've fallen into the sea below, but thanks to Lloyd's quick thinking, he managed to stab his blade before he fell off through the hole with V.V clinging onto his back and Glenn grabbing her hair which had extended like a rope while carrying Mia in his arms.
"Everyone alright?" Lloyd called over his shoulder.
"All accounted for except for Pru." Glenn called from below.
Pru was gasping for breath in the tornado while the Magimaster was capering around her.
"Now that I had lost the final item for the seal, I'm going to eat you, Pruscilla Mahler."
"I don't think so!" Lloyd pulled out a stack of senbon needles and hurled them at the Magimaster who swipe them all away with his tail.
"Fools! You think pins and needles can penetrate me?"
V.V. was suddenly on top of him, whacking him for with of her worth with her hair, which transformed into a scythe. He yelled out a lot of curses in Latin, which caused jet black energy sparks to dance around in the interior space. With him being distracted, Lloyd brought our his handy dandy chain and with Glenn's help, managed to save Pru from the whirlwind. But they seemed to be too late, Pru is looking deathly pale. Her eyes sunken and hollow.
"Mrs Mahler?" Lloyd whispered.
Pru shuts her eyes and said, "God, I should've never drag puella into this."
"Mrs Mahler... Just hang in there. We'll get you an ambulance." He fumbled for his phone when Pru put her hand over his. "No."
"What???"
"There's no need for that." She seemed to have difficulty in talking. "I'm already old, there's no need to save me."
"But-"
Pru is suddenly glowing brightly. In all of his years of hunting demons and the supernaturals, he had never seen this before. A sacrifice to save another, by transferring one's power to another.
Pru is suddenly fading into sparkles as Mia started to bathe in a soft warm bluish white glow.
"Uhn...."
"Mahler!" Glenn ran over to her.
"Tell Mariah.... that I'm sorry..."
And that was all before the last words fade into whispers. And he is left stunned, with nothing in his hands.
Mia woke up, blinking rapidly. Her misty eyes seemed to glow briefly, like shining onyx.
"Mahler?"
"Ohhhh, my head..." She mumbled, touching her temples. "Where am I?"
Glenn was about to open his mouth when V.V. went flying past them, crashing onto the wall. Her face full of exhaustion and covered in dirt, her dress sleeves had been ripped off, showing off her bare arms. Now that he noticed, he could see there are cracks near her hands.
"Where's aunt Pru?" Mia said, her voice slurred. "Is she...alright?"
Suddenly, a huge claw grabbed them both and she gave a scream and clung onto him tighter. Both of them were lifted off the ground and turned face to face with a pair of blazing milky pink eyes.
"I'm going to eat you both now." He said, licking his lips. "Bon apetit."
Glenn tried to break free from the grasp and Mia kept screaming, and screaming so loud till he felt for sure that the wine glasses would've smashed into ice shards.
Just as the jaws of razor teeth came in close around them, a blast of onyx light shot the Magimaster squarely in between the eyes. He gave a roar of pain and let them both go, plummeting them once more into freefall. Mia immediately screamed again and without warning, as they neared the ground, they suddenly floated, yes, floated, a few inches off the ground.
"What? What?" She gasped breathlessly, her hair hung loose all over her face.
They dropped onto the ground with an "Ooof!" just as the Magimaster came looming over them, screaming, "MINE!!!!!"
Lloyd sprung out of nowhere and bashed him hard with the hilt of his Zanmato, making a cracking sound as two sharp fangs fell out, stained with blood.
"Eeeew..." Mia shuddered.
"Mahler, stay here." Glenn ordered, loading his ammunitation and shooting at the Magimaster's body. The bullets erupt into small bursts as they came into contact. Lloyd swung as hard as he could onto the Magimaster's body. V.V., partially healed, leapt into the air and swung a torrent of hair down, which spun like a blue drill, trying to penetrate the thick scaled body.
"Do you think you can stop me with all of your puny attacks?" He writhed and twisted and shifted back into his human form. His eyes blazing like blue flames that briefly reminds them of Inari, the Kitsune Goddess. Except hers are filled with cheeriness and a playful tint, his are like blazing fire that devours everything in his path.
"You can never ever stop me!" He bellowed, throwing curses after them in Latin.
Mia who was crouched in a corner was staring at Glenn with uncertainty. He looked so clam as though he does this a thousand times before. The girl, Vivien, or V.V. as they called her, is covered in cracks and all. It's so frightening to see part of her arm crack in places and a slight crack at her face. Her hair trail behind her like a train, seemingly with a life of its own.
A clicking sound made her look around and to her surprise, she found the Ouija board, right beside a stone tomb-like box.
The one that started it all.
With a slight anger in her heart, she went over to the Ouija board and was about to flung it across the wall when it wrote a message out for her.
STILL BEING STUBBORN ARE YOU GIRL
"It's all because of you that my life is never going to be normal again you cursed board!" She snapped at it, preparing to flung it against the wall.
YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE YOUR FRIENDS YOU KNOW
That halted her in her tracks.
"W-What?" She faltered.
THE MAGIMASTER IRA CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY SEALING HIM INTO HIS OWN BOOK ONCE MORE
Mia glanced at the others. They are all dodging Ira's curses, which went wheezing past them and smashing the walls, which are full of holes.
"Had enough yet?" Ira laughed.
"Screw you." Lloyd spat, his face streaked with dried blood.
Ira gave a mock-thought. "You know what, you can take it to your grave. Vale."
An onyx light whooshed past them and blasted Ira off his feet, sending him spinning.
"What was THAT?"
Mia was holding the Ouija board in one hand, the other is cracking with onyx-coloured energy. Her eyes glowing a bright matching onyx.
"You dare???" Ira screeched. "You dare to hit me, witch?"
Mia shook her head. "I'm not a witch. I'm just a girl."
"Mortuus Ventus!"
Mia gave an involuntary shriek and was sucked into the typhoon.
"Mahler!" Glenn shouted.
"Stupid witch." Ira laughed. "So what if her powers have awakened?" He then turned to face the other three. "You three are next."
Mia suddenly emerged from the typhoon and without warning, snatched his spell book from his unguarded hand.
"Ipsum!!!!!!" He yelled.
"Score one for me." Mia said, landing lightly on her feet. She don't know what's going on, but her body seems to know what she's doing. She then started chanting in Latin, even though she don't learn Latin.
"What are you doing?" Ira shouted. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Mia didn't answer, but she just kept going on. Thunder appeared above her, booming as the maelstrom open up once more, trying to draw everything in like a vacuum.
"You're trying to seal me away again?" Ira yelled, looking less and less human. "Just like your aunt's great-great-great grandmother sealed me? You're WRONG!!!"
Wind blades danced in the air, cutting into her skin, drawing blood, but she just keep on going. Dark tendrils like shadows emerged out of the maelstrom, reaching out for him.
"Stop chanting!" He kept blasting her while trying to avoid the tendrils that is trying to grab him. Mia's clothes were shredded, and there are blood all over her. She look like some sort of bloodied warrior goddess, yet she kept chanting on, her voice never dropping. The tendrils finally got hold of him and now it's reeling him in, like a fish caught on hook. He kept writhing, screaming in Latin and even as they all watched, he was pulled back into the maelstrom and it closed just as Mia slammed the book shut, sinking into her knees. It seemed as though the life force is being drained out of her.
Silently, Lloyd pulled the book gently away from her grasp and without hesitating, sliced it into half with his Zanmato. The book split into half, and slowly vanished into thin air, as though it had never existed.
*************
It was time to go.
Mia, dressed in a soft green qi pao, was sitting at JFK Airport, waiting for her flight, which had just been announced. Closing her book, she gathered up her trolley luggage, a bag and a Grand Union carrier bag and was about to check into the flight when a voice shouted, "Wait!"
She turned to find him running after her. Her knight in armor, as she had always though of him since she first set sights on him during orientation in Columbia. He look so cute in his Banana Republic T-shirt and Swiss Army pants. From the looks of it, he seemed to have just woken up and had hastily put on his garments. His Banana Republic T-shirt still have the price tag attached on it.
"What's this I heard from Karen that you're leaving?" He demanded.
Mia gave an inward sigh. It has been two weeks after the incident. The funeral of aunt Pru had been very quick. She had also given a lot of thoughts as she lay in the hospital, being treated. She had always been normal, always, now it looks as though her life will never be normal again. It seemed so strange. She had even drew a plan for her life, like a road. Go to Columbia, study medicines, come out and work, get married and have three children. But now it all seemed like a joke to her.
"I can't stay here, Skyler." She said. "Don't get me wrong, it's not about you." She added hastily as he looked hurt. "It's just that... I need some time on my own."
He was about to protest when she cut in. "My life had always been normal, I had planned it out like a road, but now... I'm just so confused."
Glenn grabbed her shoulders for the very first time. "Then just stay. Please."
Mia shake her head. "I'm sorry, Skyler. But I really don't think I can stay here. Because all I can think of is that creep using my body for his dirty deeds."
Glenn looked as though he's going to protest again, but then he let go of her shoulders, murmuring, "I understand."
Suddenly, she had an urge to burst in to tears. She want to lean against that lean lanky body and cry, but she can't. She just can't bring herself to stay here. She just can't cope without thinking of that horrible Magimaster, murdering her aunt Pru and trying to eat her.
"All passengers to Malaysia, please check-in in 10 minutes. All passengers are required to check in 5 minutes before scheduled flight."
Mia rummaged in her Grand Union carrier bag and brought out a second-handed textbook. "Here. Your Greek textbook. I never had a chance to return it."
Glenn stared at the Greek textbook, the one that he had borrowed it to her and tried to get it back when the Cerberus and Hydra went attacking the city. It seems a long time back then.
She pressed it into his hands and said, "Got to go. I'll remember to write you, Francis and Karen letters. Or maybe send all of you a postcard."
She was about to picked up her luggage again when Glenn suddenly threw his arm around her into an embrace. She could see tears in his eyes. They're not visible but there they are, stuck onto his eyelashes like tiny beads of crystals.
"Do you know how much I like you, Glenn?" She whispered.
He nodded. "Always. I just didn't know how to express myself."
They finally let go. Mia picked up her luggage and walked into the check-in barrier where passengers are only allowed.
"Mia!"
Her ears pricked up. He finally said it.
Not Mahler. Mia.
Mia.
It made her heart flipped with joy. Maybe.... She thought as she she gave him a wave, things will not be so bad after all.
With a final glance, she left, disappearing from his range of sight.
**************
Glenn stood where he was, rooted to the spot. The textbook still in his hands just as Lloyd and V.V. came running.
"My God, I thought we will never get out of that jam." Lloyd said. "Are you alright?"
Glenn spoke, without looking at them. "She left."
Lloyd patted him on the back. V.V., being too short, hugged him around the waist.
After a few moments, the flight to Malaysia took off. They all watched it silently as it rose high up into the air and slowly became a small dot in the distance. And then it's gone.
"She'll be fine, you know." Lloyd said. "She's annoying, but she's strong."
Glenn glumly opened his Greek textbook and found a tiny envelope in the index page. It seemed lumpy, as though there's something in it.
Sensing privacy, Lloyd grabbed V.V. and said, "Come on, V. Let's go and get a croissant."
"What's that?" She asked.
"You'll see."
When they both were in the deli's, he opened the envelope and a silver stud earring with an onyx gem fell into his palm. A first look showed that it's an ordinary earring, but with his vamp enhanced sight, he managed to catch the words engraved on the onyx, most likely by magic.
MM + GS 4VER
"Reinforcements?" Ira sneered.
"And an Ouija board." Lloyd quipped, holding out the wooden board.
"You found me with a wooden board?" Glenn asked, looking confused.
"Look out!"
Glenn turned just in time to meet the spiked ends of a tail sweeping for him. He gave a yell and, despite being bound in the air, kicked the spiked ends of the tail, ripping leather apart.
"You fool!"
V.V.'s hairs became spiked spears and started raining down onto Ira the dragon, whose wings were trapped in between the spikes. It didn't try to struggle, but instead, it gave a creepy grin.
"You think you got me cornered? Well, think again."
The dragon suddenly writhed and twisted, as though something is trying to break out of it. Right before their very eyes, the dragon started to shrink and started to shift shape. The black became olive tone, scales shifted to human flesh. Cropped short blonde hair that shone like molten gold, eyes that resembles chips of ice. He wore a mage robe that is covered with gold ancient symbols that no one seems to recognize. Tucked underneath one arm is his book whereas in his other hand he carries the wooden wand that Mia had passed to him.
"Even though the seal is not fully broken yet, I still have at least half of my powers." He said. Whipping out his wand, he cried, "Tenebris Incaendium!"
Dark purplish hell flames erupted from his wand and scorched V.V.'s hairs. She gave a gasp and withdrew her hair, turning it back into its original length and blowing at the scorched part.
With no magic to hold him, Glenn started going into freefall. Although Lloyd had awkwardly held out his arms to capture him, he let himself plummet to the ground, but at the last minute tucked himself into a ball and landed on his heels, though he stumbled onto the floor, banging onto the side of his face. If he were a normal human, he would've sustained broken bones, but all he suffered is a big bruise.
"Darn." He clutched the side of his face.
"That's one big bump on the side of your face." Lloyd commented.
"I know." He picked himself up.
Lloyd then tossed over something to him. "You dropped this."
Glenn checked the ammunition clip before saying, "I guess I did. But...why is the ammunition empty?"
"Tonitru Aestate."
Green and yellow thunders crashed down onto them, though they narrowly escaped in time. Static electric were cackling softly despite the thunders are gone.
"My goodness." Lloyd gasped. "We're nearly sizzled like bacons."
"Seriously, Lloyd, what happened to the ammunition?"
"How should I know?" Lloyd managed to duck just in time just as another green and yellow thunder came crashing down, though he made the mistake of going too near a metal pillar that caused him to get a slight shock. "Ouch!" Ira laughed but was soon attacked by a flurry fists from Glenn which sent him flying onto the other side.
V.V. was crouching near Mia, nudging her gently to awaken her. When it did not, she gave her a few gentle light slaps when finally her eyes fluttered open.
"Uh, what happened?" She groaned. "I feel as though I had a splitting headache."
"Well..." V.V. began but was cut off by her, who went screaming, "Oh my God, what is that????"
The water from outside was slowly rising. Higher and higher, becoming menacing by the second.
"Aqua Profunda." He waved his wand in a certain way, just as the tsunami came crashing down onto them. The entire building was smashed into pieces and swept away. The only thing that remained in intact was the sand-drawn pentagram. The torrent of water swept around it as though an invincible bubble protected it and Ira who picked himself up and stand back in it.
When the water had subsided, all that remains left is the pentagram and Ira.
Blast it, he thought. That was only half of my power, but I seemed to have swept all of them away.
He didn't notice V.V. emerged from behind and bashed him with her hair, sending him flying into the water, which erupted as though a rocket had just crashed into it.
Lloyd and Glenn, who was carrying Mia came running in view. Although the current had swept all of the building, a quick thinking V.V. had anchored her hair deep into the concrete ground and the others had held onto her for dear life, though Mia was screaming all the way.
"Well, that'll keep him busy for a while." Glenn said, setting her down and taking off his wet shirt to reveal his skinny lean body. "You okay, Mahler?"
Mia was gawping in horror at the sigh of V.V.'s hair. Her brown hair that is usually tied into a ponytail hung loose and wet all over her pale face. Her misty chocolate brown eyes are wide with shock and disbelief. The robes that she wore clung noticeably onto her chest and legs, but thank goodness she was wearing dark colours to avoid see through.
"Oh my God." She gasped. "Vivien, your hair..."
V.V.'s hair had turned back to normal but that doesn't stop Mia from gawping at her.
"Oh my God," she repeated, apparently noticing her change of clothes. "Why am I wearing something that makes me looks like a tacky witch?"
"Er, it's very hard to explain." Glenn said awkwardly.
"Glenn, I know that you're doing a part-time job as a demon-slayer." Mia said in a panicky voice. "But I didn't expect it to be real. Oh my God... Oh my God...." She started to become more panicked and flustered by the minute.
"Well," Lloyd said. "Believe it or not, but supernatural exists around us."
"Oh God..." She moaned, burying her head into her hands. "I'm going to MURDER aunt Pru for sure."
Both guys looked confused. "Aunt Pru?"
"My wacky aunt." She explained.
WHO ARE YOU CALLING WACKY?
Lloyd gave a little jump. "Oh yeah. I think this belongs to you." He handed the Ouija board sheepishly to Mia, its planchette spinning wildly, though they took no notice of it.
Mia winced away from it as though it's some venomous spider. "No, I don't want it! Take it away!"
V.V. had came over to them. "I examined the pentagram. It's a very basic pentagram that is most often used for basic protection and spell casting. I erased it just in case."
She pointed at the place where the pentagram used to be. It is now a faded outline.
"Only thing is we have to kill him off, or send him back into the book." Glenn said, punching a fist into his palm to emphasize his point.
"I say we seal him off." Lloyd said darkly. "Then burn the curse thing into the oblivion."
"I second that." V.V. nodded. "But for that...." She turned to Mia who is standing a little further apart from them. All of them were staring at her.
"What- Why are you all looking at me like that?" She stuttered.
"A witch." All three of them finished each other sentences simultaneously.
"Oh no." Mia shook her head. "No no no no no no no no no no NO."
"Come on, Mahler." Glenn said gently, the Ouija board in his hands. "All we just need you is to cast one itsy-bitty spell to seal up that jerk."
"Oh no no no no no." Mia repeated, pulling herself together. "I am no witch. So I can't help you put in this."
WHAT?????!!!!!!
The Ouija board jerked violently in Glenn's hands, spelling out the words. It seems to add the question and exclamation marks in its words.
"I don't even know why I believed aunt Pru. Uh-uh, I'm not a witch."
YOU CAN'T DENY YOUR HERITAGE GIRL YOU HAVE TO EMBRACE IT
"I don't want to be one!" Mia cried, grabbing Glenn, who passed the Ouija board to Lloyd for safety. "I want my normal life back, Skyler!"
Glenn was looking at Lloyd and V.V. for help, but they both turned away, though the Ouija board planchette is spinning furiously.
"How can you be so calm slaying all these....things?" Mia was saying. "Does Francis even know any of these things?"
Glenn felt his stomach flip over. Francis had never been normal from the start, he had admit that part himself. He was with Blaze's gang due to the radioactive incident for a while before defecting them completely. That's the reason why he could accept it. He even came face to face with Dario and the others, despite the fact that they're all dangerous. And quite recently, Francis had even used his Mafia heritage to help them get into the black market auction and even came to experience with Inari, Goddess of the kitsunes and rice, Daimones, Leviathan, and the half-Ultima Kujaku.
But Mia, he thought. Mia was unintentionally pulled into this. She had always been normal. She came from a no-nonsense kind of family. Even though her parents are American-Asian, they don't believe in the world of supernaturals, demons and certainly not magic, unlike the normal typical Chinese. He had even met them a few times when they came over to check on her. John Mahler is a psychologist, and Rosalia Mahler is a lawyer. Both of them are really the kind that will not believe in the unexpected. This is the reason why they often refuse to meet Lloyd, who had met them once. But when they found out what he does, they hurtled insults and even threatened to take him to an asylum. He was forced to say that he is working part-time not at S.D.S., but at Ray's Pizza. And that was that, though they still disapprove of Lloyd.
"Mahler, I didn't want you to get dragged into this." He said quietly.
Suddenly there was a stabbing pain in his stomach. It look as though he had been pierced by a sharp metal knife.
Slowly, he looked down and stared.
A rune dagger was sticking out of his stomach.
"Mahler?"
Mia was staring up at him with a crazed look in her eyes. When she opened her mouth, instead of her voice, it was Ira's.
"Stupid fool. My essence had never left the girl. I'm thinking of keeping her for a while even though her witch genes are dormant in her right now."
Glenn slumped onto the floor. The blood was everywhere. He could hear shouts, coming from either Lloyd or V.V., he couldn't tell. He's losing too much blood.
And he's feeling thirsty. Very, very thirsty.
"Glenn!" Lloyd shouted.
Mia flew off into the night, laughing. Her hair and robes trailing behind her.
"Oh my God, Glenn, are you alright?" Lloyd grabbed the hilt of the dagger and yanked it upwards. He didn't scream, he couldn't. He's feeling too thirsty to do anything.
"V.V., go to the Land Rover and get some bandages in the glove compartment." Lloyd said, trying to close the wound, his hands already smeared with crimson.
V.V. ran off, hurrying to where the Land Rover was parked. It was a miracle the tsunami did not wash it off since the torrent didn't went there.
"Glenn, just hang in there."
Glenn was staring at the vein at Lloyd's wrist. It looks so tempting... That pale bluish vein that is snaking out like branches of a tree... He wonder how it tastes like.
Lloyd was saying something to him, but his gaze was focused on the vein. It wouldn't be that hard to sink his teeth in to draw the blood out.
"Glenn, are you with me?"
With a vice-like grip, he grabbed Lloyd's wrist and said throatily, "Thirsty..."
"What?"
"Thirsty..."
As the realization hit him, he tried to yank his wrist away from him but Glenn's eyes were glowing into a darker grey in colour, signifying his thirst.
"Whoa, hold it!" Lloyd said as Glenn tries to bite his wrist. But Glenn wasn't listening. His eyes were fixed on the vein which is pumping blood to the heart. "Wait a minute!!!"
Glenn managed to calm down a little but his grip did not loosen. The thirst is maddening him, especially when he lost so much blood. It's the same as last time when he drained Reo's blood at the Brooklyn Bridge when Revarie drain him off his blood, thus awakening the vampire genes in him.
If that's the case...
Lloyd slowly held up the gripped wrist up to Glenn's eyes, which widened with hunger.
"Go ahead then." He said.
Without hesitating, Glenn bite hard, drawing the blood out of the veins.
So, Lloyd thought calmly as he felt as though a vacuum is slowly sucking him. This is how it feels like to be drained off your blood. With willingness.
V.V. had came back with the bandages but there's already no need for that as Glenn's wound is slowly healing itself as he drains the blood. After a moment or so, he stopped, slowly withdrawing his teeth from the wrist, where there are two fresh punctured holes on them.
"Better?" He asked.
There's still a little blood on his mouth, which he didn't notice. "Y-Yeah..."
V.V. took out a roll of bandage and said, "Hand."
He held his hand out and let her wrap his bleeding wrist. Glenn was wrapping his arms around his bare body. The wound had closed and is knitting itself, thanks to his distant vampire genes.
"I'm sorry." He said softly, staring at Lloyd's wrist. "I didn't know what happened to me."
"I don't blame you." Lloyd said, tightening the bandage.
Glenn seems to have noticed the blood on his lips because the next thing they knew he was wiping his lips furiously, getting rid of the evidence while licking his lips nervously.
V.V. gave a sigh and sank down on the floor beside him. "So, what now?"
"Go after Mahler, of course." Lloyd said in a matter-of-fact tone, as though it's something that he do everyday.
"Alright, how?" She asked.
"She's headed for south." Glenn pointed out helpfully.
"We know." Lloyd shoot him a look. "But where would she go?"
"How would I know?"
They all sat quietly among the debris, just like stranded islanders, the sea gently splashing to and fro. All was silence except for a funny clicking sound, like the sound of wood clicking.
All of them turned to the source of the sound. Among the debris, there's a rectangular wooden board, its planchette spinning around and around.
All of their eyes widened at once. "Oh."
Three pairs of hands reached out for the Ouija board and grabbed hold of it at the same time. All eyes are on the planchette which is still spinning around.
"Wow." V.V. said. "I'm surprised the Ouija board wasn't destroyed with all the ruckus going on."
Something in Glenn's head clicked. "Pru."
Lloyd and V.V. turned to him. "What?"
"Mahler said she got that Ouija board from her aunt Pru, remember?"
Lloyd's head snapped up. "You don't think Ira is going after Pru, aren't you?"
"Well, Pru is a diviner..." V.V. said slowly. "It probably makes sense, after all."
Lloyd got up and said, "Anyone fancy catching the train to Malibu?"
***************
Hours later, they had ended up in Malibu station. They had also managed to hail a cab (Not speedy Arnie) after dialing the operator for Pru Mahler's address.
Pru lives in one of those houses on the cliff that stood on stilts that overlook the sea. There is no fence or walls to keep trespassers out of the boundary but then again, there's no need for that. There are no grasses growing around the area but there are potted colourful geraniums that are placed in pairs. A steep gravel path leads up to the porch.
"Are you sure this is the right address?" Glenn asked V.V. who had called the operator.
"Positive." V.V. nodded at the several wooden signs that are hammered to the ground. Most of them reads PROPERTY OF PRUSCILLA MAHLER
"If you're sure, then."
They all made their way up to the cliff. V.V. is having difficulty due to being short whereas Lloyd and Glenn has it easy due to their long legs. When they made it up to the porch, the door had protective amulets stuck on it. An old fashioned bell-pull hung beside it. Potted geraniums hung from the rafters, giving off their sweet fragrance.
Lloyd pulled the bell and a ringing sound could be heard coming from the inside. After a few minutes, there's the sound of a chain sliding and a woman peered out. She
is fully as tall as any of them, and very thin til you could see her bones prodding out of her skin. Her hair is elbow length, as dark as dark matter that seems to shimmer softly. Her eyes are clear cerulean, almost crystal clear.
"Yes?"
"Pruscilla Mahler?" Lloyd inquired.
"Aunt Pru, darling." She has a thick Latin accent.
"May we-"
"I know why you're here." She cut in smoothly. "You are carrying my Ouija board, or should I say, Mariah's Ouija board."
She pointed at Glenn's hands where the planchette is still spinning wildly. He held it out to her, looking unsure of himself.
"You shouldn't have come, you know." She said as in a matter-of-fact tone, as though they had all dropped by for some tea. "He's coming you know, he took over her body and is coming for me."
"Why?" Lloyd asked.
"My great-great-great grandmother was the one who sealed the Magimaster in his own spell book. She put a complex seal that requires the power of the elements, the blood of a hybrid, and last but not least, the Eye of the Witch."
"What's that?" V.V. asked.
"It's unnecessary to keep interrupting me, since I'm about to show you anyway." Pru sighed.
When she was sure they're silent, she hurried into the room, the others followed suit. She disappeared behind a door and they were surprised to find a stairway leading all the way down to an underground basement, lit by oil-wicked lamps that are strung on wires.
Making their way slowly down the stairs, they reached the bottom of the basement. An old-fashioned door is set into the stone wall, the kind that you see in dungeons. Pru slid the bolt back and entered, motioning them to follow.
The interior of the room is the same as the outside, also lit by oil-wicked lamps. It's a wide circular room with nothing but a square-shaped stone that is greying. Pru murmured a few enchanted words and the stone lid creaked with effort and slid to the side. She then reached into the hollow and brought out an object that seems to resembles an eye. The golden shine had long since faded but the aquamarine jewel set in the middle still shines like a luminous gemstone, about the size of a fist. A golden chain trailed behind the metal.
She then handed it to Lloyd. "Take it. That is what the Magimaster wants. If you leave now, you'll have a chance while I keep him at bay."
Lloyd shook his head. "We'll beat the crap out of that Magimaster. You might as well keep it safe."
Pru didn't bother to argue. Something in his eyes told her that somehow things are going to be alright. "As you wish."
As she set it back again, the oil-wicked lamps suddenly puffed out. One by one, they are thrown into total darkness. There was a booming laughter and he appeared.
Or rather she appeared. The same as always, though the eyes looked maddening than before.
Oh dear.
"Mahler!" Glenn looked stunned.
"Give it to me, witch." Ira roared. The force of his voice is enough to send them all stumbling to the back.
"Enough with the power voice, for God's sake!" Lloyd yelled.
"If you want it, then you'll have to take it." Pru said, holding her palm out. Flames erupted from her fingertips. They all merged into one flaming fireball and went soaring towards him. Mia, whose movement were robotic, just brought out the wand and spun it around and seemed to lash out at thin air. The fireball was cut into pieces and it flickered out like tiny little embers.
"Don't underestimate me, witch! Mortuus Ventus!"
A huge howling wind erupted from nowhere, spinning wildly like a twister. Lloyd stabbed his blade into the ground whereas V.V. stabbed her hair into the ground, with Glenn holding onto her for dear life. But Pru wasn't fortunate. She was swept off the ground and suck into the center of the typhoon.
"Pru!"
"You want her to live, then bring me the Eye of the Witch." Ira said.
Glenn turned to the other two, looking lost. Agreeing means Ira will get to break the seal. But not agreeing will cost Pru's life.
"Alright." Glenn made his decision. He can't risk Pru or Mia getting hurt anymore. Though he's not sure how to break Mia free from Ira.
With jerky movements, he went over to the stone and withdrew the Eye of the Witch. It's a good thing that Pru didn't seal it off fully otherwise he could not reach it. He held the object by its dangling chain, swinging back and forth like a pendulum.
"Give it to me." Ira said, his eyes filled with greed.
Without hesitating, Glenn suddenly set the object down and without thinking twice, heaved the stone lid-
"NO!" Ira screamed.
"Glenn-" Lloyd shouted.
But he took no heed of them. Next moment, he brought the lid smashing down. The Eye of the Witch was destroyed into pieces. The gem burst into shards and the metal shattered as though it had been crushed.
Everyone was stunned for a moment, staring at the broken bits on the stone. Then, next moment, the Magimaster gave a srceam of outrage and without warning, ripped himself out of Mia's body. His eyes blazing in anger. Mia went crashing onto the ground, unconscious.
"PAY THE PRICE FOR YOUR IGNORANCE!" He roared, turning into his dragon form. The tail went swinging towards them, smashing into the wall, making a hole that leads out to the sea.
At least several feet high.
The dragon opened its wings wide and started flapping violently, causing a whirlwind. They were thrown out through the hole and would've fallen into the sea below, but thanks to Lloyd's quick thinking, he managed to stab his blade before he fell off through the hole with V.V clinging onto his back and Glenn grabbing her hair which had extended like a rope while carrying Mia in his arms.
"Everyone alright?" Lloyd called over his shoulder.
"All accounted for except for Pru." Glenn called from below.
Pru was gasping for breath in the tornado while the Magimaster was capering around her.
"Now that I had lost the final item for the seal, I'm going to eat you, Pruscilla Mahler."
"I don't think so!" Lloyd pulled out a stack of senbon needles and hurled them at the Magimaster who swipe them all away with his tail.
"Fools! You think pins and needles can penetrate me?"
V.V. was suddenly on top of him, whacking him for with of her worth with her hair, which transformed into a scythe. He yelled out a lot of curses in Latin, which caused jet black energy sparks to dance around in the interior space. With him being distracted, Lloyd brought our his handy dandy chain and with Glenn's help, managed to save Pru from the whirlwind. But they seemed to be too late, Pru is looking deathly pale. Her eyes sunken and hollow.
"Mrs Mahler?" Lloyd whispered.
Pru shuts her eyes and said, "God, I should've never drag puella into this."
"Mrs Mahler... Just hang in there. We'll get you an ambulance." He fumbled for his phone when Pru put her hand over his. "No."
"What???"
"There's no need for that." She seemed to have difficulty in talking. "I'm already old, there's no need to save me."
"But-"
Pru is suddenly glowing brightly. In all of his years of hunting demons and the supernaturals, he had never seen this before. A sacrifice to save another, by transferring one's power to another.
Pru is suddenly fading into sparkles as Mia started to bathe in a soft warm bluish white glow.
"Uhn...."
"Mahler!" Glenn ran over to her.
"Tell Mariah.... that I'm sorry..."
And that was all before the last words fade into whispers. And he is left stunned, with nothing in his hands.
Mia woke up, blinking rapidly. Her misty eyes seemed to glow briefly, like shining onyx.
"Mahler?"
"Ohhhh, my head..." She mumbled, touching her temples. "Where am I?"
Glenn was about to open his mouth when V.V. went flying past them, crashing onto the wall. Her face full of exhaustion and covered in dirt, her dress sleeves had been ripped off, showing off her bare arms. Now that he noticed, he could see there are cracks near her hands.
"Where's aunt Pru?" Mia said, her voice slurred. "Is she...alright?"
Suddenly, a huge claw grabbed them both and she gave a scream and clung onto him tighter. Both of them were lifted off the ground and turned face to face with a pair of blazing milky pink eyes.
"I'm going to eat you both now." He said, licking his lips. "Bon apetit."
Glenn tried to break free from the grasp and Mia kept screaming, and screaming so loud till he felt for sure that the wine glasses would've smashed into ice shards.
Just as the jaws of razor teeth came in close around them, a blast of onyx light shot the Magimaster squarely in between the eyes. He gave a roar of pain and let them both go, plummeting them once more into freefall. Mia immediately screamed again and without warning, as they neared the ground, they suddenly floated, yes, floated, a few inches off the ground.
"What? What?" She gasped breathlessly, her hair hung loose all over her face.
They dropped onto the ground with an "Ooof!" just as the Magimaster came looming over them, screaming, "MINE!!!!!"
Lloyd sprung out of nowhere and bashed him hard with the hilt of his Zanmato, making a cracking sound as two sharp fangs fell out, stained with blood.
"Eeeew..." Mia shuddered.
"Mahler, stay here." Glenn ordered, loading his ammunitation and shooting at the Magimaster's body. The bullets erupt into small bursts as they came into contact. Lloyd swung as hard as he could onto the Magimaster's body. V.V., partially healed, leapt into the air and swung a torrent of hair down, which spun like a blue drill, trying to penetrate the thick scaled body.
"Do you think you can stop me with all of your puny attacks?" He writhed and twisted and shifted back into his human form. His eyes blazing like blue flames that briefly reminds them of Inari, the Kitsune Goddess. Except hers are filled with cheeriness and a playful tint, his are like blazing fire that devours everything in his path.
"You can never ever stop me!" He bellowed, throwing curses after them in Latin.
Mia who was crouched in a corner was staring at Glenn with uncertainty. He looked so clam as though he does this a thousand times before. The girl, Vivien, or V.V. as they called her, is covered in cracks and all. It's so frightening to see part of her arm crack in places and a slight crack at her face. Her hair trail behind her like a train, seemingly with a life of its own.
A clicking sound made her look around and to her surprise, she found the Ouija board, right beside a stone tomb-like box.
The one that started it all.
With a slight anger in her heart, she went over to the Ouija board and was about to flung it across the wall when it wrote a message out for her.
STILL BEING STUBBORN ARE YOU GIRL
"It's all because of you that my life is never going to be normal again you cursed board!" She snapped at it, preparing to flung it against the wall.
YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE YOUR FRIENDS YOU KNOW
That halted her in her tracks.
"W-What?" She faltered.
THE MAGIMASTER IRA CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY SEALING HIM INTO HIS OWN BOOK ONCE MORE
Mia glanced at the others. They are all dodging Ira's curses, which went wheezing past them and smashing the walls, which are full of holes.
"Had enough yet?" Ira laughed.
"Screw you." Lloyd spat, his face streaked with dried blood.
Ira gave a mock-thought. "You know what, you can take it to your grave. Vale."
An onyx light whooshed past them and blasted Ira off his feet, sending him spinning.
"What was THAT?"
Mia was holding the Ouija board in one hand, the other is cracking with onyx-coloured energy. Her eyes glowing a bright matching onyx.
"You dare???" Ira screeched. "You dare to hit me, witch?"
Mia shook her head. "I'm not a witch. I'm just a girl."
"Mortuus Ventus!"
Mia gave an involuntary shriek and was sucked into the typhoon.
"Mahler!" Glenn shouted.
"Stupid witch." Ira laughed. "So what if her powers have awakened?" He then turned to face the other three. "You three are next."
Mia suddenly emerged from the typhoon and without warning, snatched his spell book from his unguarded hand.
"Ipsum!!!!!!" He yelled.
"Score one for me." Mia said, landing lightly on her feet. She don't know what's going on, but her body seems to know what she's doing. She then started chanting in Latin, even though she don't learn Latin.
"What are you doing?" Ira shouted. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Mia didn't answer, but she just kept going on. Thunder appeared above her, booming as the maelstrom open up once more, trying to draw everything in like a vacuum.
"You're trying to seal me away again?" Ira yelled, looking less and less human. "Just like your aunt's great-great-great grandmother sealed me? You're WRONG!!!"
Wind blades danced in the air, cutting into her skin, drawing blood, but she just keep on going. Dark tendrils like shadows emerged out of the maelstrom, reaching out for him.
"Stop chanting!" He kept blasting her while trying to avoid the tendrils that is trying to grab him. Mia's clothes were shredded, and there are blood all over her. She look like some sort of bloodied warrior goddess, yet she kept chanting on, her voice never dropping. The tendrils finally got hold of him and now it's reeling him in, like a fish caught on hook. He kept writhing, screaming in Latin and even as they all watched, he was pulled back into the maelstrom and it closed just as Mia slammed the book shut, sinking into her knees. It seemed as though the life force is being drained out of her.
Silently, Lloyd pulled the book gently away from her grasp and without hesitating, sliced it into half with his Zanmato. The book split into half, and slowly vanished into thin air, as though it had never existed.
*************
It was time to go.
Mia, dressed in a soft green qi pao, was sitting at JFK Airport, waiting for her flight, which had just been announced. Closing her book, she gathered up her trolley luggage, a bag and a Grand Union carrier bag and was about to check into the flight when a voice shouted, "Wait!"
She turned to find him running after her. Her knight in armor, as she had always though of him since she first set sights on him during orientation in Columbia. He look so cute in his Banana Republic T-shirt and Swiss Army pants. From the looks of it, he seemed to have just woken up and had hastily put on his garments. His Banana Republic T-shirt still have the price tag attached on it.
"What's this I heard from Karen that you're leaving?" He demanded.
Mia gave an inward sigh. It has been two weeks after the incident. The funeral of aunt Pru had been very quick. She had also given a lot of thoughts as she lay in the hospital, being treated. She had always been normal, always, now it looks as though her life will never be normal again. It seemed so strange. She had even drew a plan for her life, like a road. Go to Columbia, study medicines, come out and work, get married and have three children. But now it all seemed like a joke to her.
"I can't stay here, Skyler." She said. "Don't get me wrong, it's not about you." She added hastily as he looked hurt. "It's just that... I need some time on my own."
He was about to protest when she cut in. "My life had always been normal, I had planned it out like a road, but now... I'm just so confused."
Glenn grabbed her shoulders for the very first time. "Then just stay. Please."
Mia shake her head. "I'm sorry, Skyler. But I really don't think I can stay here. Because all I can think of is that creep using my body for his dirty deeds."
Glenn looked as though he's going to protest again, but then he let go of her shoulders, murmuring, "I understand."
Suddenly, she had an urge to burst in to tears. She want to lean against that lean lanky body and cry, but she can't. She just can't bring herself to stay here. She just can't cope without thinking of that horrible Magimaster, murdering her aunt Pru and trying to eat her.
"All passengers to Malaysia, please check-in in 10 minutes. All passengers are required to check in 5 minutes before scheduled flight."
Mia rummaged in her Grand Union carrier bag and brought out a second-handed textbook. "Here. Your Greek textbook. I never had a chance to return it."
Glenn stared at the Greek textbook, the one that he had borrowed it to her and tried to get it back when the Cerberus and Hydra went attacking the city. It seems a long time back then.
She pressed it into his hands and said, "Got to go. I'll remember to write you, Francis and Karen letters. Or maybe send all of you a postcard."
She was about to picked up her luggage again when Glenn suddenly threw his arm around her into an embrace. She could see tears in his eyes. They're not visible but there they are, stuck onto his eyelashes like tiny beads of crystals.
"Do you know how much I like you, Glenn?" She whispered.
He nodded. "Always. I just didn't know how to express myself."
They finally let go. Mia picked up her luggage and walked into the check-in barrier where passengers are only allowed.
"Mia!"
Her ears pricked up. He finally said it.
Not Mahler. Mia.
Mia.
It made her heart flipped with joy. Maybe.... She thought as she she gave him a wave, things will not be so bad after all.
With a final glance, she left, disappearing from his range of sight.
**************
Glenn stood where he was, rooted to the spot. The textbook still in his hands just as Lloyd and V.V. came running.
"My God, I thought we will never get out of that jam." Lloyd said. "Are you alright?"
Glenn spoke, without looking at them. "She left."
Lloyd patted him on the back. V.V., being too short, hugged him around the waist.
After a few moments, the flight to Malaysia took off. They all watched it silently as it rose high up into the air and slowly became a small dot in the distance. And then it's gone.
"She'll be fine, you know." Lloyd said. "She's annoying, but she's strong."
Glenn glumly opened his Greek textbook and found a tiny envelope in the index page. It seemed lumpy, as though there's something in it.
Sensing privacy, Lloyd grabbed V.V. and said, "Come on, V. Let's go and get a croissant."
"What's that?" She asked.
"You'll see."
When they both were in the deli's, he opened the envelope and a silver stud earring with an onyx gem fell into his palm. A first look showed that it's an ordinary earring, but with his vamp enhanced sight, he managed to catch the words engraved on the onyx, most likely by magic.
MM + GS 4VER
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Supernatural Demon Slayers : Chapter 24 - The Book of Magi ( 賢者の書 )
Ye Olde Magi Shoppe is right on the Upper East Side. It is actually a shop for Wiccans who wish to purchase spell ingredients or so called spell books to cast spells to hex or charm their enemies. The only that is decent about the shop is that it sells valuable herbs and trinkets for the basic spells.
Mia was browsing through the shelves. Most of the books are pretty much useless. Basic Wiccan 101. Teach Yourself Wiccan. Wiccan Made Easy. Silly stuff really.
She blamed her Aunt Pru from her mother's side. Pru is a constant embarrassment to the whole family that they had shun her, with the exception of Mia. She lives in a small beach house that stood on top of a cliff in Malibu. She is what we call as a diviner, a person who ascertain their interpretations of how a querent should proceed by reading signs, events, or omens.
That time when Glenn was knocking on Mia's for the Greek textbook that he had borrowed to her, she was visiting her Aunt Pru at Malibu. It was actually thanks to Aunt Pru that she is able to study Medicines in Columbia University. Before she had board back the train to Manhattan, her aunt had insisted on reading her fortune.
"No." She had said flatly.
"Come on, puella. There's no harm in knowing your fortunae, doesn't it?" Aunt Pru is part-Latin and part American-Asian, unlike Mia who is from American-Asian parents.
"Well, I guess not." Mia said.
Her aunt then brought out an Ouija board, a flat wooden board with a planchette that spells out messages from the spirits, or legends has said it.
"Go on then, puella, ask the Ouija what you want to know."
Mia gave a sigh. This is just for fun anyway. She then asked, "Will he ever notice me?"
She didn't want to say his name out loud, but she pictured him in her mind. His messy nature green hair that sticks out in tufts because he is always sleeping. His pearly grey eyes that often makes him resemble a dreamy puppy. His tanned skin that makes him looks like a Herculean God despite the fact that he's lanky.
The planchette spun around. After a moment or so, it stopped at the word MOST LIKELY.
Despite the fact that it's just for fun, Mia felt a thrill of happiness. Most likely means she has a chance.
But then she noticed her aunt Pru staring up at her strangely. It's not an expression of horror, but...excitement.
"Puella, you have it." She whispered excitedly.
Mia stared back at her. "Aunt Pru?"
"No one in our family have the genes, puella. No one at all. But you puella, you have it. Divining."
Mia stood up so abruptly, panting hard. Only Pru sat calmly. The Ouija board in between them.
"I'm not a diviner, Aunt Pru." She said stiffly. "You know I'm not."
"Puella, you may deny it but there is no disguising the fact that you also carry the genes."
At that moment, the planchette of the Ouija board spun around so rapidly that neither of them could nearly spell out the words it formed.
YOU CARRY THE GENES IN YOU
Mia, furious, slung her bag over her shoulder and said, "I'm going back now, if you don't mind."
Pru didn't say anything, however, she got up and handed over the Ouija board to her. "This'll protect you."
Few days ago, she had, out of interest used the Ouija board. She had held her palms over it, letting her mind clear and relax as she focused on it. At first, the planchette didn't move. Shrugging, she was about to put it away when the planchette suddenly jerked and spelled out the words.
MAGI
And that is how Mia found herself rummaging through books after books in Ye Olde Magi Shoppe. Frustrated, she was about to leave the shop when a hard cover book caught her eye. It seems long forgotten by others, since it's still in near-mint condition unlike the others which were touched and held. This one is never touched before, the cover is freed from scratches and torn. The pages still razor sharp at the edges.
It was the cover that caught her eye. The illustration of a dragon, its eyes encrusted with rubies and had a gold clasp. Although the words are written in another language, the gold inked words seems to jump out at her.
BOOK OF MAGI
Is this it? Mia thought. Magi.
Hesitantly, she brought the book up to the wooden counter.
"Blessed be." The girl behind the counter greeted her in the traditional Wiccan greeting.
"Hi, um, I would like to purchase this and some ingredients for good sleep." She said nervously.
"Sure." The girl reached into the shelves behind her and brought down some delicate jars filled with herbs, fine coloured powder and roots. "Rose petals, rosewood, lavender, and lemon honeysuckle for tranquility." She scooped some of those into a small paper bag. "Fresh gardenias, jasmine and some white herbs for calmness." She then took out some forked roots. "You're Asian, are you not? These are rénshēn. Ginseng. It's usually used for healing, but there is no harm in adding it into your tea. Mix it well in pure water and you're done."
As she scanned through the purchases, she caught sight of the book and frowned. "I don't remember seeing this book."
"Pardon?" Mia said.
"This book is not in our list." The girl said.
"But I found it at the corner of that bookshelf." Mia said, pointing at the shelf.
The girl shrugged and said, "It's not in our list, but I suppose we can give it to you for no charge since it's not ours."
Minutes later, she stepped out, carrying two bulging carrier bags.
I so blame aunt Pru for getting me hooked up to this stuff, she thought bitterly. I guess I can always ask the Ouija board if I never need to know about my future.
As she's standing waiting for the bus to take her back, she didn't notice the book, the two gleaming ruby eyes shone brightly.
*************
A black rose....
With midnight black petals....
With its leafy green stems....
On her sleeping bag...
V.V. gave a frown. Who on earth would send her a black rose? It seems so silly. Shaking her head she dumped it into the bin just as the phone rang.
"Hello, Supernatural Demon Slayers (S.D.S.). Lloyd Anderson is out at the moment. How may I help you?"
"I didn't know Mr Anderson hires a girl." A voice said suspiciously.
"He had recruited me a long time ago." V.V. said coolly. "How may I be of service?"
"Daimones-ranked demons are destroying my warehouse by the port." The voice said calmly, V.V. had to give him the credit. "How fast can you get here?"
"Well..." She took out a pen. "Just give me your address and I'll be there as soon as possible."
V.V. jotted down the address, took the spare key that Lloyd had gave her and left.
As soon as the door had shut behind her, a figure swooped in through the window and placed a black rose on her sleeping bag.
**************
Lloyd was running through an alley way, chasing after a group of Legions. Gosh, it's been a long time since he slay those. As usual, they're in a group, and recognized by their purplish brown skin that are tough and as hard as marble, freakishly long limbs and legs and that devilishly-feature face.
The Legions ducked around a corner and he followed them, managing to cut one in to half. The others, clearly tired of running, turned back and readied their claw-like nails.
Without stopping, he just dart through them like a blur and just behead them all off. Their heads bounced all over the floor, green blood oozing out of the stump.
"That takes care of that." He nodded just as his phone rang.
"Hello."
"How's your area doing?" Glenn asked, dodging a Daimone's blast.
"I just got them all." Lloyd said, sheathing his blade back. "From the looks of things, you aren't done yet."
"It's a Daimone. Not Legion." Glenn spun his Sauer, cowboy style and shot three times at the Daimone. Two bullets hit it in the arm and one hit it on the chest. "Hold up, V.V. is calling."
Lloyd nodded and pressed the Link Call button. He had been saving up to afford a decent mobile that has linked calls. That way, they all get to stay linked together.
"V.V.?"
"Oh, hi. I was just on my way to the port."
"The port?" Both Lloyd and Glenn echoed.
"Uh-huh." She was sitting on Arnie's cab. Yep, speedy Arnie. The only person V.V. who could think off to run fast is him, or rather, drive fast.
"Good to see you again, Vivian." Arnie said to her while speeding, as always. "How's Lloyd and Glenn doing?"
"I'm on the phone with them..." She muttered.
"V. Seriously, why the port?" Lloyd demanded.
"This guy....Goodman, says demons are thrashing his warehouse." She said.
"Alright. I'll come over. Glenn, you head back and order some Western food."
"Alright."
And they all disconnected.
*************
Mia was brewing some calming tea when a red light glow from her living room. Nervous, she turned off the hob and slowly made her way to the room. There's nothing except for the Book of Magi which she left there.
As she was about to turn, the light shone again, and it's coming from the book.
Slowly, she made her way to the book. Beside it, the Ouija board started to shake. Terrified, Mia stood still, holding her breath as he planchette spun wildly, spelling out the words so fast til she could barely make it out.
WHATAREYOUDOINGSTAYAWAYFROMTHEBOOKOFMAGI
"You were the one who told me to get it." Mia said defensively.
The planchette spun again, this time even faster and wilder.
NOIWASTRYINGTOWARNYOUABOUTMAGINOTGETIT
"But-"
NOBUTSGETRIDOFITNOW
The while time the Ouija board was talking suddenly the book glowed again, brighter than before. Without warning, the book define gravity by floating above the couch.
Horrified, Mia tried to run but the door suddenly slammed itself shut, locking her in. The Ouija board was spinning wildly again but this time no one's paying any attention to it.
A sound of laughter came from the book. "You were the one that brought me? I thank you."
"W-Who are you?" Despite the fact that she's scared, her voice didn't break.
"I was once known as the Magimaster Ira." The voice said. "But a witch sealed me into this book and sealed off my powers. Only a witch can set me free."
Mia shook her head. "No, I'm not. I'm just an ordinary girl."
"I can sense your ability. So small and innocent." The book floated closer to her, the dragon seems truly alive, like the blazing fires of hell. "Not a fully matured witch yet, I see. But the genes are inside of you."
"No, you're wrong. I'm not a witch."
"You can't fool me, silly witch. You were able to communicate with the Ouija board."
The book suddenly opened itself and stopped at a page with an illustration of a mage. Blond and handsome with olive skin. His eyes are like chips of ice and he wore an ancient robe that mages wore.
"You will set me free, witch. And I shall reward you in return." The book said.
"No. I am not one. Get away from me!!!"
The book suddenly flung itself into her hands. Struggling, she tried to flung it away from her but the book shone brightly and enveloped her into a glow of light.
***************
Glenn was heading up the stairways when he caught sight of the light at Mia's apartment.
Mahler? He thought worriedly, sprinting up to her door. There seems to be a shouting and laughter coming from the inside.
"Mahler!" He hammered on the door. "Mahler!"
No one came to the door. Glenn shook his head and kicked the door open, splintering the wood near the door knob.
I knew that fire training will be useful someday, he thought happily. But the happy bubble was only for a short while as he ran inside just in time to see Mia being enveloped in a bright light.
"Mahler?"
The light suddenly vanished, and Mia was on the floor, head faced down and her hands clutching a book called the Book of Magi.
"Mahler? You okay?"
Mia turned slowly to face him, then she laughed. Not the soft laugh she always laugh. This one is a sinister laugh, like sharp glass in the wind. It's sickening.
"You are...the one?" A man's voice came out from her mouth. "The one that she cares about?"
"What are you?" Glenn demanded.
"I am the Magimaster Ira." The voice said. "This girl's body belongs to me now."
"Let her go." Glenn said, pulling out his Sauer.
Despite the fact that Mia is shorter than him, she seemed to have been blessed by Ira, because she grabbed his wrist and twist it behind him, causing to go, "Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!"
"What's the matter, too hard for you to handle?" Ira-Mia cocked his/her head to one side.
Glenn spun his body around and threw a back kick at Ira-Mia who went crashing onto the sofa.
"No, just caught off guard." Glenn said.
Mia picked herself up and painted a Wiccan symbol in the air. Flames appeared out of nowhere and Glenn yelped as his sleeve got on fire.
"If you were a vampire, you would've been dusted." Ira-Mia said. "I have a use for you, so I'll let you live."
Mia then bind him with a binding spell and disappeared with him.
*************
V.V. stared at the Daimone that is thrashing the entire warehouse. It's roaring and smashing crates after crates, spilling its entire content out. The client, a gruff-looking man wearing a grubby delivery outfit, was staring at her with a glare.
"You're late by 5 minutes, girl."
"I'm sorry." She muttered. "There was a massive jam."
The man just jerked his thumb at the warehouse. "Go and get it, then."
V.V. headed towards the Daimone without fear, her hair twisting into sharpened blades. The Daimone gave a roar and flapped its wings, throwing a typhoon at her way. V.V. leapt into the air and let her hair blades danced around, swiping at the Daimone. Two of the hairs caught the Daimone in the arm and turned into hooks, flinging it into the sea.
"Ah, I missed the fun." Lloyd said, heading towards her.
"Why are you here?" V.V. asked.
"I thought you could use a hand or two." Lloyd shrugged.
The Daimone emerged out of the water and roared, wings flapping and arms bloodied. It charged an energy orb and blast it towards them. They both ducked out of the way, but the warehouse was not fortunate. The whole place exploded and burst into ruins, with nothing left but flickers of ember and debris.
The man who had been watching all of this and smoking a cigarette, dropped his cigarette to the ground in shock and stuttered, "W-What???"
"Eh, terribly sorry about that." V.V. said, binding the Daimone. Lloyd went cleaving the Daimone's head and it exploded with the force of a small bomb.
"That's done." He said.
"What about my warehouse?" The man demanded.
"It's not our fault." V.V. protested.
"And I want the pay check." Lloyd said, sheathing his blade.
The man grunted and dig into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small wad of dollar notes in fifties. "Here."
Lloyd counted out the notes and handed back the remaining amount. "Thanks very much."
As they both walked off, Lloyd picked up his mobile and dialed.
"The person you called is unable to answer at this time. Please leave a message-"
"What's up?" V.V. asked, getting into the front of the passenger seat.
"Glenn's not picking up his phone." Lloyd said, getting behind the wheel. "He was suppose to be calling me back after he reached back."
"He'll be fine." V.V. assured him. "He got that scary vamp's blood in him."
"We should head back and see." He pulled the car in reverse and sped off.
*************
"What on earth just happened here?" Lloyd gasped.
They were both staring at the corridor. The wall is blackened and some part of it were blasted. Their apartment is alright, thank God, but the door opposite theirs was blasted off its hinges.
Lloyd turned to V.V., who nodded and they both went in cautiously.
Mia's flat was utterly unrecognizable. The door opens to a living room that is partially destroyed. The furniture were blasted into pieces of cloths and woods and a large hole showing off the spectacular view of the New York skylights. Chunks of cements and boulders were still falling off slowly on the broken wall. Some china ornaments were smashed onto the floor, among the rubble and wood.
""My God." V.V. whispered. "What on earth just happened?"
Lloyd was moving among the debris, scanning for signs of clues, evidence, anything. His fingers touched something hard and cold among the rubble and he pulled out a gun.
Glenn's Sauer.
V.V. had spotted something among the debris too. An Ouija board. It looks like a wooden board game, except it is covered with letters and a planchette in the middle.
"Look at this." She said softly.
Lloyd went over to her and stared at the Ouija board in her hands. "Is that an...Ouija board?"
V.V. nodded.
"But why would someone like Mahler keep an Ouija board in her flat?"
V.V. examined the Ouija board. It certainly doesn't look pretty. It's ancient and faded, well worn from use. Even as she watched, the planchette began to jerk.
"Whoa." Lloyd said, jerking the Ouija board away from her.
The planchette spun around the letters, spelling a message.
THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE HERE
"It's...talking to us." Lloyd said faintly.
YES IM TALKING TO YOU
He set the Ouija board down and it began spinning furiously again.
YOUR FRIENDS HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE MAGI MASTER
"Did you mean...Glenn?"
NOT JUST HIM THE GIRL TOO
"Girl, you mean...Mahler?" Lloyd asked.
YES SO STOP DILLY DALLYING AND GO AFTER THEM
"Er...okay." He nodded.
TAKE ME WITH YOU I'LL HELP YOU TRACK THEM
"It seems so odd communicating with an Ouija board." Lloyd said dazedly as V.V. picked up the board.
"Uh-huh." V.V. nodded, tucking the board under her arm. "Well, are you ready?"
He nodded in response.
As they were turning to leave, something caught her eye.
A black rose.
Again? She thought with annoyance. That's the second black rose I found today.
Shaking her head, she ignored it and left.
As soon as she was out of sight, a laughter echoed from the inside.
**************
Glenn woke up to find himself bound tightly into place by a metal pole. Oh dear, he thought. This is not good. Not good at all. Even with his vampire strength, he can't break free.
"Don't bother. I bound you magic. You can't break free."
Possessed Mia was drawing a pentagram made out of blood red sand, a common symbol favoured by Wiccans for spell casting and protection. Five different coloured candles are placed at each point of the pentagram. Ranging from dark colours such as scarlet red, midnight blue, burnt orange, old gold and of course, black, the most powerful colour in Wiccan that repels all negative energy and enhance one's spell.
"You're not Mia..." Glenn said weakly, thrashing against the bonds that held him.
"I never said I was." Ira's voice came out of Mia's mouth, which makes him sickened. Taking in his surroundings, he realized he was in a abandoned warehouse, somewhere near the port. He could smell the ocean water drifting into the cracks and holes in the walls. Cloth-covered crates stood all around the walls, and rusted metal pillars stood in every area.
So not a good sign.
Possessed Mia finished drawing the pentagram on the concrete floor and turned. The Book of Magi is laying on top of a crate, together with a bottle of Evian, a box of matches, a earthen bowl filled with what looks like earthly soil, a rune dagger and a wooden wand. In addition to that, she is wearing a robe in earthly brown tone with hems of gold. He looks though he's trapped in some kind of whacky ritual, which, in a way, he is.
Telekinetically, she moved the items from the crate, muttering each item as she say so.
The bottle of Evian doused itself in a circle around the midnight blue candle. "Water."
The earthen bowl did exactly the same as the water. It slowly tipped out the soil in a circle as well. "Earth."
Glenn felt the back of his neck tingling. She/He is calling the power of the elements to break the seal. But why does she/he needs him for? What is his role in all of this?
Possessed Mia was suddenly right in front of him, holding the rune dagger in her hands. The blade looks threatening in the fiery light.
"The power of the elements is not strong enough to break the seal. Oh no, do you know what is most important in a seal-breaking ritual?"
"I have the feeling you're going to tell me." Glenn said sarcastically.
"You are right. I AM going to tell you. Blood. It's the most vital ingredient in all rituals. But these days people are being discouraged from blood and sacrifice ritual. A blood of a young boy guarantees the best result." There was a manic light in her eyes. "But another guaranteed result is the blood of a half-vampire."
Oh, crud. Glenn thought. I knew it's something bad...
"Rest assured. The spell cannot be done without the full moon." She waved at the unlit candle wicks. "Why else do you think I haven't take your blood and light the wicks yet?"
"Mahler, snap out of it." Glenn said, struggling against the bonds, though knowing it is futile.
Later on, she turned back to the pentagram, apparently waiting for the catalyst of all of his/her plans.
************
"Where are they? Where on earth are they?"
Lloyd and V.V. are in the Land Rover, driving through streets after streets. The Ouija board is on V.V.'s lap, the planchette spinning wildly to spell out its messages with rapid speed.
LEFTLEFTLEFTLEFT
Lloyd spun the wheel sharply to the left, earning him a four colourful swear letter from a SUV driver.
"V, you wouldn't mind punching him with your hair or something?"
But apparently she didn't hear him. She was too focused on the Ouija board on her lap.
WE MUST HURRY THE NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON IS WHERE SPELLS AND ENCHANTMENTS ARE AT THEIR FULLEST
"Full moon?" V.V. asked.
DON'T YOU KNOW? WITCHES OFTEN PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO ASTRONOMY WHEN THEY WANT THEIR SPELLS TO WORK AT ITS HIGHEST
"Better step onto it, Lloyd." V.V. said.
Lloyd gave glance at the digital clock display.
11.5O P.M.
He gave a grunt and accelerated, speeding through a red light. If something happen to Glenn, he would never, ever, forgive those who harm him.
**************
The full moon is slowly appearing.
Glenn could make out its round circular shape through the fluffy white cloud. Its milky silvery white light glowing softly through the holes of the building.
Such a beautiful thing could also be deadly.
As the sliver of the moon appeared, Possessed Mia went back to the middle of the pentagram, this time, lighting the wicks of each candles, throwing light into semi-darkness. "Fire."
Then she raised the wooden wand.
In this ancient night of the full moon
I call upon the ancient power of the elements
Earth, Water, Fire and Wind
As mote as I'll be
Set me free.
The pentagram began to glow into a bright fiery red, with some sort of flame-like lights. Each of the candle winks were put out as a strong howling gust of wind suddenly swept in, puffing all of them out, throwing the whole room into semi-darkness. Fissures started to crack in concrete as the energy became overwhelming. The water near the port, which was originally calm, started becoming wild.
Possessed Mia then pulled Glenn over to her, the rune dagger in her other hand.
"With this rune dagger, I draw his blood as a tribute."
Glenn had to hold his tongue as the dagger pierced his arm, drawing blood. When she had enough, she drew ancient symbols on the floor, written with his blood.
Thunder and lightning boomed loudly as the blood-written symbols glowed brightly. His hair was flying all around his face when a storm suddenly appeared above him.
No, he thought dazedly. Not a storm.
It's a maelstrom.
"The sea of time has pass the core, the seal holds no more."
There was a blinding flash as the chant finish. Possessed Mia's eyes glowed red for a moment and then from somewhere from the depths of the maelstrom, what looks like a network of criss-cross bars made out of magickal energy. Something, or someone is trying to get out.
"Don't do it, Mahler." Glenn shouted.
Possessed Mia took no heed of him. Instead she levitated the book into the maelstrom together with the wand.
"Stop!!!"
***************
Lloyd and V.V. arrived just in time to witness a possessed Mia levitating the objects into the maelstrom. There was a booming laughter and the storm increased, ripping at
the tiles of the building and making the sea go wild. There was the loudest boom that caused them to clap their hands over their ears just as there was the sound of electricity zapping and something emerged out of the maelstrom.
A large dragon, with black scales and slightly crumpled wings, emerged. The eyes are pale pink and milky like an albino's, but it's not blind. The claws looks worn out, although there's no way to ignore the fact that it's sharp. One of its horn is broken and there are marks all over its body.
"Please tell me this is a dream." Lloyd muttered to V.V. who was looking dumbstruck.
Possessed Mia suddenly levitated Glenn into the air, much to his astonishment as the dragon glared at him.
"Your blood is not strong enough to break the seal." Ira's voice emerged from the dragon.
Glenn looked down to see Mia, who seems to be freed, crumpled onto the ground. Lloyd and V.V. were crouching by the doorway, unable to get in any closer.
"Not good enough for you? I didn't sign up for this, you know." Glenn sneered.
"You are of no use to me." Ira roared. "I realized now. If the seal is going to be broken, then I just know what to do."
"I'll take her blood instead."
Mia was browsing through the shelves. Most of the books are pretty much useless. Basic Wiccan 101. Teach Yourself Wiccan. Wiccan Made Easy. Silly stuff really.
She blamed her Aunt Pru from her mother's side. Pru is a constant embarrassment to the whole family that they had shun her, with the exception of Mia. She lives in a small beach house that stood on top of a cliff in Malibu. She is what we call as a diviner, a person who ascertain their interpretations of how a querent should proceed by reading signs, events, or omens.
That time when Glenn was knocking on Mia's for the Greek textbook that he had borrowed to her, she was visiting her Aunt Pru at Malibu. It was actually thanks to Aunt Pru that she is able to study Medicines in Columbia University. Before she had board back the train to Manhattan, her aunt had insisted on reading her fortune.
"No." She had said flatly.
"Come on, puella. There's no harm in knowing your fortunae, doesn't it?" Aunt Pru is part-Latin and part American-Asian, unlike Mia who is from American-Asian parents.
"Well, I guess not." Mia said.
Her aunt then brought out an Ouija board, a flat wooden board with a planchette that spells out messages from the spirits, or legends has said it.
"Go on then, puella, ask the Ouija what you want to know."
Mia gave a sigh. This is just for fun anyway. She then asked, "Will he ever notice me?"
She didn't want to say his name out loud, but she pictured him in her mind. His messy nature green hair that sticks out in tufts because he is always sleeping. His pearly grey eyes that often makes him resemble a dreamy puppy. His tanned skin that makes him looks like a Herculean God despite the fact that he's lanky.
The planchette spun around. After a moment or so, it stopped at the word MOST LIKELY.
Despite the fact that it's just for fun, Mia felt a thrill of happiness. Most likely means she has a chance.
But then she noticed her aunt Pru staring up at her strangely. It's not an expression of horror, but...excitement.
"Puella, you have it." She whispered excitedly.
Mia stared back at her. "Aunt Pru?"
"No one in our family have the genes, puella. No one at all. But you puella, you have it. Divining."
Mia stood up so abruptly, panting hard. Only Pru sat calmly. The Ouija board in between them.
"I'm not a diviner, Aunt Pru." She said stiffly. "You know I'm not."
"Puella, you may deny it but there is no disguising the fact that you also carry the genes."
At that moment, the planchette of the Ouija board spun around so rapidly that neither of them could nearly spell out the words it formed.
YOU CARRY THE GENES IN YOU
Mia, furious, slung her bag over her shoulder and said, "I'm going back now, if you don't mind."
Pru didn't say anything, however, she got up and handed over the Ouija board to her. "This'll protect you."
Few days ago, she had, out of interest used the Ouija board. She had held her palms over it, letting her mind clear and relax as she focused on it. At first, the planchette didn't move. Shrugging, she was about to put it away when the planchette suddenly jerked and spelled out the words.
MAGI
And that is how Mia found herself rummaging through books after books in Ye Olde Magi Shoppe. Frustrated, she was about to leave the shop when a hard cover book caught her eye. It seems long forgotten by others, since it's still in near-mint condition unlike the others which were touched and held. This one is never touched before, the cover is freed from scratches and torn. The pages still razor sharp at the edges.
It was the cover that caught her eye. The illustration of a dragon, its eyes encrusted with rubies and had a gold clasp. Although the words are written in another language, the gold inked words seems to jump out at her.
BOOK OF MAGI
Is this it? Mia thought. Magi.
Hesitantly, she brought the book up to the wooden counter.
"Blessed be." The girl behind the counter greeted her in the traditional Wiccan greeting.
"Hi, um, I would like to purchase this and some ingredients for good sleep." She said nervously.
"Sure." The girl reached into the shelves behind her and brought down some delicate jars filled with herbs, fine coloured powder and roots. "Rose petals, rosewood, lavender, and lemon honeysuckle for tranquility." She scooped some of those into a small paper bag. "Fresh gardenias, jasmine and some white herbs for calmness." She then took out some forked roots. "You're Asian, are you not? These are rénshēn. Ginseng. It's usually used for healing, but there is no harm in adding it into your tea. Mix it well in pure water and you're done."
As she scanned through the purchases, she caught sight of the book and frowned. "I don't remember seeing this book."
"Pardon?" Mia said.
"This book is not in our list." The girl said.
"But I found it at the corner of that bookshelf." Mia said, pointing at the shelf.
The girl shrugged and said, "It's not in our list, but I suppose we can give it to you for no charge since it's not ours."
Minutes later, she stepped out, carrying two bulging carrier bags.
I so blame aunt Pru for getting me hooked up to this stuff, she thought bitterly. I guess I can always ask the Ouija board if I never need to know about my future.
As she's standing waiting for the bus to take her back, she didn't notice the book, the two gleaming ruby eyes shone brightly.
*************
A black rose....
With midnight black petals....
With its leafy green stems....
On her sleeping bag...
V.V. gave a frown. Who on earth would send her a black rose? It seems so silly. Shaking her head she dumped it into the bin just as the phone rang.
"Hello, Supernatural Demon Slayers (S.D.S.). Lloyd Anderson is out at the moment. How may I help you?"
"I didn't know Mr Anderson hires a girl." A voice said suspiciously.
"He had recruited me a long time ago." V.V. said coolly. "How may I be of service?"
"Daimones-ranked demons are destroying my warehouse by the port." The voice said calmly, V.V. had to give him the credit. "How fast can you get here?"
"Well..." She took out a pen. "Just give me your address and I'll be there as soon as possible."
V.V. jotted down the address, took the spare key that Lloyd had gave her and left.
As soon as the door had shut behind her, a figure swooped in through the window and placed a black rose on her sleeping bag.
**************
Lloyd was running through an alley way, chasing after a group of Legions. Gosh, it's been a long time since he slay those. As usual, they're in a group, and recognized by their purplish brown skin that are tough and as hard as marble, freakishly long limbs and legs and that devilishly-feature face.
The Legions ducked around a corner and he followed them, managing to cut one in to half. The others, clearly tired of running, turned back and readied their claw-like nails.
Without stopping, he just dart through them like a blur and just behead them all off. Their heads bounced all over the floor, green blood oozing out of the stump.
"That takes care of that." He nodded just as his phone rang.
"Hello."
"How's your area doing?" Glenn asked, dodging a Daimone's blast.
"I just got them all." Lloyd said, sheathing his blade back. "From the looks of things, you aren't done yet."
"It's a Daimone. Not Legion." Glenn spun his Sauer, cowboy style and shot three times at the Daimone. Two bullets hit it in the arm and one hit it on the chest. "Hold up, V.V. is calling."
Lloyd nodded and pressed the Link Call button. He had been saving up to afford a decent mobile that has linked calls. That way, they all get to stay linked together.
"V.V.?"
"Oh, hi. I was just on my way to the port."
"The port?" Both Lloyd and Glenn echoed.
"Uh-huh." She was sitting on Arnie's cab. Yep, speedy Arnie. The only person V.V. who could think off to run fast is him, or rather, drive fast.
"Good to see you again, Vivian." Arnie said to her while speeding, as always. "How's Lloyd and Glenn doing?"
"I'm on the phone with them..." She muttered.
"V. Seriously, why the port?" Lloyd demanded.
"This guy....Goodman, says demons are thrashing his warehouse." She said.
"Alright. I'll come over. Glenn, you head back and order some Western food."
"Alright."
And they all disconnected.
*************
Mia was brewing some calming tea when a red light glow from her living room. Nervous, she turned off the hob and slowly made her way to the room. There's nothing except for the Book of Magi which she left there.
As she was about to turn, the light shone again, and it's coming from the book.
Slowly, she made her way to the book. Beside it, the Ouija board started to shake. Terrified, Mia stood still, holding her breath as he planchette spun wildly, spelling out the words so fast til she could barely make it out.
WHATAREYOUDOINGSTAYAWAYFROMTHEBOOKOFMAGI
"You were the one who told me to get it." Mia said defensively.
The planchette spun again, this time even faster and wilder.
NOIWASTRYINGTOWARNYOUABOUTMAGINOTGETIT
"But-"
NOBUTSGETRIDOFITNOW
The while time the Ouija board was talking suddenly the book glowed again, brighter than before. Without warning, the book define gravity by floating above the couch.
Horrified, Mia tried to run but the door suddenly slammed itself shut, locking her in. The Ouija board was spinning wildly again but this time no one's paying any attention to it.
A sound of laughter came from the book. "You were the one that brought me? I thank you."
"W-Who are you?" Despite the fact that she's scared, her voice didn't break.
"I was once known as the Magimaster Ira." The voice said. "But a witch sealed me into this book and sealed off my powers. Only a witch can set me free."
Mia shook her head. "No, I'm not. I'm just an ordinary girl."
"I can sense your ability. So small and innocent." The book floated closer to her, the dragon seems truly alive, like the blazing fires of hell. "Not a fully matured witch yet, I see. But the genes are inside of you."
"No, you're wrong. I'm not a witch."
"You can't fool me, silly witch. You were able to communicate with the Ouija board."
The book suddenly opened itself and stopped at a page with an illustration of a mage. Blond and handsome with olive skin. His eyes are like chips of ice and he wore an ancient robe that mages wore.
"You will set me free, witch. And I shall reward you in return." The book said.
"No. I am not one. Get away from me!!!"
The book suddenly flung itself into her hands. Struggling, she tried to flung it away from her but the book shone brightly and enveloped her into a glow of light.
***************
Glenn was heading up the stairways when he caught sight of the light at Mia's apartment.
Mahler? He thought worriedly, sprinting up to her door. There seems to be a shouting and laughter coming from the inside.
"Mahler!" He hammered on the door. "Mahler!"
No one came to the door. Glenn shook his head and kicked the door open, splintering the wood near the door knob.
I knew that fire training will be useful someday, he thought happily. But the happy bubble was only for a short while as he ran inside just in time to see Mia being enveloped in a bright light.
"Mahler?"
The light suddenly vanished, and Mia was on the floor, head faced down and her hands clutching a book called the Book of Magi.
"Mahler? You okay?"
Mia turned slowly to face him, then she laughed. Not the soft laugh she always laugh. This one is a sinister laugh, like sharp glass in the wind. It's sickening.
"You are...the one?" A man's voice came out from her mouth. "The one that she cares about?"
"What are you?" Glenn demanded.
"I am the Magimaster Ira." The voice said. "This girl's body belongs to me now."
"Let her go." Glenn said, pulling out his Sauer.
Despite the fact that Mia is shorter than him, she seemed to have been blessed by Ira, because she grabbed his wrist and twist it behind him, causing to go, "Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!"
"What's the matter, too hard for you to handle?" Ira-Mia cocked his/her head to one side.
Glenn spun his body around and threw a back kick at Ira-Mia who went crashing onto the sofa.
"No, just caught off guard." Glenn said.
Mia picked herself up and painted a Wiccan symbol in the air. Flames appeared out of nowhere and Glenn yelped as his sleeve got on fire.
"If you were a vampire, you would've been dusted." Ira-Mia said. "I have a use for you, so I'll let you live."
Mia then bind him with a binding spell and disappeared with him.
*************
V.V. stared at the Daimone that is thrashing the entire warehouse. It's roaring and smashing crates after crates, spilling its entire content out. The client, a gruff-looking man wearing a grubby delivery outfit, was staring at her with a glare.
"You're late by 5 minutes, girl."
"I'm sorry." She muttered. "There was a massive jam."
The man just jerked his thumb at the warehouse. "Go and get it, then."
V.V. headed towards the Daimone without fear, her hair twisting into sharpened blades. The Daimone gave a roar and flapped its wings, throwing a typhoon at her way. V.V. leapt into the air and let her hair blades danced around, swiping at the Daimone. Two of the hairs caught the Daimone in the arm and turned into hooks, flinging it into the sea.
"Ah, I missed the fun." Lloyd said, heading towards her.
"Why are you here?" V.V. asked.
"I thought you could use a hand or two." Lloyd shrugged.
The Daimone emerged out of the water and roared, wings flapping and arms bloodied. It charged an energy orb and blast it towards them. They both ducked out of the way, but the warehouse was not fortunate. The whole place exploded and burst into ruins, with nothing left but flickers of ember and debris.
The man who had been watching all of this and smoking a cigarette, dropped his cigarette to the ground in shock and stuttered, "W-What???"
"Eh, terribly sorry about that." V.V. said, binding the Daimone. Lloyd went cleaving the Daimone's head and it exploded with the force of a small bomb.
"That's done." He said.
"What about my warehouse?" The man demanded.
"It's not our fault." V.V. protested.
"And I want the pay check." Lloyd said, sheathing his blade.
The man grunted and dig into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small wad of dollar notes in fifties. "Here."
Lloyd counted out the notes and handed back the remaining amount. "Thanks very much."
As they both walked off, Lloyd picked up his mobile and dialed.
"The person you called is unable to answer at this time. Please leave a message-"
"What's up?" V.V. asked, getting into the front of the passenger seat.
"Glenn's not picking up his phone." Lloyd said, getting behind the wheel. "He was suppose to be calling me back after he reached back."
"He'll be fine." V.V. assured him. "He got that scary vamp's blood in him."
"We should head back and see." He pulled the car in reverse and sped off.
*************
"What on earth just happened here?" Lloyd gasped.
They were both staring at the corridor. The wall is blackened and some part of it were blasted. Their apartment is alright, thank God, but the door opposite theirs was blasted off its hinges.
Lloyd turned to V.V., who nodded and they both went in cautiously.
Mia's flat was utterly unrecognizable. The door opens to a living room that is partially destroyed. The furniture were blasted into pieces of cloths and woods and a large hole showing off the spectacular view of the New York skylights. Chunks of cements and boulders were still falling off slowly on the broken wall. Some china ornaments were smashed onto the floor, among the rubble and wood.
""My God." V.V. whispered. "What on earth just happened?"
Lloyd was moving among the debris, scanning for signs of clues, evidence, anything. His fingers touched something hard and cold among the rubble and he pulled out a gun.
Glenn's Sauer.
V.V. had spotted something among the debris too. An Ouija board. It looks like a wooden board game, except it is covered with letters and a planchette in the middle.
"Look at this." She said softly.
Lloyd went over to her and stared at the Ouija board in her hands. "Is that an...Ouija board?"
V.V. nodded.
"But why would someone like Mahler keep an Ouija board in her flat?"
V.V. examined the Ouija board. It certainly doesn't look pretty. It's ancient and faded, well worn from use. Even as she watched, the planchette began to jerk.
"Whoa." Lloyd said, jerking the Ouija board away from her.
The planchette spun around the letters, spelling a message.
THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE HERE
"It's...talking to us." Lloyd said faintly.
YES IM TALKING TO YOU
He set the Ouija board down and it began spinning furiously again.
YOUR FRIENDS HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE MAGI MASTER
"Did you mean...Glenn?"
NOT JUST HIM THE GIRL TOO
"Girl, you mean...Mahler?" Lloyd asked.
YES SO STOP DILLY DALLYING AND GO AFTER THEM
"Er...okay." He nodded.
TAKE ME WITH YOU I'LL HELP YOU TRACK THEM
"It seems so odd communicating with an Ouija board." Lloyd said dazedly as V.V. picked up the board.
"Uh-huh." V.V. nodded, tucking the board under her arm. "Well, are you ready?"
He nodded in response.
As they were turning to leave, something caught her eye.
A black rose.
Again? She thought with annoyance. That's the second black rose I found today.
Shaking her head, she ignored it and left.
As soon as she was out of sight, a laughter echoed from the inside.
**************
Glenn woke up to find himself bound tightly into place by a metal pole. Oh dear, he thought. This is not good. Not good at all. Even with his vampire strength, he can't break free.
"Don't bother. I bound you magic. You can't break free."
Possessed Mia was drawing a pentagram made out of blood red sand, a common symbol favoured by Wiccans for spell casting and protection. Five different coloured candles are placed at each point of the pentagram. Ranging from dark colours such as scarlet red, midnight blue, burnt orange, old gold and of course, black, the most powerful colour in Wiccan that repels all negative energy and enhance one's spell.
"You're not Mia..." Glenn said weakly, thrashing against the bonds that held him.
"I never said I was." Ira's voice came out of Mia's mouth, which makes him sickened. Taking in his surroundings, he realized he was in a abandoned warehouse, somewhere near the port. He could smell the ocean water drifting into the cracks and holes in the walls. Cloth-covered crates stood all around the walls, and rusted metal pillars stood in every area.
So not a good sign.
Possessed Mia finished drawing the pentagram on the concrete floor and turned. The Book of Magi is laying on top of a crate, together with a bottle of Evian, a box of matches, a earthen bowl filled with what looks like earthly soil, a rune dagger and a wooden wand. In addition to that, she is wearing a robe in earthly brown tone with hems of gold. He looks though he's trapped in some kind of whacky ritual, which, in a way, he is.
Telekinetically, she moved the items from the crate, muttering each item as she say so.
The bottle of Evian doused itself in a circle around the midnight blue candle. "Water."
The earthen bowl did exactly the same as the water. It slowly tipped out the soil in a circle as well. "Earth."
Glenn felt the back of his neck tingling. She/He is calling the power of the elements to break the seal. But why does she/he needs him for? What is his role in all of this?
Possessed Mia was suddenly right in front of him, holding the rune dagger in her hands. The blade looks threatening in the fiery light.
"The power of the elements is not strong enough to break the seal. Oh no, do you know what is most important in a seal-breaking ritual?"
"I have the feeling you're going to tell me." Glenn said sarcastically.
"You are right. I AM going to tell you. Blood. It's the most vital ingredient in all rituals. But these days people are being discouraged from blood and sacrifice ritual. A blood of a young boy guarantees the best result." There was a manic light in her eyes. "But another guaranteed result is the blood of a half-vampire."
Oh, crud. Glenn thought. I knew it's something bad...
"Rest assured. The spell cannot be done without the full moon." She waved at the unlit candle wicks. "Why else do you think I haven't take your blood and light the wicks yet?"
"Mahler, snap out of it." Glenn said, struggling against the bonds, though knowing it is futile.
Later on, she turned back to the pentagram, apparently waiting for the catalyst of all of his/her plans.
************
"Where are they? Where on earth are they?"
Lloyd and V.V. are in the Land Rover, driving through streets after streets. The Ouija board is on V.V.'s lap, the planchette spinning wildly to spell out its messages with rapid speed.
LEFTLEFTLEFTLEFT
Lloyd spun the wheel sharply to the left, earning him a four colourful swear letter from a SUV driver.
"V, you wouldn't mind punching him with your hair or something?"
But apparently she didn't hear him. She was too focused on the Ouija board on her lap.
WE MUST HURRY THE NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON IS WHERE SPELLS AND ENCHANTMENTS ARE AT THEIR FULLEST
"Full moon?" V.V. asked.
DON'T YOU KNOW? WITCHES OFTEN PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO ASTRONOMY WHEN THEY WANT THEIR SPELLS TO WORK AT ITS HIGHEST
"Better step onto it, Lloyd." V.V. said.
Lloyd gave glance at the digital clock display.
11.5O P.M.
He gave a grunt and accelerated, speeding through a red light. If something happen to Glenn, he would never, ever, forgive those who harm him.
**************
The full moon is slowly appearing.
Glenn could make out its round circular shape through the fluffy white cloud. Its milky silvery white light glowing softly through the holes of the building.
Such a beautiful thing could also be deadly.
As the sliver of the moon appeared, Possessed Mia went back to the middle of the pentagram, this time, lighting the wicks of each candles, throwing light into semi-darkness. "Fire."
Then she raised the wooden wand.
In this ancient night of the full moon
I call upon the ancient power of the elements
Earth, Water, Fire and Wind
As mote as I'll be
Set me free.
The pentagram began to glow into a bright fiery red, with some sort of flame-like lights. Each of the candle winks were put out as a strong howling gust of wind suddenly swept in, puffing all of them out, throwing the whole room into semi-darkness. Fissures started to crack in concrete as the energy became overwhelming. The water near the port, which was originally calm, started becoming wild.
Possessed Mia then pulled Glenn over to her, the rune dagger in her other hand.
"With this rune dagger, I draw his blood as a tribute."
Glenn had to hold his tongue as the dagger pierced his arm, drawing blood. When she had enough, she drew ancient symbols on the floor, written with his blood.
Thunder and lightning boomed loudly as the blood-written symbols glowed brightly. His hair was flying all around his face when a storm suddenly appeared above him.
No, he thought dazedly. Not a storm.
It's a maelstrom.
"The sea of time has pass the core, the seal holds no more."
There was a blinding flash as the chant finish. Possessed Mia's eyes glowed red for a moment and then from somewhere from the depths of the maelstrom, what looks like a network of criss-cross bars made out of magickal energy. Something, or someone is trying to get out.
"Don't do it, Mahler." Glenn shouted.
Possessed Mia took no heed of him. Instead she levitated the book into the maelstrom together with the wand.
"Stop!!!"
***************
Lloyd and V.V. arrived just in time to witness a possessed Mia levitating the objects into the maelstrom. There was a booming laughter and the storm increased, ripping at
the tiles of the building and making the sea go wild. There was the loudest boom that caused them to clap their hands over their ears just as there was the sound of electricity zapping and something emerged out of the maelstrom.
A large dragon, with black scales and slightly crumpled wings, emerged. The eyes are pale pink and milky like an albino's, but it's not blind. The claws looks worn out, although there's no way to ignore the fact that it's sharp. One of its horn is broken and there are marks all over its body.
"Please tell me this is a dream." Lloyd muttered to V.V. who was looking dumbstruck.
Possessed Mia suddenly levitated Glenn into the air, much to his astonishment as the dragon glared at him.
"Your blood is not strong enough to break the seal." Ira's voice emerged from the dragon.
Glenn looked down to see Mia, who seems to be freed, crumpled onto the ground. Lloyd and V.V. were crouching by the doorway, unable to get in any closer.
"Not good enough for you? I didn't sign up for this, you know." Glenn sneered.
"You are of no use to me." Ira roared. "I realized now. If the seal is going to be broken, then I just know what to do."
"I'll take her blood instead."
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