1904, RUSSIA-JAPAN WAR
Professor Taishii stared at the casualties of the war. It’s not what he had expected. He had been fairly sure that they will win this war, but it seems that they were outnumbered even though they had managed to take out half of the Russian army.
Even so, the casualty was bad. Very bad.
He cannot let this country down. It would be all a waste for nothing.
Striding down his lab, lab coat flying behind him, he stopped in front of two containers. One had a girl with dark hair ,her eyes closed, dressed in a plain white gown, the kind that you usually see in hospitals .Beside her ,a boy with fair hair, eyes also closed and dressed in a plain white shirt and pants, is contained in the other container.
Knowing that this is illegal and dangerous, he did it…
He watched as demon essence fused itself into these two children. Their hair began to shift, their body begin adapting, the muscles stronger, harder as the essence combined into their body. He prayed that his calculations weren’t wrong. Many children had died from this process because their body couldn’t take it, the powerful demon essence.
It was a long time when the process was finally completed. Professor Taishii though he was going to scream in anger at his failure, with another more bodies to bury. How surprised he was to see both children are still in their container, eyes still closed. Their body had changed, changed to adapt the demonic essence in them.
“It worked.” He said silently to himself in his native tongue. “It actually worked.” Finally, now they can turn the tables over to their side.
Eager to see the fruits of his genius, he pressed a button and both containers sunk down to the lower basement of the facility. He himself took an elevator down just in time to see the containers lock into place. The clear fluid in their container emptied itself, causing both children to open their eyes and stared dazedly at him.
And roared in anger.
The girl’s dark hair started to change, growing longer and longer by the second, shifting into blades and started hitting the container angrily. Her hair started to change colour, from its natural dark it became cyan, her eyes, once a pale light green in colour, turned violet, reflecting the demonic essence that now resides in her body.
The boy too. His fair hair changed into a blazing inferno red, as red as the fiery pits of Hell, and his eyes, pale blue to liquid amber. It’s frightening really. His hair became a powerful spiked flail and started hitting the container angrily.
Amazing, Professor Taishii though to himself as he watched these two screaming in anger, wanting to be free. With these, the Russian had no more chance against them.
The door behind him exploded and the Russian army swarmed in, armed with guns and swords.
“So this is what you had been doing.” One of them said.
Professor Taishii gazed at them in shock. They found out, but how could they? This facility was well hidden.
“We received an anonymous tip-off that the Japanese were researching on human to fuse with demons. That person must be you, Taishii Kagerou.” The head said.
All of them raised their guns, in some cases, swords at him.
Professor Taishii knew then, somehow, someone must’ve tipped him off. And he’s definitely unarmed, no way to fight, nowhere to run.
The banging sound made him looked up. The girl and boy are still bashing at the glass for all of their worth. But til now, there’s not even a single scratch nor crack on the container glass. That’s because he himself had made the glass to withstand Ultima-ranked demons. These two are certainly no exception as well.
“What are those two?” A soldier gestured at the girl’s container. Her eyes are blazing in anger to be let out. Her partner too.
Taking the advantage of their distraction, Professor Taishii jabbed at a red button. All at once an alarm wailed loudly, breaking the silence. The containers gave a hiss and slowly opened.
“What are you doing?!” The head lunged at Professor Taishii.
The professor only laughed.” Let me show you my greatest weapons.”
Red and blue snakes suddenly lunged at the head and with very little effort, ripped him apart, in front of his army who stared in horror at the boy and girl in front of them. Their appearance looked normal, but their hair, it looks as though it’s alive. It’s writhing and swaying like several live snakes.
“I feel as though I had slept for years.” The boy yawned. His liquid amber eyes drowsy. “Who the heck are you guys?”
“He’s in the Japanese Empire!” One of the Russian gasped. All of their attention are focused on the boy and girl, not Professor Taishii, who had taken the advantage to slip away unnoticed. “The girl too.”
“Shoot them!”
Hails of bullets rained down upon them, hitting them. They should’ve bled but instead, part of their body cracked where the bullets had hit them.
“Ow, ouch.” The boy gasped.
“They’re not humans!”
The girl suddenly leapt at them, hands and hair turning into blades and started dicing the nearest soldier like sashimi. It’s creepy really. Blood splashed all over the place as she diced away like nobody’s business. The boy glanced at the plastic tag that is on his wrist.
GUY MOON (B.B.)
“What the-” He swore with the four letter word. “Could they have come up with a better name than that?”
The girl had finished killing off all of the soldiers. Crimson blood splattered all over the place like some mad man taking up a can of paint and threw it every where. Her hair and hands are covered in blood as well, though the plastic tag on her wrist is visible. Her real name wasn’t visible because the ink had smudged here and there, but he could make out the words.
V²– PERFECT WEAPON (SUCCESS BY K. TAISHII)
Guy felt a bubbling jealousy rage that seems to flow within him like a tsunami. Yet, at the same time, he could not feel but attached towards her, like a moth being drawn to the flames.
“V.V. is it?” He said softly.
The girl turned to him, her eyes gazing wildly at the facility.
“You and me, we’re the same right? Being taken by the Japanese and turned into mindless weapons?”
V.V. didn’t answer, but kept staring at the doorway. He followed her gaze and smiled, “Let’s jailbreak.”
Lloyd stared at the file in disbelief. A record of Professor Taishii’s works. Erica seemed to have managed to get a copy of this file, but it’s not the original. The original is actually written in Japanese, which is located in a file labelled, original.
“This guy is not right in the head.” Blaze commented staring at a very old black and white photo of V.V.’s normal appearance before the experiment. Lloyd’s heart had gave a jolt as he stared at her face. She really does resembles Serenity, except for the eyes and hairstyle, oh and V.V. is younger than her. No wait, she was 16 when she was finally inserted with demonic essence. So 1995 minus 1904 equals to….91, since V.V. is 16, add 16 and…
“Oh my God,” Glenn gasped. “V.V.’s a 107!”
“Christ, she’s old, no ancient.” Blaze yelped.
“She shouldn’t be existing anymore in this rate.” Tifa awed.
Lloyd stared at V.V.’s photo. He could an aching in his heart. Although he knows it is not Serenity, the resemblance is slightly similar. Seeing V.V. turned back into the mindless berserk weapon she was back then makes things even worse.
“Lloyd, does it say anything else besides their origins?” Glenn asked, peering at the screen.
Lloyd swiftly scanned the files. Besides the archives and origins file, there’s also a video file that seems to be labelled, WW VID
“Just click on it already.” Blaze said, looking impatient.
Lloyd nodded and double-clicked on the file.
12TH FEBRUARY 1904
The General of the Russian was staring silently at the middle of the once green ocean of grass, now half-blackened by smoke or fire or blood stained by the war, where both sides are still fighting. The Japanese had many casualties, but they are still standing strong in the battlefield, swinging their katanas and rifles against their cutlasses and rapiers. The sound of metal clashing with metal drowned out the sound of the screams and war cries.
“Sir,” his lieutenant came running up. “I have terrible news.”
He then passed the report that he had received briefly to the General, who had a look of utter disbelief. It was too much for him til he staggered backwards.
“The men that we had sent in the facility, were all killed?”
“That’s what I received from the scout. They were all chopped, diced and ripped apart.”
“Did you find out who did this? The Empire?”
“No, sir. It seems unlikely that it is them. It’s not capable for a man to do so.”
A glimpse of something white caught his attention. His eyes snapped up to see a cyan-haired girl walking casually to the battlefield, together with a red-headed boy. Both of them are stained slightly in blood and their clothes are slightly torn, with holes in them.
“What on earth-” He muttered. “Why are there two children in the battlefield?”
His puzzlement became horror as several of his soldiers opened fire at them, but instead of lying dead, their hair morphed into living weapon and took them out in one blow. Places where the bullets had struck them cracked slightly like a crack in a mirror. Even as he watched, the cracks began to heal themselves, as though they weren’t there .He watched as his men were taken down by these two children with dangerous abilities. Just what the heck did Taishii do???
“Sir, what on earth are those two?” His lieutenant gaped as the cyan-haired girl stabbed a soldier with a huge blade-like hand. “They are wiping out the soldiers on both sides evenly.”
Suddenly, as though they had super hearing, the red-headed boy looked in their direction and grinned wickedly. His face is drenched with a little blood from the soldiers that he had killed. The fresh blood trickled down to his lips and he licked it with a pink tongue.
Eyes a liquid amber hue with a sort of bloodthirsty lust behind them. Hair as red as the blazing inferno….
Red as the crimson sun….
Red as fresh blood…
The boy’s hair suddenly lengthened and reached out to the General and his lieutenant, turning into piercing blades as they did so...
The video player stopped at there. Lloyd was staring in horror, panting hard. The video must’ve been taken by one of the people who was in the war, most likely a photographer and war correspondent. It was all in black and white and it’s all in Russian and Japanese. Scrolling his mouse cursor over the video icon reads 12th February 1904, author : O. Marsters.
“O.Marsters….” Blaze read over his shoulder. “Who’s that?”
“That is what we’re going to find out.” Lloyd said grimly, taking down the video details. “Glenn, can you translate Taishii’s documents?”
“I can try. But I’m going to need some time and my Japanese dictionary.” Glenn clicked his tongue.
“What are you both going to do?” Blaze asked. “That guy is a killer. You can’t even get near him without being diced or chopped first.”
“I’ll find a way.” Lloyd said, breathing slowly, his heart thumping very hard. At least now, they have a couple of clues.
O.Marsters….V.V. and Guy’s origins….
He turned to the others and said, “Who fancies a flight to Japan?”
******************
“What did you see?”
Allen was frowning very hard, rubbing his temples. “They figured it out… They are going after Guy.”
“He’s not that stupid as I thought.” Dario said thoughtfully, stacking his files neatly on the table. He had just finished reviewing this month’s statistics and he realized they had dropped by 0.5 percent. Looks like the company needs to bulk up, especially on its weakest field, pharmalogy.
“Can you get through Guy?”
This question was directed at Reo, who was sparring with Revarie. The vampire’s movements were like a blur, flurring in and out and Reo was breathing heavily. The grey singlet he wore for workout is already soaked heavily with his sweat.
“I can’t get through him. Besides, he never even brought his phone with him.” Reo shrugged. Allen rolled his eyes. It is just so typical of Guy to never to carry a mobile with him so that he is free to do whatever he pleases.
Dario stood up and went over to the glass stained window. The streets of Manhattan is bustling with activity. No one even paused to stop or rest, nor did they notice that the head of Twilight Inc. was staring down at them. Flexing his fingers, he sketched a symbol in thin air. It glowed a fiery red then faded into thin wisps of smoke.
“What are you thinking?” Revarie asked.
“My little brother will be going after them in Japan.” He said, looking unconcerned. “Maybe we should go and see how the drama unfolds.”
Revarie licked his lips, a hungry look in his eyes. “I adore Japanese girls. They are so sweet and petite.”
“Don’t go overboard.” Mind’s Shadow warned. “We are trying to keep a low profile here. Especially Guy caused a lot of attention by letting that girl run wild.”
Dario smiled and picked up the phone that stood by his desk. It looks like he’s going to need to book four flight tickets to Japan.
********************
Lloyd was in the streets of lower Manhattan, ignoring all the curious looks he is receiving from the passer by because of the huge cloth-wrapped object he carried behind him. He’s used to it by now, and besides, people will stare in horror if they find out about the thing that is hidden inside the package.
Passing all the vandalized walls, he made his way down to a shabby looking Roman Catholic church with broken stained windows. This is in fact the church of St Meredith. It was partly destroyed as though a bomb had just hit it.
Lloyd stepped into the blaster doorway to find a single figure standing in front of the symbol of Jesus, dressed in a priest robe, with hair as white as frost.
“You came?” His voice hoarse and dry, and hard as leather.
“I need your blessings.” Lloyd said softly, holding out his Zanmato.
The priest smiled. “You never come to me unless you need a very big help. So what is it? Demons? Fairies? Ghosts? Ultimas?”
“Vampires.”
The priest paled slightly. “Vampires?”
“Just one. An Original.” Lloyd said.
The priest ran his fingers through his hair. “I never seen an Original vampire before, I thought they were just myths… ”
“Believe it or not, I met one in the flesh, and my clique, Glenn is a descendant of his.”
The priest then looked deadly serious and said rather quietly, “Pass me your blade.”
Lloyd handed over his Zanmato and added, “I’m going to need some of Glenn’s bullets blessed as well.” He handed the ammunitions over.
The priest nodded and started blessing them.
***************
Glenn stepped into the hospital, taking in the hospital smell. In his hands are a large basket of fruits and a cute helium anime balloon. Making his way up to the medical ward, he tried to keep himself cool as he saw a large crate of fresh blood bags drove past him, carried by a staff. The dark urge inside of him stirred a little but he managed to force himself to find his way.
Stopping in front of the east wing to consult his destination, a nurse passing by asked, “Can I help you, sir?”
“It’s alright.” Glenn replied.
The nurse nodded and walked off as Glenn made his way to one of the wards. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door and entered.
“Glenn, my man.” Francis said, waving weakly from his bed. He is surrounded by gifts from well-wishers, which ranges from books, clothes, sweets in jars, bars of chocolates, bottles of colognes, fruits, large bouquet of flowers, and cards.
“Brought you these.” Glenn placed the basket of fruit on the ground and tied the helium balloon onto his bedside.
“Why, thank you.” Francis stared at the balloon with interest. “That’s very cute.”
“It’s Doraemon.” Glenn explained.
“Sweet, it’s really sweet.” Francis nodded. His body is covered with bandages, so are the palms of his hands where Guy had crucified him with the wooden stakes. It pains him to see his best friend to be bed-ridden.
Glenn pulled up a chair beside him and said, “Does it still hurt?”
“Well, yeah.” Francis said, staring at his bandaged hands. “I don’t think I’ll be able to hold a pen or anything for a few months.” Seeing Glenn’s guilty face, he added, “He’s mad, you know. I never seen anything like it. He’s twisted.” He winced at the memory where Guy composed that poem for them, crossing his words in and out on a demon corpse. It was only when he was satisfied he forced him to sing a twisted tune.
“No.” He had said.
Guy’s hair twisted into fiery whips and lashed out at him. “Sing it.”
“I won’t.”
“Then, I’ll make you.”
“It was pure torture.” Francis continued, lost in his thoughts. “He toyed with me, he could’ve killed me with one blow, but he tortured me.”
“Frances, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Francis said, suddenly turning serious. “Glenn, it was never your fault, so stop bashing yourself on the head. I was the one who got involved, not you. And, I think you’ll be interested in what I have to say.”
“What is it?”
“V.V., I don’t think she’s fully corrupted yet.”
Glenn’s eyes widened. “What makes you say that?”
“She never hurts me. It’s as though someone is holding her back.” Francis said, shrugging, wincing slightly at his injuries.
Glenn stiffened. He had translated part of Taishii Kagerou’s notes, but most of it are in the old Japanese, but there are reports on how he had been finding a way to turn the tables against the Russians, by infusing demonic essence into humans. Most of his victims were children in their teens, mainly it’s because children, especially in their teenage years, are powerful and young, comparing to adults. Guy and V.V. were mentioned in the reports but oddly, there’s not even a record of V.V.’s real name, but it explained that they were both taken by the Japanese and against their wills, had been turned into powerful bioweapons created by Taishii himself. An interesting note that he found out - Guy was actually considered a failure because his mentality was slightly unstable thanks to the demonic essence, but he became more powerful due to his bloodthirsty nature.
“Glenn, go and get that red creep for me, yeah.” Francis said rather sleepily. “The morphine is kicking in… Feel…sleepy….”
“Don’t you worry, Frances. I’ll get him good for you.”
As soon as he said that though, Francis had laid back on his pillow and dozed off. His bandaged chest rising and falling as he breathed in and out.
Yeah, Glenn thought as he closed the door behind him. I’ll get him good for you…
**************
JAPAN
The passer by just can’t stop staring at the odd pair who are approaching him. Firstly, it’s because they’re just teenagers, roaming around without adult supervision. Second of all, they are wearing traditional Japanese garments even though there’s no special occasion in this time of the month. But the last of all, he just can’t stop feeling scared and frightened by their approach. It’s more like they’re emitting bad vibes, directed towards him.
“Konnichiwa.” The boy said rather cheerfully.
“K-Konnichiwa.” He stuttered. “Can I help you and your friend here?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact. You could.” The boy leaned in, his eyes ravenous. ”Where’s the Japanese army camp?”
“I-I don’t get you…”
The boy smiled angelically, but at the same time, his hair lengthened and bound him, causing him to scream.
“I won’t repeat myself a second time.” The boy said. “You got exactly three seconds to tell me where the place is before I rip you apart. One…”
“It-It’s near the Suruga Bay. ”
The boy smiled and dropped him into a heap onto the ground. Taking advantage of his freedom, the man ran, helter skelter down the path.
“Suruga Bay...”
The following days were like a dull blurs of visions sweeping by, the weather brilliant for picnics and walks, but for the two guys who stay in apartment 1-3A, there is no picnics or walks for them. Both had returned to the apartment late at night, doing their errand and now they are packing up a few of their belongings, Lloyd’s a duffel bag and Glenn’s his Columbia University bag.
“Here, I got your bullets specially blessed.” Lloyd said, tossing him a small bag.
“Don’t forget the stakes.” Glenn tossed him a bundle of sharpened wooden stakes.
Zipping up their bags, Lloyd nodded and said, “Get the passports. And could you let Mrs Harris know that we’ll be gone for a few days?”
Glenn nodded and was about to open the door when there was a sharp rapping on the door.
“If it’s a client, could you tell him or her to come back in a few days time?”
Glenn nodded and went to the door and gave a shout of surprise as Francis barged in, heavily bandaged, and lugging a wheelie suitcase with him.
“Frances, what are you doing here?”
“Coming with you, of course.” Francis wheeled his bag over to Lloyd who was gawping at him in surprise. “You didn’t think I would just sit back like some helpless guy in the ward, do you?”
“Well, no but-” Glenn began.
“And anyway, I already left my keys to Mrs Harris, and here’s my passport.” He reached into his pocket and slapped the small passport holder into Lloyd’s hand.
“Francis…” Glenn began, looking wan. “We only bought two tickets for today’s flight. How are you going to squeeze in with us?”
“I already got mine.” Francis winked and brought out a ticket pass. Glenn took hold of the pass and gave another shout, “No way!!!!”
“What is it now?” Lloyd asked dully. “Our flight is due in another few hours, and we have to check in before that.”
“He’s sitting right behind us.”
“I pulled a few strings to get that seat, you know.”
Lloyd sighed. “Glenn, he wins. Let’s just get Mrs H and we can get going. Arnie’s coming in five minutes time.”
“Alright, Francis, but can you fight? It’s not going to be a picnic, you know.”
“My fists are still working.”
“Alright, enough chit chat. Let’s get a move on.”
“Some juice for you sir?”
Dario turned to the stewardess who is hovering beside him with a smile. “None for me, thank you.”
The stewardess walked off to serve Alen, who is sitting with Revarie across him. Revarie was hypnotizing the stewardess to feed on her, since he had not feed on blood for the past few hours on the flight.
“You must be excited to go back to your hometown.”
He turned to Reo who was sitting beside him, his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses even though they are on board of the flight. It was a long time before Reo finally answered, “Not really.”
And the plane plunged forward into the sky.
Towards the Land of the Rising Sun.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Supernatural Demon Slayers : Chapter 28 - Intertwining Memories ( 絡み合うメモリーズ )
Arnie had dropped Lloyd and Glenn off in front of Darkmatter Manor. The place looks as though it’s built in the Victorian era. The manor looks like an old Victorian Manor, with lush greenery surrounding the manor with huge stone walls with a pair of iron-wrought gates, with elegant Victorian designs. On the left side, an iron plague reads, Darkmatter Manor .
Such a magnificent place, but taken by an evil person.
“G’ho. How come I never been to this part of the area?” Arnie was stunned by the structure of this place.
“We don’t know it ourselves.” Glenn whistled. “I don’t like saying this but your brother is rolling with cash.”
“Let’s just get this over with.” He said tightly, walking up to the gates. Arnie gave them a cheery wave and left, speeding down the road.
There’s an old-fashioned bell pull beside the plague. Gingerly, as though it disgusted him, he tugged it hard. A chiming bell sound rang throughout the manor, like a calling bell for prayers. After a few minutes or so, the iron gates opened electronically and as they stepped through, a CCTV camera followed their progress.
Silently, their footsteps dully echoed on the gravel path. Lloyd was wearing a skin tight sleeveless that shows off his well-developed muscles, a black belt that hung loose around his waist and pants. His Zanmato behind him. Glenn wore a pale grey loose fitting tee and faded pants, with his Sauer tucked into the waistband. The way they’re walking they looked as though they’re heading for war, but with the casual clothes they wore, they looked as though they’re out for an outing.
The front door was opened as though to invite them. Glenn withdrew his Sauer out and held it in front of him as they stepped in to find Allen waiting for them.
“Welcome.” He said softly. “We all had been expecting you.”
“Where’s V.V.?” Lloyd demanded.
“Why don’t you ask Guy? He’s the one holding her.”
Lloyd held out his Zanmato threateningly. “Don’t think I’ll take you lightly just because you’re a kid.”
Allen shrugged and said, “Dario wants to see you. I suggest you come along quietly unless you want me to call the others. Believe me, they love to get their hands on you.”
Glenn started but Lloyd held onto his shoulder. “Don’t, Glenn. We are in their territory. It’s better to see what he wants. And besides, I want to know how we are related.”
“Wise choice.” Mind’s Shadow said, emerging from Allen’s shadow. “This way, then.”
Dario was all alone, waiting for them, sitting in a small inner garden that’s inside the manor. An assortments of biscuits and teas had been set on the table, ranging from chocolate to custard cream to buttermilk and so on. The teas range from Chinese to European and even herbal, which is pretty odd.
“Ah, you both are here. Sit down, please.” He gestured at the empty seats around him. Lloyd made a quick look around, Revarie the vampire and Reo weren’t around, but neither is Guy and V.V. He made a quick scan on Dario’s face and felt a quick jolt in his stomach. They both do look exactly the same, but he had been blind to see it clearly. It’s only the sharper features that separates them and the colour tone of their hair.
“Where’s V.V.?” Lloyd demanded.
Dario looked a little disappointed. “Is that all you have to say? Where’s V.V.? Why don’t you sit down and I’ll tell you more.”
Glenn shook his head, muttering, “Are you really sure you want to do this?”
“What other choice do we have?” Lloyd took a seat opposite of him. Glenn hesitated, then did the same. Dario then fussed around them, offering tea and biscuits, treating them like guests, which in a way, they are.
“Why do you look like me?” Lloyd demanded, after his fourth helping of custard cream biscuit.
Dario set his tea down and hands clasped together, saying, “Tell me, how much do you remember?”
Lloyd frowned hard, much to Glenn’s interest. As far as Glenn had known him he had never, ever talked about his past, except that he was found by a man whose surname was Anderson, hence his surname.
“I was found in the middle of November.” He said slowly, looking lost in memories. “I remember it so clearly. It was so cold, so cold that I could still remember battling through the snow that is biting into my fingers and bones. I just ran away from my last foster family. I was dropped into an orphanage, and when I was 8. I was adopted, but the foster family were horrible. I hated it. I was thrown into one after and another. The last one, I had enough. After a week, I ran away. It was on… November 13.”
“As I had mentioned, it was so cold. So cold till I thought I was going to die, especially wandering around two weeks in the streets with no food, no money, nothing. I even had hyperpyrexia, not as bad as Tifa’s though. I collapsed in the middle of the street. And that’s when Mexx Anderson found me. ” In his mind’s eye, he could see a dark-haired boy as thin as a skeleton, wandering around aimlessly in a thin T-shirt and plaid shorts, looking lost and weak, feeling extremely hot and cold, struggling to battle against the snow.
“He’s dead now though.” He said to Dario in a matter-of-factly tone. “He got mauled to death by a Gargantuar, which makes me what I am now.”
“Touching.” Dario said softly. “Very, very touching. Well then, since you don’t remember about your past, let me fill in the gaps for you.”
“We were born in Pennsylvania, Southern California, into the Gainsborough. And I was jealous. So jealous that my little brother is getting all of the attention from our family. “ He put on a high-pitched mocking tone. “”Why can’t you be more like your brother?” “Isn’t Lloyd wonderful?” Not a day goes by when it’s always Lloyd this and Lloyd that.” His voice is losing its mockery, instead becoming more venomous with sarcasm. “Our father was a demonologist, you know.” He held out his Book of Shadows. “I got this… from him.”
Lloyd felt his stomach twinge, but kept himself interested to hear more.
“You see, our father was the curious type. Prodding things where he should not have meddled and leaving them in his lab.” His eyes turned hard. “I got my revenge on August 8.”
“My birthday.” Lloyd said in tones of disbelief.
Glenn’s eyes widened and said, “Are you on the crack, your birthday is on July 31. I know it myself because I went all the way downtown to get you the tiramisu cake from the Cake House.”
“No, it’s not. It’s on my birth cert and license. Mexx often celebrate it on July 31 because of his late son’s birth date who died in an accident.” He explained. Even as he explained it, he could see flashbacks of his past. Bits of pieces that had never appeared before. A boy, around 5-years-old walking in a garden, in front of a house that seems to resemble a villa house, looking flushed, as though he’s looking for something.
“Remembering anything yet?” Dario asked, his eyes filled with a sort of wolfish hunger. “Why don’t I prod a little more? Father was always researching demons and spells in his little lab and he always kept the door locked, except…he forgotten to lock it on that day because he was rushing. And I happened to stumbled upon it.”
Another memory is tweaking inside his mind. The boy was calling out for someone. “…Rio….Dario, where are you?”
Lloyd clutched his head, causing Glenn to go alarmed, “Lloyd?”
“I went into the lab. Let me tell you, it was full of weird stuff. Besides the usual mad scientist stuff. Spell books, skulls, herbs, anything that is used in potionlogy. And I happened to stumble upon this book in his shelf. Curiosity got the better of me as I brought it down and flipped it open. ”
Now Lloyd understood. That boy was him. He saw his 5-year-old self running down the lawn that leads to a shed, which the door is unlocked and opened. Obedience fighting with disobedience, he shuffled from one foot to another. There was a flash of light coming from the shed. That was when he made his decision.
“I was just chanting a few simple incantation when you burst in.” Dario’s voice suddenly seemed far away. “And- ”
“All hell broke loose.” Lloyd finished his sentence.
A fire started, not the small kind, but big powerful fiery inferno that is not caused by mere kitchen fire. No, it’s the work of supernatural. In the midst of the fire, Dario stood still like a sculpture, the book in his hands. His eyes filled with malice, reflected in the inferno.
“Dario, what did you do?” Lloyd wailed at his brother.
Something emerged from the inferno. It looks like a six foot long cobra, thick as a grown man’s thigh, surrounded in flames and shimmering in and out. Its eyes as dark as midnight, merciless and cruel, slightly bulging out of its head and its tongue, flicking in and out.
“Dario?!”
“What’s wrong, little brother? Afraid?” Dario turned to face him, untouched by the burning heat. “Afraid of getting…burned?”
“How could you-”
“Spare me the lecture.” Dario said, snapping the book shut. “I am tired of listening to everyone harping and fawning about you. Everything I do, everyone looks past. It’s always about Lloyd this and Lloyd that. I’m sick of hearing it.”
“No, people do care about you. They really do.” Lloyd said, petrified at the fiery cobra that is coiling and uncoiling itself beside Dario. The intense heat is also making him feel dehydrated.
“You know what? I might as well end your little life right here and now.” Dario clicked his fingers sharply and the cobra seemed to loomed over him, he could see his own reflection reflected in the eyes.
“And by the way, happy birthday…”
The cobra opened its mouth wide and….
Lloyd didn’t noticed that he had fallen out of his seat, with Glenn half-supporting him. “Lloyd? Lloyd? What’s wrong with you?”
“I spared you at the last minute.” Dario said, his voice getting smaller, dimmer, softer. “I even dumped you at the orphanage myself, watching you as you grow. I was waiting for the right time to finish you off personally without any interference. How ironic it is that you became a supernatural slayer yourself.”
Lloyd looked up, eyes burning with anger and sadness, raising his Zanmato when-
Glenn snuck up behind him with vampire strength and lashed out with a thrust kick. Dario with his graceful dancer-like reflexes caught his foot and gave him a hard shove. In counter response, he drew out his Sauer and started to fire, but Dario deflected it with his rapier.
“Oh, and if you’re looking for V.V., she’s not here.”
Glenn leapt away from him, half-crouching. “What did you just say?”
“Guy took her out for a trip.” Dario said rather casually. “Sorry, I forgot to mention.”
Glenn raised his Sauer, intending to shoot him, right here and now-
A bullet bounced off the wall and it would’ve hit him in the back if Allen haven’t telekinetically stopped the bullet in mid-air, dropping it harmlessly on the floor.
“Dario Darkmatter, prepare to die!”
Erica Giovanni stood in the doorway, holding out her revolver. Her eyes gleaming with a sort of madness look.
“What are you doing here?” Lloyd demanded.
“It’s you.” Dario said, looking bored. “What do you want?”
“We agreed on a partnership, then when I’m in trouble, you left me in jail to rot. When I tried to get you to bail me, you ignore me as though I’m some sort of tool that can be just tossed aside.” Her voice is slowly turning into a high-pitched shriek, “You think I’m just going to sit down and rot like some helpless scullery maid?!”
“Your usefulness had expired,” Dario said coolly.
“I’ll get you, you and your brother, are going to regret leaving me at that place!” The revolver aimed and fired at them, even for a woman, she’s very quick on the draw. In fact, Glenn noted, her gunmanship is on par with him. The bullet she’s using is also no ordinary bullets. Each time they come into contact, they let out a burst of power.
“You like it?” She said, catching his gaze. “Those are my very own custom-made bullets. I gave it an extra burst of power for exorcism.”
“Blessed with holy water and fused with holy fire.” Dario said in attacking position. “Except I’m not a demon.”
“I know you’re not, but he is!” She raised her revolver and shot somewhere in the ceiling without looking. There was a hiss of pain and Revarie appeared. One hand clutching a bloody gash on his left arm.
“You!” Glenn gasped.
Reo suddenly appeared, as quick as a cat, knocking him down, gunblade near the edge of his throat, leaving only Lloyd looking as still as a statue.
“I’ll get you both!” Erica shot at them both. Dario leapt aside like a striking cobra. Even though Lloyd is still in a slight daze, he had enough strength to throw himself aside as the bullets hit the glass, shattering part of it.
“She’s insane!” Allen yelped, rubbing a bruise on his arm where he had banged a coffee top table by accident.
“I want her blood.” Revarie licked his lips. “She injured me, she must pay.”
“Be my guest.” Dario inclined with his head.
“Where’s V.V.?” Lloyd demanded.
“Why don’t you check on her flash drive?”
Lloyd inhaled sharply. He knew…
“Of course I knew.” He laughed. “Allen can see the future. I just let you get it to see how things unfold.”
They watched as Erica’s bullets harmlessly whizzed past Revarie. Although the bullets are powerful, they are no match to a vampire like Revarie, whose strength and speed is unmatched to ordinary vampires. Of course, Lloyd thought to himself as Erica kept shooting at blurs. He’s an Original, he creates vampires for who knows how long. He had said so himself. How many blood had he devoured just to keep his strength up.
Even as he watched, Revarie found a blind spot behind her, twisted her arms to the back and put a booted leg onto her back.
“I win.” He said, his face twisting into vamp form. On close up, it looked distorted, like a mask of evil. His face became cross brow-ridged, morphing into an inhuman form, eyes becoming a brighter red like fresh blood, and his fangs became more visible, sharper and visible. Lloyd can’t bear to look, can’t bear to turn away, but he can’t. His body seems to disobey him, forcing him to watch.
He had never been fond of that woman, especially she’s cruel, using humans as tools for her experiments, but he felt a tinge of sympathy for her as he watched Revarie tightened his grip on her, smiling and biting her, causing her to let out a scream of hysteria. Fresh blood flowed out like a stream of red.
“Leave her alone.” Glenn managed to get out, but Reo pressed his gunblade nearer to his throat and said, “Don’t move.”
“Leave her,” Lloyd shouted, trying to step in, but Mind’s Shadow put a stop to that by stopping him with his shadow.
“Don’t ruin my appetite.” Revarie said in between drinking, red splattered all over his mouth.
Erica seems to grow paler, and whiter, as though all the colour had drained out of her, and slumped onto the ground, unmoving, dead.
“You killed her!” Lloyd choked out. “You actually just kill her like that, in cold blood?”
“I haven’t had such a good meal in days.” Revarie licked his lips, some blood oozing in his tongue.
Glenn grabbed Reo’s gunblade recklessly with his bare hands, yanked it away from him and without hesitating, gave a devastating blow onto the chest when he was caught off-guard, sending him sprawling. With vamp speed, he snatched Erica’s revolver and shot Revarie three times. Twice on the arms, and once on the leg.
“You filthy half-blood!!!!” He screamed, blood pouring out of his mouth.
“She doesn’t deserve this, even though she’s evil.” Glenn said, staring at the corpse. “But you, you are a monster!”
“You said it yourself even when you are one yourself?” Revarie laughed.
“At least I have my humanity.”’ Glenn said, holding out his revolver and Sauer and shooting Revarie rapidly, but without hitting his heart. Reo lunged at him but Lloyd hit him hard with his knee, causing him to cough. Dario suddenly lunged at him, smiling as their blades clashed.
“Incendia!”
Flames erupted from the rapier and blasted Lloyd off his feet like an explosive force, sending him knocking over the table. He could feel his head bleeding slightly. Even as he tried to get up, Dario kicked him hard on the face and pointed his rapier at his throat.
“Any last words before I kill you off, little brother?” He taunted.
“Burn in hell.” Lloyd spat.
“Let me know how it feels like.”
Flames erupted once more, but not at Lloyd, but at Dario. It started from his sleeve and became bigger, consuming his whole arm. Yelling in fear, he beat it out on the ground, leaving his arm slightly scorched. “What was that?!”
A boy stood in the doorway, hands stretched out. He’s slightly tanned, and he’s wearing an opened-necked Banana Republic T-shirt that revealed his skinny chest. His face is partly scarred by burn. On his neck, there’s a fine silver chain with a silver circlet. He looks so unfamiliar, except Lloyd was fairly sure he had seen him before.
“Is this how you fight? You look pathetic, Mister Lloyd.”
Reo and Lloyd both said at the same time. “Blaze?”
But, he doesn’t look like Blaze anymore. His hair had grown out, touching his collar. His hair is not red anymore, but fiery gold. He had also grown taller, matured, not like some annoying rebellious brat. His voice had even gone deeper, like an adult man’s. It’s impossible to recognize him, but it’s only because his “Mister Lloyd” still has the same sarcastic tone as ever.
“Do you who I am, you little brat?” Dario snarled, looking furious.
“Sure I do, you’re the guy who set the vampire on Hornet.” Blaze snapped his fingers and tiny flames appeared in each fingers.
Revarie laughed madly, oblivious to his wounds which are bleeding, but slowly regenerating, pushing the bullets out. “You came to avenge her? How sweet. ”
Blaze shook his head and said, “I don’t have to. Because she’s here.”
Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Revarie froze as hornets buzz around him, their wings buzzing rapidly. Even as he watched, a kunai dropped down near his feet with a tag calligraphed with a Japanese character attached.
“Abunai!” Reo yelled.
The kunai exploded, sending him blasting through the window and out into the sunlight. Revarie screamed as he came into contact with the sun, burning his skin. In anger, he hurriedly retreated into the shadows, and his skin stopped smoking and burning as the hornet herself appeared.
“Tifa, you’re-” Lloyd began.
“Awake and walking? Then, yes, yes I am.” She said.
She doesn’t look the same as well. Last time they saw her, she was weak and in a state of comatose. But now, she has matured into a more serious person, and she certainly became healthier and active. Her hair is in its usual plait, but instead of the well-worn ribbon, she knotted the plait with a jade green hair pin that is shaped like a swallow tail. She even became more feminine like and in touch with her culture, wearing a hornet-crested red qi pao top and matching skirt over tight pants. Her hornets buzzing around her.
“Well, well, well,” Dario said. “Look who it is.”
“Your vampire friend sent me into a comatose.” She said softly, kunais in each fist. “If Glenn haven’t suck the blood out of me, then I would’ve died.”
“Oh, really?” Dario said, looking interested.
“We have no interest in fighting with you today,” Blaze said coolly. “We’re here to save Mister Lloyd and the half-retard guy.”
“Hey!”
“Don’t let them leave here alive!” Dario shouted.
Reo recovered himself and attacked Glenn, half-shooting and half-slashing. It’s like fighting with an assassin in real life, Glenn thought as he used the revolver and Sauer to deflect the blows. Revarie is scorched in some parts, but however, he lunged at Lloyd, hands outstretched to strangle him, but Blaze intercepted him and knocked him off his feet.
“Come on, let’s go!” He yelled, dragging Lloyd with him.
“But-”
Blaze was clearly in no mood for arguments. He grabbed Lloyd towards the door, shoving him through it. Glenn was running from Reo, who is chasing him with his dual gunblades. Blaze put a stop to it by hurling a fireball in his direction, causing to halt in his tracks to avoid getting burned.
“Give them our present, Tiff.”
Tifa lagged behind and did some hand seals. She then vanished, like a ninja among ninjas. Ninja throwing projectiles such as kunais, shurikens and senbon needles hidden in ceiling suspended pouches and smoke bombs rained down upon them like a spectacular display of fireworks, or in this case, weapons.
Even as Lloyd and the others made their way out, they could hear yells and shouts coming from the manor. The smoke bomb blasted some of the window glass into shards, like showers of ice. He could even make out some figures dodging the projectiles.
Blaze gave a low whistle. “I think we overdid it.”
Back in Dr Chang’s house, everyone was served a cup of herbal tea, Dr Chang’s recipe. He didn’t fuss around them like he usually do, but listened to their tales. V.V. becoming a berserk killing machine thanks to Guy, Lloyd’s relation with Dario, Erica, the flash drive for her freedom, breakout and then to her death, Blaze and Tifa’s timely arrival…
The flash drive…
It’s still in his pocket, untouched, a tiny lumpy thing against his leg. Lloyd had never checked what in its content, let alone checked it. He had gotten the flash drive from her and went straight to Dario’s manor. He had never expected things to turn out like this.
“Tell you what,” Dr Chang said after they had finished telling him their part of the story. “I’m no expert on this, but why don’t you just use my laptop? Maybe there’ll be some clues about V.V. and Guy in the flash drive.”
So they obliged. They went to Dr Chang’s study and found his laptop, the power still on. He must be doing some work since he left it. He had gone out to the garden to give them some privacy, though Blaze and Tifa stayed behind, eager to see the contents of the flash drive.
Lloyd’s hand hovered near the USB port. His fingers holding the flash drive so hard as though he’s trying to break it. He turned to the others, gazing each of them in turn. Glenn’s slightly pale face, his pale grey eyes as grey as winter sky or a pearl, Blaze’s partly scarred face, his eyes blazing like a fiery ruby or garnet, and Tifa’s chocolate brown ones, serious and strong looking, with a drive hidden beneath them. Turning to Glenn, he said, “You do it.”
Glenn shook his head, saying, “You deserve the honour of doing it.”
“Just do it already. I’m feeling impatient.“ Blaze said.
Nodding, Lloyd connected the flash drive into the USB port. A small light started blinking by its side, indicating that it’s working and running. On the laptop screen, after the anti-virus scan had finished detecting for virus, a window popped out.
BROWSE FILES?
Without hesitating anymore, he moved the mouse cursor and clicked OPEN FILES.
Such a magnificent place, but taken by an evil person.
“G’ho. How come I never been to this part of the area?” Arnie was stunned by the structure of this place.
“We don’t know it ourselves.” Glenn whistled. “I don’t like saying this but your brother is rolling with cash.”
“Let’s just get this over with.” He said tightly, walking up to the gates. Arnie gave them a cheery wave and left, speeding down the road.
There’s an old-fashioned bell pull beside the plague. Gingerly, as though it disgusted him, he tugged it hard. A chiming bell sound rang throughout the manor, like a calling bell for prayers. After a few minutes or so, the iron gates opened electronically and as they stepped through, a CCTV camera followed their progress.
Silently, their footsteps dully echoed on the gravel path. Lloyd was wearing a skin tight sleeveless that shows off his well-developed muscles, a black belt that hung loose around his waist and pants. His Zanmato behind him. Glenn wore a pale grey loose fitting tee and faded pants, with his Sauer tucked into the waistband. The way they’re walking they looked as though they’re heading for war, but with the casual clothes they wore, they looked as though they’re out for an outing.
The front door was opened as though to invite them. Glenn withdrew his Sauer out and held it in front of him as they stepped in to find Allen waiting for them.
“Welcome.” He said softly. “We all had been expecting you.”
“Where’s V.V.?” Lloyd demanded.
“Why don’t you ask Guy? He’s the one holding her.”
Lloyd held out his Zanmato threateningly. “Don’t think I’ll take you lightly just because you’re a kid.”
Allen shrugged and said, “Dario wants to see you. I suggest you come along quietly unless you want me to call the others. Believe me, they love to get their hands on you.”
Glenn started but Lloyd held onto his shoulder. “Don’t, Glenn. We are in their territory. It’s better to see what he wants. And besides, I want to know how we are related.”
“Wise choice.” Mind’s Shadow said, emerging from Allen’s shadow. “This way, then.”
Dario was all alone, waiting for them, sitting in a small inner garden that’s inside the manor. An assortments of biscuits and teas had been set on the table, ranging from chocolate to custard cream to buttermilk and so on. The teas range from Chinese to European and even herbal, which is pretty odd.
“Ah, you both are here. Sit down, please.” He gestured at the empty seats around him. Lloyd made a quick look around, Revarie the vampire and Reo weren’t around, but neither is Guy and V.V. He made a quick scan on Dario’s face and felt a quick jolt in his stomach. They both do look exactly the same, but he had been blind to see it clearly. It’s only the sharper features that separates them and the colour tone of their hair.
“Where’s V.V.?” Lloyd demanded.
Dario looked a little disappointed. “Is that all you have to say? Where’s V.V.? Why don’t you sit down and I’ll tell you more.”
Glenn shook his head, muttering, “Are you really sure you want to do this?”
“What other choice do we have?” Lloyd took a seat opposite of him. Glenn hesitated, then did the same. Dario then fussed around them, offering tea and biscuits, treating them like guests, which in a way, they are.
“Why do you look like me?” Lloyd demanded, after his fourth helping of custard cream biscuit.
Dario set his tea down and hands clasped together, saying, “Tell me, how much do you remember?”
Lloyd frowned hard, much to Glenn’s interest. As far as Glenn had known him he had never, ever talked about his past, except that he was found by a man whose surname was Anderson, hence his surname.
“I was found in the middle of November.” He said slowly, looking lost in memories. “I remember it so clearly. It was so cold, so cold that I could still remember battling through the snow that is biting into my fingers and bones. I just ran away from my last foster family. I was dropped into an orphanage, and when I was 8. I was adopted, but the foster family were horrible. I hated it. I was thrown into one after and another. The last one, I had enough. After a week, I ran away. It was on… November 13.”
“As I had mentioned, it was so cold. So cold till I thought I was going to die, especially wandering around two weeks in the streets with no food, no money, nothing. I even had hyperpyrexia, not as bad as Tifa’s though. I collapsed in the middle of the street. And that’s when Mexx Anderson found me. ” In his mind’s eye, he could see a dark-haired boy as thin as a skeleton, wandering around aimlessly in a thin T-shirt and plaid shorts, looking lost and weak, feeling extremely hot and cold, struggling to battle against the snow.
“He’s dead now though.” He said to Dario in a matter-of-factly tone. “He got mauled to death by a Gargantuar, which makes me what I am now.”
“Touching.” Dario said softly. “Very, very touching. Well then, since you don’t remember about your past, let me fill in the gaps for you.”
“We were born in Pennsylvania, Southern California, into the Gainsborough. And I was jealous. So jealous that my little brother is getting all of the attention from our family. “ He put on a high-pitched mocking tone. “”Why can’t you be more like your brother?” “Isn’t Lloyd wonderful?” Not a day goes by when it’s always Lloyd this and Lloyd that.” His voice is losing its mockery, instead becoming more venomous with sarcasm. “Our father was a demonologist, you know.” He held out his Book of Shadows. “I got this… from him.”
Lloyd felt his stomach twinge, but kept himself interested to hear more.
“You see, our father was the curious type. Prodding things where he should not have meddled and leaving them in his lab.” His eyes turned hard. “I got my revenge on August 8.”
“My birthday.” Lloyd said in tones of disbelief.
Glenn’s eyes widened and said, “Are you on the crack, your birthday is on July 31. I know it myself because I went all the way downtown to get you the tiramisu cake from the Cake House.”
“No, it’s not. It’s on my birth cert and license. Mexx often celebrate it on July 31 because of his late son’s birth date who died in an accident.” He explained. Even as he explained it, he could see flashbacks of his past. Bits of pieces that had never appeared before. A boy, around 5-years-old walking in a garden, in front of a house that seems to resemble a villa house, looking flushed, as though he’s looking for something.
“Remembering anything yet?” Dario asked, his eyes filled with a sort of wolfish hunger. “Why don’t I prod a little more? Father was always researching demons and spells in his little lab and he always kept the door locked, except…he forgotten to lock it on that day because he was rushing. And I happened to stumbled upon it.”
Another memory is tweaking inside his mind. The boy was calling out for someone. “…Rio….Dario, where are you?”
Lloyd clutched his head, causing Glenn to go alarmed, “Lloyd?”
“I went into the lab. Let me tell you, it was full of weird stuff. Besides the usual mad scientist stuff. Spell books, skulls, herbs, anything that is used in potionlogy. And I happened to stumble upon this book in his shelf. Curiosity got the better of me as I brought it down and flipped it open. ”
Now Lloyd understood. That boy was him. He saw his 5-year-old self running down the lawn that leads to a shed, which the door is unlocked and opened. Obedience fighting with disobedience, he shuffled from one foot to another. There was a flash of light coming from the shed. That was when he made his decision.
“I was just chanting a few simple incantation when you burst in.” Dario’s voice suddenly seemed far away. “And- ”
“All hell broke loose.” Lloyd finished his sentence.
A fire started, not the small kind, but big powerful fiery inferno that is not caused by mere kitchen fire. No, it’s the work of supernatural. In the midst of the fire, Dario stood still like a sculpture, the book in his hands. His eyes filled with malice, reflected in the inferno.
“Dario, what did you do?” Lloyd wailed at his brother.
Something emerged from the inferno. It looks like a six foot long cobra, thick as a grown man’s thigh, surrounded in flames and shimmering in and out. Its eyes as dark as midnight, merciless and cruel, slightly bulging out of its head and its tongue, flicking in and out.
“Dario?!”
“What’s wrong, little brother? Afraid?” Dario turned to face him, untouched by the burning heat. “Afraid of getting…burned?”
“How could you-”
“Spare me the lecture.” Dario said, snapping the book shut. “I am tired of listening to everyone harping and fawning about you. Everything I do, everyone looks past. It’s always about Lloyd this and Lloyd that. I’m sick of hearing it.”
“No, people do care about you. They really do.” Lloyd said, petrified at the fiery cobra that is coiling and uncoiling itself beside Dario. The intense heat is also making him feel dehydrated.
“You know what? I might as well end your little life right here and now.” Dario clicked his fingers sharply and the cobra seemed to loomed over him, he could see his own reflection reflected in the eyes.
“And by the way, happy birthday…”
The cobra opened its mouth wide and….
Lloyd didn’t noticed that he had fallen out of his seat, with Glenn half-supporting him. “Lloyd? Lloyd? What’s wrong with you?”
“I spared you at the last minute.” Dario said, his voice getting smaller, dimmer, softer. “I even dumped you at the orphanage myself, watching you as you grow. I was waiting for the right time to finish you off personally without any interference. How ironic it is that you became a supernatural slayer yourself.”
Lloyd looked up, eyes burning with anger and sadness, raising his Zanmato when-
Glenn snuck up behind him with vampire strength and lashed out with a thrust kick. Dario with his graceful dancer-like reflexes caught his foot and gave him a hard shove. In counter response, he drew out his Sauer and started to fire, but Dario deflected it with his rapier.
“Oh, and if you’re looking for V.V., she’s not here.”
Glenn leapt away from him, half-crouching. “What did you just say?”
“Guy took her out for a trip.” Dario said rather casually. “Sorry, I forgot to mention.”
Glenn raised his Sauer, intending to shoot him, right here and now-
A bullet bounced off the wall and it would’ve hit him in the back if Allen haven’t telekinetically stopped the bullet in mid-air, dropping it harmlessly on the floor.
“Dario Darkmatter, prepare to die!”
Erica Giovanni stood in the doorway, holding out her revolver. Her eyes gleaming with a sort of madness look.
“What are you doing here?” Lloyd demanded.
“It’s you.” Dario said, looking bored. “What do you want?”
“We agreed on a partnership, then when I’m in trouble, you left me in jail to rot. When I tried to get you to bail me, you ignore me as though I’m some sort of tool that can be just tossed aside.” Her voice is slowly turning into a high-pitched shriek, “You think I’m just going to sit down and rot like some helpless scullery maid?!”
“Your usefulness had expired,” Dario said coolly.
“I’ll get you, you and your brother, are going to regret leaving me at that place!” The revolver aimed and fired at them, even for a woman, she’s very quick on the draw. In fact, Glenn noted, her gunmanship is on par with him. The bullet she’s using is also no ordinary bullets. Each time they come into contact, they let out a burst of power.
“You like it?” She said, catching his gaze. “Those are my very own custom-made bullets. I gave it an extra burst of power for exorcism.”
“Blessed with holy water and fused with holy fire.” Dario said in attacking position. “Except I’m not a demon.”
“I know you’re not, but he is!” She raised her revolver and shot somewhere in the ceiling without looking. There was a hiss of pain and Revarie appeared. One hand clutching a bloody gash on his left arm.
“You!” Glenn gasped.
Reo suddenly appeared, as quick as a cat, knocking him down, gunblade near the edge of his throat, leaving only Lloyd looking as still as a statue.
“I’ll get you both!” Erica shot at them both. Dario leapt aside like a striking cobra. Even though Lloyd is still in a slight daze, he had enough strength to throw himself aside as the bullets hit the glass, shattering part of it.
“She’s insane!” Allen yelped, rubbing a bruise on his arm where he had banged a coffee top table by accident.
“I want her blood.” Revarie licked his lips. “She injured me, she must pay.”
“Be my guest.” Dario inclined with his head.
“Where’s V.V.?” Lloyd demanded.
“Why don’t you check on her flash drive?”
Lloyd inhaled sharply. He knew…
“Of course I knew.” He laughed. “Allen can see the future. I just let you get it to see how things unfold.”
They watched as Erica’s bullets harmlessly whizzed past Revarie. Although the bullets are powerful, they are no match to a vampire like Revarie, whose strength and speed is unmatched to ordinary vampires. Of course, Lloyd thought to himself as Erica kept shooting at blurs. He’s an Original, he creates vampires for who knows how long. He had said so himself. How many blood had he devoured just to keep his strength up.
Even as he watched, Revarie found a blind spot behind her, twisted her arms to the back and put a booted leg onto her back.
“I win.” He said, his face twisting into vamp form. On close up, it looked distorted, like a mask of evil. His face became cross brow-ridged, morphing into an inhuman form, eyes becoming a brighter red like fresh blood, and his fangs became more visible, sharper and visible. Lloyd can’t bear to look, can’t bear to turn away, but he can’t. His body seems to disobey him, forcing him to watch.
He had never been fond of that woman, especially she’s cruel, using humans as tools for her experiments, but he felt a tinge of sympathy for her as he watched Revarie tightened his grip on her, smiling and biting her, causing her to let out a scream of hysteria. Fresh blood flowed out like a stream of red.
“Leave her alone.” Glenn managed to get out, but Reo pressed his gunblade nearer to his throat and said, “Don’t move.”
“Leave her,” Lloyd shouted, trying to step in, but Mind’s Shadow put a stop to that by stopping him with his shadow.
“Don’t ruin my appetite.” Revarie said in between drinking, red splattered all over his mouth.
Erica seems to grow paler, and whiter, as though all the colour had drained out of her, and slumped onto the ground, unmoving, dead.
“You killed her!” Lloyd choked out. “You actually just kill her like that, in cold blood?”
“I haven’t had such a good meal in days.” Revarie licked his lips, some blood oozing in his tongue.
Glenn grabbed Reo’s gunblade recklessly with his bare hands, yanked it away from him and without hesitating, gave a devastating blow onto the chest when he was caught off-guard, sending him sprawling. With vamp speed, he snatched Erica’s revolver and shot Revarie three times. Twice on the arms, and once on the leg.
“You filthy half-blood!!!!” He screamed, blood pouring out of his mouth.
“She doesn’t deserve this, even though she’s evil.” Glenn said, staring at the corpse. “But you, you are a monster!”
“You said it yourself even when you are one yourself?” Revarie laughed.
“At least I have my humanity.”’ Glenn said, holding out his revolver and Sauer and shooting Revarie rapidly, but without hitting his heart. Reo lunged at him but Lloyd hit him hard with his knee, causing him to cough. Dario suddenly lunged at him, smiling as their blades clashed.
“Incendia!”
Flames erupted from the rapier and blasted Lloyd off his feet like an explosive force, sending him knocking over the table. He could feel his head bleeding slightly. Even as he tried to get up, Dario kicked him hard on the face and pointed his rapier at his throat.
“Any last words before I kill you off, little brother?” He taunted.
“Burn in hell.” Lloyd spat.
“Let me know how it feels like.”
Flames erupted once more, but not at Lloyd, but at Dario. It started from his sleeve and became bigger, consuming his whole arm. Yelling in fear, he beat it out on the ground, leaving his arm slightly scorched. “What was that?!”
A boy stood in the doorway, hands stretched out. He’s slightly tanned, and he’s wearing an opened-necked Banana Republic T-shirt that revealed his skinny chest. His face is partly scarred by burn. On his neck, there’s a fine silver chain with a silver circlet. He looks so unfamiliar, except Lloyd was fairly sure he had seen him before.
“Is this how you fight? You look pathetic, Mister Lloyd.”
Reo and Lloyd both said at the same time. “Blaze?”
But, he doesn’t look like Blaze anymore. His hair had grown out, touching his collar. His hair is not red anymore, but fiery gold. He had also grown taller, matured, not like some annoying rebellious brat. His voice had even gone deeper, like an adult man’s. It’s impossible to recognize him, but it’s only because his “Mister Lloyd” still has the same sarcastic tone as ever.
“Do you who I am, you little brat?” Dario snarled, looking furious.
“Sure I do, you’re the guy who set the vampire on Hornet.” Blaze snapped his fingers and tiny flames appeared in each fingers.
Revarie laughed madly, oblivious to his wounds which are bleeding, but slowly regenerating, pushing the bullets out. “You came to avenge her? How sweet. ”
Blaze shook his head and said, “I don’t have to. Because she’s here.”
Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Revarie froze as hornets buzz around him, their wings buzzing rapidly. Even as he watched, a kunai dropped down near his feet with a tag calligraphed with a Japanese character attached.
“Abunai!” Reo yelled.
The kunai exploded, sending him blasting through the window and out into the sunlight. Revarie screamed as he came into contact with the sun, burning his skin. In anger, he hurriedly retreated into the shadows, and his skin stopped smoking and burning as the hornet herself appeared.
“Tifa, you’re-” Lloyd began.
“Awake and walking? Then, yes, yes I am.” She said.
She doesn’t look the same as well. Last time they saw her, she was weak and in a state of comatose. But now, she has matured into a more serious person, and she certainly became healthier and active. Her hair is in its usual plait, but instead of the well-worn ribbon, she knotted the plait with a jade green hair pin that is shaped like a swallow tail. She even became more feminine like and in touch with her culture, wearing a hornet-crested red qi pao top and matching skirt over tight pants. Her hornets buzzing around her.
“Well, well, well,” Dario said. “Look who it is.”
“Your vampire friend sent me into a comatose.” She said softly, kunais in each fist. “If Glenn haven’t suck the blood out of me, then I would’ve died.”
“Oh, really?” Dario said, looking interested.
“We have no interest in fighting with you today,” Blaze said coolly. “We’re here to save Mister Lloyd and the half-retard guy.”
“Hey!”
“Don’t let them leave here alive!” Dario shouted.
Reo recovered himself and attacked Glenn, half-shooting and half-slashing. It’s like fighting with an assassin in real life, Glenn thought as he used the revolver and Sauer to deflect the blows. Revarie is scorched in some parts, but however, he lunged at Lloyd, hands outstretched to strangle him, but Blaze intercepted him and knocked him off his feet.
“Come on, let’s go!” He yelled, dragging Lloyd with him.
“But-”
Blaze was clearly in no mood for arguments. He grabbed Lloyd towards the door, shoving him through it. Glenn was running from Reo, who is chasing him with his dual gunblades. Blaze put a stop to it by hurling a fireball in his direction, causing to halt in his tracks to avoid getting burned.
“Give them our present, Tiff.”
Tifa lagged behind and did some hand seals. She then vanished, like a ninja among ninjas. Ninja throwing projectiles such as kunais, shurikens and senbon needles hidden in ceiling suspended pouches and smoke bombs rained down upon them like a spectacular display of fireworks, or in this case, weapons.
Even as Lloyd and the others made their way out, they could hear yells and shouts coming from the manor. The smoke bomb blasted some of the window glass into shards, like showers of ice. He could even make out some figures dodging the projectiles.
Blaze gave a low whistle. “I think we overdid it.”
Back in Dr Chang’s house, everyone was served a cup of herbal tea, Dr Chang’s recipe. He didn’t fuss around them like he usually do, but listened to their tales. V.V. becoming a berserk killing machine thanks to Guy, Lloyd’s relation with Dario, Erica, the flash drive for her freedom, breakout and then to her death, Blaze and Tifa’s timely arrival…
The flash drive…
It’s still in his pocket, untouched, a tiny lumpy thing against his leg. Lloyd had never checked what in its content, let alone checked it. He had gotten the flash drive from her and went straight to Dario’s manor. He had never expected things to turn out like this.
“Tell you what,” Dr Chang said after they had finished telling him their part of the story. “I’m no expert on this, but why don’t you just use my laptop? Maybe there’ll be some clues about V.V. and Guy in the flash drive.”
So they obliged. They went to Dr Chang’s study and found his laptop, the power still on. He must be doing some work since he left it. He had gone out to the garden to give them some privacy, though Blaze and Tifa stayed behind, eager to see the contents of the flash drive.
Lloyd’s hand hovered near the USB port. His fingers holding the flash drive so hard as though he’s trying to break it. He turned to the others, gazing each of them in turn. Glenn’s slightly pale face, his pale grey eyes as grey as winter sky or a pearl, Blaze’s partly scarred face, his eyes blazing like a fiery ruby or garnet, and Tifa’s chocolate brown ones, serious and strong looking, with a drive hidden beneath them. Turning to Glenn, he said, “You do it.”
Glenn shook his head, saying, “You deserve the honour of doing it.”
“Just do it already. I’m feeling impatient.“ Blaze said.
Nodding, Lloyd connected the flash drive into the USB port. A small light started blinking by its side, indicating that it’s working and running. On the laptop screen, after the anti-virus scan had finished detecting for virus, a window popped out.
BROWSE FILES?
Without hesitating anymore, he moved the mouse cursor and clicked OPEN FILES.
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