A hollow clank echoed across the desolate building as the sound of a rattling sword halted to a stop.
This has to be a trick. Maybe a powerful illusion of some kind, casted on him by a human. And yet, in his heart of hearts, Crowley Eusford wanted to believe in that which stood in front of him.
"Lucia…?" he spoke softly-almost quivering, afraid that if he spoke any louder, the ephemeral being would vanish like a fleeting dream.
"Lord Crowley? What's wrong?" his beautiful assistant drew her eyes onto the human that captured her lord's attention, "Is it this human?"
"What~? Does this human interest you, Lord Crowley? I'll admit, she does look tasty~!" his second assistant pondered as she drew her sword.
"Stay back." he said sharply, "And put your weapons down."
Rarely, did either of them seen their lord act so tense. Although they were both confused, Horn quietly complied with his orders. Chess made more of a fuss before sheathing her blade. She couldn't believe that some lowly human managed to get Lord Crowley's attention over her, someone who has been with him for longer than the human has been alive.
The woman draped in ragged, tatter sheets bore too much resemblance to his late wife to be a coincidence. Even though his human emotions became dull as a stone, he felt a sudden flash of joy. And yet, he knew it was impossible. It had already been 802 years since she had vanished from his life, leaving no body for him to grieve nor to experience closure. It could never be the same person.
He examined her, the woman still dazed and inattentive to the danger in front of her. Her ears were still rounded like a human. Her teeth bore no fangs. Her eyes, still the verdant green he became enamored with when he first courted her so many centuries ago. She was a human.
He was relieved that she wasn't tormented to a soulless eternity, and yet disappointed for this was proof that it was impossible that she and his wife were the same person. Still, he clung on to the thread of hope, however thin it was.
"Lucia, is that you?" he asked gently, walking slowly towards her.
Crowley could see something squirming behind her. It was a human child, hiding behind her for protection. The closer he got, the more terrified the child became. As if a moment of lucidity had come over her, she immediately wrapped her arms around the small one, protecting her from the approaching monster.
"I'm not here to hurt you. I just want to know if you know who I am."
No answer. She only glared at him with a mix of fear and anger. Even with his feelings dulled, he still felt a bit of disappointment at her hostility. A flash of realization occurred to him. She couldn't possibly understand what he was saying. He had been living in Japan for far too long, and immediately switch back to his native English.
"No," she finally replied, "I do not know who you are. But you act if you know who I am. Umm… Do...you know who I am?"
An amnesiac? Is this a miracle, or some cruel trickery played by God?
"You resemble my late wife," he explained, "Her name is Lucia Alexandros... Lucia Eusford. Does any of those names sound familiar to you?"
"...Somewhat. It feels familiar but… I'm sorry, m-my head hurts…"
"Lord Crowley had a wife~?" Chess mumbled to her compatriot.
"It would only make sense," Horn replied quietly, "Lord Crowley was 25 when he was turned into a vampire. In his time, it would be more odd if somebody his age was never married… especially a man of his status."
"But even if he did, she's a human, isn't she? She should be dead!"
"Shh!" Horn scolded her, but she knew that Chess had a point. The most a human can live is to about a hundred or so. Eight hundred years would be impossible.
Ignoring his aide's squabbling, Crowley asked more questions.
"Do you remember anything?"
"Only something very vague... I was in a white room. Somebody was telling me something… I...I can't remember what it was, but I think it was something important. And then I fell asleep. When I woke up, I was in a place I never seen before..."
"And her?" he motioned to the child behind her, quaking in fear.
"She is the one that found me. But she so scared of you. ...What are you?"
She can't understand the child, who was mumbling the word 'kyuketsuki' again and again. Tugging at her waist as she buried her head into her back, crying in terror. How could she. After all, how could she learn Japanese when she never left her country?
"Hey kid," Crowley switched back to Japanese, "Can you stop crying? I won't hurt you."
"You're a vampire! I know what you guys do to us!" she whimpered.
"I'm not an average vampire though," he said lightheartedly and smiling, "I'm a boss vampire. And I don't like drinking children's blood nor do I like killing children. If you come with me, I'll protect you from the other vampires and monsters."
"You're lying! I saw what you did my friends! None of you stopped! And now… now they're gone." She began crying again, remembering how gruesome they had resisted, struggled, and died by the horrific hunger of a nearly starved vampire.
"What did you say to her?" the woman glared at him, unaware of how disrespectful and dangerous it was to even look at a Progenitor in the eyes.
"I told her that she shouldn't be scared of me, but I don't think I had fully convinced her just yet."
Crowley crouched down, making eye contact with the child.
"What's your name, little one?"
"H-Hina," she avoided looking into his eyes.
"Hina, if I wanted to kill you, wouldn't I have already? You and this woman would already be dead if I willed it. Do you know why you're not dead?"
She shook her head, now more terrified than ever.
"Because I need you two to be alive. I won't hurt you, so if you could stop crying, that would be better for the both of us, okay?" he said with a disarming smile.
Hina knew that this could easily be interpreted as a threat. The vampire really could kill her and the lady if he wanted to. And unless she stopped crying, he would. Hina forced her tears back, rubbing her eyes and letting the last hiccup through, finally quieting down.
"Good girl." He smiled again, patting her on the head like a parent to their child.
"...She stopped crying... What did you say?"
"I told her that I would protect the both of you from the monsters here. This city is full of them, you know? I have a large castle that I can let you two stay in, much safer than this place. You can eat good food and wander the yard without worry. After all, I'm here to protect you now. Doesn't that sound great, Lucia?" Crowley smiled, extending his hand towards the human.
The woman hesitated taking his hand. She didn't know who he was or what his true intentions were. Hell, she didn't know who she was. But she knew her options: Go with him or starve with the child. The choice was clear and with an uneasy heart, she grabbed his hand. A smile grew on Crowley's face as he felt the warmth of her hand on his. With her hands in his grip, his fingers entwined with hers as a feeling of nostalgia washes over his mind.
