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Summary: A vampire horde takes up residence in the mansion at the edge of town, and a series of disappearences follow... Darkness has arrived, its purpose bleak, and only a feeble few stand in its way.
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Absinthe with Faust
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Writer: lostscore
"So what does everyone think? Home?" Marluxia stood in front of the door to the somewhat ancient-looking and weather beaten castle, gazing up at it reverently and eying the remainder of his group with just enough hint of a fang to imply that he didn't actually care what any of them thought. His gaze flickered over each of them in turn, daring them to question his decision.
Lexaeus shrugged and made a faint noise of something like approval, his indication that he was as pleased with the place as he was going to get.
"It's got no windows." Larxene snapped, determined as always to get a word in edgewise. Marluxia didn't take offense to her attitude, as next to himself, she was the youngest Vampire there. While Marluxia had proved himself a natural leader and therefore suited to be entrusted with the wellbeing of his fellows, Larxene had no such power and often felt the need to assert herself in some capacity.
"Which makes it perfect." the red-haired behemoth standing beside her suggested, and the woman fell silent, knowing this was an indisputable fact. Vampires could not survive in sunlight, so a castle that was wrapped in perpetual darkness was ideal.
"Have we got a place to shove the brat in there?"
"Yes Vexen, we'll put you in the basement." Another redhead deadpanned, apparently nonplussed by the rudeness. He gripped the hand of the small vampire child to whom Vexen had been referring and she gave him a calming, reassuring squeeze.
Marluxia watched the exchange, his expression never changing though distaste and apprehension flowed through every part of him. Namine was the reason for and the most important part of his plan to leave Xemnas' coven. Their former leader had been fascinated with her more pedestrian talents and it would have only been a matter of time until he'd learned of her true potential. That was a commodity Marluxia had long moved towards gathering for himself. Unfortunately, Namine had fascinated Axel as well, but not for reasons of power. The redheaded vampire who was even now doting on the girl had an unusually non-vampiric habit of forming obsessions with others. For one reason or another, Namine allowed the advances and the result was a partnership that threatened his plans.
"Then it's settled. We'll stay here." Marluxia flashed a triumphant grin around at all of them as he pushed open the heavy double doors, throwing a growing patch of moonlight onto the chipped and crumbling marble floor. He was certain that the rest of his group would remain happy here and not at all suspicious. He intended to let them do, hunt and otherwise come and go as they would. Xemnas' rules and restrictions had convinced the majority to follow him, so it would be a simple matter to keep them happy.
Only Namine seemed at all apprehensive of the new quarters. Vexen and Lexaeus quickly located a flight of stairs leading to subterranean levels, while Zexion was content to examine this floor. Larxene followed by Axel lead the girl higher and higher into the towers. Her voice floated away, wispy and frail. "This place has a strange energy…"
"Shut up." Axel snarled, hitching his prisoner along with unnatural strength by one leg. The free foot kicked violently out at the vampire, in spite of the long trail of rapidly drying red that the dragging was leaving on the white floor.
Paying no apparent attention to the violent blows the other man was dealing to his lower back and sides, Axel stopped and used his free hand to open a nearby door. The place was just as violently white as the rest of the castle.
"Hi, Namine. I brought you something." Axel gestured to the man and spared only a brief glance for the room's other occupant.
If Namine and Marluxia had been doing anything that had been interrupted, it wasn't obvious. "Thank you, Axel." She smiled politely, earning herself a dazzling grin in return. "I'm tired tonight though; do you think you could help me?"
Nodding, Axel dropped the man who immediately struggled to his feet. The wound in the back of his head was clearly making him dizzy, but his impressive size kept him moving.
"This one liked to torture and molest young children." Axel said conversationally to the room at large, as he leaned down to let Namine support herself on his arm.
Marluxia frowned, this time not bothering to hide his distaste since it would easily be interpreted as directed towards Axel's victim. The real problem however was that it was important to keep Namine under the impression that she was weak and needed help to survive. While Axel was particularly good at the manipulation of humans and fond of dealing just-desserts to the guilty, powerful people like this man may serve to strengthen the powers Marluxia was taking careful pains to awaken on his own terms.
The man, though probably still not entirely aware what he was in for, was nevertheless desperately trying to escape, bloodying his hands as he smashed uselessly at the heavy door. As Axel and Namine came up behind him, he made the mistake of looking around at her, and that was all it took. Axel stepped away, returning to Marluxia's side.
It was almost comical to see, this hulking figure staring transfixed down at the much shorter girl, the former of the two slowly cracking. It was almost imperceptible at first, a twitching of the lip, clenching of the fist. Then suddenly, the man was screaming, writhing on the floor and clawing at his own eyes.
"Please, make this stop! I don't want to remember!" he was honestly crying now and Namine bent to his side with an emotion that could possibly be called sympathy. The gentle smile that graced her lips was perverted by the hint of sharply pointed incisors.
"It'll be over soon." Namine opened her lips wider, the man too hysterical to notice her turning his head to the side.
"Must have been bad." Axel and Marluxia observed the spectacle calmly. "I wonder what horrible things a guy like that would remember?"
"Hm." Was all Marluxia had to say. "Axel, don't you feel that someone like that is a bit dangerous for Namine? I know you wouldn't want her to get hurt."
"Isn't weakness what's holding her back from using her power?" Axel asked, a hint of confusion crossing his features.
"Yes, and no. We're aware Namine has the power to merge worlds, correct? Our goal is to have her merge Earth and Hell. She could do that in a heart beat."
"Naturally, like with all special and mighty powers there's a catch that prevents people like us from abusing them." Axel nodded, understanding.
"That's the size of it. Namine's control will only work on beings with memories and souls. Most demons I've encountered don't have souls to be controlled, and most of them are stronger than Vampires. In spite of the irony, I'd rather not do all this work, just to end up a slave."
"What then, do you intend to do about it?"
"I intend for Vexen to build me a test subject. A being without a soul that Namine will learn to control the same way that she would a normal human."
"Will that work?"
"No idea, but it's a start." Marluxia strode past Namine as she rose from the now-corpse, scrubbing her mouth discreetly with her hand. "And clean that up." Marluxia nodded at the body.
"I'm tired Axel. Could you…?" Namine turned her head to the side, apparently embaressed.
Axel nodded. "I'll dispose of it for you. He picked her up, smiling as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her face to his shoulder.
"I know Axel."
"Know what?" Axel turned his face to the side to nuzzle her hair, still smiling.
"About what Marluxia wants." She sniffled, "I don't want to do it."
"I'll find a way to stop him." Axel promised, without thinking.
Namine leaned up to kiss his cheek, and Axel returned the affection, but his mind was all too clearly focused on his new task. So Marluxia and Vexen were going to try and create a human replica without a soul, was that it? He wasn't sure what kind of success manipulation would have, but maybe a little charm would bring better luck.