Haze is a project I started awhile ago, and I tried to continue it but I found I HATED the way Iris just turned into a character I could not respect. In addition, I found there was a large amount of writer's block that surrounded any attempt I had to continue the story.
So, here is a new rendition of Haze, just at there is a new rendition of Heaven, Hell, anything in between, and No Use Crying Over Spilled Blood. Hopefully, I can keep updating these stories, and stop pissing everyone off with my inability to post new chapters.
Disclaimer:: If Vampire Hunter D was mine, do you think Iris would just be a fanfiction character? Also, I think I would have more money than I do now.
Prologue
Purging Night
"The purging night, the night we called forth our strength and purged this world of the demons who reside in mortal bodies, those disgusting witches!" the preacher cried to his congregation. A loud amen was heard through the people, all agreeing with the preacher's message.
"For, it was on that night that we hunted them, dragged them into the light, and burned them to save their condemned souls!" the man yelled, pounding his fist onto the podium. Another loud praise of approval was heard from the congregation.
"Yet, there are still those out there who possess the powers of hell! The air they breathe is an abomination, a scar upon the earth! They shall all be dragged into the light, and they shall all burn for the redemption of their SOULS!"
At this, a loud chorus of yells and cheers was heard, prompting Iris to look up from where she'd been collecting herbs from the church's garden.
"Damn, those people can be pretty loud," she muttered, uprooting a mint plant. After all, the garden she shared with her master at their humble cottage was very limited on the herbs. She looked over at some of the vegetables that the church grew and contemplated grabbing some carrots, hers were on the small side and the ones the church had were huge. However, just as she was rising to walk over to where the carrots were, the bell began to ring, marking the end of the service. Iris jumped to her feet and sprinted down the hill and thru the trees that covered the hill. At one point she lost her foot and stumbled down the lush greenery of the hill until she landed on her knees at the bottom. When she heard the sounds of the churchgoers voices carrying down the hill, she got up and kept running. Finally, she reached the creek that ran through the forest and slowed her pace to a walk and casually strolled along the bank, letting her heartbeat slow to its usual pace.
For a long period of time Iris continued her path along the creek in silence. The sermon she'd over heard from the priest was still in her mind, and she found herself wondering what those people would say if they knew there were two witches, well her master chose to be called a wizard, living within the forested area outside their town. A sudden feeling of shame came over her with the fact she'd just been in the church garden stealing, an offense which could have brought unwanted attention their way. It wasn't her fault they had barely an herbs in their garden, and without the touch of spices and herbs the vegetable dishes her master would cook up were known for being rather bland. She was just trying to help. Without thinking about it, Iris found herself speaking to herself.
"Well, this was fun. Nearly blew our cover to get some fucking herbs so dinner wouldn't taste so bland!" Iris growled, kicking a stone. The stone riquechetted off of another and plopped into the creek with a splash. Iris watched the resulting ripples and sighed, plopping down on the bank with a slight thump.
"Purging Night, what a fucking farce. I mean, all those jackasses did was drag people out of their homes and burn them. It should be murder night, masacre night, purging night makes it sound like a good thing. Fucking farce," she muttered, gently dipping her fingertips into the water and splashing around a bit.
"Iris, what the hell are you doing out here?" asked a stern voice from behind her.
She jumped and turned around to face her master, a man with thinning, gray hair and large green eyes that seemed to sparkle like emeralds. She sighed, reached into her pack, and pulled out some of the herbs she'd taken from the garden.
"I see. May I ask who you stole these from?" asked her master. Iris turned her eyes away and muttered something under her breath.
"I didn't hear that Iris," her master badgered her.
"I said I took it from the church garden. I'm sorry master," she muttered. Her master motioned for her to follow him and Iris got off the ground.
"I know you're at an age where I can't control you anymore," her master began, which allowed Iris to determine he was going to embark on one of his long winded speeches. "You may not believe it, but this old bastard was once a fourteen, and trust me, I was a hell raiser in my day too."
"However, in this day an age, when we're supposed to be gone, totally extinct, we should not attract any attention to ourselves which includes breaking into the church and stealing herbs from the garden," her teacher said.
"I was just....I was trying to help. No offense, but I really don't like tasteless food," said Iris.
"Well nether do I. However, I'll take them over having another angry mob of villagers chase me out of a home, again," said her master.
They approached a humble cottage that had long been covered in vegetation. A small ammount of smoke leaked from a chimney that slightly protruded from the lush greenery that hid the house.
Her master reach under a mass of vegetation and opened a door, which he held open for Iris, and then slammed shut. Inside, the cottage was cluttered with books, pots, pans, and a few pots that held some simmering liquids.
"Well, since you went out of your way to get these, let's have some cooked pheasant tonight. By the way, did you finish that potion I had you start on this morning?" asked her master. Iris paled and ran to a cauldron that was filled with an orangish, thick smelly broth. She groaned and pulled out a book, studying the text and then staring back at the broth.
"What did you do wrong?" asked her master, coming up behind her. Iris shook her head.
"Well....I added the Nightshade," she began.
"And?" her master badgered.
"I....added half a cup of water and some spider legs," she said.
"Aaaaaand?" he master said, motioning with his hands.
"And....Oh crap! I forgot the beetles before I heated it!" she yelled.
"Exactly, which is why you have that mess on your hands. Throw it out and try again," her master instructed.
Iris walked outside and tried to throw the concoction out, but it was stuck in the cauldron. She even turned the cauldron over, but it would not come out. She sighed and threw the cauldron on the ground.
"Just pour nail polish remover on it. It thins out the mixture, and then you can toss it out," said her master from inside the house. Iris followed his directions and held her nose as the mixture took on a smell akin to rotten eggs mixed in a vomit soup. Sure enough, the color changed to a clearer reddish color and the mixture was easily thrown out into the yard.
Iris brought the cauldron back in and cleaned it out before starting on the potion. After about three or four hours, it was a cheery pink color and smelled slightly of vanilla, and when used correctly could clear up various skin ailments but was deadly to ingest. Iris smiled, the potion was exactly how it was supposed to be according to the book. Her master looked over her work and smiled.
"Exactly. Follow the directions, and you get what you want. Now come on, let's get something to eat," said her master.
Iris and her master sat down to a cooked pheasant, seasoned with some of the herbs Iris had taken from the garden, and some bread and vegetables from their own garden. It was silent between them, indicating the meal was good.
After awhile, her master put his fork down and looked at her.
"Iris, do you know what today is?" he asked.
Iris thought about this and shrugged. "Sunday?" she asked, picking up another forkful of food. Her master chuckled and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small white handkerchief and handed it to her.
"Happy birthday," he said to Iris as she stared at the tiny bundle in her hand. Iris nearly choked on her food.
"It's my birthday?" she asked. Her master chuckled.
"Eight years ago I found you sitting in a patch of irises. I knew from the first glance you had the gift, we can sense these things you know. I took you in, and now eight years later instead of the fragile little girl I find myself looking at a blossoming young woman," said her master, leaning back in her chair.
Iris blinked and slowly unwrapped the handkerchief. Inside was a delicate looking silver chain, from which hung a small silver pendant with a deep sapphire gem. Iris stared at it in amazement, letting it hang off her fingers as the gem glittered in the miniscule light allotted by the windows of the shack.
"Wow...where did you get this?! This must have been worth a fortune!" she said with a gasp. Her master chuckled and looked her in the eyes.
"A small girl held it in her hands eight years ago. Of course then, the chain had been broken, and the pendant itself needed some repair. I thought, given that you are now much older, that it was an appropriate time to turn it over to you," said her master.
Iris smiled and slowly put the necklace on. It seemed to glow the second it hung around her neck, and Iris wondered if it might hold some sort of magical energy. However, when she saw her master either did not see the glow, or did not acknowledge it, she decided it was a question that could wait until another time.
~_~_~_~
Iris did not know what it was that awakened her in the early hours of the morning. Iris rubbed her eyes and looked out the window near her bed. Her eyes widened when, through the thick vegetation, she could see burning torches. She threw back her sheets and sprinted from the bed.
"Master!" she hissed, looking for him in the darkness of the house. She nearly screamed when she felt his hand on her shoulder but her master clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Shh...I've already gathered some clothes, and the spell book. We need to get out," her master hissed. he moved his hand off her mouth and handed her a bag.
"How do we get out, they've surrounded us!" she hissed. In the darkness, a smile stretched itself across his face.
"Do you think I would move somewhere without an escape plan? Move to the side please," he said Iris did as he said and her master threw back a dingy, beige rug to reveal a door in the floor. He pulled it up and motioned for her to get in. Iris did as he said and was looking back to have him come in after her, but her master quickly closed the door, locking her in pitch blackness.
"What are you doing?!" she yelled. She could hear creaking and the sound of something being pushed across the floor. Fear creeping into her veins, she tried to push on the door but it did not budge. Her master appeared to have pushed something over it.
"You better get going," her master's muffled voice yelled through the floorboards.
"Not without you! Please, let's get going! Come on! They'll kill you!" Iris screamed.
"I'm too slow, they'll catch us too easily if I'm with you. I'll fight them off, you go," her master commanded her.
Iris tried to yelled again but an explosion knocked her backwards. She coughed and felt dirt hit her face.
"The tunnel will go to the beach, it'll take you a few hours to get there. Now go, before I knock you back even farther," her master yelled. Iris looked forlornly at the door, and then slowly rose off the ground. She felt her legs were a bit wobbly, she guessed it was an after effect of being blasted backwards. She held out her hand and within a few moments, a small ball of light appeared, illuminating the dirt walls of the tunnel. She walked down the tunnel, tensing when she heard sounds of a struggle from above. Then, she pelted down the tunnel, her eyes filled with unshed tears, and never looked back at the house where her master held his last stand.