:Hey peoples! Just here to warn you that there will be a decent amount of blood in this chapter, not for the squimish! Also, I do not own any of the FFVII Characters, but I do own any and all original characters mentioned in this story including the nasty little bad guy and the female protagonist, Mae. Do not use them in any way without my permission! . Anywhoddlies, read, review, run around and have fun. Bad mean comments are not appreciated, but constructive critisism is. Hugs and kisses to my friends::
Chapter 1 : Of Moon and Blood
The Forgotten City… cold, dark, desolate, framed by pale iridescent trees. It held a timeless quality that enthralled those who entered it and drew them into a hypnotic state, making their minds fuzzy and dull, capturing their minds and stealing their perception of reality until time means nothing. The city itself, forgotten by the world, seemingly taking revenge by making most all who trod its paths forget one thing or the other. Only those who knew its secrets could not be captured in its thrall. They admired its deadly beauty, and respected its haunting power.
One man, drawn by its seclusion, haunted by its past found himself once again wandering under the majestic branches of the barren trees. He had not been there in a long while, ever since Kadaj and his gang had been killed. He had chosen to stay near the warmth of his friends. Though still distant from them in many ways, he was also irrevocably connected, and they kept pulling him back in. He guessed in many ways he was grateful. They helped pass the time. Filled lonely hours with interesting banter and foolish antics.
Lost in his thoughts, Vincent climbed up into one of the largest trees and lay comfortably cradled in its branches. There was a little breeze now, chilly, but not uncomfortably so. He had felt a strong pull dragging him to the forest earlier that day, but now the sensation was gone. He decided he would take a nap before heading back to meet the others.
Mae's heart beat rapidly in her chest, the dull metallic taste of blood lingered in her mouth, and she spit in to the side. Agony tore at her as she stumbled blindly along the worn dirt path. Her crimson blood stood out in stark contrast from the alabaster skin it wept from. The calm blue glow of the trees engulfed her, making her pain riddled mind slip further into the fog that had wound its way around her senses.
She saw the forest floor tilt before her, rising up to meet her, and managed to catch herself on one of the mysterious trees. Her head throbbed and her ears rang, but she mustn't stop. The fear that tore through her stomach making adrenaline rush through her veins reminded her of that. But oh, she was so tired. Panting and clutching her side, she pushed herself forward, dragging a slim gleaming sword behind her, silver in the luminescent glow of the forest.
Strangely enough, the forest seemed to pity the girl, coming alive and closing the path behind her. It would not matter in the end though. Her fate pursued her and not even an ancient forest alive with cryptic magic could protect her from the blood lust and hate of her foe.
The sound of harsh pants and shuffling feet broke through the haze of sleep that had settled over Vincent Valentine. Framed against the sky, his crimson cape and dark outfit hid him from the weary girl who sluggishly fled through the forest. The bitter scent of blood reached him from his perch and he turned his now interested gaze down to the no longer vacant path.
It was a woman, small in stature, dragging a gleaming katana behind her, struggling to drag her beaten body down the paths and further into the city. She wore a pained expression, partially hidden beneath wild raven curls that draped haphazardly over her aqua blue eyes. She was clutching her side, covered in gore stemming from a long gash that curled up from her belly button and around to the back of her left shoulder.
He watched her stop suddenly, shudder and fall to her knees, breathing heavily and clutching her heart. Pale to begin with, her skin practically glowed blue due to the ancient light of the trees. He watched, transfixed as they seemed to lean in and cradle her in their branches, aided by the wind. He blinked and the illusion was gone.
A harsh laugh reached his ears and he watched a dark man walk nonchalantly from the darkness. He stood a good twenty feet from the girl, arms crossed with a wicked grin twisting his features. He too had dark black hair and blue eyes, though his reminded Vincent of the vicious ice storms that wracked the North Crater.
"Mae…" That one single word, sent shivers down her spine. Fear clawed at her insides and adrenaline tore through the fog surrounding her brain. Every instinct she had was screaming for her to run, but her pride was finally rearing its head. She had had enough. She could run forever and he would still be right there behind her, laughing, taunting. Heart pounding in her chest, she gritted her teeth, plunged her sword in the ground and lifted herself from the soft earth.
Another harsh laugh scraped through the thin night air.
"Finally decided to fight me then? I thought you would run forever, though…" said the dark man as he played with the blade of his sword, "I can't say I didn't enjoy the chase."
Mae's eyes narrowed, her fear replaced by anger. They were a molten pool of iridescent silver. The wind died down and nothing seemed to move…
Vincent slid down from his perch, jumping noiselessly to a closer tree. Neither of the two people on the ground noticed. The tree thrummed under his hand, warm to the touch. Vincent felt the air grow heavy. The forest called.
A blur and then a strident screech at the two swords slid across each other's surface. The dark haired man was inches from Mae's face, and she did not like it. She dipped gracefully ignoring the pain in her stiff and aching muscles and brought her katana up under the swing of her opponent.
Another blur and he was behind her. She felt her breath slip from her lungs and she dove forward to avoid the deadly blade that sought so eagerly to cleave open her flesh. She was far too weak from blood loss to fight him, but she no longer had the option of running. Her blade, always so comfortable in her grip felt heavy and her movements sluggish. Her arm didn't seem to want to move as fast and she needed it to, and her feet seemed more clumsy then normal. All she could hear was her heart, throbbing in her ear, and all she could feel was the pain jolting up from her side, and the warmth that spilled down from it.
Her vision had lost clarity a while ago, and she was reacting on pure instinct to keep herself alive. She knew that it would be over soon.
"Come on Mae! Can't you do better then that?" the man taunted with a sneer. He laughed as he danced around her pale form, chest heaving from the effort to keep moving, keep breathing. "You're as beautiful as a dying butterfly before its wings are torn off Mae…"
A snarl escape the pale lips of the raven haired woman and she lashed out at the man who knocked her sword aside as if it were nothing. His arm moved faster then lightening and soon his long fingers were wrapped around her neck. Grasping and clawing at her attacker's arm did nothing. She drew blood and ripped skin, but he did nothing but smile.
"Dear Mae… would you like me to rip off your wings… You know it brings me such pleasure when you scream…"
Vincent could take no more. He drew Cerberus from its custom leather holster and leapt down from his perch. His feet touched the ground soundlessly behind the man as he placed the business end of his gun to the back of his head.
"Let her go." The man's grip tightened.
"I didn't know you had made a new friend Mae…" The man's voice had gone from sadistically playful to cold in an instant. "I thought I told you that I'm the only one allowed to play with you." He punctuated his words by squeezing ever so slightly, crushing her windpipe.
Mae let out a pathetic gasp for air and dug her nails into the fingers assaulting her neck. Her vision slid in and out of focus and block spot appeared in the corner of her eyes.
Vincent wrapped his gold claw around the man's throat and pushed his gun harshly against the dark man's head. "Let. Her. Go." Vincent growled menacingly.
The man let out a sufferable sigh and let go of his prey. Mae fell to the ground, clutching her bruised neck and gulping in as much air as her abused windpipe would allow. Vincent watched her, momentarily distracted.
"I do not like having my prey stolen from me," the man said turning boldly despite Vincent's gun being aimed point blank at his head. "But it seems that she is no longer worth the effort of the hunt. It's not fun when she can't fight back, though it is nice to watch her squirm."
Vincent watched the glee on the man's face with disgust. The woman had crawled across the ground and retrieved her katana.
"It seems," he said, jerking Vincent's attention back to him, "that I will have to settle for you instead…"
:: Cliff hanger! Bwahahahahaha! Feel the evilness of my evil cliffhanger!
Vincent: ... you have problems...
Me: Don't judge me!
Comments appreciated ::