Ok just a little background on our character:
Name: Claudia Giordano
Age: 20
Race: Human
Weapons: 2 hand held, automatic crossbows, wooden boar knife, and a few other demon hunting weapons later listed.
Appearance: Hair- long, wavy brown. Eyes- green. Skin- on the paler side.
Outfit- Top- Corsetish top? Think german, barmaid top I guess lol. Brown, leather gloves. Plus a long, basically to the ground, red cloak. Bottom- matching brown leather shorts and boots, knee boots.
In case you haven't figured out this is a Grimm themed tale with my own little twists. May include other Bleach fairy tales later on.
Set in the 1800s, Black Forest, Germany.
Here we go!
Nothing compares to the sound of an arrow leaving a crossbow. The thwack sound it makes during release, the zooming noise as it flies through the air, and then the thud as it hits flesh. But I couldn't think about that right now, I was in the middle of a hunt. After I jumped over the fallen tree I shot at the runaway werewolf. Nnoitra Jiruga, I've been after you for months. You've been wiping out entire villages across Germany. I almost got you last time, hit you right in the eye in fact, but this time your mine. I picked up the pace and shot at him again. I heard a yowl pierce the silence of night and I smiled.
I kept running until I entered a clearing where Nnoitra was limping, the arrow I shot now stuck in his leg. I had hit him in his hind leg, severely injuring him. He collapsed in pain and exhaustion. We've been at this for days now. I happily stepped into the clearing and towards the werewolf. Just then the full moon that had brightly lit the clearing became hidden behind the clouds. I paused and watched as Nnoitra turned back into his naked, human form then I moved forward again. He was grabbing his knee, the arrow sticking out of both sides. He looked over at me and growled. " You… fucking bitch," Nnoitra said panting.
" Ooh foreplay I like it," I said standing over him, putting one boot on his chest, " Keep talking dirty to me."
" You fucking Hoods. Hunting us down and killing us with no mercy," Nnoitra said.
" You want mercy? You didn't give mercy to any of the towns you destroyed. The men, women, and children that died by your hand didn't receive any of it and neither will you," I said sternly this time.
" Don't lecture me. I'm a werewolf I need to eat. Now just get it over with," Nnoitra said.
I pointed one of my crossbows over Nnoitra's heart. " Nnoitra Jiruga, you are wanted by The Red Riding Hood Order for crimes against humanity. For your 627 counts of murder by cannibalism, your sentence is death. Any last words?" I asked.
" Fuck you bitch," he said smiling. I pulled the trigger and Nnoitra let out a piercing howl into the night.
" Requiescat in pace" I said giving him the sign of the cross then walking off. I hated this part, the part when the life leaves their eyes. Even if they were beasts they were still living beings. I sat in the clearing and did my prayer for his soul. I was a part of The Red Riding Hood, an organization set on destroying evil beings like werewolves. The Hoods, as people simply called them, was just one group set on destroying this evil. For example my father was a priest from the Vatican who exorcised spirits and other demons. That's where I get my religious aspect from. The Hood was unique in that it was an organization solely of female fighters, just like our founder.
But we've become weakened as of late. The demons are specifically out to get our organization it feels like, making many of our allies abandon us. Only 2 dozen hoods left last time I checked. I sighed and got up. Time to go back home. I put away my crossbows and began walking away when I heard a crunch. I turned and saw a small girl who ran as soon as she knew that I saw her. " No wait! It's dangerous out here!" I shouted after her. Who knows what other demons lurked in the shadows. I ran after her but she obviously knew these woods like the back of her hand. I lost her after a few minutes. Damn I need to find that girl before it's too late! I followed her trail carefully until I got to a cave. I pulled out my spare knife and held it by my side, entering the cave.
The smell of blood was in the air and plenty of it. There was a small light at the end of the darkness. I cautiously moved forward as silently as possible. The light grew until I saw a few candles dotted around the dark cave. I held in my gasp when I saw what lied before me. A single, badly injured werewolf, curled up in a corner sleeping. Well this would be an easy one, two in one night. I quietly pulled out my crossbow and stepped forward. " Leave him alone!" I heard a voice say. I turned and saw the little girl from earlier running towards me.
" You need to step back. This is a werewolf he could kill you in a second if you're not careful," I said sternly. The girl ran past me however and shielded the werewolf with her body.
" Please don't! He saved me from some wolves that attacked me! He's not bad I promise!" The girl pleaded.
" A monster is a monster. I wouldn't be surprised if he's using you right now so that I won't hurt you," I said.
" No please! I've known him for years he's good!" she said. The werewolf stirred and the girl turned towards him. " It's ok I got the plant you said to get see? Here eat it," she said pulling out some leaves.
" That's Dieffenbachia it's poisonous. It will cause burning and irritation," I said. The girl cringed and pulled the plant away. " He's going to die. I can end it quickly, end it right now so he doesn't have to suffer."
" Can't you help me fix him? He's not bad look at him!" She shouted, hugging the beast tighter. I had some medicine, of course, but not for some beast. I slowly moved forward and lifted my crossbow. She started crying and I pointed my weapon. The werewolf opened his eyes and I quietly gasped. Normally, a werewolf has golden, hateful eyes but this one had soft, blue ones. It was as if they were saying 'Go ahead, do it. I don't care anymore.' My hand shook as I pointed the weapon at him. All demons are bad, all monsters are bad. But those eyes, those eyes weren't bad. I sighed and put my bow away.
" Let's take a look," I said begrudgingly while bending down. The girl's eyes lit up and she hugged me. I'm not used to such intense affection especially from someone I barely knew. I patted her back awkwardly and she pulled away. This didn't look good. Werewolves heal pretty quickly but this guy was covered in bite marks and scratches from head to toe or paw in this case. They can only heal so much before they become exhausted. I pulled out some supplies and handed the girl my book. " Do you see this plant?" I said pointing to an image, " It grows around here and I could use some. Go find it for me please?"
" Okeedokee" she said taking the book happily then ran out. I sighed and looked back to the monster.
" Is she telling the truth or are you controlling her somehow?" I asked sternly. The wolf growled angrily in response. " So you really did take care of her then…" I said softly. I cautiously put my hand on him and ran it down his back, trying to comfort him. He let out a sigh like sound and closed his eyes again. " I'm going to put the medicine on now. It's going to sting. If you strike me at any point I will kill you, no hesitation," I said sternly. The werewolf opened his eyes and gave me a look and nodded then closed his eyes again. I sighed, this was too weird, helping the enemy like this. There was no monster I hated more than werewolves. They've plagued our organization for generations and I have a personal vendetta against them. Now look at me, helping the very beast I despised.
I began putting some medicine on and the werewolf growled and howled every once in a while but remained still. His dark brown fur was surprisingly soft at touch. I rubbed his back every once in a while, hoping to ease the pain. " I got it, I got it!" The girl said running back. I smiled lightly when she put the book and plants in my hand.
I took the plants and looked at the werewolf. " This will help ease the pain and put you to sleep. I promise I will let nothing harm her while you are out," I said seriously. He looked at my carefully but nodded. I put the leaves in front of him and he took a bite but spat it out. " Seriously?" I said jokingly. I guess leafs for werewolves are the equivalent of dirt for humans. I sighed and pulled out my knife.
" What are you doing?" the girl said scared. She thought I was going to hurt him.
" Making it tastier," I said cutting my hand. The monster's eyes widened as I squeezed my hand, blood pouring out onto the leaves. " It's what you like right? What you demons eat." I watched him devour the leaves as I wrapped my hand. In a few minutes he was fast asleep. I treated the rest of his wounds quickly and wrapped the areas. " That's all I can do," I said standing up and stretching.
The girl hugged the beast happily and nodded. I repacked my bag and sat back relaxing. " You're really going to stay and protect me?" the girl said.
" I promised him and it's my duty as a Hood to protect any mortal who may be in danger," I said.
" Hood?" the girl said.
" The Red Riding Hood is an organization that kills beasts that bring harm to humans. My name is Claudia Giordano. I've been a Hood almost my entire life. My mom is one, she's the leader, and my father was a priest. I learned my fighting from my mom but healing from my father. Now tell me about you and this… thing," I said.
" My name's Lilynette. Vampires killed my family when I was young. I had nowhere to go so I lived here in the forest. Starrk found me and he has protected me since then," she said smiling lightly.
" That's his name? Starrk?" I asked. Lilynette smiled and nodded. I looked back to the werewolf and looked him over. " How did he get injured?"
She sighed. " It was my fault. I was hungry and Starrk was asleep so I went out to get some food. The wolves found me and tried to attack but Starrk came. Except while he was fighting them, clouds blocked the moon and he became human again. The wolves tried to attack me again but he threw himself in front, even though he was weakened." And then she started sobbing against his fur. I sighed and undid my cloak. I then pulled her off of the werewolf and into my embrace, wrapping us both up in the bright red fabric.
" He's going to be ok I promise. Werewolves have fast healing capabilities. Now rest," I said. I closed my eyes but the girl kept crying. I sighed, not knowing what to do. Oh yes, mother sang me a song when I was scared. Well here it goes.
(It wouldn't let me place the hyperlink so look up german lullaby on youtube and it's the second one or tthe one by cirquedudemonata called A German Lullaby. Just imagine a girl singing ok?)
Schlaf ein, schlaf ein, schlaf ein.
Du gähnst schon, komm kuschel dich ein.
Ich sing dir noch ein Lied.
Ich freu mich so das es dich gibt.
Ich wünsch dir eine gute Nacht,
wir sehn uns so wieder, die Sonne lacht.
Schlaf ein, schlaf ein, schlaf ein.
Wir lieben dich, schlaf jetzt ein.
Wir lieben dich schlaf jetzt ein...
I sang it a few times over to the point that I put both Lilynette and I to sleep. What was I thinking, helping a wolf?
Aizen POV
I impatiently tapped my foot. Where the hell was Nnoitra? Tonight is the night of our attack he needs to be here now. " My lord," said a voice. I turned and saw Gin the cat demon appearing. He was the very cat that inspired the creation of the Cheshire cat.
" Did you find him?" I asked.
" I'm sorry my lord but he is dead. I found his body in the Black Forest," Gin said smiling.
"By who?" I asked. Gin handed me a small arrow. I smelled it and growled. It was that girl, that Hood! She was the one who killed my ogre Yammy and my wizard Szayel and possibly a few others including the skeleton king Barragan. I clenched my fist but kept my usual smile. " Are the others ready?" I asked.
" Yes my lord, we are ready to attack at your command," Gin said. Just then the others emerged and stepped forward. I looked onto the mountain and smiled. The Red Riding Hood, once the best killers of demons, now living in a rundown cabin house. Tonight they breathe their last.
" Move out," I said motioning them forward. The small army howled, shrieked, whatever they pleased and then we were off. The Hoods were caught off guard and easily fell to our attacks. As I had asked, each of them was left alive, just tied up. " How are you all doing tonight ladies?" I asked smirking.
No response. " Come on boss. Can't I just rip one to shreds for fun?" Grimmjow the werecat said.
" We need answers Grimmjow then we can have our fun," I said. Grimmjow hmmphed then stepped back. I held up the arrow and walked down the line. " Which one of you is the one who wields the crossbow? Who shoots this arrow?" I asked. I looked at each of their faces carefully. The oldest one's eyes widened for a brief second. " Ah is it yours?" I asked smiling.
The woman looked at me with complete disdain then said, "Yes. Now what do you want?" I bent down so I was eye level with her. She was lying I could tell.
" Don't make me do this. I really don't feel like using my powers," I said with my best smile. " Just tell me whose it is." She just glared at me even harder. I sighed and shook my head but kept my smile. I took off my glasses and slicked back my hair then gently took her face, looking her deep in the eyes. " Tell me who this arrow belongs to," I asked politely.
The animosity from earlier quickly disappeared and she was left with a vacant expression. " My daughter, Claudia Giordano," she said emotionlessly.
" Giordano eh? Your husband was very good at his job, well, until he was killed that is. He was one of the most hated in our world for a long time. And you, the leader of the Hoods. No wonder your daughter has been causing me so much trouble" I said smiling, " Now is she here?"
" No she hasn't come back from her last mission," the woman said.
" So she's still in the Black Forest," I muttered to myself. I put my smile back on and stepped back, letting go of the woman, then put on my glasses and fixed my hair. The woman blinked and shook her head, trance over. " Thank you for answering my questions."
The woman looked up at me in horror, realizing what had happened. " You can't kill her please! She's my only child," she said on the verge of tears.
" I think you should be more worried about yourself and your team," I said then snapped my fingers. And so the feast began, blood splattering onto the floors and walls and screams echoing into the night. Grimmjow reached for the leader but I took her shoulder. " Sorry this one's mine, help yourself to the others," I said with my best smile. Grimmjow shrugged it off and immediately began clawing the girl next to me. I gently picked up the woman, who was now crying while watching her sisters in arms being shredded and eaten, and carried her into the other room.
" What are you going to do with me?" she asked. I set her down on the bed and took off my glasses again.
" Haven't you figured out what kind of demon I am yet?" I asked her smiling deviously. " I don't feed on blood or flesh like the others. No I need something even more carnal," I said taking my gloves off carefully. As I began my meal I thought about this woman's daughter. This woman was fairly attractive, even though she was older, so I can't wait to see what her daughter looks like. I was disappointed by her lack of energy however. She died only halfway into the night. After I was done I stepped into the other room and watched as the others finished up their own meals.
" What now my Lord?" Gin said then licked the blood off of his fingers.
" There's one more left. After we take care of her then there will be no more red in the forests, except for the blood of our prey that is," I said smiling. The others chuckled evilly and nodded. We left soon after, stomach's filled and revenge met. " For now, we will go back to the castle. From there I'll send a team to retrieve, RETRIEVE, our little Hood. Understand?" I said. The others nodded and then ran off, howls and shrieks piercing the night again. Get ready Hood we're coming.