The Ostiary
Kochou-hime
All characters belong to their respective owners.
A Map to Nowhere
The fairy trio stepped into the night where the Earth was cradled within a mist of inky blackness. Serenity's ears picked up the sound of two soft gasps as the blue planet's air swelled within her lungs. Tossing a glance over her shoulder toward the younger fairies she revealed a wry smile as they shifted their heads and widened eyes to hastily take in all that surrounded them. The feeling overwhelming her companions was one she understood well.
In all that was beautiful about the world on the Moon: peace amongst all, the pristine crystal white landscape to its perfect year round warm temperature there was something, almost indescribable that felt very unnatural within Lucere. It was as if the place was too ideal if such a thing was even possible. Even those who had never left the Utopian atmosphere experienced the vague feeling of its falsity though most would refuse to admit it as Earth was considered to be a place filled with the immoral and unclean.
The looks upon the fairies' faces read like an open book. Their entire lives had been previously spent inside a safe but artificial universe and stepping outside of it had exposed to them all that was true and real for the very first time. The planet of the fae's homeland was indeed a magnificent place, but Serenity knew from experience that in truth the Old Land was just as ugly as it was beautiful.
Rei gingerly reached her fingers outward and touched her skin to the surface of a dewy leaf attached to a twirling vine. A sudden rustle from the shrubbery before her sent both she and Jou stumbling backwards in a panic. Serenity quickly shifted her crystalline blue eyes to the ground and her vision filled with the form of a small, fluffy rabbit that froze within the darkness.
"Is that a real bunny rabbit?" Jou demanded loudly causing the startled creature to bound away in alarm. Serenity laughed heartily for the first time in a few days as she looked upon Rei glare toward her brother.
"You scared it away! I've never seen one before now." Rei hissed toward the taller fairy. Jou put a hand behind his head and grinned sheepishly.
"There will be plenty more to see; other animals too!" Serenity spoke cheerily as a small ball of light formed in the palm of her hand. "Come on this way, the Castle isn't far from here." She continued nodding her head toward the hazy form of a massive building in the darkness. Approaching Serenity on either side the three walked closely together as they calmly made way to the ominous appearing structure. Jou patted his open palm upon the top of Serenity's blonde head and released a quiet but goofy laugh.
"You do look like a bunny!" He snickered. Serenity scrunched her nose comically as she regarded her teasing sibling.
"Don't let anyone else hear you call me that!" She whined nudging his side with her elbow.
"Hey!" Jou said with a laugh, putting a buffer of space between her and his ticklish side, "why not? That's your nickname whether you like it or not!" A large whoosh-like sound from above caught the travelers' attention as a massive blur of gold briefly flashed within Serenity's vision. The ground rumbled slightly as an enormous reptilian beast with pebbled golden skin landed on the grassy ground with a flap of its wide spanned wings. Rei and Jou stiffened as each stared toward the creature slack-jawed.
"Good evening, Serenity!" The golden dragon sounded jovially but loudly to the petite Fairy Queen.
"Ah! It can talk?" Jou yelped as he looked incredulously upon the beast. Shifting his great red eyes, the dragon moved his attention to the others accompanying Serenity.
"Where is Mina?" He rumbled sounding surprisingly pleasant for a creature so large.
"There was a matter she had to look after on the Moon," Serenity spoke honestly, "Ra, please meet Rei," she spoke indicating toward the surprised woman, "and my brother Jounouchi." The dragon blinked as his eyes spied the tall blonde before turning his attention back to the Queen.
"Well, then it is a pleasure to meet you both! Shall we? I spotted the some of the others waiting just outside the Gatehouse." Serenity nodded though she felt a lump beginning to form within her throat. A vision of the infamous Vampire King flashed to the front of her thoughts as they made their way toward the now visible gate. Pushing his winsome image to the back of her mind she cast her scrutinizing blue irises upon her sibling.
"If rabbits or dragons had been out to attack me I might have been in trouble," Serenity spoke quietly toward him earning a hard hazel eyed glare. Both he and Rei had frozen at the first sign of a disturbance, which worried the Royal. "It's not too late for you to return home. Either of you," She spoke toward Rei's direction. Rei narrowed her gaze.
"I will be ready for every encounter from here on out." She spoke firmly.
"Me too," Jou reassured earning a sigh from Serenity.
Finally reaching the gate of Castle Elpis the flaxen haired fairy visualized shadowy figures brought to light by torches that lined the outer stone walls. Now being encompassed by the fires' glow, Serenity absorbed the ball of light that floated above her palm. With the great dragon blocking the majority of her view to the right the Fae Queen spied Seto toward their left. His eyes shone toward the arrivals, vexing as his expression always was. The Wolf King surprisingly wasn't alone but flanked by two tall companions all dressed in long brown coats. The first was a long legged woman with a sharp pair of deep blue eyes. Her short brown hair was cut angularly around her light skinned face. The other appeared to be darker skinned as he stood nearly as tall as Seto. His brunette hair was styled peculiarly where it came to an angled point above his forehead.
"Serenity!" Turning to the sound of her name she spied Endymion approach with a petite girl walking calmly at his side. The human donned the appearance of a valiant knight wearing all silver and black armor where a charcoal cape fluttered at his back. Turning his gaze to Jou he smiled gratefully and reached out for his hand.
"Hey! Long time, no see, how's it going?" Jou asked cordially as he shook the King's hand.
"It sure is good to see some familiar and friendly faces," The ebony haired man grinned. "I'm afraid I haven't made your acquaintance," he said shifting his charming glance to the stoic fire-wielding fairy.
"Rei," she said simply as her amethyst eyes showed little emotion.
"Call me Endymion," the King spoke pleasantly, shifting to his side he put a comforting hand upon his short companion's shoulder, "Please Hotaru, also meet the Fairy Queen Serenity and Prince Jounouchi."
A wave of concern rolled across Serenity as her eyes met with the bright violet orbs of the girl. She looked very young, no older than sixteen years of age if the Queen was to guess. The teenager wore her hair in a short bob where the black strands fell just above her shoulders. Her pale white skin was beautiful but gave her an almost sickly appearance. A worry tinged upon Serenity's senses; how bad was the situation if someone as young as she was needed on this journey?
"It's a pleasure to meet all of you," Hotaru spoke as she bowed her head in polite acknowledgement.
"Hotaru is very skilled in her magical abilities. She's graciously agreed to do all she can to help us on our mission." Endymion explained.
"Shimon," the large dragon's voice boomed from above as he shifted his mighty body backward to sit on his hind legs. "I believe we're all here." Serenity's eyes caught sight of the gray haired man immediately in her now unobstructed view. Her eyes flew open in utter surprise as she spied the figure that prevailed just beyond him.
The notorious King of Games leaned casually against the great stone wall. Arms crossed against his chest he relaxed his head toward the ground with closed eyes and an amused smirk plastered across his face. Dressed primarily in royal blue his jacket hung lazily around his shoulders revealing a pair of toned and tan arms adorned with a leather strap fastened around his swollen right bicep. The black and short sleeved shirt clinging to his torso brought attention to his lean physique, yet did no justice to the aura of raw power that oozed from the precarious being. Serenity felt dizzy as she lulled upon the man's deceiving heavenly form. Suddenly, the virtuous fairy's heart thumped uproariously as a smoldering crimson eye flashed in an assault upon her peaceful blues. Moving fluidly away from the wall, Serenity's eyes snapped to a second figure who lingered at the vampire's side. The two ghostly forms nearly glided as they smoothly traveled toward where the group waited in the fire-light.
The other walking within arms length of Yami was a woman who stood tall, no more than an inch shorter than he. Flowing strands of long blonde hair sat perfectly around her feminine and impossibly attractive face. A short violet coat wrapped around her body stopping just above the hem of her similarly colored mini skirt where her creamy white legs went on for days into a pair of ankle high black boots. Under the jacket a small black top did little to cover her ample bust as the provocative woman looked straight toward Serenity with a calculating look shining in her deep purple eyes.
'Fairies,' The Fae Queen frowned as she watched the woman mouth the word inaudibly through a fanged and grinning smile.
Moving her eyes to stare in front of her the fairy feigned coolness as she leveled her thoughts to a meditative state of awareness just as she had instructed Rei and Jou to do in the presence of the wretched mind reader. From a quick glance Rei appeared to be employing this tactic diligently but with a look toward Jou she sighed. He stood staring wide-eyed in the seducing female's direction until his older sister stuck a finger into his ticklish side.
"Hey!" he whispered in protest but clamped his mouth shut and cast his eyes dutifully toward Shimon when he caught Serenity's warning gaze.
"Well, it appears as if we are in need of some introductions." The old man spoke as he turned his eyes in awe to the stunning Fairy Queen who nearly radiated in purity and warmth, like an angel in the moonlight.
After briefly introducing her friend and sibling Serenity barely registered the others speaking on account of their introductions as she tried to suppress the flock of thoughts clawing to the front of her mind. Since when did Yami have any friends? Other than Bakura, before he had died, the man had been the only other person she had seen her former flame consort with in a friendly manner. If you could even call it that; the two vampires had seemed to fight and argue more than they enjoyed the other's company.
"This is Anzu," Seto spoke void of emotion as he indicated to the woman at his side, "and this is Honda." He finished pointing to the tan skinned man accompanying him.
So, who was she? A new lover, perhaps? An involuntary cringe gripped within her chest as she focused her unsettled blue eyes to the green grass in an attempt to rein control of her emotions once more.
Ignore him. She ordered of herself as a dark chuckle conquered her attention.
"I suppose I require no introduction," Yami spoke richly as his crimson orbs burned obsessively into Serenity's gaze. "Even those of you I haven't met seem to know who I am already," he commented arrogantly shifting his eyes around to everyone briefly. "This is Mai. A vampire like me but I assure you she won't bite." A soft chuckle flitted from the woman at the sardonic commentary but no one else displayed any amusement toward the joke. Tearing her eyes away from the creature's amused red eyes she focused squarely upon the Vizier.
"Shimon," Serenity spoke polite but sternly, "where is the map?" Shimon put a hand behind his head and grinned sheepishly. Jou blinked toward his spoken sibling.
"Map? Why do we need a map?" The Fairy Prince asked while scratching his head.
"Babylonia is a very difficult place to find," Ra turned his great head toward Jou and answered merrily.
"But, haven't you all already been there before?" Jou wondered aloud again as he now looked toward the great golden dragon. Rei promptly rolled her eyes and glared toward the outspoken fairy.
"Are you some kind of idiot or something?" The dirty blonde flashed his gaze toward the source of the annoyed voice and narrowed his hazel eyes upon the proclaimed Wolf King. "Honestly, I would think a relative of Serenity would have a little more going on upstairs."
"How the heck was I supposed to know? I'm not-"
"Babylonia isn't exactly a place, at least, not in the traditional sense where it would be a single point always in the same location," a calm and deep voice interrupted the angry Prince.
The enigmatic vampire sauntered toward the fairies with the square of his body aligned with the front of Serenity's form. Coming to a stop a few feet before her he ever so slightly tilted his face to meet the surprised gaze of the Fairy Prince.
"Think of it more as a state of being. Only those worthy of finding it, will." The Fae Queen stiffened and mustered forth her most earnest appearance as Yami's glowing red eyes fell once again upon her.
"Hello Serenity," the King charmed languidly with a roll of his tongue. Serenity said nothing as she silently battled against the variety of emotional words in her mouth that begged for liberation. She sensed Rei move closer toward her as the younger woman kept her eyes affixed to the vampire in concern.
"Where's the goddamn map Shimon?" Seto demanded impatiently. The Grand Vizier let out a sigh that caught everyone's attention.
"Well you see," the man explained as he let his shoulders slump. "A few years ago I gave it to a friend of mine for safe keeping. After all I am getting older-"
"Gave it to whom? You couldn't have retrieved it for us before we returned?" Seto barked rudely.
"Well I tried!" The angry old man roared, "But he refused to give it back!" The Dragon King promptly released a loud and heavy sigh.
"Oh dear Shimon, please tell me you didn't give the map to a dwarf." Ra begged. The short gray haired wizard crossed his arms indignantly.
"How was I supposed to know you all would need it again? Giving it to a stubborn hoarder was the best way of keeping it safe!" Shimon defended. The dragon groaned and shook his great head disapprovingly.
"Relax old friend," Yami's baritone voice announced. Casting the dragon a confident nod a malicious smile flew across his face. "We'll just pay this person a visit and persuade his cooperation. Pray tell Shimon, where would we find this friend of yours?" He asked shooting the man a quick glance.
"Yami, although obnoxious, he is a friend of mine." Shimon warned. The Vampire King chuckled darkly.
"You sound concerned Shimon and quite frankly I'm offended." He twirled toward the man and upturned his palms innocently. "I believe you underestimate my persuasiveness as I merely intend to ask for it nicely." The fanged man explained with a barbed smile.
"He lives hidden within the forest just past Elips' Southern-most wall; it's easy to find but please, Yami, be merciful." The old man spoke whilst shaking his head.
"Shimon," the monster masquerading as a man spoke lowly, "you know full and well that word isn't in my vocabulary." His venomous comment sent an icy shiver down Serenity's spine. She flinched when the werewolves suddenly vanished in a flash as they took off running toward the South, noticing too, the almost invisible nod the vampire standing before her sent toward his female counterpart inducing her disappearance also.
"I'll talk to him Shimon," Yami turned to Serenity once more at the sound of her voice. "He'll give the map to me." She spoke directly into the vampire as he attempted to consume her with his venereal gaze.
"Come on, we better get this over with," Ra spoke as he began walking slowly away. Serenity's human and fairy companions looked toward her expectantly.
"You all go on ahead," Serenity spoke commandingly not once moving her gaze away from the clever man's. "I'll catch up."
"Queen Serenity-" Rei began to protest.
"Its fine, I won't be long." She spoke again as Jou and Rei, followed by Endymion and Hotaru walked off hesitantly in the great dragon's direction. Shimon sighed and patted his front pocket for keys as he turned to the enormous steel bars.
"Be careful, Serenity," he whispered under his breath as the elderly man quietly opened and walked through the Castle Gate.
The two beings stood alone in what seemed to be endless silence in the dark but moonlit night. Serenity watched the soft breeze rustle the lazy reddish-black and golden spikes of his hair as she focused her gaze unflinching upon him. A swirl of sensations traveled within her body as her mortal enemy's remarkable form hung over her, moving his dazzling red irises to quickly drink in every visible feature. The fairy had often envisioned this day, fantasizing really since she had been sure she would never behold the creature again, wondering if she'd feel anger, desire or fear in his presence. To be honest, she felt a peculiar and conflicting mixture of all.
"It's really quite astounding," Yami's voice smoothed invitingly. Slowly leaning in closer to her she could almost feel electricity on his breath. "That even after nearly a thousand years you are still the only creature worthy of my attention," his voice fell an octave as he resonated toward her. "And believe me; it is permanently full and undivided in regards to anything involving you." The Fae Queen arched a scrutinizing brow; not being won over so easily by his appealing words.
"I'm sure Mai would take offense to that statement," Serenity let her heated words fly and immediately regretted them the moment they left her tongue. His eyes sparked with delight as he could hardly contain the savage and crooked smile upon his face.
"Oh, Serenity," he rolled lusciously to her chagrin, "green is not an attractive color on you." Serenity's face flushed red, more so in anger at his insinuation of her jealously than embarrassment as her shining blue orbs narrowed upon him.
"You misunderstand-"
"I take it back," Yami interrupted.
With a quick and mischievous wink, the vampire's arm snaked around her waist. The petite blonde froze as she felt his firm hand press into the small of her back. He sucked in a breath with a quiet hiss as her hips connected with the studded leather belt wrapped around his trousers. She was suddenly overwhelmed with his alluring scent; a completely foreign and pleasant spice that tantalized her senses. The vampire's overpowering presence subdued the Royal into a vulnerable trance.
"You are still the most divine thing I've ever seen regardless of what you wear," he hummed quietly toward his entrapped prey. His enchanting voice waned on her resolve as a part of her conscious begged for the fairy to surrender to the tempting monster. "Especially when it's nothing at all," slowly dipping his mouth to claim hers her mind was assaulted with memories of him.
Skin against skin, the way that bronzed body had felt against hers was King of all of her indulgent thoughts. The man might as well have been a God with his refined physical perfection in every aspect. And that cruel mouth burnished with long and sharp teeth had brought pain and anguish upon billions, but to her had only delivered indescribable pleasures with a lush and incandescent heat.
"Stop," she commanded and he complied; his lips inches within hers.
"So your words demand," he sounded amusingly; the vibrations of his voice tickling her lips, "however, your mind and body bid me otherwise." Yami finished with a chuckle. Fury filled the fairy's great blue eyes as she pushed away from him with her hands into his solid abdominals. Leisurely letting her free herself from his hand at her back he appeared entertained by her irritation.
"My private thoughts are none of your business!" She snapped. He openly laughed toward her, cocking his head to one side in interest.
"You're not as good at concealing them as you think you are." The Vampire King stated simply causing the fairy to grit her teeth in frustration.
"The only reason I stayed to speak with you is to make one thing very clear," Serenity spoke firmly. Yami raised an eyebrow in question. "I came to the Old Land is to ensure Zorc is not free to bring his evil upon it. Entertaining you is not among my interests or priorities," she conveyed coldly. A brief flash of ire passed and quickly left the vampire's fiery orbs as he released a small clicking sound.
"Well, if didn't know any better," his low voice spoke thoughtfully as he moved his hands into his pants pockets. "I'd say the Fae Queen grew some teeth over the past thousand years." He articulated with a quick brush of his tongue across one of his glittering white fangs.
"They say my bark is worse than my bite," the woman commented bitterly, unsure of whether to draw insult or not from his statement. Yami tried and failed to hold in a loud snicker as he pulled his jacket away from his shoulders and swung it on.
"How lovely," he bared a grin while pulling his arms into the sleeves of the high collared coat. "But unfortunate as I cannot say the same for myself." He alluded wickedly. Without warning the vampire disappeared from her vision and before she had time to blink, she felt a pair of hands fall gently against her slender waist. Feeling the taller man's body inches from her back, Serenity didn't bother to turn around.
"You've only made my pursuit more interesting," Yami breathed softly into her ear, "winning you over again will be much more rewarding than I had previously hoped for."
"I'm not a prize and this isn't a game." She muttered and felt a cold wind at her back. Spinning around, her eyes filled once again of the night as the vampire had disappeared. With a soft sigh, the beautiful fairy moved quickly into the Southern forest to catch up with her familiars.
It wasn't long before the Fae Queen met up with the others. Her eyes flew open in surprise as she witnessed the three werewolves being quickly drug in her direction by Rei, Endymion, and Jou. Quickly running to their sides, she cast her eyes upon the now transformed wolves that held their hands over their canine-like ears howling in excruciating pain.
"What's going on?" Serenity asked worriedly.
"I'm not sure," Ra roared in confusion, "Seto-"
"It's a sound trap!" The Wolf King gasped as he writhed in torment. "Damn it!" He screeched.
"Ah, I understand now," Ra breathed, "Wolves can hear sounds at higher frequencies. This dwarf must be expecting people to come after him and set up traps." Serenity cast her eyes remorsefully upon the injured weres.
"Where are the vampires?" Rei asked suspiciously aloud. The Dragon King nodded his head in the direction of a small looking cottage in the near distance.
"I see them waiting outside." Ra turned his almond shaped red eyes to Serenity. "I'll look after them while they get the ringing out of their ears you all go ahead. But before you go-"
A blue light suddenly appeared upon the dragon's forehead that beamed down into the angelic fairy's palm. When the ray disappeared, a shiny golden bracelet decorated beautifully with deep blue sapphires remained in its place.
"I don't have much of my collection on me I'm afraid," the dragon explained as he met Serenity's eyes which rivaled the sapphires' color. "But it's the nicest piece I have. He may not be receptive to a bargain but everyone knows a dwarf can hardly resist treasure, especially gold."
"I can't accept this, Ra. I know how much your riches mean to you." The Fae Queen spoke tenderly. Ra merely shook his head. Most dragons, while some pursued it to unhealthy addiction, loved to collect hordes of humans' precious metals and jewels and the great Dragon King was no exception.
"The map is more important, as is your safety." He responded considerately. Serenity smiled and quickly attached the beautiful band to her wrist.
"I promise we'll find you a treasure even more beautiful before this is over with!" She replied with a smile. As the fairies and humans turned and began walking toward the small dwarf dwelling, Jou paused to toss his glance upon the writhing Seto.
"I guess it's a good day to be some kind of idiot," he snapped toward him, to which Seto returned his infuriated, albeit, painful glare. Smirking, Jou's cased silver sword appeared within his hand and he swung it over his back as he quickly caught up with his sister.
The four approached cautiously where they witnessed the scantily clad vampiress hovering at the cottage's door. Softly rapping on the wooden door, the tall blonde caressed it with her fingertips.
"Come on now, invite me inside and I'll make all your wildest dreams come true." Mai's voice rang in sexual undertone. When after several moments no response came the vampire howled in anger and raptly kicked a boot-sized hole within the door's center. Whirling around she paid brief regard to the arrivals before storming toward where Yami stood a few yards away from the entrance in furor.
"I'll burn this place down to force him out!" She screeched. Not bothering to look at her, the Vampire King studied the fingernails of his left hand intently.
"And what of the paper object we're here to collect?" He spoke finally sending his disapproving gaze upon her. The angry blonde responded with a low snarl from the base of her throat.
"Why can't you force open the door?" Jou suddenly asked as he earned her angry violet eyes.
"Vampires can't just waltz into a private residence, thankfully," Endymion spoke earning the Fairy Prince's attention. "They have to be invited inside."
"Private human residence," Yami corrected as he flashed a small smirk to Serenity who stood at her brother's side.
"But he's a dwarf!" Mai bellowed.
"Then there's something you're not considering," the red-eyed vampire commented.
"And you know this?" The feminine vampire hissed. He merely chuckled softly as his gaze followed Serenity's movement as she made way to the door.
Elegant in her quiet steps, the Royal bent her knees slightly to curiously peer into the hole of the door. Squinting her eyes, the view was considerably obscured as she could barely make out the side of a wooden desk. Suddenly, a pair of angry blue eyes appeared on the other side of the door and almost sent her toppling over backward.
"What do you want? Go away!" A furious and nasal sounding voice demanded from the person within the house.
"I was told you are in possession of a map given to you by Shimon," Serenity spoke gently, "My friends and I need you to give it to us. We are on a very urgent mission-" her speech was interrupted by an unimpressed snort.
"Shimon told me you people would come. He even said the Fae Queen would flutter down to Earth on her magical fairy wings to collect it from me." His shrill voice broke into a cackle as Serenity narrowed her gaze.
"Is that really so impossible to believe?" She asked. More laughter came from the break in the door.
"Oh it gets better!" The man roared in amusement, "He said that if I didn't cooperate either the Vampire or Werewolf King would most likely kill me! That half-breed has completely lost his marbles!" Serenity stood upright and took a few long steps backward away from the door.
"I am the Fae Queen," The blond fairy spoke regally.
"You're lying!" The hidden voice accused. A sudden and intense bright light shining through the door's injury caused the man to quickly shield his eyes.
"How do you know?" Serenity's voice rang sweet in challenge. The Fae Queen stood straight feeling all eyes upon her as she kept her vision transfixed upon the silent door.
"Wow," Endymion muttered under his breath and flinched when he heard a small creak escape from the entrance. Serenity focused on the partially visible creature in the doorway. Confirming him a dwarf from his short stature she caught a glimpse of teal hair and blue eyes swollen in utter amazement. He pushed his large, golden rimmed glasses closer to his face as his jaw dropped open.
Serenity prevailed before the door bathed in a soft pale aura that radiated warmly from her flawless and milky skin. Her long golden locks absorbed a silver hue from the light fashioning it an almost metallic-like shine. The woman now shone in a royal and angelic appearance where before, at first glance, she had appeared to be a normal plain-clothed human. Smiling softly toward the dwarf, the most convincing evidence in her favor stemmed from her back with a pair of butterfly-thin, translucent and sparkling wings.
"Uh," the dwarf stuttered as he closed the door so no more than a crack was visible. "The Fairy Queen may enter, but only her! I have plenty of weapons and traps inside and I'll attack anyone else who comes in!" He announced through the sliver of space. Jou quickly rushed to Serenity's side.
"No freakin' way are you going in there alone!" he ordered in earnest. Before the Royal could protest she sensed another figure clouded in a halo of blackness at her opposite side. Turning her head she stared into the profile of Yami's masculine jaw. Following his line of sight he sent the silently observing dwarf a vow of torment with one look from his bloody eyes. Not taking his gaze away from the quaking door he slowly leaned his head down near Serenity's ear.
"If worse should come to worst ask him where he keeps the map," he whispered almost inaudibly. Serenity caught his eyes questioningly. His cold crimson depths momentarily held a sliver of emotion as he looked into her ambient blues. "I'll be listening," he sang quietly.
The Fairy Queen's mystical wings disappeared as she cautiously walked through the open door where it was quickly slammed behind her. Casting her eyes down toward the culprit, he quickly scuttled to the dimly lit entrance of another room where his teal hair was cut in a bowl-style around his head. His dress was simple with a green jacket covering his torso and blue pants upon his legs.
"This way, your majesty," the blue haired dwarf snickered as he pointed into the other room. Filing behind the strange creature that came to her waist in height she entered the candle lit space. A sharp yelp escaped her lungs and she covered her mouth in horror upon seeing the room. The place appeared like a normal sitting area, albeit very dusty and unkempt, save a fully intact skeleton that was seated in one of the dirt covered and upholstered chairs.
"Heh heh heh," the minute man laughed nasally as he spied her alarm. "That's the human who lives here. He does a very good job keeping vampires away especially because he's too dead to be tricked into inviting them in!" He chortled almost evilly. Taking a seat on an old brown sofa he indicated for her to do the same in the wooden chair just across from him. Serenity visibly contained her discomfort as she slowly sat down.
"What is your name?" she asked politely.
"Weevil," the man replied, "was that red-eyed man out there really the Vampire King?" he asked sounding somewhat concerned.
"Yes," Serenity answered concisely. The peculiar dwarf fiddled with his hands nervously.
"It's a good thing he cannot get in then!" Weevil guffawed with a malevolent grin.
"Weevil," The Royal spoke in a political tone, "Please give me the map Shimon gave to you. It is very important as the world could be in very grave danger." The dwarf shifted around in his seat uncomfortably. With a wide smirk he crossed his arms across his small chest.
"I would be willing to hand the map over to you, since you are the Queen and all," the short man said, "for a price," he added with an ever growing grin. Casting her eyes to the bracelet around her wrist she sighed reluctantly, promising to herself once more to replace her friend's precious treasure. Gently unclasping the band she held it out to the devilish creature.
"This jewelry piece is a precious family heirloom as it used to belong to my mother the Old Fae Queen," she lied eloquently, "its priceless." The dwarf's framed eyes lit up in incredible greed as he quickly snatched the gold from her fingertips.
"I knew that map was worth more than all my other treasures! Especially if you'd be willing to give up this for it!" His irking voice cackled. A sudden wickedness flew across his features as he eyed the poker faced Queen. "I'm not sure if it'll be enough for the map though, since it is so valuable." Serenity sighed internally as she mentally went over the inventory she had brought with her and wondered if she had packed any jewelry.
"I'll give you the map for the bracelet and-" Weevil paused as he slowly stretched out his puny hand and rested it upon her leg just above the knee, "something else." He spoke with a lewd grin stretched across his mouth.
Serenity's muscles froze as the feel of the lustful man's hand upon her sent her blood into a boil. There weren't many instances within the peaceful Queen's one thousand years of life that the woman had felt the absolute fury she experienced now. The royal blue of her eyes slowly drained of their color taking on a silver hue as she bore her stormy gaze into the smiling creature. She had hoped to walk out of the cottage with the map through a peaceful solution but all she could think about was the wicked intending words of her former vampire lover surface in her thoughts.
I'll be listening.
"Weevil," Serenity spoke coldly using all of her will to not flinch beneath his hand, "Where do you keep the map?" The man's eyes narrowed as she intently watched his gaze. She could almost see it; the man's thoughts rolling through his memory and reminding him where he had stored the precious item.
"Why in the hell would I tell you that?" The dwarf snarled. Suddenly a loud noise filled the house as the front door was shattered and torn from its hinges. Serenity quickly slapped Weevil's hand away from her leg and sent her black boot into the creature's chest upon standing. As he curled over howling in pain she bound from the room spotting Endymion and Jou make their way into a different room with swords drawn.
"Watch out!" Serenity yelled as she spied a large axe swing from the ceiling as they had activated some sort of trap upon entering the room. Jou quickly shoved Endymion out of the way as the huge double sided axe shattered the wooden floor between them. An enraged scream from the dwarf poured in from the other side of the small house.
"It's in the Atlas on the bookshelf!" Endymion announced toward her, "Go look for it and I'll hold him off!" Jou sprang to his feet and quickly and ran alongside his sibling. Stopping before the bookshelf they shifted their eyes desperately and quickly across the hundreds of books that were contained within it.
Endymion readied his sword and grimaced as he watched the dwarf barrel down the narrow hallway wielding a sharply studded mace that was almost as large as he. With a battle cry, the infuriated Weevil swung the heavy weapon in the Earth King's direction. The human grunted as he narrowly dodged the deadly device that went whooshing by him. Endymion quickly swung his sword toward his enemy and chopped at the wooden handle that sent the metal from the mace flying across the room and splintering the wall. Weevil cursed as he quickly lunged for the axe with the King in hot pursuit.
"There's so many!" Jou howled as he began throwing books confirmed not to be the Atlas to the ground.
Serenity turned her head in worry as she observed the dwarf charging her human companion with the double sided axe. Suddenly, a dark figure appeared in the doorway to the room and sent a burst of fire flying toward the teal haired demon. The flames struck the dwarf's hand eliciting him to send his weapon spinning across the floor in a wail of pain. Turning back to the shelf her eyes suddenly fell upon a large green book with "Atlas" written down the spine. Quickly grabbing the book she opened it and pulled a thin, folded and golden-hued piece of parchment from between the pages. Shoving the paper into Jou's hands she gave him a look that told of her plan and bolted to the exit of the room.
"Serenity!" Jou screamed after her. Rushing past Endymion she sent the furious dwarf a smirk as she ran beyond him.
"Give me my map!" The dwarf screamed furiously and stormed after her.
"Run!" Serenity ordered of Rei who quickly stepped out of her way.
"I'll cover you!" Rei blurted out and called upon a fire attack. She gasped when the powerful dwarf rammed her into the doorframe; smashing the wood into pieces at the back of her body. The Fae Queen sprinted through the doorway into the cold night air as Weevil followed her completely blinded in rage.
"That map is-" Weevil screamed but was cut off as his back was slammed into the cold ground. His eyes lit up in terror as he looked into a pair of hungry amethyst eyes. The blonde showed her fangs to him in delight.
"Your blood is mine!" She screamed toward her conquest.
THANKS to: Sesshy's Mistress, Artemis Day, Serena-hime, dark-wolf-howl, Anexya, Sakura Waldorf, SailorVmoon1311815, Saris Yui, and moon-guardian369 for reviewing last time!
What did you think? Finally some action! This chapter is a two parter (it turned out to be very long!) so here's the deal: in an effort to encourage feedback (yay! Comments are the "ink" to my "pen") I'll upload the next chapter as soon as I see it gets 10 reviews! If it doesn't get there I'll upload it next Sunday (2/20)! Incentives, right? ^^ Feel free to let me know however you feel: liked it, hated it, etc.
Thanks SO much to everyone who read and even greater thanks to those who reviewed! See ya next time!
