Chapter 7
Demon Outbreak
"We have to protect Chrono at all costs" Yuuno said against the loud music as they entered the sleazy pub. He stared at his surroundings. People were grinding their sweaty bodies against each other at the dance floor and couples were seen embracing and smooching at the corners. It was quite a chaotic sight. But they could see that the pub posed no threat or danger. They were just ordinary human beings mingling together. The troop pushed their way through the swarm of strangers, in search for the gate.
Fate was still feeling nauseous and giddy. The truth was too sudden for her, she didn't know what she was supposed to do. She had never realized the cause of the feeling of hesitation whenever she saw Nanoha, but now she did. The truth was like a sharp shard jabbing into her heart abruptly, bringing the flow of painful memories back to her mind. She never liked reminiscing the painstaking accounts of her missions. She wasn't born a natural devil. She was made a vicious devil. She might be merciless, but she had a heart. A compassionate heart of a human.
She remembered her baby days. She had a very strong and vivid memory even as a two-year-old, because she wasn't ordinary. But memories of her parents were vague. The Lord told her that her parents were famous for their power. They were capable of quick assassination, well-known to have had slay angels of the highest ranks. He told her that she would have to become like them if she was going to live a better life. He taught her how to kill and how to hide her emotions well.
But at this point of time, most of what had been taught to her in her demonic days were temporarily gone. All she had was guilt and remorse. She felt shame, because she couldn't bear to see the kin of the people she had killed. She felt pain, because she herself had always hated the fact that her parents were killed. She had sworn to kill and avenge for her parents, but the murderer was already dead. There was no point in avenging anymore. Even so, she carried on learning to become the legendary devil. What would Nanoha do if she were to find out that Fate was the one who killed her father? Would she hate her? Would Fate allow her to take her avenge and die? A mixture of emotions stirred her now fragile heart.
She glanced at Nanoha's back as she trailed behind the troop. She could not help but admire those perfect curves of Nanoha's body. Nanoha characters made her appear superior. Fate didn't know what could explain this weird phenomenon she was experiencing, but she could feel the security and assurance Nanoha gave her when she grabbed her to calm her down that very day. Sometimes she wondered what made Nanoha such a strong person. Maybe, she was just like her. Maybe, she was a good person after all.
But Nanoha's eyes still haunted her. In order to complete a certain mission, Fate had murdered her father. She could remember Nanoha's father, he was a loving dad and faithful archangel. Killing him was not easy. She had always been cold-hearted and never liked seeing anyone escape from her claws. It gave her satisfaction whenever she completed an assignment. She saw her father as a good man, but she detached herself from all emotions to kill him. As she grew older, she realized that the Lord was most probably just using her as a scapegoat, to help him achieve everything he wanted.
She was trained to be heartless and emotionless since young, and have had seen and slay all kinds of people in her life. But having to kill these angels gave her second thoughts. She could not understand why, but it gave her the chills whenever she got too close with Nanoha. Perhaps Nanoha's eyes were just too much of a resemblance to her father.
In the pub, Fate's pupils glowed crimson. The demons' presence was overwhelming, but she could not see any of them with her naked eyes. She could feel their existence as she squeezed through the crowd. She could smell blood. But she decided to be mum about it. Looking at the helpless Chrono, she could not help but wonder if he was really the Lord. They looked shockingly identical although their personalities told otherwise.
Fate decided that it was safer to keep her protected from all emotions. Nothing was going to be in her way if she wanted to complete this mission wholeheartedly. Her object of mission was the crystal. If she was not going to get the crystal right now, it would be over for her. The crystal was the only thing that could bring the Lord ultimate power and strength. It was the only solution to end her painful route, to grant her freedom. Even if Chrono dies, she would still have to bring the crystal to him. But how was she going to get her hands on the crystal? It seemed almost impossible without any means of violence. She had to forget her past and finish this mission once and for all. She figured it wouldn't be wise dealing with three angels alone, unless there was help.
Even if it meant losing her dignity, she had no choice. Her opponents were too strong. It was only one way out. She drew in a deep breath and stopped in the middle of the dance floor. The others were ahead of her, searching for the gate. It would only be now or never. She wasn't going to let them get away. Her hands shivered as she grabbed the purple jewel. She needed help.
The jewel glowed, and suddenly the atmosphere reeked of intense demonic aura. She could feel it. The demons had come to her help. Taking in another deep breath and feeling the pure demonic blood course in her veins, Fate allowed to calm herself down, to be rid of all emotions completely. Seconds later, she approached Nanoha in such an amazing speed and without hesitance, tore off her collar. Nanoha spun, aghast by her action. Everyone stared at her, round-eyed. Her eyes flashed no fear now, but she was still taken aback by those strong eyes of Nanoha. She ignored the overriding emotions and sent Nanoha a quick blow in the stomach.
Nanoha crashed to the other side of the pub, hands to her stomach. She had no time to retaliate for Fate was too fast for her to register the situation. People in the pub shrieked and started scattering in all directions.
"Fate, what are you doing?" Hayate screamed. She ran over towards Fate but was whipped off. Hayate yelled in horror, astounded by the change of features in Fate. There was a tail sticking out from Fate's back. She had ruby pupils, set blaze with anger. They were no longer the innocent eyes. Her fingernails had become sharp claws and veins protruded from the side of her eyes. She no longer looked like the Fate, the angels once knew.
"You are a demon." Yuuno said in disbelief. "Why? How did you?"
"You would prefer shutting up" Fate flicked a finger at him and he knelt down in agony, throwing out blood.
"Fate, why are you doing this to us?" Hayate whimpered. Where was that pure and beautiful angel she once knew?
"She's dangerous, get away from her, Hayate." Nanoha stepped in. She stretched out her hand, ready to send a blow at Fate, but a pair of vicious demonic arms pulled her back and threw her against a wall. There was upheaval in the pub as everyone shrieked and ran for their lives. Demons had already invaded the pub and stepped into the scene. The angels were evidently outnumbered.
"Fate, you betrayed us. I don't want to hurt you, but now that you're a demon" Yuuno clapped his hands together and stamped the floor. A series of seismic wave moved in Fate's direction, cracking up the floor under her feet. It hit her and she flew back, sliding across the bar counter with glass shattering all over the place. Demons threw themselves at Yuuno one by one, their humongous bodies piling on top of him. Struggling, he jerked his arms beneath the pile of bodies and they flew in all directions, overwhelmed by the impact of his movement.
Blood leaked from the side of Nanoha's lips. She pushed himself out of the brick wall and as she did so, a demon caught her in the neck. The demon strangled her vigorously, threatening to break her neck as Nanoha was forced deeper into the hole of the concrete wall. Choking, Nanoha flashed a menacing stare at the demon and immediately the demon collapsed onto the hard floor, melting into hot liquid. She wiped the blood off her lips and noticed Chrono hiding in a corner of the room.
Pushing demons out off her way as if they weighed like feathers, Nanoha pulled Chrono up by the collar and dragged him across the floor. Chrono trembled in shock. "Where are you bringing me to?"
"We have no time to waste. I'm not going to let you die here." Nanoha said coldly. They ran to the ladies, with Chrono following tightly behind. However, Fate had caught up with them. She flung Chrono across the dance floor and turned Nanoha around, face-to-face with her.
"Protect Chrono!" Nanoha ordered at Hayate and Yuuno before she was hauled up midair with Fate's claws sinking deep into her flesh. Fate held her up by the collar, red eyes glowing and canine teeth protruding.
"Tell me where the crystal is" Fate hissed, her nails digging deep through Nanoha's chest.
"The crystal is not with me" Nanoha said. "I don't want to hurt you."
Fate stared at her, ridiculed. "Don't try to be so saint" she scowled and tore off Nanoha's cloak. There was nothing. "Where the hell is it?"
"Don't bother looking for it" Nanoha said before pulling out Fate's claws from her chest. She grabbed Fate's wrists tightly, fresh blood from her claws dripping onto Nanoha's shoes. For an unaccountable reason, she stared at Fate. She was staring at Fate with eyes that conveyed pain, anger and disbelief. Those eyes gave Fate uncertainty. Uncertainty of whether she was going to kill Nanoha. It was because of the sudden pang of guilt that hit her. Every time she looked into those eyes, she fought not to let emotions take over her. They still reminded her of Nanoha's father.
She tried pulling away from those strong pair of hands, but she couldn't. She felt frustrated, she overlooked the amount of cuts she was inflicting on Nanoha. She was going nuts. She had a sudden urge to finish Nanoha off right now.
"You shouldn't have been a demon." Nanoha finally said, glaring at her. She tightened her grip around Fate's wrists, and it hurt. She was visibly formidable, she had powers that surpassed Fate's and strength that was of intimidation to Fate's.
Fate laughed at Nanoha's words despite the pain and torment. "Shouldn't have been? Do you think I would be saint like you and choose to lead a pathetic life of an angel?" she snarled before sinking her teeth into Nanoha's hands menacingly.
Nanoha winced, and pushed Fate away with all her force. As her teeth released, tearing a portion of flesh from Nanoha hand, she saw something glowing in the exposed injury. Sensing that she had noticed it, Nanoha tried to move away but was pulled back by Fate.
"Don't try to run away." She stared at Nanoha ferociously. "It's in your hand."
Nanoha's eyes were now burning in rage. "Stop this" she ordered, bleeding profusely from all the cuts on her body. "You don't want to do this."
Fate hissed, and dug her claws into Nanoha's hand. Nanoha yelled as smoke arose from the crystal buried in her hand. Fate's claws started to melt, but she ignored the torture. Her fingertips felt the cool crystal and she grabbed it firmly in the hole in Nanoha's hand. All of a sudden, she stopped fidgeting. She noticed the sudden anguish in Nanoha's eyes and stopped moving at once, appalled by those overwhelming eyes.
But the anguish was immediately replaced by hostility, as Nanoha curled her fingers around Fate's wrist and spun her around before she crashed to the floor, crashing to the tiles. Blood spurted out from Nanoha's hand. She knelt down over Fate and grabbed her by the neck harshly. Fate could not retaliate for a moment. She could not make budge or make the slightest movement. She clenched her teeth, her stained claws shrinking, her canine fangs reducing to their normal state. Slowly, the redness in her eyes diminished. Her face was as pale as a sheet as Nanoha's pair of strong hands suffocated her, restricting air from entering and escaping her lungs.
"I'm not going to kill you" she breathed heavily, slightly releasing her grip.
"Don't try to act like you're that angelic. Snap to reality, you know you're not like that," Fate growled. She twisted her head and a cut slashed across Nanoha's cheek immediately. Nanoha ignored the pain and disregarded the amount of blood she was losing. Fate could not bear it any longer. The insanity in her was bursting. The sight of Nanoha's ignorance to all her injuries and ridiculed her, "go on, hit me! Why aren't you taking it out on me? Here's your chance! I hit you! Aren't you supposed to punch me?"
"I'm not like that." Nanoha said, eyes still fixed on hers. It made her flinch, it made her uneasy. But she wasn't going to let Nanoha intimidate her. She wanted to see hatred in Nanoha's eyes. She wanted to see the demon in Nanoha. Nanoha couldn't be so saint, she couldn't be a real angel. She wanted Nanoha to hit her, she didn't want Nanoha to take pity on her. She couldn't bear to see Nanoha's reluctance to hit her because Nanoha was an angel. She wanted Nanoha to know the truth, to know that she deserved to be slayed and rid of in this world.
But she was a coward. She was afraid of leaking the truth. Then it came. She couldn't contain it any longer.
"I'm the one who killed your father!" she screamed hoarsely into Nanoha's eyes. "Are you going to kill me now?"
A/N:
I suck at writing action scene but I tried to provide a clear descriptive as I possibly can. Enjoy :)
Hopefully there won't be any mistyped or errors this time around, since it had been beta-checked.
