Chapter 9: Assault
"Mizore…" Ruby radioed her companion in a hushed voice, while resting against a wall. She peeked from the corner to see a tall woman with a weapon in her hand, she seemed to be striking down a person, chopping them up into pieces. Ruby had tried concealing her presence, the enemy near her was much more stronger than her and she didn't want to risk anything. "I think I might've encountered one of the sisters, but I don't know if she's okay…" Ruby said quietly hoping that the sister wouldn't hear her.
"Ca….ful...Ru...y" The radio began to release small static sounds, the voice of her friend was not coming through. She peeked once more but the tall girl was gone, her chest compressed feeling something approaching her from behind, on her shoulder a sharp blade rested, the blood from the last person that was killed poured down her shoulder to her chest. For a second she had forgotten that vampires had acute hearing, and cursed at how easily her cover was blown. Ruby was afraid to turn around, not knowing what to do.
"Don't move." Kahlua said coldly through the mask.
Ruby flinched, and Kahlua struck, but Ruby had made an after image of herself and she had already been standing in front of Kahlua. Ruby summoned a grimoire, releasing a trio of hell hounds to attack the enemy.
The dogs ran at Kahlua, the first one jumped on her, which she easily cut down striking it through the stomach, the second one had gone for the legs and had bit her while she had been busy with the first, the third circled around and went for her neck.
Ruby summoned a sword to wield and walked towards Kahlua. She swung to and fro but Kahlua had blocked every one of her shots. Ruby continued swinging with her blade at Kahlua, but none of her hits landed. Kahlua began returning some, swinging at Ruby who was much weaker than her, she would block them carefully and continue jabbing at her. They both continued their attacks while Kahlua at the same time handled the hounds with ease, but found that Ruby had damaged her mask. Kahlua stopped to analyze the damage and Ruby watched through hard breaths.
"My mask.. No.. Mom's gonna kill me." Kahlua sounded disoriented, and Ruby looked at her confused.
While Kahlua is distracted, Ruby had attempted to slip away into a room, she had locked the door behind her and barricaded it with a dresser she managed to push. Her breaths becoming shorter, and her hands begin to shake from the stress. She looked down at her leg that had been cut by the katana blade. "Shit." She shook her fear away to tend to the wound. It wouldn't take long as long as Kahlua didn't try to break through the door. She hadn't gone that far, and hopefully the girl was too busy worrying about the mask to even think about going after her.
"NOOOOOO!"
A scream filled the halls, and the walls of the room vibrated, she felt the floor shake as Kahlua ran down the hall. Ruby had tried to hide her presence but to no avail she was already trying to kick down the door. Ruby had tried to summon anything to protect herself but she found herself unavailable to do so. In no time the door had been shattered, and the dresser was pushed aside, and while Kahlua walked towards her Ruby found herself on her knees, collapsed to the floor.
This girl… She was sobbing… She was so terrifying. She was like a child that cried over pain. Usually a child would stop, but Kahlua didn't. She kept inflicting the pain, even though it made her sad. Kahlua lifted the sword and muttered a word to her, but her ears wouldn't function. Long ago as a child she had wondered if it were true if when you were about to die your life would flash before your eyes, but the last thing she recalled was the time she had spent with her friends. They had become her family. And this girl… She had cried, until the end while she squirmed underneath her, why?
"Ru…..yo….th...re?" Mizore had tried to communicate with her friend through the radio. Ruby only gave a small smile as she pulled up the radio to her mouth and didn't say a word. She held the button and put it against her chest.
On the other line, Mizore could hear Ruby's heart beating quickly. Mizore, confused listened as the heart continued, then stopped with the sound of tearing flesh, then the sound stopped.
X
Akua hadn't known where she had arrived at, this place, she's never seen this place before. This place…? Was this inside the castle? The castle she stood inside of was massive with stones all around. It was a dark castle that just seemed to reflect what was happening to her. She could only see small bits and flashes of light, but everything around her was unnaturally hard to see.
"Gyoku-" Akua began but was cut off by an older females voice.
"I see you found your way here, Akua." Gyokuro had abruptly interrupted her call for her to appear, as she was already stepping out of her own shadows from behind a couple of stone pillars that had vines and cracks in them. Akua didn't sense her. Nor could she sense anyone else.
Akua slowly turned around to face Gyokuro. Her face was with a sneer that seemed to tease Akua."I'm assuming that you planned this?" Akua let out a nasty growl.
Gyokuro coyly put a finger to her chin, pretending to put thought into it and as if a light bulb went off in her head, she smiled then nodded and exclaimed. "Yes!" Her tone of voice was like she was speaking with a ten year old. Full of ignorance and superiority. That tone made Akua feel more aggressive, but she didn't show it.
Akua narrowed her eyes and looked at Gyokuro harshly. "Why? Why do this? You have no reason to do this." Then she took a step closer to the evil ruler. "How does this benefit you?"
The prowess in front of her had cackled at her words, as if everything that had come out were so, very wrong. "Are you blind, Akua?" She stepped out to her, cupping Akua's face with two fingers. "I've had every right to, have I not?" Gyokuro pointed her arm towards the darkness ahead of them, where screens woke up to illuminate the room they were in, they showed recordings of events from different days, months, years. She had been recording everything.
Akua growled. "How dare you. You monster. First you kill my father, then you go after my sisters-" Gyokuro grabbed Akua's arm with two hands and bent it backwards at the elbow until her hand could almost touch her shoulder. Akua clenched her jaw as tears formed at the corners of her eyes. Why am I in pain?
Gyokuro then grabbed her arm at her wrist and bend her hand inward. Snapping sounds came from her arm. Akua almost groaned but bit back the pain. She could feel the bones in her arm rearranging and the pain burned and ached at the same time. She yanked her arm out of Gyokuro's grasp and pulled it to her. Something was definitely wrong. She tried moving her hand, but only a couple of fingers could move. Pain seared through her arm. Akua bit an insult back in her throat. She stepped away from Gyokuro, caressing her arm against her chest. Her bones moved around inside her skin, deforming her skin and creating bumps where there shouldn't be any.
Gyokuro gave an evil grin. Her eyes were darker than before and the air seemed to chill around Akua. "Scared?" Gyokuro asked her as she took a step closer to Akua. As hard as Akua tried, she couldn't hide the fact that she was in pain. It was a burning sensation that she had never felt before. "Are you perhaps, feeling weaker?" She cocked her head. "Drowsy? Dead? Tired?" Gyokuro began laughing as she grabbed Akua's shoulder. Her eyes began to water. Her whole body was forced down on to her knees. Akua wanted to fight back, but she knew the horrid feeling would grow if she did. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Akua heard Gyokuro go, "Poor little Akua, confused, and alone." She laughed harder. "What would a mother like me do?" Gyokuro brought her hand across Akua's face. "Pathetic scum." She said as Akua turned around, surprised by the stinging feeling that was in her cheek. She could feel heat rise on the side of her face and blood trickle down the side of her lip. Gyokuro inhaled, taking a deep, long breath. Not that she needed to take one, anyway. "I'll let you in on a secret…" Gyokuro slowly, began twirling her hair with two fingers whilst turned around, she pointed upwards, towards the air ducts. "If the world is at chaos, the living are limited, what of the air that surrounds them?"
How else was she supposed to live, if not without breathing? She was no undead, she was no dead vampire. But she had already consumed the air. And so had the hundreds of vampires that had done the same. "You poisoned the air we breathe?"
"Mmhm." Gyokuro had nodded. She circled her, and watched her take in more breaths, then quickly hit the back of her head with her fist and knocked her out in one blow. "Let's put you where you belong, Akua, along with everyone else." The mistress grabbed the girls arm, dragging her out of the room with one hand wrapped around her injured shoulder.
X
"Masked King?" Tsukune snarled, throwing a heavy punch at the figure, the armor on the figure fell to the floor, a loud clang echoing from wall to wall while smoke had started filling the air, he could hear an ominous voice coming out of it as it cleared in front of him.
Your destiny is one much more destructive than mine.
It was something he hadn't wanted to hear. The figure had left a briefcase in place of where it had been, he carefully walked towards it and placed his fingers on the lock, but just as he hold it, it unlocked, a shower of images and documents pouring out. Images of his parents, documents signed by his parents, what was this? "No…" He gasped. An outline of the castle, there were notes about the attack, the dates on the documents had been written as years ago. My family was loyal, how can this be possible? They funded this? No. No. No. He scratched his head, realizing what was finally going on. He became exasperated, a lump in his throat forming.
As if on cue, a woman he recognized very well walked into the hall he was in. The paintings that were once up were crushed on the ground, the floor almost crumbled, half sunken in, the cloths on the wall torn to pieces. Behind her she dragged the eldest daughter of the Shuzen family in clad, she froze in place, almost as if she wasn't supposed to be there in the first place, as if she had forgotten what she was gonna do before entering that room.
Tsukune gripped the documents in his hands, the papers crumpling, he looked behind him to see her, he dashed at her only to hit the wall. Gyokuro had teleported before he could ram into her and create any damage.
Whoops. Gyokuro had said. She dropped Akua on the ground, then began leaving the room. Akua was then left behind, her body torn and bruised.
"You coward!" Tsukune yelled to the palace walls. "They trusted you! And you betrayed them all!" He fell to the ground, the combination of his voice and the rage in his veins not being enough to sate the distraught he felt at that moment. Then he focused on the girl on the floor. She had gone here, to help her family, he was sure. And now she lay there, barely alive. Tsukune skidded to her on the floor, his pants ripping in the process. "I'm sorry…" Tsukune pulled her into his arms. He knew that if she were awake, she would definitely murder him, but for what he was going to do, surely she would thank him, right? "I'm sorry that my family had helped plan the murder of the Shuzen family." His rough fingers pushed aside her hair, clearing her neck from any strands of visible hair.
"I'm so-" He sank his fangs into her pale neck, the flesh soft under his lips, and her blood seeping into his mouth. "Sorry." Tsukune took his time, gently he injected a large amount of blood into her, hoping that it would give her the strength to at least come back to them, but even then it would take time. He tore some cloth off his shirt, and tied it around her neck to the point where it wouldn't be that tight, then he grabbed her, pulling her up and carrying her in his arms towards whatever exit he could find.
X
Mizore ran out of the castle shooting icicles behind her. She had cuts and scabs all over her body, but that was nothing considering everyone in the palace. Soldiers were filing behind her like a swarm of bees. Mizore followed her first impulse and began running towards the forest that lined the castle, right about the outskirts. I hope I lose them. She quickly thought to herself as she shot her icicles into the air, hoping that they would hit one of them, and dashed into the forest. Get lost! She thought as she began misleading them with a clone she was creating.
Half of them bought the bait, the others didn't. She ran, like mad. Death wasn't something Mizore wanted to experience just yet. The air blew against her face, brushing away her hair. The smell of soldiers got farther and farther away from her as she ran. Did I outrun them? She questioned as she continued running faster. Then, something caught her attention.
A red patch of hair and a small body against a tree made Mizore stop in her tracks. Kokoa? "Kokoa, is that you?" Mizore asked as she slowly approached the small vampire. Then, she noticed the smell of blood that seemed to filter the air around her. Mizore dashed over to Kokoa's side and looked at her. Her face was extremely pale, borderline death. She was bleeding from multiple bullet wounds in her body, and didn't respond to when Mizore touched her.
A trail of goosebumps went down Mizore's back as she sat down next to Kokoa and pulled her body on to her own. She carefully touched the wounds and sealed them over with ice to stop the bleeding. Now, she's not bleeding. The ice would melt of eventually, but her body would react against the holes by that time.
But, then came another idea. What if they smell her with all that blood coating her body? Mizore rubbed her hand around Kokoa's bullet holes and began painting herself with the frail girls' blood. If they go after me, they won't find her. Mizore continued until the musk of blood was stronger on her than on Kokoa. The poor girl wasn't even moving in her arms. Just to make sure, Mizore put her hand against Kokoa's chest. Her heart was beating. Faintly, but it was still there. And she was breathing, but most of it was shallow. She was alright, for the most part at least.
Mizore touched a part of the tree and ice began forming out like a giant, forming a creature that could hold Kokoa's small body. It was sort of a giant that had a hollow belly. It looked like an ice giant, but that way, Kokoa would be safe.
She carefully placed Kokoa inside and sealed her in. Nothing could break this ice barrier. Not even their bullets and missiles. Mizore then commanded the creature to get an army car and go to the Land of the Snow Fairies. There, she would be safe with her mother. She would know Mizore sent her by her unique ice design. But, there was Ruby. She was dead. She heard Kahlua's crying through the walkie talkie, then she heard one of her best friends' flesh tearing. She got chills when she thought about it, and tears began to water her eyes, but she quickly brushed them off.
"Go." She told the Giant as she began to run in the opposite direction of the castle, through the thick forest.
X
Moka panted as she ran. Her hair was becoming matted with blood and dirt. She was used to being pampered and respected. She had never expected anything like this before. Nothing compared to the sight of war and pain. She ate cookies and had great treats on a daily basis, but this made Moka want to sit down and cry.
Soldiers ran after her. They were clearly much faster than her, but she was much more cunning than they were. She could leap over cars that were destroyed and toppled over, and objects; like rocks; that she knew would slow down the soldiers, but eventually, they'd catch up to her. Then they're finally get rid of her.
The more she ran, the more screams of terror she heard. And the more blood she saw. She gagged at the smell, but swallowed it all back down. She was going to survive. For Kokoa and Akua. But, the biggest shock to her was Kahlua. How she tried killing her. They were sisters. Nothing could break sisterhood. Maybe Kahlua was scared? Maybe she was forced? Who knew, but she knew that Gyokuro would never let something like this happen, right?
Moka leaped over more and more objects to slow the soldiers down. But, they were finally catching up to her. They had figured out her pace. And, she felt absolutely miserable. With a last resort, she ran into a cave and climbed up on to a ledge. She hid and cowered in the corner, but they didn't follow.
She stood still for a moment, listening for any signs of soldiers. But, there were none. She took a ragged breath and pulled her knees up to her face. A couple of tears ran down her face, but no more than a couple, she was going to stay strong. She wiped the remainder of tears off of her face and stood up. She was barefoot by this point. The sharp rocks hurt her feet, cutting into her flesh and bleeding out. And her torn dress made her feel cold all over, especially with her wounds exposed.
She took timid steps out of her hiding place, and looked around. What exactly was this place? Then, her mother Akasha came into her head. "Don't ever go into any caves near our homes." Moka remembered those words well, but they didn't matter now. Everyone she cared about was either gone or dead. Moka walked slowly deeper into the cave until she saw a slight glint of light from deeper into the cave. It gave her an eerie feeling, but she didn't start running.
She hurried her pace to the center of the cave. Something was there. Something her mother didn't want her to see. And she was definitely going to see it now. Right as she had the chance. Then she saw it. More like him.
Authors Note:
Hello everyone! Thank you for reading the ninth chapter of this installment, many thanks for all the support and the feedback (which is very appreciated) you guys have given me. Thank you so much, my loyal readers, for your patience, for your attendance, and just being here. I'm really grateful and I cannot say it enough times (I probably have, but you guys are extra special to me c: )
I will be writing the tenth installment not long after this, hopefully getting it up soon as well. I will also be writing another fanfiction, for which series, I don't know, yet, but I will be writing. If you guys have any questions, or concerns please feel free to message me, and I will answer you in the best way I can.
Lots of credit to my lovely friend Layla (Descendant-of-Blue-Blood) for editing all of my chapters so far. I thank her for her constant support, editing skills, and ideas. Bless her soul c:
Thank you so much for reading guys, and I will see you next chapter!
- Queen of Cellos
