Chapter 7: In the Gist of it All part II
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"Father Marcus!" a high hissed came from a shadowed bush.
"Hush Mirna!" came a whispered voice from the bush beside.
"This is impossible, Father," came a monotonous voice from the shadows. "Sneaking into Turqouise won't be that easy."
A sigh came from the bush as a priest, garbed with a white robe and golden hems, stood up. Matching blue eyes appeared from the shadows as the two Hunters emerged.
"Luka is right," the priest said. "This isn't going to be easy..."
After leaving the scene of what seems to be the aftermath of Lina's battle, they blindedly followed the crimson glowing cross the priest now held gently in his hands. According to the priest, the holy item linked itself to Lina's Undead heart through the cross-shaped scar, thus making it possible for him to manipulate it with his own powers, making the invisible link glow blood red and visible again.
At least, that's what the two Hunters summed up. They never heard of such abilities, especially from priests. They personally preferred physical abilities rather than magical. They can manipulate a stake and silver swords and knives any Night, but magic was certainly not their forte.
Mirna crossed her arms over her chest. "'This isn't going to be easy' is an understatement, Father. Do you know how much danger we are in right now? If any vamps were to see us here, we're already dead."
Which was not a bit exagerated. Any Hunter worth their salt would know Turquoise was one of the lands where most vampires reside...vampires with human slaves. They knew that, as a solid rule, any human found around Turquoise territory is up for grabs. They also learned that any humans captured is made to whatever the vampires tell them to be, whether it be a slave or living blood packets. As humans, they found it appalling that any human lowered into that situation would just accept it. Both of them would rather die.
The one thing that is common in Turquoise and the wilderness is that the most powerful shall dominate. Survival of the strongest was their rule. They heard through Hunter rumors that hundreds of years back, Turquoise used to be inhabitable. There were no order, no rules, just pure chaos where the strongest dominated the weaker...humans were usually the weakest...
After so much time that passed, and as such it was only a rumor, they were not sure if it was ever true. But they did not want to take the risk to find out. If anything, they knew one thing about any vampires anywhere is true: humans were just their prey.
Luka gave a small sigh, letting his hands slide off the rough brick wall. "No secret entrance anywhere around the castle. Climbing it is impossible." His blue eyes roamed the wall, which stretched to what seemed like the sky. "This place is designed with only a front entrance."
"And THAT is definately out of the question!" Mirna quickly exclaimed.
The priest rubbed his temples as if a migraine had started to spread. He is so close, yet it seemed to him like it's still so far. "No one is suggesting any such thing, Mirna. Please calm yourself."
The Hunters blinked. They never saw Marcus so distorted. He had always held a calm demeanor and there seemed to always be an aura about him.
"Father, may I ask," Luka started, "why is this so important to you? This young girl you're supposed to find, is she family?"
Marcus sighed and brushed his light blonde hair back. "Not exactly..."
"Then why are you so determined to enter this hell area?" Mirna asked bluntly as she leaned herself against the cold wall. "Something tells me it's not a simple finding some girl mission anymore."
A troubled look crossed Marcus' face. His moss green eyes looked at the ground. "I'm sorry. I guess it no longer is..." He then looked up at the starless night. Something was nagging within him and he wasn't sure what it was. A bad feeling, a priest's intuition, although it sounds fairly silly, was the best way to describe his pursue into Turquoise. It was ever since he met...
"Don't tell me it's because of that vamp!" Mirna exclaimed with wide eyes.
Marcus' forehead wrinkled in thought. "I can't explain it but...it is...something about her makes me want to find her." He reflected on his words and shook his head. "At the time when those two elder vampires appeared, I hadn't wanted to do what I did, but that was the only way to get out of that situation easily."
Luka nodded in agreement. "Considering that they were elders, I was surprised they hadn't attacked us still."
"I am doing this for my own benefit," the priest said all of a sudden. "I'd understand if you two don't want to follow me. This path does stray from what we first agreed to do."
Both Hunters looked down in thought.
"I'm...going with you," Mirna said. "I want to see what this Turquoise place is all about..." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked away.
Luka nodded. "Then I will follow you too. Afterall, we've been through all this together, we might as well stick together till the end."
The priest's face remained neutral, neither frowning nor smiling. He finally nodded after looking at the two Hunters. "I understand."
Mirna put her hands on her hips as she turned to look at the castle. "Well...first step is to find a way into this place."
The three stayed silent as they thought of a way to enter the castle.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" a deep voice sounded from the shadows.
The two Hunters whipped around to see a red-eyed, rugged black haired vampire. Mirna clutched her wooden stake tightly, Luka gripped his blessed sword, the priest looked at the vampire calmly.
"What are humans doing around Turquoise willingly?" the vampire said as he took a couple of steps towards them.
Sweat slid down their forehead. They could tell this one wasn't as old as the other two but strong nonetheless. The two could take him on equally if his eyes weren't set on the white-garbed priest. Mirna and Luka glanced at Marcus. Any vampire would want the blood of a pure holy man.
That'll cause a problem, they thought as they turned back to look at the vampire.
He smirked. "Hunters? Such amateurs. Well, shall we have some fun then?"
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"Y'know, they ARE amateurs," a voice said. "They're even worst than yo--mmph!"
D squeezed his left hand shut as he reined his dark mare away from the shadowed cliff that overlooked the castle.
"Eee--mmph--gh--agh!" came from his left hand. D loosened his left hand. "Ya tryin' to kill me, D!" It huffed and puffed air. "So what are ya gonna do now? Looks like those amateurs are gonna get themselves killed rather than gettin' themselves into this place."
D didn't reply has he galloped towards the scene.
"Hey, hey! You're not tryin' to get yerself revealed already, are ya!" Left-hand exclaimed with his raspy voice.
"I wasn't trying to conceal myself in the first place," D replied.
"Argh! Haven't you ever heard of doing things the easy way!" Left-hand shouted frustratedly.
D didn't reply again as he slowed his horse.
Left-hand grunted. "S'bout time you started to listen to me!"
"It's almost over," D said, looking through the shadows at the battle scene.
"Which isn't surprising," it said dryly. "What's your point?"
"The only entrance into Turquoise is the front," he said shortly.
"I'm not gettin' any younger with your short explanations, D!"
He didn't reply as he saw the two young Hunters drop onto the ground.
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"And so, Master Brandus and Master Cecil restored Turquoise and made it habitable again," Mel said and took a deep breath.
Lina's eyebrow twitched. To her dismay, the two humans had promised to entertain her until she had to rest again. Turquoise's history was hardly entertaining, in her opinion.
All they were really doing is sitting around the main hall, which was grandiosely decorated, and telling stories about Turquoise. Lina wasn't sure what was so fascinating about this place, especially for the humans. With these two, Lina couldn't get any sort of understanding because they had been raised here.
"How about telling me about going in and out of this place?" Lina said dryly.
The two humans blinked. "Huh?"
"What I really wanna know is how I can get in and out of this place," Lina said.
"Oh..." Cathy said softly. "I don't think going out of Turquoise is a good idea, Miss Lina."
Mel nodded vigorously with agreement. "That's right! It's dangerous out there!"
Lina sweatdropped. By the way he acted, if she hadn't been out there already, she would have thought she would disappear the minute she stepped out of this place.
"What's so dangerous out there?" Lina asked. "I came from out there, if you already forgotten."
"Yeah...looking half dead," Mel said, sadly recalling the mental picture in his head.
"Of course, if you weren't dead already, that is," Cathy said. "All the vampires here thought you weren't going to make it through the Night. More than half dehydrated like that, it was really dangerous."
Lina snorted. "Say that to the one who did that to me." She crossed her arms over her chest heatedly. "I didn't asked to be brought here like that, y'know!"
Cathy gave an apologetic smile. "What me meant was beyond Turquoise, anything can happen. There are no rules amongst vampires beyond Turquoise. That's why Mistress Lilith wasn't able to say much of anything to Master Brandus."
"That's right," Mel said in agreement. "It was partly her fault for leaving you alone like that."
"Mel..." Cathy hushed him.
Lina waved her hands. "Okay, okay, it's dangerous out there, I got it already. All I wanted to know was how to get in and out of this place. Doesn't mean I'm going to go out, y'know. Lilith already forbid me to do anything like that." The thought of disobeying her again gave Lina the creeps. "I don't wanna stay here forever..."
"That's right! I don't want to either!" Mel exclaimed happily. "And wherever Mistre..er...Miss Lina go, I go too!"
Lina grunted. "Don't count on it, kid. After all this blows over, I have to think over what to do with you."
Mel's mouth gaped. "But-but!"
Lina waved his expression away. "Don't act so surprise. You knew I didn't like the idea of this in the first place."
Mel's expression saddened. "I understand, Miss Lina..."
Cathy cleared her throat. "In any case, to answer your curiousity, Miss Lina, getting into Turquoise is quite easy. There are no securities, none whatsoever."
"Confident in our safety, aren't we?" Lina asked no one in particular.
Cathy looked up in thought. "Well...something like that...because no matter who or what comes into Turquoise, Master Brandus shall be notified immediately. Others know the unspoken rule of stepping into vampire territory so we hardly see those who choose to disregard the rule."
"How's it possible to notify him immediately? I thought you said there were no securities?" Lina asked.
"There are no securities does not mean there are no watchers, Miss Lina," Cathy said. "With this many of us, no one could slip by without notice."
Lina grunted. "And I ask again, confident, aren't we? Well, what about during the daytime?"
"We humans keep watch during the daytime," Cathy replied. "And there are some vampires who does too."
"Hm..I see," Lina said.
Mel looked at Lina suspiciously. "You're awfully curious about going in and out of Turquoise, aren't you, Miss Lina?"
Lina sweatdropped and looked away. "I-I'm just curious! Is it wrong to find out how safe I am in a place I no nothing about!" She crossed her arms over her chest and hmph'ed. "Besides, I still don't know about going out of this place anyway."
Cathy nodded. "That's right. And it is nearly impossible."
Lina blinked. "Eh? Why?"
"Well, for you, I meant," Cathy said. "Without Master Brandus' or Mistress Lilith approval, none of us are to let you step out of Turquoise."
"Ehhh! Seriously!" Lina exclaimed and stood up abruptly. "So I'm being kept watched by two kids that seems too matured for their ages!"
Cathy giggled. "You're funny, Miss Lina."
Lina grunted and sat back down with a thump on the velvet cusion. "It's not funny on my part! I am ultimately bored and besides that little incident with what's her face, nothing's happened!"
"Cathy!" a young human girl slammed the many doors of the main hall. "Something's happened!"
Lina rolled her eyes. As if on cue, she thought to herself.
Cathy stood up suddenly and made her way towards the girl. "What happened?"
"Your master," the girl said breathlessly.
"Master Joseph?" Cathy said quizzically.
The girl nodded vigorously. "He just came back from the outside! Brought some human Hunters with him!"
Cathy's eyes widen with amazement as she rushed out of the door, the other girl rushing out behind her.
Lina stood up with a smooth motion. She glanced at Mel with curiousity. "What's with all the commotion?"
Mel looked at Lina sideways as they made their way towards the door. "We hardly ever see human Hunters around Turquoise territory. They usually know better than that. Actually, a few of the vampires and humans here were Hunters before they settled themselves here."
"I see," Lina said as she stepped out into the red-carpeted hallway.
Lina squinted as she saw a crowd at the end of the candle-lit hallway. "Gotta see who the idiots are."
Mel nodded absent-mindedly as they went closer towards the commotion.
"There's nothing but humans in the crowd," Lina commented as they stood a little ways from the crowd.
"Yes, well, vampires could care less who brings what in here. It sort of happens almost every night, Miss Lina," the boy said as he stood on tip toe.
"Get away from me! Let go of us!" they heard a high pitched voice exclaim.
The ring spread a little bit as they heard two thuds.
Lina blinked. That voice...
"Get away from us!"
Small shrieks sounded from various humans as they broke away from the crowd.
Lina caught sight of the captives and gasped. "You guys!"
Humans spread away from her as Lina's voice boomed throughout the hallway.
The vampire, Joseph, merely glanced at her. Cathy was looking at the Hunters gashes and wounds.
Mirna and Luka, looking less than Hunters, whipped their heads to place their eyes on Lina. Maybe it was her imagination but Lina thought she saw a hint of relief when their blue eyes took sight of her. The priest, Marcus, looked completely relieved when he saw her.
"What are you guys doing here!" Lina said as she walked closer to the humans. "And why is the priest the only one that doesn't look beaten down?"
Lina almost snickered as she took in the whole picture. The two Hunters were gashed and bruised, blood was all over their outfit. The priest however was quite the opposite. His snow white robes were still snow white with the golden hems. He just stood by his comrades calmly as the two clutched at their wounds.
Joseph grunted. "Because he didn't resist. Knows what's good for him. You know these humans?" He gave her a disgusted face.
Lina crossed her arms around her chest. "Yeah, they're traitors that left me to get captured to this place."
She placed her hands on her hips and hmph'ed. "Karma hurts, doesn't it?" She eyed the two Hunters critically.
Mirna swayed as her eye lids seems to grow heavily. Cathy kept her from falling down on her face. "Are you okay, miss? Master Joseph, I think you went a little overboard this time."
"They didn't even put up a good fight," he replied dryly. "Amatuer Hunters are always ahead of thier league."
Cathy's eyes knitted with concern. "I'll take them to heal their wounds or else they're going to suffer from blood loss."
Other humans helped with the two wounded Hunters as they were dragged away from the crowd. The crowd slowly dissipated, the show having been over.
Joseph snorted. "I don't understand why she's so concerned about the humans that comes in here!" Without a response to his comment, he swiftly turned away and walked the opposite direction.
"Where are they being taken?" Marcus asked with concern.
Lina shrugged lightly. "Beats me." She looked down at Mel expectantly.
"Well, they're being taken to healers," he replied accordingly. "And probably to rest."
"That answer your question?" Lina looked at the priest.
Marcus nodded slightly. "Should I...follow them?"
Mel shrugged. "You can do whatever you want, mister."
A confused look crossed the priest's face and looked at Lina.
Lina shrugged as she turned away from the spot the crowd was. "You heard him. If you wanna follow them I suggest you do it before they disappear into the many, many rooms they have here. Believe me, without a guide, I'd be lost around here."
He took a few steps towards the direction his companions were taken. He looked back at Lina and said, "What will happen to us?"
"What do you mean, mister?" Mel asked. "Nothing'll happen to any of you unless you want it to."
"I see..." he gave Lina a last glance and turned away.
After seeing the golden cross of the priest's coat retreating into the dim hallway, Lina walked away, feeling a bit tired.
Two shadow-figured occupied the open space of the dark forest.
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"Dunpeal," a deep voice said in a confirming tone.
The second shadow nodded. "No doubt. But this is too close to Turquoise."
"For a Hunter at that level, it wouldn't matter," the first shadow said.
"But a Dunpeal wouldn't be senseless enough to enter the front entrance," the second said.
"No...I don't think so. Lilith, this is not good. Either way, it's confirmed that a Dunpeal has targeted Turquoise."
"I know, Robert" Lilith replied with a sigh. "What with the entertainment happening in a couple of nights, this might cause trouble."
"It's more like it will definately cause trouble," Robert said.
Lilith didn't reply as she looked around the Night sky, an orange glow peeking out from the outlines of the mountains.
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Author's Notes: Yea, sorry again for the delay everybody! I sorta forced this chapter out too, sowwie! Maybe after a side story, I might have to take a longer break from this story, too many things going on! truly truly sorry everybody!