I can't tell ya all how happy I am ya like my story. I am really trying to get chapters up and after the ninth, I will be home and have my internet back! AHHH how I miss it! I am behind on my comics, Asian dramas and Anime. A geek deprived of their internet, IS NOT PRETTY! I started twitching. LOL!
Dracut was nothing like Black Coven. It was above ground for one, a massive city nestled in a low valley. As they got closer, Aeris could see a enormous dome that encompassed the city. It was a hazy blue color. Aeris did not know what to make of it; she had seen something similar before. It was back at her home, it looked like the defense shield that they rose at night, or when there was a really bad storm.
"What is that?" Aeris asked them, as they stopped at the top of the ridge.
Cid was the one to answer her, "That be my own invention. Invented it 'bout a hundred years ago. It blocks the sun's rays and lets our kind walk in sunlight. Also, gotta an added bonus of keeping unwanted visitors of finding."
"But I thought all vampires had to sleep during the day time?" Aeris was curious, since she had been dragged into this world she found that she wanted to know more about it.
"That is true, but only for Pure Bloods mostly. Unless they have immunity to the sun completely, otherwise their body will force itself into a sleep during the day. However within the barrier it nullifies the Sun completely. Meaning that it suppresses the urge to go into the 'sleep'."
"I see." Aeris was about to ask another question, but what happened next shocked her completely.
Genesis had in fact dragged Jenova all the way to Dracut, but as they were about to begin their decent into the valley. Genesis flung Jenova forward like she was a ragdoll, throwing her down the steep hill. Genesis watched with an almost satisfied expression on his lips. He caught Aeris's look then grinned. "We need to hurry; the sun is nearly upon us." Genesis started down the steps that were carved into the earth and lead down to the city.
Aeris did not like Jenova, the time with Elena and the stories she told gave her a judgmental opinion already but the way Genesis was treating her could almost be too cruel. She kept that thought to herself though. When they finally reached the bottom, Aeris could not look at Jenova. Her head was still twisted at the awkward angle, nearly all the way around. She had asked Cid if Jenova was in fact dead, if so why bring her with them.
"Like that Gypsy bitch could die so easily! No, that whore is still very much alive. With her head twisted like that her body cannot heal itself and she is in a paralyzed state." Cid glanced to his King but saw nothing to make his change the subject.
"Is it because of Shinra's sister's death, that you treat her so coldly?" That question got a reaction, even though that was not what Aeris was going for.
Genesis stopped cold before Jenova's body; he looked over his shoulder at the human girl. There was anger there and a pain as well. "You ask too many questions, perhaps you should keep them to yourself." Genesis took Jenova's arm violently, most likely wrenching it from its socket, as he dragged her once more.
Aeris was caught off guard by the coldness in his voice that she took a step back. "I'm sorry."
Cid let out a sigh and shook his head. "Don't take it to heart, Sweets. It is still a very sore subject. Most don't dare to bring up Shinra's sister Jillian. They enjoy their heads where they are."
"I wish I could have met this Jillian. Many held her in high regard. Elena says she is the Queen that Jenova pretends to be." Aeris said quietly as they began to follow Genesis slowly again.
"More than ya will ever know." Cid's voice had sorrow weaved through it. "She was the jewel of Dracut, could almost rival Queen Zefrinn of Helhiem." Cid went quiet a moment, trying to find the words, or battling with what to say next. "There was much regret when she went to Black Coven. Not just from the people of Dracut, but our King too."
Not knowing what to make of what Cid said and nothing coming to her, Aeris was intrigued for the first time in a long time. She would have to find the true answers to her questions, instead having it easy.
They entered the city just in time for the sun to come up of the hill and begin it's slow ascend into the sky above. Tseng, who did not say much of anything the whole way, gave a bow to his King. "I will heal this one. Cid bring the others, so when she wakes it will not scare her as badly waking in an unfamiliar place."
Genesis nodded. "Alright do what you must Tseng." Genesis continued to the middle of the city square. Later they would find out that he had Jenova strung up on display, after fixing her neck so she would awake. The girls would pay a visit to Jenova before they left Dracut and none of them would feel sorry or pity her.
In the Keep of Dracut, the girls were taken to a room in the upper level of the Keep. Upon entering the room, a large canopy bed was straight ahead with a large open archway leading out onto a balcony to the right. On the left was another archway with curtains opening to a small sitting area with a divan and chairs. It was a beautifully decorated room that was much warmer and welcoming than any room within the Black Coven. Cid put Yuffie on the divan, placing a blanket over her. Aeris had to admit although they were captives, this was much less threatening than Black Coven any day. Aeris watched as Cid studied Yuffie, his brow furrowed, like he was trying to see something that wasn't there. "Tseng, when you finish with her. Look at this one. There is something…strange about her."
Aeris thought it strange but soon was too busy watching Tseng to think on it.
"I will see to her, after I have saved this one." Tseng's tone was dull and monotone as he did not look away from Tifa. His hands hovered over her body, as he closed his eyes. He was looking into her body to see the true damage. He found that 6 of her ribs were indeed shattered. Bone shards had lodged themselves into her organs. If she was not healed now, she would be gone within the hour. Gathering magic to him, he used and manipulated it to his will. He forced it into Tifa's body, causing her bones to reverse the break and become whole again. The wounds to her organs sealed, like nothing had ever happened.
Tseng pulled his hands away from her and opened his eyes. "She will wake soon, but she will be weak. Her own energy was used in the Heal, so she will need rest until it returns." Tseng straightened up and looked to Aeris. "I will have someone bring food to you all. Make sure she does not try to move around much and keep her calm when she wakes." The vamp then went to Yuffie as Cid had asked him to do so.
Tseng knelt by the girl, his hand moving over her. It wasn't long before there was a spark of surprise in his eyes. 'This girl is a curse' Tseng said to Cid in a different language, one that Aeris could not understand. 'The marks upon Jenova, they came from this human.' He looked at the small girl in front of him. 'Tell Genesis that I need to go figure out this riddle.'
Tseng stood up and left as Cid followed after him. Cid stopped at the door . "You will find no enemies here. We are not monsters like the ones that reside in Black Coven." With that parting message, he was gone. Leaving the girls alone.
Nearly two hour later, when Tifa's eyes finally opened. She felt like she had been zapped of any kind of strength she once possessed. Her limbs felt like they were weighted down with hundreds of pounds. Even her eyes lids felt heavy as she tried to keep them open. Looking around the room, realizing she had no clue where she was, she did not even have the energy to react to it. However, she did breathe a sigh of relief when she found Aeris dozing next to her.
Tifa tried to lift her hand to nudge the girl but couldn't manage it. "Aer..Aeriss?" She called weakly. Had Aeris been truly asleep she probably would not have heard the girl.
Luckily Aeris set up rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Hey…You're awake." Aeris said smiling at Tifa.
"Where….are we?" Tifa closed her eyes a moment before she opened them a moment later. Aeris began to tell the girl the story of how The Market was attacked, Zack saving her and then how they were kidnapped first by Reno and Rude and then by Genesis. Tifa would have acted more surprised by the tale, if she could have. She told her how Jenova was brought alone and everything that Genesis did along the way. Tifa couldn't say she wasn't pleased the bitch was getting a beating.
Genesis walked into the room the girls were staying. He glanced over at Yuffie, who had yet to wake up. Aeris sat on the edge of the bed holding Tifa's hand as he came in. When she saw Genesis she dipped her head acknowledging him.
"I thought of my words to you, earlier. They were rude and for that I am sorry. The subject matter you addressed is a sensitive one." He got straight to the point of his visit, as he stepped up to the end of the bed, and put his arms behind his back.
Aeris shook her head. "Do not be, I was asking far too many questions. It is something that is new to me. I have never really had to do it before. I am sorry for bringing up something painful."
"Then all is forgiven and we can move on. How is our patient?" Genesis said looking to Tifa.
"I am fine, Thank you." Tifa sat up a little. "You're the King of Dracut then?"
"Yes, I am. Have been for the past few centuries or so." He gave her a small smile. Genesis had been given his right as King. He had been born into a smaller Coven and became a Knight. Later the King of Dracut had given him the title, as he had no male heirs to take it.
Aeris was so amazed how Genesis acted completely opposite of Sephiroth and how he did not have the frightening aura that Sephiroth did. It was odd at how she felt actually safe with him in the room. Something that was not even thinkable at Black Coven. "In Black Coven, we were lead to believe that the Covens were locked in a constant battle for power." Aeris looked to the balcony that overlooked the city. "But here it's like Black Coven is a completely different world away."
Genesis nodded, following her gaze through the archway. "Sephiroth would like his people to think that. The truth is that, other than Black Coven, everyone else lives in peace with the others. The Night world is hidden from the humans but can live together without waging war." Genesis sighed. "Sephiroth nor Hojo could grasp that. We trade and travel between each other regularly. Sephiroth has cut Black Coven off from both the Human world and the Night world. His father Hojo ingrained that into him, not that Sephiroth is not demented already."
Tifa tried to sit up more, but needed Aeris's help to fully rest her back against the head board; she was still extremely weak. "But do you keep humans as slaves here?"
Genesis focused on Tifa as she asked her question. "No. There is no one within this city that is held here against their will. We have servants, but they are compensated for their work." Genesis tone was even and held no lie. "There was rumors that he keeps humans as slaves, but as I said Sephiroth has cut even communication off. What information we do get comes from our spies or the ones that have managed to escape." Genesis put his hands on the foot board and leaned forward some. "Not only that but he allows Bitten Vampires among his ranks." Genesis looked disgusted as the words left his mouth. "Too you it may be cruel, but Bitten vampires are killed if no one calms them. Too many are dangerous, not to mention it is not much of a life."
"I understand what you mean, Cloud has told me about the Bitten Vampires. I have even encountered some. I thought that they were common everywhere." Tifa said softly. "That explains why Cloud hates them."
"Most Pure Bloods are very Prideful and a Bitten Vampire is like a mark of disgrace to us. It mean that someone was careless." Genesis gave a snide smirk. "It must be completely infuriating for Cloud, to serve Sephiroth."
He had both girls attention with that last comment. "Why do you say that?" Tifa asked, unsure of how to take his smirk.
"If you have to ask then, he has not told you." Genesis said moving around the bed to the opposite side of Aeris. "I would, say it is his place to tell you, but I tire of being a secret keeper, lately." He took a seat on the end of the bed, with a sigh he started again. "Cloud was very young when his home Coven was destroyed by Hojo."
"I have seen his memory of when he arrived at Helhiem. He has told me about it some, but I know something bad happened to his mother." Tifa caught Aeris giving her a look, like 'what have you two been doing?' Tifa sent her back a glare.
Genesis paid no mind to the girls, just going on with his story. "You see Hojo was new to Black Coven, just coming into the Throne. Unlike Angeal and I, he did not treat the other Covens in his lands as extensions, more like enemies to be eliminated. Cloud's Coven was the strongest and had the greatest resistance. That did not prove to be any use." Genesis took a moment remembering the time, before looking to Tifa. "Everyone within the Coven was slaughtered, except for Cloud and his mother. They did not get far; Cloud's mother hid him before she was taken. Cloud was found by Vincent and taken to Helhiem. The next time he would see his mother would be when she was sitting next to Hojo, as his Queen."
Tifa was shocked. "So does that mean that Sephiroth is-?"
"Yes, He is Cloud's half-brother."
Dun Dun Dun! He he did ya see that one comer? Sorry there is not any fluffiness going on but there will be later on. I'm trying to answer some questions. He he any ways. I will try to get the next up soon!