Inside The Bluefish Inn all was quiet as a young snow angel was looking down deep in thought. Arial had her arms crossed before her and was thinking really hard about how to help the inn regain its business to help out a wife in need. Sun and Marin watched her as the girl's eyebrow twitched while she had a slightly frustrated expression. The two girls glanced to each other then to the snow angel as minutes went by without a word being said. After a while Arial nodded then looked to the two with a determined expression.
"Ok," she said firmly.
"Ok?" Marin asked. Sun blinked then just held up her sketchpad that had a question mark on it. Arial looked between the two and nodded.
"I've given it a lot of thought about how to help you get more customers with your inn," she said assuredly.
"And what have you thought of?" Marin asked curiously.
"And after careful thinking, I've come to one realization," Arial said with a nod. Sun again held up the sketchpad with the question mark on it. Arial paused for a moment then shrugged.
"I haven't a clue how to run an inn," she said simply. Marin and Sun staggered while Arial looked up with a thoughtful expression.
"I mean, I have no idea how to run a business in general. So that doesn't help much," she said plainly.
"Well… thank you for the offer anyway," Marin said with a weak smile while Sun just rolled her eyes.
"How come other inns are doing better than yours anyway? What do they have that yours doesn't?" Arial asked.
"Well, they all have something I don't. Things such as entertainment theaters, bars, and hot springs come to mind. When me and my husband built this place we wanted a peaceful place for people to relax, someplace to get away from all their worries and stress. It used to be enough to have a place on the beach to relax and spend a carefree day, but now…" Marin said looking down with worry. Arial nodded then looked around.
"Well… sounds like we need something to draw customers in then, something that the other places don't have," she reasoned. Sun looked around curiously as Marin sighed.
"I can't afford to add anything along those lines to my inn though; I just don't have the money. If I don't raise enough money by the end of the month this could be… the last month I have this place," she said remorsefully. Sun looked at her worriedly then wrote something on her pad.
We'll think of something, don't give up hope Marin.
"Thank you Sun, but I just don't know what we could do," Marin said shaking her head gently.
"There has to be something we can do to draw people here. We just need to think of something that people can't see anywhere else," Arial said hopefully.
"Like a monster?" a voice asked from behind. The three looked to see a man standing by the door with a slight smile. He had long black hair that went down to his neck, the hair being messy while he had a black goatee. He had dark eyes that had a green shimmer to the edges, the man wearing dark shoes, black dress pants, and a white shirt with a black dress shirt that was left unbuttoned. Sun blinked then looked to Arial, the silent girl then quickly grabbing the box costume and throwing it over the angel. The man chuckled and shook his head amusingly as the snow girl screamed and tried to stop the silent girl from forcing the costume onto her.
"You don't need panic, I'm not exactly human myself after all," he said casually with a shrug. Sun and Arial stopped thrashing around and looked to him curiously.
"Oh? You're a monster too?" Arial said curiously. The man glanced to her and nodded.
"Well I'm certainly not human, so that would mean yes little girl. Sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear your little discussion. I have a habit of eavesdropping, a little guilty pleasure of mine," he said with a wave of his hand.
"Oh, well, sorry to keep you waiting like that. If you're here for a room I'll gladly rent one to you, we serve all kinds here," Marin said graciously. The man chuckled and walked up towards the counter as he looked around.
"Am I the only one here? It's so quiet," he asked looking back to Marin with a curious smile. The woman nodded and looked down worriedly.
"Yes… I'm afraid so," she said softly.
"Perfect," the man said with a wide smile. The girls looked to him as he dropped a large stack of money on the counter. Marin stared at it with wide eyes then looked to the man as her jaw dropped.
"I was looking for a place that was quiet, it just so happens that I like places where one can just relax and let their worries float away. I'd like to rent the entire inn for the night," he said with a wink. Marin wavered then grabbed the counter to keep from dropping to the ground.
"You… want… to rent… the entire inn?" she asked in disbelief. He showed a bit of concern and looked to the money.
"Oh, is this not enough? I apologize, I'm still getting used to using human currency. Here, how about if I add this," he said as he placed a large blue emerald on the counter. The girls stared at it with wide eyes as he smiled at Marin.
"Wow…" Arial said in wonder. Sun just nodded and looked at the man with awe.
"You see I'm here on business and I do so hate the crowded inns around the area. I was hoping to find someplace I could have some peace and quiet, and since this place isn't taken yet I'll happily rent the entire thing to make sure it stays that way tonight," he said graciously.
"Oh… my… wow…" Marin said with disbelief. Sun shakily wrote down some words and showed the woman.
Holy shit!
Marin nodded then looked at the man with wonder. After a moment she smiled with amazement.
"Yes… yes of course. You just saved my business sir, of course you can have the entire inn to yourself tonight," she said graciously. The man clapped his hands together with a warm smile.
"Terrific, this place seems so calm and peaceful, just what I needed to unwind between my assignments," he said with a nod. He glanced to Sun then smiled at her.
"And, do you by chance work here miss?" he asked with intrigue. Sun slowly nodded while looking at the man with wonder still.
"Yes, this is Sun, she'll be helping you feel at home here," Marin said gesturing to the girl. Sun bowed gracefully as the man smirked slightly, his eyes showing a greenish gleam briefly.
"Well, it's great to know that I'll have a beautiful girl here if I need anything," he said with a warm smile. Sun blushed a bit and smiled back. She glanced to Arial, the snow angel looking at the man curiously.
"What kind of monster are you sir?" she asked. The man glanced back to her and smirked.
"Well, that's not something you need to know, is it? Besides, I prefer to keep in human form when traveling around, just to keep things simple," he said casually.
"Human form or monster form, make yourself at home however you wish sir," Marin said graciously.
"Thank you ma'am," the man replied with a smile. He looked around then to Sun.
"Well, care to show me to my room, um, Sun was it?" he asked. The girl nodded with a curious smile then motioned for him to follow. He smiled with a twinkle in his eye and nodded. She led the man up the stairs to the side while Marin was staring with awe at the money and emerald on the counter.
"Wow, I wish all customers could be like him," she said with amazement.
"I know, you would only need one of them a month and you would be set," Arial said with an impressed nod.
"This is incredible. My inn is saved, and it's all because of just one customer. It's too good to be true," Marin said with tears of joy forming in her eyes. Arial smiled at the woman with relief, glad that a fellow wife had fortune returned upon her. Marin started counting the money with a happy smile as the snow angel walked over to the living room.
"Well that's one crisis over with. Still, I wish I could have seen Dark tonight," she said with a soft smile.
"Don't worry my dear; Sun will take you on the train towards your friend tomorrow. Just relax tonight and-" Marin started before she glanced over as the temperature dropped around the area, seeing the snow girl's hair frosted over and the ground below her freezing solid.
"Husband," Arial said through bared teeth. Marin blinked then smiled nervously.
"Yes, I mean your husband. Heh heh… anyway, just relax my dear. You've had quite a day coming back to life and all," she said with a weak laugh before returning to counting the money. Arial's power receded and she nodded then looked up with wonder.
"Yeah… I did come back," she said quietly. She was slightly curious what the world she went through between heaven and the human world was, and those strange monsters that were appearing there. She shuddered a bit and looked down as she walked over and sat down on a chair. She remembered the way those monsters killed those angels right before her, and how they tried to go after her as well.
'It was worth it, whatever it takes to get to my Dark again. I'll go through hell itself if I have to.'
Upstairs Sun was walking down a hallway with the man following behind her. It was a hallway that ran along one side of the inn then turned and ran along the back of the building. On one side of the hall were windows showing the neighboring building with the seaside being seen out the back and there were doors leading to rooms on the other side.
"My my, such a nice little place you have here. It's a shame business hasn't been going well for you," the man said with a simple smile. Sun nodded and showed him her sketchpad.
Yes, it is unfortunate. Marin has dedicated her life to this place; I'd hate to see it close down after she's worked so hard on it.
"Such a caring girl you are, are you her daughter?" the man asked curiously. Sun shook her head as she wrote down more, the girl then showing the pad to the man with a gentle smile.
No, but she's like a mother to me. I've been helping out with this place after I graduated. This place is like a second home to me.
"I see, well that's very kind of you to help somebody like that. If I may ask, what is it that makes a monster such as yourself so kind to humans?" the man asked curiously. Sun blinked then glanced to him with a raised eyebrow. The man chuckled and rubbed the back of his head.
"I'm sorry, perhaps that's none of my business, I was just curious," he said with a smile. Sun stopped before a doorway and wrote down something else.
How did you know I was a monster?
The man chuckled and walked up to her with a slick smile, the girl backing up and going through the doorway.
"Not just any monster, I heard you were quite a powerful one at that. I was surprised to see you looked like an ordinary girl, but I'm no stranger to the concept of things not always being how they are seen," he said casually. Sun looked at him carefully as she wrote down something else on her pad.
How did you hear about me? Who are you?
The man walked up to her and gently slid one of his arms around her waist, the girl watching with careful eyes as he held her close. He leaned closer to her and smirked, the girl glancing to the door with worry. He gently brushed her hair with his other hand as he held her securely.
"Why, just another monster of course," he said as he rested his hand on her head. It glowed with a dark bluish hue as Sun showed signs of surprise. She jerked back as she seemed to be screaming, her voice not being heard still as her eyes were wide. The girl wavered then collapsed into his arms, seeming to pass out as she dropped her sketchpad.
"What the hell?" Marin cried out. Arial looked over to see the woman staring at disbelief as the money and emerald turned to ash and dissolved right before her eyes. She shakily ran her hand through the dust and looked to Arial with shock.
"What happened?" Arial asked running over.
"The money… it all… fell apart," Marin said shaking her head. Arial looked at the money then growled with anger.
"That jerk… he's just another deceiving monster!" she barked out before she ran over and up the stairs. Marin shook her head with discontent then followed after. The snow girl ran up the stairs then looked around. She opened a door and looked around inside the empty guest room with narrowed eyes.
"Hey! Mr. Asshole!" she yelled as she ran over and opened another door. Marin ran up next to her and they both looked inside the empty room.
"I should have known that would have been too good to be true," the woman cursed with discontent. They ran over to the next door and opened it, this room also being empty.
"I'll make him sorry for that, I promise," Arial growled as her hand frosted over slightly. They ran down the hall and around the corner to see a door open down the hallway.
"Hey Sun! Don't give him a room, his money was fake!" Arial yelled as they ran down the hall towards the door. They got to the doorway and looked inside, both jumping with a gasp at the sight. Inside the room were the normal accommodations for the inn; a bed, a dresser, a closet, a table, a ceiling fan.
And the man holding Sun in his arm, the silent girl seeming to be unconscious as the stranger chuckled amusedly. The silent girl's sketchpad was lying on the ground by her feet while her head was hanging down, the girl being held up by the waist with his arm holding her securely.
"Oh dear, was that money no good here? Well no matter, I've decided I won't be staying after all. It's time for me to return to work," he said as black feathered wings extended out from behind him.
"Sun!" Arial cried out.
"What… what you doing? Put her down!" Marin yelled out.
"No, I don't believe so. Now, if you'll excuse me," he said as he arched his wings back. Arial growled as her hands formed into ice claws, but before she could move the man held out a hand and a bright red flame burned around his hand and palm. Marin gasped and grabbed the snow angel, pulling her back and throwing them into the hall as a blast of fire shot out of the room and detonated against the wall with the windows. The wall was destroyed as smoke and flames flew about from the impact, with glass and flames bursting outside. Marin coughed as she shielded Arial, the snow girl looking back to seeing the winged monster shooting out through the newly formed hole in the wall.
"Sun!" Arial cried out as she broke free from Marin and ran towards the hole in the wall. The fires around it burned brightly before they suddenly froze over, with Marin looking back to see Arial bracing to jump out as well. In a flash the ground and walls around her frosted over as a cold chill flew down the hall. The snow girl shot out into the air then followed after the winged monster while Marin looked out the window with worried eyes.
"Oh no, Sun," she said softly. She then looked to see the frozen hallway where Arial had left from.
"Arial…" she said worriedly as she looked back out at the sky.
Outside in the air the winged monster was flying over the rolling waves while holding Sun securely, the girl seeming to be out cold as her hair flowed in the wind.
"That wasn't so tough. I thought capturing this one would have been more difficult. Haha, if I had known you were so weak I would have just ran in and grabbed you. To think I had to speak to such lesser beings like that," the monster mused with a laugh. He looked at the girl as she seemed to sleep soundly in his arms.
"Well no matter, my master wishes to have you under his command. I personally don't see what's so special about you, but whatever he wants, he gets," he said simply.
"Sun!" Arial's voice shouted out from behind. The monster looked back to see a white and grayish glow in the distance. Below it the water was freezing into ice spires before slowly melting again, the glow seeming to trail the frozen spikes below it from the water.
"What… that little girl is persistent. My how children have become so stupid these days," the monster said shaking his head. He looked ahead then weaved to the side as a large spire of ice seemed to shoot up from the water, the spire crashing down into the water which froze over instantly. The monster looked back to see the glow racing up to him, with the snow angel glaring at him with her hands frozen into claws.
"Let her go!" she yelled as she flew at him. The man chuckled then aimed his free hand back at her, a red hot glow forming around the palm once again.
"You should have stayed back there little girl, this is none of your concern," he said as he fired a blast of fire at the girl. He then watched as the snow girl focused her monster energy, the air around her swirling around with a sub-arctic blast that caused the fireball to turn to ice and shatter before reaching her. She yelled out with fury as the torrent of chilled air blasted out around her. The water below her froze over instantly as her wings trailed frost and snow.
"What? How?" the monster said with disbelief.
"Let her go now!" Arial screamed as she flew to him with her claws. The man turned to fire again at her before the angel dove down and splashed into the water. The man looked down as he hovered in place while the water rolled by below him. Suddenly the water blasted up and froze into spires as Arial shot up towards him with narrowed eyes. She flew behind the monster and sliced her claw up along his back, the monster yelling out as he let Sun go. She fell down and landed with a soft thump as the water below turned to snow and slush. She laid there unconscious while Arial had her hand held out towards her in the air.
"Got you," she said softly.
"Why you… that was a mistake you little brat," the monster growled as he glared at the snow girl. Arial's hand reformed into her ice claw and she glared back at the monster, the girl's aura flowing around in erratic wisps.
"No, the mistake was you taking my friend," Arial hissed as she flew towards the monster. The man flew up as the girl swung her claw at him, then grabbed her by the foot and swung her around. He launched her into the air then whipped out two more fireballs towards the girl. They whistled loudly as they raced up to her, the snow girl reorienting then weaving around them. She screamed out in pain as the heat alone zapped her strength. She wavered then dropped in altitude as the man aimed his hand at her again.
"Stupid girl," he growled as he fired another blast of fire towards the angel. She spiraled as she dropped towards the water then quickly stopped herself, focusing her power and jettisoning a large ice spire from the water up before her. The blast of fire struck it and exploded into a large fireball, the snow angel flying back into a tumble and crashing onto the frozen pile of snow and slush that Sun was lying on. Arial skidded to a stop as her hand rested in the rolling water at the edge while the winged monster slowly flew down and hovered above her.
"I must say, you certainly have some tricks for a girl your age. However I'm not up for playing anymore, this game ends now," he said as he focused his fire magic to his hand while aiming at the snow girl. She growled and shakily looked up to him, then focused her power as the water where her hand was in froze over instantly. From below a few ice shards shot up and struck at the man. He dodged back as one sliced across his hand, the man yelling in pain as he grabbed hold of it while wavering slightly.
"You… won't… take her!" Arial screamed as she held out her ice claw to the monster. Suddenly ice spires and shards shot up from the small frozen surface and raced towards the monster, the man watching with surprise as the girl's monster energy spiked briefly while her hair frosted over. He growled then waved his arm, sending out a large wave of fire that burned with a purplish and red glow. The spires crashed into it and a blast of smoke and steam flew out as the two attacks collided. Arial slowly got to her feet before the monster flew down through the smoke and kicked her down, the girl crashing through the snowy island and shooting into the water. The monster growled and looked around with frustration.
"What the hell was that? She's just a kid, she can't-" he said before Arial shot up from below, the girl screaming with fury as she struck one of her claws into the man's chest and flew up with him. The water from below shot up and formed into ice spires instantly as the exit point of the snow angel's surfacing looked like a frozen explosion of spikes and shards. Arial shot into the air with the man watching with wide eyes then slashed at his face with a powerful swipe of her claw. The man flew back a bit before he stopped and flew in place, the monster slowly looking back to the girl as blood dripped from his face. Under his skin were black and dark red scales, the monster growling as he shifted into his full form. His feathered wings morphed into reptilian wings as the feathers seemed to meld into them. His body size increased as the shirts over his chest ripped and tore slightly. A long reptilian tail appeared behind him as he growled loudly at the snow girl.
"What the hell are you anyway kid?" the monster hissed as Arial flew in place before him.
"A pissed off angel," she shot back, and then flew at him again. The monster slashed at her with his claws, the girl dodging to the side and firing off an ice shard towards his back. The shard shattered instantly as the monster turned and swiped at her again in the air.
"Ha, is that all?" he laughed as fire raced around his arm and gathered in his palm. He threw out a fiery blast towards the snow girl, the angel dodging down and flying straight down into the water. The monster looked down and around before the angel shot up again, the water seeming to explode and freeze into a frozen display of spires and spikes as the girl flew up towards the monster. An ice spire seemed to race up next to her, the girl throwing the large shard towards the monster. He growled then dodged to the side, the shard slicing across his leg briefly and drawing more blood. Arial shot up next to the monster and clawed at his back, then darted down as he swung around at her.
"Hold still you little insect!" the monster yelled out. Arial darted around and screamed with anger, letting out a blast wave of chilled air. The monster tumbled back slightly as ice and frost appeared on him, the dark being growling as the ice shattered off of him. He watched as the girl shook with anger, her teeth bared as her hair was frozen over.
"Nobody… hurts… MY FRIENDS!" she yelled as the air around her seemed to explode into a frozen wave, with ice spikes and shards expanding out from the girl. The monster watched with surprise as the air around the girl shot outward into frozen spikes, then dodged and ducked around a few as they flew out. A wave of super chilled air flew by and created another layer of frost and ice on the dark being as Arial yelled out with anger, the girl's aura flaring up briefly before flickering erratically. The monster showed signs of frustration and aimed his hand at the girl again, with fire building up around it and burning brightly.
"You damned pest!" he yelled as he fired a dark red stream of fire towards the angel. The girl watched with narrowed eyes then shot up and over the fire, then screamed as the heat raced past and washed over her. She trembled a bit in the air then looked to the monster with a glare as she started breathing heavily. She growled as her eyesight tried to focus on the enemy flying in the sky with her while the monster aimed his hand at her still.
"You… you-" she started before she suddenly felt a wave of fatigue wash over her, feeling her strength dropping and her body feeling heavy. The girl felt her monster energy drop instantly as she wavered in place. The monster looked at her cautiously then chuckled.
"Heh heh, you don't look so well. I think you may have been using too much energy out here kid," he taunted with a smirk, his scaled lips curling slightly to show his fangs.
"I'm… fine. I'm going… to kick… your ass," Arial said weakly as she flew off-balance. She wavered then dropped down in a daze as the monster laughed. She tumbled through the air then landed with a soft thump on the frozen patch of water down below, kicking up snow that swirled around the little island.
"Hahahaha, oh yes, I'm shaking up here. Please don't hurt me," the monster mocked with a laugh. He narrowed his eyes as he flew down towards the island, touching down and standing over the dazed snow girl. She was groaning as her world was fading to black, feeling like all her monster energy was drained.
"Well, that was quite the show little girl. You definitely surprised me. However you drew my blood, and for that you're going to have to die," the monster said as he held his hand back, the claws shimmering a bit as he glared down at the snow girl. Arial shakily looked up to him as her eyes focused slightly, the girl trying to get back up as her strength was drained. She slowly glanced to the side then went wide eyed. The monster chuckled, and then paused. He glanced down to where Sun was lying, and saw that she wasn't there anymore. He slowly looked over behind him as he lowered his hand.
"S… un," Arial breathed out.
Standing on the edge of the frozen patch of water was Sun, the girl's hair flowing gently behind her as she was glaring at the winged monster.
"Oh, you woke up. Well no matter, you're coming with me right after I deal with your little friend here," the monster said with a dark smile. Sun glanced to Arial, the snow girl looking at her with weary eyes. The dark monster chuckled and looked down at the angel.
"This won't take long," he said as he prepared to strike down the girl again. Sun looked to Arial then held her hands over her ears and nodded at the snow angel. Arial watched her curiously as Sun repeated the gesture before looking to the monster with a glare as her hands returned to her sides. Arial looked at the girl with puzzlement then shakily brought up her hands to cover her ears. The monster watched her with a chuckle as he geared back to strike.
"Haha, what do you think you're doing there? If anything you should be covering your eyes," he asked with a smirk. Arial kept her eyes locked onto Sun, the dark monster then slowly glancing back to her. He then looked at her curiously as white feathered wings appeared behind her. Arial looked at the girl with wonder as her white feathered wings fluttered in the breeze.
"Oh, I see. Are you thinking of running away? You can't escape me Sun," the monster laughed as he turned to face the girl. Arial watched Sun with wonder as the silent girl kept her eyes locked onto the monster. She felt a bit lightheaded from the lack of energy but kept holding her hands to her ears, unsure of why but doing what her friend was obviously telling her to do. The monster chuckled and started walking toward the silent girl.
"Or, are you thinking of fighting me? Surely you can't be that foolish to assume you can defeat me," he laughed with a dark gleam in his eye. Sun just kept glaring at him as she stood still. The dark monster watched her with an amused grin as Arial watched the silent girl while she held her hands over her ears.
'Sun… run… get away from him!'
The monster laughed as he grabbed hold of the silent girl's arm. Sun just kept glaring at him as her hair flowed gently behind her in the breeze. Arial watched her friend with worry as the girl made no effort to break free from being held.
"Now, let's put an end to this little brat and take you to your new home," the monster said as he looked back to Arial and aimed his other hand at her, the palm again glowing with a bright red as Arial watched with fright. Sun continued to stand there and glare at the monster for a moment, then narrowed her eyes.
"No," she said firmly. The monster blinked then looked back to her with a glance.
"You're done," she said coldly, the girl's voice seeming to echo out into the sky with a dark tone. The monster looked back to her as Arial watched with worry. Before he could say a word Sun yelled out, the girl's voice sending out a massive burst of sonic energy and blasting apart the frozen ground around her. The monster was thrown back at high speed as the frozen island seemed to shatter and break apart from the sound wave. Arial drifted away on a small piece of ice, staring with wide eyes as Sun hovered above the rolling waves with her wings. The air around her seemed to ripple and distort slightly before returning to normal. The dark monster stopped his tumble through the air then hovered in place, shakily looking back to the girl. His ears were bleeding as his eyes dripped a bit of blood.
"What… what are you…" he coughed out as blood dripped from his mouth. Sun narrowed her eyes, and then opened her mouth with what seemed to be a scream, although no sound was heard. Arial held her hands over her ears still as she watched her friend look like she was screaming loudly. The snow girl blinked then looked over to the dark monster. He was staring at Sun with wide eyes as his body seemed to be turning red. He coughed out blood as his eyes started bleeding heavily. His ears dripped blood as he started breathing raggedly. He shakily looked down at his hands as he felt his body start to ache all over. He trembled a bit then coughed out more blood, the monster wavering in the air. Arial watched as the monster shakily hovered in the air then yelled out before his head and upper body seemed to blast apart. The snow girl watched with wide eyes as the flying monster seemed to burst apart from the inside before dropping down to the water in pieces. Slowly Arial looked over to see Sun staring down at where the fallen monster vanished with a dull glare then looking over to her curiously. The snow girl lowered her hands and stared at the flying silent girl with wonder as she flew over to the small ice patch and landed down next to her.
"What… what did you do…" Arial said before losing consciousness and passing out. Sun looked at the girl with worry then to where the dark monster vanished into the water.
Marin was looking out the window of the inn towards where the three monsters had flown off, having great concern on her face as she had one hand held against the glass and the other holding Sun's sketchpad. Next to her the hallway was a mess, with broken glass and bits of the wall strewn about next to a large hole in the side of the hall while puddles of water were everywhere from the melting ice left by the snow angel. The woman watched the skies worriedly as she stood there, searching for any sign of the two girls.
"Please be ok… please be ok," she said softly. She looked down to the sketchpad in her hand, growing more worried about her silent friend.
"Hey Marin," Sandra called out from behind. The woman looked back to see the girl turning the corner and walking towards her down the hall.
"Hey, I got somebody coming over tomorrow for- what the hell?" Sandra cried out as she saw the broken wall and damaged hallway. She looked around with wide eyes then to Marin.
"What happened here?" she asked shaking her head. Marin glanced around then down to the sketchpad in her hands.
"Well…" she said softly. Suddenly Sandra screamed and pointed to something behind the woman. Marin looked back to see Sun flying through the hole in the wall carrying Arial, both monsters having their wings being seen clearly. The snow angel was unconscious in her arms as the silent girl landed down gently in the hall.
"Sun! Arial! You're ok!" Marin cried out as she ran over to them. Sun held Arial in her arms with worry then looked over to the woman with a smile. She glanced over then jumped with surprise to see Sandra staring at them with shock. Marin looked back then gasped as she looked between the two.
"She's… she's… a monster!" Sandra cried out. She looked to Arial and pointed at her with fright.
"She's one too! Those two are freakin' monsters! What… what the hell is going on here?" she yelled out.
"Sandra wait, its ok. Calm down," Marin pleaded.
"What the hell, did they do this?" Sandra said looking around in shock.
"No, another monster came here, he did this. He tried to kidnap Sun and things got out of hand," Marin said shaking her head.
"Another one of those things is here?" Sandra yelled out. Sun showed a bit of annoyance at the term 'things' while Marin walked over to the freaked out girl.
"There was one, but he's gone now. Please calm down, let me explain," she pleaded.
"Holy fuck, I'm calling the HDA!" Sandra cried out as she took off down the hall.
"Sandra don't! You can't!" Marin cried out as she ran after her. Sun followed as well while still carrying the sleeping snow angel.
"Holy fuck!" Sandra yelled out as she ran down the stairs and over to the front counter. She picked up the phone before Marin ran over and grabbed it, the two wrestling to yank it away.
"Wait, you can't!" Marin pleaded.
"Are you insane? We have monsters here destroying the place! We need to call them now!" Sandra yelled out.
"But you can't have them come here, Sun isn't registered!" Marin cried out as she tried to pry the phone away. Sun ran down the stairs and watched the two wrestling for the phone. Sandra looked at Sun with shock then to Marin.
"You're harboring an illegal monster here? Are you out of your mind? We need to get the HDA here right now, I am not going to jail all because of her!" she yelled as she tried to pry the phone away from Marin. Sun ran over to the living area and rested Arial down on a chair, then ran over to the two fighting girls. Sandra looked to her then screamed, backing away while staring with wide eyes of fright at the silent girl.
"Get back! Get back you fucking monster!" she yelled out. Sun looked at her with worry then took her sketchpad back from Marin, quickly writing something down.
Please Sandra, let us explain.
"Explain? You're a monster here illegally and now you've got more of your kind coming here and wrecking the place! Get out of here you damned monster!" Sandra yelled out. She grabbed a nearby broom and started swinging it at Sun, the silent girl ducking and darting back while the human swung at her furiously.
"I always knew you were a freak, I knew it! Get out of here before you destroy even more of this place!" Sandra yelled out loudly. Sun darted around each swing as Marin watched with worried eyes.
"Please calm down Sandra, let us talk about this. Sun isn't a bad monster, really," she pleaded. She ran over and grabbed hold of the broom and started trying to pull it away.
"Talk about this? Marin, as your financial advisor I have to say you're out of your fucking mind having this thing here! There is a hole in the wall upstairs, you've let this illegal monster work here, and now we've got more of these things coming here! That's the last thing we could possibly want!" Sandra yelled out. Sun blinked then looked down in thought.
"Please Sandra, you don't understand. She's not a bad monster, neither is Arial," Marin pleaded before Sandra knocked her away and swung her broom at Sun. The silent girl took the hit to the face and stumbled back before falling down onto the floor, shaking off the hit then looking to see Sandra gearing the broom back behind her for another swing.
"You goddamned bitch, you don't belong here, get lost!" she yelled out. Sun watched with wide eyes as the girl swung the broom at her again. Before it could hit an object whizzed past, with the broom breaking in half and falling out of Sandra's hands. She looked at the severed stick she was still holding then over to see Arial standing up next to the chair, the angel's wings fluttering a bit behind her as she had one hand outstretched towards the human.
"Please stop trying to hit my friend with a broom," she said flatly. Sandra stared at the girl with fright as Sun slowly got back onto her feet. Marin looked over to see an ice shard stuck into the wall past them then over to Arial with wonder.
"You… you're a monster too. Are you registered? Are you? Does the HDA know about you?" Sandra asked franticly. Arial glanced to Sun then shook her head.
"Holy fuck, you've got two illegal monsters here? Call the HDA now!" Sandra cried out as she dashed towards the counter. She slipped on a patch of ice and crashed down onto the ground with a thud. Arial and Sun walked over to her as the girl groaned while lying on her back. Marin walked back and put the phone away then looked over to the girls.
"Want me to freeze her?" Arial asked plainly. Sun shook her head with a worried expression as Sandra looked up at them with fright.
"Sandra, please. I beg of you to listen to us. You can't let them take Sun away," Marin pleaded.
"Are you crazy? She's not supposed to be here, you could go to jail for her merely being here like this," Sandra said while trembling.
"I don't care, I won't let them take her away," Marin said shaking her head.
"What? Why on earth don't you care? You can't run your inn if you're in jail," Sandra said looking to the woman with disbelief.
"Because if it wasn't for Sun I wouldn't be running this inn at all," Marin said softly. Sandra and Arial looked at her curiously as Sun looked down with closed eyes.
"What?" Sandra asked. Marin helped the girl stand back up and looked at her with pleading eyes.
"Please let me explain dear," she said gently. Sandra looked to Sun with fear then to Marin. The four walked over to the living area and sat down in chairs as Sandra watched Sun worriedly.
"If it wasn't for Sun here I would be dead Sandra. She saved my life, and for that I'm eternally grateful," Marin said softly.
"What do you mean she saved your life? When?" Sandra asked puzzled. Arial looked at the woman curiously while Sun looked to her with remorse. Marin breathed out and nodded.
"Three years ago my husband was killed. I still remember the last moment we had with each other before it happened…" Marin said glancing towards the hallway that led to the sundeck. Images of her and a man flashed before her eyes, both walking side by side holding hands along the beach. He had a kind smile and short brown hair as they walked along the sandy beach while the sun was slowly setting over the sea.
"How… did it happen?" Arial asked slowly glancing to Sun. Marin closed her eyes and looked down. Images of blood soaking the beach flashed before her eyes, her screams and the man's yell of agony echoing out. She remembered kneeling down beside his body, the man's torso and chest torn apart and his mouth dripping with blood. She also remembered the figure that was standing on the beach with them that day, the dark silhouette watching her with blue eyes as the water gently lapped around his feet.
"A monster… it came right from the water. It looked to be a normal human at first glance, but…" Marin said as she trembled. The figure was etched into her mind, the dark silhouette seeming to shift into several large tentacles and an oversized head. She remembered how the monstrous kraken grabbed the husband and ripped him to pieces with his large appendages, all while she screamed in horror.
"It was something far worse in disguise. It… killed my beloved husband right in front of me. But, it didn't kill me," Marin said shakily.
"How come? Why did it kill your husband but not you?" Sandra asked worriedly. Marin looked at her with sorrow.
"It was only hungry… for one," she said quietly. The image of the monster dragging the body of the husband through the bloody sand and devouring it with its razor sharp teeth flashed before her eyes, the woman shuddering and trembling with the memory.
"I… couldn't move. I was scared out of my mind. I could only… watch as it… ate him!" she cried out before she broke down crying, burying her face into her hands. Sandra and Arial watched her with remorse as Sun looked at the woman with worry. After she cried a bit she slowly regained herself.
"When it… was done… it just went back into the water. It vanished, without a trace at all. I tried to get help, I tried to tell everybody what happened, but… nobody believed me. The police pinned the disappearance and murder on some local street gangs, just to close the case," Marin said shakily.
"Oh man… I'm sorry. I never knew Marin," Sandra said looking down. The woman nodded then looked down with closed eyes.
"For three years I tried to pick myself back up. I kept the inn going with everything I had… even knowing the water that the monster came from was right in my backyard. I… just couldn't leave the place me and my husband built. It… was all I had left," she said softly. She looked to Sandra with teary eyes.
"For three years I was afraid… always watching the water and waiting for that… monster to come back. I don't know if it killed anybody else during that time, or if it was merely waiting for me. I never walked on that beach again; I stayed inside all the time. But I just couldn't bring myself to leave this place," she said with sorrow.
"So what happened?" Arial asked.
"One day… a man came to the inn. He wanted to rent a room, and at the time business was doing ok still. However he was the only customer that morning…" Marin said looking down again. She shuddered then closed her eyes.
"It was… him. As soon as I turned to walk him up to his room… he grabbed me with that… that… disgusting limb of his. I don't know if he grew impatient for me to return to the beach, or if he was just playing some sick game, but he came back for me. He changed into his monster form and tried to tear me apart just like my husband, right in my own inn," Marin said as she trembled. Sandra and Arial looked at her with worry, then over to Sun who had a solemn expression.
"And… you?" Sandra asked. Sun nodded as Marin looked to her.
"My… second customer that day. Before… that thing killed me, she came," Marin explained graciously.
"What? But… what did she do? Flap her wings or something?" Sandra asked confusedly. Sun glanced to her with a dull stare then looked to Arial with a small smirk. The snow girl looked at her curiously then tilted her head slightly in wonder.
"No, she… did something to him. She did something to that monster that tried to take her away too," Arial said curiously. Sandra looked at the girl puzzled as Marin nodded.
"Yes, she certainly did," Marin said softly.
"Let her go!" Sun yelled out, the girl's voice sending out a massive shockwave and a burst of light that shattered the floor and ceiling above her inside the inn. The shockwave rippled out and knocked the large kraken monster back through the hall and out onto the sundeck, his body tearing apart the walls and breaking through the glass windows. Marin stared with surprise as Sun's wings appeared behind her, the girl glancing to her with her blue eyes. She wrote something down on her sketchpad and showed the woman.
Stay here, you will be fine.
Marin just nodded with wonder as the winged girl walked back down the hall towards the kraken monster. The beast howled and snapped at her as its tentacles whipped around wildly. Marin slowly stood up and walked over to the hall, watching with wonder as Sun stood there at the broken entryway to the sundeck, the girl's feathers and sundress flowing gently in the breeze. The girl sang a high melody, her voice echoing out as the air around her distorted and rippled slightly. The kraken tried to grab her but another blast of sonic energy shot it back and knocked it off the deck, the monster rolling onto the beach and close to the water. The girl walked over towards the edge of the deck and glared with discontent at the monster. She glanced around, seeing nobody else out or nearby yet. She looked back to the monster then opened her mouth slightly. A soft glow came from the back of her throat as the monster snarled and slowly crawled back towards the water. Marin watched with awe as the winged girl stood there at the edge of the deck, then saw the girl let out a sharp high note. Instantly the sandy beach seemed to explode before her, with a bloody mess erupting as well within the sandstorm. Marin blinked then walked slowly over to the girl. Sun glanced back to her then slowly turned to face her with a slightly worried expression. The woman looked at her with awe then over to the beach.
"Oh… my…" she said with wide eyes. The entire beach in front of the deck was torn apart, with a large gash running from the sandy beach out into the sea where water was collapsing down into itself again. And littering the beach and part of the shallow water were bloody chunks of the kraken, the beast having been reduced to pieces from the ultrasonic attack that blasted it apart instantly. Marin looked around at the mess with surprise then over to Sun, the girl retracting her wings and smiling worriedly at the woman.
"You… saved me," Marin said softly. Sun looked down for a moment then wrote something on her sketchpad.
Are you ok?
Marin looked at the girl with amazement then smiled softly.
"Yes… I am. Thank you. Thank you child," she said graciously. Sun smiled and wrote down something else.
I was looking for a place to work around here, I noticed you have a 'Help Wanted' sign out front.
Marin blinked then nodded slowly.
"Yes… I have been looking for some help tending to the guests here. I… never expected a monster to answer the call though," she said softly. Sun showed a bit of sadness and wrote something else.
I'm sorry if I frighten you. I understand if you don't want one of my kind here.
Marin looked at the girl with concern then over to the destroyed beachside. The woman had been scared of monsters for years now after the death of her husband, yet it was a monster that saved her life and avenged her fallen beloved. She looked down for a moment then over to the girl, the silent monster starting to walk away with a saddened expression.
"Wait, what's your name?" Marin asked. Sun stopped and glanced back to her with a curious expression as the woman smiled. After a pause she wrote something on her pad.
Sun Otonashi.
"Sun, what a lovely name. And… if I may ask dear, what manner of monster are you?" Marin asked cautiously. The girl looked down worriedly then slowly wrote down something else, then showed it to the woman.
A siren.
"I see. I don't believe I've heard anything about such a… monster before. Um, this may be a silly question, but… how come you're writing everything down to me now?" Marin asked curiously. Sun smiled a bit and wrote down something else.
My power lies within my voice, for your own safety I won't use it nearby.
"But I heard you speak inside, and I heard you sing a strange melody just a moment ago," Marin said curiously. Sun looked at her with a gentle smile then wrote down something more.
I had to in order to help you, but for your own protection it's best I don't speak if I can avoid it. You were just lucky your head didn't explode earlier.
Marin blinked then smiled nervously.
"Oh… I see…" she said shakily as she turned pale. She regained her composure then smiled at the girl.
"Well, Sun, thank you for coming to my aid like that. I never thought a monster… well, I never thought a siren would be so kind to me. Thank you," she said graciously. Sun smiled and nodded. Marin looked back to her inn then glanced to the girl.
"So… you're looking for work are you?" she asked curiously. Sun looked at her with a bit of surprise then quickly nodded as she wrote down something else.
Yes, I recently graduated from my school and am looking for work in the human world. I just love the seaside here, and I was hoping to find someplace to work near it.
"Oh, I see. Well Sun, I'd be glad to have you work here with me," Marin said with a smile. Sun smiled softly and wrote down something else.
It doesn't bother you that I'm a monster?
Marin shook her head with a gentle smile.
"No, not at all dear. And you're no monster to me, if anything you're a guardian angel," she said gently. Sun looked at the woman with wonder. She was taught at Yokai Academy to be careful in the human world and to never reveal oneself to any human; that all humans would be terrified and scared of her, and would try to kill her on the spot if she did. Yet when she saw the woman in danger, the siren didn't hesitate to protect her. She knew it wasn't something a monster should do should they wish to remain in the human world, but she couldn't walk away from somebody in need of help, and it was pretty damn clear that the human woman needed help then.
"Don't worry, I won't tell a soul about what you really are. After all you did for me, the very least I can do for you is give you a place to work," Marin said kindly. Sun smiled brightly and bowed to the woman. She looked back up at her and wrote down something else.
Thank you ma'am.
"Please dear, call me Marin. Now, the first thing we should probably do is fix this little mess," Marin said looking back to the destroyed wall in the inn. Sun looked to with a raised eyebrow then wrote down something else.
I'm not too good with a hammer, but I'll give it a shot if you like.
Marin laughed lightly and nodded.
"I'm not too handy like that either. Something tells me we'll need a bit of help with that," she said with a shrug. The two laughed a bit, with Sun's voice being quiet still, and walked back towards the inn together.
Arial and Sandra were looking at Sun with wonder as the silent girl was smiling gently at Marin.
"She saved my life, and allowed me to keep running this place for my husband," the woman said gently. Sun nodded with a smile and then looked to Sandra. The human blinked then looked down with worry. After a pause she leaned back in her chair and looked up with a sigh.
"Fine, I'm sorry I tried to kill you with the broom," she said dully. Sun smirked and nodded, knowing that was likely the best 'apology' she would get out of her coworker.
"A siren, that explains why you had me cover my ears out there with that other monster," Arial said with wonder.
"That's right, what happened out there? And what about that other monster that tried to take you Sun?" Marin asked worriedly. Sandra looked at the girl with a curious glance as Sun wrote down something.
He didn't like my singing.
She winked and giggled silently. Marin looked at her with wonder then laughed softly. Sun nodded then wrote down something else.
But it was Arial that saved me out there. She was quite a tough fighter for that monster, and bought me enough time to recover from his hold over me.
"Really? She saved you?" Marin said looking to the snow angel.
"Well… I tried. But Sun had to save me in the end. It wasn't fair, that bastard cheated, he used fire against me," Arial scoffed while looking down with a pout.
"Fire?" Sandra asked with a raised eyebrow. Arial nodded and glanced to her.
"We snow people don't really like fire," she said softly.
"Oh dear, are you ok now?" Marin asked worriedly. Arial nodded and looked to Sun with a smile.
"Yeah, she really took care of that creep though. She sang so powerfully that he exploded, it was awesome!" she cheered out. Sun smiled amusingly at her and shook her head lightly. Sandra just nodded once then looked to Sun again.
"Well, that explains why you're always writing in that sketchbook of yours. Guess I should… thank you for not doing that to me," she said with a shrug. Sun nodded with a soft smirk.
"I'm just glad you two are ok. I was so worried when he took you Sun," Marin said softly. Sun smiled and wrote down something else.
I was lucky to have a guardian angel out there as well.
She looked to Arial as the snow girl looked down with a timid smile. Even in death she was able to save a life still, the girl feeling a sense of warmth from that. Marin smiled at the two then everybody looked to Sandra. The girl looked around at them then up with a dull expression.
"Ok ok, I won't call the HDA. But if you guys blow your cover here I am not getting involved with you. I still got my life ahead of me, and I don't intend to spend it behind bars," she said dryly.
"Thank you Sandra," Marin said graciously. Sandra shrugged while looking back towards the stairs.
"Yeah yeah, I'm always too nice I guess," she said simply. Sun and Arial looked to each other, shook their heads, and then looked back to the girl. Sandra then sighed and stood up.
"Well I better go see how much damage is up there. I just hired an electrician with what little money we had, I don't know how we're going to cover all this now," she said shaking her head.
"That's right, that monster's money was fake. We're still in the red here," Marin said worriedly. Arial looked at them worriedly then down while Sun was looking up in thought. After a moment the siren wrote down something then showed Marin. The woman looked at it and blinked, then looked at Sun with a bit of surprise.
"What? Are you serious?" she asked. Arial and Sandra looked over to see Sun nodding with a curious smile.
"What did she say?" Arial asked. Sun showed them the pad, with Sandra and Arial reading it then jumping in surprise.
"You can't be serious, that's a horrible idea," Sandra said shaking her head.
"Could that really work?" Arial asked curiously.
"Of course that won't work, that's insane! How did you even think of something as stupid as that?" Sandra cried out. Sun merely pointed to her, everybody looking to see her staring with wide eyes.
"What? Me? I never suggested that," she argued while shaking her head. Sun smirked then wrote down something else.
No, but you did mention the idea before.
"What? But… I wasn't being serious then! You can't really be considering…" Sandra said shaking her head worriedly.
"To attract customers and stand out from the other inns…" Arial said hopefully while looking to Marin. The woman looked at the silent girl with wonder then down in thought.
"We invite monsters to work here."
Inside a dark castle a figure was looking out over the shadowy land before him. Light was only seen with brief streaks that passed through the swirling dark clouds above the blackened mountain, with the palace being built right into it while its large stone courtyard overlooked the swirling clouds below. The man glanced down as a winged silhouette flew down from above and kneeled on the ground between the large pillars that stood at the front of the castle.
"I know, he has failed," the dark voice said with a hint of annoyance.
"It appears that the siren eliminated him, with the help of an angel," the minion said in a raspy female voice.
"An angel you say?" the dark voice asked.
"Yes, it seems that a soul from heaven slipped through the rift my lord. She escaped down into the real world down below while our guardians disposed of her angelic escorts. One of our warriors followed her down below, but he too was destroyed by the siren known as Sun," the minion said while still bowing.
"I see. So a wayward soul has left heaven and has sided with the siren. Interesting," the dark voice said as he was obscured by the shadows in the palace.
"Do you wish for me to try my hand? I shall not fail you my lord, I swear it," the minion asked eagerly.
"Yes, bring that siren back to me, and bring her back alive. Dispose of her guardian angel if you must, but do not fall victim to arrogance like your predecessor. This siren is not to be underestimated despite how she may appear," the dark voice ordered with a stern tone.
"Yes my lord, I shall not fail you. When the opportunity presents itself, I will bring you your new siren," the minion said as it stood up.
"Good, and do not return until you do. I expect that siren to be under my leash very soon," the dark voice said with annoyance.
"Yes… yes my lord," the minion said nervously. The winged minion flew off as the dark figure remained in the shadows.
"Another small setback, how annoying," the figure scoffed. After a pause he chuckled a bit.
"It sounds like my guest has quieted down at last, I do hope she isn't too broken to appreciate what I'm planning on bringing her," he mused with a laugh as the cries of agony and screams of torment had seemed to have quieted down within the palace, the sounds having been constant since his latest catch had been confined inside the castle recently.
"Hmm, I suppose I will have to step up my plans to make up for this little setback," he said cautiously. A wave of dark energy rippled out from the shadows and three winged minions appeared before him, the three kneeling down between the large pillars as they too were shrouded in darkness.
"You summoned us my lord?" one of them asked in a gravely male voice.
"Yes, the siren is being handled right now, although I'm skeptical about her capture. What about the chronofly? I trust you have been keeping a sharp eye on that one still," the dark voice asked firmly.
"We have her located in the human world and have been keeping a close eye on her as requested. However she is well guarded it seems by her fellow monsters. And… we have another problem as well," one of the minions said in a shaky voice.
"A problem?" the dark voice asked with annoyance.
"Yes… it appears there are other monsters in the human world with her, ones that have not been seen until recently. And one has… healed her mind from her sickness. We have seen the chronofly using her chrono magic freely now," another minion said worriedly.
"Her magic has been freed? Are you certain?" the dark voice inquired carefully.
"Yes, she has been using her chrono magic without hindrance, even without her guardians she will be nearly impossible for us to detain while she is in the human world," a minion said regrettably.
"I have already been dealt a setback with the siren, I will not deal with yet another!" the dark voice yelled out as two of the minions exploded into flames, the monsters crying out in agony before stumbling back and fading away into ash. The fires hardly illuminated the inside of the palace while the third minion was obscured by the smoke from his fallen comrades. The remaining follower bowed nervously as the dark figure let out a quiet growl of annoyance.
"I am sorry my lord… I'll attempt to bring her back myself. I swear it," the minion pleaded shakily.
"Don't bother; you would be dead long before you even got close to her. Her mind having been sealed before was our opportunity to capture her without a problem," the dark figure said dully. After a pause the figure looked to the cloudy skies.
"So… an angel from heaven set me back, like an insignificant pebble in clockwork," he said carefully. The minion shakily looked up to him with fear as the dark figure chuckled lightly.
"Well then, if I am denied one of my prizes by a soul that shouldn't have been there, it's only fair that I play by the same rules to claim the other," he mused with a dark tone.
"My lord?" the minion asked worriedly. The dark figure laughed a bit then looked to him through the darkness.
"Keep a close eye on the chronofly and alert me to any changes in her condition. I'll be sending somebody that would be capable of bringing her back to me," he ordered with an arrogant tone. The minion nodded then quickly flew off, thankful that it would live to see another day. The dark figure laughed then looked down at the swirling clouds below his domain.
"Yes, there is only one type of monster that can stand against a chronofly…" he said with an amused tone. He chuckled as the courtyard rippled a bit with a dark wave, the dark and shadowy creatures in the waves being seen briefly before phasing back into the darkness. The figure kept his gaze focused on the swirling clouds down below that led into the other world, with streaks of light appearing briefly before vanishing again as lightning and thunder crackled loudly.
"Another chronofly."