ACT XXVIII - The Aylesbury Ritual

Shirou sat in the helicopter next to Sakura who had miraculously managed to fall asleep dispite the roar of the rotors and she was leaning against him with her head on his shoulder. Rider and Saber were in the cockpit keeping an eye on the many instruments and lights on the controls. Narbareck was nearest to the door, she picked the phone from her pocket, hooked it to her ear and connected.

"Yumi, what's your position?" She pushed the earpiece closer so she could hear better. "Plans have changed. They have the girl." She answered, practically having to yell to make sure Ciel could hear her. "We're nearing the village now. I can see the anomaly." By "anomaly" Shirou guessed she meant the fact that the sky was becoming darker once they got near the city even though it was only the early afternoon. "Yes 'we'. I'm overseeing this operation personally." She said curtly.

Shirou tuned out Narbareck's conversation and looked out the window. He could see the town now, he couldn't see any cars on the road nor could he feel any presence anywhere. Normally when one nears civilization, one can sense there are other people around. However Shirou felt nothing, it was as if the village had been blanketed by a dark shroud that stifled and suffocated it.

Narbareck hung up with Ciel and stuck her head into the cockpit between Rider and Saber. "Head into the middle of town, there's a large park without any trees that would be a suitable landing area. Ciel is waiting for us there."

"As you wish." Both of them said strangely in unison and headed into town. Flying over the colonial houses near downtown as they headed for the large park in the middle. The hellicopter began to descend into the empty park.

Saber shut off the engine and Shirou lightly touched Sakura's back to wake her up. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked drowzily up at Shirou.

"Mmn. Senpai? Are we there?" She asked tiredly.

"Yeah, we're there Sakura. Come on." Narbareck opened the door and was the first to jump out, followed by Shiki, Arcueid, and Rin.

"Maybe it was a mistake bringing Sakura, she still looks like she's in pain." Rin said to Narbareck.

"She'll be fine if she has you and Emiya to keep her going." Narbareck answered.

Rin glanced behind her to see Shirou helping Sakura walk. Rider and Saber exited the cockpit and jogged up to walk next to them.

"Where's that girl at?" Narbareck said to herself, and put her hands impatiently on her hips.

"Right here." Ciel jumped down from a streetlight near the road and approached them. "It's been some time since I've seen you without your desk in front of you. I almost forgot what the lower half of your body looked like." She smiled warmly. "It's good to see you all again." She added to everyone else.

"Hi Ciel!" Shiki greeted her warmly.

"Hello, Ciel." Rin said with a faint smile.

"Ciel! How are you?" Shirou asked as he approached with Sakura and the others.

"Ciel." Arcueid only nodded.

"Goodness. I had no idea I was missed that much." Ciel blushed slightly when everyone finished greeting her.

"Senpai, I think I'm alright now." Shirou nodded and let her walk on her own. Her dizziness seemed to have disippated and she was able to stand fine on her own.

"Take us to where you've been staying, we have things to talk about." Narbareck asked her.

"Of course, it's down the street this way." She started walking and the group followed her. "Keep your eyes open, there's been a lot of activity recently."

()()()

Deep within the basement of the Aylesbury Hotel, nestled on the outskirts of the north end of the village a knock was heard on the door leading down to what used to be the wine cellar.

"Come in." A deep voice answered.

"Lord Ortenrosse, there's been a development." The man said who entered the room.

"They've arrived haven't they? Hm, they didn't waste any time in coming after the girl." Trhvmn took a glance behind him at the unconcious girl on the dusty old couch in the basement. It was this girl that would bring about the end of humanity and pave the way for the children of the Moon.

"Yes. What are your orders?" The man bowed.

"The ritual will place tonight. Inform everyone." Trhvmn's smile could be seen brightly even in the darkness.

"Everyone, sir?"

"Everyone."

"As you wish." The man exited the room and closed the door behind him.

Trhvmn Ortenrosse turned around and faced the unconcious girl on the table. "It won't be long now." He said with a devious smile, showing the fangs in the corners of his mouth.

()()()

Across town on the south side of the village the group was sitting in the living room of an abandoned house.

"Can I get you something to eat?" Ciel asked them.

"I think I'll pass. Knowing you, by "something to eat" you mean curry." Narbareck crossed her arms.

Ciel stood silent, unable to argue.

"She has yet to realize that all that curry goes straight to her butt, I doubt she ever will either." Arcueid said as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

Ciel glared and stomped her foot in anger. "I don't want to hear that coming from you! Whatever you eat goes to your chest! My butt is not big at all compared to your oversized chest!" She growled with a red face.

Arcueid grinned. "I was modeled after the perfect human form." She raised her arms and cupped her breasts. "That means these must be perfect too. A human with a butt filled with curry couldn't possibly compare."

"That's enough Arc." Shiki said, narrowing his eyes at her. Whenever Arcueid and Ciel were together, there would always be some kind of a fight. At that moment he was thankful that Akiha wasn't there, or it would have been a lot worse.

"We should not be sitting around fighting each other. Aiah is in danger, we should be focusing on getting her away from the Dead Apostles." Saber said calmly.

"So what do we do then? Where could they possibly be keeping her?" Sakura asked.

"I don't know. She could be anywhere. The only thing I can say is that I've seen a lot of Dead around the old Aylesbury Inn. However there's no way to be sure if she's really there or not." Ciel sat back down and pondered.

"We should split up and search the city." Rider suggested.

"It seems that's our only option, however it would be easy to be ambushed that way." Narbareck thought outloud.

"Ciel, you mentioned activity at the old Inn? Then that is where Shirou and I will investigate." Saber said, Shirou nodded in agreement.

"Work it out yourselves. Ciel, you stay with me. I have a couple of phone calls to make. Just make sure you all stay in touch." Narbareck ordered and ushered them out the door. The sun was starting to set, and soon night would fall.

"Shirou, the inn is on the opposite side of the village so we must hurry." Saber's body began to glow and she materialized her armor before starting to run as fast as she could.

Shirou ran next to her, not having any problems keeping up with her insane speed. The sun was setting above them, the already darkened sky was getting even blacker. Shirou began to feel a pressence as they neared the center of town. It was like a black sheet was wrapping his body in darkness. The pressure on his mind was that of death.

"Ciel here. Narbareck and I are searching the tunnels under the town. There's bound to be something interesting down here." Her voice crackled over the phone. Upon closer examination the headsets Narbareck gave them did have a push-to-talk feature so they could double as walkie talkies. Shirou never had time to examine them before so he didn't pay any attention before.

"This is Shiki. Arc, Merem and I are heading East." The groups reported in one at a time. Sakura, Rider, and Rin were heading to the West to investigate the abandoned office buildings that they flew over on the way in.

The sun sank below the horizon, bathing the town in a quiet darkness. Saber stopped running and looked around. "Shirou, stop." She said seriously, narrowing her eyes.

"What for? We're almost there." He asked and slid to a halt next to Saber.

"You can't feel it?" She asked with a surprised look on her face.

Was she talking about the pressure he was feeling on the back of his mind? "I feel something, but it must be just my uneasiness." He answered.

She shook her head. "That's wrong. We are not alone."

As he was about to answer her the ground shook as a loud explosion wracked his ears. A fireball shot into the air from the park where they landed.

"Shirou, I believe that was the helicopter." Saber looked towards the flames from the center of town and began to run towards it.

"Wait, Arturia!" He shouted after her and started to run as well. What did she think she was doing? They should be heading for the inn.

They neared the park which was now engulfed in flames from the explosion. Out of the flames sauntered numerous Dead along with a few lesser Dead Apostles brandishing makeshift weapons such as crowbars or pipes. Shirou counted ten Dead and three Apostles. The heat from the fire stung his eyes as he watched Saber dash fearlessly into the large group of enemies, decapitating three of the Dead with one strike.

After projecting a longsword into each of his hands he followed Saber into the fray, blocking a thick iron pipe from one of the Apostles with the sword in his hand. The earpiece he'd kept hooked to his ear crackled to life.

"Narbareck and I are currently engaged in the tunnels leading into the basement of the inn. I think they were waiting for us." Ciel said over the sound of metal clashing, by the sound of her voice, she was already fighting along with Narbareck.

Shirou stabbed one of the Dead as it came to attack him from behind, then turned to block the Apostle's blow again.

"Shiki here, we're heading back to lend you a hand." He said with urgency.

"Shiki, watch out! Dammit, they were waiting for us. How did they know we would split up?" Arcueid could be heard yelling over Shiki's phone.

"This is Rider, Sakura and I have just dispatched a small group. We are heading to assist you, Shirou." She said as calmly as ever.

Shirou kicked the Dead Apostle away, only having to block a crowbar from another one to his left. The flames danced around them as they fought. Saber had dispatched one of the Apostles after only exchanging two blows. As fast and agile as they were, Saber was a swordsman not many could hope to compare to.

"Things are going to hell. Everyone regroup in the center of town." Narbareck ordered over the phone.

As if on cue, even more Dead Apostles came out of the buildings. Shirou had never seen so many before and he and Saber were soon surrounded. The others definately wouldn't make it in time, Shirou could only hope that he and Saber could hold out. However the vampires didn't attack, they took positions blocking the exits. Shirou took a look at them, blood dripping from their mouths and eyes glowing as red as the fires of hell. The village wasn't deserted at all, it had completely been transformed into a city filled only with Dead Apostles and their Dead servants.

"Emiya Shirou. Welcome to Aylesbury." A voice echoed through the night air. The group of Apostles directly in front of him parted and in walked a group of oddly dressed men and women. As well as a little girl, followed by what looked like her bodyguards. Trhvmn Ortenrosse followed them, carrying Aiah in his arms. That means that the rest of them could only be Dead Apostle Ancestors as well.

Unfortunately, Saber's sword would be much use here. Even if they did take out everyone in front of them with Excalibur, there would be many more to deal with behind them. The same could be said for Shirou's Reality Marble, the Dead Apostles would surely not let him cast it as it required a long spell.

"Restrain them." Trhvmn ordered, and before they even had time to react six Apostles rushed forward to wrestle Shirou and Saber to their knees and immobilize them.

"This is the Counter Guardian that has been giving you so much trouble Ortenrosse?" A man clad in Black Iron armor stepped forward, a sword as his hip with a blade as red as the man's eyes and a serrated edge. He took a few steps towards Shirou, who only glared up at him. He drew his blade and pressed the point to Shirou's neck, drawing blood. "I could kill this worm right now and save you the trouble." He raised his arm.

"Stand down, Rizo." The little girl ordered. She could hardly be seen in the blackness, her dress was as black as the night itself and the only thing that stood out about her were her glowing eyes and her pale white skin. "He has interfered with our plans. I think he should stay alive at least to see the death of his friend. That's only fair, right?"

Saber struggled against the men holding her and glared at the man with his blade towards Shirou's neck.

"As you wish, Altrouge-sama." Reluctantly, the man called Rizo sheathed his sword and walked away. However after taking a few steps he spun around and brought his boot to Shirou's head.

Shirou's yelped in pain and his head spun as he was kicked hard in the head. He heard the bootfalls of Rizo walking away. He vaguely heard Saber yell his name and throw off the Dead Apostles restraining her.

She poured her magical energy into her sword and it began to glow brightly with a golden light. "EXCALIBUR!" She cried the name of the Holy Sword. Before she could bring the sword down however, a man had ran to her side at an insane speed. Grabbing her arms to stop her, he kneed her in the stomach then threw her to the ground and stomped his boot into her back. Saber lay on the ground in pain, unable to throw the man off.

"I would refrain from doing anything like that again if I were you Miss." He growled. His long white hair ran down his back and he was dressed in a shining white armor, as if he was the opposite of the other bodyguard.

Trhvmn pointed at the men who had previously been holding Saber. "Take a group and stall their friends. They should be getting close. They can't be allowed to interrupt us." The group of vampires nodded and then jumped onto the rooftops and ran off.

"Are we prepared yet? I have places to be, like back home for example." The female Ancestor said impatiently. Her flesh was grey and she was soaked head to toe with water. Whenever she took a step a quiet squishing noise could be heard from her shoes. Her crimson eyes didn't hold the same air as the others and her pupils were dialated.

"Watch your tone Sumire." The second female Ancestor said. She had long red hair tied to a single long ponytail that ran down her back and she wore a pair of thinly framed glasses. At first glance, one could guess she was the bookish type. "We have been waiting for some time for this, shouldn't you be a little more excited?"

"That's enough, both of you. We are on a time limit so we can't afford to be bickering right now." Altrouge barked. "Bring the girl. Lay her there." She ordered Trhvmn and pointed to a strange symbol on the ground. Shirou had passed it before, but didn't think anything of it he figured it was just a design that the men who build the town carved into the square.

The sounds of fighting could be heard closeby, it must be the others attempting to come to Shirou and Saber's rescue. Shirou could only hope that they would make it in time. A short clap of thunder was heard overhead and it started to rain gently.

"Let me go!" Aiah seemed to have woken up as Trhvmn carried her to the rune on the ground and she struggled frantically. There was no hope for her escape, however.

"Aiah!" Shirou called, struggling against his captors but he felt cold hands on the back of his head slam his face into the pavement causing his head to spin.

"Shirou?" She looked over at him before Trhvmn threw her to the ground.

"Altrouge, if you will." Trhvmn urged her to do something which Shirou knew could not be good. Right how he and Saber were helpless to stop them.

Altrouge stepped forward, raised her hand and began to chant in some ancient, forgotten language.

"It's a pity. You're such a beautiful young girl it's a shame you have to be killed for this." Trhvmn's eyes started to glow with a faint golden color as he neared her. Aiah was unable to run away, bound by the vampire's Mysitc Eyes.

"No..." Aiah whispered, completely terrified out of her mind.

Shirou and Saber began to struggle but their efforts were only met with their faces pushed further into the ground.

"No. No, nonononononono!" Aiah whimpered.

Trhvmn stood before her and raised his right arm. Aiah's scream was cut short as his hand mercilessly plunged into her chest, blood poured out soaking the vampire's arm. A loud crunch was heard coming from within Aiah's body. Trhvmn grunted and pulled back his arm, holding Aiah's heart in his hand. Deep crimson blood splashed onto the pavement and Aiah's limp body fell to the ground. Her face falling in Shirou's direction as if she was looking at him.

Shirou felt something in his head shatter, like shards of glass riddled the inside of his skull. How could this have happened? Always at the last minute he was able to pull through and save anyone. Even if he got into a bad situation, he was always able to pull ahead at the last second. Why? How could he let this happen? Aiah, who had saved his life was now dead and covered with blood on the ground in the small town of Aylesbury, England. He was not able to return her favor, before he noticed it his body had started to quiver both with anger, and with sadness.

Trhvmn threw the still bleeding heart into the center of the rune on the ground. The rune began to glow with a bright purple light as it reacted to Aiah's Magic Circuits and a deep rumbling sound could be heard deep underground.

Saber growled and tried to throw off Rizo who was still holding her. Only to be met with a stomp to her back, making Saber grunt in pain. "Stay still, or I'll kill you right here with or without Altrouge-sama's orders." Reaching behind his back he pulled out an antique Flintock pistol and pointed it towards Saber's head.

Altrouge stepped forward and drew a small knife out of her knee-high sock. "Careful Rizo, I admire your enthusiasm but I want them to see the end of humanity." She said with a small laugh and grasped the blade. With a swish she slid the blade from her hand, drawing her own blood. "The blood of the Crimson Moon himself flows within my veins. This should be enough of a catalyst." She held her hand over the glowing rune on the ground and squeezed her hand, causing the blood to flow further.

"I could have done it as well." Sumire huffed and flipped her hair over her shoulder.

"Please. Your blood is practically 85% alcohol." The woman standing next to her said with a toothy smirk.

"Rita. Sumire. Behave yourselves." The man in shining armor spoke in a deep commanding voice.

The two of them fell silent and turned to watch just as the drop of blood from Altrouge's hand splash onto into the ground. The ground began to shake violently and cracks of glowing violet light rippled throughout the square like blood vessels.

"That's it then. You've lost, Emiya Shirou." Trhvmn said with a grim smile.