Chapter 28 - Submerged

I think it was about then that my mind started racing. I wanted… I still wanted to see him. My boyfriend. The one I loved. I knew that some of it might be the new monster side of me talking, but I also knew that it was the human part. Or the ME part anyway. And yet I was scared that I'd lose control. That I'd use up all my steam at the start and never make it far enough. So I started looking things up to try and keep my head straight. Started talking to other monsters when the books didn't help. And, man, it must have been nearly twenty years before I realized what sort of circular trance I had been drawn into. And not all of it was learning you know. A lot of the time I just sort of sat there in silence. Thinking. About him. And about what I found I wanted from him now. Forcing myself to stop, because I knew that as I was I'd just screw things up and end up dead. It was around that time that I met a Lilim. Small thing, shorter than me at least when I was naturally, uh, standing or whatever. I don't really know what to call it. I mean my lower body is just a giant dragon tail, so I don't know where I can consider my 'feet' to be. Sorry, I'll get back on track. Yeah, you're about to show up. So this Lilim arrives at the Library, looking for some info, and I instantly realize that she's different from the others. See, she wanted- No, this wasn't you. You're coming up after. So this Lilim, she wanted everyone to be happy, but she didn't think about it in the normal way that a Lilim does. She wanted everyone to 'become one' or something. But she meant EVERYONE, not just groups of people becoming one. So that got me thinking, what were the other Lilim like? Were they as different from the normal monsters as this one was? So I went out and tried to meet them. But, uh, to be completely honest, most of the time I was really disappointed. They all acted the same, you know? All domineering, super self-absorbed, and just wouldn't shut up about pointless things. It was… Well, it was annoying. And I was losing hope...

Oh, sorry. Phased out there for a second.

So I was losing hope. I didn't know if I'd find anyone. I was falling into despair, but not the... not the good kind. But then everything changed when I met you! Yeah, I did. You understood me on a level no one else did. You understood what I wanted, and even better you wanted the same thing for yourself. The time we spent together, I think it's been some of the happiest days of my life. It's a bit embarrassing to say, but I think you're my best friend. Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. But I know I'm your best friend too. Oh, you can't turn away from me. I see that blush. But yeah. We understood each other. We both wanted that… We both wanted that feeling that I felt. That single moment of despair and hopelessness. And I knew that you were the key to it. That you could help me. And that I could help you. The friend thing was a bit unintentional, but I wasn't too disappointed when it came about. And now, like you asked so long ago, I'm telling you my story. Yeah, it was an old promise. But you still remember what doing so meant, right? Ha, I'll remind you then. The deal was that when you, The Twenty Sixth daughter of the Demon Lord heard how I came to be here, then you would use all the power you had in you to help me finally achieve my dream. Hey, I've already helped you loads with yours. Yeah, you already have a scenario in mind, don't you? Ha, knew it. Well then, I also have mine. So. Are you ready to help me? Cool. That's… Yeah. Sorry, I'm just a bit happy right now. Yes I'm crying, shut up. No, no, I'm good.

Now, let's get started.

Week 15

The Council sat quietly around the large stone table. Or at least some of them did. But none of them spoke. They hadn't for a while. When it was first assembled the Council had eleven people, all who contributed to the life of the city in their own way, but now they were down to six. And of those left, three weren't present, leaving only The Mayor, the Accountant, and the Dockmaster in the meeting hall. Despite the warmth that filled the room the three men instead felt a coldness deep in their bones, and the current absence of the other three members was the main cause though they didn't know whose was the worst.

The Botanist had been found talking to an empty chair in her room despite the rest of her family never having even visited the island, all of them housed safely on the mainland and far away from any danger. And from what they could remember, the grandmother she was talking to had already died so many years ago.

The Quartermaster had woken up and had found that he couldn't move his left leg. Nonetheless he still somehow made it all the way to The Mayor himself to report this, and was quickly sent back to his room. Both men knew what was happening to him. He had caught the same paralyzing sickness that so many others had gotten. So many were still getting.

Over the past four days since the tornado had struck, nearly thirty people had been found paralyzed in their beds while a few more were found collapsed in the streets. That alone would be more than enough cause for alarm, and not just because of how much fear it spread. The fact of the matter was, there were less than one hundred and fifty people on the island. Many had died to sickness, a few more had died to monster attacks, and yet a couple more had died in fights. And murders. And yet even when things already seemed so hopeless the stalling to try and find a reason for the violent outbursts and paralysis of the new disease spreading around finally collapsed in on itself, the citizens finally losing their patience and demanding answers that would never come.

And from that anger came an unprecedented outbreak of random violence, as whatever had caused so many to go insane with rage seemed to go into overdrive and people began killing each other in the streets. The few guards that were left, numbering only twelve in total even after counting both those who could no longer be on active duty as well as the new recruits, couldn't stop the attacks. In fact, at least one guard had already been killed by a small group of raging civilians, and another fell to the same sickness and turned on his comrades.

And because of this, the Captain was absent from the Council meeting. But he wasn't diseased like the rest. Instead he was doing something that had to be done. Something that they had all decided was the only option left.

Pacifying the insane the violently insane, with lethal force if necessary. They couldn't afford not to.

How do you jail someone who's willing to kill themselves to get at you? To safely restrain someone who will rip off their own limbs to escape? One woman had been tied up securely, but had simply began smashing her head into the ground until she abruptly stopped moving and was pronounced dead only moments later.

"Why?" The Mayor croaked out, getting the attention of the other two people in the room. "Why has this happened? We… We had finally figured something out. We had a workable plan to survive. We have food, water, heat, a place to sleep at night. So why? WHY DID THINGS END UP LIKE THIS?" The Mayor was seething with anger, but his mouth didn't begin to froth nor did he attack the others. Despite rage seeming to be one of the triggers for the insanity to erupt from someone, it seemed that those with high Spiritual Energy were immune, or possibly greatly resistant to it. Or just delayed how long it took for it to properly infect someone.

However despite his questioning he got no answers. The Accountant and Dockmaster could only stay silent. What could they say?

"Caster, do-" he stopped abruptly, remembering that his longtime friend was gone. Something that he found he still had trouble processing.

"Sir, I… May I be dismissed? There's something I need to do."

Both The Mayor and the Dockmaster looked over to the Accountant as he broke the awkward atmosphere. They were interested, yes, but only because it brought the possibility of taking their minds off of the situation.

"What is it?" The Mayor asked.

"It's, well," the Accountant fumbled with his words, "the Botanist. I'm going to try and, not make amends but try and make peace with her. I guess this whole situation is putting things in perspective, so I might as well try and, you know, tie up loose ends. Make sure I've said my piece. I don't know if she'll be… If she's still going to be able to talk. I don't know if she's been paralyzed or whatever yet. But I just want to say sorry I guess."

The Mayor took a deep breath before speaking. "You know, she might have fallen into insanity. She could hurt you."

"Maybe she could. I'll… I'll bring a knife or something. Or I'll knock first. I don't know. I just… It's something I need to do. And you don't have to be so worried about me you know. It's not like I'm going to drop dead any time soon." The Accountant smirked as he said that. It was a small one, but the others chuckled along anyway. The man was right on that last point after all. Out of everyone in the city, other than the Captain and The Mayor, he was probably the healthiest. They couldn't really figure out why though. He lived near others, dined next to them, and interacted with people on a daily basis. Yet he seemed fine.

"If you're sure, then you can go. You're not going to be missing anything anyway. Do you want us to come with you? She's only in a different room in this building, but you never know if someone else has gotten in."

"I appreciate the thought but… No. This is something I have to do by myself. If someone else was there I think I'd chicken out." The Accountant's self deprecating joke fell flat though. It was clear that he was at least a bit scared about what might happen. And the fact that he was considering apologizing at all despite how he normally acted told The Mayor and Dockmaster more than enough about what his emotional state was like.

"Thanks."

The Accountant quietly walked out of the room, and The Mayor turned to face the window, looking at one of the large stones that had landed inside the city. No one was killed, but though he had investigated them himself he couldn't find anything strange about them. Other than their weird shape, long hollow tubes that looked like they were there naturally dotting all around the surface which somehow hadn't broken on impact with the ground, there was nothing actually unnatural about them. He considered trying to lift one up, but discarded the thought. It wouldn't do any good. Plus, where would he even put them? Spending his Spirit Energy just to move some rocks around was such a waste.

What… What was the point of anything anymore?

The Captain strode through the city, sword coated in a layer of red blood. Blood he knew had come from those who now went against the will of the city. In the back of his mind there was a small voice yelling at him to stop, but he easily quashed it. After all, he knew that what he was doing wasn't right. In fact, one could possibly consider doing what he was as going directly against his oaths. The oaths he had taken so many years ago, that bound him to the protection of the city and its people with every fiber of his being. Because the blood that coated his blade wasn't that of a monster or a bandit, but those of the citizens. Citizens that had been driven insane by what could only be the machinations of a monster. And so, if thought of that way, what he was doing was no crime but a service. He was sending their souls to heaven!

He told himself this with every man and woman he came across that were attacking the innocents, or even he himself.

His eye caught movement, and he quickly dashed towards the small abandoned house that contained the criminal. Three of them, all of them huddled over something.

"I-It's a sword!" one of the insane said, "I got it off of... Well, I got it off of one of the dead guards. Looked like he offed himself with it. The crazy people, we can defend ourselves from them with it. But I'm… I can't move my right arm. I don't think I'm going to last much longer guys."

One of them grabbed the one who was speaking by the shirt. He noted how aggressive the action was and realized that they could probably fight among themselves, making his job easier.

"Like hell you aren't! Look, maybe we can find something in the storage area."

"Give it up," said the woman among them, "the oh so wise Council probably took whatever the cure is for themselves. I bet they don't even care. I mean it's like The Mayor hasn't even really seen what's happening down here. This place has been hell for the past two weeks. And he just sits up there in his tower screwing around and only comes out to show off. Haven't even seen their wizard. Probably tired himself out trying to scare us with that tornado he made."

The Captain continued to watch them, noting that they could speak to each other coherently. He wasn't aware that the infected could do that. But then again, he had spent most of his time around the rabid beasts just killing them. One even tried to run away, but he cut her down before she could continue to harm the innocent civilians. And so once more he began walking towards the afflicted, ready to cleanse them of their sins.

"Well then- Wait. What's that sound? Mother of God, it's the Captain! Sir, are you… Sir?"

The man was staring at him with a bit of fear and realization in his eyes. The other two were slowly edging towards the weapon behind him.

"Sir, are you oka-" the Captain shut the man up with a single swing of his sword. The words of a traitor were of no value, even if he did not mean to betray the city.

"OH MY GOD! G-Get the sword. Get the sword!" The other man began yelling hysterically. He was probably about to go berserk, just like the rest of the infected. It would be good to stop him before he went too far.

And just like the rest, the Captain's blade easily pierced the man's heart from the front and he slowly lowered the body to the ground. Though it was defiled he knew that the man's soul was probably on its way to heaven and he had no desire to disrespect the dead. But as he placed the body on the stone ground of the ruined building, closing its eyes, he felt something pierce into his shoulder blades through a hole in his armour and brought himself into a standing position while ignoring the searing pain that spread through his body.

The last of the infected was stumbling to the ground, staring up at him in fear.

Good. The thing was right to be scared. But he would end those feelings soon enough when he helped it pass on safely.

"What the hell are you?" it asked pointlessly, as if it expected him to answer or to stop.

He gave it his answer and lowered the new corpse to the ground.

However as he left the ruined house he felt something running down his arm and chest, and placed a hand on the skin there. Pulling away he found… blood? For a few moments he couldn't figure out whose blood it was, but as he stood on the empty streets he eventually realized that it was his own. It was his blood. He found the sight strange. After all, things only bled when he cut them. And he only cut criminals. When was he injured? Did he do it to himself? He must have.

Did this make him a criminal? Did that mean he was a threat to the people?

If so there was only one thing that could be done. And the Captain proceeded to plunge his sword into his neck.

As he felt his body collapse onto the ground, he found himself regretting the fact that he couldn't help the people of his city any longer.

But at least he was still pure.

The Assistant quietly walked through the hallway, heading towards the Botanist's room. Though he had a small knife in his hands for protection, just in case, he still didn't feel very safe. In fact, he felt like having a weapon actually put him in greater danger than before since now those who saw him might register him as a threat. But not having one was probably an even worse idea, so he didn't let up on his grip.

However, despite his fears he never met a single soul in the building. The Mayor and Captain had made sure that it was locked shut. Though he supposed it wouldn't really stop someone who was truly determined it was better than nothing, and he was able to make it to his colleague's room untouched. There wasn't a guard in front of it any longer. Maybe he had run outside to try and help. Maybe he just walked away. The Accountant really couldn't blame him if he did the latter. After all, he himself probably would have if given the chance.

"You in there?" he asked while rapping twice on the strong wooden door, "It's, uh, it's me. I was hoping to talk to you for a bit."

A small part of him hoped she was conscious enough to refuse him. To tell him to go away. But there was no answer, and he knew that he'd have to go inside.

Thankfully, the small key was still in the door and with a quick twist it was unlocked. A moment later and he pulled it open.

"No, no, grandmother you don't have to do that. I can get it for you." He found the Botanist walking towards one of the cabinets on the wall while speaking to no one, taking out a small mortar and pestle and placing it on a round table where two chairs were pulled out. She quietly sat in one of them while staring at the empty seat behind her, and the Accountant leaned on the door frame as he idly watched her.

"Yes grandmother, I've been practicing. I'm going to be getting a mentor-ship soon, just like I said I would… Of course, I'll show you what I learned. I'll just whip up a small tonic. It's supposed to help with back pains."

He… He hated watching this. Watching her awkwardly handle the tool she should be an expert in using, her hand shaking uncontrollably.

"Hey, uh, I know you can't hear me right now," he said, rubbing his arm in embarrassment, "but I guess I'll just say my part and leave."

He could only watch as she tottered across the room, seeming to grab random small objects and placing them in the small wooden bowl, before starting to move around the sculpted rock inside of it in a mashing motion with unfocused eyes that seemed to be staring at nothing.

"I know you're probably… We're both not going to live much longer. I mean I didn't ever think things would get this bad. It's like things just started moving so fast and I… I just came to say sorry I guess. Sorry for being snide. For baiting you into all those arguments. For, I don't know, just stuff."

She didn't respond, though the small stone tool she was using slipped out of her hand. She continued the motion she was doing before regardless.

"You… Why am I even here? I thought I would feel something. But you're not even listening. You NEVER listen. You always just go on about wanting to help others and stuff. Well what about the rest of us, huh? What about me? I'm one of those people! I may not be the most important guy around, but I'm important to me, you know? I… I just don't want to die. Why couldn't you ever understand that?"

"Oh, don't worry grandmother, I'll get that for you."

He was standing upright now, though he hadn't properly entered the room. He both wanted, and didn't want, to go in. Wanting to confront her, but also to stay away.

And when a hand shoved him strongly into the room, sending him tumbling across the ground before crashing into the Botanist's chair and the empty one beside her, it was clear that someone else had made the choice for him.

Even as he scrambled to his feet, all he saw was a glimpse of black hair and then the door slammed shut with a small clicking noise followed by the sound of something metal snapping a moment afterwards.

"You…" he heard behind him.

He spun around once more, now seeing the Botanist slowly pulling herself up off of the ground, and stepped backwards in fear at the look on her face.

"You… I hate you. You hurt her. You hurt me." as she spoke, the woman started to walk towards him and the Accountant ran to the door desperately trying to open it. But it remained shut. It had been locked from the outside, and something was wrong with the inner unlocking mechanism. No matter how much he pulled or twisted the door refused to move.

"IHATEYOUIHATEYOUIAHAHHHHHHHHHHH"

He felt himself fall to the ground, desperately trying to untangle the knife from his belt, and watched as the Botanist leapt at him with a savage look on her face while screaming incoherently. But even as he raised the knife into the air to strike, he found it being batted out of his hands and felt her grab his head and slam it into the ground. Pain blossomed from the point of impact and his vision became fuzzy.

"HELP ME!" he desperately choked out, both pain and fear causing his voice to sound strangled and distorted.

But no one came.

Before he could try again he felt pairs of incisors, canines, and molars rest roughly on his neck.

And then they bit down, with the last thing he was able to see being the woman he had secretly admired pulling back with blood splattered all over his body.

Darkness claimed him a moment later as the Botanist, driven insane by the sickness she had caught, brought her mouth down once again.

"Mayor," the Dockmaster said, his voice tired, "it seems the sun is setting. We should probably head to bed."

The Mayor didn't respond for a few seconds. His limbs felt heavy. But if it was from the sickness or just his own mental fatigue, he didn't know.

"You can go on ahead Dockmaster. Stay with your wife. I don't think there are going to be any more meetings."

The man slowly stood up and began walking to the door, glancing a few times at the Mayor who simply sat on the chair at the front of the table, eyes unfocused in thought.

"Goodbye sir. It was… It was nice working with you."

The man pushed open the door, but froze as he saw what was on the other side.

"Wait, who are-"

And in front of The Mayor, unable to stop it from happening in his weakness and shock, he flew at the wall opposite the door and a loud cracking and squelching noise rang out as the man impacted it. It was clear he had died on impact.

The Mayor, so stunned, couldn't even bring himself to stand up or speak. However his eyes were drawn to the figure that walked inside the room only a moment later.

Long black hair draped down the back of a beautiful woman's head, small trinkets in her hair that he remember buying from a stall during a town festival so many years ago shook soundlessly as she moved forwards. Black almond shaped eyes that he could never forget stared directly into his, and a small dainty nose rested on her face. But he could see the way her eyes lit up as she took in his figure. See the way her expression turned from one of cold apathy, to a warm joy while familiar dimples appeared on her smiling face. And he could see the large pink and yellow tail that she rested on, the Demonic creature slithering into the meeting room with a deadly grace.

But most of all, he could see his old traveling companion. The one he had thought he had lost so many decades ago, her appearance glowing as it was lit up by the setting sun.

"Is that you… Archer? Melissa? I thought..." His voice was shaky, in a mixture of surprise, happiness, fear, and despair.

"It's been so long Blade. Not since Zipangu. I've… I've missed you Arthur." The Otohime had a strange look in her eyes as she spoke. An obsessive one.

She giggled, and he heard the familiar chime of her laugh he had fallen in love with so long ago.

"God, I've just missed you so much..."