Tai: "And this is the fifty-fifth chapter. Just putting that out there."
Aka: *Reading ahead* "So… Octavian's going t-"
Tai: "Shut-up Aka!"
Disclaimer: Taiski does not own DC Comics or any related media. Taiski owns his Ocs and this story's plot.
The Eyes of Red and Heart of Black
Chapter 55: A Demon's Angel
Octavian phased out of the shadows, collapsing on the floor of a large room. He had no idea where he was, but he was to tired to even think straight. Octavian knew that he had traveled in the shadows farther than he ever had before. How he knew that he didn't know or care. He was just so tired.
When he woke up, Octavian found himself on a bed. "How?" he asked before being interrupted. "Ottie!" Hara said as she tackled Octavian, a worried look on her face. "Hara," Octavian said, "what are you doing here?" Hara smiled. "We tried to beat you to where… Gruft died." she said, her smile falling at the last words. "Wait. We?" Octavian asked.
"Lady Hara," Basilisk said as he walked in with a tray of snacks, "has your friend awoken yet?" Octavian tensed when he saw the golem. Hara sat up and took a cracker from the tray and ate it. "Ottie,' she said, "meet Basilisk. Basilisk, meet Ottie." Basilisk extended his hand. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance," he said, "Ottie."
Octavian held back the urge to hit the golem, not liking it when people other than Hara called him that. "It's Octavian, actually," he said, "it's nice to meet you too, Basilisk." The two shook hands, the atmosphere felling pleasant. Until Octavian picked up a familiar scent coming from the other room.
"Hara," he said, voice having a slight edge to it, "you didn't bring her. Tell me you didn't." Hara looked away, not meeting Octavian's eyes. The vampire rushed into the other room. He saw Bianca looking through a bookshelf. "Bianca?" he asked. Said girl turned to Octavian. "Oh, hi," she said nervously, "when did you wake up?" Octavian sensed her nervousness.
"Not long ago," he admitted, "why are you here?" Bianca felt her cheeks heat up. Ever since Hara's talk, Bianca felt more unable to handle her feelings, especially when it came to Octavian. She nearly fainted when Basilisk asked her… well, let's just say that the golem needed to work on his social skills. Octavian appeared in front of Bianca and placed his hand on her forehead.
"You're looking a bit red," he pointed out, "you might be catching a fever. You should lay down." Bianca wished that Hara would pop up and distract Octavian, but she didn't. Out the corner of her eye, Bianca saw Hara grinning at the scene before her from the doorway. "Bianca?" Octavian said, "did you hear me?" Bianca quickly stepped back.
"I-I'm f-fine, r-really," she stuttered, "e-excuse me." Octavian stood and watched her pass him and walk to another room, closing the door behind her. Hara silently snapped her fingers, having wanted her two targets to get farther than that. Basilisk blinked before walking to his battle damaged brothers to fix them.
"So…" Hara said as she walked up to Octavian, "what happened?" Octavian didn't respond, still staring at the room Bianca rushed into. "Ottie?" Hara asked. No response. "Ottie!" she shouted. "W-What is it?" he asked. Hara mentally grinned. Her 'big brother' was thinking about Bianca. That would make her plans work out much better.
"You appeared out of the shadows and fell over," she explained, "what happened?" Octavian did answer. He turned and started to walk away. "Hey!" Hara exclaimed, "aren't you going to answer me?" Octavian looked at Hara out the corner of his eye. "You kept a secret from me," he said, "I think this is fair trade."
Hara felt hurt. This wasn't Octavian's normal behavior. What had happened? "Wait, Ottie," she said as she flew after him, "hang on a minute!" Octavian turned to his 'little sister'. "Yes?" he asked. "Um… you want to talk?" she asked. Octavian exhaled. "Sure."
[Meanwhile, the streets of Great Britain]
Two figures in the shadows walked down the streets. One was taller than the other and was wearing black shades. The shorter figure had a gold cross wrapped his neck. The wind was still, a faint fog floated in the air, and the only sound was of the footsteps of the shadowed figures. A man of twenty ran into an alleyway, the taller of the two figures rushed after him. The other figure followed close behind.
The man panicked as the two figures grew closer to him. The taller figure removed the golden chain that was wrapped around his torso like a sash. He spun the chain over his head before throwing it at his target. The chain rocketed straight through the man's chest, blood splattering the alleyway.
"Guh!" the man cried out as the chain was forcefully wrapped around his neck from his chest by the tall figure. The poor target stood with his mouth opened wide, revealing he had fangs. He was a vampire. The taller figure jumped over a fire escape, the chain hanging the vampire before the tall figure turned and gave it a quick pull.
The vampire instantly burst into a mess of flesh and blood. The tall figure pulled the chain, spun it over his head, and finally whipped it around his torso having it resemble a sash once again. The second figure nodded to his partner before the two walked into the fog, disappearing into the night.
[Back to Octavian (Don't worry, that scene will be explained later)]
Octavian spit out the tea he was currently drinking. "W-What did you just say?" he asked Hara. "I said, you love her, don't you?" Hara repeated, "I'm right, aren't I?" Octavian really hoped his face wasn't red at the moment, but it was. "Come on Ottie," she said, "you can tell me." Octavian stared at the cup in his hands. Hara smiled. "You know," she said, "this is a lot like that time, isn't it?"
"Yes," Octavian said, "only you're the one asking me." Hara nodded. Years ago, Hara and Octavian had the same conversation. Only, like Octavian said, Hara was the one talking to him instead of the other way around. "So," Hara asked, "what are you going to do?" Octavian didn't know how to answer that question. He never really felt this way before. He had the feeling rise before, but they didn't have time to grow.
"I don't know," he said, "I don't even know how to bring up the subject to her." Hara placed her hand on Octavian's lap. "Just tell her," she said, "or you'll regret it for the rest of your life." Octavian was all to familiar with regret. It was something he faced his whole life after Rebecca died, and he wasn't able to save her. If Bianca were to…
"No," he said to himself, "I won't let that happen." He stood up and walked out the room. Hara smiled as the vampire left her alone with her thoughts. "Gruft," she said quietly, holding her engagement ring, "you wouldn't have believed this in a million years."
Tai: "That does it for this chapter."
Aka: "Sniff… Sniff…"
Tai: "Aka? Are you, crying?"
Aka: "N-No. It's just raining, that's all."
Tai: *Smirks*
Aka: "Anyway, who were those guys? The ones who killed that vampire?"
Tai: "They're people Ottie will meet later."
Aka: "Aw~! I wanted to know now!"
Tai: "No whining."
Aka: "Ok."
Tai: "See you guys later."
Octavian (Demon voice): "Don't call me by that name!"
Tai & Aka: *Run away screaming, Octavian chasing after them*
Read, Review, Etc.
