A/N: EDIT: Went back and some more content; because folks were chomping at the bit for it.
As ever, we're sticking with the tried and true "Embers" Rule for this story.
If folks don't like it, it'll be deleted. So speak up! Make yourself heard! Your voice matters!
For those worrying, Chef of Beacon got pushed back a day; wanted to polish it up some more. This, however, only took me a an hour to write...
...because I did promise this oneshot for NGH series...
Obvious spoilers for Resident Evil Village ahead, of course. If it isn't obvious, said has me trapped in its clutches and...well...I'm really not the best when it comes to shooting games. Send help. Just got through the first "main" boss and, ouch. Did I mention I've never played a SINGLE Resident Evil game until today?! I say again! Haaaaaalp~!
Is this story really the first of its kind? Unlikely. But seeing as I'm playing the game, weeell...
As ever I own no references, quotes, memes or themes.
Here goes nothing. Now then, here goes nothing.
I proudly present not My Lady.
"What is good? What is evil?
Anything can be true, from a certain point of view.
So whaddya say? Shake my hand? C'mon, won't you shake a poor sinner's hand?"
~The Future.
Not My Lady
Death was cold.
She'd never thought to experience the like in her lifetime.
For you see, Lady Alcina Dimitrescu felt cold. She'd never been cold before. Such an odd feeling.
Numbness crept into her fading form as she lay upon unyielding stone; unable to do anything more than accept her demise. It seemed an ignoble end, yet there was nothing she could do to fight it. She wanted to shriek and shout and rage, yet even the ability to speak was denied her. Was she not Mother Miranda's favorite? Was she not blessed with eternal life? Was she not so much greater than the others? She believed she was. She had to be. To even consider otherwise was tantamount to admitting defeat the of her bloodline. Because for all their might, she and her daughters had fallen.
She'd join them soon enough; just thinking of it threatened to turn her world red like roses.
Was she really destined to die here in this pit? To just be thrown away and forgotten? Like no one? Nothing? The thought galled her like nothing else; bad blood burning in the back of her throat. She tried to move, to speak, to do anything at all as she crumbled away, but even that failed her. In her final moments, she could only curse the one responsible for her plight. Damnitall. No. Damn him. Damn Ethan Winters to the deepest, darkest pit for this...!
And then.
Quit suddenly.
Her world...shifted.
Alcina couldn't think of any other word for it; one moment her monstrous body was turning to dust; the next, she found herself locked into her human form once more. Still, she couldn't bring herself to move. Too tired. All too weak. Breathing itself proved a monumental effort; the very act of keeping her eyes opened threatened to sap the last of her reserves entirely. Her eyelids drooped as she railed one last time against the dark...
"Death's a funny thing."
...and snapped back open as someone spoke.
Whose voice was that? Heisenberg? Come to gloat, had he?
"Life's not fair, is it, my friend?" still that low voice threaded through the air. "While some are born to feast, others spend their life in the dark, begging for scraps." dark boots passed through her field of vision. "The way I see it, you and I are exactly the same, we both want to find a way out...don't we?"
In a single motion the knelt; revealing themselves to her. Not Heisenberg, she realized. Certainly not.
Blue eyes crinkled in a smile at her, framed by rough blond hair and whiskered cheeks. Clad in worn orange and black rags as he was, he looked almost...normal, if one were to ignore those ghastly horns. They gleamed in his hair, sharp and red like blood.
She needed blood.
"Poor thing." her witness looked down on her with a sigh. "You tried so hard. You got so far. But in the end, it never really mattered." his smile became a frown, an edge of anger overtaking his amicable charm. "You were always destined to lose here. To die; as dictated by some silly script." The frown became a scowl. "I hate scripts, don't you?" His head shook at some unspoken jest. "They dictate what we say, what we do...really, its a tragedy." this time he couldn't quite suppress the titter of laughter that followed. "I hate those even more. As do you, I'm sure. So, why...
As she looked on, he began to roll up his right sleeve, exposing a tan forearm.
...don't we...
Her eyes locked onto his wrist and the pulsing veins there.
...do something...
In a single seamless movement he knelt.
...about that problem?"
Incredulity warred with surprise in Dimitrescu's black, black heart. That same wrist hovered before her full lips. The stranger braced that same arm with the other, holding it fast just below his hand. His intentions were quite clear, almost recklessly so. Foolish man-thing. What was he thinking? Did he wish to die that badly? She'd drain him dry in an instant. Her eyes flitted to his, filled with confusion. Why would a senseless stranger do so much for her, let alone risk his life like this? A weak rasp left her lips.
...why?"
"Why not?" he countered, cocking a blond brow at her. "What're you waiting for? I don't care if you're good, or evil." his smile was too bright for her, too pure, too kind. "Anything can be good, from a certain point of view. Just as anyone can be evil. Now, drink."
Hunger stirred in her like a great dragon, wiping away all hesitation with the burning need to survive.
Alcina Dimistrescu reared up with a snarl.
She latched onto his arm gently at first, like an infant at the teat. Blood flooded her mouth, running over her parched tongue. She swallowed, then gasped, eyes bulging as a bouquet of different flavors assailed her senses one by one. Hunger became desire. Alcina yanked his arm to her fangs and bit down hard, spattering blood across her pristine white dress and the stone floor itself. Her victim grunted against the pain but didn't try to flee nor did he fight her grasp. He didn't move at all; even as her teeth ground against the bone of his arm. Nay, he didn't even complain as she drained him dry.
Yet he did not wither. He did not die. For as much as she took, he gave still more.
Raw vitality flooded her every pore, bringing with it fresh untold power, the life of which she'd never known. Mother Miranda? Who was Mother Miranda?! She felt like a god! Nay! A goddess! Her prior power felt so small compared to this, a babbling brook compared to the ocean that now coursed through her veins.
It was too much. In a moment, she was addicted. She never wanted to stop.
Finally she, could take no more. Her hunger sated, she released her victim and crashed back to the stones. Head spinning, chest heaving, she struggled for breath that wouldn't come.
"Jeez," her savior rasped out in the silence that followed, "I knew you were a big girl, but that shit hurt...
As far as greetings went, Lady Dimitrescu certainly didn't expect that.
She scowled at him. "And who are you?"
That whiskered visage twitched in a smile. "The proud lord said...
...I...beg your pardon?"
"Sorry," the stranger sat back, massaging his ravaged arm. "I just couldn't help myself. If its name's your after, I still go by Naruto these days. It was my first name and I'm kinda fond of it, ya know." he rolled his arm once, producing an audible pop as the mangled flesh restored itself. "I'm something a meddler; a wandering god, if you will. I fix things. Its what I do. And this?" that same limb flung about, indicating the ruined room he'd found her in. "This needed fixing. I'll even give you your "daughters" back, if that's what you want." he flexed his fingers idly, veins pulsing in his hand. "All that and more. Just say the word."
Indignation tightened her pallid vision. "You would have me beg?!"
"Nope." he smacked his lips. "Just ask." He kicked his way upright, humming softly to himself, still rubbing at his wrist. "Jeez, I'm gonna be sore after a bite like that...
With a supreme effort of will, the Lady forced herself upright. Her legs threatened to buckle, but she kept herself upright through sheer force of will to loom over him. Even then, he didn't flinch. It only served to further arouse her suspicions. This was a trick. A test, perhaps. It had to be. She was a Dimetrescu; the last of a great house. She would not fall for his tricks She would not be deceived. She would not falter.
She had once, long ago. Before...all this. Never again.
"And what price would I have to pay for this...service." she turned her head aside to wipe a bit of blood from her cheek, "What debt would you force upon me?"
"None." his smile startled her, despite his pain. "Just want you to meet my daughter. She needs a mother."
"Oh?" His response startled Alcina, drawing blink from the tall woman. "A daughter, you say?"
"Yup. Her name's Eveline." Naruto smiled. "Real sweet girl. She's gonna love you."
Those words shook Alcina's resolve more than she cared to admit. This talk of a child intrigued her, and not for the reasons one might thinl. He sounded so sure. So certain. Even as she towered over him, Naruto didn't show so much as a speck of fear. He looked harmless. Weak. His blood told a different tale; at this very moment it sang a song of fire and ice in her veins, leaving her chilled and warm all at once. If it came to a fight he would no doubt defend himself vigorously and she was only just recovered.
Moreover, there was...another matter to consider.
Bright eyes strayed to Naruto's neck, tracing an all-too-prominent vein there. Even now she could hear his heart beating, feel it thrumming with power. She wanted to taste of him again. Her tongue flitted out, lapping up a stray scarlet droplet at the corner of her mouth. Surely there could be no harm in hearing him out, she told herself. Just...just for a short while. After all, she was so much stronger now...what harm could he possibly do unto her? She was firm in her resolve. She would not fall to sentiment such as this.
How little she knew.
"So whaddya say?" Naruto held out his arm to her, fingers splayed. "Shake my hand? C'mon, now. Won't you shake a poor sinner's hand?"
Lady Dimitrescu pursed her lips. "...you may take me to your child. Then you will return my daughters to me."
"Of course!" Naruto beamed at her. "I never go back on my word! Trust me, Eve's a little sweetheart."
Still his hand awaited her. After a moment's pause, Alcina bent to clasp it in her own.
She drew him close. Her forehead kissed his. "We shall see, little man-thing...
It was the beginning of a match made in hell.
A/N: EDIT: To clarify, I already did a story where Naruto "recruited" Eveline ages ago. Not so Hazardous is what you're after.
This...is simply the continuation of that story.
Aaaand there we go! finished! References, references for days!
Remember we're sticking with the tried and true "Embers" Rule for this story.
If folks don't like it, it'll be deleted. So speak up! Make yourself heard! Your voice matters!
There you go, semi-happy ending for Lady Dimistrescu. Might give her another chapter or two; hell, maybe even do an "epilogue" if folks want it, though this story really doesn't need one after that ending.
You know what they say, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned...
So In the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
R&R~!