Jujutsu Kaisen: The Forgotten Clan
Chapter 24- One Fire, Two Spirits Part Two
Surly the Higher-Ups know of the Ano's troubles since they are a nosey bunch. Who investigated the curse activity before I was assigned? What is this sinking feeling growing inside my chest?
"Miss Santa-Clara, are you alright? There is sweat dripping down your face, and your cheeks are flushed red. Come inside, please."
Before I can protest, Miss Ano takes my hand and pulls me inside. She sits me down at the kitchen table, grabs a tall glass of water, and places the beverage in front of me. An inaudible cry escapes my mouth, causing me to choke on air.
"Mom, what is she doing here still?"
"Etsuka, watch your language in front of our company. Miss Santa-Clara is here to investigate what is troubling us."
The Sahara Desert feeling inside my throat is relieved when the last drop of water hits my stomach. I push myself away from the table and try standing up. My legs quiver like a freshly born giraffe trying to rise from the ground. I collapse back into my chair.
"Excuse me, I am not sure what is going on with my body. May I have more water please?"
Etsuka looks at me with daggers in her eyes. In a heartbeat, she runs out the kitchen door and comes back with a sketch. She slams the drawing into the table and leaves, again.
"Don't worry about her, she is ten years old and trying to figure herself out. Here is your water."
Miss Ano gives me a soft grin, the evening light reflecting off her light-colored orbs highlighting the pale grey hue. If she were not married and a bit younger, I would consider asking her on a date. She sits across the table from me.
"I appreciate the water and feeling better."
"Whatever questions you have, please ask. I am an open book; my husband, it takes time for him to warm up to others."
A sip of water never tasted better than this one.
"Honey, I am running to the grocery store for food and taking the girls with me. Would you like anything special while I am out?"
"No, thank you, Toru."
Two Minutes of kissing and goodbyes later, Miss Ano and I resume our conversation.
"As a vampire, how do you navigate living with a human and feeding yourself?"
My face flushes red the moment my question is asked. I was born without a filter and will die without a filter. Miss Ano's face beams with joy as her teeth shine in the setting light.
"I obtain nutrients from solid food, primarily fatty fish, red lentils, and poultry. Blood is not part of my diet, thankfully. Otherwise, my husband would be my primary source of the red fluid. How old is the vampire you are working with?"
"She is in her early twenties. Unlike you, she lacks a heartbeat."
I cover my wrists and look at the table. Miss Ano does not say a word and places her hands on her abdomen. I pick up the faintest hint of another soul.
"The sorcerer who helped us before was standoffish and rude. I felt judged and belittled whenever he questioned us. And, frankly, did not trust him. Now, we have you. A young, eager, level-headed, woman with a good heart."
A loud bang on the door and buzz of my phone signals the end of Miss Ano's and mine conversation. The Auxiliary Manager breathes a sigh of relief when I open the front door. I let out an audible grunt when I see who is waiting in the car.
"Do not start anything with Blaze, Satoru. The last thing I want is to break up a fight between you two."
"You have such little faith in me, Suguru. I wanted to see what those crusty Elders have sent Blaze to take care of. There is a lack of curse activity, but an incident occurred on this property recently."
Satoru's puppy eyes win over Suguru. These two were twins in another life.
"Will one of you kindly move over to the middle so I can sit?"
"Not a chance, dude. You are the shortest one here and have the honor of occupying the middle seat."
While the three of us readjust the seating arrangements, I start talking.
"Whatever information you wish to get from me shall not be disclosed. I take confidentiality seriously and do not wish to fracture the trust I have built with the family." I do not break eye contact with Satoru as I am saying this. The dumbfounded look on his mouth makes me giggle inside.
"And how are you this evening, Suguru?" My playful nature has come out. The only response I get is Suguru directing his gaze out the window. I look at the sketch Etsuka gave me.
Ding, rumble, rumble, rumble. Ding.
6:30 pm: Jail Cells Under Campus Grounds
The look on Sakura's face could wake the dead. Her auburn eyes burn a hole through the ceiling. Her teeth are ready to sink into anything with a heartbeat, and her knuckles are balled up and ready to fight. It is a sight to behold.
"Oh my, I am surprised the old farts let you down here without permission. Tell me, how is your friend holding up? Is she feeding you enough AB- blood? What about her male counterparts? I am sure the dark-haired chap would give you blood without hesitation. I would feed off the white-haired lad with a cocky attitude. He would give me a run for my money!"
"Shut up before I rip your fangs out! I came here to ask you questions, and not the other way around! Rumors are circling regarding an exchange event taking place next month, important people showing up, and ongoing missions for Blaze. Start talking!"
"I am touched by your gentle nature, baby vampire. A creation of mine who is protecting a sorceress like her afterlife depends on it! No wonder you were able to escape that night. Looking after your brother, fighting back as I bit the daylights from your soul, and this is how you repay me? By looking after a sorceress."
Despite her physical strength, Sakura is unable to break the bars keeping the older vampire caged in. The spell that is cast around the prison cell is ancient, reinforced with three Special Grade spells, and near impossible to break without advanced sorcery knowledge. She is met with a nasty body shock that renders her to the ground.
Two guards are alerted to Sakura's presence and move her to a different room. Before she is too far out of sight, the elder vampire leaves her with these cutting words.
"Sakura, I would distance myself from Blaze while you still can. She is nothing but trouble, and further pain and suffering will come your way should you stick by her side. And don't worry, I have a friend working on getting us out of here."
Sakura regains consciousness and finds herself chained to the floor by charmed seals.
"Hey, what is the meaning of this? I was talking to the other vampire a minute ago, and now this?"
"You were not permitted to be down her young lady. You should be thankful we have not killed you off. Now get some rest."
The hallway goes dark, and a scream can be heard from Sakura's holding place.
7:00 pm: Back Inside the Car
"Are you going to answer your phone or not?"
"Whoever is texting me will have to wait. Sakura ran into trouble, and I am getting worked up. Hey Axillary Manager, could you stop the car?"
"In the middle of the road? No, we need to get back to campus…hey."
Before anyone can stop me, I let myself out of the car. I tap on the window and tell the manager to roll the window down.
"Don't worry about me, I can find my way back to campus. I am visiting someone, so, don't wait up for me. Ok?"
The car starts moving as the traffic picks up. I get a few stares from strangers while dancing across the street. I belt out Whitney Houston's song, I Want to Dance with Somebody, while keeping an eye on my target.
Under the orange glow of the falling sun, a pair of rod iron gates laced with ivy come into view. I wave towards the guard while passing through the gates and make a beeline towards a one-story building. Ring a ding, ring a ding sings the door as it opens.
A middle-aged man and woman look up from their work, eyes popping out of their sockets. I give them a quick peace sign and smile before gesturing towards the back door. The couple nods their heads yes, and I bow out of respect. I whistle 'Music of the Night' while stepping outside the back door. Within ten minutes, I stop whistling and come face-to-face with a mound of dirt adorned with wilting flowers.
I run my hands over the decaying plants. Their colors spring back to life: baby-blue and white lilies, black roses, and yellow sunflowers brighten the area. The last bit of light dances away into a dark abyss.
"For a moment, I thought you would not come."
"Fat chance of that happening. How have you been getting along?"
I sit on the ground and am greeted with a pair of dark-green eyes, and the outline of a human figure. Zyler and I have recently touched base with each other…for numerous reasons, I keep our visits few and far between.
"You look worried, kid, what is on your mind?"
"Like I would tell you."
Nothing gets past my older brother. His intuition is strong…and that judgmental, yet loving look in his eyes makes my walls drop.
"A lot of new information coming forth regarding vampires, sorcery, and my love life. As you can tell, I have a lovely scar running from my neck to my left eye. Makes me look tougher than I feel on the inside."
I start sobbing without making a sound.
"It would not hurt you to let other people help you for once. What else is bothering you?"
"I feel as though I am losing my mind. Between starting at a third high school within a year, having a random vampire choose me as her protector, and getting these weird text messages. It is a lot to digest. Did I mention I am making new bullies? This time, they are a bunch of older individuals who feel sorcery should run in a certain way...and they want me to bend and do their bidding.
Did I mention one of them is my age and has the audacity to constantly hit on me? It is gross!"
My brother laughs at the part of me doing someone else's bidding.
"Well, they are going to have a hard time getting you to bend and break. I remember when we were younger how worried mum would get when your school called home. She would mumble under her breath how difficult it was to pick you up after beating the daylights out of another student. Yet, I could see in her eyes how proud she was of you.
Now, fill me in on this person who is hitting on you. Should I haunt him in his sleep?"
"No thank you. If I need your assistance in haunting someone, I will let you know. It is getting late and I need to leave." As I get up and walk away, I hear,
"Until next time, stay warm and alert." The green eyes disappear without a trace.
I give my thanks to the middle-aged couple as we finish up our twenty-minute conversation. Once I step outside the front door, the grumpy Auxiliary Manager and my two classmates stare at me. I smile and run toward the car.