McLaren family castle ruins, Dublin, Ireland
The girls arrived at the place finally, Diana had a complicated battle against the Banshee that protected the castle, but Hellene was still missing, she knew that the girls would come, she knew that Cavendish would come and was waiting for her presence, sitting on a kind of throne that she made for this moment. Another battle might be about to happen, but this time against a dhampir, someone who is on the level if not even more powerful than Cavendish herself and the eight girls this time were coming there to see McLaren face to face.
The corridor slowly lit the candles, as the eight approached, until they arrive at the end, there was still a dark illumination, just showing a staircase, that was illuminated by the steps, arriving at a throne, an armchair made of tree roots and other ornaments around, it was already possible to see Hellene's feet, that were barefoot, with the girl wearing only some bands by the same, while slowly the lights were turned on, showing that she was wearing torn trousers, that reached a little below the knee, on the torso she was wearing what looked like a tank top, also torn in black, and was wearing a cape tied around the neck and the face, reveals the resemblance that she had with her deceased mother Laura McLaren, she had long red hair, with fringes going through the face and also on the side of the face, with deep red eyes. At that hour the eight stopped a little and it was even possible to notice that Marianne was trembling a little with fear.
Hellene: 'oehnters, i dedn't expect me sester to betray all o' oehs by allyin 'erself wit all o' you, it disappoints me, anyway, at least i'll 'ave fresh blood 'ere fahr a good few days.
She stands up, raising her arm and at that moment a demonic energy gets around her hand, a pentagram is drawn on the floor and then the eight of them jump back dodging what could be a deadly attack from Hellene, noticing this the same one shows a little happiness, getting a slight smile, going down that ladder, slowly, when arriving where she was a little facing to all, it was possible to notice that the dhampir that from far seems so intimidating, close by she loses a little those points for the lack of height that she possesses, having the same 1,51m of height in which Constanze has, she's very short and that makes Amanda laugh a bit due to that,
Amanda: So it's a shortie who are killing everyone who comes in here?
Hellene with a few friend's face just with a stare makes Amanda fall back, just with her look, she stared at the eight, O'Neill, stood up already a little more attentive, the infamous joke of the Irish made it make McLaren a little more angry, with that Croix is the second to open her mouth, since it was a tension all around trying to express herself to the girl who was still with the few friend's expression.
Croix: Hellene, you don't need to attack us, we are not enemies, we just came as allies, for your sister, we came because she wanted to get you, she remembered you in all these years, she always wanted to come here.
Hellene: you shoeht oehp! you kednapped me sester years ago! you took 'er away frahm me, tahgether wit yooehr friend you kelled me mahther! you're a fake and a wretch! you dahn't 'ave de mahrality to talk abooeht any o' dis! i'll finesh you ahff one by one you slayers, you made me sester's 'ead, you made 'er comb 'ere, and den kell oehs bot, boeht i'll naht allow dat, fahr i'll show you what real terrahr is.
Hellene stood with her arm extended towards the girls, pointing at them, with those bandaged hands, then she disappeared, in a blink of an eye, reappearing in front of Croix, who did not notice McLaren's speed and the girls tried to react, but Meridies was hit by a punch and it was so strong that made her be thrown backwards by the redhead who stood in the middle of them all and provoked calling them all to go up.
At this time Akko is the first, she goes with the katana put away, she tries to strike with her hand only Hellene just keeps dodging like it's nothing with her hands behind her back, she just makes fun of Kagari, the girls shout for Marianne to go up too, But she was afraid, something made her freeze looking at the redhead, Lotte tried to use a spell and succeeded, holding McLaren's arms she got stuck and with that the Japanese girl could throw a punch but when it was time to throw it, was like hitting a wall, since Hellene has a bit of a packed body, she's kinda strong.
Hellene: frahm de looks o' it, de food'll want to play wit me befahre it is devoured.
The McLaren stands with a smile facing Akko who was blowing her hand after the failed punch, that way Marianne tries not to be afraid and she gives a whiplash that catches right on Hellene's chest who gives a cry of pain and breaks free from the spell Lotte used to bind her arms with such force until it scared them, she was stronger than the spells Lotte used to hold the girls.
Marianne: You will not mess with my friends!
Akko: What's left for us to do is to fight, but just going out in hand is not enough, she's a hybrid just like Diana, so I think we can use our weapons and she'll only get hurt a little.
At that moment Hellene laughs when she hears Akko's comment, then she goes towards her, appearing suddenly and at that moment Kagari takes the sword from the sheath quickly which makes McLaren do a dodge jumping backwards and at that she was attentive to the blade, Then she saw that some weapons were pointing at her, the fire weapons from Constanze, Croix and Jasminka and the crossbows from Sucy and Amanda, the redhead kept looking around and even so she wasn't intimidated by those things surrounding her, including Akko pointing his sword to make her surrender.
Akko: We don't want to get to that point Hellene, we have come only in peace, we have come for you to ally yourself with us, we don't want an enemy, Diana has come here because she loves you very much and has come for the appreciation of the person, so willingly, for all that is good in this world, join us.
Hellene laughing: 'ahahahahaha! me soehrrender to yooehr side? lesten 'ere, you 'oehnted all o' mine, kelled me mahthers and now you want me to join yooehr side? i dahn't know what you ded to me ses, boeht i'm sure she ahnly ded all dis to comb to me.
At this time Hellene continues to walk, she simply lowers the katana of Akko, feeling a little burn in the finger when lowering the same, already noticing that it had something special, then she was approaching the Japanese woman, getting face to face with her, making one of the nails grow and be pointed right at the chin of Kagari, this while everyone else still continued to aim for the dhampir, that wasn't worried at all.
Hellene: i cooehld kell 'er right now, alahng wit all o' you, boeht i want to 'ave sahme foehn, i want to see 'ow far you soehrvive.
Marianne then gives a whip that gets Hellene's face and she leaves Akko and with that McLaren gets a whip mark, besides using her vampire magic to heal herself, looking right in Leblanc's eyes, who was trembling with fear, she moves quickly and does the same she did with Akko, only the Frenchwoman keeps taking steps backwards, until she gets against the wall and the redhead faces her, who was sweating with fear, but by the looks the dhampir is all flirty.
Hellene: look oehntil fahr everyahne 'ere, you wooehld be de beggest waste, a beautifoehl girl like you ahn de side o' dese slayers, dis pretty lettle face and yet you use dat whep ahn me face, you really 'ave no clue do you?
Marianne a little nervous: I... I... I won't let you hurt my friends, I won't allow it, you won't lay a finger on them, even if I die.
Hellene: de way you're all cloehmsy? look you need to practice mahre, it soehrprises me dat a persahn like you soehrvived and made it dis far, boeht you'll swem, swem, oehntil you die at de beach.
At this time Akko gets the blade of the sword close to Hellene's neck, who had already noticed this, taking advantage of Marianne's bluff to come into action and at this time Leblanc, tries to get out by giving a knee to the dhampir, but she simply does not feel anything, continuing the same way and then shaking her head laughing a little, Hellene wasn't giving a shit to the girls, it was just a playground for the powerful sibling of Diana.
Hellene: tsc, tsc, you really 'aven't learned anythin, do you dink you'll soehrrender wit a blade near me? make me laoehgh, i'm joehst messin wit you.
When she says that, it is only heard the sound of a shot of a rifle being fired by Croix and in a fraction of a second Hellene reacts by turning around and then taking the musket ball in her hand, but she feels a burning sensation and releases it immediately, facing Croix right in front of her and she shows that she is not joking, that if she wants she could go for the thing.
Croix: I told you, we're not playing games here, you'd better not try to make things difficult, we don't want to hurt you or harm you, we just want to help you.
Hellene: you even blessed de ammunition balls joehst to be mahre efficient? 'ow curiooehs, it seems dat you are combing all ooeht fahr me, you are well prepared, wit de exception o' a few, boeht i'll naht join you, i already said dat i'll naht take de side o' dahse who kell ooehr people all de time.
Marianne: Yours killed my mother, you asshole! It's not our fault if yours keep attacking us who have nothing to do with it, I was having a happy life full of dreams, when one of yours invaded the castle where I was a servant, they killed my mother in front of me, yours are rotten too, don't play the fool you little vampire!
At that time, everyone was surprised with the way Marianne expressed herself to Hellene until she turned around and, hearing the comment about her height, quickly went up Leblanc, who used the whip to lower a piece of rock that fell right on top of McLaren, who luckily was not hit.
Hellene was dodging the attacks of Marianne, which in this way opened gaps for the direct attack to come, but she was quickly hit by a cut of Akko's sword that caught well in the back of the creature that dodged quickly taking a grazing cut and thus was beginning to be shot by arrows and some musket balls that was dodging taking care not to be hit, Lotte was preparing a trap for the redhead that stepped on a pentagram of invocation, which ended up making several omnicrones appear, but they didn't know that she had the notion of the weakness of the creature. In a few seconds Hellene with her hand just stuck her claws into each one's eyes and finished them off, giving the girls a stare with a smile.
Hellene: you really 'ave everythin, so far you 'ave comb de foehrthest, you 'ave de best attacks, boeht it's no use, you dahn't want to kell me, you want to soehrrender me, i'll wen anyway.
Marianne: Can youstop being so stubborn and understand the situation, you won't gain anything by killing us, you will just stay in this shitty place and never leave this ruined castle, you're stuck here forever, we're trying to give freedom to you.
Hellene: i'm fine 'ere, far frahm 'umans, far frahm everythin dat makes me bad, it's naht fahr nahthin dat i soehrvived 10 years 'ere, you wooehldn't oehnderstand, even if me sester combs i wahn't soehrrender so easily.
At this time Diana could get closer to where the girls were after walking through the castle's corridors, even without the creatures, at this time the Daryl's daughters were just outside watching everything and preparing themselves in case Hellene came out to give the fatal attack.
Back to the fight, Hellene was facing everybody, the three shooters were loading their firearms, meanwhile Marianne and Akko kept giving that look to McLaren who then just slapped her fingers and went up to the two, only by luck, the punch didn't catch on Leblanc who stumbled backwards trying to walk in the same direction with fear and that way the whip caught on the redhead's arm making her throw a punch that got lighter on Kagari who had time to defend herself putting the blade of the sword in front of her and that way giving a light roast on the tip of the dhampir's right hand, while the left was in the control of the Frenchwoman who made her punch the ground, then unscrewed the whip and was about to hit the face when Hellene again dodges, using her vampire magic, the same transformed into a wolf and then returned to normal.
Hellene: naht bad, naht bad at all, dey say food tastes better when you fight fahr it.
Then McLaren felt some roots sticking right on her feet, it was another Lotte's magic, those roots were taking more and more of the redhead that was forcing to escape and this way Marianne could start whipping, trying to hit in some way leaving the same even more irritated and this way she even stopped just to try to dialogue with the dhampira and convince her, but she's not that easy to deal.
Marianne: We don't want to cause you any harm, we are just trying to defend ourselves from being killed, but you don't need that, we just ask you to be with us, we are going on a bigger mission, your sister will be here soon.
Hellene: de wahrd o' a slayer matters lettle to me, even if you are de mahst attractive o' dem, i'll naht let myself be seduced by you, de ahnly persahn i'll lesten to is me sester and ahnly 'er.
Akko: Well then why don't you wait for her quietly, she will come soon, no need to fight, if she doesn't show up, I offer my blood first, we can wait as long as it takes until she defeats Banshee.
Hellene simply broke the roots with a huge strength and ease scaring the girls and her response was very clear, a middle finger given right in the face of Akko, followed by her going up each one of them with a speed that is scary, She started hitting them one by one with a punch and they were thrown back with the impact that caught them right in the stomach, leaving only Marianne, who would be the last, and that way when she got to her, she stared at her, to make her more afraid, but Leblanc, strangely gained some courage and stared at the dhampir.
Hellene: all yooehr friends are easily knahcked down by me, wethooeht needin to fahrce me powers too moehch, you stell dink you can take me...
At that moment Marianne gives a whiplash that involves the arms of McLaren who ends up punching the floor just in time to punch Leblanc and with the impact causes a seesaw effect, throwing the Frenchwoman up to use the whip and throw the redhead to the ceiling. Then she cushions the fall with the whip attached to a pillar and then the dhampir lands on the floor clapping her hands to the human.
Hellene: i dahn't know what's wrahng wit you, boeht i'm soehrprised at yooehr loehck, you were soehppahsed to die ahn several o' dese ahccasions, boeht you're loehcky now?
Marianne: I don't know if I am, but I will fight until the last minute against whatever it takes so that my friends don't die.
When Hellene was going to go up Marianne she noticed a cannonball coming from Jasminka and she turned around and caught it, but then she felt a shot in the chest, followed by another, both given by Croix and Constanze, arrows were launched by Amanda and Sucy, but she dodges in time with the wound, but is surprised by Akko appearing right in front of her and narrowly misses a cut if not for her quickness and quick reflexes, which made the dhampir a little irritated.
She took out the two musket balls that went into her body and gave her a burn and became irritated, she clenched her fists and even dripped some blood on the spot, she wraps herself in her cloak and dematerializes like bats, similar to what Elizabeth was doing.
Akko: Damn it, all we're doing is annoying her even more and we can't get Diana to come over here and give us a hand, what the hell!
At that time Hellene hit each of them with a blow throwing punches and kicks towards the same pillar that started to give some tremors, they were very strong attacks, the tremor even made the seven thrown be buried and have another problem to solve, again leaving only Marianne who was watching everything without being able to do anything, and this way McLaren even shrugged and was a bit shocked to see her friends being buried like that.
Hellene: you wahn't achieve anythin, you ahnly 'ave one choice and dat choice is deat.
Marianne: Since when is fighting creatures that kill innocent people every day a rotten cause? I did it by choice, when I saw my mother dying in front of me! Yours is the rotten cause that kills innocent people who have nothing to do with you, just to feed and maintain a sovereignty of creatures, enslaving people like ours just to serve as food.
Hellene: naht moehch defferent frahm what you 'umans already do amahng yooehrselves, i dahn't know why you say dat, i am against bot, i joehst want you to be able to live in peace, you dahn't know what it's like all de time to 'ave to face people who comb 'ere joehst to kell you, you dahn't know what it's like to spend 10 years trapped in dis 'ell, boeht well i guess i'm ahpenin oehp too moehch, i liked you, boeht oehnfahrtunately i can't let you live dis lahng
At the time Hellene was going to attack Marianne to hit her, the seven girls got out of that dungeon, a little bit hurt, but still full of desire to attack the dhampir that was laughing when she saw that they still wanted to attack her, Marianne would clench her fists and throw a vial of holy water towards McLaren, who screamed of pain and was going to hit back at Leblanc, but she stumbled on a root on the ground and ended up hitting a lash accidentally on the redhead's hand.
The Kagari would hit a fatal cut, but Hellene holds with both hands the blade well in time, which causes a little burning in the palms of McLaren who then disarms the Japanese and hits a powerful kick on the same that practically comes back thrown to the girls practically doing a strike and this way the dhampir turns her attention to Marianne who was still getting up from the stumble but was caught by the collar and lifted.
Hellene: you and yooehr friends are quite persestent i wooehld say, i dink i 'ave an admiration fahr you, you're de ahnly one so far dat i 'aven't landed a blow and you're joehst de one who knows 'ow to fight de least, a pity you're goin to die...
Diana: Hellene!
Saved by the gong Marianne is spared, as soon as she hears her sister's call that finally appeared in that room, she retracted her claws and let Leblanc go, who is all relieved, then McLaren goes running towards her sister, who keeps her arms open, both of them end up hugging each other and this way they are all relieved, they are finally safe.
At this moment, Lotte even starts to use a healing spell on the girls and Marianne watches everything.
Hellene: ses i can't believe it, it's you, you're so beg, you've always been beg boeht now you're even begger, you really came fahr me like you prahmised, i can't believe i finally gaht me ses 'ere.
Diana: And what have you done with them? They are our friends, did you attack our friends my sis? How horrible, they are not evil hunters, they are not trying to kill you, we came here so that we could complete our mission.
Hellene: No! I don't believe it!
Hellene gets a bit angry and indignant, even giving a slap on Diana's face, which leaves all shocked looking at that scene, McLaren was indignant, to see that really her sister had allied with the slayers, what she most feared could be true and at the time Cavendish just turned her face and tried to justify herself, Hellene even got all that polite because of that mess, in the opposite of Diana the accent of the McLaren got all formal when she's pissed.
Diana: Sis, it was the best I could do, do you know what happened all these years?
Hellene: I was abandoned in this place, neither you nor Mama Bernadette came here to get me! You did not even come to see me, you did not think about me, you forgot about me, after Mama Laura died everything became this shit that we are now, do you know what it is to live 10 years with the same clothes? Do you know what it's like 10 years having to hunt your own food, having to drink water from the river, do you know what it's like to be hunted almost all the time? I had the protection of the Banshee all these years, she was my only companion and now she's dead
Diana: Banshee imprisons everyone here forever, even that's also why Mama Bernadette never visited you, you were sealed forever in that place just like everyone else, that was at least the story I heard, I even thought for a while that Mama was lying not to say that you died, I believed for ten years that either you died, or it was the legend that mother Bernadette told, but now I know it's true, now I know that you are here, please join us, now you are free, you can make the choice you want.
Hellene: Did you say sealed? That's why I could never get away, every time I tried to escape there was a force field and she was the one holding me back? Was I going to be stuck here forever?
Diana: That's how the Banshee curse works, the whole family did it to protect us, you were only 4 years old, they had the smartest choice they could make, I'm really sorry sis, for everything that came to happen to you, it doesn't even compare to what I've been going through, my years were wonderful compared to yours.
Hellene: And what made you join them? Banshee was telling me everything that happened at least, I kind of already knew you guys were coming here, but she told me that you're a traitor, I wanted not to believe it, that they washed you, but explain to me why.
Diana: I had no choice, when that day happened that Chariot Belmont came to our castle I was already dealing with mother Bern going insane, every day more she was distancing herself from a sweet and gentle way she had, the grief with mother Laura was enough to corrupt her little by little, she was going crazy, she was driven by hate, by anger, I ended up being found by Croix on the spot, the only thing I thought at the time was to join her right away before things got worse, I denied it a lot, she even let me follow alone, but since I had no home, I decided to stay, I understood everything, I started to understand everything that happened sis, why we have these powers, why mum goes through these things, it was Dracula's curse, I'll explain more to you, but first I just ask you to join us, if you want you don't need to, now you're free.
Hellene stood with her arms crossed, looking at Diana giving her hand to her, feeling a huge fear, of joining the girls, the Cavendish continued with her hand open, then Há McLaren slapped her sister's hand and stood showing a somewhat disgusted look, the redhead didn't even want to think about accepting, she just denied and stood with her fists closed.
Hellene: Out of consideration I will spare your friends from being killed by me, but now know that I will no longer join you, this is already absurd.
Diana: So how about settling this in a fight, a fight just between you and me, whoever wins follows what the other says, if I win you join us on our journey, let's go to mum's castle, she is still alive.
Hellene had turned her back and walked away for a while, but after she heard Diana's proposal she stopped on the way, she stood for a while thinking, looking at nothing, just trying to imagine what would come next, all that situation, she took a deep breath, clenched her fists, then looked at her sister who continued with her hand outstretched, and at that the two shook hands.
Hellene: Okay, one fight, the one who falls defeated first is the winner, or who surrenders, but know that if I win I will want the girl with red locks, I will go out and take her with me.
Marianne: What? I'm not a bargaining chip you little vampire! Don't give me that, I won't have my blood devoured by you ever!
Diana: Done, I accept your offer, you do what you want, but know that I won't take it lightly.
Marianne: Diana are you crazy? I thought we were friends!
Hellene: I'm not going to devour you, your flesh is just bone, why would I want a skinny girl like you, it would be easier for me to ask to get the one from the hand cannon than you, I'm interested in something else with you, I like your way.
Hellene gives Marianne a wink and Marianne just waves her hand trying not to get hit, which at the time the girls just laugh a little, at the way Leblanc reacted to McLaren's flirtation, which then changes to a more serious expression when she sees that Diana simply took the sword out of the sheath and gave the armor with the things to her friends, staying only with the clothes she was wearing, looking at her younger sister, the two of them stare at each other deeply.
Hellene: Not for nothing, sis, but all these years you're still the same skinny girl you were before, this way you'll end up losing easily by getting your hands on me, I assure you I don't know how to take it easy, years living here and you'll see what I'm capable of.
Diana: And you on the other hand you haven't grown much, you are still a shorty, you may have all those muscles, but we are two dhampirs, so it's no use, we have strength beyond what those muscles show, besides, I have been trained all these years, I know well how to fight.
Hellene: Whatever, I want to see how you will do against me, I missed you sis, let's see if you still have some of that ability that Mama Bernadette and Mama Laura always said you were the prodigy.
Hellene keeps pointing her finger at Diana and at that moment both of them take a deep breath, then they concentrate a little bit, both of them with their eyes closed, there is tension around that whole room, the girls can do nothing but watch the imminent fight between the sisters, which will end up determining whether this journey can continue or not.
Hellene: and now it's goin to be a 'aht night!
Diana: And now let's get it over with!
The two open their eyes and go up to each other in just a single moment in a blink of an eye the two arms meet, then Hellene tries to punch with her left hand on Diana who holds with her hand what makes the two end up changing to be one pushing the other forward, McLaren uses a fireball that makes Cavendish jump back and defend herself from it. The two are again facing each other and go up one of the other starting the fight that will be decisive.
The journey has reached one of its high points, the fight between the two sisters, which will determine if they will be able to continue or not, since the destiny is all in Diana's fists, in how she will fight against her own sister who is a dhampir that already has the specialty in this kind of combat, which already complicates everything, not only the destiny of Marianne, who was the bet of the time, but also how McLaren's help can be essential for them to reach Chariot Belmont and discover the truth.
See you, fighting witches...