A Deadly Embrace
Chapter Two: The Eastern Star
The city of Domino was chilled by a sudden cold wind that swept over it during that uncharacteristically long summer night. A lone female walked the streets just miles away from the vampires' main haunt.
She was mysterious yet outgoing, friendly but cautious. A walking contradiction. Enough to draw the unwanted attention of a certain pair of vampires as they stalked her a few paces back on either side in the shadows.
Taylie Opel buried her hands in her pockets and wrapped her denim jacket tightly around herself; it was unbelievable how soon the humid night had grown cold. Something was definitely in the air tonight...
Something ominous. Taylie concluded to herself. Just then her cell phone rang.
"Hello?" she flipped the cover open and was greeted by the voice of her chief.
"Detective Opel," the gruff man snapped, "just what do you think you're doing out this late, and in THAT sector?!"
Mentally grumbling Taylie answered, "Look Chief, the officers of the force may be too cowardly to come out here in vampire territory but SOMEBODY'S gotta find out what happened to that Wheeler boy."
"We know what happened to that kid, he went out to that Kaiba Land place-NOTORIOUS for vampire attacks may I remind you---and he got himself killed!" the Chief bellowed over the cell, "And if you wanna keep your neck bite-free Detective I suggest you hightail it back to the station ASAP!"
"I'm not scared of vampires," Taylie stated plainly. "And I'm gonna stay out here and investigate because it's my job."
"That's it Opel!" the Chief boomed, "You know that the department doesn't conduct investigations this late especially when we KNOW that the missing person has most likely fallen victim to a vampire attack! You're OFF the case!!"
Growling with a clenched fist Taylie decided that this conversation was long overdue to end, "What was that last part Chief? I...can't...hear you. You're...breaking up!"
"Detective Opel?! I said you're OFF the case! Hello?! DETECTIVE?!!" the Chief was greeted with a dial tone, when he tried to redial he was informed that the cell phone had been turned off. Taylie wasn't backing down from this case.
"Oh well," the Chief muttered as he leaned back in his leather chair behind his oversized desk and placed his feet atop a pile of missing persons posters, "it's her funeral."
The headstrong detective continued her investigation by retracing the footsteps of the city's most recently reported missing person (there were probably at least ten others by now that would be reported to the department tomorrow morning). Joey Wheeler seemed to be a happy enough teenager. He was watching over his little sister Serenity Wheeler, their parents had divorced and Joey had pretty much raised himself under his father's care. Serenity seemed to be the lucky sibling living with her mother until the illness overtook the elderly woman once her daughter's eye surgery was successfully completed. "Nobody leads an easy life anymore." Taylie observed as she recalled all she'd read about the family in the case file.
Meanwhile a pair of sinister strangers were sneaking up on the female from behind. This should be a considerably easy kill.
The second vampire (Malik) smirked to his darker half, Shall we drain her here or take our young meal to The Eastern Star?
Malik, your first kill is like a trophy. You must take your prized prey to the appropriate gathering place to show rival vampires your strength. The older vampire spoke in a crafty tone.
Malik nodded to his more malicious counterpart (Marik) and the two proceeded with their attack.
Taylie barely had time to blink as she felt someone, or something, slam into her from behind. She was instantly knocked to the pavement with little time to catch her breath before two slender black boots placed themselves before her. She opened her mouth to speak (or most likely tell off her assailants) but only managed a faint gasp as she felt a pair of sharp fangs sink down in her neck from behind.
Malik ignored her raspy cries of pain as he continued to swallow mouthfuls of the young woman's blood.
"Easy Malik," Marik warned, "you don't want to kill her just yet. For now you just need to weaken her enough so that she can't fight back while we haul the little wench to The Eastern Star."
Taylie knew of that nightclub and she knew of its reputation as a vampire gathering place. It infuriated her to think that of the places she was to die, it would be in that sleazy lair for night crawlers.
******
Mai couldn't believe her eyes, "Joey..." she blinked back tears, "...but Serenity said-"
"Don't worry about my sis Mai," Joey grinned from his stance below her window, "she just got a little shook up when I didn't come running right home after dueling, that's all."
But Wheeler's girlfriend knew him too well to believe that. Joey was pale now, abnormally pale. And there was no way that the Joey she knew would leave his little sister alone for an entire night while vampires roamed the streets. There was only one explanation for his whitened complexion and odd behavior. Joey had been 'turned'.
A few stray tears streamed down Mai's blush covered cheeks as she turned her back towards the window. "Go away Joey. I know what you are. I don't date vampires."
Joey's toothy grin revealed that he wasn't about to take 'no' for an answer. "Aw c'mon Mai. Don't ya think I've been through enough for one night? I thought for sure that you of all people would understand. Don't tell me ya went and turned cold on me just cause I lost my tan?"
"Joey Wheeler I am NOT shallow and don't you dare imply it!" Mai snapped, "And you did more than lose your tan, you lost your humanity!"
"Only in the eyes of people who never really knew me to begin with." Joey was laying it on thick. He HAD to get Mai to invite him in. It was the only way that a newly 'turned' vampire like him could get past the barriers.
Cringing Mai tried to ignore Joey and just walk away. She kept telling herself that the Joey she knew and loved was gone. But it was so hard, especially when he was standing just outside her window. She decided to go downstairs and distract herself by reading her fashion magazines.
Joey could sense Mai drawing closer as she descended the stairs. For a minute there he thought that he'd conned her into opening the door and permitting him entry...he was soon disillusioned when a lamp was turned on and Mai's silhouette was seen through her thin white curtains. She was sitting on the couch holding what Joey recognized as one of her endless supply of Modern Women's Attire magazines.
"Aw...MAI!" Joey shouted at the covered pane of glass, "OPEN UP!! Ya know ya can't just leave me out here!"
"Joey Wheeler you may as well go back to that coffin of yours because there's no way that I'm gonna let you in just to become your late night snack!" Mai yelled back while flipping over another page. "Ooo...those pumps would go great with my new mauve sweeter."
Joey stomped over to the front door and banged his head against it impatiently. "Mai! I won't bite you okay?! Just open up!"
Why doesn't he just go try this on Serenity? Mai wondered while staring at the shaking door.
Joey may have been 'turned' but he wasn't about to drain blood from his own sister. His bossy, materialistic girlfriend on the other hand...
Mai waited a few more minutes in silence before getting up to see if Joey had given up and left yet. The pounding had stopped a while ago and when she looked through the peephole there was no sign of her partially deceased boyfriend.
"Figures he'd take off this soon," Mai sighed while opening the door, "he always did have the attention span of a three-year-old."
Taking a few wary steps out onto her front stoop Mai glanced around her yard for the blond vampire.
SLAM!
Twirling around Mai came face to face with a very smug Joey. She'd been locked right out of her own home! "Joey..." Mai growled threateningly.
"Your barriers may keep me out gorgeous," Joey snickered, "but my brains can keep you from getting back in!"
"You worthless gutter punk!" Mai hissed, "Even as a bloodsucking wacko you're still an annoying pain in the-"
Joey placed a finger over her lips. "Still as charming as ever, eh Mai?"
Mai blushed and refused to look him in the eye. Taking her chin in his hand Joey forced her to meet his piercing gaze. Goose bumps cover Mai's bare lower arms and she found Joey's stare almost mystifying. She'd read the testimonials of all the rare survivors of a vampire attack, this was just the sort of thing that happened right before one bit you.
Leaning down, as if to kiss her, Joey slowly began to bare his fangs. Mai jerked back and took a few steps away, "Joey, we just can't do this."
"Do what?" Joey questioned innocently.
"This!" Mai couldn't force back any more tears and the quiver rose in her voice, "You and I both know that we can't be together like we used to anymore. Joey, you're a vampire! And I don't care to be one myself. How in the world are we supposed to make this work?"
"Don't sweat it Mai," Joey drew near once more and draped an arm over his girlfriend's shoulders. "We'll figure something out, we always do. But for now, I've kinda promised a friend that I'd meet up with him at this place in town called The Eastern Star. And I'd like you to come with me."
Faltering for a moment Mai considered her options. Go with Joey and possibly run into a whole hoard of vampires at this nefarious nightclub or try to runaway (being that he'd locked her out) and get caught and dragged there anyway. Groaning she folded her arms and let Joey lead her away to what would probably be the last place she'd ever see.
******
Inside The Eastern Star...
Rebecca winced as one set of fangs drained a vein in her neck of blood while another set buried itself deep into the vein on her right wrist. Both vampires seemed to be drinking agonizingly slow so as to prolong her suffering.
"You two take this whole slaying business WAY too personally," she mumbled.
Yami responded by pulling his teeth out of her wrist and plunging them back in again.
Yami Bakura scowled at the redheaded female as she nailed him in the ribs with another kick. This knocked him right off the sofa of the lounge area. He landed with an undignified THUMP on the red shag carpet.
"I told you parasite," Dina seethed, "I am NOT an all you can eat buffet!"
Bakura tried to get his fangs in her neck again but only received an elbow in the face. For all her struggling Dina was unable to keep both bloodsuckers from restraining her. They were wearing her down and--eventually--she was going to run out of strength.
Rebecca was saving what little strength she had left for when the vampires got distracted, oh how she prayed they got distracted soon!
"Hey! Yami, Yami Bakura!" a brown haired man in a tan trench coat approached holding a terrified brunette in front of him with a tense arm. His muscles tightened and nearly choked the life out of the blue eyed creature.
"Tristan," Yami greeted his fellow clan member, "I see you've procured a meal for yourself tonight."
"Yep," Tristan forced the teen girl to step forward, "found her rushing home after some sort of evening dance class. Didn't even put up much of a fight when I sprang out at her."
"You creep!" the victim (Tea) choked out, "You won't get away with this!"
All five vampires laughed aloud. "If I only had a dollar for every time I heard that from a victim." Yami Bakura chuckled. He'd finally managed to subdue Dina and sink his fangs into her wrist (the second most frequently chosen place for a vampire to bite).
Rebecca glanced over at the new captive. She seemed to be like any typical high school girl, Great, not much help there.
"And where's Kaiba?" Yami questioned, "He was supposed to come by with his own mortal and that blond he 'turned' a while back."
"Don't lose any sleep over me Yami." Seto's harsh yet taunting voice came from the entrance. The others turned to face him and noticed that he held a young teen with long chestnut brown hair in his arms.
"Did you feed before coming again?" Yami Bakura asked in exasperation.
"No, I've placed this one under a hypnotic sleep." Seto answered, "It's simpler to transport the victims when they're in this state."
"If you wanna do it the EASY way." Tristan scoffed as Tea continued to struggle for freedom.
Kaiba's eyes traveled over the whole clan, "I can see that the rest of you don't employ such effective methods, pathetic really."
"Enough." Yami ordered. "Where is the Wheeler boy?"
"Joey had to go hunting," Seto smirked, "He'll be joining us shortly."
So these are the members of the Scarlet Clan. Rebecca noted to herself. She took particular care to memorize their faces and any telltale marks. If she and/or Dina ever got out of this, these bloodsuckers were dust!
Kaiba's gaze fell on the blonde then and his eyes widened, "Isn't she the renowned slayer?"
Yami nodded.
"She doesn't look like she'd put up much of a fight." Seto laughed.
"Yeah well, you weren't there." Yugi commented recalling the swift kick she'd given him in a very tender region.
Seto's gaze shifted from Hawkins to Finesse, "And that must be her partner Bakura's feasting on. Some master slayers."
Rebecca's face went red with fury. How dare this nocturnal parasite ridicule her and her partner this way!
Serenity twitched slightly in Seto's arms. Looking down he noted that his spell was wearing off. "This one's beginning to stir," he announced, "Wheeler'd better get here soon."
No sooner had Kaiba finished his statement than Joey Wheeler came waltzing through the doors with Mai in tow.
Once he caught sight of his sister lying lifelessly in Seto's arms he hit he ceiling. "KAIBA! Just what the Hell do ya think you're doing with MY little sister?!"
"Come off it Wheeler," Seto sneered, "you know that I've had my eye on little Serenity here. Don't act so surprised that she's my victim now. I always get my way."
Joey snarled and balled up his fists, he knew he was probably no match for this older, more powerful vampire but the creep was about to kill his sister! "Kaiba! She's the only family that I've got left in the world and you know that! Just leave her out of all this."
"Get this through that thick head of yours Joey," Kaiba stated, "you're a vampire now. You have no family, the clan is all there is. Your mortal relatives no longer matter."
"But Serenity-" Joey objected.
"-is mine now." Kaiba finished, "Just accept it."
Fist still clenched Joey filled with rage until his eyes shown blood red. But before he lost all control of himself a gentle voice coaxed him from behind, "Joey," it was Mai, "please, this guy's been a vampire longer than you. And everyone knows that they only grow stronger with time. I'm begging you, don't pick a fight with him."
Eyes returning to their normal shade of mahogany Joey faced his girl, "And why not?"
"B-because," Mai muttered, "I don't wanna lose you--again."
That seemed to do the trick. Joey's rage subsided and he took his 'victim' in his arms protectively. After a moment of tense silence he turned back to the other clan members, "So what now?"
Rebecca had been searching her person throughout the entire scene for her weapons. She found none. Those jerks must've disarmed me back when they tackled me at the double doors!
Right on cue the Millennium Puzzle started to glow. But this time, Rebecca could see the object that gave the head vampire access to her thoughts.
Dina was struggling to stay conscious. Her eyelids drooped down and she felt her limbs grow weak. A slight glimmer caught her eye as a few rays of light illuminated the strange ring that adorned the necks of her attackers.
The Millennium Ring reflected what little light there was present as Bakura and Yami Bakura went back to draining the slayer dry.
"That ring," she found herself commenting out loud.
"More powerful than a mortal like you could ever imagine." Yami Bakura informed her between gulps.
"Why do you each bare an identical item?" she feigned frail curiosity.
The older vampire chuckled darkly, "The Millennium Items contain great power, but that power is passed down throughout the generations. Five thousand years ago they were coveted in Egypt and owned by the eldest of our clan. Now they have reappeared in your time and are possessed by the young mortals whom we've recently 'turned' and inducted into our nocturnal brotherhood."
"Figures you'd rely on magic to make yourselves the most powerful vampire clan." Rebecca grunted.
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Yami inquired.
"Puh-lease!" Rebecca exclaimed once Yugi's fangs left her neck, "I've hunted them all! A clan dependant upon their magical trinkets for superiority is just a material possession away from becoming vacuum cleaner bait."
"I see," Yami smirked, "all this talk of Millennium Items has led you to believe that we creatures of darkness rely solely upon magical weapons for our great strength. Well let me assure you, Slayer, the Scarlet Clan is equally as formidable without our mysterious relics."
"But not powerful enough to read a slayer's mind." Rebecca counted cockily.
"Beware Yami," a snide male cautioned the leader as he approached the clan, "this slayer is a crafty one. She's pumping you for information and you don't even realize it."
"Perhaps you should make better use of your puzzle." Malik offered with a wicked grin. His Millennium Rod was clutched in one hand while the other held the weak detective in place over his shoulder.
"Marik," Yami turned to the final pair of members, "I know very well what this slayer is up to. But she won't live to put her newfound knowledge to good use. And I can indulge a mortal's fancy whenever I choose."
"Relax Yami," Marik held up his hands submissively, "I wasn't challenging your judgment just warning you of any possible deception by a cunning slayer."
"Man are you boys ever paranoid." Dina huffed before using her last bit of strength to jerk herself free of Bakura's hold.
To her surprise the vampire just allowed her to sit up. She rubbed her sore neck but found that the bite marks had been licked clean of any excess blood.
Serenity was fully awake now and was permitted to stand (close by Seto of course). It was then that she spotted her brother out of the corner of her eye. "JOEY!"
She would have rushed to him, would Seto have permitted it. But he grabbed her upper arm and forcefully pulled her back, "Don't try it." he warned.
"You!" Serenity was still hostile towards her brother's killer, "Don't you dare presume that you have the right to tell me not to get near my own brother!"
"I am the man who holds your life in the balance," Kaiba informed her, "Now hold your tongue or I'll drain you dry right now!"
His gruff words startled the young teen and she reluctantly bit back tears and dropped her gaze to the ground.
"Perhaps we should take this meal elsewhere?" Yami Bakura suggested, "These mortals seem a little too feisty to subdue here without making a scene. I hate it when people gawk while I'm eating."
Nodding Yami turned to Rebecca and began the process of putting her mind at rest. As expected, he met with great resistance. Calm down, he instructed, you're going to succumb eventually anyways so you might as well accept it.
Rebecca's emerald eyes flashed dangerously, You think I'm going to make KILLING me any easier on you monster?! Forget it! I'll fight you off with every once of strength I've got!
While the bloodsucking had drained away much of Rebecca's physical energy her mind was as alert as ever. Slayers don't just lay down and die!
Yami's eyes narrowed, Fine, there's more than one way to render a slayer unconscious.
Yugi watched the fury increase in his counterpart's violet eyes. This slayer was really pushing her luck...and driving Yami to violent extremes.
Yami Bakura was meeting the same kind of resistance with Dina. Curse you Slayer just succumb!
Not on your afterlife shadow walker! Dina replied in shrill thoughts that nearly made the vampire's head split.
Bakura started to mentally warn the female of her impending doom, This won't save you, you know? It'll only prolong your misery.
If I want your opinion mini-Idiot I'll stake it out of you! Dina snapped. A sharp pain shot through her arm as Bakura twisted it maliciously in directions no human appendage was meant to turn.
"AAAHHHH!!!"
"Time to hit the sack for a while Mai," Joey sighed as he scooped his girlfriend into his arms and awaited instructions from Seto.
"Just stare them directly in the eyes and concentrate on subjugating them like this," Seto directed as he began recasting the spell on Serenity.
Serenity was not a cooperative subject. She wouldn't look Seto in the eye and fought back as he tried to make her comply. Finally, with one arm wrapped tightly around her torso (pinning her arms to her sides) and his remaining hand grasping her chin and positioning her correctly, Seto managed to recast his spell.
"J-Joey..." Serenity muttered before defiantly drifting off into a hazy sleep.
Mai felt an enormous swell of pity for the poor girl but didn't think that this Seto character intended to kill her. It was almost as if Serenity were his most prized possession. A precious jewel that he'd never let out of his sight. Mai only hoped that Joey saw her that way.
"Okay, here goes." Joey brought his eyes level with Mai's and focused on subduing her, coaxing her to sleep in his arms.
At first, Mai thought she might burst out laughing at the peculiar seriousness to Joey's expression. But before long she felt her eyelids grow heavy and her knees buckle. In a matter of seconds, Mai was out cold.
Taylie was hypnotized in a similar manner by Marik. Malik slung her over his shoulder again once she was fast asleep and followed the clan out of the crowded nightclub.
Tea put up a surprisingly good fight but Tristan eventually managed to render her helpless and dozing. He did, however, get a black eye out of the deal. No matter, he was a vampire, and his injuries healed remarkably fast.
The Scarlet Clan filed out of the haunt where men and women were the main course on a gruesome menu for dastardly vampires. The two slayers remained wide awake and struggling as Yami and Yami Bakura dragged them through the seemingly deserted area behind the group.
The clan had gotten a few steps away from the nightclub when two loud cracks simultaneously echoed through the deathly calm night.
"Looks like the leader and Yami Bakura finally subdued those slayers," Seto chuckled to Joey.
"Yeah," Joey winced, "that's gonna hurt in the morning."
Yami and Yami Bakura quickly matched the strides of their younger, lighter counterparts and handed them the unconscious slayers.
"They shouldn't be much trouble for a while." Yami remarked.
"It's amazing what a blow to the back of the head will do to even the most skilled of slayers." Yami Bakura laughed darkly.
Once the leader caught up with Seto Kaiba as he marched at the head of the group the younger of the two vampires addressed him, "So Yami, do I even need to ask where we're headed now?"
"Hmph," Yami smirked to his old comrade, "the sunrise is not far away Kaiba. We must retire with our victims to our lair. The slayers claim to have been sent to destroy the Scarlet Clan so why not let them try? It can only serve to increase our strength and provide those of us with Millennium Items with further use for them."
"And just how do you plan to make use of them?" Seto inquired.
A wide and disturbing grin spread across the typically solemn vampire's face, "You will see."
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*There are so many different twists involved in this fic that I hope I don't lose anybody with all the dark, creepy scenes and all that are coming. But for anyone who's interested in this fic, I'll do my best to try and keep the chapters coming. Thanks for the feedback. Reviews help! ^_^ *