With that having been said, I must thank everybody who reads this fanfiction and reviews, as well as those who read this fanfiction, and don't review. I love you guys. Anyway, this tale has now drawn to a close, but don't worry. Reiko will return, and new faces will make their appearance. It's already in the works.
Keep a look out for
Dark Legion – Cursed Gifts
Chapter 21
Eight days passed and still Reiko remained in a state of unconsciousness. Trish stayed by the vampire's side, making sure the blinds were drawn during the day, always ready to be there in case he woke up and needed something. She sighed and turned as she felt Dante standing beside her, holding the now complete crystal.
'So you finally found it, huh?'
'Yeah…I have no idea why, but Virgil threw it in a trashcan.'
'No wonder why you stink so bad.' Dante ignored the comment.
'How is he?'
'I think he's still recovering.' Dante looked irritated.
'Recovering from what?'
'Well…my theory is that when he got stabbed, it damaged some organ. Obviously not his heart or he'd be ash. The gem healed the gash but probably not the internal injury.' Dante shrugged but his face looked serious.
'I should have killed Virgil when I first had the opportunity. I shouldn't have hesitated.' Reiko's eyelids lifted slightly, showing a thin sliver of hazel. Trish's gaze snapped onto him and watched eagerly as the vampire woke up.
'Welcome back to the land of the living.' The vampire smiled faintly, showing fang.
'…Hey…' He croaked. He cleared his throat painfully, blinked and then looked around. 'What happened?' Trish realised only then that she had been holding her breath since Reiko first opened his eyes.
'We found out that Virgil's been following orders from some master of his.'
'I was awake for that.'
'We have to stop her.' Reiko looked at Dante wearily.
'And how do you propose we do that?' Dante shook his head.
'I'm not sure.' Reiko slowly sat up. 'I do know that we're going to have to raise some kind of army to try and defeat the one she, whoever she is, is raising.' Dante sighed heavily again.
'I don't know enough people.'
'Maybe not, but you forget who you talk to, Dante.' Dante looked towards him. Trish blinked.
'Your guild was all but destroyed.'
'True…but I should hopefully still be respected enough to get other vampires to join our cause.' Dante stood up.
'Woah woah woah…hold on. Let me get this straight. You expect me to team up with your people? Vampires?' Reiko blinked.
'You had no qualms about teaming up with me before. Why now?'
'You, I know I can trust. I don't know about whether I can trust the whole race.' Reiko slowly, unsteadily stood up, legs trembling under his weight, cutting a brave figure yet again in torn black jeans, a torn black shirt. His hazel eyes were grave.
'Everyone's lives is at stake here, Dante. Count on the resources you have. Or you may as well give up now.' Trish also stood.
'What do we have to lose?' Reiko looked at her gratefully and then turned back to Dante.
'The vampires will not want to bow down to demons. The demons will slowly but surely kill all humans, thus killing us.'
'You could take blood from a demon.'
'The only reason I took from you and Trish is because you are both half human. We would be able to survive on demon blood for a while…but it would turn us evil if we continued to do so. I don't think any of us would like that.'
'How do you explain Jaal?'
'He wanted power.'
'Won't the vampires gain power from this?'
'No. If any teamed up with the demon army, we would gain power, but only for a short time. We would still die. My race would be more than willing to fight with you, Dante. Our lives, as well as the humans' depends on this war.' Dante sighed and then nodded.
'All right.'
'I am glad this alliance has taken place, Dante.' He staggered and then sat back down on the bed, shaking slightly. Trish brushed his jet black hair out of his eyes, which had dimmed again.
'You're still so weak.' Reiko shrugged.
'I need to start gathering forces. I must go.'
'But-' Dante nodded.
'Okay. We'll take care of business over here and find out any information we can.' Reiko nodded and stood up again, steadier than he was before. He slipped into his trenchcoat. Trish watched him incredulously. Reiko mistook her look of horror and smiled softly at her.
'Don't worry. I haven't forgotten what I said. By tomorrow, your payment shall arrive.' Trish continued to gawp at him. Reiko blinked and turned towards Dante. 'Name your price.' The demon hunter simply shrugged.
'Whatever. Do as you see fit.'
'Helping me gain revenge is priceless…' He looked thoughtful. 'Don't worry…whatever I send, I'm sure it'll cover all the damage to your bike and your home.' He paused again. 'I expect we shall meet again.'
'The way things are going, you can count on it.' Reiko smiled, dry, humourless.
'Well…until then.' Dante nodded. With one last courteous nod towards Trish, Reiko left. Dante watched the vampire through the window until he was swallowed up by the darkness.
Outside, the moon glowed palely. Reiko's eyes glimmered in the darkness, his world, his kingdom. He carried nothing with him, save the knowledge of what he was setting out to do, and who and what he was. His fangs shone slightly as he gave something of a disbelieving smile, unable to believe the mammoth task at hand.
The vampire slowly raised his eyes, taking in the position of the moon, and set off, ever onwards, determined to meet his fate head on.
The Saga Continues…In
Dark Legion – Cursed Gifts