Disclaimer: Don't own Trigun, don't own other stuff…pretty much just my two main characters (Who aren't the ONLY characters in Engel: Sacrifice, mind you, so expect more! ^_^ Cheers) and some of the city names, blah blah, whatever.
A/N: No, you won't see my little 'author's notes' in every chapter, but I would like to take a minute to explain some things. First off…THANKS TO MY FIRST THREE REVIEWERS! Huzzah! I finally have my first few takers to the story…hopefully.
This is for Subaiku85 who asked if the story/brother and sister compact was based off the anime or manga of Trigun. The answer is no. The entire story of Engel is ALL original (Except for what happened in Trigun, but I trust that you all will be able to distinguish that. If not, then ask, please). I've been writing this story for so long that I don't even REMEMBER where I got this idea. All I've done is built my story upon that of Trigun and that is the only thing I'm guilty of (But everyone else does that so, what the heck?).
One more thing (That I can think of at the moment) I've spent a bazillion (Yeah, I know it's not a word) hours on this story, watching Trigun, taking notes, and building my own story so that everything is precise. Such as: the Plants theory, why Knives became insane, etc…And I know that there is going to be a lot of confusing parts. (Believe me, I get confused from time to time and I WROTE the story) So, I know how it feels to read a story and get confused and although it's a great story, I remain confused. So, if anyone gets confused with whatever concept I'm trying to spell out here, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT:
Blood_Lotus_Demonwalker@yahoo.com
And ask your question. I can either answer it, or say that I haven't explained it yet or whatever. The chapters should be self-explanatory (Please oh please I'm hoping that they are _) but I encourage people to ask anyway. I am really hoping that this turns out to be a good story (with all the hours that I'm spending on it, God knows I'm trying) so let me know what you think. Such as what I should improve on, what I'm doing good at, etc…comments, critiques (Notice I said 'critiques' and not FLAMES. I hate flames.) And all that other good stuff. I have this planned out at about 60 chapters give or take. It's up to you guys to tell me whether or not I should stay with it. Oh and this story is rated PG-13 for language and some violence. Not IMMENSE blood, guts, and gore, but yeah, people die, what can I say? And without further ado, Engel.
Engel: Sacrifice
Chapter One
Demonte
"To judge a man who has turned over a new leaf for the horrendous deeds from the past would be like judging a butterfly for once inhabiting the body of a undignified caterpillar."
-Author Unknown
Footsteps. Footsteps had been etched into the sandy planet as two long legs continued across its surface. A hooded man, holding the palm of his hand over the bridge of his nose and the bottom of his eyes, shielded the treacherous storm that had blinded his view of the horizon. December City was just up ahead.
Although the silhouette had clothed himself with a warm cloak, held in place with a black sash, he still could not brush off the chilled wind brought from the southern plains. He cursed utter words below audibility. The sand steamer had broken down a few iles back. If his mission hadn't been so damn important, he knew that he would have skipped town and report back to headquarters in Fondrique. But that was irrelevant at this point.
One step after the other, he felt his back ache and his fingers grow numb from the winter cold. It rarely ever snowed on Gunsmoke, but it sure as hell felt like it was winter every single day. The hard gravel was closing in around his feet. Shivering, the man tightened the grip on the loose folds on the front of his cloak with his free hand as the other enclosed his face, like a shadowed figure looming behind in silent darkness.
The wind howled and clouds moved overhead, cutting off the soft moon glow from above. Then the fog became heavier. As the man approached the town, he quickly reached for his holster. There was no telling what kind of ruthless vermin roamed around these parts at night—especially in storms such as tonight.
The door to the hideout burst open and the man stepped inside, shaking the sand from his cloak. He shut the door before advancing towards the large green leather chair, which had been turned away from him, in the middle of the well-kept room. The old grandfather clock ticked softly, the pendulum swaying back and forth invariably. Satin coated the floors as the slick mahogany of the wooden walls gave a polished feel to the atmosphere. It felt good to be out of the storm.
"So, you made it after all…" Came a gruff voice from the chair.
"What did you expect me to do?" The hooded man asked as he stalked towards the middle of the room. "I have a job to do. I had no intention of abandoning my post."
"Yes," The word seemed to be pushed through the pursed lips of the gruff man. "And you shall be paid handsomely for your trouble. Dedication such as yours, will not go unnoticed."
"Before you go and savor my loyalty, you owe me the money for even setting foot through that door," The hooded man held out his hand and the chair turned slightly, revealing a tall, bulky man in a cotton suit, balding at the foremost point of his head.
"The Dark Ages are here, my son. We do what we can to get by. Your money is in my desk. All $$300,000 of it." He rubbed his mustache.
The hooded man retreated back to the door and turned, eyeing the old oak desk beside it. Pulling open the top drawer, he spotted the lavender envelope resting inside. Reaching in for the treasure, the hooded man smirked and nodded.
"The Dark Ages…" A lock of black hair had escaped into his hidden face. "How long has this been going on? Four years at least."
"Four years next month," The gruff man reached into his breast pocket and emerged with an oversized cigar. He plopped the end of it into his mouth and lit the tip ever so lightly. "There's only one man to blame for this catastrophe. Damn, I never wanted to admit it, but I knew that this would happen. Ever since the incident with July."
"Vash the Stampede…" The hooded man licked his lips as the words poured from his mouth, crisp and clear. "That Outlaw has been dead for almost four years now. You honestly think that he's to blame for all of this?"
"Damn straight." The gruff man puffed and inhaled the aroma of the cigar smoke. "You know what happened back in Volman City. The unexplained murders? The wave of darkness casting its glower from the evening sky? It was like a sign from God himself. There hasn't been a sunny sky since. So do I blame that red bastard? Damn straight," He said again. "From then on, humanity has plummeted straight to Hell. Can't even make a decent living on this planet. It's people like you and me who barely make a living, doing what we do."
The hooded man cringed. "But is it right?"
"Of course it is," The gruff man replied nonchalantly. "It's every man for himself. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there and everyone's gonna take you for what you've got. "Another puff off the cigar. "Simple as that." Ah, well spoken. "Resources are just too hard to find. If you thought water was scarce before, look at it now. No trees, no grass, even the birds won't come out to sing. It's like Hell itself has taken over this planet. Over half of the human population is gone, annihilated from the face of this planet!" The gruff man swung his arm back in a gesture that nearly knocked over his lamp from the small wooden coffee table resting beside him.
"I had to walk from the city of Pierce after the sand steamer broke down. That's the fifth sand steamer that's broken down this week," The hooded man stated, changing the subject. "Soon, there won't be any automotive vehicles left on this planet and the only means of transportation will be by walking." He chuckled. "Even the thomases have managed to become extinct, and there's only a few that haven't. But that's not even the most hideous part of it. There isn't a single one left that hasn't been affected by the Demon's Cry. I suppose that the only way to tame those monsters is to be a demon yourself."
"It just seems to be getting worse," The gruff man agreed. "But enough about the Dark Ages, I sent you out to retrieve some information for me. What did you find?"
"For what I found out, I should charge you double the price." The hooded man stepped forward. "It seems that Granus City, has indeed been stockpiling on ammunition," In the Dark Ages, it was almost impossible to find any links to guns and explosives. "just like we thought. Apparently, the town is barricading themselves in."
"Now why the hell would they do a stupid thing like that?"
"Hold on, I'm not finished yet. Remember that incident about two years ago with the Alchemists who were working with the Plants and the oil to make that crazy tower with the machine that they thought would transport them to another planet? You know, when the Dark Ages first started?"
"Oh, that stupid teleportation device? What was it called?" The middle-aged man pondered for a moment. "I remember, it was the Crystal Processor, because they used the oil and the Plants' energy to turn some stupid mechanism into crystal in hopes that the crystal itself would have some sort of power to beam them to another planet. I don't know the details very well myself."
"Yes, the abandoned tower is located about 250 iles off the coast of October."
"Oh yes that's right." The gruff man nodded.
"Yeah, and remember that the machine failed?"
"Yes, what about it?"
"Well, those incompetent worms are at it again." The hooded man straightened as he spoke.
"This will be very interesting to hear. What are they planning now?" The gruff man shifted in his chair.
"They've made an underground laboratory beneath the city of Granus and the Alchemists are working on something to stop the Dark Ages."
"How incomprehensible is that!? No one can stop the Dark Ages! It's a prophecy that has been foretold by the Head Priest of the Holy City of Mordeh on the Eastern Continent. What have they got planned?"
"Unfortunately, I couldn't get the specifics myself, but I'm surmising that it's the start of another tower in the Far East." The hooded man responded.
"Well that's not very helpful."
"However, I did learn the whereabouts of the next project."
"Oh? You should have just said that in the first place."
"Roklen City," The hooded man smiled. "Next month, first Tuesday, at the brink of dawn."
"Damn…How far is that from here?"
"Almost 3,000 iles."
"THAT far out into the boonies?"
"I'm not too worried about learning the contents of the project itself. If we just send the guys out to blow the thing up, they won't be able to continue with the project. And…" The hooded figure leaned closer to the older man's ear. "we can begin the war with Granus. Just like you wanted…" The hooded man stood up straight, folding his arms neatly over his chest. "I still don't understand why you want to start the war with Granus. I mean, what did they do to you that was so atrocious that you've been planning a vendetta against them for almost four years now?"
The gruff man seemed to be caught off guard by that question. "You're not in a position to ask me that," The gruff man said harshly. "I give you orders and it is your job to obey them."
The hooded man stepped backwards.
"…Sorry, I didn't mean to yell." The gruff man looked up at the mysterious hooded man. "I can't tell you right now, but I promise I will soon enough."
"Sounds pretty vicious."
"We are the Mafia from Hell, we do what we must. I started this damn clan for a reason. I can't tell you right now, but I'll let you know this, your grandfather would agree with me right now."
The hooded man looked up, startled.
"Just what would you know about my grandfather!?"
"I know everything about your family, even about that twin sister of yours that was sold off to the family in Lewiston."
A tiny gasp emerged the hooded man's mouth.
"My…sister?"
"You understand, your sister was sold from Augusta, where your family settlement used to be. It was because your parents never wanted a daughter and so they sold her at an auction one day. You only remained with them because you were a boy. A boy who would one day serve me."
Chills were sent up the hooded man's spine.
"So this was a planned destiny?"
"But it's not all bad is it?" The man took one last puff from his cigar before discarding it into the ashtray below.
"I don't understand. My parents never said anything about having a daughter."
"Why would they? Isn't that why they disposed of her in the first place?"
The hooded man stayed silent.
"I'm sorry about your family's agenda, but they're dead now, aren't they?"
"That's because you killed them!" The hooded man raged in fury and unleashed a large black .44 in his right hand. His breath became heavy as he aimed the barrel at the man before him. Sweat poured from the tip of his nose and brushed lightly over his lips, leaving behind a salty taste.
"You're going to kill me?"
The hand that held the gun became unsteady.
"You know I killed them to save you. Weren't you desperate inside? You know that if I hadn't killed them, you would've. Why put the burden of such a horrible murder on a twelve-year old boy? I did it for you." The gruff man looked up, smiling. "You know I'm telling you the truth."
Grunting, the hooded man withdrew his gun from the gruff man's head and placed it back into its holster. He turned and began to walk towards the door.
"I want you to find out what Granus is planning." The gruff man ordered. "And, if any interesting information comes your way, be sure to jot it down. We don't want anything going on behind the Mafia's back. Anything, and everything, you hear me? Even if you have to team up with the enemy." The hooded man did not slow down. He reached out and turned the doorknob.
"Demonte," The hooded man stopped at the sound of his name. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do, all right?" Silence surrounded the room, and in a moment, the man called 'Demonte' had vanished from the room.
The gruff man chuckled and stroked the fur of a black cat that had managed to crawl into his lap. "Oh Demonte, don't let me down. I wouldn't want to bring your sister into this mess."
At the opposite end of town, a woman dressed in a long black velvet gown with a hood shuddered against the wind and continued down the dirt road, her suede boots clanking hard against the ground.
A shadow shifted uneasily in the darkness.
She stopped and turned, shielding her eyes from the oncoming gust of wind. Someone was there; she could sense it. Licking her lips, she could feel that this spirit had hostile intentions. The young woman snapped her open mouth shut and glanced all behind her. If she could duck into an open store, she would've considered it. However, no one would open their doors at this hour to a cloaked woman. She knew it.
She had no choice but to take extra precaution and continue down the road. Her small run-down dome lay up ahead. She only hoped that she could make it. Warm breath began to nuzzle her neck, as though the culprit himself was right behind her. She quickened her walk to a jog, but still the breathing commenced.
Her heart raced and she quickly turned into an alley where she hoped to lose the movement that lurked behind her. But it only increased. Unexpectedly, a large, warm object collided into her and her back greeted the ground all too suddenly. Her lungs exploded with a hot fire as the wind escaped her body. She stared up into the stormy sky, until a shadow loomed over her.
"Hey bitch," Came a cool voice.
She immediately struggled to her feet, but was slammed back to the ground by a large hand. Her hood fell backwards, exposing her facial features. Her blonde bun had come undone, leaving her hair mattered as it lay about her. Her breathing intensified as two large hands enclosed her shoulders.
"Guess it's my lucky night after all," A set of pearly teeth glowed in the night as the man's hands slid from the woman's shoulders to the tops of her breasts. Sensing the man's distraction, the woman slowly brought her knee up and thrust it into his crotch.
"DAMMIT!" The man wailed as he crumpled to the ground next to the woman. She jumped up, her hood flailing backwards as she took off running down the street until two more large hands grabbed her around the waist and sent her sailing back to the hard ground.
The woman looked up and watched as twenty dark shadows closed the gap around her. She was trapped.
"Celestia Androke," A man hissed. "We've been looking for you for quite some time. You sure are a sneaky bitch."
The woman called 'Celestia' grunted, but her face did not ease. She continued to stare at her attackers with determination and rage.
"What do you want from me!?" She spat at them.
"Don't play stupid, you already know."
It was true, she did.
"You owe us a debt," Another silhouette spoke. "In case you've forgotten, we're the ones who even set you UP in this damn town.
"So," Celestia's eyes narrowed, "The insurance agency sent you after me…"
"It's been three months and you haven't paid us! You know how scarce money is nowadays." The leader spoke up again. "But it doesn't matter if you have the money or not now. We're here on different terms. Screw the agency. We'll kill you and take whatever valuables you have on ya."
"Well, you certainly know how to show great hospitality." Celestia shifted her weight to her arms so that she could sit upright.
"Shut up," The leader withdrew a revolver from his coat and aimed it at the woman's chest. "I've always wanted to see a gypsy bleed…You can predict the fate of others but never your own. Stupid woman."
Celestia let out a small gasp and braced herself for the oncoming bullet as the leader laughed and tightened his index finger on the trigger. Then a shot rang out, but not the one intended for Celestia. She slowly looked up and watched as the tall man crashed to the ground, the death resounding in the night.
The posse turned their backs from the woman to the shadow in the midst of the night. The cloaked figure advanced forward, the wind ruffling his cloak. His steel-toed boots clicked with every step. Then a different click was heard—the sound of a reloading gun.
"You killed the boss!" One man screamed.
"Who the hell are you!?" Another voice demanded.
But the figure did not speak. Instead he aimed the gun at another henchman and pulled the trigger, shattering the man's heart into pieces as the bullet ripped through the back of the man's shirt. The men gasped and quaked with fear. The posse withdrew the guns from their coats in unison and soon eighteen revolvers were aimed at the cloaked figure.
"You asshole! You'll pay!" A man gritted his teeth and pulled on the trigger of his gun. Smoke poured from the end of the gun and it was to be fate that the silhouette was dead, but when the men looked up, only a gust of wind fell about the road.
"Where did he go?" Another man asked his comrades. Celestia sat in the middle of the circle, shaking with fear. This man, she was getting strong vibes from this man. But she couldn't see his face in her thoughts. He only remained clouded.
Another shot rang out and one more man collapsed to the ground, dead. Jerking their heads around once again, the cloaked man was found to be crouching from the top of an abandoned house. From under his hood, two red eyes glowered down at the crowd and he put his gun back into his holster.
"Good, he's giving up," A man said enthusiastically. "Shoot him!"
But the hooded man only sneered as he held an arm outstretched before him, as though he was shielding himself. A dark aura swirled around his arm and electrical sparks enclosed in on his fingertips.
"What…what the…?" A man gazed in disbelief.
Then with a close of the fist, a wave of darkness streamed from the cloaked man's hand and consumed the hoard of men below. Each and every man fell to the ground; their bodies charred so horribly that the whites of the bone began to show through.
Celestia gasped and looked up at her savior. Faint gun smoke loomed in the air, as did the smell of burnt flesh.
"How could you do that!?" She screamed at the cloaked figure as he jumped ever so delicately to the ground below. He looked at her and rubbed the arm that the electrical beam had once surrounded.
"What are you talking about?" He said irritably, "I just saved your life."
"You didn't have to kill them all!" She argued.
"If I hadn't, they would've killed us both."
Celestia bit her tongue. "Still, it wasn't right."
"Fine, save your own ass next time." The cloaked man turned and trudged down the street.
"W-Wait!" Celestia ran to catch up with the man. "Thank you for saving me anyway…"
The hooded man chose to say nothing and Celestia feared that he hadn't heard her.
"What's your name?" Celestia inquired.
"My name is unimportant." The man answered.
"You're not making this any easier, are you?" Celestia said forcefully.
"Don't you have somewhere to go instead of following me?"
Celestia jumped in front of the man abruptly and grabbed his shoulders. At first the hooded man was taken aback, but then he quickly removed himself from the woman's grip.
"Demonte!" She called after his retreating form. He stopped. Words were not even enough to explain his reaction to this sudden turn of events. Instead, he turned and faced this woman who had called out to him.
"Do I know you?" Demonte asked.
"No," Celestia plodded towards the man. "But I know you."
Demonte quickly reached for his gun and pointed the barrel at the woman.
"Stay back," He warned.
"You're not going to shoot me." She smiled. "You may act like a hotshot, but you won't shoot me."
"Don't tell me what I am and am not capable of!" He spat. "Who the hell are you!?"
"I'm Celestia Androke, and you're Demonte…?"
Demonte seemed hesitant to answer. "Kalabis, Demonte Kalabis."
"Hmmm, I like that name," Celestia smiled. "It sounds so dark and mysterious."
"Now that I've introduced myself, I would appreciate the honor of knowing how you know who I am."
"Well…" Celestia bit her lower lip and then slowly brought her gaze back to Demonte. "You're in Hell's Mafia?"
She's on a roll, Demonte said to himself.
"How…have you been…" Of all the worst possible thoughts. "SPYING on me!?"
"Oh no!" She defended. "I didn't even know you until tonight!"
"Then how do you know all of those things!?"
"Like how I know that you possess Forbidden Magicks? Those WERE what you used on those guys that were hounding me back there, right?"
Demonte lowered his gun and began to back away.
"This is too real, how do you know all of this? If you're not stalking me, then you're…" Then Demonte understood. "…a mind reader…"
"Well…yeah, I guess you could say that…"
Demonte shook his head. "I have to ask a favor of you. Forget all that you've read about me. You have to understand the situation I'm in. If anyone finds out who I am then I'll be assassinated by 'them'!" Demonte turned and continued to walk away.
"H-Hey! You're going to leave me here!?"
"You'll be okay," Demonte reassured, but didn't stop. "They'll leave you alone."
"You really are an idiot aren't you? They'll continue to pursue me even after what you did. Actually, maybe even more so after that little incident. They'll think that 'I' was the one who killed all of those guys!"
"Tough luck."
Celestia clenched her fists and tightened her back.
"You hear me and then you don't! What's the matter with you anyway!?"
"What do you want from me?"
"TAKE me WITH you!"
Demonte almost died from all of the laughter.
"Take you WITH me!? Now YOU'RE the one who isn't listening! I'm in a Mafia, a very DANGEROUS Mafia! Do you know the Hell you'd stir up if you joined me!?"
Then Celestia smiled. Blackmail.
"If you don't let me come with you, then I'll report you."
"Huh?" Demonte turned around.
"I'll tell everyone how you're associated with the Hell's Mafia and how you possess Forbidden Magicks and how you're planning to undermine the Alchemists in Granus!"
Demonte quickly grew paranoid, but didn't let on.
"Yeah, like they're really gonna believe you!"
"You forget that I'm a psychic. I can do anything I want. All I have to do is send them down to your Boss over at the other end of town." Celestia narrowed her eyes. "You just got paid $$300,000 for finding out Granus' intentions. Your sand steamer broke down in the last town you were at and you walked here."
Demonte could feel an ulcer coming on.
"Your family was murdered by that man who lives here and he mentioned something about your missing sister, whom was sold off at birth! And…!"
"All right!" Demonte interrupted. "You can come along with me. But ONLY for a little while, you understand!?"
Celestia beamed and clapped her small hands together.
"Thank you!" She smiled and tugged at Demonte's cloak. She quickly stuffed her hair behind her head and pulled up on her own hood.
"Geez, I should have known not to walk down THIS particular road." He looked over at her. "Just be glad that I didn't shoot you, okay?"
"You wouldn't have shot me anyway."
He grumbled. She was a sharp one.
***
Sorry if the first chapter was a bit boring, or not what you expected. Just introducing some pretty major characters in the course of the story. Just wait a few more chapters and you will all be a little bit happier. In the meantime, absorb all of the information you can from this chapter for further reference. It will make things a bit easier, I assure you. It's doing wonders for me. ^_^
Hope you like the story thus far, as I am always working hard to improve it. Comments, questions, and critiques are always welcome! See you all again next Monday.
BLD