Disclaimer: I do not own Diabolik Lovers or its characters; that right belongs to Reject and Idea Factory. I own the Original Character (OC) in this story, though.
Author's Notes: The coming chapters will be in the present/future for Diabolik Lover's timeline.
Shuu rushed from the castle. His instincts told him that it was an emergency. His younger brother Reiji had been acting smug(more than usual). The sparkle in Reiji's eyes claimed he knew something. Reiji's lips seemed to twist into a smirk each time they saw each other.
It hadn't bothered him at first. But as each day repeated for the past three weeks, Shuu felt more paranoid. And besides Kanato, Shuu had been careful not to slip up about Edgar and Rosa. However, he knew better than underestimating his younger brothers(especially Reiji). And it was proven when Kanato came to him and blurted out that he'd seen Reiji leave the castle this morning before dawn and just returned after sunrise.
Shuu was not oblivious to how his younger brother's mind worked. That Reiji had killed the dog, their mother had gifted him for complying with her demands. So Shuu wouldn't put it past Reiji to take extreme measures about human friends.
Each step he took became quicker. Shuu kept his senses open and spread out. The pit of his stomach churned with a coldness. Those instincts every vampire was born with were on high alert as if they'd been pre-warned of danger.
Chest heaving, Shuu stumbled as thick smoke filled his lungs. A low whine escaped his lips as Shuu gave up all pretense and used his full speed to take him to the usual meeting spot. The air was hazy with limited vision for himself, and he could quickly tell neither Edgar nor Rosa had been there. Finally, his stomach turned heavy in that cold churning as panic surged through his body.
Shuu ran at a speed he was sure he had never achieved before. As he rushed towards the village, the trees and ground were a smokey blur. He needed to see the situation with his own eyes. To know if Edgar or Rosa were still alive, along with anyone else in the village. It provided crops and tithes to his father. The loss would not go unnoticed.
The moment he broke free of the forest, Shuu came to a stumbling halt. His legs gave out from under him at the sight that met him. A light misting rain had put out most of the fire, which was why the smoke was still a thick haze across his field of vision.
The village was completely burned down. Shuu knew there was almost no chance of a survivor being found, let alone his two friends. He was lifting his hands to rub his burning eyes. The wetness on the back of his hands let him know he was crying.
"Foolish immortal. Your greed has been punished."
The faint words in the smoke-filled air had Shuu jerking his head around. Through the thick wall of smoke, he barely made out the familiar image of the old, blind Gypsy woman. But it was the small body she held that had Shuu focusing. His body was rising on its own.
"Do not be fooling, boy. It is by fate's design that this has happened. You can only blame yourself. Yet fate is not done with you about this matter. For now, forget and live with your anger and sadness as company for your actions. And if you can somehow remember the full truth in the future, you'll be rewarded."
Anger rose in his chest. Shuu was readying to attack the old woman to get Rosa's body back. But a small pendant attached to a dark leather thong suddenly dangled from the Hag's hand. Shuu recognized it as Rosa's. Opening his mouth to give warning, a brilliant flash of light was admitted from the pendant, blinding him and dulling all of his senses.
When Shuu could see again, he felt mild confusion. He couldn't seem to recall why he was looking in this direction. Turning, Shuu ran to the ruins of the village. He had to try and find Edgar's body. And to hold back his anger at the thought of his best and only friend being dead, thanks to his brother.
TBC!
