Countess Cavendish Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
Each one was going in a different corner of the castle Diana and Akko towards the botanical garden, Croix towards the coliseum and they are doing well on their way, Marianne and Hellene went deeper, going to the underground caves of the castle, which are immense, with several traps, besides caves, making them both have to be careful to enter the water full of dangers that is also extremely cold.
The newly formed couple, passed by the door that gives access to the underground galleries of the huge castle, they go down a staircase that is a little bit long, passing by many candles and candelabras, which were useful to get a base for the hearts regarding the sub items, since Leblanc even got a cross on the way and the whip was already getting well improved, she even got one more upgrade that was the final one, making it catch fire when she uses it, besides releasing a fireball when she whips it, Hellene on the other hand was just continuing to collect them, that until they start to really arrive at the caves, when they passed by a gate and there was enough of that environment, they were already seeing some of the creatures walking around the place just waiting for the presence of the duo.
Marianne: That staircase alone has tired me enough, who will say what's coming here.
Hellene: it's naht enooehgh what you tired last night, now let's go.
Marianne: It'snot my fault you have plenty of stamina, I never imagined anyone would stay that long, not that I thought it was bad, in fact it was wonderful.
Hellene gives Marianne a pat on the buttocks and she gets a malicious smile on a way that she's fully enjoying it , she goes up to the scarf of her clothes covering her mouth a little as if it was a mask, then the two continue the way, passing by there, they are well received by mermans that are throwing themselves towards them, but soon they show that they have everything, McLaren easily attacks the aquatic creatures, Leblanc uses the whip and can already notice the power in hands, being even impressed.
Marianne: Wow! That thing does all that? I actually have quite a weapon now, I never thought the whip would get that far on that level.
Marianne keeps attacking, this time was dealing with skeletons that were appearing too, the same ones were being easily disassembled, since the whip also began to serve as a long-range weapon, she could notice that she could move a little faster than normal, being able to jump higher and also dodge, getting a little excited to see that.
They go on through the place, where they come across a small raft, the two of them are kind of wondering whether to enter or not, so they decide to climb on top, in this case only Marianne, since Hellene jumped in the water and went swimming.
Hellene: That water is freezing, but at least the ferry isn't in danger of sinking.
Hellene was pushing the ferry forward, but she was interrupted by the presence of mermen that were starting to attack her and also Marianne who was already using the whip to hit the ones who jumped out of the water.
On the other hand, McLaren was getting the best of the sea creatures that were coming towards the raft, using a lot of her vampire
power, scratching the flesh of those creatures, feeling the strength of the redhead, who was dealing with the cold water with a certain comfort.
[Hellene's Thought: Shit! Now I'm going to be fish food]
Hellene managed to swim to the other side in time and with that the fish still jumped out of the water, but ended up being disintegrated by a fireball thrown by Marianne's whip which ends up saving McLaren she who then gets up and gets all drenched with cold, starts to use some of the magic to warm herself, drying her clothes, already Leblanc uses the whip to give more impulse to the raft, continuing to deal with the mermans jumping out.
Hellene: Thank you!
As a way to thank for the help McLaren uses fireball spells against the mermen that were jumping in front of Leblanc, which finishes one by one before hitting her and she can focus on using the propulsion to get to the other side, when she arrives she gets off the raft which breaks when a fish bigger than the other jumper appears with its mouth and simply devours the raft thinking that there was someone, it was just a huge creature and both of them are a little bit scared by it.
Marianne: That was a close one and it seems that not only do you save my life, but so do I haha.
Hellene: I thanked him already, it was a mistake on my part, that fish really wanted to come and devour me and I was not aware that the water was also quite dangerous, especially since it is so cold.
Marianne: Of course it would be, we are in your mother's castle, this is meant to be dangerous and try to stop us on our journey.
The two continue along the path, which was still full of creatures, but they were only a few that didn't give much trouble, like small lancers knights that are easily killed by both girls, even some try to create a trap, in a part of the cave they are closing the path using spears to stick, but it was soon noticed that there was a box, in that Marianne pushes the box up and ends up flooding where the lancers are, the same ones start to scream and the spears disappear for good with a sound of creature of the night being dissolved.
Hellene: I was only going to think about breaking those spears, not about going through like that, it was kind of clever Mari.
Leblanc gets a little bit blushed at the moment, they go passing by the corridor, they come across another part where there is a boat, full of water, in another part of a grotto, they look at each other again, because it is a boat there is more space, the two enter in it, Marianne starts to give impulse with the whip, spinning it, creating a vortex, and Hellene is the one who gets in the end, and she was already facing some mermen jumping out to attack the two, but McLaren was doing a little work scratching them and killing them, on the other hand the Frenchwoman had another problem.
She was using the cross little by little as the mermans jumped out, trying to swim to the two, but another big problem appeared, when that same huge fish took a bite that caught the pair and then the same fish falls in the water and causes a big impact giving a slight shake in the boat.
Hellene: Speed it up Mari, this fish is going to bite us to pieces!
Marianne: Weren't you the brave one?
Hellene: I'm brave not stupid, when I know I don't have a chance I'll drop out, now speed it up!
Marianne increases the intensity in how she rotates the whip, making the boat go faster and faster, leaving even the mermans behind, the huge fish keeps jumping, trying to devour the two, chasing them with its mouth open, until they both hit the other side, They continue the way and go through the corridors of the cave, but at this time they come across a goblin that is leaning against a wall in a gate, the two don't decide to attack, since it doesn't show hostility.
Hellene tries to open the gate but without success, then she tries to use a punch and force, but also by brute force it didn't do much good, she even takes a few steps back, propels herself in wolf form with everything, returns to human form giving a two feet flying, but it just seemed like she kicked against a wall.
Elf: You can't get through without the key, the key is located in Cirein Cróin's mouth, if you can get it from inside it you can get through to the other side.
Hellene: That huge thing?
Elf: Unfortunately that's what the castle says, you can only get the key by taking it from Cirein Cróin if they want to get through, or else in the castle they will not advance, all I know is just that.
Hellene gets a bit irritated and decides to use a more intimidation trick with the goblin taking it by the collar of the clothes and putting it against the wall threatening it with a somewhat demonic look, but the same terrified continues with the same answer and totally unaware that there was another way, then she releases the goblin that is all full of fear, in this both go to near the tip where the monster was, they stay a bit looking at each other.
Marianne: I can't swim and I can't hold on underwater for long without breathing.
Hellene: I know, that's why you'll be in a strategic spot, I can lure the monster, I think I can swim faster than it, plus I have an ability to go long without breathing.
Marianne: And how are we going to do that? How am I going to hit it, my whip isn't the most powerful thing in the world either, it's better than before, but it won't be able to fireballs that I throw kill a creature of that proportion.
Elf: Harpoons I can offer, if the monster wish to stop, but I ask that I be well rewarded, I will want all the rest of the gold you possess within that monster and once I have killed it, you may pass.
Hellene: You can take as much as you want, little elf, I don't care about gold, I don't care about gold here or not, I am the daughter of the owner of this castle, so I think you better release the harpoons to my girlfriend now.
The elf swallows saliva when she hears the way Hellene said all intimidating, which this way the elf leads to a secret passage and in it contained several harpoons that had a bit of a magic power in them, since the elf claimed not to be able to catch it, even Hellene felt a bit of her hand catch fire, But Marianne took it calmly, noticing that there was nothing too much in it, so the two of them look at each other and go to the tip of the lake, McLaren gives a last kiss to her beloved, takes a deep breath and arrives to the tip, she jumps in the shape of a wolf in the water and Leblanc takes a harpoon already starting to aim at the water.
Marianne: Good luck my love.
As soon as Hellene jumped into the water she could notice the strange movement, the huge fish was starting to follow McLaren, who in the shape of a wolf was swimming quickly to the surface, at this very moment she jumps very high pushing herself as much as she could, which turns to be the cue for Leblanc to throw the harpoon, hitting a part of the monster that begins to scream.
The redhead even sends a signal with her thumb, the monster closes its mouth and submerges itself and Hellene swims a little backwards, but she ended up having a rather unpleasant surprise, other fishes came closer, trying to devour her, who started using a tetra spirit to try to stop them from getting close to McLaren, who was defending herself.
[Hellene's Thought: These things want to distract me from the main thing, but I'm only here for one reason and these smaller fish are nothing, I can take each one out easy, easy, ah, now here comes that thing again, it can come at will].
Hellene returns to the wolf form and goes swimming at full speed towards the surface, which Marianne already throws another harpoon, this one catches on another point of the creature, at the same moment McLaren can realize where the monster's key was and with that she propels herself to where Leblanc was, which caused a little bit of strangeness on her part.
Marianne: What's wrongmy love? Is something wrong with the monster? Did he hurt you badly?
Hellene: On the contrary, I found his key, it's in his throat, all I need to do is use a rope, lure it out of the water, then you throw a harpoon, the monster will keep opening its mouth with that, I'll get the key and we'll get out of here.
Hellene took a thick rope, then jumped again in the water, the monster was already a little bit wounded, with a lot of blood already being possible to notice dirtying the water, when feeling that the dhampir returned, Cirein Cróin goes towards it, already with the mouth open, The McLaren propels itself in the shape of a wolf, then it returns to normal when it gets out of the water, the creature gets out and in that moment the redhead shone when it laced well in the throat of the creature that closed its mouth, but it opened when Marianne hit it with a harpoon.
McLaren leaned on the ceiling of the cave on one of the stalactites, went about trying to pull the key, using a bit of magic to control the slash, managing to wrap a knot around the ring that was stuck in the monster's throat.
Hellene: Great! Keep going Mari, I'm managing to get this monster out of my mouth!
The McLaren was pulling the key out of the monster little by little, but it was feeling an hour when the rope gave a snag, Marianne was throwing another harpoon and right at that moment the Cirein Cróin gets furious, he submerges again with his mouth closed, which is strong enough to take Hellene along, already worrying Marianne a lot with this pull, but it was noticeable also the redhead's smile.
[Hellene's Thought: So let's play a little if that way you want to keep staying with me]
The monster was submerging at high speed, Hellene was little by little going more forward in the rope, fish were also surrounding her, she was just ignoring using the tetra spirit, again Cirein Cróin jumps out of the water, but ended up returning quickly to the water since it was already smarter in relation to the strategies that made with the creature.
Hellene kept going forward with that rope, with a small dagger on her waist she was cutting the side of the monster with a force where she was opening its belly, making some gold fall.
[Hellene's Thought: This goblin should accept it once and for all, because honestly we're getting him out of a big problem with this monster, there's plenty of gold here, as if this same goblin would leave the castle haha, soon all this will go to heaven being destroyed, there won't be a castle anymore].
Hellene kept going until she reached the creature's mouth, where she punched hard enough to break the monster's teeth, entering its mouth, was swimming through the space until she found where was the creature's throat that was moving from one side to the other, McLaren used her claws and was cutting that part of the throat with her nails raising blood and also causing the creature to emerge, starting to be painful enough, the monster reached the surface where Marianne and the goblin were. It
vomited Hellene that caught the key celebrating and also some gold, the same one was celebrating with the whole body dirty of a mixture of blood and vomit, she went running to hug her girlfriend that dodged at the time.
Hellene: Oh come on baby, we made it, aren't you going to hug me?
Marianne: Dirty like that, but no way, you're all messed up.
Hellene at the same time jumps into the lake, taking off her clothes and the elf looks at her and marvels until she gets punched by Leblanc, who closes the creature's eyes and complains of pain. Leblanc gets an angry expression towards his girlfriend, who is bathing herself, then she dries with magic and opens her arms to her girlfriend, who slaps her very hard.
Hellene: What now?
Marianne: Not in front of the leprechaun! You were bathing in front of a pervert, I had to beat him up.
Hellene: How jealous you are of me, it's not like you really love seeing me like this.
Marianne: Let's go, let this goblin revel in his gold, we have a more important mission.
The two open the gate with the key taken from Cirein Croin, but there was still more way ahead, the caves did not end, they were just continuing there, they go walking through the corridor where some Venus herbs start to appear and start to blossom and launch roses full of thorns on both girls.
Marianne who shines more by the whip having a longer range catching the same that were burning and this way opening more way through the icy corridors of that underground gallery.
Hellene: Those herbs are always a nice treat for the eyes don't you think?
Marianne: Really Hellene? I don't think so, these things are just there to catch you and kill you, I don't fall for these plants ever.
In another corridor they come across a staircase, it was full of buers, which went from one side to the other trying to disturb the path, which for the duo was not that impossible, Leblanc was even improving a lot, being able to demonstrate a little more precision and practice, the two arrive at the lower floor, where they end up facing a huge open field, when they arrive there, some rocks fall behind them closing the way and others in the exit to the other side, then two creatures fall, they imitate the form of Hellene and Marianne.
Marianne: Copies of us, but what the hell!
Marianne goes immediately on her own copy, throwing a cross, but her copy stumbles on the floor, imitating Leblanc's style, she uses the whip on her leg, throwing it a little far away, the original gives a somersault in the air, uses the whip on a stalactite, then releases herself, jumping where she stopped on a candle, which gives her an extra jump.
At the same time Hellene was launched with a punch from her copy, McLaren ended up catching the sub-item that fell, a watch, she gets up and goes over the copy again trying to hit her.
On the other hand Marianne was defending herself from the copy that was using the cross to hit her, knocking her backwards, letting her fall on the ground a little hurt, the copy follows giving a jump, but Leblanc wraps the whip around her leg and throws it towards Hellene'
s copy, where she uses a spell to throw fireballs towards
the creature.
Hellene: I got a thing that looks like a clock when you blew out that candle, I don't know what it's used for, but it must be something like that that makes it go faster or slower I don't know.
Marianne: I don't remember that either when Croix said about the sub-items, let's defeat these things and then we'll find out.
Hellene agreed with her head, the two go to the top of the copies that recover from the blows, the copy of McLaren uses the form of a wolf, propelling herself with everything towards it, which holds with strong arms the onslaught, using brute force. Gradually being pushed, she throws a knee on the wolf's face, which returns to normal and jumps back.
Marianne was having encounters with the whips, the two hit each other almost all the time, without hurting one another, only the whips that tangled, in that Leblanc has a genius idea and starts imitating another style, using a more precise one, where the copia had no idea, since it was all based on the clumsy style of the French.
Marianne: Let's see if you can keep up in time.
Marianne was slowly gaining in relation to the dhampir, using more strategy, she could foresee some of the movements of the dhampir itself that didn't have such a favourable terrain, going in the greatest precision she dodged with the use of intelligence in relation to luck, catching the whip in hooks propelling herself backwards and this made the dhampir get confused.
On the other hand Hellene was having difficulties, the copy was hitting some scratches and punches on the dhampir, she was trying what she could, but she was only getting irritated getting even more nervous, the arms were already getting full of cuts, but she didn't give up, she clenched her fists was more motivated and went up hard hitting a punch on the copy's face that also hit the same punch on her, both were with their faces turned full of pain.
Hellene: Damn it! It's copying my every move! How am I going to defeat this thing!
Marianne: Hellene! Use the sub-item! The sub-item! You might be able to defeat her like this!
Hellene: I have to save my heart, I can't spend like this like a fool, I have to think here.
Hellene was thinking of a way and noticed that Marianne was using a different style than her and could have a small advantage, like a lamp burning in her head, she had an idea, she started to stay in a different style, more cerebral, instead of the brute, when she noticed that the copy was going up with everything aggressively she dodged, gave a knee and then stopped the attack.
The copia turned around wanting to punch, Hellene dodged with intelligence, used a tetra spirit and that way the copia could be hit, she took the opportunity to become a wolf, gave a boost then hit a two feet volley, the copia was thrown back a little, But it landed, turned into a wolf to go towards McLaren who decided to use the sub item, without having the slightest idea she noticed that it made everything around stop and she got excited, she noticed that a five seconds count started and with that she went to the copy.
Hellene gave a few strong stabs with wooden stakes in the chest of the copy and also in the throat, this before the countdown was over, she turned around in a whole intimidating way.
Hellene: And time is running out again.
Hellene's copy simply dissolves with the wooden stakes driven through her, defeating the first one and with that Marianne even gets confused to see her girlfriend elsewhere, she gets down from one of the hooks and starts questioning her that she even came close to her own.
Marianne: What happened to your copy? Out of nowhere she ended up being killed.
Hellene: That's my sub-item, let me show you how it works.
Marianne: What do you mean.
Hellene: Time has stopped.
Hellene uses the watch sub item again, throws several wooden stakes towards the copy which she caught running and these all stop near the copy, in a short time she returns a little tired to her girlfriend's side and counts the last second with her finger.
Hellene: And time is running out again.
The time has returned and with that the stakes go towards Marianne's copy that hits it in all directions in the biggest distraction of the copy, hitting it on the spot and with that defeating the copy, leaving even Marianne shocked to see that her girlfriend managed to make an attack like that.
Hellene: This thing is really fun, I can stop time for five seconds and it gives me a lot of options.
Marianne: Now that I remembered, this is one of the most powerful sub items, but it is also useless against some creatures of the night, there are some that are immune to the clock.
Hellene: Interesting to know, I just know that I am feeling powerful, like I have immense strength, the power of the watch! That's wonderful.
Hellene was kind of starting to marvel at that power, Marianne just watched her girlfriend showing off with her strong arms, then two vials appear, the two girls touch and McLaren can be unharmed again, having the cuts caused on her arm healed, the same thing with Leblanc who regained her vigour and also her strength.
Hellene: I feel a strength that I have never felt before, as if I had even more health, these things from this castle are helping me, but how strange, it even seems that my mother wants to help us, at the same time she wants to stop us.
Marianne: Really strange that we are rewarded for killing these creatures, earning these things, I think your mother has bigger intentions with all this, I'm beginning to think she really wants to be defeated.
Hellene: I'm sure, my mother Bernadette already told me that before she met my other mother Laura, she wanted to be defeated, she would give anything to have her life taken, because she thought it was a burden to be a vampire, she didn't want to be in that situation, but I also think that there can be even more than that, like there's a bigger situation, where we have to help as much as we can.
The two of them noticed that the stones had disappeared, opening the way to another part of the castle. When they opened the place they noticed a difference, they went down the stairs and arrived at another door, and noticed that there were more bones in that place, being the most subterranean of the Countess' castle.
Hellene: I never imagined I would get this far down into the castle, not even when I was very young did I get this far, I had only got as far as the beginning of the underground caves and the castle wasn't even like this, now this part here I had only heard about.
Marianne: Just not being a part where we have to face giant fish is a relief, I never thought we would have so much challenge in an adventure like this before, it is really interesting here, it was the best choice of my life to leave with Akko, Lotte and Sucy, to have met you, to have come this far, I will still love to tell this one day in the future.
Hellene: who knows fahr ooehr future cheldren, de books abooeht de fertility stahne are all in me 'ead, i know 'ow i can make it pahsseble.
Marianne: Itwould be wonderful, but let's focus on the mission, this is no time to be talking about having children, although it would be wonderful to be a mother and be happy by your side, we have to keep the focus.
Hellene nods, and the two start walking through the catacombs of the castle, already coming across some bats, skeletons, also witches, goblins, ghosts, several creatures that remind us of death and were all going to attack directly the two that were starting to defend themselves from those attacks.
Mainly of the flying skulls that kept following the pair that was giving their way.
At the total opposite, at the top of the castle, there Bernadette was watching everything, the two girls had arrived quite far away, practically a little after Diana and Akko had arrived at the botanical garden, she was somewhat filled with pride at seeing her youngest daughter's manner that reminded her of her deceased wife quite a bit.
[Bernadette's thought: She's all Laura, both in looks and manner, just like my Laura, heh, my little girl is so grown up, so strong, she can now go head to head with much bigger creatures with ease, even more than Diana, she has all the brave and silly way of my Laura, the flirtatious way too and this clumsy one with her, the two of them make a great couple, in the end even my girls have similar couples, a silly one with my girl, although by the way Hellene is Laura then they would be two silly ones haha]
Bernadette keeps watching the crystal ball sitting on the throne, observing all the action in the castle, but soon more depressing thoughts end up taking over the poor girl's head and she gets a bit down because of it.
[Bernadette: Soon I will be dead, I will not even be able to enjoy seeing my daughters having their girlfriends, I would hug them so much, but I am a monster, I do not stop being a monster, I am putting them to have this burden, but I know that soon it will end, I will do everything for it to end and soon also justice will come to you Daryl Cavendish, it may delay but it will not fail, you will feel what you did with everyone, your greed destroyed the life of everyone around you].
Hellene and Marianne, are showing a lot of how well they are working together, their dynamics are blossoming more than anything, even more so as their relationship heated up the night before. The castle is still being explored immensely, but soon it will be a matter of time before the five groups manage to get the five pieces needed to open the main door and be able to continue on a complicated journey after the great Countess, owner and mistress of the castle, solving an old question that has intrigued the family for many years.
See you, underground witches...