Preston, England
Two days of travel have passed since the eleven girls left Edinburgh going towards Wales, since they were going to meet Daryl Cavendish in a trip, at the same time by the opposite direction also went Chloé who was waiting in the city of Preston that would meet on the way with the route of the girls, the Deppailer already had the notion that on the way they would end up stopping in the city for being the closest to give a rest, and in one of the main inns of the place there she was staying for a while, being the first henchman practically that Cavendish will send in an attempt to test to see which are the limitations of the now human Diana Cavendish and also of her sister Hellene McLaren, both who are free from being dhampirs, but this time they will also be with a huge disadvantage, for being human and mortal, they no longer have that immunity to attacks that perforate the body, and may even die depending on the gravity of the impact.
That afternoon the girls were in a group riding in the carriage, where who stayed outside driving were Croix and Chariot, which were hand in hand observing the scenery of the city, Belmont even got a haircut returning to the original short that had 10 years ago, to show that she returned to active, when they arrived at the outskirts of the place as usual already gave that beautiful look, The people around didn't stop to look for the two carriages arriving and soon they were installed in a local stable, where from there the twelve were walking until the inn of the city, when they entered in the place they already started to grow looks for the group, until because the news were already being spread about a group of huntresses that managed to destroy the castle of the Countess Cavendish in Scotland, the rumors didn't stop to be spread from city to city. In the middle of all this confusion there was Chloé, sitting having a beer while listening to the rumours of who had arrived.
Chariot soon arrives for the attendant, with a bag of gold coins, which he got a smile on his face and soon recognized the facial features of Belmont beyond the emblem that was on her clothes.
Attendant: Belmont! What do you want?
Chariot: We only want rooms, comfortable enough for twelve people, I pay for all of them.
Attendant: Guaranteed room, are you Belmont back in business? I thought you had died, that's what they told around the places.
Chariot: It's been a long story, you must be keen to know, from what you're gossiping about the slayers who ended up destroying Countess Cavendish's castle, but it's not over yet, we're on course to take out the real baddie behind it all.
At this point Chloé starts laughing, to the point where she gets up sarcastically, takes her beer and points to the girls who recognize the blonde who doesn't even disguise her appearance, all of them are even shocked to notice that she was there.
Chloé: Well if it isn't you two again here, now you've got the missing slayer and these rumours, well I just want to get one last thing right with all of you, especially you Diana Cavendish.
Diana rolling her eyes: Oh again, this duelling, come on, I thought you would stop fighting, we've already settled this for almost a week, you just won't stop.
Chloé: Well if you and your friends have really defeated Countess Bernadette Cavendish of Edinburgh, then you have nothing to fear, or are you just going to sit there sulking, I just want one last duel, this time with honour, this time to put an end to it all, a duel you and me to the death, here in this town, so that you have a real festival, a fight between two women to see who is the strongest, or are you really going to ignore something like that?
Diana stands up on the table, the girls even hold her back a little, Akko tries to pat her shoulder and advise her not to do that, but Cavendish straightens her cape handing it to her younger sister snaps her wrists and points at Deppailer.
Diana: If you want a duel like this, then let's do it, but I want this to be a duel to put an end to all this, we'll go to the centre of this city, duel to the end, but we'll start unarmed, if you can't take it, you'll be a loser, but if you can, we'll go to the stage where we duel with our swords, I won't hold back against you anymore.
Chloé: Oh an interesting duel, now you finally knew how to say something and I see that now you are no longer red-eyed, you will no longer have your chaos creature power to protect yourself, now it is a human against a human and in this I will take advantage.
Diana: So let the better human win, don't count on this thinking that just because I'm weaker that I can't beat you in a fight, you're underestimating the opponent you have.
Chloé simply shrugged, she got up from the chair of the inn, went outside, where she drew the attention of the whole town, while Diana took a deep breath, she handed the sword and the shield to Akko, got up from the chair, put some bandages around her wrists, as her sister always did.
When they arrived outside, the whole city was watching the movement, there Chloé took her sword and got her fists ready to fight, the two are practically facing each other, people start betting on the two girls, to see who of them would win that battle.
Chloé: May the best one win.
Diana agrees with her head, clenches her fists and goes towards Chloé who also goes towards her, the two arrive facing each other, when they meet Deppailer tries to punch Cavendish who bends down and gives a headbutt that catches the Frenchwoman right on the chin, then she gives a shoulder pushing her backwards continuing with a punch that catches the blonde right on the face, the Scot really showed that she was good at fighting, managing to keep up a hand-to-hand fight calmly.
Akko: Go Diana! Break that sucker's face!
Hellene: Sink that sour French lass face in!
Chloé starts to get a bloody nose and angrily starts punching Diana who is simply dodging those punches and kicks as if it was nothing, holding the Deppailer's hand, then she gives a kick to the back that makes the French girl fall on the ground crawling, she tries by all means to get up, but wounded she is surprised by the Scottish lass.
With speed she punches Chloé
in the stomach that ends up tearing with pain, she takes some steps back with her hand on her stomach, gets a kick in the face that catches her right in the face making the girl fall very close to the crowd which gives the sword to Deppailer that is helped to get up, she catches a dagger and throws it towards Cavendish that dodges and that blade catches a house, the French girl goes running with the sword where she almost hits a cut on the Scottish girl that dodges and takes the chance to elbow the blonde that stunned walks backwards, moving the sword to every side trying to hit Diana.
Far away from there at Luna Nova's castle, there was Daryl watching everything together with her daughters and the elder Cavendish was just laughing of the whole situation of her subordinate dodging with the easiest of the world the blows and attacks that are being given by her niece who simply showed that she knows how to fight better than the French murderer.
Merrill: This way Chloé will just die, we'll end up losing one of our own if she carries on like this.
Daryl: That's the intention, you know well as I said, sacrifices have to be made in order for us to achieve success and seeing these two fight is going to be what we're going to be able to pick up from movements.
Merrill: Really Mum, you don't value people's lives at all, you treat them like contemptible rubbish, you only think about your own nose, I wonder how you intend to be the queen of the world like that, when to rule the world you have to be a leader...
Daryl: I don't need any person telling me what to do, I'm the oldest here, I'm the most experienced, I'm the one who knows what she's doing, you two are just two nonsense talking nonsense, you don't ask any intelligent questions.
Marilyn: I love watching it, this way we can read the movements and know right away how Diana is going to act when she tries to attack us, mommy you are great, I didn't even like Chloé, get rid of that useless French girl.
Merrill coming out of there: Honestly I'd rather stay in my dungeon waiting for Diana and the girls to come, you two are one in the same, one is her mother's doormat, the other is just a cruel tyrant.
Daryl: Then go! Die at Diana's hands for not studying her moves and stay in your dungeon, you cannot escape your fate Merrill Cavendish.
Merrill gets out of there half irritated, arrives at her dungeon where she lies down on the bed specially made for the Cavendish gorgon body, that was a little reflecting while looking at the ceiling of that castle that was always falling drips, despite everything her comfort was minimum due to the times that always hit head on with her mother, in the same way that the other sister who always obeyed her and did everything her mother ordered had a room that was also a dungeon, buying the false illusion of comfort and of a deserved punishment, the girl with the body of ophidium was already getting a little unsatisfied of being in that condition.
[Merrill's Thought: I've been a faithful daughter, I've always done what she told me to do, I've always obeyed her, I've always treated her well, would things be any different if I were in my father Paul's hands? She is such a tyrant, what do I do? Am I in this form for the rest of my life, in this torment of having a snake body, do I help Diana? Or do I do one last time to help my mother, give her a chance, who knows so I can really have the kingdom we deserve, but also by the way I've been behaving, I think only fate will tell me which is the best option].
Cavendish was just thoughtful with this moral dilemma, since she doesn't know how to act in a situation like this that leaves her half in the wall, for knowing that both sides are not seeing her very well and neither the creature can leave the place for having that body that the girl herself considers as an aberration having that condition for which she needs to kill her cousin so she can get a human body.
Back in the city of Preston, Diana was simply managing to hold her own against Chloé using the sword by simply dodging it, but little by little she was getting tired of being so much in that roll and even the people of the city were starting to yawn because nothing was happening and it was at that moment that Akko whistled throwing the Claymore to Diana who wields the weapon and already makes the two blades meet, hitting each other and making the Frenchwoman face the Scottish woman.
Chloé: I'll make sure you go where you belong you wretch.
Diana: Talk less, attack more.
Chloé tries to force a little and Diana stomps on Deppailer's foot, who tries to give an angry stomp to which Cavendish takes a few steps back and hits an elbow leaving the French girl a little dizzy, she even tries to counterattack the Scot, but she holds her sword very strong, takes a deep breath and tries to give a cut down that catches the blade of the platinum haired lassie that is looking at that scene scared, but then she sees another gap, hitting another elbow, what the people were already noticing right in the face who could have a chance to win this battle.
Akko: That's it Diana, hit that stupid French girl in the face and make that baguette shut up.
Chloé: You're more like a bar fighter fighting like that, the elegant Diana Cavendish, you're more of a hitter than a fighter, I thought you'd at least have a decent fight.
Diana: You're as dirty as I am, don't come saying those things, you're not that far from many of the ones I've faced, this provocation won't have any effect, fight for real, as if your life depended on it, I don't see you fighting straight.
Chloé clenches her fists gripping the sword tighter, she goes into a few stronger moves with the sword holding it tightly using both hands, at this Diana just dodges and is simply left finding the biggest dance, but even then she was just left finding the most tranquility.
Diana: your movements are without thinking, you are acting in a stupidly rash manner, how do you intend to win a battle that way.
Chloé: You'll see the dashing way now!
At that moment of rage the Deppailer filled the sword with earth, raised it taking it to one of the hands and made the blade hit the Cavendish's that was going in a provocative way, even using the sword with only one hand, but she didn't expect the dirty game of the Frenchwoman that throws the earth on the face of the Scottish lass that walks back a little dizzy, trying to remove the earth from her face, what was the gap that the blonde girl took advantage of, she advanced with everything to the platinum haired lassie. But
even so she managed to defend herself, barely using the senses that was in her head to protect from being hit by the blade of the sword, Akko gets extremely irritated while Chloé smiles trying to stun Diana by all means immobilizing her
in some way.
Akko: Fuck you, you idiot! You throw sand because you don't guarantee yourself in the normal fight, that's fucking filthy!
Diana continues to defend herself, using the sword, kind of going by the noise of the wind, until something stops her when then Chloé takes a few steps back when she was hit with a blow that was given on the arm of the Deppailer that was feeling pains trying to relieve, the Cavendish meanwhile rubbed her eyes, she was trying to guide herself by the blows, since even so the French still went up, the swords were hitting each other even so, only that soon without looking the Scot hit a knee on the chest of the French that was trying to get more sand again to try to hit the one with platinum hair.
Returning to be able to see normally and noticing that she had dirt on it in a single uniform cutting movement Cavendish lowers the sword hitting the wrist of Deppailer who starts to scream when seeing her hand falling and with that she points the sword to Chloé who is even scared to see that her right hand had fallen, at the same time agonizing in pain.
Diana: Get out of here and don't disturb us anymore, I'm being kind not to have killed you, I've already said that I'm not the reason for all the evil that's been caused by the world, we went to defeat it and we're coming back, in this exact same direction as you are.
Chloé laughing and getting up: Ah hahahaha! You know I don't give a shit if you're on one side or the other, I just really want to defeat you, I came here at your aunt's behest, I have to say she's a tremendous wretch, that bitch tried to get into my head, she used nice words, she was intimidating, as if she had a hold on my head, but now I know, now I know you weren't on the side that killed my suitor all these years, but now it's too late, now I'm sealed by fate into servitude to Daryl Cavendish.
Diana: So let's team up against her! We are going to my aunt's castle to defeat her once and for all, we can tend to that wound on her hand and then...
Chloé takes a vial of blood, puts her hand back, starting to face the Cavendish with anger and blood in her eyes, a light is emanating from that span of her hand that is coming together, the Deppailer is wrapped in a cloak on her body, her eyes are reddening, she is starting to develop fangs, starting the process of vampirification, which Diana even widens her eyes trying to stop, but soon she swallowed all that liquid and threw the bottle against Cavendish who used the sword to break the bottle and get already concentrated for a blow, already noticing that the infection was given when she got her hand exposed vaporizing but soon stopping when the French put on a pair of gloves.
Chloé: Now you'll see, you wretch, I'm going to finish you off!
Diana: Have you gone mad? This curse is the worst decision you could make in your life.
The newly formed vampire goes quickly towards Diana with the sword, causing the two blades to hit each other and this time the Cavendish feels a little bit of the impact as she drags her feet on the ground, but she doesn't let herself go, even with the huge strength and speed gained by the vampire, the Scottish lass tries to turn as she can.
Chloé starts to give faster and more powerful cutting movements, which both girls are taking steps backwards, without the blades hitting each other, she is just dodging and people are getting a little more excited to cheer for this fight and increase the bets.
The Deppailer soon hits a sword with much more strength together with Diana, causing a greater impact between both, but the Cavendish felt the tremor that was caused by the tension in her arms, even so she kept calm, since she could still have a chance, even more because the French girl's style was still the same, a little desperate using the blade.
Chloé: Feel the power of my blade Diana Cavendish, now I can see why you had that great strength, it was all a trick of yours, now I am the one with that power.
Diana pointing down: Well now I won't be so merciful, it's time to send you back where you belong.
Because of Diana's provocation, the French girl was furious and went all out against the Scottish lass that dodged, she already taking advantage of the gap, gives a quick move with the sword hitting a glancing blow on the Deppailer that uses a movement with the sword to push everything to the side, the way Cavendish wanted, tearing part of Chloé's clothes and this way exposing skin to the sun, what could already affect the girl because she has a weakness to the elements of nature.
The platinum haired lassie even shows a smile when having the sword pushed, already the vampire goes trying to give a blow to Diana, only that she doesn't let herself go by that, defending with mastery, causing a huge raise of sparks and on that as well thought by the Scottish lass ended up going on the way to hit the hood, breaking it on the middle and this way opening it, exposing everything from the head to the sun and this way the Scottish even gave a few steps back, while the French girl started her evaporation.
Chloé: What? I can't move properly! I feel like I'm melting! You ripped my clothes to expose me to the sun you wretch!
Annoyed, the blonde tries to give a desperate blow by going towards Diana, only that she keeps melting more and more, until the point she gets very close to the Scot and simply ends up evaporating having her souls pulled down and with that the whole city starts clapping for that duel, noticing that Cavendish is smart to know the weakness of a vampire, besides defeating a creature of the night.
Akko: Good girl! You did it my love! You defeated Chloé! You showed everyone that you're the best!
Diana: She really thought that being in a vampire form would save her from my blade, I knew the weakness is the sun, kind of obvious, now she's gone... I feel sorry for this lassie's parents, but unfortunately she went after trouble and trouble she found.
Hellene: Fuck you sis, you defeated that pain in the ass, you made her turn to dust, now there won't be anyone left to annoy us.
Diana: Well now we have killed the first one sent by Daryl, who knows the other threats that will come, second in fact, if we count with the succubus, anyway we will not give up, soon we will arrive at that castle and we will see what that damn thing is capable of.
The town's people soon start paying each other with bets and then each one leaves town, while the girls pick up the remains of what was once Chloé and then right at that moment when the town becomes quieter, a blue flame starts to rise, where Daryl soon reveals himself to the girls.
Daryl: Not bad Diana, you really survived, kind of obvious, I just sent Chloé to analyze how a human fights, I knew she would die, well anyway I'm not your mother to be training you all on the way sending a thousand henchmen to die in your hands, so being so, I'll be waiting for you in my castle, get ready to die and know the destiny that awaits you, or are you going to run away? Remember that humanity depends on all of you, if you were able to defeat Countess Cavendish you will be able to try to die for me! Hahahaha!
The flame then disappears, the girls only get a somewhat indignant expression, continuing to do what they were doing before, leaving the place and going towards the inn where they are received by everyone with open arms, it even starts a whole party, the girls sit down at the table and soon the attendant leaves several bottles of beer for them, besides food too.
Attendant: For all the hard work you have done and all that I have been able to earn and collect with bets, this will be on the house, you can feel free, this place is all yours, whatever you ask for is all yours.
Chariot: Wow, thank you so much for everything, we just really wanted a room, but if you guys want to thank us for everything we've done we'd be more than happy to.
All around the inn people were celebrating by dancing, listening to music, jumping, drinking, the atmosphere in the city was much more relaxed due to Chloé's presence there, which ended up being lighter and also made it easier for the girls to get more comfort in the city, which would spread the rumours around the world that the Countess Cavendish was defeated by that group of huntresses.
Meanwhile things far away in Luna Nova's castle, Daryl was with her hand on her chin analyzing that whole situation, just thinking about how her niece had defeated the vampire, even though she was already realizing that it was the cape through which opened a passage of sunlight, letting her be all vaporized by the sun's rays, which she can't analyze the physical limit that much, since Chloé was terrible at melee sword fighting in comparison to Cavendish.
Daryl: That was a shit sacrifice, we should have called a girl who knows more about combat like that, it didn't even pull Diana to the edge, she was just smart to know how to rip the cape to make it melt in the sun, but what a little wretch, well anyway, can you notice anything in all this Maril?
Maril: Against the vampire Chloé she really had to pull to the limit of her physical strength mum, I saw she even got a little shaky when the swords hit each other, so it may be that we have a better chance with all of this, we will defeat just by pulling Diana's fatigue, she may be strong and smart but she doesn't have fatigue that makes her invincible, now that she is human I have thought of many tactics to tire them out.
Daryl clapping her hands: Well done! Well done! Freak, you really got it right, that's very good, that's what an exemplary daughter is, now that you know what you're supposed to do then make good note and go to your room because soon they're going to be coming for your enjoyment, don't forget you only need to kill them to get the power, then you'll be able to be a vampire not only one, but you'll also be immune to the sun, just so you don't die in the sun and then we'll start making our plan to take over the whole world, you're going to be my great princess!
Maril: Thank you very much mother and my sovereign, you are without a doubt the best that I could have in this whole world, I thank you for always being taught by you to be so wise and intelligent, I'll be right there, thank you very much for complimenting me.
Maril goes waving to her mother, leaving the throne room and going to her dungeon where she will wait for the presence of the girls that in a matter of time will soon be going against the castle, already Daryl looks at the whole situation with a little bit of disgust, but not showing much when her daughter leaves.
[Daryl's Thought: Damn, do I really have to depend on this brat to come here and finally be free to go out there on my power plan? To think that now it's just waiting for the little curse to arrive, having to kill her too, why was I such an asshole? I should have chosen to curse myself since the beginning, now that almost 30 years have passed since I did all that I'm noticing what a waste of time it was, well at least now I'm with a younger appearance and I will make sure that my niece will know the real hell, I will not waste these powers, after waiting so much I have to show the world what I came for].
Daryl gets into her megalomaniac madness, letting power take over her head, wanting at all costs to conquer the world thinking that for that she needs to defeat her own niece.
Back in Preston the girls were in the room of the inn in a more relaxed manner, Marianne and Hellene being a bit sleepy and drunk, due to having overdone it a bit when it came to drinking, while Diana and Akko were a bit more relaxed, although a bit lightly affected, all gathered in the same room in a more relaxed manner.
Amanda: So girls, what are you going to do after you finish this journey? I just think I'm going to keep travelling the world trying to find another one to do.
Chariot: Ijust want to stay in the Belmont house living a love life next to my Croix, having a happy family and no one else disturbing us, just our children screaming and running around.
Diana: Honestly I'll go the same as Chariot, now that I'm cured of the curse I don't need to isolate myself anymore, I'll stay the rest of my days with Akko, if I can I'll stay at Belmont house too, I've always lived there since I escaped from the castle and it's the friendliest place with people like us.
Akko: I think the adventures have come to an end, I have already had my great challenging adventure, in all these two months I have been living the best days of my life, all thanks to you and you... Mari? I think she and Hellene fell asleep haha.
Diana: Theydrank too much these two, they were crazy singing for everyone to hear, ahhh, I'm more willing to live moments like this, relaxed between us, who knows, maybe one day I'll also have a family next to Akko haha.
Akko: Woman with woman? What do you mean... Oh yeah... Her mothers, but even then her other mother was kind of a vampire...
Diana: But that doesn't mean anything, there is the magic of the fertility stone, which we can make this a reality, then we will have a family, we will be a couple, we will live together, having the love that my mother Bernadette always wanted to live with my other mother Laura.
The two hug each other and have a cute moment, but soon the effect of the drink ends up getting to the couple, causing them to fall asleep for a while, resting after the visit to that city, where many things happened there.
Chloé Deppailer the assassin, after so much chasing the group, so much wanting to put an end to this, starting to put all the blame on Cavendish's back for everything bad that has been happening in relation to creatures of the night and related things, the Frenchwoman came to be killed by underestimating Cavendish and thinking that the condition of vampirism would be the salvation, by which would give her very high powers, which could even be real, but she did not count on how Diana knows how to be an excellent strategist in battle.
See you, assassin witches...