Ch. 32 Princess Banishment
Caw! Caw! Caw!
The crows' voice resonated over the cemetery at twilight. To the right of the graveyard stood the abandoned chapel. Paint faded from the building and the glass windows were partially broken. On the top of the triangle roof was a large cross above the round, rainbow glass art. The home owner descended from the air. The wind gracefully fluttered her skirt-just slightly revealing her laced undergarments.
Snap!
She landed by the front door and turned toward the steps.
Snap!
The vampire turned around. Her face became stern at the intruder. The boy's camera shivered in his hands. He realized his cover was blown and ran off. Her attention didn't stray away from the field.
"So, you finally came," Reiri smiled. Beyond the graveyard were hordes of shadows moving closer. "I was getting tired of waiting."
The Next Day
It was late in the afternoon. Everyone kept themselves busy by performing their daily routines; Kurumu and Sawawa were in the kitchen preparing dinner while Rai and Jolt were working in the front lawn. When Sawawa checked the pantry, she noticed a lack of canned vegetables and rice pouches.
"Oh dear," Sawawa frowned, "It looks like we might be running low on food."
"You're telling me," Kurumu opened the door to the fridge. There were empty shelves with nothing but condiment bottles. "We're completely dry."
"I'll just run to the market and buy more supplies." Sawawa exited the kitchen and made her way to the entrance. She grabbed her purse on the counter and stepped outside. She turned her head and noticed her coworker carrying a potted plant in his hands. His mouse kept on digging large holes inside the flower bed. When he popped out, his body was covered ear to toe with dirt and gravel. "Hello, there!" Sawawa waved to them. Rai turned to her. His uniform was just as dirty as his partner.
"Hey," Rai waved back. "You're heading out?"
"Why yes, but I'll be back soon."
"Alright, be careful." Jolt popped his head out of the hole.
"Pika!" Jolt smiled. Sawawa strolled past the front gate. Rai planted the final pot in the ground. He used the trowel to replace the dirt around the roots.
"Looks like we're done here." Rai observed. The garden bed was replanted and the flowers looked lively and fresh. The tulip buds were open and the round daisies were in full bloom. "Let's turn in for now." They both went back into the mansion. Rai tapped his shoes on the cement floor before entering. He closed the door as Jolt jumped through the crack beforehand. The little mouse scurried off near the kitchen. Rai made his way to the right hallway and took the first right turn. He took the next door on the left and entered the room. The princess was resting on her chair with a cup of tea in her hand. Flandre stood close with a tray of cream and sugar.
"I assume that you finished tending to the lawn," said Hime. Rai settled in a chair.
"Ripe and ready for spring," he replied.
"Fuga," Flandre walked by Rai and offered him a cup of brewed tea.
"Thanks, Flandre." Rai swirled the drink for some time. Hime looked to Rai.
"You seem to be lost in thought," she supposed.
"That's one way of putting it." Rai looked over to her. "Hey, can I ask you something?" Hime knew he was interested in something.
"It's about the soul, isn't it?" Rai sat the glass on the table.
"I want to know about those things. How did Issa get it?"
"…That, I do not know." Hime sipped her tea. "Our family received it as an offering for the sake of allowing peace to prosper between monsters and humans. It was passed down for generations among the Phoenix lineage for centuries." Rai cocked an eyebrow.
"Centuries…How long have you had it?"
"Almost three years. It was made customary for the oldest daughter to keep the sacred jewel in her possession, unless won in battle."
"That includes your older siblings, right?"
"Correct, it was a spur of the moment that I managed to acquire it in a duel." She stood up and walked over to the window. She gazed at the front yard. "Long before our generation, this world was fraught with chaos and fear. Vampires would attack without warning, creatures would devour citizens without remorse, and humans sustained to hunt them down. Three hundred years ago, Issa Shuzen decided to stop the terror and propose a treaty of peace among the humans." She touched the soul under her dress. "Monster attacks subsided, and the humans retreated from their searches. Order had been restored…until—"
"The Battle Royale," Rai finished her sentence. "But, where did Issa get it?"
"No one knows; the only thing we were told was that when the Reaper returned, he must be tested before the treasure is returned."
Sasanaki Academy
"Did you hear?" A female student talked amongst her friends. Hiro could overhear their conversation. "Reiri is out again today!"
"And she's never taken a single day off without calling in," another student added.
"It's been three days in a row now," the third student interrupted. "I'm really worried about her." Hiro looked surprised to hear this.
"Reiri…" He hurried home.
Rai slumped in his chair. He had over a hundred things floating around in his head, but couldn't get the pieces to fit.
"Fuck…this is too confusing," he sighed.
"The job of a carpenter appears to be challenging," Hime grinned.
"Very funny." Rai lifted himself from his seat. "Hey princess, have you heard of a guy with a red mask?"
"...A red mask?"
"It was a while back. There were these wizards and this guild that had people using magic..." Rai could see Hime's expression as unenthusiastic. "...My point is I think he's out to get me."
"Did he say anything that could be interpreted as a threat?" Rai could hardly recall the dream he had.
"He said something about meeting in the future. There was something else, but..." The doors to the dining room swung open. Everyone looked to the guest. "Hiro?"
"Your home quite early," Hime realized.
Kurumu held Jolt in her arms as they made their way down the hall.
~Growl! ~
"Chu…" He sighed nauseatingly. The little mouse could hardly keep his stomach at peace knowing there was no food left in the kitchen. Kurumu petted his head.
"Just hang on a little longer," Kurumu assured. "You don't wanna miss tonight's special, do you?" Jolt's ears perked with interest. "Tonight's special is gonna be chicken caprese! I can get started when Sawawa comes back." Jolt suddenly fantasized the delicious meal. "I'll just chop the onions and tomatoes, cook the chicken, add the cheese so it would melt…" Kurumu suddenly detected Jolt drooling from his mouth and onto her apron. "Eww!"
Thud!
Kurumu dropped the mouse to shake the slobber over herself. Jolt lay on the ground to sleep away the hunger. She looked up and saw Riza standing next to the entryway of the dining room. Her back leaned against the wall. "Wolfgirl, what are you doing?"
"Quiet." Riza silenced her. She pointed her thumb over at the door.
"Then I'll go look for her alone!" Hiro shouted. He barged through the doors and marched out.
"Hey, hold up!" Rai left the room and went chasing after him.
"Rai, where are you going?" Kurumu asked. Rai turned his head.
"I'm going after Hiro. I'll be back later." He quickly followed him out of the mansion. Riza simply ignored them. She turned away in disgust.
"Tsk," she muttered. "It doesn't matter to me if something happens to a vampire."
Hiro walked along the stone sidewalk. He began his search to find Reiri. Besides being the top of her class, it wasn't like her to be missing school without a reason. Whatever the case, Hiro pushed forward into town. However, his luck didn't seem to be turning up.
"I said I'd look for her but…" Hiro lowered his head, "where does Reiri live?"
"You think Reiri's in trouble?" Rai asked.
"She hasn't been to school or called in," Hiro explained. "She might be in danger!"
"Then, let's move out." Rai headed for the doorway.
"You can forget it." Hime interrupted. Rai stopped in his tracks.
"But you don't know, Hime," Hiro explained. "Something could have happened to her!"
"Did she say that herself?"
"She didn't, but…"
"Then leave her alone." Hime went back to her seat. "If she actually wanted our help, then she'd say so."
"Come on, your highness," Rai tried to have her side with Hiro. "She was the one who saved Hiro from the count. We at least owe her one."
"Hiro, you were the one she saved," Hime explained. "If you're so worried about Reiri, why don't you go check up on her?" Hiro had enough.
"Fine." He made off towards the doors.
He stopped in his tracks. "I can't just walk around aimlessly. I need some kind of clue where to look."
"Psst," A voice whispered. "Hiro!" Hiro searched for the source of the noise. "Over here!" He looked over his left shoulder and saw the boy with glasses calling him. He ushered Hiro into the alley in between the houses.
"Bucchi?" The two had their meeting in privacy. "What are you doing? I'm looking for someone." Bucchi looked to Hiro with a serious attitude.
"Hiyorimi, an important—nay, critical question has been raised." He started sweating with fear.
"An important—nay, critical question?"
"That's right. Are you ready to hear it?" He raised his fist in determination. "Are you prepared to listen to the truth that will break down the fragile world that you know?"
"I-I don't think so..." Hiro sweat dropped. Bucchi handed him a pink photo album to Hiro.
"Anyway, have a look at this secret file." Hiro opened the book. The first thing he saw was a photo; a woman descending from the sky in front of an old church. Hiro immediately recognized the person.
"It's Reiri!" He announced. "This is…"
"You are the only boy in the academy who is close to Reiri Kamura." Bucchi adjusted his glasses. "Not only that, all the boys, nay, even the girls who yearn for her look at you with a murderous hatred in their eyes!" Bucchi emphasized his claim as he moved in on Hiro. "Actually, that's irrelevant." Hiro sighed. "Listen, Reiri Kamura is…a vampire!" Hiro panicked.
"A-A vampire!" He tried to pass it off as a hoax. "No, you must be joking!"
"I know! I was expecting this kind of response." Hiro handed him the book and started taking off.
"Well, I'll be going now…" Bucchi grabbed onto his shoulder.
"So…let's go find out, shall we?" Bucchi suggested. "I know that Kamura, nay, a vampire's stronghold is a church!" Hiro quickly turned to him.
"You know where she is?"
"I don't know what kind of dangers await us there," Bucchi folded his arms, "but this is something we have to do!"
"So that's where she is," a voice erupted near the kids. They turned to see the butler witnessing their conversation. "You guys going to check on Reiri?"
"It's you, the butler!" Bucchi remembered.
"Rai?" Hiro questioned. Rai folded his arms.
"As much as like hunting vampires, I can't let you kids go to an abandoned graveyard at night…without adult supervision," Rai offered.
"It's settled then," Bucchi declared. "I have two allies to help me overcome this great challenge! Let's go!" The three started running past a small coffee shop. Sawawa sat inside enjoying a small, creamy parfait. She seated across from the gentleman in charge of the shop. His uniform consisted of a white shirt, red vest, black apron, black pants, and brown shoes. His hair was slicked back and his facial hair well-trimmed with a short point beard and a narrow moustache.
"Are you on break, Master?" Sawawa asked. The man looked focused on an important matter.
"I have something to tell you, Ms. Sawawa," the gentleman said. Sawawa tilted her head. "Your breast—no! I mean, your eyes burn the fire in my heart."
"Oh my, that's terrible!" she cried. "Would you like some parfait? It might cool you down."
"No, that's not it..." He tried to explain. "You see…it's…with me…" Sawawa stared blankly with a smile on her face. "Basically, I want to change the store name from Dandy to Sawawa."
"Wow, what a coincidence!" Sawawa cheered. "It's going to have the same name as me!" The man slumped on the table.
"No, that's not what I meant…" He got back up. "Ms. Sawawa…" He stood from his seat. "…Would you like another parfait?"
"Yes, I'll have another one please!" She continued eating her dessert. The gentleman only sulked at his failed attempt. "I have a feeling that I was supposed to be doing something."
Caw! Caw! Caw!
The crows echoed around the graveyard. The three men now stood in front of the abandoned church. The dark, ominous clouds hovered over them as a bad omen upon entering this sanctuary.
"Looks like Halloween came early this year," Rai assumed.
"Reiri is here…" said Hiro. Bucchi was taking pictures in the background.
"Hey kid, how did you find out about this place?" Rai asked.
"It's an art," Bucchi spoke proudly. "Kamura is my finest subject."
"I don't think that's something you should be proud of." Bucchi grew silent. Rai cracked his knuckles. "Alright, let's head inside." Rai started walking towards the building. Hiro followed after him.
"W-wait…" Bucchi warned them. The two entered the church and closed the door behind them. "This is terrible!" He shivered in fear. "They don't understand how dangerous a realm they have just entered through!" He adjusted his glasses. "But I do know…so I have to gather my courage…because this is a trial I must overcome in order to pursue the truth!" The wind rustled. "WAIT FOR ME!" Bucchi ran into the church. He quickly shut the door and rested against it.
Whish!
"AH!"
Ka-dunk! Ka-dunk! Ka-dunk!
The outline of his body became traced with wooden daggers. Bucchi stood paralyzed by the sudden shock before him. Footsteps began approaching from the front of the room. Out of the shadows came Reiri's figure as she slowly approached Bucchi.
"You're the one who discovered this place?" she asked. Bucchi didn't move. He only trembled. "Such a bad boy." Her face came closer. "I need to punish you." Reiri closed her eyes. When they reopened, A sudden wave of energy bolted from her red eyes. Fangs shot out from her mouth. Bucchi had been overtaken into a hypnotic state.
"…!" He slowly slumped to the ground. He fell asleep.
"Reiri," Hiro and Rai showed up behind her.
"Talk about overkill," Rai pulled out one of the stakes tacked to the wall.
"Hiro, you must be careful about choosing your friends," Reiri suggested.
"He's not really a friend," Hiro explained. "He's more like a…"
"An acquaintance?" Rai finished. Reiri returned to the two.
"Did you come because you were worried about me?" Reiri asked. She patted Hiro on the head. "You're a good kid, Hiro."
"Ah, um…" Hiro blushed. She looked up to Rai.
"Such brave men." She moved her finger up Rai's chest.
"So, you wanna explain why you've been taking sick days?" Rai carried on with the subject. Reiri walked up the aisle back to the altar.
"I haven't been able to sleep recently."
"You can't sleep?" Hiro asked.
"Yes. He keeps me up so late. Morning, afternoon, evening…"
"D-does that mean…!" Hiro jumped the gun.
"He's so full of energy." Reiri spoke suggestively.
"F-full of energy?" Hiro blushed.
"…Are you a super freak?" Rai intervened. Reiri lit the room with candles. Rai shimmied Bucchi to a seat.
"He's quite intense," Reiri added.
"I-Intense!?" Hiro became disillusioned.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Something kept ramming the front door. Each pound grew louder trying to force its way in.
Pow!
The doors flew open. An army of vampires stood before the archway.
"Lower class vampires!" Hiro shouted.
"Exactly," Reiri said annoyed. "They keep coming every day. It's so tiring."
"Oh…so that's what you meant," Rai realized. "Why attack you?"
"It seems I've been banished from the vampire realm."
"That Vampire there…I'll have you banished from the vampire realm for betraying your fellows! Prepare yourself!
"…Well, when you say it like that," Rai emphasized.
"I betrayed all vampires by giving a hand to our natural enemies, a werewolf," Reiri explained.
"Reiri," Hiro uttered. The vampires drew closer. Their fangs bore out as they hissed at their prey. They toppled the candle holders. They landed directly on the draped curtains. The small embers scorched and engulfed the walls of the building. Reiri made her way to the black coffin in front of the room. She picked it up and hovered over Rai and Hiro.
Crash!
At full speed, she rammed the coffin out through the glass window. The vampires went chasing after her.
"Hiro, we gotta get outta here!" Rai yelled.
"R-Right!" Hiro replied. The two ran for the unconscious boy. Hiro tried to wake him up.
"Bucchi! Bucchi!" Hiro yelled. Rai picked him up by his collar. He shook him vigorously.
"Hey, nap times over!" Rai yelled. Bucchi opened his eyes.
"V-Vampire!" Bucchi cried out. In his hands, he wielded a garlic necklace and a silver cross. "Let us do battle to the death!"
"Easy there, Van Helsing," Rai shoved the garlic away.
"For the sake of peace!" Bucchi regained his composure. "Huh? She's gone."
"Bucchi," Hiro interrupted. "I have a request to ask."
"…Eh?"
Reiri stood before an army of bloodsuckers. Each one was more frightening than the last.
"You just don't learn," Reiri giggled. "Do you really think you low-class vampires can defeat a pure-blooded one?" She opened her coffin with a pile of sharpened stakes. "I won't refuse your invitations." She placed stakes between each of her fingers. "I'll show you the difference between a human turned low-class vampire and a real vampire." The vampires charged in. Reiri threw the pikes at high speed.
Thwap!
"GYAAAAAAH!" The vampires screamed for mercy. The pikes pierced their chest and dug straight into the heart. The bodies vaporized into smoldering ashes. One by one, each vampire disintegrated, but their numbers continued to grow. A vampire snuck up behind Reiri. "Graaawr!"
Bonk!
The vampire fell unconscious. Hiro gripped the candle staff tightly in his grip. Reiri looked to Hiro in surprise.
"When I was kidnapped and in real danger, you came to save me, Reiri," Hiro offered. "I might not be helpful but I can try…I'll try my hardest to save you!"
"Hiro!" Three vampires jumped in from the front.
"GYAAAAHH!" The vampires screeched.
Slam!
A hammer bashed down on the vampire to the right. He latched the hook to the center enemy's shirt and tossed him into the third on the right. Rai pulled out a wooden scalpel and pierced the first enemy nearby.
"Looks like you're gonna need some backup." Rai grinned. A creepy laughter filled the air around them. The vampires stopped attacking. Everyone looked to the night sky.
"Hahahaha…HAHAHAHAHAHA!" The figure floated just in front of the quarter moon. His cape rustled in the breeze. The man looking down on them had the same expression as he did at his castle.
Royal Manor
Bucchi snapped pictures of the team.
"Fuga."
Snap!
He shifted to Hime.
"Hiro said that?" she inquired.
Snap!
"Yes, it was terrifying." Bucchi responded. "He said a vampire was being attacked by other vampires."
"And Rai wanted to stay behind?" Kurumu asked.
"Why didn't they run away? Why!?" Hime rose from her seat.
"Let's go," she ushered. Kurumu, Flandre, and Jolt followed Hime out of the room. Bucchi continued snapping pictures. "What are you doing?"
"Huh? Me too?" Bucchi shivered.
"Duh, genius," Kurumu highlighted, "You're the one who knows how to get to the cemetery."
"N-No way! I have to go back there!?"
"Flandre." Hime summoned.
"Fuga."
"No! I don't want to go back there!" He screamed, but Flandre kept on dragging by his collar. "No! Don't pull me! My butt is chaffing!" Kurumu looked over to Riza who still didn't budge from the window.
"Hey, dog, you coming or what?" Kurumu asked.
"Why should someone like me go and save a vampire?" Riza questioned.
"Fine, do whatever you want! But Rai and Hiro are in trouble, and I'm not just gonna mope around and do nothing!" She went off after the others. Riza stared blankly at the cold night.
Graveyard
The burning fire blazed the church behind Duke Dracul and his vampire army. Rai, Hiro, and Reiri stood their ground against the adversary.
"Traitor!" Dracul accused. "I will banish you from the world of the vampires."
"Uh, Count," Rai interrupted. "Didn't you already do that?"
"The only way to rid a vampire is through the death sentence."
"Do you think you can do it?" Reiri mocked.
"You'll only be acting tough for now." He brought out his whip. Hiro readied his weapon. "What an unexpected meeting, immortal of Royalty. Do not fear! I didn't come for you tonight. I'll greet you and your master once I deal with this traitor of a vampire…nice and slowly."
Whappah!
"Get her!" The vampires moved in. Reiri wasn't going to go down without fighting. She tossed her daggers at the onslaught and pierced through the first battalion. With swift motion and wide kicks against the clan, she held them off. Hiro bashed in the enemy with his staff and swung them away. Rai tripped a vampire in front and drew his fist up its rib cage. He pulled another enemy from his right and tossed him to the left. He cleared a path and went running into the open. A vampire grabbed Reiri from her shoulder. Rai saw him lunging with a knife.
"Reiri, head up!" He shouted. In a flash, her body dispersed into countless bats. She reassembled behind Rai. Her eyes were filled with red aura.
"The party has only begun," she announced. More vampires were swarming around them.
"I wouldn't mind if it ended!" Rai fended off a bloodsucker and jabbed his screwdriver into its chest. Keeping him in place, he took Reiri's stake and stabbed him again. The enemy disintegrated.
Shank!
"Kyaa!" A pitchfork was jabbed into Reiri's back. Blood spurted across the grass. "I won't be killed by something like this." Reiri assured.
"Reiri!" Suddenly, a group jumped on top of Rai. Two vampires pinned his arms to the ground. The rest started crowding around him.
"Oh, hell no!" Rai kicked away one vampire at a time. "I'm not turning into you guys again." He shouted to Hiro. "Get Reiri!" Hiro charged in to save her.
"Raaaaahhh!" He cried. Hiro tried swatting away the group. A vampire choked him by the neck, and then tossed him to the ground.
"Hiro!" Reiri reached after Hiro. A vampire pulled her back. She became engulfed within her kind. "Damn…" The enemies brought their weapons on her.
Stab! Jab! Stab! Jab! Stab!
Rai tried to shake free, but the vampires kept their grip. With each cut and scrape, more blood Reiri lost from her body.
Crack!
"It's about time I finish you myself," Dracul pronounced. The vampires halted. They stepped away from the weakened vampire. Her tiresome body trembled to sit up. She sat up completely scratched and bloodied in her tattered clothes. Hiro stepped in front of her.
"I'll take you on!" Hiro shouted.
Crack!
Dracul snapped the rod away from Hiro. He stood in shock.
"Step aside, Hiro," Reiri requested.
"But…"
"It's impossible for you." She slowly stood. Rai tried desperately to break from the vampires.
"Don't do it, Reiri!" He yelled. She stepped before Dracul. With the last of her energy, she brought out her six stakes.
Crash!
The glass window from the house shattered.
Whoosh!
Reiri threw her pikes at Dracul.
Crack! Crack!
He swatted away the projectiles. She tossed her last three. In one swing, Dracul reversed them back at her.
*Peirce*
"…!" Reiri felt the daggers digging into her chest. She fell back.
"Reiri! No!" Hiro shouted.
Dracul walked over to the defeated vampire.
"And the world loses another pure-blooded vampire," Dracul chuckled. "You will be missed."
"It's…only…begun…" Reiri uttered.
"Your mouth is your only skill." Dracul pulled the stake from her paralyzed body. He lifted it over his head. The stake would be her final blow. "DIE!"
"Stop it!" Hiro jumped in the way. The stake was driven deep into his back. He cringed from the spike. Dracul looked down on him. Rai finally shook off the vampires. He got to his feet and went running after Reiri.
Zip!
A lightning bolt shot past him.
"Don't interfere…!" Dracul demanded.
Zap!
Lightning zipped past Dracul into a crowd of bloodsuckers.
KABOOM!
The impact created a blast radius and sent the vampires flying. From the back, Rai turned to Jolt, Flandre, and Hime standing before the undead army.
"Fuga."
"Well, well, we have some unexpected guests," Dracul assumed. Rai smiled.
"Actually, they're right on cue," he guaranteed. Dracul remained composed.
"It doesn't matter; they have saved me the trouble of greeting them myself."
"Hime!" Hiro cheered. Reiri turned her head.
"Princess…why…?" She asked. Hime straightened the sword in her hand, a scabbard with a gold hilt and a sharpened blade.
"Because I am merciful," Hime answered. She pointed her weapon at the count. "Not once, but twice you have forced me to play my hand. This is no longer forgivable. You will be punished!" Flandre held Rai's scythe.
"Fuga." Jolt readied his static.
"Pika!"
"Are you sure it'll still go your way?" Dracul asked.
"Raaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwrrrr!" Ryu picked up a slain vampire by his claws. He chewed on his bamboo shoot without a care.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
A crowd of vampires were clean cut from the waist down. Their lifeless bodies tumbled to the ground. The succubus fluttered back down to earth with her long nails extended.
"Sorry boys~," Kurumu winked. "I guess my fingers slipped." From the other side of the battlefield, bloodsuckers were being penetrated by small missiles straight at their heart. Francesca fired rounds of silver marbles at a rapid pace. Standing beside her was the young princess.
"I didn't think there'd be a day where I save a vampire," Sherwood said optimistically.
"Sherwood, Kurumu, Ryu-Ryu, Francesca!" Hiro cried out. From the bushes, Bucchi continued photo graphing the battle. He watched Ryu flailing about and throwing bodies across the field.
"Horror!" he said, "Oh, the horror!" Ryu lifted a body over his head. He pulled the head and legs in opposite directions.
*Riiiiiiiiiiiiip!*
"!" Bucchi felt the chills run over his body. He fainted…again.
Crack! Snap! Clank! Screech!
Dracul and Hime went at each other with their weapons. The Count snapped his whip against Hime's sword.
"I'll defeat the traitor and drink your blood, princess!" Dracul declared. He continued striking at Hime. "All in one spectacular evening!" The princess continued reflecting his strikes with each swing.
Clack!
Her sword flew into the air.
Jab!
The bladed landed in the ground. She massaged her wrist.
"You live up to your reputation," Hime complimented.
"I'm honored to be praised by you," he appreciated.
"It's not the time to be saying that, your highness!" Reiri reminded her. She pulled the stake from her arm.
"Prepare yourself!" Dracul raised his whip for the final blow.
VVVRRRRRRRRRRRRMMM!
"Eh?"
CRASH!
Riza rammed her motorbike right into Count Dracul's face. As she jumped off, she skidded to a complete stop over by Riza.
"You're late, Riza," Hime smiled.
"Shut up!" She barked back. She exited her vehicle and stood against the count.
"Riza!" Reiri was surprised to see her.
"Damn werewolf!" Dracul cursed. He regained his footing. Riza summoned the claws from her hands.
"…Don't take it wrong, Reiri," Riza stated. "I didn't come to save you." Riza locked in her focus on Dracul. "Vampires have killed countless of my kind. They're enemies to us werewolves...That's all there is to it." Everyone regrouped back together: Flandre, Sherwood, Francesca, Ryu, Jolt, Kurumu, and Hiro.
"With that we've now defeated all the low-class vampires," Sherwood stated. Rai, Riza, and Hime surrounded Dracul.
"All we have left is…" Kurumu interrupted.
"Dracula himself," Rai finished. Flandre tossed Rai's scythe into his hands. The vampire, now surrounded, had nowhere left to run. "Give it up count. You've lost." Dracul didn't change his position. He grinned.
"Hehehehe," he snickered. "HAHAHAHAHA!"
"He's completely lost it!" Riza assumed. The defeated vampires began to morph into black, smoldering fumes. They all gathered around Dracul and overtook his body.
*Shine!*
The orb from Rai's blade radiated with a red light.
"The hell?" Rai noticed. Hime perceived the situation.
"Rai," she called out.
"…Oh shit!" Rai remembered. The new enemy grew larger as his body completely expanded to the size of a hot air balloon. His shape became round and his skin developed a more rigid and orange texture. Green arms grew out from the top of the pod and extended into four curly claws. From the backside, two large tree trunks shot from the other end into legs. They planted themselves to the ground and provided support for the body, lifting the ball just above the ground. The surface carved itself jagged sharp teeth, half-cut circles for eyes, and a triangle nose. Its mouth kindled a torch that started raging within its body. Smoke reeked out from the mouth and eyes. Two red spheres floated as pupils, seeking out its targets.
"What the heck is that?!" Sherwood cried.
"He's being controlled by the material," Hime hypothesized.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHRRRRRRR!" The giant monster shrieked. Kurumu stepped away from the creature.
"Rai...what is that?" Kurumu asked.
"If I have to guess..." Rai readied his scythe. "It's a Drac-o-lantern!" The beast swatted his vines at Riza and Hime.
Smack! Crack!
They both crashed yards away.
"Damn!" Riza yelled. She held her shoulder from the whiplash. "How did he get so big?" The creature shifted his attention to the small army. Jolt stood his ground.
"Pika...CHU!"
Bzzzzzzzttt!
The electricity surged onto the plump body. The lightning plastered through its fresh exterior and shot out the other side.
"RAAAAAAAAAAWWWRRR!" The beast shrilled from the pain.
"Did you get him?" Hiro asked. The orange body started regenerating the hole. Fire built up in its mouth.
"Raaawwrr!" Ryu shouted. The crew cleared out of the way...except Jolt.
"Jolt, move it!" Rai yelled.
"Blaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrreggggghhhhh!"Fire spat out from its mouth. Its flames engulfed the grass and burnt it until there was nothing left but the dirt. The fire subsided to reveal a small hole in the ground.
"PI-KA!"
Bam!
Jolt shot out of the ground and rammed into the pumpkin underneath. The beast tumbled back, but remained intact. Its long vines locked Jolt in a snare and held him above its body. It readied to devour its meal. "PIKA!"
Slash!
Kurumu clawed the vines. Jolt tumbled across the ground and rushed by Rai's side. Riza went running at the beast.
Pow! Pow! Pow!
She threw out ferocious punches at its back.
"Damn it!" She yelled. "This thing's too soft!"
Pew! Pew! Pew!
"Fuga." Francesca shot her marbles into the beast's side. The punctures holes healed immediately.
"RAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGG!" The monster grew angry. It drew in its vines and its legs. Turning on its side, it rapidly spun into motion straight at Sherwood.
"Raaawwrr!"
*Grab!*
Ryu grabbed the fruit in place. With each second, it pushed forward to topple the panda.
"Jolt, give him a Wild Charge!" Rai shouted. Jolt went running at the beast.
"Pikapikapikapikapikapika..." Jolt jumped over Ryu. "Pika!"
Slam!
The pumpkin went flying over by the church.
CRASH!
It obliterated a wall from the building. As it regained its footing, the beast saw Reiri defenseless on the ground. Its eyes released more smoke as its hatred grew stronger. Vines began coiling around her.
Slice!
Rai's scythe cut through the vines and struck the ground. The beast turned toward the boy.
"Hey Jack, don't you know smoking's bad for you?" The beast released its flames at Rai.
Swoop!
Kurumu dived in and grabbed his arm before being incinerated. The two were flying over the beast. They rested near Hime.
"What's the plan for this thing?" She asked.
"I'm trying," Rai stated, "Give me a sec."
"We should simply slice it to pieces." Sherwood suggested.
"It keeps growing back," Riza warned them.
Crack!
She dodged an oncoming vine. "We need to kill it fast."
"Fuga," Flandre agreed. Jolt readied another lightning bolt.
"Pika…!"
~Growl! ~
"Pika..." Jolt sighed. His stomach became famished. Hime lifted her eyebrow.
"Perhaps if we were to cook it," she suggested.
"We'll need a big microwave," Rai said sarcastically.
"More like an oven." Sherwood pointed to the burning church. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Let's move out!" Rai yelled. Hime devised a strategy.
"Riza, Jolt," she requested. "Attack the legs!"
"Whatever you say, Princess!" she responded. Riza ran at the beast's hind trunks."Gaaaaaah!"
Crunch!
The right leg tore to scattered bark from Riza's claws. The pumpkin turned around and slammed its vines.
Crack!
She jumped out of the way beside Jolt. "You're up, Sparky!"
"Pika!" Jolt dug underground. The beast breathed fire over the landscape hoping to get a hit on the rat.
Plow!
The ground beneath his right leg caved in and fell into a pit. A few yards away, Jolt dug himself out and went running at the beast.
"Pika...CHU!"
Bzzzt!
The lightning shot at the beast's leg.
Crack!
The second leg broke in half with scorching wood being roasted.
BAM!
The balance of its body dropped it to its backside. It retracted its vines around the top of its root and began spinning at a fast rate. The beast's final form of attack was to run over its foes.
"Pika!" Jolt dug beneath the ground. The pumpkin rolled right over his head.
"What will be your next move?" Hime asked.
"We need to lure it inside the church before the fire goes out." Riza informed.
"Leave that to me!" Kurumu offered. She took off after the rolling menace. She flew into a dive with her leg stretched out.
*Kick!*
The beast toppled over until it crashed on its face. It flailed its vines as it tried to grab her. Kurumu managed to avoid its grasp.
"Hey Sherwood," Kurumu called out. "Get you maid and panda ready."
"Got it," she responded. "Francesca!"
"Fuga." Francesca fired her marbles. The vines quickly lashed out.
"I don't think so!" Kurumu yelled.
Slice!
The vines were cut down to the brown stub.
Pew! Pew! Pew!
The marbles pounded at the pumpkin until the balls were lodged into his skin. The beast shifted its route at the robot maid. Ryu went running at the giant fruit.
"Raaaawwwrr!" Ryu grasped the creature and lifted it above its head. It tossed the beast's massive weight at Flandre. She readied her tree trunk for the hit.
"Fuga!"
Whack!
Her large bat struck the pumpkin near the entrance of the church.
Bam!
The pumpkin collapsed into the burning inferno. It crashed onto the bleachers as the roof started caving in. The beast crawled toward the exit. Standing before the doorway was Rai and Hime. She held her sword to the ground as Rai gripped his scythe.
"GGGGGRRRRRRRR!" The beast growled.
"Dracul..." Hime smiled.
"Trick or Treat!" Rai smirked.
Slice!
Hime destroyed the column on the left while Rai chopped the column to the right. The supports were destroyed. The building came crashing down on the Drac-o-lantern.
Crash! Burn!
The simmering inferno glowed brightly. Everyone watched as the beast burned within the church. From the fire, a black figure shot out from the ashes. Everyone looked to see Dracul flying off into the sky with a large piece of plywood jabbed in his chest.
"Damn it!" he cursed.
"He's still alive after all that?" Kurumu complained.
"I was careless!" Dracul yelled to everyone. "I won't forget this transgression! I'll get you back for this!" His flight pattern grew sloppy as he took off over the graveyard. Riza summoned her claws.
"He's not getting away!" Riza cried out.
"Let him," Hime commanded. Riza looked to her in confusion.
"You sure about that?" Rai asked. Dracul disappeared into the light of the moon.
"Princess…" Reiri looked up to the princess. Hime smiled back.
"I've now returned the favor for saving Hiro," Hime concluded. "Isn't that right, Reiri?" From the bushes, Hiro grabbed Bucchi's camera and managed through the settings.
[Would you like to delete these photos?]
[YES] [NO]
[Photos deleted]
Bucchi slept on the dirt.
In the depths of the castle, the vampire dropped to his knees from exhaustion within a sitting room. He clenched the aching pain in his chest.
"…I failed." He spoke. A person walked over to his body. Dracul turned over on his back; his eyes growing colder as the black seething aura escaped from his wounds. "Please…Help me…Your sister vanquished me…I need…more power…" Dracul stretched his hand out to reach his master. The figure before him offered his own hand as well. "With your power, give me life…give me the Flame of Life!"
STOMP!
The master stepped onto the wooden plywood. He drilled it deeper inside Dracul's chest. The feeling of torture seared through his body.
"What…What are you…?"He cried out for the last time. "GYAAAAAAAAAAA!" The figure simply turned to the shadow creature behind him. He inspected the chained collar around its neck and grinned.
Royal Manor
"Thank you, Flan!" Sawawa thanked Flandre. From the balcony, Hime sipped her tea while watching the view of the front yard.
"So, she's here," Hime presumed. Rai, Jolt, Riza, Kurumu, and Sawawa all watched as Flandre carried the large coffin on her back. She made her way into the mansion.
"Just put it in the back room, okay?" Sawawa smiled. Riza…on the other hand…
"Hey!" She shouted. "Don't tell me that's…"
"Looks like the vampire is sleeping with us from now on," Kurumu guessed.
"Might as well make it a hotel while we're at it," Rai joked. "Speaking of luxury, whatever happened to dinner?" Kurumu and Sawawa looked at each other.
"Oh dear, I must have forgot about it!" Sawawa walked into the mansion and grabbed her purse. "I'll be right back with the groceries." She took off past the front gate. Rai scratched his head.
"...Anyone feel like Take Out?" He offered.
"Totally!" Kurumu cheered.
"Pika!" Jolt agreed.
-To Be Continued-
Flandre: Fuga!
Hiro: Hime lives her life in the midst of battle, a life-or-death battle with her siblings for the throne of the king of all monsters. Will she live or die? That's her inescapable fate, the destiny for those born of the king's loins. Look, I used a western word!
When you start going to college and work a part-time job, I'll be impressed. Until then, all material used and characters added belong to their respective owner's. Don't forget to leave a comment and review!
Next Time: Princess Zombies
Hime: Zombies? He must be close by.
I thought as much.
Hiro: He?
Hime: One of my brothers.
Flandre: Fuga Fuga