Opening Song: Apocalypse by Jesper Kyd
"I'll be waiting for you..."
Asuka's pained voice whispers in my ear. I emerge from bed and pant for air. Heat within the veins and arteries cause my lungs to seize up. All the scars and wounds pulse with achy soreness. Especially the wound where Roger stabbed me. I collapse on the bed and try to collect myself.
"Just breathe Alan. I'm here for you." I recreate Asuka's gentle voice in my mind.
The episodic condition weakens with memories of how she would comfort me when the nightmares would ravage my mind. I slow my breathing and release the death grip on the mattress. The awful thought of Asuka being in pain passes, but it doesn't make the situation any better. Thinking about it causes worry but ignoring it pisses me off.
I clench my pounding chest and sit up. Papers crumble and leather slaps something solid. The book Daemogina picked out lays face down. I return to the chapter that was dealing with creating artificial blood stones.
Crude yet detailed scenes of stones being harvested from people line almost every page. It mentions in the footnotes that people who are half bloods produce the highest quality and quantity of stone due to them being both human and beast. A human will only produce two or three shards, but a half blood can create anywhere between five or six chunks with the lowest standard of extraction.
A grisly scene of someone being tied upside down to a cross and repeatedly stabbed in specific parts of the chest takes up an entire page. The closer the wounds are to the heart determine the quality of the stone, and the amount of internal bleeding will decide how many the victim will produce. This particular method of extraction seemed to be the most favored since it was cheap and easy. It also forced the victim to produce the stones to the point that they had to spit them out every couple of seconds or run the risk of suffocating to death.
This makes me feel bad for Fubuki. This is just one of the things the shinobi did to her when she was a child. Being around the age of ten only to find out that you're going to be tied upside down to a cross, stabbed and forced to choke on congealed blood hardening inside your body would make anyone hate humanity.
Yet there's something that puzzles me. If this was something the hunters did, then how did the shinobi figure these things out? I flip to the next major chapter of the book and continue reading. So far, the whole book has been about making something out of nothing, and this section is talking about trying to create artificial beings and turning them into hunters.
Every scholar yearns to be hailed as the founder of creating the perfect hunter. A creature born of nothing, but shares the characteristics of something human. A device that is cheap to make and can be disposed of once it outlives its usefulness. Many attempts have been taken and many are still in the making, but all have pushed us closer to discovering the answer. Rest assured, the luxury of creating life to serve a higher cause, and the ability to end it is all within grasp. We can only hope that the Old Ones will find us worthy in our studies and grant us the insight to achieve this prestigious goal.
Several recipes consisting of blood, flesh, bone, hair, nails and many other objects have been cataloged and stamped with a seal that symbols rejection or acceptance. Most recipes have been stamped failure, but a couple theories have been accepted and labeled contributors to finding the perfect combination.
Why exactly did Daemogina want me to read this? She said it would put me closer to finding the truth but as obscure and nonsensical as this book is, it's leaving me even more confused. Which the entire world of the hunters is based around the concept of nothing. Their creator just threw them into the world and told them to figure things out. In fact, the creator themselves probably didn't even know what the world was supposed to be about. Nothing more Lovecraftian and nonconsensual yet elegantly comprehensible at the same time.
"Alan?" Raesetsu knocks on the door.
"Yeah?"
"Annalise is ready to speak with you."
I follow Raesetsu up to the roof and cross into the throne room. Daemogina stands at full attention by Annalise's side as we enter. Raesetsu bows down, and I follow what she's doing. Daemongina picks up a tray and presents it to Annalise.
"Before I let you cross over, you must heed my words. You will only be granted one full day in our time before you must return. Upon your return, you will have to serve us for an entire day. One day of servanthood will grant you time to cross over. However, if you are able to present us with the fine gift of blood dregs, we will consider extending the time for which you can be gone."
"Yes, Queen Annalise."
Annalise picks up a knife, "Give me your arm."
She sticks the blade into my forearm and presses. The strange metal cuts straight through the armor and scrapes the surface of the bone. Annalise is barely putting any pressure into forming the symbol, and the pain is nonexistent. There is no blood and even with heightened senses, there's nothing trying to numb what she's doing.
Annalise places the knife back on the tray and grabs a syringe filled with orange liquid. The needle tears a hole in the middle of the strange looking tattoo, and the paste flows into me. The symbol that looks like an unfinished caduceus fills with the concoction and glows with a violet color.
"This marking will be the hourglass that shall inform you of how much time remains. When the fluid within the marking is completely drained, you will be brought back willingly or by force. Regardless of the circumstance." Annalise holds out a small syringe, "However, if you need to return any sooner than the time allotted, inject this into the marking and extract the fluid."
"I understand."
"Excellent. Now go. My driver is waiting for you at the courtyard." Annalise hands me a signaler's whistle.
"Driver?"
"Yes child."
"Where will he be taking me?"
"Where ever you need to go. By the way, did you read that book Daemogina gave you?"
"I did, but I don't understand. It was about harvesting blood stones and creating life. What does that have to do with anything?"
"Perhaps the answer lies with the giver of your wings."
"I will seek the truth." I try and say with a sincere voice.
"Very good. Now go." Annalise dismisses everyone.
Raesetsu and Daemogina lead the way down through the castle. Annalise seems like she really wants me to find the truth. The giver of my wings? That means I'll have to go see sweet sister Miyabi since dad is probably in critical condition or better yet, dead. The thought all on its own is already stressing me out.
Miyabi and I haven't been on talking terms since that night mom died. We did have a couple exchanges here and there, but that was us just coming to a mutual respect that I'm going my way, and she's going hers. We call each other family, but nothing could really be farther from the truth. I'm not real sure how Oliveria, and her girls are going to react when I show up since they attacked Hanzo Academy for no reason.
At the front gate of the castle is an eerie horse drawn carriage being controlled by some kind of lifeless set of cloaked armor. The door opens all on its own, and the hollow phantom in the armor welcomes me in.
"May your passage into your world be a safe one." Daemogina states.
I climb up into the carriage and sit down. The door closes by itself, and the suit of armor sits at attention like he is awaiting direction.
"Ursania please."
The leather reins snap, and the carriage takes off into the night. A black veil snuffs out all the light entering the cabin, and the vehicle comes to a stop. The carriage door opens up, and the temperature drastically increases compared to earlier. Oliveria's unique tower she built for the Hebijo girls stands in the middle of the city. I step out and try to make sense of what is going on. There is no signs of life in the city, but all the buildings and businesses are still lit up. I take a couple steps on the sidewalk and look around.
The silence melts away and the sound of the bustling city erupts. Someone's hoodie scrapes me as they pass by. I look back for the carriage, but it has vanished.
There's no point in asking questions because it's something that can't be explained. I doubt even the creators of this world, Cainhurst or Ursania can explain the events of what just happened. Annalise said it would happen, and it did.
The place where Annalise put her mark tingles. The purple fluid in the marking bubbles underneath the skin, and the caduceus is separated by four notched lines that stand out. That must be how Annalise is keeping track of how much time remains. Even though the fluid hasn't moved, it seems to work like an hour glass.
The feeling that there's already something watching me sends chills down my spine. I ease through the crowds of people and try to find a proper place to callout. The longer this drags on, the more exited she gets.
I work my way into a back alley and scale up a nearby building. The vapor of anxious warm breath puffs in the cold air as the invisible figure makes its way towards me. Red salvia drips from a smiling face as it hops up onto the same rooftop as me. I jump to the next building and continue towards Oliveria's tower.
Footprints of the pursuer inch closer and closer to the point the figure's tattered white dress flashes in and out of the falling pockets of snow. I juke back and leap in the direction of the street. My wings flap and launch me safely to the other side of the block. The pursuer's breath grows heavier with anxiety as it gets a running start and jumps.
The weight of an incoming person causes me to skid across the rooftop. A kitchen knife skids down the side of my forearm as I grab hold of my pursuer and stop her momentum.
"Alan! It's so good to see you!"
"Like wise Alice." I state.
"What brings you here?"
"Family affairs. Where's Miyabi and Murasame?"
"Miyabi and some of the girls are patrolling the town with me, and Murasame is in his office!"
"Oliveria?"
"Come!" Alice says as she hops down onto street level.
I stay on the rooftops and follow the puffs of excited breath. Alice weaves back and forth in between the people and gracefully hops over vehicles as she charges down the middle of the street. Since Murasame is here, maybe he can get me some gear, and a replacement for the scythe. That thing was a failsafe and despite how the Kopis can suffice for now, it's not going to get me far against Cataphract or any of the other horsemen. Especially Fubuki since our rivalry is a struggle that's constantly changing.
Alice runs up the side of Oliveria's tower and enters through the top. I climb up a nearby sky crane and dive headfirst towards ground level. My wings sprout from my back and swoop up in a massive burst of momentum that catapults me to the very top of the building.
Murasaki and that one girl named Ryobi stand guard at the front entrance. I hold my hands up and causally approach in a submissive manner.
"You have some nerve showing your face around these parts." Ryobi points her rifle at me.
"Easy there tiny tits. I don't go around starting fights. Unlike a particular group of people that live here."
Murasaki pushes Ryobi's rifle down and steps in-between both of us to combat the emotional flare ups and ratcheting tension in this situation. She takes a deep breath and smiles, "Alan. I am glad you are okay."
"And I am glad to see you."
"What brings you here?"
"I need to see Miyabi and Murasame. Some things got out of control, and I need information."
"Miyabi isn't here right now, but Murasame is in his office. Follow me."
Murasaki heads into the office complex and down a set of stairs. She knocks on an open door and peeks in, "Murasame? You have a visitor."
"Who is it?"
Murasaki steps out of the way and lets me in. Furniture and office supplies are strung out all over the half-organized room. Murasame's cat Mojo is laying on top of a shelf that overlooks the entire room. The unsettling smirk that never leaves his face follows me as he tracks my movement.
"Alan! What are you doing here?" Murasame asks as he offers me a seat in front of his desk.
"Well I was wondering if you could tell what's going on."
"What are you talking about?"
"Let's just say some stuff happened, I screwed up, and I've lost track of time. Have you heard anything about Asuka?"
"I know she's in custody right now."
"How long ago was that?"
Murasame looks at the clock and tries to determine the time. "I heard about it…almost an hour ago."
"Mr. Hellwalker, I may inform you that it was exactly four hours, twenty-eight minutes and seven seconds ago when Asuka Hanzo was apprehended by Gallowglass authorities." Mojo states.
"Now according to my insider sources and Mojo's insight, she's been taking up north to an island prison called Caligula."
I look at the bubbling liquid in my forearm and study it. The four notches must represent each hour in this world. A day in Cainhurst is about four hours here. A short stay, but not a lot of time passes when Annalise makes me come back.
"Murasame, is there any way you can get a hold of old man Hanzo?"
"Yeah. What for?"
"I need to talk to him, and figure out a way I can spring Asuka out of prison. The first place Gallowglass probably checked was Hanzo Academy and old man Hanzo's restaurant. So I am going to need a new weapon, some suppression and reanimation pills, and a disguise."
"What happened to your scythe?"
"Hikage has the rifle, and the chain sickle broke during a fight."
"Damn man. You had that scythe forever. Even before I met you. How long have you had it?"
"About five years."
"Alright. Give me a second, and I'll take you to the armory." Murasame says as he picks up the office phone and enters a certain code before punching the actual number. The other end picks up, and Murasame tells the operator to hook him to old man Hanzo's private line.
"Old man Hanzo, this is Murasame. I was calling on behalf of a friend. She's wondering if you have a job opening at your sushi store." Murasame and Hanzo converse back in forth in a friendly but coded way. He describes me as someone looking for a part time job while Asuka is some kind of lion's cub.
"I must say Alan, that is a lovely mark." Mojo states as he stares at Annalise's crest.
"Thank you."
"So, how's it feel to meet the woman that your queen Makaria served?"
"She didn't make me sleep outside in the snow so Annalise can't be that bad."
Mojo lets out a hearty chuckle, "She is an intriguing woman, isn't she? Has all the power in the world, and yet is content on remaining next to the empty throne of her husband. Staring at the barren remnants of what was once her empire. So tell me, why else are you here?"
"Miyabi."
"Ah yes. Precious Miyabi. I suppose the time has come, but until then, how about a riddle?"
"Humor me."
"What has teeth like a bear? Can run fast as a hare? Has no fear of dares and was birthed from despair?"
"You have no idea, do you?"
"Nope!" Mojo hysterically laughs.
Murasame finishes his phone call and hangs up, "Alright. Hanzo is expecting you. I told him that you're a transfer student looking for a part time job. When you get there, introduce yourself. The name doesn't matter but tell him that you're from the Double Chikage clan from the west."
"You make that up?"
"I didn't put a lot of thought into what I was saying so let us hope that clan doesn't really exist."
"Is it supposed to be the blood shadow clan, or the clan of the one thousand views?" I snicker.
"I didn't even know what Chikage meant, and I come from a shinobi clan. You learn something new everyday."
Murasame leads the way to the elevator and puts a skeleton key in a secret compartment. He presses a button and causes the elevator to descend past the basement. The elevator door opens up to a huge chamber. Weapons ranging from what hunters use to trophies collected from shinobi decorate the walls. There is even modern-day weaponry that has been hemo-crafted just like the rifle scythe I made.
Katanas, claymores, flintlocks, blunderbusses and various torture devices have been turned into actual weapons. I look around and try to find something that can replace my scythe, but nothing really stands out as a scythe type weapon. At the very end of the room are the giant weapons, and one in particular looks interesting.
"What's this?" I point at a wooden wagon wheel.
"That? I don't know. When Oliveria, and the girls gave me the tour, nobody really knew what this was or how it was used. Alice got it from a group of hunters, but she killed the wielder before he was able to use it, so now it's a dust collector."
"Do you mind?"
"No. Go ahead."
I take it off the wall and roll it around on the ground. For a giant wagon wheel, it's very light. My hand brushes over a recess that's been carved in between the spokes. Up inside the wheel is a gauntlet like device that contains a drawstring handle with glistening specks. I work my shoulder into the recess and get a feel for it. The wheel is even lighter once it's mounted.
"How would you even use this thing? Would you just crush your opponent with it?"
Murasame shrugs his shoulders in confusion. I reach up into the gauntlet and take hold of the drawstring. The specks inside form a series of serrated teeth that bite through my armor and scrapes the surface of my hand. Faint whispers and quiet hissing leak from the wheel as it feels like it's trying to split in two.
"You may want to step back."
Murasame hides behind an aisle of weapons and peeks out. I take a deep breath and crank. The teeth scrape my hand and causes the wheel to split open down the middle with a vigorous tortured howl. A red and black mist leaks from the weapon as what looks like spikes spin around the outer rims. The drawstring feels like it can be cranked again, but until I understand how this thing works, it would be best to stick with the basics.
The wheel folds back, and the mist stops leaking. If anything, I'll only use this in an emergency. It will be good to have something that might be able to act as a shield if I'm forced into defense. Unlike a lot of things I've faced in the past, the horsemen are very offense heavy and having something that can push them back and keep them confused is an advantage.
Murasame pokes his head out from behind the aisle, "did you live?" He uncovers his ears and carefully approaches.
"Yeah. I don't know how it works, but if worst comes to worst, I can use it to start a fire."
"Think of the positives." Murasame chuckles. "Anything else you'd like?"
"This will do. I will take some ammo though." I mount the wheel on my back.
"What kind?"
"357 hellshot and some rounds for my lever action pistol."
Murasame digs around and pulls out some 357 hellshot while I grab a couple boxes of yoma bone round ball.
"Alright. Let's go get that disguise and those pills."
Murasame takes me to another floor. The elevator door opens up and reveals a massive room filled with all sorts of clothing. Alice is staring out the sky window and studying the city. Her head snaps to the left, and she phases through the glass and vanishes.
"She's on the prowl for something." Murasame states.
"Or someone."
I sit down in a chair while Murasame digs through the clothes and tries to pick out some kind of disguise. Despite the last time he dressed me up as a scantily clad Gessen high school teacher, the disguise was overwhelmingly effective. The only way anyone found out it was me was because someone sold me out. If Murasame can get me something that was just as effective as last time, there would be no complaint since Gallowglass will probably have every city with a major shinobi academy on lock down.
The elevator doors open up and Murasaki steps through with Miyabi. Judging by the glow of her gold eyes, Miyabi isn't too thrilled about my arrival. Wonderful. Nothing like talking to a sibling that's already pissed off about a pressing issue. It's not like it could get any worse than it already is. As tempting as it to call her onii-san out of sheer spite, it would be best to try and avoid a fight.
"What do you want?" Miyabi asks.
"Well, I'm glad to see you too."
"Look Alan. I'm in the middle of something right now so make it quick."
"Miyabi. Come on." Murasaki pleas.
"No it's okay Murasaki. I don't want to see her anymore than she wants to see me."
"Hey Alan, I got your pills and clothes. I'll just…leave it right here and let you be." Murasame says as he rushes to the elevator and leaves.
"So long story short, I got hit with Korin Fuma, and the woman that lives there let me come back. However, she keeps telling me that my life is nothing but fraudulent lies, and that I should ask you."
Miyabi crosses her arms and takes a deep breath, "You don't have the heart to hear the truth."
"Try me." I spit back.
"Okay then."
"Miyabi, I don't think this is a good idea."
"No Murasaki. You heard him. He's a grown boy now. So do you remember that day Murasaki and Imu took you fishing because mom needed to have a big girl talk with me?"
"You mean the day Murasaki and Imu held me down and put makeup on me?" I try to lighten the mood.
"Whatever happened that day is something I don't care about. Long and short, you're not family."
"Stop with the bullshit Miyabi." I snap back with patience reaching end.
Miyabi takes a deep breath, "Okay then. Let me put it to you this way. Mom brought you home one day after a mission."
"So what? You're going for the stereotypical step sister route? The not blood related excuse I hear people talk so much about." I sprout my wings and show off that her statement is false.
"Murasaki? Tell him because he's too ignorant to listen to me." Miyabi states as she sits down.
Murasaki wipes her eyes and tries to form words in her mouth. The atmosphere in the room changes from bitterness and anger to depression and sorrow. "Before I tell you this, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us. I don't know the whole story. None of us do, but one day, Miyabi's mother brought home a child. All we know is that she saved you when she was given orders to kill you."
"She pulled you out of a conjuring caldron, or that's what mom told me." Miyabi adds.
"That doesn't make any sense! These wings are a symbol of the bloodline!"
"She gave those wings to you to hide what you really were and to pass you off as family. Because you were born from a caldron, Miyabi's mom was able to transfuse blood to you."
"So you're saying I crawled out of a caldron, and with what I've read in literature, I was supposed to be a sacrificial ornament for a higher purpose? That's how I was able to gain the wings?"
"That's why she saved you Alan." Murasaki says.
"What you're saying is my life means nothing? That my entire existence is nothing but lies?"
"No Alan, that's not what I meant."
"Well that's what it sounds like to me!" I yell.
"See Murasaki? I told you he couldn't handle the truth. Mom gave you a western name because we were eventually going to ship you off." Miyabi snaps.
"You're not helping Miyabi!" Murasaki yells back.
I pick up the stuff Murasame gathered for me and walk towards the glass window.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing!?" Miyabi yells.
I pull out my revolver and shoot the glass out of the sky view. The sound of Miyabi's voice doesn't even infuriate me anymore. I dive out the window and rush across the rooftops. Murasaki's tearful pleas for me to return has no effect. The sound of wings flapping and footsteps trail behind me. I pick up the pace and hop across to the other block.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
I ignore all of Miyabi's statements and drop down into an empty alleyway. The marking Annalise gave me still has about three quarters of fluid left. Three hours, and a half hour left. If I wouldn't have promised Old Man Hanzo I'd be dropping off, I'd just return to Cainhurst and never return. A hand grabs hold of my shoulder and tries to pull me back. I turn around and shove Miyabi away. "Get your hands off me!"
The sight of her takes me back to that night the corruption took over and caused me to attack her. Blood boils and humanity dies. Teeth bite and scratch as the fanged tentacles try to sprout from my back. Neither of us say a word, but we stare at each other with increasing hatred.
It never occurred to me that something like this would ever happen. We've had arguments and fights in the past, but nothing on this level. The both of us are so mad right now that we don't know what to say. Miyabi and I have always come to terms with our different ideals and life choices, but this is something that can't be fixed.
"Go back to your ivory tower daddy's girl!"
"What did you just say!?"
"You heard me!"
"Why don't you get back there and fix the mess you made!?"
"No, I don't think I will!"
"Of course, you wouldn't! Because all you've done in life is screw things up!"
"And proud of it! Because unlike you, I'm not afraid to admit that I'm nothing but a screw up!"
Miyabi turns her back and halfheartedly walks back towards the tower, "Yeah. Okay. I'm such a coward. You're so brave. So how come, a week before we were going to hand you over to a new family, all these yoma started showing up? Dad tells mom, 'you should probably hand the boy off now' and I said, 'no let Alan stay. He's my little brother. I want to spend these couple last days with Alan because I love him.' Now I wish I didn't. Because if I wouldn't, mom would still be here."
"And if things would have worked out for what's best, maybe all of you would have fucking died." I snap and storm off.
The guilt from those harsh words slowly build, but I snuff out my conscious and walk on like nothing happened. It hurts to breathe, and the urge to look back and apologize mounts. I drown the thoughts out with all the yoma and people I've killed. It does little to quell the emotions welling inside.
If I came from nothing, then does that mean everything I've done, all the relationships I made mean nothing? A thought about Asuka causes me to collapse to my knees on the sidewalk, and the pain nearly causes me to black out.
"Sir? Are you okay? Sir?" A man asks as he pulls on my arm and tries to help me to my feet.
"Yeah. I forgot my medicine, and I'm headed back to get it. Thank you."
I work my legs underneath me, and two men help me back to my feet. The kinks in my legs work themselves out, and everything returns to normal. I make sure nobody is watching and blow on the whistle Annalise gives me. The sound of her phantom driver's carriage rolls up, and all the people around disappear.
"Could you take me to Hanzo's sushi shop please? And take the long way if possible."
The leather reins snap and the carriage moves. I sit down in the seat, and open the box of stuff Murasame gathered for me. There is a brown wig, some stockings, a pair of glasses that alter the color of the wearer's irises, and a school girl outfit along with a couple of suppression capsules and some reanimator molars.
Murasame's methods extract a trapped giggle deep down, but the short burst of happiness fades and all that's left are the words said to Miyabi. I lean back in the seat and scrunch up in a ball. You're nothing Alan. What you said means absolutely nothing. Your life means nothing. I'm nothing, and nobody is anything to me. They never were, and they never will be.
I bite down on the knuckle of my thumb to stifle the emotion that wants to pour out. Maybe Miyabi was right. If it weren't for me, then none of this would have happened. Miyabi's mom dying, Minori losing her parents, the girl's at Hanzo academy being attacked by Oliveria's group, Ikaruga becoming a vileblood, the four horsemen. The thought of knowing Asuka wouldn't even be in prison right now is enough to make me wish for death…
Ending Song: Yamiyo wa Otome wo Hana ni Suru by Ruka Kawada