"Mana!" Her calls echoed in the empty apartment. "Mana! Where did you go?" She had been there for an hour, looking for a clue where her precious one went off to. The 2-bedroom apartment was in shambles, the computers left on,humming away. It was as if the missing girl left or taken away after a struggle.
Saya was getting antsy. She only left for a couple of hours and this was what she arrived to. This was not good. What if an ancient one took her Mana? She grabbed her sword and her eyes started to glow menacingly as her accute senses started to pinpoint the nearest monsters in the vicinity.
The park.
Gritting her teeth, she leaped of the balcony and dashed towards the secluded park.
"Where is she?" She screamed at the innocent looking girl sitting at the swings. "Tell me now!"
She pointed the tip of her sword at the girls throat. "Tell me."
"My, my... What has gotten your feathers in a ruffle, hunter?" The girl giggled. "Besides that, I don't know what you're talking about."
"The girl... Mana." Saya gritted out, the point of the blade producing a pinprick of blood.
"Ah. Well. Try looking over to the next park, two blocks down. And hunter? Remind her of the pact, why don't you?" The girl said indifferently while turning into some kind of sludge and slithering away.
Saya had no time to question what the ancient one just told her as she hurriedly ran to where the thing pointed.
A horrific sight greeted her as soon as she arrived. There was Mana, dripping in blood. And...and drinking it?
"Mana?" She whispered.
The girl turned and smiled grimly, her usual chocolate eyes glowing a deep crimson.
"Saya. I just found out." She held out a bloodied mace. "I am another one."
Saya felt her knees weaken in shock and had to lean on to her sword for support. That means she was not alone.
"H-how?" She managed to croak out.
"I was looking over the files of Fumito-san and saw the list of people who are part of the Shrovetide. There were only two listed. You and I." Mana whispered, drawing closer to Saya. "As soon as I read it, I was awakened. I had to feed. So I..." She gestured towards her kill.
The normal hue of her eyes returned as she dissolved in tears of shame, sinking to the ground as uncontrollable sobs wracked her body. Saya gathered Mana in her arms gently. "It's okay. I'll help you. It's okay." She whispered comfortingly when she herself wanted to cry out of gratitude. She was not alone. She was not alone. These words kept repeating themselves in her head.
"We're together. We're not alone." Mana whispered, her throat ragged from crying.
"Exactly my love."