The 1st progenitor is back, and bring some surprises.
Enjoy ^^
While Crowley was managing the capital under the discreet supervision of his son, Krul had gone to seek the 1st of all vampires. While much further, a group of teenagers tried to plan their future. Akane had come to see Mika as usual. The latter was becaming a demon longer and longer. Now that he had clear ideas, they had a discussion about their next action. Mika wanted to go and get the rest of his family back. He feared the reprisals Kureto might inflict after his little show in Nagoya. Kimizuki, on his side, wanted to recover his little sister Mirai.
« It will be complicated for us to get in. Unless a person from the inside helps us. » objected Mitsuba.
« Indeed. And we will also need to get in touch with that person. » added Shinoa.
« Not to mention the possession of Mika. Currently only the army is able to cure it. But it seems to me too risky that we go there. They'll never let us come and go as we please. Especially since some of us have undergone their experiences. » resumed Mitsuba.
« I was about to say it ! I didn't give myself all the trouble to get Mika back, if it's to bring him straight to the humans. However, the rest of my family is out there, so we'll have to go at one time or another. » intervened Akane.
« Do we have no alternative ? » questionned Narumi.
A little silence followed this declaration.
« Hmmm ... the queen of vampires was involved in this experience with the seraph. Maybe she could help us. » suggested Akane.
« You want ... us to ask for help for the vampires ? » asked Yoichi, a bit surprised.
« Yes. Vampires have a limited interest for humans. If one compares the greed of one and the other the choice is quickly made. If ever she decides a conflict one could take advantage of the confusion to enter and retrieve the others. » explained the vampire.
« Yeah, and I imagine you also count on Yuu-kun to approach his mother. » guessed Mika.
« Indeed. He is still our friend, and he might even have an idea of his side. »
« Good ! Well, I think we're done. » concluded Shinoa.
Everyone agreed to seek help from their great enemy. Well, especially of that which represented the best choice for them : the Prince of Sanguinem. This being now decided, each one set out to prepare the journey. Kimizuki was in charge of finding a vehicle, the girls gathered supplies while Yoichi and Narumi took care of equipment for the vehicle and the crew. Mika and Akane were discussing how to get into the vampire capital. The young vampire proposed to go and fetch their friend for a meeting to take place on neutral ground, namely the outside. Mika nodded.
Meanwhile, Krul reached her goal. She had been careful to be discreet especially towards her fellows vampires, who risked to signal her presence to unwanted people. Arukanu regularly received seraph blood in order to continue displaying the map integrated by Mikaela. Advancing day and night, often using her speed the queen of vampires swallowed the miles. Soon she reached a forgotten crypt in a temple now in ruins. So, the 1st of the vampires had reached Japan. A distraught flight ? Perhaps. Krul entered the temple. She moved forward following the map.
« ? »
The message suddenly blinked. Arukanu showed signs of low battery. Tepes immediately poured blood.
« The reserve is going to reach its limits soon. I must imperatively reserve some to break the prison of Mikaela. » she thought.
So Krul set about memorizing the map. She then progressed as quickly as possible into these ruins. The crypt of the first progenitor was under a heavy stone statue of Buddha, at the bottom of a garden. First obstacle : to find how to cross the entrance of this imposing monument. After a moment observing the sculpture, Krul raised her arm in a sharp gesture. The shock wave caused a crack in the rock. The sovereign recommenced at least three times before obtaining a decent fault. She then found herself in the center, a door embedded in the ground, decorated with symbols arranged in a circle.
« I bet it's an enigma. I could open up as a while ago, but something tells me that the place must be trapped. »
At Sanguinem, Akane walked towards the palace. She noticed some debris here and there that were not natural. Something serious had happened. Suddenly, two vampires blocked the road. Guards.
« Well well ! Look who's coming back home. » said one of them.
« Akane Hyakuya, the little pet of the queen. You think you're welcome here, after you've fled from Nagoya ? » added his stooge.
« Hm! First of all, you don't have the strength to stop me. And two, I am always friends with Yuuichiro, your prince. It's he whom I come to see, and I doubt he appreciates your manners. But we can always give it a try what do you think ? » retorted Akane with a carnivorous smile.
These words made the guards think. They didn't actually have the power to stop her if the vampire decided to go into force. So Akane resumed her walk. Other vampires stared at her, but nothing else. The brunette continued on her way to the prince's room, then knocked.
« Yes ? Akane ? Well for a surprise ! What brings you ? » said Yuu, opening.
« Hi Yuu. I need to see you, Mika and his team are waiting outside, we have to talk. » informed quickly Akane.
« Ok, I'm coming. »
Yuu followed his friend without hesitation. Meeting the guards gain, Akane gave them a defiance look. The people concerned bowed their heads. The vampires walked a few meters before joining the group of Mika. The latter gave him a smile with a nod, to which Yuu responded.
« So ? It appears you have business with me. » he said.
« Indeed. Yuu, I need your help. I'm on the run with the people you see, but my family is still in Shibuya, not to mention the little sister of Kimizuki, the seraph that you saw at the airport. And ... » begun Mika.
« What ? This angel is your sister ? » exclaimed Yuu, turning to Kimizuki.
« Yes. I didn't know they had done that to her. But we know that your mother was involved in this. We would like to see her to ask for her help. » said the teenager in question.
« Hmmm. I see. Decidedly adults just love to make bullshit, even worse than kids. But ... it may be delicate this time. » resumed Yuu, crossing his arms.
Each of the young soldiers displayed a curious look.
« Akane, I suppose you saw our new decoration by entering. »
« Yes ... what happened, were you attacked ? »
« Bingo. By none other than that angel precisely. Fortunately we did well, but you can imagine that it will not remain unpunished at all. »
Suddenly, Yuu felt a presence at the same time that everyone in the face tensed themselves abruptly. The teenagers put their hand to their weapon. The dark-haired boy discovered Crowley Eusford standing behind him. The adult had seen his son in the company of Akane by one of the windows, and intrigued he had followed them.
« Yuu my son, do you realize that you reveal secrets to the enemy ? » he just said with nonchalance.
« What secrets ? Akane is not an enemy, and one mustn't be a genius to understand that we have been attacked, and that there will be retaliation ! » exclaimed Yuu.
« Certainly, seen from this angle. However, can we know what brings you to our door ? » asked Crowley.
« We came to speak with Yuu and also with your queen. » responded Mika.
« Just that. But that does not answer my question. » continued the ginger.
None of the humans answered him. This was normal, since they did not trust him for the reasons that we know.
« It happens that the seraph is the sister of this guy, there. Wish to retrieve it I think. » informed Yuu, showing Kimizuki with his thumb.
« Ah ! Well that is unexpected. And so, you want some help from us. » guessed Eusford.
« Yes. We deserted the army, but ... our family is still in Shibuya. » continued Mika.
« And ? What would we gain ? » asked Crowley.
The teenagers looked down. They had completely neglected this detail. Yuu looked at them for a moment, then sighed.
« It's okay, I understood I'll take care of it. Mika, I'll bring you back your family. I cannot tell you how, but very soon. We simply need a means of communication, or a rendezvous point. » he said.
« What about my sister ? » interrogated Kimizuki.
« You, you will have to be patient. Your sister will certainly not recognize you in the state she's in. I do not even know what to do. We have to think. » answered Yuu.
« But … »
« But what ? You think we have an answer to everything ? In any case, I'll handle the matter as best as I can. Akane, you're going to serve as liaison agent, you alone can. I would bring the Hyakuyas here, but you'll have to stay for a while in Sanguinem, until the opportunity comes. This will avoid going back and forth. You others, hide somewhere close, and make yourself discreet. » ordered Yuu.
« Very good. I will follow them the time to see where they will hide, and then I'll come back here. » accepted Akane.
« Very good. Now, run away before other vampires come here. » concluded the prince.
« Thank you very much, Yuichiro. » smiled warmly Mika.
« You're welcome. Now shoo, I have a job, me. » said Yuu, wawing.
The little group went away. Crowley looked at his son with, it must be said, pride. Yuu turned to him, then gave him a questioning look.
« You manage perfectly well in your role prince my son. I'm really proud of you. » he said.
« Thank you dad. In any case, I hope that this story will end soon. It is still impressive that kids have to repair the stupidities of adults. »
Krul was leaning against a wall in a dirty condition. She had solved the riddle, and as she had guessed the place was full of traps : spears running from wall to wall, ceiling adorned with peaks, hatch in the ground, arrows, jets of acids ... in short one didn't enter here as in a tavern. Finally, she was close by. Finally, the first progenitor would reappear. The queen approached the door. She poured seraph blood into an orifice. The blood circulated along grooves forming a pattern extending over the entire height of the door, forming stylized wings. A mechanism opened, and the door opened in half. Krul examined the place before entering it carefully. And she did well, because her superior view allowed her to discover a very fine rope stretched to the ground.
Another trap. She then found a tile so each pane was engraved with a symbol. In other words, a new enigma.
« Letters ... greek, egyptian, and runic. » noticed Kul.
Three different languages. What should she find ? In what language ? Arukanu was of no help to her this time. Mikaela had planned to free herself, but she did not know what would be inside her prison. So she had to use her head.
« … »
However ... she had to know what she was looking for. A word that pointed to the prisoner ? Yes, it was the most logical, but again in what language ?
« Knowing humans, I would not be surprised if it was a mixture of the three languages. Then given who is locked up here ... » thought Krul.
It was a track. It still remained to determine in which order to activate the letters. Vampire or not, Krul did not want to test the various traps. So she turned around. She returned some time afterwards with spears. Proceeding cautiously, testing each tile with a spear, the queen pressed on those that could form the vampire word, in each of the language. Naturally, pitfalls broke out as soon as the letters were not in the right order. This gave Krul a new way of testing her reflexes. At last the door at the back was opened. Mikaela had to be locked up there. But when she crossed the door she found the room empty.
« What is going on ? I am in the right place. Unless there is a new enigma. » she thought.
The first instant of surprise passed, Krul explored the room. Nothing. Nada. Krul sighed. There had to be a solution. All these traps were not there for nothing, they kept necessarily someone. Arukanu on its side, moved. The small creature was trembling. She fluttered around the queen, who was not careful to see it behaving like this. It was not until the bat came before her eyes that Krul noticed the trembling.
« Well ? What is it ? »
The last time she had seen it tremble like that, it was after Yuuichiro bit it when he made his teeth. When she thought of it, it was fortunate that the child had only bitten it on one wing. Arukanu seemed excited. Krul wondered suddenly if she did not feel Mikaela's presence. In that case, where was she ? How to reach her ?
« Would you know how to proceed ? »
The Cyclops creature steamed higher. As she watched closely, Krul noticed that her familiar spoke a familiar expression. The same ... only when she was thirsty. Krul then took the bottle containing the blood from the seraph, then handed it to Arukanu for drinking. But the beast didn't come to drink. On the contrary, it went from the bottle to another place. Krul watched it for two minutes shuttling.
« It's waiting for me to do something ... with the blood. »
Krul then decided to make an experiment. She poured some blood into her hand, then threw it in front of her. Suddenly, an image waved. Krul frowned. There was ... something there. Like a shield, an invisible window. The queen advanced to the spot where the blood had been thrown. Yes indeed, there was a room behind. She poured a little blood. The liquid then revealed an image, as when cleaning the mist of a window. She rounded her eyes. A person stood there, held in chains. The blood spilled suddenly whistled. A little steam escaped. Arukanu crossed the fence without further delay.
« A kind of illusion. Visible only through seraph blood. » thought Krul, entering.
The prisoner person stood head down, apparently unconscious. Arukanu was flying around. Krul grabbed a bottle of blood, then straightened the captive head. Mikaela. No doubt it was her. Krul removed the cork from his bottle, then poured the contents into Mikaela's mouth, in small doses. The closed eyelids opened abruptly. Mikaela resumed life, drinking blood with greed. Soon she held out the chains which held her, and at last, with a cry of rage, broke them. Krul stepped back three paces when Mikaela stood up, her gaze flamboyant.
« Krul ! » she said.
« Hello there, Mikaela, it's been a while. » said Krul, screwing her cap.
« If you say so. Personally, I have not seen the time pass. But let's get out of there. »
« What do we do about the seraph ? » asked Yuu to his father.
« I don't know. But I imagine you intend to talk about it to Akane. » guessed Crowley.
« I thought about it, however I'm not sure. It is not necessary that her friends land here in force : they would not come out alive. On the other hand, they will not use it against us. It is a member of their family, they just want to be reunited with. » answered Yuu.
« I see. But the High Council ordered her death. How did you intend to workaround this ? »
« That's where the problem lies. I don't know. » confessed Yuu.
The fact that it was the vampires who hold Mirai would be less complicated for Mika's team. However, what could they do to cure it ? As for the Council, Yuu believed that as long as the seraph was no longer a threat its members would be satisfied with it. So they just had to figure out how to make it human again. The biggest problem in short. Crowley wisely suggested waiting for Krul's return. For lack of anyhting better, Yuu accepted this choice. Moreover, his mother was back a few days later, and accompanied. No one knew who was the blonde woman next to her, dressed in the fashion of ancient Rome, but all perceived impressive power.
Krul introduced her companion, in the person of Mikaela the first vampire. She asked Krul to put her in touch with the whole High Council. Yuu approached his mother. She welcomed him with pleasure, before introducing him to Mikaela.
« Mikaela, I present to you my son Yuichiro, without whom your deliverance would not have been possible. »
« Really ? Tell me everything about it. »
Krul spoke of the war against humans and their experiences, the creation of two seraphs and then the assault on the Japanese capital. Yuu's decision to defend his home, and finally the capture of the seraph as well as the head of the humans.
« Impressive. You do honor to your family and kind, dear Yuuichiro. And I am indebted to you. » smiled Mikaela.
« I thank you very much, but I only do what seems to me to be logical. » said Yuu modestly.
« And you do well. May many vampires follow your example. »
« And here is his father Crowley Eusford, 13th genitor. He led the city in my absence. » resumed Krul, showgin the ginger behing the little one.
« Your son … and his father ? » noticed Mikaela, surprised.
« I'll explain it to you. »
Mikaela nodded in reply to the reverence of the redhead. Then the queen led her into the council chamber. Yuu was satisfied. If the first progenitor was indebted to him then he could talk to her about the case of Mirai. In the hall Krul summoned the whole council. Mikaela stood in the middle and examined the screens with interest. Soon the faces of the progenitors up to the sixth rank appeared one by one. The first thing they saw was therefore the first of them, without recognizing her.
« Mikaela ! » said Urd Geals, eyes round.
« Aaaah Urd, you do remember me, that's perfect. » smiled the blonde.
« Urd-sama, who's that woman ? » asked someone.
« I'm Mikaela Lavinius. The 1st progenitor. » responded the interested one.
Stunned whisperings on all sides. Krul watched the scene with an air of triumph. Mikaela explained to all that she had been imprisoned by the men, and had charged the Queen of Japan to rescue her, a mission accomplished today
« Where's Caius Livius ? » she asked then.
« Who ? »
« The other 2nd progenitor. Where is this vermin ? » hissed the 1st vampire.
« We ... we do not know. He called himself Saitou until recently. » informed Gabel Parthe.
« He disappeared. That does not surprise me. This traitor sold me to humans, and him with it. He told them how to imprison me, and most certainly gave them other secrets, like how to make a seraph. And my poor Ashera Tepes ... he gave him up to the men too. » revealed Mikaela.
Krul looked down. Mikaela had narrated her capture along the way. Ashera, the brother of Krul, informed of the attack of the men, had interposed with his sister. The first progenitor had asked them to flee. She then confided Arukanu to Krul, still a young vampire at the time. Ashura had ordered her to leave, trying for his part to retain the humans and to assist Mikaela. But he had found Caius Livius, alias Saitou, on his way. The second progenitor had no difficulty in capturing the young vampire. Mikaela had watched the scene helplessly. The High Council was shocked to hear this news.
« Find him. Search in every nook and crannies of every country. He is a traitor to his species and certainly responsible for the state of this world. Once located let me know, I would take care of him personally. It's an order. » commanded Mikaela.
The High Council agreed. The exceptional meeting ended with these good words.
« Yuuichiro ! Hey, come back here, you're not allowed to come in ! » said a familiar voice.
Crowley grabbed his son under his arms and lifted him.
« Let me go daddy ! I have to talk to her it's important ! » protested the prince.
« Let him be. » saod Mikaela, a bit amused.
Crowley put his son on the ground, who trotted at once to the blonde vampire. He raised his head and looked her straight in the eyes. Mikaela might have been offended by his attitude, which may have been lacking in respect, but she found that he was gutsy.
« Lady Mikaela, I have an important thing that I must absolutely discuss with you. » he announced.
Krul raised an eyebrow. He was polite all of a sudden. On the other hand, considering who he was speaking to, it was preferable.
« I'm listening, my child. »
« We have during the attack, captured the seraph of the end designed by men. But I learned that she was the little sister of a friend of mine named Mika. Who by the way carries the same first name as you. The High Council has decreed the death of the creature, but I would rather give it back to them. They will not use it against us, I'm sure. However, it cannot be returned like that. » told Yuuichiro.
« Hmmm ... I see, it is indeed a delicate problem. A young man who bears my name, you say. » she said, thoughtful.
Her ruby eyes fell on Crowley. She looked at him for a moment, before walking towards him. Then, once front of him, she scratched him with an index finger, so quickly that he had only time to feel like a little burn. Mikaela tasted the blood.
« You are one of my descendants. » she said.
« I beg your pardon ? » answered Crowley, The voice rising in the treble.
« I was a mother before being a vampire. I even tasted the blood of one of my sons. I have never forgotten this peculiar taste, which I found only in those bearing my blood. I also recognized this specific smell. » explained the first progenitor.
The light came in Crowley's mind. Ferid. That was why he had targeted him long before he came into the world. He knew. Certainly thanks to this natural perfume of which Mikaela spoke. Saitou, who had transformed Bathory, must have told him about it. He wanted a brother, he said, but he seemed more like a pawn.
« I have to meet this other Mikaela. » decided the blonde.
Yuu hesitated. What was she going to do to him ? Nevertheless, he could only obey. He nodded, and announced that he was leaving. Outside the palace, news of the return of the 1st vampire had reached Ferid. He decided to get out of his house. He wanted to see her. The one that Saitou had succeeded in defeating, in spite of the gulf separating their level. For he had let others pull the chestnuts out of the fire, after having told them how. Knowledge that he got partly from Mikaela. For both had one thing in common : they had been priests, possessing magical knowledge.
Yuu quickly found Akane to whom he had asked to stay at Sanguinem. The young vampire had returned to the Eusford Manor. The prince informed his sister of the recent events, as well as the prisoners held by the vampires. She immediately invited him to come and get Mika. When he was in front of Shinoa's squad, Yuu repeated what he knew.
« What ? My sister is with you ? » wondered Kimizuki.
« Yes. I could not talk about it for obvious reasons, but I was looking for a solution. It is possible that Mikaela knows how to cure her, after all she and Saitou, the traitor, possessed great knowledge as well as secrets. Humans must have held theirs to one of them. In short, Mika, come with us. » said Yuu.
The blond asked to concert his friends, which was granted to him. Shinoa thought that if indeed the first vampire could cure Mirai, then he had to go. Kimizuki nodded. Especially if it could prevent her from being killed, he added. Mitsuba continued that, after all, this suited their basic idea. Yoichi nodded, just like Narumi. These details settled, Mika returned to Yuu and Akane. The young man returned to Sanguinem. A host of memories sprang up as he paced the streets again. Fortunately, Yuu was interested in them at the time. He had thus rendered their captivity much more bearable. Mika was taken to the palace. Mikaela, the one whose name he unknowingly share, was waiting for him sitting on the throne of Krul, relegated for her part to her son's armchair.
The blonde stood up. Mika perceived her power and felt impressed. All the vampires he had met so far were strong, stronger and stronger as their rank approached the numbers. And here was the one that stood at the top of the hierarchy. The most powerful of all vampires came to meet him. Mika swallowed. The blonde sniffed the air.
« Yes, he has the same little touch as Crowley. It is one of my descendants. » she declared.
Mika rounded his eyes. This vampire was his ancestor ?
« So, it seems that you ask for the help of the vampires ? » resumed Mikaela.
« Yes. The seraph was produced from the sister of a teammate, whom I consider my second family. We would like to recover it and if possible cure it. »
« Hmmm ... actually, as long as there is no seraph, I do not care how. I had access to this knowledge, I would know how to reverse it. » answered Mikaela.
« So you can save her ? » inquired Mika, full of hope.
« I promise nothing, but in principle it is in my capabilities. On the other hand, it will take time. Now go young human, I have to do. » concluded the progenitor.
Mika had only time to thank her, then was led back to the entrance by Yuuichiro. The blond left the heart lighter since many days. Meanwhile, Mikaela asked Krul if she had any news about Saitou. The vampire wanted to know the 7th progenitors, because the latter had been transformed either by Urd Geals or by Saitou. One of them probably had information about the traitor. Krul took the time for reflection. There was one here ... but what to do ? She could not lie to the first vampire. That was how Ferid found himself face to face with Mikaela.
« Who transformed you ? » asked Mika, dark face.
The strength of this woman was oppressive. Ferid could not help but back one step. He tried to reply. If she learned that he was the one responsible for putting in place the plan conceived by the 2nd genitor, she would massacre him.
« Well ? » insisted Mikaela.
« … »
« It's him. You'd have answered me otherwise. Where is he ? »
Fortunately her aura was harmless, Ferid would already be in bad state.
« I don't know. He may have transformed me but it stops there. » finally answered Bathory.
« Really ? Yet I read the fear in your eyes, you even reek of fear. You hide something from me, 7th genitor. You have information, and I advise you to reveal them to me at once, if you do not want me to teach you the true meaning of the word pain ! » warned Mikaela.
Suddenly, Ferid was brutally pulled back. He found himself thus far from the first genitress ... and placed behind Yuuichiro, who challenged the blonde with his eyes. The vampire child had seized Bathory by the wrist.
« Do not confound the message with the messenger. » he said.
Mikaela returned an absolutely deadly look. Yuu swallowed.
« Move out of the way. » she commanded.
The young vampire felt crushed under her aura. It contained such a great power ... no wonder that humans wanted to lock her up. Yuu closed his eyes with an inspiration.
« No. » he then said.
His parents watched the scene, petrified. Ferid himself had the look screwed upon the prince, who once again interceded for him. Mikaela stared at the kid who supported her gaze. She would have no trouble breaking this little life.
« Out of respect for your mother, I ask you again : out of my way. »
« What good will it do to attack Ferid ? He is only a 7th genitor, whatever his elder has done, he has nothing to do with it. In addition, this will not change anything : Saitou will not appear thanks to a finger snapping, simply because you are threatening a vampire he created. We'll bring him back, let me talk with Ferid, will you ? » responded Yuu.
« You must be kidding me brat, telling me what to do. » said Mikaela.
Fearing an attack on her part, Crowley went immediately to make a barrage before his son, followed in the second by Krul who stood before him. Mikaela gave a brief expression of surprise.
« I beg you Mikaela, listen to my son he speaks true. You owe him your liberty, remember. Yuu wants no conflict with you, just to appease you. All the vampires in the world are looking for the traitor. Be patient, you will have your revenge. » said the sovereign.
« Mmmmh ... then try to discover what this child of a traitor hides behind you. And teach obedience to your son. »
« Believe me, I've been working on it since 16 years.» sighed Krul.
Mikaela turned her back on her, and then ordered her to be taken to the place where the seraph was kept. Krul indicated its location to her subjects, to be executed. Crowley sighed, then turned to his son.
« Ferid. If you know something you have to tell us. Mikaela has you in the collimator, and none of us will be able to defend you long if she decides to shake you herself. » announced Yuu.
Bathory stared at the prince. He had challenged the most powerful vampire of all time to protect him. The vampire sighed, but with a smile. Yes, this little one was his redemption, and it was about time to take part in it.
« The last time I saw him, he was in Japan. It was before the end of the world. But I have no contact since. » confessed the noble.
« Thank you Ferid. » smiled Yuu.
He smiled back at him. He then put his hand on the brown head, still amazed at the power of the child on him. Innocence submitted the evil and made it retreat.