Chapter 6: Between Life and Death-part II
Notes: I've decided to bring a character from another anime called Vampire Hunter D....yea, it's D (and Left-Hand too, of course). for those who know the anime prolly know who i'm talkin' about. For those who do not know, fear not! I shall explain who and what he is in the next chapter! It's not like you need to know him so much to understand the rest of the story! It's not gonna be a crossover!
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"How DARE you take her without our permission?!" Robert's voice boomed within the hallows of the room.
Brandus sat boredly on a velvet chair, legs crossed and brushed his hair away from his pale face.
"Please, Robert, no need to be so loud," Brandus said and rubbed his ears. "You are disrupting my delicate hearing."
Robert narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists. "I'll show you delicate, you bastard!"
Lilith, with a calm face, held out her arm to hold Robert back. Robert continued to glare at Brandus but stepped back behind her. Cecil stood behind Brandus and smiled.
"What is it you want with Lina, Brandus? I'm sure you know she is still a newborn. What possible use could she be to you?" Lilith asked calmly.
Brandus leaned his elbow on the arm rest and smiled. "My dear Lilith, you should be more like Robert and express your emotions. I'm sure you're pissed as well, why don't you show it?"
Lilith narrowed her eyes slightly. "That does not answer any of my questions, Brandus."
"I wasn't answering your questions, Lilith," Brandus replied, grinning.
"You are despicable, Brandus," she commented coldly. "You do realize that you are crossing our line of authority. Taking others' newborns is against MidNighte's rules."
"Ah, yes, but we are not in MidNighte now, are we, my dear Lilith?" Brandus returned.
"The rules applies wherever we are," she retorted. "You, above all else, should know better than that."
She turned her eyes towards Cecil and scoffed, "And you, Cecil. I can say that I expected this from Brandus, but you?"
Cecil shrugged. "Sometimes, people change, Lily. It does gets boring sometimes, yknow."
Lilith narrowed her eyes and turned back to Brandus who sat smirking in front of her. "You did not answer my question."
"Ah, patience, my good Lilith, do not worry, I intend to answer every one of your questions," he replied, standing up and walking towards Lilith. He stoped a few inches away from her and bent his face down very close to hers.
"Provided you give me some of your time," he whispered into her ears.
A firm hand gripped his forehead and pushed him back not so gently. Brandus straightened and brushed a few strands of hair away from his face, smirking at Robert.
"Don't get near her," Robert commanded, narrowing his eyes at the silver haired vampire.
"My, my, protective now, aren't we, boy?" Brandus commented.
Robert clenched his fists, his whole arm openly shaking with anger and disgust.
Lilith took a step back into his body and pat his hands. "Calm down, Robert."
He instantly let loose his hands and dropped them besides his body. She gave him a small smile then turned back to Brandus.
"Brandus, we have no time to spare for you," she said. "It is only a full moon away before we are due at MidNighte. I can't say I'm surprised to see you two daddling on in Turquoise but surely you know the punishments for not showing."
Brandus grunted and crossed his arms over his chest. "You take me for a full fledged fool, Lilith."
"And that is because you act like one, Brandus," she replied, her calm facade showing.
Cecil snickered softly. Brandus shot a look behind him. "Quiet, you." Cecil shrugged in return.
"You take others' newborn without permission knowing full well it is against the rules even outside of Mid--"
"Blah, blah, blah, blah! Yes, yes, we know that, Lilith, now can you please let me explain WHY we did that?" Brandus said with an exasperated look.
Lilith blinked and waved her hands slightly. "Do explain your actions, Brandus, please."
Brandus sat down on the same chair and heaved a sigh. "As you know, the Tournament is coming near."
Lilith nodded. "Yes, I believe you still have that every year."
Brandus nodded and said, "And as you also know, it is only meant to be a harmless entertainment for us higher-up vampires, yes? Watching lower vampires engage battles, trying desparately to win each other over, it's the best entertainment in Turquoise!"
"Your point, Brandus?" Lilith asked, with a suspicious look on her face.
Brandus cleared his throat and replied, "Cecil and I want to submit a newborn this year."
Lilith blinked. "Why would you want to do that? Why Lina? It doesn't really make sense coming from you, Brandus."
"Easy, my dear Lilith, clam yourself," Brandus said.
"Regarding why we're submitting your newborn is because we have none," Cecil replied.
"They're too much of a headache to raise. Having to look after these vampires and humans amongst Turquoise is way more than enough," Brandus said, resting his elbow on the arm rest.
Cecil nodded in agreement.
"Just this once, before we move on to give our respects to our Lord, we want to be truly entertained."
"Entertained? This is Turquoise! Vampire's central entertainment!" Robert exclaimed. "What more do you two want?!"
"To see that our future isn't going to be within the hands of weaklings," Cecil replied. "And to be entertained in the process, of course." He smiled brightly.
"I must say, Lilith, you know a way of picking your newborns," Brandus commented. "That Lina of yours...I see some great potential in her."
"What's this? The great Brandus of Turquoise complimenting someone other than himself?" Lilith said with grin.
Brandus' eyebrow twitched but he chose to ignore her comment. "That is why we want to enter your newborn into the Tournament."
Lilith looked unsurely at Robert. He in turn shrugged. "It's your decision, Lilith."
She frowned slightly. "I'm not sure it's a good idea..."
"What, are you doubting your own newborn?" Brandus chided.
"I am not doubting her," Lilith said. "But she still has a small problem with coping in with other vampires. I don't think it's such a good idea to have her stay in Turquoise for so long."
"What are you saying, Lilith?" Brandus asked with bewilderment. "The Tournament is only a couple of nights away! I'm sure she can cope with that much."
"She doesn't know much about being a vampire yet, is all I'm trying to say, Brandus," Lilith said.
Brandus looked quizzically at Cecil, who shrugged, as Lililth looked concernly at Robert, who twitched with annoyance.
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"Look, don't you two have anything better to do?" Lina asked the two humans following closely behind her. "I know where 'straight ahead' is. I doubt I'll get lost with directions like that, so stop following me already!"
She sidestepped to dodge bumping into another vampire. The mansion had come alive all of a sudden. Like a light switch had been turned on to wake every human and vampire up. They were all over the place. Lina wasn't sure what they were doing but they seemed intent on where they were heading, which Lina couldn't figure out where to because they were going all sorts of directions, making her 'straight ahead' seemed more difficult than it really should be.
"Where are they all going to?!" Lina said and pushed back a group of humans rushing off into a room.
"Oh, we're not sure, m'lady," Mel replied and followed close behind.
"But they all have SOMETHING to do in Turquoise. This is the central entertainment for all vampires and their humans, m'lady," Cathy said and grab hold onto Mel's shoulder.
Lina felt Mel grip her coat, she chose to ignore it. "Like some sort of sin city, heh?"
"Yes! That's exactly what it is, m'lady!" Cathy nodded enthusiastically.
Lina made a gesture of sighing exasperatedly. She shook her head slightly and was about to continue on her way when she noticed the group humans that had pushed through her and into room bowing lowly and exiting the room.
"W-we apologize deeply, Mistress Camille," Lina heard one of them say.
"We really didn't know you were in here," another said.
The group moved as one out of the room as a figure stood in front of the wooden door frame. A red-eyed vampire with deep-dyed burgundy-brownish hair stood with one of her hands on her hips, an annoyed look on her face.
"Well, dearies," she said through red lips, "I am busy with dearest Fable at the moment. Do be good little humans and run along."
Some of the girls looked like they were about to cry when they heard that. They tearily ran away through the hallway, once again pushing pass Lina and her two followers.
The vampire called Camille trailed her eyes after them, a look of disgust on her face when she blinked and noticed Lina and her two humans hiding behind her. Lina saw one of her eyes twitch.
Lina raised an eyebrow and put a hand on her hips. She looked straight at Camille with an annoyed look of her own.
"Who's that?" Lina asked the two behind her.
"Um...that's Mistress Camille," Cathy whispered.
And with an even lower tone, she said, "You should be careful of her, m'lady...she tends to get...violent easily.."
Mel nodded slightly with agreement.
Lina grunted as she started to turn back to her 'straight ahead'. As a visitor, she didn't think it was such a good idea to start any bad "stuff" with the residents of the place. Odds are, they will have more allies than enemies.
"Hey, you there," Lina heard her melodious voice floating around her ears. She tried to sigh but only got annoyed that she had again forgot that she didn't need to breath anymore. She tilted her head back towards the vampire with an emotionless expression.
"What?" she asked, not particularly caring about the tone she gave out.
The vampire crossed her arms over her big chest, making them look like they were going to spill over her deep neckline.
"For a newbie in Turquoise, you've got a bad attitude," she stated her observation with a raised eyebrow. "Don't you know how to show proper respects to elders?"
Lina kept her face emotionless and said, "That's great. Who would've known vampires here are that observant?" She turned her back carelessly towards the vampire. She started towards her destination. "You're old, but you're no elder of mine."
The vampire narrowed her eyes at Lina. "You need to learn respect, newbie."
Lina raised her chin defiantly and asked, "Who's gonna make me?" She knew at the back of her mind that she didn't need any more problems than she already had, but this was a good exception. Lina put a hand on her hip and said, "Last I knew, Brandus and Cecil are the ones in charge of this place."
"That's MASTER Brandus, to you," she hissed.
Lina snorted. "No, it's just Brandus to me." Lina turned her back on her and said, "I don't have time for old hags like you."
Lina heard a tap from the red heels that the vampire wore and whipped around to block a clawed hand swiping at her neck. The suddenness of their actions startled Mel and Cathy back a few paces as they stared wide-eyed as Lina jumped away from Camille's attacks.
Lina stood her straightest and pointed a finger at Camille. "Listen, you! I really don't have time for this! I got better things to do than beat your butt to a bloody pulp!"
"You bitch!" Camille hissed and rushed Lina again, this time swiping at her with both hands.
Lina dodged the attacks and narrowed her eyes. "You asked for this!" She raised a pale arm and summoned her magic. "FIRE!" Her hand aimed at the vampire charging her again. "BALL!"
The ball of fire rushed Camille at a fast pace. Camille gasped sharply and narrowly dodged the fire, singeing the edge of her red skirt.
The fireball blasted on a nearby ivory statue. By now there was a gathering around the two vampires. Vampires, as well as humans, stopped their evening activities to see what was going on.
"Who is that?"
"That's the newborn vampire that just came in."
"She knows magic!"
Camille continued to glare holy daggers at Lina, apparently underestimating Lina greatly.
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"You don't understand, Lily," Brandus continued to explain. "This isn't only for our entertainment."
Brandus rubbed his temples slightly.
Lilith looked at him calmly. "What do you mean?"
"We need to know what kind of vampires we are raising here," Brandus replied. "We need to know if they are powerful enough."
Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Powerful enough for what?"
Brandus and Cecil looked at one another.
"We've heard rumors," Cecil began, "that the Lycans have made a deal with a Hunter."
Robert grunted. "And? That is enough to be viewed as a threat?"
"You don't understand, this isn't some amateur Hunter. We've heard that it's a Dunpeal," Cecil said.
Both Lilith and Robert gasped.
"Are you certain?" Lilith asked sharply.
Cecil shook his head. "It is a rumor, Lilith, as I've said, we are not entirely sure, however...."
Brandus shrugged. "We can't be too sure, y'know."
"So, what, you guys think the Lycans hired a Dunpeal to attack MidNighte?" Robert asked, a look of disbelief on his face.
"No," Cecil started to reply. "We do not think they're stupid enough to attack our main city head-on, Dunpeal or no. But...there's a good chance that if this rumor is true, the Hunter is hired to attack Turquouise."
Lilith looked at Robert uneasily. "What with all the newborns and humans here, it's a good way to destroy one of the few vampire central cities..."
Brandus nodded. "That's right. So you see, Lily, what our dilemma is. I have seen amateur Hunters and amateur vampires, especially in Turquoise." He sighed. "Some are good for nothing, lazying around."
Lilith grunted unlady-like. "Like you. You gave them that example, Brandus."
Brandus gave Lilith a hurt look. "Hey, I resent that!"
"In any case," Cecil said. "We want to submit your newborn into the Tournament. Like Brandus said, she has great potentials to develop powerful abilities."
Robert hmm'ed. "And here I thought you two were just procrastinating. For once, you two have a good reason to arrive late at MidNighte."
Brandus waved his comments away with a snort. "We're not as much of a fool you two take us for."
Robert shrugged. "Could've fooled me."
Brandus gripped the arm rest and pushed himself up. "Why, you!"
A boom suddenly sounded from outside the door.
Cecil looked sharply towards the sound and said, "What's that?"
Lilith looked exasperated as she said, "That would be Lina not playing nice..."
Robert snickered. "Soon you'll know better than to pick on that girl."
Brandus and Cecil ignored the comments and ran towards the doors. Lilith and Robert shrugged at each other and followed them out the door.
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In the small village, resting itself by the valley, a crowd had build around an old mother and her young, ill struck daughter.
With tears flowing down her wrinkled face, gripping her daughter's slender shoulder, she choked, "Somebody, somebody, please! Help! Get the doctor! Please!"
A few started to break away from the crowd to get help. A man shouted at a boy to go to the next village.
No one noticed a dark clothed man entering the village. He rode on a black horse, with a long sword behind his back, and a black hat covering half his face, he nudged his horse further into the crowd. He looked down from his sitting at the pale young girl. He instantly noticed the punctured wound on her neck and scent coming off her plain clothes.
The old woman barely eyed him and turned back to rock her daughter back and forth.
With an emotionless face, he said, "She is not in my mortal danger. Feed her liver and she should recover from her coma." With that, he turned his horse and rode out of the quaint village.
The villagers watched silently as the black horse galloped out of the village and into the thick forest beside the main pathway that connected to another town.
The horse stopped short as it entered the forest.
"She was bitten by a vampire," he said to no one.
A snort sounded beside him. "Anybody could've told you that, D. It's from who that I'm wondering about."
D went into thought as he nudged his horse further into the forest. "It's from an older vampire. Very neat. Discreet."
Another snort. "They're smarter than I thought."
"The scent is from that of an older vampire. Could be the one mastering the underlings," he said.
"Interesting..." the voice said. "By the way, where are we going?"
"I smell the same scent in this direction," D replied.
A snicker sounded. "Your hound sense of a nose actually comes in handy sometimes. Hahah--Ngh!"
D squeezed his left hand. He stopped his horse as he entered a clearing that was destroyed by some sort of battle.
His left hand wheezed as he let go of his grip. "Damn you, D! I almost choked to death!"
D looked around the clearing. "I can't smell it anymore."
His left hand grunted. "It would only make sense if they can travel without leaving a scent, D."
D suddenly looked towards another entrance to the clearing.
"Father, I don't see why we came back!" he heard a female voice whine.
D made his way behind the shadows of the woods.
"We may be able to follow them back to their resting place," a man's voice sounded as a priest, robed with a white overcoat appeared into the clearing, looking frantically around the destruction.
Another man garbed with vampire slaying equipment followed the woman behind the priest.
"Wouldn't that be a bad idea, Father?" he asked the priest, who was examining a dented tree trunk. "It's one thing to trap a newborn, but to follow the enemy into their nest is absurd, Father."
The priest did not reply as he looked at a drop of blood on the ground.
"Ah! This must be Lina's blood," he said, as he fumbled for his golden chain. "What luck! With the scar she has on her chest..." He smeared the blood onto the golden cross. The cross glowed red as the crimson blood started to sizzle away. "This cross should keep glowing if we head towards the right direction!" He stood up and started to turn in every direction.
The man and the woman looked uncertainly at one another as they saw the cross glow red than the glow dissipated as the priest turned in all sorts of directions.
"Come on, you two! This way!" The priest motioned them towards a random direction, his crimson cross glowing brightly in the night.
D watched as the three human left the clearing. Without a word he nudged his horse towards their direction and silently follow them, apparently, into Turquoise, where the vampires' lair should lay.
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Author's note: SooOOooOoOoOooo sorry this part B chappie took so long people! but but but--it was the computer's fault! i swear it was!!! THANKS TO ALL YER GREAT REVIEWS!!! ;; it keeps me going yknow! : Is it just me or are there too many new characters now? I'll try to keep it under control, i swear! BTW, whilst typing this part B chapter up, I was blasting music into my ears, chatting with a friend online, and looking for various stuff to download online.... sorrie everybody if you guys/gals see any mistake, please ignore it!!! ;; please come back!!