Holy Blood: Act Two – Red Sun, Pale Fire

Drakengard

This includes characters and races that are not mine. The © details are as follows:

Vox Vocis Cruora and the Elements Dragons are © to Voice-of-Blood AKA Unmercyful Death

Darling is © to FloodBait of Deviantart

Seraph is © to me

Drakengard, any canon characters, and the scenario minus any original characters/races are © Square Enix

The Nature of Triumph

Darling was the first to see her. A soaring white form, nearly obscured by a wavering heat haze that shrouded her body, trailers of fire following her as she dove through the sky. He wrinkled his snout and stuck his tongue out in a gesture of disgust. The stench of burnt meat hung heavy in the air. He really should have expected that. Flicking his wings, the grey dragon hovered; Seraph had not seen him, she was too fixated upon whatever or whomever she dove at. Darling sighed. No, not whatever. It was definitely 'whoever'. Seraph was flying for either Nowe or Manah. He turned his head, purple eyes seeking out the black form of Vox Vocis Cruora, finding the Blood Dragon hovering within hailing distance. He must have been too focused on what Seraph was doing to notice Vox flying up beside him. No matter; he needed to ask her something.
"Vox, you can smell the blood in the air." It was a statement of fact. Of course the Element of Blood could smell the blood; it was ridiculous to think otherwise. "Well, can you tell from whom it came?"

Even since they had sought to break the Seals and thus somewhat deserved this, the fulfilment of Seraph's oath, he didn't feel right, just sitting here, waiting for them to die. He flicked his tail back and forth as he waited for Vox's reply.
"It stinks of both human and dragon and seed…The New Breed chose to get between a Dragoness and her prey."
Darling ground his fangs. He had hoped against hope that the boy would have had more sense then that. To follow Manah even after all she had done! And to help her do it a third time! What a fool!

But…
"He did not deserve this."
Vox fixed the grey dragon with one violet eye.

"Did he not willingly break the Seals? He heard Seraph's oath! He knew what awaited him should he unseal her! Even as it pains me to hear the weak resonances of fear from his blood, I can not help but feel within my heart of hearts he walked willingly into the fire."
Darling seemed to flinch under this rebuke, and he shook his wings with a great rustling sound.

"Still, can we not spare Manah this? Can we not just…I do not know, seal the evil within her?"
Vox flared her griff.
"I would not suggest it, unless you wish to take Manah's place in Seraph's fire." More gently, she added, "You need to forget the old allegiance she tricked into you, Darling. You are greater than her; you owe her no oath."
Darling, eyes downcast, mulled this over for a few long moments. He was about to reply when the air was rent by a triumphant screech and a soul wrenching scream.
Seraph had found Manah.