Disclaimer: I do not own the characters.

To the person who reviewed and asked for more detail, english isn't my native language so this chapter is as detailed as it gets. I can't do better, sorry. Hope you enjoy it anyway.

I started writing this story with the intention of using a lot of greek mythology but I decided that the things Haruka and Michiru have to face will be demons who take the form of gods and other mythical creatures like Medusa and the Seraphim.

As for any other notes: thank you for your reviews so far. I'd love to hear what you think of this chapter so far! (I will proof read it later but right now I'm in need of some serious sleep.)

Superior

chapter three

- The Goddess of Venus -

part 1

''Gravemarkers,'' Haruka said while pointing at the strange black looking sticks that stood in the ground to their left side. She knew for a fact those black things were called guns. They were used a long time ago when the demons hadn't invaded the earth yet. According to Satoshi, along with most humans the weapons died with them. People who could make ammunition got slaughtered, sending them back in time weapon-wise.

Michiru just followed the blonde warrior in silence. She couldn't help it but feel sickened by the sight of all those gravemarkers. There were over a hundred of them surrounding her. She couldn't even begin to imagine how many people had died in total over the past years. All because of those stray demons.

The sun had just begun its climbing when Haruka and Michiru left again, heading towards the north. The weather was good; there was no wind. It was actually a perfect day for a walk. If it hadn't been for the fact both of them were on their own missions and had no time to be slacking off to enjoy the weather. Haruka had gotten dressed into another outfit which according to Michiru's thoughts dated back from a time before demons ruled this planet. Haruka was wearing a black pair of baggy jeans and a matching black tank top, slightly revealing a part of her stomach. Underneath she wore boots with two belt buckles to each side.

To Michiru, the blonde warrior looked really impressive dressed in black. The lack of color in Haruka's clothes somehow compensated the blonde hair and the emerald colored eyes. For the first time Haruka actually looked female. ''You should lose the sword,'' The demon girl commented. ''It doesn't suit you.''

''I need it for protection.'' Came the reply. Haruka put a hand through her hair and gazed back at her companion. Michiru was still dressed in the chinese dress which was slightly dirty from the ground they'd been lying on. To Haruka is was strange seeing Michiru pretend to be sleeping. Probably because she knew the demon girl wasn't able to sleep. Or maybe it was because she somehow knew that every move she made was heard by the other. It almost gave her a paranoid feeling.

Michiru gazed around. They were still in the forest but the lack of any trees of notable height gave her an expansive view. At the very edge of her field of vision she could see a monastery hidden in between a couple of trees that had probably been built some years earlier. Haruka had also noticed the monastery by now and strayed a bit from the path that led to a what was rumored to be an abandonned town.

As they approached the monastery a figure Haruka had mistaken for a statue became clearer. ''A knight?'' She muttered in spite of herself. At first she dismissed the idea as ridiculous but as they drew nearer she saw that it was unmistakably a knight dressed in grey clothing that looked like silver because of the raysof sun that shined down on the knight.

''What's your business here?'' The dstance between them was still a bit too far for conversation which was why the knight yelled. He apparently felt no need to intruduce himself as if his position was obvious.

''I am Haruka Tenoh from a small village called Pieta, and this is Michi. We're travelling north.'' Haruka replied. The monastery was now directly in front of her. She noted that the knight in front of her was not alone. There was another one past the monastery, perhaps standing guard.

''There is no town in the direction you came from except the one possessed by several demons,'' Said the knight haughtily, sticking his chest as if to display the golden cross that was engraved there.

Michiru observed the knight from behind Haruka. His black hair looked freshly cut and his body did not look as if it had been through many battles. She knew for a fact it was important to deal with such men carefully, they were trained soldiers specialized in killing demons such as herself. There were only a few left of soldiers like him but they were not to be taken lightly. One mistake could cost her life.

''What's a monastery doing in the middle of the forest?'' Haruka wanted to know. She looked at the iron gate behind the knight, which was probably locked.

The knight took a few steps into the direction of the warrior and the demon and looked at them closely as if he was looking for something. After a little while he pulled back a little and managed to fake a smile. ''This place wasn't always a forest. But since the demons came to our land and destroyed most of what we spend years to built,'' He paused for a moment as if he was recalling some old memories. Which was ofcourse impossible since the demons had been on this planet for longer than he had lived. Haruka wasn't sure but he couldn't be much older than thirty years old. ''Currently this monastary is the only place demons can't enter. It's because of the protection of the goddess.''

''Goddess?'' Michiru asked curiously. She wondered if he meant an actual goddess or just a spiritual one you couldn't see like God.

The knight nodded. ''She lives in the monastery. Survivors travel all the way from all places around the world to see her and praise her in all her glory. In return for our prayers and love she gives us protection against the demons.''

''We could use some good luck.'' Michiru said and put a hand on Haruka's back. ''Don't we?''

Haruka didn't seem to care much about a goddess or anything. Maybe it had to do with her lack of faith in God himself. ''If you want to see the goddess go ahead. If you think it's a smart thing to do.''

The meaning behind those words didn't hit Michiru right away until she remembered the knight's words from earlier. The monastery is the only place demons can't enter. She wondered why. Could it be there was actually a goddess protecting the humans or could it be that no demon ever got passed the knights? ''Haruka is going to slay the demon queen.'' She suddenly said causing the knight to look up in shock. The look he was giving her was like she had just admitted being a witch or something.

''We don't use those two words here. It'll upset the goddess.'' He explained when he saw the confused look on Michiru's face and the slightly irritated look on the blonde's face. ''If you're actually going to slay the-you-know-what then you have my blessings to enter and pray to the goddess to have mercy and give you nothing but luck on your mission.''

''That's so nice of you.'' Michiru chirped. Her plan had worked, using Haruka to get into that monastary was a good idea after all. ''I knew you weren't completely useless.'' The last past was nothing but a whisper but the sudden look in Haruka's eyes let the demon girl know she had heard it.

''I don't think it's a good idea. It'll cause trouble. I'd just like to head north. But, sir,'' She paused for a moment and stepped closer to the knight. ''If you happen to know what the queen's face looks like I would appreciate you telling me.'' She added in nothing but a whisper.

Michiru thought for a moment it was because Haruka was too afraid to let the goddess hear her mentioning the queen but then again Haruka could've also been whispering because she didn't want Michiru to hear. Maybe she still didn't trust the aqua haired demon girl.

''I'm sorry. I've never seen that person's face.'' The knight replied and gestured to the other knight who had been standing in front of the monastary's wall without moving, to open the big iron gate. ''Please, if you're really trying what you claim to be trying then please, please pray to our goddess for help.''

The blonde warrior sighed in annoyance. Once again she was delayed from her mission because of that beautiful demon girl. ''Alright. We'll go see that goddess of yours.'' Although her words sounded like a mock the black haired knight couldn't help it but smile upon hearing those words. Did he really think praying was going to solve all their problems? If that goddess really was as blessed as he claimed to be why wasn't she stopping the queen herself? Because if she would Haruka was going to be the first one to drop on her knees and praise that goddess until the end of times.

Finally the other knight opened the front gate, letting both girls pass. Behind her Michiru could hear the knight wish them good luck. It hadn't been until that very moment she felt something was wrong. She slightly turned her head to see what the knights were doing behind their backs. They seemed to be whispering something and closed the gate behind them, locking it as they went. ''Haruka,'' She started. But when she turned back to face the blonde warrior she noticed how far ahead Haruka had already gotten.

Nervous by the idea of being alone she hurried up after the taller woman. ''I think this might be a trap.''

''You should try to trust humans more.'' Haruka replied.

Michiru thought about it for a moment. When she walked passed the knights she hadn't caught any hint of them being demons. But when she passed the second guard she could've sworn she smelled something demon-like around him. As if he had been close to a demon a little while ago. She wasn't sure ofcourse. Ever since they'd started walking towards the north this moment her senses had been off. It was as if every tree and every rock they had passed was possessed by some sort of demon.

The endless hallway had gotten darker and darker with every step they made.

After taking countless steps into an unknown direction they could finally see a light at the end of the long hallways and quickened their pace. As they got closer the nervous feeling surrounding Michiru didn't subside. She felt like she was falling and had nothing to hold onto as she fell. Then, when she bumped into Haruka who had abruptly stopped, she was shaken out of her thoughts and looked up to see why Haruka stopped.

In front of them on the ground sat a few people, maybe ten men or more, bend down as if praying to someone or something. The room was small and the walls had the same color of gray as the armor of the knights they had encountered earlier. In front of the praying man was a small pool of shallow water in which a beautiful naked woman lay with blonde long hair that probably reached past her ankles. Haruka couldn't quite make out the lenght of the woman's hair but for some reason she was bothered by the fact she didn't know. Then, suddenly she felt a stinging pain in her heart and fell down to her knees.

Michiru who had been staring at the blonde woman now noticed Haruka's sudden change of behaviour and rushed to her side. She kneeled down beside the blonde warrior and tried to held her up a bit. ''What's wrong?''

''It hurts.'' Haruka answered, reaching out to her chest. ''My heart.'' It felt like she was having a heart attack but at the same time she felt at ease. Besides the pain she could feel all her worries just flow out of her body and into the nothingness. She bowed her head slightly. She now knew why her heart was aching. It was because she didn't know anything about the beautiful blonde. She felt guilty for mocking the goddess earlier and for arriving this late. She just wanted to spend her entire life praying to this goddess. Someone else would have to kill the demon queen. Haruka had to stay here. That was her mission now.

Michiru still had no idea what was going on with the other girl but decided it had something to do with that blonde woman in front of them. She could see the naked woman get up from the water and look into her direction. The woman's face betrayed no clear sign of emotion. She just stood there looking directly at Michiru like a lifeless doll. ''Why aren't you kneeling before me?'' The blonde woman asked.

The aqua haired demon girl blinked a couple of times before getting a clear read on the other person's aura. This wasn't a goddess. This woman was just a demon who had taken the form of a goddess. It wouldn't be the first and certainly not the last. This demon probably ate the people who worshipped it. That why no demons ever entered this monastary, it was because of this blonde demon.

Michiru's senses had probably been off all day because of the demon's aura that was spred all through the forest. That's why every tree and stone and every other living creature on their path smelled like they were part of a demon. She had to be careful, this demon was probably a very strong one. ''What's happening to Haruka?'' Michiru demanded to know. In her mind she had formed a lot of questions but certainly not the one she just asked. Why did she suddenly worry about that blonde and worthless warrior?

''People who enter this monastary become my love slaves. They'll worship me until they die or until I eat them.'' The blonde demon replied. Still her face showed no sign of emotion or expression.

''And those knights who guard this monastery, do they know what you're doing?''

Suddenly the blonde demon smiled as if pleased with herself all of a sudden. ''Those idiots were the first to find me hidden in this monastery. They became my first victims. I transformed them into mindless slaves to lure people to me so I can eat,'' She paused and put a hand through her hair. ''It's so boring lying here all day but atleast it doesn't get lonely. This part of the forest is all mine.''

''You must be Venus.'' Michiru said plainly. She had heard rumors about a naked blonde demon who ate humans before. Venus was actually one of the dangerous demons who opposed the demon queen on Michiru's hitlist. She'd been looking for this person for quite some time before giving up. Who would've guessed she would find Venus in the middle of this forest?

At first the blonde demon's face showed a mixture of confusion and surprise. She sniffled and only the surprise remained as she nodded. ''And since you haven't fallen for my spell I assume you're a demon as well. Did you come here to claim my part of the forest? Is it that time already? My knights will pay for their mistake with their lives, letting a filthy demon in here,'' She made a strange gesture with her hand and in response all the people who had been bowed down to her, including Haruka, stood up and were now facing Michiru. ''Kill that demon.''

''Using humans to do your fighting. How our kind has fallen from grace.'' The aqua haired demon muttered and snapped her fingers. Immidiately all the men and Haruka fell down as if they had suddenly been hit unconscious. She could've killed all of them easily but she simply refused to do so. It had never been her intention ever since the very beginning of her existence to kill humans.

''That's an impressive power you got there.'' Venus complimented Michiru, her voice betraying a certain nervousness. Maybe because she had suddenly realized something. ''It's truly an honor,''

Michiru smiled slightly before closing her eyes. When she opened them again a few seconds later they had changed color. They were no longer blue but now were catlike yellow colored eyes. Her teeth had also changed form. Two large vampire-like fangs had formed in her mouth, making it impossible for her to close her mouth without biting her own lips.

''Oh yes,'' Venus went on. ''It's truly an honor to kill the demon queen here in this monastery.''

''I love this part,'' Michiru replied. She was slightly amused by the fact Venus had solved the puzzle around her identity that quickly. Yes, she was the demon queen Haruka longed to kill so badly, she was the queen and ruler of all demons. Michiru Kaioh.

''Because this is the part where I rip you to shreds for trying to use my Haruka as your slave.''

To Be Continued

The next chapter will reveal Michiru's motives, etc and ofcourse her fight with Venus.