This tale is a bit darker than what I usually write. Looks like fun.
TOUHOU PROJECT
MISHAPS OF THE EASTERN WONDERLAND
2nd Tale
Scarlet Fate
Many centuries ago, there was unrest in a small mountainous town in Central Europe. Poverty, political incertitude, and famine was in abundance during the early 16th century. As if the dreary rural region of Europe wasn't stricken enough, such deficiency was the least of the denizens' worries. For some time, a number of vampires, beasts and other sorts of unholy creatures roamed throughout the snow-covered town frequently. Of course, as expected, many of them were not friendly towards humans. During these adverse times, people came to fear these beings that seemingly came out of nowhere.
Records of attacks and human casualties grew in many numbers. The death toll increased exponentially by each passing day. It would appear that hell itself decided to rest on the frigid locale. Every day, the people lived in fear for their lives. Any moment now a sinister creature can take a life in a blink of an eye. Though it does seem like the fate of the people of Mountain Town appear grim... there was hope. Even the darkest of clouds bear silver rays of light.
In months passed, the local government established a plan to counter their supernatural adversaries. They knew something had to be done about the creatures of the night. For several months, the local regime assembled an army in secret. Mages, swordsmen, clergymen, priests, and numerous vampire hunters were recruited in this service. Young men and women, age ranging from seventeen to fifty, underwent several grueling training regiments in order to combat the forces of darkness. In due time, they managed to vanquish, capture, and cast off the unholy creatures. The Night soon came to be aware of this collection of warriors. These warriors were humanity's last hope in the war against the damned.
In the outskirts of Mountain Town, there was an abandoned fortress deep in the forest. The derelict stronghold served as a base for the Night hunting army. The warriors that currently patrolled Mountain Town achieved a significant victory tonight. A group of elites raided a large manor that was the abode of an infamous vampire. It was believed that this vampire was among one of the strongest creatures of the Night. They attacked the vampire and beaten her within an inch of her life. For an unknown reason, they chose not to kill this vampire.
The leader of the elites assumed that keeping the vampire alive would be very beneficial to them. He heard rumors that the vampire was able to manipulate fate. Such power was fantastic in his opinion! The warrior general desired that power. He even considered training the vampire to be a part of the hunters.
After a long stroll through a dingy corridor, the general approached his subordinate. "A job well done, Micheal. How is she doing in there?" He indicated towards an iron door.
Micheal, a young large sized man with a broadsword replied to his superior. "She's out like a snuffed flame, Mr. Ezekiel. It seems that tonight's raid took a lot out of her."
Ezekiel was a broad-shouldered man in his mid-forties. He was an experienced vampire hunter that had a much younger man's face... yet with facial stubble. He was very imposing in his armor and dark color robes with the insignia of a wildcat on it. For over two decades he train in both the art of the sword and wielding magic. He has an open wound right above his left sideburns and a scar between his eyes. "I see. She's worn out from tonight's encounter. I think it's time we awaken our little princess of the Night."
Micheal suddenly seemed apprehensive. The vampire was one of the most powerful creatures he had to deal with in his four year career. "Sir, are you sure about this? She may try to attack us after she is roused."
"Positive," Ezekiel said in a tone that brooded no argument.
"Yes sir," Micheal stammered as her fished inside his pocket for a dungeon key.
"I'm... already awake..." the voice inside the dungeon announced. Micheal was frightfully surprised. Ezekiel was still composed. He expected this. He approached the dungeon door and peeked inside it through the bars.
"What is your name?" Ezekiel demanded.
Inside the murky and flea-bitten dungeon, there was a young girl whom was chained to a wall. She was the vampire that the hunters nearly killed. She has multiple wounds and bruises across her arms and legs. Her sundress was tattered and drenched in blood, rendering the original color of the bodice indecipherable. Her once lilac hair was caked in so much blood that it was now black. She was a small vampire, a child that looked to be in her early teens. She grunted as a rat scurried over to her feet and began licking blood from an open wound. She didn't care. She didn't care about the men that captured her.
All she cared about was her mother and sister. Her mother was presumed dead. Her sister was missing.
"What is your name?" The vampire hunter repeated in a harsh tone.
Re... Rem- Ghk!" She gasped when the rat began nibbling on her toes. In annoyance, her toenails transformed into razor sharp claws. One of the claws impaled the rodent, sending it to the hereafter.
Ezekiel persisted. "Is said... what... is your name?"
The girl finally raised her head, revealing her face that was devoid of emotions to the hunter. Her deep red eyes was gleaming in pure hatred towards her captors. Licking the dry blood off her lips, the girl gave an answer. It was a raspy reply, but the vampire hunter heard the girl clearly.
"Remilia..."
"What is your family name?" Ezekiel prompted.
Remilia growled. "Monreau... Remilia Monreau..."
"That was wise of you to cooperate, Remilia," Ezekiel had a hint of a smile on his face. "So you're Gloria's little princess? Interesting. Do you know why we attacked your manor, Remilia?"
Remilia grunted as she tried to yank her arm free from the wall. She yelped when the iron chain bit her wrist. She was still weak from the ambush. Her expressionless face became a pained glare. "You attacked us because you all are heartless cowards. It took a legion of you heathens to contend with me, my sister and my mother."
The leader of the vampire hunters didn't like her answer. "Wrong, wretched devil. We attacked you and your family because you are monsters. Marks against nature."
"Fool!" Remilia shrieked. "You humans are the real monsters. You were relentless in harming my family! You're not worth the shit that flows in your intestines!"
"Watch your tongue, child of darkness!" Ezekiel remarked with fierce authority. "You are but a child. Respect your elders."
"I've been on this earth for nineteen years," Remilia remarked cruelly. "I am not a child."
"Wretch. I do not care how long it has been since you emerged from Gloria's womb," Ezekiel told the vampire indifferently. "That is, if you are indeed Gloria's child as you claim you are."
"Gloria Monreau is the woman that brought me into this world," Remilia's anger was rising. "Don't you dare speak ill of her!"
There was an odd moment of silence. The expression on Ezekiel's face seemed almost... nostalgic. "Hmm... so your kind is indeed capable of love. I would have never imagine such an concept concerning your kind." He was surprised when the vampire girl laughed suddenly. "What's so funny?"
"Fufufufu... love you say?" Remilia wondered with a nasty chuckle. "Typical humans. Since the beginning of civilization your kind has been killing one another because your differences- grand or miniscule. You tear each other asunder because of regional differences, lingo, color of skin, religion, history, and personal agendas. And yet... here you are... talking about the subject of love. I can smell the stench of irony coming from you."
"Silence, spawn of hell!" Micheal hollered, highly offended by Remilia's words. Her cruel spiel holds many truths.
"Calm yourself, warrior," Ezekiel assured the young Micheal. "She's trying to anger us. She's a creature that feeds off of human fear and anger as well as human blood."
"Fuck you." Remilia hissed. She yelped when Ezekiel banged the hilt of his sword against the door all of a sudden.
"Quiet!" The vampire hunter exclaimed in anger. "Shut your filthy mouth. Your obscenities are poisoning even the air of this mountain paradise."
"Paradise?" Remilia scoffed. "I find it rather humorous that you say that. From what I learned, you humans were given paradise but you ultimately ruined it. Even as we speak, the planet slowly withers away because of human agendas. Your glorified wars will be the death of this world, right along with your precious industrialization."
The vampire's words gave Ezekiel pause. Did the girl just... "You... long before I traveled here from Bavaria, I heard tales of a girl that could see and manipulate fate. According to some sources that studied the forces of darkness, they confirmed that the one with such an ability was you. So tell me, did you just view the fate of the world just now? Its end by human whims?"
"No I didn't," Remilia laughed an evil laugh. "It doesn't take a foreseer to view such an event. Even a blind person can see that the world shall end by humans oppression one day."
Ezekiel bit his lower lip. "Regardless... you are the girl that can manipulate fate. Such a fantastic power you have. Who would've ever thought something so abstract would be such a omnipotent force in this existence?"
"You sealed yours by attacking me and my family," Remilia threatened the vampire hunter. "If I get free of these chains I swear that I'll kill you."
"Charming. Now you're trying to frighten me." Ezekiel remarked, unfazed by the vampire's threat. "However, I really do think that you can be an benefit to us."
Remilia's eyes narrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Simple. We will use your power to combat the Night." Ezekiel revealed. Micheal the subordinate gave off a look of absolute uncertainty. "With you in our ranks, we shall purge this world of all devils that roam this earth."
"You're insane," Remilia uttered.
"Comes with the territory of being a human," came Ezekiel's snarky reply. "But know this, little devil; what you said about humanity may be true... but we are not alone in the acts of genocide. Your dear mother know this very well for she slaughtered many of her kind." He was satisfied when he didn't get a retort from Remilia. She was a little confused at what Ezekiel said. "Come, Micheal. Let us leave this little wench. The sun rises in a few hours and we need to patrol the village before dawn."
"Yes sir," Micheal saluted and promptly followed the vampire hunter down the corridor.
Minutes later, Remilia succumbed to a deep, tear-filled slumber. Mama... Flandre...
AN HOUR LATER
"Wake up," a voice commanded.
Remilia stirred in her sleep. She was having a pleasant dream about her, Gloria and Flandre having a picnic in a peaceful land. She doesn't know exactly where this land is located but she knew for a fact that it was vastly different from the one she currently live one. For a fleeting moment, she even thought that she died in her sleep. "Ugh... honey... pass me... that jar of honey... Flan..."
"That is so cute!" The voice squealed, obviously female. "She's having a lovely little dream!"
"Um, I don't think we should be doing this, Rachael." A male's voice spoke his concerns. "What if she wakes up raging mad?"
"You worry too much over nothing, Christopher." Rachael chided with an airy laugh. "The vampire is all chained up. There's nothing she can do. You perturb yourself in vain."
Christopher was unconvinced. "I have a bad feeling about this..."
"Wakey-wakey," Rachael roused the vampire by shaking her by the shoulders. "Come on, you can awaken. There's still plenty of moonlight left."
"What?" Remilia uttered as she returned to reality. What stood before her was a wide-eyed female hunter with mid-length blonde hair and emerald eyes. She wore a silver corset-like tunic on her upper body and a pair of leather leggings on her legs. Her shoulders was covered with armored pads and she wore metal gauntlets on her upper arms. The white sarong around her waist was where she store two daggers and a vial of holy water on the belt. Rachael also wore thick steel-toe boots that may as well protect her from attacks to her feet. "Ugh..."
"My goodness!" Rachael exclaimed with a furious blush on her face. "You're so cute! I never would have dreamed that they were such a thing as a vampire that is as impossibly cute as you!"
"Ray," Micheal said with uncertainty. "Are you trying to insult her?" Micheal was Rachael's best friend. He was younger than Rachael by seven months. They have known each other since they were children and once they heard that the town was looking for people to combat the Night from all parts of Europe... Rachael couldn't resist. Ultimately, she dragged Micheal along. Now, here they are, nearly a year later, staring into the face of an evil being.
"I'm serious, Chris." Rachael retorted. "She's really pretty- even if she is a bloody mess."
"Crazy as always," Christoper nodded with a chuckle. He was a lean young man that was dressed similarly to Rachael- sans the corset, skirt, and tight pants. Instead, he wore a full armor body that was complete with metal gauntlets and iron boots. A broadsword was strapped to his waist. "Some things never change."
Remilia glared at the two troublemakers. "Leave me alone. Let me rest."
Rachael gasped. "Well, aren't you a cheeky little thing?"
"I'm not little," Remilia remarked in annoyance. "I'm almost twenty years old."
"She's older than the both of us, Ray." Chris said is slight disbelief.
"Not while you still look like a thirteen year old child," Rachael grinned as she pulled on Remilia's cheeks. "My gosh! I can't believe that there are girls as adorable as you are among the Night."
"Get your hands off of me!" Remilia snarled, trying to bite the female knight.
"Nah-ah-ah!" Rachael winked. "We can't have you getting angry at us now, shall we? You are our prisoner and therefore I cannot be forced to kill you. After all, General Ezekiel needs you for some odd reason. What is it, is beyond me."
"Heathens, the bunch of you." Remilia wings flapped in irritation. It pained her to do so because she had tears in both of her wings. "Eek!" She yelped.
Rachael suddenly had a nosebleed as a look of pure bliss invaded her features. "Got damn it!"
"It hurts for her to flap her wings," Christoper, playing the role of Captain Obvious, said.
Rachael gave her long time friend a weird look. "Ya think?" She turns around to regard Remilia once more. "You know... I'm curious. You claim that you're nearly twenty years of age and yet, I don't see it. With the exception of your speech and poise, I do not see no evidence of maturity about you what so ever."
Remilia didn't like what the knight just mentioned. Rachael was beginning to push her luck. "What do you mean by that?" Remilia blushed.
"You are by far the most physically ill-developed female vampire that I have ever laid eyes on," Rachael confirmed, causing Christoper to panic. "No flair on your hips, lack of shape on your thighs, and tiny breasts... a blacksmith's cast iron has more shape that you do. The female vampires of lore are sights to behold. They are blessedly cursed with vexing, ample bodies. So why are you an exception?"
"Shut up!"Remilia shrieked and delivered a headbutt to the arrogant huntress. Rachael stumbled backwards in pain and fell on her rear. "How dare you insult me? You condescending bitch!"
"Why you!" Christoper drew his sword, but was stopped when Rachael got off the dingy floor.
"You hit me, you crazy fiend!" Rachael spat in absolute fury. Now her nose was bleeding like a running water faucet. She unlatched a vial of holy water from her belt. "Hahahaha! So you want to play rough, do ya? You wanna mess with me, you fiendishly adorable spawn of hell!" She uncorked the vial and sloshed some of the pure liquid on the hapless vampire.
"GAH!" Remilia roared in agony as the liquid scorched her right shoulder. The holy water left her sizzling in the said area.
"Gah ha ha ha!" Rachael laughed insidiously as a look of pure malice claimed her face. "That hurt, now didn't it? You cute little bitch, you! May you suffer in hell for harming me!" She brandished one of her daggers and waved it dangerously in front of the vampire. "Oh ho ho! Let's see how you vampires cope with extreme pain!"
"Go to hell!" Remilia yelled. Suddenly, the crazed Rachael stabbed the vampire where she was splashed by the holy water on her shoulder. "YEOW! Ow-ow-ow-ow!"
Rachael twisted the blade in the vampire's wound. "Yes! Sing, vampire! Sing with that beautiful voice of yours! Sing your song of unadulterated agony onto the unholy Night!"
"Rachael! That's enough!" Christoper commanded, his concern growing for both girls.
"Gyaaaaaaah!" Remilia was in tears now. The vampire huntress was now stabbing Remilia repeatedly in the same spot, her blood being spilled everywhere. "Aaaauuuugh! Ugh! Ghk! Waaaaaaah- ah- ah-ah-aaaah!"
Christoper stepped forward and grabbed Rachael by one of her shoulders. "Stop it right now, Ray! Control yourself! What if the General finds out about what you're doing to her?"
"As long as I don't kill her, then there is no worries!" Rachael exclaimed to her friend turned minion. "Besides, I'm teaching the little bitch a- GHK!"
While the huntress was regarding her friend, she was unaware that she left her neck completely exposed. Acting out of instinct and utilizing the opportunity, Remilia sank her fangs inside Rachael's neck. She drank the crazy bitch's hot blood with extreme gusto. Her life literally depended on this moment. It was do or die!
"Ray! You fiend!" Christoper charged at Remilia with his blade drawn. "Taste cold steel!"
Just as Christoper was about to close in on Remilia, she was now strong enough to break from from the chains. The crazed vampire huntress' blood gave her a short burst of super strength. She yanked the chains free from the wall and used the ones on her arms to throttle Christoper. Remilia reacted so swiftly on the unsuspecting knight. He didn't know what hit him! She had the chains wrapped tightly around his throat. "Fool. Don't struggle. You have no chance against a vampire woman that just drank human blood."
Chris was swinging his blade like a wild man as he struggled in vain. "Gurgh! I will subdue you, monster! The General shall reward me abundantly for defeating you!"
Behind him, Remilia tugged slightly on the chain. "Stop fooling yourself, warrior. It's futile!"
"No! I shall not fall victim to you!" Christoper yelled as he tried to grab the little vampire behind him. "After the General is done with you, I'll personally see to it that I'll send you to hell!"
"If that's the way you want it? Fine!" Remilia crossed the both ends of the chains in her hands fiercely. There was a sickening crack sound that announced the hunter was sent to the hereafter. Remilia released the chains and allowed the lifeless boy to fall to the floor with a light thud. She gazed over to where Rachael was and found her laid out in a corner. She was loosing a lot of blood.
"You... you... killed him!" Rachael hissed, holding on the wound on her neck.
"Yes I did," Remilia remarked to her crazed nemesis indifferently. "And you shall soon join him. Suffer in your own blood before you expire. That is what you get for crossing me." She about-faced and proceed to leave the dungeon.
Rachael coughed up a severe amount of blood. "Come back here and face me, you hell bitch!"
Remilia promptly ignored the dying fool. As she stealthily proceed down a corridor, she took a look out an open window along the wall. She gazed at the village that was further down the mountain. To the young vampire's horror, she could see the village is ablaze in fire. She could hear the faint cries of both humans and monsters. She could also hear several explosive devices going off at once. That legendary vampire has wrought hell on earth! Remilia thought. Who in their right mind would dare resurrect such a fiend?
A sudden rumbling throughout the fortress snapped Remilia out of her thoughts. It was time for her to escape this filthy, urine-soaked fortress. She hurried down the corridor and took a flight of spiraling stairs. Once she was at the bottom, she heard a voice behind a door. "Remilia?"
Shock registered on Remilia's expression. It couldn't be! "Mother!"
"So you're still alive?" Gloria spoke from behind the door. "I thought that Ezekiel killed you..."
"Mother, that man didn't want me dead," Remilia explained. "Just a second. I'm coming in to rescue you!" With a sound kick, the door shattered under Remilia's might. She rushed inside to a cell that was similar to the one she was imprisoned in moments ago. She immediately went to her mother's aid. Gloria was completely nude, and she was in chains. She was a tall, lithe woman with powerful violet eyes and long silver hair that reaches well passed her waist. Gloria's wrists and ankles were in chains, right along with her neck. "Mother!"
"Remi... you made it..." Gloria spoke in a pained voice. "But you... must leave..."
"No!" Remilia struggled with her mother's bindings. "I won't leave you behind!" She pulled on the chains with all the strength she could muster. Somehow, there was something different about the chains on her mother. "Why? Why can't I release you from your prison?"
Gloria raised her head, revealing to Remilia her missing eye. She wore her hair without bangs, so she couldn't hide her face. "It's no... use." She told Remilia in a despondent voice. "These... these chains are... enchanted. That man summoned a large group of priests to enforce these chains."
"Damn him!" Remilia raged, still trying to break the chains in vain. "I'm going to find him and make him pay for imprisoning you!"
"Remilia... you need to escape. Now!" Gloria commanded before coughing up blood. "Forget about me... Remi."
Tears welled in Remilia's eyes. "No! Mother! I won't leave you here to die! I won't!"
Gloria nodded in pure sadness, finality. "It's too late for me, Remi. There's nothing you can do to save me..."
"Nonsense!" Remilia sniffed. "I'll find Ezekiel and drag the bastard back into this very dungeon in order to free you!"
Despite the sadness in the current situation, Gloria gave a slight smile. "Remi... it's... okay now. I'm just... paying for my sins..."
"Sins?" Remilia gasped. "You haven't attacked any humans, Mother! What are you talking about?"
Gloria sighed deeply. "Love, Remi. I'm talking about love. I was... once deeply in love with Ezekiel... and he with me..."
Remilia reacted at the revelation in shock. "What..."
"Years ago, right before your birth, I first encountered Ezekiel in York," Gloria explained to her distressed daughter. "Back then, he was a junior priest. Our paths crossed when he was alone on patrol one late night. You should have seen him, Remi. He was so beautiful. So handsome, that he even held sway over this vampire."
"Mother..."
"I should have killed him then," Gloria continued with a hint of regret in her voice. "He was right in my grasp, staring death in the eyes. But... that arrogant young man said something to me..." Gloria paused and blushed slightly at a pleasant memory. "He said... he told me that I was the most beautiful being that he ever laid eyes on. And the next thing I knew, he was on top of me..."
"Mother... why?"
"Simple. We were both young... and foolish," said the dying vampire with a nostalgic look. "Opposites attract. Our differences were our main draw. After that fateful night, Ezekiel and I continued to see each other- motivated by love... and compelled by lust..."
"Mother..." Remilia's voice now had edge in it. "Is... is that man..."
"Hear me, Remi..." Gloria interrupted. "Our trysts continued for many years, Remilia. Ezekiel didn't tell a soul. He didn't even told his family nor his fellow soldiers that he was in love with a vampire. This went on for years... went on to even after you were born..."
Remilia kept silence despite the questions of her origins in her mind. Isn't the bastard my father? Tell me already!
"But..." Gloria pursed her full lips. "I too held back secrets from my people and loved ones. I even held a secret from Ezekiel himself. You see... once upon a time, I had a mistress. She was a powerful and frightening vampire. She was just as potent as the one that commands the Night. The very Night that plagues this town right now. My mistress... her name...
Remilia was surprised by this new information. She never would have thought that her mother was a minion.
"Her name... was Ambrosia Scarlet..." Gloria revealed at last. "She is, in absolute truth, the mother of both you and Flandre... and the true owner of our home: The Scarlet Devil Manor."
"You're lying!" Remilia whispered in shock as she fell backwards on her rear. "That's a lie, mother! Tell me that you're lying!"
Gloria stared at her trembling foster child gravely. "I wish that I was, Remi. But fate is cruel... even to vampires..."
Remilia was crying. The shriek of a banshee was heard outside the fortress. "Scarlet..."
"We were happy, Remi," Gloria went on. "Ambrosia, me, Ellen... but by the time Flandre was born... Ambrosia heard stories... tales of a man that could kill what other vampire killers couldn't. He was a horrible man, Remi. He was vastly feared by the Night."
Though she was angry, Remilia's curiosity was piqued. "Ambrosia... my mother... what happened to her?"
"One night... the group of hunters that Ezekiel was apart of hired the dreaded man." Gloria's face contorted in fear at the memory. "With a few of our maids spying on those hunters, we learned from them that the hunters were after us. That was then when Ambrosia decided to retreat to home of her ancestors, our mansion. Since the Scarlet Devil Manor was so far up in the mountains, chances of the vampire hunters' finding us were very slim. But... as we traveled a lone dark rural road, we encountered them..."
"Was the legendary man among the group?"
"Indeed he was," Gloria sighed. "And what's worse, Ezekiel found out my secret. He found out that I was a minion of one of the most powerful vampires in Europe. Filled with rage, he viewed my eternal loyalty to Ambrosia as a mark of betrayal. My mistress and... that bastard with that accursed whip of his... was itching to challenge one another. Sensing a costly struggle, Ambrosia relinquished you and the infant Flandre into my care. She handed me a map and instructed me to hurry to the mansion."
Remilia faintly remembered a group of men, along with many horses and dogs. But it was so long ago. She was just a baby back then and Flandre was probably only a few weeks old. Ambrosia...
"Your mother and the others fought a long lasting battle against the hunters. Ellen stood by Ambrosia's side the entire time, supporting her with magic. But there were casualties on both sides, we've lost nearly all our maids... they've lost their horses, dogs, and some men. Ezekiel was among the injured. So was Ellen... They were both there to witness the final curtain of that battle..."
"My... mother... was killed by this man?" Remilia wondered, wiping her tears with the hem of her tainted dress.
"Yes..." Gloria closed her eyes solemnly. "Ambrosia Scarlet was killed by that bastard. His name was-"
BOOM!
An explosion suddenly rocked the entire fortress.
"It's time for you to leave, Remi." Gloria said, now crying herself. "This place is now a part of the battlefield. It's going to be chaos... monsters and hunters everywhere... You must return to the mansion. Ellen is waiting for both you and Flandre... she's... planning on relocation the mansion... far away..."
Remilia sprang on her feet and hugged her surrogate mother. "I love you! Mother, I will never forget you for what you've done for me! I love you! I love you, Mother!"
"Remi... I've just told you... I'm not-"
"Yes you are!" Remilia sobbed as she hugged Gloria tighter. "I don't care about Ambrosia! I only care about you and Flan! You was there for us! Uu-uuuuu! You... you raised us as your own, Mother! Don't you understand? You're our mother!"
"Oooh Remi!" Gloria was sobbing along with her daughter. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
"I will never forget you, Mama!" Remilia's soul poured out. "Ahh—ugh! Uuu-uuuuu! I love you so very much, Mama! Nothing can describe how thankful I am for you being there for us!"
"Go now, Remilia!" Gloria ushered, choking on tears. "Flandre is down in the burning village... I can sense her..."
"Mama!" Remilia kissed Gloria on her forehead. "Please be with me after tonight!" She indicated to her heart. "Promise me that you'll be in my heart from now on! And Flan's!"
Gloria gave a final smile. "I promise, baby... always and forever..."
Not wanting to make this any harder than it already is, Remilia dashed out of the dungeon. She was in tears. Her mother, Gloria Monreau, was a casualty of war. She was hoping that Flandre wouldn't share the same fate. After a few more moments of escaping the fortress, she made it to the courtyard. There, many warriors and monsters congregated there in mortal battle. The blue tiles of the ground was covered in a sea of blood and the bodies of the dead and injured. It was a struggle between man and the supernatural, but she could use the chaos to her advantage in order to leave this godforsaken place. There it is! The gates were right across the courtyard.
She sprinted as quickly as her injured body could towards freedom. A group of ax wielding soldiers were busy contending to a lot of skeletal swordsmen. A infuriated gargoyle attacked a group of archers. A succubus seduced a young man into a longing embrace... right before stealing her victim's very soul. And a dozen imps were sent back to the netherworld thanks to a trio of mages. That was just a fraction of what was going on in the desolate battlefield.
Once Remilia made it to the home stretch, a hulking man with a large mace suddenly blocked her path. "Halt, knave!"
Remilia grunted in pure frustration. "Outta my way!"
The brute raised his iron weapon. "You are in no position to bellow orders, demon!"
Remilia's nails elongated into red claws, preparing to engage the musclebound goon. Just as they were about to make contact, a ferocious griffin suddenly made an appearance. The beast burst through a wall and positioned itself between the oaf and the vampire. The savage creature flapped it's huge wings and roared at the armored man. This was Remilia's chance to leave the fortress. "I will cast you off to hell, beast!"
The griffin knocked the man across the courtyard with a swipe of it's paw. The beast gave his adversary chase. Sighing in immense relief, Remilia ran out of the fortress. Once she was outside on the frigid snow-layered earth, she realized how bad of a shape the village was in. The village was still engulfed in a red glow and there were various creatures of the Night soaring above it. The vampire scrunched up her nose as she smelled the stench of thick smoke. However... she could sense someone over in the village. Flandre. She's there! That presence is unmistakable!
The cold earth was unforgiving. It was apparent with every step Remilia took on bare feet. In a single night, Remilia endured a lifetime of pain. Slashed, stabbed, burned, cut, torn... nobody shouldn't have to go through such anguish- no matter what species. The slight sundress she wore bore no protection against the frigid night air. Remilia pushed on. She must save her sister. She must survive the night. I'm coming for you, Flan!
And then, a sickening squelching sound resounded, along with a white hot pain coursing through her chest. Gasping in shock, Remilia immediately gazed down and discovered a blade protruding between her breasts. "AAAAAUUUGGH!"
"Bitch..." a sinister voice snarled. "Did... you truly thought... that I'm... just gonna roll over and die... from a bite on the neck? You really thought that I'm going to die from an attack like that?"
Remilia's eyes widened in horror at the sound of the familiar voice. No... no! It can't be!
"That... was for... Christoper," Rachael laughed. "That is his sword that is impaled in you right now!" She had patched a piece of cloth on the wound on her neck.
"Uu-uuuuuh!" Remilia whipped around in fury. "You! You! Yoooooooouuuu!"
Rachael laughed again. "In the flesh, my beautiful and sexy little vampire! Surprised to see me?"
Remilia was crying again. "I'll kill you! Got-damn it! I swear that I will tear you apart!"
"Aw, what's the matter?" Rachael taunted. "You're crying like a baby. That is so undevil-like."
Filled with rage, Remilia charged at the huntress. Filled with vengeance and adrenaline, Rachael knocked Remilia onto her back with a sound punch just as the vampire closed in on her. "Take that!"
WAP!
"Oof!" Remilia was sprawled out on the ground with the blade still in her chest. "Uuuuuuh..."
Racheal jumped on top of the bleeding vampire. "Ooh! This seems familiar. Remember the time you left me dying in a pool of my blood? Oh, that's right! It was mere moments ago! Ha! Ha! Ha! Silly me!"
"F... fuck you..." Remilia grunted. Rachael twisted the sword in her chest as a reprimand. "Urg!"
Now, now..." Rachael waved a finger in a motherly manner. "Watch your tongue, my pretty!" After mentioning that, she gazed longingly into Remilia's pained face. "Damn it all, you're pretty... such a beautiful girl you are." She eased her hand to the hem of the vampire's short dress and tugged on it. "For someone so short, you have some long legs. Hmm... I do wonder if your... 'unmentionables' are as pretty as your face."
"Get off of me!" Remilia struggled underneath the crazy woman that was sitting on her.
"No way!" Rachael had a heinous leer on her face. "I want to see it!" She had her hand on Remilia's thigh. "I want to see how pretty it is!"
"Idiot!" Remilia screeched. She cupped her hands on Rachael's face and promptly dug her claws into it, causing the demented young woman immense agony.
"Augh!" Rachael clutched her face in anguish. Remilia successfully kicked her off of her and gathered herself back on her feet. She pulled the late Christopher's sword out of her chest in extreme discomfort. But Rachael's reflexes was fast. She brandished one of her daggers and tossed the weapon with deadly accuracy. "Suffer, you little bitch!"
The blade hit it's mark on Remilia's left side of her waist with a 'thunk' sound. She clutched her new wound, screaming. "Gah!"
"An eye for an eye, fool!" Rachael taunted. She now had hideous slash marks on her once beautiful face. "Now..." she gathered six daggers in both of her hands. "Allow me to show you what the General has taught me."
"I grow tired of your games!" Remilia cursed, her eyesight getting blurry. "Let's finish this! I have a trick of my own!"
"Oh? You're ready to end this?" Rachael smirked cruelly. She was enjoying this. Once she gather her knives in her hands, it was usually over for her adversary. "Fine. I'm done with you, anyway! It was indeed fun while- huh?"
The little vampire's violet eyes were now glowing red. Not only that, a red aura was emitting from her as well. A scarlet orb of power was gathering in her right hand. The orb grew in size with each passing second. It grew so large that it eventually transformed into a shape. "Fool, you've sealed your fate for trying to harm my dignity." The aura of scarlet colored power turned into a menacing looking spear. "Now you must suffer the consequences!"
"Finally showing your true colors, demon?" Rachael was challenging the enraged vampire. "Impressive, but it is I that is going to be the victor!"
Remilia prepared the concentration of power like a javelin."Perish."
"No! You die! DDOOOORRYYAAAA!" Screaming like the maniac she was, Rachael tossed the group of daggers towards her target. "Safe journey to hell, bitch!"
"Hell awaits you instead!" Remilia chucked the Spear of the Gungir. "It is your fate!" During a terrifying moment, the demonic spear of scarlet vaporized the daggers that were on the warpath towards her.
Rachael witnessed this in disbelief. "What! It-"
The insane woman spoke her last words, for the Spear of Gungir streaked right through her body. Rachael fell to the ground in a bloody, lifeless heap. A giant hole was present on her upper body, her innards being an ugly mess on the cold earth. After killing her nemesis, exhaustion overtook Remilia's being. "Ugh..." she grunted and yanked the offending dagger out of her waist. "...that took a lot out of me. The pain... my attack..."
Her vision blurred again along with her body weakening from loss of blood. She turned around from Rachael's cadaver and stumbled down the hill towards the village. But she was in so much pain... and the extreme cold didn't make things better. Remilia actually contemplated to lie down on the snow and let death come and take her. No. I can't die tonight... I gotta find Flan... and... get her out of here...
The vampire fought on, dotting the snow with a trail of her blood. She was cold. She was in agony. She was moribund... but she fought the odds. She vowed to herself to find her sister and to get out of this Night infested snow-covered hellhole.
"Wait for me... Flan... I'm coming for you..."
SEVERAL MINUTES LATER
Death. It was coming for her. She just knew it. Remilia made it into the burning village, but it seemed to be completely devoid of life. What's worse, she was feeling weak- extremely weak. Each step was a struggle. None of her wounds were healing and her heart was beating so furiously that she can hear it in her ears. She even inhaled a great deal of smoke. The more she walked, the more grim her chances for survival grew. The only way she can survive the night is...
That's it. Remilia's mind processed it's final gambit. Blood! I have to feed off of someone's blood!
"Meow."
Wha? Remilia whipped her attention towards the source of the sound. There, inside an alley, was a black cat. The vampire couldn't believe her luck. There's a creature that is still alive in the village! A cat. A survivor. Cats are natural fighters and surprisingly resilient. Survivors. They've been on this world since the days of the dinosaurs. They existed during times long before humanity introduced corruption to the planet. They have already survived a worldwide cataclysm before. Cats were indeed amazing creatures. That why they're one of her favorite animals.
However, in order for her to see the next day, the one in the alley is presently on the menu.
"Here kitty-kitty..." Remilia cooed, trying to appeal to the small beast in the alley. It was lying on a wooden crate, staring at the vampire in curiosity. "C'mon..."
The cat seem to respond as it tilted it's head. "Meow?"
Remilia approached the feline slowly. She prayed that it was gullible enough to approach her. "Heeeere kitty-kitty... come to mama. C'mon."
"Meorrr..." The cat was now approaching her. Slowly.
"Yes. Yes!" Remilia urged, practically drooling at the prospect of a late night snack. "Come to Remiiii..." Then, just as the feline was within arm's reach, the cat caught sight of a rat scurrying behind the vampire. In an instant, the cat was chasing a prey of it's own. Charisma Breaker.
"Damn it!" Remilia shrieked, her only chance of survival gone. Fresh tears well up in her eyes again. It's over. This is it... I'm... I'm going to die. She fell against the crate and decided to wait for death's sweet release. Flan... I've fail you. I'm sorry...
But...
TWUHMP-TWUHMP
She heard the sound. They were footsteps. Someone was about to pass the alley. Remilia gathered herself off the crate and crouched low in the darkness of the alley. Flandre? A survivor, maybe?
TWUHMP
TWUHMP
TWUHMP
Then she saw it: a silhouette of a woman. A survivor! Remilia hoped that this is indeed a blessing in the night. As the woman walked passed the alley, Remilia was already in pursuit. This is it! Now to seize the opportunity! Time to feed!
Remilia caught up to the unsuspecting woman and mauled her from behind. The woman fell hard with a yelp and Remilia was already bearing her fangs into the victim's neck. She drunk the woman's blood profusely, much like a camel in the oasis. "Hmm! Umm!" Remilia drank. The sounds coming from the vampire were savage, primal noises. She can feel her strength returning. It was faint, but she could feel her strength replenishing. Thank you for being around when I needed something to feed on!
Then... the strangest thing happened: the woman was slowly gathering herself off the ground. With Remilia still latched unto her neck! What's even stranger... she didn't even try to rid the vampire that was feeding off of her. She was back on her feet and Remilia was completely unaware of this. Remilia was unaware until the woman spoke. "Well well well... what do we have here?"
Remilia instantly ceased in draining the woman's blood. "What? You're not dead, yet?" She asked with a bloodied face.
"Amusing," the woman said. "Of all the creatures in this village, only a vampire is still among the living."
Remilia was shocked by this development. The woman was not human! In her moment of extreme weakness, she was totally unable to sense otherwise. The little vampire cursed herself. There goes another Charisma Breaker. "Damn it again!"
"Ugh," the woman grunted in disgust and lifted Remilia off of her with a single hand. "You've picked the wrong devil to mess with, kid. I'm bad for ya diet." Suddenly, she pitched the little vampire to a nearby wall of an abandoned bistro.
"Gak!" Remilia collided into the wall and slide down to the ground in a heap. "You're not a human. Yet, you're not a vampire either. I can sense it now. What in the world are you?"
"Humph. You're the lower being in this scenario," the woman said. "You should introduce yourself first."
Remilia stood on her feet. "I am Remilia Monr..." she suddenly frowned, recalling her origins. "I am Remilia Scarlet! The Scarlet Devil!" She announced to the blonde woman. However, the woman suddenly began laughing. "What's so funny?"
"Devil? You?" The blonde scoffed. "Don't overestimate yourself, sweetheart. The bite marks on her neck suddenly vanished. "You don't know the meaning of the word. Heck, you're not even a denizen of the Demon World. Proclaiming yourself as such is a grave offense to my kind."
A inkling of fear gripped Remilia's heart. What is this woman talking about? Is she as crazy as Rachael? "The Demon World?" Remilia wondered. "Are you saying..."
"Exactly!" The blonde woman confirmed. "Now... allow me to introduce myself." In a puff of violet smoke the woman transformed. Once she was visible again, she still had on the long red dress with purple marking on the hem of it. She also wore a purple vest over a white blouse that had a red bow on the collar. There was also a big red bow on the top of her long golden hair. But what was most striking about the woman was the pair of giant purple bat wings on her back. In her hands was a white colored wand, making her appear as a wicked and demonic magical girl. "Behold! I am Ellis, devil sorceress of Vina!"
"You're a devil? Seriously?" Remilia's fear was replaced by disbelief. "You're from Vina? The legendary demon ruins I read in books?"
"Allow me to put your doubts to rest, child." Ellis announced, suddenly grabbing Remilia by her throat and lifting her against the wall. "Allow me to put your body to rest as well!"
"Ugh! Not a chance!" Remilia struggled with the arm the held her against the wall. It proved futile. Moving the demon sorceress' arm is like trying to move a mountain.
"Fufufu... now you believe me," Ellis laughed darkly as her eyes glowed. "Nightmares can be a reality, toots. You better hope that the gods that you pray to are highly responsive to prayers."
Remilia gritted her teeth, if this keeps up, she will perish. The blonde devil was literally chocking the life out of her. There's nothing I can do! I'm completely powerless against her!
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" Ellis was enjoying the vampire's anguish. "I'll see you in hell. Literally!"
And then...
"Kyuu!"
A sudden explosion separated Ellis from Remilia. The blonde devil's hand that was holding the vampire was blown off, and her left wing was missing. "What in blazes? Who dares challenge me?"
A girl's giggle resounded throughout the desolate village. "Tee he... hee hee hee hee! You're pretty strong, aren't you?" The voice said. "You must be strong for giving my sister such a hard time. No matter. You'll get to play with me!"
Immense relief and joy filled Remilia's being. "Flandre!"
"Hello, Sis," Flandre guffawed, still haven't arrived on the scene yet. "Let me take care of that strong magical girl for you."
Ellis looked around her surroundings in confusion and fear. "You dare mock me? Who are you? Where are you?"
Flandre was still giggling. "Your worst nightmare. Ya! Ha! Ha! Ha!"
"Is this some kind of sick joke?" Ellis stumbled backwards in growing terror. "Show yourself!"
The flames of the village suddenly raged anew. Then, from the shadows, Flandre tapped the demon sorceress on the back of her shoulders. "Boo!"
The great devil sorceress of Vina screamed in utter horror. "YAAAAHH!"
"Um-hmm..." Flandre Monreau... no, Flandre Scarlet was Remilia's younger sister. She was younger than Remilia by almost five years and it is very likely that she was the stronger sibling. She has long blonde hair tied in a left ponytail and wide red eyes. She wore a black tunic and brown boots. The rod-like wings adorned with multicolored quartz glass were the most unusual aspects of her appearance. Flandre was cute by normal standards, but she was a truly terrifying being. She may very well be the culprit behind the burning village. "You're scared, aren't you?"
"N-no," Ellis lied.
"Then let's play," Flandre urged. "Let's see how long you last before you break."
"Flan," Remilia called out to her sister. "Be careful. She's a devil from the Demon World."
"Y-yea!" Ellis panicked, preparing an attack. "What your sister said."
"Demon World, you say?" Flandre wondered in fascination. "That sounds fun! Do you really get to play with guys dressed in red pajamas for all of eternity? Tee hee! I'll make them all break! Pitchforks and all!"
"Take this, abomination!" Ellis exclaimed as she released a stream of red colored bullets from her still attached hand.
"Flandre!" Remilia shrieked. "Watch out!"
Ellis' array of bullets hit her target, but Flandre took them while giggling. "Ha! That tickles! Now it's my turn!" Flandre unleashed a barrage of scarlet beams of her own. Only the attack power of her bullets were many times stronger than Ellis'. The blonde devil weaved frantically as she tried to dodge the bullets. "Ya! Ha! You're a pretty good dancer!"
"Damn you..." Ellis retorted in frustration as she ducked under a beam cluster, matrix style.
Remilia noticed the display of her sister's power. Flandre was making Ellis look like a scared animal. Just a moment ago, Remilia herself couldn't even make a move against Ellis. Even if she were to be at full strength she didn't think that should could do much against the woman from Vina. Meanwhile, Flandre is playing with Ellis. She playing with the frightened devil like a damned toy. Flandre... she always had potential, but I never would have imagined that she would be this strong.
One of Flandre's bullets knock Ellis' wand from her grasp. "No! Stop this, already!"
Flandre heard what the cowering devil requested. She did so, but it was more out of curiosity than mercy. "Hmm? You're not able to play anymore? You're not as strong as I thought you were?"
She think that this is a game? Ellis' mind raced. The gall of this child! "Yes, I wish to stop our little game," she excused, attempting to appeal to Flandre. "But there is something that I must know: are you one of Greater Fiends? Are you a follower of the one who commands the Night?"
"Greater... Fiends?" Flandre asked in confusion. "Umm... no, I don't think so. I just came around here to play because there were a lot of toys roaming around here earlier. There were lots of monster flying around- tee he! There were some many of them to kyuu!"
Ellis stared at the overpowered child in disbelief. It was impossible! How could she not be a member of the Night with such power? If anything, the child may be just as powerful as the one whom commands the army of darkness. "What? You don't even know the one who leads all the monsters? You're not a minion of Dra-"
"Flandre," Remilia interrupted, "were you the one that sat this place on fire? Is that what you did when those hunters invaded our home?"
Ezekiel's words rang in her memory... 'we are not alone in the acts of genocide. Your dear mother know this very well for she slaughtered many of her kind.'
Flandre gave a fanged grin. Even though she was an embodiment of ultimate mindless destruction, she was still adorable. "Yep. It was me, Sis. I gave them all a good scare before I kyuu most of them. After that, I saw the monsters everywhere and I decided to join the fun."
Remilia's eyes dilated in utter horror. "Flan! I was you all along!"
"Well! That is what they get for breaking and entering!" Flandre suddenly spat. "And they kidnapped you and Mama!"
Reluctantly, Remilia gave Flandre the bad news. "Flan... Mama's... she... she died."
Now it was Flandre's turn to react in shock. "What did you just say?"
Remilia lowered her head, tears flowing down her cheeks. "She's gone, Flan. Mama's dead!"
"Uh," Ellis interrupted the sisters' sensitive moment. "This is where I take my leave." In another puff of smoke, she transforms into a bat with beady red eyes. She flew away from the Scarlet Sisters as fast as she could. Yes! I get to see another day! I hope I'll never see that deranged child again!
After Ellis fled for whatever part of hell she's from, Flandre's lips trembled. "You're lying. You're lying to me, Sis!"
"No. I am not, Flan. Mama's gone." Remilia reinforced.
"No... No! No! No!" Flandre cried. "Mama's isn't dead! I met the leader of those bad hunters, Sis! Before I made him go kyuu he told me that Mama is still alive!"
Remilia blinked in surprise. So Ezekiel met Flandre? This must of happened right before she escaped the vampire hunters' fortress. What was that man trying to accomplish by telling her that? "Flan, was his name Ezekiel? Are you sure it was him?"
"Yes, Sis! He was with a group of those mean hunters!" Flandre confirmed. "But what was odd about it, he was carrying a little baby with him."
"Flan!" Remilia's heart almost jumped out of her chest in shock. "He was carrying a baby? You didn't... you didn't harm the baby, did you?"
"No. I left the baby over in that bakery over there," Flandre replied, pointing towards an old building that wasn't consumed in flames. Flandre's eyes suddenly widened. "Ooh! I forgot! We gotta go over there and see if the baby is okay, Sis."
The older sibling sighed in immense relief. "Very well. Let's head over there." She tried to get back on her feet but she stumbled and fell again. After all of the events that occurred tonight, her body decided to inform her that it was in critical condition. I was time for her weary and battered body to take a rest. "Flan. Could you carry me?"
"Okay." Flandre replied and lifted her sister into her arms. She was carrying her bridal style. "How's this?"
"F-fine." Remilia stammered with a blush of embarrassment. "This will do."
Flandre carried Remilia to the bakery down the street. The bakehouse was still a neat and fresh place of business, but it was abandoned due to the emergence of the Night. On another note about the shop, this was the very place that the maids of her household order their sweets from. "Here we are, Sis." Flandre said, approaching the entrance. Remilia reached for the door and opened it. The bakehouse was dark, save for a dim lamp that illuminated an area underneath a staircase. Near the lamp, there were a few partially eaten cakes, loafs of bread, bottles of milk, and a soft looking bed quilt. "The baby is over there."
"Right. You can put me down now, Flan." Said Remilia. The younger sister promptly did so and went over to resume eating one of the cakes. Remilia followed and took a look at the infant sleeping peacefully in the comforter. What she behold, was an adorable silver-haired cherub. The little ball of fat was without a worry in the world. "It's a girl, Flan. She's so cute. How long did you left her here?"
Flandre regarded her sister with a cake layered face. "Not too long. After I broke those meanies I came here to hide the baby. I didn't want any of the monsters to find her." She resumed in indulging herself with chocolate covered goodness. "Want some?"
Remilia was staring at the infant. This must be that man's daughter? She has his scent. "No thanks, Flan. Knock yourself out."
"Okay! Nom!"
And that's not all... Remilia's mind processed with growing realization. This child... she has Gloria's, no, Mother's hair! Could it be that he and Mother... an gold colored object beside the sleeping infant gained her attention. It was a pocket watch. Curiously, she opened the watch and felt a slight surge of magic from it. "Flan. This watch. Do you know who it belongs to?"
The younger sibling chugged a bottle of milk and belched before answering. "Ah! Oh, that mean man had that watch. I decided to keep it after taking care of him. It's a strange toy, Sis. Can you feel something from it?"
"Yes. All I know is that this is a magical watch," Remilia explained. "Maybe I should talk to Ellen about it once we get back to the mansion."
"We're going back home, Sis?" Flandre sounded happy, but still sad by the loss of Gloria. "You think the witch will be there?"
"Yes, I believe so." The older Scarlet replied in a solemn tone. "After all, Mama said that Ellen is there and waiting for us. We're leaving this place, Flan. We're going somewhere far away. Where exactly, I don't know. Only Ellen knows."
"So, are we going to take her with us?" Flandre indicated towards the baby.
"We have no choice, Flan." Remilia nodded as she cradled the silver haired child in her arms. "She has no one to take care of her. No family. We're her family now. Leaving her here would be a terrible fate. It is a fate that nobody deserves to bear."
"So that means that you will be like, a mother to her!" Flandre beamed in excitement. "Tee he! Mama Sis! I like the sound of that. What are you going to name her?"
"Hmm... why don't we wait until we find out where we going." Remilia considered. "Then we can name her in accordance to the region we end up settling in. Like if we end up in France, I'll give her a French name. Or if we settle in Greece, a Greek title for her would be appropriate."
"Okay!" Flandre finished the last of a red velvet cake. "Let's go, Sis! Let's start on a new life!"
Mother, you were right! You kept your promise. You live on inside this child and our hearts. I promise that I will nurture and protect her. I will be like a mother to her as you were to Flandre and me.
I love you, Gloria Monreau. Always and forever.
END OF TALE
And that's my little take on the past of Remilia, Flandre, and Sakuya. I'm not too keen on creating original characters but in this scenario, it was fun. Creepy, but fun. Plus, I wanted to give some love to two characters from the PC-98 era. Read the tale again if you haven't noticed. One of them is obvious and the other is mentioned a number of times. Damn. This story was really dark. I nearly shed a manly tear or two. Maybe I should make an epilogue to this tale. Or a sequel?
You decide.
NEXT TALE
The Man Who Fell In Love With Satori