Love in Dark Realm
By AngeL From Chaos
This is a plain story about a secret vampire clan, the Lamias, who were believed that they are just one of those myths. The folk tellers often describe them in three words: Immortal, brutal and lethal. Despite of these characteristics, there are capital laws that are strictly prohibited when dealing with humans: Limit their blood lust and don't dare to fall in love with humans. But what are the consequences for rule breakers like the princess of the dark realm, herself, Sakura Kinomoto?
However, there is this mystical book of the Legendary King Lacudra that possesses an ancient power to bring the dead to life… in exchange of someone's soul.
A/N: Love in dark realm is actually a comic strip of mine that's why I decided to publish it on the net, too. Yeah, right! I sketch this on my sketchpad! Anyway, this is just my 1st fanfiction to be submitted on this site so. Please pardon me for having some grammatical errors. I am not that expert in English grammar but I'll try my best not to have errors. It will be my pleasure if you'll review / post a comment.
Chapter 17
Night fell on Aegis City as the Kinomoto siblings headed to the Forbidden Temple. As they drove up to the sloping main road, through pools of moonlight, through layered night shadows cast by cypresses and pines, they saw no movement other than Touya's Ducatti. The only sound was the motorcycle's booster.
"Are we there yet?" asked the princess who clings tightly on her brother's waist.
"When we reached the three hundred and thirteenth cypress tree, we've reached the forest to the Temple of Void," Touya answered through his helmet.
Sakura nearly lost her balance upon hearing the respond. "What? You mean… You've been counting trees since we got here? What number are we now?"
"Two hundred and forty one… forty two… forty three…" he continued counting like Count Dracula.
Sakura puffed her wispy bangs. "As a famous belief; vampires are said to have counting as a hobby. Vampires are said to be busily counting grains when they spotted them. Well onni-chan is a good example," she thought foolishly.
"Hey, stop thinking like that… You're disturbing my counting! Two hundred fifty seven… fifty eight…"
"Onni-chan?" she sounded irritated. "You told me a while ago that the Temple of Void is surrounded by a forest? Why is that?"
"It serves as a protection the fact that the forest is guarded by untamed beasts…" Touya laughed annoyingly. "Sometimes ghosts popped out there… especially at night," he stressed out the last few words, teasing his cute little sister.
"Stop scaring me!" Sakura yelled. "You know how I hate ghosts! They're freaky!"
Touya nodded. "Yeah, I agree. So this is the best time to like them…"
"Shut up!"
All the while they're talking, Touya never stop counting. "Three hundred nine, ten… eleven… twelve… thirteen!" he stopped the Ducatti on the sloppy road. "This is it!" said Touya, pulling out his helmet. "But first we have to struggle across the Dark Forest," Touya parked his motorcycle nearby the cypress tree.
Suddenly, the crows flocked together and made screeching noises. As their wings flapped, few black feathers fell, swaying before it reaches ground. "Whaa!! Onii-chan!" Sakura hugged her brother. "You can't let me enter that forest! I can't!" she protested like a kid.
Touya scowled. "The brat… This trip is all about him! Isn't it?"
Sakura was quiet. "Oh yeah, Syaoran-kun… I want to know where he is…" she thought. "But the forest…"
"A vampire is never afraid of crows. What more if you encounter werewolves?" his jet black eyes were cold and intense.
"Werewolves? They exist?"
Touya pointed Sakura's forehead. "They do," he answered and sighed. "If ever you are studying at La Vampiere you wouldn't be asking stupid questions! La Vampiere is the best academy for lamias! All facts about Dark Realm were taught there, you know? That's why we don't want you to study at Vermillion Institute!" he dragged her to the forest.
All the while they walked in the bushy forest, Touya continued to make sermon to Sakura. "Just think of your bestfriend, Chiharu. She became a spy detective with the aid of her learning in La Vampiere…"
"Yeah yeah. Chiharu's really a genius," she snapped.
"Everybody could be a genius whenever they study at La Vampiere…"
"La Vampiere, La Vampiere! I'm sick of that name. Plus, the professors are bloody boring like hell!" she pouted. "Unlike Vermillion Institute, I eventually met new friends there…" her mood changed. "And that is where I met Syaoran-kun" she blushed and held her cheeks using her other hand.
Touya's grip on Sakura's other hand tightened. "Studying is not about friends or lovers. It's all about learning. So look what you've got now! You don't even know werewolves exist!" he sighed.
"Still, I'm happy at Vermillion," she noticed Touya stopped walking. "Onni-chan? What's the matter?" his hand was attached to hers securely.
"Don't you try to move, Sakura…" he said focusing his eyes on the hairy beast infront of them. "The Daidouji's are really smart to make werewolves as guardians…"
The black furred werewolf stood by its hind legs, looking hungry.
Sakura hid behind Touya. "What are we gonna do? He seems calling other members."
"A smooth negotiation is all we need. We can't deal with many werewolves for they can easily pounce on us any minute."
"I have sandwich here. Maybe they can share with this?" Sakura threw the wrapped tuna sandwich in the air and let it fall on the grass. "Come on, that's yummy! Go and eat it!"
"What are you doing?" Touya asked.
The werewolf ignored it and all of a sudden three other werewolves surrounded them, preventing any mistake. "Oh no… We are so dead…"
- - - - -
The moon was still blocked by the thick clouds, making Yue less combative. He continued to defend Roan's attack. "You want a piece of me, uh?" complete darkness lies on the city while the electric power was still shut.
"It's useless to resist," Roan gripped one wing and slammed Yue against a cypress tree. He watched his stunned brother and came closer. "Your wings… they were just like those wings from a swallow which I cut off using my sword," he smirked coldly. "I'll do the same with yours, brother…" he elbowed Yue on the stomach. Then he landed on the grassy area with head first. "Poor guy…"
Yue squirmed in pain. He's defenseless now. Roan stomped Yue's head against the soil so he couldn't breathe. He stomped deeper and harder, enough for Yue to suffocate. Roan could feel his brother's struggling body so he did one final stomp on him just like a hammer pounding a nail on wood.
"I told you. It's useless to resist," Roan smiled feeling his victory. "I should've finish you off if ever my sword is in my hands," Yue remained immobile. "What a pity…" the knight of Dark Realm mercilessly grabbed his brother's half buried head and picked it up. "Haha! You're dreaming of ruling the Dark Realm with that dirty face? How funny you are?" he teased Yue and tossed him in the air.
Waiting for Yue's impact, Roan waited for his finishing move. Unnoticed for Roan, Naoko woke up and hugged him from behind. "Stop! Don't kill master Yue!" she hugged him tightly preventing Roan for his own attack.
While falling, Yue got the chance to flap his limping wings, slowing his fall. "Roan… You did great this time… You scored," he smirked inhaling deeply, spreading his wings to balance himself on the air. His face was messed up with dirt and blood. Finally, the thick clouds faded and the moon reappeared.
The majestic knight was irritated of Naoko. "So you made your own puppet, uh?" he twisted her arm so he could recoil. "Trying to protect your useless master is a bad tactic," he said facing Naoko's sweating face. "I'll kick your ass, too for interrupting us…"
But Yue flew and got Naoko before Roan could break her neck. "I thank you for that…" he carried her with his arms. Then he glared at Roan. "You and the new Clow Reed are doomed!" with those words, he flew away from Roan's sight. "Mark my words!"
Roan strode until he reached the front door of the abandoned cathedral. "Who would have thought that a cathedral was built after our castle was destroyed?" he thought placing both palms on the front door, exerting force to push it in order to open it. Slowly the door was split open, allowing Roan to enter. "Welcome back home," he said to himself, looking at the broken ceiling. "I could feel Yue's presence through that broken ceiling…" he averted his gaze inside the cathedral. "Hiiragisawa had been here a while ago…" he saw human bones scattered at the corner.
The first vampires used to feed on visitors in the cathedral, taking the chances while they were praying.
Furthermore, he absorbed Eriol's aura so he could keep tracking him. "I wonder if he met the two guardians already."
A sudden blinding light flashed on the Dark Forest causing the werewolves to flee. "Huh? What was that?"
"Tomoyo Daidouji…" Touya said.
Sakura gazed at Tomoyo. "So she's Tomoyo. How beautiful she is…" she thought.
Tomoyo's soul appeared before them. "I'm so sorry for the inconvenience. My werewolves were assigned to guard this forest against intruders," she eyed Sakura who seemed to be mesmerized by Tomoyo's beauty. "But I see no evil on your purpose here. That's why you're free to get inside the Forbidden Temple."
"Thank you," Touya said. "We need to see Kaho Mizuki."
"Yes, she is inside the temple. You can go now. The werewolves will not harm you anymore. I'm so sorry again," Tomoyo smiled warmly.
"It's okay. We understand. Let's go now, Sakura," he called.
"Wait! Tomoyo… I…" Sakura went closer to Tomoyo.
"Yes, princess?"
"About the Legendary Book of King Lacudra… Eriol wants me to be the tribute for your soul. He misses you badly, Tomoyo. And he will not stop doing dark behaviors without you." She remembered Meilin's tragedy.
"Oh Eriol… He must have lost his path as of now. But you don't have to worry, princess. I'm so sure that everything will be alright."
"Tomoyo?"
"Go now. Miss Mizuki is waiting for you. She could give you the answers for Li Syaoran…" she smiled.
"Thank you…" Sakura smiled back.
Sixty feet below the cathedral, the crystal ball's glow faded. "The buried cane must be near," it was a rocky and slippery dungeon. Eriol recalled the castle's structure. "I don't know that the castle has several secret passages!" he thought. Probably he didn't explore the castle too much during his short government. A few more steps until he found a large sealed chest, buried slightly on the rocky ground. "That's it."\
All of a sudden two little fairy - like creatures came flying around the sealed chest. "My name is Spinel and this is my partner Keroberos. So who are you to get those valuable weapons?" asked the dark one. "These are not yours. Master Clow Reed and Roan possessed them" the little creature has a pair of floppy wings and large blue eyes.
"Only our master Clow Reed and Roan can enter this secret passage!" the other orange stuffed creature exclaimed. Keroberos had his arms crossed.
Eriol snickered. "You must be the guardians. Stuffed toy guardians! Anyway, I am the reincarnation of Clow Reed. Therefore I have the right to get the weapon. Roan will be here afterwards to get his weapon, too."
The guardians were confused. They were suddenly covered with their own wings, changing them to large beasts. "Who are you?" Keroberos went closer to Eriol.
"Hiiragisawa Eriol…"
"No! It can't be! The wanted criminal of the Dark World! Why would our master choose a murderer as his reincarnation? A murderer who killed thousands of humans!" Spinel interjected.
"And the rulebreaker of Dark Realm," Keroberos walked around Eriol, having keen eye on him. "I can't believe you're Eriol! Eriol is supposed to be inside the Sealed Chamber, the right place for lamias like him!"
"Tomoyo let me out of the Sealed Chamber…" Eriol stated confidently.
"What?" the guardians chorused.
Flashback:
Ashes were falling inside the Sealed Chamber dimension, making it grayish in color. No more things were seen aside from ashes and the other vampire souls. The dimension was totally empty. Stuck inside, Eriol sat at the corner, writing lines on the surface. "I've been here for almost a millennium…" he said to himself. His blood thirst was still consuming his mind. Even he was just a soul his bloodlust is still there. "And for devil's sake! Human blood… I need it!" A once a week blood supply isn't enough to satisfy his thirst. (See Chapter10)
His 'chambermates' were busy teasing him, calling him stupid fool. "You shouldn't have killed our King Lacudra!" one King Lacudra's men said. "Look what happened to you! Haha! You'll be joining us inside this empty space! How pathetic?"
Eriol just ignored them. "Pathetic, I am…" he hissed. "I can't believe that I, myself was placed inside Tomoyo's invention. He wandered around the dimension and heard someone calling his name. "Huh?"
It was the voice of Tomoyo. "Eriol… You've suffered enough. I don't want seeing you like that."
"This is my punishment. I have to deal with it," Eriol responded. "All souls here are suffering from blood lust…" he tried to locate Tomoyo but only her voice was heard. "Where are you? And what are you doing here? This is a place of the damned"
"I'm always with you, Eriol. And I'm giving you a chance to live to the outside realm"
"You're crazy. How can it be?"
"The Sealed Chamber's gate over there. Try to hypnotize the guard to give you the key" the voice said.
"Easy as that? In that case all souls here could escape with that easy trick!"
"No. I don't think so. I cast spell to those who will try to hypnotize the guard. Well, as for you, you have the permission to do so," Tomoyo said.
"Oh, thank you," Eriol did the job afterwards. "Why are you doing this to me, Tomoyo?"
"I believe that you still have more important tasks to do in Dark Realm. I can foresee it," her soul was suddenly became visible. "Please always remember that I'm always by your side." She reached Eriol's cheeks and caressed it.
End of Flashback
"I owe my life to Tomoyo. And by using the LBKL, I'll bring her to life." Eriol said switching his focus on the chest. "Now, let me have that silver cane."
Keroberos and Spinel exchanges glances. "Alright, open the chest…" they watched Eriol open the chest. "Let's see if he is truly the right one to possess the silver cane…"
Upon opening the chest, Eriol's eyes were wide in shock. "Is this some kind of joke?" he held the cane and showed it to the guardians. "This is not the silver cane!" he was raged with anger. "This is an ordinary wooden cane! Where's the real one?" he shouted.
"That's the real one…" Spinel answered.
"I'm looking for silver cane. Not a wooden cane!!" Eriol saw the sword, too. The blade was covered with rust. "This sword is fake, too!"
"For thousand of years those weapons had come to age. But its original form will return when the person obtaining it is worthy enough," Keroberos explained.
"Are you telling me that I'm not worthy for this?"
"The cane's appearance shows."
Out of nowhere, Roan came. He walked past to the guardians without saying a word. Then he saw the chest and pulled out the sword immediately. The sword's rust was gone. "This sword is meant for me…" he uttered and lifted it. "Very beautiful sword…" he smirked.
Eriol watched with envy. "You're worthy, I see…"
Roan glared at Eriol. "You're really worthless, Hiiragisawa…" something was wrong with his behavior. The tattoo on his right cheek was gone. "You're really worthless…" he repeated as he walked towards Eriol, carrying the sword.
"Roan…"
"That's not my name, Grim Reaper!" with those words his eyes went silver and swiftly grabbed Eriol's neck using his left hand, suffocating him. "This time I will kill you, Hiiragisawa! After what you've done to Meilin and to my father! Avenge is what I need!"
Eriol dropped the cane. "No! Li Syaoran… it's you. I… I thought Roan already controlled… your body… aahh!" he tried to pull away Syaoran's grip on his neck.
"Roan is too foolish to do that to me. Now, prepare yourself, Hiiragisawa!" he aimed the sword to Eriol's heart, ready to give the deadly strike.
End of the seventeenth chapter
AngeLfromChaos
Like my story? Reviews will be much appreciated. Hate my story? I accept flames but please elaborate your message. Any suggestions? Send me a message. Anyway, Signing out for the meantime… Please stay tuned for the next updates. Thank you.