Looks like things are starting to round up and setting itself into their gears! May I present to you the sixth chapter of Synchro Beast, Crimson Rose! Also, to note...damn Office Press doesn't accepts most words that Microsoft Word does.
Chapter 6-Scorching Curiosity
"Man, this bites." Amy sighed. "After all of us explained our story to the Legion, they're now restricting access to the Forest of Filaroya for us. Excluding Aki, of course."
"Well, it's because that you are the very last of the legacy that your mother tried so hard to save." Bruno assumed. "The Legion can't take any risks involving any harm brought upon you."
"True; but they haven't even hurt me at all. In fact, those vampires actually saved me from the demonic wolves that scattered during the day." Amy inquired. "I don't recall anything beyond my years as a baby, other than the fact that a vampire saved me during the siege so many years ago."
"I'm sure that when things are settled again once more, they'll let you enter the forest again." Bruno grinned. "Anyways, I must go. It seems that the Legion requests my presence and I'm afraid to close the church once more. Good day, Amy."
"You too, Friar Bruno." Amy said.
It had been no more than three days since the fateful meeting with the vampires of the north, and Amy wasn't in a good mood today. Since the encounter not too long ago, the Legion had restricted her activities once more due to a misunderstanding in her report of her errand gone wrong. Her instincts told her that she needed to see Yami again, but another part told her to listen to the Legion no matter what. But, Amy needed to know more about her mother through someone, and if the Legion won't tell her...she'll have to get the information from the person that sparked her curiosity to a level that made her want to break the rules.
Heading back home, she grabbed the nearest wine bottle that was stored in her room in case that she needed to drink to soothe her mind from the conflicts of life itself. Amy barely remembers her mom; there wasn't enough memory to go upon and her adoptive parents are dead. Placido's still in his own world, and trying to ask anyone else that survived the siege twenty-five years ago wouldn't recount the horrible memories that took what's left of their will to live. Placing a blood vile along with a couple of glasses inside her basket, Amy then replaced her blue gown with a black dress, and tying a long brown cloak around her body, with the necklace she wore returning onto her neck. As she was about to head out the back door, Amy bumped into Placido, who just returned from his trip.
Placido had overheard about Amy's encounters with the vampires and he didn't like it. But, the blood of his attacker inside his body grew worse during his leave and he didn't want anyone to know what he did during the trip back. He turned his attention towards Amy, and the way she was dressed was not one he approved of.
"Where the fuck are you going at this time of hour?" Placido asked.
"Out; is it so simple to explain?" Amy countered.
"By the way you're dressed up, I say that you're heading out of town without notifying the Legion of your whereabouts." Placido informed her. "I heard about what happened in the forest; you're treading into enemy territory, and I'm not happy about it."
"Look, I need to know more about my mother and why she died protecting me." Amy said, grasping the necklace in her hand. "This very necklace is what I have left of her and if neither the damn Legion or the village is gonna tell me about my mother, then I'll have to look into outside information. Also, this could be the very chance that we need to know about how the effects of the war eons ago tore us apart from what we believed in."
"...You truly want to know about your mother, do you? Even if it means betraying the damn laws the Legion set up and entering the point of no return?" Placido asked.
Amy nodded fiercely. What was he going to do about her? He needed to cover for her should any of the villagers or the Legion require her presence. In a minute, the burning throbbing in his body returned and he gripped his body to control the beast within him once more, making Amy kneel down to hold him down.
"Shit; you fed in secrecy again, did you?" Amy whispered.
"I had to; the beast within me is getting restless." Placido said. "It's only a matter of fucking time before it completely takes over."
"Placido...Let me get the vile of blood from the trunk in the kitchen." Amy sighed.
"You know that's your blood." Placido acknowledged.
"Yeah, but it's my blood that keeps the beast under control." Amy remarked. "I know it's forbidden to give you blood directly, but it doesn't say that I could give it you indirectly. That's why I did it in advance for months now."
Four years ago, Placido's vampiric form started to become very agitated from the lack of human blood and took over his body to get its' fill for blood. When the villagers threatened to kill him to rid of the vampel within him, Amy created a suppressing spell to help Placido control the beast within. But, the spell didn't work quite well without human blood, and Amy drained small portions of her blood to feed her adopted brother so that the spell could be placed upon him. Although, a few times before they were almost caught by the Legion had it been not for the reports of rogue activity around the vicinity of the village. Amy made it her mission to keep Placido's vampiric form under control long enough for her to work around a cure to turn him back to normal.
Taking his dose of human blood along with her casting of the suppressing spell, the blazing soreness inhibited once more into his body as Placido controlled his breathing. Amy sighed in relief; hopefully the spell will last enough for the next two weeks.
"I'll be able to cover you for quite some time, but it'll be a matter of time before they get suspicious of your activities." Placido said.
"Fine; but you have to be extra careful yourself, brother." Amy stated. "The last thing I need to lose someone that I considered family to me over these past decades."
With those final words spoken between them, Amy departed into the woods and hoped to find whoever her escort is to lead her to the northern vampire lord. She knew what she was doing was against the laws, but it didn't matter to her. The Legion avoided answering her questions regarding her mother, and every time she asked any villager about her mother, they just told her that she was a great person. She hated being treated in the dark about her mother's identity and what she meant to the village. As she stepped a few more inches into the forest, a shadowy figure appeared before her, startling her and making her take a step back. The figure revealed himself as Yami's cousin, Yusei. Amy remembered that this vampire was the same one that ticked off Aki several days back.
"Forgive my intrusions, Ms. Rivers." Yusei said. "I have come in order by my lord to lead you through the safest path in the forest."
"Ah, yes. Lead the way...Yusei, wasn't it?" Amy inquired.
"Of course." Yusei answered. "This way, please."
As they continued their way...
"Say, what do you know about your escort a few days back...Aki was her name, is it not?" Yusei asked.
"All I know was that her family were the only survivors to the deadly siege towards the eastern region." Amy answered. "She has a very deep hatred towards the vampiric race for what they done to her life and friends decades ago. Why are you suddenly interested in her?"
"As far as I know, only the vampires of the eastern region can hold and perform the spells of Synchro. We never heard anything about hunters gaining that very power or using it for that matter." Yusei explained. "Your friend sparked my interest and I want to know more about her background."
"I see." Amy whispered. "How far are we from the Eternal Tree of Life?"
"Not far; my cousin shall be pleased meeting you once more." Yusei smiled.
He was bored from the lack of entertainment during the past few days.
However, he was pleased that his princess was coming to accompany him in this time of solitude.
Yami was awaiting Yusei to lead Amy through the path that he chosen to avoid any hunters and from the Legion's views so that he could try to find the keyword that can break the spell placed upon him. He ordered Crow and Malik to trace the spell's origins, while sending Rafael to keep an eye on any changes in the northern castle. The elders have also deserted their lord, making him furious about the damage that Tèa had caused because of her misconceptions and untrusting lies. He knew that he had to get out of the binding spell that linked him to the Eternal Tree of Life quickly. But, there was still no notice about his younger brother's progress in the southern district and it agitated him to no end. He was quite protective of his brother, but with him bound and away from the grounds, Yugi had to step up and try to free his brother without getting any suspicions from the clan themselves.
Once Yami got out, he thought, the first thing on his mind was to kill the betraying vampiress Tèa Gardener.
'I know that bitch is happy about keeping my imprisonment a secret from my clan. If I was only attentive enough to stop her before the spell was cast, I could've been freed and ordered a counter-strike against them.' Yami thought bitterly.
The rustling of branches got the vampire lord's guards up again, as the cloaked shadowy figure stepped into the light, lowering her hood and revealing herself to him. Yami smirked at his visitor; it seems that Yusei led his princess right to him without any intrusions. It was time to question this very beauty and hopefully wring out the answer of which he sought out for. But, he also knew that summer was approaching quickly, and the remedy that held his bite back from their first encounter should be wearing off. His body was starting to crave human blood since his imprisonment.
"My dear, I thank you for coming on your own accommodations." Yami greeted. "Please, do come sit by me. I seek companionship from my lonely years."
"Will you not try to kill me?" Amy asked. "After all, your vampiric self craves the satisfaction of human blood for years since your binding to the Eternal Tree of Life decades ago."
"You have my word." Yami smirked devilishly.
As Amy slowly approached the vampire lord upon entering through the barrier, he instantly grabbed her from behind, holding her arms so she wouldn't fight back and baring his fangs to feast upon her sweet elixir. However, his senses picked up the same spell that was supposed to be active during the spring season. Yami was befuddled by this situation; how could one spell be still go without losing its' power? Amy shook off the vampiric lord's grip and faced him with a defiant stare.
"I thought you wasn't going to bite me at all." Amy smirked.
"I might have underestimated you, my princess." Yami whispered. "Apparently, you have revised Aokil's Remedy into a yearly spell and use it upon yourself. I cannot bite you until next year."
"Your senses haven't picked it up because of the snow flower's petals I crushed into the remedy for potency." Amy explained. "Berea's snow flowers are specially sought out because of a special toxin that hinders the true potential of any potion."
"It sure fooled my senses." Yami chuckled.
"Anyway, what did you want to meet me for?" Amy inquired.
"Did you not want to know me through our meetings?" Yami stated.
"I have not forgotten my very words." Amy said. "Why do you seek freedom from the bounding spell that has placed upon you?"
"To reclaim the clan and dominance within the vampiric world." Yami declared. "A former suitor of mine chained me upon this tree almost three decades ago. She was quite the jealous type, but also the fucking manipulating type as well. She turned my clan against me and now I have no one left to trust other than my family along with those I have grown to like over the years."
"But why would this suitor of yours betray your code?" Amy questioned.
"The western queen is not one to take lightly. I have never shown any damn interest in her, and I will never intend to do so as long as I live." Yami snarled.
Amy widen her eyes; the same vampire that attacked the northern village and turned her brother into a vampire was the same one that bounded the northern lord to the Forest of Filaroya?
"Her name...it wouldn't happened to be Queen Tèa Gardener, is it not?" Amy asked.
"So, you have met the vampiric bitch, huh?" Yami growled.
"Not physically; she attacked my adopted family twenty years ago and turned my brother into a vampire." Amy explained. "I heard rumors about the western queen, but to experience her fury was truly haunting. After that attack, I studied to the brink of mornings to find a cure to revert the transformation of a vampire. So far, my researched has turn blank for answers."
"My dear, the transformation can be averted during the early stages, but after a year it becomes nearly impossible to break such a beast out of its' shell." Yami stated.
"Nothing is impossible!" Amy declared. "Even if it takes me to the end of my time, I'll find a cure, no matter what! If you just keep having hope and believe that there is an answer out there, you can put your ideas into action!"
Yami was quite impressed by the fire lit in her soul; the burning sensation that made him intrigued by her when they first met. She never was afraid to run away from them; a feat that very few can accomplish. He decided that today wasn't the best chance to ask her right away about the keyword; his first chance was to get every information about his pink rose down into his memories. As time passed by, Amy realized that she still has her basket with the wine that she brought with her.
"Are you thirsty? I have the finest wine with me when I came here." Amy suggested.
"I don't drink wine unless it's infused with blood." Yami stated. "Besides, the alcohol sends my body into a state of paralysis for a few minutes."
"I know, that's why I brought this vile of blood with me." Amy said. "I would feed this to my brother whenever the beast starts to take over him."
"This...wouldn't have happened to your blood in this bottle, is it not?" Yami asked.
"Yes; it's forbidden to feed any vampire directly, but I found a small, if not effective loophole in the law. If I feed you my blood indirectly, I won't be able to get in trouble with the Legion." Amy explained.
He couldn't believe it; the princess he so much desired contact with is offering her blood out of her own free will. Yami wanted to savor her sweet nectar so badly, but since the remedy that she wore had a long effect on it, the chance of tasting it from the vile will satisfied the cravings that he so desperately wanted to control badly.
As she poured the blood into the glass, and mixing it into the wine that she brought, Amy gave the infused drink towards the vampire lord. He swirled the liquid before taking a taste out of the glass, and his eyes widen at the sudden, delicate flavor of her blood. Such a divine palette with such sweetness as pure honey, silky as a petal of the rarest flower on the Earth and yet her brother has the honor to savor such an angel's elixir? Yami didn't want to admit it, but he was quite jealous of whomever her brother was.
As sundown approached, both parties parted ways as night roamed itself into the skies.
'Her blood...such a divine taste; never have I encountered such a rare delicacy such as her. But, if she's feeding her blood to her brother, could it mean that this son of a bitch is a vampire himself? I'll send someone to find out, but now, I want to savor this flavor for the rest of the night.' Yami thought.
She hated being on guard during the night shifts.
At least the blood-sucking monsters wouldn't have any mercy from her.
But, the very vampire behind her had immobilized her in her position, and since she was far away from any other hunters patrolling the area, this was one very pissed female hunter.
"You...How dare you show your face in front of me after that day, you son of a blood-sucking bitch?" Aki bellowed. "To think that you had me was truly my miscalculations at fault, but I'll never forgive the actions of your race, you fucking beast!"
"Is that how our second encounter should end up as, Aki?" Yusei smirked. "I know you're from the eastern district, considering that's it's so rare to find a hunter that has the power of Synchro coursing through their veins."
"What the hell do you want from me?" Aki snarled.
"I just wanted to see the fiery spirit that caught my interest once more." Yusei chuckled. "Is it wrong for a vampire to find such pleasure in teasing a hunter that's beautiful to boot?"
"Fuck you!" Aki shouted.
"Such a sharp tongue; not very ladylike I might add." Yusei teased. "I love that in a woman."
"You...you disgusting bastard." Aki muttered.
"You know, my lord has bestowed upon me the task of finding a special keyword to break a spell that's been cast upon him before his imprisonment." Yusei mentioned. "You wouldn't happened to know about it, do you, my fiery huntress?"
"I would rather die than tell you anything!" Aki growled.
Yusei mentally sighed. His absolutely favorite hunter was telling him to get lost, and he all wanted was just to talk to her in a civil manner. But, what fun would that do? Seto and Rafael were right; when it comes to women, Yusei loved them feisty. They always put up a fight before succumbing to his charms. This one, who severely hates his race, will definitely satisfied him to the end when he'll finally break her into being his mate.
"Aki! Why do you not respond?" a distant voice shouted, and one that Yusei never wanted to hear once more.
"Damn that Divine...I thought that bastard learned from the last time not to bother me when I'm with my lady of choice." Yusei said. "We'll meet again another time, Aki Izayoi."
As Yusei fled into the night, with Aki being released from his binding spell, she started shooting from her pistols into a nearby tree and releasing her anger with every blow.
'Yusei Fudo of the eastern clan, you are going to be one trophy that I'll enjoy the most out of killing your fucking ass.' Aki thought murderously.
That's it! Next update will be around mid-September. Hopefully by then, I'll have enough to get many new things done along with entering college after putting it off for quite some years.
Next Chapter: Following the night, Yusei encounters Placido in a deadlock conversation, which ends with Amy breaking it up. Two nights later, Serenity meets a member of her family she long thought was dead...
R&R, people!