I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
Story 7: The Vagabond Witch and the Two Fallen Ones
Location: Grigory, Noire Wings Tavern
What should usually be a lively night filled with clients coming and going was actually a pretty calm one as the popular tavern was close to the public for a certain private event.
Most chairs and tables were put away, leaving only a few which now were put closer for a special group for this single night.
"Come on bring more food and alcohol for us, Vati. The night is still young and I will beat this dragon." Azazel says as he lifts an empty bottle to the sky. The fallen angel seemed more cheerful than usual as he laughs.
A tall man with silver wolf ears just nods before he disappears to the back of the bar.
"Remember, is just for this one night. Just for this one night." Shemhazai kept telling himself as he endures the desire to hit his leader with his secret harisen (giant paper fan).
"Is this why you didn't want me to come, Baraquiel?" Shuri asks her husband as she turns to him.
"... Is just one of the reasons," Baraquiel admits as he curses his leader under his breath.
"Azazel cool it down. You're not me, the alcohol is already affecting you." Ddraig said as he drank another glass of Bourbon. His eyes switch. "The taste is pretty different to that of Scotch," Issei says before he switches once more.
"Are you sure your body can handle that kind of alcohol?" Raphael asked as he watched the dragon with amazement in his eyes. He had put his own glass down after seeing Ddraig drinking so much in such a short time.
"How can you do that?" Uriel joins in. The glass filled with wine was put away.
"He can handle it. So don't worry about him." Gabriel joins in while she takes a bite out of a slider she was holding in her hand.
"Tell us your secrets oh, so mysterious dragon?" Michael asks with interest regarding his ally's strong drinking habits.
"I'm a dragon so I already have decent resistance to alcohol. I did learn how to continuously burn the excess alcohol in my system so that also helps. I can't get drunk since I taught my body to instantly burn any excess without thinking about it. I can keep drinking forever and it won't affect me at all." Ddraig admitted. "Now, when it comes to Tia." The dragon turns to his right shoulder
Tiamat was just as drunk as Azazel. Her face was red and her head was currently on the shoulder of her mate. "I wove you so wuch dear. Give a kiwss and then we kwould go a bit wurther." The dragoness went for the kiss.
Ddraig's eyes sent signals to Raynare for help.
"Ok, that's enough for you Tia-sama." Raynare quickly takes the drink away from the dragon. "Teacher, could you pass me a piece of fried cockatrice?"
Grayfia who was seated next to Sirzechs quickly grabs a basket and tries to pass it along. "Go right ahead." The devil maid was a bit tipsy but not drunk enough to lose her coordination and awareness of her surroundings. She needed to act the part and not embarrassed her husband so there was no way she would allow herself to fall victim to alcohol.
"Grayfia, please don't go all out," Sirzcehs says in a low voice as he fears the possible chaos his wife might create if she gets drunk as well.
"I won't... I'll try," Grayfia replies as she finishes the task.
"Thanks. Here Tia-sama, tasty meat. I'll make you feel better." Raynare held the chicken in front of the dragoness who quickly focused her eyes on the prize.
"Meat!" Tia's mouth opened and attacked the piece of meat in a matter of milliseconds. "Delicious."
"Impressive, so you can charm dragons with food while they are drunk?" Michael asks as he admires the scene.
"Nope, that's just Tia being hungry. Drinks make her hungry and a bit aggressive. After eating a bit more she'll be back to normal." Ddraig admits. "There you go, good job Raynare."
"Is my pleasure, my lord." Raynare answers as she continues to feed the dragoness. Not even bones remained after each bite.
"You never change, Tia. Even back when I was just 17." Ajuka lifts his glass filled with a dark liquid. "Truly the best of the best. That's a flavor one can't forget." The current head of the Beelzebub pillar sinks into his seat as the alcoholic drink makes him smirk.
"And I'm the one that they call sleepy?" Falbium turns his head towards the last member of this group. "Shiva what about your drink?"
The ever-young primordial god of destruction continues to drink from a glass filled with transparent alcohol. "Not close to soma but good nonetheless." The god's eyes wandered around the room until they found a wall filled with pictures. They seemed to be important members of Grigori who had passed away since they had messages written around them. One particular one caught his eye. "In honor of Dianne, The Vagabond Witch of the Wild Winds. Hey Azazel, do you know the story behind this one?"
Shiva stands up and approaches the photo. "Isn't this you and Shemhazai? You two are smiling a lot in this picture."
The two fallen angels stay silent for a few moments after hearing that name.
"It was bound to happen at some point." Azazel's cheerful tone turns sad.
"... Should I start?" Shemhazai asks.
"Go ahead. I'll need some time. The alcohol might help."
"Very well. Dianne was a witch, a vagabond who had traveled through the realms for a long time. She was…. Vali's mother. The woman who stole our hearts." Shemhazai'svoice is filled with a mixture of joy and sadness. "That woman was a person that marked our lives and neither of us could ever forget her. Open those ears of yours because I'm about to tell you a story of our past."
Years Before Issei's Birth.
The tavern was in full swing as clients came in for drinks and food. The staff worked hard to take care of every single client's request. Vati, the current owner of the tavern move at full speed as he led his team through the endless rush of clients.
While all that was happening, a certain pair of fallen angels were sitting on a table slightly set away from most clients.
"So much paperwork. Shem, we need Baraqiel's help. We can't count on Kokabiel. Bastard only knows how to fight and nothing about managing a city or a faction." Azazel says as he takes a sip of his drink.
"You know that won't happen. We gave him several missions and he's not one to give up until they're done. Is only you and me for the next 6 months or so. Give it or take he might be back earlier than expected with some luck." Shemhazai says before taking a fried cockatrice wing.
"Why being the leader is so hard. Sometimes I just want to quit and go on a long trip. What do you say? You and me on the road. Maybe a few romantic adventures here and there."
"Sounds like a dream but we don't have that freedom Az. We're the founders and leaders of this faction. Look around." Shemhazai points at the members of their faction. "We started with only fallen angels, now we got children and outcasts from all over Yggradssill. We made all of this with our own hands. We lost a lot but we're still alive. We must continue for the sake of our fellow denizens."
"I know Mr. Voice of Reason. Sometimes I feel that you're the leader and I'm the second in command." Azazel sights. It was a lot of pressure, now he understood why his father had it so rough as the leader of heaven. Once the leader it was hard and practically impossible to leave it all behind.
He and Shemhazai were trapped in this position. Neither could escape from it but both would continue on. For the sake of the future.
As both tried to relax and enjoy their time at the tavern, someone walked into the tavern.
*Elvis Presley- Trouble*
Her long black and red hair was the first thing they notice. Her light blue eyes were sharp and dare anyone to approach her. Although a red cloth cover her body, anyone could tell that her body was a walking symbol of temptation and desire. The snake staff that she was holding in her left hand was also a curious sight to behold.
The pair of fallen angels had their sights stolen by the beauty and she quickly noticed them as well.
Time seemed to slow down as she made her way toward them. A seductive smile was plastered on her face. She made her way through the masses as if nobody could stop her. As soon as she reached the table she took a seat.
"What does a woman has to do to get a drink?" The witch said as her eyes focus on them.
"... And who might you be my fair lady?" Shemhazai asks. He was captivated by her beauty but he had to keep his cool and be careful about who was approaching them.
"My, that's a good question. Name is Dianne, the Vagabond Witch of the Wild Winds." Dianne replies.
"Impressive name. What business does a witch with no home have in Grigory?" Azazel joins in.
Dianne turns her eyes towards him. "Travel, meeting new places. All that the realms have to offer. I have been traveling since I was 16 and I haven't stopped for the past 17 years. I have seen so many places and met so many beings."
"An explorer? So you came to Grigory just for travel?" Shemhazai begins to doubt the reasons behind her presence in Grigory. "Who let you pass through customs?"
"Hey, no need to get aggressive with me. I filled out all of my paperwork and even traded some of my valuables for coins to get inside. I'm just a visitor that might have brought news from other realms. There are no secret motives in here." Dianne replies.
Azazel focuses his eyes on her and stays silent for a few moments. "Tell me, lady, do you know who we are?"
"Two fallen angels?" Dianne replies.
"... Don't lie to us. You should already know our faces if you came to Grigory." Shemhazai's eyes track her every action as they try to figure out who this person was.
"... Fellows, I don't know who you are. I told you, I come and go from realm to realm. This is my first time in Grigory, I have barely any information and I don't know who you two are." Dianne starts sweating as she feels the sight of every being in the bar turning towards her. Everybody stop whatever they were doing. "I'm not lying."
Her heartbeat became faster and in a moment of panic, she even dropped her staff to the floor.
"... You're either the most careless human I have ever met or a newbie amongst any spies I have ever met." Azazel whistles. "Is alright everybody, move it along. There's nothing to see. Vati, bring us a few bottles of the special stuff. The lady needs something to drink after that."
Dianne watches as the eyes turn away from her and everything resumes once more. "Just who are you two?"
"My fair lady, the name's is Azazel. He is Shemhazai and at least that can tell you who we are." Azazel says.
The face of the witch grows pale as she realizes how much she messes up. "You two are the leaders."
Both fallen angels nod.
"... I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." Dianne apologizes after realizing the mess she got herself in.
"Just how did you survive for so long?" Shemhazai questions the girl.
"Luck? I do tend to avoid problems." Dianne claims.
"For 17 years? You must have the best luck out there. Ms. Dianne one must be more careful about who they approach. Luck runs out at some point and only those with the best skills, power, and allies can get out of troublesome situations." Shemhazai says as the bottles come in.
"..." Dianne looks around and feels the pressure of being on the mouth of the beast.
"Dianne?" Azazel calls out to her.
"Yes?" She replies.
"Don't be scared. We won't attack you or do anything to you. You pass through customs and you have done nothing wrong. So just calm down and let's chat. Your timid attitude is not your true self after all. Ignore our previous conversation and let's start from scratch. What do you think Shem?" Azazel turns to his friend and right hand.
"This will be a long night." The fallen angel turns to Dianne and sights. "Only if you want to."
Dianne watches as the two fallen ones pour themselves a new drink. The liquid was as red as blood and the scent was burning her nose even if she wasn't directly next to it. "What is that?"
"Our very special secret drink, Blood of a Thousand Fallen Ones," Shemhazai says. "You're free to get something else if you don't have what it takes." He was teasing her.
Dianne felt the challenge in his voice. "You cheeky bastards." Her hands reached out and grabbed one of the bottles. "I'll show you my determination." Dianne then opens the bottle and starts to drink straight from it.
Shemhazai and Azazel's eyes grow wide in amazement at the sight of this daredevil.
Dianne puts the bottle down. "Mother Gaia, this stuff is too good to be true. The flavor is weirdly sweet and spicy."
"Dianne, hey are you alright? This stuff wasn't meant to be consumed in such an extreme way." Azazel says in a worried tone.
"I feel fine. I have consumed much stronger-" Dianne stops as the room starts to spin around. Her pupils dilate as the effects of the alcohol kick in. "Alright, I can see why you look worried. Jesus Christ. Why is my head spinning?"
"Vati, bring food and get us some water. Dianne, you're not the first idiot to do something like this. You're going to be alright." Shemhazai moves his chair closer alongside Azazel. "I mess up."
"Did you just call me an idiot?" Dianne asks.
"Who in their right mind would take a whole bottle of a mysterious drink and just chugged it down like it was water?" Azazel asks. "Fuck this might get worse."
"I do," Dianne says. Her self-control was starting to leave for a vacation.
"Oh, my father in heaven. This is really going to be a long night. Vati, bring that food much faster." Shemhazai becomes more worried as her face becomes red like a tomato.
"... You two are very attractive," Dianne says. Her mouth twists into a smirk as she looks at the pair.
"Ok, Dianne. I appreciate the compliment but try to keep control. Don't-" Azazel was stopped as Dianne stole a kiss from him.
"We are so-" Shemhazai follows soon after as the girl goes on the offensive. Dianne kisses him as well.
"Alright, I'll take both of you on at the same time. I'll show you what this witch is capable of. Dianne will take to you heaven tonight." The witch claims.
"Danmit." Both fallen angels cursed themselves for what was about to start.
The morning after.
Dianne opened her eyes and found an unknown sealing. "What happened? Why does my head hurt so much?" As the girl sat on the bed, her eyes widen in surprise. "What in the hell happened here?"
Clothes were scattered around the room and two fallen angels were laying on opposite sides of the bed. Both lay naked and filled with hickeys around their necks.
"Hey, are you two alive?" Dianne asks the pair. "God, this headache is killing me."
"... Oh, she's up. Shem, answer her questions." Azazel replies in a weak voice.
"... You do it. My head hurts and my pride has been broken." Shemhazai says as he tries to get up. "I have been tainted."
"What happened here?" Dianne asks.
"... Try to remember," Azazel says. The leader of Grigori sits next to the bed. His wings spread out and cover his body.
"... I remember drinking that drink."
"Yes…." Shemhazai tries to get up but his body goes back to the floor. "My hips!"
"... I kissed both of you…. I….. Oh my Gaia, don't tell me that we?"
"Yes… you pushed both of us into bed after we brought you here. We went all night, Ms. I OWN BOTH OF YOUR ASSES. You were way too drunk and began challenging people to duels. Dianne, what in the heavens are you? Are you some kind of mythological sexual creature?" Azazel asks. The fallen angel blushes after remembering how he was dominated in bed by this woman. "I could never get married after that night."
"I'm-" Dianne was interrupted.
"Is your sexual drive endless? My hips still hurt after last night's encounter. You can't be human." Shemhazai claims.
"I am human…. I just got a strong sexual drive. I apologize for whatever I did to you two."
The pair of fallen angels go silent as they come to terms with what happened the night before. One human had done things to them that no other female in their whole lives had ever done.
"Was it that bad?" Dianne asks as she looks at the pair.
"... I don't know what to say. It did feel good but… Damn it you must be the descendant of a sex fiend or something of the sort." Shemhazai dragged himself to the bed. "Just how many men have you brought down with those skills of you?"
"... 17 years is a lot of time… do you want me to really remember every single man and woman I have been with?" Dianne asks. Her tone had turned a bit angrier.
"Shem is better if we don't ask. You and I aren't saints either. We have likely been with more beings than her. Now the question is how long would you stay in Grigory? You're a vagabond that continues to move from one realm to the other. I doubt that you're going to stop anytime soon." Azazel turns to her.
"... I don't know. I usually don't stay in one place for more than a month. There is still a lot that I want to see. I have yet to experience a lot of things. I have yet to visit Asgard or even Muspelheim." The witch smiles. She then stretches out her hand.
The snake staff that was laying against the wall levitates towards her. As soon as she grabs it images of different places appear around the walls of the room.
"These are?" Shemhazai asks.
"My memories. I left my home to travel. I left my family, and my last name, all for the freedom to choose what I wanted to do. No chains that could hold me back from what I wanted to do with my life."
"... I can see why. There's a lot of beauty in many of the realms. Even with all my years, I can't say that I have seen all that is out there nor will I ever get the chance. Ms. Dianne, for the remaining of your stay you can stay here with us." Azazel says.
"What?" The lady seems surprised.
"... Are you sure Azazel?" Shemhazai asks.
"Is better than to have an eye on her and we do have a free room in our home. Also having her teaching at the school would be good for us. Those children would love to have someone to tell them about what's out there. We don't want them to only think that they'll always be trapped inside of Grigory." Azazel stands up while his wings cover his naked body. The leader of the faction walks over to Shemhazai and helps him to get up.
"It does sound like a good plan. Tell us, Dianne would accept the offer?"
The two fallen angels focus their sights on the witch and await her answer.
"... The offer does sound good." Dianne ponders as she looks at the pair. "I'll accept but do keep in mind that you don't own me, I'm a free woman so don't try to oppress me. I'll leave one day so don't get attached to me."
"We understand, we fallen angels respect freedom above all else my dear witch. It'll be our pleasure." Azazel says as he stretches out his hand to her.
Dianne grabs his hand while smiling.
And thus began their time together.
Back to the present.
"For two years we lived together, a trio of friends that lived with each other. There was no reason for us to develop feelings for each other and yet we did. We started to care, we became closer. Dianne became a part of our lives and also part of Grigory." Shemhazai says as he remembers all of those times together.
"From being a teacher to the kids to an advisor for us, a helper in the tavern, and much more. Dianne had become an unofficial member of the faction. She participated in every event we planned for the denizens of the faction. She made friendships with many of the people here, and Vati was a good friend of hers. While I and Shemhazai became her lovers. We expected her to have relationships with many members of the faction but Dianne always choose either of us and we chose her as well. We, the three of us had many good nights together. It was as if we were destined to meet." Azazel grabs his glass and chugs the drink down.
"Kokabiel called us insane for having such a weird relationship with an outsider. We were the leaders of Grigori, we could have any woman if we wanted but Dianne was different. Each day we passed alongside her felt meaningful. From sharing breakfast each morning to walking through a park, to her exotic cooking, there was never a moment that we didn't enjoy alongside her." Tears start to form in the corners of Shemhazai's eyes.
"One month, two, six, ten, time keep passing and we even forgot all about her plans to leave. We ignore her original plans, we forgot about her dreams but one day she told us about her departure. Two years have gone by and the time for her to continue had come." Azazel puts the glass down. "I need to go. I have stayed too long."
"It has been a wonderful time alongside you two. I never expected to feel so welcome and enjoy myself this much."
"I do care about the two of you and I do want to come back here but now I must go. One day I promise to return."
Both fallen angels repeated her words with noticeable sadness in their voices.
"We have given her two bracelets as gifts for her to wear and remember us. She left with tears in her eyes and that was the last time we saw her. To this day we asked ourselves if there was something we could do to stop her. If we have known, maybe we could have saved her." Azazel says with overflowing emotions.
The rest of the group watches as both leaders cry silently as they remember the woman that marked their lives.
Nobody could deny the fact that the emotions they felt were real.
A witch had taken their hearts and she didn't get the chance to return them.
"... Can you tell us what happened?" Michael asks.
"Razevan Lucifer happened." Azazel's eyes are filled with anger.
The story thus continues.
Story 8: Luna.
Five years after the departure. Location: 4th layer of the underworld.
Dark and dusty, the stone-walled room in which they were kept was far from welcoming. A bed, a few candles, a small table, and what could be called a bathroom. An iron door that opened from the outside and no windows were the most particular details of this place.
"Mama, when will be able to go outside?" A young girl with light silver hair asks as she turns to her mother. A long chain was attached to her left ankle and her blue light dress was a mess of patched materials that someone had put together. She had two pairs of wings sticking out from her back, one was that of a devil while the other one was a pair of light draconic wings.
"One day, my dear Lunafreya. I'll get you out and show you all that is out there. There's so much that I have to show you. The sun, the sky, the food that you have to try." Dianne's face was still as beautiful as the day she had left Grigory. A gold bracelet on her right arm and a silver one on her left were the only things she had kept after being imprisoned in this place.
Her red witch attire, staff, and other precious items were taken away from her when she was captured. Now her clothes consisted of a red dress that was as just like her daughter's. She now was chained just like her daughter with the addition of certain runes that prevented her from escaping by suppressing her powers.
"But first I'll need to get you to Grigory. Azazel and Shemhazai would love to meet you."
"They're the fallen angels you always talk about."
"They sure are. We joke all the time about them calling a child Vali if they ever had one. I told them that it worked better as a nickname. I trust them with my life. Luna, if something were to ever happen to me I trust them to take care of you so try to trust them. But first I need to get us out of here." Dianne took a small knife and continue to scratch the runes that had been placed on her chain.
"If only I knew how to use this," Lunafreya said as she pointed at her extra set of wings. "Divine diving is the name they were given right?"
"Yes, is a sacred gear. A dangerous one at that. I was amazed at the fact that my daughter possess such power and had only awakened it at the age of 3."
"But "he" hates even more for having it." The tone of Lunafreya was sad as she thought about a certain being. Her hands touched her arms and chest. The scars and marks that she had gained from the abuse she had received were still a constant reminder of her difficult situation.
"He's our enemy after all. That man is a vicious one. A devil that will always feel inferior to you. He's your enemy and never forget that." Dianne turned to her daughter. "Come here."
The child approaches her and allows herself to sink into the embrace of her mother.
"A father is not who just plays the part in your birth. A father is a person who cares for you and showers you with affection. Razevan Lucifer is not your father; he never was and he'll never be. One day you'll meet them and you will understand why I love those two. If things had been different you would have been birthed in a warm room and not in this prison. I'll get you out no matter what it takes." Dianne said as she hugged his daughter.
Suddenly, the sound of steps alerted them to the incoming visitor.
Lunafreya quickly moved and cover herself with the bedsheets so as not to be seen by whoever was coming.
"I'll be alright. Leave it to me." Dianne said as she stood up.
A few moments later and the door opens up.
A short-haired devil with dark hazel eyes walks into the room. His fancy attire and cloth were made of what seemed to be silk and other expensive materials.
"Whore and the half-blooded pest." Razevan's hand reached out to touch her hair. "Still my beautiful whore."
"I'm not yours, you tiny penis bastard." Dianne smacks his hand away.
As soon as those words reached his ears Razevan exploded into anger. The devil raised his hand and slapped her across the face.
"Why? Why don't you obey? Why do you continue to antagonize me and disrespect me?"
He continues to hit Dianne.
"Because you are a piece of shit that doesn't have what it takes to make a woman fall for him. You only know how to rape women, how to use them for your pleasure but you will never please anyone or be loved. You still think that by trapping me in this place for years would make me fall for you; you ignore who I am. I only feel disgusted about you and you know it." Dianne's eyes challenged him to do the only thing that he knew.
She knew that it was going to be painful but she needed to draw attention away from her daughter.
"Bitch!" Razevan dragged her out of the room as his anger reached the limit.
Lunafreya continue to hide under the covers as her mother was dragged away. She feared Razevan and if her mother didn't antagonize him regularly he would usually drag her to his torture chamber. She would be hit and tortured with his tools for several hours.
It seemed that her screams excited him. The screams of his own blood and flesh made him happy. He had tortured her with whips, and knives. He had even branded her with a burning iron on the back. He had no sexual desires when it came to her but he enjoyed the pain he inflicted upon her.
He had proven time and time again that he didn't see her as a daughter. She was only a toy for his own twisted interest.
A few hours later.
The door opened once more and Dianne was put inside.
"Bitch!" Razevan said as he closed the door.
"Tiny penis." Dianne stood up while she put a hand on her right cheek. "It hurts but it was necessary."
"Mom?" Lunafreya lifted her head up just to see the things he had done to her.
Her nose was bleeding and her clothes had been ripped. The red marks she could see around Dianne's chest told her that she had been beaten by Razevan.
She didn't know about all the things Razevan did to her mom once she was taken out of the room but she knew that her mother was enduring a lot of pain for her sake.
She wanted to help her. To help them both to get out and escape this prison.
She longed for freedom.
12 days later.
As days come and go, Lunafreya tried her best to help her mom. They tried to scratch off the runes, and break the chains with whatever tools her mom managed to smuggle in but their freedom came in the form of her sacred gear.
"Little girl, focus on the chain. Divine divide can destroy it easily. Just focus on it." Albion, the vanishing dragon had been the light in the tunnel.
"Are you sure she can do this?" Dianne asked the dragon. His voice came out from the white armored wings that came out of her daughter's back.
"Those runes can't stop her from using the gear. The gear is present which means they ignore the chance that she could ever use it." Albion says as he offered his help to the pair. "She's young, my youngest host ever so even one attack is going to leave her too tired to even move afterward but she has to do it."
"I'll do it, mom. Then we'll be free." Lunafreya's face was filled with hope as the idea of escaping became more real.
Dianne stretches her leg out. "Alright, Luna. Keep calm and do your best. If you can get this chain off I'll get us out but if it fails that's ok as well. Just do your best."
The small girl raises her hands and points them at the chain.
"Deep breaths partner. Feel my power and condense it into one single attack. One attack and you two will be free." Albion says.
Lunafreya nods and starts to focus. The draconic power of the vanishing dragon flows through her body and accumulates in her hands.
"Yes. Now condensed it and shoot it. It just has to be strong enough to take care of the chain." Albion continues.
Lunafreya does as told and after her power forms a small sphere she shoots it against the chain.
A small explosion occurs and everything goes silent.
As the dust settles the result comes into view. The pieces of the chain fall to the floor and the once chained witch is once more free from them.
"Luna, you did it," Dianne says as she checks her leg.
"I did…." Lunafreya falls to her knees as tears start to come out. "I free mama."
"You did. Now, move it. You need to escape now or they will realize what you have done." Albion says as the reality settles.
"Luna, don't move. I'll remove your chains now." Dianne wastes no time and uses her powers to release her daughter as well. "This is going to be hard without a staff."
Her fingertips get slightly injured as she uses her powers without a tool that could channel them.
As the chain fall to the floor touches her own leg. "Freedom."
"Luna climb to my back. We're getting out of here." Dianne offers her back to her daughter and after she has her secured she stands up.
Dianne approaches a wall and starts to write some symbols with her own bloody fingers.
"Mom, your fingers."
"Ignore them, Luna. I'll use anything to get us out. I won't lose this chance. I'm busting us out so trust your mom." Dianne finishes and after channeling her powers the wall is transmuted into a tunnel.
"Underground. We're going up." Dianne enters the tunnel and starts to make her way toward the surface not before closing the path behind her.
Some minutes after.
The tunnel stretch out for a while until the pair finally reached the surface. The area was covered in tall trees which had red leaves.
Dianne's eyes recognize them and quickly moved away from them. "We need to get out of this forest."
"Why?" Lunafreya asks.
"Those trees are Jubokko's. We're in the 4th layer of the underworld. This place was one of the battlefields of the great war. This is a place filled with danger. Nothing in here is safe." Dianne says as she makes her way out of the forest while making sure not to get close to any of the trees.
"What's your plan?" Albion asks.
"Open field. I need to draw a transportation circle to get us out of here. The blood might attract a bunch of dangerous beasts but we have no other way out. I don't have my staff so this is the only way." Dianne replies as she runs while ignoring the fact that she had no shoes.
"Mom, are we being chased?"
"Soon we'll be. I doubt that our escape went unnoticed. They must have realized we escaped by now." Dianne knew that the chance was high so she had to act fast.
It took her 10 minutes until they were out of the forest and as soon as she saw nothing around she began to work.
"Okay, Luna. I need you to stay in the middle of the circle. Don't get out no matter what. Mommy needs you to follow my directions."
Lunafreya nods and watches as Dianne uses her blood to draw the circle. She sees the pain in her eyes as her fingers get more injured with each second.
"Mom."
They were so close, so close to the end, and yet fate had other plans.
The roar of a beast attracted their attention.
A large bipedal black lizard with 4 eyes made her way to them as it exited the forest.
"Not now." Dianne stopped drawing the circle and shoot a large fireball against the beast.
The beast was pushed back and almost fell to the floor.
Dianne drew a few runes on the floor and the ground started to shake as a humanoid figure began to rise. "Golem keep it away from us."
Dianne rushes back to the circle and continues her tasks.
The Golem and the lizard start to clash against each other as the witch does her best to complete the magic circle.
"Please, let me finish this. Let me get her out of here. She's my daughter, I just want her to escape this hell." Dianne pray to any deity that could hear her. "I have been mischievous, I have lived a life far from being pure but I haven't done anything to deserve this. Please, let me get her to them. I know they will care for her even if I die in this place. Please, if anyone is looking at me now. Help me, let my daughter escape."
As she got closer to finishing the circle, something pierced her shoulder. Dianne's eyes turned and saw a black energy needle.
"Dianne! How dare you?" The voice of her captor reached her ears. As the witch turned around, her eyes saw a large group of devils popping up from within the forest.
"Mom!" Lunafreya called out to her.
The devils opened fire against them. Several projectiles approached them.
*Elvis Presley- Unchained Memory*
Dianne's mind went into overdrive as she saw her whole life flash across her eyes. "Azazel, Shemhazai, I'm sorry." Her body moved instinctively as she removed the bracelets and throws them at Lunafreya. "They'll know what to do."
"Mom?" Lunafreya watches in shock as the circle is completed and quickly activated by her mother who was standing kneeling outside of it.
"I love you, Luna."
Lunafreya gets transported while she holds the pair of bracelets in her hands.
Dianne is pierced by several projectiles but doesn't move an inch from her position. Her hands move as she writes several bloody symbols on her chest.
"So you finally gave up?" Razevan approaches the kneeling witch with his group.
Some members take care of the golem and the lizard while the others get closer.
"Did you really think that you'll escape from me? I owe you. That half-blood might have escaped but you're still here." Razevan smiles as he gets closer.
Dianne chuckles. "Didn't I tell you? You never owe me, you tiny dick bastard."
As Rizevan turns her around his eyes are shocked.
"Fuck you." The symbols that she wrote on her chest glow red for a second before the entire area is blown into pieces.
Back to the present.
*Signal- TK from Ling Tosite Sigure*
"That day, our troops found Vali outside of our faction. She was holding those bracelets while crying her eyes out. It took a whole day to calm her down." Azazel looks at the gold bracelet.
"When she told us about what happened we rushed into the area following her description of the area. We… found the area in ruins. A large explosion had taken place and we believe it was her work. In the center of that crater, we found her remains." Shemhazai holds the silver bracelet.
"We buried her remains two days later. We also investigated the area and found no traces of the devils. We believe that they survived the attack and quickly moved to another base after the whole affair."
"We know that he is still alive. He's still out there and one day we'll find him. We'll pay him back for all that he did to Vali and Dianne. I won't forgive him."
"I won't let him escape."
"For the sake of Vali, it has to be us who kill that bastard."
"So that she continues to smile and live on without the blood of that bastard in her hands."
"Is going to be us who take his head."
Their eyes were filled with so much anger and sadness.
The group is in shock after hearing the story and seeing the expressions of the two fallen angels. Everyone now understood why Azazel and Shemhazai had been taking care of Vali as her parents. If things had been different, one of them would have been the father of the girl but even without that, they both care about her as if she was their own child.
Such devotion, such connection, one could only say that it was true love. A tragic triangle of love that deserved a better ending but life can be cruel.
Moments go by in which nobody says a word.
The Welsh dragon after seeing the atmosphere decides to do something. The dragon lifts his glass filled with alcohol. "For Dianne. Let's pray and hope that her soul might find her way back to you two in a different life."
The other members of the alliance take a few moments to join in as well.
"For Dianne." Everyone does the same.
The pair of fallen angels look at his allies for a few seconds. The pair start to cry as they lift their own glasses.
They love that witch with all of their hearts and if luck was on their side they hope that they could meet again one day even if she didn't remember them at all.
*Notes of the author: Next stories- 9: I am your shield and you're my sword. 10: The Goddess and the Seraph. We'll see each other another time.*
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Omake:
Many years have gone by and Vati was close to retirement. He had seen many things in his tavern. Many stories to tell and maybe it was time for someone else to take over but destiny had one last story for him to see.
A pair of girls came into view as the doors swing open. Their faces were almost the same except for one having a left draconic eye and the other one having a right draconic eye. Each was holding a staff and their attires were those of students from a magical academy.
"Is this the tavern Cynthia?"
"Yes, Becca. Hello, could we get a table?" One of the girls asked Vati as they came closer.
"There's nothing free right now. You might have to share with someone else." Vati said.
The two girls looked around and found a particular table that was a bit far from the rest.
"Hey aren't those two-" Rebbecca was interrupted by her sister.
"They are Becca. Az, Shem good to see you. Would you be so kind to offer us a few drinks?" Cynthia says as they approached the table.
"Not in a million years. You two are too young to be here." Azazel replies.
"Shouldn't you be in school?" Shemhazai asks.
"We skipped and we're 18," Rebbecca replies.
"Your father will kill us," Azazel says as he massages the sides of his head.
"Come on Az. Do it for me." Cynthia tries her charms against the old fallen angel who had a silver halo spinning on top of his head.
"Azazel, don't do this." Shemhazai also had a similar halo on top of his head.
"Come on Shem. You know you want to buy a few drinks for me." Rebbecca says as she plays with the hair of the fallen angel.
Vati shakes his head as he watches a similar scene repeat itself once more. "Welcome back, Dianne." The feeling that he got from them was too similar to back them. It was a good time to be alive.
Miracles do happen sometimes.
This is…. Canon…. Maybe…..