Mikoto Misaka was standing on the stone bridge. Her hands gripped the edge as she peered into the darkness. Watching and waiting as if she expected Grommok to emerge. She closed her eyes, shook her head, and turned her attention to the devastation she had wrought. The molten rocks, radiant in fiery oranges and fierce reds, gradually cooled as the setting suns faded past the rocky horizon. And reflecting in her eyes, she watched as the valley underwent a breathtaking transformation, a stunning display of shifting colors. Crimson, pink, and golden hues Strokes appeared like great brush strokes across the sky, contrasting the simmering glow below. As the valley's fiery remnants wane, wisps of rising steam and heavy fog inched out, covering the glowing land, rolling over the abyss's edge like a waterfall, seeping towards her as she waited. "What if Grommok crawls out of the big hole in the ground?" little misaka asked. "Then what?"
Mikoto quickly answered. "This time…fuck the bridge?" she growled. "nice language coming from a Queen." little misaka chuckled.
Her look-alike avatar rolled her eyes. She was inside Mikoto's head, sitting in an oversized comfortable recliner, listening to the gentle humming, sizzles, and pops as the attractive woman wearing an apron stood before a stove, making a stir fry. Little misaka quickly sniffed the air. "Yum," she said.
Mikoto shrugged, "Whatever.." her voice trailing off, "You sound more and more…" a mix of longing and sorrow. "like her…."
Little misaka sighed, eyes gazing up at the surrounding screens. There was a sad smile on her face, an ache in her eyes. She missed those moments they shared- their encounters with Anastasia and her queen avatar. "in many ways, I am," she whispered.
Lost in her thoughts, Mikoto found herself engrossed in the memories of her mate and lover, Anastasia Von Alucard. The queen vampire's absence weighed heavily on her heart as images of their shared rule over the four kingdoms flashed through her mind. She reached to her utility belt and pulled out her phone. She smirked a little. "No power, no problem." She tapped the side with her finger. Tiny bluish sparks jumped between the phone and index finger. "full charge." She grinned, took a breath, and leaned against a stone pillar. She unlocked her phone and scrolled through pictures, each a bittersweet memory of their times together. Tears formed and slipped down her cheeks, carried away in the misty embrace of the coming nightfall and cool breeze. Mikoto swiped across the images over and over and over.
She was silent as mist falling into the abyss. Vita, trusted companion, commander of the 100, she called them that, and overall pain in the ass, observed her quietly.
She had come down from the ridge where everyone was recovering, with the glow of small fires, surrounded by warriors. The smell of food and alcohol seeped into the air. Loud, excited conversations. And roughhousing. She coughed, clearing her throat and catching Mikoto by surprise, causing her to hastily wipe away her tears. Vita smiled, finally catching her Mistress by surprise. It had been over a century since the last time she had sneaked up on her. Empathy filled her eyes as she extended a cup of something warm. "Mistress, here," Vita said gently, her voice laced with care. But her eyes glimmered in the I got you moment. Mikoto ignored it. "a cup of comfort for you, my Mistress. It's been a trying day, and you deserve a moment to be, shall we say, human?" Mikoto caught her breath, taking in the aroma. She took the cup and felt the warmth seeping into her hands, anchoring her in the moment. She had it under her nose, and her cheeks blushed.
"It's not firewine? " Vita said, "but just as effective."
Fire wine was a warm alcoholic drink brewed and served by the wolves of the four kingdoms. Often brewed in large vats in the winter, barreled, and served in the fall. It had a clean smell and a look. A Taste of honey and spices. And it carried a strength befitting the warriors' spirit with each sip or chug. According to the shewolves.
"it'll make you howl at the moon…. among other things you will regret and hope to forget." Little misaka laughed. "good times," she said of the memories.
Vita nodded, a small smile playing on her lips, as she pressed the cup to her mouth and took a drink. She looked at her Mistress, and her Mistress looked back. "I'm pretty sure I am going to regret this," Mikoto said, sipping. Its warmth rapidly spread. The rich flavors danced across her tongue, the sweetness of the honey and spices. It had been a decade since she had last had some. The memory of her welcome to the village party, The sounds of the drums and music just as intoxicating. The son of the king trying to score. But also unearthed, thoughts of Anastasia, back on earth, when they danced apart, slowly moving and swaying separately until they moved as one. She blushed bright red, eye changing, browns and reds swirling. So powerful the memory, it pulled at her to dance. She hummed, licking her lips, tasting the wine, sweet and strong, like Anastasia's kisses. Another drink, another lick of her lips. She looked over at the glowing reds and oranges flickering in the fog. She could easily see their swirling forms in the fog if she tried.
Mikoto turned and looked at Vita, the cup below her nose, as she slipped her phone back into the utility belt. Her words hinted at longing as she asked." do you miss them?" she said innocently.
Vita met Mikotos' gaze. She nodded softly, taking another drink. Its warmth spread inside her as memories welled up like freshwater springs. Gently wiping her mouth with her arm, looking to the busy ridge above them. "yes, Mistress…I do every day," she replied in a hushed tone. "I had known them for generations. Daughter, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and so on…." She sighed wistfully. "They accepted me, even loved me." She smiled, "Me, a monster who they gave me a place to live…and a family to watch over." Her words tinged in bittersweet as she took another drink. "there are moments I wish I had never gone fishing," she confessed softly. "but it was then that I became the hound that hunted those who had followed him, and I made sure that it was a painful death," she said, "but he eluded us…. " She smacked her lips, a rueful smile playing on her face. "But now the pieces have come together, and I like the puzzle." Her eyes flickered to her Mistress.
A loaded pause hung between them, charged with anticipation and unspoken possibilities. "you know what that means," she said, tinged with determination.
"There's a working portal somewhere," Mikoto said, taking a drink and rolling the flavors over her tongue. "A portal that Grimmok used." She slowly nodded, peeking over. "to get to earth." Vita thinned her eyes like a predator. A self-satisfying smile slipped across her mouth. Grommok was gone. Defeated by her Mistress. She had not taken the pleasure of the kill, but she had been there to see him fall, to help provide cover for her Mistress. And when he disappeared into the black of the abyss. She whispered their names, telling them to rest well, for vengeance had been served. "So much for digging two graves." She said. It made her feel lighter, like a weight lifted from her shoulders.
Mikoto could see the joy in her eyes spreading like wildfire at night. She knew she'd want to celebrate. She took another sip and sighed. "going to regret this," she said, taking another swig and grimacing.
"What!?" little misaka eyes popped open. She had finished eating and was lying on an oversized couch. The attractive woman by her side in an old fashion neck to ankle nightgown. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and growled.
Mikoto motioned to the ridge, and Vita grinned. "Time to celebrate." Turning and walking across the stone bridge and up the hill.
as they walked, Mikoto knitted her brow, counting the warriors "No one…" she whispered. "some were wounded." Vita said with little concern, took a drink, and snickered, running her tongue over her lips." Mikoto rolled her eyes, "dry mouth?"
Vita nodded, "A lot of licking."
"I'm sure most of it was unnecessary." Little misaka said as she yawned and stretched. "pervert."
A vampire's venom could speed up the healing process, especially one mixed with the blood of a queen. It could heal broken bones, reattached severed limbs, and paper cuts. And Vita was always quick to lend a tongue.
Aya, Gallum, Nya, and the others lining the ridge looking down, smiles and cups raised in the air. Regret quickly fading. And anticipation took its place. Mikoto raised her cup into the air. Smiled and joined them.