Summary: The humans try to stay alive against the Otherworld Demons as Alcaeus does his best to fight against not-so-nice-nor-human Uncle Vlad. But no matter how hard they try, nothing will ever go their way. In the end, a choice must be made in desperation.
Author's Notes:
Alright, Dianakko week is over. Meaning I can up the rating now bwahaha.
Shit hits the fan. Now rated M for not-so-minor depictions of horror, and character injuries beyond that of canon LWA.
XI. Encroaching Despair
Red. The world is dyed in red.
Akko only knew of the Otherworld's horrors based on Diana's description all those days ago. But to see it for herself jars her into uncharacteristic silence.
She can no longer hear the air-raid siren and the screams of the other guests continuously roaring in her ears, not when all of her other senses are also being assailed by the distortion. There's too much happening for her to process at once.
The pristine walls of the Cavendish Manor are gone, replaced with torn wallpaper covered in black soot and dried blood. Ashes flake off from every possible surface as the Otherworld distorts over reality. Above, the light from the chandeliers flicker and die, a few breaking from their now-rusted chains. Gravity pulls them toward the ground, forcing the guests in the way to scatter in screamining waves. With the room's main source of light gone, the reason their world isn't bathed in darkness comes from the glow of the red moon pooling through the broken glass windows of the manor.
Akko wants to suck in a breath. But every time she does, she nearly gags on an overwhelming scent of bloody, rotting flesh.
Even her sense of taste feels wrong. Akko is certain she's not supposed to be able to taste iron in her mouth.
(Wait, that is blood.) Akko opens her mouth and swipes her gums with her tongue, quickly coming to the conclusion that she had accidentally bit herself in the commotion.
Akko shrieks as a hand grabs her own in a vice grip. She reaches into her gown to pull out her wand and destroy the assailant-
"Akko! Calm down! It is just me!" a familiar voice shouts.
"Diana?" The familiar warmth seeps into her skin from the hold on her hand, cutting through the horrors and reminding Akko that there is still some sense of familiarity left within this distortion.
"Are you with me?" Diana asks.
Akko nods numbly. "So… this is the Otherworld? The place that only you and Alcaeus could see before?"
Diana nods. "As I feared, that is not the case this time. It seems everyone else is experiencing the distortion as well."
"But why-"
"Ah, ah, ah." Vladimir's voice echoes across the hall, bringing their attention back to the man standing above them all. To the guests currently clambering toward the exit, he says, "I wouldn't try to escape if I were you."
The guests closest to the exits throw open the doors. But they don't reach salvation, running straight into growls and belches coming from creatures lacking a face except for mouths that seem to have been torn open after they were sewn shut. One of the creatures grabs the closest human's arm, shocking the unfortunate woman into stasis as her own warm skin clashes with the leathery tautness of the creature's rotting flesh.
It's unfortunate that she couldn't stay in shock.
The moment is broken as the creature pulls her forward and sinks its jaws into her shoulder. As the monster continues to tear her flesh apart while her life remains and her fervent screams do not abate, the rest of the creatures take that as their cue to pounce on the rest of the guests as quickly as they can reach.
Vladimir grins, slowly dropping his arms as he watches the monsters feed. "My brethren are quite hungry, you see."
One man shrieks as he's tugged back by one of the monsters. However, when he screams again, it isn't because the monster takes a bite from his body. Rather, it's due to the fountain of blood that shoots out from the monster's decapitated head.
Vladimir frowns. "Ah, right. There is someone here who has no reason to panic."
"Don't just stand there!" Alcaeus yells, brandishing the Hrynja to instill hesitation in the creatures. He uses that moment of stillness to rush forward and maim as many of them as he can while shouting, "Stand there as docile sheep and you will only die a wretched death! At least be a ram and fight back!"
Bernadette snaps out of her initial stupor and projects her voice across the hall, "Guards! Protect as many as you can! Fend against these monsters!" She then looks through the crowd and finds Anna, "And make sure my intoxicated sister is out of harm's way!"
"But do not use magic!" Alcaeus adds. "It will only empower them; give them strength!"
Bernadette whirls around to face the man she had known as her uncle. "Why…?! What is the point of all of this?!"
"The point? Exactly as I said; my brethren wish to feed. And what other perfect opportunity can there be than a gathering of humans located on a site abundant with magical energy?"
"These are Demons! You are not-"
"A Demon? I'm afraid it's actually more obvious than that." Vladimir keeps on hand on his lance while the other folds behind his back. "You only need to accept it. That not one, but two of your parental figures lost their lives to us."
Everything narrows until all Bernadette can see is the man above her. No, as she looks closer, she realizes that Vladimir Cavendish has never graced her presence this entire night.
"Who are you?" Bernadette whispers, just loud enough for Vladimir's enhanced hearing to catch.
"I hate to inform you that I am not the one who took your mother's life two years ago. That Demon is no longer in this world. That creature you call Alcaeus made sure of that on that very day."
Bernadette's eyes widen, unable to find her voice.
Vladimir continues, "I have no name that I can translate to your people. For the sake of simplicity, you can still call me what you have."
"You wish for me to slander my uncle's name?!"
Vladimir shrugs. "It doesn't matter to me what I am to you. I have no interest in you, just as I have no interest in the two children who have come to your aid." Vladimir glances over Diana and Akko as they stand by Bernadette's side, lingering on the former. "Though, perhaps that isn't entirely true."
"So, that guy is the one causing all of this, right?" Akko asks. "But he's your uncle."
"No," Bernadette quips. "This demon is not my uncle. He is merely wearing my uncle's flesh."
Vladimir grin widens. "An accurate assumption. So you do understand the situation."
Bernadette drops her head, gritting her teeth until her temples throb.
"Return this realm to as it should," Diana demands, knowing full well that demanding it is a lost cause.
Vladimir narrows his eyes at her. "You. You I have business with. But perhaps later. For now, I need to greet an old friend."
Vladimir leaps off of the stand with strength uncommon for a human, jumping over Diana, Akko, and Bernadette and into the horde. The monsters part where he lands, granting him an open path to the white-haired man wielding his own lance.
Diana clicks her tongue. But when she whirls around, she finds their path obstructed by more of the monsters.
"Hey, um, are you okay?" Akko asks Bernadette, supporting the woman who can barely stand.
"I'm… I'm fine," Bernadette gasps. "I only lost my breath for a second there."
Diana frowns. One glance tells her that Bernadette is unusually exhausted for someone who hasn't done any physical exertion beyond greeting guests and a single dance. Yet she can't deny that the woman looks like she wants to sleep the rest of the night away.
(It cannot only be due to the revelation in regards to Vladimir, can it?)
"Diana!" Akko holds out her wand in one hand, the other supporting Bernadette. "We can't just stand here! At this rate, everyone is going to die!"
Akko is right. Diana pulls out her own wand and stands by Akko's side.
There is another time for thinking. Right now their main objective is to survive and prevent as much tragedy as possible. And that means confronting these grotesque Demons and reaching their leader.
"You-!" Alcaeus circles the Hrynja just in time to parry Vladimir's spear. "You are not Vladimir Cavendish!"
"No, that I am not. Or at least not entirely." Vladimir waves to have the rest of the Demon resume their assault on the other humans. "It is certainly true that this container once belonged to someone by the name of Vladimir Cavendish. Though, now any semblance of that man no longer exists on its own."
"How long…" Alcaeus grunts as he dodges and parries the opposing lancer, "…have you been possessing this man?!"
"Long enough that there is nothing left of his original soul. Consuming philosopher's stones as my source of diet has been a pain, but there is little I can do if all goes according to the Allfather."
Alcaeus grits his teeth when a particularly strong strike sends him skidding backwards. "What relation do the House of Cavendish have with the Allfather?!"
"Hm? Did you lose your critical thinking abilities since your exile? What other reason do you think?"
"The Allfather has no reason to monitor me."
Vladimir rotates his spear, striking against Alcaeus' guard. Even with his feet planted, the added momentum throws Alcaeus off balance and into the closest wall.
Vladimir stalks toward Alcaeus as he recovers and growls, "They have every reason to monitor you! Do you even realize what you had done?!"
Alcaeus wipes a trail of blood from his lips but doesn't reply.
"In any case, I was only meant to observe and not act. What you had done to ◼◼◼◼◼◼◼ in order to save a human was a crime, but nothing as dangerous as that will pass as long as you remain as you are now. That is what I believed, and so the Allfather only had me standby.
That all changed when a certain anomaly appeared that concerned even the Allfather. I would have been tasked to eliminate it immediately if it had not remained in such close proximity to you. How convenient, isn't it? That you are the only reason that anomaly is alive, yet also the very reason it has faced death so many times since meeting you."
"What," Alcaeus coughs against the dust, "what are you talking about?"
"Are you playing the idiot now? Who else was the only one who could perceive ◼◼◼◼◼◼'s distortion? Who else could understand the tongue of our brethren despite their apparent roots? You should have figured it out by now."
Alcaeus grasps the Hrynja and uses it to pull himself to his feet. "That girl has nothing to do with us!"
"Perhaps not. But it doesn't change the fact that she is tied in some way. That was why I had ◼◼◼◼◼◼ distort the hospital at the time you were all there. And that is why I am here now. The swamp was just a test of mine to make sure the other girl was not involved, as they were detected together. But it seems it is only the one you call Diana Reinhardt who the Allfather is interested in."
"A single human warrants this disaster?!" Alcaeus growls. "You have involved more innocent lives than necessary!"
"You've adapted to human life well," Vladimir remarks. "If anything, too well. If you were not so biased you would be able to see exactly why this is necessary."
Vladimir pushes forward as a blur, barely giving Alcaeus enough time to guard as he lays down a single cold fact.
"Because this isn't a single human life we are interested here."
The urge to gag emerges every time Akko hears the sounds of pierced flesh or crunching bones. Every time she forces herself to swallow it down and stay focused on the neverending horde of monsters surrounding them.
It helps to have Diana's presence behind her. Though, they're no longer holding hands. The two remembered to untangle their fingers for once. Perks of the situation.
(Not really. This is-) Akko quickly throws a chair at a monster who leaps into the air toward her. (-This is a really bad situation!)
"They just won't die!" Akko bemoans. "At this rate I can't see anyway out of this except to collapse this entire mansion!"
"Unfortunately, the guests-" Diana is cut off by one of the creatures swiping at her, forcing her to twist out of the way and defend herself.
Bernadette brandishes her wand and helps the other two now that she's regained her strength. "That might not even be enough. These Demons are rather resilient. You break their bones and they still continue their carnage."
"Then what are we supposed to do?!" Akko asks. "Ahhh, I knew I should have taken that Demonology class with Amanda and Jasminka!"
"Demons are sustained through large congregations of magical energy," Diana says. "The best course of action would be to break that supply so that the Otherworld can no longer distort into reality."
"Like the walls at the hospital and the tree in the swamp," Akko realizes. "So that means here-!"
"It would be the Cavendish philosopher's stone," Bernadette finishes.
"But wait, if we destroy the stone, how do we use magic to defend ourselves?" Akko motions toward the area where Alcaeus is fighting Vladimir. "Don't we still need to stop the guy behind this?"
"At that point that Demon will no longer be able to use magic either," Bernadette replies. "Even if he hasn't been incapacitated, Alcaeus and the Cavendish guards should be able to subdue him."
"Okay then- Wait, what's going on?"
The monsters surrounding them suddenly come to a halt. They swivel their heads around toward the direction Akko had pointed before.
Akko looks down at her shaking wand. But it isn't her hand that's shaking, it's the instrument itself. Glancing to her side, she notices Bernadette and Diana's doing the same.
"Uh… why does it feel like a vacuum is sucking up all the magic?"
The air in the room gathers toward Vladimir and Alcaeus. Green energy swirls around the former, enveloping him until none of his human form can be seen. Red lightning coils around the whirlwind of magic that begins to shift from green to black.
The lightning dies down once the conversion is complete. A powerful gust of wind disperses through the room, biting at the audience's eyes and blinding them for a moment.
By the time their vision clears, they are forced to bring up their hands to cover their eyes to shield against the debris falling down from the new hole in the ceiling.
"Was that…" Akko squints upward. "Did Alcaeus just get blown through the roof?"
Diana brings up her guard and stands by Akko's side. "Now is not the time to be worrying for others. The Demons are coming again."
After that momentary interruption, the creatures turn back to their prey once more. They conclude that their master has done what it needs to do and they are free to feed once more.
Akko gulps. "Ah geez. Give us a break!"
"Guh-! Agh-!
Alcaeus rolls over onto his arms and continues to cough, spitting out blood that gathers in small puddles mixing with the rest of the red dripping from his injuries. One hand flails to the side, finding purchase in the cold metal of the Hrynja. He uses his other hand to push himself into an upright kneeling position.
Vladimir's voice cuts through the ringing in his ears, "Did the Allfather give you a durable human body? Most humans would be dead after being blown through three floors of stone."
Alcaeus uses his free hand to wipe the blood from his eyes. It doesn't completely clear his vision; he blames that on the inevitable concussion he must have. However, it's enough for Alcaeus to finally recognize the Demon for what it is.
"…◼◼◼◼," Alcaeus growls in his native tongue.
The shadows of its form flicker, almost as if the Demon is chuckling. "There you go. It's been awhile, ◼◼◼◼◼. But we are far beyond pleasantries, aren't we?"
"Yes." Alcaeus stabs the Hrynja into the ground, using it to pull himself to his feet. "Neither of us have cared for formalities. Not then, not now."
The Demon in Vladimir's body crouches. "I have waited so long for this opportunity to break your skull in."
"After tonight, I have to say I share the same sentiments!"
The shadows dance. Black pounces, enveloping the white-haired human in a cloud of dense magical energy. Despite Vladimir's physical shape, it is all too easy for it to twist itself out of Alcaeus' reach. With every thrust of his spear, the Demon simply contorts its intangible form to avoid being impaled.
On the other hand, it's easy enough for Vladimir to strike Alcaeus with one of its limbs. His human body lacks the Demon's intangibility and can only move so quickly. His wavering vision and fatigue doesn't help.
"What's wrong, ◼◼◼◼◼?" Vladimir taunts, striking Alcaeus once more into the wall behind them. "Your movements are rather sluggish. Don't tell me you are at your limits already?"
Alcaeus spits out a mouthful of blood and wipes his chin. "Well, what do you expect? This body is only human. And you did throw me through three layers of stone."
"Hm, you're right." The shadows flare, covering every surface around Alcaeus until all he can see is darkness. "I suppose I'll just have to throw you through three more layers. Or as many as I have to until you can't twitch a single muscle of that human body of yours."
Bernadette clutches her chest with one hand, using the other to brace herself on her knee.
(Why… why now of all times?!) Bernadette berates herself as she heaves for breath.
Diana affords one glance behind her to gauge Bernadette's condition. She guards against two monsters before calling, "Akko, take Lady Bernadette's right. I will take her rear."
Akko quickly notes Bernadette's haggard breathing, her pale pallor, and the tight grip on her chest. She skids back so she and Diana flank both sides of Bernadette's hunched form.
"Maybe we should get you to Anna," Akko says. "Diana and I can blast through these monsters on our own and get to the stone."
"And what spell would you be using to break through these inexhaustible monsters?" Bernadette asks. "Surely any large scale damage spells will only be absorbed by the monsters."
"We can just keep using that earth manipulating spell that Diana's been using this whole ti- AH!" Akko flinches as a giant wall erupts behind her, effectively acting as a shield to block one of the monsters who leaps into the air and smacks against its surface instead of onto her. "See? Convenient."
"Akko, focus." Diana grits her teeth from the exertion.
"In that case, why haven't you done so already?" Bernadette argues.
"The creatures are adapting," Diana answers before Akko. "I am not sure if they have adapted from our first experience with them, or if they are completely separate from our first encounter and learned a different way. Regardless, they are learning to find the best way around my spells. At this rate, even physical blockades will be of no use if they can simply maneuver their way around it."
"So they're getting smar-?" Akko gasps. "Diana, duck!"
Diana doesn't think twice and does just that, letting Akko throw a broken piece of chandelier over her head to knock away a monster that was sneaking up behind her. Once Diana hears the impact, she whirls around and makes sure no others can catch her off guard.
"No thanks?!" Akko shouts.
"I will offer my proper gratitude-" Diana casts another spell to keep the monsters as far away as possible, "-at a better time!"
Screams and chaos echo throughout the once immaculate hall. While the witches fend against the monsters as much as they can, the Cavendish guards struggle to keep guests and staff alike safe from the assailants. Bodies litter the ground, too many human for anyone's liking.
But there is no time to lament tragedy. All they can do is prevent the bodycount from rising.
Bernadette whips her wand to prevent a few creatures from preying on two cowering guests. "There is no end to this! At this rate we will all be overwhelmed!"
"We need to break through the horde at once." Diana scans the hall, coming to the conclusion that the window on the opposite end of the entrance is the best route to the philosopher's stone. "Akko, stay with Lady Bernadette to protect everyone here. I will head straight for the statue in the moat."
"By yourself?!" Akko and Bernadette exclaim.
"That is reckless-" Bernadette starts.
"I'm coming too! There's no way I'm leaving you alone!" Akko shouts.
"Would you rather leave so many people with one less witch to fight?" Diana retorts. "I can maneuver around the manor better on my own. I cannot afford to worry for you at the same time!"
"So I'm dead weight to you?! I bet I'd have to be the one to watch your back!"
"That is," Diana huffs, regaining her concentration to make sure her guard doesn't lower while discussing this, "not what I meant. I am only determining the best way to allocate our resources!"
"But can you actually handle these Demons yourself? I'm just saying it's better if you're not alone!"
Diana pulls out her last trump card to end the argument. "With Alcaeus busy, I need you here to make sure my- Lady Bernadette is protected! There is no one else I can ask to do so."
"I am-" Bernadette clutches her head, proving Diana's point.
"But…" Akko protests.
Diana plants her feet and prepares to to create an opening to the window, steeling herself for the destruction the spell will cause. "There is no time."
"Diana, wait-!"
Stone collapses from above, momentarily catching every human's attention. Most quickly turn back to the monsters before they can be eaten. But Diana, Akko, and Bernadette manage to to catch a glimpse of the figures as the dust clears.
"Alcaeus!"
They can barely recognize the man in question while he's covered in dust and wounds. Numerous black and purple bruises pattern his body, and the parts not discolored are covered in dark red blood. His face is barely recognizable. Even his white hair is matted in grey and red.
"Oh? There are still humans alive? I see there are some of you who have a strong instinct to live," Vladimir says as he presses down on the body below it.
Akko cringes. "That is one ugly voice. I didn't get a single thing it said."
"You cannot understand him?" Diana asks.
"And you can?" Bernadette asks in turn.
"Yes, I-" Diana frowns. "I can."
"Ah, you are still alive. That is good. That is good…"
The Demon has no face to form a human expression. But its words directed to her send enough taunting malice for Diana to understand that Demon is interested in her for whatever reason.
Despite the weight on top of him, Alcaeus turns his head and spits out of mouthful of blood before shouting, "Do not… do not fight this Demon! Not while it is a mass of intangible magic!"
"Humans cannot kill Demons. Although, can our kind be 'killed' in the first place? I once thought the answer was no." Vladimir leans down and snarls, "Until you proved me wrong."
A table sails through the air, flying through the Demon's shadowy body. It doesn't do anything more than draw its attention away from Alcaeus and lessen its weight on the body, but it's enough.
"Hey nasty! Why don't you find a new chew toy?!" Akko taunts.
Diana and Bernadette barely keep their mouths from falling open at Akko's audacity. The shock renders them too speechless to even reprimand the huffing Japanese witch.
"Ah, so this is one of those foolish humans I have heard so much about." Vladimir straightens its body to regard Akko while keeping a loose limb on Alcaeus. "Very well. I wonder how long you can last as my new chew toy."
Some of Akko's vigor evaporates. "Oh… maybe I shouldn't have worded it like that. It looks like it wants to eat me now."
"Akko!"
Diana tugs Akko to the side just as the shadow throws its spear. The weapon sails through the air, tearing through where Akko's head once was and shattering through the glass of the window. They only get a second to gape at the hole in their supposed exit before the shadows flare to strike once more.
"Gluais!"
The Demon stops its movements to look down on the body below it. In its haste to go after Akko, its limb lifts just enough for Alcaeus' body to slide out.
Though the broken man can barely lift his own body, that doesn't mean someone else can't move him instead.
Daryl clutches her head with one hand while controlling Alcaeus' body with her wand in her other hand. She slides his body across the floor - debris and all, muttering small, monotone apologies - before Vladimir can stomp down on Alcaeus.
"Go!" Daryl shouts to Diana and Akko. "Do whatever it takes to stop this madness! At least try to salvage some of my birthday!"
"Daryl!" Bernadette gasps. "How are you conscious?!"
"Ha! As if I'd pass out on my own birthday." Daryl groans as she finishes pulling Alcaeus' body to her. "Alright, I might have drank a little more than I should have."
"Milady!" Anna cries. She knocks a monster away from her path with a chair and rushes to Bernadette's side. "Milady, are you alright?"
"Anna? You should be by Daryl!" Bernadette says.
"At this point Lady Daryl looks like the more stable one between you two." Anna coaxes Bernadette to use her as a brace.
"So many nuisances, not enough incentive to care," Vladimir drawls. "So this is why my brethren call you humans insects. You do nothing but flock together and squirm."
"I still can't understand anything you're saying," Akko says.
Diana grabs Akko's hand. She directs her wand toward the shattered window. "We do not have time for this! Tellus Muto!"
Diana commands the earth to part, erecting a barrier to create a tunnel path just like she did back at the hospital with Alcaeus. Akko quickly notes how some of the creatures are already climbing over or striking against the wall to get through.
"Come on, Diana! We have to go now before they swarm us again!" Akko takes off toward the windows, not waiting for Diana to follow or reply.
"Akko!" Diana wipes the sweat on her brow and groans. There isn't much she can do except follow Akko and make sure she doesn't get attacked from her charge.
Vladimir tilts its head. "Struggle, struggle. Squirm, squirm. You cannot stand against these dogs so you find an alternative method. I can't say I fault you; your survival instincts must be screaming at you. However, I cannot allow you to break this illusion so easily."
But the Demon doesn't take more than two steps before its body comes to a jarring halt. Its body feels heavier than it should. Every time it tries to twitch or move one of its limbs, a force similar to a puppet's strings would pull it back before it can complete its movements.
"You called this thing a mass of magical energy?" Daryl asks, directing the question at the broken body next to her. "Perfect. What do you think witches manipulate in the first place?!"
Alcaeus drags himself to his feet using his spear as a brace. "You talk haughty for someone sweating buckets to keep it in place."
Daryl grits her teeth. Sweat drips down her brow just as Alcaeus says. But the younger Cavendish refuses to wipe it away, both because she doesn't want to break her concentration and because she doesn't want to prove Alcaeus right.
Instead she retorts, "I don't see you doing any better. Why don't you just die right here and now?"
"Unfortunately, that is not an option."
Every bone in his body almost shatters into dust, every muscle practically torn to shreds. Just standing is enough to black out. It is a miracle he is even alive, let alone conscious. A normal human would have died after blasting through three floors of concrete. Yet Alcaeus survives it twice.
Alcaeus ignores his own fatigue to state, "I have no other purpose than to serve the woman who gave me a purpose. That is why… I will protect this House." Alcaeus grits his teeth, wiping the blood from his eyes. "I am the dog who guards the long-standing House of Cavendish… and it is my duty to protect it!"
"I…" Daryl snickers, "I don't even have the heart to laugh at the fact that you called yourself a dog! Even I am not so callous to belittle such conviction."
Alcaeus grins. "Hah, rather rare to hear you complimenting me. Am I already dead?"
"Not until my sister is safe!"
"Very well. That I can oblige!"
Diana casts a spell to break the rest of the glass, allowing her and Akko to jump through the window and outside of the manor. They don't get to take more than two steps before the familiar unease from being surrounded encroaches upon them once more.
More of the creatures crowd the manor grounds. They turn their heads at the sound of shattered glass and immediately pounce on the two witches.
"Where's the stone?!" Akko shouts. Her eyes dart around in search for it. She's quickly drawn to an eerie red glow not from the moon, but from the philosopher's stone in question. "Oh, found it!"
"Akko, don't-!"
Akko charges off before Diana can finish her warning. Diana clicks her tongue and does her best to run after her. But it becomes clear that Akko is running through the horde at a speed she can't keep up with. Diana quickly comes to this realization and chooses to switch her tactics. If she can't be directly next to Akko, the least she can do is to clear as much of the path as she can before Akko runs too far for her to reach.
With her gaze on the glowing red horn of the Cavendish unicorn statue, Akko lets nothing stop her from reaching her goal. It's easy to tune everything else out: the idea that she's definitely leaving Diana behind, the monsters swarming her, the swipes they make that nick her in numerous places, any trips and falls she may sustain as she runs; Akko pushes all of that to the back of her mind. All that matters is getting to that stone and stopping this madness before this House can fall into more ruin.
"I am the heiress to the long-standing House of Cavendish, and it is my duty to protect it!"
(Diana said that before, didn't she?)
Those words had been stated by a girl the same age as her. She and Diana have so much in common, yet Diana leads a life Akko isn't familiar with. They walk parallel paths, together yet not.
Akko shakes her head, both to rid herself of that notion and to recover from a wild swing to the head. She continues running; almost there. She's only a few paces to the edge of the moat. Akko can't even hear Diana anymore.
(If Diana's ahead of me, I'll catch up! If Diana's on a completely different path, then I'll support her just as she's helped me! It's the least I can do. And also… it's something I want to do!)
Akko ducks under a hook from one of the monsters, then leaping up from her crouch to jump over the monster. Claws catch the back of her shirt, ripping through fabric and skin alike. But Akko ignores the open wound and grits her teeth, knocking away the creatures by levitating a nearby object that she can't make out with her wavering vision.
It doesn't matter what she can't see as long as she can at least find the philosopher's stone.
(I won't let this House fall to ruin. Not when so many people have done their best to protect it! So I'm going to too! Nothing's going to stop me from protecting this House! I'll make sure the family that Diana loves so much is safe. Because… because…!)
Akko reaches the edge of the moat. With the Cavendish philosopher's stone in sight, Akko directs her wand at the stone and gathers as much magic as she can to take a clear shot.
(I want to be with Diana!)
Diana's concentration on Akko is momentarily interrupted by a flying projectile whisking by her ear in a blur. It speeds straight past her in the direction of her gaze at a rate too fast for her brain to order her vocal chords to work and warn the one in its path.
"Ak-!"
"Mur-?!"
Akko's body suddenly jerks forward, a sharp gasp replacing the rest of the spell. Her attention shifts from the philosopher's stone to the tightness around her abdomen. Despite her determination to keep the stone her main priority, Akko can't help but glance down at the unexpected protrusion in her body.
A familiar silver lance is pierced through her from her back to the front. Small droplets of red trickle down from the weapon onto the dead grass. Her life runs away from her.
Akko would have laughed at the literal meaning if she didn't feel like passing out at the moment.
It's fascinating how slow it slides down the weapon. Maybe it's due to how snug the spear is within her body. It's probably better that way; she wouldn't want to bleed out. But the excruciating heat of pain from the intrusion nearly convinces her to try and rip the weapon out of her stomach herself.
Screaming against the pain is out of the question. Not when thickness clogs her throat.
"Hrgh-!"
Akko falls to her knees as she coughs out blood, red dribbling out of her mouth and down her chin. One hand hovers above the lance, trembling against her will. She can't decide what to do with it. To take it out or not? That is the question…
This spear shouldn't be in her body. Blood shouldn't be escaping her body like this, not through her mouth and definitely not from her stomach. Akko knows this. She can't understand why it is. But she knows that taking it out is too annoying to do right now.
Nothing makes sense. Akko can barely reason past the sudden explosion of pain-
Across the lawn, Diana feels her heart drop into her stomach.
"AKKO!"
"Ah, that was close. That was actually close."
Diana whips her head around to the source. The Demon crawls out from the broken window. As it moves out of the way, Diana catches a glimpse of Bernadette rushing - as fast as she can with a leg bent at an odd angle - to a half conscious Daryl who's covered in her own blood.
At the edge of the moat, a broken girl clenches her fists and wills her muscles to pull her body up. They tremble so much that she can barely manage a bent stance, but it's better than staying in a kneeling position on the ground.
"Oh? What an interesting one…"
Diana snaps her wand toward Vladimir. Before she can utter a single incantation, the Demon throws a body at her with enough force to send her tumbling back in a mess of limbs.
"Just stay there for a bit. I will deal with you later," Vladimir says without facing her. It trains its eyes on the struggling witch by the moat.
Diana tries to push the body off of her. But with Alcaeus unconscious and larger, it's like she's trying to fight a losing battle against an anchor pressed upon her weight.
The creatures part, allowing Vladimir to easily step up behind Akko as she fights against pain and darkness. One arm raises up with a tremble.
But words never leave her mouth. Instead, Akko's voice releases a cry as Vladimir takes the lance from behind her and raises her off the ground.
"How peculiar. Most humans would have laid upon the ground after being impaled. Yet you continue to struggle. Is this the tenacity you humans are known for?" Vladimir barks laughter as Akko screams from the pull of gravity on her wound. "It is a lot more unsightly than I thought. What keeps you going? Why do you continue despite the pain? What do you gain from this?"
Akko coughs out blood. Her free hand grips the spear in an attempt to alleviate some of the pressure. Her other raises her wand once more toward the philosopher's stone.
One quick blur of black and the wand is knocked out of her hands. Vladimir watches as Akko continues to struggle despite losing her weapon.
"Hm. Still going… But why?" It bounces its weapon up and down, taking in every cry as a result of the weapon tearing deeper into her body. "
"You're so… annoying," Akko gasps. "I don't… even know… what you're saying… Just… shut up!"
Diana finally pries Alcaeus' body away from her. But before she can move further than a step, the monsters from before swarm around her, blocking the previously open path.
Diana grits her teeth. "I do not have time for this! Tellus Muto!"
The earth rises, knocking away some but not all of the creatures. They simply run back, not attacking but not allowing her passage either. No matter what spell she conjures, no matter how many times she bats them away, the Demons continue to impede her.
Another cry pulls Diana's attention beyond the horde. Diana sees Vladimir lift Akko into the air, dangling her body from her impalement.
But she can't move forward. Her magic is useless. Despite her vast knowledge and experience, Diana cannot make it past the horde. She can't save Akko.
That realization hits Diana harder than the spear torn into Akko.
"Help…?"
Diana whirls around, instincts flaring against the possible surprise attack from behind. But none of the monsters from before advance. In fact, it doesn't seem like it was one of them who spoke.
A small squeak draws Diana's attention down to the ground. To her surprise, standing on top of Alcaeus' unconscious body is the little spirit who has eluded them and caused herself and Akko so much trouble these past few weeks.
"Why… why are you here?"
The spirit tilts its head, its arm still outstretched. "Help?" it repeats.
"AGH!" Akko cries, the spear digging through more of her torso as Vladimir swings her around.
"How long will you struggle, human?" the Demon wonders. "How much does it take to incapacitate you? It took three levels of stone twice, plus a few more beatings for that traitor. A simple strike against that woman sufficed, now how about you? You seem to be holding up better at least."
Diana clenches her fists. As hard as she tries, Diana can't tear her eyes away from Akko as her legs dangle above the ground and she struggles to survive. Maybe the longer she sears herself with guilt, the better chances she'll have to summon the ability to save Akko.
But another small squeak pulls her attention away from Akko and back to the spirit. Its arms are still outstretched as if waiting for her to take them.
Despite her better judgment, Diana finds herself entertaining the idea that their source of misfortune has a way for her to break through her current obstacle.
"What do I have to do?"
"Take?"
"You are not sure either?"
The spirit tilts its head. "Take?"
Another scream behind her. Diana once again clenches her fists.
The last time she touched this spirit she was bedridden with a fever so dangerous that she could have died. And that was simply from holding it. Diana has no idea how doing the same will change in this situation.
She has no choice but to try.
Diana wraps both hands around the spirit's small body. The instant her skin contacts the spirit's shadowy form, Diana feels the same torrent of lava course through her veins. Torturous heat bleeds into her consciousness and she nearly blacks out from the strain.
The spirit squeaks. For a moment she was certain it had asked if she was alright.
And then Diana shoves the spirit against her chest, letting the darkness envelop her doubts and hesitation.
"Hm. I'm certain you humans have only a certain amount of blood. I wonder when you will lose consciousness from the life bleeding out of you? Or maybe you'll just die?"
Akko barely gets her retort out of her blood-clogged throat. "Agh-! Seriously, speak English!"
Vladimir twists the spear deeper into her side, eliciting another scream followed by a torrent of blood from the wound and Akko's mouth.
"You're an interesting one, but I have other business to attend to. Perhaps I should just end your suffering. Ah, you can't understand me, can you? Then I'll do the honors of choosing your fate myself."
Vladimir whips the spear toward the ground. The force dislodges Akko from her impalement and throws her to the ground. Her blood instantly stains the dead lawn.
Vladimir stalks toward her, its spear raised high to strike. But when it brings the weapon down, it is suddenly tackled to the side by a shadowy blur. The impact throws Vladimir into the moat. On the other hand, the assailant jumps back and lands by Akko's side, taking her in her arms.
Vladimir leaps out from the moat. Its shadows flare in anger, but then calms as it recognizes part of the black blur that attacked it.
Glaring up at the Demon Bernadette and Daryl had once called Uncle Vlad…
It cocks its head. "Now… this is an interesting development."
…is the human once known as Diana Cavendish, half covered in shadows, her one visible eye no longer teal but an eerie gold encompassed by a sclera of black.
Author's Notes:
Well, some people wanted Akko/Diana pain equality in one of my other stories. Here you go? XD
Hm, maybe I should clarify some things about the hierarchy of Demons in my story.
Most Demons don't actually have a name. For example, all of the Silent Hill type monsters (ie. the nurses, wallmen, etc) are nameless wraiths without much autonomy.
On the other hand, Alcaeus, Vladimir, the Demon from the hospital, and the Pyramid Head all have enough cognitive capabilities to be higher on the hierarchy to gain their own names. But it isn't individualistic; it's based on their status. So really, there can be someone with the same name as Alcaeus.
It's a bit convoluted, but Demons don't have the same value of individualism as humans do.
Fun Fact:
One specific line Alcaeus says is a shoutout to something Diana says in canon. Can anyone guess the line? XD