Chapter 5: The Strength of A Vampire
Akko was glad it was the weekend, she needed a break from all those classes cramming so much stuff into her fragile brain. But sadly, she would not be able to enjoy her weekend because of her punishment. She was in trouble already for hurting Elizabeth and was told to clean the troll baths, and now thanks to the dragon incident that happened yesterday, she was forced to fix the tower by herself using magic. Even though Akko had the worst luck, cleaning and being ridiculed by everyone were not on her mind currently. What she could not stop thinking about was the fact that Elizabeth, the new girl, ate a person last night!
She was a vampire and Akko didn't have to go to a magical school to know what that was. It kinda made a whole lot of sense when Akko thought about it. Elizabeth's skin was extremely pale, she had no body heat, Akko never saw her eat any food in the cafeteria, and she didn't bleed when Akko's spell cut her during their duel. Of course, her being a vampire isn't a problem, Akko would bet a thousand dollars that the school wouldn't mind a non-human student, but the problem was her purpose of keeping it a secret and her reason for being at the school.
In the cafeteria, the Red Team and Green Team were eating breakfast and talking about what they were going to do for the day.
"That Shooting Star prototype is so cool! I gotta catch a ride on it!" Amanda yelled aloud as she banged her fists on the table.
Constanze raised her eyebrow and her Stan-bot spoke for her, "Oh, so you have the money to pay for something like that?"
Amanda became silent.
"Didn't think so."
"I heard that some shops are selling some interesting mushrooms from different magic regions all over the world, you already know I'm going to see what that is all about," said Sucy.
"My friends on the web said that a new Nightfall comic has just been released and they say the art is beautiful. I have to see it for myself!" the cheerful Lotte said as she was cutting her pancakes.
"I hope we get some sweets along the way," sighed Jasminka as she was eating a whole plate of biscuits.
"What about you Ak—oh…yeah you're not going…"
Akko stared up at her friends as she was stuffing two pancakes into her mouth. She was not paying attention because she was thinking about how to find out what Elizabeth was planning.
"I'll be fine guys!" Akko said with a smile, "After all, I honestly have no reason to be in Blytonbury so it's okay!"
"If you say so," Lotte put her hand on Akko's arm reassuringly, "We promise to get you something when we come back."
"You don't have to guys."
"It's cool, you definitely need something to cheer you up after all the crap you went through yesterday," said Amanda, sounding more caring than usual. "Seriously, I can't believe those assholes tried to make you fix an entire tower by yourself! Even if it was kinda your fault it's not like you knew that the dragon absorbs magic power."
Akko's heart felt warm from the love of her friends.
"Thanks, guys…"
The morning was almost over and Lotte, Sucy, Amanda, Jasminka, and Constanze went out to Blytonbury without Akko. The brunette witch had nothing to do at the moment, she wasn't supposed to clean the troll baths until three o'clock, so she used her free time to spy on Elizabeth.
Akko had her eyes on her since her friends left and she never let them up since. She stayed in the background like a shadow, she was as quiet as a mouse, and her eyes were sharp like a hawk, she didn't miss a thing. Elizabeth did not go anywhere of importance and it didn't seem like she knew that Akko was following her either so she continued. After the cafeteria (she did not eat any of the food), she was in the library most of the morning with Diana, doing homework together, and once they were finished the two went their own way and Akko watched Elizabeth go out the castle doors. Akko went to the window and saw her sitting outside in the courtyard reading a book as the students around her were talking amongst each other.
"I guess she won't really do anything suspicious with so many students around…" Akko whispered to herself. "I'm surprised she's even moving in the sunlight at all since she's a vampire…how is she doing that?"
"Good morning Akko."
A yelp came from Akko because of the sudden greeting that came behind her, however, it did not sound like the person who said that seemed so cheerful to see her. She turned around to see the last person she wanted to encounter, Diana Cavendish.
"Could you please explain to me why you are spying on one of my teammates?"
"Spying? Whatever could you mean?" Akko put her finger to her chin and stared at the ceiling, pretending to look so innocent. Diana was not buying into that one bit.
"Shouldn't you be fixing the New Moon Tower, you know, after the destruction you caused yesterday?"
Akko dropped her innocent facade and yelled back, "That wasn't my fault! Your "teammate" tricked me!"
Diana sighed and shook her head while folding her arms.
"There you go again, blaming something or someone else for the mistakes you made. I don't see why you haven't gone back home yet, you obviously don't belong here."
As the blonde witch began to walk away she said her final words.
"And if you cause Elizabeth any more trouble I will hesitate to contact the teachers. Do I make myself clear?"
"…sure."
Once Diana was gone, Akko took a deep breath and her eyes returned to normal as the steaming rage in her heart was finally gone. She returned her gaze to the window she was staring out of but gasped when she saw that her target was no longer sitting in the courtyard reading her book.
"Where the hell did she go!? Dammit, Diana! If you didn't distract me I wouldn't have lost her! What if she's eating another person or something!"
Akko left the window and ran all the way out to the courtyard without stopping. When she made it to the place where Elizabeth once was she was breathing heavily and holding onto her knees.
"Where did she go?"
"Who are you looking for?"
Akko jumped up in surprise and turned to see a girl she had not talked to in a while. The girl had dark skin light brown eyes and long teal-blue hair that covered her right eye. Her name was Molly McIntyre, once known as the Ghost Witch of Time, she is a student around the same year as Akko and is a member of the Yellow Team.
"Oh, Molly! How are you doing?" Akko smiled with delight.
"I'm doing ok, just strolling around the area and enjoying some fresh air," Molly answered as she breathed in and out.
"By the way, are you looking for someone?"
"Uh…actually I am. I'm looking for Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth? Elizabeth Lucifer?"
Akko nodded.
"Yes! Do you know where she went?"
Molly pointed to the right.
"She just went down to the broom flying field by herself, she seemed out of it though…"
"What do you mean "out of it?"
Akko got all up in Molly's face, definitely enticed by what she had to say about Elizabeth. Molly felt a little uncomfortable, but she responded to Akko's question as if there was no problem.
"Well...when I came outside I seemed to be mumbling to herself. Like if she was having a conversation with someone but there was nobody else around."
"That's...weird…"
"I know right...so why are you looking for her?"
"Um…" Akko's brain was running circles inside her head to find a perfect excuse, "I'm...just trying to...get my book back!"
Molly raised an eyebrow.
"Your book?"
"Yes! She borrowed a book from me and I wanted to get it back, so…..yeah...gonna go get my book!"
The Japanese girl was about to run off until the call from Molly stopped her.
"Wait! Akko…"
Akko turned back around to see what the girl had to say. It took Molly a few seconds to come up with the words she wanted to speak, but when she found them she looked at Akko and spoke with kindness in her natural quiet voice.
"Don't worry about what other people say about you and don't let people get you down. That's all I really wanted to say...um...take care!"
The dark-skinned girl then ran back into the academy, not looking back at Akko. But if she did look back, she would've seen the wonderful sight of Akko smiling.
"Thanks, Molly!" She shouted to her as she ran off to the broom-flying field.
Many students were soaring in the sky above the broom-flying field, either practicing for a relay or just goofing around. And sitting on the ground was Elizabeth, all alone with a book by her side. Akko hid behind a tree, staring at Elizabeth from afar. For the whole hour she was there Elizabeth did nothing but sit down and mumble to herself.
"Is she a psychopath? Why is she just talking to herself…?"
The air was getting colder, the skies became grayer, and Akko was feeling like this spying mission was going nowhere.
"Ok, I don't think she's going to do anything. Maybe I should just..."
Before Akko could turn around and leave, she witnessed something bizarre. Elizabeth's shadow, which was sitting below her, took the form of a standing-up version of Elizabeth even though Elizabeth herself was still sitting down. And then it began slithering like a snack and moved in great speed towards the New Moon Tower. Akko didn't even have time to process the situation, but some crazy idea popped into her brain and told her to "follow the shadow"!
The brunette witch abandoned her hiding spot and quietly hurried to the New Moon Tower, little did she know that the roles were reversed and Elizabeth was staring at her.
"Foolish girl…"
Elizabeth snickered.
Akko did not think about what she would do if she caught the shadow or how to catch it actually, but she didn't have time, she was afraid that whatever the shadow thing was, she might never get a good chance to catch it like now.
As she entered the New Moon Tower, all that was there were broken stones and holes letting in the light from outside.
"Where did it go?"
Akko took out her wand and slowly walked around the area. She didn't want to make any noise to attract teachers or scare the shadow thing off, so she quietly searched the grounds. She turned every stone, inspected every dust, and lit up the dark corners of the floor, the silhouette of Elizabeth was nowhere to be found.
Akko growled in frustration.
"Did it go upstairs or downstairs? Dammit! If only I was quicker!"
"Wow…didn't think you would actually come."
Akko perked up in attention as she heard the voice of a girl through the walls. She readied her wand and stood in a battle stance.
"Who's there!?"
"Seriously, I didn't think you were this stupid," the voice laughed.
"Elizabeth, is that you? If it's you, show yourself! I know what you are! I saw you last night!"
"...You saw me? Now what exactly did you see, Atsuko Kagari?"
"I know what you are! I know you're a vampire! You killed that guy and ate his body!"
The voice of Elizabeth was silent for a moment before speaking again.
"...So you saw that much…that could be a problem…or maybe~…"
At that moment, similar to a blanket covering a person's point of view, darkness deeper than the night was cast over the entire tower. Akko couldn't see anything but herself thanks to the little light coming from the tip of her wand. The girl was starting to sweat.
"O-ok...stop playing around, Elizabeth...show yourself!"
Akko's voice was breaking from the fear she was feeling.
"Are you afraid…?"
"N-no!" Akko lied.
"You are afraid...that's kinda cute…you humans are so fragile..." the voice chuckled.
Akko could not take it anymore and started to act frantic.
"S-stop playing games and come out here Elizabeth!"
"You can't see me? I'm right behind you!"
Akko jumped and turned around as she heard the voice coming from her backside and her mouth hung open as before her. It was Elizabeth, but the side of her hair took the form of a bat wing and she smirked in Akko's direction with her eyes swirling like a black hole in space.
"W-what the heck is that on the side of your head!?" Akko shouted in surprise.
"Oh, nothing~! Just wanted to show off how cool my vampiric powers were~…"
"What are you doing in Luna Nova, Elizabeth!? And why did you kill that guy!?" Akko questioned, still holding up her wand.
"That guy? Oh! You mean that young exorcist I fought! I actually forgot about him after I chewed up the remainder of his flesh!"
"D-don't say stuff like that! Tell me why you did it!"
"Weren't you paying attention? He attacked me first and tried to kill me."
"B-but you already beat him! Y-you didn't have to kill him," Akko swallowed. "A-are you…are you some crazy vampire serial killer that's on the run?"
Elizabeth stared at Akko and then let out a loud laugh.
Akko yelled back, "T-this isn't funny!"
Elizabeth wiped a tear from her eye.
"It really is! I just love how naive you are~…"
"W-what is that supposed to mean!?"
"What I mean is…what makes you think I need to run~?
To Akko, it felt like they were leaving the Earth itself and entering another planet. All of a sudden the destroyed insides of the tower were gone and Akko was outside staring up at the beautiful night sky and the moon that looked as red as blood. She looked down and also realized she was standing water that was coated with a raspberry red. She bent down and put her whole hand in the water to realize it so no puddle seemed deep. There were also dead trees with leaves that have since lost their color growing out from the blood ocean creating a creepy but beautiful scenery.
"Below the sea is the void. Be careful or the shadows will take you," stated Elizabeth.
"W-what kind of magic is this?" Akko asked in awe.
Elizabeth cackled at Akko's amazed face.
"It's an illusion that I created from my shadow…that is my special magic. Of course, this is only a taste of my true power."
"You're so young and you can already do stuff like this?"
"Well, the truth is I'm much older than I look."
"Huh?"
"And I mean…much older…"
Elizabeth held up her wand and took a battle stance Akko responded appropriately, taking a stance of her own as well. At first, nothing had happened as the two stood in their positions and stared each other down. Even though Akko looked like she was ready for a fight she was honestly scared of how much power Elizabeth and she was just staring at the brunette witch with her usual calm smile. Time continued to pass and no one did anything. The red sea's waves became restless and as they smacked into the autumn trees making them drop their leaves. Once all the leaves on all the trees were knocked Akko launched her first attack.
"Murowa!"
A green energy ball was fired at Elizabeth but the purple-haired vampire easily swiped it away with her wand as if it was nothing. But Akko was not down yet as she sent a barrage of energy blasts like bullets from a gun. Elizabeth still did not even flinch as she deflected them all and now finally it was her turn.
"Spiritus Dei!"
Before Akko knew it all the air was knocked out of her as she was flung back many yards away from her original position. She fell face-first into the water but somehow did not sink. She got up slowly while holding onto her chest which felt like she was punched by a giant troll.
"Oh come on Akko!" Elizabeth shouted with a snarky smile. "I know you can do better than tha—"
"Murowa!"
Elizabeth did not get time to defend herself as Akko launched her counterattack. She got blasted in the face and was knocked several feet away. The vampire girl fell right on her back and got herself wet.
"How do you like that!?" Akko taunted.
"Hope you liked that free shot!" Elizabeth grunted as she got up, "You won't be able to hit me like that again..."
"We'll see about that! Kertina Feriare!" Akko shouted as the fireball was released from her wand.
"Inrita!" but Elizabeth yelled out her spell and the fireball burned out before it could even reach her.
"Alright— then try THIS!"
Using all the strength in her legs Akko jumped high in the sky holding her wand up in the air. And as she was descending back down Akko roared.
"KERTINA KAREGRANA!"
Like a nuke, the moment Akko crashed down a whole barrage of fiery balls that were bigger than the previous one was heading towards Elizabeth. Even though it looked dangerous Elizabeth did not move from her spot and smiled as she saw the attack heading her way.
"I see...I didn't give you enough credit. But even so…"
Elizabeth held up her wand, "Absoluta Inrita!"
With that, the fiery balls disappeared in an instant, but Akko was expecting that.
"I gotcha! Exarmaueris!"
Because Elizabeth's wand was out in the open it was easy for Akko to hit it with a disarming spell. Elizabeth's wand flew out of her hands and into the air the red-haired girl tried to move fast but Akko was already a few steps ahead.
"Got it!" Akko fired a magic blast at the flying wand. Once the blast hit the wand it broke in half and its pieces fell into the red waters.
"Yes, I did it! It's over Elizabeth!" said Akko as she pointed her wand back to the now defenseless vampire. "Now tell me what you're doing here!"
Elizabeth stared at Akko with an emotionless glance that made the Japanese girl feel uncomfortable. Before Akko could yell again out of nowhere Elizabeth started laughing as if she just heard the best joke.
"W-what's so funny…?" asked Akko.
"Do you think I need my wand?" as Elizabeth said those words her voice sounded a lot deeper and more menacing. Akko was taken aback by that but quickly regained her composure.
"What are talking about you idiot!? Without your wand, it's impossible to use spells—"
"Yes...for a human…"
"…Oh."
"Have you forgotten what I already told you Akko…"
Then all of sudden a steam of darkness was coming out of Elizabeth's body— engulfing her. The last thing Akko saw was Elizabeth's glowing purple eyes shining through the thick blackness of the smoke. The young witch did not know what to do as she stared at the cocoon of darkness. Seconds felt like minutes and minutes felt like hours as Akko waited for what kind of monster was going to emerge.
Finally...the darkness subsided…
Akko thought at first that Elizabeth disappeared and was replaced by the incarnation of evil that was standing before her. She was a few inches taller than before her and her skin was chalk white until you reached the arms that were covered in black fur and her fingernails were long and white. Each side of her head had two bat wings that flapped endlessly and she wore a long cloak, entirely black and outstretching forever like the night sky that shared no stars.
"...I am much older than you…"
Staring at this majestic but fearsome vampire that was Elizabeth Lucifer filled Akko with a great dread that she had never felt before. She began quivering like if she was out in the middle of a massive snowstorm and she desperately held on to her wand as if she was hoping for it to save her.
"W-wh...what are yo-"
All of a sudden the New Elizabeth disappeared from the place where she stood. Akko did not even see her move, only the sound of the crackling winds and the waters splashing against the trees was noticed by the young witch. Before Akko could even react she was slammed in the back by something heavy. The brunette witch flew forward, flipping in the air and skipping across the waters. When Akko woke up, she saw Elizabeth standing with her palm out. It was a quick attack and there was no way any normal human could have followed.
Elizabeth then teleported in front of Akko and gave her an upward kick to the chin. Akko was launched into the gorgeous night sky like a rocket, the cold winds pressing against her face as she flew. Then Elizabeth appeared in front of her again and delivered a strong punch to Akko's chest.
In an instant, Akko was sent straight down into the red sea and a heavy splash echoed throughout the area as she did. For a few seconds, Akko was unconscious from the brutal last attack from Elizabeth but quickly got a hold herself and swam up so she would not drown. As she got back to the surface she gasped for air and began coughing out whatever remaining water was in her lungs.
"Holy crap!" Akko screamed in her head, "She's faster than the speed of sound! I couldn't even—"
"Akko~?"
Akko looked up in the sky to see Elizabeth floating above her. Her darkness clung to the sky like the web of a spider and she stared at Akko with a smug expression.
"Finished with your bath?"
The brunette witch snarled in response and got back on her two feet. She pointed her wand at Elizabeth and concentrated all of her magical energy into this one attack.
"Please work...Trabem!"
Harnessing all her power, Akko fired a red beam of energy right at the vampire girl which actually hit causing an explosion right on impact. Akko was about to jump for joy but her victory was short-lived.
"Wow…"
As the smoke parted, Elizabeth was still there in the same position, casually wiping off some dust on her chest.
"...that attack was so pathetic. But then again, what else can expect from a human~?"
"W-what is that suppose to mean!?" Akko yelled.
Elizabeth sighed and shook her head like a disappointed mother.
"Us vampires are beings who are greatly connected to the planet. The power of mana flows perfectly inside of us like a stream. In the meantime, you humans still have to depend on the Roots of Yggdrasil..."
Elizabeth raised her left hand and began conjuring small colorful stars that sparkled like tiny fireworks around her fingers.
"Vampires do not need to depend on such things~...we can wield magic freely. Even if all the magic in the world disappeared, we will still remain~..."
Once she was done talking Elizabeth lifted her right arm and a portal that led to nothing but darkness opened up. Coming out of it was a black and red spear of immense size with the blade being a half-circle.
"I call upon the Spear of the gods–Gungnir!"
Elizabeth cried in a mighty voice that made the seas restless. And once she did, a powerful golden beam was fired from it and landed right next to Akko making a water geyser and making her fly back.
"OH GOD— WHY!?" Akko yelled as she was now running away from the multiple golden beams that were being fired at her.
"You won't escape!"
Akko tried to make a break for it but a golden beam exploded in front of her knocking her off her feet. She got up and turned around to see another beam heading directly at her and she had no time to run. Using quick thinking Akko held her wand and chanted, "Praesidio Cingunt!" and a purple dome surrounded her before the beam made an impact.
Even though the dome did its job the power from the blast still flung Akko back and the spell wore off the minute she hit the ground. The beams had stopped coming and Akko used this time to catch her breath and she looked up at the moon. She got on her knees and looked at herself in the reflection of the water; she was a mess. Her nose was bleeding, her uniform was ripped and burnt, and her hair tie was undone, letting all of her hair loose.
"Out of gas, Akko~?"
Elizabeth drifted down towards Akko who was now standing before her with her spear hovering by her side. Akko got up and stared at the vampire girl with fear mixed with exhaustion.
"What...do you want from me…?"
Elizabeth seemed to be taken aback by Akko's desperate question. She stopped and stared at the brunette witch with a blank expression. The vampire girl opened her mouth to try and speak but then quickly closed it, glancing away and thinking about her next words. A second later, Elizabeth turned back to Akko with a seductive smile and leaned in closer to her. Their faces were extremely close and Elizabeth's breath tickled Akko's nose.
"What I want, Atsuko Kagari…is you~..."
"Huh?"
Elizabeth then grabbed Akko by her shirt and picked her up. She then inched closer to Akko and licked the blood that trickled from nose.
"Ew!" Akko screamed. "W-what the hell are you doing!?"
The vampire girl ignored the young witch as she happily swallowed the little blood she consumed. Instantly, her eyes widened and she gasped aloud. Elizabeth started screaming like a mad woman and dropped Akko.
"W-what's wrong with you…?"
"T-that was…that was…"
Elizabeth's eyes then lit up like stares and she stared at Akko with a drooling mouth.
"Delicious~!"
"...Wha…?"
"I never tasted blood so sweet before!" Elizabeth stated while dancing. "No way! I have to have more!"
The strange and somewhat hilarious vibe was instantly killed when Akko saw the face of Elizabeth morph into that of a monster of nightmares. The vampire girl's wide grin revealed her sharp fangs and her eyes seemed to be swirling endlessly.
"Give…me…MORE!"
Akko tried to run but Elizabeth grabbed a hold of her before she could even take her first step. She squeezed Akko in a tight hug and put her nose to Akko's neck, sniffing it like an energetic dog. The brunette witch was frightened, her heart quickened in pace as the image of what happened to the exorcist named Timothy flooded into her mind.
"I-I'm going to end up like him…s-she's going to drain me…!"
With the fear of death looming over her, Akko screamed as she hit and tried to escape from Elizabeth's grasp. But her attempts ended in failure as each hit did absolutely nothing to the vampire girl.
"Time to eat~..."
"S-STOP! E-ELIZABETH ST—"
But Akko's words were cut short as Elizabeth dug her fangs into the witch's neck. Akko screamed from the pain of the bite, it felt like multiple needles digging into her skin at the same time. And the moment the teeth of the vampire were deep with the flesh of the girl she began to suck out her blood, moaning in absolute bliss as she consumed it.
The sensation of the blood-sucking did not hurt as much as the bite did. Akko instead felt calm and warm. As her blood was drained her anxiety disappeared and a sense of tiredness fell over her.
"E-Elizabeth…"
Akko tried to speak but her voice died out as she closed her eyes and went to sleep. The last image that appeared in her thoughts was the form of Elizabeth standing over her with a bloody mouth. The last memory that appeared was Akko, Lotte, and Sucy at the Samhain Magic Festival.
And the young witch's last words…
"P-please…"
And then…her heart stopped…
"...Akko?...Akko~?...Oh shit. Argh! I lost control I wasn't supposed to do that! The old man is gonna be pissed!...wait, maybe I can…it's a gamble…Akko, hey! I'm sorry but this is gonna hurt…a LOT!"
"Well, that was a bust."
The Red Team and Green Team returned from Blytonbury with a few shopping bags in hand. Although they all seemed down and disappointed.
"Those potions were nothing special and they didn't have the mushrooms I wanted," Sucy whined.
"The Nightfall books were all sold out...I was too slow…" Lotte said as she was on her knees ready to cry. Constanze patted her shoulder to console her.
"The Shooting Star prototype looked bad too! It looked broken and unsafe to ride!" yelled Amanda. "Seriously! They tried to pawn off some trash to us!"
"Like you had the money to afford it anyway," Constanze's Stan-bot replied.
"Conse I swear to god I will tear that little machine of yours to pieces!"
"Just forget about it guys," said Jasminka. "Let's go get some sweets! I heard they were serving pudding in the cafeteria~!
"Ew! Their pudding tastes like cardboard," replied Amanda.
"Doesn't taste bad to me."
"Cause you'll eat anything if it's sweets Jasminka."
"Oh! You girls are here!"
The two teams looked up to see Professor Ursula who looked like she just came back from running a marathon.
"Good afternoon Professor Ursula!" Lotte said, "Are you ok? You look exhausted."
"Have you girls seen Akko?" Ursula asked out of the blue.
The girls looked at each other and then Sucy answered, "Uh no, we just got back."
"Where is she!?"
"What happened? Akko's dodging her chores?" Constanze's Stan-bot asked.
"Either that or she forgot what time she is supposed to be cleaning the troll bathes. Well, she better hurry because Finnelan is already throwing a fit—"
Before Ursula could finish what she was about to say, she was thrown off her feet by the sound of an explosion coming from far away.
"What the heck was that!?" shouted Amanda as she dropped her shopping bag and ran to where the sound came from.
The other girls helped Professor Ursula to her feet before they followed their American friend as she was heading to the New Moon Tower where the sound of the explosion came from. Amanda went to the entrance and all she saw was smoke and darkness.
"What happened?"
"Amanda stay back!"
Professor Ursula came up from behind her and took out her wand.
"You girls go back to the academy! Let me see what's going on!"
"What? Oh, come on! I wanna see what's happening to–"
"H...help me…"
Everyone stopped their bickering as they heard a familiar voice within the tower.
"A-Akko?" Jasminka said with a worried expression.
"H-help…"
"AKKO!"
Professor Ursula was the first to run inside as she used her wand's magic to blow the smoke away to see. Once all the smoke was gone Ursula was able to observe the scene before her and what she saw left her in shock.
Akko Kagari was on the ground, her clothes were torn and bloody and she looked lifeless as her eyes were blankly staring at the ceiling. Coming from the right side of her neck was blood that was quickly out like a faucet. The only way Ursula could tell she was still alive was by repeating her quiet and eerie call for help.
"H-help me...Help m-me…"
Professor Ursula ran to the injured brunette and knelt by her side holding her up.
"Akko, Akko! What happened to you!?"
"Help me..."
Ursula placed her wand on the bite mark on Akko's neck and used a spell to stop the bleeding. The moment that was done, light returned to Akko's dull eyes, she opened her mouth and a piercing sound escaped from her vocals.
"AAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The blue-haired professor could not tell if it was a scream of pain or rage, but she had to cover her ears to make sure she didn't go deaf.
Once she stopped screaming Akko sat herself up, covering the bite mark on her neck while seething.
"Where is she!?"
"W-where is who?"
"Elizabeth! Where is she!?"
"Akko, I don't know who that you're—"
"She attacked me!" Akko roared, "She tried to kill me! No…I think she DID kill me!"
Professor Ursula was not understanding what Akko was saying. She put her hands on the girl's shoulders as she tried to calm her down.
"Akko, you're not making any sense! What did Elizabeth do to you?"
Akko turned to Ursula, her eyes looking extremely deranged.
"She's a vampire!"
"...What?"
"Elizabeth is a vampire, Ursula-Sensei! She bite me and tried to suck out all my blood and…"
Ursula stared at Akko with confusion.
"Akko…vampires don't exist."
"...WHAT!?"
Akko howled loudly that the walls of the New Moon Tower shook.
"What are you talking about!? What do you mean vampires don't exist!?"
"Well, they no longer exist," Ursula explained. "The race of the vampires was weeded out many years ago near the end of the Golden Age of Magic. Not to mention they are creatures of the night. Vampires can't walk around when the sun is up or else they will turn to dust and…if Elizabeth was truly a vampire there is no way she would be out and about like she is now."
"B-but she is a vampire! She tried to drink my blood— I know it!"
"Akko," Ursula inched closer to the brunette witch. "I think you were just attacked by a stray monster from the dungeon. Please relax and let me take you to the infirmary—"
"Argh— you're useless! Get off of me!"
"No! Akko you're injured! Stay still and let me-"
"GET OFF OF ME!"
Akko then used her left arm to forcefully push Professor Ursula back, knocking her to the ground. The girl then quickly got up and started running to the entrance passing her scared and worried-stricken friends.
She ran to the castle and opened the doors with a kick, she ran down the hallway at such great speed that even a car would have trouble keeping up with her. Akko opened the doors to the cafeteria with a loud bang and gained the attention of the entire academy. Everyone gasped as they saw Akko looking like a bloodied serial killer.
"WHERE IS LUCIFER!? WHERE IS ELIZABETH!?"
Akko yelled aloud so that the whole cafeteria could hear.
The brunette witch looked around and saw the table of the Blue Team. Diana and Elizabeth looked at Akko in bewilderment and shock while Hannah and Barabara just looked purely afraid and were holding each other.
The injured young witch walked over to the table and got up to Elizabeth's face.
"What did you do to me!?"
"W-w-what…?"
"DON'T PLAY DUMB, LUCIFER! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!?"
"Akko, what are you talking about? I didn't do anything to you."
"DON'T YOU DARE LIE TO ME! I KILLED ME! MY HEART STOPPED BEATING! BUT NOW I FEEL STRANGE!"
Akko grabbed Elizabeth by the collar of her shirt, bringing her so close that their noses were touching. Hannah and Barbara mustered up the courage and yelled back at the fuming Akko.
"Hey! Let our teammate go Kagari!" yelled Hannah.
"Yeah! Who the hell do you think you are!?" screamed Barbara.
"SHUT THE HELL UP!" Akko roared at the two, her eyes glowing redder by the minute. With that yell, Hannah and Barbara's courage was destroyed and the two returned to holding each other.
Akko turned back to Elizabeth, holding up her injured hand and balling it into a fist.
"YOU THINK YOU'LL GET AWAY WITH THIS!? I WILL TEAR YOUR UNDEAD ASS APART!"
As Akko was about to bring that fist directly to Elizabeth's face, someone yelled out a spell.
"MUROWA!"
It was Diana who quickly took out her wand and launched the spell at Akko. The young witch was blown back doing three somersaults in the air until she finally landed on her face in the middle of the cafeteria. Running into the cafeteria were Professor Ursula, the Red and Green Team, and Professor Finnelan along with other professors.
Diana went over to Elizabeth who was on the ground breathing heavily.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah…"
"I was not ready for today," said Amanda as she stared at the scene before her in disbelief.
It was a struggle for Akko to open her eyes. They felt like heavy rocks that only a giant could lift. Luckily Akko was able to do it and she sighed as she saw the sight before her.
She was in the infirmary once again.
"How many times am I going to keep coming here?"
"That's what I should be saying!"
Akko turned to her side to see Professor Lukić with a tray of medicines.
"I am really sick of seeing you here! Can you get through the week without destroying things and causing a scene!?"
Akko's cheeks tinted pink in embarrassment.
"S-sorry…"
As Akko was taking the bitter and sour-tasting medicine from Professor Lukić, outside the door to the infirmary was Professor Ursula and Finnelan. Ursula's face was filled with worry and anxiety while Finnelan was holding the bridge of her nose trying to not show how stressed she was at this moment.
"Miss Callistis...can you please explain to me what happened to Miss Kagari?" Professor Finnelan asked, but she was definitely at the end of her patience.
Professor Ursula turned to the old professor and responded, "I'm not sure. She was injured when we found her and she was saying that Elizabeth Lucifer tried to kill and…"
"And what?"
"...And that she was a vampire."
Professor Finnelan rolled her eyes.
"I'm not even going to comment on that vampire nonsense but I do have an answer for her claim that Miss Lucifer attacked her. It's done right impossible. I already questioned the entire Blue Team they said they were together for the majority of the day. There is no way, Miss Kagari was fighting Miss Lucifer, she must have been attacked by a monster or…perhaps this is self-inflicted?"
Professor Ursula turned to Finnelan with a disgusted look.
"What makes you think Akko would want to do this to herself!?"
"It's not very farfetched if you use your brain. Miss Lucifer was the one who ratted her out to you that she released the dragon and gave it energy, maybe this little stunt was payback."
"B-but—"
"I really feel bad for you Professor Ursula. You have put so much faith into that girl, but she is nothing but a troublemaker. I think it would be better for all of us if she was gone."
Professor Finnelan said her final statement and walked away leaving the young professor alone in her thoughts. She has known Akko for a good amount of time and knows she could be a challenge, but now she is afraid she knows nothing at all.
Before Ursula could leave she turned to the door and Akko was the only person in her thoughts.
"Akko is not that type of person! The Claimoh Solias did NOT make a mistake choosing her! But…"
The blue-haired professor looked at her own hands and sighed.
"It did make the mistake of choosing me… who is to say that it made another? Was Akko the right choice? Is the Shiny Rod safe in her hands?"
Back in the infirmary, Akko was all alone laying back on the comfortable bed and drinking a bottle of medicine that tasted like fungus.
"You really did it now Kagari," Akko said to herself, "Nobody is going to take your side after what happened. When did everything go so wrong?"
"You know...I kinda feel bad for you."
Akko perked up in attention as she heard a voice coming from the dark corner of the room. Revealing themself was Elizabeth Lucifer with her arms folded and her evil smile making Akko's blood boil.
"How did you get here!?"
"I don't really need to use doors. Anyway, I have to say you actually scared me back there," Elizabeth said as she chuckled, "But that little episode of yours worked in my favor sadly, now everyone thinks you're insane."
Akko wanted to get up from the bed and beat the crap out of Elizabeth, but the pain in her side made her grimace in pain so she was forced to lay back down.
"Yeah, Diana hit you pretty hard! You're going to be feeling that for a few days, I believe."
"Why?"
Elizabeth tilted her head.
"Why what?"
"Why did you bring me back to life? You beat me and I was dead and buried. Why did you save me?"
Elizabeth did not say anything at first; she just stared into Akko's red eyes with a look of...pity? Akko really could not tell. But then the vampire girl walked over to Akko's bedside and sat where her feet lay.
"The only reason I saved you…is because my mission isn't to flat out just kill you."
"Then what is your mission!?"
Elizabeth turned to Akko and pointed at her.
"...The Shiny Rod."
"W-what do you—"
"Come to the botanical garden tomorrow night and bring the Shiny Rod, you're gonna need it,"
Elizabeth sat up and walked away from the bewildered Akko's bedside.
"W-why!? What are you planning to do!?"
Elizabeth turned around to Akko again she smiled with her fangs showing.
"Let's finish this…between you and me~..."
"What?"
Elizabeth then faded into the darkness and left Akko alone in the room feeling even more confused and afraid than she was before.
Author's Note:
Elizabeth is very sadistic and is kind of flirtatious which has kind of been a constant theme in vampire media. Because they are described to be perfect and physical representations of immortality and perfection.
Please check out my own original web novel, "The Branded Hero Volume 1: Baxter the Failure". The tale of a hero who has been outcasted by the world since releasing The Demon King: /series/The-Branded-Hero-Volume-1-Baxter-the-Failure/info
And please check out my webcomic, "The Curse of Gringerfield" on Webtoon and Tapas!
Webtoon: https/en/canvas/the-curse-of-gringerfield/list?title_no=970667
Tapas: /series/The-Curse-of-Gringerfield/info
Next Chapter: Akko vs. Elizabeth
