Roanapur Nights
A Rosario+Vampire and Black Lagoon Crossover
Chapter 18
Rock felt the darkness around him. It was something that Cassandra had taught both him and Roxanne. He'd become accustomed to using the dark to move. Moving through shadows, moving through dark filled halls, and doing so easily. The limitations seemed to be how the dark was connected. If a shadow were to stretch and touch an open manhole he could travel through the darkness of the sewer if he wanted and pop up somewhere else.
For now he watched the events that were unfolding. Mr. Chang had run from the Maoi Family compound and attempted to find help with another group. The other group had offered to supply him with an assassin as a personal bodyguard. Why he had turned to the Sicilians he would never know. They didn't specifically like him, and they weren't an all powerful organization in Roanapur. But he supposed the reason was that he needed someone that owed him enough favors that cashing them would be his ticket out.
Their assassin had been a former CIA operative. There were stories told about Silent Penance. They were stories that even Revy had told him. An assassin that moved silently through the night. Someone that most people wouldn't even know was there. And to Rock's surprise someone that was a man made monster. He saw her, just for a moment. Her arm seemed to be grafted onto something mechanical, and he could see one of her eyes glowing a soft red while she spoke. She easily stood just over six feet tall. Compared to the Flesh golems they had faced when first transporting the Huang Family she was closer to normal, but it didn't detract from the fact that she was intimidating in her own right. She was every bit a monster as the real monsters that existed.
She was something from the old science fiction stories, a hold over from where horror and science fiction tried to morph into the same being. She was something he wasn't sure about. A being of meat and machine. He could see the way she surveyed the room that she was actively looking for any kind of movement. He'd used the shadows to get here, and he would use them to escape.
Chang had gotten himself a cyborg to help him. Humanity was full of monsters, and this one had finally taken the steps to make the outside match the inside.
"Mr. Chang," her voice said, the mechanical sound reverberating as she spoke, "I have been given a mission specifically to protect you. As such, we are going to stick to a very strict schedule. Deviating from it at all will ensure that I will not be able to complete the job assigned to me. I have never completed any job I've been given, and if I am unable to complete this one then hopefully those tasked with taking your life will have done so."
Rock almost felt bad for Chang. The man was in enough trouble that it was obvious that he couldn't merely disappear. He remained hidden enough to not be noticed, but at the same time he wondered if she could still sense him. He had to remember that she was obviously part machine. He didn't know how far that extended, but the red light from her eyes certainly pointed to the fact that there was more to her eyes than simply appeared.
"Is there anyone else here?"
The voice wasn't the normal bravado that sounded through Chang's voice. It wasn't the arrogance that he normally carried. It was the sound of a man that was running, scared, and uncertain of where to turn.
"I didn't scan anyone earlier, but give me a moment," she said as her eyes glowed. He remained in the shadow, still intangible, but he questioned if that was enough. Her eyes passed by him, and he began to breathe a breath of relief before her eyes stopped. She moved them back toward where he was. He watched as the red light in her eyes amplified. They became brighter for a moment. He watched as she studied the place where he was.
It felt like there was something trying to touch him. It was almost as if the light from her eyes was a tangible thing, and it was reaching through the darkness. Still, he had an idea of what was going on. He understood that the former CIA operative known as Silent Penance almost seemed like she could sense him. He began to back away when he saw her lifting her arm. A long black pistol was held in her cybernetic hand.
The gun itself was a holdover, something that still existed in the world today, but it wasn't the gun of choice by most that used them to work. A revolver was seldom the weapon of choice by those working in Roanapur. The only ones that tended to carry them were either Americans that believed themselves to be the new version of Dirty Harry, or it was those who held the belief that a gun that didn't have the chance of jamming was the best gun.
Revy was different in that she believed in having backups, and of course in having more than one type to carry on her at any given time. He began to try to leave when he felt the flash. Light, was forming, and he felt the darkness of the shadow pulling away. He didn't have a choice. He pulled back pulling into the darkness, pulling out of the room, and back into the darkness of the shadow under the door. He appeared in the darken hallway and heard the sound of her voice.
"Hmm, something doesn't add up. It reminds of the situation we had in Los Angeles," she said from the otherside of the door. He heard her crystal clear, and he felt the burn on his cheek. She'd burned him with the light that was forming. It was already healing, but still, that bothered him. He began to feel the darkness around him, sunk into it, and traveled to the basement. From there he moved to the sewer, and through the sewer he traveled until he was outside of the Huang Family Corner.
"Mr. Okajima?" a voice asked, "Are you alright sir?"
He looked toward the voice, thankful to see a friendly face. She moved toward him, and he nodded. He didn't realize just how badly the light had affected him. He felt the burn, and it hurt, but he didn't know the extent of it. It wasn't until he saw the reflection in the front glass doors that he realized.
The right side of his face looked as if it had been set on fire. He didn't reach up to touch it, but still, the evidence of the burn was there. Within moments he heard the sound of someone else approaching. He looked to see Cassandra. She studied him, her eyes becoming hard, "What happened?"
He looked at her and then nodded, "I tracked down Chang," he said as he looked at her, "He has someone working for him, a new bodyguard, and she's very good at what she does. I'll explain everything when we get to the apartment."
"Do not go brother," she said simply. He looked at her and she shook her head, "You do not understand, not yet, but your body is hiding the full extent of the damage from you. Right now you are preparing to hunt. Your body needs blood, fresh blood, and quite a bit of it. It needs it in order to heal. Do you not see how you are affecting those around you?"
He looked at the girl that met him. Her eyes were getting drowsy. She was exposing her neck, pulling her shirt open, allowing him to see the plethora of skin available. She was offering herself to him. Part of him demanded that he rip the shirt from her. That he throw her against the building and feed. He pushed that part back, and when he did he felt the first stirrings of the pain he must be in. He growled in anguish as he fought for control, "Come with me brother," she said as she touched him, leave her, and come with me."
He followed her, unsure of where they were going, unsure of why they were going, but following her because it was the only thing that made sense. He followed her because he was afraid of what would happen to Revy if he went to their apartment. The night surrounded them, and he found himself looking down a darken alley. The smell of blood was thick in the air. He felt himself salivating as he looked toward its source.
He moved, his instincts driving him, but Cassandra held him back, "Brother, wait," she said as she looked at the same alleyway, "Listen to the world around you. Listen to what is happening."
He did as she said, and he began to hear it. In the night there were sounds around them that he normally wouldn't have noticed. The heavy breathing of someone that was running, the sounds of echoing footsteps, and the uneven gaunt of them. It was obvious that prey was being pursued, but he wasn't sure who or what was doing the chasing. He wasn't sure until he smelled it. The scent was something that made his nostrils burn. It was a stench that belonged to the lowest levels of hell itself.
He wanted to claw his nose, but it was Casandra that stopped him, "Do you not smell him?" she asked as she looked at the darken alley, "It's an Orc, one that is hunting a lone female. This city is meant for us, all of us, but I know your tendencies my brother. I know that you prefer to save those who cannot save themselves. This is a chance to do so. We can stop the orc, save the escaping female, and you can feed."
Rock felt the thirst trying to overtake him. He felt it boiling up inside of him. It was desperate in how it wanted to escape. It was like there was a vicious creature inside of him. One that was attempting to claw its way through his throat and out of his mouth. The creature had one need, one desire, and it was desperate. He felt himself starting to let go. The need was slowly clouding his mind, but once again Casandra stopped him, "Wait brother," she commanded, "At this rate you will attack them both. Clear your mind, focus only on the orc, now, go forward and take your meal."
With that he took off. The darkness of the shadows aided him, and he felt himself blending into the background. It was perfect. He felt himself completely becoming one with the dark and he let himself go. He moved through the blessed dark until he came upon the Orc. At this point it had caught the girl. She was whimpering, crying, and he could see that she was not a native to Roanapur. No, her long red hair was the beginning, but her skin tone and features spoke of someone from North America.
The Orc had already ripped her clothes, she was lying on the ground babbling, crying, pleading, and none of the mattered. Rock didn't take a second longer before he attacked the Orc. The larger creature managed to get out an impressive sounding growl before he clamped his mouth down on its neck. At that point it went from growling to squealing in agony. He didn't rip its throat out. Some part of him refusing to simply kill it. It was the part of him that wanted to change Roanapur. The human part of him that refused to let go. That was something that he knew when he learned that there were real monsters.
Sure, vampires, werewolves, and every other kind of monster existed, but humans were a monster of their own. They were the kind of monsters that were every bit as dangerous as vampires. They killed indiscriminately, and that vicious nature was unleashed in Roanapur. It was his desire to ensure that it didn't spread. He wanted to see this city become something better, and he couldn't do that if he completely let go of all of his restraints. So, instead he simply fed from the orc. He held it in place, hearing its squealing slowly getting to the point it was muffled whimpering. He looked up at the girl, and could see her confused and frightened face.
He knew that she should run. She was safe, but for some reason she was remaining there. She seemed to be entranced, as if there were some part of her that was unable to move of her own free will. Slowly it occurred to him what had happened. He was feeding, and he was making her stay. He was keeping her in place. She would be the next item on his meal, and he couldn't have that.
He wanted to ensure that she would be safe. He wanted to beat the odds, he was the gambler for a reason. He pulled from the neck of the orc, and he could hear its light breathing. As it was, the orc would soon either perish, or he would need to leave it where it lay. He looked at the woman, "You need to leave," he said, his lips stained red from the blood, "You need to get away."
His words caused her to spur into action. She stood up, putting her arm across her nude breasts and she ran away. Likely they wouldn't see one another again. With any luck she would be able to escape the city. She could potentially return to whatever life she had in the states. She would be free of the nightmare that almost happened to her. It was a small hope, and one that he knew likely wouldn't happen. Good fortune for those ripe to be attacked didn't really happen in Roanapur.
Once she was gone he looked again at the orc. The other monster was still breathing, and perhaps that was more than he deserved. Yet, he still couldn't force himself to take its life. Maybe that was wrong. Maybe he needed to ensure that this orc would no longer be able to hurt another person. That seemed to be the most logical course of action. And yet he didn't want to do it. He wanted to keep from going that extra step.
He simply understood. He understood what would happen if he did take it. The moment that he crossed that line the city would have won. He would end up losing everything, and he didn't want that. He wanted to live the kind of life that he could be proud of. The kind of life that was meant for those that wanted to see the world set right. Yes, ultimately he was a dreamer. His dreams of making Roanapur into a better place were just that, but unlike before he had something he didn't have. He had time, and power.
The orc was barely whimpering, and if he took anymore it would perish. Again, the thought crossed his mind that such a beast might not deserve the gift he was willing to give. Did it truly deserve the life he was willing to give it? Personally, he doubted it. The orc was like so many that fed off of the weak. In its case that was the actual truth. It fed off of the weak, and it did so happily. Still, he wouldn't cross that line. It was too much, too far, and he could not allow himself to become the kind of monster that roamed Roanapur in its current state.
"You won't finish him?" Cassandra asked as she looked at him, "Not that I mind, but is there a reason?"
He nodded after a moment, "There is," he said as he looked at the frightened orc, "One, by sparing him I'm sure he understands that he will owe me. And two, I won't let Roanapur turn me into the kind of creature that kills without thought. I am not saying that I won't kill, but that I won't do it without there being a well thought out reason behind it. Killing him would be simply doing it because it was a spur of the moment."
The orc tried to move, but he held him in place, "I didn't say that I letting you go."
The Orc froze for a moment, "Please," he said, his voice weak and gravely, "Please, let me go. I swear, I will just leave. You won't see me anymore, I promise."
Cassandra reached over and grabbed a very tender part of the orc. He let out a wounded howl as she balled her hand into a fist. HIs eyes grew large as he watched her flex her wrist threatening to pull what she had grabbed away from him. He went very still, because the obvious threat was there. She would end him, and she would do it without hesitation if he didn't calm down. He settled and she nodded, "Good," she said as she looked at him, "My brother has stated a very valid fact. He is giving you your life. It is a gift, and as such you should be thankful. I'd say thankful enough to be willing to serve in any capacity for the rest of your natural life, right?"
The orc looked at her, then him, and finally closed his eyes, "Damn it," he replied, his voice sounded defeated, "It wasn't supposed to be like this. This city is perfect for us. No one asks a question. No one bothers us, and everyone is more than happy to turn their attention away from us. It's the kind of place that is perfect for any of our kind. We came here from the states, and now this happened."
He finally looked at them, "My name is Hampton," he said, his eyes looking directly at Rock, "You have my solemn vow that I will do what you ask for as long as you wish. Be it two days or the rest of my life. I do so in thanks for your sparing of my life."
"Now," Cassandra replied, her voice smooth and even, "Was that so hard?"
He didn't spare her a look. He already knew that of the two she was the more dangerous. Going against her would surely ensure his end. Nope, he had no desire to die because of being incredibly stupid. He was spared, and as such he would act accordingly. At least that was how Rock was reading the situation. He had to imagine that the orc was being so submissive because it was in the presence of monsters that were far stronger than it was. It was the one thing that truly explained how submissive and pleasant it was being. The orc simply wanted to continue to live. He couldn't blame it for that, but he was going to make sure that it understood its place. Maybe this was the step int he direction he needed to take.
"So brother, what is your plans for your new servant?"
He studied the orc for a moment, "How many of you are here?"
The orc shuffled slightly before breathing out, "Six," he admitted, "There is six of us. We all came together. The rest of us are currently staying at some flophouse. It's not much, but we don't need much."
Rock nodded, "Good, then I'm going to give you a little job. I want you to tail someone. I'm going to describe him to you. Keep tabs on him, and let me know when he moves, what he's doing, and where he's going. Know that he has someone protecting him that is dangerous."
The orc nodded, "So, he's got one of us guarding him or something?"
Rock shook his head, "She's different. Someone combined her with a machine. It's difficult to tell where the machine ends and she begins. Just know that she's dangerous, and she is able to sense others presence fairly easily."
He looked at Rock for a moment, "Wait, we're tailing an actual cyborg?"
There was almost a hint of excitement in his voice, "Like a real science fiction cyborg?"
Rock looked at him for a moment, "Yes, and why are you excited?"
The orc laughed, "Oh, only because I've watched anime since I was a little orclet. I've always seen cyborgs in them, and I wondered if an orc could beat one. It'd be a fun tim."
He got up and let the orc slowly stand. It was obvious that he was still woozy from the blood loss, but it was also obvious that he wasn't in danger of dying. He was certain of that. He watched as the orc slowly stumbled his way toward where he was staying. He hadn't told him everything, but he knew that he didn't need to. Having fed on him he felt that he knew where he was going.
It was enough to know how to find him. Later on he would search for him, and he would find him. When he did he'd make sure that he was able to track down who he wanted to have tracked down. Having a little distance between himself and Chang wouldn't hurt.