At midnight, the Greater Japan Guild’s 747-400 lands at Woodstocks International airport. Queen Elizabeth is amazed by the skyline of the modern American style city. She then follows Detective Henry to the local police department. Visiting a car rental lot to get around the bustling metropolis faster. Inside the SUV the Detective rented, did they soon find themselves stuck in traffic near the Beachside as a horse was run over by a military truck, causing a massive pile up of its organs scattered about the intersection while the truck stopped hair thin before hitting a lightpost.
“By the Gods, what is this?”
“Welcome to our world. I can’t believe this. In another world but here I am stuck in traffic in an Explorer. Fucking hell.”
“Don’t tell me we’ll be waiting here?”
Soon, an armored quadrupedal robot appeared from the rooftops of one of the buildings. It had Orange tapes and Warning labels that it was a construction machine and to stay away. The once scary and armed robot was a harmless four legged machine with a crane and dozer addon.
“What is that? A creature with machine parts?”
“Oh that, that’s just the Mark Fours. It was once Boston Dynamics' best product to the United States Military and NATO. Due to the population crash, many militaries were left with skeleton crews. Geniuses thought war robots were the next step.”
“And I’m guessing something happened? For that looks very intimidating.”
“They’re meant for war. Not for hearts and minds. Hackers, they hacked into one of them and had an entire platoon wreck havoc in Nevada. Good thing I was living in Portland. Can’t imagine being in Vegas when a bunch of armored robots was walking around your town. Good thing their weapons had to be manually turned on, so no one was truly hurt.”
“Heavens, what were you humans thinking? Such a creation is a deviation of what it means to be a God. You can create such magnificent things, but why make them as war machines?”
“Look Elizabeth, I could go on and on about the state of my world but it will take days.”
“And what do you suggest we do?”
“Well, I’d like to go through the evidence I’ve gotten so far. I've been investigating my lead to Havannah for a while now, but I’ve gotten no solid leads at all to her whereabouts. Her taking Hellraiser might be the one that I need to finally justify actual police intervention as that means I have more probable cause, and a solid one that’s theft.”
He goes through his pockets, finding a notepad that was already thin. Swimming in his messy notes, the two’s attention was taken by a firework in the beach to their left. The bass boosted music soon invades the safety of the SUV's interior as a black tahoe behind them honks its horn.
“What are these annoying ear blistering sounds?! Gods, is this what they call noise pollution?”
“Oh, there’s a party of sorts on the beach and of course, the traffic’s noise mixed in. Yea, this is totally a normal day really. Get used to it, you’ll be seeing more of this.”
“With these temperatures? You Outworlders are surely different.”
“Ah no, those are vampire players just celebrating at the beach before snow finally envelops the entire thing.”
“And how are they allowed to make such noise? Aren’t the buildings to our right meant for housing?”
“They got a permit I’m pretty sure. I think they’re holding some contest for the prettiest or most handsome vampire and they’ll be given a rare wine.”
“Wine?”
Hearing the word, the Queen’s eyes lit up and the detective’s senses were suddenly heightened, feeling the excitement of the woman.
“Uhm… yea, but it’s better not to talk to them. They’re not vampires from this world, they’re from my world.”
“Nonetheless, what wine is this?”
Seeing the Queen’s laser-like attention to him, and her pointy ears not even moving an inch due to suspense made the man give up.
“It’s a special wine that can make even Vampires or Demons drunk.”
Right after his sentence, the SUVs passenger door closes. Shocking him at how fast Elizabeth was. He didn’t even detect her opening the door nor any movement in the air, even though he should’ve felt it due to the extreme close proximity of the two. Looking around, all he could see was the hourglass silhouette of the tall woman disappearing to the beach as the Sun slowly went down on the horizon.
On the beach, the Queen’s eyes were in a blaze. Seeing men and women of her kind in such skimpy outfits, though they were as tall or taller than her, none of them had the tact of a creature that had lived for centuries. They possessed the beauty and eternal youth of a Vampire, but none of them acted the way she knew. For the first time in a long while, she felt alienated to her own kind. Even far away, the players were already whispering amongst themselves of the woman far away.
“Hon, who could that be?”
“Oh wow, you see her dress? That can’t be a player, no one in our circle wears something like that and I don’t remember anyone in social media having a fit that fire and authentic.”
“But girl, you see her touting that look with that walk? She’s gonna bust the nuts of all the men here.”
“Uh huh, blonde check, big boobs, check, hips, check, and her personality? Probably broken.”
“Yo bro, hottie at one o clock.”
“Ah shit homie. She looks like an absolute banger. Might need a bed made out of adamantium if you wanna bang that for even a minute!”
”Goddam though, the longer I look at her, the more perfect she seems. Like, dayum son. She be looking fine as fuck.”
The Queen just sighs as she puts her right hand on her hip and the closer she gets into the beachside party, the more the dancing and drinking stopped as they turned to look at the extremely elegant woman. She stops right at the edge of the large group of vampires drinking away and some, playing beach volleyball.
“Ahem, I’ve come to relinquish from your lot that Wine that’s supposed to have the ability to make a Vampire drunk.”
“Yo girl, I’d suggest you get in line, Doesn’t mean you be a pretty like us that you can just just take it.”
The woman in a skimpy micro bikini who dared talk to her with such an impolite and nonchalant tone was met with a stare that could kill a Bull instantly. Without making a single sound, the Queen walked right up to her. Though she was taller, Elizabeth didn’t stop looking down at her even with the difference of height.
“Okay okay, let’s calm down here.”
A blonde man in a Hawaiin shirt and cargo pants comes blazing in, parting the two before a fight could break down.
“Let’s control ourselves alright? We already promised the Cops we won’t be breaking any public infrastructure or private buildings today. Now, Miss…?”
“Bartley, Elizabeth Bartley.”
“Uhm Bartley… dayum son. You be lookin’ hot. I mean, could you please not make a ruckus? We don’t want to be thrown out. The Anti Vampire Corps isn’t really the friendliest in deterring us from public gatherings.”
“Tsk, I’ve come to take that Special Wine. What does thou want?”
“Thou? You know, this is a competition. For you to win it-”
“I’ll enter it then.”
Inside the SUV, Detective Henry looks at the intersection and sees that the robot has cleaned up the mess and a small Wrecker came to take the damaged 6X6 army truck. But since its Operators were gone from the scene and the brakes on, they were forced to go underneath it to release the brakes.
“And here we have a native beauty of Schon! The first native Vampire to enter this competition! Her Highness Queen Elizabeth Bartley!”
Loud cheering could be heard from the beach as the detective exits the Explorer and goes to the Wrecker. The mindless skeletons were useless in the situation, not being briefed on how to remove the brakes of the army truck. Some other players exit their vehicles to help out with the situation, others already pulling out ropes and chains.
“Wow! Even though this is supposed to be a swimsuit competition, we’ve made an exception for the supposed Vampire Queen with her beautiful purple dress with lots of frills! With her two inch heels, white gloves, thigh high stockings, and a stare that can make even the Devil himself fall in love!”
“Supposed? Thou must not be weaving a badly condescending joke.”
“For she herself told us that it might be too much and some of us might commit suicide if we see her beauty in its naked form! Get a load of that!”
“Tsk, such ignorance. Fourth thou truly creatures that had lived enough to spout thy eternity from one's mortal soul?”
The Judges on the other hand were extremely impressed by her performance. From the walk, to the aura, the face and the hand. It was all perfect and she was given an extremely high score except in her talking, due to her condescending tone and usage of heavy old English. One of the Elven Judges whispers to his cohort. “NOW, that’s a real Vampire.”
Back at the intersection, two players, one from the city arrives, and another one from the military instructs the skeleton as the high ranking man looks for the drivers of the vehicle. Henry on the other hand starts to look around for clues to where the driver could’ve gone.
“And now! For the final part of the competition! We will be having a cheering test! Let’s see which of the contestants our eternal crowd loves! First off is the females!”
As the beautiful women, far taller and bustier than the Queen walked out in provocative swimsuits with her being the last, not once did she break her air of confidence and when the cheering turned to her there was silence.
Then clapping followed, with it, whistles and soon, everyone, even the Judges, was cheering for her.
“Well well well! Seems that our more conservative contestant seems to have gotten the attention of the crowd! Will you look at that!”
“Hmph of course.”
She crosses her hand and turns her head to the right with an absolute air of arrogance, perfect for her frilly purple gothic dress. Like a character straight out of a novel, the crowd goes bonkers for her. Soon, the Judges started giving their final words to the female contestants.
“Aaanndd… Miss Bartley, Contestant Number Ten…? Ahem. I’m Mister Jevoullie, also known in the Community as GothicShpinx, it seems that you didn’t specify your birth of place and age.”
“We’re all vampires, that means nothing to us.”
“Of course… This might be due to the differences of our cultures. So let me apologize firsthand if I offend you.”
“Stop with this nonsense and give thou’s decree.”
“Uhm, alright. First of all your aura and beauty, all outstanding. Long well kept and maintained sparkly Golden Blonde hair, and with a rare eye color of Emerald and what really made me and the Judges really think hard was how you managed to balance it all, nothing is exaggerated as much though other judges say your breast size might be a bit to big, but you took it out of the park.”
“Yes, as Mister Jevoullie said. I Miss Sam also would like to jump in and say some words.” the human woman shuffles through some papers and gets a pair of glasses. “The thing I noted was that if I were to abide by the Golden Ratio, I’d say your body portions would not only adhere to it, but would be the perfect image really. But our concerns stem mostly from your personality. It might be just our culture difference, but you must know that you aren’t invincible. You are formidable in your looks and power, that is a natural fact, but you carry too much of yourself.”
“Anything else glib? Or would you rather continue jesting my personality?”
“Uhm… nothing else. We’re all very impressed by your looks and how it all really seems natural and… we truly have no words for it.”
“I think the best we can say is that your the perfect conception of the objective form of beauty, though we hope your lying when you said that we’d commit suicide if we were to see your true beauty.”
The three judges laughed but Elizabeth wasn’t, her eyes staring directly at them with a blank expression. At the beach, the detective apprehended the driver and another soldier and moved the army truck. The Five ton gets back to its route to the port as the Queen arrives holding a large bottle of wine.
“What the… fuck?”
“Hold this. I shall be in the machine. Careful not to drop it, I plan on drinking that on a special occasion.”
She nonchalantly walks through moving traffic and to the Ford Explorer with its hazard lights on.
“Damn, your one lucky dude.”
“Not my girl sadly.”
Soon, the two arrive at the Police Headquarters full of uniformed officers even at night, Elizabeth is visibly taking notes of how the modern society is functioning. With her hands together, she and the Detective enter the boxy and square structured station with a lot of glass walls and wooden design to its exterior.
Her beauty takes everyone’s eyes from their work and just looks at her. Even the suspects that were being questioned and taken in the lobby, even the rowdy and drunk stopped and just stared at her. At the desk, Henry shows his badge. Indicating he belongs to the Greater Japan Guild’s Special Investigation Bureau.
“Good Evening, I’d like to talk to your Chief about recent Vampire attacks if possible.”
Looking around, he could see a couple waiting on a leather sofa on the edge. Looking like they’ve seen a ghost.
“Of course Detective, we weren’t expecting Intepol today. I’ll ring him up immediately. He should still be in the station doing late night paperwork.”
While he was busy there, without her masquerade mask. The Officers could clearly see the Queen's face. Her thin eyebrows, immaculate skincare and her red lipstick and eyeliner. A stare from her is enough to make anyone skip a beat. With her hands on her hips and proudly walking around the station’s lobby, curious about the Posters littered about the concrete pillars and boards.
The Detective just puts his fedora down. Covering his face as the woman on the reception desk gestures for him to go up. He was already walking to the hallway when he turns around and grabs the Queen who was busy enjoying everyone’s gaze at her.
“Can you wear that Vampire Hunter outfit you have instead? You really really are standing out.”
“Do you want to? You won’t be able to see the top of my breast and my bare beautiful shoulders.”
After a second of thinking he answers with a straight face. “As a Married man, I am not allowed to answer that question, but as a man. I hate it but I need to because you're standing out way too much.”
“Tsk. This is why I hate and love stand up men. I should have another dress in my luggage that’s more covered. I think it's knee high though.”
Arriving first in the office of the Police Chief, the young player was busy on the phone with his decorated police jacket on the rack next to him. The Detective opens the door and knocks on it while he is busy talking to someone. He just lifts his index finger, telling the man he will get to him shortly.
“Yea, and? Do you think I give enough shit for something like that? I am already down on Cops and I can’t respond to something as small as that. Call me again Governor if you actually have something more to give me than I hear fucking noises because this is the fourth time and no, I won’t be investigating that High School.”
He rudely smashes the phone down and looks up at the detective from his leather seat.
“The fuck you want? For a Jap, you sure look more like a Southern Redneck.”
“I am actually from Texas, but I love Japanese culture.”
“Oh great, a weeb. Look, we have no catgirls here. Go to the Red Light Districts, they even have wolf girls and succubuses there.”
“I apologize Police Chief Capriano. But I actually came here to ask about any recent Vampire attacks.”
“Huh?”
Elizabeth then arrives and seeing the Noblewoman, the Chief grabs his jacket and fixes his hat and wipes some bread crumbs from his shirt.
“Oh uhh… Hello Missus?”
“...Carmilla. I am a Noble from the Kingdom of Rose. I’d like to know any information you have regarding my kin.”
“Funny thing is… last… no… uh…” he rummages through the piles of paperwork and folders on his glass desk and finds the one he is looking for “Here we go! We have one native woman who is a student at a High School on the outskirts. She was recently bitten and turned, we’ve sadly been unable to find who did it to her.”
“May you hand me that file?”
“Of course.”
The Police Chief heads over to her and hands the folder. Reading through it, her fingers grip on the paper tightens. The Detective and Chief shake a bit to see the paper get crumpled.
“This is why I made it so that we are to be under the person that has defeated us. This is one of those. To leave behind a Vampire alone, to one that is overrun by mortals more armed than a troop of Knights… such disgusting behavior. Chief, may I have the sufferance to see her?”
“Uhhh… no problemo. She is pretty weak. So Sunlight will instantly kill her. We have no choice but to keep her in the lock up after attacking a Granny. Follow me.”
“Thank you Chief.”
“No probs.”
The Chief hurriedly heads over to his desk and opens a drawer to take a key. He excuses himself as he squeezes between the two and fast walks to the Holding Cells. The Officers and Detectives who were busy doing their thing don’t even salute except to some Rookies who were idling by. Resting before returning to their beat.
On the staircase heading down to the Holding Cell, the Queen pinches her nose. Smelling the intense aroma of alcohol.
“Sorry, a lot of people aren’t handling the situation very well. Some… well, many… resorted to drinking.”
“Uh huh…”
The Officer who was instructed to guard them was fast asleep, with the Television on and playing a late night comedy show and an Adult Magazine “The Beautiful Natives of Threa!”. Seeing this, the Chief immediately takes a Baton and swiftly smacks the wooden chair that was on the balance. Making the tired man drop to the floor.
“OFFICER JONSON. GET UP RIGHT NOW AND SALUTE. We have Guests.”
“Woah.. wah?” Seeing the mesmerizing Vampire with pointy ears and a bossy stare. The haggard and tired Officer immediately stands up and salutes with an extremely crooked uniform and hat. “OFFICER JONSON, REPORTING FOR DUTY. CELL GUARDIAN!”
The Chief tugs his sleeves. “Pst, get to the Vampire.”
“Are you sure sir? None of us are powerful enough to fight her… all competent players have been sent to the frontlines.”
“We have a Vampire Noble here. We’re more safe than the Guild President underneath his fancy Bunker, now go.”
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Jonson rushes to his desk and rummaging through the various Life and Adult magazines, he finds the Key Cards for the Iron doors.
“What is that rectangular thing?”
“Uhhh… this is a key card ma’am.” Inside his head, he couldn’t believe how pretty the Noblewoman was. “Oh shit, I only saw Vampires in the mags. I never knew they’re this pretty in person. Keep your head calm Officer. Remember your five week training course.”
After opening the first door through the First Hall of the Holding Cells, many of them were full of people in Medieval and Modern outfits. Drunk out of their minds.
“LET ME GO HOME! I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE! I WANNA SEE MY KIDS!”, “WHERE IS MY WIFE! LET ME SEE MY WIFE!”, “THOSE SLAVERS! THEY TOOK HER! THEY TOOK HER WAAAAAAHHH! DO SOMETHING! FUCK! FUCK!”
One of them manages to grab the Chief “Please. Chief, please. My family is on the edge of our financial burden. My Wife needs me… she can’t repay all our debts alone… and my kid, my precious Son is about to go to college. I can’t miss this, I can’t miss his High School graduation. Please.” Knowing he can’t do anything, Capriano just pushes him back as he sulks, staring at the floor.
They’re hands were outside of the open iron doors but Elizabeth placed herself directly in the middle as she walked. Nonchalantly strolling between the packed cells of burdened men, on their last leg. Their fingers unable to touch her Angelic skin while the Chief, Detective and Officer had to dodge their hands as they wailed and screamed while drooling and some were fast asleep on the floor. Getting into the second Hall, all the Cells were enclosed and each of them looked like a Suite rather than a Prison Cell and it was intensely silent.
“Here we go. Here Miss Carmilla is the Cell for Political Dissidents or Generals.”
“I never knew you people of the future would treat the worst of your enemies with such luxury, many of the human generals I’ve captured I’d have beaten and killed by my best men. Those who proved useful were turned.”
“Not my choice. I guess if they have the power to start wars, they also have the power to stop them… and uhhh… nice I guess?”
“If you want them to submit to you, throw them in the chambers and have them tortured then let them grovel before your might. That is how you do it, treating them like Guests will only show them your weakness. That is not the way for a warrior to respect you.”
Detective Henry pats her shoulders. Signaling her to continue walking. “Not in the civilized world ma’am. Now, let’s see this girl.”
Officer Jonson jogs and gets ahead of them to open the door for Elizabeth and the Chief.
“I hope you may be able to make her talk. Ever since we bought her yesterday, she hasn’t been talking. Not even a reaction to the Officers with experience when it comes to children.”
“The young one must be traumatized. To be turned and left for dead at such an early stage of life. Such a farce to the Vampire who did this.”
“We want to talk to her parents, but the Central Government told us to hold it off. They don’t want the public to know about the rising number of Vampire attacks.”
The Detective takes a cigarette pack and smokes using fire magic. He ignites the tip through the air.
“I’m surprised you didn’t put her in the Holding Cell, Chief.”
“Do Asians really think that low of us? C’mon now. We’d never do that to a little girl. We might’ve lost the Third World War, but that doesn’t mean we’d revert back to barbarians.”
Arriving in Cell B6, They’re met with a young blonde girl in school uniform on the edge of the bed. Curled up, sulking and not making eye contact. The Chief with the Baton bangs on the door to gain her attention.
“Mary, we have a guest for you. From the Vampire Kingdom. Uhhh… what’s your title again if I may ask?”
“Monarch.”
“Monarch Carmilla. Wait, Monarch?!”
The Queen just walks into the room, forcing the Chief to make way. Being above average of height, she towers over the little girl all curled up on the edge of the corner. With a serious and deep tone, she spoke with great authoritative tone and her power completely engulfed the girl's aura.
“Tot. Tell me, who did this to you.”
She didn’t break eye contact and was staring down the kid directly as if she was looking down her very soul. Feeling the immense presence near her. The little girl looked up a bit and could see an extremely frilly long gothic purple dress accompanied by elbow length white gloves. Now taking her attention, Elizabeth gently and slowly puts her hand on her chin and lifts it up to look at her in the eyes. The little girl was corpsely pale with dark red eyes.
“Detective, would you be inclined to bring me a glass of water.”
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
Henry looks around for a bit. Jonson, who was done fixing his crooked uniform, puts his mouth to the Detectives right ear. “I have a pitcher and a plastic cup near the TV.” Henry just puts a thumbs up and walks back to the Desk. “Hey Chief, what’s with Vampires being Six Feet tall?”
“Shhh… and how the fuck am I supposed to know? Maybe that’s the peak height of the ideal human bodies.”
The two officers then sneakily look inside the Special Cell.
“Who did this to you?”
“I-i-i… I was just heading home and-and-and”
Seeing the terror in her eyes, the Queen gently hugs the little girl. Squeezing her in a motherly way and patting the top of her head as she cried on her chest. The Chief and the Officer just look the other way and put their hands on their backs. “Interesting evening.” “Yea Chief.” The Detective shortly returns with a red plastic cup full of water. He sees Elizabeth calming down the little girl, so he just places it on a wooden table with a TV.
After crying her eyes out, Elizabeth takes the water and removes her right hand glove and digs in her nail. After a droplet of her powerful blood makes contact with the water. It shines a bit, not even a second has passed and the scratch on her palm was gone.
“Tell me, do you regret becoming a Vampire?”
“I don’t know… I just want to see my Momma and Dada.”
“Then, are you ready to become a Vampire?”
She just nods her head. After a deep sigh, the Queen just stares at the girl clinging to her.
“There isn’t much we can do. You three, don’t you have a method on reversing the effects of Vampirism?”
The Chief was first, he removed his cap and brought it close to his heart.
“I apologize, Miss Carmilla. The only way we know is to die before you take your first drink. I was infected once by Vampirism once, I just killed myself and respawned… but since she’s a Native… though there are potions, it's way too rare and few.”
“No need to say further. Girl, are you prepared to shed your mortal soul and become one with those that shall walk this plane for all of eternity?”
She sighs again.
“I apologize… if only I could do more.”
“D-does this mean… I’ll still live after my parents are gone…?”
Sighing even more and looking at the ceiling lamp. Elizabeth just stares.
“Yes. You are now gifted with an eternal life. Eternal beauty and eternal power.”
“But I just want to live a normal life.”
“You can still do so, if you keep strong. Use your new found powers to better your lives.”
She looks at the three officers, signaling them to close the door. The Detective was the first to catch it and pretended to cough “Guys, I think we should check on the files or talk about the other recent events.” The Chief caughts on. “O-oh, yes. Jonson, please close the door. There is much to be talked about. I think there were these rumors of underground clubs in the old railway stations” Jonson was still enamored by the Queen “Why? Shouldn’t we keep watch on them?” Being dense, Henry just drags the tired Officer and gently closes the door.
“Do you know who I am?”
“I heard them call you Carmilla Miss.”
“That is, but that name is given to me by my Lord. My real name is Elizabeth Marie Bartley, Primordial Vampire Queen, two thousand? Or more years old and counting.”
The little girl’s eyes shine, and her jaw drops. ‘W-woah! Really?!” Elizabeth tilts her head and smiles warmly. She then materializes her crown to show off to the little girl that she’s a character straight out of a children's book. A true Queen of a great Kingdom.
“Do you think my Crown is just for show? Hehehehe...”
“Then, what’re you doing here then your majesty?” The little girl's eyes were again full of hope, sparkling as the Queen gently put her hand on top of her head once again.
“What a polite lady. Well, my Lord is currently asleep. A Coma they call it and some… wretched people stole something that is very important to every Knight. Their sword.”
“Your Lord must be a very powerful Vampire to have you as a follower.”
“Hmmm… he is a human… fragile like a human… emotionally inept like a human man and like any human, is troublesome to deal with and is magnet for chaos.”
“W-wait, he’s human, your majesty?”
“Mhm, and a good one too that saved me from my eternal slumber. One that treated me normally, handled me like one of his own. A kindhearted and outlandish man that has made me smile from the bottom of my soul. Something I never knew I’d be capable of doing again. You must know of my history, yes?”
“Not really, only sayings that you once took over Dragovh and Geraldia.”
“I did and I also did many regretful things. I used Kings and Queens, their Sons and Daughters as food and playthings, took the strongest men in the land and turned them… but it was all necessary for the survival of my Kingdom… but my eternity has given me redemption. With this man named Paul. If I fail at this, I’ll surely fall apart. You're not the only one who is going through a lot. Even us, those older than the soil, are struggling too. Thou is still young. Take advantage of it, do good and do the right thing.”
“This man must’ve really been nice to you, Miss Elizabeth.”
A tear drops from her eye. “Yes. Yes he has. Even though he knows who I am and what kind of woman I was, he still accepted me wholeheartedly and I am sure your parents would do the same. Be not afraid of what you’ve become. Be afraid of what you might become.”
“Then, does your Lord have any chance of recovering?”
“Even though God Humanus may no longer listen to me for becoming a Vampire and performing acts that are unbecoming of a human. I still pray every night. In my head, hoping that he’d wake up. I truly… love him. Though I’m kinda sad that he wouldn’t see me as a woman. I’ll get him one day.”
“I’m sure he just respects you. My step father is from their world, an outworlder! He said that men on their planet respect women a lot that-that the world population plummeted.”
“Oh my, that is actually very bad.”
“Mhm! He, he even said that a big war happened in this place called the Asia that caused a Third World War! He’d show me pictures of the big machines and advance stuff they sent to fight each other!”
“Mhm.” Hearing this, Elizabeth could only smile while thinking to herself how bad her Lord must’ve had it. “And your Mother? Where is she from?”
“My Mom and I came from a Slaver camp. My Dada was an Adventurer and he saved us!”
“Then, you must face them. Ask the kind Chief to let you go. You didn’t harm the Granny, yes?”
“Mhm. But I don’t want to go outside. I don’t want to hurt others.”
“Well, it's normal for new Vampires to seek blood. They need it to start becoming more powerful, you might even one day become as powerful as me and walk the daylight.”
She gives her the red plastic cup with her blood.
“Here, drink is. But very slowly, it should at least satiate your hunger for now.”
The little girl obeys and starts taking little sips.
“Miss Elizabeth, I have a question.”
“Hmm?”
“What do you plan to do when your Lord dies?”
“Oh…” she starts playing with her bangs. Her eyes wander the room. “I guess I’d carry on, he did order me to stay alive. I’ll honor his wish till the end of time, and hmmm…” she starts thinking of a way to truly honor her Lord. Taking a sip again, Mary taps her shoulder.
“Miss Elizabeth?”
“Oh! I know! I’ll write a book about him! He always said that humans are forgotten after they’ve passed. But since I am a Vampire, me and Countess Alana. We shall carry his story for as long as we can. You should do that too Mary. Cherish your moments with your parents and loved ones and when the time has passed, honor their lives as Humans through remembering them. Though I might have to banish myself to an eternal prison in a forest to avoid alerting the countries of Dragovh and Geraldia.”
The Queen nods at herself, as if what she thought just inflated her ego. Reassuring herself of something. Mary just laughs at Elizabeth. Looking like a little girl who just fell in love again.
“Phuwah! That was very sweet! Like my favorite candy!”
“Good. Now, come with me. Tell me if you still feel your hunger. To control it, try remembering that you aren’t here to harm them. Alright? Think about uhhh… your favorite color or flower.”
The little girl just nods as Elizabeth picks her up and they go out of the Cell. With the three men outside playing Rock, Paper, Scissors with a punishment of one gold coin. Jonson has fifteen, the Chief with two and Henry with six. Hearing the door open, they just stare at the Queen with Mary sitting on her arm.
“Uhhh… you guys done?”
“Chief, you owe me five.”
“Fuck off. Freaking Texans man, this shits fucked.”
They bring Mary to the lobby where the gloomy couple sitting on the edge of the station was shocked to see her. The black haired caucasian man and blonde woman started crying as they hugged their daughter, both of them sobbing their eyes out with Mary. Even Elizabeth couldn’t hold it in while the Chief is visibly holding it in.
“Just cry sir.”
“Fuck off Jonson. A real man cries when he's alone.”
“This isn’t the eighties. C’mon.”
“How come you aren’t crying?!”
“I’ve watched Asian Dramas a lot. Japanese and Korean ones most of all.”
“I saw these in the movies way too many times, though in person. It’s magnificent.”
“You two are… Grrr…”
After the family has settled, the Queen once again approaches Mary who is now extremely happy and her mind clear of trouble.
“Mary, can you do me a favor and tell me if you remember anything at all? Like where were you when you turned and any clues?”
Now with her at ease, the little girl looks at the ceiling. Trying to gather her memories.
“I was on my way back home when a strange pale man with red eyes like me now was walking alone.”
“Was this at night?”
“Nope! It was afternoon! I just finished school work since I have club!”
“Club?”
“Yes, I do Volleyball! Teehee.”
“Well, don’t overdo it alright? You should already know Vampires have super strength and reflexes. Control your power, if you train hard enough. You should be able to mask your abilities.”
The father then opens up.
“We live on the outskirts of the city, in the Town of Venison.”
The Chief puts his hand on his chin.
“Hmmm… those bastards. Are they hiding in the forest? Or the houses? Could it be that they’re part of the townsfolk?”
Henry on the other hand takes another smoke.
“No. These aren’t your typical Vampires. They came from our world. They’re human players who have super powers. I don’t believe they’d live in the forest having so much power.”
“Then you tell me that they could be living amongst us? If so, that is ten times worse.”
“That’s the only thing I could think of.” He looks at the father who is fixing his daughters clothes. Straightening it and checking for sweat on her back.
“Mister…”
“Tyler. Tyler Schwarz, my parents have a long line of black hairs. Heh.”
“Mm. Well, I’d like to ask. Has the Town of Venison seen anything strange?”
“No. I am actually devastated by this event. That little town has never seen an event like this before. Even after the teleportation, it’s been relatively peaceful.”
“Is there anything out of place? Like strange gatherings, buildings, pale people with red eyes? Y’know, typical Vampire traits of Dark World?”
“No. I nearly know everyone in the town.”
“Any landmarks?”
“Well… there’s the Mayor's house, our famed Deer hunting parks and the uptown we call it. Where there’s a bunch of expensive modern buildings… there’s also the High School.”
Hearing this, he starts writing things down.
“Alright. And this is the first incident, yes?”
“Yes, I’ve been living here for seven months now with my wife and we never had a problem like this.”
“And seeing how you're married to a native here. You don’t plan on returning?”
“Nein. I don’t have much in our world anyways. I’d rather stay here where I have a purpose.”
“I see. Well Mister Schwarz. Thank you. Do you have a number that I can call you on?”
“Yes, uhh… let me get my card.”
“Get your daughter that cream alright? It would be bad if she walked out in the morning and burned.”
“Yes, I will. Right after this, I’m already planning on getting one.”
“Right, and be sure to sign up at the local hospital for the blood donations. They should be able to keep your daughter fed till we disappear.”
While he looks for his number, Elizabeth is already outside. Looking at the brightly lit Metropolis. Just staring at the buildings and the night sky. She removes her Crown and just takes in the cold breeze as she continues walking through the sidewalk. Passing by a black SUV in a dark alleyway and behind him, the detective could be seen looking around. Catching his breath as he sees the magnificent silhouette of the well endowed woman with the blue moon and its small satellite smile upon her.
With both of her hands together in prayer, “Please, please…” she sighs and starts walking down the street. “Why must you be a human? I wouldn’t mind being the third married to you. Haaah… I guess I must eat my words and make sure I cherish every moment with him.” Before she could go far, Henry tapped her shoulder. “EEK!” her girlish scream made him laugh.
“Pffff… WAHAHAHA, I-I am sorry… I never knew you could scream like that…”
“By the Gods Henry. I am a woman still.”
“I know, I know, I thought you would’ve already felt my presence meters away.”
“I apologize. My guard was down for a moment.”
“No worries. Look, we have to head to the Town of Venison. Chief Capriano is willing to lend us a Cruiser.”
“And the Prime Minister?”
“It should be a day or two before he finishes his work here. The Guild leaders have been very busy lately. I guess this is due to the Portal’s power being discovered. One step closer to getting home.”
“I don’t know what it is with you Outworlders.”
“What? I took a risk and I’m willing to stand by it.”
The people walking couldn’t believe that the woman could leisurely walk in such a cold night with nothing but a frilly gown. Even the detective was shivering as the temperatures dropped to the point that they could see each other's breath.
“And did you actually take all necessary precautions in taking me away from my Kingdom?”
“Heck no, but at the same time. You could say it was meant to be, you want that sword back and that sword is in the hands of a woman that I’ve been tracking down for ten months now. Ten long months.”
“Just how long has this harlot been walking around?”
“A long long time, it’s just that coming here opened a new corridor of opportunities for her kind. Sick people with sick needs, now with their power real and true and with contacts to a certain group that the United Nations has been afraid of. You could say that this is the stepping stone to a grand conspiracy.”
“A grand conspiracy you say…? Hmmmm… sounds fun.”
“Oh yea, if Guild Leader Tojo puts me on a case. It means something’s serious. When we reach Neo Tokyo, I’ll show you the evidence we found when we raided Havannah’s last Mansion. It’s quite scary and disgusting.”
“And that organization even the United Nations is afraid of?”
“Now, don’t call me out on this but I’ve been ransacking through classified papers that I have been given access to thanks to the severity of this case. There seems to be a trend of Special Forces Companies leaving their bases and disappearing.”
“Special Forces huh? That doesn’t sound good.”
The two then turn right. Going around the block as the detective puts his hands inside his jacket’s pocket. Light snow then starts falling, slowly coating the concrete jungle with a hint of white.
“Yea, and they take their equipment with them, meaning that they have a complex logistical line. These people aren’t to be messed with as unlike most grunts the United Nations employ, these people have real background in the military, many survivors of the Third World War.”
“I have long been feeling weakness from your organization. Seems that it's finally cracking.”
“We’re not really trained Politicians or Leaders. Many just everyday adults that’s sadly showing that in every man, is a lying and thieving man of politics. Tell me, what does General Paul want? Is he planning on staying?”
“Nay, my Lord plans on returning.”
“W-wait… really? Even though he has… alright. Well, if we don’t get home any longer than a year and half, problems might start occurring. It’s just rumors but some people are saying that if we stay too long, our souls will get used to this world and it will be impossible for us to return or even respawn.”
“Hmm… that does make sense. The Gods of Threa wouldn’t let so many new believers and subjects disappear. I’m sure that if this many people were to start believing in the Gods, and maybe one Religion taking a lot of them. It might mean a rebirth.”
“But, that’s just rumors which I hope aren't true. It’s stupid really, how fast they want to this. Something like this should take years and years, but the kiddies leading the show want it to be done fast. Ahahahahah… maybe the rumors are true hence why they’re trying to be so fast.”
The two soon leave, in the dark forest. Stopped before a railway crossing they walk around with the Detective having his smoke break as snow falls to the point that the entire forest was white. Elizabeth puts her hand below her chin, deep in thought while the detective leaned at the driver's door, the faint light from his cigarette lightning his face. Her eyes light up, as she looks at the cloudless sky.
“I should sleep with him.”
“E-excuse me? Where did this come from?”
“What do men from your world like?”
“Wha-what? Again, where is this coming from? This is just out of the left field.”
A whistle soon blares from the forest, looking at the rails. The Queen could see it was shaking.
“Elizabeth, away from the railway crossing. Stay here.”
Following his instructions the train whistle comes ever so closer. With the huffing and puffing of steam like a distant monster toiling along the lonesome night at a broodingly dangerous forest full of tall trees. Six hundred meters away was a Union Pacific 844 steam locomotive, going at 80 miles per hour through the snow.
The high polished heavyweight passenger cars lit up the area around the tracks as its passengers, full of natives and players, enjoyed a quiet night's train ride through the countryside. As wolves follow the long metal beast as it pierces through the dark night with its bogies tumbling up and down from the speed.
Soon, its light appears at the crossing. With the vampire queen staring at it as the massive locomotive with its eight drive wheels just as tall as her zoom passed the woman. Her hair wildly threw with the snow. The iron horse kept chugging and the people inside the cars had a few seconds to stare back at her.
“Humans are truly something…”
“Hey, didn’t I tell you not to be too close!”
The Detective had to pull her back as her face was far to near the passing cars.
“Tell me Detective.”
“What?”
“How far has humanity come in your world?”
“Far enough that we had established a Mars colony.”
“Mars?”
“It’s a planet a few hundred million kilometers away.”
“Incredible.”
As the twentieth car passes, the train continues onward into its trek through the dark snowy forest with wolves ignoring them as they try to catch up with the train.
“And with its needs? Has humanity reached the peak that it can stop feeding itself?”
“No and I wouldn’t want that. I think no humans would want that, to stop eating would mean that we’d become robots.”
“Hmmm… true. But to think that this is what the most weakest of all the races is capable of. It’s always such a surprise.”
“I’m sure you’ve experienced it too, our persistence.”
“Pffff… yes. I’ve had. Many many times.”
“Well, that’s my cig. Let’s go. I know a motel where we can spend the night, and seriously. Change that dress of yours, you look good but way too out of place.”
The next day, the two went to the nearby town of Venison, though the snow wasn’t as bad. Most of the road still had remnants of it scattered and warnings were playing on repeat in the radio for drivers to be careful. There was nothing special with the settlement. Apart from the Diners and the amount of people wearing denim jeans with cowboy hats, it looked like a run of the mill Northern American town in the forest.
Driving through the quiet town’s block, two story houses perfectly aligned with minivans and pick ups parked in their driveways was Venison’s public high school. The large structure was nothing special and the parking lot outside it smelled of nature as it was surrounded by trees and greenery where pints of snow could be seen on top.
“Jesus…”
“What?”
“I just remembered something. A stupid movie. Let’s go. I can’t believe this.”
“What?”
The detective walks to the school as the teenagers who were having lunch looked eighteen and above. Wearing the most stereotypical outfits for their age range while the vampire queen even with her new outfit still looked far too elegant for the place.
“What’s with the lack of children? Are Outworlders incapable?”
“No, Dark World doesn’t have children. If one was to try, you’d get banned or kicked out. Hence the best you can find are all eighteen year olds… though seeing that without the limitation, the teens playing are actually using their real age.”
“Huh. But this shall be easy, to find a vampire in this situation, would be like hunting for a bright gem in a dark room.”
“Are you sure? Because for all we know, these vampires might’ve coated themselves or had used morph to hide their fangs and ears.”
“Even then, they’d still stand out. Only vampires would have such pale skin tones, and if needed I can throw maybe a brick at them.”
“Not here Elizabeth, not here.”
They then go inside with the Queen amazed by the flags of the world scattered about the hallways to the lockers all properly aligned in front of the classrooms. It was wide and roomy and smelt of paper and sweat. The Detective follows the signs and to the Principal's office where an Elven man in a brown suit is looking through some documents.
“Oh, how may I… wow… Hello ma’am… dang.”
“Detective Henry Tatsuya, Tokyo Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau. Here with me is a Vampire Noblewoman.”
“Ah! You must be here due to the tragic event that I’ve heard circulating around town.”
“Yes and we’d like to go around your school and hunt down possible vampires.”
“Of course, please feel free to do so. If you need me, I’ll be here doing my documents.”
“Thank you Mister Edger.”
With the Principal’s blessing, the two head off. Sneakily staring inside classrooms and the Queen, smelling the air which was polluted with sweetness to it. Blocking her ability to pinpoint where a vampire could be.
“Well that’s annoying. Am I that thirsty?”
“Jesus, here we go again. Not here.”
“Not like that! You buffoon, I mean I’m in this need of blood. My smell is overwhelmed with sweetness, it seems that some of the young adults here are ripe for my taking.”
“Don’t you-”
“I won’t, I have My Lord. When he awakens, I’ll personally ask to partake of his blood. This is getting annoying.”
“Good. Geez, you’re a handful you know that?”
“Let’s just get this over with. The smell is getting to me.”
“Alright.”
Getting to the second floor for the Senior High Schoolers, the Detective nonchalantly looks and passes by a Science lab but the Queen quickly grabs him by the collar.
“Oy, mortal. Halt.”
“OY! LET GO OF ME!”
She abruptly drops him and stares inside the room.
“What? I don’t have the time to explain to you how to dissect a frog and why we do it.”
“Not that you dunce! That man over there! The overly flamboyant and handsome man wearing two layers of cloth!”
Looking at the edge of the Science room, he sees what she meant. The teenage man was far more handsome and perfect than the rest, standing out greatly. But abiding to the rules of policing, he knows he just can’t go after the kid.
“Exactly what am I supposed to do?”
“Go inside and arrest him.”
“We don’t have probable cause. And he's far away, we can’t be sure.”
“How is that not a vampire? Look at his rapey stare at that pretty woman. Only a lustful and hungry vampire would have that stare.”
“You really know your kind don’t you?”
“Argh, when are they going to exit?”
Looking at his watch, he sees that it's almost twelve.
“Fifteen minutes?”
“Where would they be? Canteen I’m pretty sure though others might take a car to a restaurant.”
She then drags the detective downstairs as the bell rings and the doors swing wide open. In the Baseball yard, the two hide inside a bush. Staring into the canteen’s window. The Queen wore a black vintage 1930s dress with frills and short gloves, due to it only being knee high, she was able to somewhat hide herself.
“Oy! Stop rubbing my arm!”
“It’s soft and silky but move too you woman!”
Doors then opened as some of the students preferred to be outside and collected what small amount of snow remained and threw it at each other. A group of extremely fashionable people appear from the parking lot, going around the school to enter its canteen from the outside.
“There you dunce!”
“As I said, probable cause.”
“Off with your head! Don’t you see how they’re obviously vampires!”
“Elizabeth… I just can’t, and I technically have jurisdiction only as Interpol. I’ll still need to call the local Police Department-”
Not having any of it, the Queen looks around and sees that a 2X3 steel plank was left at the Baseball field scout seat. Using her speed, she picks one up immediately, the group didn’t even notice her as she smashes it into one of them.
The teenagers were all appalled by the violence while the Detective’s jaw dropped. Standing up and immediately looking at the woman's wound which was already gone.
“See? Told you.”
“Sensei… forgive me for not being able to control my kouhai.”
He facepalms as the Queen grabs the woman by the shoulder, her allies wanting to step in. But the moment their hands went near her, they felt an immense danger. While acting as if she broke her arm, the entire group follows her into the forest while dragging the short haired girl.
Inside the forest where the Detective had drawn his gun. The black finished New Nambu M57A1 was right up the suited man's head as the Queen put the woman in tight office jeans into the dirt. Her hand straightened out and fingers together. Ready to pierce her.
“Now, tell me. Which one of you did it? An acquaintance mayhaps?”
“Get off you me you bitch!”
“Wrong answer.”
Her hand immediately pierces through the air before stopping right before her blouse.
“Again, tell me.”
“M-Maybe the others at the Baseball field on the other side of the town have information! We don’t associate with them! They’ve broken the rules!”
“I see… Detective.”
“Yup, I already know where that is. Let’s go.”
“Let’s hope this is the first and only time we’ll encounter each other. Vampires… yeah right.”