The Queen disappeared by their very eyes. Even though they were all veteran players of Dark World, none of them expected the speed and agility of a woman wearing a dress and in high heels. She appears once again, this time only a handful of steps close to them. Her blonde hair, sparkling and floating joyously with a golden and divine effect, and the dirt surrounding her started to float as she sucks the mana from the very air they breathe and converts them into nothing but raw power. Using it as an alternative to her lack of blood ingestion.
Each one of them started getting violently clawed and slashed, unable to properly react and determine her next position. Bloodied and scratched, they looked at each other and nodded as they healed from each and every damage they received.
“All eyes on me!”
Elizabeth takes one of them by the neck, the muscled man tries to resist her grip as she lifts him up. The two differing vampires face each other as their eyes change colors from the amount of power they’re exposing, the native with her golden coloured eyes and the player with his blood red eyes.
“Demon Magic! Bloodlust!” The Self Buff increased the man's strength threefold. Noticing this, the woman puts on more effort, making her arms’ muscle reveal itself as she continues to choke the man. Intending on crushing his windpipe. She senses multiple attacks coming from her sides and behind, forcing the woman to let go of him as she parries the three with a devilish smile. Like a woman who's drunk on the adrenaline of the fight, Queen Elizabeth sent shivers down to their spines with her grin and eyes of a deranged person as she nonchalantly returned every blow they sent.
“It would be nice of you to not ruin my new dress.”
“VAMPIRE MAGIC!”, “Quicker Reflexes!”, “Art of the Night!”, “Swift Claws!”
The baseball vampires started chanting buffs, openly screaming them out to intimidate the woman, some of which were AoE and stacked them all on each other. Intending on leveling the playing field against the far more powerful opponent. Meanwhile, Henry teleports in his Samurai armor. Wearing it as quickly as he could behind the Explorer. Slinging his Wakizashi and Odachi. Peeking through the hood as he wears his Men-Yoroi, his Samurai armor was Crimson Red and covered his entire body. With his mask depicting a Great Oni with two large fangs and horns and his shoes were special ones meant for trails and hiking.
On the field, Elizabeth is slowly getting overwhelmed. Though her senses can still catch up, her body wasn’t and had to constantly dodge and weave. But whenever an opening was found, the Queen would ravage the chance, clawing left and right, targeting their head, forcing her enemy to put up their arms and finishing her combo with either a kick to the liver or an uppercut that was enough to crush and powderize bones and organs as the flesh is churned and turned into corned beef from her blows.
But the longer it went on, the more the vampires were able to find some form of a pattern to her attacks, and slowly, the Queen had to put her arms up on her sides and dodging jabs and hooks left and right. The ground then violently rumbles as a man in a full suit of Samurai armor lands on the field. Seeing the chance, she picks up a Baseball Bat with its Barrel completely decimated. She uses its Taper to knock one of the vampires out cold.
“Hey Blondie!”
“Yes Detective? Can’t you see I’m a bit busy here. I really don’t want to get this dress ruined!”
“You might wanna use this.”
He throws his Odachi at her, its ridiculous length baffles her as it flies right at her hands. All the while, Henry pulls out his Wakizashi and starts cutting the vampires flanking her. With his armor on and its passive Buffs working, he could stand toe to toe against them in terms of speed. One of the vampires gets slashed by his short Katana and her wound doesn’t heal. This forces her to return to perform some healing magic in cover.
“You see that? Start swinging that bad boy!”
“Foolish! I’d rather be given a pole than this! Why is it longer than my Lord’s Greatsword? And that one’s already long enough! Didn’t you mention you were a Ranger?!”
“I don’t know if you're joking but I’d stop complaining and start slashing!”
Looking at the Great Katana, its length could easily pass 250cm. Its Saya was full of paintings of Shuten-Doji and Tamamo No Mae, unsheathing it. She digs her heels into the ground and prepares to swing it. Having super strength, she was able to use it as if it was made out of feathers. This makes the vampires stay clear of her, as she was swift with the blade. Her skills were just as great as her Martial Arts, having mastered the sword for thousands of years.
“Focus on me! I’ve been trained by one of the first ever Knights of this world! Unlike you doths, I’m a true vampire! Face me and prove thou’s mantle against the real deal!”
Two of the women vampires tried to jump her to test her speed with the sword, they were met with a swift slash that cutted them in half. Their regeneration unable to put their severed limbs back on, they were out of the fight as they bled out. Slowly but surely, the once green baseball field turns red, with body parts and guts laying everywhere as the beautiful blonde woman massacred her enemies without a pint of mercy or care to her surroundings.
Henry was efficient in his attacks, severing multiple limbs like a swail taking flight as he moved like a bee. He had tact and gentleness, with each swing, he took with grace and respect and when sensing an enemy far away, he’d use his Shudo and its hard to detect arrows to force them to dodge just to close in the range and using his skills as a Ranger, he could easily detect the trails in the grass and see if any new ones are being created, making it hard to flank the human with a metal Oni mask.
Slowly, they managed to disable Eight of the vampires, with Elizabeth wielding the ridiculously long sword up her shoulders, dusting her dress as if it's a usual day for her. With one remaining. Elizabeth could see that it was the short haired woman. Running to the town, going through backyards at immense speed. Holding the Odachi’s blade like a pole, she jumps into the roof of a nearby building and starts sprinting through the roof tiles.
Seeing the woman running through the hanged clothes and hopping over fences, Elizabeth throws the Japanese great sword like a Lance, and with extreme precision, it embeds itself on the ground right in front of the escaping vampire as the Queen gracefully lands on it with one heel and one hand on the hip.
“Last chance, give up or get destroyed.”
Seeing the display of power, she puts her hands up as Blackhawks fly over them and starts fast roping Woodstock’s National Guard Unit and Bearcats flood the street, unloading SWAT teams with exposed long pointy ears, all equipped with Anti Vampire gear. Using Machete’s with Holy Inscriptions of Tur’s God on the blade and their guns exterior designed as if a Priest did the layering for the receivers and their bulletproof shields, having a roundel of a Sun in a tower on its front.
After a few minutes, they manage to round up the baseball players and all are cuffed with strange sparkling chains. The Queen in her usual confidence is strutting in front of them with extreme arrogance and a big grin. Henry is writing down their names and asking where they’ve been while in the background, one of the vampires got so annoyed by her that the man dared to look the Queen back in the eyes. Elizabeth sees this and tyrannizes the muscled man, kicking him down and trampling him with her heels. The man groaned as her four inch heel digs into his stomach, and her leaning downward with prevailing pose
“What is thou art’s name?”
“J-joey.”
“And the man with the parted hair?”
“Edmond.”
“Remember this… when I say I want to talk, I WANT TO TALK.”
She continues to trample on him. Pressing the heel deeper into his chest as she subjugates the commoner for daring to disrespect a royal such as her.
“Thee INSOLENT FOOL dareth to toucheth thee?! Thou’s Blood Queen?! The Queen that conquered the Elves, Beasts, and the Humans?! Thou art thrifty I be sworn under oath. Would I weren't, I would’ve hadst thy headeth on a plaque and have thy severed bodies paraded through the capital!”
Henry sees the Queen, fuming like a steam train as she starts stomping on the man with her heel. He takes a cigarette and lights it while one of the Elven SWAT officers leans in to his squadmate. “Damn, I wish that’s me.” The other officers overheard him and just ignored the man's retort. Their eyes wandered as if they heard nothing from the fully geared up man. “What? Is it just me? Like don’t you think that’s hot? She even has those jet black stockings on!” one of his squadmates just puts his hand on his shoulder and shrugs his head. The Detective on the other hand with a cigarette in his mouth approaches the angry woman. Pulling her away from the cuffed man.
“C’mon, stop it. They’ve already surrendered. You didn’t have to do that great yourself oh Blood Queen. That’s considered assault and battery.”
“Silence. I do not have the same intake of blood as I used to and I still destroyed these damned fools! How dare he look at me like that!”
“That’s enough. More cops are arriving and I don’t want to explain to the Men of the Woods as to why a vampire is trampling on cuffed suspects.”
Henry faces the tomboyish vampire with a cute short neck length hair, his suit of Samurai armor rattling and clanking as it drags the long Odachi on the grass.
“Now, Miss Tendy. It seems that a CCTV from the Red Light District showed you with a man who also has red hair, what a pair you two. Now, looking at all nine of you, there’s one with blonde hair but no red. Would you like to explain to me who this man is?”
“He is my Ex.”
“And?”
“He-he is with this group from the underground clubbing scene. I was trying to tell him to get out before the city encroaches upon the entire thing… I swear I did nothing wrong! We just felt something weird, as if a boss was walking up on us!”
“An underground clubbing scene? Well damn… and you didn’t have to do that you know? Are you all that afraid that we’d find out? If we talked this out, I could’ve kept it a secret since I’m an Interpol. I’ll be gone either tomorrow or the next few days and if I find nothing, I have no reason to put it in my report.”
“Tsk…”
“Yeah, and not only that. I have a real vampire here. A royal one too. Pretty scary ehy? Yeah, that’s what we players feel like when fighting you. Except that we can’t instantly heal torn limbs.”
Henry stands up and his hand, still holding onto his Katana while Elizabeth with her arms crossed looks at him. Tapping her shoes on the grass. “What? Oh the clubs? It's a rumor that there’s like an underground red light district for the Hybrids like Vampires, Werewolves, Elves, Dwarves and such in many of the cities and Kingdoms. Since they have their own variations of fetishes and… sexual urges.” Writing it all down, he looks at his previous notes. He also grins knowing the rumors around the city were true.
He then approaches one of the detectives that came to the scene, his hands in his slacks as he touts around his tacky suit.
“Yo, can I get some help?”
“Oh, a fellow American. I know Japanese culture has taken over since the third world war, but dang. You walk around in that Samurai suit with some tact, I almost got fooled and thought you were actually Japanese.”
“Thank you but do you have any leads on the secret clubs?”
“No not really, we haven’t had any problems with the other players rolepaying in differing races so we neve really investigated it.”
“But do you think it's real?”
“Pretty sure, if the player Kingdom has them. Swear on my heart they also have ones here.”
“Mhm… so you can say they’ve been doing a good job hiding it.”
“Yep. Best to ask these vamps if they know anything.”
Facing Tendy once again, he squats in front of her. His pen striking his thin notepad that’s full of jumbled texts and notes.
“Where is the entrance to this place?”
“It’s…” she looked around and could see the royal vampire staring swords at her. Waiting for an excuse to rip her apart with her bare hands.
“C’mon. I’m just saying, I’m not threatening in any way or form but none of us can stop her, so be lucky that woman is restraining herself.”
“...” the girl moves around a bit, thinking deeply in her mind.
“How about this… just tell me a place where I could ask, a middle ground for you and me. If this secret is so well kept that even the Men of the Woods don’t know, then it must be something truly special to you and your kind. So, just tell me a place where I can ask and get the right direction. Good?”
“It’s at a Nightclub called Istria on Woody Street. Between Bkye Palace and Horizon Nightclub.”
“Thank you. I thought I was gonna end the day with me pulling out the Queen’s claws from your ribs. Huh, I knew it was the correct decision to drag the Queen here. Her uniqueness is making this investigation go at light speed. I might be able to finally get a proper sleep after all these months. Alright, thank you again.”
“W-who is she? Truly?”
“She is a Noble. But one that is more Ancient than you imagine and more powerful too.”
With the information, he heads back to the Explorer. Elizabeth on the other hand knocks on a nearby house, shocking the family inside as she politely asks them to use their shower and dryer while Henry removes his Samurai armor and teleports his sword back to the airplane. One of the security guards inside gets a shock as an insanely long Katana pops out of nowhere and in the middle of the aisle.
Back at Venison, Henry takes a left turn, heading back to Woodstock proper. The tall mega skyscrapers could be seen peering through the snow tipped mountains and hills. Suddenly, the Railroad Crossing flashes and its barriers lower. Warning of the cars that a train is going to pass. Stopping the SUV, Elizabeth seemed frozen as the locomotive blasts its horns far away. A black Tahoe stopped a few meters behind them.
Closer and closer, the ground starts to rumble as the sound of the Bogies scratching the rails get more and more audible. Soon, the Military Freight Consist zooms past them, eight SD70MACs locomotives pulling two kilometers of nothing but military equipment from armor to light vehicles and container vans heading to the railyard to unload them. Henry looks at Elizabeth who was just peering through the passing train as it looked exactly like the one that was carrying her sarcophagus.
“Uhhh… you good?”
“Hm.”
Her expression was empty, as if she was looking into a giant empty field.
“You don’t look good.”
“Shush, I am just reminded.”
“Oh, I apologize. Didn’t know that there was a traumatic event hard enough to make you like that.
“It isn’t, it's just these iron horses hadn’t really given me a good first encounter. Those horns… they make me feel uncomfortable. It’s what I first heard as I drank the blood of the Saint. That blasted Sword Saint… I don’t know what she’s planning or what the Gods had told her, but these machines have ingrained itselves into my memories now.”
“Yea, I can only imagine what it's like to suddenly awaken on a train like that. With nothing but man made machines meant to kill and bring destruction. You must’ve had one hell of an awakening. Never in my life would I participate in some legendary battle like that.”
“Not pretty, I can tell you that much. My confusion at that time was one I couldn’t ever shrug off, couple it with my still active bloodlust and depression. If it weren’t from your Generals and they’re sacrifices I would’ve long already engulfed this continent with my thralls.”
“Thralls? You have necromancy?”
“Of course. I could have my entire Kingdom’s population into an army and it would’ve never been enough to capture even a fraction of Threa. Hence I used vampire zombies to do much of my bidding.”
“So you guys have vampire zombies too huh? Can they walk in the sunlight? Since ours can as they don’t count as vampires.”
“Oh, mine can’t. That’s why I always cover them in dark robes that absorb the light. I think my Black Knives also have that.”
“Black what?”
“Black Knives. They’re just my loyal assassins that I use to kill or threaten disobedient royals.”
“Geez, you people scare me. No wonder medieval royal families were so fucked up.”
Their entire trip back to the station was uneventful with nothing but the occasional military vehicle passing them and bombers flying high above the skies. The snow was already accumulating on some of the roads they passed and an advisory was put out about winter conditions worsening and for citizens to prepare. Arriving at the station, everyone admired her looks instantly, Elizabeth on the other hand couldn’t help but remember what happened to her on that fateful day where she first met her Lord with the train blasting its horn as three hulking Knights faced her on. After some talks with the Chief back in the station, Henry exits out of the office with the Queen in tow.
“Well that was big news, we have an agreement with your King. That’s one problem down for your Lord. Now it's the Houses he has to deal with… the heck are the Houses?”
“I have my queries that it's as easy as the person on the device said it. Harold is not a fool, he is an important piece of this world's politics. I am sure that there is a catch. As to anything in this world, and the Houses themselves aren’t fools. They also want something in this big pie.”
“You really know him don’t you?”
“Of course, that fool was one of my cohorts in my endeavors in attaining the much needed neutrality of my Kingdom when the Demon Kings came to be. He also proved useful in my campaign to that wasteland called Meridia.”
“I remember reading that you guys never involved yourselves in the Resets. Is this true? Aren’t you considered demons too?”
“Yes, I knew it was all folly. It is written that these events happen for the world wishes for it occur. To balance, good and bad. Regardless if we participate or not, it will always happen. Just as nature dictates and demons are not as you think. They’re also part of this world, and can never be removed. They have as much of a right to exist as Angels and Heroes.”
“And what about you?”
“I was merely a nuisance to the Gods and was swiftly taken care of by that Saintly halfling.”
“And the Houses? What’re they?”
“The Houses are the most powerful major families that had banded minor families under their name, or house... This is done so that power in the Kingdom may not always be so much sought after by so many differing factions. Things are different when you're leading a Kingdom that never ages. Their main purpose is to centralize the Nobles under one or ten umbrellas with the most powerful ones leading the House. So rather than me and King Charles having to deal with hundreds of weak families, we’d instead have to deal with a handful but very powerful ones.”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Did it work though?”
“Power was still sought after, I was defeated in such a way. The Voltaire House betrayed me, I never doubted them as even after the Charlemagnes. They’ve been more loyal and willing than everyone else to do my bidding.”
“Charlemagnes? Isn’t that the name of your husband at that time?”
“It is. I also have my own House. House Bartley, we did this so that in an event that we’d ever get ousted through a vote or revolt. We’d both at least have some power to play with.”
“Geez, politics isn’t really for me. All I hear is buzzwords and evil schemes.”
“Bwahahaha, that’s merely foreplay. Power between vampires goes much much deeper than one could imagine.”
They walk to the garage and into a police Tahoe. Starting the engine, they head off to the beachside of Woodstock where its Red Light District is located. Midway through, he receives a ping. Reminding him that they’ll be leaving very soon.
“We better just see what we can take from this. We don’t have that much time, planes leaving at twelve tomorrow for Neo Tokyo.”
“Then lest we tire, make this vehicle go faster.”
“Already on it.”
Even though it was already a cold night, the streets were still lively and alive. There was even traffic in some of the tighter and smaller streets as the larger trucks drove on the two or four lane roads.
“So, what else would my Lord have experienced in your world? Is the polluted smell really that normal?”
“More or less, but without the Elves and such. Only humans.”
“Oh, we don’t exist in your world, yes?”
“Probably, though we do have myths and legends. So… maybe back then you were all real but suddenly went extinct? I don’t know. But yeah, you're all really fiction and didn’t really exist except for entertainment media.”
“You at least depict us vampires the right way right?”
“Uhm…”
“Rrriiiggghhht…?”
“It… varies…”
They soon arrived at the Red Light District of the city, Elizabeth had never seen such heresy in her life. Vampiric women and men wearing barely anything and having extremely revealing outfits out in the open as they let their immense beauty and handsome faces and body attract hungry people like zombies. Henry knew what her eyes meant and always kept the Tahoe at a steady pace so that she wouldn’t have the chance to get out and speak her mind to them.
But there were also some Clubs that blew her mind, having more lights than entire cities, all confined within one building while blasting strange electronic music with the bass boosted. She was completely alien to the place and knew nothing as her eyes glazed with the countless amount of colors sparkling and changing through the neon signs and LED strips on the exteriors. Soon, they arrived at the Istria club, it was a Gothic Style establishment, one where people could wear their usual outfits in Dark World to party.
Wielding her Crown, beauty and amorous aura coupled with her frilly purple dress that exudes royalty. Henry gives her the all go while lighting another cigarette, exiting by herself. She immediately catches everyone’s attention on the street, even though they are parked right on the border of the red light district. Even the drivers had to roll down their windows to take a peek at her beauty. With her hand on her hip, she crosses the road without a care to the sedans and sports cars passing through. Henry had to catch up to her as he was still busy reporting everything to Dispatch. With his hands in his pocket and equipped with a loose tie, he walked with her.
“Are you really sure about this? Look at how much attention you're gaining.”
“Of course, let the mortals look. They should know only one man owns this beauty.”
“Argh, just don’t instigate anything alright?”
“What do you take me for? A deviant?”
“Sometimes, yes. You should really be careful with your beauty, we came from an entirely different world with an entirely different culture and subsets of morals.”
“I do not care, far more pressing matters are at hand.”
Arriving at the club, the Seven foot tall muscle on muscle Bouncer didn’t ask anything as he looked down on the vampire, nor did the people waiting in line. She walked in as if she owned the place, nor did the woman in the clothes collection area say anything. Inside, everyone was having a rave with a remix of Bard music. Since it was flashing lights everywhere and the smell of alcohol in the air, few noticed her as they went on partying like there’s no tomorrow. She tried to sniff out any scent of blood or any vampires but since the air was heavily polluted, she couldn’t get anything.
“So, any ideas Mister Henry?”
“Got nothing?”
“None.”
“I’ll ask the bartender, I am sure they know something about this secret underground nightlife. My magic is more so meant for animals and demons not a crowd of people so it won’t really help anyways.”
Coming up to the counter where a pretty elven lady is brewing up a drink. The Queen sees the Detective was fast and walks through the bustling club like it was nothing, not seeing a Dwarven player that only reached her knees. The woman almost ran over the small man. Only stopping as the horns on his leather helmet poked her thigh.
“Oh. I apologize, I didn’t see you.”
“Sweet Mother above, you can walk over me if you all want.”
“Thank you, but I’d rather not.
She then proceeded to the counter and looked at the special menu for curing ailments from extreme partying like Anti Drunk Potions and even ones meant to combat drugs and their potential side effects. All using Gold Coins which is something unheard of in her world. Her eyes visibly calculate the cost of getting drunk or taking drugs for days on end. She soon realizes that it's hapless knowing her kind and their tendency to hold parties that’d last for weeks.
“Good Evening ma’am, may I ask if you have better accommodation for my client here. She’s a vampire from the Continent of Schon, a native of Threa who wishes to find an establishment more fit for her… kind.”
“Is that so?”
The Elven lady keeps brewing, ignoring the Detective as he tries his best to make her talk more.
“Yes, and it’d be a bad look if I am unable to provide.”
Taking a peek at him, with a loose tie and a haggard look and then peering over to the beautiful Elizabeth, curiously looking at the menu with a hand on her chin and laser like eyes at the special menu. She breathes a sigh.
“I’ll talk to the Manager.”
After a while, the Bartender appears again, this time with the Manager who was a young man who seems to be in his early twenties. Wearing a purple nobleman’s uniform.
“Oh my, I heard it was a vampire from Schon, but I never expected a beautiful noblewoman.”
“You flatter me Lord?”
“Call me Donny, I own this fine establishment.”
“Hm.”
Shaking hands, Elizabeth’s charm was already working as intended.
“Lord Donny. May I ask something?”
“Am not a Lord, just an owner of an establishment.”
“Oh, I found it amusing how you can be wearing the color purple without having at least a Region to yourself. That’s a very expensive color that only a handful of Royals may afford.”
“Is that so? Ehehehehe, well I do like the color and the wig that makes me look like an old man loaded with cash.”
He then puts his hands on the table, smiling at the two.
“So, how may I provide for you two?”
“Yes, I’d like to inquire about Clubs that could potentially suit my tastes more.”
“Ah yes. Vampires aren’t like the Werewolf that can still fit into normal society. I guess none of the Vampire themed clubs helped?”
“Sadly, no.”
“Well.” Donny looks around, as if to see if anyone else is listening to him. “There is a place. Woodstock once had a larger subway system before it was abandoned by the Higher Ups as they focused on that ridiculous Space Elevator project. Though, before I say more, you gotta prove you aren’t a Cop.” looking at the Detective, Henry sighs and materializes some gold coins for him to take.
“Nice, just go to one of the abandoned Subway terminals and you should find it more populated as you get deeper into the station. One of which is nearby, at Vergil street, before crossing into Dante’s Intersection. Now, I’ll be in my office. Ena, continue the good work. Have a good evening now.”
After patting the shoulder of the bartender, the two immediately leave to go to the station. “I can see now why you chose to look like that. He was entirely convinced with just a peek.” the Detective with his cigarette struts along the dirty sidewalk, happily smiling at how fast his investigation is going and in his mind, he can already see the light in the end of the tunnel.
As they walk back to the street, a team of players with cameras interviewing citizens. A seven foot tall and a half green skinned Orc wearing a stylish suit with a thick British accent even though he can speak American English clearly is making humorous jokes and takes as the citizens laugh. “So on a scale of One to Ten, how pretty do you think you look with that outfit?” “Ten! I worked very hard to farm these clothes and spent days making sure my avatar is absolutely perfect!” Due to the sidewalk already being littered with people and random objects, the Detective and the Queen couldn’t pass.
“And what outfit is that?”
“It's a body tight Eldritch Snakeskin leather armor with Sabatons only available to the Knights of Jude. The necklace is a rare Dawrven gem that increases the effectiveness of created items.”
“Very nice, very nice. As an Orc, a mate like me could never sport that. Now, your class?”
“Archer. A very beautiful archer!”
“And now! For the killer question! Back on Earth, are you truly a woman?”
“....”
After a bit of silence, the pretty girl perks up and does a pose with her tongue out. “Nope! I’m a male accountant that works on a Five to Nine schedule!”
Everyone laughs and the camera crew thanks the player and they move on. The Orc immediately notices the bored vampire as they shake hands with the crowd, bringing smiles to the much bleak atmosphere of the stranded players. “Bloody hell, wanna try her?” his cameraman shrugs his head and so does the staff following him. But the Director in a van far into the street gives him the all go through the earpiece.
“Hello ma’am!”
“Huh?!”
“Yes, you! You in that frilly purple gown, may we interview you!”
The Detective immediately slips away, hiding his face with his fedora. “Oy! Henry!” The Queen catches him and lifts him up via his jacket collar. “Put me down! I’m a Detective for Christsake! I can’t let my face get shown on National TV!” the Queen sighs and lets him slip through, crouched down. He takes the risk and walks into the busy road, almost getting hit by a box truck as he successfully rounds the crowd and to their car.
“So Miss…”
“Carmilla.”
“Oh, very cliche. I like that!”
“Cliche? Is that name very common to vampires? My Lord really needs to be more creative next time.”
“Oh yes it is! Wow! Look at you! Is a Dhampir wearing all black and riding a robotic horse after you?”
“Dhampir? Are those even truly a thing? Last I checked, human and vampire genes are too different for actual pregnancy.”
“Oh yes they are! Rare avatar type, but it does happen and some are actually here in this very street!”
“Huh, interesting.”
“So tell this bloke the story about that outfit you’re wearing.”
“Oh this? It's uhhhh… I apologize. I usually have a red one that’s far more presentable than this but this frilled gown that I have is my work outfit as one from your world would say.”
“And why purple?”
“Uhm… its purple as its the rarest dye one can attain in Threa, worse off. Only the Wood Elves have access to the very few snails capable of making this color.”
“Uh huh uh huh, and your shoes?”
“For shoes, I have these pointed heels. They’re four dirteks… or inches in American English.”
“Oh, you're a native? Where are you from?”
“I’m from the Continent of Schon, the Kingdom of Rose Cramoisie.”
“Beautiful. And as a lass with beauty like yours, on a scale of One to Ten with your outfit. How good would you rate yourself?”
“Hmmm… if I’d rate myself...” The Queen closed her eyes and started thinking. “I’d say an Eight.”
Meanwhile, back at the Capital of the Vampire Kingdom, Bahamut is making cute roaring noises at the baby red wyvern that’s taken a liking to her.
“Uhhh… Bahamut?”
“Shush Alana, I am trying to make this young develop his voice to start speaking human tongue.”
The Countess just facepalms. Though Bahamut’s soft voice with her countenance could pass as a tutor, her gown was far from inviting. “You can’t. They’re way too young right? Aren’t you a Dragon God? Shouldn’t you be versed in this thing?” Head Knight Malakur on the other hand is just staring at the slim tall woman wearing the darkest gown he’d seen in his entire life.
“I am, but I only earned that title from thousands of years of fighting and survival. Now, one must know with us Dragons is that we can learn things with enough attempts. But it's better to train us as young as possible so that we may be able to develop certain skills alongside our wisdom.”
“Explains a lot.”
“Grrrrr… RAH! C’mon! You can do it! You're a volcanic wyvern! Be as tall and large as a volcano and most of all, be as loud!”
Meanwhile, the aquatic blue mother Great Wyvern that was taking up half the large warehouse just smiles warmly at her children, enjoying the company of Bahamut. Many of them are trying to climb up to her head to take her shiny black crown.
“Oy! Not there! Younglings! Stop pulling my hair and my crown! Oy! I’ll make you all do laps around the Port if you dare continue!”
One of them manages to successfully snatch her crown, dragging it away with her veil still attached to it. Revealing her pale skin, sharp chin, and straight bangs that covered her entire forehead and thin eyebrows, her face was gorgeous and it even made Alana jealous to see how pretty she was and at the same time, how the Dragon God wasn’t even aware of it and held no tact at all.
“I knew she had a good body, but with a face like that too?”
“Oh wow, isn’t she a pretty one M’Lady. Man, if only my fiancee looked like her.”
“Shush, that’s a Dragon God. If she was to understand you, you’d be burned… or eaten.”
“I never learned Dragonian or that American English the Outworlders use so is she happy?”
“Yes, yes she is.”
“Ah good. For a Goddess, she hasn’t even asked for a singular Tribute. In the stories of the old, King Augustus and Queen Catherine used to ask for entire swathes of land that outsized small countries and an impossible amount of jewelry.”
“I’m surprised Queen Catherine never questioned her. But I guess she didn't reveal her human form at that time and was attached to our Lord.”
“She had met Queen Catherine? How did two Dragon Goddesses not end up in a fight for dominance?”
“M’Lord only told me that they met on the balcony of James’ great castle. Though Bahamut reacted negatively, Catherine didn’t.”
“Huh, but what do you think M’Lady? Will the Dragons use the Eternal Fire of their great tree to once again fend off the hordes? Or do they have a plan for Bahamut? I find it quite odd that Queen Catherine didn’t react the same way.”
“We don’t even know if it's true and such a thing exists. But knowing Dragons and their close connection to Divinity, I might be eating my words right now. Either way, Bahamut wouldn’t let herself get used. That’s not how she works, unless she gains something from it. I doubt she’d let the Dragon Kingdom do as they wish with her.”
“Big things are ahead of you M’Lady, already you're changing this Kingdom but I dare say, when the Hordes of the Devil come storming. I’m sure you’ll be able to mark your name in history.”
“Truth to be told Malakur, I think we’ve already done it… multiple times. Doesn’t help that I have a record inside the Holy See’s Adventurer’s Association and we were ranked as one of the fastest growing parties. Rising the ranks from Trainee to Adventurer in such a short amount of time.”
“Oh yeah, that’s definitely going to make some eyebrows rise.”
Inside the warehouse, Bahamut is chasing around the baby wyvern that stole her crown. Running around the pillars with her heels making loud cracking noises as she tries to grab it back without hurting the wyvern.
“But Lady Minuit, it does seem that she could give the current Queen a run for her money. King Harold won’t be happy when his beloved is out beautified by the Dragon God.”
“Haaah…. Bahamut is a true Goddess. Of course her beauty would be beyond that of any vampire or creature. But it is interesting that she has a scrawny body with such pale skin. Her shiny hair also gets me rattled, how come someone was bombastic as she gets hair like that?”
“Nonetheless, she gets a ten.”
“Oy Sir Malakur, don’t even try me.”
“Oh my, is this jealousy I am sensing Countess? M’Lady is jealous, goodness me.”
“Hmph. Don’t even start. I swear I’ll be sending you to every little Ice Piker call.”
After a while, the Dragon God gives up. Absolutely defeated by the baby. Seeing the chance as the baby wyvern sat on its butt to laugh at Bahamut, Alana snatches it back and hands it to the defeated woman. “Why not take our Lord to the park? I am sure his body needs some adventure. He's been cooped up in his bed for almost a week now.”
“What about the snow? They’ve been accumulating for a while now.”
“No worries, the city staff takes good care of it and is constantly cleaned and checked.”
“Alright. Let us go before my gown is ripped.”
“Good. I’ll tell Lord Malakur to stay here and keep guarding the wyverns.”
Bahamut tells her goodbye, rubbing her cheeks to each of the seven baby wyverns and hugging them tightly all together, the two take the Minuit family coach back to the Manor and go into his room. After checking his vitals, they prepare him for the trip. Making him wear his suit and great coat, Bahamut then takes a wheelchair given by the United Nations and puts a thick blanket over him and attaches his IV stand to it. They also packed some food as the trip could take a few days depending on the snow and weather. After traveling through the snowy roads and capital streets, they arrive at the National Park. Even with the recent heavy snowfall, the flowers were still pretty, from pink to violet, purple and green.
The people there were playing with the snow and throwing it at each other, it had a solemn atmosphere, one wouldn’t even believe that most of the people there are older than entire human eras. Aside from the armed UN Soldiers with green armbands, the place was perfect for the silent Knight General. With a blanket over his lap and his well ironed uniform on, Bahamut rolls his wheelchair into the grounds.
“You have some magnificent timing Alana. We’ve arrived when the Sun is up and the sky is clear.”
“Mhm mhm, well Bahamut. One cannot be a Countess without knowing the basics of such trivial things such as this. It would be a disaster if I was to hold a party with inclement weather.”
“Hm, c’mon. Let’s give the Master a good time outside.”
They look through the various flowers and Orchids Queen Elizabeth collected over her time. Littered throughout the Park were also facts about some of it. Bahamut in particular sees one that is orange and looks like it's made out of Lava. The plaque in front of it was in Romanz so she tapped the Countess to read it for her.
“That’s the Lava Orchidae, special to the upper regions of Dragovh were once great Dragons slept inside Volcanoes. That is a special one that is only created through the union of air, lava, and a special seed that has been lost to the ages.”
“Interesting.”
Bahamut lifts her veil a bit, revealing her pale skin and sharp jawline. The woman elegantly took a sniff. “I wanna bite it but if I do, I feel like Master would wake up from his sleep and scold me.” She then stands straight up. Remembering something funny with a certain petal that went to her Master’s eye.
“Hm. This is very good.”
“As good as it smells, these are probably the last of its kind.”
“Though I find it very amusing even in this world, my kin still dwells in Volcanoes. Though who am I to speak. He-he-he.” Bahamut looks to the side, remembering that she once stayed in a Volcano herself. “What about you Master? What do you think? Does it smell pleasing?”
The Knight General remained motionless, with closed eyes. Not getting a singular response, after letting him feel the air for a bit, Bahamut and Alana move on. In the middle of the Park is a Gazebo with a Pianist. With the music and the Vampires leisurely going by their day, the two women could only appreciate the intensely beautiful and calming atmosphere created by the perfect blend of sceneries. There wasn’t a single litter and the snow was cleaned off the park grounds.
“GUH!”
Bahamut suddenly stops the wheelchair, lifting her head up and sniffing the air. She could smell the aroma of a well done steak. Like a cat who just found its prey, she turns her head to the right and sees an expensive Victorian Restaurant, one of the Waiters was serving food and dripping it with gravy sauce. She then turns her head to the left, seeing a French style store serving Italian food. Ignoring the fact that her stopping suddenly made Paul make a noise.
Going around the Park was a UN Soldier with a green armband, decked out in combat gear and a yellow scarf. But had no gun, his pistol holster was empty. His hands are just carrying an expensive professional camera. Taking photos of the serene park where Vampires were living in their daily lives without care. After snapping some photos, he notices the two women around the wheelchair. Catching their beauty that was on another level, he quickly walks up to them and lightly bows.
“Excuse me, may I take a photograph of you three?”
Alana and Bahamut looked at each other, after a second. They nod.
“Nice!”
The two first fix their Lord's suit and with Bahamut’s hands on the wheelchairs push handles and Alana on the General’s right with her hands tied together. They stood frozen as the man took a picture. Half kneeling and snapping multiple ones in different angles and rotation. “Thanks! Uh, here take a look!” He walks up to them and shows them the photo. Though the two women looked absolutely wonderful, they noticed how solemn and despondent the feeling of it was. Paul's head was down, hiding his face through the Fedora’s brim. Through the dark veil, one could make out Bahamut’s pale face. Her straight bangs and two long strands of side hair that reached the sides of her knees. Her dark gothic funeral gown didn’t help at all.
While Alana with her well kept bangs and white dress looked stunning and blended well in the snow, it was in contrast with Paul’s more black gray suit and Bahamut’s gown that seemed to absorb the light. Her extremely well sculpted face and body was the perfect image of a Goddess, or a creature not of this world trying to blend in with humans.
“Uhhhh… is it good?”
“Heeeeh… I should change my outfit.”
Alana looks at Bahamut who just realizes how she looked to others.
“Yes Bahamut, you should. Have you ever thought of wearing something else that isn’t that dark ornate gown of yours? It always looks like you're going to a Funeral or Cemetery. If anyone’s a vampire, it’s you.”
“I wear this gown because I like it and black has always been my colour, from my scales to my dwelling. It's all dark and my pale skin really makes me look too perfect. I think if a human was to see me, they would’ve instantly seen through it.”
“Why is that? Is it because of the body of her Divine, Mors Letum?”
“No, my human form’s skin tone has always been like that as I mostly dwell in the Abyss. And the Abyss is an extremely cold place, though devoid of snow. It is devoid of life itself, and only the cold lingering feeling of lostness and death could be found in its lightness chasm.”
“... You’ve been to places haven’t you?”
“Well yes, I wouldn’t be a Dragon God if I hadn’t now would I?”
The military photographer then realizes why he was attracted to her. She was Bahamut, the Dragon God. But before he could say anything, a midnight blue carriage with silver lining arrived at the park entrance, spooking the UN soldiers near the curb who were helping patrol the city.
Its well outfitted six horse blinds those who looked at it from the chrome of its harnesses and reins. It was as flashy and luxurious as it gets. The driver who was a well dressed and well groomed butler with a tall top hat and a suit jumps from the front and opens the door with a seal of the Dragon and Knight, the action deploys stairs.
“Bahamut, may I request something from you?”
“Speak.”
“If my blood boils, please do stop me.”
“May I be violent?”
“Just make sure I don’t punch a hole into that Courtesan’s chest. The Voltaire’s are here.”
What comes out first are shiny metallic high heels and long shiny slender white legs. Then a sparky midnight blue party gown, then a silvery white hair that waves like an ocean current and appears a woman who seems to be in her late twenties. With her right hand on her hip, she steps out of the carriage and into the park.
Walking with the stride of a woman who owns the world, following her is a short man with brown hair wearing a white nobleman's outfit with a short cape. Passing the sidewalk, she looks at the two UN soldiers and their white Humvee. They don’t have pointy ears like Vampires and have green armbands and wore bulky kevlar vests with neck guards with a thick green combat uniform with elbow and knee pads. Their entire face is covered by a black balaclava and the UN Blue ACH helmets they wore.
“Lord Arnheit, who’re… these faceless creatures?”
“They’re skeletons with the humans, Lady Voltaire. King Harold allowed them to roam freely in our country, they’ve also been permitted to aid in patrolling the streets to keep the peace.”
“Hmm? And why? Our crime rates aren’t as high as the pitiful ones in Geraldia. Tsk, don’t even get me started with the ones living in the sandy dunes of Meridia. Filthy humans, why would his Highness dirty our clean and hygienic city with these… cretins.”
“Oh, but these humans are different, they’re very advanced and polished with their manners. Even their dumb grunts know proper decorum and are extremely educated.”
“And why should I care? As if their intellect means anything, they live short lives and are as fragile as can be. No amount of armor will save them from instant death. Let us move on, I want to listen to Mister Santiago’s piano.”
She spoke with a high tone, making sure everyone heard her pretty voice and looked down on the soldiers like their unworthy trash. Moving along them like they didn’t even exist. Lord Henry on the other hand didn’t care for them, and just moved on. The man with a small frame didn’t care that the UN soldiers towered over him and walked like he was the tallest man in that area.
“Oh my, will you look at that. The Gods must be on my side today.”
She notices the Countess with an extremely attractive woman, preparing to leave the park. But it was too late and Alana senses her gaze and starts fast-walking out of the area. Using her vampiric speed, Lady Voltaire appears in front of Alana who was leading Bahamut with the wheelchair out of the place.
“Lady Minuit, pleased to meet you in such an adverse time.”
Being taller than Alana, the Countess didn’t have to look far to avoid the silver haired woman’s gaze. Lady Voltaire properly vows which Alana follows through with hers.
“I apologize Lady Volatire, but I must move on now.”
“Oh Countess. Please, stay with me and entertain me. These pitiful humans are ruining our magnificent capital.”
She then notices the hunched over man in a wheelchair behind Alana. Seeing this, the Countess takes a few steps back to protect him.
“Ohhhh, and who is this? A defective pet? Now, why would someone of your level stoop so low to mingle with these mammals.”
“Duchess, please. Not today, I have matters to tend to.”
“Matters? In the park? And what could this be? Eating or enjoying the sights?”
Just as Alana was about to grab her arm to stop her, Voltaire was faster. Dodging her and appearing right next to the comatosed man, just as she was about to touch his fedora. Bahamut’s hand grabs her wrist. The silver haired woman was even shocked by the speed, slowly looking up to face the sparkling golden eyes of Bahamut. Though her face had a blank expression, she knew well the woman wasn’t merely wearing some outfit and had power to back it up.
“Duchess…?”
The woman was speechless. She didn’t have pointy ears and was pretty much human except for her eyes. After staring at Bahamut after a few more seconds, she could make out that she was also beautiful, too beautiful to be a vampire. Her aura was on an entirely different level.
“You insolent.”
Bahamut then starts putting pressure on her grip. Slowly crushing her wrist while twisting it.
“Call my Master defective again, then I assure you that I shall summon a thousand Dragons that will lay your Kingdom to ashes.”
Bahamut’s eyes turn from gold to purple and red, through the dark veil, Voltaire could see the glow of her monstrous eyes. Its lizard-like pupils eyeing her very soul as she sees her immense power, with the Mana of the surrounding flying straight to her that some of the flowers and orchids were starting to wither. Her usual motherly soft voice was gone and it was replaced with an echo of a Goddess speaking down on a lowly creature.
“How dare you speak to me with that tone?!”
Even though Bahamut had her Crown, the woman did not care. Seeing her as a puny human. She slaps her with insane speed. Sending the snow clean off the ground, the Dragon God wasn’t even fazed or flinched. Her white cheeks had no hint of damage and her hands were warmly holding Paul from falling off from the wheelchair.
The Duchess was about to go for a second round, shocked by her immense resilience. Inches from her face, Bahamut stops it with magic. Manipulating the air to cause immense drag on her hand. Slowly, the now angry Dragon God turns her head to meet her eye to eye. Being the same height, she had no problem showing the Duchess that she’s serious.
“Do not test my patience whordl’. I only allowed you to touch me for I know my Master would not like negotiations to break down because of my temper. BUT, dare touch me again and push my beloved Master to the ground.” more and more of the Mana starts flowing into her, making even the powerful Duchess take a few steps back and people around the area look with panicked eyes. “I shall create a special place in the Void just for you to have an eternal damnation.” seeing that Voltaire is scared to bits, Alana steps in and puts her hand on Bahamut’s shoulder.
“That’s enough, you’ve made your point. I’ll reward you with some food.” with a quick bow, the Countess drags Bahamut who was still seething with anger to the nearest exit. Seeing that one of the commoners had a shiny necklace with him, the Countess snatches it and gives it to the angry Bahamut. But the Dragon God didn’t care, and simply kept staring at the Duchess who was also staring back at her with extreme contempt. Alana had to cancel her plans for the day and drag the two back to the Manor.