Mimi, The Vampire
Rose's garden was causing my soul to overflow past my vessel. This further confirmed that the more bugs I was connected to, the faster my growth would become. I was just one of the many different versions of myself. The connections altered, a backup of the one controlling the main body. The best vessel was to lead the Hive, meaning if it died, then I would become the 'me' leading.
It was a shame that going feral had lost this body its memories. The soul had been put to sleep as any other body controlled by jitterbugs. It was the slumbering soul that allowed these bodies the ability to use the magic of others. Still, I felt so much weaker than the main body. My claws weren't nearly as strong, there was no elastic chitin. The only thing that made this body different was that my dreads were red instead of ebony. Even the fingertips were scarlet and surprisingly stronger than the average vampire we overtook.
Whoever this vampire used to be, they had lived a long life. That, or the soul had a talent to make our connection more intimate. A talent the mind couldn't remember, and I was in no place to test. The moment the sun fell over the horizon, the vampires would move from their cave. In less than an hour, they would be outside the fields. My bugs were watching the movements of the villagers.
The villagers were still preparing, while Richard sat atop the wall. He sat there, in a meditative pose. All of his focus was on the explosives he made. He was using his will to keep them from going off. They had found his effective range of control and the furthest volley would be used once he was shaken from his dream-like state. Di'Rex was beside him, while all forty of the villagers let their arrows fly over the wall.
Di'Rex ordered everyone to the top of the wall, so they could fire their second volley just a meter in front of the wall. Enough to make any trying to attack, hesitate. Twenty were kept in reserve, away from anyone in case they all went off once Richard was shaken 'awake.' The door to my storehouse opened, and I was reminded again why this body was inferior. I couldn't tell who it was from the sound alone, the brain couldn't process the sound bouncing off the surfaces fast enough. Jitterbug tier two, just might fix that.
Bugs were sent, and I realized it was Di'Rex's mother, Lana. "Geez, why do ya 'ave it so dark in 'ere!"
I grabbed a torch from the wagon and lit it. "It's because the sunlight will turn these bodies to ash. Please close the door, Ms. Lana."
She huffed, her apron and vest making her profession very clear. She had muscles, despite her lithe figure. The woman didn't look a day over twenty, though I had seen enough to know her appearance wasn't the best way to judge her.
"Right, an' I'm s'posed to take'a step outta de light that protects me?" She folded her arms in front of her chest. Her accent was very strange and foreign. "I'm 'ere, cause you spared my boys, nothin' else... missy?" Her eyes adapted to the darkness, witnessing my vampiric form. The pale skin, much like the main body. The shorter height, the red-tipped claws, and crimson dreadlock stingers. "Oi! What 'appened to ya!?"
I stared back at her, memorizing every tattoo she had on her skin. I wanted nothing more than to pry every secret she had from her. The scent wasn't impressive, but the scars and markings were awakening something in this body. Something very dangerous, that I had to keep suppressed, for now. The way her heartbeat stretched the skin along her exposed biceps, how her neck flexed with every breath. This body was going to accompany Richard and Di'Rex in a box. "When you first met me, I was in a different body." I did a slight bow.
It was easier to explain it as still being me, versus there being different versions of myself. Lana gave a curt nod herself, "Fine, as long as ye aren't plottin' nothin'."
"Ms. Lana, you came to me. The only thing that I am plotting, is how to repel the vampires coming tonight. These bodies excluded, I doubt you are here to offer blood. They are full for the most part, but you have made this body feel rather famished." I grinned at her, fangs glinting from the light of the torch.
Lana smirked, "Ha! Knew ye thought like an elf. Raised by 'em myself, but no dear, I don' feel like playin' with a monster. I'm only 'ere to thank ya. Nothin' more, nothin' less."
She was a curious one, but there was no reason to force anything between us. I merely tilted my head, "Thank me, how?" I lilted my voice playfully.
Lana grinned, "Jus' like a dark un. Ye are gonna protect both my boys, ya?" I nodded slowly, as she gave a thumbs up. "Gud. Keep'em safe 'n' I'll make ye somethin' nice. Look forward to it." She waved, leaving with the door still open. I let out a small sigh, knowing the value of her runes. There was much I could learn from her, but until I knew what the runic tattoos did, there was no reason to risk turning her.
Everyone was as prepared as they could be, the fun finally setting as I walked outside into the shade. M1-3 moved around me, a new kind of escort. It was silly to assign them a name based on what was between their legs, but 'V' was reserved for the elite ten. Once the last of the sunlight left, I made my way atop the wall with Di'Rex, Richard, and Jack. "My scouts can smell blood coming from a cave. The vampires are leaving now."
Richard was meditating, and Jack was a bit slow compared to the orc. Di'Rex grunted, "You didn't want to face them alone?" He was teasing, judging by the smile he gave me.
"Not my battle," I replied with a small shrug.
Di'Rex rolled his shoulders, turning to the villagers below us. "The vampires are coming! If you follow my command, we'll make it through tonight!" He raised a hatchet into the air, one of two. His old one was given to Richard, who kept it strapped to his back. The idiots cheered, some of them giving me a thankful smile. If only they knew the truth.
It was better this way, as I put a hand on Di'Rex's shoulder to calm him. "I shall be helping you in this battle, but know I am upset to clean a mistake you have allowed. This is the one and only time I will rectify something you have allowed to fester." That dampened the mood a bit.
Di'Rex chuckled, "You suck at war speeches, watch this!" He shrugged me away, and I exaggerated by falling into the arms of M2. This got a round of laughter from the villagers. Di'Rex slammed both hatchets together in a loud clang. "Beyond these walls are monsters that seek to drink your blood! Beyond these walls, are the vampires that sacked and pillaged their way to the landbridge and had to be repelled by a dragon!" I hid my scowl at the mention of the bastard that took Cynthia and Beru from me.
Di'Rex pointed past the fields, "It isn't the whole army, we are not fighting thousands, but only one hundred! Together, we stand a chance! I was raised in this village, as a child. I know all of you by name! I have watched my tribe die before my very eyes, and I was powerless to stop it! I know the difference between then and now! We are not weak, we are the people of Whe'Di! We will not die tonight, we will survive long enough to see our young again!"
The crowd began to holler, Di'Rex thumping his chest as the younger men began doing the same. "Keep your arrows ready, and your string slack! When I say draw, you pull them back! When I say fire, you let them loose! Who are we!?"
"THE PEOPLE OF WHE'DI!"
Di'Rex cupped his ear, "WHO ARE WE!?"
"THE PEOPLE OF WHE'DI!" They all thumped their chest, as Di'Rex turned away.
He was smiling to himself, "A good battle cry will make anyone ready to jump into the jaws of death."
I gave a slight nod, "Glory to the Hive has a much better ring to it." We stared over the field, "They'll be upon us in half an hour. I suspect ghouls are in the cave. They don't appear to be feral."
Di'Rex nodded, "Will you take care of those that retreat?"
I smiled to myself, even as he watched me, "They will be taken care of. After all, this was meant to be a gift."
Di'Rex grunted, "Dixon is a terrible fool, always has been. Aren't you worried about the morality of claiming more vampires or something? Richard was upset by it."
I rolled my crimson eyes, "If I was worried about morals, I wouldn't be here. Each vampire is a killer because they need the blood of others to continue surviving. Even this body isn't an exception. Their very existence is marred by sin. Those that have gone feral have no mind to guide their actions. Humans are selfish..."
He interrupted, "Got it, vampires are bad. I was asking if the issue you had was resolved. You know, between the two of you?" Di'Rex rubbed the back of his head.
I watched the trees ahead of us, the vampires coming closer. "I'm surprised that Richard didn't want to ask them to simply leave."
Di'Rex nodded, "I think he understands, these are vampires that raided villages and killed a lot of people. This army is just a small fraction of that."
"Horde." I spread M1-3 out, two of them ready to protect Richard.
Di'Rex grunted, "What's the difference? There's supposed to be one hundred of them. Sounds like an army to me."
"It's an army when thousands are attacking, or it is led by a powerful vampire that can direct all of them. They appear to be young-bloods, with no clear leadership. Vampires with strength similar to the humans they came from, but with the speed of their cursed kind. This is shaping up to be a rather boring confrontation." I pretended to yawn.
Stolen novel; please report.
"You shouldn't be careless." Di'Rex gave me a slight glare, "I will hold you responsible for any deaths."
I let out a small sigh, "By all means, blame me." I tilted my head, pointing past the harvested fields, "They are almost through the trees."
Di'Rex nodded, the first bodies emerging from the darkness. The light of the moon made it easier for Di'Rex to see, but even his vision was impeded by the veil of night. The one hundred were fanning out, as I spoke. "They see the line of arrows, and are discussing what to do."
"Know what their plans are?" Di'Rex kept his axes low.
"They can't make us out and believe we are guards. They are talking about a soothsayer or a potential seer. A few are laughing at the line of arrows we have. Ah, seems there are a few leaders, more like a mesh of groups together. They are approaching, let me know when you can see them." My scouts were buzzing around them, making it easy to lie about what they said. The vampires saw the wall and talked about how they trained for this. Some were incredibly happy that they finally got the chance to die.
Di'Rex nodded his head, "We're lucky they don't want to just go around the arrows."
I shook my head, "We're just a bunch of hicks thinking we might challenge them. Vampires are arrogant, so that line is as good as spitting on their faces. Controlling where the enemy comes, gives you the advantage in any conflict."
Di'Rex tilted his head, "What do you know about warfare?"
I grinned, "I have fought millions of battles with my bugs. I have tried countless different tactics, and come to some very sound conclusions. This is no different from tearing open the abdomen of a colony's queen and letting the pheromones attract the remaining warriors to the place I have the most advantage. There is a lot you can learn from things you wouldn't think could teach you something."
Di'Rex nodded slowly, "I see," He leaned forward, squinting. "I can see them running towards us now, wait why do they have rows?"
"Disposable members in the front, important ones in the back. I count twenty approaching the arrows in the ground. Our victory conditions are forcing their retreat and survival. We need to convince them that they cannot claim this village or the people inside. If we kill their leaders, they might frenzy." I put my hands on the hip-high ledge. This wooden wall was only fifteen feet (4.6 meters) high.
"They're almost at the arrows, I should get next to Richard and shake him awake." Di'Rex started to step, but I put a hand on his chest to stop him.
"I have two bodies beside him, I'll wake him up." The orc just nodded, as I waited. M2 and M3 shook Richard, causing the explosions to go off. The legs of twenty vampires were suddenly gone, as those bodies began to seize. The ones closer toward the back suddenly paused. Still, they crawled towards the walls. Their allies picked them up to use as meat shields.
Richard was out of it, while Di'Rex watched their actions in stunned silence. He was caught off guard by their lack of hesitation. "FIRE!" I yelled, stripping him of any leadership he thought he might have. I clicked my tongue as the village archers were slow to heed my command. M2 picked Richard up, as a wave of fire came from the vampires in an attempt to detonate the explosives. Silver arrows falling just behind their advance.
"Richard," I M2 whispered in his ear, "Make a little of the explosives go off so they think their fires broke them." I hit Di'Rex in the shoulder, not expecting the orc to freeze up like this, "Tell them to adjust! We can't hold this wall against eighty!"
Di'Rex snapped out of his stupor, "Adjust! Load the next volley! They are still coming!" A few explosives went off, while Richard nodded slowly. His hands were shaking, as he gripped the ax.
"They are starving, they can't afford to use too much blood!" I called out, "This means less magic to deal with!" I walked over to Richard, taking his hand. "You'll be fine, everyone will be alright. I'll protect them, and you." I kissed his forehead, as he found his resolve.
"Just tell me what I need to do." He gripped the ax more surely. M1 was dispatched to grab the twenty explosive arrows left over. Jack was starting to fidget, while Di'Rex watched the others load their last volley of silver arrows.
The elites were fanning out away from the explosive arrows, while those carrying the bodies of their legless companions ran through the fires. "Now, Richard." At my command, another twenty had lost their legs, the same frenzy taking them over. They would die tonight, while those I had promised a chance to go home had begun their retreat. M1 arrived with the explosive arrows, "Jack, throw these at any that touch the wall."
Jack grinned, running to the edge of the wall. His talent making it incredibly easy for him to get an arrow into their eyes. "Richard, keep track of the explosive arrows and let them explode when they hit the vampires.
"FIRE!" Di'Rex shouted as the volley rose into the air. The elites grabbed the mangled bodies and used them as shields, while others rushed to do the same. The arrows were largely useless without explosives, but they did keep the morale up. "Drop your bows, grab your lances! Defend each other!"
The bows were dropped, and kicked out of the way, as every villager pulled the spear off their back. Now wasn't the time to correct anyone. The vampires certainly heard it, as they threw their legless comrades ahead of them on the wall. Everyone that needed to flee had already done such. "We scared off thirty, that leaves us with seventy! Forty of them don't have legs, we can do this!" The idiots cheered, as Di'Rex went to keep Jack safe. Richard was exploding the arrows, while M1 handed them to Jack.
M2 and M3 were already at the ledge, using their claws to slash at any vampire that got close enough. Any magic that was used, was counteracted by the fire or wind blood the bodies held inside them. I used it sparingly, only redirecting when needed. "Damn it! We should have brought some spears up here!" Di'Rex cried out as he chopped at the still climbing surge.
"Too late now!" I smiled as Richard split one vampire's head in two with his ax. He turned a little green, but grit his teeth and went after the next. "Didn't you say that priest was going to help?"
Di'Rex grunted as he pulled his hatchets free, "Matthew is on the other side, just in case any try to slip through! He's protecting those that can't fight." Di'Rex called back, as the first vampires made it over the wall. I could see the elite feasting on their fallen brothers, drinking their blood without reservation. Richard started running towards one of them, when I grabbed him by the scruff of his quilt.
"Fall back to the others! My bodies will protect your retreat!" I jumped off the wall, carrying Richard with me. Jack screamed as M1 saw that Richard accidentally set off the last of the explosive arrows right next to Jack's face. M2 and M3 moved to give Di'Rex time to get his brother off the wall.
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Di'Rex
I had hesitated when I saw the numbers surging before us. That hesitation led to me not ordering the others to fire when they should have. I had taken my eyes off Jack for a second, as he threw the last of the arrows at the vampires. I turned just in time to see the explosion happen after Mimi took Richard off the wall. Time felt like it was slowing down, as my rage bubbled over. I could lose my brother here, I could lose everything!
I swung my hatchets, cleaving through the first vampire that lunged for me, and burying one in the second. The bastard grabbed my arm and bit into it. I screamed out my rage, "WAGH!" I wouldn't let them take my brother from me. I tore my arm away, a chunk of flesh going as I freed myself, just more fuel for my anger. Another vampire jumped at me, and I grabbed his head, slamming him into the other that had bitten me. They both cracked, as I jumped towards Jack.
Mimi had her three vampires holding off the others, while Jack stumbled back towards the wall. The vampires were going after him, like moths to a flame. The scent of blood in the air. One of Mimi's vampires jumped in front of another, its neck bitten into. Another spoke, "One of them used fire!" She was lying, but that didn't matter. Mistakes happened in the heat of battle!
I threw my last hatchet at the vampire biting into one of her necks. Then I grabbed Jack, as two of the three stayed behind. I jumped off the wall with my brother, her other vampire there to help catch me so Jack didn't get jostled. His face was gone, and he was seizing. I glared at the monster, "Save him."
The vampire took Jack from me, taking him away from the field of battle as the enemy poured onto the top of the walls There were maybe thirty left by the looks of it. I understood how a city or town could fall to these bastards now. They were relentless, hunger driving them, and these were the weakest of their kind! Dixon was an even bigger fool than I had thought, for thinking these things might be considered a gift for that monster.
"Spears up!" I called out, taking one from a man whose knees were shaking. In my rage, I couldn't tell whose face I was looking at. There was only battle! There was only blood! The first vampires started jumping down, "CHARGE!" I rushed forward, impaling one of them on my spear before swinging them to the side. Maybe nine more were impaled as well, but we couldn't stop all of them from coming down on top of us.
I unsheathed my dagger, slashing into the throats of those vampires closest to me. My people were driven back, the screams starting. Arms were torn from their sockets, as they desperately struck against any vampire harming their fellow villager. I didn't have time to feel proud, that they hadn't broken formation and started running away. We all knew some of us would likely die tonight.
Fire sparked as Richard charged, blue smoke coming from his mouth. The man suddenly became a whirlwind of death, a thick joint, and a smile as his eyes were bloodshot. I lunged, but for every vampire, I slit the throat of, there were two more. I was brought to my knees, fire blinding me as the bastards began to melt my face.
I wouldn't fall here! My anger surged again, "WAGH!" I could taste the blood and pus from my lips, the charred flesh screaming as I cried out. I grabbed the bastard by the throat and twisted until I heard felt the pop. Then I tossed him up and grabbed the body by the ankles and started swinging.
I couldn't see, I couldn't hear, but I knew they were all around me. Then I felt the ground shake with a thud. I smiled despite the pain, an unstoppable force tearing the body from my hands and tossing me back. I landed on the ground with a thud, unable to imagine the carnage I couldn't see.
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Mimi
Jack had been brought behind a building by M1, the only male body left, as the others died on the wall. A quick sting and the man was asleep as I used fire to cauterize everything. I tore off what skin was left of his face, before opening his skull to make sure his brain wasn't bleeding. It was, and I forced his mind into my Hive. Another version of myself would talk to him, as what was left of his memories were copied instantly. He was slipping away, so I had to act fast.
Richard was ordered to smoke his blue haze while the vampire me covered him. He would buy me the seconds I needed to keep this bastard alive. If his mother wasn't so valuable, I would have just devoured the man and taken his talent. I didn't even sigh, given how fragile the situation was. Parts of the brain were already damaged from some accident before it seemed.
That didn't matter, and the defect and the skull was merely taken out while fire seared the wound shut so he didn't lose too much more blood. I stung him with a healing stinger, and watched as the bone regrew, the bleeding in the brain stopped and began to regrow as well. It was good that the man was healthy and well-fed since his body was losing muscle mass.
I grit my teeth when the skull didn't fully close, I had to use another healing stinger. It was done, and M1 carried Jack to the church so he could recover. His eyes were no longer black, and he'd probably be able to think clearer. His mind was sent back to him, while I was just glad I didn't have to try catching his soul and spend even more time on the man.
Six of the villagers had lost their arms, and there were only twenty vampires now. I teleported above the group surrounding Di'Rex, crushing three of them with my weight as I landed on top of them. A few lunged but were promptly grabbed, their skulls crushed into gore. My explosive stingers lashed through the skulls of another three, leaving mainly my elites left as my lower arm grabbed the body Di'Rex was swinging around. Vampire me gently grabbed Richard and pulled him back.
I leveled a glare at an elite that watched me in awe, "Leave." They quickly fled as they should, while I went to the individuals writing on the ground and began healing. The battle was over, while the villagers watched me with reverence. A few even fell to their knees in prayer, as the first of them regrew their arms. I already used two teleports for this 'battle' so I intended on waiting an hour and lecturing these zealots on what to do. Using their faith to my advantage would help Luf'Ard flourish. I glanced at the orc I tossed away, the creature laying on the ground, his regeneration slowly regrowing his face and eyes. No one seemed to realize I had planned this all along. It was a complete victory.