“Please, be merciful,” a middle-aged man said, lowering his forehead flat on the cold stone floor, the embodiment of perfect supplication. “Dark Lady.”
“Hmph,” Seina snorted, her red eyes studying the whelp begging for his pitiful life. “Then you must buy it. What can you offer me in exchange?” In her view, only those with something worth giving deserved to live.
“I…” The man faltered, knowing the implications of his lady’s words. “My life then. Just spare my wife and child.”
“I accept this payment for your crime.” The man had foolishly stolen bread to feed his starving family. He’d known the consequences of taking such a risk. With a gesture of her hand, she beckoned him forward. While Seina could fog his thoughts with a glance, she’d rather someone submit to her willingly.
The man moaned as Seina drained his lifeblood, dripping pleasantly down her cheeks as she sucked him dry. The taste was beyond anything mortal food could offer. At least, Seina assumed so. During her mortal years, she’d only had the gruel the vampire overlords offered their slaves.
Far too quick, the feeding was finished. The man gasped as she released him from her fangs, languid, but alive. He’d be useless as a feeding source if she killed him. Contrary to the legends, a single bite won’t convert someone to a vampire. Only the offering of a vampire’s blood gave them the gift. While lightheaded, he’d suffer no other ill effects.
“Go and clean yourself,” Seina said, waving a dismissive hand. “I will summon you again when I get thirsty.”
“Thank you, Dark Lady.” Shamefaced, the man covered the puncture wounds on his throat with his ragged collar and staggered out, woozy. Seina scowled at the nickname. Unlike other vampires, she hadn’t abandoned her human name, a tradition she considered stupid. Despite her protestations, however, the nickname stuck,
“That was nice of you. You allowed the man to return to his family.” A voice said from a birdcage.
Seina snorted and flopped onto her throne. “A dead human is worthless to me. I gain nothing from pointless slaughter.” She just wished her idiotic vampiric kin understood that. What use was a dead world? Besides, he’d sacrificed himself to protect his family. Seina admired that greatly.
The creature with fur whiter than snow studied her, but otherwise remained silent. According to him, he was a fairy from a distant plane called Starlight Dream. She’d caught him trying to free some slaves and kept him as a pet. Silly, but Seina loved cute things. He was a pleasant change from her castle’s rather drab interior, with its gray stone walls and gloomy atmosphere. He was like the sun, the closest she’d ever get to glimpsing it again.
“I hope that’s the last of them.” She hated being forced to solve every little problem that her minions brought before her.
“Colten, tell me a story,” Seina said suddenly. “Anything will do.”
“Sure. Suppose I have little else to do.” Colten said, grumbling to himself. “If I’d known I’d be forced to suffer this indignity, I’d have stayed in Starlight Dream!”
“Which I’d love to hear more about,” Seina said, sitting straighter. “Tell me more about this mysterious tower that extends across the multiverse. Where’d it come from?”
“What’s to say?” The fairy replied. “Nobody knows where the Needle of the Cosmos comes from. Some say it originates from the multiverse’s dawn, a pillar that holds the entirety of the multiverse together. Others claim it’s a memorial for the ancient queen when fairies were first given their stewardship as the terrors of the cosmos.”
“Terrors, huh?” Seina snorted, amused. Colten didn’t have a bad bone in his body. Was he an exception to his species? Seina sympathized.
“Supposedly.” Colten offered a shrug.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here, regardless.”
“Why?” Colten raised an eyebrow.
“Because these other fairies sound dreadfully dull!” And complete jerks. Like her own subjects didn’t offer her enough grief. Their needless cruelty was so wearisome. Though hating Seina for her magnanimity, they dared not rebel against her, fearing the Dark Lady’s terrible power.
“My throne room needs more color.” Seina tapped the armrest of her throne. “Flowers would be fantastic, but they’d wilt from lack of sunlight. Pity.”
“Then perhaps you shouldn’t have accepted the dark gift if you can’t stand the darkness?” Lothaire said, wearing a wry smile as he appeared from a shadowy corner.
“I suppose,” Seina said, somewhat forlorn. The light would never grace its presence on her again, no matter how much she wished otherwise. She suffered a particular vulnerability to it, unlike most high vampires. “What brings you to my domain, Lothaire? I didn’t summon you.”
“A slight problem.” The ex-vampire king said. She’d tossed him out when she’d taken control of the Earth, but he’d persisted, somehow worming himself into the vampire court. He possessed a useful ability, capable of bending time itself to his will. “A rebellion is stirring in Germany. While small now, it might burgeon into a full-blown crisis. What should we do, Dark Lady?”
Seina frowned, not liking the mockery lurking behind his words. They’d never gotten along, not only because she’d usurped him. She’d never been ruthless enough for his taste, arguing it’d only end with a dead planet. But he’d accused her of sympathizing with cattle. The nerve.
She paused, considering her next words, not wanting to appear ridiculous before her subordinate. Colten, too, watched her intensely. It made her decidedly uncomfortable, but kept her undead face stoic.
“Shall we cave to their demands? Make ourselves look weak?” He asked, baiting her.
“No, capture and execute the leaders,” Seina replied.
“And the rest of the followers?” Lothaire’s eyes twinkled with malicious glee. “Limit their rations and increase their work hours?”
“When they’re already desperate? That will only feed their unrest.”
“Oh, I see. We’re meant to care about the rebellious cattle, then? Throw them a party? Pat them on the head?”
“No, display their leaders’ bodies on poles. It’ll act as a reminder of what happens to those who oppose the vampire lords. But increase their food rations. It will remind them they only live because of our kindness.”
“Your will shall be done, Dark Lady.” With a mocking bow, the former vampire king left.
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“Why do you tolerate that guy?” Colten said from his cage. “I’d give him a black eye for speaking to me like that!”
Seina snorted but didn’t reply. The problem was that all her vampire subjects acted like that. They resented this young upstart and the power she lorded over them. Only their Dark Lady seemed to care about what happened to humanity. What do they expect to do when everyone’s dead? While she could easily escape to another planet, most were stuck earthbound.
Damn it. I’m only a ten-year-old girl. Taking Kaguya’s recommendation to rule this world was a mistake.
“Revenge for how this planet treated me, my butt!” Seina said, stewing in her frustration. “You owe me for this, Kaguya.” Her mistress was off gallivanting around the cosmos while she was stuck here.
“Whatever.” Seina clicked on her TV set, which sat across her throne. Maybe some Disney movies would cheer her up. “Any recommendations, Colten?”
“We’ve seen The Little Mermaid a billion times! How about an action movie with plenty of explosions!” Colten said, knowing her tastes too well. What was wrong with her favorite movie?
“That works, I suppose.” Unfortunately, most of the DVDs were American, many without Japanese subtitles. Still, she’d make do, regardless.
“This is wrong; you must know this.”
“What? Sorry?” Seina said, turning to her throne room’s only guest.
“Huh? I didn’t say anything.”
Seina released a deep sign. She must be overworking herself. She was hearing voices.
“Nice operation you have here.” Someone said, slinking into Seina’s domain. It was a dark-haired girl she’d never seen before. Much to Seina’s astonishment, a dark-furred version of Colten followed in her wake.
“Who are you?” Seina said, peering at the newcomer with some curiosity. Unlike the other humans, she appeared well-fed with well-tailored, fashionable clothing.
“My name is Takako, and the magical girls of Starlight Dream are demanding you give an account of yourself.” The girl with the goth flare to her outfit said. Colten tensed when the girl mentioned Starlight Dream, further evoking Seina’s curiosity.
“Okay. Care to elaborate? My name is Seina Kamiyama, ruler of this planet.” She tried her best to impersonate her master’s aloof imperialism.
“What do we have here?” The black fairy said, floating over to Colten’s cage. “Is this a runaway fairy I spy?”
“That’s none of your business!” Colten snapped back.
“You shouldn’t be here.” The black fairy said, a cruel smile widening across his tiny, cute face. “Lieutenant Emiyo won’t be pleased. I imagine a terrible punishment awaits you.”
“No, this fairy is my guest and under my protection,” Seina bristled. She refused to allow his color to be taken from her life. For whatever reason, he seemed to understand her on a deep, fundamental level.
“Hey! You can’t decide that!” The black fairy said, indignant. His temper flared even hotter as Colten stuck his tongue out at him.
“It’s fine, Nier,” Takako said, waving a dismissive hand. “I hardly care about one lone runaway fairy. What damage could he possibly cause?”
“Why are you here?” Seina asked in her best commanding tone.
“Simple. The magical girls of Starlight Dream are the masters of the cosmos. It is our business to spread misery and suffering across the multiverse.” The magical girl said.
“Of course it is.” Seina rubbed the bridge of her nose. What was with everyone’s obsession with causing misery?
“You’re right! Why must they make things worse for everyone else?! Isn’t life tough enough already!” An indignant voice said, bristling. Again, Seina searched around but found nothing.
“We’re doing fine,” Seina said with a brittle smile. “This planet is under the vampire kind’s rule.”
“Yet your suffering quota has been decreasing. My superiors aren’t pleased.” Takako replied. Seina already heard Lothaire’s smug response at this comment. Had the ex-king known of the magical girls?
“If they have a problem, then that’s too bad,” Seina said, her smile unpleasant, not appreciating someone coming around and telling her how to run her kingdom. Even Mistress Kaguya didn’t presume to do something like that.
“Then this planet’s coming under better management,” Takako didn’t seem concerned whatsoever about confronting a queen vampire. What presumption!
“Typical Takako.” A voice said, sighing.
“Yeah, you haven't a clue who you’re dealing with!” Neir said with a sneer.
“Change Change, Magical Love Genocide Dress Up!” The girl produced a red brooch and transformed into a dress so purple it might be mistaken for black with blotches of yellow and green.
“Call me, Lily Annihilator.” With a flick of her hands, she summoned two pistols, one black, the other white, pointing them at Seina. “Shall we play?”
“Must we?” Seina blew out a weary sigh, not interested in picking a fight.
“We must!” Takako said, eyes alighting with mischief. “Are you just going to sit there while I butcher you?”
The mouth on this girl! Before Seina could offer a cutting retort, a loud voice interrupted their conversation.
“Enough of this! I’m getting bored. I want to play too!”
Reality trembled, its edges cracking like glass. It trembled again, even harder. Takako tensed as she stumbled, struggling to stay upright. Colten’s cage swung violently as the fairy clung for his life. The crack shattered and a girl in a bomber jacket stepped through the tear in reality. A cigarette hung from her lips, her eyes alight with glee. A fairy not dissimilar to Colten floated behind her.
“Who the heck are you?” Takako said, alarmed.
The mysterious newcomer cracked her knuckles and lowered into a stooped position. “Simple. I’m tired of Seina’s subtle approach. If you want something done, you do it with your fists!”
“Uh, what?” Seina hadn’t a clue what was happening anymore. Was this the mysterious voice’s source?
“Name’s Arisu Ikehara, the Wicked Queen.” The stooped girl said, taking another drag from her cigarette. “You might have heard of me.”
“What?” Takako said, her mouth agape. “Impossible! Isn’t she just a myth?”
Colten’s eyes bulged, sputtering as he spoke. “The Wicked Queen? The true terror of the Cosmos?”
“I am. And the legends don’t even come close to covering how badass I am,” Arisu replied.
“Okay.” Seina sighed, giving up. What was with today? “Are you here to complain about how humans aren’t suffering enough too?”
“Naw, I’m here to restore things to their proper place. And punch some faces in, particularly the Devil Princesses. Kaguya, in particular.” The delinquent girl said.
“What?” Takako snorted, astonished and incredulous. “Are you insane? Fight the Devil Princesses, the invincible terrors?”
“Yeah, but I’m worse. You coming?” Arisu asked the crack in reality.
“I better not.” Another said. Was it her imagination, or had Seina’s own voice said that? “Mr. Kiyojiro says it’s a terrible idea. Close contact with my other self would be disastrous! Crossing your own timeline is beyond dangerous.”
“Pity, sill it leaves them all for me!” Arisu said, her grin widening. What the heck was going on?
“You’re delusional. No way you’re really the Wicked Queen,” Takako said, pointing both her pistols in the other girl’s direction. “Stay out of this, vampire. This is my mess to clean up.”
“She’s just some fool cribbing on an infamous reputation!” The black fairy gave a dismissive snort. Colten, however, only watched the scene in fascination. He beamed as the delinquent’s fairy freed him, relieved to be free of his cage. Seina’s eye twitched in annoyance, but stayed put. Best not to lose her nerve. She could retrieve him later.
“Do whatever you wish.” Seina waved a dismissive hand and planted herself on her throne. This should be interesting, at least. She was curious what these magical girls could do.
Takako raised an eyebrow as Arisu stayed put in her squatting position, unbothered by two deadly weapons pointed at her. “You’re not transforming?”
“Against some half-baked magical girl like you?” Arisu said, snorting smoke from her nose. “Why bother?”
“Arrogant little.” Much to Seina’s surprise, Takako switched her black pistol to point at her heart. Before Seina could cry out in startled surprise, the dark magical girl shot herself. Then she vanished like smoke, reappearing behind Arisu quicker than the eye could trace. Twin weapons aimed at the delinquent girl’s head.
“Gah!” Takako howled as a fist implanted in her chest, she crumpled like a broken doll onto the floor.
“Impossible! You didn’t even…” Takako collapsed, unconscious.
“Wow!” Colten clapped his paws, impressed. “You sure showed that jerk!”
“No! It can’t be her, right?” Neir said, his voice edged with terror.
“Anyone else?” Arisu sent a baleful glare at the other vampires creeping in the shadows, drawn by the commotion. They fled like frightened mice under that intense gaze. “And you, Seina? What are you going to do?”
I’m losing control of this situation. I need to reassert my authority. “You are arrogant to enter my domain, magical girl. I am the Dark Lady, spawn of Kaguya Sawajiri, the Nightmare Dreamer. If you wish to challenge her, face me first.”
“Do you even know why you’re fighting?” Arisu said with a snort. “Don’t bother me unless you’re ready to fight for yourself.”
“Why you!” Worse, the girl had a point. Seina hated fighting, but she didn’t want to appear weak either. Worse still, this Wicked Queen knew how to fight. Seina had only been a vampire for four months. Even with her grand powers, she didn’t possess the skill necessary to fight her. Much to her considerable relief, a familiar voice entered the scene.
“No need, my daughter. I’ll take over from here.” Kaguya, the Nightmare Dreamer, said, appearing from a cloud of smoke. Behind her stood three other girls that Seina didn’t recognize.
“Finally. I was worried you’d run scared, Kaguya.” Arisu said.
In response, her sire only sighed, one of deep suffering. “Of course, you aren’t dead. Why would you be?”
“Me, never! Not when there’s a good fight!” Arisu replied, grinning.
“So, Kaguya was right.” The girl with the face mask with jagged fangs said, scowling. “There really is another timeline where you’d gotten free.”
“So what?” A girl with a maniac gleam in her eye said. “She’s suicidal if she ran here all alone. Four against one, Wicked Queen. And your little cousin’s not here to help you this time.”
“Fun! Fun! We get to punish you all over again!” A girl oddly wearing a fireman’s outfit chanted.
“It was foolish. But that’s never stopped you, has it?” Her mistress’s scowl deepened. Unlike the others, she didn’t seem as quick to dismiss the infamous Wicked Queen as a threat.
Arisu flicked away her cigarette and grinned, pulling a face mask over her mouth. “Me? Never? How about we start this party?”