Chapter 11 - BridgeThe gentle sound of chimes tinkled in the silence of the darkened room, startling the single figure behind the bar. Carefully putting down the glass he had been diligently polishing, Raimond peered up at the entrance, where he was sure he had locked the door...
There was nothing, except the slight movement of the windchimes that had obviously been disturbed by
something other than the wind. The windows were all shuttered, and with the entrance barred and locked, it did not seem that any ordinary intruder would be able to get in.
Of course, Raimond was hardly a stranger to unusual visitors, but it was still a shock to abruptly discover someone standing right next to him when he turned back to his work.
"Hello Raimond." A half smile. "I made sure to knock this time."
Clutching at his chest, Raimond smiled nervously and relaxed his grip, sweating slightly as he backed off a few steps to put some distance between himself and his visitor. Ai merely smiled again, leaning casually against the counter as if she owned the place.
"How may I serve you, my lady?" He managed to not stutter, even to the point of sounding utterly calm. Practice made perfect.
"Some O negative, if you don't mind. Warm, just the way I like it." Ai picked up the glass Raimond had been working on earlier, turning it in her hands to see the polished shine of it.
"Of course. In a moment, my lady." The elderly bartender retreated quickly to a back room, descending down a hidden stairway to his storeroom. After retrieving the requested product, he headed back out quickly, finding that Ai had vanished from behind the counter and was currently lounging at one of the corner tables.
With a reserved silence, Raimond eased over and delivered the goblet to the vampire. Ai took an almost dainty sip of the liquid, swirling it around like she was tasting a fine wine.
"A little tainted, Raimond. I can taste the cholesterol." Ai made a face, but she did not put it back down. She took another sip. "At least this one's healthier than the previous specimen."
Raimond bowed in apology. "I will try harder to meet your expectations, my lady."
Ai waved a hand at him dismissively. "I know of your efforts Raimond." She paused, looking at him directly.
"Why don't you just speak your mind? I can almost hear your thoughts from right here."
The man swallowed nervously. "Ah, my apologies. I was merely wondering why your esteemed self would be here in my humble little establishment so early in the day."
Ai smiled lazily, leaning back into the chair. "No class today, so I decided to drop by early." Raimond appeared unperturbed by the information. He knew of what she had been up to, of course. He wouldn't be doing his job for the Council very well if he didn't.
"Have a seat, boy. Keep me company for a while." Raimond shook a little as he obediently took a seat opposite the disarmingly harmless creature before him. It was not everyday that a vampire that could probably render you into compost with a finger would invite you to sit down with them.
Ai remained silent for a while, even as Raimond shifted around uneasily, trying not to meet her eyes. Keeping his eyes firmly fixated on the table, he tried his best to compose himself, as well as his twitching hands.
"The doors to the Blood Bar will open on the new moon, will they not?" Ai spoke into the silence. After a moment of hesitation, the bartender nodded. Ai smiled, putting down the half empty goblet.
"Where will they open here this time? I'm afraid I have not been keeping up with the news."
"I will obtain the information for you as soon as possible, revered one." It was unseemly for a fully grown man to squeak, but that was exactly how Raimond sounded like in front of a still cheerful-seeming Ai.
"Good." She did not volunteer more information, nor offer any recrimination. Raimond sighed internally, before asking cautiously.
"Does my lady intend to grace the Bar with your appearance?"
Ai gave him a slow, deliberate look. He looked down again, shaken.
"My intentions are none of your concern, human." Her voice was low, controlled, with just the faintest veneer of pleasantry that was hardly substantial enough to be real.
"Nor is it of any concern to the Council. Do you understand me?" The implied threat was right there, and the only thing Raimond could do was nod. Ai relaxed into an almost friendly posture again, the shift unnerving to any observer.
"The moon is soon to be full, is it not?" He nodded, and Ai leaned over her goblet, dipping one finger into what remained of the blood there, licking it off.
"The city smells like wet dog, Raimond. I do not like it." This time, he looked up, startled by her words. She pinned him with a direct gaze, and he froze, skin crawling.
"Are the children still disappearing?" Her question was forceful, as was her gaze. Beyond his control, Raimond could only answer as honestly as he could.
"Yes, my lady. The last one was a lesser Noble, just past his first century. The Council believes that it is the work of renegade Thin Bloods to undermine the
true Kindred."
Ai's lips twisted in a warped sort of smile. "I expected nothing less of them. Only concerned for their immediate interests..." She trailed off, releasing her mental hold on him. Raimond choked and coughed, holding his neck almost defensively as he tried to recover his composure.
Ai dipped her finger back into the goblet, the blood staining it like ink on a brush. She used it like one, lightly painting a symbol on the old wood of the table.
"Power." She completed the first rune. "Greed." She finished the second.
"Self interest." She lifted her hand, and cleaned off her finger with her tongue. Looking down at the bloody symbols she painted, she hummed contemplatively before standing.
"Tell the Council that I'll take care of their little problem." She gave him another piercing stare.
"I trust that that is the
only thing you will convey to them."
Raimond nodded wordlessly, his throat painfully dry. Ai vanished soundlessly, stepping into absolute darkness as she always did. Once she was gone, the old man's shoulders slumped, his body trembling from the sheer terror of the experience. He needed a strong drink, right about now.
Damn vampires. He rose shakily to his feet, stumbling over to the counter to get his drink. His hands were still visibly shaking as he poured himself some whiskey, splashing some on top of the counter. He drank, taking a long, shuddering breath.
Behind him, the blood runes on the table glowed eerily, then sank into the old wood, vanishing entirely from sight. Nothing remained, as if naught was ever there.
~*~*~
"Ai-chan! Sorry I'm late!" Risa huffed as she ran up to where Ai was standing in the shade.
"Did you wait long?" The younger girl panted as she stopped next to the older. Ai shook her head.
"No, I just got here." Ai smiled. Shading her eyes with one hand, she looked up at the sky.
"It sure is bright out here..." Risa laughed and looped her arm casually around Ai's, pulling the older out into the sun.
"You need to get more sun, Ai-chan! You're too pale!" Ai winced a little at the first touch of the sun, squinting her eyes defensively. Quickly, she lowered her head, pushing her sunglasses further up.
"Ah, it's too bad that Sayumin fell sick. Kame wanted to stay with her, so I guess it's just the two of us for today..." Risa trailed off to glance at Ai, who now seemed completely normal, although her eyes were still fully hidden behind those enormous shades.
"Oh I see..." Ai didn't offer any other comment, merely looking around with mild interest. Risa seemed a bit disappointed by the dispassionate reaction from Ai, but hid it well with an even brighter smile.
"Well, should we get something to eat? I'm starving!" Ai blinked behind her shades, turning to regard Risa with a slightly odd expression.
"Eat...ah, I had a little something before coming here." At Risa's crestfallen face, Ai quickly added.
"But if you want to eat, we can go get something." Risa brightened up noticeably, starting to chatter on endlessly as she dragged a bemused Ai along with her.
Even as they turned a corner down a different street, Ai turned her head to sweep the crowd with a searching glance. The hint of a presence, just round a corner, just out of sight.
Ah, as I thought, my senses don't work as well in broad daylight. Ai tuned back in to Risa, who was talking about the restaurant that she wanted to bring Ai to.
"That sounds interesting." Ai commented mildly, ignoring the pricking sensation of being watched. She would find out who it was later.
As they entered the restaurant, another girl walked past behind their backs, as if having nothing to do with anyone else except her own business. Hands in pockets, head down, cap pulled low. A satisfied smile played on her lips as she left the street, muttering to herself.
"Found you,
cousin."
~*~*~
"Sayu~" Eri whined as she tugged at the blankets where Sayumi was hiding under on her bed. "Are you really that sick? What's wrong?"
"I'm alright..." Sayumi's voice was a little muffled under the many layers she was hiding under. Bright eyes peeked out from underneath the protective cover, much like a cornered animal.
"It's just me, no one else is around." Eri coaxed. Relaxing a little, the younger girl crept out, eyes darting around nervously. Eri climbed up onto the bed, snuggling up to her best friend.
"Why are you so scared, Sayu? What happened?"
Sayumi smiled shakily, clinging close to her sleepy-eyed friend for comfort. Eri was already resting her head comfortably on Sayu's shoulder, eyes already lidded.
"It's just..." She gripped Eri's arm firmly, eyes very serious as she said.
"Don't go near Takahashi, Eririn. It's not safe.
She's not safe."
Eri opened one eye, looking up seriously at her childhood friend.
"I know that already, Sayu." The turtle girl lifted her necklace from its place of concealment within her clothes, hefting it with her free hand.
"She could see this when most ordinary people can't...she's not a normal person, that's for sure."
Sayumi looked at the amulet, but did not touch it. Her voice was quiet as she spoke.
"Gaki-san could see it too..." She inhaled deeply. "But I didn't sense danger with her like I did with Takahashi." She whimpered as she leaned into Eri.
"I'm scared, Eririn." Eri patted Sayumi comfortingly.
"I trust your instincts, Sayu. Yours are sharper, for obvious reasons." Eri stared up at the ceiling.
"If you say she's dangerous, then she is. I think we better talk to Mama about this..."
~*~*~
"Ai-chan, you're barely touching your food! Do you not like it?" Risa asked worriedly, afraid that Ai was unhappy with the situation. Ai looked up blankly.
"I'm just not really that hungry..." She picked up a small piece of beef, placing it into her mouth. Risa looked at her curiously.
"How can you eat that? It's practically still dripping with blood..."
Ai swallowed, dabbing at her lips with a napkin. "Oh, I'm not particularly bothered by blood. I think it tastes fresher like that." She smiled disarmingly again, and Risa seemed to relax unconsciously.
"If you say so..." Her mind still in a bemused state, Risa was not particularly paying attention until a sharp pain shot up her finger. "Ow!"
The cut was short but deep. Risa winced, dropping her fork. A bead of blood oozed out from the cut, almost hesitantly at first, then welling up out of the wound.
Before she could think of doing anything, a cool hand locked around her wrist, trapping her hand. Risa's pained eyes met with Ai's intent ones, which were thoroughly focused on the bleeding cut.
"Ai-chan..." Risa's eyes widened as Ai leaned forward, pulling Risa's hand towards her. The younger girl flushed heavily as Ai took her finger into her mouth, sucking on it gently.
After a moment, Ai released Risa's finger with a wet pop, her tongue flicking over the injured part before withdrawing. Her hand remained around Risa's wrist as she looked back up.
"Needed to clean that up before it gets infected." Ai had a strange look in her eyes as she stared at Risa, but the latter was too distracted to notice, her cheeks still a bright red. Ai let go of her hand, and Risa drew her hand back to herself shyly, pain practically all but forgotten.
"Shall we go then?" Ai did not take her eyes off Risa as she called for the bill and paid with a flourish, Risa still captivated by her charming companion. The younger could only nod dumbly as Ai led them outside, back into the sun.
In her distraction, Risa failed to notice that her cut was already sealing up. Next to her, Ai seemed oddly energized despite the bright rays falling on her.
Behind them, another pair of eyes watched with a fanatical hunger as they merged into the crowd on the street.
I've found you at last!~*~*~
Reina watched happily as her latest meal vanished into flame. Making sure that nothing remained except for ashes and scorch marks, Reina looked around before cautiously climbing up to her favorite vantage point: the roof.
The moon looked like someone had taken a bite out of it, she reflected as she stared out at the city. Dusting her hands off on her jeans, the young vampire squatted at the edge of the roof, next to some rusted pipes.
Seirei, or Ai as those humans had called her, had rather abruptly informed her the previous night that she would not be entertaining her tonight. Reina had not been particularly pleased by the fact, but Ai had left no room for argument.
Sulking, Reina had comforted herself to a snack earlier, in the form of the unfortunate individual that had been consumed by fire just moments ago. Running her thumb across the edge of her lips, Reina wiped off the traces of blood there and proceeded to suck on her thumb just a tad grumpily.
The night was very beautiful, but Reina felt oddly unexcited over that. The city was filled with what was to her, thousands of walking blood bags. There was only so much one could do after playing with one's food, and another wave of boredom washed over Reina.
It was not the first time she had felt this way. 10 years was not a long time, but it was not a short time either. A kind of restless impatience took over the young vampire as she shifted around, feeling irritated for some reason. How could she continue on like this for all the decades lying ahead of her?
Master...where are you? Reina hugged her knees to herself, pouting. 100 years was too long to wait! Damn that woman, Reina grumbled. Her master had told her to survive her first century on her own before she would see her again. What kind of a stupid test was that?
Lying flat on her back, Reina let her legs dangle over the ledge, red eyes staring up at an incomplete moon. 90 years more to go. Could she really make it?
Well, she had to. Reina growled and turned her head to one side, sitting up again. Something caught her eye, and she leaned over to grasp at the strange patch caught on the broken end of the rusted pipe.
Fur. What was fur doing up on the roof? Curiously, Reina sniffed at the tuft of hair in her hand, before wrinkling her nose at the odor.
Wet dog. She tossed the clump of hair off the roof, letting the wind carry it away. She watched it go, before standing up and punching into her palm.
"Yosh, time to go look for something to do!"
Somewhere out there, a distant scream echoed into the night, sounding almost like the pained howl of a wolf...
~*~*~
"I had fun today."
Risa smiled at Ai as they stopped a few steps away from Risa's front door. The older woman did not reply at first, shifting around awkwardly like a teenager on her first date.
"I had fun too." Her voice was low and melodious, and her eyes seem to shimmer in the dark. The two girls stood there, one not quite yet willing to let go and go home, while the other was quite content to simply watch the younger one blush prettily.
Perhaps it was the intensity of their mutual gaze that sparked the memory, as Risa found herself mesmerized by the serious eyes opposite hers.
"Have I...met you somewhere else before?" Risa blurted unthinkingly, her fingers still entwined with Ai's. The older girl pursed her lips in an odd little smile, eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief.
"Maybe..." Risa stopped breathing the moment Ai drew close to her, closing her own eyes quite naturally in anticipation. The soft fragrance from the other girl almost made her reel, and she felt a gentle breath on her temple as Ai dropped a soft kiss there, before whispering.
"Good night, Risa-chan."
Ai let go of her hand and vanished into the night, the darkness swallowing her as she walked off in the other direction. Risa was left standing there, still stunned, and definitely still blushing at what had just happened.
"Who was that?" Risa whirled around, startled.
"Father? Oh, nothing, no one, just a friend from school. Really!" Risa blabbered out nervously, turning on her heel and quickly stepping past her father to enter the house.
Soujirou looked speculatively down the street where Ai had disappeared, a contemplative expression tying his forehead into a knot of wrinkles. A shift in the shadows, some distance away, as if in pursuit of the departed girl. He frowned.
"Dear? Why are you standing at the doorway?" Emiko appeared behind him, casting a worried glance outside as well. Soujirou shook his head, laying one hand on his wife's shoulder and guiding her back inside, locking and bolting the door behind them.
"Nothing to be worried about." A furtive glance backwards. "Nothing at all."
The hair on his arms were still standing long after he switched off the lights in the hallway. Even as he bedded down next to his wife, his gaze was still drawn to the rapidly waxing moon outside the window, concern etching the battered map of his face.
Closing his eyes, he tried his best to summon sleep, despite the roaring in his veins. The curse of his bloodline, the lust for battle. It was a fate he wished on no other.
I will never give my daughter to them. Never.With that, the man once known as the Dark Terror shut his eyes, one more mortal lost to Morpheus' dark embrace.
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Hyuk. :3 Read and comment lots!
*skips away*
EDIT: Extra section I forgot. :3
Topic: Gegenschein [Ch.18: Open] - 16/5 (Read 80424 times)