The streets of Letusa were finally silent by the time I left Gaius' company with a firm grip on the steel blade he bestowed. Only the subtle creek from the patrol guard's chainmail armor could be heard as I crept through Letusa using darkness and rooftops as allies to escape sight.
No sign of her... I doubt she is even at Letusa at this point. Moreover, I'm starting to doubt that she is even alive. No clues, not even a hint of her scent for me to pick up; no one had heard of her either. My fingers trace my blade as my reflection appears on it. Dear Lucifer, help thy vessel, let no harm fall on thy children, guide my steps. The night only darkens further, and the sight of hope has nearly disappeared. As time passed, my patience too was getting thin as I wondered how one bearer of my blood simply fades—Odd doesn't even begin to describe, it makes even less sense because it's the cunning Marie I speak of. The disappearance would be far more understandable if it were any other halfwit, but Marie? She would sense a trap. And that's what makes me worry the most, something or someone could fool her. A dangerous enemy is near, one that not even I can sense.
When I thought my prayers would go unheard, my senses picked up a familiar presence. Marie's aura... trembling. It was only for a mere slight of a moment, but the fear expressed in her aura made my undying self shiver. My body disappears into a cloud of bats that dash toward the forest outside Letusa's walls. It was feeble; only for a moment could I notice her. When I landed at the site where her aura disappeared, only darkness was there to surround me, alongside crickets. Is my imagination playing tricks on me? ... Another waste of time, it seems.
"Good evening," Sudden multiple voices spoke in unison all around me, catching me by surprise.
I look everywhere, but neither my sight nor my nose could pick anything out of the ordinary among the deserted forest. "Who goes there?!" I shouted toward the dark corners. And soon, dozens of people crawl out from behind trees and shadows. Muffled steps and odorless, but the white masks provide me with enough information.
"Les dix... the masquerade has grown bold," I said with a hint of disdain in my tone.
A single man steps forward after hearing my claim.
"We could say the same about thy spawn," He replied.
Under his arrogant tone, my face twisted into one of pure rage. I grind my teeth and throw my sword at him with full force. My blade pierces through his guts, the impact enough to cast the man away along the sword trajectory—he died on the spot. But much to my surprise, none of his friends moved an inch, simply another one of them steps forward.
"She is alive, not exactly wel-" I charged into him at full speed and punched my way into his heart. He fell to the ground, lifeless, after I snatched away his heart from within. But once again, no reaction, not even a single breath from his companions. Another one stepped forward right after. My furious gaze locked onto his from behind my shoulders. "Give her back," I spoke word by word menacingly.
"She instigates war, the masquerade can't let that happen."
I turn around to face him, blood dripping slowly from my hand into the grassy field under my feet, where lies a heartless corpse. "Thou speak of war? How are her schemes any different from those of politicians? Hipocrate fools," My question seems to have taken him off guard.
"Humans will always seek war, it's the natural course. However, what is not natural is a creature such as thee joining a battlefield filled with artless humans," My eyes roll under such a foolish remark. I thought we were on the same page, me and the masquerade—seems I was wrong. However, I'm yet to understand the reason behind this ambush... or if it's even one to begin with.
"Speak, I'm in no mood for pointless philosophies," I growled. He quickly reaches for something in his back, seemingly a common piece of glass for the naked eye, but it emanates an odd aura. Not one of a living being, the patterns on it are unusual, as if they repeat themselves endlessly. I would be rather curious if not for my near-unbearable desire to slaughter these vermin that dared to put their dirty hands on my blood. Then, surprise strikes me when two lines of sight appear inside the glass, dividing it. One showing... my house... no... it can not be! Cowards! Filthy vermin!
No words are needed; my expression of sheer anguish is enough for them to know to proceed. "On one side, Marie," He points to the image of Marie impaled by innumerable swords, hanging on a wall, left to feel endless pain and her own blood dripping as he body fails to regenerate, creating only blood without flesh. She gazes at me from within the glass, black strands of hair falling over her face as she mutters a single word—"help me," a feeble cry for rescue. On the other hand, my manor still seems intact, but I fear it shan't be for long.
"Rescue thy spawn, or rescue thy life."
One could even hear my teeth grinding. Why... why is this even happening to me!? It wasn't supposed to be this way, how!? A simple rescue... only a rescue. My life, everything I worked for, everything... I don't undestand. "Time is running short, Carmilla, The First of Her Kind. Make thy choice," The words fall like a torrent into my current pool of despair. "Do we need to start counting or thou awaitest to see Marie's head rolling over alongside thy manor annihilation?" He dares to mock me.
I shan't give this satisfaction. "Both," I mutter before disappearing into a raging dash that cuts the wind. Please, all I need is time! My lord Lucifer, grant me strength! I go all the way to an abandoned watchtower close to Letusa, for Marie is probably being held here. The walls she was hanging had a similar shape to the one I saw in the forgotten watchtower. Please, I have to be right! If I fail...
Upon my arrival at the broken watchtower, I sure enough saw Marie on top. Her figure was completely exposed while countless blades were stuck in her body. With a jump, I reach her and pull out all the swords as fast as I possibly can—With no time to be gentle, Marie cries fill my already desperate night with a melody of horror. After her screams cease, I leave her there without elaborating and once again sprint with all my force, now toward my manor.
I prayed, Lucifer knows how much I prayed. All the way there, my mind could only think of my lover in my arms, her smile, her jealous tantrums, the warmth of her skin against mine—all of it, running through my thoughts and memories in pure despair, trying to attach myself to positive thinking. But reality often seems to lack positivity.
By the time I arrived, there were only the stakes... stakes... stakes again. Stakes with people impaled, stakes everywhere across my land. Everyone, my croops, burned, my house a ruin. I walk across it, with no strength to run anymore, my mouth gaping in a silent scream. And then... then I saw her—my love, once again dead at the end of a stake. My shaking legs do nothing to balance me, and I end up on my knees, hands on my head, while my dead heart shatters into pieces.
Is this my punishment? ... punishment for abandoning my mission. Haven't I done enough? Suffered enough? Endured enough? I'm sorry, my lord! Please, please give her back to me, send her to me again! A moment, grant me a single moment with her! I failed... failed my people, failed my lover. Once again, Anna... Forgive me for being late... Sophia
REVENGE REVENGE REVENGE REVENGE REVENGE REVENGE REVENGE REVENGE REVENG REVENG REVENG REVENG REVENG REVENG RENVENGE REVENGE REVENGE REVENGE REVENGE REVENG REVENG REVENG REVENG...
"REVENGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" An agonizing scream coming from the beast leaves my being. A scream so powerful, it blows away all life and creates an unnatural, mighty wave of wind. Birds abandon their nests, leaves fall from the trees, all under the pressure of my aura.
"Slaughter," The beast growls with clenched teeth repeatedly.
For a moment, I'm one with the beast. The motives are aligned, yet the grief is not what unites us; revenge does. Once again, I walk away from my beloved corpse, leaving everything to rot while revenge plagues my mind. They shall learn... I shall butcher every last one, torture them, and leave them to rot like they made me do to my beloved. Revenge, I shall have my revenge, even if I have to destroy this world and rebuild it again. I shall match until everyone who wears that mask is gone from the face of this world. Until every worm who whispers the name is extinguished. There shall be no rest, for I shan't stop until my very name strikes fear into anyone who dares to wear that mask.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I reach Letusa, passing through the main gate with slow, tired steps. The patrolling guards along the street come to me, trying to impose orders that fall on deaf ears. "I don't care, not anymore," I mutter to myself, shortly before grabbing one's throat and feeding him my blood. In the end, all turned into vultures, every single person who stood in my way. Upon their rise, now undead, I gave a single order while letting out my fearful aura.
"Bring every man and woman alive to Marie's residence, leave the kids and infants behind."
And so they did—stormed into every house, searched every corner, snatched away every adult in the entirety of Letusa. Howls and cries were the symphony throughout the city. They tried to run, desperate to save themselves from a fate they are yet to know, but judge as bad. My lackeys, however, leave no fugitive.
I walk, once again with tired steps, as chaos erupts all around me. See mothers having infants snatched away from their very arms, fathers trying to fight against impossible odds, and the newly created vultures giving in to the instinct to feed upon mortal blood. Reaching Marie's residence, I made my way in only to see Marie standing mortified beside Gaius and Ascyla, who were equally shocked.
"What have thou done? ... Carmilla!" Marie said anxiously. Paying no mind, I dash and grab Gaius's throat, putting my still bloodied wrist into his mouth to force my blood down his throat. Ascyla charges off, trying to escape whatever I'm doing. However, Marie stayed—she grabbed my arm, using all her strength.
"Thou wanted a kingdom... then a kingdom we shall have," I coldly say while snatching Gaius' neck despite Marie's attempts to hinder me. I increase the pressure of my aura, and Marie's legs give in. Then, I dash toward Ascyla, too, forcing my blood down her throat.
"Thou foolishness... Carmilla! My plan is ruined now!" Marie complains as Ascyla falls from my grasp onto the floor. I silently walk to her again until we are face to face, "They took her from me... again," I said in between clenched teeth, my sad words contrast deeply with my enraged tone. "A few humans, damn humans!" I poke her chest with a single finger aggressively. "Couldn't even escape a few humans alone! Incompetent, weak! My lover died! Just because I choose the nearest fucking option first! SHUT THY FUCKING MOUTH AND BE GRATEFUL I'M STILL HERE!" I was on the verge of collapsing, my legs trying to give in from the sheer amount of pain inside my mind, my only support was the beast howling inside.
But suddenly, Marie rushed forward and hugged me. A tight hug, one that manages to express her deep sympathy for my situation. Even though I lashed out at her, and drowned her city in chaos, she still is willing to undestand me. My legs crumble, yet Marie's hold doesn't leave, for she followed me to the floor as well. She ran her hand over my head with great care, "My dearest, thou part was played." Darkness clouds my vision until I see no more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh, the world of men is cruel, is it not, my child?"
Darkness, as far as I can see, there is nothing. Only a chair floating in the vast emptiness, across from it, another similar chair, but not empty. A young man sat there, hair blonde and beautifully crafted, wings made of the purest and whitest feathers.
"My lord? What... what happened? Am I-" I was confused.
"Dead? No, only dormant with a knife stuck into thy heart while thy body lay flat inside a secluded coffin," He said casually while pointing to the seat in front of him.
So she betrayed me in the end... I knew she would never get captured like that. I sit across Lucifer, but still confused. Shouldn't I be more... angry? Anxious? Nervous? I don't feel a thing... nothing, just like this space.
"We are inside thy dormant mind, of course thou would not feel emotion while trapped here," Lucifer said with a bored tone. He can read my mind... well, he is inside her to begin with, so it is obvious.
"What now, my lord? Can thou unstuck me?" I asked calmly.
"No, I'm not even the real Lucifer to begin with. Only a fragment of his essence that came with the portion thou drank years ago,"
I see... a shame, killing Marie now would be wonderful. She must have cut a deal with the masquerade, as expected of her. Always betting on the highest bidder, seems like I wasn't one anymore after leaving the game for a more peaceful life. Now, here is the depths of my mind, everything is so dark, but at the same time, so clear. In the end, it was all my fault. Killing Sophia was just a way for her to lower my guard, make my mind frail. When the masquerade first approached me, there was no choice at all—choosing to go for my manor first would lead me to the same path; they never had any intentions of spearing her.
"But worry not, in a matter of a few years thou shalt rise again,"
"Pardon my rudeness, but how could thou be sure?" I asked casually.
"I exist outside the flow of time. Past, present, and future—it matters little for celestials,"
"Then-" I was about to say when he suddenly cut me with a dry tone, "No, I shan't reveal anything of thy future." Of course... if he wished to do that, he would have at the beginning. "At least there is no risk of Marie snatching my head off," I mutter.
"It doesn't matter if she does. As long as my essence exists within thee, thou art banished from death. Once dead, thou shalt enter a state between life and death. Once thy energy is restored, thy body shall be reconstructed and rise again. Unlike thy spawns, who do indeed disappear after death." So... I shall never see Anna again... nor Sophia. But I doubt there is a place for them to stay after death, and if there is, I would be sent to the oposite side. If they can see me, see what I did, what I have become... they wouldn't want to see me either way. However, I still have hopes that in a peaceful and joyful place, their souls are resting.
"Now, I will send thy conscience to hibernate until thy rise," He said with a bored tone and then clicked his finger.