Chapter Nine - Regroup - Asuya
It was time to regroup indeed. Though I'm not sure why Dracula left me to do so, I had a few guesses. Low blood reserves after our clash, strategically hiding such a hinderance or I actually really hurt him. If he wasn't such an evil man that wanted to collar humanity, I would actually be attracted to his voice, let alone his young man charms. Alas, it was not meant to be.
I walked around in my nightgown after training sessions that I was getting better at, taking periodic breaks between them. The... bubbling up my muscle sinews as fast as possible and at random orders was exhausting, but I was up to fourty seconds. It just took getting use to when it came to the pool of sweat that poured from me. Thankfully, Sil sweat was just water with no dirt and... other microbes, cleaning was of no issue.
Just when my thoughts shifted to my brother and his possible whereabouts, he came in through a portal and he did not come empty-handed. For a human, this would be a startling experience, seeing a man walk in your penthouse through a portal, but for me, it would be anticipated. I sensed the air shifting first, then the surge of energy in the area and recognized the signature of it before the portal even opened. That portal was very fast, opening in half a second---give or take. I was already staring at him with an inquiring gaze.
It seems for Sil, when something is said, it is exceptionally important and must be declared and in that vein of thought, he answered me before I even said anything, "I was taken by Dimiki. He did not want me interfering in your struggle with Vlad. I was in Dimiki's 'Viewing Room' as he called it. I watched the whole thing and was shocked that a mere human has found a way to not only surpass human life limits through undeath as all vampire do, but also found a way to hide weaknesses---and could keep up with my sister. All of that is a major problem."
I found myself looking at what he was cradling in his arms. They were wrapped in a type of sackcloth, not of Earth material. He's been back on our home planet! I found myself wondering when I'd ever get to see it with my own eyes and not through memory born of my brother's mind...
Kiname watched me for a moment, before putting what I surmised were weapons on the kitchen island, then smirked at my intuition before taking a moment to behold me. "You've been training hard... what are you at now?" I smirked and said, "Fourty seconds." He paused and then squint his eyes. "I see," he said, looking at the marble of the island counter top for a few moments. I tilted my head to him and blinked a few times. "What?" I asked. I was genuinely curious as he was being empty-minded---quite literally! Kiname looked at me now and answered with a dubious tone, saying, "Dimiki said that you would grow in power fast, but you're still at a disadvantage when it comes to fighting other Sil. Everyone of us have specialties and as Queen, you need to find yours or you will not hold that title for long. Our way of working out only produces efficiency in using Munakou, however that does not gain capacity of Munakou, so you have work cut out for you, sis."
I mused a moment on what he said, squinting my eyes as it was my turn to look at the counter. I would get to the weapons later, but first, I asked, "And how do I gain capacity for Munakou?" He simply smiles and says, "By using it. You have gained some recently due to your act of saving those people on that bridge, but you need a lot more to compare to me and the work I've done so far. If you can beat me, you can beat the rest of the Sil." He frowns and continues, "I won't go easy on you just because you're my sister. I'll be a much tougher fight than Dracula."
Seems I had a hill to climb. Now, to the weapons. I looked to them and then to Kiname and he decided to speak before I asked, "Those are Dalada's Tears. They were carefully mined by Sesshin---he's the only one that has the technique, as of now, to mine them. Most Sil need much more Munakou and Mithic Energy Capacities to even wield her tears. Sesshin also forged handles for us that will be permanent homes for how the tears form as our weapons. Both the handle and Dalada's Tear will take form when we give our intent as to what we want the weapon to be. Unlike Dracula's maleable weapon, ours will take a permanent form. I think I will name mine "Scout" or "Taiomi" in our native tongue."
I was very familiar with our native tongue and could only speak it when I was in Japan way back when. They thought me crazy, speaking jibberish according to them.
While I was deep in thought about my past, Kiname formed his weapon into a katana, but that was no ordinary looking katana when drawn. It seemed he spent a lot of time in Japan as well, perhaps to keep an eye on me until I was lost to him. It was seething with energies and Kiname had to sheathe it immediately due to the strain of having it out.
I looked him over to see if he was okay and he nodded to me. "I'm fine. Apparently we still have a bit of growing to do before we can wield our weapons. I advise you not to touch yours yet. Your capacity is about half mine right now and touching Dalada's tear with such low Munakou and Mithic Energy levels will really hurt," he explained. I simply nodded to him and looked at the tear and formless hilt made by Sesshin, then back to Kiname, asking, "I think we need to spar each other, brother, but we can't do that in this city. Is there a way we can do so without being here?" Yes, I was asking to maybe see my home planet if I could.
Kiname just stared at me and tilts his head to his right. "Hm. Y'know, Harold was right, you are a bit stiff in personality, Asuya. You need to losen up a little. You didn't even ask why they were called Dalada's Tears..." he commented on his observations.
Was I really stiff in personality? For some reason, I didn't feel insulted. Maybe it was the emotion with which he said his words and he was right. That is pretty significant, but perhaps my people and their lore didn't feel real to me, despite my powers and abilities. Everything was so surreal and escalated quickly since my awakening.
"Dimiki said you would be like this, because you haven't fully awakened yet. He said that he would have to do the rest when the time came. I don't know what that means, but I hope you will be okay, sis," he said with a genuinely worried tone.
I don't know why, but I had this overwhelming urge to cry now. Before my thoughts on this, my body reacted and I lunged to hug my brother in a glomp and bawled my eyes out!
"I'm so sorry I was not there for you up until now, sis. I know you felt alone as I did. It was Dimiki that found me first and showed me to our home planet, then I had to look for the Original Five from there. He said to leave you be until you fully awakened and I couldn't find you to defy that request due to the same reason. Until you awakened, you were untraceable," he said with such emotion in his voice, as if he were about to cry too, but he held it back. "We can spar another time, okay?" he asks and I simply nodded while my face was planted into his chest, still sobbing---and purring at the same time. He just held me close and sighed with a smile both emotionally and physically.
I couldn't help, but think, "This is your hero people, a crying mess. You're all doomed."
Chapter Nine - Regroup - Walter Dowell
Asuya was right, I had to look into where Master Venerick was killed and what happened to his kin, so I went sniffing around his hangout spot which was the Chess & Checkers House Visitor's Center and as soon as I got there, using a cab, I could see Venerick's men posted outside in the daylight, using Moonlight Rings---thankfully, I twas awarded one as well. Guess it would be around four hour shifts for them. It seems Venerick's death did not end them, but that didn't mean much. Dracula is a whole different monster altogether... which means, I couldn't tell Asuya that Venerick's men were still alive yet. I had to look further into this. I stayed away from Venerick's men, who I assumed were now someone else's men and told my cab to go on to New Paltz and once there, I paid the cab driver and by the cover of the forest canopy, I used my vampiric abilities to get back to my Master's home so I could use his libraries. There had to be something on the death of Dracula.
I was greeted by Master Thais and exchanged formalities, before I began scouring his libraries for anything on this. I hated research, but even this was part of the job as a detective. I used my vampiric ability "Augury" and this time it worked, sending me right to a book that had a clue on this. I opened it to the page I saw using my ability and it had a passage that said this:
"The phylactery of a Lich can survive destruction even when thought destroyed.
One must use an incantation on a phylactery to destroy it and anything the lich has summoned or otherwise.
The stronger the lich, the stronger the arcanist has to be when using this incantation.
Without the incantation, nothing the lich summoned would die with it and be left to terrorize the world even in it's destruction by different means.
The incantation is as follows:"
Well that was clear as day: We wouldn't die if Asuya could find a different way to destroy the phylactery. Perhaps, her crazy abilities could destroy the phylactery without the incantation. I breathed a sigh of relief! This was good news!
There were pros and cons about my ability. The pros were, I didn't have to worry about it being wrong. I was always right, but not in a pompous, narcissistic way. More like a "detective doing his job" sort of way. The cons were that it worked as if I manually did the work and this would have inevitably been the result. The last research session, I wouldn't have done the work so there were no results.
In other news, videos put on social media of the fight between Asuya and Dracula were deemed hoaxes due to Asuya being too blurry to make out. Eyewitnesses could not be believed and in fact, were thought crazy. The crater made by Asuya's landing was deemed a sinkhole and the river being splashed on both sides of it was deemed another sinkhole being the cause. If one was intelligent, however, they could put the pieces together, but they'd have to keep it silent unless they wanted to be in a straight jacket. Humans didn't really have a chance against us unless we were sorely unprepared and it is much worse now that Dracula is up and about. All hunter activity ceased immediately, especially after seeing what was on social media and the lies in the news.
I got up from my research, showed the passage to Master Thais and he smiled and even sighed with relief himself. His sigh was much more subtle than mine as I still had way more humanity than everyone else---more feeling and sense of life. I asked to borrow his "tome" as he called it and he approved it like I was checking it out of an official library. I had to show Asuya this as soon as possible, but for now, I had to recharge my Moonlight Ring in total darkness, so I would have to wait to tell Asuya about this book. While I waited, I went to a sitting room with a TV and there was a news report. The female reporter outside of Bannerman Castle said:
"This just in, a man with grey hair has taken over Bannerman Castle. I am hearing reports from those running from the castle that there is blood everywhere!
The man is claiming to be Dracula himself! All conventional weapons have failed to stop this monstrosity! All military forces in the state have been mobilized in hopes to thwart this seemingly unstoppable, inhuman evil!"
I know Asuya heard that. Was he purposely trying to open curtain on all supernatural beings and if so, why?!
The detective in me couldn't help, but wonder... what else was out there besides us vampires and whatever Asuya is? There were rumors amongst the kin that werewolves were real and if so, what else? Whatever is out there had to be a bit peeved at Dracula for doing this. Anything that could walk in the day could challenge Dracula I guess, but I don't think they had a chance of success. Asuya wasn't ready yet, I don't think.
Well, I guess we'd have to prepare for humanity to truly know about us, because I don't see a way to bury this.
Chapter Nine - Regroup - Dracula
Ah, a fitting castle for my majesty. A bit small, but mine whims did not wish to carry me beyond the borders of this place. Such a beautiful, strong woman, this Asuya. She would be mine, even if partaking of blood is not a possibility. I will relish in the luster of her ample bosom, adore her beautiful face as I once did with Anastasia, devour her flesh in the heat of passion. She. Would. Be. Mine.
Until then, battle lust would have to suffice. It seems would-be vampire hunters were seeking to storm brick and stone of mine castle. Amusing. They think themselves a weapon with their "cross". I have long outgrown that weakness for various reasons; it no longer held power over me as I too, am a god. I will enjoy letting them try to use all weaknesses they deem valid, then annhilate them once all resources were exhausted. I want to feel the despair in their blood, before I dipped fang into flesh! Perhaps, that would cause their blood taste better.
I met them at the front gate as it opened. The first had a volley of crossbow bolts dipped in oil and set on fire. I simply used my weapon, Despair, to deflect the bolts and laughed with my booming voice, disabling the hunters easily. Then, I did something even I felt clever: I used Despair to split between every single hunter and impaled them all at once. I swung my weapon, breaking the spears off into their bodies, leaving them as they were. Oh the sweet resonance of despair in their blood caused by mine aptly named weapon! I enjoyed the feeling, walking around in the destructive wake of mine attack, then when I was satisfied, I soaked it all up with hemokinesis. Such a simple meal, not enough to fully replenish my blood reserves. Blood capacity and efficiency were that of a god, not one of my kin cared to reach. How disappointing... I hoped to form a pantheon.
That was not the last of them, however. More came and what is this I sensed? Ah, yes, one of our slaves. They came in with it on chain leashes, but when it saw me, it didn't need a full moon to change. It began breaking bone, rending flesh---all of it's own! All in efforts to transform in a feeble attempt to destroy me, no doubt. I simply waited for it to finish, looking at the time on my rather spiffy new watch---the last being ruined in my fight with Asuya. I believe I even let a yawn escape me. Once it's transformation was complete, it snapped all chains, slinging hunter all around the entrance of my castle. Mine castle? Hmmm, I could not decide which determiner to use at times. Such thoughts would take me in efforts to wait for the hairy thing to reach me and once it did, it would send poisonous claw and tooth to my person. I have even overcome this weakness! I let such feeble attacks land which poisoned my flesh... for a moment or two, then mine wounds healed immediately! It was my turn now and I used it efficiently while it was stunned, perhaps wondering why it's attacks had little effect! I turned Despair into a massive claymore and cleaved the beast in twain at the hips, then drained all of it's disgusting blood---no, it's blood was not disgusting. It seems these beasts have changed a little during my imprisonment caused by Van Helsing.
Humans put so much effort in trying to remove me from my conquered castle. I believe they had weapons called rifles with "high caliber projectiles", the humans called them "snipers" over their radio devices, which they kept repeating "keep chatter to a minimum" in case I could hear them. Oh how pathetic. Our cattle think themselves so important---I shouted out to them, "You are but food to me and my kind! Send your high caliber projectiles!"
They did.
A bullet went right through my shoulder, then neck. I was shocked such rounds came at me screaming in such speeds. A slight underestimation that would not repeat itself. I used Despair, speed and god-like senses to cut them down like weeds, putting an end to all of these... sniper attacks. Next was an explosive missile of some sort---something said over their radio devices---they could not stop bragging about their weaponry! They were willing to destroy Bannerman Castle just to destroy me. I appauded their efforts, but they were in vain. This time, I used magic to simply let their missiles come through to my castle, aimed at me, then shifted space to make such missiles hit them instead. I could hear glorious explosions on the outside of my castle while laughter took me once more!
Finally, the cattle decided to retreat.
Ah, what a glorious menagerie of weapon and animal for my entertainment from afternoon to eve.
My thoughts returned to Asuya, my new muse. I yearned for her presence. This was a risk, halving my power, but I used a spell called "Gemini" and now, I am two! I sent myself off to visit her as the other me stayed behind. Half of mine power was more than enough to deal with fodder. I would cast a barrier over my new home soon, but I had to see mine muse!
I found her in a penthouse and she was not alone! ...A brother it seemed? Two of them... they both even sensed my presence, so I returned to the castle in frustration. That half of me disappeared once spotted, power returning to me. Where was he when we both clashed before?! What game were they playing? This did not deter me. She would be mine. To see her again, just a glimpse would have to suffice for this night. Such supple perfection, not a blemish, mole, discoloration, nothing was on her skin, but skin and the smell... oh she was absolutely delicious. I would devour her once she realized her place was by my side. I know she sensed me, I know she sensed my lust. Her face was red with lust of her own! How could she resist my exploitations of her empathic abilities?
I would have her.
She. Would. Be. Mine.