Kiss of the vampire
"The Girl with the Sharp sword" volume 2
Mission three: Elven Forest!
Deyviel's eyes still burned with anger as he led the halfling children out of the abandoned house. The weight of Clara's death hung heavy on his shoulders, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had failed her and her children.
As they made their way to the Black Order's safe house, Deyviel's mind was consumed by thoughts of revenge against the Evangelist church. He knew he had to keep his emotions in check, but it was hard to contain the rage that simmered beneath the surface.
The halfling children walked in silence, their eyes fixed on Deyviel with a mix of fear and trust. They had lost their mother, and now they were placing their faith in a human hero who had promised to protect them.
When they arrived at the safe house, Deyviel introduced the children to the Black Order's members, who welcomed them with open arms. Deyviel knew that the children would be safe here, but he couldn't help feeling a sense of responsibility for their well-being.
As the days passed, Deyviel found himself growing closer to the halfling children. He spent hours with them, listening to their stories and playing with them. He realized that they were more than just victims of circumstance; they were individuals with their own personalities and quirks.
But despite the warmth and comfort of the safe house, Deyviel knew that the threat from the Evangelist church still loomed large. He was determined to protect the children and bring those responsible for Clara's death to justice.
The question was, where would he start?
Meanwhile, somewhere far east of the earth.
Catherine, the Queen of the Vampires, stood tall in the dimly lit chamber of the Beastmen's stronghold. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and fur, and the flickering torches cast eerie shadows on the walls. She had come seeking an alliance with the Beastmen, a powerful and feared group in the shadows.
Before her stood Gorthok the Unyielding, the leader of the Beastmen. His massive frame was covered in shaggy fur, and his eyes gleamed with a mixture of curiosity and calculation. Catherine knew that Gorthok was a shrewd negotiator, and she would need to tread carefully to secure his support.
"So, Queen Catherine," Gorthok rumbled, his voice like thunder in the cavernous space. "You seek our aid in taking down the Black Order. What makes you think we would be interested in such an alliance?"
Catherine smiled, her fangs glinting in the torchlight. "The Black Order has been a thorn in the side of both our kinds for far too long. They seek to eradicate us, to impose their will on the world. But I believe that together, we can bring them down and forge a new path."
Gorthok snorted, his nostrils flaring. "You vampires have always been adept at manipulation. What guarantee do I have that you won't betray us once the Black Order is defeated?"
Catherine's eyes locked onto Gorthok's, her gaze unwavering. "I am willing to make a blood oath, sealed with a sacrifice. If I betray you, may my own blood be spilled upon the earth."
Gorthok raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Catherine's proposal. He knew that a blood oath was a sacred vow among the vampires, and that Catherine would not take it lightly.
"I am willing to consider your proposal, Queen Catherine," Gorthok said finally. "But I must consult with my advisors. We will need to discuss the terms of our alliance and what benefits it will bring to both our kinds."
Catherine nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. She knew that she had taken the first step towards forging a powerful alliance, one that could potentially shift the balance of power in the world.
As she waited for Gorthok's response, Catherine's mind turned to the challenges ahead. She knew that the Black Order would not go down without a fight and that the road to victory would be fraught with danger, but she was determined to see it through, no matter the cost.
The fate of the vampire kingdom hung in the balance, and Catherine was willing to do whatever it took to ensure its survival.
Meanwhile, back at our heroes POV.
Deyviel and the others are currently on their new mission to find the whereabouts of the ice queen.
Deyviel stood at the edge of the dense forest, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of the Vampire Queen. The mission had been going on for weeks, and yet, they had found nothing. No clues, no whispers, no hints. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.
"Anything?" Denver asked, walking up to Deyviel's side. Emily, Alicia, Kliev, and Ethan formed a semi-circle around them, their faces set with determination.
"Nothing," Deyviel replied, his voice low and even. "We've searched every inch of this forest, and there's no sign of her."
Emily frowned. "Maybe we're looking in the wrong place. Maybe she's not hiding in the forest at all."
Alicia nodded. "She could be in a city or a town, somewhere with more people, more cover."
Kliev rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Or maybe she's got help. Maybe she's not alone in this."
Ethan snorted. "Of course, she's got help. She's a queen, isn't she? She's got an entire kingdom at her disposal."
Deyviel's eyes narrowed. "That's what worries me. We don't know what kind of resources she has, or who she's allied with. We need to be careful."
The group fell silent, each member lost in their own thoughts. They knew the stakes were high, and the Vampire Queen wouldn't go down without a fight.
"We need to regroup and reassess," Deyviel said finally. "We'll go back to the safe house and review our intel. See if there's anything we've missed."
The others nodded, and together, they set off towards the safe house, determined to find the Vampire Queen and bring an end to her reign of terror . As they were about to leave the area, Deyviel sensed something incoming.
Deyviel's instincts kicked in, and he sensed a sudden disturbance in the air. He quickly dodged to the side, avoiding an incoming arrow by mere inches. The arrow whizzed past his ear, its tip glinting in the fading light.
The group suddenly found themselves surrounded by a group of tall, slender figures with long ears, their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity in the fading light. The air was charged with an eerie silence, as if the very forest itself was holding its breath.
"Who are you? Show your fucking selves!" Deyviel demanded, his hand on the hilt of his sword (his Red Queen 2.0).
The El'Drien warriors landed one by one around them, their movements silent and fluid. They were surrounded, with the El'Drien forming a circle around Deyviel and his friends.
The El'Drien warriors were agile and quick, their long ears twitching as they moved. They were armed with bows and short swords, and their eyes gleamed with a deadly intensity.
"Stay alert," Denver warned, drawing his own sword. "We don't know what we're up against."
The leader of the long-eared figures, a woman with piercing green eyes, stepped forward. "We are the El'Drien," she said, her voice like music, "and you, humans, are trespassing on our lands."
Denver's eyes narrowed. "We're not looking for trouble. We're on a mission to find the Vampire Queen."
The El'Drien woman's gaze flicked to Denver, and her expression turned cold. "You seek the Queen of the Night?" You've come to the wrong domain, humans! "
The El'Drien closed in, their movements eerily silent, and Deyviel's group readied themselves for battle. The air was tense with anticipation, and the outcome hung precariously in the balance.
The El'Drien warriors charged, their bows firing arrows in swift succession. Deyviel's group dodged and weaved, avoiding the projectiles as they closed in on their opponents.
Deyviel drew his sword, the Red Queen 2.0 humming with power as he charged forward. He clashed with an El'Drien warrior, their blades ringing out as they exchanged blows.
"Heh, no chit chat or monologue? Getting straight to business, huh?" He said while their swords were still clashing.
Denver and the others fought alongside Deyviel, their movements fluid and coordinated. Emily's agility allowed her to dodge the El'Drien's attacks with ease, while Alicia's strength enabled her to deliver crushing blows. Kliev's strategic mind helped the group stay one step ahead of their opponents, and Ethan's quick reflexes allowed him to dodge even the fastest attacks.
As the fight continued, Deyviel noticed that the El'Drien isn't a vampire because she doesn't have fangs or red eyes. And compared to the real vampire, they're much weaker than them. Or they weren't using their full strength? Or are they attacking Deyviel's group just to test them? So Deyviel uses his Dragonbringer to end the fight quickly.
Deyviel's Dragon Bringer ability surged to life, and a spectral arm materialized, mirroring his own movements. With swift precision, he reached out and grabbed the El'Drien leader, slamming her into the nearby trees.
The leader's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly regained her composure. "Why did you attack us?" Deyviel demanded, his voice firm.
The El'Drien leader's gaze locked onto Deyviel's, a mix of anger and curiosity burning within. "Because this is our home, our territory, human! Why are you holding back? You could easily have killed us with that kind of power."
Deyviel's grip on her remained firm, but his tone softened slightly. "Because we're the good guys, we don't wish you harm. We just came here to investigate because one of our men saw...a woman with long ears. But it turns out it wasn't her (not Catherine).
The leader's expression shifted, and she nodded slowly. "I see. You're not mindless killers, then."
Deyviel released his grip, and the El'Drien leader straightened her clothing. "Are you ready to talk now?" Deyviel asked, his Devil Bringer still active, ready to respond to any threat.
The leader's gaze lingered on Deyviel's spectral arm before she nodded. "Yes, I'm ready to talk. My name is Elara, but my tribe calls me El'drien. It's an elven language that translates my name, by the way, and I think we can help each other."
Deyviel's eyes narrowed, intrigued by the sudden change in Elara's demeanor. "Go on," he said, his tone neutral.
Elara's gaze swept across Deyviel's group, her eyes lingering on each member before returning to Deyviel. "We've been tracking a strange energy signature in these woods," she said. "One that doesn't belong to us or the vampires. We thought it might be connected to the Vampire Queen, but...it seems we were mistaken."
Deyviel's interest piqued, and he leaned forward. "What kind of energy signature?"
Elara hesitated, as if weighing how much to reveal. "It's...unlike anything we've seen before. Almost...magical."
The term sparked a reaction in Kliev, who exchanged a knowing glance with Deyviel. "Magical?" Kliev repeated. "You mean, like arcane magic?"
Elara nodded. "Yes, that's it. We've detected faint traces of arcane magic in the area. We don't know what's causing it or what its purpose is."
Deyviel's mind began to spin with possibilities. Could this energy signature be connected to the Vampire Queen? Or was it something entirely different?
"Tell me, Elara," Deyviel said, his tone measured. "Are you willing to work with us to uncover the source of this energy signature?"
Elara's gaze locked onto Deyviel's, a calculating glint in her eye. "I'm willing to consider it, but I need to know more about you and your goals."
The air hung heavy with unspoken questions and potential alliances. Deyviel knew that this could be a turning point in their mission—one that could lead to unexpected allies or unforeseen dangers.
Deyviel's eyes narrowed as he asked Elara, "Why did you attack us? This is your home, but that doesn't explain why you're so hostile towards outsiders."
Elara's expression turned somber, and she gestured for Deyviel's group to follow her. "Come, let's talk about this where it's safer."
They walked in silence for a couple of minutes, the tension palpable, until they felt an ominous aura washing over them. The air grew thick with an otherworldly energy, and Deyviel's group exchanged wary glances.
As they crested a small hill, a massive gate came into view. The structure seemed to radiate an aura of malevolence, and Deyviel could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
Elara stopped before the gate, her eyes grave. "This is the Hell Gate," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Our ancestors told us that this gate is a doorway from the cracks of dimension, where the Outer Gods are sealed away."
Deyviel's group exchanged stunned glances. "The Outer Gods?" Denver repeated, his voice laced with skepticism. "Tsk, this is getting complicated."
Elara nodded. "Yes. According to our tales, the Outer Gods are ancient beings of immense power and malevolence. They seek to break free from their prison and wreak havoc on our realm."
Alicia's eyes widened. "There's more of them?"
"Yeah, that's what the report said," Emily replied, but Elara didn't understand what they were talking about.
Elara's expression turned proud. "Yes. One of our greatest ancestors, a hero among our people, was part of a group of nine heroes who sealed the Outer Gods away. We've been guarding this gate ever since, preventing anything from escaping."
The weight of Elara's words settled heavily on Deyviel's group. They had stumbled into something much larger and more sinister than they could have ever imagined.
"So, that's why you attacked us," Deyviel said, understanding dawning on him. "You thought we might be a threat to the seal? Well, we don't want that either; besides, taking down one is one hell of a job."
Elara nodded. "We can't take any chances. If the Outer Gods were to escape...it would mean catastrophe for our world. Wait, what did you just say?! You've taken down one?" She said with wide eyes.
Deyviel's team exchanged knowing glances, and Elara's eyes narrowed in surprise. Promoting them to continue.
Deyviel said, "We've fought one of the guardians with one of the primordial. It turned out they'd been corrupted by the dimensional cracks' energy, so they attacked us.
Denver continued, "But we managed to defeat Laxus with the help of Erebus and seal the gate again. After that, we killed the Vampire King, Lancer. Then Catherine obtained the primordial weapon that Laxus had and vanished. That's why we're searching for her."
Elara's eyes widened in shock, her gaze darting between Deyviel's team members. "You fought with Sir Erebus, and he's still alive!" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Then all of the elves exchange glances with excited eyes. "I had no idea the situation was so dire. If Catherine has the primordial weapon...things could get very complicated.
Deyviel's expression turned grim. "That's why we need to find her. We can't let her misuse that kind of power and potentially open another gate."
Elara nodded slowly, her mind racing with the implications. "I see. Well, in that case...I think we can help each other. We can work together to find Catherine and prevent any further damage."
The air was thick with tension as Deyviel's team and Elara weighed their options, the fate of their world hanging precariously in the balance.
To be continued..