Bloody Memory

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Chapter One

As the nagamaki was thrusting in through his master’s body, spluttering blood from his torn limb, Scarlet’s mind came to himself. He was no longer controlled by the Evil Stream. Instead he was on his own mind, free and clear, as the fresh realm shoved right in front of him. His eyes widened in horror, seeing and realizing what he had done moments ago.
“Master…”
Trembling, he reached for his master. He tried to touch his pale and bloody-streaked cheek, stroke it gently, just to find his stillness. His crimson eyes dimmed behind half-closed lids, loosing its sparks of life. His pale lips parted a bit. Line of blood was forming on the corner of his mouth, lining down to his chin. Vermillion was no longer existed.
“Master… no… no… it can’t be… I-I… what have I done??!! WHAT HAVE I DONE??!!!” Scarlet yelled in agony and sorrowful sadness, regretting, cussing, and howling. He burst cried flow of tears ran down his cheeks; he was barely able to cope out his sorrow.
In his madness, he killed his most endearing person in his life.
He killed his own master.

***

Another nightmare. Always the same one. Always that one.
Scarlet awake just to find his sheet soaking from his rapid sweating body, thanks to his horrible quest to the dreamland. Scratching his head, he yawned and stood up, walked limply to the bathroom. He just simply wanted to be able to sleep peacefully, without those nightmares haunting him right in the middle of his bedtime. His wish was never granted although.
Snorting, he gazed at his own reflection on the basin mirror. He looked awful, he thought grimly. Like usually he had whenever he abruptly awake from his nightmare attack. He opened the basin closet and pulled out a tube. The tube contained synthetic blood tablets, only available substitute for real blood he needed. He hated to admit it that he had to depend on this pathetic thing. He preferred the real one, if possible.
He dropped two tablets into a glass of water he had provided. The water soon went crimson, molded with the blood tablets. After it entirely drown and molded into dark crimson liquid, he quickly drank it just with few gulps. He slammed the empty glass to the basin, nearly broke it, and inhaled heavily. A Symbion vampire, he was indeed. Like generally vampire did, he needed blood as his main course, save ordinary, normal human foods. Yes, Symbion vampire, unlike their counterparts of folklore vampires, did need to feed on regular food in daily basis, beside their need of blood. Blood was absolutely essential, but they didn’t have to feed on them daily. They drank two to three times a week, took enough amount without draining off their prey.
Ringing phone made him startled. He walked outside the bathroom, reached for the device and pressed speaker button. “Scarlet.”
[Mission for you. Meet the client tomorrow afternoon at 0300. Midnight Café.]
Scarlet snorted. “Midnight Café isn’t opening at that time, you know that?”
[It’s special.]
“I see. Okay, I accept. Dismissed.”
Chuckling could be heard from the other side. [How arrogant usually you are, eh?]
“My habit.” Call dismissed.
Scarlet humphed. At least he got another mission. Hopefully, it would distract him enough from the nightmare torturing him every time he slept for long moments.

***

Scarlet came on place at 0255, being five minutes earlier than the promised time to meet. He stood in front of closed café, grumbled and scowled about not-yet-opened café, hoped he could enter to the shop and cooled his body inside. That day was another hot one, the sun shone brightly, burned every single place it exposed with. Symbion vampire, unlike traditional vampire, didn’t have any weakness against sunlight. They felt irritated due to the strong exposure of ultra violet ray, nonetheless they were immune. They didn’t instantly burnt away like vampire in horror movies did, which was just ridiculous.
He noticed that some humans in black suits came approaching him from across the street. He watched in silent, waiting to confirm whether those persons were his hire or not. They were, after all they nodded to him and pointed toward the path to alley right beside the café. He shrugged nonchalantly and walked following them to the alley aforementioned. They stopped in front of the door, definitely the back door of the café, and gestured him to come inside. He complied in silent and walked in.
The room was small and not-so-clean, clearly showed that it was a store room, empty and free of stored items whatever those were, save the round table and few chairs in the center of the room. The men in black suits nudged him to sit, which he ignored and he chose to remain stand. Sitting on one of the chairs around the table, an old man with fatherly look and grey thin hair, dressed on business-tailored suit, the main client, Scarlet supposed, watched his person intently before finally spoke, “You’re the one they were talking about eh? I thought you’re older person…”
Scarlet snorted. “Appearance can deceive sometimes.”
The old man chuckled. “Yes, indeed.”
“So, you’re my client for now?”
“Not exactly true. I’m your employer, yes, but I did it instead of my son.”
“Your son?”
“Yes.” Suddenly he breathed heavily and exhaled with exaggerate motion, seemed troubled. “I’m worrying about him and his family’s safety. Couple days ago, my son and his family went for vacation, camping on the shore like they usually did for some time and then, and became witnesses for some …criminal action.”
Scarlet lifted one brow, felt slightly interested. He could guess where it would lead into. “Murdering?”
The old man nodded, heavily exhaled. “Not any random murdering, unfortunately. It was Callahan’s work.”
Scarlet frowned. He definitely knew that name. He was owner of the biggest casino on the Marble City, and, save the fact that he was also the richest bastard on the radius 200 kilometers away, was unofficially ruler of the city. Scarlet didn’t mind this; after all they barely made contact on the field of work. Callahan had his own work field, while he had many other things to care about better than messed up with the person’s domain.
Scarlet also knew that sometimes the casino boss committed criminal actions, had to mention drugs selling, prostitution, human trafficking, and rarely murdering. He felt slightly disturbed by the fact and sometime asked inwardly why his organization didn’t send any ‘letter’ that commanded him or any of his comrades to ‘wipe’ that bastard clean. He was a ‘cleaner’ or an assassin-to-be-called any way, but he knew his position and didn’t want to rudely cross his own boundary to kill persons whom his organization didn’t pick up to be ‘wiped’.
“I suppose that casino boss weren’t expecting any witnesses toward his person for doing such scandalous thing, and went outraged, deciding to wipe away your entire son and his family?”
The old man silently nodded. He looked mournful now, much to Scarlet’s pity. “True… that’s why I decided to secretly contact your organization, to ask for help.”
“I see.” Scarlet paused for a second before asked, “What would you ask me to be? Your son’s family bodyguard?”
He nodded again, this time with eagerly mood. “Yes! Oh, I almost forget to introduce myself. The name is Howard Ainsworth.”
“You can call me Scarlet.”
He smiled warmly. “Code name?”
“Indeed.”
“You’re all professional ones, I heard of. I felt reluctantly to call your help for the first time, but I’d decided to. Now I can ease myself that you’ve took the mission and willed to protect my son and his family.”
“Do you hire any other bodyguards?” Scarlet glanced around the men with black suits.
“No, just police.”
Scarlet cursed inwardly hearing that. He didn’t like law-serving officer, much more to their constant annoyance during his many works. Supposed that, he would work along with them, much to his chagrin.
“They insisted to guard my son’s after the report of witnessing were made. These people…” he gestured to his guards around, “…are my personal guards. I’ve hired them for long.”
Scarlet nodded. For a moment, they didn’t exchange any words, until the old Ainsworth finally stood from his chair, and took some paper from his pocket, and gave it to Scarlet who recognized it as business card. He started to walk, supported by one of his guard, and said, “This is my business card, I’ve written my son’s address on it. I’ve also called him and told him about you. I really do appreciative with your help, Mr. Scarlet. I expect your job done in success, for my son’s sake.”
He walked towards the door, nudged Scarlet gently and even gave him a slight pat on his shoulder before walked out the room. Scarlet fell silent for a moment before asked him a question. “Mr. Ainsworth?”
The man stopped and turned around, faced him. He waited patiently for the question Scarlet would ask him with.
“Did you know about the realm of our organization before you made call?”
The old man blinked once. “Yes, I did know.”
Scarlet inwardly amazed. “Even though you knew, you insisted to make call for us…”
“Yes.” He smiled warmly and, strange enough for Scarlet, fatherly. “I believe on you.”
Scarlet’s eyes widened on such words. Belief was one rare thing he seldom got from human beings. He gratefully accepted the feel, even though he didn’t show it on the surface; his expression remained impassive like he usually had.
He watched the old man and his guards finally disappeared from his sight, before calmly retreated to his apartment and prepared his things for work.

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