Bloody Memory

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Thank you for smint45 for the reviews!
That's truly encouraging me to keep writing the story. :D

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Chapter Six

The wound was stinging so much!
Cursing loudly, Opal pulled out the dagger from the bloody hole with all his force; spluttering more blood on his way; and threw it across the room until it jabbed at the wall. He had had the silver bullet out from his thigh, however; and the tiny wound had begun to heal, much to his delight. He held a folded towel covering his upper wound; gently pushed it to stop the bleeding.
Fortunately, the dagger wasn’t applied by venom, say anti coagulant venom. If it was, then he had been doomed from the beginning.
He scowled recalling the memory from that afternoon. Almost, goddammit! He almost got him. He almost ended Scarlet’s life. Not that he really hated the younger vampire; it was just that he disliked failing the mission he had been charged with. Especially when that mission had been assigned by His Excellency himself.
Snorting disgustedly, he laid down his bed. Since when he called himself as His Excellency?! He wasn’t even a royal blood! Considering regal status, it was HE who had to be called His Excellency for the first place!
But he was fully aware of the reason he and his other comrades call HIM as His Excellency, despite his lack of royal blood line. He, from all of other vampires in his coven, had the most dangerous and powerful element of spirit blade. It was just natural that they considered him as their leader; even, their bodily of god. Opal hated to admit, even for himself; that he terrified just by facing him.
Opal sighed exasperatedly and closed his eyes, relaxing and letting his wound recovered. His thought flew back to Scarlet. Opal barely knew the young vampire, for exactly he just recognized him as the other crimson-haired vampire’s apprentice, and ward. He remembered the person clearly. He always considered him as a rival.
Vermillion was a unique person. Maybe it wasn’t just unique; Opal thought deeply; he was …overwhelming. Amazingly, highly skilled in swordsmanship and gunmanship; and endowed with aristocratic, graceful beauty. He was quite sociable on his own demeanor; he had wide knowledge and wisdoms; he was born as a royal blood; same like him.
Opal recalled the first time he met the crimson lord. It was at the royal vampire party. He was still in his fourteenth; and Vermillion was barely ten. He remembered when he caught sight of the crimson vampire boy. If he didn’t remember himself as a royal, he had been gawking all the time he saw him. He firstly thought the child as a girl!
Hell, even people often misunderstood him as a girl!
But Vermillion was just …more feminine in appearance than him. At least, he looked like so when he was in his teen. When he had grown up as an adult, he was still somewhat beautiful yet handsome, in many other ways. Opal always found that he attracted to the younger lord. He eventually felt fond of him.
When he heard about Vermillion’s death, he inwardly felt deep disappointment and sadness. Disappoint, because he always considered him as his main rival, his goal. For what ever aim, he didn’t understand. Just… goal. Sad, because he wouldn’t have any chance to meet him again, to see him again. To stare at his beauty, his grace.
Opal realized that he liked the crimson lord. He liked him so far he craved him badly. To absolutely have full possessiveness about him. To feel him. To taste him. To…
Opal shook his head. He was dead; he had gone forever. Never would he come back to this damned world. The dead would always be dead, no matter what.
Opal almost dozed off when his cell phone rang. Grumbled, he picked up his phone.
“Opal’s here.”
[Did you make it?]
“…Not yet. There was a miscalculation.”
[No reason to fail, Opal. You know that.]
“Off course I know that! Give me some more time; say two days, to fulfill this mission. I will, definitely, finish him off.”
[…His Excellency expect the best from you. Okay, two more days, no fail this time.]
“Screw him! I won’t fail again! How come he dare to--!”
[If I were you, I would keep my tongue off, Opal.]
“……” The call was dismissed.

***

The snow field wasn’t pure white again; it was covered with red hue of blood. Countless bodies lied on the ground. Some bodies had been torn apart; some had just been sliced open on their limbs. But all of them were dead. No more living being, except one. The one who did the massacre…
Scarlet cried and cried, mourning over a bloody dead body on his lap. Vermillion was dead; he killed him. With his own hand, he killed him with cold blood. Although it was out of his own consciousness; The Evil Stream controlled over his body, making him a slaughterer of his own master and brother; moreover, his own comrades.
He was alone now in the middle of the snow field, crying, howling… regretting. And he knew that he would always be alone for the rest of his life.
Anger.
Regret.
Sadness.
Agony.
Sorrow.
And soon… hollow, emptiness filled him.

***

Jamie shifted uncomfortably while trying his best to sleep; he couldn’t sleep at all since he slipped on his bed. He thought about many things; mostly about Scarlet.
Since that assault, Sarah was reassigned to be his body guard, replacing Scarlet’s position. Even though they had had explanations about his being and the circumstances lingered him from Captain Wilkins, his parents were afraid of his nature and had asked the team leader to change his guard. Arthur Wilkins just plainly changed the authority for guarding him to the female officer.
No, he didn’t complain about that; even though he felt a bit disappoint. He just thought about how different Scarlet was now; he seemed …distant, and, Jamie couldn’t comprehend… hollow? He rarely talked to everyone, and sometimes Jamie eventually caught off him just staring unfocusedly while he was be on his guard shift or taking care of his weapons.
Jamie had already seen what big things that wrapped by black leathers and chained by a shackle; it was a long and massive blade. Captain Wilkins had told them about the nature of Symbion vampires; who were born along with their elemental guardian spirits called blade spirits, and the facts that after some times, they manifested themselves onto ‘living’ metal which could be forged to weapons; he had acknowledged that the massive blade was Scarlet’s blade spirit named Navalm. The form itself was a nagamaki, Jamie remembered; a kind of huge and enormous blade from Far East, say Japan.
Jamie humphed heavily and sat up, deciding he was thirsty and needing some drink. He carefully tiptoed out his room, not wanting to wake up Sarah who exhaustedly slept on his couch at the corner of his room. He slipped down to the kitchen and opened the fridge, hoping he would get some orange juice or just cold water.
He had been drinking orange juice he had found for some gulps when he heard a faintly whining sound from outside the kitchen door. He stopped dead and tried to listen more carefully. That whining sound was very weak, almost inaudible, but Jamie knew it was there. He slowly put juice’s carton back to fridge, closed it, and stealthily tiptoed to the kitchen door. He opened the door slightly, allowing himself to peek outside and found that the whining sound came from a lump lurked beside the trash bin.
He narrowed his eyes and studied the lump, who; much to Jamie’s dismay; turned out to be cloak-worn Scarlet. He realized that Scarlet was sleeping while holding his wrapped massive blade; the blade leaned to the wall beside him, and he leaned to the blade; but his sleeping form was far from comfortable and soundly sleep every person had to be.
Scarlet was hugging his own legs to his chest, somewhat curling like a fetus, still sitting and leaning to his blade and the wall; and he was trembling. Jamie firstly thought he was out cold, but suddenly realized he was trembling because of other source aside the cold.
He had nightmare, Jamie frowned. And nasty one he had.
Scarlet jerked slightly and his whining increased to faint whimpering. He somewhat seemed struggling for controlling his own dream; Jamie could see he already had sheen of sweat formed around his brows. His face contorted painfully, as if he experienced some kind of very horrible nightmares right now.
Jamie’s heart ached watching him; he always had his own nightmares because of his predicaments, and thankfully, the nightmares somehow faded since Scarlet came. Being his body guard, he always stood by his bed and guarded him while he was sleeping; and when Jamie jerked awake from his nightmares; panting, sweating, and tears-flowing; he could always relying himself crying and telling him about his previous nightmares. And Scarlet always successfully comforted him until he fell asleep again.
And now the condition was reserved. Now, it was Scarlet who was haunted by his own nightmares. Jamie knew nothing about Scarlet’s past or about his life before they met; except slight fragments which had been told by Captain Wilkins. He only knew that Scarlet had lost his beloved person in his life, namely his brother and master; and that probably caused his current nightmares.
Jamie went out slowly and stealthily walked towards Scarlet. He watched Scarlet’s contorted face for a moment before decided to stretch his arm to touch his face. However before he finally reached his goal, Scarlet’s eyes snapped open and one of his arms flew towards Jamie’s; firmly catching it half way. Jamie yelped both in surprise and pain; the sound made Scarlet’s reddened eyes, bared-fangs and claws jerked back and he regained his composure realizing who he had caught of.
“Jamie?!” he barked, startled. “What the he— just, what are you doing here?!”
Jamie was trembling now, out of his control, and stuttered, “W-w-we-well, I, I’m kindda thirsty, so… I went down to get a drink, and the-then I, I he-heard a whining sound coming from outside the kitchen. I, I was about peeking outside and realizing it was you, who-who was whining… on your sleep. I-I got near you just wanna check that you’re, um, all right…”
Scarlet’s eyes softened and he inwardly winced seeing the human boy he supposed to protect was afraid of him. He released Jamie’s arm and patting him slightly at his head. He noticed that Jamie’s trembling was slowly stopped. “Okay. You know, I’m just having a nightmare… Just …don’t do something like that again. Vampires are as sensitive as they awake when they sleep around.”
Jamie nodded and gulped slowly. He glanced at Scarlet a few times before meekly asked, “Is, is that horrible?”
Scarlet blinked. “What?”
“Um, your …nightmare. Is that horrible?”
Scarlet stared at him for a moment. “Do you ever think why it is called a nightmare on the first place if it wasn’t horrible at all?”
The human boy blushed and replied that he was just asking.
Sighing, Scarlet let his ‘wall’ down for a while. “Yes, it is…”
“How bad?”
“Very…”
“Would you want to share it with me? You know, you always comforted me back then when I experienced my own bad dreams. I always relied on you and told you about the nightmares. Now, I guess, it’s your turn. I’ll listen.” He prepared himself by sitting in front of the young vampire and, tilting his head, looked up to him seriously.
If the situation wasn’t that grim-feeling, maybe Scarlet had laughed over him. But the crimson haired vampire just shook his head carefully, somewhat sadly, and plainly said, “No. There’s nothing I have to tell you about. It’s just usual dreams any way.”
Jamie pouted. “If you said so, well I guess I have to go back upstairs.”
He stood up to go back inside when Scarlet suddenly held his arm still. He turned his sight at the young vampire, confused.
Scarlet looked deep inside his eyes; his stare was unreadable. “You…” he murmured. “Do you afraid of me?”
Jamie looked back at him. Then slowly, he shook his head, to Scarlet’s dismay. “I won’t lie that I don’t feel afraid of you; even slightly. Yes, I do afraid of you, firstly. Who didn’t? But my fear isn’t bigger enough than my surprised feeling.”
Scarlet gazed at him, amazed. “Surprised?”
“Uh huh. And now, I am not afraid of you. Due to Captain Wilkins’ explanation, you vampires aren’t far different from us humans, except for food preference and natural talents. There’s nothing from you to be afraid of, I think.”
Scarlet still gazed at him in silent.
Jamie let out a little smile. And what he did next clearly made Scarlet both surprised and astonished.
He hugged him lovingly and tightly.
“I like you, Scarlet. I love you. You said yourself that we are best friends, right? Well, I wanna stay like that. From now and forever.”
Scarlet was still drown at his startling feeling, and then reluctantly returned his embrace. “…Are you sure?”
“Why not?!”
Scarlet let go his arms and stared into Jamie’s chocolate-doe eyes; somehow Jamie could see that gleam of his crimson eyes were slightly coming back before retreated into his current usual dimmed sight. He slowly smiled even though faintly at Jamie and whispered, “Thank you.”
Jamie smiled back, widely and hugged him again heartily. Scarlet hugged him back.
After they hugged each other for about ten minutes, they released their hug and smiled. Scarlet mumbled something about him continuing his guard and Jamie teased him for oversleeping during his shift. Scarlet just chuckled lightly.

***

The last assault on Jamie and Scarlet had made the principal let out some other dispensations for Jamie to not attend the classes for next few days. Even though he was bored to death during his school’s absences, he was glad that he could spend more times with Scarlet.
Frank and Emily had been convinced to let the young vampire guarding over Jamie again. They hesitantly permitted it, but the hesitancies were gone when they saw their son’s happy face knowing that he would be getting along with his former body guard again.
Scarlet’s expression had been lightened up somewhat; however the dull and dimmed, void crimson irises were still there. He somehow masked his expression in front of the others, save Jamie; whom he genuinely cared about and with whom he was able to smile with; he looked well and normal, meanwhile when he was out of sight or alone, he came back to his usual self of cold and devastated manners.
This wasn’t slipped from Arthur’s eyes. At some points, he was relieved that Jamie had been warming up towards Scarlet despite his knowing about the vampire’s being, not to say his parent’s acceptance; and he hoped that the boy’s affection could change him. It touched him, yes; but it didn’t change his demeanor …yet. Arthur really hoped that Scarlet would change, and on the first place, be able to forgive himself. Arthur didn’t want to see such sadness and hollowness again for the rest of his life…
For two days, they were guarding around and nothing happened. Both Tyler and Allan got bored again, but they remained high alerted considering their last ruckus. Sarah also stayed alert while kept helping Emily preparing Jamie’s birthday party. Jamie was helping his mother too, sometimes joining with Frank; both of them mostly did house cleaning works. Scarlet helped too while he wasn’t busy with his things.
It was about eight at night when Scarlet suddenly sensed enemies.
The day next tomorrow was Jamie’s birthday. Both Emily and Sarah had done almost all impressive works, from ordering cakes and other food stuffs, pre-decorating the living room, etc. That night all of them gathered on living room; save both Arthur and Tyler who were on terrace, smoking; they watched news on TV while chatting here and there. Scarlet was helping Jamie doing some of his home works; both of them sitting on the chairs facing a tea table while working. His Kayura was settled on his holster hanging around his waist, while Navalm leaned neatly at the wall near of him.
Arthur and Tyler were walking in the living room when suddenly Scarlet jerked his head up, frowning. Arthur immediately saw this and asked in tight voice, “What’s wrong, Scarlet?”
Everyone turned their attention towards the crimson-haired vampire, alarmed. They saw him slowly stood up, head still upturned as if he sniffed something. And he indeed ‘sniffed’ something.
“…Enemies.” His word was plain and short, but alarming.
All the team members pulled out their guns, readying and staying on guard. Jamie ran towards his parents who immediately hugged him tightly, safely and they already surrounded by their guards.
Arthur asked again, “How many of them? How far are they from us?”
Scarlet waved his hand as a sign for hushing him. Moments later, his voice was audible as a murmuring. “About twenty men. Humans. They’re already surrounding us, sixteen feet away. And--”
He choked his own words and his eyes widened in slight shock. Arthur watched him, disturbed by his sudden halt. “And what?!!”
“…Opal…” he hissed in pure hatred and restrained rage.
“Shit!” Arthur hissed, restrainedly. “I have feeling this night will be a long night for us.”
Chuckling, Allan blurted, “Sure will, Cap’n.”
“Well, the most important thing is…” Sarah murmured while cocking her gun, “…protecting the Ainsworths with all of our strength.”
Everyone nodded in unison. Frank mumbled his gratitude while holding his wife and son tightly on his chest.
Scarlet ‘sniffed’ once more and hissed viciously. He already bared his fangs and claws, while grabbing Navalm which still wrapped inside her leather garb. Arthur looked at him cautiously and warned him, “Don’t tear anyone apart, Scarlet!”
He glared at him; Arthur could see his eyes grew redder and darker, while the slits narrowed; and simply growled, “I know my line, Wilkins.”
“Just in case, you get overdo it, too much…”
“Humph.” He grunted softly, and then suddenly went silent. When he talked again, his voice sounded a bit terrified, “He RELEASES her!”
“What?! Who releases who?!”
“Opal,” Scarlet whispered now. “He releases Ariadne to her real form.”

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I have to admit that I get most influences from BLEACH when I describe my blade spirits.
I mean, their releases are somewhat resemblance Ressureccion of Arrancal, don't you think? Hahaha :D

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