Wandering

VII. Exhausted

Opal was in bad mood. Really, truly bad mood.

He hated patrol work with passion. All he had to do was patrolling the southern terrain area; with nothing to do, except watching the vicinity and gliding over the trees. And it was fucking boring.

His mundane patrol work was a part of his punishment. He wasn’t allowed to join any mission after his monumental failure to kill that red haired brat. Not to say, being scolded and ‘threatened to death’—he felt like he was already dead for sure; Black Diamond was one hell of ruthless fucking bastard—really scarred him for life.

At that time, he was truly scared of death and of one fucking necromancer, namely his boss, Black Diamond.

He knew he was still in confinement state. Ariadne was half-sealed so she couldn’t release her full potential strength. Oh, she could transform into her real form, yes; but her power was somehow reduced to one fifth from her usual.

He couldn’t use his magic or mind manipulation anymore. Not until that fucker released his seal from him. He still could use his psychokinetic, at least. Opal felt like to kill something; anything. He was pissed beyond belief.

Oh, bloody fucking hell, Opal seethed, as he swore to exact his painful revenge towards the necromancer. Someday… he would slay that fucking bastard for good; and he hoped the time was soon…

A faint flare of familiar aura stopped him midway on his gliding from tree to tree. He was slightly shocked to feel that specific aura once more. Wasn’t that person dead?

{~Lord Black Diamond resurrected him, Milord~} Ariadne’s voice rang inside his mind. Opal pondered this news.

{~How come I don’t know about this particular fact?~}

{~At that time, you, Milord, was engaged in a mission concerning that red haired brat, his little brother~}

Opal grimaced. It was a bitter reminiscence, indeed. {…~I see… Ariadne, locate him~}

{~As you wish~}

The silver haired vampire smirked deviously. At last, he found something interesting along his way. He was sure as hell enjoying this.

‘Playing’ with the barely resurrected Vermillion Crimson was indeed priceless pleasure.

---

Vermillion waited.

He simply waited for his adversary to come and approach him.

Contrary to David’s belief, he wasn’t afraid. At least, he wasn’t afraid for his own safety. No, he feared for the human family’ safety. He knew Opal was a ruthless being when it came to human. He had no regard for human; hence he didn’t care for humanity in general. He tortured, slaughtered, and generally eradicated humans with no remorse whatsoever. He only cared for himself and himself only, just like a narcissist he was.

He could feel a distinct pulse of energy wave coming from the release of Ariadne’s true form. The shrill cry proved his notion. Opal had released his blade spirit.

Vermillion didn’t want to spend his energy in vain by releasing Shion. He could easily overpower the silver haired vampire if he had his full power intact. But he didn’t, so why bothered? From Shion’s estimation, Opal didn’t possess his full power either; something he vaguely wondered about.

Vermillion could feel the soft footsteps of the giant hippogriff, Ariadne, approaching his place. Despite her vanity and arrogance, Ariadne was a beautiful creature. With her silver fur, golden beak and claws and talons; silver wings… she was truly an embodiment of heavenly creature. It was truly a shame that she belonged to such a vile character like Opal.

The thick foliages and leaves parted open forcibly, almost violently; revealing the eagle-shaped head of a creature, which from David’s sighting, was extremely breathtaking. The creature revealed itself later to be some kind of fairy-tales beast, with head and wide wings of an eagle, body of a horse, lion’s tail, and sharp claws and talons. Its fur and wings’ feathers were silver colored, while its beak, claws, and talons were golden-colored. It had silvery yet multi-colored eyes with cat-slit pupils. The eyes, however, gleamed with unholy and wicked glee, successfully making the humans shiver in sudden dread.

Vermillion gazed coldly at the graceful beast and her wielder, who perched on her back. Opal grinned widely and maniacally, revealing his white, pearly set of teeth and sharp, elongated fangs. His multicolored eyes fixated on Vermillion and Vermillion only.

“~Well, well, what do we have here? Evening, Vermillion Crimson~” Opal greeted Vermillion with their native language and mocking tone. He grinned wider, illuminating his gleaming fangs.

Vermillion’s eyes narrowed in sheer contempt and annoyance. “~Isn’t it a bit too late for the term ‘evening’, Opal? I believe, it’s a bit past midnight~”

Opal’s grin didn’t cease. “~I know. It’s just a dramatization anyway. You don’t expect me to say ‘nighty night, Verm’ or something like that, do you?~”

Vermillion didn’t bother to reply.

Opal jumped from Ariadne’s back and landed nimbly on the ground. Suddenly aware of other presences nearby, he cast his sight around and saw three humans huddling somewhere behind Vermillion. They stared at him with both fear and awe. Grin slightly faltering; Opal couldn’t help but snort in pure disgust.

“~Humans? Survivors, huh? You still aid them, don’t you? You always like them. Those pathetic, weak, useless trash—~”

“~You never change. Always gloat around and taunt me relentlessly. Always despise human being. Don’t you think it’s redundant? Well, at least, I know I never listen to you anyway~”

Opal scowled as his initial bad mood was back.

“Do not tempt me to assault you, Vermillion! With your current condition, I know you can’t hold your ground for long time while fending my attacks.” Opal spat in common language.

David and his family jerked in surprise hearing the sheer and pure hatred within the words. They eyed both vampires back and forth, somehow wondering their current situation.

Vermillion smirked faintly. “I’m not tempting you. There’s no meaning to do it anyway. You’ll always be weaker than me.”

Opal growled as his sharp nails protruded out and formed claws. His already long fangs elongated more.

“…Say it again and I’ll be sure not to miss my claws on your throat.” He snarled. His extremely long fangs added to his terrifying appearance. Opal looked like a wicked, fallen angel; at least for David and his family. He was simply a fool in Vermillion’s opinion.

Vermillion tilted his head slightly. “Oh, really? I’m flattered, Opal. I don’t know that you’re capable of worthy assault now. As long as I know, you’re nothing than just a fool.”

“YOU BASTARD!!” Opal screamed in rage and launched his first attack. He swung his claw towards the other vampire’s head; but Vermillion easily sidestepped and avoided his blow. Infuriated, the silver assassin launched another blow, this time a kick; only to be dodged once more by the other man.

“…What’s the matter, Lord Crimson?” Opal sneered, taunting. “Is that all what you got now? Dodging? Running? Why don’t you take my blows frontally just like the warrior you used to speak of? Or… are you scared??”

Vermillion knew the younger vampire only meant to taunt him, to goad him to fight. He didn’t want to waste his already limited energy to fight such scum like Opal. Honestly, the silver haired jerk wasn’t worth it.

“…I’m not scared.” He remarked solemnly. “Especially of you.”

Opal sneered cynically. “Doesn’t seem like that to me.”

“Babble what you want. You’ll never defeat me.”

Opal’s eyes narrowed, hatred and rage twirling and fusing within those multi colored silvery orbs. He hissed hatefully.

“You’ll be sorry, Vermillion. To underestimate me like that…”

Suddenly he let out a keen whistling sound. Vermillion didn’t seem startled; he knew that Opal would, soon or later, call for his spirit’s help. He didn’t underestimate the other vampire either. He knew extremely well about Opal’s strength. But he also knew his trait for being sloppy and careless during his fury.

He just needed the right time to strike back. He just needed one simple chance to release Shion, all glorious flames and all. It would just need one simple chance, in the right time.

He knew he would win—like usual. He wasn’t called the third strongest vampire warrior in the entire world for nothing.

“~ARIADNE!! CRUSH HIM TO DEATH!!~”

With a raging yell, Opal launched his psychokinetic attack, sending debris and chunks of wood and dead trees flying towards Vermillion. At the same time, the hippogriff let out a shrill cry and spread her wings widely, hovering over the red haired vampire in an attempt to crush him beneath her paws. David and his family screamed at Vermillion—who stood unmoved and solidly, even under those multi assaults—telling him to move, to run away as they feared for his well-being.

Vermillion slowly craned his head and eyed his approaching enemies. His crimson orbs, however, were calm and solemn, as he muttered his releasing incantation.

“~Song of Immortality, Crying of Fidelity, He who reign over Eternality, the Flame of Forever Life…Lament for me, the Cursed Phoenix… Shion~”

An enormous burst of flame suddenly engulfed Ariadne as the twin kodachis dissolved into streaks of blue flames. A giant phoenix shot off from the bursting flames, spreading his wings as widely as he could. He had two pairs of wings, as well as nine long, twirling tails. His entire feathers—body, wings, and all—were silvery blue, just like the flames he came from. He flied and maneuvered on the sky for some moments before descended and hovered over his lord’s left shoulder. Letting out a keen cry which later turned out to be a tuneful lament, Shion settled his bluish-purple eyes towards Opal and half-burned Ariadne.

Opal cussed colorfully. He didn’t expect this. He didn’t expect Vermillion to be so much stronger than him. Damn it, he was still stronger than him—even after experiencing one time death and being dormant for almost six years! Goddammit!!

His body felt terribly burnt; it stinging and aching so badly. He knew it was because of his connection with Ariadne—whenever something happened to his spirit, he would be affected as well.

“~Damn it…~”

“~What’s the matter, Opal? Are you scared?~” Vermillion used his previous words to taunt Opal back.

The silver haired vampire gritted his teeth. Shit… he definitely didn’t expect this.

David, Samantha, and Sean gawked at the scene before them. Here they were, witnessing duel between two vampires and two mythical beasts. One being a silver hippogriff (Sean was the fans of Harry Potter, so he kinda knew what creature Ariadne was; which at least, much resemble Buckbeak the hippogriff) and the other was a blue phoenix (once again, thanks to Sean’s fanaticism of Harry Potter).

And, most to their relief, it seemed that Vermillion would be the one who won this battle.

“~…I don’t have time to play with you, Opal~” Vermillion stated matter-of-factly. He began to murmur a spell. Opal’s eyes widened as he saw ringlets of fire began to form around Shion’s tails.

“~The hell—!!~”

“~The Second Lament, Flame Rings~”

“~—shit…~”

---

David never drove any vehicle as fast and crazy as he did now.

Samantha and Sean were on the backseat with Vermillion—who, right after the battle with Opal ended, had fallen unconscious. They were now busy tending for him.

David glanced backward, trying to scan for the silver assassin and his beast.

Nothing. He breathed in relief.

David then glanced at his wife and asked tightly, “How is he??”

Samantha still dabbed Vermillion’s forehead with a small towel, wiping away his cold sweat. Vermillion’s face was deathly pale; his breathing erratic and his sweats cold. He seemed restless. The woman halted and stared at the vampire worriedly.

“…Worsen, I guess. He’s paler and breaking cold sweat more than before.”

“We have to reach Granvélde quickly. He will be better after feeding on blood.” David stated curtly. “Is there any remarkable hospital or blood bank in that town?”

“Granvélde Memorial Hospital. I heard its blood bank works well.” Samantha grimaced. “Let’s hope the town doesn’t yet change into living hell.”

Her husband gritted his teeth. “You bet on it, Sam.”

Sean continued dabbing on the vampire’s forehead. Vermillion murmured incoherently in his unconsciousness. Sometimes, he would restlessly tremble or shook his head as if in denial.

The mother and son continued their effort when suddenly Vermillion let out a keen howl-like sound. And then a single blood-like tear rolled down his pale, smooth cheek.

For the human family, this scene was quite frightening. David almost hit the brake in his shock, glancing fearfully at their vampire companion. Samantha and Sean gasped out loud, shocked.

“What? What’s happening?!” David yelled.

“I—I don’t know! He just—he just suddenly cries blood!” Samantha yelled back as tightly and loudly as her husband did. She went to dab the blood-tear away with the towel when Vermillion murmured heartbrokenly.

“…~Why…~”

“What does he say?” David still tried to control their mini truck’s movement. Eventually, he succeeded.

“I don’t know. I don’t catch his words.” Samantha muttered, confused. “He uses some kind of foreign language.”

“He used it before. I think it’s their kin’s language.” David concluded. His wife only nodded and continued dabbing.

“…Why…” Vermillion murmured, now in common language. The humans stilled and listened.

Another blood-tear rolled down the pale cheek. Samantha gently wiped it away, trying not to leave even a faint streak on his smooth, porcelain skin.

“…Why…you…” he gasped for breath as other blood-tears followed their predecessor. Samantha glanced worriedly at his husband from the rear mirror; while kept wiping away the blood. David had the same worried expression on his face.

“…Why…didn’t…you…” Vermillion sobbed. “…Why didn’t you…kill me that time?”

The humans froze.

“…Kill me…” Vermillion was crying now, blood-tears falling freely from his tightly shut eyes. “…Don’t…hurt…Scarlet…my brother… Please…”

“…Sam, wake him up. I think his nightmare consumes and scars him deeper than we thought before.” David told his wife firmly.

“…Alright.”

“What’s with this blood? He has lost more blood than he can endure with.”

His wife sighed and handed the bloody towel to her son. Sean offered another clean towel to her.

“I don’t know, Dave…I don’t know.”

Vermillion stirred slightly as Samantha shook his shoulder gently, trying to wake him up. He had calmed a bit after some other unintelligible murmurs and then he went still. Somehow it worried his human companions more than before—when he suddenly broke out. In this silent and still state, Vermillion looked as if he was already dead, for real.

“Vermillion… Wake up…” the woman kept calling for him to wake up. Vermillion stirred again and, after some agonizing moments, slowly opened his eyelids.

Crimson eyes with slit pupils were revealed. They glazed with reserved and somehow blank expression. Their owner blinked carefully, letting another blood-tear to fall down his pale cheek. Vermillion, however, didn’t seem to care or even notice this.

“Vermillion…” Samantha inquired carefully. Sean watched warily as his mother tried to coax some reaction from their expressionless vampire companion; fresh towel gripped tightly within his small hands. “Vermillion, are you alright?”

The crimson haired vampire turned his head at the woman. He fixed his crimson eyes on her for some moments, seemingly lost and not recognizing her. It worried Samantha and David, who watched the entire affair with keen eyes—though still not losing his attention to the road in front of him.

Vermillion looked at his hands blankly. He stared at them with unmasked sorrow and pain as he slowly muttered, “…Why am I still alive?”

David and Samantha exchanged worried look. David exclaimed a bit too cheerfully, “Of course you’re still alive! Vermillion—”

“Five years ago…” he continued passionlessly, cutting off David’s words. He seemingly uncared for the humans around him. “I should have died five years ago…so, why…”

David blinked. Five years ago? Should have died five years ago? What did that mean?

“…He killed me five years ago…in the war…” Vermillion now threw his gaze towards the approaching dawn. He didn’t even squint when a glimpse of sunlight hit him. Samantha quickly covered the window with thin blanket, hindering him from the upcoming sunlight.

“What war, Vermillion? What are you talking about?” David pressed. He swiftly turned right as he saw the signpost to Granvélde. Samantha gave her husband a reproachful glare, but the man ignored it.

Vermillion stared blankly at the front road, not seeing anything in particular. He kept silent; David thought that he wasn’t going to answer his question. But he was proved wrong as the crimson lord replied somehow shakily and faintly the humans had to focus their ears to catch the words.

“…Vampire war…six years ago…he killed me…” Vermillion closed his eyes as another blood-tear rolled down. “…Or else, he would kill Scarlet…my little brother…”

“…You mean ‘he’… as if the silver haired vampire who barely chased us?” David inquired again.

Vermillion slowly shook his head. “No…he’s…worse… That bastard is stronger than Opal…than me…than Grey…” he trailed off as he buried his face on his palm, sobbing quietly.

“Vermillion…”

“Grey is dead. Indigo is dead. Everyone is dead. Hell, even I am dead—I was before.” He mumbled in between his sobs. “My brother—my brother…I don’t know whether he’s safe or not…whether he is still alive or not…”

David and Samantha exchanged worried look, again. This was getting complicated than they guessed before. David always thought that Vermillion hid something from them—but he certainly didn’t expect for something this…horrible.

Though, how come there was a vampire war and humankind never knew about it—or about the vampire, for crying out loud?

“Your leaders hid the fact, for the entire time.” Vermillion supplied the answer as if he could read David’s mind. “They don’t want humans to find out about vampires. And to be entangled within our internal war.”

“…I…see…”

Vermillion abruptly stilled and then his eyes widened in shock. He looked at the human family with wide, horrified eyes. One pale hand flew to cover his gaping mouth as he registered his previous act. He didn’t mean to carelessly blurt out his emotion and the fact right in front of humans—they shouldn’t know about the horrible war! They shouldn’t…though they had every right to know.

But humans tended to be defensive, to be afraid and more anarchistic when they were faced with the incomprehensible reality…at least it was incomprehensible for their mortal minds. It was a wise thing to do—to hide the entire fact from them, to let them live their life blissfully unaware of the raging supernatural war between creatures whom they thought only exist in the horror novels…

To let them live their daily life out of the knowledge of vampires, lycans, and other monsters truly exist around them. Humans should have been let unaware of their existences; to be foolish about those horrible facts. Not knowing is a bliss, after all.

“…No…” Vermillion shook his head in denial. “You shouldn’t have known…you shouldn’t have been told…by me of all people…”

“Vermillion…it’s okay…we know all along that you hid something from us…” Samantha tried to coax him, but the crimson haired vampire gave her a sharp gaze.

“It’s not an excuse. I was careless, that’s all. I shouldn’t tell you—even in my delirious state…” he trailed off as he recalled his pathetic form moments ago. He suppressed a wince. “…I really shouldn’t tell you…”

“It has already happened, okay?” David snapped at him. He had become impatient hearing the vampire’s rambles. “We’ve known. You, in your delirious state, have told us, though only vaguely. About the war, about your dead comrades, about your little brother, about you being dead before…” he trailed off, frowning. “I don’t think I can understand that, though…”

Vermillion scoffed lightly and turned his back at them. “I won’t tell you more about it, then. Just—just drive. Granvélde is right in front of us…”

David turned his eyes on the road again and blinked when he saw the outline of the building in the faraway.

“Hey, you’re right.”

Vermillion didn’t respond as he pretended to doze off. Samantha gave her husband a frown and resettled her position so she could sit more comfortably. Sean leaned his head against his mother’s shoulder. The boy was tired beyond belief and soon out cold.

Their mini truck moved towards the town; slowly now, yet still surely.