TO Rewrite: B2 — 26. Revenge Is My Calling (Patreon)

PoV:

1. Carmilla (What will happen to our fake?)

2. Rachel Park (The Black Moon Rises!)

3. Maria (Our Swearing Unicorn!)

TO Rewrite Index

Previous Chapter

In-line Edit

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Air locked in her lungs, Carmilla started as a misty graveyard met her gaze. The dispersing rush of wind settled at her back, pulling on her clothes and hair. It was as if she’d just opened the door to the dying embers of a hurricane.

Momentarily stunned by the abrupt change in sound, taste, and the experience of meeting the horrific visage of death she’d just escaped—no, not escaped…let off the hook. Scarlet and Rachel let her off the hook. Why?

A quake ran through her soul just thinking about the wide-mouthed, fanged black hare; bullet ants crawling down her throat or inside her ears would be better than gazing into those fathomless, swirling eyes that spoke of nightmares even she couldn’t stomach.

“I’m…alive? Hah…hahaha. I’m alive,” she choked, her pumpkin-themed dress fluttering around her as she collapsed to her butt and rubbed her shoulders; it felt like she’d just won the lottery. “I’m out of that…place.”

She felt so parched, but she was alive. She needed blood soon, or her crippling illness would return. That shouldn’t be a problem—however, a swift scan of the cold night sobered her panicked and elated mind.

Turning her head, a colossal hole brought her focus to the swirling blood sea of this world…below where Countess Elizabeth’s enormous castle had been. It was gone.

Over two kilometers in diameter, she slowly crawled to the edge, staring down at the foundation’s smooth, curved, and earthen slope that used to host the city-sized fortress. It was as if it had been sucked into another dimension. The cavity in the middle of the floating island showed no other damage; it was in the same category as a meteorite or nuclear bomb.

This had to be Scarlet…and Rachel fought against her? No wonder Babel is so interested in them… Why did Rachel throw me out of that zone… [Iron Maiden] is currently inoperable. How did she block my Feat? It’s as if it’s broken…and gradually being repaired.

Is Rachel dead? Wait, what is this fog? Hmm. It must be Kastilla’s work…if she survived. It’s only around the graveyard, and doesn’t extend downward, which means she’s probably behind me. The woman’s mother couldn’t have made it out if she confronted Scarlet…

Carmilla glanced down at the murky hole again, a lump forming in her throat.

Yeah, not likely. I need to escape this world to report.

Forcing herself up, she glanced around the misty graveyard she’d been sent to. No one was around. The oppressive silence made her more sure it was Kastilla’s work. The noble lady was no doubt scared and alone. It might be the perfect time to make a new friend. Rachel knew her identity, and if Elizabeth was dead…she had to find another way out of this planet.

She reflected on the truth behind Cássia’s identity. If Cássia is Elizabeth, it’s fair to think she knows my identity, which was the reason for all those warnings to stay away from her girls… Greedy hag. I need to be careful to avoid Rachel, find some leverage to force Elizabeth to let me leave, and find blood to strengthen myself… Blood comes first.

Her mind was dashed of thoughts when a heavenly aroma met her nose… Young blood, virgin blood. Straightening herself, she smiled. Whatever Rachel’s purpose was for keeping her alive, it likely had something to do with Scarlet’s conflicting feelings about her. Rachel took care of Scarlet like a little sister. If she kept her distance, then there shouldn’t be a problem.

She’d completed her mission; there was a way for her to slip back into Scarlet’s life while obtaining the needed information her mistress required. Now that her mission was complete, all she had to do was return to Babel in Iraq. It was time to search for a snack and new friends to wrap around her finger.

Jumping a few times to hype herself up, she practiced her best innocent fright impression as she slowly crept into the fog. She used the tombstones as cover, acting the part of the frightened 16-year-old girl, looking for cover. Fidgets with her broken bra strap and the holes in her damaged top, her focus darted between shapes in the fog, knowing a certain someone could be watching.

Breathing in deeply, Carmilla followed the scent of the blood that had tickled her fancy; she had to be quick, or someone else might get to the girl first.

“H-Hello? Is anyone there… I’m, um, I’m a little scared—I got lost…”

The rolling mist and oppressive silence closed in around her; it was getting thicker. Her fear grew the closer she got to the source, spotting droplets of scarlet on the neatly cut grass. She could smell the girl’s terror and desperation with an oddly potent sense of…determination?

“I’m looking for a little girl that lost her way… Her mom is worried. Hello?”

Silence met her as she drew closer. It was a strange scent she wasn’t accustomed to. Little girls typically lacked such drive when running for their lives. Then again, this was a different world that was used to vampires being their rulers.

A cool, rusted iron smell wafted up from the hole in the crater behind her, making her anxious as it mixed with the little girl’s smell. Bending down, she pulled back her messy bangs and ran her fingers over a few droplets on a blade of grass. She pressed it against her tongue and worked it into her gums. 

Eight? No…nine years old. She doesn’t have that drug-like numbness that vampire blood gives me… No, she’s super sweet! It’s…like she’s never felt hardship before. Odd… It doesn’t taste right. It’s fresh…but not that fresh. I should be cautious…

“I-I’m c-cut…it hurts! Help…Mommy, it hurts…”

Carmilla froze, hearing the girl’s dampened voice in the fog ahead of her.

Aww. What a cute voice. Gah! Now my gums are aching… I’m salivating. Maybe I should have her guide me home so I can meet her family. Patience. I need a safe place…and a little hypnosis and daydream will do her good.

“Hello… Are you hurt? Where are you?”

Her heart felt strings tugging at it as the little girl broke into more tears, calling for her mother and big sister. If she had a big sister, then she most definitely needed an introduction.

“I’m here to help… Oh, haha. It’s okay—it’s okay… I’ll take you back to your family…”

“I’m sorry, Mommy—I’m sorry… I’m not crying! I’m a strong girl…”

Moving closer, she was careful when spotting the dark, quivering lump half-hiding behind a tombstone. She glanced around, taking careful track of her environment and the shapes in the thickening fog; it was getting worse by the second. She wasn’t alone.

This smells like a trap…but for who? A new fear welled up within her thumping chest; her body was somewhat unique for a vampire, allowing her to channel fresh blood to heat her blood and pump her heart. I’m as much of a treat to other vampires as a mortal…maybe more. Is Kastilla luring someone in to rebuild her strength? She could be using the little girl as bait…

She forced a laugh when seeing the large, bulged sheet or blanket, concealed behind a large tombstone, wiggling frantically. Had she really caught some girl and tied her up to cry in the dark?

“Lady Kastilla… Please, let’s not do this…”

Her gut cramped when a dark figure weaved into focus, just beyond sight in the thickening fog. It was hard for her vampiric eyes to cut past the darkness with all the white surrounding them. The shade flickered and was on the opposite side now.

“Can’t we be friends?” she asked, spinning in a slow circle and keeping her guard up. “I can help you escape this island. I can be a friend…a good friend. Let’s not play this game of scare tag and have a real heart-to-heart! There’s no need to point fangs at each other’s throats… Kastilla?”

On high alert, Carmilla searched the veil. Once again, nothing but dark movements just beyond sight. Several more seconds passed, but all that met her was the girl’s sniffles; there might even be two kids tied up together underneath the blanket by its size.

The pressure against her chest increased as she sensed someone moving just out of sight; Kastilla’s amused laughter filtered through the dense fog, setting goosebumps crawling up her arms. She was sinking deeper and deeper into a losing scenario. From their earlier encounter, she knew her hypnosis wouldn’t work, and even [Iron Maiden] wouldn’t be useful.

Dammit… They are the playful type of vampires. Her mother is probably dead… Would she care? I’m not sure, based on our short interactions. Belleza cared for her lineage overall, and knew her daughter couldn’t even be Scarlet’s appetizer.

If I want to survive, I need to maximize my strength… Maybe I can escape as a cat or fog. Not a good chance, but a chance… Just be patient. Be calm. Listen. Understand. Adapt. There’s no way she’s at her full power after whatever Scarlet did to her. I just need to get some blood…

Reaching the bundle, she felt a tad amused at what the noble vampire had done. In Kastilla’s flight, she’d actually snatched a quality, decorative blanket from inside the castle. Staked to the ground with iron nails, likely from the graveyard itself by their tarnish, it could be made into a decent cloak to hide her face.

Carmilla was careful to keep an eye on the moving shadows, coming in and out of view with Kastilla’s chuckles, dispersing between sides. [Iron Maiden] was almost repaired and ready to use. She could vanish in mist at a moment’s notice or transform into a cat.

If Kastilla thought she could win in a straight fight, then she would have by now, she reasoned, carefully crouching to grip the blanket. She’s far beyond me in a straight fight. Unless…this is just a game… A different kind of trap? Maybe the little girl has something to attack me with.

Now faced with the possibility that a child from this world might be capable of following instructions to set up a trap, she readied her escape Feats. Something wasn’t right, yet she couldn’t put her finger on it. Feeding her undead strength into her muscles, activating [Blood Stat Boost], she ripped it off.

Why does this girl sound so…

“Shit…”

Kastilla came into focus…underneath the blanket, bound in some kind of vine. Little girl’s blood was spread across her torn dress, the enchanted vials that had held it lying beside her, and the vampire’s cut skin oozed black ink. Burns marred her neck, chest, and arms. It was a trap—a Hunter trap—a real-life nightmare.

Kastilla’s tear-stained eyes darted to something Carmilla had learned about only days earlier—a magical item from Mexico—a lamp and recorder with unique writing on them. The little girl’s voice cried out from it, as real as any she’d heard; no, a little girl she did know…one who was on her big sister’s phone, crying to her mom.

In that split second, she closed her eyes and looked away, trying to disperse into fog, but the searing heat of Solar Energy broke her concentration. Burns blazed across her exposed arms, neck, and legs as Kastilla cried out with her. It wasn’t enough to do more than lightly damage, but enough to stop her ethereal transformation.

A deep, earthy Dutch voice whispered through the mist, her brain swimming. “Out of the darkness…out of fear, here comes the monster. You’ll feel the chill start, raising your hair.”

Abandoning the idea, no longer strong enough to use [Misty Escape], she did the next instinctual thing, and transformed into a small, ginger cat—it wasn’t fast enough to evade the stake that hit her thigh. The stake left splinters in her leg as it was forced out in her transformation.

“Ack—mrrrow…hsssss!”

“Carmilla… What did I tell you?”

A towering figure stepped out of the mist, glowing brown eyes peering at her from beneath the brim of his hat that was sharp enough to cut steel. A predator’s smirk lifted his strong jaw as he walked after her.

“Don’t cross me, or you’ll learn quickly the hard way…that I’m not one to be messed with. It’s too late; you’re here now. I hope that you’re prepared, because there’s no getting out.”

That was skill, not luck… Abraham Van Helsing…

The wind picked up, tossing back his long, curly locks and black coat. Sweat broke out across her body. Each crunch of his steel-toed boots stabbed her heart as he pulled out a one-handed crossbow from inside his jacket, carrying a building’s worth of weapons, all designed to kill her.

Rachel! Damn you, Rachel! What did I do to deserve this? I can’t move! This feeling in my chest… Run… I need to run…run! I can’t beat Helsing; he’s built for Dracula! 

“Electrified by panic…terror…doubt. We’re all alone… Heart rate rising, some call it scared. When you turn; I’ll be right there… You’re on your own. It’s you and me…who is going home?”

Dashing forward, fighting past the pain in her leg as yet more of her precious blood was used to push out the splinters and heal the damage. Fighting the limp, he vanished in the swirling mist, and not long after, a dart shot out of the fog ahead of her , burying into her chest. The long needle penetrated straight through into her heart, and the scent of garlic hit her nose like a brick.

[Blood Stat Boost Failed]

No! He’s playing with me! How did he…

Poison entered her body, tears slid down her eyes as the hunter’s frame flickered and he dissipated into the mist again; it was as if she were in [Dream World]—the Feat she used to get close to little girls—only this was not a dream.

“You should have never crossed me, because now you’ll never stop me. You should be afraid… You should be scared. I’ll haunt your dreams; welcome to a real-life nightmare. You can feel the energy, dark like clouds… When you turn, I’ll be right there. Look up…because I’m right here.”

[Cat Transformation Failed]

[Misty Escape Failed]

[Carmilla’s Illness Returned]

Stunned, all strength left her body. Hyperventilating, her ears pulled back as she shakily looked back, reverting to her human shape. Crouching behind her, Abraham Van Helsing stared into her quaking eyes, his hat brim centimeters from her face. The pungent scent of holy water and garlic bit into her brain like tiny knives.

Flinching, she closed her eyes as his rough hand closed around her throat and lifted her into the air. She couldn’t so much as twitch a finger; she didn’t need air, but those thirsting eyes made her feel like she did.

“She’ll possess all your dreams. A demon who preys on the weak, loveless girls of the village…Carmilla. Revenge is my calling, love… Unfortunately for you, I’m not the only one that wants you.”

Her spine curved as lightning shot down its length, and something pricked her back—holy water entered her veins. Pain, unlike anything she’d felt, assaulted her. Did she scream? She didn’t know.

Consciousness fading, feminine laughter brought her failing vision to a ghostly apparition that circled around her. The figure phased through Abraham, and wrapped her arms around the hunter to smirk up at her writhing. She was going to die.

“Mmm. Were we really after this little weakling for Abe? The mist lady was far more trouble than this loser. I suppose the Council of Presidents has their reasons. Night, night!”

The last thing she saw was the ghost taking a corporeal form of the hunter, creating a twin.

Crackling wood punched Carmilla’s muddled brain as her dull eyes opened to a shadowy crypt. Her body felt totally numb…powerless. Struggling with everything she could, she felt her weight being held by her chain-bound wrists. To her left hung Kastilla, in a similar state.

Carmilla’s first, struggling words were of disbelief while staring at the disinterested, tall man on a lawn chair, reading a book in the torch-lit area. “…Abraham…Lincoln—a vampire hunter?”

The legendary president snapped his book closed, and a shiver ran down Carmilla’s spine upon seeing the title of the book he was reading: the novella, Carmilla…the basis of her myth. He tipped his top hat while rising to his full height.

Meanwhile, a shadow dislodged from the wall, with Helsing’s chuckles shaking his chest as his ghostly assistant’s face floated through hers to turn and smirk at them. “Awake princesses?”

“Hmm. Part-time vampire hunter, my fanged lady—a hobby,” he said with a short laugh. “It seems my legend precedes me, Abraham.”

“Seems so. We had a deal.”

Carmilla’s panic started as Abe summoned a black ax in a pulse of darkness. He effortlessly flipped it around his arm before slamming it centimeters from her skull to sink into the stone wall. The sound and flash of sparks made her and Kastilla flinch.

“After all those missing children and teenage girl reports you gave me? I may need her alive for now to uncover more about Babel, and smuggling her out will carry some risks, but on my word, when this is done, I will deliver her to you myself.”

Working around her mouth, Carmilla strained a smile, barely able to get her tongue and throat to respond to her efforts. “Gentlemen…may I ask what you intend to do with this little girl—it isn’t as if I’ve been alive for centuries. Babel—what’s that? I was human not a month ago…”

“Well, that’s debatable. Also, Abraham, I only need one fang from the Mist Bringer. She’ll make an excellent gift for Elizabeth; there are a few more vampires we can collect that I’m interested in.” He showed a half-smile while glancing at the Dutchman, ignoring her question. “What did you think of my plan?”

“Overly complicated,” Katarina huffed.

“Don’t mind her,” Abraham said, rubbing his light scruff. “She’s typically a cloud of sunshine; the recent story involves a rather charming ghost man she’d met.”

“Don’t cross me, boy…”

“I wouldn’t dream, Great Granny; your mysticism is too fearsome. As for your plan, Abe… It was fairly ingenious. Use the mist vampire’s defensive instinct to bring the mist to isolate, disorient, and trick our prey into a false sense of security in who she faced. We could have used some better equipment…”

Abe waved his hand dismissively while setting down his book. “Yes, yes. President James K. Polk is in the process of negotiating business dealings with Mexico’s new, developing industry. We suspect there is some deity involved. I will get you a catalog of their premium products when we’re back in the States… This adventure has been a success.”

The men and ghost looked at her with unsympathetic eyes. Carmilla would have glared at them, but that would only give them satisfaction and confirmation that she was a monster.

“I don’t know what…you’re all talking about. I’m scared. How do…do you know I did anything?! Scarlet will vouch for me. I haven’t hurt anyone! You don’t care if I’m innocent or…ack, guilty. I have fangs, and that is enough for you Hunters… A 16-year-old girl is a precious butterfly to be protected…but a 16-year-old innocent vampire girl is vermin to be ravaged…brutalized…”

Katarina’s blue eyes shone like a dagger under moonlight as Abraham extracted a magical recording device from his jacket.

“Oh? So…all of these recordings we have from little girls’ parents…birthdays, vacations, school days with their friends… All of these missing girl police reports are a product of after you turned into the Myth of Carmilla?”

Fear stabbed her in the chest as Abraham’s cold voice struck her with every name that left his lips. “Samantha, Katie, Amanda…Jennifer… Should I continue to the twenty-seven others? We’ve collected a very long list over the last month of studying the vampires we knew would be attending this little gathering.”

Abe pulled his ax out of the wall without effort, showing inhuman strength as he flipped it behind his back to hold it at an angle.

“You manipulate little girls in dreams…groom neglected children with nightmares that only you can comfort…grooming them to trust you…to need you… And then, when they turn a certain age, you take their innocence, and kill them so no one else will ever have them…only you. You were never human.”

Abraham’s strong hands closed around her throat, turning her face toward his smiling eyes. “Curse your misfortune. What did I tell you, love? You should have never crossed me… It’s too late; you’re in my sight now. Revenging the innocent is my calling. Look at the monster, because I’m right here. Welcome to your nightmare.”

I should have never pushed Rachel; Mother, save me!

Unable to breathe, a bag closed around her head from her blind spot, and a needle broke skin to inject holy water, pumping fire into her veins.

* — * — *

[Mental Acceleration] quickened Rachel’s mind as the gold and scarlet globes in the sky filled her with energy. Confused mumbles swept through the thousands of girls that Nia had saved, and Rachel moved to kneel beside Scarlet, whose eyes were closed as she breathed peacefully with a slight smile on her face.

She looks at peace… Hopefully, she’s reconciled with The Oscillation and what she is now. Where is Illa, though? Everything about Illa is clouded in fog… Why? Cássia…

Straightening, she rubbed Thalia’s head as the blue-flaming teenage hellhound drew close to her and tugged her dress to get her attention. Her sisters were pulling a confused and scared 13-year-old girl out of the crowd. Many of the surrounding girls took more notice of the cute pups and the resurrected brunette. 

Hades and Persephone’s gift for taking care of their dogs?

“Umm. Ahem. What do you want with me, puppies—where am I?”

Rachel walked forward to greet the bewildered daughter. “It’s okay, Cássia. Your mother should be here shortly. Do you…remember anything?”

The girl’s frightened brown eyes looked between everyone. “No, eh… Not after my mom turned into a vampire. I mean, I, uh, I don’t know,” she mumbled, now even more terrified at possibly outing her mother as a monster. “I just—where’s my mom? Mom!”

A cyclone of blood brought the imperial-looking woman; only, the facade was shattered upon seeing her daughter. Falling to her knees, crimson tears leaked from her eyes as Elizabeth wrapped her into a hug and held her tight.

“My beautiful little girl! You’re alive…you’re here!”

“Mom? What’s going on—where are we… Who are all these people?!”

Rachel’s throat constricted upon catching the girl’s white teeth; Cássia didn’t have fangs. Her eyes should have given it away to her—Cássia wasn’t a vampire.

Elizabeth moved her head to give her a thankful smile. “Thank you, Rachel. You’ve kept your word.”

“More like we brought her soul back, but sure, give the hare the credit,” Thalia huffed, getting a bump from her red-furred sister.

“Aww, don’t be a grump; we were good puppies!”

Aleka’s green flames strengthened. “Plus, it’s more like Lady Persephone wanted to do something nice for Rachel since she’s taking care of us… Where’s Nia?”

“Eeep! Captain, don’t tell them I’m here!”

You’re hiding? Haha. I think they know, Rachel laughed as their flaming eyes fixated on her. You should make them your subordinates. Teach them to respect rabbits, soldier!

Strength budded within her living outfit. “You know what, you’re right!”

The girl materialized in sparkling light and pointed at the hounds, now fully focused on the bunny girl. “Listen up, soldiers. You’re in the rabbit hole now! That means I’m the boss! I’m the boss… Umm, Captain, I don’t think they’re listening!”

Thalia bent low, tail wagging furiously and having tunnel vision on the bunny. “You got the right, Aleka?”

“If Irida has learned what the right is this time,” she growled. “She’s a slippery one, so don’t let her get past you, tomato head.”

The redheaded sister snickered, raising her butt like a cat and wiggling it a little. “Don’t worry about me, broccoli brain. I’ve got my nose on her!”

“Uh-oh.”

“A game of tag!” Thalia shouted, and Nia took to the sky using [Lunar Grace].

“You’ll never catch me!”

The four vanished in a trail of fire as Coral cackled after them, the horror slime bun floating out of the crowd to latch onto Irida’s tail.

Rachel left the thankful mother to her daughter as she talked her through the sudden change and prepared to recreate her castle.

Caution soon set into Rachel’s heart, her ears standing straight while scanning the whole floating island. She looked for anything that might help her overcome the dread of not having all the pieces of what had happened to them.

Her fingers brushed against the tattoo on her bicep as it burned a little; the triplets were using the full extent of their restricted powers to chase Nia. It would be a good bonding experience…hopefully. Organizing everything she remembered after tapping into the Black Moon, she mapped out the missing parts.

Athena is taking over for Cerridwen. She’s been taken by…something. I need to go to the World Tree to discover more. I…died. Scarlet’s Seed took control…and killed me. Was it the Scarlet Hand’s work? I think Anthony has more information. I went to Hades and met its rulers—that’s for sure.

Her head tilted to get a better broad angle of the three triplet pups, tails wagging and enjoying the chase while zipping through the air in a blaze of fire. Their howls were heard throughout the night, likely pricking the ears of the recovering werewolf and wolf Mythickin and Legendkin.

This isn’t just some vacation for the girls… Persephone and Hades are watching through them. Izanami drew the two in with bait, and I hooked their interest. Maybe Persephone wanted to send them to even help me handle Izanami’s challenge to get Yseress on my side… I can at least use their knowledge of Hell.

Her eyes snapped to a gasp that was heard from the nearby girls; a bloody room materialized high above them, falling into the hole that had been the castle.

“Elizabeth, watch Scarlet—”

“It isn’t a problem,” the woman soothed, following her gaze. “Interesting things are ahead.” 

A flash of light preceded the rumble of thunder, and the surge of electricity charged the air beside them. Anthony appeared in a trail of sparks, holding an unconscious Piper.

“Anthony! Is she okay? Wait, why are you…holding her?”

“She’s fine,” he laughed, looking tired while falling to one knee. “It’s a story we should have in private… I feel like I’m the one missing a ton of context, though. Any trouble?”

Ears sweeping the throng again, she slowly shook her head. “Some vampires are laying low in the shadows, and there are some injuries, but Maria and Fiona are flying toward us—shit, why does everyone need to be rescued? Anthony, watch Scarlet.”

Power flooded her muscles as she heard a curse from inside the crater; Red appeared out of a swirl of mist. [Lunar Grace] provided platforms for her to maneuver in the air as she rocketed toward the Fable soldier; it would be good to have her in her debt, even if only a little.

Soaring into the open space, her eyes widened upon seeing the graveyard across from them; the mist was blocking all sound. A figure was seen at the edge, but she couldn’t make them out from this distance before she disappeared.

Kastilla made it out, huh…or is it her mother? No, I…feel like her mother is dead. That’s trouble. Elizabeth is back at her full power, though.

* — * — *

Maria gave a start as a rush of air hit them like a hurricane, tearing off Black’s hood from her sweater. Fiona screamed as they were dragged back toward the castle.

[Level Up - Level 12]

[1 Stat Point Added; 2 Available]

[1 Equipable Feat Choice Added; 1 Available]

[1 Feat Extension Added; 1 Available]

[Level Up - Level 13]

[2 Stat Points Added; 4 Available]

[1 Equipable Feat Choice Available]

[1 Feat Extension Available]

“What the butterfingers! It’s so strong—huh? It’s gone… Maria?”

“The hell do you…”

“Yeah, do you…see that?”

Black’s rat ears drew back. “The castle… I didn’t know it would be…”

Fiona choked. “Destroyed?! Rachel—Scarlet… Catherine warned us to run as far as we could… She knew.”

Maria’s gaze fixated on a clustered spot to their right. “Fiona, look!”

“People! A lot of people!”

Black closed her eyes as Fiona redirected them to the spot. “…All of my rats were saved—I know where Rachel is…”

Maria couldn’t turn her gaze away from the vast crater with its crashing ruby waves below, lapping against the sides. Mist gathered far across the gap, overshadowing a graveyard, and she saw groups, mostly small, spaced around the hole.

However, they didn’t make it to the group before Fiona doubled their speed, pivoting into the cavity as a streak of ruby and orange light shot into the open space.

“Is Nia getting chased by…flying puppies…that are on fire?! Rachel, what the heck are you—is that Red!”

Using glowing platforms, the Lunar Hare, always aware of what was happening around her, had already snatched the falling Fablekin out of the air in a princess carry. Flipping on her lunar disk, she cradled the brunette’s hair before jumping way further and faster than Maria thought possible.

Maria was totally lost by the time they made it to the pair, noticing Elizabeth with her daughter and a resting Scarlet nearby. Red was leaning against a tree, glaring at the hare when they arrived; everyone seemed whiplashed at the missing castle and change of locations.

“I didn’t ask for your help. I’m…fine.”

“Is that right?” Rachel laughed, big ears tilting to the side while smirking at the woman. “Clothes hardly modest enough to keep you covered, blood covering you, and breathing as if you’ve run a marathon is fine? Why don’t we ask the lady who can’t lie? Well, Maria?”

Landing on the grass next to them as Black knelt down to check the state of her partner, Maria grunted, happy to be on the ground again. “Lying out of her ass—the hell is up with Nia and those…are they Hellhounds?! Ay, yo, don’t deny it, chica. Your insides are a mess. Move over…”

Her horn flared to light as the brown-haired girl looked away with flushed cheeks. “I’ve been worse.”

“I can verify that is a lie,” Black sighed, smiling at a nearby maid of Elizabeth’s as she jogged over to hand her a sheet she’d apparently been holding when teleported outside. “You don’t need to act tough all the time… It’s not like you.”

“Well, take that up with Dracula, who messed up my shitty transformation…”

Maria didn’t hear any more as Rachel pulled her aside, spotting Anthony caring for yet another girl; the guy was a chick magnet.

The hare looked concerned. “Nia’s fine; don’t worry about them. What happened to Catherine? We could probably use her help to calm everyone down; she’s a natural peace symbol, but I can’t hear her nearby.”

Eyes darting to the hole, she held back her emotions. “She sacrificed herself…to give us some time to escape. I think she did it to get us to save Red, to be honest. At least, that’s part of it…we wouldn’t have made it in time to save her had we not left when we did, and…we might have died. Dammit, it makes me pissed…”

She held her hand out to show the shimmering cross on it. “She, umm, she gave me her weapon and shield to give to Jeanne…and we should probably talk about a trip to Rome,” she mumbled, pulling up on her dress front, self-conscious about the holy artifacts in her bust.

Rachel’s ears went straight into the air, eyes going wide before pulling back her own half-ruined dress front to pluck out the golden earrings Illa had worn. “How… I don’t store stuff in my bra. How did that get in—hey!”

Maria fell back as three flaming blurs shot out of the crowd of squealing servant girls to somehow tackle the hare, rolling with her across the ground to pin her.

“The shit was—Rachel! Fi, Hellhounds!”

Fiona gasped, blasting them with wind to no effect as Rachel yelled for them to stop; a half-healed Red summoned her ax, clutching her side.

“Wait, wait, wait! They’re…my dogs—at least for a bit.”

“Ain’t no way—your dogs?!”

The blue-flaming hound pressed Rachel into the grass, hind legs on her belly and paws on her shoulders; the green and red-flaming hounds took either side of her arms as Nia fell out of the sky with laughter. Yet, the most shocking part was when the cobalt miniature wolf spoke.

“Tag! You’re it! Quit hiding, Nia; we want to play!”

Brain coming to a complete stop, Maria didn’t know what was happening anymore as she swapped to Spanish.

“Huh? Don’t give me that shit, Rachel! Did you make another deal with Hell?! Dammit, Rachel!”

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