[Scarlet, Our Brave Little Fang!]
The wet pavement met Scarlet’s one-inch heels as she exited the business building, a light and unusually cool breeze coming from the ocean, carrying a thickening mist. Filtering through the fog blanketing Miami, her fingernails bit into her palm when she hit a veil of white; her vampiric eyes could only cut so far through the magical clouds. That was fine; she trusted Rachel.
Illa held onto her arm, and the pressure against her palm eased at the ginger’s nervous chuckle, helping to bring Scarlet back to reality. “Umm. Cássia, is this your car—it’s, umm, fancy? It’s like a limousine…but not. Right, Scarlet?”
“Yeah,” she mumbled, seeing Cássia’s own blood exit from underneath her coat to defend against the pattering rain. “Won’t the military stop the ship we’re going on if it has a bunch of vampires on it… And, of course, your driver is a vampire. Ah-heh. Why wouldn’t he?”
Why do these vampires always have to bring the classy, ominous vibe?! This girl looks like she is 13 years old, and she acts like she’s been doing this stuff since she was in the 1800s! Vampire Feats, I guess? Is this what it felt like for Rachel when she was helping me through The Oscillation?
The rather butler-looking chauffeur in his sixties stood outside the chic, old-fashioned half-limousine in a tailored suit, umbrella in hand, as he opened the doors for them to enter; he didn’t say a word, as could be expected from the stereotypical, old stoic servant-type.
Cássia smoothly moved to enter the vehicle with a child-like, mischievous twist to her rosy lips. “As The Countess instructs, presentation and appearances are critical in the art of first introductions. This is an authentic 50s-style limousine that has been modified for a more modern experience. We have bottles of blood inside for us to enjoy for our short journey to the docks.”
Illa’s blue eyes lit up. “Oh, why didn’t you say so?! C’mon, Scarlet, she seems legit.”
Scarlet sighed as the girl pulled her after the teen. “You’re just thirsty.”
“Scarlet!” Illa giggled, showing a slight blush and wink while entering the car. “We don’t need to say it out loud. Girls have needs, too! Don’t you agree, Cássia?”
“Wha—you’re ridiculous, Illa,” she huffed, rolling her eyes and getting inside; she was starting to get used to the slightly younger girl’s nervous humor. “Wow…this is pretty fancy…”
Illa didn’t bother tugging down her dress, letting her shorts be seen as Scarlet sat at the back, where there was a separator to give herself some space from the ginger, giving her breathing room to scan the interior; plus, she had a door seat, which gave her an easy exit, which seemed like a Rachel thing to do.
On the other hand, their brown-haired, young-looking escort had somehow removed her coat in the short interval they’d been out of sight, displaying her fancy red and black gown that matched the limo’s theme.
“Eh…a bit too gothic for my taste,” the ginger absently stated, giving her a pout for not joining her on the side seats. “I’d add a bunch of colors, but the theme matches you, Cássia, which is cool, too. Oh, can you tell us stories?”
The door shut just when the Miami warning sirens filled the night, and their driver moved around the vehicle to the front. Scarlet held her purse against her stomach, keeping the brunette vampire in her sight; she couldn’t even hear the pattering of the rain against the roof, sirens, or instructions that followed as an isolating field closed them in.
“Huh… What do you think that was about? Not us, right?!” Illa panicked, peering out of the heavily tinted window and scooting closer to the 13-year-old.
Cássia crossed her legs in a way that prevented Illa from scooting too close and pressed a cabinet to pop it out, revealing three warmed bottles. “I suspect Rachel has told the military that there will be a vampire attack, and she will be joining us soon with the rest of your budding organization.”
Removing one of them, she handed it to Illa, practically bouncing with excitement while reading the label. “So classy! Oh, uh…a 45-year-old male with O- blood? Do you have anything, ahem…younger?” she asked with a strained smile.
“Unfortunately not; the stock is relatively new,” the brunette responded, keeping her flickering ruby eyes on Scarlet while taking a crystal cup off of a rack and handing it to the ginger. The chauffeur entered the separated cabin and pulled them away from the curb. “As for your inquiry about being stopped at the port, I would say it is unlikely since Rachel has a vested interest in confronting the Scarlet Hand and retrieving your father’s corpse.”
Scarlet’s vision narrowed, questions now blooming in her mind regarding this teenager and the mistress she served. It had only been three weeks since The Oscillation, so how did Elizabeth Báthory get resources and plan for this Legend Quest?
“Your countess knew my parents and that she would change into a vampire, didn’t she? My mom was obsessed with Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed, so it makes sense that she’d want to know who would become her Legend. You planned for this party, but I was supposed to have already destroyed Miami by now, wasn’t I?”
Illa’s eyes grew big as she used a corkscrew the brunette handed her to pop the seal and pour herself a cup. “Ooooh! The plot thickens…”
The ruby-eyed teen’s child-like demeanor returned as she hid her mouth, her attitude becoming slightly less formal and enigmatic; it was like she was trying hard to put on an act and failing at times.
“I wouldn’t doubt it. Hehe. You are so unlike—ahem,” her poise returned, “The Countess gave each of her emissaries detailed reports of what to anticipate when serving our guests, and initially, I half-expected to be a sacrificial lamb, sent to deliver a message and die.”
Scarlet’s arms tightened against her purse, unable to imagine herself harming a 13-year-old girl; maybe Rachel was right to worry about her because of how soft she was.
“I…was supposed to murder you? You don’t have to act old and mysterious. I’d rather you speak to me as you normally would.”
“I agree!” Illa chirped, leaning over to bump shoulders with the younger teen. “Why can’t we all be friends? Mmm. This is actually pretty good… That’s O- blood for you! Virgin blood, too, from a 45-year-old? Huh.”
You can tell that by taste?! Scarlet internally cried. Did I slurp my blood packs down too fast to notice the flavors? Rachel’s was the only live blood I’ve had…and that was like I’d been pulled into an intoxicating dream before that goddess told me to back down… No, don’t think about it!
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Cássia’s face softened, yet her foot was still positioned to defend herself from the touchy-feely ginger, and the brunette displayed her cute, tiny fangs again.
“I do appreciate the sentiment, Lady Scarlet, but The Countess is quite strict when it comes to the expectations of her servants. Misbehavior and the inability to meet expectations are punished harshly, and appropriately so.”
Scarlet fidgeted a little with her purse strap, figuring this was a trained response since Cássia was a child. The stories about the Countess of Blood and her ‘alleged’ torturous acts toward over 650 virgin teenage girls around the brunette’s age made her stomach squirm.
Peering through the young vampire’s body to her bloody interior, she now had to wonder if the missing pieces were previous acts of torture done to the girl that she had to replace with outside blood sources in order to survive. From what she’d come to know through fiction, Elizabeth was among the most powerful and feared vampires in history.
“Umm… What’s she like?” she mumbled, drawing Illa’s interest; it seemed the best way to shut the ginger up was to give her a bottle of blood. “Is Elizabeth working with the Scarlet Hand? Is she…like her legend? Do…you participate in the torture like some of her servants did?”
Surprisingly, Cássia’s charm and smile drifted into a melancholy, downcast frown as she selected a second bottle of warmed blood. Lifting a finger, the crimson liquid inside forced the cork out with a slight hiss before the floating blood dropped it into the trash compartment. She didn’t consume the shimmering liquid, though, staring into the hovering pool that had Illa salivating.
“Hmm. You have a similar false impression of The Countess as much of the world… I have known my mistress for my entire life. It makes me feel…ill. It seems your cavalry has arrived.”
The car slowed to a stop, and the door opposite Scarlet’s opened before the driver managed to get out; a thoroughly soaked white-haired bunny woman sat in the divided seat, water being rejected out of her gown to slide down a stream between her bust, stomach, and fold in her dress to pool on the asphalt before Nia pulled her muscular legs inside.
Wearing a curious smile, the Living Denier leaned out to wring out her long, braided hair before slamming the door shut and leaning against the divider between them. “Sorry I’m late, Scarlet. Rachel is taking care of some things. She’ll meet us at the docks when the others arrive by helicopter.”
Relief filled Scarlet’s heavy heart now that she wasn’t alone, and she shifted to get a better look between the two vampires and the bunny. “You’re still pretty soaked, Nia; I can dry you off if you want,” she offered, trying to be helpful.
Nia crossed her slick legs, dripping water onto the carpet as they pulled away from the curb again, her skin shining under the red light interior. “I’m not bothered by a little rain; I can filter it out of my outfit in any…” she trailed off, vision centered on Cássia’s chest as the ginger leaned forward to shake her hand.
“Hi! I’m Illa, Scarlet’s number one…fan?”
Legs uncrossing, the bunny sat straighter, tone lowering. “What…kind of Soul Item are you wearing? Why does it feel…dead? Where did you get that dress?” she demanded, narrowed, eclipse-like eyes and voice creating a tense atmosphere.
Illa’s cheeks puffed out while returning to her blood. “Why does everyone ignore me… So rude. I just want to be friends.”
Cássia’s wistful attitude didn’t lift with her forced smile, fingers tracing the black lace on her bust. “You must be the Soul Item I was told about last minute… It is a base fabric used in the structure of Soul Items, or so The Countess was told when she engaged in a trade with Empress Wu of China. They have no spirit like you and are used to imbue magical properties into items, permanently infusing the affixes into the fabric instead of temporary enchantments that will fade…or so I’m told. Are you satisfied with that explanation, Lady Nia?”
The bunny took a less combative posture, leaning against the armrest while taking in the 13-year-old’s appearance. “For now… I’m sorry to interrupt your question, Scarlet. You wanted to know more about The Countess?”
“Yeah,” she nodded, now also interested in the topic Nia had brought up, “but…does that mean the clothes Elizabeth is going to have made for us…is made out of this…soul cloth?”
“Spirit Cloth, as Empress Wu called it,” Cássia responded, drawing in her bottom lip and staring at her hands in her lap; something was really bothering her, pulling out more of her teenage mannerisms.
“Hmm. The Countess has had dealings with the Scarlet Hand, including this Legend Quest, yet…The Countess refused to ally with the organization. She agreed to invite them and allow them passage, but her plans have changed since The Oscillation. I only follow the instructions I was given.”
Scarlet’s arms loosened around her purse, a smile lifting her mouth. “Okay, tell me what you think about your mistress. How did you come into Countess Elizabeth’s service? If you are comfortable telling me, of course. I only want to hear the truth and not lies, so don’t tell me if you’ll lie. All I’ve heard is terrible things about her.”
A quick scan outside, filtering out the fog as best she could, showed that they were nearing the pier, but it would still be a few minutes until they reached the parking lot. The military was out in force, already mobilized by the fear of vampires already in the city—a.k.a. some fanged teens arguing in a diner—and setting up barriers to block off traffic from reaching the docks, except for their path. They were shifting their activities, though; Rachel’s work, no doubt.
The brunette adjusted how her dress framed her legs, the floating blood lowering so she could stare into the shiny liquid as Illa settled in for an exciting tale.
“If you wish to know my history, then at the age of six, I entered a strict education program. I didn’t know much before that point…I had…medical issues, I’m told, but excellence was expected of me, and mediocre performance was punished. By the age of eight, I’d learned four languages and learned various subjects in all of them.”
“Crazy,” Illa mumbled, now drinking from the bottle itself. “What kind of punishments does the Countess of Blood do? I heard she likes to use needles.”
Cássia ruby eyes drifted to the window, where droplets of rain wiggled across the glass. “There were always rumors that The Countess was cruel to the girls she raised…even tortured, despite little to no evidence. The world is cruel to women, especially as they age. She only wished to strengthen the girls under her care in order to confront the harsh reality of the world.
“Was she strict? Yes,” the brunette chuckled, looking into the past. “She was very strict. The Countess hates little girls who waste the opportunities offered to them and who won’t confront a cruel world, living off the sympathy of men because she was able to rise above the expectations they had of her. The Countess is an inspiration to girls—empowering…perhaps a little tyrannical, but certainly not a hideous mistress of death. At least…not until The Oscillation.”
A shiver ran down Scarlet’s frame as they pulled off the freeway to reach the street that would take them to the docks, remembering the conversations Barbara, Jeanne, and Rachel had throughout the previous weeks.
“My…mom did talk a lot about the pop culture stuff with Elizabeth, but I do remember on a flight one time that she told me that the inaccuracies in her legend were some of the greatest lies accepted by the media and historians. I guess my mind goes right to what I saw in all the media my parents watched, and pop culture does play a major role in how The Oscillation affected people, so…Elizabeth did change for the worst?”
Cássia swallowed, closed hands pressing against her thighs as she looked up with a hopeful smile. “You’ll need to judge The Countess’ conduct for yourself… I know who she really is, and that is all that matters to me. Regardless of your opinions, I will serve you to the best of my ability… Would you like some, Lady Scarlet?”
She slowly shook her head but felt divided. Scarlet knew she should strengthen herself for what was to come; then again, maybe she shouldn’t take this bottle because the blood could be cursed and a trap. “I’ll wait.”
“Understood. Hmm. Can’t the fog be beautiful…hiding the possibilities that lie just beyond sight? It can be mesmerizing.” Her gaze returned to them, her reflective cheer falling slightly. “Please, do not cause a conflict with the other guests until introductions are made at the Grand Hall. There are rules to this gathering.”
They stopped at the edge of the shipping port docks, allowing them to enter the storm and fog; Rachel waited with the others just behind the veil.
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