1The Shadow of the Moon
Nash could never understand the beauty of a pipe organ. A staple in Harmonin churches, the sight of one always brought shudders to his skin. The sound was eerie and ironic, trembling with unexplainable mirth. He used to cringe whenever he heard one played.
Naturally he had known that this room, filled with graceful pipe organs in all their golden glory, spelt bad luck. Well, it was much too late to back out, and Nash Laktje made his name known amongst the special ops members for getting out of slippery situations like a mad eel.
Meanwhile, the master of the house, having recognized who barged in his leisure time came to face his guests. Tension hung in the air as the music from on the pipe organs stopped.
He could pass for a pretty soldier boy, which he might had been in the past, had it not for his menacing fangs. And those suspicious black capes, Nash later added. Rean Penenberg. Sierra's ex-lover, a runaway vampire.
"Well, well, if it isn't Sierra. An honor to meet you again."
"Stop it. You know what I'm here for."
Rean feigned hurt. Nash felt misplaced between the two of them.
"I thought you'd like a more heartfelt reunion."
Nash didn't know whether he had to be glad because the situation grew to be one he had been accustomed to or annoyed because it was going to be a tiring battle once again. Well, if luck was on their side, it should be the last for that night. They could reach Muse the following day, and he could restock his supplies. That thought kept him sufficiently motivated.
The battle was long and arduous as expected. After a while, Nash could feel the rhythm of the fight, maneuvering and attacking almost automatically as his mind searched for a better way to end this in their favor. Rean was not as quick as the butler, thankfully, but definitely better in this.
He was nearing his limit by the time they moved out of the pipe organ room, him running towards the rooftop. Rean was still agile. Even with Sierra actively assisting this time, they had difficult times. Beside, he was never really good fighting with bare hands. They went through the mansion with an assortment of items he had at hand, and he had used them all up. Now it was simple, quick and dirty battle, no more cheap tricks.
He gave up to Grosser Fluss. The twin swords hummed to life as he dragged them out of their scabbards. Sierra was nowhere nearby. It was a good chance. Weapon in hand, he charged for the offensive. Rean evaded the snake-like blades. No time to doubt. The fight picked up on pace again, the two coming face to face with each other. Slash. Turn. Crash.
Rean got the upper hand as he caught Nash ahold.
"I guess this is your end, boy."
Nash was inclined to disagree.
From Rean's back, Sierra soared into view, her figures outlined by the namesake of her rune. His shocked face was only a second too late.
/
It truly wasn't his place to see, thought Nash, as the twisted love story began to inch closer to its tragical conclusion. Sierra's hand, impaling Rean's stomach, intertwined with his own bloody ones. The bizarre half hug was full of unspoken emotions. Tears rained down their cheeks, mourning the cruel fate that had befallen on them.
Even to him, it was too painful to watch. How did they feel right then? There, under the moon full and blue, the couple stood in silence, counting the last few second they could have together. It was gruesome. It defied everything from a fairy tale romance. It was just so wrong.
He heard Rean's last words echoing in the solemn night.
"I just want to live with you again...forever..."
/
It was nothing short of amazing they could continue their journey that night like nothing happened. He refrained from saying much, but a quick appraisal of her demeanor told him that although she had decided to put that brave look on her face, that unfazed and annoying I-don't-care-smile like before, she was shaken hard. How he had misjudged her all these times.
Well, if she resorted to conceal her ordeal, who was he to comment? He could do nothing but play along with her game. For once in the time they spent together on the road, the walk to Muse was relatively quiet.
They found an inn in the edge of the forest nearing sunrise. All the exhaustion caught up with him and he suspected though she might not be a mortal, she was not susceptible to mental fatigue. It was time to call it a day.
They were truly lucky this time too. Apparently the landlady had just recovered from an illness and was happy to give them big discount, even fixing them a hearty meal in a heartbeat. He didn't have much money, and wouldn't have until they reached his contact in Muse. At the entrance, he was prepared to ask for any place available to sleep with the amount he brought, even the stable. A warm soup before heading to bed was very gracious of her, and very appropriate after everything they encountered that night.
He climbed up the bed, letting the soft linen embraced him. His mind was in order. He wouldn't bug Sierra of anything pertaining the True Runes for time being. It was justified; she was the only lead and he couldn't afford to upset her, right? It wasn't like he had any specific deadline either. Slow and easy, that would be how he approach this mission.
He had no chance to see how that plan of his would fare however, because when he was awakened later that day, Sierra was already leaving without trace. It took him a second until he realized that once again, he had no lead in this wild-goose chase.
/
Report-03
Mission Code XXX
Vampires don't dislike sunlight. It's a myth.
Undeads burn, however.
-end of episode 1 "Visitors"
