Blood Memoir: Blood Red Summer (LEA & Shade)

“Whaaa? The marks…they’re back…AND THEY HIT! COOL!” The stripes Orion had received upon his arrival in Hell had returned. So, they had a purpose after all. Now, if only he knew how they worked…

“YOU! WENCH! RUN AT ME AGAIN!”

Mariana’s purple eyes grew big with disbelief.

“Do you actually think I’ll do what you say?!”

“KRAH! If you won’t touch me, I’ll touch you myself!” With that said, the apparition within the child spun it’s navy scythe impatiently, and rose off of it’s feet. Hovering a few feet backwards, he pulled his weapon back, ready to charge. Without warning, the black impurities on Orion’s body shifted yet again, twisting around his scythe and changing it into a darker and even more foreboding blade.

**

As the adept fists of the of one type of vampire cuffed the stomach of another several times, the latter still clutched Retribution, in his plan to achieve the sword’s namesake. Feinting a stunned look after Max’s latest blow, Lucilius made his move. With prowess that would make his Master proud, Max instinctively leaned his head to the right and lowered his body, all in one, smooth, fluid motion. Just narrowly did he avoid the sword of the incubus, and so closely that his left eye was almost completely filled with the pulsing green of Retribution’s runes. Moving swiftly, Max clutched the ground with both hands, and brought his foot out in a sweep to knock Lucilius from his feet.

Even swifter than he first appeared, the fallen one leapt upwards, and avoided the move, coming back down to dig his razor-sharp claws into his nemesis.

Blood poured out of Max’s shoulder. Gritting his sharp fangs together, the first of the given Heruka name called upon the very blood that kept him “alive” for aid.

The seducer cried out in pain, and drew back his palm. A large gash, like that of a spike’s horrible consequence, had penetrated his hand all the way to the other side.

Delivering an uppercut that sent the eyes of the demon upward, the stern warrior known as Maximilian wasn’t close to being finished. With a crack, Lucilius jerked his head back perfectly, and formed a grim smile. Apparently, this fight was a long way from over.

“You think you’re something special, nosferatu? Let me enlighten you…” With his mystic blade, Lucilius drew a green halo over his head. The venomous color of which it was composed seemed to pulsate with the speed of a typical human heart. “…just because you’re already dead, doesn’t mean I can’t tear your worthless flesh asunder.” Lucilius, as confident as ever, suddenly willed the floating green ring to spin, and it did, careening towards the vampire as it sparked wildly like the world’s deadliest frisbee.

Mariana barely had time to register the change Orion’s scythe underwent before the deadly blade was arcing toward her in a gleam of bluish-black. With a clang, she swiftly brought Ashriel up to halt the movement of Dredgius. For a moment, the two struggled against each other, the strain plainly visible on Mariana’s face while noticeably absent from the phantom’s. That insane light glowed in his eyes, and once again, the marks on his body seemed to come alive, lashing at Mariana like grey tentacles. With a small cry of surprise, she jumped backward, just in time to also avoid the slash of Orion’s blade.

“Oooo…stay STILL! Little Cedric can’t play if Miss Mariana refuses to cooperate!”

Anger flared violet in Mariana’s eyes. She had had enough. With a vengeance, she drew on the holy power of the Argentsigna and released a torrent of holy energy into Orion. The attack was unexpected, and with a shrill screech, Orion was repelled back several feet, landing with a sick thud in a heap. He pulled himself to his feet a little shakily with the help of his scythe only to be hurled back into the ground by more holy energy. Mariana moved toward him slowly, the Argentsigna shimmering dangerously.

“You…” She hurled yet more holy into him. “…are not…” Another blinding burst of energy. “…Cedric!” Orion’s pained screech was like satisfying music to her ears as he was hit with a final concentrated flare of holy. The vampire angel stalked over to his crumpled body, faint traces of smoke rising in wispy ribbons from it, and lowered Ashriel’s tip next to his cheek.

Before she could say anything, however, the shallows to the east of her suddenly shot upward, and when the tower of water finally fell back down to mingle with the ocean again, another figure was revealed. He was dressed rather oddly, in Mariana’s opinion, and he appeared completely dry, despite the fact that he had just surfaced out of an obviously very wet ocean. With her eyes and thoughts on the new arrival, Mariana completely forgot about the apparition beneath her blade.

A grave mistake.

Having recovered slightly from the onslaught Mariana had inflicted upon him earlier, Orion used her distraction to his advantage, leaping up and slamming his entire small body into her to knock her to the ground. It was all she could do to get Ashriel over her body to hold off Dredgius. The phantom leered down at her.

“I don’t appreciate what you did to me, hag, and now, it’s time you paid me back for that.”

Mariana’s eyes widened, and she tensed, realizing with horror just what Orion meant as he opened his mouth to reveal fangs. The doppelgänger darted his head toward her neck like a striking serpent and sank his teeth into her flesh. Pain exploded inside her, and the scream involuntarily tore from her throat before she could stop it.

Keeping his movements precise, the vampire materialized his sword, and then nimbly ran a small distance away from the approaching projectile. As he curved his path of motion, he realized that the energy was following his movements. After looking over his shoulder to notice this, Max aimed Sanguithan at his enemy, and swung. From the dual blades came a black branch not unlike lightning, but it only caused the disc to grow darker and larger.

Releasing a harsh sigh, Max aimed his bare palm at the energy. Slowly, the golden spheres concealed within slid out, and a tri-beam of focused light streamed from his hand like a window at daybreak. The light passed through the green, as Max expected, judging by the element, but the cause was not lost. Lucilius let out a world-rupturing scream of pain as the heat struck him.

The disc dissipated as his concentration was lost.

However, he was not the only one to audibly express their pain. Mariana’s scream came to him both physically and mentally, and he immediately turned to see what distressed his beloved.

Alarmed and almost regretful of his great sight, Maximilian laid eyes on the tortured form of Mari, her neck clamped on hungrily by the child in black. His lips tightening against his teeth, and his nails digging into his palms, he commanded his body mentally to move swiftly. With a simple thought, he materialized before Mariana and Orion, unnoticing of the strange visitor from the blue depths of Ryiel.

Swinging Sanguithan, Max nearly decapitated his double, but the monstrous fiend had vanished from Mariana’s figure just in time. Kneeling before her, he licked at her neck, and his saliva easily sealed up her bleeding gashes.

“Impressive, nightwalker. Your loyalty to the cupid should be rewarded.” Immediately turning in the direction of the voice, Max suddenly heard it come just from behind his ear.

“Salacious stories I’ve heard of you, vampire…Care to confirm them?”
Max swung his blade backwards, but there was no one to swing at. The figure was still in the same exact spot. His face was middle-aged, and he wore a casual black sunhat with a short, limp brim. A sweater, khaki pants, and a pair of sandals attempted to humanize him, but something was very wrong about it. Like he was trying too hard.

On either side of Zeke, Lucilius and Orion landed, each wearing the wounds of the battle that was occurring not a moment ago.

Breathing deeply, Mariana groaned as she rolled over onto her stomach to push herself up onto her knees. She was still trembling slightly, still experiencing the faint echoes of pain from Orion’s seemingly insatiable thirst. If it hadn’t been for Max, she knew without a doubt that the phantom wouldn’t have stopped until she had been completely drained. Closing her eyes, Mariana shook her head, unwilling to think about such things. She opened her eyes to find an arm in front of her, and she graciously accepted Max’s proffered aid, grasping his strong arm to pull herself to her feet.

Her eyes narrowed in fury as they met Orion’s, and the childlike apparition cackled, running his grotesque tongue over his lips mockingly. “It’s not every day I partake of something quite so…heavenly.” He sneered at Mariana’s quivering form. “Too bad Casanova over there interrupted. I wasn’t quite done, after all.”

Mariana’s eyes were swiftly drawn to Lucilius, who shot Orion a look that said, “I’ll deal with your impudence later” before resting his steady gaze back on her. He said nothing, however, and Mariana was tempted to say something to him for some reason unknown to her when Zeke leered in her direction.

“Well, hello there, angelic traitor.” This elicited a satisfied smirk from Lucilius and a very visible flinch from Mariana. Zeke merely smiled as he went on. “I hope you found your reunion satisfactory. Was it as wonderful as you had hoped?”

Confusion settled over the angel for a brief moment, but then she realized what he was talking about. “I’ve never been very fond of having my mind toyed with.” Her eyes flicked meaningfully toward Lucilius, and the incubus grinned maliciously.

Zeke paid no heed to the silent exchange between the two and kept his focus on Mariana. His eyes moved up and down her body a few times as if gauging her. “Did you tire of frolicking blissfully among the clouds? The righteous, holy life bored you, did it?”

Setting her attention back on Zeke, Mariana fixed him with a quizzical expression. “What?”

“You decided to experience undeath in order to escape the paltry, mundane life among the heavenly hosts?”

Feeling a growl forming in the back of her throat, Mariana opened her mouth to hotly protest that Lucilius’s taint was the reason she had chosen to become a vampire, but Max moved between her and Zeke before she could say anything.

Save your energy, love.

Zeke laughed out loud and said something then which prompted both Max’s and Mari’s eye to widen. “Yes, you’ll need it if you hope to survive in the very near future.”

The cold, shaded eyes of the stranger evaluated the two nosferatu with casual, yet clearly fake joviality, the incubus and the dopplegänger stood idly by. Orion was obviously having a harder time keeping himself under control. If he were not so horribly disfigured by the phantom within, the creature may have been mistaken for a boy with an intense sugar-high. Even though he really had his hand caught in the cookie jar, so to speak, Orion did not fear Lucilius’s threatening glances.

“Why are you here, with these two? Has the murderer of my daughter sunk so low as to enter the service of another?” Max interrogated, not without a hint of hatred in his articulation. In his left hand, Jenorath intermittently flickered with pulses of purple light. The possessed child in question glowered menacingly at Max, deciding that in itself was a satisfactory reply.

“How rude. A guest steps in, and all you do is chatter with old buddies. I really expected more out of vampire royalty …but, then again, I wonder how many people actually know that about you?” Beaming almost kindly, the man in the sweater took a step forward. Almost instantly, Max and Mariana took one step back, their swords raised and ready.

“Ah? Well, I see you realize the seriousness of the situation…well; just to prove I’m not totally heartless…my name is Zeke Valabak. Pleased to meet you.” Thin trails of vapid smoke rose from the corners of his mouth as he spoke, and a flicker of haze wafted slowly through his moving lips.

Ignoring Zeke for the moment, Mariana shifted her gaze to Lucilius, who still stood idly behind the strange oppressor steadily inching toward her and Max. The incubus locked his eyes with hers, and surprisingly, the angel found herself able to meet his stare without any sort of mental or emotional repercussions. This granted her a renewed boldness, and she asked the question that had started nagging at her when Max had interrogated his double.

“What about you, Lucilius? I thought you were the type that preferred working alone. Since when do you allow yourself to be under the command of someone other than the Fallen Star himself?”

A wicked grin carved its way across the incubus’s face, and he chuckled. “No, you’re right. Me? Under the command of someone besides the Great Master? I’ll see Earth destroyed before that happens.” His eyes flicked to the Argentsigna embedded in the hilt of Ashriel before reverting back to Mariana’s face. “This is a mutual agreement, Mariana. I happened to favor the conditions of the arrangement, so here I am. And it pains me that you don’t appear happy to see me at all. If you’d only consent to submit to me, I’m sure I could help reverse that.” His grin widened mockingly.

Mariana tensed and hissed at Lucilius, causing her long-time tormentor to falter. Quickly regaining his composure, he teleported to the other side of the two vampires, opposite of Zeke. Out of the corner of his eye, the incubus saw Orion materialize to the right of his present location.

Deciding to take out his pent up frustration on the doppelgänger, Lucilius growled in his direction. “If you don’t keep your filthy little hands off what doesn’t belong to you, I swear to you that you won’t have those hands for much longer.”

Orion cackled and hopped from one foot to the other a few times. “Is Luci jealous?! Mmm…it was really comfortable on top of the wench. So soft, yes, yes. Heeheeheehee! …OW!!!” Orion screeched as he was caught off guard by the intense beam of lunar energy Mariana sent his way. “That…HURTS!”

Despite the cold calmness with which she had struck Orion, Mariana was more than slightly worried about being surrounded by three entities bent upon either her destruction or the enslavement of her body, and she moved closer to Max. He looked at her, telling her with only his comforting eyes that everything would be alright. Acting quickly, he utilized his influence over Ryiel itself, causing the small bit of ground beneath him and Mariana to ascend upward and form a tall hill over their enemies. For now, at least, they were out of the midst of the encircling antagonists, but Mari was convinced the respite wouldn’t last for long.

His heartbeat pumping in a manner that always follows combat, Max waited tensely for the earthen pillar upon which they stood to crumble before they could jump. It didn’t happen. The two lovers coordinated their efforts, and took flight, soaring by way of both wing and magic as a greeting wind caressed their faces. In doing this, they escaped the inevitable ambush that had occurred not a moment ago. Neither of the two was fond of being massacred. Still not looking back, the vampire and his dearest angel landed on Mount Babel, as it seemed a much likelier place to do battle. The jagged rocks of the place were haphazard in arrangement, too erratic to maneuver easily on. If that was true, then a waylay attack would be next to impossible without tripping or falling.

“Oh, looks like the lovebirds left for their honeymoon! Isn’t that swell ? I THINK WENDY AND I SHOULD GET MARRIED TOO!”

Orion’s small form clutched his scythe almost affectionately, and stared at his reflection in the blade. “Lovey-bumble, I don’t like those two! Can I get ‘um?”

A shrill, weak imitation of a female replied from the very same lips.

“Yes, my widdle clear-cutter! Kill, Kill, Kill!” After hearing his own voice, Orion rocketed off of his feet, headed directly at the mountain where he had seen the silhouettes of two vampires vanish from view at the top. With the simple act of teleportation, Lucilius appeared there as well, but Zeke simply remained. Grinning bleakly with his black, grotesque pointed teeth, he spoke to the air, the sea, and the earth.

“Arimas…We have never the pleasure to meet you alone before. But, then again, we never are alone.”

What manner of business brings you to this realm, charlatan? Do you think that just because I can’t hurt you that you can just waltz around in my realm, freeing spirits and demons alike from Hell?!

“Something like that. Don’t play coy. You know why we’re here. We know who the male vampire is housing, just like his double. Both of the halves are locked within. With the death of Maximilian, we shall capture his essence and seal it from the rest of the worlds, and halt the cycle of vampiric pneuma reassignment. You know what would happen if the two were to reunite.”

Actually, yes. I know. But the two would never rejoin willingly. This isn’t a necessary choice of action. Couldn’t you have just sealed that fool of a phantom away?

“We would, but he seems to have more usefulness to us as an underling.” A light laugh followed his response.

Zeke, you might outnumber them now, but I assure you, that won’t last long.

“Oh, really? We really just got lucky. Three is the number that deceived you, so if two others unite in a cause against me, you can do nothing.”

After that, there was silence between the two.


The sinister, handsome visage of Lucilius smirked scornfully at the two fighting nightwalkers before him as he reaffirmed his grip on Retribution. Orion was attacking them now, and savage mirth was ever-present in his awful, screeching laugh.

“Kreahahahahahah! Not done with you yet!” Reflective metal clanged wildly against reflective metal. Ashriel moved as well, to the advantage of the purple blade. “I COULD FIGHT FOREVER! I’M NOT EVEN TIRED!”

Just as he finished speaking, a boulder once lying idly on the small, slanted plateau of Babel’s peak burst to stone shards, freeing three long forgotten figures that were not but a day ago, dried mummies.

The sudden sound of shattering stone caused all four of the combatants on the mountain to cease in their attacks or defenses and turn toward the source of the noise. The sight of three figures greeted their eyes, and Mariana somehow instinctively knew that these were the three vampires she and Max had rescued from the confines of those caverns. At the time, they had merely been shriveled mummies, but now they appeared perfectly healthy and in prime condition. What surprised Mariana the most, however, were their appearances.

Two of them looked as if they could be brothers, both of them bearing an Asian appearance. They both had thin, black hair that was short when compared to Max’s, and even Lucilius’s, hair. One of the pair was slightly taller than the other and built sturdier, his brother being more wiry and shorter. They were both clothed all in black leather and had massive nodachi swords strapped to their backs. The bigger one stepped forward, the curious stone he had previously clutched in his hand vanishing after he had peered into it for a moment. His brother followed suit.

Stopping in front of Mariana, the two offered deep, respectful bows. As they bowed, they both spoke a greeting. “Hajimema****e.”* The taller, older-looking one rose first, speaking in a uncharacteristically deep voice that seemed unnatural for someone of his appearance. “Watashi no namae wa Kazuki Kuze desu.”** He bowed again, saying, “Doozo yuroshiku onegaishimasu.”*** After he’d finished this ordinance of greeting, he gently grasped Mariana’s free hand, planting a soft kiss upon it. The vampiress barely had time to blink quizzically and blush before the younger member of the pair began his introduction. “Watashi no namae wa Kazuki Yukio desu.” Just as his brother had done, he bowed, adding, “Doozo yuroshiku onegaishimasu.” He, too, kissed Mariana’s hand before straightening back to his full height.

The look of puzzlement that had crossed Mariana’s face failed to disappear, even after these introductions. Recognizing that his beloved had absolutely no clue what had just been said to her, Max turned to the two Japanese vampires and stepped in to help. “Eigo o hana****e kudasai.”****

The two of them blinked, seemingly surprised that Max could both understand and speak at least some of their native language. The older one bowed again, not as deep this time, in apology. “Ah, I am most sorry. My brother and I have been incapacitated for so long we couldn’t help but speak our first words in our native tongue.” He faced Mariana and offered her a sincere smile. “It is good to finally be able thank our rescuer. My Lady Mariana, my brother and I owe you a great debt. I am Kazuki Kuze, my surname being Kazuki.” He gestured to his brother. “And this is Yukio, my brother. We were the two vampires you carried into this realm.”

Something still confused Mariana. “Forgive me, but…how do you know my name?”

It was then that the third figure stepped forward, his shaggy, sandy-blonde hair falling into his light blue eyes. Holding up the stone that he also possessed in his hand, he ventured to answer Mariana’s question. “Through these stones, Lady. Somehow, when the three of us looked into them, we were able to recover the memory of what happened down in those infernal caves, including both your and Max’s names. Ah, but here I am forgetting my manners.” He walked closer to Max and Mariana and gave them a slight nod. “My name’s Jack Rochester. From my accent, I suppose you’ve both already guessed that I hail from England.” He smiled. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did to help me. Although…I didn’t especially appreciate being tossed through the gateway like that.” Mirthful chuckling followed this, but the merry introductions were quickly interrupted by the screech of Orion’s voice.

“Awwww….well, isn’t this just LOVELY?! And nobody has a camera? NOBODY?! That’s certainly a shame. I was hoping to get a picture of all of you before you LOSE YOUR HEADS!”

* “How do you do?”

** “My name is Kazuki Kuze.”

*** “It’s nice to meet you.”

**** “Speak in English, please.”

Using one hand, the elder Kazuki unsheathed his nodachi, and pointed it at Orion.

“What sort of demon is this?”

“It is a double spirit. A doppelgänger.”

“I trust it is yours, then, Max? No offense intended, but I can hear your voice inside of his.”

“Yes, Kuze. You are correct.”

“Such a bleak heart,” muttered Yukio quietly, the clink of his freed Nodachi adding depth and seriousness to his statement. Orion heard this, and cackled.

“Oh, dearie me. More swordsmen. I could take an ARMY of you fools anyday!”

“Quite the life of the party, isn’t he?” Jack stood coolly, still not revealing his own choice of weapon nor showing any sign of defensive readiness. The Kazuki brothers, however, were now side-to-side, and ready to strike. Max and Mariana took a similar position beside them, Max now brandishing Sanguithan, while Mariana grasped the handle of the glorious Ashriel, forged of blood and holy seal.

Before Orion’s short form could attack, however, Lucilius appeared at his side, and grabbed the back of the neck of the miniature murderer’s cloak.

“Not quite yet. They outnumber us, Orion.”

“Do you think I CARE?!” He growled, blue energy crackling through his fingers. “I want them dead. They ALL KNOW HIM! ALL OF THEM!” Paranoia seemed to have set over Orion, and his eyes darted left and right repeatedly.

“We need assistance to take on so many. Don’t be a fool.” And, without a sound, Zeke was standing right beside them in his sunhat, with those familiar trails of smoke coming from a mouth sans cigarettes. “Oh, more Vampyrum to add to the monument of your spilled blood, Maximilian and company….Now, If only that memorial would last after this world is assimilated….”He bore his back fangs, giving his visage the effect of a sneering wolf. His knuckles cracked loudly as he brought his hands into tight fists.

Arimas, you fool,his inner voice proclaimed. Calling upon these minions will do you no good.

“You know, it should be illegal to wear a sweater like that.” With that slightly random statement, Maximilian flicked his wrist, and a pillar of earth exploded out from below his feet, slamming into Zeke at an angle. The walking imitation, not even phased by the strike, laughed. The square pillar of dirt and rock collapsed against his chest. He had barely been pushed back at all.

“So, he gave you dominion over the realm…typical.” Zeke shrugged indifferently, and smiled again.

Kuze, Yukio, and Jack, however, were very surprised.

“Are you him?”

“Am I who, Yukio? You know my name is Max.”

“Yes, but, that’s not what I—“

“Heah…heah….heah…WHY WON’T YOU SHUT UP?!” Orion screamed, still being held back by Lucilius’s firm grip. Zeke peered at the doppelgänger with light amusement.

“Lucilius, you can release him now.”

And he did. The dark blue cloak whipped with the sudden force of a supernatural gust, carrying the wicked child to the five warriors that stood in opposition. Before he even laid a scratch, Kuze drew from his side a black shape that might have been mistaken for a sheath, and swung it. A long spear lauched due to the immense force, and the sharp end of the projectile tore into Orion’s weapon arm.

“Kaguh….kaah….uh…”

“So, you like how that feels, ghost who wears the Hanya? I have no pity for you. You have angered my sword, and my atlatl.”

With a high-pitched snarl, Orion yanked the sharp spear Kuze had lodged in his arm free. "No, I didn't like that at all!" Bringing Dredgius to bear, he launched himself toward the two Kazuki brothers, a vengeful light gleaming in his eyes. Yukio fluidly parried the phantom's strike with his nodachi, distracting Orion long enough for Kuze to launch another spear into their adversary's other arm.

Lucilius saw the two Japanese vampires' distraction as the perfect opportunity to move in on Max and Mariana. With Retribution grasped firmly in his black-nailed hands, the incubus darted foward but suddenly found himself running straight into Jack. The British vampire had brought a solid fist right into Lucilius's chest, causing the demon to stumble backwards a few paces.

"And just where do you think you're going, hellspawn?"

"I could ask the same of you, nosferatu. I don't like being deterred from what I want," Lucilius growled, his emerald eyes narrowing at this new hindrance.

Jack regarded the incubus for a moment. "You know, I don't think I like that face of yours--those eyes, especially. It's just too pretty for my tastes. How about I help you fix that?" With that, he revealed his preferred weapon, a deadly-looking mace and chain. His sure hands wrapped around the firm grip of the weapon as the spiked mace swung dangerously by its chain. "Yeah, I'm pretty certain this is just what I need to make your face look more to my liking."

Lucilius grimaced as his eyes briefly flicked to Mariana, who was still standing beside that cursed angel-stealer. The two of them were focused on Zeke now, who was the only other hostile entity left unengaged on the mountain. With merely a grin, Zeke opened his mouth to spew roaring-hot flames toward the two lovers. Acting quickly, Mariana concentrated on the waters of the ocean drifting beneath them, calling them swiftly upwards in a torrent of salty liquid to extinguish the fire that had, moments before, threatened to consume them both.

Smiling appreciatively at his angel's quick reaction, Max kept his gaze steady on the hellish figure before them. "What is it you seek to gain from all of this? What purpose does invading this realm serve you?"

"What do I seek to gain? You aren't exactly in the position to be asking questions, Heruka. But, for lack of a reason to...keep you in the dark about this particular issue, I'll tell you. Being a regular plane drifter, haven't you seen the chaos that multiple universes and planets bring? A mistake in creation, that needs to be fixed. We bring ultimate order."

Max could sense that this disturbed flame-spitter meant every word that he said, and when he referred to "we," he definitely didn't mean Orion and Lucilius. Something bigger was going on. What the meaning was behind those words, however, was not as clear. Was he really as mad as to seek the convergence of all worlds? Within Zeke was a burning ambition, a literal flame that peeked from the gaping, jack o' lantern like eyes and mouth that he claimed as his own, but wore like mere sheep's clothing to hide the monster within.

"Ultimate order? That's a bit of a stretch for someone who's so wretched that the very gates of Hell found relief in their heart."

"Maybe so," Zeke replied casually, "But nothing you can say will sway my resolution for the cause. After all, my reputation as T'Zekel, the Ruthless was not given to me by the Aztec people because I so easily changed my ideals for the sakes of others' lives. We will succeed. "

The vampire glared at him, and wondered just exactly how anyone could actually do what Zeke was planning. The very laws of the universe were not wisely broken. Even when planedrifting, there's a risk you'll cease to exist instead of ending up somewhere else. Not all worlds are wisely visited, either.

**

Kuze kept his dark eyes locked on the small, spiritually claimed child that wielded the gleaming scythe. Nearly decapitated by a deft swing, he rolled under the weapon, his ears vaguely bothered by the screeching ghost that now was pulling a second spear from his body. Both attacks by the atlatl had been extremely well-placed. That was, if you wanted to goof off.

I should just aim for his face and end this foolishness, the older brother decided firmly, as his brother's nodachi and his clanged against Orion's sickle.

The imposing form of Zeke glowered smugly at Max and Mariana. “I grow tired of these petty games, so I’m going to finish you and this entire realm once and for all.”

At his utterance of those words, the hellish being’s body suddenly contorted disturbingly, growing considerably taller. His arms became like pillars of flame that streamed from his torso, sizzling the air around them and leaving a nuance of the scent of smoke. Liquid fire poured from his eyes and from between his sickening teeth, dribbling in treacherous rivers down to the grass, singing the dancing blades of green and scorching the ground bare.

By now, Zeke was at least three times his original height and still growing. Flames from his arms shot forth and licked at a nearby tree, destroying it, as well. Mariana tried to douse the spreading fires over the island with the ocean water, but just as soon as she put out one area, more flames sprang up somewhere else. But the destruction didn’t stop with merely burning the small island to ash. Suddenly, it seemed as though fragments of the blood red sky began falling to tear the realm asunder. Amidst the roar of the fires and the crashing of sky into the ocean, Mariana heard a voice, barely audible yet still clear and commanding.

Beside you, daughter.

She turned to look and saw that about 20 feet away, camouflaged by the raging infernos, a portal was gradually opening. From this distance, she couldn’t tell what lay on the other side, but she decided that it was more than likely better than staying here at the moment. Tugging at Max’s sleeve, she shouted to him telepathically and pointed. Look! Over there!

However, she had forgotten that Zeke could hear them, even when they kept their communication solely in their minds, and before the two vampires could take one step in the direction of the escape, Zeke’s unearthly voice boomed out across the island. “Phantom! Incubus! Prevent the flight of the nosferatu lovers!”

Without a second’s hesitation, both Lucilius and Orion had vanished before the eyes of Kuze, Yukio, and Jack and reappeared in front the portal, effectively denying easy access to it. But the three vampires who owed their lives to Max and Mariana promptly sprang forward to fight the two adversaries off, and slowly, the demon and the apparition were driven away from the portal opening. While swinging his deadly mace, Jack shouted to his rescuers. “We’ll hold them here, you two! Get going already!”

Mariana shook her head and yelled back. "All of you are coming, too! I don't want you to be trapped here in this mess!"

After parrying a slash from Retribution with his nodachi, Yukio glanced over in her direction, eyes radiating complete calm. "Lady, we three are more than capable of taking care of ourselves. Do not worry about us. Please see to your own safety, and take care of him." He nodded in Max's direction.

A look of surprise crossed Mariana's face. Her? Take care of Max? She'd never really thought of herself as the type of person able to look after someone else. She had always been the one who needed to be looked after, the timid, shy one who could hardly stand on her own two feet without someone there to support her. To think that she might actually be able to support someone else herself was a completely new concept to her, one that could take some getting used to. She was given no further time to ponder on this, however, and was abruptly interrupted by Max's hand on the small of her back pushing her lightly toward their escape.

"Hurry, love. They're repaying their debt to us in their own way. They'll be alright."

She turned around and looked at him for a moment before nodding, and then the two of them darted for the portal. The angel reached it before her lover, and flew through, landing on the other side, warily scanning the new surroundings. Max, however, had paused briefly at the entrance when it sounded as though Kuze had shouted at him.

“Max! Catch!”

“What?” He turned around swiftly, only to be greeted by the sight of Dredgius sailing into his outstretched hands and the look of insane mirth on his doppelgänger’s face. The momentum from the scythe transferred to his body, sending him falling backwards through the portal just before it closed ominously, sealing the gap.

The passage from the realm the vampires now knew as war-torn paradise and where ever they were headed seemed to be made of liquid turquoise. Silhouettes of foreign shapes and varying intensities of dismal and radiant light polluted the atmosphere in which Max and Mariana traveled. Their bodies themselves seemed to fluctuate like water as they sped in a single, absolute direction that seemed both vague and somehow familiar. Noises like the phantom cries of fallen elephants pervaded their ears, and the amorphous doorway seemed to create it, as if it housed alien wildlife in the folds of it's jelly-like substance.

With a jerk, Mariana suddenly entered a raging turbulence, one that hurled her from the enigma of the wormhole and into a lush, green forest. Her head struck a rock, and as her consciousness faded, the thought of only Maximilian's safety grew, but was stifled by a death-like blackness.

**

"Orion, what are you..." Lucilius jumped away from his opponent to see the body which he had created slouching, the cloak turning to ash to reveal a naked replica of a boy who died long ago. The body's mutant arm and vampiric traits were the only reminder that it once served the purpose of vessel. With it's lifeless eyes, the being gave the impression of a hideous, pale doll, it's tongue splayed over it's fangs and touching the gritty soil.

Zeke's monstrous, smoldering eyes drew up under his brow in an expression of pure fury. Orion had done it. Maximilian had the scythe. The two pneuma were so close, now. If the Destroyer were to appear to him, the other could awaken. Zeke had failed. A roar unbefitting to one typically so cool ripped through the air in a humid wave.

At the heart of it all, Orion was the one who betrayed him. After all they had spoken of, he disobeyed. That Doppelganger was either fearless, or a maniac. Zeke knew the latter to be the case.

"This isn't over, Heruka."

**

Maniac laughter rang out through the leaves. His eyes glowing a fierce blue, a figure arises from the ground. In his left hand, a scythe with a glowing blue sickle.

"There's no place like home. Don't you agree, Maxy?" The figure peered at his reflection through the glistening metal, and crowed laughter. His cackle slipped through the trees, around shrubs, and under hanging vines. No more than thirty feet away, an angelic figure lies helplessly against a boulder, as if she is trying to drown out the nightmarish screeching in order to get her beauty sleep.

OoC: And on that note, Blood Red Summer is officially over. Yes, I know, the awesomeness has come to an end...for now. *shifty eyes* Tune in...in a few months (after LEA gets back from her Summer Break in the Internet Bermuda Triangle)...for the next exciting installment of Blood Memoir. Only then will you find out what happens. Mwahaha. Or...for those of you who absolutely cannot wait for more of Max's story, Shade might have something in the works to tide all you faithful readers over until my return. Now, I'm going to be posting the lyrics to the song "Blood Red Summer" by Coheed and Cambria, the song that inspired the title for this thread and actually works quite well, lyrically speaking. Shade, it was awesome collaborating with you on this. Here's to many more fantastic RPs in the future. ^^ *raises glass and winks* Oh, you know there's more to this than just this. Mwahaha! And only the two of us know! *shifty eyes* Anyways, right. Those lyrics. Here you guys go.

"Blood Red Summer" by Coheed and Cambria

Faint white figures paint my sleep,
Please don't tell my secrets keep them hidden (you got it, you got it, you got it)
If the words that matter reach your face from the floor,
Will you be wondering if, or (do I need what is given or honest)
Does it cost me scarring if the words stay true
Even number your nephew (I don't want it anymore)

(Chorus)
And when the answer that you want
Is in the question that you state
Come what may
Come what may
(Repeat)

In a pain that buckles out your knees
Could you stop this if I plead (you got it, you got it, you got it)
So destined I am to walk among the dark
A child in keeping secrets from (Will they know what I've done in the after)
In the sought for matter when the words blame you
In a blood red summer I'll give you (I don't want it, I don't want it, I don't want it)

(Chorus)
And when the answer that you want
Is in the question that you state
Come what may
Come what may
(X2)

What did I do to deserve?
What did I do to deserve? (This, this)
(x2)

(ad-libbing)
Wa oh wa ooooh
Wa oh oh oh woah


What did I do to deserve?
What did I do to deserve? (This, this)
(x3)

What did I do to deserve
What did I do...

Well, LEA, you know I enjoy just about doing anything, if I can do it with you. After all, what are close friends for? This was an awesome example of a Crossroads roleplay, and like you said, there is much more to come in the future. I can hardly wait to see how it all turns out, but it will probably exceed my expectations.

Here, here, LEA. *raises glass and clinks it against yours*

But, kiddies, despair not that you have to wait so long for the continuation. Andurhil and I have something planned on the side, and it's going to be interesting. Also, my fic "The Serene" is going to be in progress this summer.