Lethal Beauty

LVIII - Desire

Jessen returning to Saint Constantine was certainly unexpected but Gavril, Raviel, and the rest meeting with Judiel and Delbert was more astonishing. She has a distinct look for someone who revealed herself as a dhampir---a face they could easily forget in time. But Delbert was a legend even amongst the Elders and not only because he came from a generation of vampire hunters but because it was his wife's death that drove the councils in condemning Hariel Laiho.

Even more strange to find him standing beside Jessen who happened to be Hariel's brother.

"Well, you look like a mess."

Gavril blinked, realizing what had been said, and frowned at Jessen. "What do you expect? We were thrown into a dungeon, battled our way out of Mika's Elder Vanguards and now we're trying to fight our way out of these hordes of demonic entities!"

"Demonic entities?" scoffed Delbert.

"He meant the shtriga," Raviel's cool façade went to the detective.

Delbert thought this character was familiar and narrowed his gaze. But before he could bring this up, the sound of an ensuing battle in the courtyard pounded in their ears.

"So, which side are we on?" Jessen asked.

Gavril and Raviel answered. "NO ONE!"

Soaring over the landscape---nothing but patches of lush grass and the thick woodlands that surrounded the cathedral-like edifice. But if one would crest a hill, a massive battle would come into view on the field below. Vampires and shtriga alike fight for survival. They attacked even Eve but they were no match for her. She was only waiting for one person and that person had no intention to go down from her throne.

Chaos. With their queen by their side, the shtriga had found their strength and both Judiel and Delbert glanced down at the battle below.

"What did you bring?" Gavril was curious.

"Weapons," Judy spoke and showed them what was inside the suitcase.

Raviel held one of the shotguns in his hand. "These were all made of silver. Loaded?"

Judy looked at him. "With Abel's blood."

Hearing the words used in the casual context, both Gavril and Raviel stared and briefly hesitated. But as Raviel took one of the transparent bullets and saw the deep, dark red liquid inside, they were convinced that this was the blood guaranteed to destroy even the strongest of vampires.

Judy pulled one of the weapons and handed it to Gavril this time. "Make the mark count. And DO NOT MISS."

⛧☾༺♰༻☽⛧

"IRIS, LUX!"

Dike had finally seen his siblings and he ran like he had never run before, approaching them with haste and disappointment too. Lux embraced his brother but Iris stood there, holding Abel's hand. Behind them were Milo and Lexus who awkwardly waved his hand.

"You stupid kids! I told you to alert the detective not bring him here!"

"Relax," Iris pulled something from his bag and pushed it to his chest.

The box was familiar. Dike met his gaze. "You knew?"

"It was you, right? You put HER heart in father's hand, and left it in his wife's grave."

Dike sighed. "It was the place she would never look for. She loathed the only woman he ever loved. But where is Civet? How did you---"

"Don't worry about it," Iris smirked. "Every part of him was scattered in places no one would ever find."