IV. The task… The room is quiet. The green and purple sofa for three sits motionless in the far corner of the room. Right in front of it is the little tea table, a white cloth covering the center, with one slim tall white candle in each end. A little radio sits on top of a drawer filled with tea cups and China plates of many shapes and sizes. In the far end of the room a lonely wooden seat is nailed to the floor, a matching color cushion is resting upon it. A pair of windows are half open over the sofa, the still breeze that enters the shutters wave the curtains slowly, to and fro.
As time seems to be frozen in this semi-dark room a fissure is starting to open above the wooden seat. The door beside the drawer is shot closed by the gusts of wind the fissure is creating. In midair the fissure completely opens dropping two figures on the floor with a loud thud. One with a black trench coat and pink wavy hair, and the other with dark clothes, with crimson stains, and slightly silver hair that reached the jaws. Namri almost tripped over the coffee table as she rolls along the living room. Haru fell on all fours.
Haru sat back and studies his surroundings. Namri is already up and in front of him, her right hand stretched out. “Need any help?” She smiles as Haru takes hold of her hand and stands.
“Thanks…” mumbled Haru as he brushes a few strands of silver hair off his eyes. His silver eyes narrow. They both jumped at the sound of a door slamming open and the fretted shouts of a woman could be heard all over the house. Deafening shrieks, angry insults flying around.
“Calm down, Lyllith…” Namri said covering her ears mockingly. “Your gonna get us all deaf!!” She chuckled at the glare Lyllith threw in her direction. “You incompetent! HEARTLESS! FUCKING FIEND!!!” She shouts at the tip of her lungs. “How dare you… HOW dare you!!” She fumed.
“What I do now…” Namri moaned, letting herself fall on the couch. The end of her lips lifting slightly at the sight of a very speechless Haru. He stands motionless, afraid to get in the midst of the ebony hair’s rampage. His eyes a bit wide and mouth slightly open. Lyllith’s eyes darken as she fumed even more. “Wh-whAT?!” She tighten her hands into trembling fist. “How dare you! To just DROP her here as if she were a mere PACKAGE or something with no value at all!!” She said, baring her fangs now in the open.
“Oh… You’re talking about it… Yeah… That’s why I brought him along…” She said casually pointing at Captain Haru, which at that precise moment froze, not even daring to breath.
“Oh? Oh?! And what d’you mean ‘that’s why I brought HIM along’?!” She said acknowledging his existence for the first time. “And who the fuck is this?!” She said finally paying a bit of attention to him.
“C-captain H-Haru…” He stuttered as he bowed low. Lyllith nodding her approve of his politeness, returning a dagger-filled-glare at her sister. “Oh, yeah… Talking about it… Where is it, lyllith?” Namri asked with no real emotion on her voice.
“I wont give HER to you!!” Tears threatening to break out of rage and hurt.
Namri narrows her eyes and locks them with her sister’s tear-filled ones. Her voice a monotone, no real emotion can be read in her features. “I’ll ask you one last time… Where is…” The air, tense and filled with flickering sparks from the two siblings. “…the child?” She finally said, her voice no more audible than a mere whisper.
Lyllith shifted, having heard what she was looking for. She sigh in defeat, she knows all too well not to temper her sister. “She’s up stairs. Sleeping. She appeared in my arms through a black mist. Yours I suppose, no?” She said more of a statement than a question as she turns her back to them. They can hear her slow heavy steps up the stairs and along the corridor.
Namri turns then to Haru and a chuckle escapes her lips. Haru is wide eyed, mouth half open, and if he didn’t value his pride, he would be trembling behind the couch. As he heard Namri chuckle he blinked twice and stares at her, waiting for her to do or say something.
Namri sigh and fell back on the couch again, her head on her hands. “Aaaaah….heh… My sister can be a pain sometimes…” Said Namri sliding her hands down her face. “But she’s quite the sweetheart after you get to know her.” She said with a fought smile across her face.
He blinks and shifted on his feet. Not knowing what to do.
“Listen… Haru… I’m gonna ask you a REALLY big favor. One that I’m not willing to give to anyone else… Not even my sister.” She whispers and let a sigh escape her half open mouth. Her hair a mess of pink tangles. Her trench coat ruined with a hole on her chest, crimson stains on her chest and left arm. “And I want you to understand that you are free to decline my offer, I will let you go with one request: not to tell their location…” ‘Their…? Her sister’s and the baby’s location? So she does care about them…’ But his thoughts are interrupted by Lyllith bursting into the room with the sleeping baby on her arms. She stopped dead in the entrance. Namri slowly stood up and walked to her. Lyllith’s eyes are wide, at the verge of pouring in hot menacing tears. “Now, Lyllith, stop that. You know what it is to be done…” She whispered low as she stretches her hands as a mute sing to her sibling to hand over the now wiggling creature. She closed her eyes and delicately passed the creature to her mother’s arms. “Good bye… Grow strong and live long…” Lyllith whispered to her niece, as she already knows this is going to be the last time that she is going to see her.
“Sis… It’s be best if… If you’d wait outside…” Namri narrowing her eyes, hiding them from her sister’s gaze. ‘O-okay…’ She heard her whimper as she brushes her lips on the baby’s brow. Then she turned her back at them and is out the room with no other word.
A suppressed sigh escapes her lips as she turns to face Haru. He has his head hanging, narrowed eyes scanning the floors. ‘Haru…’ She began with a barely audible whisper, but as soon as the baby in her arms started to squirm around in her arms, hungry probably. “There, there…” She whispers as she brushes away a lock of pure silver hair from her eyes. Her tiny hands grasping her index finger, and slowly sucking on it but after a few seconds, not obtaining what she wanted, released the finger and searched her chest weakly. She chuckles at the creature in her arms searching desperately for food. Haru raises his head and stares. “What am I to do to serve you?” He said after a moment of watching her in Namri’s arms, getting down on his right knee, bowing his head, left hand on the ground beside his body. His silver locks falling to his face as he narrows his eyes waiting for her answer.
“Now, Haru… Yes. On to business.” She said taking a sit on the couch, the baby starting to protest: having her mother so close, hunger biting and she does nothing! Chuckles. “Look at it! Incredible creature this one is…” She said trailing off. Haru clears his throat not knowing what else to do. “Yes Haru, I know. Please, do make yourself at home. Stand up or take a sit. I’d offer you something to drink, but you’d have to go get it yourself.” She said with a hint of a chuckle entangled in it. “No… It’s okay. I’ll just..” He drags a chair near Namri and sits. “…sit here.” “Okay, No prob… Ow! Hey, you! Don’t bite there!!” Haru’s eyes widened and he locks his eyes on the floor, a slight pink flush across his face. “The nasty little critter…” She slit her wrist and warm crimson tears slide down her arm. “There…” She whispers as she placed her right wrist on the little one’s mouth, blood slithering down into it‘s tiny throat. Chuckles. “Look at her…” Sigh. “Listen… Haru…” Her voice now deeper, forced out. He looks up and stares. She has her head hanging above the little one. The baby clinging at her shirt as she drinks her blood, her food. Her pink wavy locks over her eyes, hiding them. “So harmless… So fear filled eyes…” She brushes another lock of silver hair with her fingers. “I… I can’t stay… I can’t stay long, my scent, presence is know now… It’s only a matter of time…” Whispers, and nothing more. That’s how she’s talking, in hushed whispers, silently afraid to disturb the now peaceful sleeping child, still feeding. “Incredible creatures, this one is… If I stay any longer… It wont be long… I’ll be done in a few more minutes, to be fed by my blood, to give her my strength, I’d give her a new life… no… I will… I will at least give her that.. I’ll leave her in good hands…” She flinches and coughed, a slight trace of blood trickles down her throat, staining her shirt. Haru attempted to stand to her aid. “Are you-” “Yeah… I’m … No, I’m not okay, Haru… I wont last long, and I’m gonna fall fighting…” She hissed between gritted teeth. “Heh, I can barely lift her now… Ha! Aaaah…” She fell silent, Haru actually thought she has fallen asleep, for her breath became steady and deep. He rest his back on the chair and his head tilt as he watches her motionless body, feeding the baby in her arms. What are you talking about? What do you mean? And in what am I to help her? I… I do not know… Ten slow minutes passed by and the little one is now sleeping peacefully against the warmth of her motionless mother. He sigh, ready to stand and search for Lyllith but… “Haru…?” Her voice barely audible by her now deep breaths.
“Yes, Lady Namri?” He said, sitting straight.
“I know you must be wondering as of what might be your purpose here…” She said, her voice deep, lost.
“Yes… I have…” Said Haru narrowing his eyes.
She slowly raises her face to look at Haru in the eyes. “I need you to take care of her…” A slow and barely audible whisper escapes her lips. His eyes slightly widen. “You are now her Guardian Angel, her Father, brother and protector at all costs.” She coughed and another tiny trail of blood traced her jaw and neck.
“But… Your sister…” Said Haru in a tiny whisper.
“Oh… Yeah, don’t worry ‘bout her… I’ll talk to her…” She shifted on the sofa and beckoned him to came near. “Her… Hold her… I can’t anymore. I have to leave before I change my mind. Chuckles. “Ah… Now let me go to Lyllith and reason with her… Sigh” He took hold of the peaceful looking creature on his arms and rocked her slightly. He noticed how beautiful she is, even so young. She has a full set of pure silver hair, her tiny mouth slightly pink, two big closed eyes and her tiny hands clutching his shirt in tiny trembling fists. She is wrapped like a cocoon with a light green silk blanket. When he looked up, expecting to see Namri staring at them, but he only saw an empty room, the curtains being moved to and fro by the passing breeze. The shadows shift now and then when the curtains cover the window. The baby shivered slightly and he shifted her in his arms, looking to give her more warmth.
“Sigh, Lady Namri…” He whispered looking down at the little creature sleeping peacefully in his arms. He turns his back to the door and sit down slowly on the sofa, not wanting to wake her. And he studies her.

Y-Y

Namri slowly steps out of the room, leaving a very intrigued Haru studying the creature on his arms. ‘He will be a good father to her…. I know he will be good to her… I have made the right choice… Now, on to the hard part: “Lyllith…” She found her sibling sitting on the porch bench, looking out to the darkening horizon. Dusk is on his way. The stars have already started to come out, and the Moon is shinning bright. She step behind her and placed her hand on her shoulder, making her jump.
“Lyllith, I…” Whispers Namri, not really knowing how to explain this to her loving sibling. She loves her, she knows she does, even thou she doesn’t show it much. It’s hard for her to hold a steady and normal conversation with her sibling in normal times, imagine now, that such precious things are in stake: their lives. She doesn’t know how to express her feelings. How will she brake it to her. That she has to leave the place that has been their home for over three centuries now, to look for another coven, another life.
As if reading her thoughts Lyllith answered. “I will not flee, Namri. No matter what you say. I will stay and fight.” “But Lyllith… No! You will leave this reached place!” Anger rising in her, anger not at her sister, but at herself for have kept her here with here out of fear.
“No, Namri… I will not leave!” She said again, standing up and stomping her feet. “I think I’m old enough now to make my own decisions!!” “Yes! And that’s why you should leave! I have kept you here long enough!” Namri screamed at her sister’s back. Lyllith frozen by the realization, in thought.
“No, Namri… I have stayed for you…” “Because I have kept you here…” “No. And stop this! This is futile!! I will stay and that’s that!” “It’s leaving, Lyllith!! You wont groom it!” Lyllith’s whole body froze, as if she had been shot through the heart. Hit the soft stop there. “It wont stay… And you know that… You know why… They’ll soon be here, it’s only a matter of few days, and you can’t be here when they come. My scent is too strong, and you must hav-” “Yes…” A barely audible whisper carried away by the passing breeze. “I know.. I felt it… When she came to this lifetime, when you gave her to this place… I feel them now… They are coming, Namri. You should leave now…” The whisper disappeared as the breeze picked up. Namri placed a hand on her sister’s right shoulder and narrowed her eyes. She too felt them, a slow and dark energy coming from the horizon. Faint, but there, pulsating, like a never ending heart.
“Come inside… You must rest, for I fear that you have less than two days before they reach here.” Her hand on her sister’s shoulder tightened. “I have to leave now…” She turned her around in a swift movement, one that left Lyllith wide eyed and off balance. “…promise me you’ll out of here by tomorrow night. Lyllith…” “I give you my word, Namri.” Said Lyllith narrowing her eyes, shading the tear filled eyes. Namri chuckled inwardly, for if she laughed out loud she was sure to have her sibling hate her for the rest of eternity, and that’s the last thing she needs right now… “Now, Lyllith… What’s this… You change that face right now!” She said a little playful. Never being able to stay too serious for more than a minute. Sigh. Seeing that that didn’t work, she did something that got Lyllith on the verge of crying out: Namri pulled Lyllith to her and embraced her. “Now, now…”She whispered in her ear. “You go and look yourself a good demon, worth you standards and one that’ll be able to support all your senseless nagging, okay?” Lyllith is now crying silently, her pride not letting her do much more. She nods weakly and sobs. “That’s my girl… Always the strong one…” Namri patted her sisters head before yanking her off and rushing inside. Afterward, Lyllith only gave up and fell on her knees. She had never been embraced by her sister before, only when her mother was about to kill her, when she got her and they ran away. That’s the only time she had embraced her, and it was to keep her quiet. How she had secretly longed for her sister to embrace her in such a way. How she longed to run inside and hold her till the end of times, to be by her side when they come for her… But she gave her word. She made an oath. She has to leave before tomorrow night, as she promised. She has to flee. She closed her eyes letting all the tears dry by themselves, waiting for the darkness of the night to embrace her, just like her sister had done so not a second ago. The ends of her mouth played a smile as she stood up. Tears been dried by the winds of the night, she came back inside and up the stairs to her room. Tomorrow morning she must start to collect her few belongings and leave for her new destination. As she went up the stairs she dreamed of the new worlds she’ll see. Of the new people she’ll meet. Of her new life…

Namri slowly paced the tiny kitchen floor, replaying what had happened between she and her sister. How could she have been so weak! How dare she do such a thing! Now she’ll probably never forgive her! But how strange… It felt like Lyllith WANTED her to embrace her. Is that so? And why? She stopped to drink a glass of water from the fridge and kept her rally-round-the-kitchen table. Five minutes of torturing herself, asking and replaying the scene over and over again on her head, she head the porch door open and close. She heard the hurried steps of her sibling going up the stairs and down the corridor to her room. Her aura is clear and peaceful. She made an effort and took a peek on her thoughts, she’s thinking of her new life, and not thoughts of anger towards her. Good. That’s enough to keep her mind clear.
And with that she turned her attention on the other door, the one that leads to Captain Haru and the thing.
She took in a big breath and went through the open doors. Haru is on the couch, with narrowed eyes on the creature, his right hands playing with one stray silver lock of hers. She cleared her throat and he looked up, and the end of his lips curved on a lazy smile. “Captain Haru…” “Yes, Lady Namri?” He whispers low, dismissing her lock and holding her tightly.
“I am to leave right now…” Said Namri, breathing hard. “Now that everything’s taken care off…” She started but was off balance. He made the attempt of helping, but she helped herself with the wall. “No worry… You must leave as soon as possible, Captain Haru. Lyllith will be gone by tomorrow night. It’s be best if you’d leave tonight. For both their sakes…” She stumbled her way and sat down on the nailed chair, the cushion exhaling a puff of dust as she did so. “Yes Lady Namri, you have to worry not. I know a place that no one will suspect anything-” “No Haru. You do not know me.” She looked into his eyes and something sparkled. “We never met. You know nothing of me nor of my sister. About it’s name and whereabouts, you are responsible, Haru. You may say that you it’s father, and that it’s mother died in a far away place giving birth to it. And so you buried her body there and now you’re rearing it on your own. Say anything of the sort, but never mention today nor any of the names that you have heard today.” She closed her eyes and took in some breaths. She is weak and pale, a thin sheet of sweat now covers her brow. “About today, I will take care of them personally, Haru. No one will ever know anything of the sort. And those who those stay with the knowledge of it: it was a myth. Anyone who asks… Tell them what you will. But never mention this place nor what has happened this evening. Understood?” Her eyes are cold and lifeless as they stare back at the young demon with the wiggling critter on his arms.
“Yes, Lady Namri. It is understood. But what about you? You surely need my help. If there is anything else I may do for you, anything?” He said leaning closer to her. The baby clinging on his shirt, it squirmed.
“No, Haru…” She made the attempt to stand but failed. She closed her eyes and hold her head on her hands. A sigh escaped her lips. Haru summoned a black dense cloud in which he put the baby in. The cloud automatically started to cradle her and float around the room aimlessly. He then stood up and went to her side and knelt before her.
“Let me help you on last time, Lady Namri. Where am I to take you.” He said, not hiding his concerned voice. He looked up at his and then at the floating cloud.
“What about it?” a weak whisper escaped her parted lips.
“Do not worry about her, fair Lady. I had been working something up for whenever she needs me, I’ll be able hear he, no matter where I am. I am able to take you as far away as I can. That’s may be half way across the globe if you desire.” “No, Haru… No worries… you stay here watching over it… I’ll be on my way…” She made the effort to stand once again, and again she failed. “It is no worry. I will be able to hear her if she calls. Now tell me, where am I to take?” He placed his hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him.
A weak smile played of her lips. She couldn’t feel her sister upstairs anymore, so she must be on bed by now. Sigh. “Fine. Take me to Oro’s castle. There I shall give my last stance.” Her eyes flickered and she looked at Haru dead serious. “You are to drop me off and leave, understand?!” “Yes, my lady. Off to the Lord’s Castle it is, then. This’ll only take a second.” He closed his eyes and went into a trance. After some moments of meditation he mumbled. “May I?” She smiled to herself. “Certainly.” She whispered. And with that, he slid his arm on her waist and pulled her close to him. In a fraction of a second a dense cloud had formed around them and a feeling of rushing wind on their ears. Moments later the rush is replaced by a feeling of pure bliss and then an engulfing and suffocating heat takes place. The cloud slowly disappears as Namri yanks herself off of him and walks away as if nothing had happened.
Before them the vast and dark castle of Oro looms with its eerie walls covered in moss and the corpses of those fallen by its doors, enemies and allies as well. A stench of Death and decay looms on this place. His stomach churns and turns, never getting used to this smell, not even in the midst of training. He sighs out of disgust and stares back at Namri.
“Go to her…” She whispers and disappears into the rising mist on the entrance doors. Afterward he heard shrieks and howls, and something that sounded like ‘The traitor has returned’. He shivered and her a faint cry on the back of his head. And the picture of the baby crying in the middle of that dark room filled his mind’s eye. But he couldn’t take his eyes off the looming doors, the shrieks filling the air, the stench of Death filling his nostrils and clinging on his clothes. The cry became more acute and piercing, as if she knew what was happening. The baby called out to him, to help her, and he just stood there. After a few more moments he narrowed his eyes and was about to turn when he heard Namri’s cry from within the castle walls, and them in his head. “Imbecile! What are you waiting for! Go to her!! Even I can hear her cry! GO!” She sounded so desperate. He hesitated, he wished to go inside and help her, he knew he should. But the baby shrieked on his mind and he reacted stupidly covering his ears. “Okay, okay… I’m coming…” He whispered to himself knowing that she couldn’t hear him. Then he turned his back to the castle, and with one last glance at Oro’s Castle he vanished in the same dense cloud to the arms of the crying baby. To the fallen one.