Alaric XXIThe mall was huge, five stories tall, and it took up a huge lot of space in the center of the city. It was one of the few places with an above-ground parking lot, so it could add even more space. Of course, every parking space on the above-ground lot was filled, but we weren't driving today.The neon sign emblazoned on the top of the building was dull in the day, but at night it was supposed to be something to look at. There was a thick crowd of people coming in and out of the building, talking so loudly that you had to raise your voice if you wanted to be heard.If you had human hearing. My senses were a razor's edge and I could pick out Kaya's normal voice just fine.We were going on the mall crawl, according to Kaya. Something straight out of every teen movie and TV show you could think of. Kaya just wanted to shop. I guess girls will be girls, even if they are alien-influenced vampires.The crowd of people was so thick we had to push our way through in a few places. I w
"Henri, have you finished your homework?" his mother called.She smiled back down at the woman and nodded. "Yes, mom. I'm just going to go relax before dinner!""Alright. Make sure you remember to come down this time.""I don't forget!"As soon as the door was closed behind her, Henri's form melted away. Alice stetched. "It's such a pain hoing to kill."Why did she have to take the form of a student? Because he was Alaric's friend, that's why. Still, she should have taken the form of a teacher.Before she could yawn, the screen in Henri's room flickered to life. It was connected to the camera that would look out on Evelyn's despair.
Interlude: The Acting Director of PlutoMiyuki had lived a very long life. The casual observer never would have known by just looking at her. Despite her very long life, she didn't appear a day over twenty-five. If one were to look at her files, one would see that Sword recorded her age to be twenty-four.That was a lie, but the truth would never pass through her lips. If one knew the truth, then one might assume she was a strix. If Miyuki didn't work in Sword, she could have well been.Sword was charged with the protection and defense of humanity against the strains. While this entailed all of them, Sword singled the strixes out to be their greatest enemy. The scanners they developed were specifically calibrated to detect and reveal strix. If she was one of the vampiric monsters, then she would have been exposed.Factoring that into the equation, one might assume she underwent the rebirth project that Kobayashi headed, but the truth lies elsewhere. She had never set foot inside the l
Evelyn XIXEvelyn LescheresThirty Years AgoThe snow was coming down heavily, now that the storm had rolled in. At least it wasn't night, but the snow was too thick to get through. Not without the right equipment. Or an airlift, but with how strong the storm was, that might not be possible. Not right now.The strix was weakened. She had been lit up with heat rounds, so even her recovery would be slowed. The perimeter that I requested had been established, so there was no way off these mountains. The strix was finished and if I was lucky, she'd figure it out soon.We had made it clear that our goal was to capture, not kill. If she valued her life, hopefully, she'd surrender. And soon.I could see the white snow piling up through the window. I hated going north. It was too cold and in the winter, the snow could pile up high. Port White was the furthest point north and the snow could pile up higher than me.I flicked a cigarette out of the package. It was a disgusting habit, but it was
Evelyn XXAfter losing the original version of Evelyn XX and XXI, I have finally downloaded a more secure writing program. One that will save what I"ve wrote, even if the same bullshit happens. So enjoy this slightly shorter than a normal chapter (with an original Wandering Wolves draft added).Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go rewrite Evelyn XXI****************Thirty Years Ago****************"You wanted to see me, Captain?"I nodded, sipping my coffee. Despite the late hour, Seth was just as perky as ever. He came in bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Even on the eve of something like this, he maintained that general air about him. He was so happy-go-lucky."I did. We just received word from headquarters."His mood changed drastically. Gone was his plucky self and in exchange, the serious boy that I had first met reappeared. "What are our orders?""I'll be taking field command, so far as it dictates the little things. Overall operation command has been given to Division 2 and we w
Evelyn XXI****************Thirty Years Ago****************When the beeping sounded, Seth started before me. He sprinted into the snow-covered mountain, right up the face of it. "Come on, Captain Lescheres!"He sounded so sure of himself. I took one last look at the foreboding mountains and I followed after him, the other three team members behind us. "Don't go too far, Seth! We still have no idea what we're going to find!""We know we're going to find spiderwebs!"Given that it was the only thing the scouts reported back, that much was obvious. Lights flared to live around the mountains. Every team was making an incursion.The snow crunched under my feet. The freezing wind battered my face. I was shivering in the armor. To think I could be in my nice warm apartment right now, but instead, I was throwing myself into the freezing snow.As we scaled the mountain, the snowstorm started picking up. The wind was howling as snow swirled all around us. The white snow was so thick I starte
Chapter VIII: Leaving TownFor the first time since I was reborn, I was leaving Wind Port. The city that had once reminded me only of Fullmetal Alchemist now felt as familiar to me as San Francisco did back on Earth. Up until now, I lived my whole life in this city. I knew all the streets and neighborhoods. I knew the best food stalls on the streets, the best restaurants, and where the local youths ran to when they were hiding from the watchmen. I knew Wind Port like the back of my hand.I didn't want to go. I didn't want to leave this familiar place. And that's why I knew I had to go with Pierce. In my last life, I hated change. When my life changed forever after getting thrown out on the streets, I hated it for years. Then I adapted to the change and there was a part of me that didn't want to change. I shunned government and private help.When I was reborn, there was a certain novelty in my situation that made me forget how much I hated change, if only for a bit. My mom wasn't aroun
When Damien arrived, she was worsed to master the impulse not to strangle him. Or else strick him in any form. That would do nothing beyond hurting him superficially and set her back a long way. His knights would move and she'd be forced to take another form. If those protective mother hens didn't evacuate him from the city.Alice needed him here, so for now Damien was safe from her. Alaric. She had to remember to use the proper name.When he jumped out of the car, it the impulse was stronger that she expected. It was the damnable competitive instinct among the progenitors, but she couldn't act on it."Where is everyone else?" D- Alaric, asked."They're not here yet. Everyone is coming. I just got here a little early. I wanted to talk to you."