In the middle of the mist-covered forest, Rachelle stood in front of Darius. Wearing a flowing white Sunday dress, that reached all the way to her knees. Her hair floats ever so slightly, as though the young woman was underwater.
Oh, how her beauty stands out in the plain grayish background provided by the mist and the forest. Like an angel- no… like a goddess, she shines above everything else.
"It had been such a very long time, I've missed you," she said with a honey-like voice, smooth, sweet, and quite addicting.
Rachelle Heartford is a kind young woman that Darius met back in the Kirkland mansion. After Ravana died, Darius almost followed behind in the afterlife. Due to the power that Ravana had given him. Uncontrolled, it almost killed him. But Rachelle during that moment of uncertainty and pain; remained by his side and tried to help as much as she can.
But unfortunately for him, just like how Eve and Adam are not allowed to touch the apples in the Garden of Eden. He was never allowed to touch the forbidden maiden of the Kirkland mansion. Because Rachelle and Alexander Kirkland were lovers, and who is he to get in between them?
He is no one important, just a witch's slave and the assassin sent to kill Alexander.
In the end, he could only watch from a far distance as the two of them held each other after the battle against Ravana. In the far distance, his heart ached as he wished to hold her hand, just like Alexander did. In pain and disappointment, he was forced to leave early to save himself from more heartache.
"Oh, how I missed you~" she repeated, while Darius continued to walk closer.
"You have?" Darius asked, not thinking clearly.
"Of course, I did. I love you, after all, ~" such empty words and fake demeanor, hide a smile so wicked it could shake the earth. Sharp fangs and long claws were concealed by a fog of deception. The ugly truth is covered by a fantasy, woven to satisfy one's desire.
Yet with the truth hiding in plain sight, so many failed to see.
So many failed to survive.
'Darius! Stop this nonsense! This instance!' a tiny voice echoed from deep in the young man's mind. It was so faint it was easily covered by the dream before his eyes.
'You fool! Stop it!' Ravana screamed, yet she remained unheard.
Unable to stop himself from indulging in such fantasy. Darius allowed the shield to slip off of his back, with a loud thud it fell to the ground.
While he fell into the young woman's embrace.
"You smell so good~," she said, sniffing his neck. Her huge fangs attached to her black gums revealed themselves. A disgusting stream of black goo dripped from her mouth as if the monster was salivating over her meal.
'Just as I thought, it was Dearg Due' Ravana mumbled. As she watched Darius continues to fall deeper into the fantasy the monster had created.
The Dearg Due was once a beautiful maiden, she was revered by many because of her beauty. Countless rich men sought her hand in marriage, however, the young woman fell in love with a peasant.
After her father found out about her relationship, she was forced to marry a wealthy yet cruel man. Whom had abused the young man, unable to bear the pain she eventually took her life.
Before the light left her eyes, she vowed to take revenge on her father and husband. Which she did obtain just after her burial.
However, anger and bitterness remained in her heart. Creating the monster she had become.
After so many years Dearg Due remained on earth, wandering through the forest near her grave to lure unsuspecting victims. The word has said it, that she would sing to lure young men to their death.
But the truth is, she entices them with their greatest desire. Often taking the shape of the person they love.
As the monster held Darius closer, a part of its long and tattered dress brushed against the swollen wound on his thigh.
The tingling pain shoot through Darius's left leg, suddenly there was a glitch.
In a quick moment, he saw the image of a monster. Sharp fangs bear, ready to bite down. Glowing red orbs filled with bloodlust, anger, and death.
"What's the matter?" her voice sweet as ever, yet a sudden feeling of doubt struck the young man.
"Rachelle… what about Alexander?" Darius asked, placing both hands on her shoulders to gently push her away.
Rachelle looked him in the eye, her kindest reflecting her orbs yet her words did not match her at all. "Alexander does not matter, only you do."
No, that does sound right. He had seen it himself, the way her eyes sparkled as she looked at Alexander. The way she run off to find him the first second she was given the chance to do so. The unique way she smiles at him, he had seen it, a particular smile that was reserved only for Alexander.
Darius stepped back, shaking his head. This is not right, he thought to himself.
Suddenly, Rachelle charged at him. Tackling the young man to the ground, her right knee landing atop his wounded leg.
"Argh!" he shouted out of pain, but from the pressure in his wound and the fall he had.
Out of pure luck, the truth finally revealed itself.
With wide horrified eyes, Darius stared at the creature he once believed to be Rachelle. Long messy red hair, red-glowing eyes with dilated pupils, fangs longer than a man's thumb, sharp teeth, black goo dripping from her mouth, decaying gray face, and wrinkled skin.
This isn't Rachelle, this is a monster. He finally realized.
'About time you fool!' Ravana shouted, making the young man cringe.
"You should have helped me earlier!" Darius complained.
'Oh yeah, I should have!' Ravana said.
'Oh wait! Guess what?! I can't because I'm dead!' she sarcastically added.
Darius kept his distance by pushing the Dearge Due by its shoulders, yet the monster still desperately struggled. Trying its best to take a bite from its victim.
Lying flat on the cold ground, Darius kicked the monster in the stomach using his good leg. Sending the creature a meter away.
Standing as quickly as he can, Darius drew his sword. The dangerous metal shining from the faint light inside the forest. The sight of the sword alone made the creature hiss, she knows what it is and she knows how dangerous it could be.
"Should I retreat for now?" Darius asked Ravana.
'No, she's weak. You can handle this, just don't fall for her trick again or that will be the end of us.'
Darius charged in, while Dearg Due step back her sharp claws are prepared to counter the young man's attack. As he struck the creature, the Dearge Due blocked the attack using its forearms.
Darius smiled, thinking it was over. Just like before, the enemy dies just by receiving a scratch. The young man lowered his sword as to place it back in its scabbard.
'No! Watch out!' Ravana screamed, but she was too late.
The claws of the Dearge Due managed to graze Darius in the chest as it lifted to the air launching an unexpected attack.
The young man with his quick reflexes managed to dodge just before he was cut down by the monster.
"W-what?" Darius stared at the creature, his purple orbs wide with disbelief. This never happened before.
'You fool! She's already rotting, as dead as could be. Do you genuinely think that poison will work on her?' Ravana lectured.
'Just a little time of obtaining power and you're already too full of yourself, the subterranean is not the hands of God. It doesn't always work.' The witch added.
The young man remained still, still trying to process the recent flow of events.
'Snap out of it already, she only landed a scratch. Just kill her already,' Ravana ordered.
Darius drew his sword a second time, this time he held the sword tighter as assessing the situation.
"Darius~" sweet voice as smooth as honey. "Darius~" the monster called, the fog growing thicker once again.
The young man blinked twice, it was Rachelle. She was right in front of him. Suddenly, his desire to fight vanished, his muscles relaxed, his grip on the hilt of his weapon starting to loosen.
"Not this again!" Darius clenched his teeth, fighting the monster's trickery. Biting hard, he roughly trusted two fingers in his swollen wound. Causing the blood to flow out of the wound, while the pain shoots through shaking him awake.
"That won't work a second time" he mumbled bitterly, furious due to the audacity of the creature to use his hidden feeling for Rachelle against him.
Darius dashed forward, faster than the eye could see. A spark of anger in his purple orbs was seen through the dark forest. For some reason, his body felt lighter, the pain in his left leg vanished- suddenly, he was more agile than he ever was.
From the ground Darius slashed the sword upward, he was so fast the monster could barely dodge. Her right arm was caught by the blade, only the sight of its dangerous glint flashed before her eyes. Then a horrifying thud was heard as her right arm fell to the ground.
The young man held his sword, the tips directed to the ground. Motionless, he stood with his dull purple orbs staring straight at the monster's soul.
Death was coming and there is no preventing its arrival.
From behind him, the sun slowly rises. Causing the Dearg Due to step away, fearing the light. It intended to escape, running as quickly as it can back deeper into the forest.
The young man runs after the monster, his feet carrying him like the autumn winds against the falling leaves.
As he closed the distance, Darius raised his sword. Swing it sideways cutting the monster's head off, causing it to fly a few feet away and the black goo to splatter everywhere. Staining Darius's clothes and face.
As he lifted the sword, the similar goo dripped down its edges. In the reflection he could see from the black surface of the sword, he noticed how his eyes are glowing in a faint shade of red.
He was tired and could hardly recall the previous battle. As if none of it was his doing.
Shaking the thought off, he placed the sword back in its scabbard. While he stabilizes his heavy breathing, he sat next to the nearby tree resting his back.
He closed his eyes, trying to get rid off of his fatigue.
'Well done~' Ravana whispered, a sinister smile taking over her lips.