Chereads / Rubrum Lunae / Chapter 5 - Vol. 1- Chapter 2.5: The Echoes in the Dark

Chapter 5 - Vol. 1- Chapter 2.5: The Echoes in the Dark

January 20th, Lucifugus Mansion

The sun has set, the moon shines down the Borderland. Located near the mountains there is an exclusive street where the leaders of the Twin cities live. Giant mansions with the best cars. At the end of the street there is a huge mansion where the mayor resides.

In the dining hall, the Lucifugus family is having dinner:

"Father, why is the new student in the same class as me?" Aleister exclaims.

Darius chuckles and replies:

"Well my son, I didn't know it would matter to you…"

"It does matter, that guy is dangerous, he has a powerful mana…"

"I agree with our son dear...the student named Uriel Di Fiore is similar to Roberto Vazquez, do they have any connections?"

"You guessed it dear, that boy is Roberto's son, the one who almost killed me 5 years ago…" Darius says as he drinks a glass of wine.

"So he is the son of that man...and that makes me…" Olivia gets angry and begins to release mana, breaking all the glass in the table.

"Come down dear, there is no need to get all worked up, besides you can't kill him yet...I need him for my plans and I want Aleister to make him an ally instead of an enemy."

Olivia stops releasing mana and says; "I'm sorry, I got a little carried away…"

"Foolish mother, try to be careful next time, I got soaked in water…"

Aleister lifts his hand and calls his maid:

"Anastasia, would you mind cleaning this up…"

A beautiful young maid enters the dining room and vows her head:

"Yes master, I'll do it right away…"

"Thank you Anastasia"

Anastasia Lucifugus is a beautiful girl who is about 16 years old. She has black hair with bangs on her forehead. Reddish eyes, pale skin making her look like a doll. She has a slim body. She goes to the same school as Aleister.

Anastasia finishes cleaning, Olivia grabs a chair and says:

"Anastasia dear, come here and eat dinner with us…"

"I'm sorry, I am not worthy of eating in your presence." Anastasia vows her head.

"Nonsense, this is an order from me...so please sit down…"

Anastasia without any expression sits down, and Olivia gives her a plate.

Anastasia began to form part of the Lucifugus Family when she was only 5 years old. Since then, she's been Aleister's personal maid. Olivia sees her as her own daughter and part of the family.

"Now then, everyone, I have an announcement to make…" Aleister says to everyone, everyone looks at him as he continues to speak:

"After the end of the school year, I've decided to make Marjorie my bride..."

Anastasia looks surprised, Olivia has a discomforted look. Darius laughs:

"Splendid, she looks like a fine girl..."

"I disagree, Aleister you must think this through, she is a mixed blood, you must marry someone worthy for you.."

"I understand your concern but I've already made my choice..."

"But..."

"Mother, that's enough" Aleister raises his mana causing her to shake and lean back. Darius continues to laugh as he says:

"Aleister calm down, you already have my approval...Besides, I think you have to marry young because that's the way to preserve mana to the purest when having an offspring."

"Thank you father, I appreciate your support..."

"I think..." Anastasia tries to say something, Aleister looks at Anastasia. She gets really nervous and doesn't say a word.

"Did you have something to say, Anastasia?"

"No master, I'm sorry..." Anastasia lowers her head with a sad expression.

"Then it's settled, Marjorie will be my bride...and starting tomorrow things will change at school, my way..."

"WE ARE ENLIGHTENED!!!"

*************************************************************************

Sun City…

At the same time that the Lucifugus were having dinner. In the rural part of the city, another event was happening…

(GGGGGYYYYAAHHHH)

The neighbors hear the scream of a young girl, however, everyone is afraid to look outside.

(RRRRAAAAWWWW)

The girl runs as fast as she can trying to escape. She runs down the street towards a park.

Behind her, a being that runs in four legs chases her. The beast has dark black skin, with red color patterns in the shape of circles. The beast has the body of a coyote with the face of a bull.

(RRRRAAAWWW)

"Help me...someone…"

The girl hides in the children's playground, she puts her hand on her mouth trying not to make a sound.

She only hears the monster's steps passing next to her.She hears them going away, the girl relaxes however, the monster's grabs her.

"NNNNNNNN OOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

A loud scream is heard and then silence. The monster begins to walk away leaving the girl on the ground. She doesn't have bruises or blood coming out. However she is on the verge of death because all of her mana was drained.

Humans need mana in order to leave, if the mana is gone, they have only a couple of minutes to replenish it, otherwise they'll die.

As the monster walks away in search of another prey, a strange sound catches its attention.

(PUM PUM PUM)

The sound of a drum resounds the area,followed by the sound of flute as it plays a coordinated melody.

The monster looks towards the direction of the moon and sees a silhouette of a girl walking towards his direction.

The girl is about 17 years old, she has brown skin, long straight blonde hair and purple eyes. She has a slim body. She is wearing the uniform of the same High school as Alejandro and has Native headband with a rhombus pattern on her forehead.

She walks playing the flute in harmony with the drum sound. She stops playing and begins to say:

"Sing, dance, o great beast as I, Tiwa de Ysleta will purify your soul…"

(RRRR AAAWWW)

The monster attacks Tiwa, Tiwa dodges every strike as she moves forward dancing at the beat of the drum. Slowly she gathers manna on her hands and creates claws.

(SSSLLLAAASSHHH)

Tiwa defeats the monster with ease, she takes a deep breath and ends the song. She walks straight at the girl and begins to play her flute.

The girl gets cured as the sound replenishes her mana. Tiwa stops playing and begins to walk away:

"That was easy..."

"Splendid as always Ms. Tiwa..." An owl flies down to her shoulder.

"Suma, don't flatter me, it's kind of annoying...anyway, don't you think there have been many Sombras attacking lately?"

Suma is a spirit owl that acts as Tiwa's guardian. He can speak as a normal human being, he is invincible to the normal person. He is brown with green eyes and golden claws.

"You're right, I have been detecting so many abnormalities lately..."

"Mistress Tiwa, you should go to your house now, otherwise you're going to be late for school tomorrow..." A serpent slitters next to her, the serpent is holding a drum.

"I know, I know Jana, I'm heading there now..."

"Very well my Mistress, Suma, please keep watch on her..."

"Yes ma'am..." Suma lifts his wings in agreement as Jana disappears . Tiwa sighs,

"What's wrong Tiwa?"

"Nothing, it's just that I need to pick a club in two days but I don't know where to join."

"How about the SIS, I mean you follow that guy like a stalker, why not ask him directly..."

"I am not a stalker, it's just that he has some strange manna, that's all..." Tiwa blushes, avoiding looking at Suma. Suma chuckles.

"Anyway, let's hurry...."

"Right" Suma disappears and makes two wings appear in Tiwa's back, Tiwa flies at great speed. A few meters away, Uriel observes how she flies away as he thinks:

"So, it appears this region is very special...I must keep my guard up..."

Uriel disappears as well.

*************************************************************************

Rio Grande City Cathedral…

The Cathedral, the biggest church in Rio Grande City. The church is the protector of Rio Grande City, in the office, the Bishop has a conversation with a certain priest.

"Clemente, we are in a dangerous situation here…that monster is eliminating our members like flies…and taking away people every night…I understand that it already took one of your members right?"

Bishop Adrian is a 65 year old priest. He is in charge of the Catholic Church in Rio Grande City. He has white hair and long white beard, he wears glasses and dresses with the Bishop Attire.

"Yes…I lost one of my daughters…that monster took her away…and…I couldn't do a thing…" Father Clemente takes off his glasses and wipes his tears.

Father Clemente is a 50 year old priest. Despite his age, he is very strong and looks young. He has white hair and a white beard. He is the leader of the Mission of San Juan, one of the oldests churches of the city…

"I understand…and I am really sorry Clemente…" The Bishop stands up and looks at the moon; "Clemente…there is something I must tell you…"

Father Clemente stands up; "You wanted to tell me about the boy…am I right?"

"Indeed…the boy arrived yesterday and he went towards Sun City…and he is…"

"I know…El Charro Negro…"

"For a boy at such a young age…to have that responsibility…"

"What would you like me to do…Bishop?"

The Bishop sighs; "We must determine if the boy is dangerous…I heard rumors and stories about him…specially on what happened in Jalisco…the whole "Vampire" incident…where he played a very important role…and after that…he was seen in many places around the continent…"

"Yes, I also heard about his actions…and let's not forget that he is Maria's…"

"That is something that we don't know yet…but she has treated him as such…for now…he will probably make contact with you…because of her…and I want you to judge him…if he proves to be an ally, you will become his aide…however…if he proves the contrary…"

"I shall eliminate him…" Father Clemente has a serious expression. The Bishop sits on his desk; "I know this is hard for you…you have been through a lot…old friend…but remember the Orders mission…"

"We shall eliminate all evil in this world…in the name of the Lord…" Father Clemente walks towards the door.

"Wait…Clemente…there are echoes in the darkness…and those echoes are roaring stronger with each passing day…"

"I know…and I'm afraid that one day…those echoes will destroy this region…" Father Clemente leaves the room, the Bishop sighs with his eyes closed:

"May God be with you my dear friend…"

*************************************************************************

Rio Grande City…

The moon shines bright, there are no clouds…the wind is calm…the perfect time for the feast to begin…

"Hey…have you heard…there is a monster attacking the city…" Walking down the street, four friends just finished drinking in a bar. They walk down the empty streets of Rio Grande City.

"Oh yeah…I heard it attacks its victims and kills them by drinking their blood…"

"Hahaha…you mean a vampire?"

"Yeah like the one from Jalisco…" One of the friends comments, the most drunk of them begins to laugh:

"Hahaha…those are just stories…come on…it's all the government's doing…to keep us inside at night for the ongoing crimes…"

"Yeah…maybe you're right…" One of them looks scared; "But maybe we should hurry and go home…"

"Nah…let's go to another bar…and have more drinks…"

"YYEEAAHHH!!!" Three of the friends agree, while the other stays behind; "I don't want to…I just want to go…"

(CCCRRRAASSHHH)

At that moment, they hear a loud crash at the alley next to them. The friends see someone standing in the darkness.

"Hey who's that?"

"I don't know…but he looks weird…what's with that cape?"

"HEY…IDIOT…WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?"

One of the friends screams to the figure, the figure doesn't respond. One of the drunken friends gets closer to the figure:

"HEY PAL…IF YOU WANT TO FIGHT… "

The scared one takes a few steps back; "Maybe we should go…let's leave now…"

"DON'T BE A CHICKEN…WE CAN TAKE HIM…"

"YEAH…THAT BASTARD WILL…"

(SSSLLLAAASSSHHHH)

Without warning, the friend who was in front gets decapitated. Everyone is speechless and don't know what happen:

"HEY…HEY MAN…WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU HEAD?"

(SSSSLLLAASSHHHHH)

A massive wind current attacks the friends, killing the other two in an instant. The one who was behind sees his friends dead and panics:

"AAAHHHHH…SOMEONE HELP…"

The guy runs as fast as he can, he passes a street and heads towards an alley; "I MUST GET AWAY…"

He suddenly stops as he sees the figure in front of him. The figure appears to be a tall man with a black cape and red eyes. The figure walks slowly towards the man.

"NO…NO…STAY AWAY…STAY AWAY…"

(RRRRAAAWWWW)

The figure roars and expands the cape, revealing a pair of giant wings, the figure proceeds and attacks the man.

(SSSLLLAASSHHHH)

"AAAHHHHHHH"

As the monster attacks the man, two figures look at the top of the building. One of the figures has a skeleton mask on:

"Good…now that this creature is gathering mana…our plans will move faster than expected…"

"Ales…" The other figure is smaller and has the voice of a young girl. The one with the skeleton mask chuckles:

"Oh don't worry dear…I'm sure he's having fun…"

"Shut up..you don't know anything…"

"Hahaha…just do I say and you and your pet will be okay…" The man and the girl disappear in a portal as the winged monster flies to the sky and makes a huge roar.

(RRRRAAAAWWWWW)