Darcia's Point of View
It's the last day of school at the Academy. I sit at my desk in Vampiric History class, my eyes fixed on the texts before me, but my thoughts are far from the classroom. My soul aches, a dull but persistent throb, as I wonder about Kaizer's whereabouts. The events that transpired after I rushed to warn the elders of Serpentara replay in my mind like a haunting melody.
I had burst into the synagogue, the heart of our society, where Vyshara and the other elders were already wide awake, their expressions grave. They nodded in acknowledgment when I arrived at the door. "We saw the explosion," Vyshara had said, his voice a soothing but foreboding resonance. I had opened my mouth to reply when it happened.
Everything froze.
Time itself seemed to halt in its tracks. I couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even draw breath. The same strange paralysis ensnared the elders, their eyes frozen in unreadable expressions. Panic clawed at my mind, a desperate scream building within me, unable to escape.
Then, after what felt like an eternity, time resumed, as abruptly as it had stopped. Without a second thought, I turned and ran out of the synagogue, a knot in my gut warning me that something was gravely wrong.
Bursting through the heavy wooden doors, I bore witness to a scene of absolute horror. Serpentara, our once-proud city, was under siege by hordes of ghouls, twisted and malevolent creatures. They roamed through the streets, wreaking destruction and chaos with every step. The citizens, our brethren, were caught in a nightmarish maelstrom, their anguished screams piercing the air.
A mural of blood, fire, and ash painted the cityscape, an apocalyptic tableau that defied belief. The world I knew had crumbled in a matter of moments, and I was left to confront the terrifying reality unfolding before me. My heart raced, and a fierce determination welled up inside, urging me to find Kaizer and bring him to safety.
With every ounce of strength and speed I possessed, I raced toward the mansion that had been my sanctuary, my heart pounding in my chest like a relentless drumbeat. Bursting through its towering doors, I expected to find solace within its walls, but what awaited me was a scene that defied all reason.
I was immediately engulfed in a torrent of blood, as though the very room had been filled to the brim with this gruesome deluge. A shriek of terror and despair escaped my lips as the crimson tide washed over me, pouring out through the open door and into the corridor beyond. Fear clawed at my throat, choking me, as I struggled to keep my head above the rising tide.
"Kaizer!" I cried out desperately, my voice lost in the cacophony of the bloodstorm. There was no response, no sign of my beloved. Panic surged within me, threatening to consume my very soul.
Then, a horrifying realization dawned upon me. I couldn't remember his memories anymore. The bond we shared, once a wellspring of shared experiences, had been severed. I frantically searched the depths of my mind, desperately seeking any trace of Kaizer's life, but it had all vanished, as though it had never been.
I sobbed into my blood-soaked hands, feeling the crushing weight of the broken connection in my very soul.
A familiar voice, cold and sadistic, pierced the chaos from behind me. "Aw, poor Lysandra," the voice cooed mockingly. "Or should I say 'Darcia?' We're going home now, daughter. There is much we need to talk about. Do not fret, your Half-Vampire companion will be unharmed, and the same goes for Lucius. His father accompanied me to retrieve you both. As for the outlaw... Lady Gertude was taken care of accordingly. I comprehend your desire for spontaneity, as I was once your age as well. Nevertheless, it is now imperative to return to the real world, my daughter. Tomorrow, you shall resume your studies at school."
I turned around, fury and anguish burning in my eyes, summoning a pair of blood daggers, their edges gleaming with a deadly promise, in my trembling hands.
My mother, Queen Hundred, smiled like a maniac, her eyes filled with a twisted glee. "Oh, you want to challenge me, daughter? Very well then," she declared, her voice dripping with anticipation. "We both knew this day would come eventually, didn't we!?"
The air pulsed with tension as I confronted her, my heart pounding, and determination blazing in my eyes. I gripped my blood daggers tightly, ready to strike. With lightning speed, I lunged forward, launching a barrage of rapid, unpredictable attacks from various angles.
My mother, infuriatingly composed, stood her ground. She exuded confidence, her stance unwavering. My blades sliced through the air with deadly precision, but she deflected them effortlessly. Her movements were like a dance of supernatural grace, and it felt as though she had predicted my every move.
I couldn't break through her defenses. It was as if time itself slowed for her, allowing her to counter my strikes with uncanny accuracy. The room echoed with the clash of steel meeting steel, a haunting symphony of battle.
My relentless assault drained me, while Mother's eerie smile remained intact. With each passing moment, my hope waned.
As the battle raged, it became painfully clear that I was outmatched. My energy dwindled, and Mother's confidence grew. In a calculated move, she parried one of my attacks and delivered a crushing counterstrike, sending me tumbling to the ground.
Gasping for breath, my daggers dropped to the floor with a clatter. I looked up at my mother, my spirit unbroken but my body unable to continue the fight. She stood above me, triumphant and merciless.
"It seems the inevitable has come to pass, my dear daughter," she declared with a sadistic smile. "You were never a match for me."
The shrill sound of the bell jolts me out of my thoughts, and I hastily gather my books and notes, stuffing them into my bag. As I stand up and head for the door, I can't help but cast one last glance at the empty seat in the upper rows of the lecture room, where Kaizer should be.
A pang of sadness grips my heart, a deep ache that never seems to fade. The memories of our time together, the battles we faced, and the bond we shared flood my mind. I miss him more than words can express, and the emptiness in the classroom seems to mirror the void in my soul.
With a heavy heart, I turn away from the empty seat and join the flow of students exiting the classroom. The weight of the present and the uncertainty of the future press upon me, but I can't help but carry the memory of Kaizer with me, a constant reminder of my failure to protect him.
As I go to my next class, I'm not thinking about the assignments and extra homework coming my way. I'm thinking, 'I'll go into Sanguine City after school and find Shadowpaw. Maybe he can help me find Kaizer.'
I will find you, Kaizer. We'll be together again, and next time I won't ever leave your side. I swear. Angyhra pulsar.