Book 2 First Night (10)
Vice Detective Tony McBee had received orders from Chief Zimmer to act as backup for the ongoing operation. Rushing towards the mall in question, McBee and his partner, Detective Aleksandr Godunov, arrived at the security room just moments after Matoba and Tilarna stepped foot into the building in pursuit of the vampire.
No matter how many times they tried to reach Matoba on the radio, no response came. However, thanks to the malls security system, the two were able to roughly grasp their location. They proceeded to head towards Paradise Square. Equipped with his trusty carbine, Tony made his way inside. By contrast, the gigantic Godunov wielded a massive rifle that fit his build. Both of them were wearing body armor for extra protection. In particular, this type of body armor had been laced with a thin titanium alloy, allowing it to withstand even the most fearsome of attacks. Despite that, based on the information he had heard up until now, this may not be enough for the monster they were up against.
But, is it really okay for us to take the lead here?
Tony grumbled as he strode across the dark hallway. Godunov turned his nose up in response.
Whatever it is, were playing a dangerous game here. With us acting as both the vanguard and reconnaissance, nobodys gonna be dumb enough to complain about it.
I dont want to worry Mike too much.
Still going at it with that dancer of yours?
Hey, that was the one before. Mikes a photographer.
Got it. You go through exes way too often. How the hell was I supposed to know?
How rude! I always treat my partners with the utmost respect, you know!? You make it sound like Im some sort of whore
Shh. Look.
Godunov interrupted, pointing to the front. They were currently on the first floor, surrounded by rows upon rows of shops. At the very end of the corridor, the path opened up to a hall. In the center lay a circular fountain, around which an orange curtain had been torn in half.
Brought to attention, the two of them drew their weapons, covering each others blind spots as they approached the fountain. By the stone steps surrounding the fountain, Matoba had collapsed.
Kei.
Tony rushed over to Matobas side. In turn, Godunov carefully appraised his surroundings, ascending the stairs to the atrium above.
Kei, are you okay?
Shit.
There had been no need to check if he was alive. Just as Tony shook his body, Matoba let out a low groan, attempting to stand back up. He had fallen right into the water, leaving him drenched to his skin. With his throat in great pain, Matoba hoarsely asked.
That you, Tony? How long was I out?Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience
I dont know. We lost contact with you, so probably around 15 minutes or so?
I see.
He tried to get up, only to fall flat on his backside, coughing violently in the process.
What the hell happened to Tilarna? She was on the top floor when
We didnt see her. Aleks?
He called out to Godunov, who had taken the liberty of going up the stairs towards the upper section of the atrium. In response, Godunov popped his head out from the railings and shouted.
She aint here. Her swords on the ground.
You find any blood up there?
Nope, nothing like that.
Goddamnit, that motherfucking bitch. Doing whatever the fuck she wants. Shell get whats coming to her.
Agitated, Matoba cursed as he stood up, roughly brushing up wet strands of hair.
Do you know what happened to Tilarna?
Not a clue. I blacked out, remember? If there aint a body, then maybe the brat managed to go after that monster after she fought back. No
Stopping himself in the middle of his thoughts, Matoba shook his head violently to the sides.
No way shed leave her sword behind. She was probably taken away.
Thou claimeth mine kin gone by thy hands?
So the legends sayeth.
Interesting, these words thy speaketh.
The vampire stopped browsing the travel brochure, staring directly at Tilarna.
I doth not knoweth the length of mine slumber in the mountains of Duras Dyril. However, I cannot believeth thy kind destroyeth mine own. Since I awoke, thou remaineth the only one capable of sensing mine presence. The uncultured swine of this city possesseth not a single sliver of Vyfert steel. In turn, they holdeth these strange weapons, yet they art nothing more than a contrivance.
Now. The name of this city readeth Sein Tirisei, dost it not?
Looking at the spine of the book, the vampire asked.
Tis read San Teresa.
Thinking this much would be fine, Tilarna replied.
I seeth. And these letters on the side, they art read city, art they not? No, tis city, correct? San Teresa City, or thereabouts.
Her English was improving by the second. Supposing she stayed a couple more days in this bookstore, the vampire would have learned another language by then, let alone English.
This is quite the elaborate map. It seemeth this city is located in the northern part of Kariana Island. I have some recollection of this name. In the southern region of the Farbanian Kingdom, there lyeth a peninsula of the same name. However, this land is no peninsula. Tis surrounded by ocean. The Pacific Ocean. A rather large body of water. Now this, I dost not recall. Neither dost I this English. Even if you were to searcheth the whole world, thou shalt not findeth such letters. And there, I thought. That this is most likely a different world.
Tilarna neither confirmed nor denied it. The vampire took her reaction as proof.
As I thought.
She muttered to herself.
The Great Gate spoken of in the Book of Niba manifested, it seemeth.
Book of Niba? The Great Gate? What do you mean by that?
Tilarna threw away all noble pretenses, switching to a more straightforward way of speaking. Ever since she came to this world, she had always been speaking this way. To her, it felt appropriate for the current situation.
Curb thy insolence, o young knight. Thou has not answered any of my questions, yet thou dares asketh one in return? A mere mortal?
Even if I were to provide you the information you desire, I do not believe you would stop attacking humans. In this world, you are but a beast prowling the city. There is no reason to comply with the demands of a beast.
A beast, you sayeth? Dost thou truly believeth so?
Even after receiving Tilarnas scorn, the vampire showed no sign of anger.
Those of our kin doth not hunt humans indiscriminately. Only during times of need, and only the required amount. Only then doth we feast on the rahtena in human blood.
I cannot believe that. You are savage. Raging about, ever starved for blood.
Unfortunately, I hadst just awoken. I hadst little choice but to settle with what was available.
She got out of her seat, taking a few steps towards Tilarna. The vampire calmly looked down upon her as she lay on the floor.
Hunger is what it is, o young knight. Thou dost not understand the misery, the grief, the anger that cometh with it. Lie there in thy bindings for a week, and thou shalt see. Thou wouldst gladly biteth into maggot-infested carrion.
Even so, you are the enemy of humanity!
How stubborn. Then, there is no longer a reason for thou to speak.
The vampire knelt, stretching her hand towards Tilarna. A cold sensation, much like ice. Her slender fingers crawled around her cheeks, slithering across her chin and onto her neck.
Kill me and be done with it. Just like you did with countless warriors in the past.
Though she declared as such, Tilarna could not help but be fixated upon the Book of Niba and the Great Gate.
What meaning the word Niba held, Tilarna did not know. However, she did remember the Book of Niba mentioned once before. A man by the name of Dennis Elbajhi, the head of a gang that once roamed the streets of San Teresa in search of buyers for their special weapons, had spoken of it in passing. In any case, she could not make heads or tails of it.