Blood & Carrots - Celestial Ep. 21

"Kalinae, you are still my daughter since you were the product of Lashimar, and as such, I am inclined to offer you a chance to not be brutally murdered by my Avatar." She showed her sharp teeth, raking her nails through her blonde locks, there were no horns or wings on her as her father had sported, no doubt because the ancient evil within our bloodline was no more.

"If you wish to offer me a kindness, then have the sheep take my head, we are all keenly aware of the humiliation I stand to face." The cat glared up at me with smoldering red eyes as I snarled.

"Oh, believe me, I'll be thrilled to offer you THAT kindness!" I drew my blade but my mother cleared her throat.

"Please calm yourself, Avatar. Had you wanted her dead so readily, you would have ignored Ryder at the pivotal moment." I grunted at my mother's words and snapped the wakizashi back into its scabbard.

"I could give a care less for your pride, my child, you have a duty to fulfill as a Gatekeeper and you will continue it." she pushed her bangs back casually and met the demon's eyes. "Word of your defeat will not leave these halls, the other aristocrats will never learn of it."

Her ears perked at that and she cocked a brow. "What of my sentries and retainers that were privy? Surely gossip would-"

"Oh, on an unrelated conversational note, it seems the magi and celestials informed me that all those present that lived through the encounter, seem to have developed some sort of amnesia."

Kalinae looked shocked and stood, tilting her head as she lifted her chin. "Alright... I'll play along, what're your terms for this obvious boon?"

My mother smiled and simply blinked out of sight, a moment later the cat was being held aloft by her throat, my mother hefting her up with one arm as her teeth showed, ethereal wings spreading from her back. "You let your aspirations die here! If you so much as blink wrong at my Avenger's loved ones, I will spend centuries wracking you with mind-bending agony, am I understood?!"

The Demon lord gave a whimpering choke, grasping at her hand before managing somewhat of a nod. My mother dropped her right there to her backside and stalked back to her throne, the wings on her back fading as she pushed her hand out, the onyx plates of armor on her body shifting back to her robes.

"None of the aristocrats will be accosting my children or the celestial's going forward. If the mundane, lycanthrope, or magi are stupid enough to deal with you all, so be it, but any that molest the angels or vampires will be met with brutal retribution from me, leave the fae out of it as well!" She hissed out the decree before lounging back in her throne, looking bored.

Kaline winced and rubbed at her throat before giving a nod. "As you wish, mother."

"Ah, you are quick to learn, I like that." She looked at me, then Ryder and Alice. "Ah, one last matter to deal with."

Kalinae swallowed the obvious lump in her throat before quirking a brow. "And what is that?"

"Apologize." My mother showed her sharp teeth, eyes shifting to white-hot. "And mean it..."

The demoness hissed at the orders, a shudder rolling up her spine before she glared at me, then closed her eyes and took a knee. "I apologize for my actions that have-"

"Yeah yeah, it's over and done, good enough." Alice waved a hand as the cat snapped her eyes open and looked confused.

"My fellow Paladin has the right of it, Kalinae. You are forgiven and none of us wish to see you wallow and beg for it, certainly not by force." Ryder gave a solemn nod.

"I mean I was kind of enjoying it, but I guess I'll follow the high ground with you guys." I folded my arms with a grin, then shifted my gaze back to the demoness as she stood once more. "I owe you in a way. I'd never have become the pillar of strength to protect my family that I am now. Just remember what my mother told you, she'll not be the only one brutalizing you if you overstep again."

"So it is. Return to your duties Kalinae, your humiliation stays between us, and your reputation amongst the aristocrats will be unchanged." My mother narrowed her gaze as she hissed out. "Do not make me regret this kindness to you, daughter. Eternal damnation would be the least of your concerns at that point."

The cat frowned but gave a nod before offering a formal bow, then she stepped into a gate and was gone. Alice broke the tension with an impressed whistle. "Damn, mom, you don't fuck around."

"Demons must be handled with a strong hand, my child." She offered the rabbit a smile, then sighed as she leaned forward and rested her elbows upon her knees.

"Are you alright?" Ryder tilted his head with worry inflecting in his tone.

"I am fine, Paladin, it has just been a trying night. There will be much to acclimate to in the coming days, but know I'll see our people and the Faemarch all the stronger from it."

"Do you truly plan to let Kalinae off so leniently?" I frowned as I put my hands on my hips.

"You have what you sought, daughter. Do you truly wish her blood so ardently? Ending her will not return the time lost."

My ears lifted and I frowned at those words. "I suppose I just... expected we'd have to kill her in the end to save everyone, it feels unfinished in a way."

"My ewe, for what it's worth, I'm fine with this scenario. We are all stronger for it, and though there was much pain, I feel vengeance will only darken our hearts, especially now that we have resolved things." Ryder placed a hand over his rosary and Alice just snorted as she rolled her eyes.

"You're such a goody-two-shoes, Ry." She hummed out and bumped his hips with hers before moving to me and giving me a quick kiss. "Let it be, my love... it's over."

I gave a nod, pushing closer and bumping my forehead to hers. My mother smiled and ran her fingers through her hair before calling out once more, "Let us part ways for now, children. I need to stalk around this palace and see what my new home looks like."

"As you wish, High Demon lord. Thank you for your aid and support." Ryder offered a polite bow.

My mother flashed her teeth, looking amused at the words, "Such a stuffy title, please Ryder, simply call me, Eve."

"Wait- You never gave me your name in all these years, yet you give it to him? Why?" I got a fussy look on my face as I huffed out.

"Because he's handsome as well as polite, while you are obstinate and spoiled." She fired back with a playful grin. Alice giggled at that and linked her arm to mine to pull me closer to her as if worried I'd pitch a fit like a child.

My mother smiled and her gaze softened as she called out to the rabbit, "Alice, thank you. I had accepted things, I was prepared, but you saved me and by proxy, my daughter Lorelai as well. I am truly grateful."

She waved it off with a grin. "Yeah yeah, I'm a Paladin and Chimera, it's what I do, no big deal." She turned with me and walked towards the gate, leaving it at that. I looked over my shoulder to see Ryder following and my mother giving me a proud nod.

Alice's presence left me in the transition of moving through the gate, my boots crunching down on pitted rock and soot as I glanced back, seeing no gate behind me. My arms folded as I looked around, a large expanse of nothing but burned rock and dirt as if a desert that had been caught in a massive flashfire.

The air smelled of brimstone as a sharp wind pushed across the surface, sending streams of ash and dust through the air. My hand moved to my wakizashi as I said nothing and just narrowed my focus, feeling the presence the moment I arrived.

"... judge... me..." The words were a broken rasping hiss, fading in and out before they came louder. "No gods... will judge me!"

"So, you readily ask me to do it in their stead?" I snarled out as both swords came out, bloodsteel gleaming as my vision grew hazy with red.

"What god has a right to judge me when I myself am one..." With the words, the Ancient stood before me once more. Its form was once again that of Lashimar's, though the copper skin was now cracked and pitted as if burned terribly.

"Hmph... to hell with the gods, once again it falls on me to do their work, eh?" I snapped the blades out, showing my teeth as I cocked a brow, seeing that massive battle axe form in the Ancient's grip.

"Your ploy to cast me out of my daughter's body, weakened me... but in this forgotten plain, I've manifested myself fully and when I strike you down, child... I'll take you as mine, body, and soul." A wide grin showed on his face, torn ripped wings spreading out wide.

I blurred forward and slammed both my blades against the massive axe, driving the Ancient back several yards as I spat out, "Spare me your prattling, grandfather, I've had about enough of you!"

His eyes turned black and he just blinked out of sight, I narrowly sidestepped a heavy swing of the axe, the blade inches from my throat. My teeth showed as another swing came, then another as I bounded and dodged them, the strikes too fast to parry despite how big the weapon was.

After several moments Lashimar showed a victorious grin as he stepped back. "Ha... jump around all you want little lamb! We've nothing but time and you will eventually burn through your blood, no one will come for you here."

"Oh?" I cocked a brow and spun my swords as I tilted my head. "You sure about that?"

"Ha! Try to call for Triallia Glitter-leaf! Your Great Spirit will not come for you!" He roared the Ninetails' name out to make his point and I showed him a smile. He returned it with his own grin. "Ah, so you will embrace destruction with a smile on your face? Mad little child..."

"Oh... no, it's not that grandfather... it's just, well..." I showed him a grin and lifted my ears. "You've made a simply dreadful miscalculation with this little stunt!" I showed my teeth as my grin grew wilder as the red in my vision grew deeper.

The Ancient gave a shocked grunt as I was before him, sweeping my blades out as he parried the strike. There was a clash of impact before he flew back several yards. He righted himself with a confused look on his face, cocking a burned brow.

"Ha... yes... you see... no fear of hurting my loved ones, no, no... you can have it all... yes, go ahead, I'm all yours!" I laughed out the mad words as I plunged my blades into the charred earth and threw my hands out, welcoming everything the ancient-blood in me had to offer. It didn't matter if I lost myself, I had to put this thing down, I couldn't let it be free to move on to another member of my family.

Lashimar hissed out having to hold a hand up as hellfire and radiant flames basked over my form as I clenched my fist. I could see his fear, see the shock and awe in the eyes of a being that had not felt such emotions since times long forgotten.

He didn't even approach as my overwhelming will poured out, then I was before him, my eyes flaming as I grabbed his own horns, tears of blood rolling down my cheeks. His red eyes were wide, he looked terrified of me, of the monster he'd fully unleashed. "I am a matriarch first!" I slammed my head into his, hearing his skull break as he staggered back.

"I am a sister!" I drove a fist into his jaw, shattering it.

"I am a mother!" My foot came up, slamming into his chest, shattering ribs as I drove him to the earth in a massive impact, the crater of the blow several yards in diameter.

"I am the Avenger of my kind, and even you, the inception of what we were, will, not, touch, any, of, them!" I screamed the last of the words out, a wide malicious grin on my face as I stomped into his chest with each one, again and again, shattering bones as I drove him further into the earth.

Flames burst out around me as I was already looking at where he would appear. I let him reform his body, but saw how battered he already was, my mind flooded with nothing but mad screams of hunger now as I twitched an eye, crimson tears rolling freely down my cheeks.

"It... matters little... you can't destroy this body, child! I will outlast you, and you will accept what is to be!" Lashimar clenched his fist, showing me a bloody grin.

I clenched my own head in both my hands, feeling rage fill me at his words. Nothing, nothing had made me more furious in my entire existence than the idea of this smug piece of filth preying on my loved ones. No, no... I would end this, one way or another, then in my madness I thought of my mother and cocked my head to the side, offering my hand out, palm open. "I offer you a moment of respite... pray to the gods, beg them for forgiveness..."

"Ha! I can see I've driven you into full madness, my child! I am a god! I need not ask them for anything! Ngh!" His teeth clenched as I was atop him grabbing his armor and wrenching him down to my eye level. His own eyes widened as he saw the swirling bloody maelstrom of what was in my gaze, his mouth gaping slightly.

"Do not stare into the abyss, grandfather... lest it stares back!" I cooed out the words as my teeth flashed and I dove atop him, riding him to the charred earth as my fangs plunged into his throat.

"No! You are too weak! You-" He convulsed as I drew his damned blood down my throat. A heartbeat later his struggling ceased but I just stayed atop him, drinking and drinking, not stopping until I felt everything in me, I wasn't just ending his life, I was finishing what my mother started.

I pulled back, tongue lolled, feeling the fires of his very soul finally gutter out, a mad little grin spreading on my face as I cooed out and stood, knees shaking from all the power in me, a power I should never have had. "Ha... all I ever wanted... peace... love... my family..."

My hand pushed up into my curls, showing a grin as I saw his body simply fade to dust and scatter out into the void of darkness all around me, red tears rolling down my cheeks. I hummed as I collected my swords, sheathing them as I simply started walking. "So be it... All the pieces are righted, they are safe... they are safe... worth it, it was worth it... All I wanted... I am satisfied, so let us simply wander for a while. You and I, I and you..." I giggled the words, unable to clear my head, screams, and yowls filling my mind constantly as I just grinned while I walked, stalking off into the darkness of the abyss I was in.

I walked and I walked, I also babbled to myself the whole while, grey flames bursting off my boots at every step I took through the charred wasteland. "Ah, it's so unfair... all that time, and I didn't even get to fuck him again! Can you believe it? The nerve of the gods, not only having me do their work, but then I have to deal with this after everything! Ugh! Rude!"

"No no, that's fine... it's fine! He has Charlotte again, and Alice will be a fine replacement for me! Yes, I agree, it's better this way." I wasn't sure how long I had walked, it could have been hours, it could have been days, everything was just a blur of thoughts.

After a time I flopped right down onto my back in the dirt, sighing as I lifted a hand to the nothingness above me, looking at my outstretched fingers. "Oh, why won't you give it a rest? All the screaming and whining for blood, do you see anything around? No, you don't! So shut up already!" I clenched my teeth, furrowing my brow, my words doing nothing.

"Tsk... I will try to rest for a few moments, perhaps a quick sleep... a nap may help? Oh, it won't? I know, but..." I sighed and waved my hand slowly back and forth, watching afterimages of it in my red vision, then laid it upon my chest, forcing myself to enter torpor.

My dreams were vivid and to call them nightmares would be the greatest understatement I could think of. I dreamed of plunging my fangs into Alice's throat, drinking until there was nothing left, I dreamed of cutting down Ryder, and tearing my beloved foxes apart. I woke with a scream, my eyes wide, tears pouring forth anew as I sobbed out, "Why?! Is this how you felt, Sarnai?!"

"No... you watched loved ones die, you never dreamed of being the one... you were lucky but I-" I found my feet once more, taking a few steps, sniffling as I shook my head. "The writing is there... yes, it's there... I knew I wouldn't be enough... I never wanted to be enough... but a matriarch first, yes... that was my choice, my duty."

I drew my wakizashi, staring at the bloodsteel mingled with divine silver, my cherished rabbit having helped make it for me. "Such a good girl... so much more than I deserved, all of them were..." I clenched my teeth, feeling the thoughts in my head turning to what I'd do to her if I saw her in this moment and I yowled out at them.

"Enough! No! I am Lorelai Tahmineh! I ... am the Empress of Bloodstone! My duty... my duty... is to protect my family from all threats, all of them! ... all of them...even myself..." I dropped to my knees in the pitted dirt and brought the blade of the wakizashi to my chest, the point aimed at my heart.

"You must not!"

I gave a disgusted laugh at the thoughts in my head. "Ha ha! You would like that, wouldn't you?! To continue to tear my mind apart until I was nothing?! No no... I am still a sheep with pride, and I'll die that way! On my terms!"

"Lorelai, please!"

I gave a grunt and eased the sword from my chest. The blathering words had never used my name. I snapped my teeth and shook my head as if trying to clear my thoughts. Finally, I summoned all my will, grinding my teeth as I brought it all to the forefront, pushing the cries of blood back to a dull murmur.

"Who speaks to me? Show yourself, now!" I rose from my feet, sheathing my wakizashi, leaving my hand resting on the pommel of it.

My eyes widened as the presence appeared before me, then they narrowed. "You... are the last thing I wished to see..." Seeing was a subjective term. The being was humanoid in shape, smaller than me, as if the size of a child, and they were just a fuzzy collection of light. Still, I'd felt their power several times now, I knew all too well what they were.

The whole scene suddenly changed and I was standing in that blue void of nothingness once more. My eyes widened as I glared at the hazy figure. "What are you doing?! Take me back! It is not safe for me to be... I cannot be here!"

"Lorelai, our wayward child..."

"I am no child of yours! Fuck you and fuck your gods! Return me to that abyss and let me conclude my business! I have to... protect them!" I drew my blade anew, snarling at the small figure of light before me.

"You may curse us and the gods, but you have done too much to be ignored in this time of tribulation."

"Silence! I'll not have you placate me, nor will I drop to my knees before you! I would already be tearing at you like a slobbering monster for your throat equivalent if I didn't already know that wasn't a corporeal form!"

I snapped the blade around towards me once more. "Unless you prefer I prostrate myself before you and do it here! I care not so long as it is done! Do it yourself if you wish, I'd just have it done to know the madness goes with me and won't take one of my family!"

"Even in all this... absolute duty..."

"Yes! I accept, instead of cowering! Take notes Seraph, this is the way of a true guardian, not hiding away painful memories to avoid it!" I sneered out as my teeth showed.

"Enough! It is not needed and you will do no such thing in our presence!" I shuddered as I felt the grip waver on my blade before it simply fell to the ground, my eyes wide and mouth gaping at the sheer force of will upon me.

"We will not attempt to reason with you, Lorelai, not in your madness, but know we commend your resolve and duty even at your limits. However, we owe too many of our flock and your family to allow this path to continue."

"What?! No, I don't!" My teeth grit and my eyes widened as tears rolled from them, my whole body burning, burning like it did when I touched blessed silver all those years ago, like when I would touch Toroah before Alice came along, but it was magnified to an unimaginable level.