Chapter 9: Blood drinkers
Though the arrow had moved too fast to be seen, blood oozed out in slow motion. It came as a red fountain which spread over the aisle, every projection showing the struggling of the Queen's heart. She fell on her knees, eyes wide. Before anybody could reach her she slumped to the ground, pulse faint and weak.
Ever stared, unable to move, as blood gushed from the Queen's chest. She ran to her mother's side, "No." She whispered, feeling the blood soak her dress, "Mum!" She shouted and a rain of arrows flew throughout the hall, attacking every living being.
For a moment Ever forgot about her unconscious mother in her lap. She stood up and moved her gaze around the hall. Ever noticed creatures dressed in black shooting arrows into the hall from the balcony.
Julian kicked off against the aisle and spun Ever, rolling between two chairs. Julian levered himself up, his hands gripping her shoulders; his eyes were wild, his body pressing hers into the ground. "Are you alright? Were you hit?"
"I'm fine." She gasped.
With a brief flash of horror, Ever witnessed the Angel Earth laying, soaked in blood alongside her mother.
"Julian, take mum and the others out of the hall." Ever rolled out from under Julian and sprang to her feet.
There were tall figures, dressed all in black, cross-bows in hand, standing in every balcony. Every figure jumped into the hall except one, who remained on the balcony. He was tall and pale, most likely masculine. He raised his bow and took aim. Another bolt whistled by.
Rage settled into Ever. How dare he shoot at them, how dare he shoot at her mother? She ran towards the staircase which led to the balcony. She reached the balcony within seconds. She looked up, he was backing away from her. His face was covered with a mask.
Ever created fire in both her palms, "What are you?" She demanded. She took a step forward; the strange figure backed away.
He was silent. Ever threw a fire ball at him and he began to burn.
Ever expected the creature to groan with pain, struggle to live and beg her to spare her life but instead he stayed still as if he was enjoying the fire on him. Slowly the fire began to fade.
"What are you?" She shouted.
He smirked, "Your fire can't kill me, my lady."
She successfully locked the air particles around his legs so he could not move. He tried to pull his legs but failed. She walked closer to him and removed the black mask covering his face. He was elegant. His eyes were breathtakingly blue. His features were sharp and feisty.
Ever heard screams from the hall. She wanted to kill this creature but she also wanted to know who they were and why they were here, murdering her angels?
"Who are you?" Ever yelled.
He gave a light smile, "A blood drinker."
"What?"
"We survive by drinking blood," He explained, quietly.
"Why did you shoot my mother?"
"Because she's destined to be killed by me."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because Goddess Roop wants us to do this."
The sound of Roop's name sent angry shivers through Ever.
"You'll never be able to destroy Angelic."
He gave a mocking grin, "Let's see."
Ever heard a cry from the hall, it was Elizabeth. She was surrounded by several blood drinkers, luckily Cael began to slash them into pieces. Ever noticed that someone had taken her mother and Angel Earth out of the hall but Angel Water was lying on the ground, an arrow stuck to her stomach.
She raced towards hall.
"My lady, you can't stop this war! You can't defeat Goddess Roop!" He shouted but she ignored him.
Julian sprang forward, rising into the air as he slashed downwards, severing the blood drinker's head from its body. Parisa sent a fire ball and burned the blood drinker's head.
Julian smiled, "Thank you," before he spun and struck out again, jamming the sword into another blood drinker.
Atlas was running out of the hall with his already dead mother in his arms, "Mother, please stay alive." He whispered, breaking down into tears.
Julian leaped forward and cut the head of another blood drinker. When blood drinkers were cut into pieces there was no blood, their bodies were like strong bricks which could only be destroyed by silver weapons.
And then he saw his mother, trying to bite Cedric. He began to run for them, blood drinkers surged up at him as he went. He did not notice that the blood drinkers were following him, his attention was fixed on his brother and his blood drinker mother. Parisa slashed the blood drinkers who were running after Julian but he did not notice her protecting him.
"Mum! Stop!" Julian shouted as he reached Cedric. Cedric backed behind Julian.
Marie didn't recognize her son. She was not Marie anymore. She was now a blood drinker. She had poor recollection of memories of their Angel lives.
"Mum!" Julian shouted, "It's me Julian, your Julian."
Marie jumped onto Julian and Julian fell on the ground. Cedric tried to pull Marie off Julian's body but he failed.
Ever pressured the air particles around Marie and she stopped moving. Ever pulled Marie off Julian and she fell on to the ground, not being able to stand against Ever.
Cedric helped Julian get to his feet. Julian was panting uneasily.
"Julian, are you alright?" Ever asked, placing her hand on his shoulder.
He nodded, staring at his monstrous mother. There were two sharp fangs where her canines used to be.
"Ev, silver weapons can destroy them." Cedric said, "Many of them are destroyed."
"What about our Angels?" Ever asked.
"The situation is tragic." Cedric replied.
"Why are they here?" Julian asked, his gaze still on his mother who was struggling to free herself.
"They're Roop's army." Ever said and looked around. Many of the blood drinkers were dead, the remaining ones were struggling to free themselves from air locks.
"Cedric, go and check what's happening in the hospital wing." Ever ordered and walked towards the Angelic army commander, Garuzo, who was explaining something to a platoon of soldiers.
As Ever walked closer to them, they stopped their conversation and bowed her.
"Garuzo, imprison all surviving blood drinkers. Take the destroyed ones to the laboratory." Ever ordered.
"My lady, all blood drinkers are our angels. There are soldiers, maids, workers and even the Water army commander's wife, Erana is among them." Garuzo explained.
"How many blood drinkers have survived?"
"Five; Marie Roosevelt, Erana Antoinette, two water soldiers and one unknown."
"Increase the protection of the Capital. I'll inform you later about what needs to be done after talking to Amota." Ever said and walked out of the hall.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone