The Fallen Vampire

"Do you think we're walking into a trap?"

Corey paused in the midst of his packing with an incredulous expression on his face.

"I… no. Why would you think that?"

Jordan tied her newly long hair back and pulled on a clean shirt. "I dunno, it just seems like the kind of thing that those two might try to pull. Teaching us to prepare for the unexpected or something like that."

Now that Corey had taken a moment to think about it, he realized that it sounded exactly like something his masters would do.

"S-So… We're probably going to die with this level of secrecy then."

"Probably."

"Well, I'm glad I was at least able to work up the courage to confess to you before it was time for us to kick the bucket, babe."

"What are you talking about I was the one to confess to you firs-"

"Shhh, that's not what I want everyone who reads my tombstone to know."

"Shut up!" Jordan laughed.

A sudden knock at the door drew the attention of the young couple- bringing their banter to a halt.

They didn't even have time to open the door on their own before Raymond came rushing in- followed by the young Himawari.

Two straight months of cultivating and living under Taira and Aveena's strict regimens had totally transformed everyone's bodies, but none more-so than theirs.

Himari previously looked a bit childish even though she was nineteen years old like everyone else.

She was taller, possessed a more adult-like demeanor and physique, and she had developed a rather serious case of resting bitch face.

But she was a beauty nonetheless.

Big Country on the other hand had been transformed into a real unit.

All of his excess fat had been transformed into muscle, he had grown to the tallest height of his life at 6'0, and his beard had grown thicker and more vibrant.

But the only change that he considered to be of any importance was that his request for a cowboy hat had been accepted by Inadu, and he now wore it with pride everyday.

"This the moment right here, folks. I'm gonna do it."

Himari: "He's gonna do it."

Jordan: "He's gonna do it?"

Corey: "Don't do it in my room…"

Raymond swatted the young man away as he sat on his bed.

"I've waited long enough. I'm going to ask Tiche out today."

"Awww." Jordan smiled.

Corey shook his head in denial. "She's gonna tell your ass no."

"Definitely." Himari nodded in agreement.

Jordan pouted a bit. "Come on, guys. We need to have his back here. He's going to need all of the help he can get."

'Why the hell did I even come in here…?'

There was a knock on the open door and Shakti stuck her head inside. "Why is it always you lot dragging along? Let's get a move on, our hour is almost up."

"Hey, Sister Shakti, I have a question." Himari raised her hand.

"Yes..?"

"How good do you think the chances are that Raymond here could successfully ask Tiche out on a date?"

"Date..?"

"Oh, um it's a thing you do when you're trying to get someone to fall in love with you."

Shakti paused.

The information seemed to take some additional time to get through her afro to her brain.

"....Pffft."

"What's funny?!"

Shakti waived her hand dismissively. "Stop joking around and just come outside with the others."

Once she left, the three of them had to stop Raymond from jumping out of the window head first into the end of his life.

-

After getting themselves changed and packed, the cultists made their way back to the meeting place where Aveena was waiting with the rest of her family.

Together, she and Taira led the entire cult outside on the peak of the mountain.

Once they were all gathered, Taira reached inside of his robe and pulled out a wooden toy.

Or at least it seemed like a toy.

Taira tossed the figurine up into the air high above his head.

"Shēngzhǎng."

A pulse of energy left the figurine and it suddenly ballooned in size.

Out of nowhere, a large warship appeared in the sky.

But instead of hitting the ground, it continued to float in the air like it was meant to sail on the clouds.

"Babe…?" Corey whispered in wonder without taking his eyes off the boat.

"Yea..?"

"I think I'm in love…"

"I'll kill you..."

Taira turned toward the group of stunned cultists and pointed straight up.

"Stop dawdling. Step aboard."

Those who could fly already helped those who couldn't reach the deck of the of the ship in under twenty seconds.

Taira pulled Inadu into his arms and prepared to go up and join them when his master suddenly spoke in his head again.

{Disciple. Who is that woman?}

The last individual on the mountaintop aside from Taira and his wives was the cult cook; Yem.

'She's a mermaid who prepares the cults meals. Haven't you seen her before?'

{…That woman… She is not of the sea folk.} Velreth insisted.

'What..?'

{She's another one. An Observer. She's hiding it very, very well, but I can see it. Her frequency and this world's don't match.}

Taira's blood nearly stopped flowing at that moment.

Velreth sensed Taira about to blow their cover, and he quickly put an end to it before it was too late. {Do not react, do not alert her, do not do anything, you damned fox!}

'You would have me sit here and allow a spy within my cult?'

{Calm down. You've had two observers visit you one after the other. That is absolutely not a coincidence.

Let her watch for now. And watch her just as closely. You need to figure out what they want with you.}

Yem walked up to Taira wearing a sheepish smile.

"Pardon me for burdening you… I'm not actually able to fly yet. Would you mind giving me a hand..?"

Before she could take even another step towards Taira, Lucia swept in and wrapped her arm around her shoulder.

"I don't mind giving you a hand, Yem-Yem. Let's have a nice, long chat on our way up too, shall we?"

Yem didn't even get the chance to refuse when Lucia suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and yanked her into the sky.

Inadu watched this entire back and forth with a sort of blank, unassuming look on her face that was actually rather cute.

"What was that all about..?" She asked.

Taira sprouted his wings and carried himself and his wife into the sky.

"…I have absolutely no idea, my love."