The sloshing water of the half-emptied pool, soldiers’ movements, and relieved voices that echoed around the college recreational area picked at Scarlet’s mind as she sat on the hard, concrete floor with the confident Lunar Hare girl she’d only met hours earlier looming over her.
Scarlet’s fingers twitched in her lap with the pressure tightening around her lungs while in the process of following Rachel’s assured words; if she didn’t know any better, she’d think her blood was pumping in her ears, but it was a figment of her imagination.
Just remain calm, she repeated to herself, eyes closed and throwing a prayer into the aether to anything that would listen to her internal pleas, hoping the voice that was so similar to her own wouldn’t return. Just please, help me not hurt anyone I’m not supposed to… Please, let me not be insane and a psychopath… It’s not my fault! Please, I don’t want to…
Shockingly, Rachel’s words held true as she swallowed the blood in her throat, having replaced her saliva and any other liquid function of her body; her breathing evened out while drifting into a dark abyss to the pillar-like platform she’d described—at least, that was what the Lunar Hare had told her.
The voices of the soldiers bouncing off the walls and happy words exchanged between friends faded with a crack of thunder in a place so far distant she wasn’t sure if it was real; Scarlet could hardly breathe as she strained her ears, searching the emptiness that had embraced her consciousness.
It was challenging to open her heavy eyes, and the only thing that met them were flashes of lightning that guided her path through the darkness in her freefall through a barren wasteland of ominous, swirling clouds that had veiled her passage into—she didn’t know—wherever she fell, it was not the place she’d been told.
In the eternal atmospheric storm, Scarlet saw images in the occasional bolts that illuminated the dark mist, yet what she saw wasn’t the chilling rain that surely followed her; it came at first in still images before the voices echoed through an expansive space to reach her—her own voice—and time-frozen, the nervous face of Rachel before it had swiftly been replaced by the abyss.
“I understand… Hehe. I get it… I’m the markings of the terrified’s fears… Life’s twilight that eclipses champions slain.”
Brow furrowing, Scarlet swallowed the lump in her throat while searching the void for what she was talking about, but the flashes skipped between scenes with each slow beat of her practically lifeless heart.
What am I talking about… Wait, Rachel, that’s… that’s not me? I’m not saying that…
A shiver ran down her spine as the clouds parted, revealing a limitless sea of turbulent ruby waters, seemingly enshrined by the gentle thunderstorm overshadowing it. Her gaze wandered, overwhelmed with the soft memorable piano and organ sounds her parents enjoyed that were concomitant with her heavenly descent into this inner world she’d entered, welcoming her home.
A familiar pulse of a horror-based classical show’s slow, haunting ambiance bubbled up from somewhere deep within her, accompanied by the resonance of falling rain.
The crimson veil falling in the moderate breeze painted her naked body, and, rather than sound, she felt the cries of souls had joined her in this eerie dance between life and death, yet the strangest part was that it wasn’t frightening but welcoming.
Eyes widening as clarity swept away her foggy mind, she discovered not rain from the supernatural blanket overhead but petals—souls were with her now—the sand-like toads, wrapped in roses to be swallowed by the current below, and Scarlet’s mysterious voice caressed her ear.
“We finally meet… No matter what you dream, beware of what you say, for the cogwheel has burst out of place. Let the scent of poisonous flowers tempt you away; sweet deceit and pure red roses do await. Welcomed not by the light, nor the night, you became the Bringer of Twilight.”
Ocean waves enveloped her as Scarlet entered the boundless waters, the haunting storm above dampened but always near with the pattering of liquid against hard surfaces; she sank into the crimson abyss, lured by something that had hooked her soul to bring her into a cold embrace.
Her mind flitted in and out of consciousness in the tide; the scenes of battle flitted across her thoughts as she fought the powerful alien creatures that had invaded in the last few minutes of twilight—or was it someone else wearing her skin? Darkness and light were in union overhead, drawing her awe.
Her blood brought their spirits in, wrapped them ever so carefully in maroon petals to enter the necropolis below the ocean’s embrace; a place not her own.
Without warning, the world opened up—it was twilight—yet not in the place she’d expected to be; immobilized, her confusion dissipated at the horror that was the last place on Earth she wanted to be—Scarlet unwillingly turned the wheel to bring the car into her driveway—she was home.
Thunder rumbled from the cloudless heavens overhead, somber music accompanying the invisible rain that peppered her body as Scarlet exited the vehicle, petrified thoughts watching yesterday’s events unfold like a black and white movie.
Navigating around the vehicles that littered the front, Scarlet knew what she would find inside. Neighbors, family friends, and associates of her parents that she’d known much of her life were preparing for their weekly D&D campaign—of course, she knew the truth now—this was the last night she’d ever see her father again.
The trepidation she should have felt was blown away like the gentle breeze that drew back her curled hair as Scarlet came to the closed door, hearing laughter and merry voices within. Everything had been so typical the previous day; her eccentric, wealthy parents had nothing better to do than engage in their decades-old roleplay.
Opening the door, Scarlet remembered her feelings of frustration and annoyance when seeing the dozens upon dozens of men and women in her large house.
Her father had won the lottery shortly after marrying her mother, and ever since then, due to rather successful investments in stocks and companies, they hadn’t worried about money their entire lives. Yet, her parents weren’t your typical rich folk, nor had she lived the average manner the elites and privileged basked in… Far from it.
They had traveled the world throughout Scarlet’s life, but instead of fancy hotels, extravagant restaurants, or popular tourist places, they went to the most remote, obscure areas known to man that held ancient significance to civilizations long dead. They collected goods and funded expeditions—their house was practically a museum—all to facilitate their obsession for these particular meetings.
Scarlet forced a smile and waved at Kyle and Katie—husband and wife—who lived nearby. They’d brought Veronica, their daughter, and the blonde offered an enthusiastic wave and greeting; ever since she could remember, her mother had tried to get her to befriend her weird group’s kids, which only made her want to push away further.
To her, there was nothing worse than talking about her parents’ obsession—to them, passion—somehow, every new neighbor they got over the years had been pulled into her their D&D Scarlet Hand roleplay. Typically, they were totally normal people, but on nights like this, they were stealing her hairbrush and waving it around like some kind of holy item while performing rituals.
It was harmless and mostly annoying—minus some of the damage to her personal products that her mother stole over the years—but Scarlet was convinced her parents had cursed her, at least socially.
Every friend she got over the years was moved away by their parents or fell out of touch six months after meeting them for random and sometimes ridiculous reasons; it was mean to say, but friends weren’t her thing now after leaving school.
Oddly, her parents hadn’t been helicoptering over her to jump into college or anything else; it wasn’t like she needed money, but Scarlet wanted to get away. The problem was finding out what it was she wanted to do; when she was constantly being put on a plane and flown around the world, there wasn’t much time to settle down and think about her future.
Heading for the large stairs to reach the 3rd floor, Scarlet grimaced as her mother grinned upon seeing her and hurried over; she had her brush again—hair was a big ritual thing, and apparently, a ‘virgin’s’ was needed.
How they knew, she couldn’t guess, but it wasn’t like she had many options in meeting guys due to the very busy lives they had, and she’d even been homeschooled during various points in her life when staying in other countries.
The dull noise of the storm rumbled, and the melancholy music played in the background as if mocking her while her slightly taller mother bustled over to engage her. Scarlet crossed her arms, trying to remain neutral as her dad talked excitedly to the others.
“Hey, Mom… The big night you’ve been talking about?”
“It’s tonight! Oh, how was the little reunion Mr. Jenson set up for your schoolmates; did you have a fun time?” she brightly asked, brown eyes shining as she practically bounced up and down, waiting to talk about her own event.
Scarlet scratched her shoulder-length hair with a short shrug. “Meh. It was whatever… I swear you had a hand in it since the theme was vampire related. You just wanted me out of the house so you could get all your stuff put in the basement,” she mumbled, rolling her eyes and getting to the meat of what she wanted to talk about as to not drag it out. “Who is it this time, the holy apostle of Scarlet, Revilla?”
Her father chuckled while moving to join them, and, surreally, Scarlet’s vision swapped to him, seeing the annoyed crease in her own lips and unfriendly posture from a much taller vantage point than she was accustomed to.
“I get you’re not into this stuff, Sweetie, but tonight… tonight it happens—everything will change—it’s different now!”
At the time, Scarlet had no clue what her parents’ fervent belief meant to them as she saw herself begrudgingly entertaining their bubbling anticipation for a short time before waving them off and heading upstairs to finish the sixth season of a drama she’d been watching recently; their trips and activity had increased ten-fold since she’d graduated the previous year.
The voices around them dulled for the music and storm’s presence, and, now from her father’s eyes, Scarlet was taken into the basement, where candles had been lit; the large, open space was almost entirely clear of furnishings, excluding a coffin in the center.
Scarlet hadn’t been down here for a long time—it was her parents’ place—and all of the walls had been knocked down, only leaving the mansion’s support beams; her parents’ arts and crafts project had been under development since she’d been eight years old.
Thirty cultists descended with her parents in the dimly lit area, singing an eerie song that chilled her marrow as she joined them from her father’s lips.
The ominous piano accompanied them while spreading out to various points in the circle; thousands of ingredients, artifacts, fake organs, and her own personal items littered the occult morphemes drawn in red paint—of course, she knew better now what the sticky, wet runes and body tissues were.
“A long way down to the place I found, a lurking silhouette waiting below;
A dark sun, hollowed by the fade—that debt you live to repay;
You see the blackness stare, promising to spare the chosen.
Born of graves and left below, painted ashes, painted snow;
When the dark awakens, fires of our last hopes are burning low;
our souls will char; flicker to and fro—afraid to linger and to go.
Until her scythe comes to take us home;
A pact embraced, a road unsought;
In blood red roses lay—she became the Bringer of Twilight.
A black heart’s redemption borne by brigand’s blood;
Vengeance is her only ward—beware the blood-red rose’s thorn;
For it will end with Scarlet.
The darkest night, the brightest light, history tainted by the twilight;
Born of graves, left below;
No time for rest, nowhere to go.
A storm was loosed, a foul wretch bound with tear-stained eyes;
A nightmare born between dark and light, she became the blight;
The Maiden of Death cannot tend to her fields, and silence falls on eternities end.
Pricked by blood, her seed sown to spread flowers true;
She is exposed; she is undone;
No more colors; her wrath is known.
Shackled in pain forevermore;
Heaven or Hell, the red sea toils…
To where do you land in the spaces between?”
Veronica hugged her mom and dad. In horror, Scarlet saw her mother open the coffin with a joyous nod at the girl’s parents, and Veronica entered it; everyone was crying around them, laughing at how long they’d waited for this moment and blessed the teenage girl was for being chosen—she would be the one to set Scarlet free—to set her free.
The storm increased with the eerie music as the sky outside fractured, and the coffin was closed—a noticeable change took place in the room that shook Scarlet to her core—she hadn’t been here for this ritual.
Fur sprouted from some of the members’ skin, others illuminated with aura or became stunningly beautiful—they were transforming like Anthony and Rachel—all of them, including her parents.
Every symbol and obscure language written throughout the entire basement brightened, items rising into the air as each person spoke a different tongue in unison, performing their individual part in the complex ceremony.
The artifacts lit with fire while hovering in the air, and Scarlet now understood everything her parents had done throughout the years; they’d been training and gathering what was needed for this colossal occult moment. They didn’t cause it—they had known of its coming and used The Oscillation for their own ends.
All of the blood plastering the walls, ceiling, and floor collected into a scythe in her mother’s hands, glowing red irises fixated on the casket with the teenage girl she’d known most of her life; the blade split it down the center as shadows brought her panicked past self to her parents, seeking help after her change, only to be met by the carnage and evil practice.
Scarlet could only watch from her father’s elated eyes as she collapsed in shock; Veronica’s shimmering blood pooled from the destroyed coffin, imbued by whatever dark magic they’d cast to sink into her skin. She remembered the feeling of being trapped in a box, squeezed from all sides as it melded with her body—suffocated every drop of liquid from her being—and not until now did she know the horrifying truth.
Veronica’s blood…
“Half correct,” her mother whispered, bright crimson irises lowering to appraise her.
She blinked, and she was now collapsed on the ground, hyperventilating from the smells, terrifying scenes, and feelings tainting her confused mind.
Her blood lashed out like pikes to skewer every stranger around her—at least, she’d thought they were strangers at the time—only to look up to find their dead smiles staring down at her as if this was the crowning moment of their lives.
Her father’s blood flowed out to join the crimson tide cycling around the room, dozens of spears holding him high overhead while her mother hummed and shifted to a more curious posture, dropping the crystal ruby weapon to the floor while casually moving to examine the horrific event.
“It is… unfortunate that this is how we must meet, Scarlet.”
Shakily getting to her feet, thunder cracked, revealing her return to Rachel before the bolts showed her the bloody sea she was drowning in; she could practically sense the discontent the Lunar Hare had upon seeing her state from the slaughter before the images were taken away.
“You… You made them think you’re me; you took over my body?!”
“Hmm. Half correct again,” the monster in the guise of her mother chuckled, shifting her arm to her back and clasping her elbow. “Allow me to introduce myself—I am not Scarlet—as you’ve called me… I am Twilight.”
Stopping beside her, the imposter brought her attention to the hole in her mother’s lower side, where a spear remained; the building overhead faded to show the failing light.
“This crude ritual has bound our body and soul… An avatar of sorts for my essence. Mmh. The music and sound,” she whispered as if savoring the finest of wines. “It has been so long since I have tasted the rhapsody of souls…”
Stumbling to her feet, Scarlet hugged herself; half the world melded between her memories and the bloody soup she sank into. “What am I supposed to do?”
Her mother faded to be replaced by Veronica, the grinning blonde flashing her teeth while holding up a chain that went into the maroon void. “You are in control now, Scarlet… It’s so much different than what my parents told me! Rachel seems like a nice friend.”
“Veronica?” Scarlet mumbled, utterly confused if this was Twilight again or the girl who she’d tried to dodge most of her life. “Who are you?”
“Hehe. I don’t know, to be honest,” she giggled, glancing around the abyss they were in. “It’s… endless. I kind of got lost, but I saved you! I had to after seeing the truth. Oh, and I would be careful who you trust about this… Hmm?”
Scarlet’s own voice pressed in around them like melting butter as the music escalated with new instruments joining the haunting hum. “Such a magical symphony…”
Veronica forced a grin and rubbed the back of her neck. “Hehe. I guess she’s a sleep talker—or is that me—umm… Whatever. Anyway! I’m here for you, so don’t worry about any of the skills stuff Rachel was talking about; that’s, eh-heh, kind of out of your reach right now with all the chains and shackles.”
Scarlet shivered, hugging herself in the chilling blood as something colossal shifted in the depths below the ruby sea; its scale was beyond words as she was pulled out of the waters, drawn through a swirling maelstrom and into the stormy heavens.
The blonde’s parting words held in her rousing mind as the world returned and the nightmare faded with the haunting yet beautiful ambiance.
“I know we weren’t really friends, and I kind of annoyed you—ugh, I was so cringy—but I’ll be here helping you! Heh. I don’t know what else to do, if I’m being honest. Good luck!”
* * *
Rachel’s ears twitched as thousands of voices—and even more sounds—filtered through her brain in an unintelligible mess before gradually filtering away to a more manageable level. A groan left her lips as her sore muscles punched her in the gut, reminding her that she’d pushed her body past the absolute limit the previous night.
Cracking open an eye, she was met by darkness, yet her Feats allowed her to penetrate the veil, and the first thing she saw was the missing bodies. Selvaria and Anthony were gone, leaving Scarlet and her alone; the vespertine reaper’s chest was practically still, heart barely beating in a rhythm that barely broke a beat a minute.
Tucking in a leg to lean against it on the cot, Rachel breathed a few times, closing her eyes while listening to what had changed since she’d been out; she heard talk amongst the soldiers and officers that a helicopter had landed not too long ago outside.
Anthony had been escorted to the hospital where his fiancé was staying with a few of their green beret guard detail while Selvaria went to find her mother; the leviathan had been separated from her shortly before The Oscillation due to some rather rude fellows she didn’t get into detail on.
Lying back on the stiff bed, Rachel tried to ignore the pain while maintaining her surveillance for the next several minutes; she had to know what she was walking into after her confession to the military.
Mateo appeared to be outside with the majority of his men, getting what little R&R they could near their room; from the conversation with his men, it was certain something had changed since she’d been asleep—the helicopter was there for her.
Her gaze shifted to Scarlet as she stirred, approximately fifteen minutes after she’d awoken; was it a coincidence? Her dream regarding the goddesses had been playing on repeat in her mind as she pondered her current position.
Rachel grinned, adding a soft, cheery tone as the girl groaned and forced herself up, rubbing her forehead. “Feeling better after some blood, I hope. You took quite the beating before passing out; to be honest, I would be dead three times over with the gashes you—Scarlet?”
The girl’s face blanched as she bent over and rasped, coughing and holding her throat; black blood sprayed across the carpet and a nearby chair.
“Scarlet, what’s happening?!”
Fighting past the pain, she got up to check on the girl as the men outside rushed in.
“What’s going on?” Mateo growled, his soldiers ready for action as they scanned for danger before spotting the black liquid the girl was choking up; one of his men made a cross sign on his chest. “Is that…”
“I—I’m fine… Ack! I’m just… give me a second,” she cried, crimson streams leaking out of her eyes before returning to her body; her eyes were flickering between red and blue as she clutched at her chest, breathing heavily. “I’m just—I had a nightmare. Can… can you give me a minute w-with Rachel, guys? Please!”
Mateo worked around his jaw, uncertain gaze shifting to her, and Rachel nodded, telling him she’d be okay while dropping down with a grunt beside her to rub the girl’s back.
“Just take your time,” she urged. “We’ll be fine, Lieutenant; I get that I’m supposed to leave as soon as I wake up, but can we have some time?”
“Leave?!” Scarlet’s shifting eyes settled on blue. “Why—what about me?!”
Rachel forced a smile at the officer for answers since she didn’t have any.
“Mmgm.” He scratched his temple and jabbed his thumb for his men to leave. “So far as I’ve been told, we’ll be transporting Scarlet to the hospital Anthony is currently at, where a psychiatrist is being brought in to speak to all the Mythickin and Legendkin to further gauge your mental health…
“First, you’ll be going to Homestead Air Reserve Base, five miles south of here. The report Lt. Thompson sent in was flagged; I don’t know who you’ll be meeting, but he’s been in communication with him through a secure message board for about four hours.
“After whatever happens at the base, I’m assuming you’ll be returning to our custody; at least, that’s our orders. I’m told your parents were found and will be brought to the location, as well, where there’s a Mythickin unicorn that’s been making… waves, I’ll say.”
Rachel’s mind came to a screeching halt. Unicorn… My vision of Cerridwen was real.
Scarlet’s frightened eyes went to her as Rachel’s tail stiffened and her ears rose. “What is it?”
“I… promise I won’t leave you, Scarlet. Umm, can you get permission for her to join me?”
The girl’s focus snapped to Mateo as he sighed and rubbed his nose. “I’ll… see what I can do; it might be a few minutes since it has to go up who knows how many levels.”
“It gives us time to chat,” Rachel chirped, happy and somewhat terrified that she’d be able to talk to her parents soon; just recalling her mother’s tone when telling her father they would be driving to Miami put shivers up her ears. “Thanks so much, Mateo.”
“Yeah… well, I’m figuring it out as I go, too,” he mumbled, closing the door on his way out and leaving them alone.
Settling in next to the vespertine reaper, Rachel’s smile fell. “What’s wrong, Scarlet? Why are you vomiting black blood—is it contagious?” repeating what some of the soldiers outside were questioning.
Scarlet shrugged, hugging herself and tucking in a bit. “Rachel… I-I didn’t kill those toad monsters.”
“Huh?” Head tilting to the left, Rachel tried to relax her tail. “So… that was Scarlet that was talking to us about… understanding things?”
“Maybe,” she mumbled, eyes shifting away as she shivered. “I think… part of it was actually a girl named Veronica—the girl that was sacrificed in my parents’ ritual—I know it’s messed up… I’m messed up. I don’t know what’s Veronica, Twilight, or me—it’s all so confusing,” she whimpered, tight fingers rising to grip her head. “I’m so messed up inside!”
“Hey, hey,” Rachel soothed, pulling away one of her hands to squeeze it and refocus her. “Talk to me; tell me about this Veronica girl and everything—okay? I’m here to help you get through this because we’re all in this together, right? Anthony, Sevlaria, Zoe, you, and me. We’re all trying to come to terms with everything. You’re not alone. Okay?”
“Mmgm… Okay… Where should I start—it’s so horrible—all of it is a total nightmare!”
“Wherever you want—I’m listening, and I won’t abandon you… okay?” she said, not wholly committed to the idea, and figuring the girl could sense it but also knew she was trying.
Rachel sucked in her lower lip as Scarlet began, telling her life story with her parents’ obsession with this Scarlet apostle called Revilla, the entity inside her named Twilight, and the sacrifice of a girl Scarlet had known her entire life, now possibly trapped inside her body, guarding Twilight’s slumber.
Although, to Rachel, it sounded more like the ritual had been more to seal Twilight and limit her power than set her free. One thing was for certain, the Scarlet Hand was far more than some made-up cult; they had real power, and now she and her entire family was on their radar.
Getting to her feet as Mateo gave them the green light to head to the helicopter, Rachel breathed out a serious puff of air, rubbing Scarlet’s hand to tell her everything would be okay.
Well… isn’t this getting a little too complicated; goddesses, colorful rabbit guides, a world tree, dreams, aliens, game systems, dimensional worlds, nightmares, well-connected secret cults, and me losing my damn muscles and growing a tail out my ass because of what… suppressed feelings? I need stronger friends in the government if I’m going to survive this. Let’s just hope my story hits the right people.
The sloshing water of the half-emptied pool, soldiers’ movements, and relieved voices that echoed around the college recreational area picked at Scarlet’s mind as she sat on the hard, concrete floor with the confident Lunar Hare girl she’d only met hours earlier looming over her.
Scarlet’s fingers twitched in her lap with the pressure tightening around her lungs while in the process of following Rachel’s assured words; if she didn’t know any better, she’d think her blood was pumping in her ears, but it was a figment of her imagination.
Just remain calm, she repeated to herself, eyes closed and throwing a prayer into the aether to anything that would listen to her internal pleas, hoping the voice that was so similar to her own wouldn’t return. Just please, help me not hurt anyone I’m not supposed to… Please, let me not be insane and a psychopath… It’s not my fault! Please, I don’t want to…
Shockingly, Rachel’s words held true as she swallowed the blood in her throat, having replaced her saliva and any other liquid function of her body; her breathing evened out while drifting into a dark abyss to the pillar-like platform she’d described—at least, that was what the Lunar Hare had told her.
The voices of the soldiers bouncing off the walls and happy words exchanged between friends faded with a crack of thunder in a place so far distant she wasn’t sure if it was real; Scarlet could hardly breathe as she strained her ears, searching the emptiness that had embraced her consciousness.
It was challenging to open her heavy eyes, and the only thing that met them were flashes of lightning that guided her path through the darkness in her freefall through a barren wasteland of ominous, swirling clouds that had veiled her passage into—she didn’t know—wherever she fell, it was not the place she’d been told.
In the eternal atmospheric storm, Scarlet saw images in the occasional bolts that illuminated the dark mist, yet what she saw wasn’t the chilling rain that surely followed her; it came at first in still images before the voices echoed through an expansive space to reach her—her own voice—and time-frozen, the nervous face of Rachel before it had swiftly been replaced by the abyss.
“I understand… Hehe. I get it… I’m the markings of the terrified’s fears… Life’s twilight that eclipses champions slain.”
Brow furrowing, Scarlet swallowed the lump in her throat while searching the void for what she was talking about, but the flashes skipped between scenes with each slow beat of her practically lifeless heart.
What am I talking about… Wait, Rachel, that’s… that’s not me? I’m not saying that…
A shiver ran down her spine as the clouds parted, revealing a limitless sea of turbulent ruby waters, seemingly enshrined by the gentle thunderstorm overshadowing it. Her gaze wandered, overwhelmed with the soft memorable piano and organ sounds her parents enjoyed that were concomitant with her heavenly descent into this inner world she’d entered, welcoming her home.
A familiar pulse of a horror-based classical show’s slow, haunting ambiance bubbled up from somewhere deep within her, accompanied by the resonance of falling rain.
The crimson veil falling in the moderate breeze painted her naked body, and, rather than sound, she felt the cries of souls had joined her in this eerie dance between life and death, yet the strangest part was that it wasn’t frightening but welcoming.
Eyes widening as clarity swept away her foggy mind, she discovered not rain from the supernatural blanket overhead but petals—souls were with her now—the sand-like toads, wrapped in roses to be swallowed by the current below, and Scarlet’s mysterious voice caressed her ear.
“We finally meet… No matter what you dream, beware of what you say, for the cogwheel has burst out of place. Let the scent of poisonous flowers tempt you away; sweet deceit and pure red roses do await. Welcomed not by the light, nor the night, you became the Bringer of Twilight.”
Ocean waves enveloped her as Scarlet entered the boundless waters, the haunting storm above dampened but always near with the pattering of liquid against hard surfaces; she sank into the crimson abyss, lured by something that had hooked her soul to bring her into a cold embrace.
Her mind flitted in and out of consciousness in the tide; the scenes of battle flitted across her thoughts as she fought the powerful alien creatures that had invaded in the last few minutes of twilight—or was it someone else wearing her skin? Darkness and light were in union overhead, drawing her awe.
Her blood brought their spirits in, wrapped them ever so carefully in maroon petals to enter the necropolis below the ocean’s embrace; a place not her own.
Without warning, the world opened up—it was twilight—yet not in the place she’d expected to be; immobilized, her confusion dissipated at the horror that was the last place on Earth she wanted to be—Scarlet unwillingly turned the wheel to bring the car into her driveway—she was home.
Thunder rumbled from the cloudless heavens overhead, somber music accompanying the invisible rain that peppered her body as Scarlet exited the vehicle, petrified thoughts watching yesterday’s events unfold like a black and white movie.
Navigating around the vehicles that littered the front, Scarlet knew what she would find inside. Neighbors, family friends, and associates of her parents that she’d known much of her life were preparing for their weekly D&D campaign—of course, she knew the truth now—this was the last night she’d ever see her father again.
The trepidation she should have felt was blown away like the gentle breeze that drew back her curled hair as Scarlet came to the closed door, hearing laughter and merry voices within. Everything had been so typical the previous day; her eccentric, wealthy parents had nothing better to do than engage in their decades-old roleplay.
Opening the door, Scarlet remembered her feelings of frustration and annoyance when seeing the dozens upon dozens of men and women in her large house.
Her father had won the lottery shortly after marrying her mother, and ever since then, due to rather successful investments in stocks and companies, they hadn’t worried about money their entire lives. Yet, her parents weren’t your typical rich folk, nor had she lived the average manner the elites and privileged basked in… Far from it.
They had traveled the world throughout Scarlet’s life, but instead of fancy hotels, extravagant restaurants, or popular tourist places, they went to the most remote, obscure areas known to man that held ancient significance to civilizations long dead. They collected goods and funded expeditions—their house was practically a museum—all to facilitate their obsession for these particular meetings.
Scarlet forced a smile and waved at Kyle and Katie—husband and wife—who lived nearby. They’d brought Veronica, their daughter, and the blonde offered an enthusiastic wave and greeting; ever since she could remember, her mother had tried to get her to befriend her weird group’s kids, which only made her want to push away further.
To her, there was nothing worse than talking about her parents’ obsession—to them, passion—somehow, every new neighbor they got over the years had been pulled into her their D&D Scarlet Hand roleplay. Typically, they were totally normal people, but on nights like this, they were stealing her hairbrush and waving it around like some kind of holy item while performing rituals.
It was harmless and mostly annoying—minus some of the damage to her personal products that her mother stole over the years—but Scarlet was convinced her parents had cursed her, at least socially.
Every friend she got over the years was moved away by their parents or fell out of touch six months after meeting them for random and sometimes ridiculous reasons; it was mean to say, but friends weren’t her thing now after leaving school.
Oddly, her parents hadn’t been helicoptering over her to jump into college or anything else; it wasn’t like she needed money, but Scarlet wanted to get away. The problem was finding out what it was she wanted to do; when she was constantly being put on a plane and flown around the world, there wasn’t much time to settle down and think about her future.
Heading for the large stairs to reach the 3rd floor, Scarlet grimaced as her mother grinned upon seeing her and hurried over; she had her brush again—hair was a big ritual thing, and apparently, a ‘virgin’s’ was needed.
How they knew, she couldn’t guess, but it wasn’t like she had many options in meeting guys due to the very busy lives they had, and she’d even been homeschooled during various points in her life when staying in other countries.
The dull noise of the storm rumbled, and the melancholy music played in the background as if mocking her while her slightly taller mother bustled over to engage her. Scarlet crossed her arms, trying to remain neutral as her dad talked excitedly to the others.
“Hey, Mom… The big night you’ve been talking about?”
“It’s tonight! Oh, how was the little reunion Mr. Jenson set up for your schoolmates; did you have a fun time?” she brightly asked, brown eyes shining as she practically bounced up and down, waiting to talk about her own event.
Scarlet scratched her shoulder-length hair with a short shrug. “Meh. It was whatever… I swear you had a hand in it since the theme was vampire related. You just wanted me out of the house so you could get all your stuff put in the basement,” she mumbled, rolling her eyes and getting to the meat of what she wanted to talk about as to not drag it out. “Who is it this time, the holy apostle of Scarlet, Revilla?”
Her father chuckled while moving to join them, and, surreally, Scarlet’s vision swapped to him, seeing the annoyed crease in her own lips and unfriendly posture from a much taller vantage point than she was accustomed to.
“I get you’re not into this stuff, Sweetie, but tonight… tonight it happens—everything will change—it’s different now!”
At the time, Scarlet had no clue what her parents’ fervent belief meant to them as she saw herself begrudgingly entertaining their bubbling anticipation for a short time before waving them off and heading upstairs to finish the sixth season of a drama she’d been watching recently; their trips and activity had increased ten-fold since she’d graduated the previous year.
The voices around them dulled for the music and storm’s presence, and, now from her father’s eyes, Scarlet was taken into the basement, where candles had been lit; the large, open space was almost entirely clear of furnishings, excluding a coffin in the center.
Scarlet hadn’t been down here for a long time—it was her parents’ place—and all of the walls had been knocked down, only leaving the mansion’s support beams; her parents’ arts and crafts project had been under development since she’d been eight years old.
Thirty cultists descended with her parents in the dimly lit area, singing an eerie song that chilled her marrow as she joined them from her father’s lips.
The ominous piano accompanied them while spreading out to various points in the circle; thousands of ingredients, artifacts, fake organs, and her own personal items littered the occult morphemes drawn in red paint—of course, she knew better now what the sticky, wet runes and body tissues were.
“A long way down to the place I found, a lurking silhouette waiting below;
A dark sun, hollowed by the fade—that debt you live to repay;
You see the blackness stare, promising to spare the chosen.
Born of graves and left below, painted ashes, painted snow;
When the dark awakens, fires of our last hopes are burning low;
our souls will char; flicker to and fro—afraid to linger and to go.
Until her scythe comes to take us home;
A pact embraced, a road unsought;
In blood red roses lay—she became the Bringer of Twilight.
A black heart’s redemption borne by brigand’s blood;
Vengeance is her only ward—beware the blood-red rose’s thorn;
For it will end with Scarlet.
The darkest night, the brightest light, history tainted by the twilight;
Born of graves, left below;
No time for rest, nowhere to go.
A storm was loosed, a foul wretch bound with tear-stained eyes;
A nightmare born between dark and light, she became the blight;
The Maiden of Death cannot tend to her fields, and silence falls on eternities end.
Pricked by blood, her seed sown to spread flowers true;
She is exposed; she is undone;
No more colors; her wrath is known.
Shackled in pain forevermore;
Heaven or Hell, the red sea toils…
To where do you land in the spaces between?”
Veronica hugged her mom and dad. In horror, Scarlet saw her mother open the coffin with a joyous nod at the girl’s parents, and Veronica entered it; everyone was crying around them, laughing at how long they’d waited for this moment and blessed the teenage girl was for being chosen—she would be the one to set Scarlet free—to set her free.
The storm increased with the eerie music as the sky outside fractured, and the coffin was closed—a noticeable change took place in the room that shook Scarlet to her core—she hadn’t been here for this ritual.
Fur sprouted from some of the members’ skin, others illuminated with aura or became stunningly beautiful—they were transforming like Anthony and Rachel—all of them, including her parents.
Every symbol and obscure language written throughout the entire basement brightened, items rising into the air as each person spoke a different tongue in unison, performing their individual part in the complex ceremony.
The artifacts lit with fire while hovering in the air, and Scarlet now understood everything her parents had done throughout the years; they’d been training and gathering what was needed for this colossal occult moment. They didn’t cause it—they had known of its coming and used The Oscillation for their own ends.
All of the blood plastering the walls, ceiling, and floor collected into a scythe in her mother’s hands, glowing red irises fixated on the casket with the teenage girl she’d known most of her life; the blade split it down the center as shadows brought her panicked past self to her parents, seeking help after her change, only to be met by the carnage and evil practice.
Scarlet could only watch from her father’s elated eyes as she collapsed in shock; Veronica’s shimmering blood pooled from the destroyed coffin, imbued by whatever dark magic they’d cast to sink into her skin. She remembered the feeling of being trapped in a box, squeezed from all sides as it melded with her body—suffocated every drop of liquid from her being—and not until now did she know the horrifying truth.
Veronica’s blood…
“Half correct,” her mother whispered, bright crimson irises lowering to appraise her.
She blinked, and she was now collapsed on the ground, hyperventilating from the smells, terrifying scenes, and feelings tainting her confused mind.
Her blood lashed out like pikes to skewer every stranger around her—at least, she’d thought they were strangers at the time—only to look up to find their dead smiles staring down at her as if this was the crowning moment of their lives.
Her father’s blood flowed out to join the crimson tide cycling around the room, dozens of spears holding him high overhead while her mother hummed and shifted to a more curious posture, dropping the crystal ruby weapon to the floor while casually moving to examine the horrific event.
“It is… unfortunate that this is how we must meet, Scarlet.”
Shakily getting to her feet, thunder cracked, revealing her return to Rachel before the bolts showed her the bloody sea she was drowning in; she could practically sense the discontent the Lunar Hare had upon seeing her state from the slaughter before the images were taken away.
“You… You made them think you’re me; you took over my body?!”
“Hmm. Half correct again,” the monster in the guise of her mother chuckled, shifting her arm to her back and clasping her elbow. “Allow me to introduce myself—I am not Scarlet—as you’ve called me… I am Twilight.”
Stopping beside her, the imposter brought her attention to the hole in her mother’s lower side, where a spear remained; the building overhead faded to show the failing light.
“This crude ritual has bound our body and soul… An avatar of sorts for my essence. Mmh. The music and sound,” she whispered as if savoring the finest of wines. “It has been so long since I have tasted the rhapsody of souls…”
Stumbling to her feet, Scarlet hugged herself; half the world melded between her memories and the bloody soup she sank into. “What am I supposed to do?”
Her mother faded to be replaced by Veronica, the grinning blonde flashing her teeth while holding up a chain that went into the maroon void. “You are in control now, Scarlet… It’s so much different than what my parents told me! Rachel seems like a nice friend.”
“Veronica?” Scarlet mumbled, utterly confused if this was Twilight again or the girl who she’d tried to dodge most of her life. “Who are you?”
“Hehe. I don’t know, to be honest,” she giggled, glancing around the abyss they were in. “It’s… endless. I kind of got lost, but I saved you! I had to after seeing the truth. Oh, and I would be careful who you trust about this… Hmm?”
Scarlet’s own voice pressed in around them like melting butter as the music escalated with new instruments joining the haunting hum. “Such a magical symphony…”
Veronica forced a grin and rubbed the back of her neck. “Hehe. I guess she’s a sleep talker—or is that me—umm… Whatever. Anyway! I’m here for you, so don’t worry about any of the skills stuff Rachel was talking about; that’s, eh-heh, kind of out of your reach right now with all the chains and shackles.”
Scarlet shivered, hugging herself in the chilling blood as something colossal shifted in the depths below the ruby sea; its scale was beyond words as she was pulled out of the waters, drawn through a swirling maelstrom and into the stormy heavens.
The blonde’s parting words held in her rousing mind as the world returned and the nightmare faded with the haunting yet beautiful ambiance.
“I know we weren’t really friends, and I kind of annoyed you—ugh, I was so cringy—but I’ll be here helping you! Heh. I don’t know what else to do, if I’m being honest. Good luck!”
* * *
Rachel’s ears twitched as thousands of voices—and even more sounds—filtered through her brain in an unintelligible mess before gradually filtering away to a more manageable level. A groan left her lips as her sore muscles punched her in the gut, reminding her that she’d pushed her body past the absolute limit the previous night.
Cracking open an eye, she was met by darkness, yet her Feats allowed her to penetrate the veil, and the first thing she saw was the missing bodies. Selvaria and Anthony were gone, leaving Scarlet and her alone; the vespertine reaper’s chest was practically still, heart barely beating in a rhythm that barely broke a beat a minute.
Tucking in a leg to lean against it on the cot, Rachel breathed a few times, closing her eyes while listening to what had changed since she’d been out; she heard talk amongst the soldiers and officers that a helicopter had landed not too long ago outside.
Anthony had been escorted to the hospital where his fiancé was staying with a few of their green beret guard detail while Selvaria went to find her mother; the leviathan had been separated from her shortly before The Oscillation due to some rather rude fellows she didn’t get into detail on.
Lying back on the stiff bed, Rachel tried to ignore the pain while maintaining her surveillance for the next several minutes; she had to know what she was walking into after her confession to the military.
Mateo appeared to be outside with the majority of his men, getting what little R&R they could near their room; from the conversation with his men, it was certain something had changed since she’d been asleep—the helicopter was there for her.
Her gaze shifted to Scarlet as she stirred, approximately fifteen minutes after she’d awoken; was it a coincidence? Her dream regarding the goddesses had been playing on repeat in her mind as she pondered her current position.
Rachel grinned, adding a soft, cheery tone as the girl groaned and forced herself up, rubbing her forehead. “Feeling better after some blood, I hope. You took quite the beating before passing out; to be honest, I would be dead three times over with the gashes you—Scarlet?”
The girl’s face blanched as she bent over and rasped, coughing and holding her throat; black blood sprayed across the carpet and a nearby chair.
“Scarlet, what’s happening?!”
Fighting past the pain, she got up to check on the girl as the men outside rushed in.
“What’s going on?” Mateo growled, his soldiers ready for action as they scanned for danger before spotting the black liquid the girl was choking up; one of his men made a cross sign on his chest. “Is that…”
“I—I’m fine… Ack! I’m just… give me a second,” she cried, crimson streams leaking out of her eyes before returning to her body; her eyes were flickering between red and blue as she clutched at her chest, breathing heavily. “I’m just—I had a nightmare. Can… can you give me a minute w-with Rachel, guys? Please!”
Mateo worked around his jaw, uncertain gaze shifting to her, and Rachel nodded, telling him she’d be okay while dropping down with a grunt beside her to rub the girl’s back.
“Just take your time,” she urged. “We’ll be fine, Lieutenant; I get that I’m supposed to leave as soon as I wake up, but can we have some time?”
“Leave?!” Scarlet’s shifting eyes settled on blue. “Why—what about me?!”
Rachel forced a smile at the officer for answers since she didn’t have any.
“Mmgm.” He scratched his temple and jabbed his thumb for his men to leave. “So far as I’ve been told, we’ll be transporting Scarlet to the hospital Anthony is currently at, where a psychiatrist is being brought in to speak to all the Mythickin and Legendkin to further gauge your mental health…
“First, you’ll be going to Homestead Air Reserve Base, five miles south of here. The report Lt. Thompson sent in was flagged; I don’t know who you’ll be meeting, but he’s been in communication with him through a secure message board for about four hours.
“After whatever happens at the base, I’m assuming you’ll be returning to our custody; at least, that’s our orders. I’m told your parents were found and will be brought to the location, as well, where there’s a Mythickin unicorn that’s been making… waves, I’ll say.”
Rachel’s mind came to a screeching halt. Unicorn… My vision of Cerridwen was real.
Scarlet’s frightened eyes went to her as Rachel’s tail stiffened and her ears rose. “What is it?”
“I… promise I won’t leave you, Scarlet. Umm, can you get permission for her to join me?”
The girl’s focus snapped to Mateo as he sighed and rubbed his nose. “I’ll… see what I can do; it might be a few minutes since it has to go up who knows how many levels.”
“It gives us time to chat,” Rachel chirped, happy and somewhat terrified that she’d be able to talk to her parents soon; just recalling her mother’s tone when telling her father they would be driving to Miami put shivers up her ears. “Thanks so much, Mateo.”
“Yeah… well, I’m figuring it out as I go, too,” he mumbled, closing the door on his way out and leaving them alone.
Settling in next to the vespertine reaper, Rachel’s smile fell. “What’s wrong, Scarlet? Why are you vomiting black blood—is it contagious?” repeating what some of the soldiers outside were questioning.
Scarlet shrugged, hugging herself and tucking in a bit. “Rachel… I-I didn’t kill those toad monsters.”
“Huh?” Head tilting to the left, Rachel tried to relax her tail. “So… that was Scarlet that was talking to us about… understanding things?”
“Maybe,” she mumbled, eyes shifting away as she shivered. “I think… part of it was actually a girl named Veronica—the girl that was sacrificed in my parents’ ritual—I know it’s messed up… I’m messed up. I don’t know what’s Veronica, Twilight, or me—it’s all so confusing,” she whimpered, tight fingers rising to grip her head. “I’m so messed up inside!”
“Hey, hey,” Rachel soothed, pulling away one of her hands to squeeze it and refocus her. “Talk to me; tell me about this Veronica girl and everything—okay? I’m here to help you get through this because we’re all in this together, right? Anthony, Sevlaria, Zoe, you, and me. We’re all trying to come to terms with everything. You’re not alone. Okay?”
“Mmgm… Okay… Where should I start—it’s so horrible—all of it is a total nightmare!”
“Wherever you want—I’m listening, and I won’t abandon you… okay?” she said, not wholly committed to the idea, and figuring the girl could sense it but also knew she was trying.
Rachel sucked in her lower lip as Scarlet began, telling her life story with her parents’ obsession with this Scarlet apostle called Revilla, the entity inside her named Twilight, and the sacrifice of a girl Scarlet had known her entire life, now possibly trapped inside her body, guarding Twilight’s slumber.
Although, to Rachel, it sounded more like the ritual had been more to seal Twilight and limit her power than set her free. One thing was for certain, the Scarlet Hand was far more than some made-up cult; they had real power, and now she and her entire family was on their radar.
Getting to her feet as Mateo gave them the green light to head to the helicopter, Rachel breathed out a serious puff of air, rubbing Scarlet’s hand to tell her everything would be okay.
Well… isn’t this getting a little too complicated; goddesses, colorful rabbit guides, a world tree, dreams, aliens, game systems, dimensional worlds, nightmares, well-connected secret cults, and me losing my damn muscles and growing a tail out my ass because of what… suppressed feelings? I need stronger friends in the government if I’m going to survive this. Let’s just hope my story hits the right people.
