Unable to keep her tail from bristling, Rachel at least managed to keep her ears from going completely straight; she even relaxed them to an extent with some conscious effort, bending the soft appendages forward while processing that she was talking to one of the most powerful people in the world.
Instinctively parsing through dozens of ways she could respond to the strong opening, she saw Scarlet draw a complete blank, not fully coming to the realization of how significant this was.
In a state of martial law, when the whole world was still reeling from the backlash of The Oscillation, the man overseeing the whole spectrum had taken time to talk to them; the general was right—she shouldn’t waste his time.
Clearing her throat, she didn’t smile since outward pleasantries would only annoy the busy military officer; instead, she went straight to the point. “Where do you want me to begin?”
He studied Scarlet and her reaction for a few seconds; the vespertine reaper’s nervous gaze shifted between them, giving the impression Rachel was in charge.
Leaning forward and placing his elbows on the desk, the man bridged his fingers to rest his chin with a hum, now only addressing her.
“To the best of your abilities, report to me your thought process throughout the previous night that led you to sit in front of me. Include when you believed this higher power got involved, the changes to your mental state you’ve experienced in the moment of acting, and your views on how things have been conducted in your general area.”
Rachel nodded, straightening in her wheelchair and attempting to stay focused, trying not to get sidetracked by the pain she experienced all across her body; he didn’t want a brief summary but precisely her understanding of herself, the changes around her, and her emotional state throughout the events.
A lot would be taken from this discussion that wouldn’t only affect her but possibly how he went forward in dealing with Mythickin and Legendkin; she had to build trust, and Rachel doubted she was the only changed person he was talking to, which meant attempting to manipulate things could get far worse for her than the straight truth.
“Alright… do you want me to begin with the morning before The Oscillation, or a month before, and my poor relationship with my sister-in-law, as Lt. Thompson inquired?”
“Hmm…” He seemed to ponder her desire for clarification, studying everything she did while working to develop an understanding of her character. “Personal details can come later. I’m primarily interested in the change itself, the details you uncovered, how you processed them to take the actions you did, and the reason for those decisions.”
She nodded and began. Her throat felt dry after an hour, and he interrupted her; Scarlet breathed a sigh of relief at the respite to the interrogation, or at least that’s how she seemed to take it with his blunt inquiries and attitude.
“I have questions to think about and responsibilities to see to for a short while, so we’ll take a break; we’ll reconvene in an hour. Have Lt. Mateo bring you some water or food—blood bags,” he added to Scarlet, “or whatever else you require.”
Rubbing her throat, Rachel showed a small smile while trying to stand. “Thank you, General, I think I—mmgm!”
“Rachel?!” Scarlet hissed, lurching over.
She tried pushing herself up, only for her legs to tremble and give out, making her growl while slumping back into the wheelchair. “Eh-heh. I’m fine, just… a lot weaker than I thought after the sun evaporated all of the Lunar Energy I gathered last night. I think I need to moonbathe or something.”
General Dallas rubbed his chin with a thoughtful expression. “Do that and report back to me how you feel when we meet again.”
“Will do.”
He cut off the feed, and Rachel gave Scarlet a melancholy grin. “I really hate to ask, but…”
Scarlet giggled and got up to chaperone her with a fanged smile. “I’d love to help! But seriously, Rachel… I’m starting to think you have a death wish with how hard you push yourself. Shouldn’t you slow down a little?”
Leaning back and closing her eyes to breathe and release stress, Rachel yawned before attempting to rub her sore legs while Scarlet went to open the door for them.
“If I did slow down, we wouldn’t be where we are now; it’s the same for school, the gym, and life, in general… when you have momentum, you gotta use every second of it to the fullest. Hehe. I have a plan for my exhausted body; don’t you worry.”
Scarlet gave her a wry smirk as her blood seeped out of her wrist to pass through the door, breaking the locks on the exterior that sealed them in. She pulled it open to the mild shock of those outside.
“Of course, you have a plan… you always seem to have a plan. Wait, I didn’t mean to break it. Ugh! I feel so useless; I can’t do anything right.”
“It’s whatever, they have to tear all this down anyway. Also, he didn’t want you to talk since his time is limited, and so, he focused primarily on me. I bet you’ll get your chance sooner or later, and don’t think you’re useless because I wouldn’t be here without you. Heh, how would I get out of this sound-proofed room without you, too?”
The girl’s face glowed at the comment, and Mateo lifted an eyebrow at them when the door swung in, guns partly at the ready; he was with his men and another officer by the marks on his Air Force shirt.
“Done?”
“A break,” Rachel shrugged. “I need to find somewhere to rest in the moonlight, and Scarlet could probably use a blood bag if you have one; he wants a report on how I feel after recharging a bit.”
He nodded and made a few comments to the men next to him before guiding them down the hallway to exit the military facility, Scarlet pushing her. Her thoughts were on everything she’d been able to glean from the general in their discussion, which wasn’t much.
General Dallas had kept an excellent poker face while she discussed goddesses, aliens, the Scarlet Hand, and her own thought process that took pieces of information to fit together into a workable plan of action. She had no idea how this was going to end, but her gut sense of misfortune hadn’t acted up yet, which she took as a good sign.
Relief flooded her muscles when Scarlet stopped her on the military airfield strip; Mateo remained inside to get updates from his men at the hospital and on Selvaria’s movements.
Rachel watched the very active base functioning through the night, bright lights illuminating the entire place as the sounds of whirring blades and jet engines flooded the air. Her mind wasn’t tired, but her body felt utterly spent; she couldn’t wait to further develop her plan to restore her physical health when this was done—if nothing threw a curve ball her way.
Scarlet took a chair they brought out to sit beside her, legs knotted and fingers occasionally rising to manage her hair when the breeze changed; she was likely trying not to think about where her life would go from here.
She was practically scared to tears to see her mother for a multitude of reasons, which obviously included her father’s death, and with the bomb her parents had sprung on her, it was natural that the poor girl was questioning everyone in her life. Ironically, Rachel was her only sense of stability left, and she had to assume Scarlet’s instability was a huge factor for the cultists.
The more Rachel thought about it, the more she was convinced that Scarlet’s former teacher was meant to be the final nail in the coffin that would crack her last straw of sanity; of course, her intervention had changed all that, which was why the woman had freaked out. They weren’t done trying once news got out, and that meant Rachel had to prepare accordingly.
Sucking on one of the blood bags a soldier brought her, Scarlet’s blue eyes shifted to her a few times before working up the courage to speak. “Umm… feeling better; how much time do you need?”
Rachel repositioned in the wheelchair to stare up at the partially cloudy sky and the sliver of a moon that went across the heavens. “A while, apparently, since the moonlight is so weak here… It was like I was drowning in energy when I were in that other world. Hehe. I think I was spoiled with two moons,” she mused, showing a smile that infected the raven-haired girl.
“Hehe. It must have been pretty—excluding the obvious creepy green goblins… I shiver just thinking about how you described them. Eww.”
“Meh,” Rachel shrugged, passively keeping track of a lot of events happening around Miami as she continued to keep herself up-to-date on the development of things.
Selvaria had found her mother and was being redirected to the hospital, but she was also getting sidetracked by showing off her strength to the military—more like her weight—in pushing cars off the road to clear a path for traffic.
“They were interesting at first, but I quickly grew bored of them, like I said. I know it’s not a certainty, but I think it would be cool to go on an adventure with you in Anthony’s Quest World in time. We have to do more experimenting anyway, right?”
Scarlet sighed. “It would be cool… but I’m probably too dangerous and will be locked up. I get it, which, heh, is kind of weird, but yeah.”
“Oh, shut up,” Rachel laughed, reaching over to nudge her arm. “I said I’d be with you, which means if you get locked up, I get locked up, and… well, we both know I’m not getting locked up,” she winked, causing Scarlet’s sad expression to ease a little.
“Hehe. Yeah, you don’t seem like the type of girl that would do well in a cage.”
“And you would? Cap. Look on the bright side, not the negative. We’re making progress. Trust me!”
Scarlet shivered, mouth tight, but it soon lifted. “Oddly… I think you’re really the only person I can anymore. And that… scares me. No one else cares enough to help some monster vampire girl…” she trailed off, her somber eyes shifting to her.
“Rachel, will you be honest with me? Can you not placate or try to manipulate me—because I know you can.”
Rachel closed her eyes, sensing some of the green berets giving each other looks with their change in cadence from her now hyper-sensitive senses from upgrading [Divine Beast Empowerment]; it was obvious what she wanted to ask.
“Okay… Hey, guys, can we have some privacy for a minute?”
The green berets’ muscles tensed in various ways, but eventually, they were left to talk alone; still, they kept a close enough distance where they could be waved over.
Rachel’s eyes opened, and she worked through her pain to find a better position; her gut twisted uncomfortably with the thoughts rolling through her mind. Scarlet’s hands knotted against her lap, trembling a little and unable to look at her. If she was going to truly give Scarlet what she wanted, then she had to also be honest with herself, and that was hard.
Puffing out a long stream of air, Rachel rubbed her chest, her heart burning for some reason. “Can I… work my way up to it?”
“Sure?” Scarlet whispered, fangs poking into her black bottom lip. “Is it t-that bad?”
“Not really. It’s complicated… I’ve always been somewhat manipulative, I think. It’s hard—” she cut herself off, swallowing the sticky saliva in her throat as she confronted some of the things colliding in her breast. “You’re afraid of yourself?”
Scarlet’s watery blue eyes shifted to her before darting away, a quake running through her body. “Very…”
“I am, too, I think, but in a different way—shit!”
“H-Huh?!” Scarlet jerked at her outburst, legs knotting as Rachel growled and rubbed her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m manipulating you by drawing a similarity that we can bond over—ugh… Sorry, I’m trying to think of a way to say this without being so… Mmgm.”
A strained smile eased Scarlet’s tension. “That’s so crazy how you can just do that so naturally; I had no clue, but… are you really afraid of yourself?” The vampire looked directly at her. “How? You’re so strong and confident, though; it’s like you have all the answers.”
Plucking at her shirt, Rachel forced a chuckle. “You know, heh, this line of thinking is exactly what my comment and redirect were supposed to do… Haaa.”
Scarlet pulled her feet under her chair. “I still want to know. It’s true, right?”
“Yeah, which is why it is such a good manipulation tactic,” she mumbled, rubbing her arm. “Gah, even my actions are manipulative. Let’s see, umm… So, I’ve always preferred to be straightforward, charging in and beating my problems to a pulp.”
“Heheh. I kind of noticed.”
“Uh-huh. I was first a Muay Thai muscle head, but when I knew that wouldn’t work, I swapped tactics—as is taught in martial arts—and manipulated my… ‘opponents.’ I know that doesn’t sound great since that could be interpreted that you are my opponent—it’s just manipulation is normal for teen girls, I guess… Heh. Dammit.”
Scarlet smiled and crossed her legs. “It really is tough for you; you’re really so amazing. I wouldn’t have even caught that as a manipulation. You know, uh, I-heh, tried to manipulate my parents with vampire hunter stuff because I knew it upset them…”
“Heh, that’s funny…” Rachel said, ears drifting back a little. “Umm, not getting sidetracked from your original question… a piece of me did change in The Oscillation; I’m pretty sure.”
“How so?” Scarlet asked, now fully invested and making Rachel want to punch herself; it was so easy.
“I see a lot more—the effects my actions can cause, and stuff—and for some reason, I can always find a way to get what I want… Maybe I’m lucky, or spread misfortune to everyone, so there’s always an opening—I don’t know. But why do I always see a way to get what I want? Am I being manipulated? What about these goddesses; is it them? Is this really who I am?”
Rachel pointed up at the sky before scratching an itch at the base of her left ear. “I change when I’m under the moon… And I actually like it since it shows me pieces of myself I didn’t know or hid. I can see how people would view me as a monster because of that, and I manipulate things so they don’t. Heh…
“And in the next second, I can choke the life out of living creatures with a grin and fight to the death as a muscle head, adrenaline junkie, enjoying every minute of it. I did those things, and I don’t feel guilty I did them…”
She slumped in her wheelchair, seeing the bright-eyed fascination in the vespertine reaper’s engaged face. “It excites me. It’s a way I can move forward. Manipulate others to find a way around a wall or just punch through it. If I can do it on my own, I break through. If not, I manipulate. This is me.”
“A way forward…” Scarlet repeated, almost under her breath, while gripping her arm. “I want a way forward. I also don’t want to be manipulated. It’s so weird; I want to trust you, but I’m scared.”
Rachel forced a smile and reached out to rub her knee, wincing at the pain before her fingers twitched, and she pulled back. “Ack—I can get that, and I don’t want to manipulate you; I’m trying not to—I am! It’s just… hard for me is what I’m trying to say—like I said, blunt instrument, zug-zug, pound into place, or… fine tool, micromanaging those around me into getting what I want.”
A sad giggle shook Scarlet’s chest. “You can be so funny, Rachel—zug-zug? Manipulation?”
“Maybe,” she sighed, sitting back and trying to keep her hands to herself. “Am I scared of you? Scarlet, the adorable crying bat girl, who’s terrified of her own shadow? Hehe. No.”
“Hahah… I’m an adorable bat girl, huh?” Blood fell down Scarlet’s cheek as she laughed, arms held tightly against her stomach. “You’re too good!”
Rachel smirked and lightly tapped her shin with the side of her foot. “Cute like a puppy, or a little sister afraid of the world and clinging onto her big sister’s skir—mmgm! I watch my hands, and my feet move… It’s hopeless.”
Unsurprisingly, Scarlet wore a smile rather than a frown. “I think it’s really heartwarming how you can make me forget all my night terrors… manipulation or not. It’s really like I have a protective big sister watching out for me. You’re not afraid of me?”
“No, I’m not afraid of you, Scarlet,” Rachel honestly stated. “I do respect the power you have, and sure, maybe a little scared of that, but you’re so harmless that I don’t think you could kill a mouse. No. I don’t think you’re the monster—not anything near the monster I am—but there is something, I suppose, monstrous about you—if that makes sense.”
Scarlet swallowed hard and wiped at her cheeks. “So… about us being, umm, friends… Is that a manipulation?”
“Haaa.” Rachel’s ears twitched as she ran her fingers through her hair. “For context, and to be frank, I don’t know if I’ve ever really made friends since I was a kid… There is a monster inside me; I saw it when I went through Anthony’s Quest. But, eh-heh, hear me out,” she swallowed.
“I think I do have an answer for you… but it might sound like I’m manipulating you.” Wincing as it came out, she looked up with a strained expression. “I don’t know what I’m saying; I’m trying to be genuine. Is it working?”
Scarlet’s fidgets had settled as they’d talked, and her eyes held a somber crease while gazing off to the side, studying the planes and helicopters coming and going.
“I guess that was a deadly manipulation, too—getting me to listen closer and reverse psychology me or something… Umm, okay, I know we only just met last night, and I’m not trying to be that clingy ‘vamp girl’ trope. Real talk; you just kind of… are here, and haven’t made me feel like a monster. I just wanted to know if that was real.”
Sensing the girl trying to work through the statement, Rachel coughed and glanced away with a smirk. “For you? Yeah. Like I said, I don’t see you as a monster. And clingy? Umm, yeah… this Veronica chick—from what you told me—she’s the clingy one who can’t take a hint.”
“Heheh. Thanks, Rachel. You don’t pity me?”
“Sure. Wait, pity—no! I’m too focused on what I’m doing to get what I want rather than wasting it on feeling sorry for others. Do you think you’re useful?” Rachel asked, ears tilting to the right with her head. “Dammit. Another leading question.”
Scarlet paused, looking thoughtful. “Wow. Still, I, uh, guess… I have been? Huh. How can your manipulations be so flipping useful and positive? It’s so confusing!”
Rachel laughed and pulled back, holding up her arms. “Woah! Something positive about yourself? No way! Ugh… I completely understand. Heh. Don’t let the guys hear you; they might think you’re going soft.”
“Manipulation,” Scarlet snickered. “I actually love it. You can manipulate me a bit if it’s like this… Thanks. I’m feeling so much better that it’s… literally insane how good you are at this.”
“That’s good… ish. Haaa. I mean it, though. I don’t know you, like at all,” Rachel whispered, knotting her legs at the uncomfortable vibes sinking into her gut. “I’ve only been focusing on what I want. But, to get to the heart of your question about manipulation… You know my Misfortune ability?”
Scarlet nodded, settling down a little and shrinking in her chair. “Mhm. But what about, you know… my mom—and stuff. How do your manipulations fit with that? I feel like I’m the unlucky one bringing misfortune to you, not the other way around.”
Rachel hummed; it was a depressing topic that she didn’t want to get into, but it actually brought up an excellent point that shockingly opened up the answer.
“Hmm. You want my opinion on misfortune, huh? Heh. The cult apparently already wants me dead. So, uh, screw them.”
Scarlet snickered at her tone. “Even if it’s dangerous?”
“And leaving you alone is going to fix everything?” Rachel asked with an uplifted eyebrow. “I don’t think they’re a fan of me, to begin with, by that message Peck left. And if they don’t want me hanging around you, then cool—all the more reason it makes me want to do it.”
Rolling her eyes, Scarlet fixed her hair. “Haha. You’re so rebellious! It’s still dangerous—I’m dangerous.”
“Dangerous. Mmm.” She shook her head, a thoughtful twist coming to her mouth. “I think I already have this weird fixation with danger, so… that’s not really a deterrent, Scarlet. To put this discussion to bed, I think it’s more like I’ve tied our problems together in a way where if something is good for me, then it’s good for you.
“My abilities kind of pulled me into this direction,” she admitted, “but I was the one who pulled the trigger, and you were the one to accept it. I’m a big believer in destiny and not fate… We make our own paths; the good… eh-heh, and the bad. I think I even manipulate myself sometimes,” she grumbled, adding a pouting glare to the side. “I’m a real problem.”
“You really are!” Scarlet laughed, doubling over with tears leaving her eyes. After a few seconds, she calmed down and asked the heart of her question. “So, if I’m getting this right… Your ability is connecting our fortunes because with us together, you have a better shot of getting what you want, but it’s manipulated in a way where I also get what I want?”
“That’s… my hope,” Rachel said with a pained shrug. “It seems that way. Plus, I do like that you don’t see me as a ‘bunny’ or ‘rabbit,’ so you get points in that regard.”
Rachel’s hands tightened against her belly, a sudden wave sickening her with feelings of dread of what might happen if she didn’t address this now. “I… actually have this fear that you might see me as some cold, heartless bitch, manipulating everyone around her like some kind of puppet master, using my pawns and throwing them away. Heh. Thoughts—I’m crazy?”
Scarlet crossed her arms, her face becoming somewhat unreadable as she thought. “…You really do think a lot, Rachel; I’m seriously so intimidated and impressed by everything you do. Wow. The way you can talk to people and know exactly what to say… I guess we have only just met, but you’re so… together. And I’m not.”
She forced a laugh. “Crazy? You kind of are! Too crazy good… I’m scared I’m not good enough. You’re so confident… And, ah, pardon the comparison, but you have the energy of a battery-charged bunny!”
Rachel gave her a fun leer and smirk. “I’ll let that one slide since it’s a compliment, but only because it’s you, cry bat.”
“Hehe. Thanks. Umm. I’m okay with that, I guess. Does that… leave any room for growth?” she tentatively asked. “I want to grow.”
“Of course it does,” Rachel sighed, feeling a wave of relief pass through her as her ears drooped forward. “So, acquaintances going on casual friends while pissing off a cult?” Rachel offered, holding up a hand with a grin.
“Deal,” she said, tension visibly leaving the girl’s shoulders. “Thanks for taking a chance on me—on bringing life back into my life and protecting me.”
“Hey, that’s a two-way street; it takes two to tango, right?”
She giggled. “I have no idea how to dance.”
“Looks like we have something else in common!” Rachel chimed. “I’ve always been more of a fighter than a lover, which… is probably why all the guys see me more as a bro than a girl. Maybe that’s why…”
[Strategic Mind I - Advanced to C-tier]
[Mental Acceleration I - Advanced to C-tier]
“Why what?” Scarlet asked, but Rachel’s mouth snapped shut on the off train of thought; she had been wondering why she didn’t get approached by a lot of guys recently, and that had possibly contributed to her internal self-reflection, but now that she had a better grasp on her personality, she knew for a fact it was her attitude.
Wow… My own hubris screwed me, she internally groaned, glancing down at her toned and filled-out, far less muscular figure. Damn hormones. I really was so aggressive and driven that I came off as a bitch to people. I guess I don’t have anyone to blame but myself.
Rachel tried to get more out of her sudden sour attitude as she deliberated on her teenage years; she was different around her family since it was her family—well, her parents and brother—her extended family didn’t get the same treatment, such as her poor cousin, and now she could see her own influence on him.
It was like a veil had been ripped off her eyes, and now she saw herself for who she was, for better or for worse, but The Oscillation had smacked her in the face with a seemingly healthy dose of reality—at least in her case—which appeared to be one of its effects on them.
By the time their break was over, her Lunar Pool had built back to 40%, which wasn’t ideal, and made her want to punch something since a full hour didn’t even give her half when it had drained at a much faster rate in the twilight.
With the air cleared between Scarlet and her, Rachel felt much better about the girl’s mental state; sure, she was still leaning on her, and significantly, at that, for support, but Rachel wasn’t carrying her anymore.
Rachel managed to walk on her own with the help of the stored moonlight bolstering her stats and, thereby, her physical well-being, but it was nothing compared to how she felt under the dual celestial spheres. After her levels, she had the same feeling only when her pool was full.
Sitting down to talk with the general, it took her another hour to finish her story and answer the rest of his inquiries; the last part seemed to be almost exclusively focused on her experience in Anthony’s Quest, the dream she had of the goddesses, and her thoughts on the optional Divine Feat she’d been offered.
General Dallas sat back, staring off into the distance for several seconds as they waited for the closing verdict; this was where her life would take a turn, yet the man was not done surprising her. Rachel’s ears shot up in shock as his gaze drifted to the left, speaking to someone she had not heard in or around the room.
“What has your experience been from what she’s described?”
A soft, feminine voice hummed, pondering her response. “When I entered the Quest, I had a very different experience, as you are aware, but I went in alone. Perhaps we should attempt an experiment where I lead a team inside. It is worth noting all those that entered had changed from The Oscillation, as well.”
Scarlet leaned forward, asking what Rachel wanted to know. “Who’s that? I didn’t know someone else was listening.”
The general breathed out a heavy sigh and shifted the screen around to show an incredibly beautiful and tall woman with auburn hair, wearing a marine uniform and rosary around her neck.
“Allow me to introduce codename Captain Barbara Hall, a.k.a., The Legend of Saint Barbara, patron saint of artillerymen and the U.S. Marines. As is with all special forces recruits, her enlistment is kept confidential, but she was the first female graduate to have gone through the pipeline to become a Marine Raider officer.”
Barbara chuckled at the introduction, illuminated yellow eyes showing nothing but confidence yet her tone was humble. “I quite enjoyed your story, Rachel. As for my opinion, General, I believe she should move to phase two of the plan you’ve outlined.”
“I thought as much,” he mumbled, focus returning to her as he went right into business. “I’ve sent for someone to meet each of the Myths and Legends in Miami—his name is Doctor Richard Raynott—he has two PHDs and more than thirty commonly cited published works, specializing in the military field.
“He’ll be on the flight tonight, reviewing the files I will give him, and will start with you tomorrow, Rachel. Captain Hall will also be making the trip to oversee everything and determine if we are to move to phase three. She will keep me updated.”
He bridged his fingers again and studied her with a hard stare. “I have a good idea of what it is you’re seeing, Rachel, but everything will hinge on multiple factors outside your and my control over the next few days. Lt. Mateo will take you to the hospital to see your parents and await Captain Hall’s arrival. Don’t do anything rash.”
The feed cut, leaving them in silence, and Rachel’s shoulders slumped as she sat back, mind surprisingly blank.
Scarlet’s mouth was tight as she studied her. “So… we’re going to have our brains checked by a shrink? Is… that how this was supposed to go because… I’m nervous now.”
Rachel scratched her temple and rose to her feet, rolling around her shoulders. “Captain Hall was there to call out any inconsistencies with my story and offer advice from a Legendkin standpoint. That ending, though… It tells me that General Dallas has something else cooking in the background, and he needs model Mythickin and Legendkin to set an example for it.”
Arms folding under her bust, Rachel’s eyes narrowed while drifting to the left; in all honesty, she wasn’t even sure what she wanted, and maybe that was what he got, which was also why he was sending someone to further dig into her emotional state and focus.
On the other hand, it appeared the goddesses had their own plan that they were trying to steer her down, and why was it necessary for her to meet with them in the first place? Sure, she could ask all sorts of questions, yet there was also the potential danger of stepping into a trap.
Overall, it was her only direction thus far, and a goddess could potentially give her more solid information on Twilight, their change, and the Scarlet Hand. For that to happen, she did need to play nice with the general.
“You don’t have to go into everything, Scarlet; this testing phase is primarily for me, not you, but your actions will affect the results since they see me as keeping you in check.”
Scarlet held up her hands. “I’m fine with that! I don’t want to go through a psych session and be told what I already know… I’m a little broken—okay, more than a little,” she mumbled at her smile. “Still, you have helped me keep my cool… Thanks, Rachel.”
Chuckling at her tone, Rachel sighed and opened her arms. “I’m not a hugger, but I do enjoy going outside of my comfort zone from time to time.”
“Hehe. Thanks for being a casual friend,” she joked, coming in to get a hug. “Just… having someone with me helps so much.”
Easing her fears, Rachel rubbed her back and messed up her hair a bit to get a light glare from the vespertine reaper before informing the green berets of the plan; they were as shocked as them to hear a female special forces officer would be flying down to oversee things—a Marine Corps Captain was the same rank as Lt. Thomson and a rank above Mateo, albeit the fact that all of them were from different cores in the military.
On the helicopter flight over to the hospital, Rachel reflected on how things were progressing. Personally, she didn’t see a future ahead of her as she was, and the fear of not being in control had likely spurred her to this length—she had to feel in control—and that could have been linked back to the trauma of seeing her dead cousin in the car accident, where her entire life changed.
It made her chew at her lower lip while considering what it must have been like for her mother when she’d been the one driving, not to mention how her aunt blamed her for it, even if it was the drunk driver’s fault; he’d died, so there was no one to dump the blame.
It caused a rift that only grew over time between her father and his brother’s family. Soo-geun was probably too young to remember his big sister all that much, but he went by Mason now, hating the Korean culture his parents tried to infuse into him, unlike Rachel, who was proud of her heritage.
My family is more messed up than I thought it was when I was trapped in my little bubble world; I wanted to forget that incident altogether, so I suppressed everything involving my cousin.
“Ugh…”
Scarlet frowned at her tone. “Still hurting?”
“I… guess you could say that,” she mumbled through the microphone, staring out at the illuminated cityscape. “Just a lot to process.”
They touched down on the outside helipad, taking off after they jumped out to allow the hospital to keep the lifeline clear for those that required immediate care in the subsequent chaos that overtook the city—the other facilities already overburdened with patients.
Ears tilting left and right with her head, she scanned the area for voices and conversations, swiftly identifying her parents, Anthony, and the Mythickin unicorn. A few other things caught her immediate attention, but she had to put them on the back burner.
Mateo shifted his gun, eyeballing the packs of people walking around or loitering near the hospital with the coast guard soldiers patrolling the area. “We’re heading to your parents first, or do you have anything else that we need to do?”
Scarlet fidgeted nervously at the inquiry, no doubt thinking about her own family or how they’d react to her; she was the type of girl that hated causing others trouble.
Rachel played with the base of her tail while pondering the best course of action; her parents hadn’t seemed to have slept for over forty hours by the conversation they were having, but her mother had to make sure she was alright before even considering anything else.
Wanting to go right to her to let her know she was alright, she groaned upon hearing a rather juicy scenario she could possibly capitalize on as she zeroed in on the Spanish-speaking gangs that had basically taken over a particular side of the hospital cafeteria—Maria was her target.
Everything she’d heard from the soldiers and citizens’ gossip told her the unicorn had a very distinctive personality; who knew a hardcore Mexican gangster girl would take on the form of the mythical horse?
“In one moment… I have a live stream to crash,” she chimed, motioning to them to follow her toward the front lobby where companies had been organized throughout the previous day to provide relief for those taking shelter at the hospital. “Stay back with your men if you can, Mateo—you too, Scarlet… After all, it’s only a prank,” she giggled.
Confused, the pair glanced at each other as they complied, making sure to keep an eye on her as Rachel put on a dumb, aimless expression and entered the front lobby, where a group of college kid influencers was performing pranks while live-streaming to their modestly sized audience now that the internet was back up and running.
Playing her cards perfectly as a potential victim for their current ‘prank’ game, she drew a lot of attention due to her mostly full Lunar Pool now giving her hair a twinkle effect and skin a light glow.
Wandering through the loitering groups and lines offering clothes, water, packaged food, and other goods donated, she wanted to roll her eyes at the snickering girl that nudged her friend and pointed her out, knowing they’d likely get clicks on social media by targeting her; it was too easy.
Lazily timing it in her head as the black-haired Caucasian girl crept up behind her, Rachel saw the tight expressions and worried looks from those that had already seen the kids’ bullying antics targeting the Beastkin, trying to warn her with their eyes, but she played the stupid role.
Three, two, one…
Isabella reached out to yank on her tail, missing spectacularly as Rachel smoothly twisted to ‘accidentally’ trip the wild-eyed girl.
“Hehe—h-hey!”
“Whoops! Don’t fall!” she cried out, her friends stiffening as Rachel snatched her shirt at the seam, causing it to tear clean off to show her padded yellow push-up bra as she flipped onto her back from the momentum. “Oof!”
“Wh-wha…” she shrieked, covering her chest as Rachel swiftly dropped to her knees to try and cover her with the item; her friends didn’t stop recording, going so far as to move to better angles. “Help—”
Bending in towards her ear, Rachel released a short chuckle. “Be very careful who you try to ‘prank’; if I wasn’t paying attention, I might have taken your head off. Heh. It’s not just a prank to people with tails.”
The girl’s face went white as she held the ripped fabric against her chest, and Rachel got up with an innocent smile, motioning to one of the stands.
“Hey, can I get—thanks! She just needs something to cover up… You should be more careful next time. Don’t get into more trouble than you can handle; next time, you might lose an eye, and your Only Patrons wouldn’t like that,” she snickered.
“Enjoy the free content, boys,” she winked at the camera, leaving everyone confused if she’d done it on purpose or capitalized on the situation.
Moving away, she went down a neighboring hallway, spotting a wolf boy’s ears poking up at her comments. Scarlet and Mateo bustled in, causing a commotion from the heavily armed green berets passing by the recovering group of influencers, Isabella now in tears.
“What was that about?” Scarlet asked, holding the sides of her tank top as if it would just fly off.
Mateo’s sharp eyes caught Rachel’s gaze drifting to the wolf boy, no older than thirteen, now following them, tail weaving left and right. “Hmm.”
Tilting his head to the side, one of his men backtracked to get the boy; the military men were special forces for a reason, by how quickly they caught onto her tactics.
“W-What did I do?” he asked, swapping to Spanish soon after to try and pretend he didn’t speak English. More than a few of their green beret escort chuckled and responded in the same language, making the boy’s face go bright red.
A few of the Mexicans in the area frowned and paid close attention to them as the soldier brought the teen to them; most of them were somehow affiliated with the unicorn, whom they called ‘The Queen’ since she was a prominent figure in their tight-knit community.
“I didn’t do nothin’! I found the five dollars below the vending machine—I didn’t steal it—I swear!” he balked, eyes going wild.
Rachel gave him a compassionate smile while waving to get his attention. “You’re not in trouble. I know those guys were picking on you, pulling your tail and ears to embarrass you in front of their fans. They shouldn’t mess with you anymore, and if they do try to, then just pull out your claws, and she’ll leave real quick. Okay?”
The boy’s face now turned another shade of red as he fidgeted with his shirt and nodded. “T-Thanks, umm… I’m Diego, uh, yeah, she was saying nasty stuff l-like kissing me would be like kissing a dog—people do that, right?! N-Not that I am a dog… I like wolves,” he mumbled, ears drooping and looking away as his tail went between his legs.
Rachel knew treating him like a little kid would only further agitate and embarrass him, so she took a better route.
“Yeah, wolves are cool. They’re pack animals that help each other and are strong, right? It’s just hard when you don’t want to scare people or hurt girls. I bet you have a big sister you love a lot, which is why you didn’t bite her hand. I may have!”
He nodded fervently and laughed at her last comment. “Yeah! Why was she so mean to me? All my friends that are girls aren’t nasty like her… The Queen’s not like her; she helps everyone on the block!”
His eyes grew big while shifting to her bandages and patches. “You’re hurt?”
This was what she wanted him to focus on so she lowered herself a little, looking around as if she had a secret to pull him in and pulling her long braid over her shoulders to draw more attention to her face.
“I fought some aliens over at the college nearby when they attacked the school. That’s why I have these military guys with me.”
“Cool,” he mumbled, seemingly captivated by her eyes before following her gesture to the soldiers. “Wait, so… are you okay?”
Rising back up she chuckled. “Bruised, cut, and sore but I’ll be fine. Why don’t you go see your friends; best to stay in the pack, right? No need to be a lone wolf when you got a cool queen to back you.”
“Yeah. Thanks, umm…”
“I’m Rachel,” she grinned, ears shifting to the left and flashing her teeth. “Mine are normal, by the way. What about you?”
He copied her, showing the sharpened parts. “Mine are pretty scary, so… maybe that girl was just trying to, uh…”
Rachel shook her head. “No. She was just a bitch. Hehe. Still, be careful, Diego; there are some mean people out there, so stay with your pack.”
His head bobbed, regaining his confidence as he jogged off down another hall, stopping and waving near the end. “Thanks, Rachel!”
Mirroring the gesture, she rediverted their path to the elevators to take them to her parents on the 4th floor, where an area was sectioned off for them.
Scarlet wore a beaming smile at the encounter. “That was sooo nice of you.”
Mateo snorted, knowing the truth. “That was all manipulation… You’re building rapport with the unicorn’s gang.”
Rachel’s illuminated eyes twinkled as she gave him a side-long smirk. “Can’t I be nice and build rapport, all while easing tension and putting a bitch in her place? I try to multitask. Now, the terrifying part… meeting my parents.”
Unable to keep her tail from bristling, Rachel at least managed to keep her ears from going completely straight; she even relaxed them to an extent with some conscious effort, bending the soft appendages forward while processing that she was talking to one of the most powerful people in the world.
Instinctively parsing through dozens of ways she could respond to the strong opening, she saw Scarlet draw a complete blank, not fully coming to the realization of how significant this was.
In a state of martial law, when the whole world was still reeling from the backlash of The Oscillation, the man overseeing the whole spectrum had taken time to talk to them; the general was right—she shouldn’t waste his time.
Clearing her throat, she didn’t smile since outward pleasantries would only annoy the busy military officer; instead, she went straight to the point. “Where do you want me to begin?”
He studied Scarlet and her reaction for a few seconds; the vespertine reaper’s nervous gaze shifted between them, giving the impression Rachel was in charge.
Leaning forward and placing his elbows on the desk, the man bridged his fingers to rest his chin with a hum, now only addressing her.
“To the best of your abilities, report to me your thought process throughout the previous night that led you to sit in front of me. Include when you believed this higher power got involved, the changes to your mental state you’ve experienced in the moment of acting, and your views on how things have been conducted in your general area.”
Rachel nodded, straightening in her wheelchair and attempting to stay focused, trying not to get sidetracked by the pain she experienced all across her body; he didn’t want a brief summary but precisely her understanding of herself, the changes around her, and her emotional state throughout the events.
A lot would be taken from this discussion that wouldn’t only affect her but possibly how he went forward in dealing with Mythickin and Legendkin; she had to build trust, and Rachel doubted she was the only changed person he was talking to, which meant attempting to manipulate things could get far worse for her than the straight truth.
“Alright… do you want me to begin with the morning before The Oscillation, or a month before, and my poor relationship with my sister-in-law, as Lt. Thompson inquired?”
“Hmm…” He seemed to ponder her desire for clarification, studying everything she did while working to develop an understanding of her character. “Personal details can come later. I’m primarily interested in the change itself, the details you uncovered, how you processed them to take the actions you did, and the reason for those decisions.”
She nodded and began. Her throat felt dry after an hour, and he interrupted her; Scarlet breathed a sigh of relief at the respite to the interrogation, or at least that’s how she seemed to take it with his blunt inquiries and attitude.
“I have questions to think about and responsibilities to see to for a short while, so we’ll take a break; we’ll reconvene in an hour. Have Lt. Mateo bring you some water or food—blood bags,” he added to Scarlet, “or whatever else you require.”
Rubbing her throat, Rachel showed a small smile while trying to stand. “Thank you, General, I think I—mmgm!”
“Rachel?!” Scarlet hissed, lurching over.
She tried pushing herself up, only for her legs to tremble and give out, making her growl while slumping back into the wheelchair. “Eh-heh. I’m fine, just… a lot weaker than I thought after the sun evaporated all of the Lunar Energy I gathered last night. I think I need to moonbathe or something.”
General Dallas rubbed his chin with a thoughtful expression. “Do that and report back to me how you feel when we meet again.”
“Will do.”
He cut off the feed, and Rachel gave Scarlet a melancholy grin. “I really hate to ask, but…”
Scarlet giggled and got up to chaperone her with a fanged smile. “I’d love to help! But seriously, Rachel… I’m starting to think you have a death wish with how hard you push yourself. Shouldn’t you slow down a little?”
Leaning back and closing her eyes to breathe and release stress, Rachel yawned before attempting to rub her sore legs while Scarlet went to open the door for them.
“If I did slow down, we wouldn’t be where we are now; it’s the same for school, the gym, and life, in general… when you have momentum, you gotta use every second of it to the fullest. Hehe. I have a plan for my exhausted body; don’t you worry.”
Scarlet gave her a wry smirk as her blood seeped out of her wrist to pass through the door, breaking the locks on the exterior that sealed them in. She pulled it open to the mild shock of those outside.
“Of course, you have a plan… you always seem to have a plan. Wait, I didn’t mean to break it. Ugh! I feel so useless; I can’t do anything right.”
“It’s whatever, they have to tear all this down anyway. Also, he didn’t want you to talk since his time is limited, and so, he focused primarily on me. I bet you’ll get your chance sooner or later, and don’t think you’re useless because I wouldn’t be here without you. Heh, how would I get out of this sound-proofed room without you, too?”
The girl’s face glowed at the comment, and Mateo lifted an eyebrow at them when the door swung in, guns partly at the ready; he was with his men and another officer by the marks on his Air Force shirt.
“Done?”
“A break,” Rachel shrugged. “I need to find somewhere to rest in the moonlight, and Scarlet could probably use a blood bag if you have one; he wants a report on how I feel after recharging a bit.”
He nodded and made a few comments to the men next to him before guiding them down the hallway to exit the military facility, Scarlet pushing her. Her thoughts were on everything she’d been able to glean from the general in their discussion, which wasn’t much.
General Dallas had kept an excellent poker face while she discussed goddesses, aliens, the Scarlet Hand, and her own thought process that took pieces of information to fit together into a workable plan of action. She had no idea how this was going to end, but her gut sense of misfortune hadn’t acted up yet, which she took as a good sign.
Relief flooded her muscles when Scarlet stopped her on the military airfield strip; Mateo remained inside to get updates from his men at the hospital and on Selvaria’s movements.
Rachel watched the very active base functioning through the night, bright lights illuminating the entire place as the sounds of whirring blades and jet engines flooded the air. Her mind wasn’t tired, but her body felt utterly spent; she couldn’t wait to further develop her plan to restore her physical health when this was done—if nothing threw a curve ball her way.
Scarlet took a chair they brought out to sit beside her, legs knotted and fingers occasionally rising to manage her hair when the breeze changed; she was likely trying not to think about where her life would go from here.
She was practically scared to tears to see her mother for a multitude of reasons, which obviously included her father’s death, and with the bomb her parents had sprung on her, it was natural that the poor girl was questioning everyone in her life. Ironically, Rachel was her only sense of stability left, and she had to assume Scarlet’s instability was a huge factor for the cultists.
The more Rachel thought about it, the more she was convinced that Scarlet’s former teacher was meant to be the final nail in the coffin that would crack her last straw of sanity; of course, her intervention had changed all that, which was why the woman had freaked out. They weren’t done trying once news got out, and that meant Rachel had to prepare accordingly.
Sucking on one of the blood bags a soldier brought her, Scarlet’s blue eyes shifted to her a few times before working up the courage to speak. “Umm… feeling better; how much time do you need?”
Rachel repositioned in the wheelchair to stare up at the partially cloudy sky and the sliver of a moon that went across the heavens. “A while, apparently, since the moonlight is so weak here… It was like I was drowning in energy when I were in that other world. Hehe. I think I was spoiled with two moons,” she mused, showing a smile that infected the raven-haired girl.
“Hehe. It must have been pretty—excluding the obvious creepy green goblins… I shiver just thinking about how you described them. Eww.”
“Meh,” Rachel shrugged, passively keeping track of a lot of events happening around Miami as she continued to keep herself up-to-date on the development of things.
Selvaria had found her mother and was being redirected to the hospital, but she was also getting sidetracked by showing off her strength to the military—more like her weight—in pushing cars off the road to clear a path for traffic.
“They were interesting at first, but I quickly grew bored of them, like I said. I know it’s not a certainty, but I think it would be cool to go on an adventure with you in Anthony’s Quest World in time. We have to do more experimenting anyway, right?”
Scarlet sighed. “It would be cool… but I’m probably too dangerous and will be locked up. I get it, which, heh, is kind of weird, but yeah.”
“Oh, shut up,” Rachel laughed, reaching over to nudge her arm. “I said I’d be with you, which means if you get locked up, I get locked up, and… well, we both know I’m not getting locked up,” she winked, causing Scarlet’s sad expression to ease a little.
“Hehe. Yeah, you don’t seem like the type of girl that would do well in a cage.”
“And you would? Cap. Look on the bright side, not the negative. We’re making progress. Trust me!”
Scarlet shivered, mouth tight, but it soon lifted. “Oddly… I think you’re really the only person I can anymore. And that… scares me. No one else cares enough to help some monster vampire girl…” she trailed off, her somber eyes shifting to her.
“Rachel, will you be honest with me? Can you not placate or try to manipulate me—because I know you can.”
Rachel closed her eyes, sensing some of the green berets giving each other looks with their change in cadence from her now hyper-sensitive senses from upgrading [Divine Beast Empowerment]; it was obvious what she wanted to ask.
“Okay… Hey, guys, can we have some privacy for a minute?”
The green berets’ muscles tensed in various ways, but eventually, they were left to talk alone; still, they kept a close enough distance where they could be waved over.
Rachel’s eyes opened, and she worked through her pain to find a better position; her gut twisted uncomfortably with the thoughts rolling through her mind. Scarlet’s hands knotted against her lap, trembling a little and unable to look at her. If she was going to truly give Scarlet what she wanted, then she had to also be honest with herself, and that was hard.
Puffing out a long stream of air, Rachel rubbed her chest, her heart burning for some reason. “Can I… work my way up to it?”
“Sure?” Scarlet whispered, fangs poking into her black bottom lip. “Is it t-that bad?”
“Not really. It’s complicated… I’ve always been somewhat manipulative, I think. It’s hard—” she cut herself off, swallowing the sticky saliva in her throat as she confronted some of the things colliding in her breast. “You’re afraid of yourself?”
Scarlet’s watery blue eyes shifted to her before darting away, a quake running through her body. “Very…”
“I am, too, I think, but in a different way—shit!”
“H-Huh?!” Scarlet jerked at her outburst, legs knotting as Rachel growled and rubbed her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m manipulating you by drawing a similarity that we can bond over—ugh… Sorry, I’m trying to think of a way to say this without being so… Mmgm.”
A strained smile eased Scarlet’s tension. “That’s so crazy how you can just do that so naturally; I had no clue, but… are you really afraid of yourself?” The vampire looked directly at her. “How? You’re so strong and confident, though; it’s like you have all the answers.”
Plucking at her shirt, Rachel forced a chuckle. “You know, heh, this line of thinking is exactly what my comment and redirect were supposed to do… Haaa.”
Scarlet pulled her feet under her chair. “I still want to know. It’s true, right?”
“Yeah, which is why it is such a good manipulation tactic,” she mumbled, rubbing her arm. “Gah, even my actions are manipulative. Let’s see, umm… So, I’ve always preferred to be straightforward, charging in and beating my problems to a pulp.”
“Heheh. I kind of noticed.”
“Uh-huh. I was first a Muay Thai muscle head, but when I knew that wouldn’t work, I swapped tactics—as is taught in martial arts—and manipulated my… ‘opponents.’ I know that doesn’t sound great since that could be interpreted that you are my opponent—it’s just manipulation is normal for teen girls, I guess… Heh. Dammit.”
Scarlet smiled and crossed her legs. “It really is tough for you; you’re really so amazing. I wouldn’t have even caught that as a manipulation. You know, uh, I-heh, tried to manipulate my parents with vampire hunter stuff because I knew it upset them…”
“Heh, that’s funny…” Rachel said, ears drifting back a little. “Umm, not getting sidetracked from your original question… a piece of me did change in The Oscillation; I’m pretty sure.”
“How so?” Scarlet asked, now fully invested and making Rachel want to punch herself; it was so easy.
“I see a lot more—the effects my actions can cause, and stuff—and for some reason, I can always find a way to get what I want… Maybe I’m lucky, or spread misfortune to everyone, so there’s always an opening—I don’t know. But why do I always see a way to get what I want? Am I being manipulated? What about these goddesses; is it them? Is this really who I am?”
Rachel pointed up at the sky before scratching an itch at the base of her left ear. “I change when I’m under the moon… And I actually like it since it shows me pieces of myself I didn’t know or hid. I can see how people would view me as a monster because of that, and I manipulate things so they don’t. Heh…
“And in the next second, I can choke the life out of living creatures with a grin and fight to the death as a muscle head, adrenaline junkie, enjoying every minute of it. I did those things, and I don’t feel guilty I did them…”
She slumped in her wheelchair, seeing the bright-eyed fascination in the vespertine reaper’s engaged face. “It excites me. It’s a way I can move forward. Manipulate others to find a way around a wall or just punch through it. If I can do it on my own, I break through. If not, I manipulate. This is me.”
“A way forward…” Scarlet repeated, almost under her breath, while gripping her arm. “I want a way forward. I also don’t want to be manipulated. It’s so weird; I want to trust you, but I’m scared.”
Rachel forced a smile and reached out to rub her knee, wincing at the pain before her fingers twitched, and she pulled back. “Ack—I can get that, and I don’t want to manipulate you; I’m trying not to—I am! It’s just… hard for me is what I’m trying to say—like I said, blunt instrument, zug-zug, pound into place, or… fine tool, micromanaging those around me into getting what I want.”
A sad giggle shook Scarlet’s chest. “You can be so funny, Rachel—zug-zug? Manipulation?”
“Maybe,” she sighed, sitting back and trying to keep her hands to herself. “Am I scared of you? Scarlet, the adorable crying bat girl, who’s terrified of her own shadow? Hehe. No.”
“Hahah… I’m an adorable bat girl, huh?” Blood fell down Scarlet’s cheek as she laughed, arms held tightly against her stomach. “You’re too good!”
Rachel smirked and lightly tapped her shin with the side of her foot. “Cute like a puppy, or a little sister afraid of the world and clinging onto her big sister’s skir—mmgm! I watch my hands, and my feet move… It’s hopeless.”
Unsurprisingly, Scarlet wore a smile rather than a frown. “I think it’s really heartwarming how you can make me forget all my night terrors… manipulation or not. It’s really like I have a protective big sister watching out for me. You’re not afraid of me?”
“No, I’m not afraid of you, Scarlet,” Rachel honestly stated. “I do respect the power you have, and sure, maybe a little scared of that, but you’re so harmless that I don’t think you could kill a mouse. No. I don’t think you’re the monster—not anything near the monster I am—but there is something, I suppose, monstrous about you—if that makes sense.”
Scarlet swallowed hard and wiped at her cheeks. “So… about us being, umm, friends… Is that a manipulation?”
“Haaa.” Rachel’s ears twitched as she ran her fingers through her hair. “For context, and to be frank, I don’t know if I’ve ever really made friends since I was a kid… There is a monster inside me; I saw it when I went through Anthony’s Quest. But, eh-heh, hear me out,” she swallowed.
“I think I do have an answer for you… but it might sound like I’m manipulating you.” Wincing as it came out, she looked up with a strained expression. “I don’t know what I’m saying; I’m trying to be genuine. Is it working?”
Scarlet’s fidgets had settled as they’d talked, and her eyes held a somber crease while gazing off to the side, studying the planes and helicopters coming and going.
“I guess that was a deadly manipulation, too—getting me to listen closer and reverse psychology me or something… Umm, okay, I know we only just met last night, and I’m not trying to be that clingy ‘vamp girl’ trope. Real talk; you just kind of… are here, and haven’t made me feel like a monster. I just wanted to know if that was real.”
Sensing the girl trying to work through the statement, Rachel coughed and glanced away with a smirk. “For you? Yeah. Like I said, I don’t see you as a monster. And clingy? Umm, yeah… this Veronica chick—from what you told me—she’s the clingy one who can’t take a hint.”
“Heheh. Thanks, Rachel. You don’t pity me?”
“Sure. Wait, pity—no! I’m too focused on what I’m doing to get what I want rather than wasting it on feeling sorry for others. Do you think you’re useful?” Rachel asked, ears tilting to the right with her head. “Dammit. Another leading question.”
Scarlet paused, looking thoughtful. “Wow. Still, I, uh, guess… I have been? Huh. How can your manipulations be so flipping useful and positive? It’s so confusing!”
Rachel laughed and pulled back, holding up her arms. “Woah! Something positive about yourself? No way! Ugh… I completely understand. Heh. Don’t let the guys hear you; they might think you’re going soft.”
“Manipulation,” Scarlet snickered. “I actually love it. You can manipulate me a bit if it’s like this… Thanks. I’m feeling so much better that it’s… literally insane how good you are at this.”
“That’s good… ish. Haaa. I mean it, though. I don’t know you, like at all,” Rachel whispered, knotting her legs at the uncomfortable vibes sinking into her gut. “I’ve only been focusing on what I want. But, to get to the heart of your question about manipulation… You know my Misfortune ability?”
Scarlet nodded, settling down a little and shrinking in her chair. “Mhm. But what about, you know… my mom—and stuff. How do your manipulations fit with that? I feel like I’m the unlucky one bringing misfortune to you, not the other way around.”
Rachel hummed; it was a depressing topic that she didn’t want to get into, but it actually brought up an excellent point that shockingly opened up the answer.
“Hmm. You want my opinion on misfortune, huh? Heh. The cult apparently already wants me dead. So, uh, screw them.”
Scarlet snickered at her tone. “Even if it’s dangerous?”
“And leaving you alone is going to fix everything?” Rachel asked with an uplifted eyebrow. “I don’t think they’re a fan of me, to begin with, by that message Peck left. And if they don’t want me hanging around you, then cool—all the more reason it makes me want to do it.”
Rolling her eyes, Scarlet fixed her hair. “Haha. You’re so rebellious! It’s still dangerous—I’m dangerous.”
“Dangerous. Mmm.” She shook her head, a thoughtful twist coming to her mouth. “I think I already have this weird fixation with danger, so… that’s not really a deterrent, Scarlet. To put this discussion to bed, I think it’s more like I’ve tied our problems together in a way where if something is good for me, then it’s good for you.
“My abilities kind of pulled me into this direction,” she admitted, “but I was the one who pulled the trigger, and you were the one to accept it. I’m a big believer in destiny and not fate… We make our own paths; the good… eh-heh, and the bad. I think I even manipulate myself sometimes,” she grumbled, adding a pouting glare to the side. “I’m a real problem.”
“You really are!” Scarlet laughed, doubling over with tears leaving her eyes. After a few seconds, she calmed down and asked the heart of her question. “So, if I’m getting this right… Your ability is connecting our fortunes because with us together, you have a better shot of getting what you want, but it’s manipulated in a way where I also get what I want?”
“That’s… my hope,” Rachel said with a pained shrug. “It seems that way. Plus, I do like that you don’t see me as a ‘bunny’ or ‘rabbit,’ so you get points in that regard.”
Rachel’s hands tightened against her belly, a sudden wave sickening her with feelings of dread of what might happen if she didn’t address this now. “I… actually have this fear that you might see me as some cold, heartless bitch, manipulating everyone around her like some kind of puppet master, using my pawns and throwing them away. Heh. Thoughts—I’m crazy?”
Scarlet crossed her arms, her face becoming somewhat unreadable as she thought. “…You really do think a lot, Rachel; I’m seriously so intimidated and impressed by everything you do. Wow. The way you can talk to people and know exactly what to say… I guess we have only just met, but you’re so… together. And I’m not.”
She forced a laugh. “Crazy? You kind of are! Too crazy good… I’m scared I’m not good enough. You’re so confident… And, ah, pardon the comparison, but you have the energy of a battery-charged bunny!”
Rachel gave her a fun leer and smirk. “I’ll let that one slide since it’s a compliment, but only because it’s you, cry bat.”
“Hehe. Thanks. Umm. I’m okay with that, I guess. Does that… leave any room for growth?” she tentatively asked. “I want to grow.”
“Of course it does,” Rachel sighed, feeling a wave of relief pass through her as her ears drooped forward. “So, acquaintances going on casual friends while pissing off a cult?” Rachel offered, holding up a hand with a grin.
“Deal,” she said, tension visibly leaving the girl’s shoulders. “Thanks for taking a chance on me—on bringing life back into my life and protecting me.”
“Hey, that’s a two-way street; it takes two to tango, right?”
She giggled. “I have no idea how to dance.”
“Looks like we have something else in common!” Rachel chimed. “I’ve always been more of a fighter than a lover, which… is probably why all the guys see me more as a bro than a girl. Maybe that’s why…”
[Strategic Mind I - Advanced to C-tier]
[Mental Acceleration I - Advanced to C-tier]
“Why what?” Scarlet asked, but Rachel’s mouth snapped shut on the off train of thought; she had been wondering why she didn’t get approached by a lot of guys recently, and that had possibly contributed to her internal self-reflection, but now that she had a better grasp on her personality, she knew for a fact it was her attitude.
Wow… My own hubris screwed me, she internally groaned, glancing down at her toned and filled-out, far less muscular figure. Damn hormones. I really was so aggressive and driven that I came off as a bitch to people. I guess I don’t have anyone to blame but myself.
Rachel tried to get more out of her sudden sour attitude as she deliberated on her teenage years; she was different around her family since it was her family—well, her parents and brother—her extended family didn’t get the same treatment, such as her poor cousin, and now she could see her own influence on him.
It was like a veil had been ripped off her eyes, and now she saw herself for who she was, for better or for worse, but The Oscillation had smacked her in the face with a seemingly healthy dose of reality—at least in her case—which appeared to be one of its effects on them.
By the time their break was over, her Lunar Pool had built back to 40%, which wasn’t ideal, and made her want to punch something since a full hour didn’t even give her half when it had drained at a much faster rate in the twilight.
With the air cleared between Scarlet and her, Rachel felt much better about the girl’s mental state; sure, she was still leaning on her, and significantly, at that, for support, but Rachel wasn’t carrying her anymore.
Rachel managed to walk on her own with the help of the stored moonlight bolstering her stats and, thereby, her physical well-being, but it was nothing compared to how she felt under the dual celestial spheres. After her levels, she had the same feeling only when her pool was full.
Sitting down to talk with the general, it took her another hour to finish her story and answer the rest of his inquiries; the last part seemed to be almost exclusively focused on her experience in Anthony’s Quest, the dream she had of the goddesses, and her thoughts on the optional Divine Feat she’d been offered.
General Dallas sat back, staring off into the distance for several seconds as they waited for the closing verdict; this was where her life would take a turn, yet the man was not done surprising her. Rachel’s ears shot up in shock as his gaze drifted to the left, speaking to someone she had not heard in or around the room.
“What has your experience been from what she’s described?”
A soft, feminine voice hummed, pondering her response. “When I entered the Quest, I had a very different experience, as you are aware, but I went in alone. Perhaps we should attempt an experiment where I lead a team inside. It is worth noting all those that entered had changed from The Oscillation, as well.”
Scarlet leaned forward, asking what Rachel wanted to know. “Who’s that? I didn’t know someone else was listening.”
The general breathed out a heavy sigh and shifted the screen around to show an incredibly beautiful and tall woman with auburn hair, wearing a marine uniform and rosary around her neck.
“Allow me to introduce codename Captain Barbara Hall, a.k.a., The Legend of Saint Barbara, patron saint of artillerymen and the U.S. Marines. As is with all special forces recruits, her enlistment is kept confidential, but she was the first female graduate to have gone through the pipeline to become a Marine Raider officer.”
Barbara chuckled at the introduction, illuminated yellow eyes showing nothing but confidence yet her tone was humble. “I quite enjoyed your story, Rachel. As for my opinion, General, I believe she should move to phase two of the plan you’ve outlined.”
“I thought as much,” he mumbled, focus returning to her as he went right into business. “I’ve sent for someone to meet each of the Myths and Legends in Miami—his name is Doctor Richard Raynott—he has two PHDs and more than thirty commonly cited published works, specializing in the military field.
“He’ll be on the flight tonight, reviewing the files I will give him, and will start with you tomorrow, Rachel. Captain Hall will also be making the trip to oversee everything and determine if we are to move to phase three. She will keep me updated.”
He bridged his fingers again and studied her with a hard stare. “I have a good idea of what it is you’re seeing, Rachel, but everything will hinge on multiple factors outside your and my control over the next few days. Lt. Mateo will take you to the hospital to see your parents and await Captain Hall’s arrival. Don’t do anything rash.”
The feed cut, leaving them in silence, and Rachel’s shoulders slumped as she sat back, mind surprisingly blank.
Scarlet’s mouth was tight as she studied her. “So… we’re going to have our brains checked by a shrink? Is… that how this was supposed to go because… I’m nervous now.”
Rachel scratched her temple and rose to her feet, rolling around her shoulders. “Captain Hall was there to call out any inconsistencies with my story and offer advice from a Legendkin standpoint. That ending, though… It tells me that General Dallas has something else cooking in the background, and he needs model Mythickin and Legendkin to set an example for it.”
Arms folding under her bust, Rachel’s eyes narrowed while drifting to the left; in all honesty, she wasn’t even sure what she wanted, and maybe that was what he got, which was also why he was sending someone to further dig into her emotional state and focus.
On the other hand, it appeared the goddesses had their own plan that they were trying to steer her down, and why was it necessary for her to meet with them in the first place? Sure, she could ask all sorts of questions, yet there was also the potential danger of stepping into a trap.
Overall, it was her only direction thus far, and a goddess could potentially give her more solid information on Twilight, their change, and the Scarlet Hand. For that to happen, she did need to play nice with the general.
“You don’t have to go into everything, Scarlet; this testing phase is primarily for me, not you, but your actions will affect the results since they see me as keeping you in check.”
Scarlet held up her hands. “I’m fine with that! I don’t want to go through a psych session and be told what I already know… I’m a little broken—okay, more than a little,” she mumbled at her smile. “Still, you have helped me keep my cool… Thanks, Rachel.”
Chuckling at her tone, Rachel sighed and opened her arms. “I’m not a hugger, but I do enjoy going outside of my comfort zone from time to time.”
“Hehe. Thanks for being a casual friend,” she joked, coming in to get a hug. “Just… having someone with me helps so much.”
Easing her fears, Rachel rubbed her back and messed up her hair a bit to get a light glare from the vespertine reaper before informing the green berets of the plan; they were as shocked as them to hear a female special forces officer would be flying down to oversee things—a Marine Corps Captain was the same rank as Lt. Thomson and a rank above Mateo, albeit the fact that all of them were from different cores in the military.
On the helicopter flight over to the hospital, Rachel reflected on how things were progressing. Personally, she didn’t see a future ahead of her as she was, and the fear of not being in control had likely spurred her to this length—she had to feel in control—and that could have been linked back to the trauma of seeing her dead cousin in the car accident, where her entire life changed.
It made her chew at her lower lip while considering what it must have been like for her mother when she’d been the one driving, not to mention how her aunt blamed her for it, even if it was the drunk driver’s fault; he’d died, so there was no one to dump the blame.
It caused a rift that only grew over time between her father and his brother’s family. Soo-geun was probably too young to remember his big sister all that much, but he went by Mason now, hating the Korean culture his parents tried to infuse into him, unlike Rachel, who was proud of her heritage.
My family is more messed up than I thought it was when I was trapped in my little bubble world; I wanted to forget that incident altogether, so I suppressed everything involving my cousin.
“Ugh…”
Scarlet frowned at her tone. “Still hurting?”
“I… guess you could say that,” she mumbled through the microphone, staring out at the illuminated cityscape. “Just a lot to process.”
They touched down on the outside helipad, taking off after they jumped out to allow the hospital to keep the lifeline clear for those that required immediate care in the subsequent chaos that overtook the city—the other facilities already overburdened with patients.
Ears tilting left and right with her head, she scanned the area for voices and conversations, swiftly identifying her parents, Anthony, and the Mythickin unicorn. A few other things caught her immediate attention, but she had to put them on the back burner.
Mateo shifted his gun, eyeballing the packs of people walking around or loitering near the hospital with the coast guard soldiers patrolling the area. “We’re heading to your parents first, or do you have anything else that we need to do?”
Scarlet fidgeted nervously at the inquiry, no doubt thinking about her own family or how they’d react to her; she was the type of girl that hated causing others trouble.
Rachel played with the base of her tail while pondering the best course of action; her parents hadn’t seemed to have slept for over forty hours by the conversation they were having, but her mother had to make sure she was alright before even considering anything else.
Wanting to go right to her to let her know she was alright, she groaned upon hearing a rather juicy scenario she could possibly capitalize on as she zeroed in on the Spanish-speaking gangs that had basically taken over a particular side of the hospital cafeteria—Maria was her target.
Everything she’d heard from the soldiers and citizens’ gossip told her the unicorn had a very distinctive personality; who knew a hardcore Mexican gangster girl would take on the form of the mythical horse?
“In one moment… I have a live stream to crash,” she chimed, motioning to them to follow her toward the front lobby where companies had been organized throughout the previous day to provide relief for those taking shelter at the hospital. “Stay back with your men if you can, Mateo—you too, Scarlet… After all, it’s only a prank,” she giggled.
Confused, the pair glanced at each other as they complied, making sure to keep an eye on her as Rachel put on a dumb, aimless expression and entered the front lobby, where a group of college kid influencers was performing pranks while live-streaming to their modestly sized audience now that the internet was back up and running.
Playing her cards perfectly as a potential victim for their current ‘prank’ game, she drew a lot of attention due to her mostly full Lunar Pool now giving her hair a twinkle effect and skin a light glow.
Wandering through the loitering groups and lines offering clothes, water, packaged food, and other goods donated, she wanted to roll her eyes at the snickering girl that nudged her friend and pointed her out, knowing they’d likely get clicks on social media by targeting her; it was too easy.
Lazily timing it in her head as the black-haired Caucasian girl crept up behind her, Rachel saw the tight expressions and worried looks from those that had already seen the kids’ bullying antics targeting the Beastkin, trying to warn her with their eyes, but she played the stupid role.
Three, two, one…
Isabella reached out to yank on her tail, missing spectacularly as Rachel smoothly twisted to ‘accidentally’ trip the wild-eyed girl.
“Hehe—h-hey!”
“Whoops! Don’t fall!” she cried out, her friends stiffening as Rachel snatched her shirt at the seam, causing it to tear clean off to show her padded yellow push-up bra as she flipped onto her back from the momentum. “Oof!”
“Wh-wha…” she shrieked, covering her chest as Rachel swiftly dropped to her knees to try and cover her with the item; her friends didn’t stop recording, going so far as to move to better angles. “Help—”
Bending in towards her ear, Rachel released a short chuckle. “Be very careful who you try to ‘prank’; if I wasn’t paying attention, I might have taken your head off. Heh. It’s not just a prank to people with tails.”
The girl’s face went white as she held the ripped fabric against her chest, and Rachel got up with an innocent smile, motioning to one of the stands.
“Hey, can I get—thanks! She just needs something to cover up… You should be more careful next time. Don’t get into more trouble than you can handle; next time, you might lose an eye, and your Only Patrons wouldn’t like that,” she snickered.
“Enjoy the free content, boys,” she winked at the camera, leaving everyone confused if she’d done it on purpose or capitalized on the situation.
Moving away, she went down a neighboring hallway, spotting a wolf boy’s ears poking up at her comments. Scarlet and Mateo bustled in, causing a commotion from the heavily armed green berets passing by the recovering group of influencers, Isabella now in tears.
“What was that about?” Scarlet asked, holding the sides of her tank top as if it would just fly off.
Mateo’s sharp eyes caught Rachel’s gaze drifting to the wolf boy, no older than thirteen, now following them, tail weaving left and right. “Hmm.”
Tilting his head to the side, one of his men backtracked to get the boy; the military men were special forces for a reason, by how quickly they caught onto her tactics.
“W-What did I do?” he asked, swapping to Spanish soon after to try and pretend he didn’t speak English. More than a few of their green beret escort chuckled and responded in the same language, making the boy’s face go bright red.
A few of the Mexicans in the area frowned and paid close attention to them as the soldier brought the teen to them; most of them were somehow affiliated with the unicorn, whom they called ‘The Queen’ since she was a prominent figure in their tight-knit community.
“I didn’t do nothin’! I found the five dollars below the vending machine—I didn’t steal it—I swear!” he balked, eyes going wild.
Rachel gave him a compassionate smile while waving to get his attention. “You’re not in trouble. I know those guys were picking on you, pulling your tail and ears to embarrass you in front of their fans. They shouldn’t mess with you anymore, and if they do try to, then just pull out your claws, and she’ll leave real quick. Okay?”
The boy’s face now turned another shade of red as he fidgeted with his shirt and nodded. “T-Thanks, umm… I’m Diego, uh, yeah, she was saying nasty stuff l-like kissing me would be like kissing a dog—people do that, right?! N-Not that I am a dog… I like wolves,” he mumbled, ears drooping and looking away as his tail went between his legs.
Rachel knew treating him like a little kid would only further agitate and embarrass him, so she took a better route.
“Yeah, wolves are cool. They’re pack animals that help each other and are strong, right? It’s just hard when you don’t want to scare people or hurt girls. I bet you have a big sister you love a lot, which is why you didn’t bite her hand. I may have!”
He nodded fervently and laughed at her last comment. “Yeah! Why was she so mean to me? All my friends that are girls aren’t nasty like her… The Queen’s not like her; she helps everyone on the block!”
His eyes grew big while shifting to her bandages and patches. “You’re hurt?”
This was what she wanted him to focus on so she lowered herself a little, looking around as if she had a secret to pull him in and pulling her long braid over her shoulders to draw more attention to her face.
“I fought some aliens over at the college nearby when they attacked the school. That’s why I have these military guys with me.”
“Cool,” he mumbled, seemingly captivated by her eyes before following her gesture to the soldiers. “Wait, so… are you okay?”
Rising back up she chuckled. “Bruised, cut, and sore but I’ll be fine. Why don’t you go see your friends; best to stay in the pack, right? No need to be a lone wolf when you got a cool queen to back you.”
“Yeah. Thanks, umm…”
“I’m Rachel,” she grinned, ears shifting to the left and flashing her teeth. “Mine are normal, by the way. What about you?”
He copied her, showing the sharpened parts. “Mine are pretty scary, so… maybe that girl was just trying to, uh…”
Rachel shook her head. “No. She was just a bitch. Hehe. Still, be careful, Diego; there are some mean people out there, so stay with your pack.”
His head bobbed, regaining his confidence as he jogged off down another hall, stopping and waving near the end. “Thanks, Rachel!”
Mirroring the gesture, she rediverted their path to the elevators to take them to her parents on the 4th floor, where an area was sectioned off for them.
Scarlet wore a beaming smile at the encounter. “That was sooo nice of you.”
Mateo snorted, knowing the truth. “That was all manipulation… You’re building rapport with the unicorn’s gang.”
Rachel’s illuminated eyes twinkled as she gave him a side-long smirk. “Can’t I be nice and build rapport, all while easing tension and putting a bitch in her place? I try to multitask. Now, the terrifying part… meeting my parents.”
