When I glanced up and westward, I saw the drone was still hovering over the same spot.
At the speed she and I were running over the rooftop, it wouldn’t be long before we circled around to a point under the drone.
I came to the decision I would stop the girl before we arrived there.
In short, I wasn’t going to let her get to him first.
Amateur or not, I had my pride as one affiliated with the Lanfears. I wasn’t going to disappoint Arisa, who for whatever reason had placed her trust in me to accomplish my duty as her representative.
I picked up my pace, and caught up to the girl easily courtesy of the Valkyrie Armor.
Foregoing a loud war cry, I leapt at her exposed back a moment before she turned around and faced me with the Fragment jousting lance.
My right gauntlet blade held high, I brought it down in the blink of an eye.
This time my piercer-field parted her Fragment’s barrier-field, and shock ran through my arm as the blade struck the lance.
And once again battle was joined.
#
(Caelum)
In those minutes after the final bell rang, I wasn’t thinking of anything at all.
Maybe it was because my mind was so blank that the feeling of being watched grew on me until I could no longer ignore it.
I looked about slowly, but then felt my gaze drawn upwards.
There was a disc-like object some two or three hundred feet overhead. From where I stood it was hard to tell as I had nothing for a decent frame of reference. But the object didn’t look to be too large, maybe a few feet in diameter. In fact, the more I looked at it, the more it reminded me of the small traffic monitoring drones you normally saw flying slowly between the buildings of a habitat.
But what was it doing here?
Rather, what was it doing hovering overhead?
I stared at it, growing uneasy with the sensation it was watching me.
Why?
Suddenly I heard something land loudly on the rooftop a few yards away. I turned in fright and saw a bundle of limbs roll across the ground and come to a crashing halt against the wall of the rooftop hut behind me.
It took a moment for me to realize I was looking at a girl, bloodied and beaten to a blue pulp. I could tell she was a girl by her figure alone, though her face was covered by the visor of the helmet she wore. She was dressed in the remains of a bike suit, torn in places too numerous to quickly count. A weird black mist surrounded both her right arm and the long pole that she held in her hand. The mist faded and the pole vanished with it, leaving a sudden chill in the air that I felt all the way to my bones.
My heart jumped then began to beat loudly as my mind questioned what I’d just witnessed.
Was that a Fragment I’d seen fading back into that other space? What did they call it, Pocket Space?
I stared at the girl.
If that was a Fragment, then she must be a—
A second bundle of limbs crashed to the rooftop. This bundle landed much better than the first, and I watched it resolve itself into the slender body of a girl probably no older than I was.
She was wearing a uniform I didn’t recognize.
Actually, she was wearing the remains of a uniform. Her midnight blue blazer was in tatters, and I had a clear view of a lacy white bra showing through the rents in her white blouse, and her skirt was sporting several non-regulation slits that revealed smoothly toned thighs and—violet underwear?
She stood up smoothly on legs that resembled those of a mythical armored Valkyrie.
Her forearms were sheathed in black gauntlets, each with a two foot long blade that ran over the top of her hands.
She wasn’t looking in my direction but at the girl lying against the wall. When she took a step toward the girl, the newcomer faltered and fell onto her hands and knees.
“Damn—pushed past my limit.”
Cold permeated the air, spreading thick and fast over the rooftop. I shivered as that strange black mist enveloped the girl’s arms and legs. When it faded, I saw she was wearing school shoes and black stockings.
Now I was certain I’d just seen a Fragment disappear.
What the Hell was going on here?
Who the Hell are these girls?
The girl wearing the remnants of a uniform gained her feet and quickly walked over to the other girl by the wall.
She spoke in a flat, emotionless voice. “Now to find out who you are….”
She nudged the girl harshly, then reached for the latter’s neck and chin, and removed the helmet. The girl in the bike suit was clearly unconscious. Her eyes were open and heavily lidded, but she wasn’t home.
The uniformed girl stared at the comatose one for a long while. I watched her press her lips into a thin line, then reach into her skirt for something.
I was surprised her skirt’s pockets were still intact, which was more than could be said for the remains of the palm-slate she pulled out. After staring at it for a moment she put it back into her skirt’s pocket, then fished around the other remaining pocket.
I wondered if she was aware of my presence.
I didn’t have to wonder for long.
She suddenly stopped feeling around in her pocket and turned to faced me.
I saw her face clearly.
Wow!
What a beauty!
Near raven dark hair, emerald green eyes, and a heart shaped face.
Even with her clothes in shambles and not looking her best, I could proclaim this girl was clearly an eight point five out ten.
The only reason I didn’t give her a higher score was because I found her lacking in one critical aspect – a decent chest.
That white lacy bra might as well have been a training bra.
Despite the situation I forgot myself and released a heavy sigh.
Compared to Haruka who had an impressive bust, this girl was a major disappointment.
Even so, I gave her another good look.
On second thoughts, other than her small breasts, she had a fine figure, perfect legs, and her looks made her appear exotic. Maybe I’ll give her an eight point eight on the ten scale.
I noticed she was regarding me with a fixed, emotionless expression on her face.
I smiled guiltily. “Ah…hello there.”
“Caelum Desanto….”
I blinked and lost my smile.
She knows me? What reason could she have for knowing me?
Eh—this might not be good. Maybe I should be making a quick retreat.
“Who’s asking?” I replied as I started backing away from her.
She started walking toward me. “Please don’t make this any harder than it needs to be.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
Hadn’t I just said the same thing to Haruka?
Wait, was this girl here to make me suffer for making Haruka cry? Did Haruka’s Pride-to-be send her? Was this retribution for shredding my friendship with her?
I prepared to defend my position on the matter, but then I glanced at the unconscious girl on the ground.
Was I going to end up like her?
The flat-chested girl picked up her pace, then drew a menacing butterfly knife from her skirt pocket.
My eyes grew wide and I began to panic in earnest. “Wait—wait! What the Hell are you doing? You can’t bring that into the school. Weapons aren’t allowed on school grounds.”
“Please don’t run away,” she said.
Are you serious? Don’t run away?
As she raised the knife she added, “This is for your own good.”
Gah—she really was serious. Crazily, insanely serious.
Before I could run away she leapt toward me.
I threw my body to the left, hoping the blade would only graze me at best.
But then something odd happened.
Her leap continued carrying her toward me albeit very slowly.
It was like watching a holovid played back at a quarter speed.
>
Very slow indeed.
I had time to see the artificial sunlight glint off the blade.
Time to see her lips part slightly as she exhaled.
Time to see her body sail past me as I desperately threw myself out of the way.
It was all so surreal.
This had never happened before.
Then I saw surprise spread across her face, before it slowly turned into elation.
Her voice sounded funny, as though I was hearing it at a quarter pace as well.
“Overclocking…excellent…you have…the trait….”
I twisted my body to make use of the momentum I’d gained in order to land on my feet.
Damn, every move I made felt unbearably slow. I realized my body wasn’t keeping up with my mind.
Overclocking? Was this what she called overclocking?
She landed lightly on her feet but it didn’t prevent her slashed skirt from billowing upwards.
Okay, that had to be violet underwear I just saw.
She charged at me again, but this time she pivoted on her left foot, and lashed at me with her right.
Now I had clear view of what her skirt had been hiding.
Yes—racy violet underwear. It was sheer and seamless with lacy ruffles along the edges.
Holy Molly, this girl was going to be the death of me in more ways than one.
I wonder if Haruka ever wore underwear like that?
I tried throwing my body back, pushing off the ground with everything my legs could muster. Even though I had plenty of time to think through the move, my body failed to respond in time.
But the blow she landed on my chest wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I was already moving away from her. Even so, the impact lifted me off my feet and I sailed in slow motion through the air until my back hit the ground.
I felt the air expel from my lungs.
That took a long time.
Pain and shock raced through my body. What should have taken seconds felt like it lasted for a half minute.
Damn, this phenomenon was too weird.
Try as I might I couldn’t move in time to stop my assailant from landing on my midriff. She straddled my waist, and I felt the heat from her smooth thighs penetrate my body.
Maybe dying in slow motion wouldn’t be so bad.
I looked up into her pretty face and saw the elation on her features.
She looked genuinely happy as she raised the blade over her head.
“Sorry…this…will hurt…a little….”
I reached up as fast as I could but my arms moved unbearably slowly.
She brought the blade down and I felt it pierce my chest, but not my heart.
Blood spurted onto her hands. My blood.
A few droplets landed on her cheeks.
Great – I marred her pretty features.
Then I realized I was probably going to die if my body was spouting so much blood into the air.
The weird time phenomena started to fade and I sensed my surroundings begin to move at a normal pace.
She pulled the knife out of my chest.
If it hurt going in, it hurt twice as much going out.
I struggled to breathe and convulsed on the rooftop while she sat on my midriff.
“Don’t worry. This is sure to work. Arisa is positive of what you are, and she’s not the only one.”
My vision was growing cloudy. I could barely hear what she was saying.
But I did see her pull out and uncap something that resembled a pressurized needle.
She plunged the needle into my neck.
I felt a surge of liquid flood into me.
“She’s not wrong. She was right about me—she’s right about you. She’s definitely not wrong!”
Her elation was turning into desperation.
What the Hell was she saying about me?
Then she leaned close to me.
I smelled the scent of her hair and her perfume as she whispered.
“I’m sorry. This part is going to really hurt.”
What—you don’t think I’m in pain already?
She was looking at me, our noses only inches apart, when a burning sensation that exceeded the volcano of pain in my chest suddenly spread from my neck to the rest of my body.
If she hadn’t been holding me down with her arms, I might have thrashed myself to pieces.
As it was, the only reason I couldn’t scream was because I had no air in my lungs.
That and the fact her mouth was smothering mine.
Damn it! What a way to commemorate my first kiss – on the rooftop, with a knife wound to my chest, and a hot girl straddling my pain wracked body.
I passed out without getting the opportunity to be grateful that I did.
#
(Caprice)
I knelt on the rooftop with his head resting on my lap.
It was the classic lap pillow, the kind some girls dream of giving their boyfriends.
The kind guys dream of receiving from their girlfriends.
The kind I never thought I’d be giving a boy when I got up this morning.
He’d stopped thrashing a few minutes ago and fallen into a deep sleep.
The wound was healed in mere minutes. It was frighteningly quick.
No, I would say it was unnaturally quick, even for our kind.
No doubt Arisa’s people would be interested to know that.
I brushed away stray strands of hair from his forehead, and studied his sleeping face.
Caelum Desanto…just who are you?
I continued watching him, my face already hot from embarrassment as I gave him the lap pillow, but it grew even hotter when I considered what I’d just done.
I closed my eyes and saw sparks in the darkness.
My first kiss.
I’d given away my first kiss.
With my eyes still closed I shook my head.
No, no, no. That didn’t count. It couldn’t count. I refuse to accept that as a kiss.
I opened my eyes and studied him again.
Why did I do that?
I sighed softly.
Because I wanted to.
After all, I’d known about him for a month now, since Arisa first spoke to me about him, and this was even before the tests confirmed he was a candidate for Awakening. For a month, I’d kept his holo-photos with me on my palm-slate. When Arisa told me yesterday that I was to be her representative, I felt nervous, anxious, and yes…a little excited.
I ran my fingers over the freshly healed wound on his chest, and made up my mind.
If that kiss didn’t count, then the next one would.
I leaned down, and keeping my long hair away from my face, I kissed him gently on the lips.
This…was my first kiss.
I drew back quickly fearing I’d woken him, but I realized he was just murmuring softly in his sleep.
I dipped my head and listened.
“…violet…seamless…violet…lacy….”
My heart stopped, and then started up again a few moments later.
I felt it galloping wildly in my chest, as a mad blush turned my face supernova scarlet.
Dear gods in high heaven.
He’d seen them.
He’d definitely seen them.
No wonder his eyes nearly popped out moments before I delivered that high kick to his chest.
In that moment he’d witnessed my exclusive designer label, limited release, Midnight Parade, lacy violet panties with cute ruffles along the edges.
It wasn’t just my first kiss I’d given him.
I’d given him an exclusive view of my guilty pleasure!
My mind overheated and blanked out.
Without a doubt, I fainted on top of him.
Reflections – 1.
When the Cataclysm ripped the galaxy apart for a radius of fifty three light years, it left behind the Hurakan Nebula.
Basically, the nebula formed from the remains of numerous planets, moons, and star
s blown to bits by the trans-light shockwave.
That was more than two centuries ago.
Two hundred and thirty seven years to be exact.
Twenty years later, humanity had picked up the pieces and put together two spheres of political influence.
But the Prides were exposed and all Hell broke loose between Regulars and the Aventis.
The Regulars lost, the Aventis won, and peace settled upon the colonized remnant of the galaxy – one little corner of the galaxy.
Then the Prides initiated the Pharos Project.
To build a colony within the edge of the Hurakan Nebula.
It took forty years to build. First, asteroids of sufficient size were found. They were debris from the numerous planets that were smashed to pieces by the Cataclysm. Today, we call these asteroids The Islands.
Five Islands tied together by powerful effect-fields, and numerous cables as thick as inter-habitat buses.
Giant caverns more than a dozen kilometers long were scooped out inside each of the rock islands. These came to be known as the Habitats. Immense tunnels connected the habitats within an island, allowing people to commute between them. However, pressurized and atmospherically sealed trains ran between the Islands, transporting hundreds of passengers at a time.
I was ten when my parents died.
They were killed in an explosion set off in the largest starship dock Pharos had to offer – the Harbor Sphere of Island One.
A massive empty sphere six kilometers wide, with a hundred docks and berths cut into the rock wall of the harbor.
My parents worked for a shipping company as dockside managers.
That day a bomb was triggered inside a super freighter that had just pulled into the dock.
The vessel went boom.
The dock went boom.
My parents and hundreds of others died in an instant.
That was the day before Pharos was due to celebrate its centenary.
As historians would call it, it was a Day of Infamy.
A centenary marked in blood.
The ones responsible for the explosion announced their existence to the people of Pharos.
They declared their opposition to the Prides.
They went by the name…Crimson Crescent.
Chapter 1.
(Haruka)
The start of a new school year.
At least I wasn’t starting in a new school.
Pride X Familiar ReVamp (Pride X ReVamp Book 1) Page 4