Note: This is a *horror* story. Clive Barker once said, "You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, and you can't make a horror film without breaking heads.". There's blood and death in this story. You've been warned. ===== Renaku gazes up at the night sky as he walks. The path before him shines silver. Lord Moon might well be his only friend these days; he smiles down, illuminating the night, giving comfort where Lady Sun's anger would char Renaku's vampiric flesh. The moon is waning gibbous, a shadow just starting to creep over his face. An omen? No, it can't be an omen, Renaku thinks; the moon has gone through the same cycle of light and darkness since the world began... Renaku blinks, and looks more closely at the moon. The darkness creeping across its face is not only that of the Earth's shadow; there are clouds scudding slowly across the sky. Storm clouds, from the look of it... A strange chill settles on Renaku's spine. The last time he saw clouds like that... Renaku comes to the top of a hill, and looks down on a valley. A pleasant place, even in the night, with a picturesque town nestled in the bottom... And clouds sweeping across the valley, blocking the moonlight...The edge of the darkness sweeps over the town... Renaku stands, frozen. Memories surge up in his mind, and claim him... ===== ----------------------------------------------------------------- Vampire Legend R, Part 4: Tale of the Fumu Coalition Chapter the Second: Edges of Darkness ----------------------------------------------------------------- ===== Renaku woke to the sound of thunder. He blinked, and stretched his wings, yawning. The vampire in him knew the sun had just set, yet the room was dark as a moonless night. The air was heavy; there was no rain, but there would be soon. Renaku was hanging upside down from a rafter in an abandoned hermit's shack, wearing the form of a bat. He let go and flapped down to the floor, then grew to the shape of a wolf, a body much better suited to hunting in a rainy forest. From the maps in the bandit cave and the directions the leader gave him, he knew that the fortress of the Fumu would be two day's travel once the river Melegan was crossed...for a human. For a wolf, one day would most likely be enough, but he had no reason to hurry. Nearby was a town called Melegorazi, which straddled the river; he decided to stop there tonight and see if there was any useful information to be had, and then continue on to find a roost across the river. Renaku loped out of the building. He didn't use his wolf form that often; it was easier to travel as a bat, and fight as a human...but now he was reminded of how powerful the wolf was. Quick and strong, born to the wild, with an unmatched sense of smell. No human would ever know the true beauty of the forest's mingled scent; it was like a painting, a tapestry...something there were no words for, at least in any language of man. Renaku's nose caught a familiar scent...a demon. A creature of darkness, roaming in search of prey. He followed the scent; if he found it, he could purge some of the evil from the world, and sate his dark hunger as well... The trail meandered about the forest, leading back and forth. Here and there Renaku came upon the remains of rabbits and other small forest creatures. The demon seemed to have the same idea as Renaku, hunting down the night's sustenance. Then the trail started to curve back on itself. Almost as if... Renaku dove forward and rolled, shifting to human form as he did so. The demon crashed through the brush behind him. No doubt about it, this thing was both fast and smart. Calling on his vampiric strength, Renaku leaped backward, drawing his blade as he turned in a long flip. He landed facing the spot where he had been standing a moment ago; as he'd hoped, the thing had jumped at where he was, passing under him as he flipped, and it was now right in front of him. Renaku then realized the flaw in his plan: the thing was now right in front of him. Renaku's demonslayer blade glowed white in the darkness, but its light didn't penetrate the onrushing shadow. Renaku waited until the last moment, then spun to the side, slicing at the demon as it flew by him. A howl of pain split the air and the monster crashed to the ground, the demonslayer blade growing hot. Renaku stepped toward the demon and raised his sword. The blade shone brightly, and a dark mist flowed from the demon's body. As it was drawn into the onyx core of the blade, the glow faded, and the sword grew cool. Renaku exhaled. "Not a bad workout," he said to the forest at large. He looked down at the demon... The body was that of a wolf. Renaku stared. After a moment, his mind started to work again. It was just a monster shaped like a wolf...or maybe it had been a wolf possessed by a demon. A tragedy that an innocent beast had to be slain, but it was better off dead than furthering the cause of evil... Renaku couldn't shake the thought that he'd just killed himself. His supernatural hearing picked something up, off in the forest. A voice...a woman's voice? Renaku stalked quietly through the forest...as a human. ===== "Well, if you think all four of you are enough to take down one lone woman...why don't you come on and try!" Renaku peered through the trees. With his enhanced sight, he could make out a woman surrounded by four bandits. She wore a dark gray cloak, the color of the storm clouds overhead, but edged with golden threads. She seemed to have a sword in each hand. Her voice was young, and filled with confidence. Renaku judged her to be about 21. She had her back to him, so he couldn't see any of what she was wearing other than the cloak...But from that, and her confidence, Renaku guessed her to be a wizard of some sort. Renaku glanced around at the bandits. There was something about them...an aura of darkness, a scent of evil. They had been touched by something dark. They reminded him of the Fumu. Renaku considered. He didn't want her to be killed, of course, but she didn't sound like she wanted any help. And he'd never seen a wizard fight before... Suddenly, the bandit in front of her to the left lunged at her. She flicked his blade off track with her left sword, then neatly skewered him with the right. The bandit to her right came at her then; she whipped her right sword out of the first one's body and met his oncoming cut, then brought her left sword in and opened his stomach, spilling his entrails. Renaku blinked. She moved as fast as a master swordsman, but her swings were still somehow wild... The two bandits behind her were charging forward. She did the same trick Renaku had earlier that night, leaping over them in a backflip. Renaku caught a glimpse of the front of her, upside down in the air; light leather armor, more for mobility than protection, in the same colors as her cloak...and blond hair tightly braided in the back. She landed like a cat, and sprang forward, her two swords ready. The bandits' dark blades sang through the air, but she tangled them together. As she held them back with her left sword, her right flashed at one bandit's throat; as he went down, her swords flashed again, and she was the only one standing. Renaku was sure of it now. Her moves had been practiced diligently, but not mastered. Her speed was not the harmony of mind and body warriors aspired to...it was boosted by something else. The wizard woman sheathed her swords in twin hip scabbards, and wiped her brow...then suddenly spun to face in Renaku's direction. "I know you're there!" she yelled. "Come out, and state your business!" ===== Renaku stepped out of the forest, his hands raised. "I mean no harm," he said. Fortunately, she had spoken in Vantala, the common tongue of the continent of Vantana. Renaku didn't trust his Asurianam enough to use it for such a situation..."My name is Renaku. I am a lone demon hunter, searching for the Fumu." "Really? Well, that *is* an interesting coincidence. My name is Leandra, a wizard. I'm also looking for the Fumu." Leandra eyed him warily. "Do you have some sort of powerful magic about you?" Renaku lowered his hands. He had thought she would instantly sense his vampiric nature...but perhaps if his blade was powerful enough..."I have my demonslayer blade, which gives me a chance to stand up to creatures of darkness." He drew the blade and pointed it at her, trying to forget the one time his blade hadn't saved him... Leandra touched the blade...then smiled. "Yes, that's it. It's quite an item; the power it gives off is incredible..." Renaku relaxed as well. It seemed his secret was safe, at least for now. And the sword had stayed cool while she touched it; there was no evil about her. "As I say, without it I would most likely not survive very long in this line of work. And you, your wizardly powers protect you in this dark land?" She grinned. "Something like that. Well...It's obvious why a demon hunter would be in Melegan, but I suppose you're wondering why *I'm* here." "The thought had occurred to me," Renaku admitted. "Well, perhaps, since we're both seeking the Fumu, it would be smart to travel together, at least for a time." Renaku smiled. "I would welcome company, after so long alone, in Melegan." Leandra beamed. "Wonderful!" A woman, Renaku thought. In the stories, there's always a woman... ===== They trudged along a forest path. Leandra seemed willing to take the lead, obviously trusting to her magical powers to alert her of anything Renaku might try. Renaku's supernatural senses would easily have done the same if he was walking in front...but watchfulness was ingrained in him by now, like the blood staining the scabbard at his hip. All the same...there was no real reason to distrust her. Perhaps it was just that he hadn't spoken to any women recently. There had been a couple in Sertni'wuth he had begun to get to know, but he had left so abruptly... Renaku resolved to try and make conversation. Now, what was a good neutral topic? Ah, yes..."It seems we're in for a storm," he commented. Leandra looked back at him with a grin. "That's because of me." "Oh?" "That's right. I'm a lightning wizard. That means that storms help my magic." "I see," Renaku replied. "So...you're helping the storm along, so you'll be more powerful to take on the Fumu?" "Oh, I could take them on sunny day without a cloud in the sky...but more power never hurts." "Sometimes it does," Renaku murmured. "What?" "Just talking to myself. So...I've never met a lightning wizard. In fact, I've had little contact with wizards of any stripe. What does it entail? If you can tell me without divulging trade secrets, that is..." Leandra laughed. "The really important things, I could tell you and you'd have no idea what they meant. And the simple things aren't secret." Renaku raised an eyebrow. "So it's the medium secrets that are dangerous?" "No, it's the years of training you need to understand the big things." Renaku considered. "Well, then, tell me some simple things." "I thought you might say that." Leandra broke a twig off a bush, put the end in her mouth, and chewed. "Storms are powerful, and unpredictable, natural forces," she said around the twig. "Lightning is the pinnacle of the storm, the ultimate manifestation of its might. Water torn by wind, fire falling to earth. An instant of time, a power that shakes the heavens." Renaku's forehead creased. "You'll forgive me, but most of my education was in swordplay..." Leandra laughed again. "That's all right, it took me a while before I understood it myself. You see, the interaction of water and wind during a storm builds up a pressure, which is released in a burst of lightning flying to the ground. It's that instant, the sudden release of power, which is the heart of my magic." In Renaku's mind, he saw a glimmer of light. "So that's what your sword technique was based on...sudden bursts of speed and power." She peered at him. "Yes, the Two Swords of the Storm technique. My magic makes it work. You must know a lot about fighting." "I've had a lot of experience," Renaku said truthfully. "I'm a bit older than I may look, to tell the truth." "Hm. Well, I'm 21 myself; I just recently completed my apprenticeship, and I'm off exploring the world." Renaku felt a twinge of fear in his heart. "Are you sure you're ready for Melegan, and the Fumu?" Leandra tossed her head. "Of course. I passed my final test easily. My master even said he was the best student he'd ever had." "Not all the creatures in this valley will be as easy as the bandits," Renaku said quietly. She glanced at him irritably. "Well, I've only shown you a fraction of my power as yet!" The face of a fellow knight came to Renaku then, from the days long ago when he studied under Mardin, the sword master. The young knight's name...he couldn't remember his name, but he could never forget his face. His face, boasting of his skill with the sword, then later, soaked with blood... "And how about you?" Leandra said suddenly. Renaku snapped back to the present. "I'm sorry?" "What's your story, demon slayer?" "My story..." Renaku knew she wouldn't want to hear it, not after trusting him as she seemed to. "I've been wandering the continent of Vantana for many years, fighting demons and monsters...recently, I stopped in the village of Sertni'wuth, and stayed for several months. I might have stayed there forever, but then the Fumu attacked, and I knew the town would best be served by my doing what I could to end the menace they posed." "I see." They walked in silence for a few moments. "I passed through Sertni'wuth on my way here," Leandra said. "I'm originally from Abnartei, on the other side of the Degirf Sea." Abnartei, Renaku thought. The Degirf, the 'Asurian Lake', was between Abnartei and Melegan. Even though it was still part of Asurion, it was likely the Fumu never reached it in their raids. This woman couldn't have known what being attacked by them was like... "I met with a shaman in Sertni'wuth, by the name of Unoeno," she continued. "My master had known him at one point. He mentioned a demon hunter who had gone alone, to challenge the Fumu. I suppose that was you." She grinned. "He called you a fool, walking to certain doom." "Unoeno is a wise man," Renaku said quietly. He was also one of the few who knew Renaku was a vampire, and did not hold it against him...one of the reasons he had to protect Sertni'wuth. Leandra blinked, and frowned. They walked in silence for a few more moments. Then she said, "He also mentioned a prophecy of some kind...he seemed to think it had something to do with you." "Oh?" Renaku feigned ignorance. "Yes. He said...'When darkness wars with darkness, the deepest shadow is lifted, or else grows to cover the world." Leandra watched him carefully. "What do you think he meant by that?" Renaku shrugged. "Who knows?" They walked on. "Do you know where we're going?" Leandra asked. Renaku blinked. "I was just following you." "Well, I was following this path." "Ah, I see. Well, from the maps I've seen, I'd guess we're nearly to a village called Melegorazi, which straddles the Melegan River." Leandra raised an eyebrow. "Melegorazi." "That's correct." "Do you know Melegash?" Renaku frowned. "Melegash?" "The language of Melegan. A corruption of Asurianam, with a few words taken from demonic tongues." "Really? Melegash is the language of Melegan...I'm sorry, I've never heard of it. And my Asurianam isn't that good, either." "I didn't think you had. 'Melegorazi' is Melegash for 'Demon's Roost'." They walked on a bit longer. "Charming," Renaku said finally. ===== "Wait," Renaku said. Leandra stopped, and looked at him. "What is it?" Renaku drew his sword, and stared into the darkness. "Something's close." Leandra looked around, then touched her forehead and murmured a few words. She spun, drawing her swords. "There!" Renaku whirled, but Leandra was already slicing at a shadow with gleaming fangs. As she fought, another monster sprang from the forest at her back. Renaku quickly stepped in front of it, his sword singing upward; the thing crashed into him, nearly knocking him over, then dissolved into smoke that flowed into his sword. Renaku felt his senses sharpen as the dark energy of the monster's soul invigorated him. He scanned the area; more threats were approaching, many of them, but they had a few moments to prepare. He spun to face Leandra. "You're going to get yourself killed!" Renaku snapped. Leandra turned and sneered at him. "I can take care of myself, knight." "Well, prepare yourself...more demons are upon us. It will be best if we fight back to back." Renaku turned to face the other direction. There was a rush of air, and Leandra landed in front of Renaku. "No." She winked, and spun around, neatly bisecting a monster in mid- leap. Renaku snarled, and whirled around to cut down a demon approaching from behind him, then swung back to gauge Leandra's situation. A dark bandit was in front of her and a wolf thing to her right, with another bandit approaching from the left. Surging around her left side, he thrust at the corrupted swordsman's face, batting away its dark blade by sheer strength. Shadow poured from the thing's neck; Renaku wrenched his sword free and pulled it back to slice the other bandit, which Leandra quickly dispatched. "I don't need your help!" Leandra yelled. "Yes, you do!" Renaku yelled, just as loudly. He swiveled around in a Mandion Arc, his sword taking down two beasts before being stopped by the blade of a shadowy warrior. He abandoned the Mandion Arc stance and whipped off two feints, finishing in a neat decapitation. He spun back to face Leandra. She seemed pale...and Renaku realized that she probably suspected. He'd allowed his swordplay to reach superhuman levels. For some reason, that just made him angrier. The darkness reached up for him... "Your overconfidence would have killed you twice already, if I hadn't been here! How do you expect to defeat--no, *survive* the Fumu, jumping into fights like that?" He glared at her, breathing heavily. Leandra's eyes blazed. "You think I'm some helpless little girl, but let me tell you something, Sir Demon Hunter! I'm a fully trained wizard, and I don't need *anyone*! Least of all YOU!" She turned and ran off into the forest. Renaku used the few Asurianam swear words he knew, and ran after her. He expected to catch her in seconds, but she moved--like lightning. "Where are you going?" Renaku called. "Melegorazi's just ahead! I'll show you!" Her laughter floated back to him. Renaku increased his pace to the limit of his supernatural ability, but couldn't catch her. Then, after breathless moments, he burst into a clearing. Renaku stopped, and stared. Part of him noticed Leandra next to him...the rest was frozen. Melegorazi. ===== The buildings were ordinary enough. Everything else was nightmare. The town had been enveloped by the Fumu's darkness. Fires burned at random intervals, in the paths winding through the village. Things prowled the town...They looked like walking shadows, blurry patches of blackness even the firelight shied away from. Some of them walked, some flew, some crawled... The buildings were organized in a crescent, around the clearing Renaku had entered. In the center of the clearing was a stake, surrounded by a pile of black wood, over which shadows were flickering like flames. A man was tied to the stake, and he was screaming. On one side of the stake stood a group of men and women, their eyes hollow. On the other side stood a group of dark, humanoid Fumu. A figure in a hooded robe was watching the stake. He turned, and pointed to them. A voice came from the hood, laced with madness. "The harvest must not be interrupted." Fumu of all shapes and sizes boiled towards them. Renaku's mind sank into a battle trance. He heard his teacher's voice again, just as it was when he was learning to fight... "The Mandion Arc technique is only useful when your opponents are less powerful. For a group of opponents of comparable strength, the appropriate choice is the Hive Swarm style." Renaku leaped over the first wave of Fumu, slicing at a wolf-thing and a dark bird. He landed and cut quickly at two more targets, then took to the air again. The Fumu tripped over each other in confusion. With luck, his supernatural stamina would let him wear down their numbers. They just had to stay focused on him-- "Did you forget about me, evil spawn?" Leandra! That foolish girl...Renaku spun to face her; her swords flashed like lightning in the night, cutting down shadow after shadow, but he knew she couldn't last against the tide forever. "Renaku!" Renaku spun again to see a shadow capering. "Join us, Renaku! Join the shadow!" Renaku yelled a battle cry, and hacked his way toward Leandra, but there were too many Fumu even for him, all calling his name... "Renaku! Renaku!" "Join us, Renaku!" "You're welcome here, Renaku! You always have been!" "Shut up!" Renaku cried, punching and kicking at the mass of shadows, using his sword more like a club now, but no less deadly for it. "Renaku! We know your secret! Renaku! Renaku!" A Fumu warrior slipped up behind Leandra. Renaku saw it coming, and could do nothing. Its dark blade flashed, and she screamed... "Renaku!" Renaku let the darkness boil up and claim him. He planted his foot and spun, and the Fumu scattered like leaves, ashes on the wind. He swept through them like a storm, red and black and shadow screaming in his eyes, as his blade sang with dark souls. Then, all at once, he came back to himself. ===== Renaku looked around. Bodies littered the ground, their life stripped away by his sword. Leandra lay on the ground as well, but she was alive. She clutched her side, her hand red with blood...blood... She was staring at him. Her mouth was forming a word he knew all too well. He looked away. The only Fumu left was the one in the hooded robe. Renaku stared at him, and approached him. He did not move. Renaku held up his sword, and pointed it at the Fumu. It pulled at his hand, hungry for the tainted soul. "Tell me," he said. "About the Fumu. And maybe I'll let you free." A strange sound came from the hood. After a moment, Renaku realized the Fumu was laughing. "You'll know soon enough, Renaku...more than you can imagine!" The Fumu pitched forward suddenly, impaling himself on Renaku's sword. Renaku stared as mad laughter echoed through the clearing...laughter which changed, at the last, to a sob of pain that was all too human... Renaku felt a chill grip his heart. He reached forward and pulled back the hood, knowing what he would see... The face of Unoeno the shaman. ===== And in the forest, the grackle laughed, its voice edged with darkness... ===== Vampire Legend R started by Ben Overmeyer. Vampire Legend R Part 4 by John Evans, jevans@datablast.net. Special thanks to my dear friend Mark, who helped me work out some ideas.