Harbringers

Take me to Church

            Bianca woke up. Beams of light from the windows hitting her face knocked her to consciousness. She wanted to go back to sleep, but that won’t be easy. It was difficult for her to go back to sleep after waking up. Difficult, not impossible, she emphasized. Her dreams seem to be getting the best of her recently. All that she can remember were red skies, while the rest gets forgotten when she wakes up. At the foot of her bed, Lucille looked at her squarely, arms folded and one eye brow raised. Early morning and the bad news kicks in, sheesh,

            “Do you know what happened last night?” she asked.

            “You got your nails done?” Bianca replied sarcastically.

            Lucille wasn’t pleased with her answer. A faint growl hummed from her mouth. One more, and she’s going to get it.

            “No!” she replied angrily, “But yes, thanks for noticing the French tips.”

            Bianca still didn’t get it. She blankly stared at her supposed partner, shrugged and then dove into her bed. Maybe, she can drift to sleep if she tries hard enough. Maybe, she can get better dreams if  she tries hard enough. Even if she doesn't want to, she'll just have to try hard enough! Lucille was offended by such gesture, placing a hand on her chest with a mouth agape. In my very presence? she thought. She grabbed the sleeping beauty by the ankle and threw her to the carpeted floor with all her strength. Guess sleeping won’t be possible this time.

            “Ugh, what gives!” Bianca complained, groaning at the pain.

            “We missed an opportunity to take down Wrath and Greed last night!” she shouted, furiously,"... allegedly"

            “We?”

            “Yes, due to your incompetence, I wasn’t able to arrive in time to stab that man’s heart!”

            “Incompetence?”

            “You were too asleep last night, I can’t wake you up!”

            “That’s what people do… at night… sleep… get a life!”

            Lucille was getting impatient with her. A lack of attention to details, carelessness, poor comprehension skills, and laziness, everything she hates in an accomplice! Then she is reminded of how much of a horn dog and a slob the remaining options were, forcing her to be at least be grateful for Bianca. She inhaled deeply, calming her down slightly. She grabbed the remote from the bed and switch a flat screen T.V. on. It showed a familiar hospital reported to crumbled down just last night by unknown means and an earthquake occurring afterwards. Police report states that there were no survivors in the incident.

           "So that's where my earthquake went," she stated, fixed at the debacle on the screen, " who knew..."

            "You can send earthquakes?" Bianca screamed in shock

            "But that's not the point." 

        Lucille sat on the bed and stared at Bianca. She looked even more serious now. 

            “Beatrice may have escaped last night,” she stated, fixed at the debacle on screen, “It is unsure if she was recruited or simply escaped... or simply dead”

            Bianca’s eye grew from the scene. For the past three months, nothing this public have occurred. It was just a cat and mouse chase before. Playful but sly. This time, civilians were involved, other patients were compromised, and this might be the doing by other Children of Hell. Someone Lucille considered as their kin. She was scared. This is no diplomatic mission anymore or a volatile and vulgar exchanges.  

            “Being the daughter of Leviathan and that show of power, must’ve been some manipulation from Wrath or something but, letting that loose is a bad idea.” Lucille continued, “We either force her to join us as a form of contingency or we take her down.”

            “Take her down?” Bianca gasped at the idea, not once in her did she think of killing anyone.

            “Or we can wait for her Blessed counterpart to do the job for us, but that will take longer.”

            Out of nowhere, she flaunts a knife, filleting the air, implying to choose the second option. Bianca shook her head in disbelief. It was too fast. She stood from the floor and headed for the refrigerator. She grabbed instant meals from it and slammed it all in the microwave. She remained silent for a long time, only the hum of the microwave filled the room. She didn’t want to be a part of this.

            “Bianca,” Lucille called, “you know from the start something like this may happen.”

            Bianca didn’t respond. It was true. But she didn’t want to acknowledge it, not in front of her. She ignored the woman behind her, for a while she wants to dissolve in her own world. The blonde clicked her tongue with the treatment. She placed the knife at the table top, making her consider the option. 

            "Why won't you investigate the area..." Lucille suggested intently, "maybe, you'll see something... or Beatrice." 

            She then left the room for Bianca to think or to just submit, but she hoped it would be the latter.

            It is unsure what kind of danger Beatrice could be, since she never revealed her set of powers until now, if that calamity was really hers, they are in trouble. Right now, Bianca felt obligated to talk sense into her and turn this thing around. She pulled a map of America from a drawer and a bottle of ink and laid it out on a table. As much as she hated to get out of her room or use her powers, she had to. She needs to get there before Wrath or the Blessed comes or even Lucille attacks. She dropped a dot at the center and focused.

            “Show me what I seek,” she chanted, “grant me what I desire.”

            The ink started to quiver in response to the incantations.

            “Bring me to where she is…” she continued, “for my name is-“

            She hissed. The ink snaked through the map, tracking the kid she needed to find. The maps showed that she is in a bay. Her body felt light, she didn’t like this part. She closed her eyes as she get submerged into flames.

-         ­

      It was Sunday afternoon. At a church, a little girl knelt with her mother. Both of them were praying solemnly to God. The glass art amazed the young one, how colorful and beautiful the images were. She didn’t understand the stories behind it before. However, those didn’t keep her from her inquiry.

            “Mama,” little Bianca asked, “when will I meet Father?”

            Her mother just smiled, avoiding the topic. Instead of answering her, she was offered gelato at the next shop after. That completely distracted the kid from her question. She nodded in excitement and continued to pray or at least pretended to pray. After the mass, the little blondie cheered for some dessert, her mother just chuckling at the gesture. As they head out, a hooded figure stood before her. a knife in hand. Everyone disappeared, even her mom. She panicked, what's going on? she thought. Then she was no longer a child, it was no longer her memories. The hooded figure pointed her blade at her, seemingly threatening her. 

        "Don't stand in my way child!" she warned. 

-

        The ink burst and the map ripped, Bianca returned back in her room, heaving for breath, her throat was dry and her cheeks wet with tears. What was that? she thought, scared on what just happened. Using the ledge of the table top, she pulled herself up to stand. She looked at the mess on the surface Without a map, she can't locate anyone. 

           "But I don't want to go!" she groaned, her shoulders slumping at the idea. 

            I got to stop, she noted, I sound like Lucille now... God, being with her is, too contagious. The brunette slapped her face to focus. She breathed deeply, hoping this time she can do it... even without a map. She clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. She imagined the hospital, that's where she's supposed to be any way. She imagined how it was wrecked in the news. Caution tape sprawled all over the area, and officers waving not to mind. She can feel the flames tinge her skin once again. It's working! Flames erupted and-

        "Don't stand in my way child!" those words echoed in her head losing her concentration. 

        "Where am I?" she wondered, looking at the lush greeneries she is at. 

            There were plants. Birds chirped from tree to tree. She ended up in a forest. This didn't make any sense at all. Someone is obviously disrupting her powers. She hasn't been herself lately, she noticed. She's been spacing out and groggy recently. Maybe those dreams had to do with it? She can't explain it, but it seems like she's really there. She sat down on the grass, maybe those dreams were distracting her. Maybe, if she figured things out, she can finally use her powers better? She shut her eyes. Pushing out the images from her head. She forcefully recalled what happened... to no avail. It's no use.

            It's really no use. She didn't want to be here at all- she didn't want to locate people or to kill someone. The brunette's eyes blurred and her throat tightened, she cupped her mouth as she lets out a bawl. Three months ago, she was happily living with her mother back in Paris, the next thing she knows she's got caught up in this Children of Hell mumbo-jumbo. She could recall that night when she was found by Lucille.

            It was the middle of the night. Bianca called her mom for a glass of water, but no one attended her. She didn’t want to get out of her bed but she badly wanted a glass of water. This forced her to head downstairs. Before she can reach the door of the refrigerator, she saw a woman slump on the floor. Her mother must’ve overworked herself again. She sighed and decided to wake her up. She shake her by the shoulder to no avail. She was in deep sleep. Through her force, she was able to turn her mother, revealing a stab wound. Her eyes widened and her mouth locked. The woman in her hands is now dead. Her mother is now dead.

            Then the sirens blared, police were fast on their feet and announced they have surrounded the house. Some even kicked the door to enter. Officers pointed their gun at her willing to shoot her dead if she did anything suspicious. She was told to raise her hands and just join them Bianca didn’t understand what was happening. She just wanted a glass of water. That’s when she arrived. A swift swipe cut all their throats, blood squirting in all directions. Some even sprayed at Bianca’s face.

            “What is your name?” She asked as she offered her hand.

            “Bianca… Bianca De Milo…” she whispered.

            “Now, Bianca De Milo, serve your future queen, and you will promised a handsome position at my court.”

            With no options left and disoriented, she took the hand of her presumed savior.

            Then everything shifted.

            The sky was stained blood-red. Random citizens were lying on the ground. Buildings were crushed and destroyed. Bianca traversed the empty street, curious of what happened prior. Beneath her feet, the ground cracked and grumbled. Everything shook. She couldn’t keep her balance, swaying at the changing directions of the land. From the depths, a guttural laughter emanated. The surface cracked more, slowly a hand emerged from it trying to reach out for escape.

            “Do you wish to end this?” a voice sounded.

            Bianca was hesitant. She doesn’t know anything about this. She doesn’t want to jump into yet another deal. Then from the cracks, red liquid started gushing out, melting anything it touched. Panic set in. She was pushed to a corner once again.

            “Y-yes!” Bianca answered, willing to escape the nightmare.

            “Well then…”

            A white light shot down from the sky. It expanded, wiping everything it hits into nothingness.   

            Bianca broke herself from sleep, gasping for breath and sweaty. She didn't know she passed out from crying. What was that?  She doesn't understand what's happening anymore. This Children of Hell debacle doesn't make sense anymore! It's frustrating- it's making her feel things, see things, and remember things she doesn't want surfaced. It was emotionally breaking her apart. She hugged herself, tightly gripping her shoulders. She's all alone now. Not even her supposed partner can give her comfort. She just wants- 

           "I just want this to be over!" Bianca shouted in exasperation. 

            A hot feeling resonated in her body. Her skin singed in heat as it smoked, the she burst into flames. Musky wind wiped past her face. The place smelled of rut and soil. She gagged at the smell and opened her eyes. It was a tarnished down room.  Everything that was in here had either broke or crushed. The window section of the place was blown off exposing the view. She presumed she was somewhere at sixth to fifth floor. She recognized the place, it was the hospital that crumbled down from the news. Her frustrations did brought her here? Neat. 

            “I guess, I'm here…” Bianca concluded.

            “I guess, you're here to finish the job?” A man said weakly

            The voice was familiar. Bianca turned. A man in a leather body suit impaled in metal spokes and crushed by huge debris. door frame. His free hand tightly gripped his spear for his life. He bore a coy smile and vicious glare highlighted by his facial piercings. It was the child of Greed, Vladimir Montgomery. This is bad, Bianca thought. She tried to calm her mind but panic set in quicker. Her pulse paced faster. Just take me somewhere. Sadly, no fires ignited.  Vladimir chuckled in a mocking fashion. Even in his position, Bianca still felt threatened, she gulped her fears down, the Child of Greed can't hurt you. 

        "Where's Bea?" Bianca interrogated with obvious hints of worry 

        "How would I know..." he coughed, blood spat out.

          "Then... do you know who did this?" 

        "Just get me out of my misery, talking to you is too painstaking." 

         It was no use, she's here but she can't get any information out, going here was useless. She might as well leave, still, the feeling sympathy stopped the girl from leaving. Vlad might've been their enemy but it didn't feel right to just leave him to die. She can recall how he bargained for treasures and offerings from Lucille. Even asking for the throne from the Child of Lucifer. This turned off Lucille and mocked him, calling him good-for-nothing and dreamt too high. Apparently, he thought he can influence and manipulate Lucille by his macho façade, but fortunately, the future queen is too full of herself to care for someone’s demands.  It was too untimely to see how someone high and mighty like him to fall from grace. 

        Little did she know, she was moving away the debris from his body, freeing him. Slowly, his lost blood crawled, working its way to its wounds and even melting the spokes that blocked it, assimilating it. Vladimir chuckled, while Bianca was confused. How did this happen? she panicked

        "You're too weak!" he mocked, with a coy smile, "And you call yourself a Child of Hell!"

        Those words hit her. She completely forgot about his powers of recovery and emotional persuasion- she totally left her guard down. Before Vlad can swipe her with his spear, she was able to teleport out of the way only to materialize just a few feet away. 

          "I'm not letting you leave, babe!" he claimed as he stands up, fully recovered in an instant, "You should've finished the job sooner!" 

            "I'm nothing like you!" she shouted. 

        He hurled his spear at her direction, the force caused the whole place to grumble. She clapped a wave pressure to change its direction, dodging it by her skin. She launched a ball of flame at his direction only for him to face it head on, it didn't affect him at all, not even slow him down. She bit her lower lip. What can she do? He summons another spear from the thin air and plunges it to the floor, a stream of viscid black liquid swept  the floor, causing Bianca to slip. 

        "I'm not letting you go, this time." he sneered, reaching out his palm. 

        Multiple spears ejected from the liquid, discharged in different directions, some even scratching Bianca, as she tries to crawl to a safe spot. As it goes on, more spears emerged, making it even more difficult to evade. Cuts filled her arms and thighs, she felt weak already. Her emotions are stopping her from focusing the image of the hotel room. She can't leave. This might be her death bed. The spears stopped, and the liquid has finally ran out. Is it over? she thought, all she could see was Vladimir pointing up, revealing black stalactite-like objects from the ceiling of the room.  

        Bianca was shaking and hyperventilating. She was too clouded to think or act. Lucille was both the smarts and the brawn of the team. She wasn’t anything but a baggage. If Lucille was there she wouldn’t be in this kind of trouble. She might've even killed Vladimir the moment she saw him and avoiding this fiasco. As much as she didn’t want to admit she needed Lucille. If she didn’t act on her own and just agreed to her this wouldn’t have happened. All she can do is hoped that maybe Hell wouldn't be as bad as the priest used to say. Maybe, she'll be welcome there as the Daughter of Belphegor. She clasped her hands and shut her eyes. This is how it ends. 

            "N-no way..." Vladimir breathed. 

        She opened one eye and saw an arm flung to her. It was convulsing and spraying blood much to her shock. She looked at the owner of the arm and there she saw. The same hooded figure in her vision, holding the same knife but bloodied. The figure stood before the gasping Vladimir, ready to finish him off. But some parts of Bianca didn't feel it was right. She forced herself to stand despite the throbbing of her wounds, she reached out to the figure, hoping she can stop it. 

          "Tell Bea, I said hi," a feminine,  yet familiar, voice said, preparing to slice him.

            "Stop!" Bianca called out, "This isn't-"

        The woman waved her hand and Bianca lost her consciousness, she fought the urge to fall asleep yet again. She didn't know what she was doing. She held out her palm and imagined the two figures gone. Then everything went black.