Chapter 40: 38 – Anticipation

POV - Anastasia

"Come on, Mitena!"

"Groewell!"

This is so exciting! I'm getting a new cousin today! It was only two months ago that Mitena joined our family, and I'm already getting a new member!

She's grown a lot. Mommy Lia let me name her, and now she has all her scales and just keeps growing and growing! Her scales are all black with little specks of white at the edges. It really looks a lot like what her shell looked like. She has been sleeping in my bed with me each night along with the cute stuffed monsters that Mommy Ailine made for me a long time ago. 

Right now she just follows me around all day and we play together and I feed and water her. Mommy Ailine gave me a lot of rabbits and squirrels to put in my belt pouch. Marquise Whitewater was really surprised when she first saw Mitena! Hahaha!

Mommy Lia said Mitena is bigger than a dragon from someplace called Komodo. Her scales are also getting a bit prickly, but her wings are really cool! She can't fly yet, but maybe Talon can help her? I'll have to ask my mommies later. Talon has been busy with Aunt Navi. They said she's learning magic! So cool! I love Talon, and her feathers are so soft when you hug her neck.

Running with Mitena right next to me, we make it through Talon's room and into the fairy garden. The whole entire castle is here to watch my new cousin be born! 

I run up to Mommy Ailine and she says, "Excited to see your new cousin?"

"I am! So excited! I wonder what she'll be like."

"If the others are any indicator, full of energy and slightly mischievous," Mommy Lia says as she comes out last. 

Aunt Navi and my cousins are flying all around. They seem really excited. 

Finally, after waiting for almost an hour, the flower opens up and my new cousin yawns, stretches her arms, and blinks. Before she could do anything, Aunt Navi flies down and hugs her tight.

"Oh my goodness, you're so cute! Mommy loves you so much already! You're just too precious, and look at how pretty your little wings are! Oh, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you—"

As Aunt Navi kept on talking really fast to my cousin, I had to admit, she really was pretty. The other fairies have wings that are a little see through. The new fairy has wings that are a solid yellow and gold with black all along the edges and on the solid bits running through each wing. Her hair was curly and went down just past her shoulders. It looks brown where it comes out of her head, but slowly changes as it curls down to eventually become a bright blonde. Her skin also has a very light tan.

"Hey, Mom. Could you let go of me for a second, please?" my new cousin said.

"I won't! I refuse! I'll hold onto you forever and ever and ever and ever—"

"FAIRY CHOP!"

With a shout the new fairy karate chopped Aunt Navi on the head. This completely froze her in the air. There's also a white smoke thing floating out of her mouth. Her wings were't even moving but she just stayed in the air. How does that work? I'll have to ask Mommy Lia later. With the new fairy now free, some of the shock wears off.

Tsuki was laughing and holding her tummy. "Hahaha! You rock, Lil Sis!"

"It's alright, Mother. She still loves you," Lala said as she patted Aunt Navi on the head. "You're just a bit extreme when you meet us for the first time."

The new fairy flies over to them. "Sorry, Mom. It was just too much. I love you."

"My baby still loves me? I'm not hated by my baby? No, my baby hates me. My baby hit my head. Life doesn't matter. I need to go write some poetry. Lia, where's our old My Chemical Romance or Brand New CDs?"

Still in a daze and mumbling to herself with dead eyes, Mommy Lia talks to her. That's good. Mommy Lia and Aunt Navi always know what to say to help each other.

"Navi, fucking pull yourself together you fucking wannabe tooltip! You have a new baby that needs a goddamn name and clothes. Don't you want to dress up your new girl in some weird outfits you fucking pedobear? And how the fuck is your soul or ghost or whatever, fucking coming out of your mouth? Flap your wings and stop fucking with physics! You aren't in a fucking anime you damn mosquito!" 

"Dress up?... Name?... Yes! That's right! You need a name and then we can all cosplay together!" Aunt Navi started fluttering her wings again and looked like her normal self. "Thanks you poopy Shalltear wannabe. I'm back now! Yes! Now a name! Hmm… So many good names… Carmen! Carmen Nikita! The third princess."

"Sup, Lil Sis! I'm Tsuki."

"And I'm Lala. It's nice to meet you, Sister!"

"Hi, Tsuki, Lala. Sorry for breaking Mom."

Tsuki waves her hand. "Ah, don't worry about it. She's always like that whenever she doesn't see us for an hour or two. Aunt Lia usually snaps her out of it."

"Carmen! I got a nice little dress for you and some panties!" Aunt Navi said, waving a dress in one hand and underwear in the other.

Carmen's face went white. "Mom! Don't just wave my underwear around!"

"Don't worry, my baby! We all watched as you were born. Seeing you naked or in your underwear isn't anything to us! Besides! You're flashing us all right now you cute little exhibitionist!"

Carmen tries to cover herself. "Mooooom!"

After some more back and forth, Carmen was given her clothes. A white halter top sundress with yellow handprints all over it. It looked really cute! Aunt Navi finally got started introducing everyone. I had to wait until the end! So mean, Aunt Navi!

She finally comes to me. "And then this cute little munchkin is your cousin, Anastasia."

"Hi, Carmen! It's nice to finally meet you! Your wings and hair are so pretty!" Mommy Lia said it's always good to compliment someone. I like compliments, so others probably do too.

"Thanks, Anastasia." She flies over and gives my neck a little hug. "Your long black hair looks so smooth and soft! Let's be good friends, alright?"

"Yes!"

We both have big smiles. I'm so excited to spend more time with my new cousin!"

=====

POV - Tsuki

"Hey, Mom? Would it be cool with you if I showed Carmen around? I know you're working with Talon on her magic and helping to make the new fields."

"Hmm? Are you sure, baby?" Mom said.

"Yeah! We'll see you later! Come on, Lil Sis!"

I grab Carmen's hand and fly off with her. I'm actually really excited to have a new sister. I love Big Sis, but I always feel like I'm being coddled as the youngest. Now, I have an awesome new sister to teach things to! I'm going to be a good, dependable, big sister for her.

Once away, I ask, "What you wanna see first, Lil Sis?"

"Hmm. I know there's a town, castle, and dungeon. Could we maybe check those out, Tsuki?" she asked.

"Sure! I can explain some stuff while we fly around too. Like you might know, Mom and Aunt Lia are like sisters. And since they're both queens, we fairies and the vampires are, like, really good friends. So the queens both took in all these humans that were running from the empire east of here. Eventually, they're going to go kill a bunch of bad humans over there, but not yet."

"Why aren't they going now? Are the humans strong?"

"Compared to Mom and our Aunts? Nah, they could kill them all easily. Our family is, like, super strong. Mom said Aunt Lia doesn't want to just go kill all the bad people because that would make everyone else scared of us and they might team up to attack us. Instead, she said Aunt Lia has a plan to turn the humans on themselves and in all the confusion as they're fighting each other, they'll go in and kill the worst humans."

"That's kind of scary," Carmen said with a small shiver.

"Isn't it? Mom said Aunt Lia can be pretty scary when she's protecting all of us. Makes me glad we're all a family. I mean, there's not much scary about us fairies. Who would ever think people as cute and little as us would be scary?"

"Right? Nothing to even be scared of with us."

"Now come on! We're almost to town, then I can show you some magic after this! I'm best with light and arcane, but pretty good with all the others. Mom can tell you what you're best at later."

"Alright! Thanks Tsuki!"

"Just leave it to me, Lil Sis!"

I'll be the best big sister ever. Just you wait, Lil Sis!

=====

POV - Dalia

"Kekekeke, muahahaha! More! Fan my flames more, Talon! Yes! Oh, gods! Give me more, Talon!" Navi cackled while watching the roaring fire.

Fucking scary ass fairies, I swear. Navi has been working with Talon for a bit now. Turns out she really could use magic. It took Navi a bit to communicate what Talon needed to do, and to find what she's good at. Turns out Talon has some talent for earth and air magic. Today's the last day Navi will be around before she heads off looking for bandits. She'll also check out the other old vampire castles and see if any are in there or if there are any good candidates for a second town as we grow years down the line. 

Talon has been training her earth and air magic by helping with the new fields. Right now, Navi is showing her 'the effects of combining magic' by making the fires to burn the stumps a stupidly large size. I suspect she just wanted to start fires. Crazy pyro fairy.

The extra help has certainly been nice. I was able to get the parts of the dungeon we needed right now all designed. I have all the supplies I need to try to sway the dwarves. Sara is training a group of ten on how to handle working with survivors of abuse. Of the ten, seven are soldiers, but three are women that we brought back. Two of the soldiers include Beth and Claire. They both wanted to be included if there was ever another rescue mission. Steph is getting a good amount of bags together for people that want to leave, as well as bundles of clothes in different sizes for those who want to stay.

Overall, the different projects have all gone smoothly so far. Once I get this wall built, I'll pass this field over to whoever Elden brings to run it. In fact, I should meet with them today. And just as the sun was about to rise and bring the night to an end, they arrived.

Elden walked up. "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Greetings, Marquis Whitewater. I take it this gentleman will be our manager?" I asked.

The newcomer bows. "Greetings, Your Majesty. I am —"

After greeting each other, we spend the next hour or so wandering around the fields and discussing various things and about what expectations are. I gave him full control over hiring however many workers he needs. I also told him that Navi or I may introduce experimental farm equipment that could make plowing, planting, and harvesting easier. Once tested on these fields, we would release the design to everyone to be made and used. Lala will also be watching over the fields and tending to them when needed.

A month or so later, the palisade was complete. Everything was handed off to the manager and his workers, and they got to it. I had just given my signet ring to Ailine so she could teleport to the Abyssal Dungeon when she needed, when Navi reached out.

You are reading story Rise of the Vampire Queen at novel35.com

(Hey you two legged warthog. You're leaving in a couple nights, right?)

(That's the plan. What of it?) I asked back to her.

(Wanna have some fun before you go?)

(...What type of fun?)

(Like, draining the blood from a settlement of a hundred-plus ogres type of fun.) 

Navi will sometimes do this on her patrols. She'll find a group of monsters and Ailine or I would run out to drain them. She can do it herself, but larger groups of big monsters are harder for her. Our entire large stock of blood bags and barrels of blood is mostly due to her help in gathering them.

(Where are they?) I said (That could be a nice meal for a while. Ogre is definitely better than ork and especially more than goblins.)

(Right? Thought you might like to get some exercise in. Getting a little pudgy these days,) Navi ribbed.

(Shut the fuck up. Anyway, location?)

(Right, right! West-southwest by roughly forty-ish miles. If you take Talon you can probably be here in about an hour.)

(Awesome. Same as usual? You send a flare when you see us?)

(Yup! Then I'll take you over. I'll let you have these and go back to my search. I found a couple cyclops I was able to bag a bit west of here already. Remember to grab the bodies for Mitena and Talon! They seem to like the more uncommon monster meat.)

(Sure thing. Alright, I'll grab Talon and head out. See you in a bit.)

Ailine spoke when it looked like I was done talking in my head. "Anything wrong, Lia? Did Navi find some bandits?"

"No, everything is fine," I reassured her. "She found a settlement of ogres. I'm going to fly out and drain them."

Anastasia's eyes opened wide. "Ogres! Those are the tastier ones, right Mommy Lia?"

"Yeah, they're not bad. So I'll see you girls later. I love you both." I bent down and hugged and kissed Anastasia.

"Alright. Have fun and be safe. I love you," Ailine said with a hug and kiss.

"I love you, Mommy Lia! Thanks for getting us food!" Anastasia said.

"Groewell!"

"Yes, yes, you glutton," I said to the dragon. "I'll bring back some meat for you. You're already bigger than a saltwater crocodile, so your appetite just keeps growing along with your body. While I'm gone, keep an eye on Anastasia, would you?"

"Groewell."

She always seems to understand and reply like Talon does. Like a dog, you spend some time with them and get a feel of what they're trying to communicate. Sometimes, at least. With a kiss from my two favorite girls, I went over to Talon's room. She should be sleeping this time of night.

I knock on the door. "Hey, Talon. I'm coming in."

"Pii?"

"Navi found a group of ogres an hour flight away. I could use your help getting out there. You'll get a couple bodies of course. So, you want to go?"

"Pii!"

Getting off of her fur cushion bed, Talon stretches like a horse with her ass up and legs in front of her. I grab her tack from the room and get her all hooked up. Saddle and everything on, we walk out to the garden.

"You ready to go? We're heading that direction. Navi will signal us when she sees us."

"Pii!"

Equipping my new armor, I hop up onto Talon and get comfortable in the saddle. Such an odd feeling every time riding a flying eagle-horse. However, there isn't any better way to travel. With a flick of the reins, she goes into a gallop, flapping her wings hard before taking off and soaring into the air. Leaning forward to cut my resistance some, she flaps her powerful wings and takes off in the direction I pointed. 

An hour later, just off to the right, we see a flash of light and adjust our heading. Even with it being dark, once she saw that signal, she still has the eyes of an eagle and can easily home in on Navi. Leading us a bit and then dropping into the trees, we land behind her.

"Hey there, you two! Have a good flight? Your arms tired, Lia?" Navi says in a sad excuse of a stand-up comedy joke.

"Ha. Ha. Thanks for the heads up on these. You said about a hundred? Levels? Weapons?" I asked.

"Yup! They are a few minutes jog that way. And all around the same level 30-32 they normally are. Clubs, shit bows, couple swords. Nothing out of the ordinary."

"Nice. I was wanting to test the defense of this armor without enchantments active, and not against stupidly strong enemies. You heading out then?"

"You know it! Got some more ground to cover. I'll smell ya later!"

"Be safe, Navi."

As the fairy flew off to search more of the area, I walked over and rubbed Talon's head feathers. 

"I'll be back soon. I'll see you back here with some ogre meat, alright?"

"Pii!"

Deciding that this was a blood gathering mission and not a slice and dice, I took out a mace. I don't even remember where the hell I got this from in the dungeon. It's essentially just a solid steel bat with round steel nubs on the barrel. Absolutely nothing special about it, and as graceful as an elephant on ice, but really fucking good at breaking skulls and crushing knees. 

With this being an impromptu armor resilience test, I don't even have my shield equipped. I take a moment to chuckle at my appearance. Carrying a bat, my helmet shaped like a biker helmet, and wearing all black armor, I feel almost like I'm in a gang walking onto a rival's turf and looking to fuck someone up. Not exactly wrong.

Walking up to the settlement, some of the dumb bastards finally notice me and grab weapons. Yup. Ugly fucking ogres. Eight feet tall, strong, but have a thick layer of fat covering them with their bad spray-tan skin tone. None wear even loincloths so there are just saggy tits and shitty dicks flopping around as a small group runs towards me. 

I think there might be something wrong with me. I just realized I have a sadistic grin on my face under my helmet, and I'm looking forward to a brawl like this. I'm not sure where this side of me came from, since I've never thought like that before. I don't remember ever being a battle junkie. Fuck. My head, choices, and feelings just get all jumbled sometimes. Oh well. Cue mentally jamming to 'Through the Fire and Flames.'

At last, the first ogre reaches me and swings down its club. So slow. I easily pivot, avoiding the strike and swing my bat up, smacking it right in the jaw. That one hit completely destroyed its jaw and sent it laying flat on its back. Not sure if it's dead yet, but more prey is already here. One swings a club and I just hold up my arm. It smacks into my forearm, breaks the piece of wood, but doesn't do a point of damage to my HP. Swiping one handed with my bat, it impacts the side of its skull and I feel and see it cave in. The next ogre tries to punch me, but I stop the punch with my hand and swing my bat, crushing its knee. Falling to the ground and now at my eye level, I unequip my bat for a second and hit its face with a right cross. Even through the plate on my fingers, I feel its skull break and flex. So weak.

Some ogre archers show up and begin firing at me. Even with bows made for their size, the arrows make a *plink* noise and bounce off my armor without leaving a scratch. Ignoring the worthless arrows, I put my arms down to test this armor further. As multiple ogres begin to punch me and wail on me with clubs, I simply stand there. It feels less like they're attacking me and more like I was in a mosh pit at a System of a Down concert. Yeah, they're moving me around and it's getting kind of fucking annoying, but nothing they do is hurting me. Fucking hell. With the girls having armor like this, I really don't have to worry about them against anything but elite fighters.

Done with my testing and a smile back on my face, I equip my bat and it appears right in the palm of my hand. I then begin my own attack. Swinging with both hands at the stomach of the unlucky ogre in front of me, I connect a solid hit with its gut. Even with the fat, I can tell I broke or ruptured some shit with that. Another swing, and another ogre falls to the ground with a shattered leg. Kicking it in the face with my sabaton, it caves in.

This is good! Yes, they bleed some when I smash a face too hard, but if I hold back, I can kill them and keep the blood inside of them better than if I stabbed or cut them. One after another, the ogres came. Like most of the stupider monsters, they don't run away. As I created a mountain of corpses, more continued running towards me, until finally they were all down.

With the couple still alive but unable to move with crushed legs, I wanted to try something. I tried a long time ago and wasn't successful, but I'm stronger than before. Reaching out to one of the ogres, I took out a dagger and stabbed it non fatally. I tried to imagine the blood inside of it draining out of the hole into a ball of blood. I tried using water magic with some earth, air, and arcane, but nothing happened. The magic just didn't want to materialize. Annoyed at the failure of something I assume should fully work, I kick the ogre in the head, killing it. Then I suddenly felt the magic take. 

Looking away from the head and towards the cut, I watched as blood flowed out of the cut, making a large ball in front of me. 

"Oh, fuck yes!"

Keeping the ball in place, I bring out a few barrels and move the blood into one. The ogre corpse now thoroughly drained, I store it away and go over to another living ogre. I try the same thing, and nothing. However, kill it and try, and it works like a charm. There's something about being alive that keeps me from messing with its blood. One last try. I stabbed another living ogre, but made this one bleed more and tried to grab the blood leaving its body. At the skin surface, I can control the blood that comes out, but below the skin? Nothing. Weird discovery, although, this will make draining these so much easier.

(Hey Navi, want to hear something?) I messaged her.

(Sure. What's up?) she said.

(You remember how we tried to be blood benders years ago?)

(Ugh! Don't remind me! That totally should've worked. It made complete sense. In fact, it's more illogical that it doesn't work!)

(Try it on something that's dead,) I said.

(Wait… you mean…)

(Just try it.)

(Let me find a goblin!)

A minute or so later she answers back.

(You! What the heck!) she yells mentally. (It's because they're alive?! What type of mechanic is that!)

(Right? Whatever the trigger, it doesn't let us do it on the living. But the dead? Sure as fuck saves time draining them.)

(I've wasted so much time! Give me back my youth! Argh!)

After spending some time calming an annoyed fairy and filling barrels with blood and storing the bodies, I head back to Talon.

"Hey girl. I brought you some ogres."

"Pii!"

Taking out an ogre, she begins going to town devouring it. After she's done, I clean us both with magic, hop on, and we fly back home. In a couple days I'll be leaving for the dwarven capital. Or at least where it was in Rory's time.

You can find story with these keywords: Rise of the Vampire Queen, Read Rise of the Vampire Queen, Rise of the Vampire Queen novel, Rise of the Vampire Queen book, Rise of the Vampire Queen story, Rise of the Vampire Queen full, Rise of the Vampire Queen Latest Chapter