The tower air was heavy. Ash drifted like living dust, and the distant sound of chaos's trumpets still echoed from the summit.
Tory walked the ruined corridors until she found an ancient gothic library, partially intact. High shelves still held tomes from lost centuries and old, melted candles.
She took a deep breath and sat on a fallen ladder, resting her spear beside her. Sweat ran down her forehead.
"Dammit..." she muttered, staring at her own hands, filthy with blood and dust.
"I need a minute... just one minute."
Distant flames illuminated the walls, and the sound of footsteps echoed between the shelves.
Lucy emerged from the gloom, her trench coat torn and her sword strapped to her back, wearing that smug smile that never left her face.
"What's wrong, baby? Tired?" she said, her tone a taunt.
"Then get the hell out of here. I'll handle this."
She walked past Tory without stopping.
But the metallic click of a weapon broke the silence.
"No!" Tory said, raising a silver Uzi.
"You get the hell out!"
Lucy stopped. Slowly, she turned. Her gaze was cold and calm, as if she had expected this.
Without hesitating, she grabbed the Uzi from Tory's grip and pressed the barrel to her own stomach.
"I warned you..." she murmured.
Tory squeezed the trigger.
The shot thundered, and blood ran from Lucy's stomach.
The redhead didn't scream. She just looked at the blonde with severity, her expression firm and impassive.
"I told you that you couldn't do it," she whispered.
"Don't you get it? This isn't a job for humans."
Tory gritted her teeth.
"You're the one who doesn't get it!" she shouted, her eyes welling with tears.
"This isn't rational, it's not about power or species. I'm being driven by the impossibility of forgiving him! My soul is screaming, demanding I kill him!"
She pressed the gun to Lucy's neck, trembling.
"For me, that's enough to keep going. Besides... this is my family's problem. You should stay out of it."
Lucy calmly pushed the weapon slowly aside.
Tory took a deep breath, holstered the Uzi, and grabbed her spear. She walked past the vampire without looking at her.
"Tory..." Lucy said, her voice softer. "Alright, I get it now. But I can't just sit back and watch."
She took a step forward, her eyes darkening.
"I'm pissed as hell at him, too."
And then she drew her twin pistols, spinning them with dexterity, and aimed them at Tory.
"Now get out of my way, or there will be consequences."
Tory turned, resolute, and aimed her spear.
"Fair enough. I don't plan on leaving any monsters alive, either. Not even you."
The first shot tore through the air, but Lucy dodged with a leap. The clash began.
The vampire moved like a shadow — fast, precise, unpredictable. Tory attacked with strength and desperation, every thrust of her spear filled with fury and pain. Lucy evaded with slight spins, kicked the blonde's weapon, and in an instant was behind her, sweeping her legs out from under her.
Tory rolled across the floor, firing the Uzi, but the redhead moved in a zigzag, dodging with just the sway of her body.
The sound of bullets and shrapnel echoed among the old books, until Lucy pinned her against a wall, gripping Tory's wrist and staring into her eyes.
"I'll take care of him for you," she said, her voice low, her face close to hers.
Tory, breathless, asked,
"Why do you care so much?"
Lucy stepped back, taking a deep breath.
"This all started with my father..." she said, her gaze distant.
"He closed the entrance between the two worlds, sealing my uncle in the underworld and stopping his tyranny. Now... my own sister is trying to break the spell and turn everything into hell."
She raised her eyes.
"This is my family's problem, too. To be honest, I didn't care at first. But... because of you, I care now. I guess that's what my soul is telling me."
Lucy moved close again, her body almost touching Tory's.
"I know you don't trust me. Because I'm a vampire... a monster. You lost your mother to one, didn't you? When you look at me, you see him."
Tory fell silent, her gaze faltering.
Lucy continued.
"You know... every day I fight to deny this side of me. I've never drunk human blood. I avoid drinking even animal blood. I only drink synthetic. I lost my parents because of it. And there isn't a single day I look in the mirror without remembering what I am."
She then pulled away.
"I'm going to fix this, Tory. I promise you."
But as she took a step, she staggered and fell to her knees, coughing.
Tory ran to her.
"Hey! What's wrong?! Are you okay?!"
Lucy, hand to her throat, whispered,
"I'm fine... this happens sometimes."
Tory saw her eyes — glowing crimson.
"You're weak... you need blood."
Lucy laughed, trying to play it off.
"It's nothing. I'm used to it."
She tried to stand, but collapsed again.
"You can't face them this weak! You'll die!"
Tory yelled.
"Don't be dramatic, kid. I can handle..."
Lucy said, but her body betrayed her.
Tory raised her arm, resolute.
"You've lost too much blood in the fighting. Here. Drink."
Lucy's eyes widened.
"You don't understand. I don't want this."
"You were right about one thing..."
Tory said, staring her down.
"When I saw you, I remembered my father, and the hatred came with it. But now... you've shown me you're different. And I really can't do anything right now. But you can. And for that, you need to be strong. If my blood will help you... then so be it."
The blonde took a knife, made a shallow cut on her wrist, and extended her arm.
Lucy was motionless for a few seconds, breathing deeply.
Then, slowly, she took Tory's arm.
"Alright... just this once."
Her fangs emerged, eyes glowing. She sank her teeth gently into the blonde's wrist.
Tory let out a moan — a mix of pain and pleasure.
Lucy drank with control, feeling the warmth and the metallic taste spread through her body. When she pulled her lips away, she moved down to the blonde's neck, biting carefully. Tory arched her body, her hands gripping the back of the vampire's neck.
For an instant, time stopped.
Lucy raised her face, blood dripping from her chin. Their eyes met.
"Why... am I feeling this?" Tory murmured, breathless.
"A vampire's bite causes pleasure," Lucy answered, stroking her blonde hair.
"You must be in ecstasy right now."
She then made a small cut on her own wrist and brought it to Tory's lips.
"Here. Drink. It will heal you."
Tory hesitated.
"But... won't this make me a vampire?"
Lucy smiled.
"No. You'd have to die with my blood inside you. So, for now... you're safe."
Tory drank a little, and Lucy wiped the blood from her mouth, recovered.
As she prepared to leave, Tory grabbed her arm.
"Wait! I need to know... where did you get that name?"
Lucy raised an eyebrow.
"What name?"
"Tory..."
Lucy gave a half-smile.
"Ah... when I first saw you, you reminded me of a character from a TV show I loved as a kid. She had blue eyes and blonde hair, like you... just longer. Her name was Tory. So... I just connected the two."
Tory smiled faintly, rubbing her neck.
"I see..."
She picked up her spear and held it out.
"Take this with you."
"What's this gonna cost me?" Lucy said, with a sarcastic smirk.
"Before you go, can you tell me your name?" Tory asked.
"Lucy," the redhead answered, simple and direct.
Tory was silent for a moment and then handed over the spear.
"Lucy... please, don't kill my father. Leave him for me."
Lucy smirked, slinging the spear onto her back.
" I got it, Tory."
And with that, she walked toward the stairway that led to the summit, disappearing into the tower's shadows, while Tory sat on the floor, exhausted, the distant sound of war echoing outside.
She sighed, touching the spot on her neck where the vampire's fangs had been.
"Lucy..." she murmured, with an almost imperceptible smile.
"You really are a strangemonster..."