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Vampire Princess Miyu: Bloodsong: An Anime Tangent by James King
Inspired by 'Vampire Miyu' (Created by Narumi Kakinouchi and Toshihiro Hirano) and DC Comics' Tangent imprint (created by Dan Jurgens)
Prelude
All the world is sleeping like a baby tonight
I wanna see you dead
Laying in the muddy ground.
- Slow Drag - Fastball (All the Pain Money Can Buy)
There are people among us who are older than they say.
There are those who remember fighting in the American Civil War as if it were yesterday, and yet, look too young to enlist.
There are those who can describe in detail arriving on the shores of what they had thought was India with Christopher Columbus.
There are those who remember the Crusades fondly.
There are people walking the streets today who participated in the Crucifixion, and enjoyed it.
There are a handful of individuals who lived in Rome before Romulus and Remus.
There are, in short, Vampires.
The Dark World has always been beside the Light. There are those, in both worlds, who say that one could not exist without the other.
The Clans of the Dark World are stronger political units than any of the Light World, and more violently competitive with each other....
- The Dark World: A Guide to Vampire Hunting in the 1990s, Rice, Andrew, 1993.
Miyu stalked through the halls of the High Vampire Citadel. The High Vampires’ Princess was what one would expect a vampire to be: Tall, gaunt and pale, but with a sort of cruel beauty to her features. Her black hair cascaded down her back, and brushed the backs of her thighs. Her clothing, stylish to an absurd extreme, was in half a dozen shades that would collectively be called black.
She was displeased. Her emissary had Given to the Sun by the Sanguinus Clan. They would be made to pay for that. Miyu was unused to being defied.
‘La’avar!’ She called as she turned into her chambers. Her voice was sharp with anger. A red-tinted mist formed before her, and slowly coalesced into the form of Miyu’s right-hand man. He was, like his mistress, tall, pale, thin, and dressed entirely in black but that was where their similarity ended. It was hard to imagine a more hideous apparition than Miyu’s bald, wrinkled, needle-toothed henchman, dressed in his tattered hangman’s attire.
He was every bit as hideous mentally as he was physically, possessing a love of cruelty that disturbed most Vampires, and which was unmatched by any but Miyu.
‘Yes, my queen?’ His voice was like burning pitch, poured over a knife wound - one of his favorite past-times.
‘La’avar, you heard, of course what the Sanguinus Clan did to Alukar?’ La’avar nodded. ‘They are to be made to pay. The Prince and mortal pet especially. They must learn that no one crosses the Vampire Princess Miyu.’
Movement 1
Dressed in style so cool and refined
Stands a man from some other time
Who’s calling out to you
There in the night that has heard a thousand voices
Whispered a thousand names
- Hollywood Nocturne - Brian Setzer (Dirty Boogie)
Arnold Mason sat at the bar at The Star sipping his G&T, listening with half an ear to the house band. They had recently switched to a Swing band, which suited Mason fine. Unfortunately, he was on the hunt, so he couldn’t listen fully.
He knew his prey was here, and it rankled him. That his prey would taint his favorite watering hole with its vile presence made Mason’s ulcer flair, and the G&T wasn’t helping. He wished he had gotten a better look at his prey when he had almost caught it the night before. It would be easier for him to identify it if he had. As it stood, he didn’t even know if his prey were male or female. Its last victim certainly wasn’t talking, though she had survived. He noticed an odd movement out of the corner of his eye, but when he turned, all he saw was a Goth couple leaving the club. He was about to return to his drink when he noticed the woman was moving strangely, straighter and more steady than any human - especially odd as she was supporting the staggering man. She was his prey. He put his drink on the bar, grabbed his briefcase and headed for the exit.
Before he reached the door, he had pulled on his gloves and taken the phial of Garlic Extract and silver-tipped rowan stake from the case, which he laid near the door. He swung the door open, and warily stepped out, ready to confront the Vampire...nothing.
‘Should’ve known it wouldn’t be that easy. Ok, my pretty, where are you hiding?’ He listened carefully as he walked further out of the club. As he turned to his right, he heard the clatter of trashcans and a Vampiric hiss from the alley across the street. ‘Dammit!’ He bolted across the empty street, and saw /his/ prey leaning over /her/ prey. ‘Hey!’ He popped the top from the garlic and threw it at her just as she turned to him, catching her full in the face. She screamed as the garlic corroded the flesh on her face and Mason preyed it wouldn’t draw attention. The first time he had had to explain a situation like this to the cops, he was just lucky that Ken was the captain of homicide. But, Ken was dead...Mason was dragged out of his reverie when the Vampire leapt at him, with a distinctly inhuman roar and bared fangs. Without missing a beat, he flipped the stake in his hand and jammed it - hard - through her heart. The roar was cut short as the silver and rowan wood burned her flesh. She staggered back, and fell beside her victim. Mason walked over to check on the young man. She had torn out his throat. He was as dead as she. He retrieved his stake, wiping the blood off onto her jacket and hurried back into the club.
He sat back at the bar, ordered another G&T, and listened to the band - just as they were taking a break. ‘Not my bloody day....’
‘Mr. Mason?’ Mason jumped and turned to see the band’s singer - who also happened to be the bass player - standing next to him. ‘May I join you?’
‘Sure, Mr. ...?’ Mason blanked on the name.
‘Harker. But call me Aaron.’ Harker sat on the stool next to Mason’s.
‘Mr. Harker, may I inquire as to how you know my name?’
‘Same way I know what you were doing a moment ago.’ Harker leaned back. He was a fairly attractive young man, if pale, with red hair cut in a style that was in when Swing was new - probably an affectation for the band, like the suit, Mason thought. That didn’t explain Harker’s pallor, though. Or his prominent canine teeth.
‘You’re...oh, damn....’
Harker began to whisper. ‘Quite correct, Mr. Mason, but the implications are not as you believe. I am a Patriarch. Their Prince, actually.’
‘Patriarch?’ Mason was dazed. What was going on? What was a Patriarch?
‘May we speak in private, Mr. Mason? You may bring your tools, if you feel it necessary.’ Harker leaned closer. ‘Be assured, however, that if you take unprovoked action towards me, you shall not live to regret it.’
La’avar pulled the brand out of the fire. It made him nervous to be that near a fire, but he never let on. The mortal woman was strapped into a vintage electric chair - though the current was off - for now. Prince Farad was crucified with silver spikes, facing her.
‘What is this about?’ She was crying. La’avar loved it when they cried. ‘Who are you? Why are you doing this? What did we do to you?’ La’avar didn’t answer. He just pushed the brand into her stomach. She screamed - La’avar relished the sound.
‘Stop! She has nothing to do with this!’ Farad tried to pull his arms free, but the silver was sapping his strength. La’avar turned away from the woman and advanced on Farad.
‘You’ve turned soft, Farad, having pity on mortals. You’re unfit to lead a Clan. Miyu leads what remains of your Clan now. The Sanguinus Clan no longer exists...it’s dead. And soon, so will its Prince be.’ He grinned a disturbing needle-toothed grin....‘But not too soon....’ He turned back to the woman.
Harker closed the door and gestured to a chair on the opposite side of the room as he sat in one near the door. Mason sat in the indicated char and looked at Harker. The Vampire was flanked by a man and a woman - both were mortal, Mason noted, with mild confusion. ‘Well, Mr. Harker?’
‘Please. Among my family, call me by my ‘true’ name, the one I was given when the Patriarchs took me in. I am called Anshak, Prince of the Patriarchs.’ He held out his hand, and one of the mortals handed him a lit cigar. ‘I love these things, but can’t stand to light them myself. Fire, y’know.’ He took a long drag off the cigar. ‘So, Mr. Mason, I’m sure you are confused by my invitation.’
‘To be honest, Mr. Hark...um, Anshak, yes. It seems, that you being a Vampire, and I being a Vampire hunter, we should be stalking each other, now that we know our identities.’
‘And, see, there, Mr. Mason, is the problem. Not all Vampires are like that beast you left for the sun to dispose of. She was, by the way, one of the last remnants of the Sangiunus Clan...’
‘Remnants?’ Mason straightened. The Sanguinus were a large and powerful Clan. ‘What are you talking about Anshak?’
‘The High Vampires, and their princess, Miyu wish to combine all Vampires into a single Clan, under, of course, her.’ Anshak took another long drag off the cigar.
‘So, you want me to help destroy Miyu so you don’t have to come under her lee?’ Mason laughed aloud. ‘What makes you think I’d do that, Anshak?’
‘Because, Mr. Mason, you are only partially right about my motives. The Patriarchs are, as I was saying, not like the other Vampire Clans. We’ve abandoned the Hunt, in favor of a...better arrangement. Each Patriarch has a small ‘Family’ of mortals who agree to provide him or her with the blood they need to survive. The key word is ‘agree’. In return the Patriarch provides his or her Family with protection from the other Vampires. The Sanguinus prince...he was becoming sympathetic to our philosophy, so when Miyu sent her emissary, Farad...the Sanguinus Prince...Farad sent him away. The High Vampires, especially Miyu and her closest advisors, such as Alukar, the emissary she sent, are unused to being denied, and so Alukar, to protect his ego, attacked Farad. The Sanguinus managed to subdue him, and Give him to the Sun. Miyu, of course, had her revenge, and if Farad, and his mortal lover are still alive, they won’t be for long. So, you see, I want you to help destroy Miyu, not simply in order to keep my own power, but to protect humanity. I don’t want to see the Vampires united until all Clans have accepted the Patriarchs’ philosophy...’
‘If Farad was sympathetic to...’
‘But he hadn’t completely agreed yet. The Sangiunus Clan would probably have fractured soon anyway.’ Mason was silent. ‘Well, Mr. Mason?’
‘I am not sure whether I should believe you....’
‘Fair enough. If you change your mind, come see me between sets.’
***
Movement 2
bow down before the one you serve.
you're going to get what you deserve.
bow down before the one you serve.
you're going to get what you deserve.
-Head Like a Hole - Nine Inch Nails (Pretty Hate Machine)
Mason walked into The Star, and nodded to Anshak, who smiled and nodded back. As the song was ending Anshak put his bass to the side and took the mike. ‘Alright, folks, we’re going to take a short break, but don’t worry, we’ll be back to entertaining you very soon.’ Putting the mike back into its stand, he wandered over to where Mason was sitting. ‘Well, Mr. Mason, have you thought about what we discussed?’
‘Yes. I still don’t trust you, Anshak, but the threat you speak of is real, according to my watchmen. They’ve never heard of your Patriarchs, though, so don’t get me wrong, Anshak, I will be watching you like a hawk.’
‘Fair enough. Do you have any requests for the next set?’
The woman was remarkable. Never had La’avar tortured a mortal who survived so long. And she showed no signs of being about to die. La’avar grinned. ‘This is more fun than I thought.’
‘La’avar!’ The torturer spun at the sound of his mistress’ voice.
‘Princess Miyu! What is it?’
‘Finish this!’
‘But, Mistress...’
‘La’avar!’
‘Yes, Mistress.’ La’avar turned back to the woman. ‘Well, my pretty, it’s been fun, but I must end this.’ La’avar walked to the electric chair’s switch, passing under the cross, to which a number of charred bones and strips of cloth were fastened with silver spikes. The full moon shone on La’avar through the skylight as he terminated the woman’s life, laughing as the current ran through her.
Mason sat down across the room from Anshak and eyed a very pale young man, dressed in black, who wasn’t in the band. Anshak followed his look, and chuckled. Don’t worry, Mr. Mason, he’s a Patriarch, and he won’t hurt you. If it would make you feel better, I can have him join his Family outside.’
‘That’s ok.’ Mason swallowed and extended his hand to the Vampire. ‘Arnold Mason.’
The Vampire took his hand, shook it firmly and smiled, surprisingly amiable looking, considering the fangs. ‘I know. I’m Saint, Anshak’s right-hand man.’ Saint leaned back, and fingered the gold crucifix that hung around his neck. ‘Nice to finally meet you.’
‘Now, Mr. Mason, the situation with the High Vampires is worsening. They’ve become strong enough to actively threaten many of the other Clans. If we don’t stop them soon, the other Clans will have no choice but to join Miyu, unless they want to end up being slaughtered. It will be the end of the Patriarchs, and of the freedom of mortals. We must kill the Princess Miyu.’ Anshak grinned. ‘Cut out their heart, so to speak.’
‘How? You’ve insinuated that the Patriarchs are a small, and therefore weak Clan...’
‘Small yes. But ‘weak’? Depends on your definition.’
‘Yes. Anyway, the Patriarchs are a small Clan, and I’m only one Vampire Hunter. How can we, as we are, hope to stand against the High Vampires?’
‘We don’t. We get Miyu. That’s it. We may have to kill her torturer, La’avar, as well, but all we have to do is kill Miyu.’
‘That’s all, eh?’ Mason laughed hysterically. ‘Well, what choice do we have?’
‘Indeed. What choice? Would you like a cigar, Mr. Mason?’
La’avar looked at the bound Vampires, and swallowed. A Theater of Pain. It had been so long. Miyu had been weakened after killing the prince of the Patriarchs. But it was good. The pup that replaced him would be no threat, now that Miyu was strong again, strong enough to want a Theater. Fires, silver darts tipped with garlic...everything any sane Vampire feared was here, and La’avar rejoiced. Miyu sat a long distance away. She was cruel, but she was sane, unlike her torturer. The princes and princesses of five different refusing Clans were chained with silver chains and manacles to the stone walls. A half dozen other Vampires of lesser status were tied with similar chains on the floor before them. He turned towards Miyu, a tearful smile on his face.
‘Thank you, Mistress, thank you.....’ Then, licking his lips, he turned back to the prisoners. ‘Oh, where to begin. This is like starving in a blood-bank.....’ He walked up to the prince of the Moon Scream Clan. ‘You.’ He took a silver dagger off the table before the prince. ‘Oh, yes. This is worth letting the mortal go....’
Movement 3
They’re complicated people
Leading complicated lives
- The Flag - The Barenaked Ladies (Gordon)
‘Mr. Mason?’ Mason’s first thought upon seeing the woman was that she was quite beautiful. His second was that she was very pale. His third was to hope she was a Patriarch.
‘Who wants to know?’
‘No one. I know it’s you, Mr. Mason. Aaron sent me.’
‘Aaron?...oh, ok, Aaron. Right. Um, sit down.’ He gestured to the stool next to his at the bar. ‘So, where is Aaron, anyway? The band they replaced him and his Family with doesn’t sound right.’
‘He’s busy making arrangements for the...gig you two will be playing together.’
‘Oh. Well, you have me at a disadvantage here, Ms...’
‘Call me Celeste. I’m Saint’s good right-hand, where he’s Aaron’s. Can we get down to business, Mr. Mason? Things are getting urgent.’ Mason nodded. ‘Well, this isn’t the best place for our talk. Would you come to...’ She glanced around the room. ‘...to the citadel, Mr. Mason.’
‘Certainly, lead on.’
The Theater had ended. This left La’avar feeling very empty. The charred remains of the festivities lay about him, and he looked at them. He hadn’t fulfilled his sadistic urges.
‘La’avar!’ Miyu stood. ‘I enjoyed that, but we have work to do. Anshak and his Patriarchs are becoming a nuisance. It is time to deal with them.’
‘Certainly, Mistress.’ This promised to be as fulfilling as the Theater.
Celeste and Mason sat in the Patriarch’s citadel - a Victorian home on the outskirts of the city. Anshak and Saint were still too busy to join them.
‘May I ask you something, Celeste?’
‘Well, we’re waiting anyway. Shoot.’
‘Why do you Patriarchs do what you do? I mean, why human blood, and why not from blood-banks?’
‘Animal blood is useless, and for some reason, blood-bank blood doesn’t serve well enough. I tried that when I was first made a Vampire.’
‘Oh. And...well...don’t take this the wrong way, but....’
‘Why don’t we let ourselves starve?’
‘Well, yeah....’
‘Some, like Anshak and myself believe that the Patriarchs are a necessary check on the Hunting Vampires - even you Vampire Hunters can’t keep them totally under control. Others...well, survival instinct hold on, even for Vampires.’
‘Oh.’ The atmosphere suddenly got very, very tense.
The silence was broken by Saint’s voice. ‘Mason, Celeste, Anshak is ready for you now.’
Movement 4
All the world is sleeping like a baby tonight
I wanna see you dead
Laying in the muddy ground.
- Slow Drag - Fastball (All the Pain Money Can Buy)
Anshak looked drawn, and ill when Mason and Celeste walked into the room where he was draped, lethargically across his throne.
Mason didn’t find Anshak’s appearance comforting. ‘Anshak, you look sick.’ Anshak waved the comment away, and Saint cleared his throat.
‘Anshak, Mason is right. I think you should feed.’ Saint stepped out of the way while a young man stepped forward and bared his throat. The trumpet player, Mason noted. Anshak sprang on the young man, and began to feed. Mason watched in horror as the young man’s face drained of colour. Suddenly Anshak rears back, screaming, holding his forehead as the trumpet player is led away by a young woman - one of the singers. A silver disc is visible in the weakened man’s hand.
Mason turned to Celeste and whispered: ‘Is it always like that when he feeds?’ Saint walked over and shook his head.
‘No, when he feeds frequently, he disengages himself with little problem - some reluctance, but no problem. When, however, he is under stress, as he is now...well, our prince does not handle stress well. He goes for a long time without feeding, and even a Patriarch will drain a mortal if they are that hungry. So, every member of a Family carries a small silver coin, which causes enough pain to force the Vampire to break the feeding hold. Anshak hasn’t fed in a few weeks.’
‘Oh. Remind me to avoid him when he hasn’t fed.....’
Miyu paced around her throne-room. ‘La’avar, the situation with the Patriarchs is becoming critical.’
‘Mistress, surely you exaggerate! The Patriarchs are a small Clan! They’ll never make an active move against us!’
Miyu slapped La’avar, knocking him across the room. ‘Fool! Prince Anshak hasn’t been seen at the Star in days, and that Vampire Hunter was approached by a Patriarch tonight. They are going to move against us!’
La’avar stood, wiping blood from his face - his own for the first time in centuries. ‘Mistress, even if that is the case, they are, as I said a small Clan. They have no chance against us.’ La’avar braced as Miyu threatened to throw him across the room again.
She lowered her hand. ‘Fool. But...Anshak is an idiot, a hothead....’ She grinned. ‘Perhaps we should let him through....Yes! We shall let him through! He and his Vampire Hunter will come alone...perhaps with that priest, and his woman, but that will be all.’ She spun on La’avar. ‘You and I will be able to deal with them, La’avar. We shall let them through.’
La’avar grinned. Yes. The princess is right. We can deal with them. The pain I shall inflict upon them....
‘Anshak, you’re insane!’ Mason was staggered by the prince’s plan. ‘Us four? /Alone/? Into /their Citadel/? It can’t work.’
Saint sighed. ‘I am afraid, Mr. Mason, that you are both correct. While our chances of success are low, it is the only chance we have.’ He rolled his crucifix between his thumb and forefinger. ‘I fear we may be doomed.’
Movement 5
bow down before the one you serve.
you're going to get what you deserve.
bow down before the one you serve.
you're going to get what you deserve.
-Head Like a Hole - Nine Inch Nails (Pretty Hate Machine)
The High Vampire Citadel was a foreboding structure. A large building, designed to look like a medieval castle dominated the grounds, though it was invisible from the nearest road.
‘Spooky.’ Mason took a phial of Garlic essence and a stake out of his pack, and swallowed dryly. Saint nodded and both Anshak and Celeste barked laughter. They approached the Citadel, the door of which was open. ‘This worries me, it worries me a lot.’ This time, only Anshak laughed.
They walked through the deserted halls, their footsteps echoing loudly. Anshak stopped and turned towards an open corridor. ‘If our spies information can still be trusted, Miyu’s throne room is this way.’
‘You have spies here?’ Mason suddenly felt a lot more confident.
Saint shook his head. ‘Had. Miyu and her Torturer sniffed them out.’
‘Oh.’
The corridor opened out into a large room.
‘Not her throne room.’ Saint took a stake out of his pack.
Mason shook his head. ‘No...it’s more like a medieval torture chamber.’
‘Thank you. I try.’ Anshak and his group spun. La’avar stood in the doorway. ‘Welcome, my friends.’ He smiled wickedly. Saint stepped forward, holding his stake ready to drive it through La’avar’s heart. The High Vampire threw a leather ball at him, which exploded, sending a spray of silver dust into his face. He staggered back, wheezing, as if a clamp was being tightened around his chest.
‘Saint!’ Mason ran at La’avar, screaming, only to be knocked back into the wall, and almost fainted as his leg snapped beneath him. Saint tripped over him, and collapsed, coughing and gagging from the silver. ‘Saint, are you all right?’
The Vampire nodded. ‘I will be. It’ll be a few nights before I’m back to my old self, but I’ll be ok. Assuming, of course, we get out of here alive....’
A tall stately woman walked into the room. Princess Miyu. ‘La’avar, you began the fun without me...’ She pouted, then smiled, ever so slightly baring her fangs. ‘But, you did leave me my play thing, so, I will not punish you.’ She advanced on Anshak as La’avar leapt on Celeste.
‘You are an abomination.’ ‘Weakling!’ ‘Son of a Bitch!’ ‘So much pain....’ The four tumbled across the floor far too fast for the incapacitated two to follow.
Suddenly, an unearthly howl went up from the center of the room. ‘Anshak!’ ‘Mistress!’ Celeste threw La’avar into a set of silver manacles, which snapped shut on him, then ran to the two Vampires laying, oddly still on the floor. Saint stumbled over, and Mason pulled himself along. Celeste rolled Anshak off of Miyu, exposing the stakes that were lodged in each of their hearts. ‘Shit.’ She slumped, Saint crossed himself, and Mason gasped.
‘Well, well, well.’ La’avar laughed. ‘Your Prince is dead.’
‘So is your Princess.’ Celeste spat back. ‘Saint, let’s go. Can you walk under your own power?’
‘I...I think so.’
‘Good, I’ll carry Mason.’ She stood, helped Saint to his feet and picked Mason up, settling him onto her back.
Coda
Nothing to do, it’s up to you
I’ve got nothing to say but it’s O.K.
Good morning, good morning...
-Good Morning Good Morning - The Beatles (Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band)
Saint knelt praying while Celeste set Mason’s leg. The Vampire Hunter yelped as she snapped the bone back into the correct position.
‘You’re a wimp Mason.’ She began to put a cast on his leg. ‘Don’t worry. I was a doctor when I was Mortal.’
‘How old are you?’
‘All told? 40. Been a Vampire for 10 years.’
‘Very young for someone holding such a high position.’
‘Not many old Patriarchs. Saint’s the oldest, and he’s only been a Vampire for 75 years. He’s exactly 100 years old.’ She looked over at him. ‘He was older than Anshak, actually. Anshak became a Vampire in the ‘40s and he was only 20 at the time.’
‘So what happens now?’
‘Saint takes the throne, and we go on like nothing happened.’
La’avar knew the sun was going to come up soon. Not how he expected to end.
‘Princess? The sun will be rising soon.’ A minor servant entered the room. ‘Mistress!’ He ran to the two corpses in the center of the room. ‘Mistress! What happened...?’
La’avar shouted as loudly as he could. The silver was draining his strength. ‘She was killed. I am the prince now. No free me.’
‘La’avar! But the sun....those are silver....’
‘FREE ME!’ The Vampire, incapable of disobedience jumped up and fumbled with the manacles. ‘Hurry, you idiot!’ The manacles fell open and La’avar fell to his knees. ‘I’m free....’ Unsteadily he stood and threw the other Vampire into the chains.
‘Master! What are you doing?’
‘You were too slow.....’ La’avar stumbled out of the room just as the first rays of sunlight fell through the room’s window.
‘Master! Master! Mas....!’ His cries ended with a scream of agony which La’avar lingered outside just long enough to savour.
La’avar sat on the throne of the High Vampires. It had been mere days since Miyu’s death, and things were already falling apart for the High Vampires. The Red had taken those that were from the Sanguinus Clan and returned to their Citadel. The New Sanguinus Clan were a nuisance, but they wouldn’t be a problem, if Slaughter hadn’t taken another contingent, forming the Blood Moon Clan.
Things were going to be....interesting.....
