So tired...

The vampire walked through the nameless forest, oblivious to her surroundings. Her feet moved silently, deliberately, taking her one step closer to her goal with each passing second. Towards her immortal and eternal enemy who no doubt awaited and anticipated her arrival. The one responsible for her miserable existence. Her feet felt heavy and her eyes saw little. Although weariness was taking its toll on her, she refused to acknowledge its presence. A hardened expression filled the lifeless woman's face.

She had been walking for an eternity. Mountains became open grasslands which transformed into forests. The sun raced across the sky, mocking her journey. Sometimes she headed directly towards its piercing gaze, and sometimes she trudge on with her back to its unwelcome warmth. Days came and went. In distant lands, battles had been fought, and kingdoms lost. Some had breathed their last breath, whilst others took their first. Time was irrelevant.

Now the moon shone from its lofty perch, yet its familiar crescent smile did nothing to calm the vampire's rage. Looking upon it angered her only further as it tried to link her to an unfortunate past with which she did not want to be associated. She glowered as it called to her, reminding her of someone somewhere who needed to pay retribution. An irrelevant individual; not the one who mattered now.

Sleep...

She tossed her head, flinging aside all thoughts of slumber. No, there could be no simple reprise to end her story. Many times before she had succumbed to the tantalizing promise of peace and rest, each time to awaken to discover her folly. First came her long-needed vengeance. Only afterwards could the pleasant rest she so desperately craved be realized. After this final encounter, whatever its outcome, her ancient eyes could finally close permanently and none could bother her again. The past would be extinguished, the present nullified, and the future eliminated.

Her life, could it be called that, had brought her into contact with so many who would soon be forgotten entirely. Mortals, immortals, those who fit neither description. Evil, pure, cautious, foolhardy, ambitious, reserved. She had seen them all.

So many men had been hypnotized by her unworldly splendor. And she took their love, and then their lives. They pleased her, fed her, gave her temporary pleasure whenever she required it.

Hunger

A spark lit the vampire's eyes as a distant fire beckoned her. A fire meant humans. Humans, useless except for feeding. Her mouth opened involuntarily, teeth reaching out towards the promise of drink. She could not remember when last she had sunk her powerful fangs into flesh to draw out the sweet nectar.

Approaching the flame, she beheld six men partaking of their own manner of meal. Tents, flags, and clotheslines populated the area around them. They appeared to be bantering merrily, laughing, singing, and talking amongst themselves, but their words fell on useless ears. Goblets poured drinks into mouths, spoons dipped into a large cauldron, then returning to eagerly awaiting mouths. Their meal fueled her own hunger.

She was deaf towards everything but her own thoughts, and even those were forgotten as all was consumed by her newly-discovered hunger. Ignoring the men's weapons, she continued towards the fire. She heard no sound as she boldly entered the campsite. The men withdrew in horror as she stepped nearer to them, materializing at the edge of their fire's illumination. Boggled eyes popped out of frightened faces, their mouths moving, forming silent words.

Six men she had seen, but now there seemed to be more. There were hefty warriors everywhere. At least twenty had sprung forth from their shelters, perhaps awoken by their comrades. They surrounded her, but kept a distance from which they cautiously surveyed her.

So many mortals. So much blood. Too many for her to finish, despite her thirst. They all looked strong, healthy, and nourishing. Deciding on a particularly appealing one, she approached him, arms extended and fingers beckoning.

That man saw the bedraggled, pale woman as she closed the distance between them. Unaware of her vile intentions, he made no motion to move away, thinking that she was only injured and seeking assistance. His calmness pleased her. She touched him and caressed his neck, feeling for the powerful veins.

Hunger

The man felt her fingers probing his neck. Confused, he began to ask her what she wanted.

She pulled herself closer, almost lifting herself above the ground to reach her mouth towards his neck. Her head lay on his chest as she found a suitable place to make her entrance. Satisfied, she brought both arms around him, holding him in her deadly embrace.

The man felt a sting on his neck and tried to turn his head to see what had happened, but the woman's arms held his head, paralyzing it. He was hers.

Hunger

She tasted the sweet blood as it flowed into her, quickly robbing the man of his life. She drained him in moments. So great was her thirst that he had no time to comprehend the situation and therefore no time to resist.

Slowly, she withdrew her mouth and licked her lips, savoring the pureness of the flavor. She felt the man's life filling her own body, rejuvenating her ancient form. Long-lost strength returned to her. The beauty of her predatory nature called to her. She stepped back and released the lifeless body.

Hunger

Still unsatisfied, she turned back to the other men who stared at her without comprehension. She needed more and they would bequeath it to her. One man in particular was shouting at her and pointing. She cocked her head inquisitively. He looked important, wearing more decorations than the others. A leader, perhaps? Maybe his position would add a special flavor.

She chose him and locked her eyes onto his handsome, muscular body. He returned her gaze with a motion of his hand. To her left, one of the men sprung at her.

Disappointed by this inconvenience, she met the other man. His mouth opened in a battle cry and his hands flew to his weapon. She watched with glee as he leapt into her outstretched arms.

Hunger

His body stiffened as she bit recklessly at his exposed neck. In her haste, she missed the primary artery. Annoyed, she withdrew and dove in again, this time striking it directly. The man tried to grab her and throw her off of him, but he had only enough time to brush her skin with his fingers before he fell to the ground, completely drained.

With renewed strength and speed, she whirled on the next man who fell into her vision. Sleepy and dazed, he was powerless against her superior abilities. Grabbing him, she pulled him off-balance and partook of his life. He joined his comrade on the still earth.

She surveyed the other men, body ready to pounce for another drink. They backed away, realization beginning to strike them.

How they gaped in shock! How their little eyes darted fearfully!

They recognize me.

Another charged her, sword aiming for her heart. She used her inhuman agility to dodge him and slice his torso open with her claws. Her skill pleased her as it had been quite some time since last she had utilized her weapons. His warm entrails gushed out and he touched them, horrified. She knelt and took a quick bite from him before his eyes rolled up into his head and his heart stopped beating.

A single young man approached, trembling, trying to speak. He had neither weapon nor armor. She curiously studied him, trying to determine his motive. His face looked hopeful though his eyes betrayed his fear. As his nature remained a mystery to her, she darted forward with incredible speed and took his hand in both of hers. He flinched, young eyes widening. He stopped speaking and gulped visibly. The others stared, caught in the intense moment and unable to pull their eyes away.

One of her hands reached for his arm, immobilizing it. She used her sharp nails to cut a slim line across his wrist, from which a small stream of blood flowed. The young man tried to back away from her, but she pulled him closer, bringing his arm towards her. She pressed it to her chest, allowing the blood to trickle down her clothing, staining a red line down the front.

Still he did not attack her. His sad eyes looked into hers, pleading silently. He stood still. She also made no motion.

He was beautiful. Young, handsome, innocent, and unafraid. She intimidated him, true, but he had resigned himself to death. He had given himself to her without her asking. He reminded her of someone. Someone…

Someone she did not want to remember.

A jolt thundered through her, and she jerked his arm up to her mouth, spreading the cut wider with her teeth, sipping violently from the tender wrist.

At this, chaos broke loose. Some men, seeing only the intimidating figure of the vampire, ran to their tents or into the woods. Wherever sanctuary called them, as far from her as they could get. Others reached for magical and religious trinkets, hoping to avoid her wrath with their superstitious natures. Many took up their arms, determined not to be beaten by one enemy alone.

The vampire began to feel the intoxication of the blood. Too much had passed into her body, and she had consumed it too quickly. She released the boy and he collapsed, unconscious. Although something nagged at her mind, warning her that the intoxicating feeling led to danger, she ignored it. She watched the soldiers and their reactions, amused and exhilarated.

Feeling the eyes upon her, she raised her hand, watching the rune of darkness on it glint in the moonlight. She summoned the powers from beyond and delighted in seeing the sudden hole burst open in the sky above. A shadow beyond the depths of the black sky poured from the hole. A powerful light shot forth, heeding the pale woman's call.

With its unholy flame, it burnt through the onlooking soldiers, searing their flesh. The light streaked through the camp, destroying all in its path. The tents burst into flames and the flags quickly became lighted pillars. Many men were injured by the inferno as it struck them. It scorched their skin, their armor, their very bones. Several fell, never to rise again. After making its treacherous course through the area, the light returned through the hole which sealed behind it.

The vampire opened her ears.

The screaming of the men delighted her.

They fear me.

As the men rushed to douse the flames and administer medicine, she sped towards them, cutting them down with her claws. She saw blood everywhere and she drank as much as she could, sampling each man as he died.

Some fought her, some cried, some grudgingly accepted defeat and lay prone without resistance. In her madness, the vampire was oblivious to any damage she took, knowing only that each man possessed an opiate to quench her thirst. They were everywhere, and they were all hers.

Somewhere, a lone girl wept for her lost innocence. None heard her cry. The air was filled with the screams of the dying.

A cloudy curtain swept over the twinkling stars, dimming the moon. Remorseless, she kept drinking. It was more than she needed yet she cared not at all. The red wine called to her with its sweetness and she saw no need to deny her thirst. It could all be hers.

She drank to stop the hunger.

She drank to lose her memories.

She drank to a rotten man whose name she once cursed but had loved for so long.

She drank to a red-haired devil who had interfered one too many times.

She drank to the fall of a now-forgotten golden era.

She drank to the sobbing girl, whose cries had long since died out.

She drank to a lady. A noble lady. A proud lady. The Lady Sierra. A name with no meaning anymore. The name of a foolish dreamer who had forgotten that the only truth lies in suffering; in nightmares only can its truth be told.

No fairy tale truly had a happy ending. That lady was part of a fairy tale, and her entire world was just an idle dream.

She needed no elegance. Bloodlust gripped her unequivocally. Plain and simple murder she committed. Nothing more. The hunger spoke nothing of refinement. No true lady allowed it to consume her. But no longer did such a lady exist, so no longer did those rules apply. A single emotion ruled without thought or restraint.

Finally, she stopped, grinning wickedly in the dying firelight.

They know me.

She laughed. That same laugh which chills to the bone. She laughed in triumph. She laughed as the few survivors cowered. She laughed at herself, finding such pleasure in such a worthless victory. She felt strong. She was not at all tired.

They see a nightmare. Their worst nightmare. And it is I.

Her laughter split the night. Then a ghostly silence filled the air.

The book opened. Invisible hands turned the pages.

She heard a gasp, and looked down to see a man, seriously wounded. The flesh along his face and arms was burnt almost completely away, and a large cut had split open his forehead. He lay on his back, praying silently for a miracle.

'Once upon a time, there was a kingdom more amazing than any that have risen since. It was the legendary Kingdom of the Light, and it was lovely. The beautiful kingdom was ruled by the generous and kind Lady. She only brought certain people into her domain, but these people, her people, were treated with the utmost respect. They had everything they ever wanted. Their home was the most magnificent to be found anywhere. Tall towers graced many large mansions, and extensive, meticulously cared-for gardens laid the path for the people to walk. Flowers sprung from every corner. Water ran throughout their land, maintaining its beauty.'

The smoldering remains of the charred campsite provided little shelter for those seeking solace. Supply wagons had been overturned as all the animals had fled. The devastation of the area was complete. Nothing was left standing.

'The Lady ruled autonomously. All her subjects obeyed her without question. In the rare instance that a dispute arose, the Lady would preside over the case. She was fair, and never judged wrongly. She treated others in such a hospitable manner that she was considered the kindest Lady one could ever find. Her people were her children, and she loved them dearly. She never harmed any of them, working only to preserve the peace she had established.'

Still gasping, the man reached a blackened hand to touch his face. He felt the sticky blood and the gummy texture of his skin. He withdrew the hand, only to have his eyes behold the hideous remains of his forearm. He let out a choked scream. The woman's eyes narrowed and she gently lowered herself to her knees. She brought her hands towards his face, claws extended. Sharp metal pierced through both of the man's eyes, blood spurting onto her arms. His mouth opened again in a shriek, never to close again.

'Only one thing plagued the grand Lady. She had been the ruler for so long, yet she had not met a man she truly loved. She searched everywhere. She invited the lords of other kingdoms, the nobility of the grandest courts, to meet her, yet she looked in vain. She began to tire of her lifestyle, so lonely was she.'

'Until one day, a man arrived at her doorstep. He was extraordinarily handsome and wealthy, and charmed her instantly. They fell in love and married almost immediately. They lived many happy years together. As a pair, they ruled the kingdom. All her people were fond of her husband. The lords of neighboring kingdoms enjoyed peaceful trading and negotiations while the Lady and her Lord presided. The two were a perfect couple, and it was spoken throughout the land that they were a match made in the heavens.'

The story should have ended there with the two of them living happily ever after.

She bent her head and licked the stray droplets from her arms. The taste intrigued her. Usually, the blood went straight from her victim into herself. She never allowed for any contamination.

'But the Lady had never asked her husband the truth of his past. One night, he tied her down, while she was sleeping, to her very own bed. When she awoke, enraged by what he had done, he began to explain his past to her.'

'He confessed that he came from a clan of thieves. His fortune originated from a business he ran, using slaves, even children, to do work for no pay. He had only pretended to love her to get something from her. A special heirloom necklace that she only took off to sleep. As her husband, he had rights to it, and as she watched, unable to do anything, he picked the necklace off the dresser and put it in his pocket.'

She yanked her claws out of the man's face, irritated when one of his eyeballs remained on the sharp weapon even after she had withdrawn her hands. Stepping on top of the man, she widened her mouth around the eyeball and pulled it off the claw with her teeth.

'He opened the door, and in stepped a friend of his. The friend was a mighty warlock who sought the downfall of the Lady. The warlock believed that she was evil and tyrannical, but his beliefs were founded upon hearsay. Her husband explained that he could not kill her, as she was his wife, but that his friend had no such reservations.'

'The Lady had only one question for her husband. She demanded to know why he wanted the necklace, since it meant nothing to anyone outside her family. He explained patiently that it was the true source of her prosperity and that she herself was no more than a figurehead. Without her, the people would turn to him, he believed, and he would rule them wearing her incredible necklace. He wanted power, and he felt the necklace could give him just that. After finishing his speech, he left the room.'

'Knowing she was going to die, the Lady asked the warlock what grievance he had against her. Not having a true answer, he slew her instead of responding.'

Displeased with its flavor, she spat the eyeball out into the gaping maw of the dead man. She decided she needed some fresh blood to wash away the vile taste from her mouth. Several paces away, she saw another body still with life in it, chest heaving. She jumped off the corpse and advanced upon the new target.

'The Lord indeed met the people as he had said, grieving over the terrible loss of his wife. The people mourned with him. It took many years for his greed and flaws to become apparent. As time went on, the people became increasingly displeased with him. A civil war broke out among them, and through espionage, they discovered the truth about their Lady's fate.'

'As news of the people's discovery reached the Lord's ears, he turned on his warlock friend, blaming him for all the land's troubles. This prompted a war between the men still loyal to their Lord and the warlock's clan. The warlock himself murdered the Lord. Blood spilled everywhere.'

'Eventually, the ancient people of the Kingdom of the Light were driven from their own lands. Their kind was hunted by the warlocks until none remained. Thus ended the dream built by the magnificent Lady.'

This time, a bit more life yet remained in the human lying before her. She took a few generous sips from him, not caring whether he died or lived.

And that is how the tale truly ends.

His fresh blood cleansed her mouth.

The book closed.

The vampire stood proudly, admiring her work throughout the camp. She walked past many bodies, and the remnants of the camping materials the men had brought to their unfortunate site. She saw her own reflection in a fresh corpse's breastplate. She was haggard, drenched in blood and gore, a demon of the night. But she looked strong.

She felt ready to meet her creator.

The nightmare is coming.

Her body jerked awkwardly as an eerie light began to emanate from her pale skin.

The nightmare is coming soon.

She ripped her soiled clothing off her body and tossed it carelessly away. She took comfort in her nakedness as her breasts shrank into her chest. Her arms and legs contracted and withdrew into her torso. Her skin rippled as a pair of familiar wings sprang from her back and all trace of human form vanished from her countenance.

The albino bat pumped her wings hard and rose above the trees. Locking onto her destination once more, the nightmare began to fly. An island fortress awaited her.

There is no escape from this nightmare.

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"Sierra" and "Suikoden 2" are (C) Konami. This chapter was posted on April 22, 2000