They called us monsters part 15

Chapter 15: A legacy to keep

Ketsu and Nero rushed their journey back to Rekis, pushing their horses as far as possible and abandoning them in a village stable before continuing on foot. The demon kept feeding the young male her blood, so that he could keep up with her speed and stamina, trying to ignore her own pain and exhaustion. When they finally reached the port town, the demon realized an uneasy feeling coursing through her body. She usually located her friend, Elise, through scent, yet this time she was unable to do so. One look at the younger one’s face showed that he had been suspicious as well.

‘’Mister Nero!’’, one of the people walking in the streets called out, an old lady Ketsu recognized as a previous patient. Nero paused his running and turned to her, a forced kind smile on his face. ‘’Mister Nero something is wrong…’’, she mumbled with a horrified expression on her face that only spelled trouble.

‘’What happened?’’, he demanded, his fists tightened, his body seemingly about to charge forward.

‘’Doctor… hasn’t been answering for a while now. The clinic has been closed.’’

The elder woman didn’t even have time to finish her words as the young male dashed down the roads of Rekis, the demon following closely behind, her heart pounding loudly in her chest. She did not only fear for her friend, but for Nero as well. Upon reaching the clinic, the male unlocked the door and run in, calling for Elise with a strained voice. Ketsu followed him and her steps slowed down as she took in the state of the house room by room. It had been completely wrecked, partially burned and torn books were thrown everywhere. A shiver crawled up the demon’s back upon entering the main hall of the house, the kitchen equipment scattered all over, the furniture broken and in the midst of it all, in front of the fireplace, laid Elise, lifeless, the top of her head had been sliced off, showing part of her damaged brain. A burning sensation ached Ketsu. She felt violated, wondering who these people were and how were they were able to trick Elise. They had to be many of them to be able to put her out. What was their motive? Were they demons? Humans? Hunters? Her mind ached, the thirst for vengeance coursing through her veins, throbbing painfully.

‘’Doctor…’’, Nero mumbled and suddenly Ketsu’s thoughts grew still, her crimson eyes focusing on the back of the male who stood motionless, frozen, his head lowered and eyes staring at the dead body of the woman who had raised him. He fell on his knees beside her and took her in his hands, hugging the limp decomposing corpse. Ketsu paced near him, trying to find a way to console him, yet she knew that there was no way to sugarcoat the death of a loved one. The ones left behind had to grieve, rage and feel their emotions fully.

‘’Why… Why her…’’, he mumbled, tears streaming down his face as he cried like a child, squeezing the corpse in his arms. ‘’Elise was a good demon…She helped innocent humans and killed the bad ones. She took care of kids and elders… She took me in…’’, he mumbled to himself. The black-haired demon kneeled behind him, feeling the weight of his emotions on her own shoulders as well. ‘’Why this woman… why her? Why?’’, he screamed at the top of his lungs. Ketsu frowned and touched his shoulder, causing him to inhale deeply, as if he had just realized that she was in the room. The demon felt tears running down her face. She had tried to suppress her empathy many years back, but she had recently discovered that her humanity had resurfaced amongst these two. Elise was gone. Nero’s only guidance was gone, but the black-haired demon wouldn’t let him get lost.

‘’Nero…’’, she spoke and his puffy eyes turned to her, his saddened expression had already began shifting to rage and it was what the demon wanted. ‘’I will give you all the blood and flesh you need. We will avenge her.’’ The male widened his blue eyes and sat straight up, focusing on Ketsu entirely.

‘’You… you will…’’, he began and the demon smiled at him, her hand moving up to cup his wet from the tears cheek.

‘’I have no idea what I’m doing, but I have always followed my desires, blind as my instincts make me. And my instincts tell me that I must help you avenge your teacher and my own friend.’’, she explained and Nero’s expression softened, while Ketsu’s hardened, a realization finally crossing her mind. ‘’The capital probably wants to regulate scientists’ work as well. That is something I will not accept in this world.’’

The two of them, demon and human, proceeded to create a pyre behind the house, burning the body of Elise after dark, Ketsu making a silent promise to her, while Nero expressed a loud declaration of avenging her. The following hours were hectic, as they went through every single piece of equipment and file available, only to discover that while the intruders had turned the house upside down, they hadn’t stolen anything. That was what Ketsu believed, until Nero cursed out loud from inside his own room. The demon run to him, only to witness him panicking amongst scattered books, destroyed pieces of wood and torn pages.

‘’Did they find it? Damn them!’’, he kept cursing while going through the torn papers and books.

‘’What?’’

‘’The only thing missing is a single small journal doctor kept, regarding a very specific experiment.’’, he explained and walked past Elise to get downstairs.

‘’Which experiment?’’, the demon insisted, narrowing her eyes at him as he exhaled in frustration. He finally gave her a sideways glance and proceeded to remove his leather enhancements, placing them on the kitchen table. The demon stared at him dumfounded, trying to fight the feelings inside her.

‘’This isn’t the time to…’’

‘’Look.’’, he interrupted her as he took his linen shirt off and pointed at a scar over the center left side of his chest. His finger moved to another scar, right over where his liver was, then two more just beneath his chest. Ketsu narrowed her eyes, trying hard to figure out what he was trying to say.

‘’I am the experiment.’’, he announced and wore the shirt again, avoiding the demon’s gaze. ‘’Doctor Elise removed her own organs one by one and transplanted them to me in the duration of twenty months. It took a lot from both of us, since we both had to operate.’’

The woman lost the color from her face, unable to believe what her friend had achieved. It explained why Nero had such magnificent powers, despite being born a simple human. As soon as Ketsu got back to her senses, managing to close her gaping mouth, she looked around as well.

‘’And you believe they took that information.’’, she announced and Nero sighed in defeat. They were both exhausted, emotionally and physically. Suddenly Nero smiled wide, his blue eyes had been caught by something behind Ketsu. He broke up in laughter and dashed towards the fireplace, digging though the ashes. Ketsu was about to comment on his weird actions, when he turned around, holding a mostly burned black leather bound book, the size of the male’s palm.

‘’Doctor burned it…’’, he laughed at himself and wiped a single tear that run down his cheek, then immediately resumed acting like his usual self. ‘’We should burn everything and leave.’’ Ketsu nodded and considered that they would have a tough time getting back in the capital to get their revenge. They will have to be smuggled in and make sure no one gets a good look at them in town.

A few days went by and by the time the two of them had left Rekis behind with a very clear goal in mind, the clinic had been emptied of every piece of information and valuable equipment. Ketsu and Nero brought with them only the essentials: some medicine, dry food, all the money they could carry from the doctor’s savings and battle equipment. The air was electrified around them, especially after Ketsu had offered her own flesh and blood to aid Nero. The human was even more receptive towards her. Every time they camped though, his indifferent demeanor shifted to a saddened one, his adoptive mother’s death altering his psyche. When they were met with the walls of the capital, the female had already figured out a way in and it included her teaming up with one her enemies in hopes that they shared the same goal.