LightReader

Chapter 4 - - Chapter 4 -- A call for help -

A month had passed since the last events, and Io had acclimatised well to his new home and the new life that was opening up to him. The school was not Io's first problem, and to his great surprise, he was quite good at it. 

The sun appeared on the horizon and a ray of light struck Io's face as he struggled to get up. He approached the window and as he looked out, a strange feeling crossed his thoughts. But as he leaned out, an airship was flying high into the sky, on which a propaganda leaflet read: « In the kingdom of Era,together, let's kill the vampires, join us. »

« It makes me puke… »

The Voice imitated vomiting. Io ignored the feeling and went downstairs, checking the time on his mobile phone

It's already 7 o'clock! The beard...

He'd found it on the way back to the bridge where he'd fallen asleep. There was only one number in it... But when he called it, it rang empty, and when he looked at the photo gallery, hundreds of landscapes were in it. There was a dessert, a forest, snow-capped mountains and plains. Nova was fascinated by all the places he had visited in his past, as she had never left the city.

- Do you fancy all this scenery?" said the young girl.

- No... 

« Wow, these photos are a bit old-fashioned… »

- Does it mean anything to you?

«  Well, even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you. »

- And why not?

« I'm just a voice in your head, I can influence that. »

Back at the right moment, after descending the stairs, he headed for the bathroom. As he opened the door, he stopped short: « Is he still asleep? » He saw Nova, dressed only in a towel to hide her lower body. A warm feeling came over him, so hot that his breath became short. He felt a sharp pain in his left eye, so strong that he had to close it as he watched Nova's body. Nova noticed a mole right in the middle of his chest. He held his chest and began to bleed from the nose. With all the fuss he was making, Nova noticed. It didn't even take two seconds for her face to turn red.

- Are you just going to stand there, you pervert?!

- Wait, wait, wait, wait! Before you throw something in my face, can you let me say something?

- Go ahead.

- I didn't know you had a mole...

- Dumbass!!!

She threw a brush that was lying next to her at him and it landed right on his head. With a sound of agony, the young woman closed the door and they finally ate without looking at each other. Silence filled the room. To dodge this unease, Io suggested they go shopping and that she could choose what she wanted to eat for dinner. As Nova looked away, embarrassed, she looked at the clock.

- It's already 8 o'clock, we're late! shouted the young girl as she got up from the table at full speed.

In a panic, they ran towards the lycée. Despite the delay, the day passed without a hitch.

- Hi Io!

- Hi there! Subaru, how are you?

- I'm fine and you?

- My nose's a bit sore...

- What happened to you?

- I accidentally went into the bathroom when she had just finished her bath and she threw a brush at me.

- Tell me about it! She's pretty well built, isn't she?

- Why would I tell you?

While the two young men were discussing Nova's graceful figure, she was standing behind, pissed off. 

- I can explain everything to you, Nova...

- Shut up.

The girl left, without saying another word. The tension was palpable and he was aware of it. He looked at Subaru and hit him on the head while insulting him as a moron.

- I didn't tell you I was living with her so you'd say things like that! Then, if you want to know everything...

- Yes, tell me everything." Subaru cut in, staring at Io, his eyes filled with stars.

- I don't feel like telling you, actually...

- Don't do this to me!...

- You guys... They're all the same. said Haru, who was standing next to them.

« We'll have to go and talk to him later... »

The Voice called Io to order and he looked away in the direction of Yota's place. He hadn't seen him for a month and he hadn't come back to school, which worried Nova and therefore had an impact on Io. A hand came to rest on his shoulder, it was Subaru asking him if everything was all right. The young man replied doubtfully that everything was fine. Subaru patted Io on the back and asked him what he was going to do after school. Io replied that he was going shopping with Nova.

Let me come with you!" asked the young man with the flaming hair, clasping his hands together as if begging.

When classes finished, Io and Subaru left the school to meet Nova at the entrance. When they got to the front, they saw a group of boys approaching Nova, who was waiting for Io and Subaru. They surrounded her and one of the boys began to grab Nova's arm as she tried to struggle. The same boy began to pull her. A powerful anger rose in Io's body, and he moved quickly towards the boys. He grabbed Nova's arm, causing her to let go, and stared at him with a deadly stare.

« Io calm down!  »

The Voice brought Io back to his senses as he let his anger get the better of him.

- What are you doing?

The boy looked at Io and, watching his menacing gaze, had a feeling that he should flee. Nova's heart warmed when she saw him defending her.

- Tell me, Nova, do you know these clowns?

After these words, she managed to free herself from the boy's clutches, positioning herself behind Io and answering him that she didn't.

- Out of my way! And if I find you hanging around with a girl again... I'll wipe you off the planet. 

- Hey, cool dude! We were just having a laugh with the girl.

« Pfft... That's why I don't like humans... »

- Out of my way! 

This word alone made the young men flee with their legs around their necks.

As for Io, he turned and looked at Nova, who had her hands on his cheeks.

- What's wrong with you? You're all red.

- N... Don't look at me!

- Guys!!! shouted Haru, waving her hands.

Haru joined them and asked Io:

« Why was Nova all red ? » 

He shrugged his shoulders to make it clear that even he didn't know. They set off towards the main alley of the shopping district.

- Girls, I've got a mission!

- Yes, boss!" said Haru with a military salute.

- Go to that shop and get something to eat, and I'll take care of it!

- Yes, boss! 

- I'm going with her, in case the youngsters from earlier come back. suggested Subaru with his usual smile.

- I trust you !

- Yes, boss ! He stuck out his tongue and joined the girls.

As he walked between the crowds, the same feeling he'd had this morning came back to him. He put his hand on his eye, which was beginning to hurt terribly. Passers-by stared at him and moved aside. Suddenly, an echo in his head, a cry for help, made him lift his head. Then he noticed that he was the only one to hear it... The further he walked, the more this feeling intensified.

« What the fuck? »

Even LaVoix was confused by this complicated situation.

- It's got to stop...

The incessant calling stopped and resumed with frightened screams, which pierced Io's soul as he started to run towards the noise. He dodged the people and came to an alleyway where the screams seemed to be coming from. Out of breath, he tried to put one foot in front of the other but he had run so fast that he could barely catch his breath. 

Nova, Haru and Subaru were coming out of the shop when they saw Io enter the alleyway in the distance, they looked at each other and then started to walk towards the alleyway as Io entered it.

As he made his way down the alley, step by step, he prepared himself for a scene he wouldn't like to see. So he put on a confident face and moved forward. Once he had turned the corner, he spotted a pink sign in the distance.

« A slave market. »

- Excuse me? 

« Half-humans, vampires... Humans. Merchants kidnap people and then sell them, or parents who are a little too indebted sell their child to get out of debt... »

- Once they've been sold, what happens to them?

« Trust me... you don't want to know. »

- Think again, and tell me what they do.

« Most of the time it's rape, organ sales, some buyers buy them for hunting, in short they drop them in a park and hunt them down… »

- It's horrible...

« That's the law with humans, and even if some people don't agree with it, it's still part of their daily lives. That's why I hate humans. »

- I noticed that, but why are you talking about humans in the third person-

« Get down !!! »

The young man hid in the corner of the alleyway. An obese man followed by a young girl with black hair with purple highlights similar to lavender and brown eyes tinged with red came out of the shop. She couldn't have been more than 13 years old, which irritated the young man.

- I don't get it! Why doesn't anyone want you? You're making me lose money, even on test merchandise for these old fools, and you won't leave!

He threw the little girl, who looked about 13 from the looks of it. She slammed into the ground and never got up again.

- And you bastard, what are you doing here?

The man turned around, looking displeased.

- If you're here for sex products or a sale, I'm your man, otherwise you're out of here! he said, waving his hand.

- Let go of that girl! Can't you see she can barely stand up?

The man smiled, faced with a young man who doubted his good deed. He stepped forward, his temper rising.

- I don't like the way you're looking at me.

Io's heart was racing, his anger rising again and again and again. The Voice was amused by the situation, and in Io's head he was smiling broadly. Io pointed at the little girl and asked the man who she was.

- Who, her? Pfff... I don't know her name and I don't give a damn... All I know is that she's a fucking vampire.

« You bastard ! »

Io's head jerked up, his left eye hurting horribly as LaVoix tried to get the better of Io.

« Stop it you moron ! »

- I'll kill him!!! 

An immense rage swept over the young boy who threw himself at the obese man. The man stepped back, dodging Io's blows. He threw a clumsy punch, but Io caught his fist, shifted it to the left and hit him in the jaw with all his might. The man held his mouth and shouted at him.

- You're nuts, mate!

- Me, crazy? Look what you're doing to these people! 

- What am I doing wrong? It's the law, Semi-Humans and vampires, when they end up in human quarters we're allowed to capture them and sell them, naturally.

- It's disgusting.

- What do you think you're doing, my boy, trying to change the laws?

- Better than that. I'm going to destroy your little business.

- Hahaha! Very funny! And what are you going to do about the people inside? You're nobody...

« Io kill him, kill him ! »

- Then I'll just have to kill you.

Io's eyes glowed red thanks to the darkness of the alleyway. Her smile worried the slave trader, who was beginning to break out in a cold sweat. 

- You can't be serious, you're not human...!

- What the fuck do you care? Humans and vampires alike, you sell everything, you condemn these poor people to a life of misery. I wonder who's more inhuman between the two of us.

- That symbol on your jacket, you're a vampire hunter. Cool, man! The gods aren't going to like what you're doing!

- Don't talk to me about gods when I see the massacre you humans are making.

He took one step after another as he reached the man and punched him in the stomach. The salesman fell to his knees and vomited. 

- And that's one!

He took her head and crushed it to the ground. Once, twice, three times. When he lifted his head, the man was unrecognisable and covered in blood.

- Cool ~ man... he said, bringing his head closer. 

Io dropped his head and it fell violently to the ground. Was he dead? His Io was having none of it. He turned back to the girl, still lying on the ground. Her pulse was weak. He knelt down and took her in his arms, she opened her eyes and put her hand on Io's chest.

- You're out of danger now!

The little girl just looked at him, weakly. Io tilted her head, her eyes empty, she had already breathed her last.

- Don't fuck with me!" he shouted, shaking her.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as he tried to wake her. Her hand, which had been on his chest, fell to the ground. The sound echoed in his ears as he cursed humans once again.

- I'll kill you, every last one of you! Once again, you've stolen someone else's life! I curse you !!!

- Come on, that's enough now. 

A violent headache hit Io, who wondered why LaVoix had done such a thing, his vision blurred and he gradually closed his eyes.

« I'm taking… » 

- The relay!

Looking down at the girl's body, LaVoix saw bruises and blows in various places, her black hair turning red. His confidence had finally returned and he would never again let anyone suffer.

- Please let this work...

He pushed aside the piece of cloth and bit the nape of the girl's neck. Then he tore off a piece of skin and poured his blood into the bite wound. 

- The human body functions on two principles. The first: 

[Blood] « which is a magical conductor, the vital source of the body... »

- And the second: 

[Magic] « which allows humans to give themselves the strength to rise by drawing their power from the earth. »

The girl's body reacted and began to tremble. She opened her eyes suddenly and bit the back of Io's neck, swallowing great gulps of his blood. After a few seconds, she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

-Your body? Look at yourself! Anger took over you, who knows what you would have done if the girls had come at the same time!

- And you, you bastard! You wanted to kill him!

- That big pig, yes! But don't generalise, they don't all deserve to die...

Io released LaVoix's collar and apologised for getting carried away. With a sly smile, LaVoix pointed out that the young girl was still alive. Io widened his eyes:

« Impossible! » he said, taking a step back.

He had indeed felt his nonexistent pulse. LaVoix placed his hand over his mouth, he laughed at Io's reaction.

- Well... that's not all, but this emptiness is making me nauseous, let's change the air.

He snapped his fingers and that constant void transformed into a large platform with a body of water beneath it. Io turned around, contemplating the new area in which he found himself. A bright light made him turn around instinctively. A massive moon reflected on the water present on the platform.

- Where are we? asked the young man in shock.

- This place reflects your greatest fear, the one that escapes your memory but not your subconscious...

The sight of this moon troubled Io. LaVoix smiled, he didn't save the little girl out of pure kindness, he wants something in return. Io already knew, he sat down and raised his hand.

- Our body is yours, for the time that I rest... I am tired...

- Good initiative.

- Perfect! he said, clapping his hands. He closed his eyes and heard Io in the distance wishing him good luck.

- Nova! He's waking up!

- Io, are you okay?

Io woke up suddenly. He grabbed Haru by the collar and asked him if he had brought the little one back. The young girl placed her hand on the young man's to reassure him, informing him that the little one was in her room. Looking around him, he realised that he was indeed in Nova's room. He tried to get up but fell to the ground, he hadn't regained all his strength yet, Nova took his arm.

- Lean on me.

Io smiled at her, while thanking her. Nova felt her heart tighten, a warmth rose within her. Her face turned red and she looked away from Io.

- Shut up, idiot.

They arrived in front of Io's room, Haru walked past them and opened the door. The little girl was lying in her bed, in a deep sleep. Haru took a chair and placed it in front of her bed.

- We washed and treated his most superficial wounds...

- Thank you...

- Io, we need to take him to the hospital. said Haru, taking a step forward.

- I don't think her injuries are too serious.

Nova was still sceptical, she leaned against the door and asked Io for the girl's identity, but the young man shook his head while stating that he didn't know her name.

- Could it be a slave? Said Haru, covering her mouth with her hand.

- And what if that's the case?

Io turned his head towards Haru, his gaze piercing through Haru's soul.

- It's like in the arena...

- Did you say something? asked Nova, who was busy looking for a solution to the situation.

She approached Io, who calmed down. Nova told her that in any case, she did not agree with the King's policy on slaves, and that if she had the power, she would free them.

« I told you so... »

- ... 

He placed his hand on Nova's, who was smiling cheerfully at him.

- Excuse me! But you could avoid cooing in front of me...

- Don't say just anything!

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that the little girl was starting to wake up, he asked Nova and Haru to leave the room. The girls looked at each other and, in a sign of approval, they obeyed.

The little girl woke up, trying to open her eyes in the moonlight, her eyes reflected red... No, they were red, she fixed LaVoix with the same vacant stare she had displayed in the alley. Tears began to flow down her bandaged face.

- So, how do you feel?

- ... 

The silent response the young girl gave made LaVoix click his tongue. He tried to get up with difficulty and sat on the bed, he helped the young girl to get up, and placed his hand on her head and began to stroke her.

You surprise me, I couldn't save everything...

LaVoix's tears appear in turn, this young girl has become deaf. He felt so bad... Bad because he thinks he's guilty even though it's not his fault at all. The little girl placed her hands on LaVoix's chest, and suddenly the young girl's eyes lit up with a thousand lights when he pressed his head against her chest.

- I understood...

The little girl didn't understand what he was saying, but her radiant smile could only make LaVoix smile in return, who gently stroked her black hair with purple highlights. LaVoix looked at the little girl and took a piece of paper with the words written on it:

« I will baptise you, you who have inherited a new life. »

The little girl stared at the card, didn't she know how to read? No, she then looked at Io and shook her head, it wasn't a problem for the little girl. He turned his head towards the starry sky of that dark night.

- From this day on, you shall be called Ymir!

He got up with great difficulty, LaVoix relinquished control to Io. Barely having recovered his body, he threw himself at the young girl and held her in his arms, while his grey hair regained a darker colour, leaving some imperfections.

He helped the little one to stand up, then they joined the girls in the living room. As they left the room, he noticed that the young girl was remarkably small, reaching up to his hips, but what shocked him the most was her figure; she was skin and bones. Arriving in the living room, Io was afraid the girls would react badly. But before he could utter a single word, Nova threw herself at Ymir and hugged her tightly. But the little girl reacted very badly and pushed Nova away while screaming, then ran to take refuge behind the young man. Nova felt her heart shatter into a thousand pieces.

- Idiot! argued Haru, looking at Nova with a mocking tone.

- I could do without your comments. Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. said Nova as she knelt down.

The young girl continues to stare at Nova with her vacant gaze. Io introduced Ymir to the two girls. Nova put her hands in front of her mouth, her shocked expression caught Io off guard: what are they going to do with her? The young man placed his hand on Ymir's head and told her that he would keep her and that from that day on, she would become his protégé. The two girls looked at him dubiously.

- Do you like little girls?

Io got angry and told them that in any case, no one would want her, she is deaf and seriously injured, so if no one wants her, then he will take care of her.

- How do you speak?

- Sorry?

She grabbed Io by his jacket and, while shouting, told him to take back what he had just said, but he didn't understand Nova's anger.

- You talk as if she were an object!

Io retorted that it wasn't what he meant, but Nova remained stuck on her point of view and wouldn't calm down. Suddenly, Io's blood pressure shot up and he began to panic. He found himself backed against a wall that didn't exist, but Ymir's cries cut through their misunderstanding. Nova took her in his arms and stroked her head.

- There, there, it's over.

Io looked at the ground, his heart was beating so hard that he thought it would explode. 

- Is everything okay, Io? Said Haru.

- Yes, I'm just going to get some fresh air.

His pale complexion said otherwise, his steps were absolutely uncoordinated, and he wasn't fit to make sudden movements.

- You went too far, Nova! Did you see what state he's in? He has just regained his strength.

Io looked away and left the house, Haru ironically congratulated Nova and joined Io outside, she opened the door and saw Io covering her mouth, Haru understood that something was wrong and returned to the living room, glaring sharply at Nova.

- It's... It's Io... he's not doing well at all!

Nova put Ymir down on the ground and rushed outside. She saw Io on the ground. Meanwhile, in Io's mind, everything became blurry, things he had never seen came to his mind. TheVoice appeared before him.

- Well, this is happening earlier than I had planned...

- Are you going to tell me who you are in the end?

- I am you, and you are me.

- How so? Stop with your silly riddles!

- You will know much sooner, but just know that we are the same person, except you only possess a tiny part of my immense memory.

LaVoix placed his index finger in front of his mouth as he walked away, Io tried to catch up with him but he woke up, startled in panic, which made Ymir, who was right next to him, jump. After throwing himself into her arms, he looked around but did not recognise the room. A nurse entered his room and he understood where he was.

- You are awake... Sorry, but I brought you a visitor.

A man dressed entirely in black entered the room, Io panicked at the sight of this man and began to hold Ymir tightly in her arms, looking for a way to escape, but the man signalled for her to calm down.

- Hello. Let me introduce myself, I am Mercury, head of the vampire hunters, pleased to meet the real Io Andromeda.

Io stared at him with a look. Mercury approached Io and placed his top hat on his lap after sitting down.

- Tell me... which of the two Io am I dealing with?

Io's attitude changed in an instant. He took on an unhealthy smile and closed his eyes, and when he opened them, his eyes turned red, his hair turned light grey, he took a hair tie and tied his hair back.

- No need to put on an act with you, as I can see!

- Such insight, I expected nothing less from you.

Mercury smiled at Io. He proposed a deal to him: to ally with them. He didn't even have time to finish his sentence when Io refused and told Mercury to get lost.

- I propose another deal: don't touch a single human and you can live here until you regain your memory. But if you don't keep your end of the bargain, you're a dead man... What do you say?

- What do I have to gain from this? Listen, right now, I've lost my memory so I don't care about your stories.

- So good luck surviving, my dear Io! He said with a smile.

- It's fine! I accept your deal, you fox bastard, how many people did you post around the building to threaten me like that?

- Fox! Hahaha! Thank you for the compliment, coming from a man like you it goes straight to my heart, and to answer your question... Much more than you can imagine! 

The girls arrive just as Mercury has finished speaking, they ask Io who he was talking to, Io replied that he was talking with some staff. The next morning, when Io could finally leave, the conversation he had with Mercury stuck in his throat.

- Bastard! 

More Chapters