I Hunt Vampires in the Library of Babylon: IV - Stake

Just then someone entered the room. Kenichi looked up from the body on the floor. It was Romanà. She held a towel in her hands, and it had blood stains all over it.

“Romanà,” Kenichi said. “Something terrible's happened. I think someone killed Chandler.”

Romanà shut the door behind her. “I know,” she said. “It was me.”

Kenichi backed away from both the corpse and the librarian. “Why?” he asked.

Romanà stepped over to Chandler and dropped the towel onto him. It covered his face. “He was getting in the way,” she said. “I have a plan to unite the librarians, but he was always too timid to enact it.” She looked down at him. “And I suppose I'm still upset at him for killing my parents.” She looked at Kenichi and smiled a pointed smile. “I'm not entirely human, you know,” she said. She removed her rose-tinted glasses to reveal red eyes. “I'm a dhampir, in fact.”

Kenichi had a confused expression on his face.

“Half vampire, half human,” she explained. “Chandler saw it as trouble. He was afraid of the joining of the Analysts and the Critics, so he killed them.” She smirked down at the body. “I guess that makes us even,” she said to it. Then she looked back at Kenichi. “Obviously, they wouldn't let me be the head librarian if they knew I killed the old one, so I'd need to pin the blame on somebody. I was going to frame Hartwig, but your appearance here is quite fortuitous. Nothing personal, Kenichi. It's just easier to blame the outsider.”

She put her glasses back on before going to the door. Instantly, her demeanor changed into a hysterical and scared woman. “Recto! Verso! Come quick. Somebody's murdered Chandler!”

Within moments, two beefy library guards arrived. One by one they squeezed in through the door. They surveyed the scene: the dead body, the stranger, the upset assistant librarian.

She pointed a shaking finger at Kenichi. “When I came in, he was standing over Chandler. He killed the head librarian!”

The two guards nodded. They loomed toward Kenichi. He backed against a shelf. “It wasn't me,” he said. He jutted a finger right back at Romanà. “She just admitted everything to me.”

The first guard laughed. “What do you take us for, idiots?”

The second guard chuckled. “Everybody says they didn't do it.”

Romanà stood against the wall, huddled into a smaller version of herself. “She wouldn't even hurt a fly,” said the first guard.

“Let alone the head librarian. Come with us peacefully and we won't have to hurt you.”

Just then, a white blur popped through the door. Within a few seconds, both library guards were down, stacked on top of each other. Hartwig stood there, Chandler's cane in his hands. He turned to face Romanà, pointing the cane at her. “You were going to blame me?” he said. “How harsh. What have I ever done to you?”

With both guards unconscious, Romanà dropped the facade of the damsel in distress. “Nothing personal,” she said. “I just needed a fall guy. And since nobody likes you anyway, you were the obvious choice.”

The rabbit crossed his arms. “I'm lucky these big ears of mine aren't just for decoration. I heard everything. Between the two of us,” he said with a thumb toward Kenichi, “we'll tell everybody.”

“Nobody will believe you,” she said. “You might as well just run away while you have a chance. You cannot stop what I have put in motion.”

Hartwig looked at Kenichi. “She has a point. Let's get out of here.”

Kenichi nodded. The two stepped past the unconscious guards and the menacing Romanà.

“Where will we go?” Kenichi asked.

“The Library's a big place. We'll find somewhere to lay low while this fizzles out.”

“Why don't we just stop this?” Kenichi said. “If Chandler's gone, let's get rid of Acula as well. Right now, the Critics have the upper-hand.” He pointed back to the office where they had left Romanà. “She's a dhampir.”

Hartwig blinked a few times.

“Half vampire, half human,” Kenichi said.

Hartwig looked back at the office. “Really?” he said. “I just thought she was anemic.” He handed the cane he was still holding to Kenichi. “It's not in me to kill people, even if they want me dead. If you want to get rid of Acula, you do it yourself. And when you're done, come find me, and maybe we can start a band together.” He patted Kenichi on the shoulder. “Good luck, man.”

“Thanks,” said Kenichi. “Good luck to you, rabbit.”

“I ain't a rabbit,” Hartwig said. Then he was gone. Kenichi heard people approaching, so he ducked into another room. After studying his map, he found the best way to the Critics, particularly the office of Acula. He sneaked his way from one room to another, watching the gradual change in aesthetics as he crossed over into Critic territory. The closer he got, the more dead birds and dead rodents he saw littering the floor of the Library. He pressed on, finding the door to the office. On the door was a plaque that said ACULA. Beside the door was a portrait of the man, or vampire. He checked the handle and found that it was unlocked.

He stepped inside. Within was an empty office note entirely dissimilar to that of Chandler's. It had some pictures on the wall. Kenichi looked at them. One was what looked like a class photo. A group of students all stood there in several rows. They all wore the same uniform, albeit with slightly different alterations. One looked like a younger Kagira, her uniform emblazoned with flame decorations, and another girl next to her looked almost identical, with her uniform decorated with pixelated snowflakes. Between and behind them was someone who looked like a much younger version of the man in the portrait outside the office. He had his arms around both of their shoulders. Additionally in the picture was someone wearing jagged metal armor beneath his uniform. He sort of reminded Kenichi of Kagamikurai, if the Dark Lord were an awkward teenager. Then his eye went to another figure: an orb of tentacles and an eye, hovering beside the snowflake girl. Additionally, there was a woman with six arms and eight eyes who looked very much like a spider woman wearing a tiara, a grim looking fellow holding a violin under his arm, glaring at the guy next to him, who was holding a fiddle. The second guy looked like even at this young age, he had seen everything, like a shirt left on the line during a thunderstorm. Almost invisible among the small crowd of students in the picture was another one, much shorter than the rest, almost the height of a child. It was a small figure that looked like a black cat in a school uniform, being forced to stand on its hind legs. It stood apart from the rest, and looked at the others with a look almost of longing and perhaps jealousy.

Kenichi turned away from the photograph. On the desk lay a black-bordered letter with the words “We regret to inform you…” being the only clear text visible from where he stood. Another picture, more recent, sat on the desk. In it, an older Acula stood between Kagira and her twin. They all were laughing at something. Kenichi picked up the photograph.

“She's dead, you know,” a voice said from the doorway. It was a deep voice, cold as the grave, like a fireplace that hadn't known warmth for ages.

Kenichi looked up. In the door stood Acula, resembling his portrait almost exactly. He had black hair, red eyes, pale skin, and a melodramatic way of dressing that screamed “vampire.”

“I just found out,” said the vampire. He drifted into the room and plucked the picture from Kenichi's hand before admiring it. “Poor Kagira. I wonder how Shasira will take it.” He brushed his hand across the picture. “We've lost touch,” he said, almost a whisper. He set the picture down, then walked over to the one on the wall.

“Things were nice back then,” he said. “Easy. I thought I was king of the world.” He looked back at Kenichi. “Was top of my class, if you must know. I think that's why I got the Library.”

He drifted closer to Kenichi. “But you know what? The darnedest thing happened. One by one, my good friends have died off.” He looked back at the picture on the wall. He waved his hand at it. “At first, it was Kagamikurai.” A red X appeared on the picture over Kagamikurai. “We all thought it was just a mistake, a fluke. I mean, when you're the villain in a high fantasy, you have to fall eventually, right? Then it happened to poor Asturoth.” Another X. “What else do you expect if you're waging an extraterrestrial war? If you don't get them, it's only a matter of time before they get you. Still, maybe just a coincidence.” His cold voice caught. “Then it happened to Kagira.” He paused. His shaking hand wavered before the X appeared on her face. “Maybe it's the rule of three,” he said. “Maybe it will stop.” He looked at Kenichi. “But I don't think it will.”

“Chandler is dead,” Kenichi said. “Romanà killed him.”

Acula paused. Then he started laughing. “I see she has spunk. I'm curious how her attitudes will change the Analysts. But you'll not change the subject so easily, my friend.” He drifted closer to Kenichi. “I've heard somebody altered one of the books here in the Library. It was the very book in which poor Kagamikurai met his fate. I've been unable to get my hands on that copy. Do you know why?”

“No,” said Kenichi. “Maybe it's checked out.”

Acula frowned. “That was a rhetorical question,” he said. “I know why I can't get my hands on it. It's because you and that pooka are hiding it from me.”

“Why do you want it so badly?”

“First, to see what damage you truly wrought on that world, and yes, I know it was you. Second, to see if I can bring Kagamikurai back.” He picked up the photograph from his desk. “If he can be restored, then perhaps there are ways we can bring back others.”

“I won't let you,” said Kenichi. “Do you know how hard I worked, how many times I had to die, to make the world a better place?” He brandished Chandler's cane like a sword.

“Better?” said Acula. “Who is the arbiter of better? Is it better to leave a country without its leader? Is it better to eradicate a species trying to defend their home? Is it better to let mortals, who lack a long view of things, make decisions that affect the world long after they are dead? What man would plant a tree knowing full well he will not get to sit beneath its shade?”

“Noble men,” said Kenichi. “I've met a few.”

Acula laughed. “Fools, all of them. They act noble, but are only moments away from becoming villains.” He looked at Kenichi. “But I wouldn't expect you to understand.”

Kenichi leveled the can at Acula. “It ends here.”

Acula smiled. “Bucephalus had mentioned we needed a common foe to be united.” He wrapped his cape around his shoulder. “Is that you, Kenichi Chozen?”

Kenichi swung the cane, catching the vampire on the arm. Acula thrust out his hand, but Kenichi ducked, avoiding being decapitated. The two battled on, Kenichi dodging or deflecting the blows of the vampire, either with the cane or with his book. He managed to score several hits, but they only seemed to annoy the vampire librarian.

“I'm going to kill you, then I'm going to tear this library apart until I find that pooka or that book, whichever comes first. I will restore my friends to their rightful places, and do away with all of this meddling.”

“I have justice on my side,” Kenichi said. “So you'll have to get through that.”

Acula flung out his hand, his razor sharp claws severing the cane at an angle. It was so fierce that Kenichi felt the skin along his cheek start to bleed.

“Now what, Chosen One?” said Acula. “You've no weapon. Just a short bit of wood.”

“You know,” said Kenichi, “The Eternal Blade of Tenrai is my favorite story of all time. I must have read it hundreds of times.”

Acula raised his eyebrows. “Are you looking for a gold sticker? Congratulations, I guess.”

“Still,” Kenichi said. “I've read other books.” He stepped slowly toward Acula.

“As have we all,” said the vampire, a hint of boredom in his voice.

“One thing I learned,” Kenichi said, “is that a short bit of wood has another name.”

“Before you remove the mote from your brother's eyes, remove the plank from your own,” said the vampire. He sounded like he was quoting something.

“Not a plank,” said Kenichi, stepping even closer. “A stake.” With that, he jammed the angled end of the cane into the vampire's chest.

Acula's eyes bulged. He gripped the stake, looked down at it. “What?” he said. He staggered across the room, collapsed on the desk. His face fell upon the photograph, of him, Kagira, and Shasira. He reached a hand out to touch the photograph one last time, but turned to a pile of dust before it could happen.

Kenichi poked the smoking cape with the bit of cane, then he wiped the blood away from his face.

“Father?” asked a voice from the doorway. Kenichi turned and saw Belle. “He's out,” he said, standing between her and the cape strewn about the desk.

She nodded, turning to go, but Kenichi stopped her.

“I have something for you,” he said. He pulled the bottle of Eripmav potion from his bag. “It will help you and Buch end up together.”

She took the bottle and read the label. “This will turn me into a human?” she said.

“Yes,” Kenichi said. “Then nobody can criticize your relationship with Buch.”

Belle smiled. “Oh, thank you,” she said. She embraced Kenichi, kissed him on the cheek, maybe a bit too long, considering it was still cut, then ran off to find Buch.

Kenichi followed after her. He stepped on something on the way. He looked down. It was the remains of a dead pigeon. It had a letter sleeve on it. He picked it up before following Belle. He wanted to see their reunion.

Buch had been captured by Shalecut and was being held in the dungeon of the Library. He leaned against the bars. When Belle appeared in the room, he brightened. “Oh, Belle!” he said. “I have wonderful news!”

“Me too!” she said.

Kenich stepped into the room. He opened the letter. It was addressed to Belle. “My dearest Belle,” it said. “I have decided the only way to be with you is to join the Critics. I will get myself captured today, and negotiate my joining of the organization, if you understand my meaning.”

Kenichi looked up at Buch. From where he stood, he saw two puncture wounds along his neck. In fact, in the light, his eyes were starting to look red, and his teeth a little pointy.

He watched, unable to move, as Belle popped the top off the bottle. She swallowed the entire thing in one gulp.

“I've decided to become human,” she said.

Buch's face fell flat. “I've just started becoming a vampire,” he said.

“Oh?” she said. Then she started coughing.

Just then, Shalecut entered. “What is going on?” he said.

“Belle just drank a potion to turn herself human,” Kenichi said. Shalecut gave him a double-take.

“What are you doing here?” he said. But he invalidated the need for an answer by asking a different question. “What did you just say?”

“She just drank a bottle of Eripmav.”

Shalecut collapsed into a chair. “Oh,” he said. “This is very bad.”

“Why?” said Kenichi. “Is it that bad to lose a Critic.”

“No, you fool,” said Shalecut, fanning himself. “She's over 300 years old. Just think what will happen.”

Kenichi did not need to think what would happen, as it happened right before him. The young and lovely Belle aged three centuries before his eyes, crumbling into a pile of wrinkled skin and bones.

Buch watched in terror.

“Oh, great,” said Shalecut. “The emotional overload will probably turn him into a feratu. Like we need another one of those…” He lay back and placed a handkerchief over his face.

Buch bent over, transforming himself into a terrible creature. Soon he was nothing but fangs and anger. He ripped through the cell wall.

Romanà stepped into the room. “Did you hear?” she said to Shalecut. “Both Acula and Chandler are dead.”

Shalecut looked up from under his handkerchief. “Does that mean I'm the head Critic now?”

Romanà shrugged. Still, she pulled Shalecut from his seat and planted a kiss on him. Hartwig was right about something after all. Neither of them paid any attention as Buch burst through the cell and grabbed Kenichi by the throat. With raw animal strength, the newly minted feratu burst through bookcases, blasting from room to room. Kenichi felt each blow of the shelves as they broke through each one. His body was battered, bruised and bloody, until they landed together in a pile of books. Kenichi looked up at the ceiling, seeing the familiar stained glass windows from his earlier arrival, including the broken one, smiling at him with jagged teeth. He saw a small creature peering over the edge, a bird in its mouth. Two purple eyes gazed down at him.

The last thing Kenichi remembered hearing was a wail of hurt and anger and just a bit of sadness coming from the creature that had once been Buch, then everything faded to black.