9 The Alice Killings

It was quite late at night and a woman was walking through the park while swinging from side to side like if she was drunk. But she suddenly heard something in the bushes and she screamed as something dark came out and grabbed, the screams later turned in whimpers. The next day, police was investigating the scene with Ludger and Julius arrived a few meters away in a car. It was very busy on the crime scene as this was really mysterious and they've just started the investigation, a policeman came to the detectives in a hurry.

"Detectives, thank you for coming." The policeman greeted thankful.

"What happened here?" Ludger asked concerned.

"A young restaurant owner was walking home from a party last night but never returned home." The policeman explained. "A couple found her corpse this morning while being on a walk and just a warning, what you're about to see can be a bit of a fright."

They walked over to the murder scene for Ludger and Julius' eyes widen in fear at the horrifying scene in front of them. All of the limbs of the woman had been impaled into tree branches in a single tree and blood was dripping onto the ground from the ripped limbs, the neck was impaled in a small branch so her eyes looked at them with a terrified expression.

"Who would do this?" Julius asked horrified at the scene.

"Not even Velvet wouldn't do these kinds of things, this is too much." Ludger confessed to his older brother as he put on gloves so he could touch things on the scene without getting his fingerprints on them.

"What time did she die?" Julius asked a paramedic.

"Somewhere between 11-12 I can guess by the blood and that there are minimal flies on the body." The paramedic explained unsure. "We have to take the body down for a more closer look." Ludger started to notice something in the dead woman's mouth and took it out to see it was a playing card, a Jack of Spades to be exact. He turned the card to see that the back was black with the name 'Alice' painted with red ink on it.

"'Alice'?" Ludger said surprised before remembering something. 'Where have I heard of a card with the name Alice on it?'

"Did you find something, Ludger?" Julius asked his younger brother.

"Yeah, I found this in the victim's mouth. We need to get this ink analized." The younger Kresnik explained and showed it to Julius.

"Looks like the 'Alice Human Sacrifice' have started once again." Julius concluded upon seeing the card. "We might need Crowe for this, because there's going to be four more victims before we have six hours to figure out who killed these people."

"I think so too, we really need her help now or else, more people will die." Ludger agreed while looking at the dead woman in the tree with worry and fear.

-

In Enright, school was about to start and Yuya was sitting by his desk while massaging his forehead in pain. He had been having a bad headache since he and Yuto woke up that morning, Yuya didn't want to admit it but it was really bothering him now that he was in school and his friends are bound to notice. Yuri noticed Yuya and Yuto when he came into the classroom and placed his bag on his desk before going up to the pair.

"What's wrong?" The vampire prince asked. "Feeling ill?"

"No, not really." Yuya moaned as he looked at the vampire. "It's just a small headache."

"A minor headache, I say." Yuto pointed out to his vessel. "I can sense your pain, I told you that you should stay home and rest."

"And I told you that I'll be fine." The Secrecy eyes replied back. "I know you're worried but I've had worse ones."

"Could it be related to your powers?" Yuri asked and the couple looked at him. "I know when I use my powers too much or over use them, it leaves a strain on my body."

"Why do you ask me that?" Yuya questioned in confusion.

"That's because I smelled blood when I walked to school, it has me worried." Yuri explained, somewhat worried even if it doesn't show.

"So you mean that Yuya can sense the deaths that he doesn't have had a vision of." Yuto guessed and the vampire shrugged. "Yuya usually have headaches every time he had a vision."

"It's a speculation as Yuya's powers are a real mystery to even him." Yuri told them. "If people are dying and Yuya had headaches, it's a possibility that people are dying an unfair death which affects him as well."

"That's probably it." Yuya agreed, smiling a bit. "But I'll be fine."

"If you say so but if it gets worse, we go back home immediately." Yuto said serious.

"Yeah!" The vessel answered as the teacher and all the other classmates sat down in their seats as class started.

At Tales of Academy, the students was having the day off to study or just relax as these couple of weeks was full of school work and missions for all teams. The whole supernatural investigation club was in the club room, either studying, playing games or just hanging out with each other. Velvet and Mikleo was playing Mortal Kombat together while a man with long black hair and yellow left eye as the other was scared and covered by his long bangs was watching. Milla, Jude, Sorey and Emil was studying as the rest of the Zestiria seraphim members were talking to each other about their latest missions. Mikleo had a hard beating Velvet as she had memorized most of the moves of all the characters and completely thought of strategies instead of button smashing like Mikleo. Finally, Velvet demolished Mikleo in the game.

"Not again!" The purple eyed boy exclaimed irritated while Velvet high fived the man behind them. "How good are you at this game?!"

"You just have to memorize combos and use tactics." The Lord of Calamity answered with a grin. "Right, Rokurou?" The man snickered at the Berseria leader.

"That is exceptionally true." Rokurou agreed with the leader.

"Not you too!" Mikleo exclaimed in disappointment and Sorey started to laugh really hard.

"Come on, Mikleo. It's just a game." Jude tried to calm him down.

"A game he'll never win." Velvet pointed out which made Mikleo a little angry. Just then, everyone heard the door open and saw Ludger coming, which made all the members confused as he was supposed to be at work.

"Ludger, may we ask why you're here?" Milla asked the detective a bit confused.

"I'm working on a case and I would like your help with it." Ludger explained looking at Velvet and Rokurou. "Berseria are known to find missing people and important assassination requests."

"We're listening." Rokurou said in amusement.

"What type of case is it?" Velvet asked as Ludger gave her a folder which she instantly opened and gasped horrified at the papers and pictures inside, Rokurou and Mikleo looked over her shoulder and their eyes widen in shock.

"What the hell?!" Mikleo yelled as he stood up in a hurry.

"This isn't anywhere near human!" Rokurou exclaimed, looking at the detective.

"It's a lot worse for me as I've been on the crime scene." Ludger pointed out to him. "This case have happened before even though every murder is different than the other but all of them have a playing card that says 'Alice' on the back written in the victim's blood." Velvet suddenly stood up in anger before walking over to the door to get her jacket and helmet.

"Velvet, you can't be serious about taking this job?!" Rokurou asked the black haired maiden.

"Rokurou, my identity is on the line here!" Velvet retorted serious. "The 'Alice Human Sacrifice' is a sign that the Lord of Calamity is about to bring chaos to the world."

"So, someone is pretending to be you to breed chaos." Milla concluded. "But if people finds out that it's a sacrifice then the council is going to blame you for this."

"That is why I'm going to take this job myself." The Lord of Calamity explained determined. "Do I get to do what I want to the murderer?"

"As long as this stops before more victims appear the next time it happens, do what you like." Ludger replied. "There will be four more victims before we have six hours to find this person before they escape."

"Okay then, I have to contact a servant of mine." Velvet pointed out before leaving.

"Velvet really snapped right there, you think she'll be okay?" Emil asked the whole club.

"She will, she has an incredible inner strength." Rokurou pointed out. "Just like most of us. Even your brother, Milla." The Lord of Spirits looked at the man before looking out the window.

-

Yuya and Yuzu was walking home together but took a longer route through the city to clear their heads from the news they heard from their teacher that morning. She told them that someone was murdered last night and the body was found in the morning, so those that take the park home would have to take another way to not disturb the investigation. The two friends were talking about the supernatural events that had happened lately as Yuya tried to explain them with logic together with some pointers from Yuto, who noticed someone further away from the trio.

"Yuya, isn't that Laphicet over there?" Yuto asked and pointed in the direction he was looking at. Yuya looked that way to see the young blond boy walking around.

"Hey! Laphicet!" Yuya called out to get his attention.

"Yuya!" Laphicet exclaimed happily as the trio arrived.

"This is my friend Yuzu, she goes to the same school as me." The Secrecy eyes introduced her.

"Hi, I'm Laphicet Crowe." The blond boy introduced himself while bowing his head a bit. "Nice to meet you!"

"Nice to meet you as well." Yuzu greeted Laphicet with a smile of her own. "What are you doing here on your own?"

"Well, I was trying to find your house, Yuya." Laphicet explained. "Milla told me you had many varieties of books in your library, so I thought I would visit to check it out."

"I'm on my way home now, do you have a phone on you?" Yuya asked as he got down on one knee.

"Yeah! Velvet said I shouldn't leave home without it." Laphicet said as he took out his phone and gave it to Yuya, who started to type on it before giving it back.

"There, now you have my number so you can call me in case I'm not home." The crimson eyed boy explained and Yuto smiled gently at his vessel over his gentleness to the Crowe.

"Thanks, Yuya!" Laphicet thanked him, who smiled in response. They then heard a growling stomach and Laphicet blushed embarrassed.

"How about we go and eat something before going to the mansion?" Yuzu suggested. "There's a cafe nearby that isn't so busy at this time of the day."

"Good idea!" Yuya agreed while standing up. "But shouldn't you go home and fix dinner before your dad comes home."

"He can wait until then, I want to get know Laphicet a little bit more." Yuzu replied and the three boys sweatdropped at her answer.

"She can't see me, that's why you shouldn't talk to me when she's nearby." Yuto warned the boy, who nodded slightly with a smile.

The teens led Laphicet through the city while getting to know the boy as he kept his secret identity quite well to be so young, he was really smart for his age but the trio could see why Velvet was so fond of the boy. Laphicet was kind, happy and intelligent but you could also see he have many things to learn about real world and Otherworld it seemed. They talked about the life outside the academy for Laphicet to know how normal humans, those without powers or magic, live like there isn't a mirrored world that existed. They walked to a pretty empty shopping street and goes to a cafe that was opened but really empty inside that made all of them confused as walked inside.

"This is strange, it's far too empty than usual." Yuzu pointed out as they all looked around.

"Hello! Anybody here?!" Yuya called out.

"I don't think anyone is going to answer." Yuto pointed out.

"It was for precaution." Laphicet replied, feeling a bit nervous.

They suddenly heard Yuzu scream from the small stage and hurried over to her to see something they highly regretted. It was a dead man laying on a table in front of them, a bullet wound in his head and his vocal chords were ripped from his throat and placed beside his laying head. A card with the name Alice written with blood on the back. Yuya hugged Laphicet close so he wouldn't need to see the horrible sight as the boy was really terrified.

"It's going to be okay, Laphicet." The Secrecy eyes comforted him. "Everything is going to be okay."

"Who or what would have done this?" Yuzu asked absolutely terrified.

"This can't be a creature from Otherworld that could do this but its nether human." Yuto said as he observed the body without going near it. "This can't be a coincidence."

'I know that but...' Yuya said to him telepathically. 'We need to call the police and get Laphicet away from here. I have a feeling we shouldn't get involved with what's happening.' Yuto nodded in agreement as he was really didn't want to know what happened.

"I-I'll call the police." Yuzu stuttered out and took out her duel disk to make the call as Yuya and Yuto made sure that the little boy with them was calm.

After a few minutes came the police, Velvet arrived after a while to look for clues on her own as her servant was searching at the other crime scene. It was an humanoid rabbit butler by the name of 'Noir Sikyatavo' or 'Black Rabbit' as many would call him but even though Velvet isn't good at coming up with nicknames, she called him 'B-Rabbit' because it was easier to remember and just came out of her mouth when they first met. The black haired woman walked into the cafe without much effort as the police knew her quite well but as she looked around the place to find the body, Velvet saw Yuya, Yuzu and Laphicet talking to an officer while Yuto was with Yuya for comfort and she was starting to become really worried as the blond boy saw Velvet.

"Velvet!" Laphicet called out as he ran over to her, who got down to hug him.

"What are you doing here?" Velvet asked worried as she checked him for injures. "You should be at the academy, not in the city."

"He was going to my house, we brought him here to get something to eat." Yuya defended him as he came over to the two with Yuto in toe. "When we came in here and saw this."

"Yuzu was the one that found the body first, we can go home now that we made our statement." Yuto explained. "At least those that can be seen."

"Okay, get these people to the Sakaki mansion. There they can try forgetting this experience." Velvet ordered the officer with them.

"Of course, Crowe. Let's go kids, it's about time you three get some rest." The officer said caring as he lead the kids to to a police car.

"Thank you, Velvet." Yuto thanked the black haired woman, who nodded before the spirit hurried over to his vessel.

He walked by a man in a butler's outfit but didn't pay much attention to it as he was more focused on Yuya and Laphicet's mental health now that they've seen a dead body that was brutally murdered. The butler walked over to Velvet, who was looking at the body. The man's head changed into that of a black rabbit with a monocle over his left eye.

"B-rabbit." Velvet addressed him, who bowed a bit.

"My lady, I've only found small pieces of information on our suspect but not enough on the lead." B-Rabbit explained. "I suggest it's about time we ask for help in this case if we would have a chance to catch him." Velvet sighed in defeat.

"And here I thought I wasn't going to have to contact that maniac." The Lord of Calamity said as her phone began to ring and she walked away to take it, seeing that it was an unknown number. "Hello, Jigsaw."

"Greetings, Lord of Calamity." A robotic voice greeted on the other side. "Want to play a game?"

"You've always been one of surprises." Velvet comment as she leaned against a wall.

"What is your problem? I believe your nephew have experienced something dreadful just a few minutes ago."

"He'll be alright, he's experienced worse things. I want your help, you've been able to hack into the cameras as long as I've known you to watch your victims. Now I want you to help me save people who doesn't deserve to die because of my identity."

"It's very strange for a Lord or rather, Lady of Calamity, to not spread chaos and calamity around."

"Unlike them, I know what kind of world there is out there. I'm going to use my powers for good and not of selfish reasons, to protect the people I cherish and love."

"I will see what I can do, I'll send you the files when I'm done and a helping hand to catch him in a little game of his own."

"You sick bastard, but you're doing this to teach people the purpose of life."

"You're truly a strange wonder, Miss Crowe." The person on the other side ended the call with Velvet looking in the distance with determined eyes.

"I will get you, so you can feel what it's like to suffer." Velvet mumbled with hatred.

-

At the Sakaki mansion, swords clashing was heard on the backyard which was revealed to be Milla and Yuya sparring with each other as the older sister was teaching her brother how to use one. Yuzu has been brought home to her house to have some alone time with her dad to try forgetting what she saw in the cafe, the boys had a pretty good guess that she wouldn't forget that in a long time. Yuto was practicing shooting a target with his bow while Laphicet was sitting on the outside couch on the porch and reading one of the books he borrowed from the mansion's library. Both vessel and spirit wasn't wearing their coats so it would be easier to move around under training.

Yuya was trying to hit Milla which locked the two when they clashed, Milla grinned as she moved her leg behind his and slides it forwards, causing Yuya to fall on his back while panting as the Lord of Spirits pointed her sword at the Secrecy eyes on the ground.

"I... give up..." Yuya panted exhausted.

"You yield in defeat?" Milla asked.

"Yes!" Yuya answered desperate. Yuto chuckled before Milla took down her sword and helped Yuya up on his feet as the gray eyed spirit walked over to them.

"What's with you today?" Milla asked her little brother as he sheathed his sword, locking them together. "You usually able to keep up with me when we're training."

"Sorry, sis. I haven't been feeling well today." The crimson eyed boy confessed still feeling the headache from that morning and Milla looked at him, slightly confused.

"Yuya has been having a headache since this morning, it has gotten down now but that's not all," Yuto explained, seeing that his vessel was getting really tired. "We saw a dead body at a cafe."

"Are you feeling alright about it?" The ruby eyed girl asked worried as she looked at the three boys as they joined Laphicet on the porch.

"Me and Yuya have had worse, I can't say the same about Yuzu though." Yuto said while chuckling at the end.

"That's just how Yuzu is. I'm glad it wasn't much worse or else she would have fainted in shock." Yuya pointed out which made the two laugh really hard so that Yuya somehow managed to lay his head in Yuto's arms, the pair starred into each other's eyes before they both blushed red as Yuya sat back up. Milla giggled at their antics while Laphicet was smiling as he was really focused in his book but heard the laughing.

"Laphicet, is everything okay with you?" Milla asked the younger boy, who looked up from his book.

"Yeah! It wasn't really that scary to be honest." Laphicet replied. "It was almost like when Velvet assassinate someone but a lot more brutal."

"Wait, Velvet kills people?" Yuto questioned. "Is there such requests in the academy?"

"Unfortunately, it is true." Milla answered, feeling a little guilty.

"But why?" Yuya asked.

"The Berseria team is most experienced when they are in the shadows, they can find their targets easily and every member has had experience with killing people." The Lord of Spirits explained. "They're smart and plans ahead, completing every mission. These missions comes from high authorities such as the elite force and FBI."

"Because of us having powers that isn't easily detected, it is easy to be like assassins even though it's usually Velvet or Rokurou that are usually the ones killing them." Laphicet continued, "but they are all really nice even though Magilou is really weird."

Then they heard a few fairies telling them something before turning on the radio nearby which they heard the news about another dead body found in a graveyard, this time it was a little girl. Her eyes had been pulled out and her stomach had been cut open to show her intastens, a crown had been sown into her head. The playing card with the Queen of Clubs in her hands and a horrible note was found as well. Yuya's headache came back but not as worse as that morning and the four people was shocked.

"That's the third body found today, what's happening with our town today?" Yuto thought out loud. "It's turning into a madhouse with all of this killing."

"Yuto, calm down." Yuya said to his beloved spirit. "Ludger and Velvet are on the case right now, there's no need to worry about it."

"Yeah, you're right." The onyx eyed boy agreed before seeing Yuya with a tired smile on his face. "I think you should rest for a bit, Yuya. With all that's been going on today, we both need some shut eye." Yuya nodded and the two stood up to walk back inside.

"I'll bring up some food for you later, I can sense you're really exhausted." The older Sakaki said and the younger sibling nodded to her as well.

"Thanks, Sis." Yuya thanked her before the two walked inside.

"I got a text from Velvet earlier, she thinks that you should stay here tonight, in case if the killer finds you." Milla said to Laphicet, who smiled greatly.

"Then I get to check out more of the books in library!" The little boy exclaimed happily and Milla giggled.

"At least you don't get bored here." The Lord of Spirits pointed out happily.

Inside, the boys arrived in Yuya's room as they heard small conversation but didn't really pay attention as they both were tired. Yuya hide his sword back in its bag as he slides it under the bed for safe keeping.

"These murders aren't the only thing on your mind." Yuto said as the crimson eyed boy took off his goggles, wristbands, choker and belt to place them on his drawer.

"I don't know how to explain it. I want to tell you but I can't, it's really confusing to me." Yuya explained as he takes off his shirt, showing Yuto his scars once again. "You heard my conversation with Velvet back at museum, didn't you?" Yuto kept quiet as answer and Yuya closed his eyes in guilt before he felt Yuto's fingers tracing the scars.

"You could have told me about that spell. I trust you and I want you to trust me." Yuto hugged him in comfort and Yuya felt his warm breath on his neck. "I won't do anything unless if it hurts or threaten you. I will always be there for you to protect you, you've changed me for the better."

"I've changed too since I met you, I'm not so afraid of Otherworld's darkness anymore." Yuya turned around as the spirit let go. "You did save me a few times now." Yuto could only smile at Yuya's happiness, it wasn't often you could see that happiness. "If it wasn't for I would have been dead already."

"The same goes for me." Yuya laughed a little before Yuto remembered something, "that reminds me. How is this place untouched by Otherworld except the garden?"

"There's an invisible shield surrounding the mansion since my ancestors build it, it's probably over a hundred years old or something but the Otherworld version of the mansion is supposed to be older. That's why it's a sacred place to be in and people think this place is haunted." Yuto was the one chuckling this time.

"That I can understand since this place is a sanctuary for Spirits and creatures, even to those that are involved with this realm."

"Yeah, that's how I see my home to be. I feel like I'm a bigger part of Otherworld than I should." Yuya walked over to the window to watch the sunset outside. "Like I belong in there. Maybe what happened in my past is making me feel like that, I don't know."

"Or maybe you're just used to it." Yuya looked back his friend with a gentle smile, knowing that he made a good point.

"Maybe you're right, thanks."

After a while the two slept together soundless as a sign of no nightmare or disturbances, they were just happy to finally get some rest away from events related to Otherworld.

-

At night, the police was gathered at a house late as the parents of two children found them dead on their beds. Luckily, the older sister and the younger brother were killed by drugs in their bodies through the neck. The card that was left at the scene was split in half and placed in each hand of the siblings which was an ace of hearts. Ludger and Julius came out of the house in a hurry and a little worried.

"I hope Velvet can find the killer soon." Ludger begged. "This is getting out of hand and soon the whole town is going to panic."

"Don't worry, little brother." Julius said. "This is something Crowe is experienced with, she knows the right people to ask to get the culprit. We vacancy trust her."

In the park meters away from the scene, a man in a hoodie was snickering in delight over the chaos before turning around to walk away. Suddenly, someone shoved a syringe into his neck and drugged him unconscious so he feel on the ground.

As the man woke up, he saw Velvet crouched in front of him a few meters away in her Otherworld clothing and a grin on her lips. They were in an old industrial bathroom in an unknown location, the only way out was an opened door behind the Lord of Calamity. Around the room was three really dead bodies of people that had died in the room together with them.

"Looks like you've awakened from the drug I put in you." Velvet said as the man tried to crawl forwards her but couldn't as he was chained to a pipe by his ankle. He sat up to try getting loose as Velvet stood up in disappointment. "Don't you get it? You can't get out of this, after all you've been copying my kills. Now we've done the same to you but differently."

"What have you done, bitch?!" The man yelled in anger.

"You've watched the movies of Jigsaw, you know what happens." Velvet told him before sensing someone behind her which made the therion smile. "Isn't that right, B-Rabbit?" The rabbit humanoid being was now standing in the doorway with a butler's clothing that had a red tint to it.

"Of course, Milady." B-Rabbit agreed polite to his master.

"Who the hell are you people?!" The man yelled in absolute anger.

"David Lancaster, the fake Lord of Calamity and murderer. My name is Black Rabbit or Noir Sikyatavo, a special servant for my mistress." B-Rabbit introduced himself while bowing in politeness. "In front of you is the true Lord of Calamity, I think you remember her name. Velvet Crowe, the girl you traumatized for months three years ago." David is shocked as he saw the black haired maiden turn into her younger self.

"You were the one who convinced Artorius to do it that night because my little brother had just a year left to live, now I'm going to make you feel the same as I did." Velvet explained, David then saw a hacksaw nearby but Velvet picked it up before he could. "I don't think so, slicing your foot off won't help you. While you were out, I put a poison in your system that will slowly kill you from the inside. A little present from Jigsaw himself." Velvet goes to B-Rabbit to give him the hacksaw before he left, using his teleportation powers.

"Damn you, somebody will find me and prove I'm innocent then they'll arrest you for murder as well." David growled but Velvet just laughed.

"Wow, you really are stupid!" The Lord of Calamity pointed out and looked at him with fire in her eyes. "No one will know that you're here or even know that I was the one that put you in here, I'm not actually human and comparing to you, I kill people who deserved it. I don't leave evidence for the police to find as their detectives knows about what I am." David is terrified of her confession. "I'm a monster that lives to create chaos, thanks to you." Velvet walked away into the corridor and took the handle to the door as she turned the lights off.

"Fuck you!! You'll pay for this!" David screamed in agony.

"Game over." Velvet said before sliding the door shut with brute force.

The fake Lord was never seen again and the group didn't know what Velvet had done to him but they knew it was Velvet's responsibility to judge the ones creating chaos if they would live or die for their deeds, those that can't control their darkness like she can would be tested to judge like the Jigsaw Killer did to help the Lord of Calamity before her all those years ago. Velvet's justice was different than her predecessors as she knew what injustice there was in the world so now she'll do it her own way to create justice while getting her revenge on the people that killed her little brother.