The City Where Thunder Falls Like Cherry Blossoms

"I couldn't tell from your thin frame. But, you're a glutton aren't you?"

After hearing that, I nearly choked.

We were sitting down on the couch of my small living room. Well, I was sitting down, Cacophony took up nearly three-quarters of the couch to lay on her back with her knees up in the air. Now that I think about it, if she'd been wearing her outfit from this morning then I'd be able to see... Anyway, some time has passed since then. From behind the closed curtain, I could see the sun setting. Both Cacophony and I had spent the day relaxing and going over some of the basics of modern home life. 

Laying there, Cacophony wore a white shirt from my closet and a pair of shorts. Luckily, we'd sorted out the underwear ordeal. After I showed her a picture of women's underwear, she was able to perfectly replicate it using a spell. From what I could tell, it was the same one that she used to make her dress. It takes pre-existing threads and reshapes them however the user wishes. If you couldn't tell, I took quite an interest in her magic and its inner workings.

Something of note though is that she didn't seem very surprised to learn of the existence of women's underwear. When I think about it some more, it's not like people back in the day walked around with their private bits showing. And that look she had on her face... Was she... Yup, she was totally messing with me. I fell head first into it too, acting all stiff and robotic trying to tell her about the wonders of the invention of a bra and panties. Should I call her out on it? No... Just the thought makes my heart leap out of my chest.

Now then, back to the present. 

As we watched some crappy sitcom, I'd been munching on the occasional snack. Goldfish, Oreos, etc. I didn't think much of it until Cacophony chimed in.

"Hey... it wasn't even that much. A growing boy needs his nutrients and all." 

"Of course. We all need our nutrients and all." 

Just as I returned my full attention to the television, the sitcom switched to a commercial break. To be quite honest, I rarely ever watched normal television like this. The only reason that I even bothered to sit down and endure the annoying rigidness of regular TV was because Cacophony was here. I mean, maybe it was a little stupid of me, but it just felt like something I should do. Maybe it's because back when I was little I watched regular television, or it just be some weird cliche, but an important part of understanding modern American life is broadcast television!

At least, that's what I thought. 

"How annoying. Is this truly how people of the modern era consume entertainment? Sandwiched between tasteless advertisements?" 

"Well... No, not rea-Or... A little bit I guess-But! We can do something else. We could play some games or something."

"Oh, yes! After all this time I think I'm dying to play a good game or two! Come now, bring out the patolli board." 

"Patolli?" 

Cacophony shot straight off the couch and stood directly in front of me. Her downward gaze was sharp and unyielding, it held no sense of breaking. Instantly as my eyes met hers I became tense and uncomfortable. I shifted and squirmed into the couch, my eyes now downcast, planted squarely off to the side. 

"You're telling me that patolli has died out?"

"Um, well, I guess. The thing is, I've never heard of it so I don't know for sure."

Within a moment's notice, Cacophony's strong stature deflated.

"No, that fact is enough. Chances are many aspects of my culture have been lost to time. These clothes for example. In my time, I'd be considered odd for wearing something like this. Even now, I'm not fully used to it."

"Do you not like them?" 

"No. They're fine, comfy even. My point is that it's the way of the world for things to be thrown to the wayside after time. Especially when we're talking about five hundred years worth of it." 

I hadn't expected it—that overflowing honesty. If I, for just a moment, were to be just as honest as she was. I'd admit that in a situation like this one, I hadn't a single clue how to reply. Actually, this is pretty similar to what happened at the graveyard. How do normal people deal with this kind of stuff? Do people go through life using trial and error? Finding a reply that counts as 'good enough' and using it on repeat? That sounds so artificial. That doesn't sound like a real connection, a real understanding. 

With a large smile, Cacophony snatched away my opportunity to speak, "What a heavy atmosphere. Veri, are you still tired?"

"Just a bit." 

Throughout the day, a heavy lethargy clung to me like a persistent shadow, dragging at my movements and clouding my thoughts. Simply referring to it as fatigue would be inaccurate, it was like my very essence had been sapped away. In a way, it was somewhat similar to a feeling I have sometimes when I get sick. In this case, I lacked all other symptoms of sickness, so I assumed it was something less. Wait, I swear that I'd mentioned this only once in passing.

"I think an early night is in order. Ah, that'll be after you've whipped me up some dinner of course. You did mention that people of today eat three meals in a day, yes?", she quipped, her memory a thing of both fascination and trepidation.

"You've really got some scary memory, actually reminds me of an evil witch that I fought, she went by the name of-", I interjected, soon I trailed off into some long rant inspired by an episode of Soul Eater.

Shortly after, we watched a little more television, ate a different variant of eggs, and I went up to bed.

I wonder, what does she plan to do when I'm asleep? Hopefully, it doesn't involve exposing another dirty part of my life. 

-Cacophony

Stretched out on the plush sofa, in my hands I flipped through the pages of an unknown tome. I was somewhat familiar with the structure of European books from the past, but the meaning of their written language still eluded me. Luckily, this particular book was composed mostly of pictures. 'Manga', an interesting form of literature with its origins in some foreign land. 

Turning my head, I gazed upon the clock hung up on the wall. It was two in the morning. I scoffed, impressed by my magnificence. In the span of only a few hours, I'd mastered the art of clock reading. The only hurdle still in my way is the concept of daylight savings. The idea itself is easy, but it simply doesn't feel real. Right now it's two o'clock, but in reality, it's three. Such idiocy irks me.

Rising from the comfort of the sofa, I casually tossed the book aside, its pages whispering tales of distant lands as they settled onto the cushions.

"It's about time.", I murmured to myself. 

I'd been forced to patiently bid my time to ensure Veri was soundly asleep. While it wouldn't be the worst-case scenario, I preferably didn't wish for Veri to find out about my late-night outing. Not that it mattered much. It was just a preference. 

Stripping down, I needed to change out of the casual loungewear that I had been wearing. While they were comfortable, it'd be unbefitting for an empress to walk out in the open with such attire. Instead, I walked over to a small basket sitting on the dining area's table. 

My loyal servant had kindly taken it upon himself to wash the dress that I made yesterday. The dress had been made from the inner parts of a coffin so apparently it had a faint smell. Guess that's what five hundred years of being used does to things.

Standing there in that cold, lifeless room in nothing but my black undergarments, I had to stop and admire the sheer handiwork of the dress. My luck since coming to this era has been abnormally good. One of the largest factors that decide what information I obtain from a target after drinking their blood is their current thoughts and emotions. Maybe seeing my elegant figure caused that boy to think of royalty?

Clad in my dress, I opened the door and ventured out into the madness of the night. 

'Madness', what an overstatement. Before, Veri called this area Miami Shores, from what I can tell it's a calm and peaceful place. As I strolled through the residential area, the streets seemed completely docile. 

The night held a peculiar allure for me, rooted not solely in my vampiric nature but resonating with a deeper essence within. Under the cloak of darkness, I thrived, my senses sharpened, and my faculties honed to a razor's edge. In the night, I always did my best work.

A mischievous grin graced my beautiful face as I walked. With these eyes, I could adjust my sight based on the amount of energy I wanted to expend. With just a tiny bit of effort, I could see a place that caught my interest.

Just walking there would take far too long, this city was simply that big. If I were some pathetic human, I'd need to take a horse or some kind of carriage. 

"It's time to get a little exercise.", I loudly declared into the empty night, anticipation pumping through my veins.

With a swift bend of my knees, I poised myself for action. With a surge of energy, I launched into the night sky, relishing the sensation of liberation from gravity's fierce shackles. I was so high up that I likely could touch the highest point of even the tallest building that this city had to offer. I must admit, I went overboard on the first jump, using this method, I quickly leaped through the city. 

Bouncing from the tops of buildings and structures helps a seed of superiority grow in one's heart. Even an empress was no exception to this rule. No, an empress may have been more subject to this rule and all others combined.

Sadly, during my journey, the clouds began to darken and sour. During the entire day, the weather didn't show a single sign of rain, yet now it suddenly had switched. 

"Come on... I would've gotten there in just another minute..." 

The souring of the clouds subsequently resulted in the souring of my mood. Should I keep pushing on and exploring the city? 

Boom! 

There it was, the one sound that I was dreading hearing. The booming of relentless thunder, and showing itself in all its glory. Ah! Fine, I'll give up for today. It'd be difficult to explain how my dress got soaking wet anyway. As I turned to retreat, a solitary droplet landed squarely on the tip of my nose.

Woah, woah, woah! 

That's way too fast, the hell! What kind of horrible weather does this place have?! 

The rain just kept coming, that drizzle morphing into an unforgiving raging torrent of rain and thunder, falling onto all who dared show themselves. Just beneath me was a restaurant with a couple of outside tables. Each table had its own umbrella, and so, lacking any other option, I sat myself down at one of the tables with the umbrella up.

"Damn it! This city sucks!" 

Boring, so boring. I had nothing to occupy my time. Didn't Eztil have a spell that deflected raindrops? You wouldn't need an umbrella if the rain couldn't even touch you. Back then, I told her it was a waste of time developing a non-combat spell... I wonder what she's been up to after all this time? Is she alive? 

My mood is only getting more sour. I need to think more positive thoughts. Like how well my servant has taken to his new role. He even had the foresight to teach me about umbrellas. He said 'If you're gonna be living here, you need to know about this!' That 'Dark King', I wonder what his story is? Well, whatever it is, it's of little consequence to me. 

Just like my eyesight, my sense of hearing is also beyond the average human's capabilities. Unlike my eyesight though, even without pumping energy into my ears, they're still extraordinary.

It was for that reason that I could hear that distinct sound. One that awakened the deepest and most primal instinct of any vampire. 

The dripping of blood. Coupled with it was the sound of someone getting hit. Not lightly either, behind every strike was a significant amount of force and effort. Well, a significant amount of force for an average human. 

"Hmmm... Yup, right there."

I stepped out into the pouring rain, letting myself get drenched in the oppressive onslaught beaming down from the sky. Uncharacteristic for someone in my position, I smiled. It was an unhonest smile, one I used only to mask the negative emotions boiling underneath. 

Crash!

In a single, fluid motion, I leaped up to the third-story window of a nearby building and shattered the glass. With my newly created entrance, I entered the room where the noises stemmed from.

As I stepped into the room, the sound of shattered glass crunching beneath my heels echoed like a harbinger of impending doom.

One, two, three, four thugs to my left. The room was dimly lit and mostly empty. The most notable thing would be the table, around which four men are sitting down, exchanging a case full of what I assume to be the currency of today. Glancing over to my right, I see a young girl. Her arms and feet were bound by rope and she was bleeding out from a multitude of injuries. 

Was this woman sold into slavery? Well, it's certainly something of that nature. Personally, my care for something like this is low. The weak being sacrificed or trampled upon is the nature of life and it's been that way since the first living creature drew breath. 

This wasn't for any noble or moral reason. It'd just been so long since I'd felt the rush.

"Hey, who the hell are you?!" 

One of the men instantly blasted off from his seat and began charging me. He was a large burly man, his build would be good for a soldier or even for playing some sort of sport. It's truly a shame. 

Raising my right hand I pointed my index finger at the man.

"Now fly!" 

... 

... 

Despite my chant, nothing seemed to happen. How disappointing.

"The fuck's wrong with you?!" 

With the distance fully closed and with his body towering over me, the man reached his hand out to grab me. I had to notice just how vile his hands were. Full of cuts and unkempt. 

"What a vile insect you are," I remarked, my words dripping with disdain as I effortlessly sidestepped his clumsy assault, brushing his leg with a casual flick of my fingertips.

"ARGGHH!" 

His screams filled the room and heart with unimaginable pathos. Such raw emotion; dread, fear, terror. All of these filled my heart with such a warm embrace. My heart was being welcomed home, where it was meant to be. 

On that man's leg were a multitude of small, needle-sized holes. Instantly, he collapsed onto one knee and became unable to walk. 

"Earlier, I'd feared that the spell wouldn't work for some reason, but it seems that isn't the case. Like the fireball earlier, the issue is my soul. It isn't back to full strength just yet. For now, I'll need to touch the target to use this spell effectively."

"What the hell-What the hell are you?!" 

Another man came from behind, shouting out into the open air to boost his confidence. He came at me with a small knife, how insulting for him to think such a tool could defeat the likes of myself. 

Punishment had to be dealt. No, I merely wished to punish someone after all these years. In one quick movement, I smashed his skull into the ground. Just once would've been enough, but the blood splatter simply didn't satisfy my tastes. Repeatedly, I pulled his head up before slamming it down into the floor. I only stopped once I thought the floor might give way. 

"Now I've got all this blood on my dress. Hopefully, the rain will wash it off." 

Looking back up, the other two men were huddled in the corner, both looking completely shell-shocked. Their will to fight had been crushed. 

Thunder crackled in the background as I marched up to the two men. They pleaded for their lives so wonderfully. This is how it ought to be. I'm not just some vampire, I'm an empress. All humans should be bowing their heads in my presence, fearful of my overwhelming power and ability.

I realized it then. As I placed my palms on the horrified faces of those two men, I realized the source of my hatred. 

"No wonder! After losing to that nobody and getting sealed I never had the chance to blow off that steam! Honestly, I'm grateful to you guys!" 

As I let go of their faces, the two men's lifeless bodies fell onto the floor. On their faces, clusters of small holes burrowed into their flesh. 

Turning back around, there was only one thug left to deal with. With his back against the wall, the burly man with a ruined leg had nowhere to escape. Tears ran down his cheeks as he looked up at the monster in front of him.

"P-Please! I have a family! I just needed the money for my daughter! She's been very sick for a while and-" 

"Stop talking. I don't have the time or patience to care for the problems of every worthless human I meet. At the very least, die with some grace." 

He had the swiftest and most painless end. To test the current limits of my fire spell, I fried his brain from the inside out. 

With that done, I went on a blood-tasting spree. While each of the men had distinct flavors, they were all subpar at best. By the end, I'd drank nowhere near enough to quench my thirst.

In comparison, Veri's blood was like drinking from the cup of a god. Sadly, his body just couldn't keep up. The source of his tiredness throughout the day was likely when I drank his blood earlier. His frail human body can't keep up with my demands. For now at least, in the future, his body may adjust. 'Future', I talk like I'll be with him for a long time. His only purpose is as a short-term solution.

"Whelp, guess it's time to head back." 

I took a glance at the tied-up girl shivering at the other side of the room. It reminded me of a bad memory. Somehow, the sight made that subpar flavor lingering on my tongue taste even worse.

"Learn to save yourself." 

Thunderstruck once more as I left, mixing back into that mad night.