Chapter 9

Remember a little while back when I said I would be taking an 'element' from Soul Eater NOT, but it would be modified to fit with this story? Well, in this chapter you'll see what I mean. Just remember that since this is a separate universe from NOT, this 'element' has been changed quite a bit for this. Look out for it in this chapter. I hope you enjoy. :)

The snow falls upon the mountain of white and upon the three figures who climb it.

Two of the figures walk closely together, whilst the third traverses through the snowy slope, ten feet in front of them, guiding the other two upwards through the blizzard.

"Did she tell you where we're going?" Asked the taller of the two.

The individual next to him, responds with an aggravated sigh. "No. She didn't."

"Oh. Okay." Spoke the tall man in prisoner attire. "What about this guy?" He says, motioning to the one that's guiding them.

"Nothing." Replied the bundled-up woman next to him, frustration rising in her voice.

A few seconds pass, before the surprisingly, not freezing-to-death, man spoke again.

"Seems kinda fishy to me."

"You think?!" Shouted the woman; her patience being at an end.

"What's got you so riled up?"

"Oh! I don't know! Maybe it's the fact I'm climbing Mount who-the-hell-cares! At minus god knows what! To where I don't know! With an idiot who keeps asking questions when I don't want to talk! Because it was the demand of a woman I hate SO very much and I don't know how much more I can take before I…!"

The woman silences herself and stops dead in her tracks. The third individual had stopped in front of her; his gloved hand raised to his wrapped-up face, gesturing her to be quiet. He then points to a cave a little further up the path, and continues onwards towards it.

The two stare at their guide, walking to the cave.

"I guess that's where we're headed, Eruka." Spoke the tall man.

The pair follow after their mysterious guide.

The cave opening was roughly fifteen feet wide and twenty-four feet tall. The three enter the mouth, which is a fitting name, for the stalactites hanging from the ceiling would appear to be fangs from the outside.

While not what she was used to, Eruka found the inside of the cave to be warm enough to remove the clothing from her head.

"PUH! PUH! PUH! Ugh, bits of the cloth are in my mouth!" She continues to spit up the beads of wool that entered her mouth during the trip to the cave.

The man, dressed like a prisoner and wearing a rag over one of his eyes, turns to their guide, who stares into the darkness that lay before them.

"Hey. What do we do now, stranger?"

The stranger has no response. He remains still, fixated on the darkness that lay deeper within the cave.

Without a word, the man lifts the rag up, so he can look in the direction as the still wrapped up man was facing with his left eye.

The demon eyed man's eyes narrow; hidden within the bowels of the cave, he can see a sea of pinkish souls of various sizes, silently sneaking their way towards the cave mouth.

He becomes momentarily distracted by a faint purple glimmer, emitting from the shadows of the far left of him, past the wrapped-up stranger, before disappearing again, but he returns his focus back on the approaching souls before him.

"Eruka." Spoke the man in prisoner clothes, the tone of his voice becoming more serious.

The frog Witch rolls her eyes. "I still don't know why we're here, Free." Her voice still maintaining her irritation at their situation.

"We have company."

Free's direct statement encourages Eruka to drop the attitude. She looks upon him in confusion, before the fearful realisation that they're not alone in the cave sets in. She slowly backs away to the entrance, whilst Free and their mystery guide remain still, focusing on the shadows before them.

There's only silence, and the sound of Eruka's breathing, quickening. An echoed voice of a woman calls out from the darkness.

"It's rare for food to come all the way here, by their own volition. Isn't it, my darlings?"

Several figures dressed in tuxedos, step out of the darkness; their skin pale as the snow outside and their eyes are black as the suits they wear. Free can see their souls and the souls of the many other hidden individuals as clear as day; they're Bloodsuckers, or more specifically, these variations are more commonly known as…

"Vampires." Says Free, adopting a stance ready for any kind of combat.

Eruka, instinctually jumps in fear at the name. "V…V…V…V…Vampires?!"

The haunting, reverberating voice speaks once again. "Very perceptive, tasty little morsel."

"M…morsel?!" Eruka jumps in fear yet again and attempts to run out into the snow.

A loud revving sound of a chainsaw is heard, followed by the blur of white that shoots out from the shadows towards the frog Witch. Free attempts to move to stop it, but is prevented by a large, muscular figure also leaping from the darkness, restraining the Werewolf.

The white blur drifts around Eruka, blocking her escape route.

"You ain't going anywhere, babe." Said this person, wearing a white, fur-trimmed coat, blue jeans, long gloves which reached to his elbows, various piercings on his face, possessing brown hair, brown eyes and sporting a toothy grin.

Initially startled by this sudden sight, Eruka's fear fades slightly upon recognising the man.

"Huh? Wait a sec. Aren't you that chainsaw Weapon, that worked for Arachne?"

The Weapon responds. "Who wants to know?"

"Hey! I asked you a question first!"

"And I want you to answer mine now, before I get nasty, bitch!" Spoke the foul-mouthed man, raising his hand near Eruka's face, as chainsaw blades begin to form on his arm.

Whilst the man threatens Eruka, Free himself notices a familiar face on the man restraining him. The wrinkly expression, the top hat and the long pointy nose gives it away.

"Hey."

"What is it?" Asked the muscular man, with a very gruff and angry voice.

"You're the other one who worked for that spider Witch. Midget, right?"

The gruff man, becomes angrier. "My name is, Mosquito! And if you don't shut up, I'll suck you dry!"

The chainsaw Weapon's threatening demeanour drops upon hearing Mosquito saying that. He begins laughing uncontrollably, clutching his sides to keep himself from falling to the floor in laughter.

After a few seconds of pondering why his companion is laughing, Mosquito quickly deduces the answer and shouts over to him. "Oh, grow up, Giriko!"

Before the Giriko's laughter and Mosquito's complaining could continue, Free and Eruka's guide interrupts them.

"Empusa. I recommend calling off your pets and come with me." His voice was low, sounding almost modulated; hard to tell if it is, under all of his wrappings.

Giriko's laughter dies down, another presence other than the Bloodsuckers can be sensed, a Witch's presence.

Floating out from the darkness of the cave, behind the group of Bloodsuckers, is a beautiful woman, wearing a black and dark green ribbon lace-up fishtail dress, with a long black petticoat skirt which lightly cover her legs down to her feet, fishnet opera gloves wrap around both arms from her wrists to her elbows, her long dark green soft braided hair drops over her left shoulder reaching to her breast, a black lace choker with a dark green rose on the front wraps around her porcelain skin neck, and her deep orange eyes had strange bat wing shaped pupils which stared down upon the wrapped up man, who stood forty feet before her.

"You stand before a Queen. One with the power to make your deaths quick or agonising. And you make commands of her?" Spoke the doll-like Witch; her voice was low, melancholic. "Maybe you do want to die."

Eruka screeches in fear, Free's form morphs into that of a Werewolf, fighting against Mosquito's restraint.

The man speaks again. "You sound very unmotivated." A hint of amusement in his voice.

"There's little left in this cold world to keep me interested in anything anymore." Responded the Bloodsucker Queen.

"What if I were to tell you, I can ignite that inspiration of yours once again?"

"If I could laugh, I would. But I don't have the energy. Now, be good little snacks and feed my children."

"I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, if you were to just look here." The wrapped-up figure gestures to the shadows on his left.

All turn their heads to peer in that direction. A slender figure can be faintly seen leaning against the wall.

Giriko laughs. "So, what? You brought one chick as backup. Big deal!"

Mosquito on the other hand was more concerned. "Careful! I didn't even sense her soul. She must be a powerful Witch in that case!"

Empusa, remained still, her orange eyes fixated upon the figure, curious who this person may be.

The man gestures her to come forward, she does so. As her bare feet stepped into the dim light, Giriko and Mosquito's faces dropped. They never expected to see HER of all people.

"Lady Medusa?!" Yelped Mosquito.

Giriko's reaction was a combination of shock and annoyance. "Fuck me! She's alive?!"

The snake Witch stopped next to the wrapped-up man, her arms folded; a scowl formed on her face, clearly not wishing to be here.

The eyes of the two Witches meet, there's only silence. It was hard to tell how Empusa was reacting to this sight, as her face is obscured in the darkness. Medusa decides to break the silence.

"Been a long time, Empusa." She says with a sigh.

In that instant, a blur of black and green zooms pass the formally dressed Vampires, pass Free and Mosquito, and stops mere inches away from Medusa.

Empusa leans close towards Medusa's face, scanning her features. From everyone's perspective, they can tell that Empusa is half an inch shorter than Medusa and is about the same build as her.

A few more seconds of silence follows, the two servants of Empusa and the two of Medusa, remain still as the tension rises.

Empusa, finally does something. She reaches for Medusa, opening her mouth and crying out…

"MEDUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

She leaps onto her fellow Witch in glee, her embrace tackles Medusa to the ground.

All stare in confusion at this strange turn of events. Instead of attacking Medusa, Empusa is hugging her tightly, a smile spreads across her face and joyful tears falls upon it; Medusa, on the other hand, is not amused.

"Oh, I missed you so much! I heard you were dead! And your soul was destroyed! And… and… WAAAAAHHHHH!" Empusa kisses Medusa's cheeks in between her bouts of emotional sobbing.

"Get off! Act your age for once!" Angrily spouted Medusa, attempting to free herself from the Vampire Witch's grip.

"You're never leaving me alone again! We'll be together forever!"

"God, you're such a child!"

"Don't be mean! I want us to be happy again!"

"You can make me happy by letting go!"

Eruka, was in awe of this somewhat humorous sight. "What the hell's going on?"

"You don't know?" Mosquito enquired.

"Know what?" Asked Free.

"Lady Empusa was in a deep depression after hearing about Lady Medusa's death." Elaborated the old Bloodsucker.

Giriko chimed in to the conversation, whilst the two Witches continued to wrestle on the ground. "Yeah, it made the last five years a real downer. At least now, I'm getting a great show to watch!" He says in a perverted fashion.

Disgusted, Eruka shimmies away from Giriko. "Okay, so they're… friends?"

"I should hope so." Spoke Empusa, finally settling down, as Medusa wriggles away from her grasp. "Mother always wanted us to look out for each other."

Confused, Free asks… "Mother?"

"Our Mother." Informed Medusa, rising back up on her feet once again. "Lady Hecate Gorgon."

"Th…th…then that means you're…!" Stammered the frog Witch, pointing at the Vampire Queen.

"Empusa Gorgon, Witch of Necromancy and Queen of Bloodsuckers." Announced the said Witch, as she too rises from the cave floor.

Eruka was in shock. There's another Gorgon sister in the world, except this one was noticeably a bit bubblier than the other two.

"B…b…but… I've never heard about you until now." Uttered Eruka.

"What?" Empusa turns to her sister. "You didn't tell them about me?" She asks; a hint of sadness can be heard in her voice.

Not wishing to take her on, Medusa ignores her question and speaks to the frog Witch.

"The Witch Order has no love for Empusa, especially after marrying an enemy."

"An enemy? Who?" Asks Free, his body reverting back to his human form.

Empusa cries out, with dramatic flair... "Oh, my darling husband! One day, we'll meet again, my King!"

Wishing to clarify, Mosquito answers Free's inquiry. "The former King, and late husband of her majesty; a Vampire whom some hundred years ago, preyed upon Witches for their souls, believing he would become more powerful than Death himself, if he obtained enough."

"I was in adoration of his daringness; to challenge Queen Maba and Lord Death… ah, I just knew he was, THE one. Oh, what cruelty! What heartbreak!" Sobbed Empusa, becoming increasingly more dramatic as Mosquito continues his explanation.

"Um… yes…" He clears his throat. "The King did battle with a being known as Death's Hound, and met his end."

"The monster! Stealing my beloved from me! Leaving me so very alone in this world. With no one who loved me." The bat Witch's sobbing turned to anger, then to melancholy as she glances to her sister.

Medusa rolls her eyes, averting her gaze in embarrassment. Empusa couldn't help but tear up more at her reaction.

Eruka moves over to Free, whispering in his ear. "But if she's a Necromancer, why doesn't she just bring him back?"

Empusa's eyes spark in fury. Upon uttering her last syllable, Eruka finds herself gasping for air, as she is speedily lifted up in the air by her throat. She tries to free herself from Empusa's grip, but the Gorgon sister is too strong.

Free was about to pull the Bloodsucker Queen from his friend, before he saw Medusa raise her hand at him, indicating he should let this play out. Reluctantly, he remains in his spot.

"Do you have trouble hearing, little morsel? Or are you naturally disrespectful?" Empusa's voice was harsher, threatening; her once tearful eyes are now dried and focused. "I said he STOLE him from me! His soul! Without that, he would only return as a mindless Zombie! His body would be reanimated, but without his brilliant mind or heart!" She brings the suffocating woman's face closer to her own. "If there was another way that could return him to this life, be it offering my soul or yours, I wouldn't hesitate to take it!"

Tears begin to roll down Eruka's face, as it was turning blue from lack of oxygen. She attempts to speak. "I…m…orry…"

She drops Eruka; coughing and wheezing upon landing on the hard cave ground. Empusa turns and approaches the wrapped-up man.

"Who are you? Why do you need me?"

"I'm a soul whom wishes to construct a joyful narrative, of Chaos versus Order." He replied.

The Witch raised her eyebrow, as the unusual creature continued.

"I require you and your sister's assistance to forge an army to tear down the walls of Death City and coat the land in my very own pigment of Madness."

Giriko stared, confused. "The fuck are you talking about?"

With an irked sigh, Medusa clarifies what the man means. "Lord Zarroth wants to kill Death and destroy his city."

With a curious head tilt, Empusa scans the wrapped-up man's soul. She see's a faint crimson soul, wrapped in strands of darkness, shaping itself from a hand grasping the soul, to a face similar to that of a Jack O'Lantern.

"Zarroth?" She inquires. "I've heard of such a person. But you don't strike me as the same person from those stories."

An amused chuckle emanates from the man claiming to be Zarroth. "You see of me, what I allow you to see. When you resurrect the Witch Knight, you'll behold my true joyful self."

It was Empusa's turn to chuckle. "The Witch Knight? That's something I haven't heard of for a long time! You seriously think we can just walk into the Witch Order and make Maba hand over the corpse?"

"Not walk, but slaughter through."

With a haughty demeanour, Empusa retorts. "Even if you can get us that far, you'd still be lacking his…" Empusa stops to chuckle to herself. "ITS soul."

The man slowly extends his left hand towards Empusa. Confused, she thinks perhaps he wishes to shake, as to seal a deal, a deal she had pointed the holes of. However, he turns his palm facing upwards instead; a shadowy mist emits from the gloved hand, getting thicker as the seconds pass.

Empusa's minions are unsure whether this is a hostile action or not, same goes for Eruka and Free.

The mist fades verily quickly, and in its place, is a purple soul, shaped like a jagged helmet, with long spikes protruding from the sides.

The Vampire Queen's eyes widen at the sight. She recognises that particular soul all too well, as would her sisters. She only ever saw it twice prior to this moment, the first time when it was the soul of a young child, and the second time when she witnessed it being sealed away by Queen Maba, herself; she never thought she'd see it again.

"How did you…?"

The man, claiming to be Zarroth, interrupts her. "This is only a sample of the wonders I can do. Follow me, and you'll behold much more. With your sister by your side."

The soul of the Witch Knight vanishes from sight; the man extends his hand to Empusa, awaiting her answer.

Shaking off her shock as best as possible, she asks. "What do you want? What's in it for you to do all of this?"

There's a pause before his ever ominously confident voice answers.

"To give you what you want. To do the one thing no one has ever done. To overcome Death himself. And with you and the Witch Knight, it can be done."

Empusa looks to her sister in near disbelief; surely this man isn't serious… but the stoic expression on Medusa's face confirms that he means what he says. This man claims to be the infamous Zarroth, who has eluded Death for so long and he wants her to join him in some scheme to overthrow the Grim Reaper.

It can't be done, Witch Knight or no Witch Knight. But she thought that once about her husband, that he was invincible, but she was wrong. She thought her own sister was gone for good this time, that challenging Lord Death was the end of her, but she was wrong. The soul of the Witch Knight was supposed to be irretrievable, that only Maba can find it, but again, she was wrong.

This man, whether he's who he says he is or not doesn't matter to her, what matters is that he's proven that he and Medusa can make the impossible a reality, and if they can do that, perhaps they can resurrect the Knight, perhaps they can kill Death, perhaps they can reclaim her husband's soul.

The thought was enough for her to answer… "Yes. When do we begin?"

Giriko, Mosquito, Free and Eruka exchange confused glances at each other. Medusa on the other hand, displays no emotion, instead silently observing her younger sibling's hand reaching out to shake Zarroth's; she knew Empusa would join, as long as Zarroth has a hold on her, her sister would agree to virtually anything. It's not a situation Medusa cares to be in, but she knows she has no other option but to obey, for now.

Zarroth's voice echoes through the cave once again. "Gather every ally you have, tomorrow we take the Witches' Realm."

And with that statement, he dissipates in physical shadows of scarlet and black, leaving the others in the cave, stunned at his decree.

Giriko decides to voice his concerns "He isn't fuckin' serious, right?"

"Oh, he is." Medusa chiming in. "Better sharpen those blades." Her tone is condescending.

Giriko retorts. "Hey look, lady! I don't follow his orders or yours!"

In a flash of unprecedented speed, Empusa stands before Giriko, her piercing orange eyes glaring into his. "Wrong. You. Do."

Taken aback, the chainsaw Weapon changes his attitude. "O…of course! Sure, I will! I mean, this means we're gonna actually do some shit! Yeah!"

Free decides to speak up. "He didn't say where specifically to go. The Wiches' Realm isn't exactly a small area."

"I know where." Reassures Medusa. The Snake Witch then addresses her sister. "I shall my entourage to the Witches Realm now and wait for you there."

Empusa gives Medusa a pleading look. "Oh. I was hoping you'd stay for a little bit… so we can catch up."

Unaffected by her sister's plea, Medusa ignores her to form a broom from her vector arrows at will, sits on it and it begins to levitate.

Free picks up the traumatised Eruka and holds her in his arms, making his way towards the cave mouth, along with Medusa.

Empusa further attempts to persuade her sister to stay. "I mean, it wouldn't take long. I promise I won't get too emotional."

With a sigh, Medusa responds. "Empusa… I'm sure we'll have time for that after we finish this job. Okay?"

Taking a moment, Empusa sombrely answers. "Okay."

Medusa returns her focus to the cave exit, willing her broomstick to fly out of the mouth with an impressive speed with Free leaping his way down the mountain to follow her, still cradling Eruka in his arms.

Empusa, stands at the exit of the cave mouth, facing the direction where Medusa flew off too.

"See you soon, Meddy." She says, with a sad smile.

Sooooo, what'cha think, not what you were exactly expecting, right? I felt it would be a somewhat interesting dynamic for Medusa to have. I'm personally no fan of how Shula Gorgon looked and what her animal was, I mean we already had an arachnid, why not a mammal this time, like a Rat or a Bat, and that's where the idea came from. Also if you do like Shaula from NOT then more power to you, I'm just not a fan.