The burning sun was just beginning to set over the horizon. Darkness had waited long enough and was staking its claim over the land. The tall opulent towers of the Scarlet Devil Mansion were bathed in shadows as the sunlight slowly faded away, growing fainter with each passing moment. Inside the mansion, many fairy maids looked outside the windows, noticing the rapidly escaping daylight.

This spurred them into action. They hurriedly prepared for Remilia Scarlet's awakening by laying dining wear, dusting curtains and laying out freshly ironed clean clothing. However she wasn't the only resident that the fairies attentively prepared for. Deep within the gothic looking mansion, Remilia's younger sister twisted and turned in her bed, kicking her bed covers restlessly. Dreams of the coming night flashed through her anxious mind. Her bedroom was located right in the depths of the mansion. Deeper than the well stocked wine cellar, even deeper than Patchouli's vast library full of forbidden knowledge. It had been situated there for a very good reason.

Flandre Scarlet yawned lazily. Her eyelids flickered uncertainly as she thought about returning to sleep but as soon as her hazy brain woke up enough to remind her what was going to happen today she kicked off her crimson bed covers along with a stuffed teddy bear that had been innocently resting alongside her. She stood, stretching her arms high above her head before letting out a sleepy yawn. Ah, such a refreshing sleep, thought Flandre. I'll need all my boundless energy tonight for sure! She grinned, a big beaming smile as she rustled under her pillow and produced a set of keys which she had 'borrowed' from one of the maids the previous night.

Tonight was the night! The night that I finally leave the mansion!

She could hardly contain her excitement as she quickly changed out of her lavish nightclothes and lovingly brushed her golden locks with her favourite ivory comb. Next, she selected a clean and freshly ironed dress from her dresser unit and put it on while humming to herself, bobbing her head along with the tune. Her room was filled with antique furniture and a large luxury bed. A richly decorated fireplace sat against one wall, devoid of flames. An assortment of random toys, mostly broken in some way, littered the floor. Several shelves hung on the wall filled with tattered books that she had already read. Most of them had been liberated from the dusty old magic library. Flandre didn't feel guilty at all about it as Patchouli always hogged all the books to herself. Her recent reading craze had only helped to fuel her interest for the outside world.

She danced over to the door and stole a quick look outside. The hallway was completely empty besides the flickering candle light that bathed everything in a ghostly glow. Flandre giggled again, smirking at her brilliant plan. The basement had long since become too confined for her and was no fun whatsoever. The same hallways and faces greeted her every time she opened her eyes. The same food. The same games. You can only experience the same feelings to many times before they become totally monotonous. Playing pranks on the fairy maids only went so far nowadays.

Flandre closed her ruby red eyes, let out a breath and concentrated. Her brow furrowed as she mentally went about her preparations. Her scarlet dress fluttered as if caught in a breeze as strange and wonderfully colourful energies swirled around her legs. Breathing became harder as the magical patterns grew in length and intensity which in turn made the air denser around Flandre as the very air was laced with bewitching power. Her face contorted in an expression of discomfort as a shimmering pink portal appeared over her chest.

Out of this mysterious gateway came a set of pale hands. They grasped around at the edge of the portal, seeking purchase. Flandre winced as sharp nails poked her supple body. Come on, hurry up, she willed, not wanting this discomfort to last any longer than necessary. A perfect clone of herself pulled itself away from her in a burst of extraordinary power that sent sparks flying. In the hallway, bright strobing luminescent light was pushed out under the door which flooded the brooding hallway with a light show which would have alerted the fairies had anybody been there to witness it.

The magically cloned Flandre looked around at its new surroundings, flapping its multicoloured crystal wings as it gathered its bearings. The original Flandre moaned as a wave of dizziness passed over her. Cloning always leaves me with a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. It feels like splitting your soul in half. The clone's gaze finally rested on its master. It was like looking in a perfect mirror. Ah, she was so cute! Such a beautiful and graceful figure. The only thing more attractive than me is two of me! Flandre smiled, and the clone copied her expression and mannerisms perfectly as if they were of one mind. Well, that was actually true. They shared a closely formed mental link that allowed Flandre to control her children at will. She jumped to the left and the clone copied her movement without missing a beat.

She pointed at the ceiling with a shocked expression, trying to fool her copy by distracting her as the original Flandre suddenly jumped into the air. She tucked her arms under her head and somersaulted, her body spinning rapidly like a pin-wheel caught in a strong breeze before landing in a perfect crouch. She looked up at the clone as her nimble hand shot out like lightening, grasping her falling hat before it dirtied itself on the floor. The clone was in the exact same position as its master and had executed the same daring acrobatics with effortless ease. Flandre smiled and rose to her feet. She always tried to catch her clones out but they were just too perfect a copy to fool. The twin sisters locked eyes.

"Yeah!", they both said in unison. "Is time to make our escape!" They jumped up and gave each other a mid-air high five with enough force to shake the room with their ear-splitting smack of flesh on flesh. A number of books tumbled noisily off the shelves, hitting the floor in a series of loud thuds. The Flandre's looked at each other nervously and put a finger to their lips. "Shhhhhhhhhh." Flandre watched as the clone hopped over to her bed and started to gather up her night clothing which had been randomly strewn across the bed covers. "Don't forget mister Teddy," she said as she reached down and picked up the poor stuffed bear. Mr Teddy was missing an eye and one of his furry arms was hanging flimsily from its shoulder. Flandre lovingly hugged Mr Teddy a little bit too tightly, cutting his back with her sharp nails before dropped him at the foot of the bed. Stuffing leaked out of him like falling snowflakes as he bounced about on the squishy mattress before coming to a rest.

"You already know the plan?" she asked the clone. The clone nodded, safely tucked up underneath the bed covers. "I stay in bed, pretending that I'm sick. If anyone knocks on the door I say that I do not want to be disturbed. I wait like this until you return." Flandre nodded. As expected of my clone. She has mastered her role in its entirety. Flandre didn't expect any problems. Having the clone repeat its role was more to reassure herself than anything else. Flandre rubbed under her chin, acting like some master detective. Ah, my plan is foolproof!

Flandre had made a big fuss about feeling ill in the past couple of days and had stayed in her room for much of the past few nights. She had also made sure to cough and feel her forehead in front of the fairy maids so that they would report her masterful acting back to big sis. She dared not try to fool Remilia directly or she would be exposed faster than Meiling at a poker table. That troublesome head maid, Sakuya, would not be so easily fooled but if she stayed out of her room and left Flandre's meals outside the door like she had requested then it shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully no one would notice she had left the mansion before she eventually returned. With that, Flandre gave the clone a thumps up which was returned in earnest, and silently left the room.

Like a silent assassin, the little vampire jumped from shadow to shadow, moving fast, almost like a blur. She was the ghost of scarlet manor! She giggled to herself. No one can see me. Sister never let her outside the mansion grounds, not even during the night under supervision. Its just not fair. I want to feel that excitement again, just like when that interloping red robed miko and thieving witch came crashing into the mansion. Even though she had eventually been defeated, that little adventure had been the most fun the little vampire had enjoyed in...well forever. Is the outside world like that? Would I find more wondrous experiences, strong opponents and new friends outside?

Flandre heard the steady tap tap of footsteps on the cold hard flooring long before their owner had a chance to spot her so before that happened Flandre flew up into the stone rafters. Like a spider eyeing its pray, she watched as two fairy maids walked down the mansion corridor, chatting about the state of the cleaning. Flandre flashed a cruel smile. No reason I can't have a little fun along the way. The ghost of scarlet manor must be feared! She grasped the nearest pillar and pulled off a small piece of stone, no larger than a pebble and flicked it at the lead fairy, the one with long blonde hair. It hit her square in the back, right between the wings. "Ouchhh," she winced. "What was that?"

The brown haired fairy look around, her tiny wings fluttering in confusion. Her gaze fell on a piece of stone on the floor which she picked up and started to examine like it would reveal all of its secrets if she only stared long enough. "Looks like someone threw this at you, or it fell from the roofing maybe?" They looked up as one but only the unremarkable ceiling was there to greet them. "That really hurt," blonde grumbled, rubbing her back.

"Well, don't worry about it," her friend urged. "We need to get the dining table ready for the mistress so lets get a move on We don't want to keep her waiting for even a second."

Flandre suppressed a snigger. She already had a second stone fragment in her hand, which she turned around between her long slender fingers, feeling the weight. She threw it behind the maids. It hit the ground, rebounding along it. Mimicking a cricket's hopping. Eerie echoes sounded down the hallway, causing both fairies to jump. Startled, the blonde fairy asked, "What was that?" in a quivering tone. Her friend gripped the hilt of her broom tightly as she looked around nervously.

This is great, Flandre thought. Nothings better than tormenting some helpless fairies. Always telling on her when she had some harmless fun. Always telling tails to Sakuya. Serves you right! She threw a third rock and aimed her finger at it as it hurtled onwards, like a cowboy in one of her books. She followed it, her faintly glowing red eyes tracking the spinning rock until it was right in front of the unfortunate duo.

"Bang," she whispered. A sound as sharp as a thunderclap filled the fairies ears and rebounded off the walls and flooring, making it come from all directions at once. The rock exploded into a million pieces, sending fragments spinning in every direction. A dust cloud formed, creating a thick dense mist of pulverized rock. The two maids shuffled around in the grey cloud blind and coughing. They were wided eyed and totally terrified and were about to scream when Flandre appeared behind them as if out of nowhere. All the fairies could see were two large glowing red dots. Flandre's gleaming red irises. She could almost taste their fear. It was quite palatable.

"BOOOOOOOOOOO!" she shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Ahhhhhhhh!" the maids screamed in abject panic. The two fairy maids yelled in terror as loud as they could, tripping over each other in order to escape this unseen nightmarish horror. They were in hysterics. One of them burst into tears while the other dropped her broom as her hands shook uncontrollably.

"What's happening?" the blonde one pleaded as her little wings worked themselves into overdrive, propelling her away down the corridor as fast as possible.

Flandre giggled mischievously before vanishing back into the mansion. That should keep them on their toes in my absence. She followed the path that she had planned out beforehand. Down the corridor with the large tasteless picture of some old crumbling castle, next up into the dusty music room with its annoying instruments. She paused and looked at the piano. Such an annoyance, such an eyesore. If sister ever makes me play that thing again she thought as her hands rose up almost with a will of their own.

She hesitated, her eyes widening. The black piano stared back at her, temping her. Sister would be upset if I broke the piano, even if it did produce sounds akin to a tortured cat. She sighed and continued on her quest for freedom. Maybe another time.

It was pitch black in the attic but a vampires eyes could see into the gloom with little difficultly. Flandre's eyes glowed a dim red as she searched for her super secret stash in a sea of old dusty boxes, cobwebs and forgotten furniture. Her face lit up when she spotted the deep blue crate tucked away in between two moth ridden armchairs. She stuck her arm into it and started to rummage, feeling the shapes with her searching hands. Her face lit up as she felt something soft and pulled it out to examine her prize. It was just a stupid bundle of candles wrapped in a white cloth. Flandre snarled and crushed the collection of wax with but a flinch. They cracked like broken bones between her deceptively powerful fingers.

She dug deeper. It must be in here, it must be! Could some meddling fairy have moved it? Ah, here we go. She pulled out a cute little blue carry bag with clouds decorating the sides. Donning the bag, she leapt out up through the hatch and up onto the mansions battlements. The cool icy night air hit her as she emerged out into the night and she relished the feeling despite the chill. She took a deep breath like it would be her last, tasting the sweet taste of midnight. Her wings fanned out behind her as she jumped on top of one of the mansions towers. She hung onto the spire, as still as a stone statue and scanned her surroundings like a hawk. Several other tall towers loomed large in the horizon, decorated with beautiful stonework designs. Flandre's eyes could pick out figures moving in the windows, the burning lamps within lighting them up like a beacon. She turned her head high towards the heavens, watching the stars silently for a moment. So beautiful. Flandre always stared at the stars longingly. They were free up above in the sky. Tonight, if everything went well, she would be free as well. Her gaze fell to the large iron gate and the high, brown brick wall which surrounded Remilia's grand home. It was covered with moss, a tapestry of greenery. Sister always said that it added character.

Hong Meiling, the skillful gatekeeper of the scarlet devil mansion would be guarding the gate plus the grounds surrounding the wall. The one thing standing in the way of ultimate victory. Flandre carefully flew across the vast building's roof while avoiding any windows and open spaces. She froze under a large potted plant, tucking her wings in behind her as a maid walked along one of the battlements, sweeping the dust away as she went and humming a tune to herself. When the coast was clear, Flandre jumped across the roof like a ballerina, her graceful movements wasting no needless effort. She reached the edge of the estate and leapt off the mansion, gliding down on the air currents and landing without a sound. She found herself in the stately gardens.

Ah, the gardens. Even on a sunny day, sister enjoys reading in the shade while the bees buzz around the beautiful flowers in bloom while the wind rustles Remilia's well groomed hair. With Sakuya as always waiting nearby with a kettle full of warm refreshing tea. I was even allowed to join her on occasions as long as I promised to be on my best behaviour but nothing compares to the freedom of the night, the all encompassing shroud which covers everything in its dark embrace. Flandre darted in amongst the tall dragon flowers, zig-zagging past the statuettes of fair maidens, and zoomed past the dense hedge rows, all the while keeping a keen eye and ear out for any wandering fairies. The strong scented pollen almost made her sneeze but she held it in with some effort.

The grand wall grew into view in all its glory until she was right next to the colossal barrier. Flandre slowed and landed on the well trimmed lawn with a light tap. She smiled as she reflected on her masterful strategy. Meiling would be standing (or more likely, sitting) guard by the main gate. Any living thing would be detected by her if it strayed unwisely into the mansions perimeter, irregardless of whether or not she was awake which was particularly useful in Meiling's case. Patchouli had come up with that system but had been very cagey about telling Flandre anything about it when she had casually dropped a question regarding it during a convasation. Well, whatever. It's never had to deal with someone of my calibre before. I, the cute little scarlet sister Flandre, would send out three clones, each leaving the mansion in sequence and in different directions, with me, the real deal, leaving last. There was no way that Meiling would be able to cover the entire estate at once. Even with her impressive speed, circling the mansions wall in the necessary time required to catch me would be impossible. That's the plan anyway.

With that, Flandre closed her eyes and concentrated, moaning at the strange sensation that temporarily splitting yourself up involved. Three new vampires pulled themselves out and jumped out onto the green grass, the moonlight illumining all four of them in pale white light. They smiled and nodded at each other, and without a word being exchanged, launched themselves off into the twilight. She waited impatiently for them to reach their destinations, tapping her foot on the soft earth.

"Now...," she breathed.

Flandre paused for dramatic effect, savoring the moment.

Time to check up on our good hard-working gatekeeper. She flew up to the top of the wall, and perched carefully on top of it. She wasn't that far from the gate and with her superior vision she could see Hong Meiling perfectly, even in the darkness. The mansions loyal gatekeeper was sitting down with her back resting against the wall, her head bobbing to and fro, her eternal battle with sleep well underway. Well, Flandre mused, it must be tough having to work twenty hours a day.

She could feel the psychic connection from her clones, the message was clear: In position boss!

Flandre limbered up her legs and shoulders, relaxing and loosening her limbs. We'll see who is faster! She silently sent the order.

"GO!"

The clones leapt over the wall, covering a great distance before landing in the grassland surrounding the Scarlet Devil Mansion. From her vantage point, Flandre watched in excitement as Hong Meiling's head snapped to attention, suddenly wide awake. She stood up, her gaze searching, picking up the disturbance in the air. Then suddenly, she took off, a sonic boom announcing her departure. Wind was sucked in and pushed out in a circle as the gatekeeper ascended into the air. And then she was gone, vanishing from sight. This was the tricky part, as Flandre would have to dispel the clones before Meiling got close enough to identify them. If Meiling got a good look at one of them, then she could only assume that they belonged to her employers little sister.

Well, it would be tricky task for a normal, run of the mill Youkai, but not for someone with boundless intelligence like me. Flandre tracked the gatekeepers progress which was more difficult than she had anticipated. She's fast. Real fast. Flandre frowned with the mental effort. Just a little longer and she would make her break for freedom. Her hands tightened on the grey stone wall, digging into it like it was made of paper. She took in several deep breaths, her chest heaving up and down as her lungs filled her muscles with energy. Up here, perched up on the wall, just moments before she made her break for freedom, she took a precious few moments to savour the magnificent view. Swaying grasslands stretched outwards until they made way for a deep looking forest which sat just on the horizon. The musky sent of seawater marked the presence of the misty lake. Flandre heard some bats flapping from their roosts from one of the mansions towers behind her. They flew over her, the promise of a rich nights hunt waiting for them. Just wait for me little bats. I'll be joining you shortly.

Now! She dispelled the first clone that had been sprinting away from the east side of the mansion. Meiling had been rapidly approaching it and Flandre had just managed to enact the incantation before the gatekeeper came into viewing distance. She wouldn't cut things so closely next time. Without stopping for even a second, Meiling changed her course immediately, gunning for the next nearest clone on the south side of the mansion. The vampire giggled. What must you be thinking Meiling? I bet you have no clue as to what just happened. With the gatekeeper chasing ghosts in the south, its time to spread my wings. Flandre took her chance and catapulted herself off the wall, one hand firmly placed on her hat to keep the wind from ripping it away from her. The ground shook as she landed, her feet pushing deep indentations into the earth. Splinters formed in the ground, but Flandre was already sprinting away from her home at an incredible pace. The blinding speed of a true blood vampire.

The trees and bushes flashed past her as she ran, turning into blurs of colour as she pushed her limbs to their limits. Beads of sweat ran down her face as she worked her limbs to their limits. She pushed through the thick grassland at an incredible pace, creating a line of rustling greenery in her wake like the passing of a comet. It sucks that I can't just fly away like the bats but I'm not stupid enough to try. Meiling would spot me in a heartbeat. Maybe even sister. Remilia often liked to sit peacefully by the window and watch the passing of day into night.

"Damn it," she muttered. Still, the moment was not lost on Flandre. She had left the mansion alone for the first time since coming to this magical land. She was her own boss, free to do as she wanted. No chaperon treating her like a little child! No annoying fairy maids! No Sakuya watching her every move! She felt elated, ecstatic. She smiled, a wonderful smile filled with happiness. The wind parted before her, she was like some mythical sword that could not be stopped, cutting elegantly into the air flow. Lost in her thoughts, she almost slipped up the timing with the next clone but that would never happen to Flandre Scarlet.

But Meiling wasn't going after the northern clone at all anymore, she was doubling back here! Flandre gasped, looking around frantically for somewhere to hide. She was very close to the misty lake but then everything in her bag would get wet and soggy, not to mention the rippling effect and splashing sound might give her away. She could take her chances by ducking in the tall grass. Flandre shook her head. There had to be a better option. She had almost made it to the forest too! Scattered trees surrounded her like silent sentinels.

With only a scant few moments to spare, Flandre flew up into the nearest tree and did her best to suppress her spirit. Meiling appeared soon after, landing with the force of a hurricane, the grass sea rippling violently away from the gatekeepers point of impact. Her long green dress fluttered behind her as she stood up to her full height which towered over most Youkai in the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Go away, stupid gatekeeper. Idiot! Everyone is always trying to ruin my fun. Flandre shut her eyes tightly, not even wanting the faint glint of her red eyes to leak out. Her breathing slowed to a dangerously low level like she was entering some kind of hibernation. She pressed her spirit into a tiny little ball and locked it away as deeply as she could. Don't see me, she chanted repeatedly in her mind. Flandre did everything she could to hide her small presence in the grassy field of old trees. Catching sight of her was extremely unlikely but seeing with the naked eye wasn't the only way to 'see'. With enough practice you could feel someones spirit and Meiling was especially good at that given her job.

I just need to concentrate. Don't panic! Whatever you do, don't panic! Slow my breathing and my heartbeat. Don't make any movements. Close my eyes so that Meiling doesn't feel that she is being watched. I am part of the forest, just a branch, one of many hanging from the side of this greatwood. Below her, she heard footsteps as the stalking gatekeeper pushed herself through the tallgrass at a deliberate pace. A twig snapped underfoot. Meiling stopped for a fleeting moment. Just a moment. Flandre could feel herself quivering slightly at the closeness of Meiling and at the novelty of the idea that someone was actually hunting her, of all people. This was an unfamiliar sensation, it was exciting, intoxicating and at the same time utterly terrifying.

She could almost smile but stopped her body and mind from showing any outward emotion. That simple act might just give her away. She just allowed herself the smallest of smirks before shutting her mind away in a shell. She gave it five minutes by her count before she dared to squint her eyes open and take a tentative look around.

Not a living soul could be felt nor seen, the only sound that could be heard was the rustling of the chilly wind as it pushed through the leaves and onto Flandre's bare arms. The two remaining clones should have run out of energy by now since she didn't give them all that much to begin with. Taking a last look around her, she descended from her temporary refuge while brushing away the leaves that clung to her dress, tutting in disapproval. She heard something and froze, her stomach turning to jelly. Had she come down too soon? She listened. That sound. The rapid beating of wings through the air?

It was just some of her friends from earlier. A couple of bats out in the night, looking for prey as they darted between the trees. This sight brightened her mood, it seemed a good omen. She was the same in a way, stalking the night for something new that would sustain her.

Flandre took in a big lungful of fresh cool air as she gazed out at the misty lake which bordered the eastern part of the mansion, acting like a vast natural moat. Confident that no one would see her, the little sister of the Scarlet Devil Mansion spread her wings and sped off into the night.