Obsidian had escorted her the last time she’d traveled through the Hall of Shadows, the spooky walls around them having been easily dismissed with the cocky redhead’s presence. It had been far more simple trying to corral an unpredictable General than it was to be left to her own thoughts as she made the stroll, but desperate times called for desperate measures, it seemed.
Too many times now, she’d come face to face with an opposition and had been forced to retreat. Despite having a weapon, both she and her plans had been foiled one too many times and Captain Angelite was in dire need of support. While her superior officer was a worthy ally in battle, he was too scattered, too wild to keep under her thumb for when she needed him most.
No, she had to develop a Plan B of sorts - and now that plotting had turned into development.
One hand moved to the side of her skirt, patting the fabric out of habit. In her pocket, stowed away, sat a small collection of sparkling crystals. An excess of her quota for the month. It had taken several stealthy visits to the hospice unit of the hospital to acquire a fair amount but it would be worth it, she was certain of it. Knights and senshi couldn’t catch her on her home turf but she knew to be wise and not cause too much suspicion in her personal stomping grounds.
Obsidian had made a suggestion that, for once, hadn’t seemed as bizarre or incredulous as he was. Granted, being called a dope a** ho hadn’t exactly been the most flattering of compliments either at the time, but the ginger General had been right in his opinion: if she couldn’t fight for herself, she needed to find someone or something that could.
~
The Rift was just as fearsome as she’d remembered it.
It was ominous. Dark. Foreboding.
She could stand there for hours, coming up with other descriptors to use for such a terrifying place but she had a mission to accomplish, a job she’d set out to do. Out there in the darkness and the crystal, monsters resided.
And she was going to claim one for herself.
~
Beckoning them to her was trickier than she’d remembered. Then again, most of the monsters came willingly to Obsidian when he called them, having made it fairly easy for them to find the creatures they’d used for this Hospital escapade. Intelligent youma with a craving for energy, eager to do the bidding for a crazed General who’d allow them as much feasting as their wicked little hearts could desire.
Angelite, it seemed, was nowhere near as fierce as her superior officer.
Still, she had patience on her side and a pocket full of starseeds to entice curious creatures to her position. A notebook lay in her lap, the majority of the starseeds tucked away in her uniform while two glimmered on the ground in front of her, yards away.
Surely the elderly that “donated” their souls would be rolling around in their graves at the thought of being fed to wandering beasties. It was probably a good thing, then, that they wouldn’t have to worry about it ever again, once the crystals were splintered between hungry teeth.
~
The first to answer her call was a feral thing, with long ears and a raggedy looking flank. It looked to be of the ursidae family, but with a face that looked all-too close to that of a canine.
“What is your name, youma?”
The yellow-eyed monster’s gaze snapped up from the starseeds it was slinking towards, the heavy weight of its body ambling with each step. It said nothing in response, soon turning back towards the starseeds as its mighty jaws opened to receive the offering.
Wrinkling her nose, Angelite took the time to jot down a few notes in her notebook, the youma skulking off nearly as quickly as it had arrived, belly sated with energy.
~
The second to appear looked more humanoid… at first.
Hunched over, it dragged its long arms from one point to another, knuckles scraping the ground like that of an ape’s. It held its head low, staring downward as the body slowly clawed its way towards the fresh starseed offering. Hair covered the head, long matted strands that swayed like the branches of a weeping willow tree. It was mesmerizing and eerie at the same time.
The Captain cleared her throat to get the youma’s attention and quickly wished she hadn’t.
Its head rose, one starseed clamped between its teeth. Empty eye sockets stared back at her, a ghastly thing with holes for eyes and nose. Only its maw was apparent, the jagged teeth revealing themselves with every crunch of the precious crystal it chewed on.
Fingers curled around the handle of her whip as she stared down at the beast, quietly willing it to continue ignoring her. It did, after a few, long moments of staring before dragging its awkward form across the rocky ledge after swallowing the second seed.
~
Nearly two hours passed before the third creature made its appearance. Winged and clawed, the almost prehistoric looking monster swooped down to snatch up the single starseed left out in the open. Angelite called to it, but the youma was gone just as quickly as it had arrived.
~
The fourth monster appeared behind the nearby crystals, red eyes glimmering in the distance. It would blink, now and again, the blonde hair Captain unsure of how long it had been watching her before she noticed its presence. The large crystals surrounding the rocky plateau she’d taken residence on shrouded its form, save for the glow of the beady, red eyes.
“What is your name, youma?”
The eyes closed, the red color disappearing altogether. There was silence in response, save for the sharp crackle of lightning that lit the dark skies above them. She’d almost assumed the beast had disappeared into the void it’d arrived from when a low hiss alerted her that it had, indeed, not left her presence.
Crystals snapped and the long beast appeared from behind the rocks it’d hid. It looked serpentine, save for the long claws that caught each rock and allowed it to barrel towards her. The mouth opened, exposing rows upon rows of sharp teeth and the Captain had seconds to rise from her seat, wrist flicking as the whip cracked loudly in the air.
The crocodile-snake-whatever halted in its charge, snarling as the powerful jaws snapped angrily in response to her weapon. Tails from her whip came sailing down, a crisp snap as the leather made contact with the creature’s face. Snarls turned into shrieks, the high-pitched sound strong enough to force the agent to take a step back.
“Leave.”
One clawed paw (or foot?) swiped out in agitation but the monster retreated with an angry, hateful glare in its gaze.
Angelite could hear her heart thumping wildly in her chest, the woman waiting until the creature was once again out of sight before she dared stoop to collect her fallen notebook.
Little did she know that the red-eyed creature hadn't been the only thing keeping tabs on her.
~
“The pretty Captain seems to be struggling. Has she not found what she’s come for?”
Blonde head jerked upwards, eyes scouring the crystals for the light, sing-song voice that called out to her. That same voice let off a peal of laughter as baby blues finally landed on a youma sitting atop one of the taller crystals, yards above where Angelite herself had been sitting.
How long had the creature been there?
“What is your name, youma?”
Petals and curls sailed down, the monster closing in the space between agent and youma as a bright, unnerving smile greeted the determined Captain.
“Am I not to receive a starseed too, for my troubles?”
One hand extended itself out expectantly. Angelite hesitated, then dipped into her pocket and withdrew a glimmering starseed, depositing it into the hand of the distinctly female looking youma. Petals fluttered around the monster’s wrist as she drew the crystal close, as if inspecting to ensure it was truly a coveted, lovely looking soul as promised.
“Euphoria.”
The youma slipped the starseed between her lips, mouth gingerly kissing the tips of her fingers as she took her time daintily swallowing the offering. When she was finished, the smile was quick to return, bright eyes gazing down at the scribbling going on in the Negaverse Captain’s notebook. She was quiet for a moment, then whispered softly, almost hauntingly.
“Captains can find themselves disappearing in the Rift, if they’re not careful.”
A shiver chased its way down the Captain's spine. Blue eyes narrowed as the pen stopped, mid-word.
“Are you threatening me, Euphoria?”
Petaled limbs swayed, the creature seeming fidgety, as if already growing bored with the conversation though her expression appeared fascinated. “I don’t have to fight to get what I want, Captain.”
Closing her notebook, the older woman paused as she rolled the youma’s statement over and over again in her head. A curious thing to say - what good was a monster if it failed to fight? Her entire purpose for delving into the Rift was to find someone to fight for her, not saddle herself with a creature that was as useless on the battlefield as she was.
“Then of what use are you to me?”
Another smile greeted her in response, nimble fingers reaching down to toy with her petals.
“You’ll just have to see for yourself, Captain.” Her head tilted, curls brushing over her unnaturally colored shoulder. “What do you have to lose but a little bit of time?”
Staring down the monster, a second starseed was reluctantly pulled from the dwindling collection and held out towards the youma, eagerly received by the female. Angelite’s expression remained unchanged for a moment, then slowly curled into a smile of her own.
“I think we’d better get started, then."
Her notebook was tucked under her arm, the Captain glancing off into the distance, towards the Hall of Shadows that lay a good mile into the wasteland from she'd stationed herself. "I'm not a fan of wasting time.”
