Chapter Text
“I miss the touch
Of human hands on my skin
Miss the rush
Of beauty coming from within”
...
“Break me, break me
Chasing the enemy
Got a deal with the devil
But I got the stamina”
—
“Starvation” AURORA
The tavern of the guild was teeming with racket, from the band to its occupants, filling the room with murmur and the soft melody of strings, the singer barely heard. Tables were filled to the brim, all hunters fresh from their patrol or hunt. Counters were full, lined by the usual regulars who sang off-key with the singer. One stool, across where the bartenders would frequent, remained empty.
One would think it’s vacant; however, with many people passing by, not one took the seat, choosing to lean on the walls or stand. The stool was not threatening by its appearance, only red faux leather that was chipping by the edges. The metal beneath was kept polished, not a rust evident.
Jinx passed by it, patting it. She circled around the bar, bumping her hips playfully against Baran. The behemoth acknowledged her with a damp towel to her face. She immediately clawed it away, sputtering her lips, and dashing to the sink to slap her face with cold, tap water. “Baran! That’s so disgusting!”
“Isn’t alcohol supposed to be killin’ all these small shits?” he replied, grabbing the towel she threw with ease, facing the counter to wipe the gathering pools of water from the condensation of mugs.
“You can’t throw that disgusting fabric in my face!” Jinx disregarded his comment, choosing to flick his humongous bicep, straining from all the wiping he did. Beside the calm giant was Garfield, darting from corner to corner, grabbing liquor by the shelves and creating drinks at a fast pace.
“Easy, Gar.” Jinx chuckled once the bartender fumbled for a moment before grabbing the bottle neck again, portioning it to the glasses that Baran lined up for him.
“It’s rush hour. I can’t be calm, Dick is not here, he's busy getting into the pants of Kori.”
“Oh, leave him, he got the night off. That’s why I’m covering for him.”
“Busy night today, Vic’s out going for inventory.” Baran tossed her an apron, one that was barely used, as she preferred her basic shirt that would suffice for the entire night. The apron wasn’t protecting her from any spilled liquors, another laundry to add to the pile, but Slade was adamant on keeping things hygienic.
“Rae’s out tonight?” Garfield asked as he swerved behind her, shouting the orders he placed on the counter. Within a second, eager, grubby hands stole the mugs, only leaving a trace of water stains on the counter. Baran took care of it immediately, grabbing the empty mugs that were slid on the counter.
“Dunno,” Jinx shrugged. “I hate it when we’re short-staffed.”
“It’s only Terra out there, me and Gar can handle this, you should help her out.”
“Hmm.” Jinx looked beyond the counter, watching the girl dance around hulking bodies with ease, like a slithering snake, hands cradling the round serving trays, betraying the laws of gravity as all the mugs were returned without a single one misplaced or broken.
“Hey, Jinx, leavin’ me all out alone here?” Terra winked at her, compiling the round trays in Baran’s corner to be wiped clean.
“Seems ya can carry it alone,” Jinx teased, already placing mugs on the clean serving trays. Garfield replaced her, already grabbing several bottles from the bar behind them.
“You lazy ass.” Terra laughed before carrying off the new rounds of liquor to be served. “You really owe me one.”
“Nah, Dick owns us one. He and Kori finally got a schedule that aligned. God knows what they’re doing now.” Jinx shooed the girl away once the table called for her, the men already eager for their nth rounds of drink for the night.
The door opened, the bell ringing. All of them swerved their heads to greet the newcomer, all of their gazes dropping instantly. The murmurs halted instantly, the singer and her band the only ones continuing their melody.
“Slade,” Jinx greeted, already sliding a glass of whiskey toward him.
The leader of the clan spared a glance at the vacant red stool. “You have a mission. With Raven.”
“Oh. When?”
“This midnight.”
“Only us two? Are you sure?”
“Time is of the essence.” Slade shuffled behind his pants, patting his pocket, before pulling out a paper that saw better days. It was folded repeatedly, the middle already beginning to tear. “Scout this location.”
Slade slid the paper to her, and she swiped it instantly, placing it in her breast pocket. “Okay. Raven knows this?”
“There's a reason why the Phantom never sits here.” Slade leaned away from the bar, sauntering through the bar’s entrance, and disappearing through the back door. He took one last look at her. “Sharpen your knives.”
“You should go now,” Baran murmured next to her. “It’s an hour before midnight.”
“You sure you guys can handle tonight?”
Baran smiled. “You’re doubting me?”
“Don’t get in each other’s pants,” Garfield joked.
“What? We’re not like that!” Jinx pushed him away, her cheeks red and warm. “Raven’s my friend, okay?”
“Seriously, ya’ll are way worse than kids with their puppy crush.”
Jinx fixed her thigh holster in place, making sure it's snug. Her brown trousers were tucked underneath her black knee-high boots, a utility belt fixed in place by her waist. Her white long-sleeved shirt under a black corset that she struggled to tighten a few minutes ago. She grabbed her black trench coat, put it on, and fixed it in place.
Her rows of knives and daggers glimmered from the torches mounted near the posts of their guild hall; their dull shimmer cried for their maintenance, but sharpening them would take time, and Raven would be here in a few minutes.
She grabbed two daggers and one knife, storing them in the hidden compartments of her boots, making sure they were secured in their sheaths. Her weapon belt was full of ammunition, her revolver tucked in her holster.
Her sling bag was packed with equipment. It contained their flare, fuel for her lantern, and their medical kit, alongside some rope and balms. Vials of holy water were kept secured in sealed glass containers, her crucifix tucked in a book.
Her talisman, imbued in a silver necklace, sat comfortably between her collarbones. Jinx looked at her crossbow, contemplating it.
“No,” Raven said behind her. “It will weigh you down.”
She jumped with a frightened squeak, head swerving to face one of their most skillful hunters, second to Slade. Jinx clutched at her chest before swatting Raven’s hand. “You need a bell!”
“We are required to be stealthy if you forgot the training.”
“It’s only a scouting mission. Why do you have your rifle?” Jinx glanced at the rifle bag Raven carried behind her back, the strap biting on her right shoulder. The woman nearly mimicked her fit. Black trousers, black combat boots, and a black, flowy, long-sleeved shirt that was unbuttoned, revealing a white tank top underneath. A thicker utility belt wrapped around her waist, complete with vials of holy water and dried herbs.
“You’ll never know what happens.” Raven tightened the strap of the bag. “Are you ready?”
“Yes. You have a pistol?”
“Yes.” Raven stepped out to the back door of their guild hall, opening to a dirt path that faced the perimeter of the forest. Torches from the main road didn’t reach this corner, and they squinted their eyes to see the dirt path that led into the forest’s heart.
“We’re scouting what again?” Jinx knew where the checkpoints were, but not what lay beyond them. She grabbed her kerosene lantern, following Raven.
“Blood’s castle. Give or take five kilometers south from the fifth checkpoint in the forest.” Raven moved, holding the door open for Jinx. “Reports said he’s currently inhabiting it again. We’re not sure if he’s making a cult, but it’s a risk if it’s close to our village.”
“Maybe he moved back since he killed his father.” Jinx settled to walk with Raven side by side, rummaging for the lantern’s fuel in her sling bag. The air smelled of kerosene for a few seconds as she fueled the lantern, and it slowly lit, guiding their long trek towards Blood’s castle.
“I’ve never quite understood his cult and their obsession with patricide,” Raven murmured, her eyes warily taking in the darkness that clouded them beyond the light’s reach. Her hands were not far from her hidden weapons.
“It’ll take us two hours to get there.” Jinx groaned. “Can’t we propose to Slade some better boots?”
“We can if we finish this successfully.”
“Tell me you brought food.”
“I thought you were the one to bring?” Raven looked at her in disdain.
“Ugh, then let’s finish this fast.” Jinx poked at Raven’s sling bag. “Then what are you bringing, huh? All knives, no food? If you’re bringing me out for a date, the bare minimum is food!”
Raven clicked her tongue, the sharp sound echoing in the forest. “Quit it.”
Jinx chuckled, content with having her daily dose of teasing the girl.
An hour and a quarter later in their trek, they had just left the fifth checkpoint in the forest, the signage barely hanging, its wooden edges corroding from the harsh elements of the weather in this forest.
Jinx had long shut the lantern, relying now on the moon as they trudged quietly on unforgiving ground. Roots and moss on slick rocks were met with difficulty, mud was accumulating on their heels, and wild grass that licked up to their waist was swept to the side as quietly as possible.
Raven stopped, halting her too.
“Hm?” Jinx whispered in question.
Raven offered her a wax-sealed tin of coarsely ground pine needles mixed with cedar shavings. Jinx grabbed a handful, rubbing as much of it as possible in her exposed skin, then on the sleeves and collar of her clothes. Once she was sure the scent masking was decent, she waited for Raven’s turn as she kept a lookout.
Once Raven was done, they continued in their trek, barely exchanging words, directing their energy to their surroundings. The crickets were loud, surrounding them from all angles. A croak or a cry from an animal sometimes broke the silence, and every time, their shoulders would tense.
Half an hour later, Raven signaled for her to stop. Jinx watched as Raven took out a runed spyglass, unfurling it and scoping at the castle hidden by thick vines and trees. At this distance, Jinx could barely see the crawling vines or the cobblestone of the castle, so she waited for Raven’s command.
“Take a look.” Raven handed her the spyglass.
Jinx raised the spyglass to her eye, scoping the perimeter of the castle that looked clearer now. The runes engraved in the spyglass allowed her to confirm the vampires the castle housed, the lens tainted red to where they were vaguely positioned.
“We determine their numbers, see if we can find out their plan, and go. You understand?” Raven crouched low beside her, and she followed suit, seeing a vampire exit the castle’s gigantic door. The creature looked around before scurrying away in a camp of bats, chirping in its egress.
“We’re heavily outnumbered, Rae. Are you sure it’s worth risking stepping closer?”
“We’re not necessarily going closer. We just need to see Blood and find out what he’s planning, then we can start organizing a large hunt,” Raven said.
Jinx raised the spyglass again, focusing on the windows that were opened, barely lit. She struggled to see what it housed. The best thing to do in this case was to visit it during daylight, with a band of hunters to ease her gnawing anxiety.
She followed a red patch in the lens, and she swerved the spyglass to another window.
Her breath caught, her hold in the spyglass tightening in a vice grip.
“Raven,” Jinx whispered, her voice trembling, cracking by the second syllable.
“What?”
“Raven, there’s someone looking at us.” Jinx swallowed thickly, her gaze never leaving the window. Her other hand blindly grasped for her revolver, knuckles pale. “And she looks like a replica of you.”
The figure in the window tilted her head, the same way Raven would. A tilt of her chin to the left, eyes squinting slightly as brows furrowed. Then, she smiled.