Sounds among the darkness

Cold breeze blow through the room, Rarity eyes shot open in fright, in an instant she were on her hooves in her bed. The night was bright and cold, the window was open, she shiver from primordial fear. She chuckled nervously in an attempt to calm herself. With a quick though she light up her horn to illuminate the room. She looks at the window and close it with her telekinesis. She couldn't sleep well. Images, that her imagination brought to life after Crimson story. She calm herself and took the courage to get out of her bed. She slowly began trotting upstairs. Each hoof softly clop on each steps of the stairs in a slow beat. Ever so slowly she made her way to the upper floor of her home.

Once she was upstairs she looking around from instinct, gulp loudly. She never fear the night, the dark, not like this. All the things that happened in the past day been all but normal, and outright terrifying, the very truth such legends, vamponies were real. She thirstily inhales the air, but forced herself to a slower and steady rate. She reached the room, and put her right hoof on the door. She hesitated.

Once she pushes the door in, slow the inside of the room came to view. Her horn illuminated the room with her blue light and ever so slowly trot in. She froze for a moment when the occupant of the room moved, face her, look into her eyes. Her eyes glow crimson red and radiate fear. But as she looked better, moments passed, she could see the solemn eyes filled with sorrow, both the feral beast and the victim of torture at once stare back at her. Rarity slowly calms down, she was scared still, but the overpowering instinct have subdue at least. She finally spoke up.

“How are you holding up dear?”

There was silence, just the eyes weakly look back at her. Crimson breathing slowly, lying there limply, not even move a muscle.

“..alive..”

Rarity blink first, the quiet and passiveness of the mare left her to think she wouldn't get any reply from her. Awkward pause, but she began trot closer to her as she reply.

“That's good to hear Crimson..” She bites her lower lips for a split second as her eyes darted to the ground to her left, before return to the mare. “Sorry.. being honest... I am very much scared.. It's something.. today.. your story.. I could not phantom before... It shocks me to the core.”

Crimson expression haven't changed, one bit as she answered.

“I know Rarity.. it is a burden that I never wish to carry, never wish to any one to learn about.”

“That is true.. but now you have a chance to a better life.. and no I'm not foolish to say the past would disappear, but I'm sure after some time you can move past it and live again anew and full.”

The Fashionista sat beside Crimson on the bed, looking into her eyes.

“I do wish I could see happiness in those red orbs instead of pain as it is now...” Rarity look at the window, the curtain was still blocking the view, but the bright moon light did shine through the gaps. Then lock eyes with Crimson.

“Dear.. if you feel hungry, or need anything.. do tell me..”

“Thank you Rarity... I... I feel hungry.”

The white unicorn gave a sad smile. Part that somepony had to drink blood to live was baffling, then that said blood she so far got meant a life lost, and even now, being free from that monsters will she have no other choice then drink blood to live while the very red liquid constant reminder to her dark past.

“Say no more dear, I be right back with two bag. I'm sure you need it to heal.”

Crimson gave a small smile of her own. The care she now received was so needed for her soul, her mind that's been in a constant assault for 3 years. The one thing that kept her sane perhaps the time she share with her friends, she wonders where they could be now. Mean time Rarity got up and left to bring her cursed nourishment.

She smiles at the memory of that last night in the bar, and couldn't help it, wonder how it could look like. Now that she could see, she wishes she could see her friends again. But knew well she could get them in grave danger. The trot become louder and she turns to face the door before Rarity got back to the room, carrying two bags of blood as well illuminate the room brightly. Bright for Crimson that is. Rarity sat beside her, now calmer as well with her nightmares evaporating for the time being.

“Hope this will be enough for you, dear.”

“Thank you.. heh.. I think I prefer my meal cold for sure.”

The unicorn follows perfectly what the bat pony meant by the cold blood. She opened the first bag for Crimson and with care gave it her. She drank the first bag fairly quick. Rarity eyes suddenly shine.”

“Idea!” She said in a sing song voice, Crimson blink to this, nor know the Fashionista antics yet.

“Um... okey.” Replied a bit unsure the bat pony as the other mare quickly trot out, only to return a minute later with a gramophone in her magic.

“I'm sure this will cheer you up.” Smile rarity as she put the record in the trust worth music player.

“I do like music yes.” Smile Crimson. Then the tune began play. The bat pony slowly lost in the music, she couldn't put her hoof, but the music had some strange properties, calm her. Once it finished she could see Rarity beam with a smile. “That was wonderful.”

“I knew this would be perfect and there is more! But there is a bigger surprise, maybe you could guess it.”

Crimson just chuckle to this, felt good to laugh, but she was still beat. “Rarity, please don't tease me.”

The Fashionista gave a genuine smile. “Oh I guess still need some good rest there. So I spoil it for you. The performer is no other then the famous.” She kept a short pause for the dramatic effect “Octavia Phirhamonica!” She was giggling.

Crimson just stare, she replay again and again what the other mare just said in her head.

“Octi?”

“Yes, I remember your friends names, and they both famous, and Octavia is my favorite.” Beam Rarity with glee then gave a sheepish smile.”Wish though I realize this sooner, my apologies for that darling.

This rendered Crimson speechless for long minutes, she began smiling and tear drop on the bed sheet. She didn't know how her friends being, or alive at all, she was so glad they got a good life, and true it could not equal to meet Octavia again then just hear a song she play from a gramophone it was still a very warm feeling. Crimson close tilts her head to the side a bit and her eye lids drop halfway. Rarity smile and start the player once more, and the next song began. Smoothing the troubled mare, allow her to drift away to peaceful slumber.

Rarity watch over her but even she could feel the call of the dreams, she was thinking about things to be done tomorrow. It was clear she would need a more secure place, and Twilight library has been just the perfect place where she could be hidden and be safeguarded by Twilight and her powerful magic. Ever since the changeling invasion she had powerful wards installed, now she even had more powerful ones as she ascended to a Princes a few months ago. As well her status allows her to order various items and not be questioned about them, considering she done lots of experimenting in her laboratory so Crimson wouldn't need to worry about blood supplies. On the other hoof though Twilight could get really inquisitive, that part did worry her, but trust her friend enough that she wouldn't drive the mare insane.

As she was lost in her thoughts she finally joins Crimson in the lands of dreams beside her while the elegant classical tunes of Octavia play from the gramophone. Sure not a very ladylike nor to comfortable position she passes out, but she at least felt free from her worries for the time being.

A dark, cloaked figure trot through the pitch black part of Manehatten, stop at a seemingly abundant old storehouse. With care look around, before slip inside through the door. The place was cold and no light got inside the building even though it was a bright night. The figure quietly but steadily trots to the center where a soil column of light illuminated the dusty floor of the complex. Once stood in the middle 5 other cloaked figures emerged from the shadows. The loner bow before them.

“Welcome, hunter.” Spoke the middle one of the five.

“We sorry for you loss.” Said the one on the utmost right.

“And we understand your desire for revenge.” The middle left one.

“As so we bless you to fulfil your call.” Now the right missile one.

“Take the envelope and the pureness shall watch over you.” The utmost left one, and with this an envelop slide on the dusty ground before the loner, filled with documents, and photos.. one slip out halfway. With a happy gray earth pony mare visible on it. The shady figure picked up the envelope with it's hooves, seal it. Gave a final bow, but by the time did so the others have vanished into thin air. Unphased made a turn around and left the building, dash into the darkness, only the sounds of hooves could be heard till it fade into the ambient silence of the night.

Author's Note

An quick follow up chapter, the players move around the board in the quiet, before the storm hit ;)