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These fools really did it..
The forest was quiet. The distant hum of crickets echoed into the night, along with the ripple of a creek running through the mossy fields.
A red haired woman stood in front a stone statue, hands rested on the pommel of a red greatsword. The statue was a perfect replica of her signature pose, flame on her chest and all. Though the bust did seem a bit larger..
I bet Gigi had something to do with that.. The Queen rolled her eyes, sighing fondly. They didn't have to go this far, but it is nice.
Something rustled in the foliage. She whirled around, sword raised, flames already licking at her boots.
"Who goes there?"
"My my, what a coincidence to see you out tonight, Elizabeth~" a familiar voice called.
Elizabeth lowered her sword, but she didn't raise from her crouch. "Nerissa," she hummed low. "What are you doing out here? This is far too close to headquarters for you."
The demoness stepped out of the foliage, purple eyes glimmering in the moonlight. She didn't have her weapon, nor did she seem tense. Instead, the Raven bowed elegantly.
"Are you admiring your own statue?" she asked instead, a smirk dancing along her lips. The Queen's gaze lingered a second too long.
"It is unnecessary," Elizabeth huffed, turning around to the statue. One crimson orb looked over her shoulder, squinting in the low light. "They didn't need to make such a monument for me."
"But you are the leader of Justice, no?" Nerissa walked towards her, crossing one foot in front of the other. "Of course they'd immortalize such nobility."
Elizabeth barked out a laugh, and the Raven felt a flutter in her chest. "I am no noble," the Queen said. "I am the Scarlet Queen only in name, not blood."
The Raven hummed. "I always thought you were of noble blood." A glimmer passed through those amethyst eyes. "How interesting~"
"Maybe it is."
The Queen didn't know why she was talking so much to the Raven, but she didn't see any reason to stop now.
"How have you been, Liz?" Nerissa asked casually. "Have you been burning your flame out?"
Elizabeth didn't even blink at the nickname. "I am alright. Nothing I can't handle."
Nerissa raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Is that so? Well, I shall leave myself open to your monitoring, dear Elizabeth~"
"Yes, monitoring," Elizabeth coughed, turning away. Nerissa didn't miss her ears turning pink.
She chuckled, clearly enjoying the Queen's fluster. The Raven approached with confidence, making the Queen tense. But she only sat down on the grass, leaning her head against the statue's base.
"Sit with me?" she hummed, a playful smirk on her lips.
Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, before crouching down beside her.
They sat in silence for a moment, Nerissa's head laying on Elizabeth's shoulder, both looking up into the bright silver moon through the canopies of trees. The midnight hum seemed to soften, night breeze whistling through the branches, just for the two of them.
"This is lovely.." The Queen whispered.
The Raven nodded. "It is.."
Elizabeth felt her flame brighten for a moment, and Nerissa seemed to notice.
"Quite cold out here," Nerissa commented lazily, amethyst eye trained on the girl beside her. "Maybe you could warm me up?"
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
"Like this."
Nerissa set her cold hand on top of Elizabeth's chest. The flame was warm, almost gentle, despite its blue hue. She leaned even closer, palm spread over the Queen's chest
Elizabeth shivered. The touch felt like lighting across her skin, even under her clothes.
"You're evil.." she murmured, cheeks flushed the same shade as her hair.
"I am a demon after all~" the Raven drawled, chuckling lightly. "And you're blush is lovely in the moonlight."
Elizabeth flushed even brighter, hiding her face in Nerissa's hair.
After a moment to calm her racing heart, she leaned back, tilting the other girl's head up. Crimson met amethyst, something unreadable passing between both of them.
"Sing for me?" the Queen asked.
The Raven blinked, before a small, genuine smile spread across her lips. "Only if we duet, darling~"
-+-
Years pass, no matter how much she hated it.
I..
The Raven stood in front of the statue once more, holding a singular red rose.
The stone replica of Elizabeth stood silent, moss and foliage crawling up through its cracks. Her engraved name had long since faded, leaving only a scant few letters.
Nerissa let out a wet chuckle, wiping at her eyes. She settled into the grass, leaning her head against the base of the statue.
"Why..?" she whispered hoarsely. "Why did I fall in love with you?"
Nothing answered her. Gentle golden rays shone through the leaves, along with the usual tune of birds. But none of that mattered now.
The Raven pulled her knees up to her chest, long black hair cascading down her back. Both horns on her head glowed a subtle blue. She'd recovered the missing horn after so long, yet she'd trade it back if it meant..
"I wish you were here.."
She glanced up, wishing a curtain of familiar red hair could cover the sun.
Instead, she found a small puddle. Her eyes looked puffy in her reflection, which only made her sigh.
It was stupid to fall in love with a human..
She saw the statue's face in the reflection. The noble Queen wielding her greatsword. The leader of Justice itself.
Nerissa hid her face in her knees, staining her stockings with tears.
"But I loved you, my sweetest scarlet.. I always will."
Footsteps rustled beneath the brush, and she felt a rush of deja vu. The Raven looked up, seeing a familiar head of red hair poke through the leaves.
"Hey! Who goes there?!"
Nerissa's breath caught in her throat.
A young girl, maybe only thirteen at most, stepped through the foliage. Her red hair was cut short, just around her neck, topped with a blue bow. There was another flame on her chest, burning bright blue.
Nerissa's voice wasn't working, so the young girl raised an all too familiar red greatsword at her.
"Answer me, demon! Why are you sitting beneath my aunt's statue?"
Nerissa sighed, bowing her head once more. "I am only visiting, I mean no harm," she said, glancing back up at the girl. "Your aunt, you said?"
The girl nodded, slowly moving towards the statue and the demon. She dragged the sword behind her, slow and lumbering.
"She was the greatest harbinger of order in our bloodline, even if she was adopted."
Nerissa whirled her head up, tears slipping down her cheeks. The girl didn't notice and continued.
"I really looked up to her, you know?" The young girl sighed, looking off to the reflective puddle. "She taught me everything I know, and chose me to take over Justice."
Nerissa nodded solemnly. "She is- was great like that."
"Did you know her?" The young girl raised an eyebrow.
The Raven glanced away. She couldn't meet those crimson eyes. "...I did."
The young girl crouched down beside her, brushing her fingers along the rose Nerissa had in her hands.
"I don't know why I'm talking so much to you," she said earnestly. "But you don't seem too bad if you knew my aunt."
A small smile was on that face, and Nerissa's heart felt like shattering.
"I guess you Bloodflames really love talking to demons," she mumbled quietly.
"Hmm?"
"Nothing."
The young girl stared at the Raven for a moment longer, before shrugging. "Well, it was nice to meet you, miss..?"
"Ravencroft."
"Well, miss Ravencroft, it's been nice talking to you," the young girl said. "But I should really get going."
The Raven wiped the tears from her cheeks, voice still a little wobbly. "Yeah. You humans don't have all the time in the world.."
The young girl raised another eyebrow, before waving her off and turning around.
"Goodbye, miss Ravencroft!"
Nerissa couldn't stop the tiny smile on her face as the young girl walked away.
Soon enough, she was left all alone.
The Raven bowed her head in her legs once more. She chuckled, which turned into another sob.
"Come to think of it, I never actually knew you all that well.."