A/N: Warning-this chapter has feels…
Chapter 50:
– Valerie –
I let out a sigh of relief when I finally reached a quiet, empty park several blocks away from where that creepy asshole Freed had insulted me. My shoulders dropped a bit as I leaned back against one of the trees, taking a deep breath to clear my head. The park was peaceful.
Honestly, the more I thought about my run-in with Freed, the more weird vibes I got from him in hindsight.
That guy was definitely human… but at the same time, something felt seriously off about him. I didn't really know how to put it, but his scent definitely smelt wrong. Almost artificial?
On top of that, he'd been wearing an outfit similar to a church exorcist, hadn't he? It made no sense though, the guy was way too fucking rude and crude to actually be part of any legitimate church organization.
A part of me was tempted to just grab my phone and call up Gabriel to demand an explanation about whatever the hell that dude's deal was. Then I remembered the small issue—I didn't even have Gabriel's number. Did archangels even use phones? How exactly did you text someone from Heaven?
And besides, right now, I was deliberately avoiding Gabriel anyway. After the embarrassing clusterfuck that was her sudden marriage proposal, the absolute last thing I needed was more awkward conversations with her.
I definitely wasn't ready for marriage—or even to talk about marriage.
I shrugged to myself and prepared to get back to my main goal. Finding Gasper.
But before I could even take a step, a soft breeze drifted through the park, carrying with it the distinct scent of devils—two of them, actually.
They were coming straight toward me.
I turned my head slightly, curious, and my eyes immediately widened with appreciation. Approaching me were two women around my age, dressed in what I guessed were Japanese schoolgirl uniforms. Though, honestly, those skirts were way shorter and those shirts far tighter than any school uniform I'd ever seen before.
Not that I was complaining—I openly admired the view of their creamy thighs and shapely figures as they confidently strode toward me.
The first girl had dark hair cut neatly into a stylish bob, along with serious-looking violet eyes framed by cute, thin glasses. Her posture and expression radiated authority and confidence. Next to her stood a taller girl with silky, knee-length black hair and cool, calm eyes behind her own pair of glasses.
They stopped a couple of feet from me, both eyeing me with wary curiosity. I casually folded my arms over my chest, giving them a relaxed, friendly smile. "Hi there. Can I help you two?"
The girl with glasses took a small step forward. "My name is Sona Sitri," she introduced herself clearly, her tone polite but firm. "And this is my queen, Tsubaki Shinra. We sensed your arrival in Kuoh Town and came to investigate."
I raised an eyebrow at that. "Really? Took you long enough." I couldn't help the dry sarcasm that slipped out. "I've been wandering around your territory for at least half an hour. I was honestly starting to think you didn't have any security around here."
Sona's eyes narrowed slightly, clearly catching my not-so-subtle critique. "We prefer a subtler approach here in Kuoh. Direct confrontations tend to cause unnecessary panic among the human population."
I chuckled softly. "Yeah, tell that to the screaming crowd that saw me almost clawing some asshole's face off a few blocks back."
Tsubaki's expression briefly flickered with concern as she exchanged a quick glance with Sona.
"Wait, what exactly are you talking about?" Sona asked me.
I sighed as I remembered the annoying shithead I'd just dealt with. "Some crazy-ass maybe-priest named Freed Sellzen showed up in front of me earlier and started spouting some bullshit about killing me, calling me a disgusting vampire bitch and all that." My voice dripped with irritation as I recalled his irritating, cocky smirk. "He talked big for about ten seconds, then threw a fucking smoke bomb laced with chili powder at me and ran away."
Which was a dick move by the way…
Both Sona and Tsubaki visibly tensed, eyes widening. They exchanged a quick, uneasy glance.
"Are you sure?" Sona asked sharply, her tone now suddenly serious. "Are you certain he said his name was Freed Sellzen?"
"Oh yeah," I replied sarcastically. "He practically screamed it at me, like he was really proud or something."
Sona exhaled slowly, looking genuinely worried now. "Freed Sellzen is an infamous stray exorcist. He's extremely dangerous. He's confirmed to have dozens, maybe even over a hundred kills against devils. He's taken out multiple peerage members, even managed to kill some high-class devils. On top of that, he's known for being exceptionally cruel and sadistic."
"Sounds like a real charmer…"
Sona grimaced slightly, shaking her head. "Thank you for letting us know. If he's in Kuoh town… then that means he's reached a new level of boldness and is after either myself or Rias…" She sounded genuinely grateful, but was clearly troubled by the news.
My eyes slowly slid downward as I let a playful smirk curl across my lips. I openly admired both of them again, my gaze lingering shamelessly on the smooth expanse of their thighs beneath those short skirts. "No problem. I'm always happy to help out a couple of beautiful girls," I drawled, making no effort whatsoever to hide my appreciation.
For a split second, both of their eyes widened slightly as they openly gaped at me, caught completely off-guard. Tsubaki's cheeks even flushed faintly red.
Sona quickly recovered though, sighing softly and rolling her eyes at my blatant flirting. "Right, anyway," she said, clearing her throat pointedly, "let's get back to you. You still haven't actually explained who you are or what exactly you're doing in our territory."
I straightened up a little, offering a casual smile. "I'm Valerie Tepes," I introduced myself smoothly. "A dhampir. I'm here to see my little brother."
Sona's eyebrow rose skeptically, clearly still cautious. "And who exactly is your brother?"
"Gasper Vladi," I told her firmly, watching closely for their reactions.
And instantly, both Sona and Tsubaki visibly cringed, sharing a brief glance that filled me with an immediate sense of unease.
"What?" I asked sharply, my tone becoming defensive. "What's wrong?"
Sona hesitated, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "Him? He's…" She trailed off, clearly choosing her words carefully. "He's… complicated."
I really, really didn't like the sound of that. My voice lowered, a dangerous edge creeping into my tone. "What exactly do you mean by 'complicated'?"
…I followed Sona and Tsubaki in silence as they led me out of the park and toward a nearby school campus. Kuoh Academy, apparently. It looked fancy and expensive, the kind of place where rich kids went.
Well, considering who owned this town, I guessed that made sense.
Sona glanced over her shoulder, clearly noticing my curious stare. "Kuoh Academy is where Rias and I attend school while we're here in the human world," she explained calmly. "Our families want us to experience life outside of the Underworld. To learn responsibility and how to manage territory."
I nodded slowly, taking it in. Honestly, the idea of a bunch of devils running around at a human high school struck me as pretty damn weird.
But whatever—it wasn't my business. All I really cared about right now was Gasper.
"Rias, huh?" I asked, recalling what I'd heard before coming here. "That's Sylvana Lucifer's younger sister, isn't it? And she's Gasper's king?"
Sona sighed softly. "Yes, that's correct. Rias Gremory. She's…very kind-hearted and friendly, I'll give her that much." She hesitated noticeably before continuing, clearly choosing her words carefully. "But if I'm being completely honest with you, Rias tends to be somewhat…lazy when it comes to properly managing her peerage."
I didn't say anything at first, feeling a small knot of unease form in my gut. "Lazy how exactly?" I pressed carefully.
Tsubaki spoke up next, her tone mild but blunt. "Rias's peerage has a lot of emotional issues and baggage. They're good people—just very…complicated. Even my beloved Kiba-kun has his fair share of problems." Her voice softened fondly as she mentioned that name...
"Complicated…" I repeated the word flatly. They keep saying that.
We stepped onto the campus grounds, passing by groups of human students who shot curious glances our way. We continued across the neatly maintained lawns and walkways, heading toward a quieter area at the back.
Sona paused near a side path, turning to face me. "I'll contact Rias and let her know you're here—"
"No," I cut in sharply, holding up a hand to stop her. "Absolutely not."
Both Sona and Tsubaki looked startled at my abrupt interruption. Sona narrowed her eyes slightly, studying me carefully. "Excuse me?"
I met her gaze directly. "Look, I appreciate you both being honest with me about Rias. But I'm here to see how my little brother is doing without any bullshit excuses or warnings. I don't want Rias to have time to prepare or sugarcoat things before I meet Gasper."
Sona hesitated, frowning thoughtfully. She glanced sideways at Tsubaki, silently communicating something. Eventually, she sighed. "I understand your position, Valerie. And I suppose you have the right to see for yourself."
"Thanks," I replied quietly, relaxing slightly.
"But," Sona added sharply, "Promise me one thing. Promise me you won't attack or harm Rias."
For fucks sake! How bad was this gonna be!?
"I'm not here to start a fucking fight, Sona. I just need to know my brother is safe and being treated right."
She watched me intently for another moment, then finally gave a curt nod. "Alright. You'll find Gasper in the old school building—it's behind the high school section. That's where Rias and her peerage stay during school hours. Gasper usually stays in the back room. You won't be able to miss which room it is…" she finished with a frown. Her tone softened slightly, and she sighed again, shaking her head. "For the record, Valerie—Rias isn't malicious or cruel. She's just…sometimes a bit lazy and stupid when it comes to handling delicate situations."
"Good to know," I muttered dryly, already turning toward the direction she'd indicated. "Thanks for the heads-up. I'll take it from here."
I didn't wait for a response.
Behind me, my sensitive ears could still easily hear Sona muttering anxiously to Tsubaki. "I need to call my big sister," she said quietly, her voice tense and resigned. "This is definitely not going to end well…"
—
I found the old school building easily enough—just like Sona said, tucked quietly away behind the high school. At first glance, it looked abandoned, the paint faded and chipped, with vines creeping slowly up the side. Honestly, it didn't seem like the kind of place rich devils would hang out.
But whatever. It wasn't my business to judge their taste in décor.
I strode confidently toward the entrance and paused at the front doors. As soon as my fingers brushed against the handle, I felt a slight magical buzz ripple through my fingertips. Ah, basic magical locks.
Snorting softly, I reached into my red jacket, my fingers closing comfortably around my revolver's familiar grip. Pulling it free, I twirled it in my hand once for flair before pointing it squarely at the lock.
"Alohomora," I muttered clearly, pushing a surge of power through the weapon. My spell clashed briefly with the lock's magic, and for a split second, there was resistance—then it broke cleanly.
The doors popped open easily, swinging inward with a satisfying creak.
"Damn, I'm good," I smirked to myself, spinning my revolver casually before sliding it back into its holster under my jacket. My magic had definitely gotten stronger lately. Honestly, Rowena would've been proud—though it had been ages since I'd last talked to my first magical mentor. I frowned slightly, realizing how long it had actually been. Truthfully, I just… hadn't really needed her guidance anymore, had I? I'd grown, learned, and gotten stronger all on my own now.
With a quick shake of my head, I snapped out of those distracting thoughts and stepped inside. To my surprise, the interior was a lot nicer than the run-down outside suggested. Everything was clean and polished.
I glanced around briefly, getting my bearings. Sona mentioned Gasper usually stayed somewhere at the back of the building.
I made my way to the stairs, boots echoing loudly off the polished wooden floors as I climbed quickly. At the top, I walked quietly down the hallway, nose twitching as I sniffed the air carefully.
My heart suddenly beat a little faster when I caught a familiar scent.
It was faint but unmistakable. Gasper.
A relieved, happy smile spread slowly across my face. "Little brother," I whispered softly, my chest tightening with sudden emotion. After all this time, he was finally close.
But that smile quickly disappeared when I reached the end of the hallway and saw the door. My feet froze to the spot, my blood turning ice-cold in my veins.
The door was sealed shut with bright yellow tape covered in warnings like "KEEP OUT" and "RESTRICTED AREA." More disturbingly, powerful magic wards radiated off the surface of the door itself—far stronger than the measly lock at the entrance.
My fists clenched tightly at my sides, nails biting painfully into my palms as fury surged through me.
My little brother was a prisoner…again.
We'd both spent years locked away in those fucking cells beneath Tepes Castle, trapped like animals.
Escaping that hellhole was always our dream and it was supposed to mean freedom! Yet here I was, staring at another locked door, another sealed room keeping Gasper imprisoned and isolated!
My lips curled back from my fangs in a furious snarl, anger boiling over into outright rage.
"Oh, hell fucking no," I hissed dangerously!
This was absolutely unacceptable. No matter what excuse these devils might have, nobody—nobody—was ever locking my little brother away again.
I'd see this whole goddamn school reduced to rubble first!
My fingers found my revolver again. I raised it straight ahead. No finesse this time, just raw fucking power.
"Bombarda!" I shouted fiercely.
A thunderous explosion tore through the hallway. The entire building shook violently beneath my feet, dust and debris erupting outward as the magical seal shattered like glass. The door flew clean off its hinges, crashing heavily into the far wall inside the room.
My ears rang sharply, eyes watering briefly from the dust kicked up. But I didn't care. Heart hammering wildly, I strode swiftly forward through the ruined doorway, gun still clenched tightly in my hand, prepared for anything.
"Gasper?" I called out urgently, stepping into the dimly lit room. My voice softened instinctively. "Gasper… are you here?"
The room was pitch-dark inside, but that didn't matter—I could easily see inside with my vampiric vision. It took only a second for my eyes to adjust as I scanned the area quickly.
My frown deepened. I definitely smelled Gasper's familiar scent in here, but at first glance, there was no sign of him. The room itself wasn't exactly cozy—a simple bed pushed against the wall, some shelves cluttered with random junk, and an old desk piled high with games and manga. But no Gasper.
I was just about to call his name again when a frightened voice suddenly whimpered from somewhere nearby, trembling nervously.
"Awa-wa-wa-waahhh…! W-What was that…? W-Who's there!?"
I froze, my eyes narrowing in confusion as I glanced down toward the center of the room, following the voice.
There, smack in the middle of the floor, was a cardboard box turned upside-down—shaking slightly as its occupant trembled in fear.
My eyes widened slightly, and despite everything, I couldn't help the quiet laugh that escaped my lips. Seriously? Hiding under a box, little brother?
Somehow, despite my rage and anxiety just moments ago, seeing Gasper like this—still the same adorable scaredy-cat he'd always been—made warmth flood through my chest.
I stepped carefully toward the box. "Gasper?" I called gently, keeping my tone soft and reassuring. "It's me. Valerie. I'm here to rescue you…"
There was silence from beneath the box for a moment, before Gasper's trembling voice spoke again, this time filled with confusion and mistrust.
"N-No…you're lying!" he cried out. "Valerie's dead…you're not real…!"
I rolled my eyes, unable to stop a fond smile from tugging at my lips. Honestly, some things never changed. Reaching down, I firmly grasped the box and lifted it straight up, tossing it aside without hesitation.
And there he was.
Gasper stared up at me from the floor, frozen stiff in wide-eyed shock. He'd changed quite a bit since I'd last seen him—still short, still delicate-looking, his blonde hair longer and shaggier now, falling softly around his cute face. But his eyes… those big, nervous red eyes that were so familiar and so dear to me… those hadn't changed a bit.
For some reason, he was dressed in a female school uniform—a skirt, blouse, and everything. I raised an eyebrow slightly, briefly confused, but quickly shrugged it off. Whatever made him happy was fine by me—and honestly, I had to admit, he actually looked pretty adorable.
His jaw trembled as he stared up at me, eyes glistening and wide with disbelief.
"V-Valerie…?" he whispered weakly, voice cracking. "I-Is it really…?"
"Hey, little bro," I murmured softly, kneeling down swiftly to his level. Before he could finish speaking, I reached out and wrapped my arms around him tightly, pulling his small, trembling body against mine.
Gasper let out a startled squeak, stiffening for half a second before melting into my embrace. He clung desperately to me, slender fingers clutching my jacket as if he were afraid I'd vanish at any second. I could feel him shaking, his face pressing against my shoulder as he began sobbing softly, overwhelmed with relief.
"Shh…it's okay," I whispered gently, stroking his messy blonde hair comfortingly. I felt my own throat tightening, tears prickling at my eyes. "I'm really here, Gasper. I promise. I finally found you."
He sniffled softly, shaking in my arms. "I-I thought I'd never… see you again," he choked out through quiet sobs, voice muffled against me.
I hugged him tighter, feeling fiercely protective as my own emotions surged. "You're safe now, little brother," I whispered firmly. "I'm never letting anyone lock you away again. Ever. I promise you that. Let's get you out of here!"
Gasper's thin arms clung tightly around my neck, his slender frame trembling against me. His soft sobs had quieted a bit, replaced with uneasy breathing against my shoulder.
As I gently rubbed his back, I began rising to my feet, still holding him protectively. "We're getting out of here, Gasper," I said firmly, turning toward the shattered doorway. "No arguments."
His red eyes shot open wide, panicked. "W-Wait! Valerie, no! Please, we can't—!"
I paused, scowling softly at him in concern. "What the hell are you talking about? I'm here to take you somewhere safe."
Gasper bit his lip, eyes filled with worry. "I-I don't want to go outside, sis…" he mumbled weakly, voice shaking again. "The outside world is so scary. People…they keep getting frozen around me. I can't control it!"
I sighed deeply, frustration and sadness mixing inside me. He'd always struggled with that damn Sacred Gear—unable to control those freaky time stopping powers he was born with.
But that didn't mean these devils could just shove him away into a dark fucking room and forget he existed!
"No, Gasper," I said firmly, shaking my head. "I'm not accepting that shit. You deserve better."
He squeaked in surprise as I swiftly scooped him up into a princess carry. His cheeks instantly turned bright red with embarrassment, mouth falling open in shock. "V-Valerie!?"
I just chuckled softly, holding him securely against me. "Relax, little brother. Big sis has you now."
He squirmed weakly, clearly flustered. As I stepped toward the destroyed doorway, Gasper stammered desperately, "B-But Rias… She's really nice to me! A-And honestly, I like it in here. Alone in the dark. At least I don't have to worry about hurting people anymore…"
I winced slightly, my heart squeezing painfully. Damn. Was this seriously how Gasper saw things? He'd become so fucking terrified of the world outside that being locked away actually seemed comforting? It pissed me off more than anything. My little brother deserved to live freely, happily—never to hide away from the world again.
"Sorry, Gasper," I muttered, adjusting him in my arms. "But I'm just not buying it."
Holding him with one arm, I reached into my jacket pocket with the other and pulled out the small vial I'd carefully stored there—the vial filled with Alucard's blood. Gasper's eyes widened slightly in confusion and alarm.
"Sis? W-What's that?" he asked nervously, his gaze locked on the small container.
"You'll thank me later," I said gently, uncorking the vial with my teeth.
Before he could say another word, I pressed the vial to his open lips, tilting it upward so Alucard's rich, powerful blood flowed smoothly down his throat. Gasper's eyes flew open wide in shock, a small noise escaping him as the blood slid down. He struggled briefly, instinctively panicking—but then his muscles relaxed as something powerful began coursing through him.
I watched carefully. Seconds later, Gasper's body went completely limp in my arms, falling into unconsciousness as the blood started its work. I saw his chest start to glow softly beneath the thin fabric of his school blouse. A strange energy pulsed, rippling gently from inside him. Suddenly, with a quiet crackle of magical power, a glowing chess piece—definitely a Bishop—slowly pushed itself out from his chest, hovering softly in midair.
"What the fuck…" I muttered under my breath, genuinely surprised.
Rias's chess piece was literally forced right out of him by the strength of Alucard's blood. Without hesitation, I quickly reached out and snatched the Bishop piece out of the air, tucking it securely into my pocket.
I'd deal with that later…
"Hang in there, little brother," I murmured softly to him, holding him protectively as I stepped out into the hallway, my boots crunching over rubble and debris. "Everything's gonna be okay now." I quickened my steps, heading for the exit. We weren't sticking around here any longer—my little brother had been trapped and hidden away long enough.
—
I stepped outside into the bright daylight, squinting slightly as I emerged from the shadowed hallway. Gasper's unconscious body still rested peacefully in my arms, and I pulled him closer against my chest protectively. No way was I letting anyone take him from me again.
Before I could take another step, two women hurriedly approached from the campus grounds. Both were around my age and dressed exactly like Sona and Tsubaki—in those ridiculously short-skirted uniforms.
The first girl who caught my eye had vibrant crimson hair cascading in thick waves past her waist. She had to be Rias Gremory—I recognized Sylvana Lucifer's stunning heart-shaped face and absurdly voluptuous curves immediately. The resemblance was uncanny, though Rias lacked her older sister's seductive aura. Beside Rias strode a true Japanese beauty, slightly taller, with long, silky black hair, perfect features, and somehow even bigger breasts. She was slimmer than Rias but no less breathtaking.
Normally, I'd already have a flirtatious comment on the tip of my tongue. But right now, I was fucking pissed, and I wasn't hiding it.
Rias halted sharply, alarm and confusion evident in her wide blue-green eyes as she took in the sight before her. "Who are you?" she demanded, voice wavering slightly. She lifted her chin, forcing authority into her tone. "And what do you think you're doing with my beloved bishop?"
That word—beloved—snapped my already thinning patience like a fucking twig. Anger surged through me, raw and hot. My lip curled into a sharp sneer as I tightened my grip around Gasper.
"Beloved? Seriously? Is that the bullshit story you tell yourself to justify locking him away like some fucking criminal?" I spat venomously, glaring daggers at the redhead. My voice trembled slightly from barely restrained fury. "If he was so goddamn 'beloved', he wouldn't have been kept prisoner behind magical wards and warning tape!"
Both Rias and her gorgeous companion visibly flinched at my harsh words, guilt and shame flickering briefly across their faces. Good. They fucking should feel bad. Gasper deserved so much better than this shit.
Slowly, carefully shifting Gasper's weight to one arm, I reached into my jacket pocket with the other and pulled out Rias's Bishop chess piece.
Rias gasped sharply, eyes widening in disbelief. Beside her, the raven-haired beauty—presumably her queen—covered her mouth with her hand, clearly stunned.
"This look familiar?" I drawled sarcastically, tossing the Bishop casually through the air toward them. Rias stumbled forward awkwardly to catch it, her delicate fingers trembling slightly as she stared down at the glowing piece in shock. "Consider this his resignation. Gasper's not your slave anymore!"
The black-haired girl looked between Gasper's unconscious form and Rias anxiously, concern evident on her pretty features. Rias finally lifted her gaze again, meeting my eyes with a mixture of hurt, confusion, and genuine sadness. "I… I didn't think of him as a slave," she whispered weakly, her voice shaking. "We were trying to keep him safe. His powers… he was afraid of hurting people."
I laughed bitterly, the sound sharp and cold. "Safe? You call isolating a scared kid from the world, making him terrified to step outside his fucking room safe?" I snapped harshly. "You didn't help him, Rias—you just let him rot in darkness because you were too lazy or too stupid to teach him how to control his damn powers properly!"
Her face crumpled slightly, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Guilt flooded her expression openly now, and the sight of it cooled my anger just a fraction. Beside her, the dark-haired beauty stepped protectively closer to her king, placing a gentle hand on Rias's shoulder.
"I'm sorry…" Rias whispered, the apology soft but sincere. "I know we messed up with Gasper, but… please, at least tell me who you are!"
I sighed, rolling my shoulders back, keeping Gasper secure against my chest. "Valerie Tepes. Gasper's my little brother…" Both girls' eyes widened further at my words. Clearly, they hadn't expected that little revelation. Rias's mouth opened slightly in stunned silence before closing again, clearly at a loss. Yeah, she definitely recognized my name. Probably from Sairaorg or her sister. "I'm getting him out of here," I continued firmly, allowing no argument. "He deserves to be somewhere he feels safe, not fucking imprisoned."
Rias's queen finally spoke up gently, bowing slightly in a polite gesture. "Valerie-san, my name is Akeno Himejima, Rias's queen. We genuinely never meant Gasper-kun any harm. We only wanted to protect him. Please don't take him away without letting us at least talk to him!"
And then, both Rias and Akeno started to tear up. They actually started to openly cry, and it didn't look fake or forced.
…Fuck, my lip quivered as well from how emotional this whole situation was turning out to be.
"Fine!" I finally relented. "Gasper is in no condition to travel right now," I told them. "I'm going to find a hotel nearby and you can talk to him when he wakes up," I told the both of them.
"Thank you! That's all I want!" Rias said with tears in her eyes. "I know what you found probably looks really bad, as his big sister, but I promise to do better if he gives me another chance," she said while clutching the chess piece to her breast.
I guess we'd find out in a couple hours then. They didn't try to stop me as I walked past the both of them, out of the school.
XXX