Dark Daughter
Chapter One
Father and Daughter
The roads were not busy that day. Whether by simple fate or coincidence nothing seemed to be able to persuade the citizens of Japan to take up their car keys and go for a drive on that day. Perhaps the influence of the pleasant weather had tempted the populous into pursuing other more leisurely activities, or maybe it was the fact that people simply had better things to do on a Sunday evening. One lone car trailed down the highway to Osaka with its rusted red bonnet and sturdy black tires. The stunning scenery of large mountains basking in the soft after glow of the sun set framed the landscape of serene rice-fields with deep green buds swaying in an unknown breeze served to amuse the occupants if only for a short while.
"I'm bored."
"Aren't you always Kimi-chan," Drawled the monotonous reply. Kimiko frowned restlessly as stuck her head out of the open window hoping to bath her sweaty face in some form of breeze. The last remains of fuchsia were dying from the horizon as the day turned to twilight with the first of the stars starting appear through a veil of inky sky while a slim pale crescent moon cloud be see drifting through thin rifts of cloud. It was surprisingly quiet with very few noises breaking the stillness and tedious silence.
"I need a drink," Kimiko persisted again as she leaned back into the car. Four hours of straight driving was starting to rake on her nerves. She didn't like being confined for so long, it didn't help that on such a boiling hot day the car lacked the vital necessity of air conditioning. Her spaghetti-strapped top was sticking to her uncomfortably while a sheen of perspiration glistened on her skin. "Can't we stop yet? When do we get there?"
"Pup will you just knock it off and shut the hell up? I've got three thousand words left on this stupid dissertation and I've got six hours to do it in and all I can hear is your whining," Snapped an irritable voice. Kimiko flinched slightly and recoiled back into her seat with a wistful sigh. The steady click-click of her friends laptop was the only sound aside from the engine. The radio had been down and out since that morning.
"It's okay Kimi; only twenty miles until we reach Osaka. Isn't that right Akiko?" Piped a desperately optimistic voice from the passenger seat. Her statement directed at the driver earned a feeble groan in reply. Kimiko nodded as her fingers began to drum idly on the book she had long abandoned ready due to queasiness. When she had proposed this road trip this was hardly what she had envisioned. She had dreamed of fun and adventures in which she and her three friends would be able to stop off frequently to do a little touring and exploring. Not trapped baking in a car thirty years past it's sell by date with her grumpy roommate Izumi, her hopelessly cheerful friend Chiyo and the sleep deprived driver Akiko.
"Quit drumming pup," Growled Izumi warningly. Kimiko rolled her eyes and huffed. Hajime Izumi was twenty-three years old and normally an outrageously charismatic party-girl who's sexual preferences seemed to linger from one gender to the next. There was no other words for Izumi though; she was cool. The sort of girl who you admired for her careless so-what attitude and independent fiery nature. And she was beautiful, so beautiful that normally neither genders objected to her flirting. Right now however after driving until six in the morning and living on two hours of sleep with a dissertation due she was not carrying about her usual go get-em spirit.
"And just think, when we get there we can get hot baths and food!" Sato Chiyo continued brightly as though she had not heard Izumi's snarl. Sato Chiyo was twenty years old and stayed on the same hall as Izumi and Kimiko at their university campus. Although tiny barely reached four foot twelve with feathery black hair and dainty impish features she had a larger than life personality. She was the sort of person that would attempt to end bloody, terrorising wars with the radical power of flowers while trying to solve famine by sending starving children a box of chocolates. Admittedly sometimes her eternally happy persona did grate Kimiko's nerves she did love Chiyo because one could not help but love somebody so generous and innocent.
"Bed," Repeated a far-off voice which echoed sunshine through a thunderstorm, "Bed." Finally there was Fujita Akiko aged twenty-three who shared with Chiyo. Tall and willowy Akiko was normally the calming influence in their little gang with her soft voice and peaceful manner that could reign in Chiyo's hyperactive nature, sort out Izumi's crazy love triangles and reason out Kimiko's crazy ideas. Right now however she was acting like a hypnotised zombie saying very little and groaning often as she drove with heavy bags under her eyes and pale skin.
Kimiko smiled settling back unable to resist provoking Izumi further as she began to hum the James Bond theme tune watching as Izumi strained clenching her fists and knitting her features into a frown. She was the youngest on their floor at University being eighteen verging on nineteen. She'd been at university for three semesters now which was nearly a year. That was why Izumi nick-named her 'Pup' she was the baby. A position she didn't mind. Frankly she was amazed somebody as cool as Izumi liked her. University sure was a lot more fun than high-school anyway.
"Murakami Kimiko if you don't shut up right now then I'm gonna take this laptop and stick it-"
A loud ring-tone promptly interrupted what Kimiko was sure would be a loud rant of swear-words and death threats. Beaming widely at her furious friend the young student picked up her mobile phone from her bag and answered happily as she read the caller ID.
"Konnichiwa Papa," Kimiko chimed brightly.
"Ohayo would be more appropriate daughter," Came an amused reply. Kimiko grinned knowing perfectly well that although it was half past ten on a pleasant summer night in Japan it was probably half past eight in the morning for her father in New York. "So how are you Kimi-chan?"
"I'm okay. Hiroshi-sensei gave us another long really boring lecture this morning. I was so bored I was falling asleep in my seat, it's boiling here so it's like being boiled alive! How's New York? What's going on over there?" Kimiko enquired curiously while her friend hushed listening in on the conversation avidly. The whole reason behind the journey was based on keeping it a secret from Kimiko's father Murakami Satoshi - a celebrated Doctor of science who was swiftly approaching his fiftieth birthday that Tuesday. Kimiko was used to his work frequently taking him to America; a country she visited often and also a country where her mother had been born and raised. Unlike the rest of her pure-blooded Japanese friends Kimiko was part American.
"Not a lot. I got a call about ten minutes ago to get my behind out of bed and to go supervise. Honestly, these old bones of mine could do with retirement. I suppose it would make you happy to hear that it was Ash-kun who awoke me from my slumber and he sends his regards to my errant mischievous daughter," Satoshi informed Kimiko causing her to suddenly feel pleasantly happy and bubbly with that knowledge. Ash Cooper had actually asked after her. Of course she reminded herself not to take this personally as Ash probably thought of her as nothing more than a friend at the most. He was ten years her senior…a child protégée in his field, a genius. She also squirmed not liking the knowing tone in her fathers teasing voice.
"Papa," Groaned Kimiko, "He's just a friend. Tell him I said Hi. Have you heard from Kichiroú?" Kimiko ventured steering the conversation towards safer rocks. Kichiroú was her brother, her twin in fact who had opted to study abroad in Vermont rather than remain on native soil in Japan. She missed him, it felt had felt strange and unfamiliar at first to be so faraway from the person she had spent her entire life with. It wasn't a big consolation to know that as the months stretched out her twins calls had went from once a day to once a week to once a fortnight. She knew her was busy but neglect still stung away at her sometimes.
"Not so far although knowing my son he's probably stirring up trouble somewhere," Satoshi said flippantly, "Listen Kimi; I have to go now but I'll give you a call tomorrow. My flight gets in at around midnight. I hope by the way that I have a good present to come home too. It would be a shame if nineteen years of love and care didn't even earn me a birthday card." Satoshi said with mock disappointment. Kimiko laughed - little did her father know just exactly the sort of present he would receive come Tuesday evening.
"Sayonara Papa."
"Sayonara Kimi-chan." With that the phone line went dead and Kimiko hung up feeling quite uplifted from her previous state of monotony. Leaning back she lay her head into the cushioned car seat and tilted her chin so she could peer slightly out of the window. The small drifts of clouds wandered lazily away from the moon while the horizon was tinged with a slight dusty pink and humid orange marking their nearing approach to Osaka. If she didn't know that the rim of colours on the horizon was due to congestion she would have admired the beauty they created almost as a mock image of a setting sun. Izumi finally snapped down her laptop with a sigh before smiling slightly tossing a stray crisp at her younger friend.
"So he's still clueless ne?"
"Aa," Kimiko said simply feeling the first true edges of sleep try to conquer her weary body. With half open eyes she roamed her surroundings mulling over a few things in her mind. There weren't many mysterious or imperfections in her life. It flowed smoothly and tranquilly, probably more fluidly than most. Her childhood had not been marred with domestic rows, family feuds, bullying, or any other problems. She had grown up in a life of wealth and comfort with her father being one of the richest men in Japan, looking back she was probably spoilt in her childhood with her every whim attended to. Although her father worked a lot commuting regularly between the United States and Japan she had never felt neglected because he had always been there at least three days every week. He had never missed Birthdays, Christmases, New Year's or parent evenings. She had grown up with her twin as her constant companion and the housekeeper/ nanny/ Aunt-like-figure Tsukiko Sae.
The only blights and enigmas on her life were that she had been tragically robbed of her mother at the tender age of seven when she had died from cancer and the elusiveness of her fathers job. While she knew her father's work was vitally important and significant she wasn't entirely sure as to what it entailed. He was a remarkable scientist who was prized after and worked for the Government…somehow she always pictured something like CIA or something that secretive. He developed things - again she wasn't positive what. Her and Kichiroú had always enjoyed speculating and coming up with their own wild theories but however much exciting and intriguing it seemed there always came times when it would create dark clouds on her sunny world. For example she had many safety protocols in her head that she had to learn from an early age. Knowing exactly where all the safe-room's were in her house, all the passwords, all the codes memorised from heart. All the procedures, what she should do if an emergency occurred. At the age of fifteen she and her brother had been taken to a warehouse and taught how to fire a gun and basic-self defence.
Of course the occasions when those sort of scares happened were still rare. The last scare had been two years ago. Still sometimes she did lay awake and night wondering if people were after them. If suddenly without warning people would come for her and her family. After every incident it took a while for her to swallow them and move on. It had been so long now though that she didn't think about them if she could because it still inspired a cold wave of nauseous terror. Sae always reassured her though, always stayed with her, Kichiroú even used to sleep in her bedroom just so she wasn't afraid.
Yawning she stretched her tired limbs watching as the first houses on the edge of the city started to bypass them. By the time they reached the hotel it would probably be eleven o'clock but at least tomorrow they could take it slightly easier. If they left by two in the afternoon they could make it in time for a later dinner at home. Sae had arranged everything for the party…Kimiko smiled. The idea of throwing such a surprise party had been her idea. She'd helped her mentor form the guest list and helped chose most of the décor. Of course Sae did the organising and calling…if it were left to Kimiko everything would probably arrive a week late.
At least she could contend herself with the thought that this time tomorrow she would be home in her own bed in her own room. Smiling at the comforting thought she even allow her mind to wander as far as her fathers party. Who knows? Maybe she'd even get lucky enough to dance with Ash. Closing her eyes she allowed sleep to take her into unusual but enjoyable dreams fill with overheated space-ships and dancing aliens shaped like Ash in a tuxedo who kept warning her to run before the planet exploded.
Maybe she shouldn't have hummed James Bond after watching Mars Alive the previous night.
"I will not! Not while my daughter lays out there with those…those butchers!" Snarled Gavril Petrov barely able to contain the furious anger inside him roaring for release, for revenge and for blood. His rage consumed him reflected in the sky above them as a relentless storm with howling winds and wrathful lightening forking across the tempest. His muscles were clenched, his eyes dark and livid while his incisors threatened to pierce through and lengthen. Gregori could sympathise with his comrades burning desire for retribution and the retrieval of his fledgling daughter Aurelia but It served no purpose while the sun climbed higher in the sky, it's summer rays already starting to burn the Dark Ones skin. Yet Gavril refused obstinately to go to ground for the day.
"You have my word we will rescue Aurelia but my friend there is nothing we can do for present. What use will you be as a father if you are burned to ash? You endanger and distress your life mate further by remaining here…go to her." Gregori demanded his voice soft, enchanting and hypnotic as he tried to sway the Carpathian gently before placing an outright demand. Truthfully it unsettled him deeply to leave matter like this laying…even worse was the guilt he felt for not arriving in enough time to prevent it from happening.
"There was nothing you could do," Savannah said softly, her voice a sympathised whisper in his mind, "We'll get Aurelia back. Come back Gregori, I don't like you lingering in the light." Gregori was aware of how Savannah grew steadily more anxious. He sighed as he shielded his sensitive eyes from the warm rays. Even in a darkened street in the shadows of tall sky-scrapers the sun still itched his skin and his body grew more like lead. Tonight he would put his full efforts into returning the missing female to her family but for now there was nothing they could do as much as he hated to admit it. Gavril seemed utterly torn, a cyclone of bitterness witnessed by Gregori, Aidan and Dominic. For a few moments Gregori knew he would definitely have to force his will if his orders would not work, however he was spared doing so as a beautiful woman appeared beside the distraught hunter. Her long golden hair shone line wheat in the light and her deep caramel eyes were rimmed with tears of shining blood.
"Isabella," Gavril said with surprising gentleness despite his obvious rage as he cupped her cheek, "You should not be here. You should be with our son."
"Our son wishes to know where is father is. He has already lost a sister, please don't let him lose his parents too…please…I need you sivamet," Pleaded Isabella. Gregori felt a wave of relief knowing that even if his word as the 'Dark One' would not work then Gavril would not be unable to ignore his life mates pleas. He watched as the Carpathian reluctantly dissolved into vapour and away from the sunlight leaving the three other males alone with the mutual feelings of anger, guilt and determination. Or at least two of them since the third had been devoid of emotions for a startling long time. Part of the reason why Gregori had also entrusted this mission to Dominic was in the hope that it would keep him for a little while longer.
Still there was one common thought. Aurelia would be retrieved and revenge would be taken.
Of that much all three were utterly resolved.
"Who was that sir?"
Murakami Satoshi looked up absently as he placed his mobile phone down on the counter and glanced over his shoulder at the young man behind him recognising him as Adam Williams, a young and promising neurologist from Phoenix. He frowned, he couldn't say he was that fond of Adam although he was young and talented being only twenty-four. There was something off putting about him from his eager brown eyes to his proud smug nature. Unfortunately he had been assigned to Satoshi's team two months ago so the middle-aged scientist had to learn to cooperate and live with his interfering smarmy presence.
"My daughter. Didn't they tell you I had children up in research?" Satoshi stated irritably as he took his wallet out of his pocket displaying a snapshot of Kimiko and Kichiroú with their arms around each other. It had been taken a few months ago at the New Year Party in Manhattan. Putting the picture away again he placed his wallet, his mobile and began to take of his watch to lay them aside in the safes so they would remain secure while he was at his work.
"She's pretty cute. Couldn't drop in a word for me could you sir?" Adam asked keenly. Murakami froze in his tracks. He had his back to the young neurologist so that he could see the obvious look of disgust and contempt masking his features. Over his dead body did his little girl go anywhere near men like Adam. At least Ash was respectable even if there was the age gap, Adam was foul. Satoshi knew what men like Adam did to women and the thought of him near Kimiko like that made him sick to his stomach. Turning around he ran a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair facing the cocky man who instantly faltered at his superiors expression.
"Let me make this clear Williams," Satoshi said in a surprisingly pleasant voice as he smiled, "If you at any time happen to meet my daughter you would not even dream of pursuing her. I could have you removed from this programme at any time and if you happen to go near her with those intentions I will see to it that you are removed permanently. Understood?" To Satoshi's immense satisfaction the man gulped slightly going pale as the threat was left hanging in the air. There was no doubt that Satoshi could follow the threat through. Turning around the father smile as he pulled on a pair of rubber gloves.
"S-Sorry sir," Stammered Williams, no longer a picture of confidence, "I was aware you had a son. Mr Kichiroú is working for us in Vermont right?" Murakami sighed thinking of his son as he donned his surgical gown. He never wanted any of his children thrown into this mess but Kichiroú was impossible to deter once he had a notion stuck in his head. Stubborn as a mule and relentless as a machine gun. Once he had discovered the truth Murakami had little choice but to comply with his sons demands and secure him a position. Thankfully the said position was minor and in Vermont securely away from any form of action, also mercifully Kichiroú was as content to not let Kimiko know anything as Satoshi was.
"My son only knows what I tell him and that's the way it stays. He's doing nothing major, nothing hands on or on the field and that's the way it will remain for the next ten years. As for my Kimiko she's different…she has a life for herself in Japan studying Sociology at University. She's happy and I'll die a happy man if she never knows a whisper about this," Satoshi said firmly clicking the safe shut. Adam nodded and finally remained silent as he followed his supervisor down the sterile white corridor with cold lino floor and pale yellow lights. Pushing open a double door the pair found themselves in a surgery surrounded by machines and computers with syringes lined up on the units next to vials of various chemicals whose red contents gleamed in the light. To Satoshi's disgust Adam let out a low whistle at the subject lying on the bed.
There was little doubt that the creature was not eerily beautiful. Long gold hair cascaded to it's waist shimmering in the light like silver foam while the skin was flawless ivory. It was slender with the anonymous green hospital gown marring anymore revelations on the beings figure. A dainty nose and thick lashes were it's stunning facial features while its mouth was a rosy pink colour. Murakami was past feeling any awe at the elegance and exquisite sight in front of him having seen so many similar previously. It's name was Subject 3A290 brought in barely an hour ago. Studying the machines Satoshi could tell it's condition was stable so evidently the drug was working.
"You can do what you want with it later," Snapped Murakami disdainfully at his colleague who was eyeing it with a lustful hunger. Not for the first time was he glad that there was an ocean between his lovely young Kimiko and this sleaze. She was worth a million of Adam, he'd would even rather she date Ash than him because at least Ash was trustworthy and sincere in his own way. Ash would never intentionally hurt his daughter…or at least not if he wanted to live to see his twenty-ninth birthday. At that moment the doors opened again this time to reveal a woman and a young man. Murakami smiled in relief feeling glad to see his more favourable workmates of Sandra Walker and Ash Cooper. Sandra was a robust woman in her thirties with curly blond hair and half moon glasses while Ash was easily the tallest in the room with a boyish face and spiky honey colour hair and honest blue eyes.
"Hello Sandra, Ash," Satoshi greeted socially, "Oh, Ash I passed on your wished to Kimi. She's doing fine, nothing but the usual complaints." Ash looked up from washing his hands to nod with a slightly guilty smile while Sandra beamed pulling on her gloves.
"Oh? I remember her from the party on New Years Eve! How is she doing at university?"
"Fine, fine. Getting on well and making friends…last I heard she was wanting to go on vacation to Canada with them," Satoshi said shaking his head at another one of his daughters mad schemes. Finally he picked up a syringe and added the correct chemicals before approaching the subject. Clearing his throat in a business-like manner he addressed his associates. "Subject is under sedation and there is approximately nine hours until the danger point. If we succeed here then it can be disposed of this evening, if not then I shall take it back to Tokyo with me and we shall resume from there. I want this building shut down and offline by six o'clock. The sun doesn't set completely until eleven but as we know hazards can occur a few hours before." Everybody exchanged significant looks, they were well aware and versed about the hazards. Some of them had even been lucky survivors.
It wouldn't matter. Come tonight he would be out of America and on the way to Japan. Not even those monsters could cover continents or track him there that swiftly.
Did I suspect?
I would be lying if I wrote that my I had no doubts whatsoever about the nature of my fathers work. Perhaps subconsciously I did suspect but whatever qualms I had, I swiftly pushed aside. I lived in the well versed phrase of 'Ignorance is bliss.' Why think of such a horrible truth when the lie is so much nicer. I loved my Father. He was one of the pillars that held my idealistic world up. The simple truth is that sometimes it so much easier to deny the truth because for all the honesty and righteousness it represents the truth can also one of the most powerful and horrible things in existence.
In just the same way a lie can create so much happiness even if it is wrong.
Extracts from the Memoirs of Murakami Kimiko.