Chapter One
Sentencing
Darkness, with only the sounds of chains rattling to reveal that this was more than just the infinite void that we were threatened with as cubs. The memory of the Elders hoving over us to tell us that our sins would send us into a never-ending silence. Where we would just float with nothing to hold onto. I could feel nothing beneath me. Only chains holding up my cold, scarred body. Holding it up in a dark room that smelled of the filth that had poured in from the cities above the Underground Halls. They sent sinners down below to meet with the counsel to decide that if our sins were too bad to repair, or if we could be saved.
My fourth meeting with the counsel. I knew how this would play out. I shut my eyes, and wait for the bright light to flicker on my bare self. They stripped you down, and made sure you could see yourself, so you may see the shame that you've put on your own skin. The light came on, and I cringed.
"Open your eyes, killer." Said the head of the counsel. His voice was deep and masculine, and he had the hefty body to match his threats and tones. I flickered open my left eye and stared ahead of me. I was above the Main Chamber's stoned floor. The walls surrounded us, marked with green slime riddled with disease and bacteria.
"Don't you dare touch me this time!" I screamed as I pulled on all four chains that were latched tightly to each of my four limbs. I pulled on my leg chains the most. I would not allow these... disgusting men... to gaze upon the area that we only allowed our mates to touch. I hissed at them. "This is wrong!"
"What you've done is wrong!" Shouted the head counsel leader. Four men surrounded him. If not for these chains, they'd be dead by now.
"I've done nothing wrong!" I persisted in pulling and struggling. I had to break free. This was pure torture, this exposure. Four times and I still wasn't used to it.
"You've killed a head male in the process of this year's mating ritual! The worst sin of all, you murderer." I heard talk amongst the others. Words of cursings and slander upon my name. A Fox Demon murderer, they continuously called me.
"He mounted me without my permission, against my will!" I screamed as the memory, the horror, the fear I felt, returned back before my eyes. I was just returned to my small home, fruits and various exotics foods in my hands. Everything was silent as always. And then... it wasn't. Pushed to the ground, landing on all fours, his rough hands ripping off my wolf-skin skirt and spreading my legs, and all I could do was scream. Almost pushing in, almost breaking that which I had held close in my possession as the only thing truly mine. God, I could feel him just about to... Then I snapped, and my claws unleashed on his body. Things went dark, and when I realized what had happened, he was lying on my floor in a pool of his own blood. My hands stained red as I stared in horror at what I had done. I guess a neighbor had heard the struggle. Because she sent the other warriors after me. Next thing I knew, I woke up chained in midair.
They stood silent for a minute. Then I heard one say, "That's his right as a warrior." My struggling grew worse as I twisted my body in positions that caused me pain. I continued until I grew tired and weak. The sound of chains stopped. And the sounds of men hushed into a silence. I weeped for a little while, as they glared at me. Their expressions became shocked when laughter bubbled up from my throat and the tears washed away. I became angry again. They would be dead. I swore on my own life, I would not let them leave this meeting with their lives.
"His right! Why? Because I am treated as a monster? As a whore? Hell, you guys seemed surprised I killed him! You should've suspected this after naming me! Kira! kira! Kira! Does that not mean 'killer'? I am tortured for my name, for my life! I am a bastard's cub! My father took my mother! Just as I was about to be taken! And then was killed when she gave birth to a female!" I thrashed about again. "They mock me! They torture me! And now this! This sick punishment!" I tried to curl up, only to have the chains protest my moevements. "Exposing me like this! What is wrong with you people? Why can't you leave me be..." My anger turned back to sobs.
They laughed at me. The nerve! Laughing at someone who could so easily tear their vocal chords right out of their wicked throats. Oh, that's perfect. That's exactly what I'll do to them. They will never laugh at me again. None of them will. "You think this is torture?" One said suddenly. "You think people are cruel to you. Always laughing, you say?" They laughed again. "You've not been singled out by everyone. And at least a warrior tried to choose you for a mate." Another spoke. "Selfish murderer, only thinking of yourself. Others have it worse than you."
"No one has it worse than me, you fuckers!" I screamed. They laughed again. The silence returned. They whispered to each other my punishment. This was an unfair trial, as always. They all were. They told you what you did wrong, you told them your side, they would continue to say they were right and decide your fate. There was no winning.
"You will not be sentenced to the dark." The Elder stated.
"Your punishment will be worse." Said another.
"We're sending you to a different world." Said a third.
"You jest!" I laughed, my back arching upward as I threw my head back.
"We, most certainly, do not!" Said the head Elder. "As the Fox Demon Counsel, we have the power to do as we wish." His voice sounded grave and dark. "We're sending you into a world, where there are worse things than mere laughter on minor occasions." Suddenly, the air grew thick around my body, darkness growing as the light faded. A soft noise escaped my lips as the chains binding me to the walls of the chamber shattered like glass. The shards faded into dust which circled beneath me. I turned to look down at the vortex forming beneath me.
I gasped. "The hell!"
The dust turned into swirls of deep purple and black as they spun and spun below. I watched their demonic eyes on me as I was forced to fall below. I will forever remember their stare. They knew what they were doing. And they knew that I didn't.