Part II: Coven
Byakuya removed his gloves exposing his thin, pale hands. His nails were long and unusually thick and the tips appeared to be sharpened into dagger-like points. He tossed his soiled gloves onto the ground without care and then turned his attention to the larger man. "I invited you into my home…"
"Yabbe yabbe…" the larger man sighed, leaping backward with inhuman agility.
"I offered my hospitality…" Byakuya continued, removing his torn and blood-soaked shirt.
"Ichigo, grab Ukitake-san and Orihime…" the larger man barked his orders, his grey eyes never leaving Byakuya. "Take them somewhere safe."
"You have wounded my pride." Byakuya continued, his exposed white skin glittering in the starlight. "And I will eviscerate you for such insolence."
"Why is it…" the larger man questioned, stalling as the ginger-haired man spirited the two others away. "That everyone wants to eviscerate me?"
"My name is Byakwya Dragkwyla of the House of Drăculești." Byakuya said in introduction, walking down the bloody steps and into the snow. He gestured to the castle behind him. "You will die in Wallachia."
"I'm Shunsui Kyoraku of Edo..." The larger man said. "And I'm sorry, I can't die yet. I've got too much left to do."
"Shunsui," the red haired man breathed. "We have no idea what we're dealing with…" His tongue darted out from between his lips nervously, and Byakuya could swear it was the forked tongue of a snake. "We should retreat for now."
"I can't die." Shunsui muttered. "Not even when I want to."
"Shunsui!" the red haired man warned.
Byakuya was incredibly fast, before Shunsui could react, Byakuya had swiped his claw-like nails across his face. Shunsui cried out as his eye was gouged by a course thumbnail. Byakuya balled his fist and with a single strike Shunsui was knocked backward into the trunk of a tree.
Blood sprayed from Shunsui's mouth and nose and oozed profusely from the eye socket. With a groan he began to undress, leaving his clothes where they landed. His skin began to ripple and Byakuya rushed forward for another attack, intent on stopping him before whatever transformation was coming.
"Nuh uh." The redhead barked, his body whipping around rapidly. Byakuya barely dodged the winding tail-like appendage, sliding across the ice on his bare stomach. He rolled to his feet, his entire chest bleeding and raw.
"Yet again, you attack two on one?" Byakuya asked, arching a dark manicured brow. "How unsporting."
"It's not about fair." The red-haired man retorted, his tail twisting behind him. "It's about right and wrong. Good and evil…"
Byakuya scoffed, a burst of steam erupting from his lips. He shook his head and within a second closed the distance between the two of them. He knocked his head against the red-haired man's, the other man doubling over in pain. Without pause, Byakuya thrust his hand through the man's stomach. "You have no idea."
"Fuck… Shunsui… Do… something…" the redhead groaned, blood pouring from his lips.
AH-WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
The overpowering stench of sulfur and death was the first thing to hit Byakuya. Every molecule in his body pleaded with him to run away. He released the red-haired creature and turned around anxiously. His teeth unrestricted, jutting from his mouth like senbon needles. He hissed subconsciously, his arms blocking himself as the gigantic wolf creature barreled into him.
Shunsui slammed into Byakuya, the slighter man smashing into the hard packed snow. Shunsui had transformed into an enormous black wolf and it snapped and growled, spit flying into Byakuya's face.
Byakuya pushed against the beast, lifting the front half of the wolf's massive body off of him. The wolf barked and snarled, drool and foam dripping down onto Byakuya. His face twisted in disgust, a murderous hiss escaping his lips.
The wolf's eyes widened in surprise and Byakuya chuckled humorlessly. "You are not used to losing are you?" Byakuya curled his fingers, stabbing his claws into the wolf's flesh. The wolf howled, doubling its efforts to tear into Byakuya's throat. "Can you not speak as you are?"
"What're ya doin', pup?" The redhaired man groaned, pulling himself to his feet weakly. He snapped a tree branch with ease, walking toward the other two slowly. "You got this or not?"
The wolf growled angrily and, with a sudden surge of effort, its claws tore into Byakuya's abdomen. Byakuya cried out, his teeth bared and stained pink. The wolf leapt off of him suddenly and without a second's hesitation the red haired man thrust the branch through Byakuya's chest and deep into the frozen earth. Byakuya coughed uncontrollably, blood gargling noisily in his throat.
The redhead stooped down, sitting on the ground in exhaustion. He examined his wound and clicked his tongue irritably. "This fucker got me good." The redhead looked toward Byakuya critically. "You were pretty strong."
The wolf howled loudly, circling Byakuya like downed prey. It sniffed his snow white skin, lapping at the blood issuing from his stomach. The wolf's head snapped up and with a growl the wolf backed away. It lay down on the ground, rubbing its muzzle with its paws as if injured. "Stupid dog…" Byakuya murmured. He rolled his head to the side, his body unmoving. His grey eyes met the redhead's and the other man looked away guiltily. "Stupid snake…"
"You're not dead yet?" the redhead mumbled, chewing on his nails absently.
Byakuya laughed humorlessly, his limbs moving all at once. He pushed up, like a table top, lifting his abdomen until he cleared the top of the branch. He stood up with a grotesque squishing sound, the branch still lodged thoroughly into the ground. "Uhhh…" the redhead scrambled backward, his back pressing against the trunk of a tree.
"I will return." Byakuya announced, walking up the stone steps to his castle. The red-haired man peered through the gaping hole in his abdomen in shock. Byakuya turned and waved his hand in a sweeping gesture. "And then I will kill all of you."
"He isn't a shifter and he isn't a Master…" The red-haired man breathed once Byakuya stepped inside the castle. He jumped into the air, swinging himself from the ground and onto a thick branch. "This has nothing to do with us. We need to leave."
"He's strong." Shunsui growled with effort, the bones of his arms snapping as he returned to his true form. He panted in exhaustion, his hand pressing against his healing eye socket. "What is he?"
"Don't know. Don't care." The redhead snapped. A strange feral grunt escaped his lips. "Let's go."
"Where'd he go?" Shunsui asked peering up at the gloomy castle.
"He went inside." The redhead answered.
"Why?" Shunsui asked, wiping his mouth with his arm.
"Like I fucking know!" the redhead barked. "It's time to go, Shunsui…"
"We can't lead him back to the others." Shunsui argued, shaking his head.
"He's as strong as a Master, if not stronger…" the redhead admitted. "This is above our level of skill… Maybe if Ichigo comes back or if we had Coyote…"
Shunsui bristled at the mention of Coyote's name. He looked at the redhead from the corner of his eyes and shook his head. "Coyote is carrying the weight of the entire world right now…"
"I know, I know…" The redhead said apologetically. "I just meant…"
The heavy doors to the castle opened and the young ginger-haired man stepped outside. He carried a large pail of steaming water. He forced a smile as he glanced at the two of them and poured the pail of water across the steps. The water rushed across the stone, steaming and washing the blood away.
Shunsui and the redhead exchanged curious looks. "Excuse me," Shunsui began unsurely. "Where did that man go?"
"Lord Byakuya?" the man asked. "He's inside, Sir." Shunsui nodded, silently watching the man as he cleaned up the entrance to the castle. Without another word the man scuttled back inside, the heavy doors slamming closed behind him.
"Fuck this shit, I'm leaving." The redhead murmured, shaking his head.
"Renji, you are not go-ing a-ny-where…" Shunsui ordered.
The two Shifters shared a nervous look and then with a sigh Renji conceded. "Fine."
"Should we go in?" Shunsui asked after several minutes of no activity, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. "There might be more of them in there."
"Two humans." Renji counted, sniffing the air. "His scent is unique and I only smell it once. It's nothing like those things in the forest."
They stood side by side watching the clouds shift ominously in the sky. "A storm's coming…" Shunsui realized, sticking out his tongue and collecting a snowflake. "Orihime's going to be very cold."
"I can't stand much more of this." Renji exclaimed irritably. "I'm just going to go in…"
"Wait, I thought we decided… Oh, yabbe yabbe…" Shunsui jogged up the steps after Renji.
Renji threw open the doors and stepped inside the enormous foyer. The castle was clean and well-decorated, simple and tasteful, but the gloom on the outside carried into the interior. Portraits of intimidating men lined the walls and the floor space was littered with armor and swords on display. Shadows danced across a single wall, the rest of the house was completely dark, the only source of light was a roaring fire in the hearth.
"Hello?" Renji called out, feeling rather foolish.
There was movement beside the fire and Renji realized belatedly that Byakuya was seated in the armchair, wearing fresh clothes and holding an intricate iron goblet. He took a sip from his chalice, the copious red liquid staining his insipid lips. His grey eyes met Renji's and he wordlessly conveyed his displeasure at being interrupted.
Byakuya turned his attention back to the thick, worn book in his lap, turning a page absently with his left hand. Shunsui cursed under his breath and shook his head. "What are you doing? I do not understand at all…"
Byakuya lifted the book, holding it out in presentation. He pointed a manicured claw toward the title of the book, written in Old Church Slavic. "'Mysterious Devils and Other Foul Beasts'." Byakuya explained, lowering the book back into his lap. "You will have to forgive my curiosity. And your visit also coincided with my mealtime." Byakuya lifted his goblet and took a rather avaricious gulp. His eyes met Shunsui's and the briefest of smiles crossed his face. "But, as there is a storm settling over us, you are more than welcome to wait here, inside. I will kill you as soon as possible."
"This is our chance." Renji murmured, knocking his arm against Shunsui's. "Let us leave now. He has no desire to chase us."
"He has no desire to kill us either." Shunsui reasoned, walking further into the salon.
"Oh, I can assure you that is not true." Byakuya warned. "When it comes to my pride, there is no obstacle I cannot overcome."
"We made a mistake." Shunsui explained, approaching Byakuya slowly. "We thought you were someone or rather, something else…"
"If I had been someone else…" Byakuya spoke tersely. "I would be exsanguinated on my doorstep."
"He's not what we're looking for…" Renji groaned. "Let's move on."
"No." Shunsui barked. Byakuya looked at him curiously, turning the page of his book idly. "The girl who's with us… She's a human. Completely mortal…" Shunsui explained. "And she cannot stand the cold. She will die. We need shelter."
"It is, simply put, not my problem." Byakuya retorted.
"You were kind enough to offer us hospitality. And we screwed that up. Please, I'm begging you… I… I'm sorry…" Shunsui stood directly in front of Byakuya. He kneeled down, looking up at the other man with pleading eyes. "You mentioned your pride; well I have pride too… And here I am… Please…"
"I wonder…" Byakuya said impishly. He extended his pale hand to Shunsui, his long, thin fingers almost touching Shunsui's face. Shunsui reached up, placing a kiss on the top of Byakuya's frozen hand. "Is this display enough to mend my aggrieved pride?"
"Please…" Shunsui beseeched.
"It is not enough," Byakuya said with finality, waving Shunsui away. "But perhaps," Byakuya continued, locking eyes with Renji. "… if it were the both of you…"
"Get over here." Shunsui ordered under his breath.
"Hell no." Renji refused in Aramaic.
"Do it for Orihime." Shunsui pleaded in Aramaic.
"He's not human. He's not one of us…" Renji shuddered as he spoke. "He's unnatural…"
"Do you realize how stupid you sound?!" Shunsui groaned. "Get over here… And you can consider me in your debt…"
"You're already in my debt, wolf pup." Renji replied.
"Fine then. I'm doubly indebted to you…"
"The storm is worsening." Byakuya said, more than a little irritated at not being able to understand the exchange. "Tick tock."
Renji cursed, releasing a stream of wild expletives as he crossed the room. He stopped in front of Byakuya and kneeled down. His brown skin flushed scarlet and he lowered his eyes in humiliation. "Fuck you, Shunsui."
"I'm sorry, Renji…"
"Please let us stay…" Renji muttered, placing his warm lips against Byakuya's proffered hand.
"Are you sorry for your behavior?" Byakuya asked, hooking Renji's chin with his finger and lifting his face upward.
"Absolutely… I certainly regret everything I've done today…" Renji growled through clenched teeth.
"Good." Byakuya said, releasing Renji's face. "Please, you and your friends are welcome to seek shelter." Byakuya returned his attention to his book. "I expect you to move on in the morning…"
"I will find Ukitake-san…" Shunsui announced, climbing to his feet. He crossed the room impatiently.
"I'll go with you…" Renji said pointedly, gesturing toward Byakuya with a disfavorable nod.
"A word of caution," Byakuya murmured dreamily. "You arrived at sundown. In the middle of the night, in the forest, it is an entirely different place."
"Those creatures…" Shunsui began unsurely.
"They grow stronger and faster and even more hideous…" Byakuya warned. He took a measured sip from his goblet and Shunsui no longer had any doubts that it was blood. "But even more worrisome than that is the Coven."
"The Coven?" Renji asked curiously.
"People of my ilk." Byakuya said simply. "Numbering well over one hundred."
"But…" Shunsui looked toward Renji with concern. "I thought you said you could only smell one?"
"I could… I mean I can…" Renji shook his head to clear it. "I'm not Coyote… I'm not a tracker… I'm better than you are, at least… You could pull your own weight, pup…"
"They will eat her." Byakuya lifted a finger, sliding it across his throat in gesture. "And then they will kill the others."
"Will she be safe here?" Shunsui asked. "For the night?"
"For the night." Byakuya answered with a nod.
Shunsui's nails hardened, his hands burning as he fought his transformation. He rushed toward the heavy front doors but Renji beat him there. "I'm faster." Renji breathed. "I'll get to them first. You make a path for us."
"Got it." Shunsui agreed without hesitation.
"And Shunsui," Renji said quickly. "Ichigo's with them… He's an elder…"
Shunsui nodded anxiously. "Okay, yeah, you're right…"
As soon as Shunsui stepped outside he was able to tell that the creatures had nearly quadrupled in numbers. They had feared him and stayed away but there was no telling how they'd react now that they were under a pack mentality. Shunsui closed his eyes and focused on Renji's scent. He was almost a mile away already, but Shunsui could visualize his path like a blur of light.
Shunsui took a deep breath and undressed, kicking his clothes around the entryway of the castle. He kneeled down with a grunt, his bones snapping as they elongated and thickened. He whined in agony, his jaw dislocating and jutting forward, large, menacing teeth protruding from his darkening lips.
AH-WOOOOOOOOO
The black wolf howled aggressively. It sniffed the ground, its muzzle pressed against the snow, before suddenly darting into the forest. It bolted through the trees, knocking icicles off the low handing branches. It followed Renji's potent scent, a permanent snarl issuing from its throat.
The creatures parted nervously, giving him a wide birth. With their strength, they could easily decimate entire human settlements. The wolf sniffed the air thoughtfully, its eyes narrowing distrustfully as a new scent filled the air.
Renji, with millennia of practice and a more apparent aptitude, increased his speed. He caught their scent, felt the murderous intent rolling off of them and knew he needed to reach Ichigo and the others quickly. "Ichi!" Renji shouted, halting his motion by wrapping his tail around the trunk of a tree. He swung awkwardly a moment, his stomach lurching and his vision blurring. "Ukitake-san…"
"Renji!" Orihime cried out, reaching out with wide arms.
"Where's…?" Renji began, his voice trailing off as he saw Jushiro on the ground below.
"Take Orihime!" Jushiro shouted in Japanese. His long, white hair had been pulled into a topknot. His obi was in tatters on the ground, his kimono shredded. He wielded his wakizashi expertly, driving it clean through one of the creatures.
"We're all going…" Renji insisted, helping Orihime onto his back. "We've got a new problem."
"Where's Shunsui?" Jushiro asked anxiously, sparing a moment from his unending opponents to search the forest.
"We're going to him." Renji said, swinging over the heads of the hungry creatures.
"Careful, Renji…" Ichigo warned. "Those motherfuckers can jump."
"Got it." Renji groaned, increasing speed. "I'm goin' ahead, Ichi…"
"Ukitake-san." Ichigo murmured, grabbing the larger man tightly. "My priority in this situation… is the child." He paused awkwardly. "I am indebted to her."
"She's human." Jushiro said in agreement. "Please, protect her at all costs."
"Then we're going to go fast…" Ichigo cautioned with a slight smirk. "I'm going to catch up to that stupid monkey…"
The edges of Ichigo rippled and the next moment all of him had disappeared from sight aside from his clothes. With a lurch Jushiro was wrenched forward, his entire body flexing and bending in ways he would have previously assumed impossible. He felt he might become sick from the rapid, jerky travel and was forced to clench his eyes shut tightly. He ignored the ominous salivating in his mouth and he tried to focus on other things. Where was Coyote? Had he found a town large enough for the ceremony? How much longer would they be apart? How many souls had he collected for the Master? For Aizen?
There was a terrible screeching roar to the right and Jushiro dared to open an eye. A woman leapt toward them, Ichigo narrowly avoiding a collision. Ichigo cursed, his body rippling into view as he struck violently against the trunk of a tree. There was a terrible crack, his skull and neck fracturing on impact. He wrapped around Jushiro tightly, absorbing the shock as they collided with the frozen ground.
"Kurosaki-kun?" Jushiro groaned, struggling to free himself from Ichigo's deathlike grip. He stared down at Ichigo's bloodied face and swallowed. One of Ichigo's eyes was lidded, almost closed, and the other was wide open and blindly staring. "Ichigo?"
There was movement above them and Jushiro looked up, peering into the face of the seemingly flying woman. She smiled cruelly, pulling her pale skin tight. She giggled, like the tinkle of a bell, and then she leapt forward, continuing down the path after Renji. "What was that?" Jushiro asked aloud to himself.
Ichigo sat up with a rattling breath. He looked around with wide, confused eyes before pushing himself back to his feet. "I saw a woman…"
"She just took off that way." Jushiro said, pointing in gesture. "After Renji and Orihime."
"What happened?" Ichigo asked, grabbing his head with both hands.
"You hit the tree." Jushiro explained. "And then fell to the ground. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Ichigo said with a slow nod. "We need to hurry."
"You cannot carry me as you are…" Jushiro decided. "You need rest…"
"Don't be stupid." Ichigo murmured, grabbing Jushiro and tossing him over his shoulder defiantly. "I can carry a kid like you."
Ichigo didn't return to the treetops, he remained on the ground, sliding across the ice with inhuman agility. He skated quickly, nearly surpassing the speed he had achieved in the trees. "We're almost there…" Ichigo whispered lowly. "Shunsui's just on the other side of this-"
"What's the matter?" Jushiro hissed anxiously.
"I know this scent." Ichigo murmured, lowering Jushiro to the ground as he slid to a stop. "This isn't good."
"What is it?" Jushiro demanded. "Come on! I cannot stand this mystery! Just tell me."
"Vampires." Ichigo replied, licking his lips as he spoke.
"Vampires?" Jushiro repeated curiously. "Such things exist?"
"Of course." Ichigo said.
"Are they dangerous?" Jushiro asked, holding onto his sword boldly.
"One or two, no?" Ichigo explained. "But a whole Coven? Yeah, they're dangerous."
"But to shifters…" Jushiro began hopefully.
"Vampires have killed more shifters than any other creature on Earth." Ichigo murmured. He looked up at Jushiro with wide, troubled eyes. "Vampires have even killed Masters."