Shadow didn't even hesitate before throwing the door aside, racing down the hall.
Sonic followed. "What does she mean the throne will be hers by midnight? Shadow, what the hell did you do to make Raksha so pissed?"
"I was born," he responded briskly.
"Seriously."
"Well, on my one hundredth birthday, Raksha bought me from the previous King, Black
Doom, the 'thing' that gave me his blood. I was her slave for over one hundred years. She had trained me, and when I did not listen to her, I was severely punished," he said quietly, slowing down to move some of the ebony fur on his abdomen. A long, blood red scar rested on his tan skin.
"Why would she do that to you?"
"A Vampire King is supposed to be cold and emotionless. The living is either fresh blood or worthless pieces of flesh. I was not the savage she was looking for, and I was punished. I was miserable. Soon my feelings disappeared, and I was numb. I attacked all but her, and I was her prized possession. She used me as a weapon and unleashed me upon the original shape shifters, the people who started your kingdom. Your original Queen helped her set it up."
"You mean the woman who started off the Werewolves? You actually knew her?" Sonic whispered.
"Yes. Her name was Betia. She has since disappeared, but she was an amazing woman. The strongest Werewolf that had ever lived; but let us go back to my story. Raksha had released me to Black Doom, and I was back in the Palace. He wanted to rule, to be King. He knew that Raksha was strong beyond any limit, so he wasn't quite sure how to get her off the throne. And there was I, a perfect new weapon of death.
"In only a day, the Slave Hold, Eternal was burnt to the ground by yours truly. Everyone was killed, including Raksha's prized possession, her panther, Risika. I went at her, but she was much too powerful… Actually, I think the only thing that can knock her off track is losing somebody actually worth something to her. Or not getting what she wants." Shadow paused. "Think of the most horrible creature on the planet. The worst, most horrible thing you can conjure in your mind, and multiply that by a thousand. That 'thing' doesn't even touch Raksha."
Sonic shivered. "She's weird. When she says something, I can't help but pay attention or do what she told me to do."
"Like I said, she gets whatever she wants. When she wants somebody dead, they're dead." Shadow looked away. "I'm next on her list. Do me a favor; If you find me about to jump off a bridge, and she's sitting next to me, give her a good kick in the ass. She'll be fine – land on her feet or something."
"Ten feet under the ground!" the blue hedgehog pointed out sharply. "I'd probably just pull you of or something. I wouldn't let you kill yourself."
Shadow gave Sonic a deadpan look. Sonic sweat dropped and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, a second time. No screw ups in this life!" he assured.
Shadow rolled his eyes. "And this talk is supposed to reassure me," he said dryly. They had slowed down to a walk. Shadow bent over and kissed Sonic just behind his ear, the action sending shivers down Sonic's spine.
Sonic blushed. Since he knew Shadow was his soul mate, every little touch sent Sonic going haywire. If the palace wasn't under siege, Sonic would have grabbed Shadow and locked himself in a room with the King. Just thinking about those lewd fantasies made his hand reach out for the Vampire's hand, squeezing it lightly. Shadow raised an eye ridge, but returned the squeeze.
"So how did you get her to leave?" the younger hedgehog asked.
"Magic, very dark magic, to be exact. I should have died after I banished her, which I think Black Doom was aiming for, but I didn't. I went into something similar to a coma, and didn't wake up for weeks. She fled to the Witches' realm, where her sister – bless her soul – had kept her," Shadow said with a soft smile.
"Her sister?"
"The five thousand year old Witch Queen, under the ancient name Krishna, is her twin. It is a male's name, traditionally, so I guess Krishna was the world's first tomboy." Shadow smirked. "She's the kindest soul. She'll probably pay us a visit."
"The Queen," Sonic whispered. "Maria would tell me about her when we were little. About the secret visits she would do to try to restore Maria's health."
Shadow paled, not speaking for a few minutes. He finally said, "Maria was a very ill child. I was made to heal her. You saw my blood, correct? It heals mortals. That was Raksha's only good trait. Gerald was to study it, to use it to make Maria healthy once again. I am life, but all I cause is death."
Sonic touched the side of Shadow's face. "You do not only cause death. Stop telling yourself that."
Shadow sighed and removed Sonic's hand from his face. "She is waiting for us. Let us not delay the Queen any further."
Shadow opened the large wooden doors, and Sonic expected Raksha to be lounging over the throne, or a knife being sharpened in her hands. But apparently she didn't roll the same way Rouge did.
Raksha held a gleaming knife in her hand. She moved quickly and gracefully towards her opponent.
The man was standing perfectly still. He was human, just as the Queen was. He had cropped inky black hair, a strong jaw, and sparkling garnet eyes. His skin was as pale as snow, his body having a nice build. His lips bent up at the corners into a smirk.
Raksha was moving almost as quickly as Sonic or Shadow now, slashing the dagger as her dance came closer to the male.
His ruby orbs glowed as he dodged nimbly, ducking and moving just slightly before the dagger had been able to pierce him. He was quick on his feet, talented.
The Queen finally smiled. "You are free to go, Zane."
Zane stepped out of his predatory crouch, straightening as if nothing had happened. "Thanks. It was good to get on my feet. I'm such a couch potato," he snickered, wrapping and arm around Raksha's shoulder. She shrugged it off.
"Yes you are, you bum. Get to work and one day you may be as good as that brick over there," she sighed, pushing him gently. Zane smirked, crossing his muscular arms over his chest.
"Hey, Shadow," Zane said. "Nice to see you again. Seems like you found your soul mate, huh?" he asked.
Shadow smiled, wrapping an arm around Sonic's waist. "Yes. Sonic the hedgehog, King of the Werewolves," said Shadow, introducing his lover.
Sonic smirked, taking Zane's outstretched hand and shaking it. His hand was ice cold and… scaly?
Emerald eyes widened in astonishment, flickering to Zane's pale hand. Glossy black and crimson scales covered his long, graceful fingers. Zane smiled, curved fangs glossy with venom.
"Holy-!"
"Let me properly introduce you to my… Zane," Raksha said awkwardly, her smooth voice breaking as she looked uncertainly at her fighting partner. "This is Zane Cobrian, king of the Serpent shape shifters."
"Serpents? Seriously? I didn't know they existed," Sonic murmured.
Shadow began to talk for the queen who wouldn't look up. "The Serpent race is an ancient shape shifting group. The rulers are the King and Queen Cobras, and the current ones are standing right in front of you."
Zane's smile nearly went from ear to ear. "King at your service," he hissed, never blinking.
"And I have ruled for centuries," Raksha sighed.
"These two are soul mates – even though they hate one another with a passion," Shadow said, a sparkle in his eye.
Raksha and Zane wouldn't look at one another. Raksha gave an impatient huff, crossing her arms over her chest and looked away, her inky locks falling over her shoulders. Zane looked down awkwardly. "She is my Naga. My Queen. I will always respect her."
Raksha sighed. "Shadow, this kingdom needs a firm ruler. You can go fool around with Dash – Sonic, whatever his name is, and leave me be. I need my people. We need to be stronger."
Shadow opened his mouth to talk. Raksha turned, her long silky hair flying as it followed her. The mist surrounding the castle seemed to fly in, making her disappear. Zane sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he followed her.
The King closed his eyes. "I will die, and soon. This I know."
Sonic looked up at Shadow in alarm. "What do you mean? Shadow?" he asked. He placed a peach hand on Shadow's ice cold, tan muzzle.
Shadow looked down at Sonic, his heart swelling. He loved Sonic, ever since he had first known him over eight hundred years ago. "It is nothing, Sonic. Just talking out loud."
Emerald eyes locked uncertainly with crimson. Sonic tilted his head up just slightly, catching Shadow's lips with his own. The sparks of emotion ran through him, the love touching every part of his soul. He caught Shadow's bottom lip between his teeth, smirking at Shadow's surprised moan. He released his elder. "Ah ha! And you thought I was just a goofy kid that didn't know how to do anything. Well, I'm also Dash. And you know as well as I do that Dash wasn't a virgin. I've got some tricks up my sleeves."
Shadow smiled, chuckling gently. "And I was your first. So I know much more than you do, little wolf."
"Not a wolf now," Sonic snickered. "Still daytime, m'lord, and last time I checked, we need a moon in the sky."
Shadow chuckled. "Then we shall wait till tonight."
Sonic loved that idea.
…
Raksha and Shadow were arguing. Since they always argued, Zane told Sonic it was no big deal.
But when KNIVES started flying their way, Zane suggested that they go wait it out in the next room.
"Why are they always fighting?" Sonic finally asked.
Zane looked up from his book, lifting an eyebrow. "You're serious?" Sonic nodded. "Well, just look at them. Insanely powerful, drunken with thirst – OLD – yeah, it's because they're old and losing their minds. Raksha's WAY older than Shadow, so… well, he's got a bit of time before he is a raving lunatic like she is," he said dryly. His pale fingers combed through his hair and he winced as the wall thudded next to him. She had heard that little remark.
"How much do you know about Shadow?" Sonic asked, looking at the portrait of Shadow and Rouge.
Zane frowned, his garnet eyes narrowing. "Well, he's bloody good at everything. Everything. When he died, he was sent here. His dad hated him and sold him to Raksha, where he remained in her slave hold for over two hundred years. Shadow was trained just as Raksha wanted him to be: a ruthless warrior, fit to be the Vampire King. Not that she'd ever give him the crown… She'd probably run up there, kick the priest in the shin and run away laughing sadistically with the crown."
Sonic offered a full hearted laugh. "I can see Shadow doing that, too."
Zane smiled. "Shadow even had a whole group of psychics named after him, the Shadow Men. They provoke your worst fears from your mind, bringing them to life. Shadow can be a total bastard that way, but the dude is funny. He used to sit with me out by the courtyard and scare the girls. One was afraid of a cartoon British bunny," he said, a happy sigh escaping his lips.
Sonic rolled his eyes. "Seems like Shadow was a trouble maker."
"'Course he was! Though we got in loads of trouble when Raksha found us," Zane admitted, winking. "Shadow's a cool guy. He's really aged, though. Shadow used to have scars everywhere, and the ones over his lips and eyes were the worst. Raksha would have him murder the people she didn't want, and he'd happily do so since he was thirsty."
Sonic stared at Shadow's portrait, remembering seeing it the first time. The artist had gotten the mysterious glow of his crimson eyes spot on. Shadow seemed to be watching him.
"So how did you meet Shadow?" Zane asked suddenly. He leaned back against his leather seat, staring at the hero.
Sonic blushed. "Well, I've known Shadow ever since he was… born. Is that the right word, born? Eh, anyways, I dated him back then. We went out, and then Raksha…" Sonic's mouth went dry. "Well, that's when things got difficult for us. I mean, I died. Suicide by drowning. Anyways, I met him again in my second life, and… I still love him. I'll always love him," he whispered, looking away. His cheeks were a brighter red than Shadow's streaks.
Zane looked quiet, thoughtful. He pursed his lips, his eyes quickly surveying Sonic. "Well, you two seem right for each other. Lucky you," he said with a sad sigh.
Sonic looked at Zane as he sagged in his seat. "Why don't you and Raksha get along?"
Zane looked up at the ceiling, his strong jaw clenched. "We just don't, okay? The two of us hate one another. The only time I ever kissed her was when she was happy I found her 'sacred necklace.' She hasn't spent any time with me since."
"But why?"
"All vampires are egomaniacs, okay? When we clash, we like to show off. And we don't get along because we both have a number of tricks up our sleeve. We won't accept defeat, as lame as it sounds," Zane grumbled.
"Not that lame," Sonic said. "Shadow and I are always fighting and racing. Of course, I'm the fastest," he gloated.
Zane raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, you're definitely a vampire, even though you don't smell like one. I should've known from the start," Zane said in a deflated tone.
Sonic smirked. "I'm one of a kind, Zane. Half werewolf, half Vampire."
Zane grinned. "A hybrid, huh? Nice. They live forever. They can feel, eat… I can't miss any of those things, because I was born dead. But, not all is in vain, after all, I'm still this hot, godlike looking creature after all," he said with a sparkling smile.
Sonic rolled his eyes. "I get what you mean by 'egomaniac.'"
The wooden doors slammed open. Raksha and Shadow stormed in, side by side, glowering. The queen elbowed Shadow, who dodged quickly. They scowled as they both sat down next to their mates.
"What was that about?" Zane asked pleasantly, as if he were asking how the weather was.
Raksha grunted. "The fool thinks I won't take my throne back. You make me laugh, little hedgehog," she said with a sneer.
"Well I won't let her take it without a fight," Shadow snarled back. "And we cannot work together. She's insane!"
"That is true," she accepted with a curt nod of her head. "But this throne has been mine for ages! You think just because I have been missing for a few years I'm going to give you that throne on a silver platter? Ha, you make me laugh," she hissed.
Shadow growled back at her, his upper lips curving over his teeth. "You were gone for over four centuries. If you think I'm just going to hand it over to you, then you have problems."
"We're going in circles here!" she snarled. "Besides, the reason I need to take the throne is vital. I see a group of Slayers overthrowing the Vampires, and you were King. Let me be in charge of the country I had started."
Shadow was quiet. His ebony quills bristled, "You do not think I can take charge of the people I have ruled for centuries? I am no fool. I will not lead them into battle."
Raksha rolled her eyes. "So you say now," she said softly.
Sonic leaned his head on Shadow's shoulder, whispering, "Shadow, don't fight."
Shadow scowled, but kept quiet. He drummed his fingertips lightly into the wooden arms of the couch, biting his lip. Sonic moved into his lap, nudging his cheek softly. Shadow looked down at him with a smile and kissed him softly on the lips. The two broke apart with a heavy sigh from across the room.
"How come the Gay Blades can make out, and we can't?" Zane grumbled.
Sonic turned to glare at Zane. "Excuse me? Gay Blades? You know, we're right here," he snapped.
Zane rolled his eyes and ignored him. "You won't even touch me! Come on, I dare ya to poke me. Do it. Do it."
"Shut it, Zane," she barked, flipping her hair. Her crimson eyes studied the two lovers quietly, warily. "Zane, let us go to the library. I need to call my sister."
Zane got up and winked at Sonic, sending him a mischievous smile. He slinked out of the room quickly, following Raksha. He sent one last grin over his shoulder, and closed the door.
Shadow relaxed against the seat when the royal couple left. Sonic turned to look Shadow in the eye. "Tell me about Raksha."
Crimson eyes blazed as Shadow spoke. "She was the first Vampire, hit by lightning five thousand years ago with her sister. She was nine months pregnant at the time, and somehow she and the child survived. The next day she had given birth, and her child had the same strange crimson eyes that Raksha had woken up with that day. The child's hair was pitch black, and its heartbeat was far too slow, her skin icy. The little girl was almost as beautiful as her mother – and just as unnatural as Raksha was turning out to be. Later that day, Kalika, which was Raksha's name before she was reborn as a vampire, had closed her eyes for the last time. She woke up at midnight that night as Raksha, the Demon Girl.
"I'm not too sure of her life beyond that point, but I know she was always chased, both her and her sister. She's a mass murderer, but says she only kills those who she believes must die. Her sister was bound to her, given strange magical powers to watch over sister. She was the first Witch.
"Raksha was the Queen of her slave hold until I blew it up and banished her from the Vampire Realm. She hid in the Witch's Palace. Until Now. She has returned to kill me. A death sentence is never gone, with that girl," Shadow said with a sigh.
Sonic shook his head. "She sounds like the immortal pain."
"More like the Grim Reaper," Shadow agreed sullenly. He leaned onto Sonic. "Its not that I don't respect her, not at all. After all, she's the closest thing to a parent I've got, and she's a strong warrior. She's a Queen Shape shifter, and has lived since the dawn of time. How could I not admire her?" he wondered aloud.
"Well…" Sonic started. With a deadpan look from Shadow, he decided not to go on.
Shadow kept his head on Sonic's shoulder. "I want to go to sleep and never wake up. I wish I could close my eyes and leave the world of mortals if only for a few moments."
Sonic held Shadow in his arms, kissing him softly on the head. "I wish you didn't have to think about this."
Shadow closed his eyes. "Sonic?" he murmured.
"Mmm?"
"Don't you have a Kingdom to run?" the vampire asked.
Sonic paled considerably. "Crap!" he shouted, bolting upright. "I'll be back soon, Shadow, I promise!" he called over his shoulder, blasting out of the castle.
Shadow watched blankly as the blue blur raced around the grounds, Blaze shrieking and chasing after him, beating his head in with a branch. Shadow chuckled, turning. He sucked in a quick breath as he was face to face with the Queen staring out the window with dull eyes.
"I'll miss being the Queen," she sighed. "And walking the planet longer than anyone else."
Shadow groaned. "What about Zane and Sonic?" he asked. "This will crush them."
She sighed softly, running her fingers through Shadow's quills. "They must live on as if we were never here, had never touched their lives."
Shadow winced. "I don't want to see him hurt."
Raksha shot a weak glare at Shadow. "And you think I want to see Zane hurt?" she asked. When she saw his face, the queen scoffed. "Well, not that way," she mumbled, wrapping her arms around herself.
Shadow sat down. Whenever he closed his eyes he saw emerald and sapphire. "This is how it's going to end," he said softly.
"Go spend time with Sonic," the raven haired girl said. "And don't return until sunrise."
Spending time with Amy was NOT one of the Werehog's favorite activities. Especially when he was about to dump her.
"Oh, and Knuckles will be here, and Tails, and Cream!" she giggled, flipping her pink hair flirtatiously. She smoothed out her red dress. "So, tonight I made some pasta. I'm trying to get the hang of cooking before I'm your wife," she said with a smile that spread from ear to ear.
"About that…"
Just as he was about to courageously tell her that he couldn't marry her, Knuckles, Tails and Cream walked in.
"Hey Sonic!" his younger brother cried, throwing his arms around him. Sonic ruffled his blonde hair, a crazy smile lighting his face. His eyes were livid.
Knuckles blushed. "Nice to catch up with you again," he mumbled, shuffling his feet. His face was nearly as red as his dreadlocks, his violet eyes anywhere but the King.
"Mr. Sonic!" Cream yelled, laughing and hugging him. The bunny giggled, kissing him on the cheek. "How's Mr. Sha-"
"So it's great to see you all too!" he laughed, cutting her off. "I can't get enough of the geezers at the council, with their trying to understand teenagers. I don't think I've ever been happier to not see an old guy walking around in skinny jeans."
Everyone laughed, Knuckles slapping him on the back. As they all turned to enter the next room, Sonic grabbed the echidna, hissing in his ear, "You're going to tell me what you did with Rouge after dinner."
"That's private!" he snarled back, lighting up like a Christmas tree.
"Nothing I do is private to you," Sonic snapped back. "Remember last year at the party when I-"
"Yeah I remember, don't want to talk about it," he sighed. "Let's go eat."
During dinner, when they were eating, there were three raps on the door. Sonic shot up, shaking Amy off his arm to go see who it was.
Never did he expect the Vampire king and his fiancé to show up at the door.
Rouge's long, silvery hair flowed down her shoulders and her spidery black dress. Her wings were almost black in the dim lighting, her glassy aqua eyes sparkling.
Shadow held her arm, his crimson eyes ablaze. His raven fur blended into the night sky, the blood red stripes on his arms vibrant. His tan lips were set up in a smirk.
"Hello," Shadow said softly in his singsong voice. "We have come for dinner."
"Can you let us in?" the ivory bat asked, cocking her head to the side. "It is so very cold out here, and after traveling, I am quite… thirsty."
Amy paled at the sight of them, whimpering. Sonic shook his head at her, glaring. He smiled, letting the couple in.
They walked in gracefully, smiling. They sat at the same time, their movements synchronized.
"And who are our guests?" Amy snarled out.
"My name is… Maroon," Rouge said, taking a name from her past life. "I am the Guardian of the house of Chaos in another tribe."
"My name is Shadow," the king said with a smirk. "I am her fiancé. We have come to meet Sonic and his wife. To wish you the best of luck in your marriage," he said, spreading his hands out innocently.
Amy softened somewhat. "Um… Well, I'll go get dinner. Make yourselves comfortable," she mumbled, running off into the kitchen.
Sonic glared pointedly at the raven furred hedgehog from across the table. "Shadow, pal, buddy- can you come with me?" he asked sweetly.
Shadow pursed his tan lips. "Mmm… nah, I'll stay here. Talk to your friends and such," he said, hugging Cream.
Sonic pulled him out, ignoring the 'Ow, ow, quills! Watch it, hedgehog!' He stood in front of him, glaring at the Vampire king.
"Why are you here?" the teen demanded.
Shadow shrugged. "I wanted to spend some time with you," he said deviously, a smirk settling on his lips.
"Well, you couldn't have waited till I got back?" he mumbled.
Shadow shook his head, his crimson stripes gleaming. "No. I couldn't wait because…" he hesitated. "Tonight is my last night. Tomorrow I am sentenced to die."
BWAHAHAHA! I am so EVIL!
Sonic: Hey, wait a sec! When we finally make up you're gonna kill Shadow off?
Shadow: I thought you got used to it already…
YES! THIS IS THE ULTIMATE INSANITY CALLED ROXIE! MUAHAHAHAHA!
Sonic: Shadow, I'm scared.
Shadow: You should be.
UNTIL NEXT TIME! *Runs away, cackling until running headfirst into a wall*
