Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade nor Miyami or Russia or Shahero or Aspin. I do however own Amber and Ruin and the plot of this story as well as whatever has been manipulated.
Chapter Ten - Attack
Why did I have to be chosen by the gods? Did I look like someone who could preach the good word? I don't think so. I may have the gift of the gab but I don't put it to good use. In fact, I'm just useless in a crisis. I barely have any powers, no strength, certainly no weight behind the words I speak. In fact, I've always been the tiny snickering one beside my father. Though my father carries a lot of weight. You wanna see the gift of the gab; check out my dad in a court room. He completely and utterly overwhelms even the most cynical and sceptical of humans and has them believing completely in voodoo and the like. I once got to watch him and I was in complete awe. Of course, arguing with him was never a smart thing to do. To get him to break curfew, I had to lead him into believing he'd thought of it. Not easy but dad adores me. As shown when he stayed by my bed when I was out cold.
Which brings me right back to those dumb gods. What makes them think I believe in them anyway? It's not like I ever call to them or use them in any spells. The most I go for is the four guardians of the watchtowers, and if you need to personalise them, you can go for the angels: Michael, Raphael, Ariel and Gabriel (I think, that or I've been saying the wrong names all my life…oops) or the four personas of the elements, sylphs, undines, golems and salamanders. I just call to the four watch towers and sometimes sure, I'll call on the goddess but I don't name her. She's just this entity that watches over all things. Sometimes I don't even think she exists. I'm not good with belief in things unless I see them…
Though technically I did see the gods of Ireland and I spoke with them too, I actually sassed them… That cannot be good. See another reason they shouldn't have picked me! Sassing a god or goddess as powerful as they, should have been a clear indication that I'm not a good person to explain their plight. So why was I still going along with this?
I tightened my gun holster and checked my guns all the while frowning at my reflection. I had debated about what to wear but jeans just didn't feel right for this occasion and who wears a business suit to see a demented faerie queen? So instead I chose the outfit Miyami had designed for me. It wasn't exactly typical wear but it was feminine enough (actually giving my bust a nice lift) so that I could fit into a club scene which is where I found most of my victims (though victims isn't really the correct term, makes them sound vulnerable and innocent) and so that I could appeal to their hormones (just don't ask about that, simply I'll say it's easier to get closer when they're tripping over their tongues). It's light and tight fitting for easy movement. And she also infused it with subtle magic so that my shields wouldn't get depleted when I was forced to use spells.
The top was forest green (this is supposedly a great colour on me… like I said, she's the fashion genius, I'm just the mannequin) and had a deep billowy u-neckline with a black sliver of material for modesty's sake. Then there's the black skinny pants which fit nicely into my black boots. It's comfortable and yet, it's really cool. I always feel good wearing it. Plus there's the bracers for my wrists and lower arm because people have this nasty habit of trying to slit my wrists. Yeah my job's dangerous but I'm not remotely suicidal. I think I should put that on a bulletin board, they could get the message and maybe the gods would too.
I slipped the throwing knives into the sheaths hidden on the inside of my arm underneath the bracers. A thick chunky metal choker protected my neck. A Kevlar waistband protected my stomach but my heart was an easy target, however there wasn't anything I could do about that. The top was pretty low and people would spot any protection there a mile off. I had to be incognito loads of times so I couldn't draw attention and tonight, because the Queen doesn't believe anything can harm her, besides us, my guns will be taken from me so I needed to look as harmless as possible to get my knives in. I wasn't going in unarmed. I was as close to human as a faerie could get. I just hoped nothing would go wrong otherwise the gods were going to need a new prophet for their cause.
Grabbing the thigh-length duster Bryan had bought me with Miyami's help naturally -this girl basically filled my wardrobe back in LA- I shrugged it on over the outfit and started for the stairs. A strange excited buzz was coming from downstairs and I was drawn to it, ignoring the blasts of sound from outside where Russia and Ian were still experimenting.
I descended the stairs slowly, not to make an entrance, simply to eavesdrop. Every time I enter a room, the conversation seemed to die or change. It was beginning to get a bit irritating and with the gods and the visit from the quack, I honestly didn't need to feel more insane or paranoid.
"… there's no choice. Something must be done."
"I just didn't think they would resort to this."
"Well we all know how nuclear happy that country is." That was Ruin. I knew that much but what were they talking about? What had a country going nuclear have to do with us?
I sat down on the stairs and peered through the banister into the living room where everyone was gathered, suiting up for combat, strapping on bullet proof vests and checking weapons. Kai was slouched on an arm chair with… the thing sitting on the arm but he wasn't too dressed up, just a black turtleneck, trousers and long coat. Real supermodelish but not armed for war. Not the way Bryan was done up at any rate. He was in black too - not a good colour with his paleness but did he care? No. Fashion wasn't his thing, hence why I know Miyami helped him with my coat. But he had on, a vest and kneepads under his black pants, steel-toed boots, swords strapped to his back, throwing knives, a semi-automatic gun… well the works really. This wasn't Bryan going hunting, this was Bryan going massacring. I had never seen him this dressed up.
Johnny was pretty much the same, with his arms folded over his outfit and his mouth curved in a sneer as he glared at Tala.
"How come pretty boy isn't going?"
"Because we need a Dragon at the gate." Shahero snapped, strapping on her own weapons and slipping her silver dragon into its sheath. Yeah, she calls her katana the silver dragon probably because there's a silver dragon imprinted on the hilt.
"And what about Mr. Leader? Doesn't he have to go save the world too?"
"Kai doesn't want to go."
Bullshit.
"Bullshit. Ye're telling me that you have a chance to go play hero and you're not taking it?"
"Go to hell Johnny."
"Ooh, I'm scared."
He should be. Kai was exuding pissed off vibes by the plenty. Hence why I knew he wanted to go but still, if he wanted to go, no one would stop him. Wait a minute, go where?
"Go where?" I demanded standing up.
Hitoshi who had been standing by the stairs looked up at me and inclined his head. He was dressed for tonight but not to the scale my family was. He too wore black, but the long sleek coat he wore was open at the bottom, so that it flared slightly around his legs. His hair was tied back and he held a gun in his hands, almost caressing it. I didn't know if he had a gun fetish and I didn't want to.
"Hell." Kai replied shortly.
"I'm not interested in where you're from Kai, I want to know where my family is going."
He seared me with a look but I flicked it off while Ruin zipped up her leather vest over the burgundy silk top with short puffy sleeves. She checked her gun before meeting my gaze.
"Aspin called."
"Oh! How's her honeymoon- why am I even asking. Obviously it's gone wrong somehow because you're all dressed up to the nines."
"We have to extract her." Tala told me almost gently. Though he was obviously pissed off by the fact that Ruin was going but he wasn't. But if Bryan was going, he had to stay.
"Why so many? Wouldn't you be better off having a small team? You know, to avoid detection?"
"Hey we'll make a soldier of you yet." Shahero grinned as she slipped two daggers into the sheaths at her side.
Bryan slotted the shells of his shot gun into the sash type thingy around his chest. He probably didn't need a bullet proof vest with the amount of straps covering it. "We're going into North Korea. Seems like TOS have struck up some bargain with them for the use of their nuclear weapons. They're planning on a mass genocide of all countries, not just western. They want rid of humans and faeries alike until they're the only ones left."
"That's stupid. Those kinds of weapons leave the earth uninhabitable for decades upon decades."
"Maybe they think they're above such human weakness." Miyami stated as she descended the stairs behind me, dressed in something I couldn't even contemplate explaining. Black miniskirt, silver corset with navy ribbon-fastenings, a thick black leather belt with chain link décor, and fishnet tights fastened by… safety pins? Ok. It looked good on her but everything does. I just wouldn't have the imagination or the energy to put that outfit together which is why I stuck mostly to jeans and tops. Sometimes I wore a skirt, but only at very odd times.
Since everyone else was pretty speechless by her outfit, I risked a glance at her feet. She wore round toe boots of the saggy variety. She looked gorgeous as to be expected and the makeup was applied so it looked flawless and perfect. I barely managed to streak on some black eyeliner and lip gloss. Fortunately, Mum's genes meant I didn't need foundation, thank god.
"It doesn't matter. We need to get Aspin and Kane out of there."
Why can't Aspin stay out of trouble? She went for a honeymoon!! A trip around various countries she wanted to visit and she just stumbles onto a plot to destroy the world. How?! It must have been that journalistic instinct she always bragged about. Personally, I just think she has a big nose she has to go sticking into everything so that someday she'll end up dead! Thank god Kane's got some sense, that has to be why she's lived so long. Honestly, even when she was in college she got into trouble with a corrupt fraternity. Yeah, who'd have frickin thought a group of jocks could be dangerous? And how she found out about it, I dunno but I doubt she dated any of them so I'm betting she was snooping too! When she gets home, I'm taking away her snooping rights!
Although… she might look into Kai's relationship with Fanny, if I ask her very nicely.
"Got the co-ordinates." Ozuma stated as he walked in. "Whatever you do, don't get caught. They hate westerners."
"Uh… Look at the cast, not many of them look very western. Well except for Ruiny and Johnny and Bryanny isn't very eastern, no offence..."
"I won't be caught."
"None of us will be."
"You didn't think to send any of the Orientals there? We've got a bazzillion of them!!
"Almighty Leader boy does'ne wannae go."
"He does a good impression of someone who does but is chained up." I muttered and Johnny flashed a grin. He may be bad tempered and slightly uncontrollable but he gets my humour better than some of the others do. Maybe they try too hard to see what's not there, my humour is pretty simple.
"We'll meet Spencer at the airstrip."
"Airstrip?" Miyami asked pointedly and I flushed.
"Well, it costs less and it's faster. Half of them get airsick. Too much metal or something."
"Iron poisoning."
I nodded. Thank goddess (not Morrigan) for witch blood. It seemed to neutralise the effects for me. Though since I'm a half blood shouldn't I be just as affected as Kai? Unless he's more pure than me? Aspin's more pure than I am, the eyes are a clear giveaway.
"Everyone ready?" They all looked to Johnny who's a notorious procrastinator and who only rushes to get ready when everyone else is on the verge of leaving.
He scowled at them and made to stomp out only to curse and run back upstairs, almost toppling over poor Miyami. "Forgot me axe."
Everyone sweat dropped and watched his ass disappear around the top of the landing. Nana shuffled into the living room, not looking much better with Seth at her side. He too was dressed up and I suddenly felt sick. I didn't like the idea of Seth going. For some reason, I always felt the others could handle themselves but if Seth was going, then this was serious. I just hoped nothing happened to him. Out of all our families, his is the one that hasn't suffered. He and Aubrey are as solid as I ever remember and Ozuma and Daichi are both strong and admirable young men/boys. No death has touched their little unit and the idea that something might happen scared me to death.
Ozuma looked as bad as I felt and I reached over to squeeze his hand. He looked at me in surprise before offering a weak smile, then quirked a brow at me. I followed his look and realized my jacket had gaped and he could see my outfit now. I grinned. Yes, this is what I have been wearing while I was in LA, aren't I so cool?
Nana surveyed us, frowned at me since I was grinning like a little idiot and motioned for us to leave. "All who aren't going on the extraction, clear off. And Amber, shouldn't you and your friends be going? The Queen will not wait forever for your news."
"Aye, I'm going. Uh, who's going with me though?"
"You need a babysitter?"
"How about a little backup, Nana? This is a big meeting of prominent people and the changelings might decide to attack. I know I would if it were me."
Hitoshi stepped up and then Tyson, armed with a… sandwich, ye gods, stepped up too but I knew they would be going to protect Mimi. Who was going to protect me? Newsflash, I wanted protection!!
Johnny thundered down the stairs wielding his pretty decorated axe just as Bryan swept past to the cupboard under the stairs so he could retrieve his long spear-like javelin thingy. Yeah, we're very weapon conscious in my family. We store them in the cupboard under the stairs, well it's better than placing Harry Potter in there isn't it?!
The backdoor burst open and Russia walked in, weighed down with gifts. "Right, I 'ave smoke bombs, tear gas-" The fuck if I know where she gets this stuff from but I'm seriously thinking it was a bad idea for Dad to get a chemistry set- "Oxygen in'alers, much more economic an' easier t' carry t'an masks an' nose pegs fer y'r nose so y' don' breathe in anyt'in' ot'er t'an da oxygen. Y' can put t'em in yer 'air like 'air pins."
"I can't put it in me 'air, I'll look like a girl!" Johnny protested loudly, his masculinity in danger.
"No chance of that happening, flame brain." Miyami retorted tartly; obviously she wasn't impressed about almost being bowled over by the human flame.
"Well I wouldn' wanna look like pretty boy anyway."
"No chance of that happening either."
"Jus' put it in yer 'air! Would y' rat'er in'ale tear gas?"
"Well when ya put it like that." Sheepishly, Johnny stuck the thing in his hair and I muffled a snicker. It didn't make him look the least bit girly, Johnny was far too ruggedly handsome for that. But that aside, what about me?
"I want protection!"
Johnny raised a brow and then dug around in his pocket and pulled out a foil square. I asked for that. Really I did. "Wait, why do you have a… well that in your ass kicking outfit?"
"Maybe 'e's plannin' on shaggin' someun on da battle field." Russia replied while I gagged.
"Yeah like a corpse."
"Do I look like a nymphomaniac?"
Miyami shrugged. "I dunno, what do you nympho's look like?"
"Isn't a nympho a woman who has sex with loads of men?"
Miyami shrugged at Ozuma's casual question and Johnny's face turned beat red while he spluttered and the others laughed at him. Nana merely shook her head and caught my eye, motioning for me to get out. I sighed and grabbed Mimi, knowing Hitoshi and Tyson would follow her.
"By the way Johnny, you meant necrophiliac!" I called out as I closed the door.
"Amber?"
Bollocks, dad would have to hear that line. "Hi dad."
"Shouldn't you be going?"
"Yeah, but Nana won't give me any protection and the others are going to rescue Aspin who uncovered the next James Bond plot and-"
"Flame brain offered her protection but she wouldn't take it."
I grinned. "Shut up." I told Miyami lightly then looked over my shoulder as the door opened and… "You're not coming."
"Why not? I'm the best fighter there is." Kai said stoically, not a flicker of emotion.
"Yeah but I might mistake you for one of the bad guys."
"Grow up, Ember."
"Don't call me that."
"Amber, Kai behave." Dad warned us. "You need to show a united front tonight. No childish bickering." Oh believe me, there was nothing childish about our bickering. Ok, so it was a little childish but it was based on mature things. Like sex and love and all that pizzazz.
"Ok, now what car are we taking?" Miyami chirped brightly as her cousins continued to stare at Kai and myself. It made me wonder just how much they saw and heard while being in this house.
The door opened again, letting out a hubbub off noise as Ozuma came out. He frowned at us. "Are we going or are we hoping the fey council will come to us? You know, this is why you're always late Amber."
I stuck my tongue out. I wasn't the only one that was late. He was still standing here. He might be able to teleport but not the whole way to the fey council meeting spot. It was changed each time so even if he could teleport that distance, he wouldn't be able to see it in his mind.
"We were deciding on a car." Hitoshi stated.
"Dude, I saw this sweet Beemer outside-"
"No."
"Thou shalt not touch Kai's car. Thou shalt not think of touching Kai's car. If thou does, thou shalt suffer the death glare of doom!" I chimed in pettily and earned a stony look. "See?"
"We'll take the Humvee." Ozuma cut in over my out of key singing.
"Talk about going overboard."
"I think I liked it better when you were in a coma."
I blew a raspberry as Ozuma pointed out the fact that the Humvee was bulletproof and had blacked out windows and was good off-road and all those kind of things that are important when driving into danger. I glanced at Kai out of the corner of my eye and frowned. "Why isn't she coming? I could kill her off and make it look like an accident."
"Don't you get tired listening to yourself speak?"
Oh, zing. That actually hurt. Yes, I was a chatter box but I didn't like the guy I loved reminding me of it. It made it sound like he found me annoying. Well if he did then he wasn't the right guy for me because the right guy, my true soul mate should find me downright adorable even if I did chat too much. It just seemed unfair that I Kai didn't love me as much as I loved him. Wasn't I allowed a happy ever after?
Aspin found it with Kane and their beginnings had been rocky too. Miyami was bound to find it because it was Miyami. Everyone adored her. Shahero too would definitely find it. She had this something that boys found appealing, some a little too appealing. Arista and Brooklyn, well I was sort of holding out for those two to get together. They seemed to suit each other. Ruin had Tala or Tala had Ruin, I was never sure how that worked out. I hadn't met Ozuma's girl but he seemed happier than usual. Dad had mum and though mum died, Dad still had found love. Nana had grandpa and yeah, he died too but still someone had loved her and she had her children. Seth has Aubrey and even Kirby has Miguel. And Russia has Zareth though I have yet to meet him. But she kind of goes gooey when she talks about him, though the last time I said that she gave me a dead arm. And it was over the phone too! That girl has some kick ass powers.
I wanted someone, no I wanted Kai to love me. Though I knew that I wouldn't settle for him loving me less than I loved him. That wasn't fair. I should have a chance at true love so maybe if Kai wasn't it, I should just let him go and find Mr. Right, not Mr. Glaring at me Right now.
"Look, I'm not talking to you so stop glaring at me."
"You just spoke to me."
I stared at him in exasperation. That was such a me thing to say and yeah, it was annoying but god, dad said to stop being childish and I wasn't saying anything so shouldn't he be acting more grown up? It was almost as though he wanted to keep fighting. Perverse moron!
I ignored him and moved up to walk beside Miyami, tucking my arm through hers and resting my head on her shoulder. Maybe I'll become a lesbian. Meh, somehow I just don't see that happening. Besides, I think Miyami likes guys way too much.
We were listening to Total Immortal by AFI which seemed strangely apt and pretty cool to be driving to. I was bobbing my head and twitching my feet to the music, an idle excuse to kick Kai's chair only to snap my leg back when his hand sneaked around to grab it. I was enjoying this game until Kai threatened to turn the music off. Since he was in the front seat, that wouldn't be too hard for him. So we decided to take two cars, two Humvees in fact in case of one being broken so we could use the other, I dunno I wasn't paying attention. I was too busy glaring a hole in Kai's head because he insisted the Dubh Croi clan be in one car and Miyami's group be in another. Which was pure bollocks in my opinion but Miyami is a genius. We simply talked on the mobiles, I'm her free call deal person.
Kai changed gear -hence why he couldn't look around to stop me from kicking him, gotta keep your eyes on the road at all times when driving- and I felt a thrill as the speed combined with the music shot through me.
"Look, when you're talking to Ming-Ming you refer to her as Your Eminence. Ams, are you listening?"
I growled and looked at my cousin. Couldn't he wait until the song was over? "Why Your Eminence? Why not your majesty? Or Your Imperialness? Or You're Impervious to Harm?"
If he got my joke, it didn't show as he glared at me levelly. "She's not a real queen as such. She was elected."
"By the brain dead?"
Kai flicked a glare at me via the rear view mirror. Funny when they made the rear view mirror, I bet they didn't intend for the rear view to be the person in the backseat. In fact whenever I was in the front seat, I couldn't see the backseat, weird that.
"When I said brain dead, I didn't necessarily mean you Kai, but now I think of it, did you vote her in? Because it seems like something you'd do."
"Grow up!"
Ozuma took a deep breath and looked to be counting to ten, so I ignored my bastard of a nemesis and looked directly at him. "She's not insane. She's very smart, deadly smart Ams. Now listen."
"I've been listening. I don't particularly want to do this."
"Then you shouldn't have spoken to the gods."
"Screw off Kai."
"Kai leave her alone. Amber this isn't about what you want but what is important." Meaning my wants aren't important. "She hides behind this little girl persona luring people into thinking she's harmless. She's anything but. She's clever, methodical, almost coldly sadistic. She's not going to believe you. In fact she'll probably try to brand you a laughing stock."
"Which won't be hard."
"Way to show support Kai."
"Kai if you're not going to be helpful then concentrate on driving. If Ams messes this up, she might end up getting hurt badly. Ming-Ming doesn't like talk of gods or spirits."
"She's a magical being. Surely she believes in the improbable?"
"Good girl, keep using words like that. It'll confuse her."
"You said she was smart!"
"Not academically, but street wise and politically."
"Well balls."
"Not a good word."
"Yeah, that's one syllable Ember."
"Funny you actually know that, Kai. Did someone have to explain that to you?"
"SHUT UP!"
There was an explosion of smoke and I screamed, part of me thinking a bomb had gone off, only for me to notice that when the smoke cleared, Zuzu was gone. "Uh, where did he go?"
"Behind us."
"Well thank you! Now what am I gonna do? I'm gonna die!"
"Why did you ask if you know?"
"KAI!" I couldn't believe he was being so damn mean to me! Death was not funny under any circumstance and he was making a jest out of me dying?
"Phone Miyami and tell Ozuma to get back here. I need to know where to go at the next junction."
"I really hope you talk to Fanny like that. See if she keeps you around."
"She'll keep me forever."
I frowned at his head. His voice sounded so quiet and resigned when he said that, it made me think again of how I felt when he was around Fanny. Maybe it was my feelings but somehow they felt disjointed. He hadn't seemed happy when she was sitting beside him in the living room either but maybe that was to do with the fact that he wasn't going with the extraction team.
"Why didn't you go?"
"I couldn't leave her."
"Oh. Well, Dad was telling me he knows of a Shaman living in-" The car jerked violently and Kai cursed, glaring at me in the mirror.
"If you think Mystel will know anything about the soul bond then you're mistaken!"
"Mystel? Didn't we go to school with him?" I was hit with a vivid image of a cute blonde with brilliant blue eyes and friendly personality.
Kai roughly swerved the car onto the hard shoulder and switched off the engine. Behind us Hitoshi turned on the indicator and followed us, the light flashing orange into our car and illuminating Kai's dark eyes as he glared at me. "He won't know anything!"
"He might. I'm not living with this anymore!" To my horror I began to feel a lump swelling in my throat and I swallowed it thickly. I didn't want to cry but the fact was, I couldn't go on like this. If it was the soul bond that was making me feel so much for Kai, I wanted rid of it. It was ok for him. He wasn't stuck on the wrong side of unrequited love. And it hurt so much, it was almost unbelievable. I couldn't even plan a future because it was so focused on him but his future didn't involve me. I wasn't going to play second fiddle for him. I wasn't going to live my life at his whim.
"Fine. Do as you want. You usually do anyway." Kai replied quietly just as the door opened and Ozuma slid in, shooting us a dark look.
"Are you two finished?"
"Yeah. We're finished." I replied quietly and turned my gaze on the scenery outside so neither of them would see the tears that wanted to fall.
So I've only been to the fey council twice in my life and each time, it doesn't really inspire me. It actually bores me senseless. It's dull. The people are stuffy. It's filled with chatter about nothing and they never resolve anything. It's the most pointless night but it's supposedly good for establishing connections in the faerie world, or so Ozuma always says. I don't believe it that much but I don't really care.
The car was parked on the grassy verge at the edge of a road beside a field with a small woodland area in the middle of a hill. Yeah we didn't get a nice conference room in the local hotel. We got a field. With trees. Woot!
I looked out at it, noting how ominous the trees and the shadows looked in the pale milky twilight. The moon hung fat and round in the middle of the sky, surrounded by a sprinkling of stars. I shivered despite myself. I didn't like the lack of cars or the absence of people. It stunk of ambush.
As Kai and Ozuma got out of the car to talk to Hitoshi, I pulled my coat tighter and followed them, pausing just in the doorway to breathe in the scent of the night. At least that would never change. Unless of course they blow the whole place up in which case I don't think the world would smell so sweet and fresh and crisp. Winter was on the way and there was a sense of decay on the horizon.
"I hate these things." Hitoshi was saying as the four men surveyed the knoll. Beside them, Miyami looked petite and ethereal, the epitome of the ideal faerie, only the canines and the wolfish eyes ruined the sweetness and lent a feral tone to her looks. That and the outfit. She should have been wearing something silvery and long and flowing. However, that wouldn't be Miyami. She wasn't a cliché.
"Would you quit standing there? We'll be here all night!"
I scowled at Kai and made a great big deal out of getting out and closing the door with my dainty fingers before I stomped over to them with a scowl. I immediately took my place beside Miyami, the only person who seemed to be on my side as she offered me a comforting smile. I wanted Shahero here too, with her witty quips and amusing view of our world. I didn't want to be here at all.
A hand slipped through mine and even without looking up, I knew whose it was by the tingle that shot up my arm causing it to feel electrified. But I looked up anyway, seeking reassurance and found myself lost in Kai's soft look.
"It'll be ok." He murmured and I nodded, feeling a sharp twinge of pain zip across my forehead before arcing round to the back of my scalp. I hissed. "You ok?"
"Yeah, just the beginnings of a headache. Probably from the stress and tension, you know."
Kai frowned at me and immediately released my hand. I scowled. What? Aren't I allowed to have headaches now? They're not contagious!
"What was that about?" Miyami asked as we climbed over the stone wall, hoping that no farmer caught us or decided to shoot us with his or her gun.
"Beats me." I muttered rubbing my aching temples. There was a spot at the top of my scalp that felt as though someone was sticking a finger in. Bet it's Fanny with a voodoo doll. I so wouldn't put it past her. Though technically I shouldn't believe in it because belief gives magic power after all. The less you believe, the safer you should be…. I wonder if that goes for Gods too. I mean, if I hadn't believed in them, they probably would have left me alone. And what the bleedin' hell was I supposed to say to Ming-Ming and the council to warn them of the impending doom?
My stomach was beginning to squirm and I felt just the tiniest bit nauseous. Oh who was I kidding? I was about to upchuck on everything in my path. Sucking in a deep breath, I wondered just how I was going to get through this. Would it be so bad if they didn't believe me? Would it matter? They'd soon see the extent of the Shadows' power when they made their first move. Why did I have to tell them that it had something to do with the gods? Why was that even remotely important?
Because they asked me too. I had to do it. It was important to them. And somehow I felt like I should honor their wishes because they couldn't tell people themselves.
Miyami grunted beside me and I realized that she had stumbled on the uneven ground and since she had better vision than I did, I really felt secure.
"We need a torch." Tyson stated belligerently.
Ozuma looked at me and quirked a brow. Oh what?! I'm not going to light myself up as a human glow worm.
"That'll make her a target."
Thank you Kai! But Ozuma made a point, we really needed a torch because the further away from the cars we got, the harder it was getting to see. Closing my eyes, I began to summon something to help, ceasing when Kai's hand clamped around my arm above my elbow.
"Ow."
"What are you doing?"
"Calling up a will-o'-the-wisp." I replied, beginning to concentrate once more on summoning exactly what I wanted.
"Oh like that last time in the forest?" Ozuma demanded and there was a hint that said that there was a deeper meaning to his words. I frowned trying to remember this said time and shrugged. I couldn't remember. I'd been in the forest loads of times. It was basically just at the bottom of the garden, the only thing that had ever kept me out was the fence I got stuck on when I was three. Once I could climb over that, there was no stopping me. Apart from the time when Daichi swore blind there was a haunted shack in the middle of it.
"What one was that?"
"The one that led you down that cliff, Ember." Kai stated shortly and I flushed with embarrassment. That had happened. I remembered having to be rescued by Shahero and if it hadn't been for her Dragon wings and the extra strength she got from being a dragoon fey, I doubt I'd have survived. But that was different.
"This will-o'-the-wisp will just be for light. It won't be guiding us. I'll be keeping a tight rein on it."
Somehow I got the feeling that Kai didn't necessarily believe me and that hurt to a degree. Oh hell, it hurt a lot. Didn't he respect me even a little? I showed him that I had powers as a fey now. I could throw witch fire and I wasn't weak so why didn't he trust me? Why didn't he have faith in me, the way I had faith in him?
A low trickling growl and the hairs standing on my neck as a powerful aura washed over mine was the only indication I had that not everything was right in the world around me. Out of the corner of my eye, I noted that Miyami was standing stock still while Hitoshi and Tyson seemed to be watching her warily. Ozuma had frozen, eyes flicking from Miyami to… Kai? I looked at Kai who had elected to stand in front of me, between Miyami and myself so that to see him, I had to tilt my head.
"Mimi?"
"Stay back."
Stay back? From my own friend? What was wrong with him? I couldn't just stand back. Miyami was growling and her eyes were glowing and her hair seemed to have a life of its own and she had fangs!! Really sharp fangs bared in a snarl. She was acting like… an angry dog or wolf.
"Miyami."
"Amber, stay out of this." Ozuma advised but I had never really been good at following even the simplest of instructions. Besides, I didn't feel very comfortable out in the open like this, surrounded by darkness. Even if the moon was full and high in the sky, glowing ethereally and lighting up the midnight blue sky with silver light, I just didn't feel safe. Although the moon being full was probably why Miyami was more in touch with her ookami instincts as she called them.
"Leave her alone."
The words were aimed at Kai but the guttural growl rolled over me like a dark wave of magic, causing my hair to stand on end and my nerves to scream with the tension and menace. This was bad. This was very bad. At any minute I was expecting Miyami to jump at Kai and try to tear his throat out. I moved closer but Kai gave Ozuma a look that had him grabbing my arm. I growled myself. Didn't Kai know that Miyami would never hurt me? Didn't he realize that she was angry because she smelled my pain? She's a lupine fey. They smell everything!! She didn't even have to know my thoughts and because of that, she was trying to protect me but with it being the full moon, she was having trouble controlling her beast. Her eyes had gone to black with just a rim of silver and her jaw was shifting subtly, ready to elongate as soon as she released her tight control of it. And it didn't help that Kai was challenging her. She was an alpha in her pack and to her, I was like a… Actually I didn't know how I fitted into her pack. I certainly wasn't her mate but I was her friend. Which meant she'd protect me and Kai was who she felt she needed to protect me from. Or the beast inside of her thought that.
"Hime."
I started at Hitoshi's comforting baritone, shivering at the way it seemed to caress my skin like a coat of velvet and then I realized that he was doing it on purpose in an attempt to calm Miyami's lupine spirit down. Out of my peripheral vision I could see a spirit, tied to Hitoshi -like a seriously stretched wolf-, rubbing up against the one that seemed to be hovering over Miyami.
The trickling growl seemed to die down and the air became lighter again, the tension fading away until Miyami slumped, breathing long and slow. Cautiously, I stepped away from Ozuma, ignored Kai as he went to reach for me, and approached my best friend.
"Mimi?"
"I'm sorry Ams. I just-"
"I know." She was just trying to protect me and since she knew all about how Kai treated me and how I felt about him, there was no reason why she wouldn't want to. Kai treated me like shit. No wonder her beast wanted to claw him to pieces. Heck so did I but I loved him too much to bother. Though seriously, I was contemplating setting the stick up his ass on fire with my new found power.
Slowly, she lifted her -now completely back to normal- eyes to look at Kai. "I'm sorry. I have less control during the full moon."
"Hn."
I scowled as Kai turned away and began to walk towards the cluster of trees while Ozuma shot Miyami a dark look.
"We're supposed to be allies."
Just as Miyami was about to nod, I spoke up feeling I should point this out again. "Miyami came here to help me."
"I know, and that also means that she shouldn't attack us."
"She wasn't saying anything to you Ozuma." I spoke quietly, before joining the Kinomiyas as they ascended the hill some distance from Kai. Silently I fumed about the way that asshole was treating everyone. He just acted as if he was so much better than all of us and then he'd do something sweet and throw everything off kilter. How was I supposed to get a grip on him? More importantly, how was I supposed to get over him? I didn't want to but it seemed like I had no choice. He chose Fanny and something about that didn't sit right with me. He didn't love her, I just knew he didn't. Deep down inside, something told me that he didn't love her but why did he stay with her. And yet, maybe I was the one who was in the wrong. It was perfectly logical that I was unable to accept the truth. After all, since I love him, why shouldn't he reciprocate?
"I don't like this." Hitoshi was muttering under his breath earning an exasperated look from his little brother, though Tyson wasn't that little. He was almost as tall as his brother and lean too but Hitoshi had a body that spoke of muscle and tone while Tyson had one that said 'I eat what I want and keep fit due to circumstances'. I liked his attitude. I couldn't understand people who actually worked out. Me and Shahero were always at loggerheads over keeping fit. She actually liked working out and keeping fit and healthy, said it was good, while I preferred to not work out at all. Not to say that I just slobbed about the place, of course I had to work out for my job but I was naturally energetic. I never stayed still for long enough and working out meant I had to do one tedious thing for a certain length of time.
"Dude there's nothing to worry about. I'm here."
Oh yeah, I'm comforted. I could even feel the disbelief radiating off Kai and I could almost hear him thinking that Tyson being there was hardly anything to rejoice over. More than likely, his belief that he was so great would probably end up getting us all killed. Or worse. Somehow, I don't know what would be worse than getting killed. Because in my world, getting killed is pretty darn horrible.
"Kai?" Miyami queried tentatively; when Kai tilted his head, the only indication that he was listening because he didn't stop or look at her or anything, she continued. "Are you sure this is the right place?"
"Why?" No, 'yes' or 'no' answers, but a question, how terribly Kai and gosh it's cold.
"I don't smell anything or hear anything."
Curious, I cast out my own senses, breathing in the air and listening or feeling would probably be the better term for it, for anything out of the ordinary. I sank deeper into the darkness behind my eyelids, feeling my limbs become weightless despite feeling anchored down. I could feel the pulse beneath my feet, the strands of grass, and the silent shivers of leaves on trees as the wind gently caressed them. But other than that, I felt strangely alone. No one else was here. And I couldn't sense any magic in the area either. That was bad. "There's no wards."
Ozuma shot me a surprised look while Miyami immediately motioned for Hitoshi and Tyson to shift. Having seen the sign before, I knew it from the many others they seemed to have. The fact that they were changing so soon wasn't good. It could only mean that she was worried and the tension radiating off Kai didn't help soothe my frayed nerves. My hand twitched towards my gun while Ozuma looked around anxiously.
"I sense nothing here. I can't see anything or hear anything." Kai stated, looking to Miyami for confirmation. She shook her head signaling she couldn't hear or see anything either but that didn't mean shit. There were shadow changelings out there. They were the shadows. And many things could mask their presence but the fact that there were no wards worried me greatly. There should have been wards to protect the grounds, it would be like walking onto sacred ground and I should have sensed something earlier but my obsession with Kai had made me stupid.
I pulled out my gun, not caring if anyone saw me with it and keeping the safety cocked, I began to step away from the others, casting my senses out like a net. The air was cold, a slight breeze played with my hair and smelt of earth and sweetness, something fresh yet dead and the air was charged with something. Subtle magic, I realized, letting go of everything, blocking out everyone around me as I sank to the ground. Vaguely I was aware of the franticness of my companions but that wasn't my concern, as I sank further into the dark recesses of my mind. I was lighter than air and not confined to my body. I could go where ever I wanted, nothing would restrict me. And then I felt that strange sensation of lifting despite not moving. Concentrating on that, on the rhythmic inhaling and exhaling, I felt myself detach from my body until I was the air that surrounded me.
When I felt completely disconnected, I opened my eyes and looked down at my resting body, acknowledging the fact that Miyami plus the two large dogs beside her were guarding my body while Kai and Ozuma shouted at Miyami but she knew what I was doing. To my cousin and him it probably looked like I fainted but it was time they realized that I wasn't just that weak little girl anymore. I may not have the strength they did, or the powers or the abilities they did but I had my own ones and though they weren't spectacular, they were useful.
Ignoring them because at that moment, they weren't important, I pulled away from my body, flowing with the air as took me to where I needed to go. I saw the sigils first, shimmering purple in my peripheral vision, followed by the creeping shadows and I slowed to get a better look. Guards. Not Changelings or members of the TOS because they weren't real shadows but they had cloaked themselves in the darkness to hide from any intruder, every so often I would catch a glimpse of them stalking through the trees in the moonlight.
Then I came to the clearing, surrounded by wards and lanterns lit to provide light to banish the darkness. In the centre was a circle of standing stones, half the size of me which I recognized as the podiums people took when they had something to say. Long stones lying horizontally would be used as benches as well as tree branches, logs and other such natural occurrences that would draw no attention from the human folk. At the top of the circle were three stones that resembled one of those shapes from Stonehenge which would be where the Queen and King would preside over the conference.
It didn't look as though many were going to turn up and that worried me. What was holding so many back? Or did people have such little faith in this war that they didn't even bother showing up to the meeting over it?
I scowled and turned, following the cord of shimmering gold light that tied me to my body, the one thing preventing me from being carried away by the wind. It would be so easy to get carried off by the breeze and become lost forever and I certainly wouldn't want to do anything to make Fanny's life better. What kind of bitchy cousin would that make me? It's kind of essential that I at least try to make her life hell. After all, she's put me down all my life and made me feel inadequate and yeah, that's my fault. If I didn't let her then she wouldn't be able to do it. It's really that simple. But she's doing something to Kai and though he might not even care about me, I know he doesn't care about Fanny and because of it, I have to help him. I'm the only other witch here and that could be the only thing to stop her. Besides, I'm obviously the only one who's going to deal with her, even my Nan's scared of her or something. So as long as I give her nothing to blackmail me with, then I should be fine.
I used the thread to pull myself back into my body, sinking into its comforting warmth and my spirit expanded to fill it up and seemed to solidify. I can't really explain it, I just felt like I was coming home and filling it up. I didn't feel anything of my fleshy body, just the confines that… yeah, it's really hard to explain. Just believe me when I say that I was back in my body.
I sat up with a gasp, inhaling deeply to fill my lungs even though I hadn't actually been lacking any oxygen in the process. It was like my body had been in a coma. Still functioning perfectly, just brain dead. Though how anyone would have noticed the difference is beyond me. Heh.
"Well?" Miyami asked as soon as I was alert enough to understand her, while Tyson, bared his teeth at Kai. Great way to come back to earth, huh?
I rolled my head feeling suddenly strange and restricted once more and sort of heavy too. I can't explain it so you'll just have to take my word for it. "Yeah," I managed to croak out though whether they realized I said yeah or not is beyond me. At least Miyami knew I was awake and that was what mattered. I slowly, almost drunkenly rose to my feet, clutching the fur at Hitoshi's (I'm pretty sure it was Hitoshi but I'm not overly familiar with the wolves in Miyami's pack/clan) neck as he came round to steady me.
"You ok, Ams?"
"I think I forgot my head somewhere." I muttered, placing a hand to my throbbing temple. Oh man it hurt which wasn't a good sign when I was about to face the Queen of Faerie and possibly an attack on the fey council though the one good thing was that everyone in the council was usually powerful so they could take care of themselves.
"How about back in LA." Kai suggested and I glared at him. Why was he acting so pissy for? What had I possibly done to upset him? Did he really worry when I sank to the earth or was he just scared of what my family would do if I died?
"Give it a rest Kai." Miyami snapped. "Can't you see she's exhausted."
"It's her own fault. That display of power was unnecessary and arrogant."
Arrogant? How was it arrogant? I had only been trying to find out what was going on without endangering anyone's lives unnecessarily.
"She was being selfish and showing off. I can't condone that."
"And you became the boss of me, when?" I wondered levelly, feeling suddenly cold and numb inside. I was beginning to hate him and the realization of just how truthful that emotion was, scared me. All this time I had run from him, had feared him and loved him deeply and now all of that was turning to hate. I didn't hate people easily, I could dislike intensely and I could feel indifferent but I had never hated anyone. I didn't even hate Fanny, I just pitied her. But this man before me, I could hate him. It wouldn't take much effort at all. Like they said, the opposite of Love is Hate. Once you've been scorned enough, hatred is natural alternative.
"When your father made me your guardian." Kai retorted pointedly and the chill began to seep through my bones.
"I'll have to get that rectified immediately then. After all, it's not fair to burden you." With that I turned away and headed for the hill. "There are guards and hidden sigils to alert them of our arrival. No clans have arrived as of yet but if they are coming, they will arrive soon."
"Amber?"
I turned to look at Miyami and watched as her sympathetic expression melted to sadness. I guess she could read me, it wasn't surprising. After sharing an apartment for so long, after being friends for so long, it wasn't a surprise at all that she could see what no one else could. I mustered up a wane smile because I felt too tired to do much more.
"You should try to get rid of that headache."
My lips twitched at this though and the amusement was genuine. I didn't even have to tell her I had a headache, sometimes I thought we were separated at birth, that or she had some version of telepathy or empathy. "Sure. Wanna help me out with that?"
She nodded and closed her eyes. Soon enough, the breeze began to rise, playing with the silver tendrils of her hair and coming up to push past me. I closed my eyes and let it sweep through me, blowing away the headache. It didn't take it away completely, that wouldn't make sense but it seemed to ease it. I don't know why, but whenever I had a headache I would find some relief from the wind. It was like the pain couldn't stand against the power and strength of the wind.
"If we're quite finished." Kai muttered curtly, shooting us a dark look. "I think we should head to the-"
The gunshot rang out before I was even aware of pulling the trigger. It was like I was possessed. One minute I was watching Kai and the next, I was staring down the length of a smoking barrel. Kai stared at me, eyes wide and shocked before they burned with fury.
"You bitch! One day you're going to do that and I won't phase out, Ember!"
"So you're suicidal, that's good to know." I snapped back.
"Dude! She just saved your life and you're-"
"Saved my life, she shot at me!"
"Kai, look."
Kai's glare intensified before he finally looked behind him at what Ozuma was pointing at. I waited and tapped my foot idly but inside my heart was beating like a jackhammer. How the hell had I known to do that? I hadn't even been aware of raising my gun or pulling the trigger and that scared me. I didn't like being that out of control.
"What is it?" Miyami asked shifting closer to stare at the little deformed creature that lay on the ground behind Kai. Ebony blood pooled around its head, bubbling and sizzling as it came into contact with the ground.
"A mist dweller. They travel in mist but only become a corporal form when they're seriously wounded, or dead." Ozuma replied, looking over at me with –well I wouldn't say awe since it was awe mixed with some horror.
I looked down at my feet and awkwardly shifted under their surprised looks. I didn't like this much attention on me and I especially didn't like it when it wasn't good attention. My hands were shaking so I folded them in an attempt to look casual and completely at ease with what I'd just done, as if I had been doing that all the time but I hadn't. I had never moved so fast in my life. Heck I didn't even realize that thing was there. Not consciously at any rate.
"Hey, Amber, how did you do that? Did you see it while you were fighting with Kai? Hell, I didn't even smell it. Did you Hito?"
"No."
"Mist Dwellers are hard to smell, that's why they make for good assassins. In the dark, they're barely visible, they can't be smelt or felt, though if you get close enough for a feel, you're probably their target and they're as silent as the wind."
Ozuma-pedia strikes again. But of course, his nice piece of information just made them stare even more at me. I'm a faerie and for the first time in my life I felt like a freak. And could they please stop staring at me. I shot the bad guy, they should be happy. It wasn't like I grew a second head and went on a killing rampage. I just reacted with an instinct that Kai certainly didn't have because he didn't even sense the thing. Ha, I could use this opportunity to gloat and make him feel inferior but then that would be a big fat lie. I wasn't any better than him, I just reacted without thought. Maybe I actually did want to kill Kai and got in a lucky shot.
"Lucky shot." Kai muttered and kicked the body; he moved back up towards the woods. "Come on, if they're out here, they're probably making their way to the council spot."
"What about the sigils?"
"They won't keep them out if they're not in corporeal form." Ozuma muttered chasing after Kai and pulling out his curved blade.
I knew Kai was right, that was probably the Changeling's intention and yet, I still hesitated in going after them. Was I really prepared to fight tonight? There was every chance that I could die and I didn't want to do that. What if I wasn't really in control of my body and I ended up hurting someone?
"Amber?"
"Yeah, I'm coming." I looked down at the body I had killed and sighed. "You should have stayed home." I muttered. I wasn't sorry I killed him but at the same time, I didn't feel great about causing his death, however if it was a choice between me and them, I wanted our side to win. They were evil but still… no one deserved to be killed. As soon as I had whispered the words, the body crumpled like burnt paper and a sudden breeze rose and scattered it like ash until there was nothing left.
"Amber, come on!" Ozuma hissed and I jolted out of my vacant staring to follow them up the hill.
"So if these mist dudes are undetectable, how are we going to stop them?"
"Actually, how are we going to know they're there?" Miyami added to Tyson's perfectly logical question.
"Just keep moving." Kai stated; avoiding a direct answer which in Kai speak is 'I don't have a clue'. "We're sitting ducks if we stand still."
And he had a point. We had been standing still when they caught us and as far as I know, the mist dudes as Tyson called them used sonic waves much like bats to seek their prey so if we're moving, we're much less likely to be caught. But the mist wasn't the only thing we had to worry about. There were other types of changelings out there. After that dream I had partaken in, I was much more wary of the changelings and what they might have created. They were naturally going to go for bigger and stronger fighters but I didn't think they would consider smarts a necessity in soldiers who were just cannon fodder.
I clutched my gun tighter, my hands suddenly felt clammy, the gun felt like a lead weight and I was deathly afraid of dropping my only weapon. There's a reason I hate horror films. It's simply that I have an overactive imagination, I can't sit there and go, oh look at the bad makeup job or hey, I can see strings! I get sucked in and I start feeling the fear of the characters and now, now I was feeling that same emotion all over again. I hate horror films because people always die unless they're the beautiful heroine or the handsome hero. I'm neither. I'm weak and a scaredy cat and I'm the most likely member of the group to die. Miyami can't. She's a princess. Kai won't either. If there was someone most likely to die in a horror film, it would be my character.
The trees loomed up before us and I felt my heart stutter. Oh god, were those shadows moving? Were they?
"Up ahead." Hitoshi stated, grabbing Miyami and urging her up the hill. "Come on."
"I'm coming, I'm coming."
"What are we going to do?" Tyson wondered through gritted teeth, his breath suddenly coming out in plumes of fog and I froze.
"Shit! It's getting cold!"
"Don't worry about the cold and keep running."
"Kai! Listen, it's getting icy cold." I enunciated the words hoping the message would get through his thick skull. I wasn't holding out much hope since, let's face it, his head is about as thick as a brick.
Kai frowned and pulled to a stop whirling to face me, his eyes suddenly widening with horror. "We need to move now!"
Thank you for paying attention! With my teeth chattering, I scrambled up the hill, using my hands to steady myself when my feet slipped on the muddy ground. The cold was beginning to seep into my bones, causing them to stiffen and my back to become rigid. The more I moved, the more pain I began to feel and my body ached. I hated the Gods. I was fully blaming them for everything that ever happened to me because they have that kind of power to influence your life. They can destroy you or they can make you. Obviously I wasn't at all favored by them because if I was, they would have told me to build an ark and get the hell out of dodge! Not go straight into the midst of danger.
"What is it?" Tyson demanded, gasping heavily and clutching his chest. I hope he's just having indigestion because if he collapses with a heart attack, I'm leaving him! I don't care; I'm not getting mauled by degenerate freaks of bloody nature blood thirsty for revenge against people who faded away!
"Something you don't want to come up close and personal with, so keep moving." Kai snapped as he put on another burst of speed.
I couldn't run so fast with my gun. I was more afraid of shooting myself in the foot but at the same time, I wasn't willing to run headfirst into danger without being armed. Even in my games, I ready myself for the bad guy but I didn't have a walkthrough to tell me what this bad guy was! I didn't want to die.
"Whatever it is, it smells. It really smells."
I heard Kai snort in disgust and I had to agree with him, the changelings smell was hardly something to worry about at this moment in time. What was more important was getting to safety far away from that creature, whatever it may be. It had to be an upper level 'whatever-the-fuck-it-was' to be able to make the air chill like that and it made the hairs stand on the back of my neck. I hated shadows, I hated the dark and…
"The dark!" That's it. "They're afraid of light so to keep them back, we need a source of light. Me."
"Ember!"
"Look, we can't see them so we can't shoot them and with this much darkness, the bullets won't do much good anyway. Your swords and claws would be great but you can't see them at any rate."
"We can." Miyami stated moving up beside me. "But Amber's right. Preventative measures are more important. If she can keep them at a distance, we'll be able to make it to the heart of the woods."
"The only thing that will be deterred by my light will be the lesser changelings. The upper one will be able to withstand it." Well that's if what the gods say is true. If the changelings have been experimenting and I'm pretty sure they have been, what could possibly be waiting for us? I stumbled and Ozuma caught my arm, half dragging it out of its socket as he pulled me to my feet while keeping at a decent pace.
Something sprang at us from the darkness, a blur of motion and a strangled cry were all that alerted us and Ozuma reacted immediately, his sword sweeping out to slice through the creature. Only the lingering mist told us that something had been there and there amongst the darkness were eyes gleaming like cat eyes reflecting the light. I frowned, what light? I looked down at my palm and my breath caught. It was swimming in that ethereal glow, nothing truly striking but enough to stand out on a night like this. I simply looked like someone who had been exposed to radiation only not so green.
"How far are we from the meeting place?" Miyami demanded between puffs of air.
"Still about five, maybe ten minutes. If we can get close to the guards, we'll have backup."
"Just keep moving." Kai ordered, drawing Dranzer while keeping a steady pace. How he can run with a sword and feel completely natural doing it, amazes me. I'm not used to running full out with my gun, I usually sneak up on my prey –if you can call them prey-, and I never run into them.
"Why are they so close?" Ozuma wondered, casting a look behind us and groaning. I turned to look but he squeezed my hand tightly. "Don't."
Oh shit, oh shit. What was back there? What the fuck was back there?!
"Amber…"
This is not how I wanted to die. I wanted to die old and grey with grandchildren… well I dunno about that because I'd have to have children to have grandchildren but I wanted to be old when I died. I'd never given it much consideration but right now, being old and grey sounded like a better way to die rather than being ripped limb from limb by flesh hungry dark faerie. Did they really eat flesh? I never really asked that question. Never really wanted to know. But I knew some did. I had come to hide outs and crime scenes after the bodies had been dealt with and the stench… let's just say sometimes I really felt like being a vegetarian.
"Ember, I don't feel like dying today so could you stop drawing attention to us." Kai drawled lazily as he scanned the perimeter of the woods, but despite the casual words and tone, his body was tense and alert as he ushered us forward.
I glowered at him, but toned down on the light display. We wanted the light to keep them back but we also didn't want the light to draw them into surrounding us which could easily happen. Something moved out of the corner of my eye and I shot at without thinking. The bullet slid harmlessly through as the creature merged back into the darkness like ink, only its eyes continued to watch me warily.
"The forest is going to be worse," Kai stated calmly though how he could be so in control bothered me. Didn't anything faze him? Did he worry about anything at all? Part of me was bitterly pointing out that he certainly didn't seem to be worrying about me. In fact he was keeping as far away as possible from me without deserting the others.
Another movement and another bullet wasted. They were too close to the Shadows to do any damage but too far for the swords to reach. We needed a long range weapon that would actually hurt them! But what?
"Miyami move!" Miyami leapt out of the way instinctively as soon as the words left Hitoshi's lips, just in time to avoid a hand reaching up from the ground. The arm began to solidify and a shoulder followed, pulling a head and a torso up from the ground. I watched in sick fascination as the ground began break into tufts as a body hoisted itself from beneath the earth, as though there was a hole that it was climbing out from.
"Great, is that the fey equivalent of a vampire?" Miyami demanded, pulling out her sai and twirling them experimentally in a manner I had always envied.
"Don't bother asking questions, just –Shit! Run! Run now!"
"What is it?"
"Oh my god." Miyami whispered, her arms falling limply as her eyes went wide with shock.
I swallowed thickly, sensing the fear that had suddenly settled over us like a thick miasma. My skin prickled and the hairs on my neck stood on end. I wanted to look. I wanted to see what they were seeing and at the same time, I didn't want to. I didn't want to see what was causing them such horror. Unbidden, my eyes sought the terror that had caught the others attention and then I froze. There just down the hill from us, was something large and spindly moving through the darkness. Its hulking form swayed with each jerky movement and its arms dangled, sweeping through the air. I couldn't see what it was. Didn't think I would be able to recognize it even if I could see it but the words of the gods came back to me. Their talk about the experiments the changelings had been working on and my heart began to beat loudly in my ear. What had they created? What would it do to us if it caught up.
I wasn't willing to risk finding out, so spinning on my heel I began to race after Miyami into the forest, leaping over fallen logs and slipping on moss drenched paths.
"We just have to make it to the seals." I panted to Miyami as something soared over head. Shit, we were really out numbered with no real way to take them down. We didn't know how many there was and we certainly didn't have the man power to fight them. I noticed Hitoshi coming up beside me and pushed my legs to move faster. The scenery sped past us, barely noticed as we tried to pick out a viable path in the darkness, hoping and praying that we wouldn't find a dead end. I didn't even know if we were going the right way.
"Hand me your gun." Kai ordered, coming up on my other side and holding out his hand.
I slapped the gun into his waiting hand, not pausing in my step and watched out of my peripheral vision as he began to shoot over his shoulder. Something let out an eerie cry and I turned to look, only to see the creatures gliding like shadows over the earth behind us. Oh god, this wasn't how I wanted to die. If I had to die young, I wanted it to be on the battle field, not running for my life. I had at least that amount of vanity and pride.
Kai shot again and I saw another one of the fey who had been under the earth, stumble back as though he had been hit in the shoulder. I cringed but kept running. My feet were killing me, my lungs burned with each harsh, frantic breath and my eyes seared with the strain. Up ahead, Miyami had reached a fork in the path and was looking between both of them while Tyson gestured wildly.
"Left!" My voice carried over the sound of baying and in that moment, I was sure I could hear the wild hunt of legends. Could it be that the changelings had put part of the wild hunt into their experiments? Was that even possible? The thought of some of these creatures being as old as the gods and having as much time to train scared the hell out of me. We weren't cut out for this. We weren't soldiers. We were simply a fey clan brought up to know how to protect ourselves, nothing more.
We veered left and in the distance, I saw the glimmer of the wards. Thank god! The wards would keep us safe until we got to the heart and could gather back up. Putting on an extra burst of speed, we charged towards the glowing sigils, only the baying, the shots of my gun and the panting of our breaths could be heard over the beat of my heart. We were almost there. We would make it.
Miyami was first through, followed by Tyson, then Ozuma, Hitoshi, myself and then Kai. The magic crept over us as we passed through, like going through an invisible veil of gossamer. I slowed to a jog, my muscles screaming with the pain and hunched over, watching with baited breath and a sense of triumph as the black mist licked tentatively at the wards before hissing and backing away with a guttural growl. It tried a couple of times but didn't possess enough power to break through. Thank the goddess.
"We're safe." Tyson stated, leaning back against a tree but Kai continued to walk towards the heart.
"Can't stay here forever. Let's go."
I sighed mournfully. "My lungs hurt. Can't you at least let me breathe?"
He shot me a baleful look and I sighed before trudging after him, shooting a wary look at the changeling's over my shoulder but they were still lingering. We were safe for now.
"Not far now to the heart." Miyami sighed, running a hand through her hair and rolling her shoulders and neck. I knew that if she had been in wolf form, she would have easily out run the dark faerie but she hadn't because she wouldn't leave us behind. She was nice like that. However, right now I kind of wanted Shahero and Bryan here because they could take out bad guys easily with the sheer power of their strength or Arista because she had the magic to reinforce the shields.
I suddenly frowned. Where were the guards? Hadn't they been waiting just inside the ward on the look out? Or were they… dead? Was no one here because no one had been able to make it? I tried to look out through the trees to the horizon but everything was black, just pitch black as though there was a black wall around us. Shit.
"We're being sealed inside." I told Kai but I needn't have bothered because by the pointed look he sent me, he already knew. This meant they had a spell caster out there and I hadn't even sensed it. I thought it was bad just with the soldiers, but with a spell caster there, we were truly out matched. Even…
There was a loud crack and like a whip, the magic tranquility surrounding us suddenly shattered, coating me with a static blanket as the shield fell. I hissed and then stared at Kai.
"What was that?" Kai wondered; holding Dranzer out before him and scanning the perimeter.
I swallowed. I knew what that was but I didn't want to tell them. Didn't want to break their spirits but I had to and so I choked out the words that might seal our fate. "They've broken the wards."
Kai tensed, his jaw tightening at the words while Miyami's face crumpled, as she held up her sai.
"I guess we have to fight." Hitoshi drawled wearily, as though this was the most troublesome chore in the world. He clenched his fists and then cracked his knuckles menacingly.
"Amber, Miyami, you go to the consul, tell the Queen the news and send back up, we'll hold them off for the time being."
What? "What?! That's stupid, I'm not leaving you when I might be-"
"GO!"
"No! Are you insane? You can't fight them, they're the mist! You can't fight the mist!"
"I gave you an order. Get the fuck out of here!"
"And since I've never obeyed them before, I'm not going to start now!"
"Stupid, stubborn brat. Miyami get her out of here!"
Miyami made to grab for my hand but I skipped out of the way. "This is insane. We should all go. We still have time."
Kai snarled at me but didn't reply; instead he looked pointedly at Miyami who shifted uncomfortably. "Bambi, let's go. The men need to act macho." But despite the light hearted words, her voice was thick with emotion.
"They're not men, they're idiots." Suicidal idiots who are going to get killed and for what? If Kai or any of the others die, I'm not fulfilling anything that the gods want from me because if he dies, that's it. I'm not living a half life anymore than I have to. I'm not going to save the world for them if they can't save my world!
"Stop being stupid, Imp! You have to warn the Fey Council about the war. Only you can do that, that's what the Gods wanted from you. They choose you!"
"I don't fucking care!" They were getting closer; I could hear them now, an excited buzz as they sensed fresh blood.
Kai sighed wearily and laying down his sword, he approached me placing his free hand on my shoulder so that it burned against my skin. "Ember, who is more important between me or you?"
You. Always you.
But of course, I couldn't say that because we were in the middle of a wood with a bunch of people who didn't know us too well and I wasn't willing to put my heart on the line anymore either. But he was right. I had to go. There was more resting on this than just us, there was an entire civilization to take care of, a civilization that didn't even know what was about to come down on top of them.
"Fine, but if you die on me-"
He scoffed and stepped back again, shooting another look at the growing darkness. "Get going. There's only so long we can hold them off. You need to get to the council now. And don't fuck up."
"Ass-hole!" I snapped, feeling bitchy and scared and- I flung my arms around his shoulders and clung to him, pressing my face to the warmth of his neck. I breathed him in, sinking into the warmth of him and the strength. He was so strong and yet, strength didn't help when he was about to be outnumbered. He didn't deserve to die. Not like this. I squeezed tighter and nuzzled his neck, imprinting this memory on my heart. "Promise me. Promise me you won't die."
He pried me off gently –which still hurt- and rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to die. Now go."
I growled wishing I could have more time to yell at him before hugging Ozuma tightly. "I love you."
"Love you too. Now get going and get us some back up."
I nodded jerkily, feeling tears sting my eyes as the baying got louder. Not waiting to see what came through the trees to attack my family, I turned and hurried towards the path that led to the heart. I didn't want to leave them, I really didn't but I had to. I knew that. But why did I feel so bad about this whole situation. A week ago I didn't even have these concerns. A week ago, I'd just been a normal person trying to carve a life for myself in this world. A week ago, the gods hadn't given a shit about me or anyone else and now we were involving ourselves in their battles and for what: To lose our lives? It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair.
I didn't look back as I heard the first clang of battle, the bloodthirsty yip of our enemies. I didn't acknowledge Miyami's soft sobs. There was only one thought in my head as we moved swiftly towards the heart.
"He never promised."
A.N. Yes, I know this is probably a really bad place to stop but if I continued, I was just going to go on and on and you'd be waiting until September and this seemed like a good place to stop. I know the wait was terrible too but I'm doing a computer course and that takes up a lot of time and in the evenings I don't really feel like sitting down and writing so I write during the mornings and the breaks and in the evenings. So now I've posted this I'll start on finishing TFG and trying to work around that SLTS block. I just can't force it because then I get angry with how bad it looks. Plus I've been working on an idea for an original novel so, my time has been pulled in many directions. I'll try to get back into the swing of things soon.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was fun some of the time and hard others but I love the fantasy aspect. Hehe, it's my fave genre.
Anyways if you have any questions feel free to review or email me but I'm not going to give away the plot, I have such a bad habit of doing that. Half my msn list knows how the story will end...¬¬ Gotta stop that.
Zadien