Chapter ten
Alex sighed as she cleaned up her small hut that she had rented at a nearby village; Nightmare watched her he knew that something was bothering her.
"Alex just go back to the Defender's Realm, you being so far from Jesse isn't helping you try to forget him."
She was about to speak when Kyo knocked on the door and went over to Alex. "Long time no see my lady,"
"What are you doing here?"
"Jesse wants to see you, he's been worried about you since you were not there when he woke up."
Alex blinked. "He's worried?"
Kyo nods.
Jung-woo went over to Rika as she tried to give Maryann's new twin-tailed fox a bath. "Shouldn't Mary-ann be doing that?"
Rika looked at him and shook her head, "I wanted to give him a bath. . ." she blinked at noticing her mate's eyes. "What's wrong?"
"I'm returning to Japan. Jesse is awake and now the war is back into full bloom. You and Mary-ann are to stay here."
Rika bowed her head and nodded. "Promise me you'll return."
Jung-woo said not a word and left.
Josh reached Jung-Woo's camp and waited for his lord to return from China. A week later Jung-woo and his army showed up, Zander was of course with them.
Josh smirked and went over to Jung-woo as he dismounted his stallion. "My lord I have found the stone of Black Internal Chaos." Josh said as he bowed low.
"Good, where is it?"
Josh tensed. "I wasn't able to get it . . . apparently only the Kingdom of Shadows is allowed to enter the cave."
Jung-woo cursed and nodded. "Well, wait until we get Joseph. Then we can take him under our control and fuse him with the stone." Jung-woo said as he went into his tent where he kept his maps and looked at them.
"So what is our next target my lord?"
Jung-woo shruggedand just looked at his maps. "Is Jesse still at the Defender's Realm?"
"From my understanding, yes he is." Kavon said as he entered the tent.
Josh scowled at the general and turned his attention to his leader Jung-woo. "Sir? What do you want us to do now?"
"You must take Joseph to China and lead him to the cave-"
"Shrine, my lord" Josh interrupted.
"- whatever the hell the thing is just take him to it and fuse him with the stone!"
"May I ask why we can not seal the stone within anyone else? Maybe Jesse can be fused with it."
"Because it was Joseph's destiny to be Kingdom of Shadows; it was our father's will."
Josh and Kavon exchanged looks and sat down in chairs and listened to Jung-Woo's story.
STORY
Rizu watched as both his sons, Jung-woo and Joseph played out in the front yard. Over the ten years he had raised Joseph he had noticed that Joseph had taken on the legacy of bearing the black fury. So he created a stone called the stone of Black Internal Chaos. Just to make sure Joseph held the curse he killed one of Joseph's extremely close friends and that sent Joseph over the edge and as punishment Joseph ended up killing his own father.
Joseph looked at his brother, his eyes blank and full of deadly kill. "Get away Jung-woo. . ." snarled Joseph.
Jung-woo back away his eyes wide in fear and ran into the forest never to be seen again.
Joseph looked at his claws and was pleased with he saw, his claws were drenched in his father's blood.
END STORY
Josh and Kavon once again exchanged looks and looked back at Jung-woo.
"Do you hate your brother for killing your father?" Josh asked.
"I killed morgan didn't I?" Jung-Woo snapped at Josh annoyed by the personal question. He hated bringing up the past.
Kavon laughed and knew that Jung-woo had just answered Josh's question. "Well hopefully Joseph leaned his lesson. Never mess with the mighty lord of Japan." he said as he held up his hand.
Josh laughed and nodded, "Yep, but sorry to disappoint you Kavon but lord Jung-woo isn't the ruler of Japan yet. He still has to defeat the Japanese lords."
"I thought that was your job Josh? Did you back out of our deal?" Jung-woo taunted.
"No, but you have first dibs on which castle you want. I personally want the western castle."
"Oh, sure just leave me out." Kavon scowled.
"You can have the eastern castle Kavon. And Zander can have what is left."
Shadow blinked. "I thought you hated Zander."
"I do but the only reason he's here is because I told him that if fought alongside Jung-woo he could have one of the castles."
Shadow rolled his eyes.
Kyo and Alex reached the Defender's Realm, and at the gate they were greeted by Jesse himself.
Jesse smiled at her and took her inside as Kyo went to go check on his troops.
"It's good to see that you're safe Alex dear." Jesse said as he took her hand in his. "You worried me . . . I thought Kuroi-Ryu had also got you and I would be without a future wife."
She gasped and looked at him, "Did you just ask me to be your mate?"
Jesse chuckled. "In an awkward form but yes, I just asked you to be my mate."
Alex blushed profusely and nodded. "Then I accept your proposal lord Jesse."
Jesse smiled and kissed her cheek. "I'm sorry I worried you so much."
"It's okay . . . you're alive and I'm grateful that you are. I didn't want to lose another demon I cared for. I don't think I could do it again. . ."
"What do you mean?"
Alex just shook her head. "I'll tell you later. Let's go have some dinner."
That night for dinner Jesse and all the commanders, generals, and their wives and fiancés have had dinner at the best restaurant in town. But only a few actually had a wife. Arashi had a wife and she was a beauty. Her name was Cassandra. She had white hair and silver highlights. Her eyes could make any man fall madly in love with her, she had aqua colored irises. Other than her she was the only official wife at the dinner table. And by the looks of it Arashi and Cassandra were expecting there first pup any minute.
Cassandra winced and held her torso, "Owww."
Arashi looked at her; his eyes full of worry. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine it was just the pup." she said reassuringly as she looked up at him.
"Maybe we should take you to the doctor. You don't look too good." he said as he stood.
Jesse looked at Arashi and his mate, "Go Cassandra . . . it's best to listen to Arashi. He's right you don't look too good."
Cassandra scowled at Jesse for taking her mate's side but stood and Arashi picked her up and took her to the doctor's.
Several hours later Arashi went up to Jesse's room holding his new born pup.
Jesse answered the door and let him in. "Well now isn't this a treat. I'm the first to see the pup." Jesse said as he shut the door behind the griffon lord.
Arashi chuckled. "Well, Cassandra is asleep so I took the advantage and decided to show you my daughter."
"What's her name?"
"Kisa, she's the princess of the griffon kingdom." Arashi said as the girl cooed at her father and sneezed.
Jesse chuckled and sits on the couch. "What's the real reason you are her Arashi?"
"I need you to promise me something . . ., you're the only one I can fully trust."
"Anything."
"Take care of Kisa and Cassandra for me . . . the war has taken a toll on me and I know that my next battle will be my last." he looked at Jesse with pleading eyes.
Jesse nodded.
Arashi smiled and after that moment they went deep into conversation.
Alex awoke to the sound of Jesse and Akashi's chuckles.
Arashi noticed the female as she went over to Jesse and rubbed her eyes as she plopped down next to him and laid her head in his lap and continued to sleep.
Arashi chuckled. "Looks like she was missing her company." he said as he looked down at his daughter as she began to whimper.
"It looks like your little one wants her mother."
The two men say their goodbyes and Arashi went to his room and Jesse took Alex back to bed.
At the darkest of the night Joseph began to stir as another dream surrounded him and his thoughts.
DREAM
Joseph blinked when a girl appeared before him, she wore no cloths but she looked familiar for some odd reason.
Red ribbons of light spill from her chest and surround her body, then clears like feathers on the wind, as a shinning white dress appears. A snug fit strapless dress with silver ribbons that formed a corset-like pattern around the front of her torso, a sheer ribbon tied in a bow just above her lower back, long flowing sleeves that attach with a silver band just off the shoulders and a crown made of diamonds strung together that fall through her hair. Her aura of light and purity shines around her, giving her an angelic look. She opened her eyes to reveal beautiful turquoise colored irises, expressive yet blank.
Joseph cautiously went over to her and reached out to touch her when she turned her head and looked at him.
"Joseph-kun . . . H-help me . . . set me free . . . help me escape the nightmare . . . free me. . ." she said in an echoing voice that made him tremble.
". . . Free you? From what?" he questioned. "Who are you?"
"Don't give in to the Kingdom of Shadows . . . don't let him consume you. . ."
"What are you talking about?! Who is this Kingdom of Shadows?!"
"You are the Kingdom of Shadows, Joseph. . ." the woman said.
"Who are you?" he asked as he again reached out for her.
The girl winced and in an instant the only thing left of her was her white angel wings that flowed to the ground.
END DREAM
Joseph awoke with a start and sat there on his bed panting heavily. "What was that all about?" he thought. "How am I theKingdom of Shadows? Isn't the Kingdom of Shadows a kingdom and not a demon?" All these questions began to surface; and he had no clue on how to answer any of them.
The next morning rolled by and the Defender's Realm was under attack; arrows were flying and swords were clashing. Kavon and Josh had attacked and they weren't giving anytime for Jesse to reform; right now they wanted a full out battle and they were giving him all they had.
"This is it Jesse!" Arashi called.
Jesse froze and looked at his griffon friend. "You're crazy! You have a new born pup!" he shouted as Arashi charged with his forces, they were headed straight for a trap. "Arashi Stop! Think of your pup and mate!"
Before Arashi could stop and look at Jesse and stop before he was killed; he finally realized that consequences of what would happen if he did this . . . for one thing he would never see his daughter grow up and have pups of her own. But before he could react Josh whirled around and drove his sword through Arashi's chest.
"Arashi!" Cassandra screamed tears streamed down her cheeks; as she ran towards him, Kisa in her arms.
Jesse grabbed her and held her to his chest. "No Cassandra . . . this is something he has to do." he whispered to her as she tried to get out of his grasp.
She froze at his words and looked up at him. "What are you talking about?"
"I'll tell you later. . ." he said as he held her close.
Hours passed and the battle ended with thousands dead. Jesse took Cassandra up to his room and explained to her why Arashi had sacrificed himself.
Cassandra held onto her daughter close as tears streamed down her cheeks. "But why did he have to do that a day after our pup was born? Now he won't have the joy of watching her grow. . ." she trembled.
Jesse hugged her and whispered soothing words to her as she cried into his chest. Alex watched from the doorway and just smiled at him as he tried to comfort his friends mate. Jesse had known Arashi since they were boys, now it was his responsibility to take care of Cassandra and his newborn pup Kisa
After she had settled down Jesse had a clerk bring in a crib and an extra futon. He thought that it would be best if Cassandra and the pup stayed with him and Alex.
Several months passed and there wasn't a peep from Jung-woo and his army. Alex and Cassandra had become good friends. They giggled as Kisa tried to crawl over to her mother and when she found out that she couldn't; she whimpered as tears formed in her dark blue colored eyes.
Cassandra sighed and picked her up and cuddled her pup. "If only Arashi could see his daughter."
"Don't worry Cassandra . . . he's in heaven . . . he can see his daughter grow, it may not be he can not touch physically but he can touch her in spirit." Alex reassured.
"Yeah . . . but he shouldn't have done what he did . . . I hope he knows how much I love him."
"I'm sure he does." Jesse said as he stood over Alex a smile on his face as he looked at Kisa
The small pup giggled and hid her face from him; she loved Jesse just like her own father. In fact because she only trusted Jesse more than she trusted any other male; to her Jesse was her father.
Jesse chuckled and kissed Alex's cheek and scooped Kisa from Cassandra's arms.
Kisa squealed and started giggling up a storm. She had the eyes of her mother and the mid-night colored hair of her father.
"Do you mind Cassandra if I take her out for a walk?"
Cassandra shook her head, "I think she would like to go on a walk."
Kisa giggled and put her hands over her face like she as trying to play hide-and-go-seek; Jesse chuckled at this and he took Kisa for a walk around the Defender's Realm. The small child loved being with her father figure. Jesse felt bad for the pup that she would never get to know her real father; Arashi would have really enjoyed playing daddy with his first pup. He only hoped that he could give the same love and affection to his own pup.