A/N: Hello my lovely readers! I am proud to say that I stayed up all night last night to finish writing the first 30 chapters and filling up my first notebook. My hands hurt, I'm super tired, and have an outing scheduled for later today, but I've never been so happy! 3
I'm sorry some of the chapters are so short, they look a lot longer in my notebook and I would run some together, but then they wouldn't match up in the notebook and online, and that will drive me crazy. Does that make sense? O well, no one said I had to make sense.
Well, here is what you came to read, Chapter Ten!
Mrs. Collins was waiting for Youko by the water fountain, arms folded over her chest irritably, glaring at him as he arrived.
"Did she drink it?" She demanded.
"She's immune to that particular poison, my lady." He informed her.
"Of course she is." She growled. "That girl is nothing but a thorn in my side. It's as if the fates are against me, the way she shows up out of nowhere and ruins everything."
"Why not just let me kill Lord Eric. Ms. Kasai really doesn't need to be involved." Youko said.
"She involved herself. She knows too much, that woman; I can see it when she looks at me. Nevaeh betrayed me, but I found a way to use that to my advantage. Now she gives Kasai false information and now the two are friends. Have you befriended her?" She asked.
"No, she still hates me for stabbing her when we first met." He replied.
"It didn't seem that way when I walked in on you." Mrs. Collins said dryly.
"Naturally I was putting forth some kind of effort. You forget, I don't give up easily." He replied.
The click of heels came towards them and Nevaeh came into sight.
"Sorry I took so long. The last few guests were determined to interrogate me about our 'hero.'" She said, her voice and composure completely different now they were away from prying eyes.
"It's no trouble. I was just finishing talking to Kurama to make sure he was still loyal." Mrs. Collins said.
"O yes, don't want a traitor. But I could care less about that. What are we going to do with that roach of a husband of yours?" Nevaeh asked.
"I think an outing would do." Mrs. Collins said.
"An outing?" Youko said doubtfully.
"Yes, a picnic in the woods will be the perfect place to set up a murder scene don't you think?" Mrs. Collins said, chuckling to herself.
"Kurama and I will go with you as well right?" Nevaeh asked hopefully.
"I don't have any interest in participating in your petty murder games. I'll retire to my room now." He said, turning to leave.
"Teishi!" Mrs. Collins hissed.
Suddenly, Youko's muscles locked in place and he froze, unable to move, aside from clench his teeth in pain.
"Now, Kurama, you know I hate using my magic, it makes things less entertaining, and I hate seeing that look of pain in your eyes, but I didn't dismiss you yet." She cooed, standing in front of him and stroked his hair.
"Let me go wench." Youko growled through clenched teeth.
The sound of bamboo shoes on stone sounded from near the house and Youko saw Rirī watching quietly from the French doors of her room, open to the garden council.
Mrs. Collins followed his gaze and spotted the swordswoman.
"That bitch, always ruining my fun." She growled.
She snapped her fingers and Youko's muscles were unbound from the magic and he fell to his knees.
"You will go with us Kurama. We leave tomorrow so be certain you're prepared." She said, talking through teeth clenched in anger.
Nevaeh clung to her mistress' arm as the two left for the house.
Youko didn't notice Rirī run up to him and was startled when she knelt beside him.
"Youko, are you alright? There was black magic around you." She said worriedly.
"I'm alright Rirī, thank you." He said.
She glanced down at his pale arms, which were beginning to turn black with bruises.
"You're not alright. Look at these bruises." She said, her voice hard.
"I'm fine Rirī, I'm used to it." He said roughly, looking towards the house and glared at where Mrs. Collins had disappeared.
"There is a spell on you, one that puts you under her complete control." Rirī stated.
Youko looked to her, her eyes bright in the moonlight, shining with kindness and concern.
"Yes, there is a spell on me." He said.
"How did it happen?"
He laughed, a pained laugh, and Rirī thought he wasn't going to answer her but then he spoke.
"I was a bandit and as I said before, I'm attracted to wealth. She caught me thieving in her house and as punishment she put the spell on me, forcing me to be her slave. At first, I didn't take her seriously, so I tried to escape but she stopped me with one word, and my body froze. She told me the only way for me to be free is if she lets me go, or she's killed. Naturally, I tried to kill her, but the spell prevents me from harming her in anyway. I've been trapped ever since."
"She's a witch." Rirī observed.
"Yes." He said.
"Why doesn't she use her magic to get what she wants instead of all this sloppy plotting?" She asked.
"She enjoys seeing if she can get her way without using her magic. She tried her magic on you, but it didn't work for some reason. She has no choice but to do these schemes, or she'll risk losing to you." He said.
"I've dealt with witches before. I can free you." Rirī said.
"No!" He yelled.
She frowned.
"And why not, do you like being a slave?" She demanded.
A growl answered her.
"Then what's the problem?" She asked.
"You'll-"He sighed and look up at the moon, which brought the silver of his hair and ears to life.
"It doesn't matter." He said.
Rirī huffed in defeat and nodded.
"Very well."