CHAPTER 10

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She ran, ran as fast as her feet would take her. Ran until she was out of breath and soaked in sweats.

She did not know where she was or where she was heading, but she kept on running.

She could not stay here for another second longer.

He would get her.

He would have her.

She kept on running.

The sun was getting lower.

She had to get out of this castle somehow.

How- she knew not yet.

She had looked down at the fifty feet tall wall from the sea breather's back when Yuna had given her a tour from the sky and knew she could not get out of the castle without help, but she could no longer risk staying here.

Even if she could get out of the castle, she would not be free. Not yet. She could not breathe under water and had no way to reach land on her own. She would die if she tried.

But she could not stay where with Hiroshi.

Sesshomaru.

Where was Sesshomaru?

She knew he would come for her, he always did.

He never failed to come and rescued her. This time too, he would come.

Just not yet.

But she was in immediate danger. She had to do something.

Protected herself.

She looked at her surroundings. She was surrounded by white trees as tall as the wall itself. Somewhere along the way the green trees had changed to white. She would have thought it beautiful had she not been on a run.

She could climb one of the trees near the wall and climb out, she mused. She was not the best tree climber, but she could manage.

That's a plan.

All she had to was made sure she gets to the wall without being caught.

A prickle of hope stirred inside her chest. Once she was out of the wall, it would be harder for the demons to find her. The entire city was larger and had more places to hide than inside the castle. They might not even think that she escaped out side of the castle with the thick giant wall around.

She kept on running. Running even when her throat felt burned and her chest felt so tight that it hurt with each breath.

Water.

She wanted water. Even a drop to sooth her paper try throat would feel like heaven, but there was none around and she could not afford to take a break.

It was a miracle she had yet run into anyone.

She paused momentary to catch her breath, a hand pushed against a large tree for support because her legs felt weak. The sun was getting lower. It should set in a few hours. She had to cross the wall before dusk came. She could not see in the dark, but demon's eyesight is different from human's. She could not afford to get caught.

She shuddered at the thought of what would happen if she was caught.

She turned to look at the path she had taken, it looked eerie. Hiroshi could be looking for her about now. The thought made her shivered. With determination to escape, she forced her legs to move once more. She would not get caught.

Her body screamed in protest, begging for a rest as she forced her muscle to work. She kept one step ahead of another thinking only of the freedom that awaited her outside the wall and what would happened if she didn't make it.

Finally the wall came closer and closer to her sight. Most of the giant trees had blocked its view from her, but the elegant black walls stood proud. It was only a mile away at most at the moment.

She was drenched in she sweats, but she didn't care.

Only half a mile away from it now, she mused. She suddenly felt energized. Excitement pumped through her veins. She could smell freedom. It was within her reach.

Almost there.

But suddenly her hope was crushed. She stopped dead in her feet. The sight before her made her gulped.

Thousands and thousands of snakes were crawling, twisting, and creeping around on the forest floor all the way to the wall. For about a hundred feet to the wall was covered in snakes. Some hissed angry at her telling her to go away.

They were guarding the castle.

Any smart person would turn around from the mound of snakes. If she goes through them, she would be a goner. The snakes were poisonous. She knew this was not the only area the snakes were gathered at the wall. Her hope was shattered to powder.

Suddenly, she felt very tire. She wanted to drop to the floor, but she refused to cave in knowing she might have no strength to stand back up if she did so.

She looked at the tall wall longingly. It was right there. So close, only a hundred feet away, yet it was impossible for her to reach.

Climb up a tree, she mused urgently. She could climb up a tree and move from branch to branch. It would be dangerous, but with the forest that grew thick together like this one, it was possible.

But before she could put her plan to work, he was there.

Hiroshi.

"Rin," he called to her. The demon had come to stand in front of her in his elegant handsome form.

Rin felt her blood gone cold.

"Get away from me!" she told him, backing away. All her senses were at full alert.

"Don't be like that Rin. You are to be social with me, remember?" he dare asked.

"And you said you won't lay a hand on me!" she reminded him bitterly and angrily.

"It won't happen again."

"I don't believe you! You cannot be trusted."

Instead of being offense, he smirked, "You're a smart one." They both knew anyone who trusted him were doomed. He took a step toward her.

"Don't come any closer to me." She took a step back. His smirk widened seeing the terrified look on her face.

In a blink of an eye, he had her captured. His right arm wrapped firmly around her waist, pressing her closely against him. How easily he caught her.

Rin gasped, straggled, and screamed for him to let her go, but he only hold her tighter.

"You don't have to trust me, Rin." He spoke, nuzzled his face against her hair. "But you have only two choices here. Kept the deal we have made or call it off."

She felt disgusted at his touch. It made her blood turn cold. But he was too strong for her to shake him off. The way he captured her, she had no chance of escaping him at all.

"I am in a good mood and want to win your heart over. Kept the deal and I will not do anything you don't want until you give me consent." His voice was soft and playful.

Rin's struggles did not decrease. She hated being so close to him.

"But if the deal's off," his other hand trailed up her leg, lifting her skirt has he did so. She wanted so badly to get away, but his gasp was iron grip. Her protested fell on dead's ears.

"I will fuck you now right here," he whispered into her ear.

Rin froze in place, stood very still as the meaning sank in. If she struggled, it meant she defied him and he would take her. He meant what he said.

"Good choice." He spoke seductively into her ear, and stepped away. "But I don't mind if you choose the other one," he winked at her, licking his lips.

Rin gulped.

"How do I know you won't just change your mind again?" She asked, putting on a brave face.

"You don't." he spoke matter-of-factly. "But I hate losing." He would win her sweet little heart first before crush it to nothing.

"Come," he extended his hand to her.

Taking in a deep breath, knowing she had no other choice but to follow him, she put her hand in his.

She hoped Sesshomaru would come for her.

And it better be soon.