Dawn of Terror
Chapter 10: Return
~*
The snow was ice cold and ankle deep. It piled up on the front of his hands as he went, freezing the blood, making him shiver, making his fingers turn blue. He crawled along, silently, stealthily. He paused at the corner of the house and shivered again. The wind blew back his wild hair and he shut his eyes against the bitter gale. Still, he plowed on. In the distance and growing steadily nearer, the howls of wolves sent shivers down his spine and he had to fight down the instinct to bolt, to dash back to safety. This was his only chance, ravenous wolves or no.
The stars twinkled merrily in the sky, winking down at him, almost mocking him. He ignored their bright, all-seeing eyes. Dissipating storm clouds scuttled across the sky, still threatening snow. The wolves were nearer now. He cracked open an eye and came face to face with the cracked chestnut bark of an oak tree. Lifting his hands out of the snow, he dug his nail-like claws into the bark and began to haul himself upwards. Slowly, slowly, hair still aflutter in the breeze, the wind growing increasingly chilly as his altitude increased.
And then, he reached the top of the barren canopy, snow tumbling silently from the icy branches as they cracked and groaned with his weight. He crouched, listening. The wind whistled through his ears. He let the crisp winter air bear the scents of this outside world to him and at last, over the scent of snow and wolves, he picked up the hint of what he wanted to smell. Horses. He lifted his nose to the sky, finding which way the creatures had gone. His ears pricked and he looked down. The height made him dizzy as the blinding snow on the ground seemed to dance, but what stood beneath him scared him more. The hungry, yellow eyes of the predator, the snarling snapping jaws.
Wolves. They had found him now. He clutched his tree branch tightly. He felt light-headed. Letting go meant he would plunge into their waiting jaws and be ripped to tiny neko-jin pieces. Waiting until they were gone or until morning would mean being spotted (and punished) for sure. He had no choice. Bearing his fangs to the loathsome predators, he clambered to the next naked, out-stretched limb.
Slowly, clumsily, he made his way across the barren canopy of tree branches. All the while, the wind screeched and kept him on course, kept him following the horses. And all the while, the wolves kept pace with him, following him through the depths of the woods, away from that dreadful place- the Ukiya mansion.
~*
The sun dawned on the world just as it did every morning, shedding blood-red light over the sleeping cities and towns. Wrapped in black silk sheets, Hiwatari Kai turned over for the millionth time. Red irises were surrounded by blood-shot whites and Kai blinked tiredly. The tiredness was inveitable and settled over him like a thick blanket, overly warm and sticky. His eyes felt dusty and all he wanted to do was close them and go to sleep.
But sleep wouldn't come and he doubted it would come ever again. Behind his eyelids, Rei lurked, thin and phantom-like, his golden eyes filled with anger, hate loathing. And that deep sadness, overwhelming ate at him still, even though it wasn't his own. What had he let his grandfather do to Rei?
Rei had been his friend and he'd let him go, let him fall to such a dreadful fate, just because he was a stupid puppet. Why hadn't he stopped the old bastard? Why hadn't he defied him? Rei's feet had remained unbound- why couldn't he have made sure his friend himself had remained unbound and unbroken?
His eyelids drooped and he yawned. Sleep started to creep over him. Gold eyes flared up again, haunting him, their sadness overflowing and all he wanted to do was reach out and wipe the tears away. But he couldn't. He sighed, giving up on sleep and sat up. Shaking himself from the cocoon of solitude, the bluenette dressed and slid into the bathroom, splashing his pale face with freezing water.
He looked up into the mirror, and all he could see was what a wreck he'd become, what he truly was....
~*
Mariah sat at the kitchen table in the early morning light, patching her apron in the silence. She remembered now that before, Rei would have been up with her, playing with the string, or, in his later years, cutting it with the scissors when instructed. She sighed and set down the needle and thread.
She got up and headed to the stove, picking up the poker, stirring the ashes back to life. She set the kettle on the stove, then looked out the window, before turning back to her sewing. Something thumped outside, followed by loud barking and snarling. "What on Earth..."
She stood up and wandered to the window, just in time to see a flash of grey fur go flying by. Her eyes widened and then narrowed. "Wolves," she hissed.
She flew out of the kitchen, dashing down the hall, yelling loudly for Tyson, the farm hand. "Tyson! TYSON!"
She rounded the corner, passing by the stairs, only to be stopped. Kai held her steady by the shoulders, looking down on her pityingly. "Mariah. Honestly."
She hung her head. "I'm sorry, Sire, but-"
Kai glanced towards the kitchen. "What's the problem?"
The neko-jin hissed. "Wolves. They must've gotten into the chicken-coop again and-"
Kai shoved her out of the way, cutting her off. He bee-lined for the kitchen. Mariah blinked, then, catching her breath, headed after him, still babbling. "Master! Sire, don't you dare go out there, the wolves are hungry this time of year and they'll-"
She stopped dead.
~*
Kai stared down the barrel of the .22 rifle and, not having time to aim properly, let off two successive shots. The wolves paused and looked up, then fled, yelping. They dashed across the yard, their feet flinging up snow that glittered in the early morning light. The air was heavy with the smell of gun powder and both Mariah and Kai's ears rung with the resounding shots.
After what seemed like hours, Kai relaxed, letting the gun down. Mariah walked outside, eyes still wide, hand still clutched to her chest. Kai frowned. Behind the two persons already outside, Tyson came to a skidding halt at the open door. "What happened?" he called, recieving no answer.
In a few moments, all the household had gathered, staring out into the yard. Kai dropped the gun, walking forward through the snow. "They weren't after the chickens, Mariah."
The pink-haired neko-jin sighed in relief, then blinked and took a step forward. "What were they after then?"
Kai didn't reply, feet crossing the blood-stained area of flung-up and trampled snow. A heap lay in the middle of the chaos, ebony hair tumbling over its face, eyes shut. Kai knelt down, checking for a pulse. The skin was frozen and bruised. Kai blinked, swallowing heavily. He brushed back the ebony tendrils, revealing the creature's identity. "Rei," he murmured quietly and the entire household behind him held their breath, waiting to see what he would say next.
"It's Rei," he declared loudly, never turning back to the crowd, lest they saw his tears.
There was a collective gasp and then, Mariah ran forward, tears streaming from her eyes. "Rei!"
And with that, the on-lookers were thrust into movement, some surging out into the yard, others running back into the depths to find bandages and linens and others still to prepare a warm bath.
Mariah knelt down, carefully placing her hand over the neko-jin's frozen forehead, pressing the other hand to her lips. Tears dripped down her cheeks, then froze. "Rei. Oh my God, Rei."
Tyson and several others skidded to a stop, getting down, preparing to lift the wounded boy from the snowy ground. And their gaze rose as he did too, aided by a pair of strong arms that could only belong to the Master of the House. Kai hefted Rei in his arms, placing his frozen mask of indifference back on his face. "Get the gun," he said to Tyson, firmly, commandeeringly.
He turned to Mariah. "Come with me."
He started back for the house, a stunned Mariah following in his wake; Tyson and his helpers still on the ground, staring dumbfoundly after the bluenette.
~*
The room was dimly lit and silent, except for laboured breaths and the sounded of dripping water. Kai sat beside the bed, head bowed, eyes closed. Mariah leaned over the sleeping neko-jin, bathing the dreadful wounds with warm water. Rei winced in his dreamless sleep and twitched. The candles flickered and danced.
At length, Mariah sat back, dropping the cloth into the bowl of water. She placed a hand to Rei's forehead and closed her eyes. Kai looked up now, hands still clasped together, as though he were praying. He looked at Mariah, who frowned and shook her head. "He's got a horrbile fever. If he was well, I wouldn't think anything of it- but...."
She gestured to Rei's state and Kai nodded solemnly. The door creaked open and a maid walked in, carrying a brick wrapped in a blanket. "The hot brick for his feet, Sire."
Kai nodded to her and she came forward, depositing her precious bundle into Mariah's skilfull hands. The pink-haired neko-jin lifted the blanket and pressed the heated bundle against Rei's feet, then tucked the blankets back down firmly. The maid curtsied and exited. The door shut again. Mariah pressed her hand to her lips in an effort to stop sobbing. "Oh, my Rei-chan," she wailed at last. "I just can't believe that he's back."
She turned to Kai, who had stood up now. Kai looked at her sternly. "Whatever you do, do not let Junsei find out that he's here."
Mariah nodded in mute understanding. With that, Kai turned and exited the room.
Chapter 10: Return
~*
The snow was ice cold and ankle deep. It piled up on the front of his hands as he went, freezing the blood, making him shiver, making his fingers turn blue. He crawled along, silently, stealthily. He paused at the corner of the house and shivered again. The wind blew back his wild hair and he shut his eyes against the bitter gale. Still, he plowed on. In the distance and growing steadily nearer, the howls of wolves sent shivers down his spine and he had to fight down the instinct to bolt, to dash back to safety. This was his only chance, ravenous wolves or no.
The stars twinkled merrily in the sky, winking down at him, almost mocking him. He ignored their bright, all-seeing eyes. Dissipating storm clouds scuttled across the sky, still threatening snow. The wolves were nearer now. He cracked open an eye and came face to face with the cracked chestnut bark of an oak tree. Lifting his hands out of the snow, he dug his nail-like claws into the bark and began to haul himself upwards. Slowly, slowly, hair still aflutter in the breeze, the wind growing increasingly chilly as his altitude increased.
And then, he reached the top of the barren canopy, snow tumbling silently from the icy branches as they cracked and groaned with his weight. He crouched, listening. The wind whistled through his ears. He let the crisp winter air bear the scents of this outside world to him and at last, over the scent of snow and wolves, he picked up the hint of what he wanted to smell. Horses. He lifted his nose to the sky, finding which way the creatures had gone. His ears pricked and he looked down. The height made him dizzy as the blinding snow on the ground seemed to dance, but what stood beneath him scared him more. The hungry, yellow eyes of the predator, the snarling snapping jaws.
Wolves. They had found him now. He clutched his tree branch tightly. He felt light-headed. Letting go meant he would plunge into their waiting jaws and be ripped to tiny neko-jin pieces. Waiting until they were gone or until morning would mean being spotted (and punished) for sure. He had no choice. Bearing his fangs to the loathsome predators, he clambered to the next naked, out-stretched limb.
Slowly, clumsily, he made his way across the barren canopy of tree branches. All the while, the wind screeched and kept him on course, kept him following the horses. And all the while, the wolves kept pace with him, following him through the depths of the woods, away from that dreadful place- the Ukiya mansion.
~*
The sun dawned on the world just as it did every morning, shedding blood-red light over the sleeping cities and towns. Wrapped in black silk sheets, Hiwatari Kai turned over for the millionth time. Red irises were surrounded by blood-shot whites and Kai blinked tiredly. The tiredness was inveitable and settled over him like a thick blanket, overly warm and sticky. His eyes felt dusty and all he wanted to do was close them and go to sleep.
But sleep wouldn't come and he doubted it would come ever again. Behind his eyelids, Rei lurked, thin and phantom-like, his golden eyes filled with anger, hate loathing. And that deep sadness, overwhelming ate at him still, even though it wasn't his own. What had he let his grandfather do to Rei?
Rei had been his friend and he'd let him go, let him fall to such a dreadful fate, just because he was a stupid puppet. Why hadn't he stopped the old bastard? Why hadn't he defied him? Rei's feet had remained unbound- why couldn't he have made sure his friend himself had remained unbound and unbroken?
His eyelids drooped and he yawned. Sleep started to creep over him. Gold eyes flared up again, haunting him, their sadness overflowing and all he wanted to do was reach out and wipe the tears away. But he couldn't. He sighed, giving up on sleep and sat up. Shaking himself from the cocoon of solitude, the bluenette dressed and slid into the bathroom, splashing his pale face with freezing water.
He looked up into the mirror, and all he could see was what a wreck he'd become, what he truly was....
~*
Mariah sat at the kitchen table in the early morning light, patching her apron in the silence. She remembered now that before, Rei would have been up with her, playing with the string, or, in his later years, cutting it with the scissors when instructed. She sighed and set down the needle and thread.
She got up and headed to the stove, picking up the poker, stirring the ashes back to life. She set the kettle on the stove, then looked out the window, before turning back to her sewing. Something thumped outside, followed by loud barking and snarling. "What on Earth..."
She stood up and wandered to the window, just in time to see a flash of grey fur go flying by. Her eyes widened and then narrowed. "Wolves," she hissed.
She flew out of the kitchen, dashing down the hall, yelling loudly for Tyson, the farm hand. "Tyson! TYSON!"
She rounded the corner, passing by the stairs, only to be stopped. Kai held her steady by the shoulders, looking down on her pityingly. "Mariah. Honestly."
She hung her head. "I'm sorry, Sire, but-"
Kai glanced towards the kitchen. "What's the problem?"
The neko-jin hissed. "Wolves. They must've gotten into the chicken-coop again and-"
Kai shoved her out of the way, cutting her off. He bee-lined for the kitchen. Mariah blinked, then, catching her breath, headed after him, still babbling. "Master! Sire, don't you dare go out there, the wolves are hungry this time of year and they'll-"
She stopped dead.
~*
Kai stared down the barrel of the .22 rifle and, not having time to aim properly, let off two successive shots. The wolves paused and looked up, then fled, yelping. They dashed across the yard, their feet flinging up snow that glittered in the early morning light. The air was heavy with the smell of gun powder and both Mariah and Kai's ears rung with the resounding shots.
After what seemed like hours, Kai relaxed, letting the gun down. Mariah walked outside, eyes still wide, hand still clutched to her chest. Kai frowned. Behind the two persons already outside, Tyson came to a skidding halt at the open door. "What happened?" he called, recieving no answer.
In a few moments, all the household had gathered, staring out into the yard. Kai dropped the gun, walking forward through the snow. "They weren't after the chickens, Mariah."
The pink-haired neko-jin sighed in relief, then blinked and took a step forward. "What were they after then?"
Kai didn't reply, feet crossing the blood-stained area of flung-up and trampled snow. A heap lay in the middle of the chaos, ebony hair tumbling over its face, eyes shut. Kai knelt down, checking for a pulse. The skin was frozen and bruised. Kai blinked, swallowing heavily. He brushed back the ebony tendrils, revealing the creature's identity. "Rei," he murmured quietly and the entire household behind him held their breath, waiting to see what he would say next.
"It's Rei," he declared loudly, never turning back to the crowd, lest they saw his tears.
There was a collective gasp and then, Mariah ran forward, tears streaming from her eyes. "Rei!"
And with that, the on-lookers were thrust into movement, some surging out into the yard, others running back into the depths to find bandages and linens and others still to prepare a warm bath.
Mariah knelt down, carefully placing her hand over the neko-jin's frozen forehead, pressing the other hand to her lips. Tears dripped down her cheeks, then froze. "Rei. Oh my God, Rei."
Tyson and several others skidded to a stop, getting down, preparing to lift the wounded boy from the snowy ground. And their gaze rose as he did too, aided by a pair of strong arms that could only belong to the Master of the House. Kai hefted Rei in his arms, placing his frozen mask of indifference back on his face. "Get the gun," he said to Tyson, firmly, commandeeringly.
He turned to Mariah. "Come with me."
He started back for the house, a stunned Mariah following in his wake; Tyson and his helpers still on the ground, staring dumbfoundly after the bluenette.
~*
The room was dimly lit and silent, except for laboured breaths and the sounded of dripping water. Kai sat beside the bed, head bowed, eyes closed. Mariah leaned over the sleeping neko-jin, bathing the dreadful wounds with warm water. Rei winced in his dreamless sleep and twitched. The candles flickered and danced.
At length, Mariah sat back, dropping the cloth into the bowl of water. She placed a hand to Rei's forehead and closed her eyes. Kai looked up now, hands still clasped together, as though he were praying. He looked at Mariah, who frowned and shook her head. "He's got a horrbile fever. If he was well, I wouldn't think anything of it- but...."
She gestured to Rei's state and Kai nodded solemnly. The door creaked open and a maid walked in, carrying a brick wrapped in a blanket. "The hot brick for his feet, Sire."
Kai nodded to her and she came forward, depositing her precious bundle into Mariah's skilfull hands. The pink-haired neko-jin lifted the blanket and pressed the heated bundle against Rei's feet, then tucked the blankets back down firmly. The maid curtsied and exited. The door shut again. Mariah pressed her hand to her lips in an effort to stop sobbing. "Oh, my Rei-chan," she wailed at last. "I just can't believe that he's back."
She turned to Kai, who had stood up now. Kai looked at her sternly. "Whatever you do, do not let Junsei find out that he's here."
Mariah nodded in mute understanding. With that, Kai turned and exited the room.