Chapter 12: Running.
(Back to Kysa's POV)
"Look at me!" He screamed at me. "LOOK AT ME!" This time it came out as a growl. I looked up at the deformed figure in front of me. He had found me in the woods, and dragged me to this cave. I had found myself locked inside some special cage; I felt like a zoo animal. But that was when he was still a man. Tonight there was a full moon, and it was his transformation. He wasn't a shape shifter, no, but worse.
He looked at me with those hateful red eyes; those eyes would never glisten again, not in a thousand life times. Never. His body was deformed. Ripped clothing hung from his scrawny form. He was up on his hind legs, which were longer than the front. He looked even more deformed when he was on all fours. Patches of brown fur were matted with blood, and other items that I did not what to know of. A long muzzle was were his human mouth and nose were, and fangs could be seen even when it was shut. The only human thing he still possessed was his voice. His tail had been cut; there was a stump were it used to be; He was very unbalanced. But he still reeked of death.
"You're my prize now." He spat at me. "I'll rent you out to work, you'll hunt those bastards down!" He was screaming now. "They killed my pack! Every! Last! One!" My arm was sore from where he hit me with each word. He was violent, and hungry. "If you runaway Darling I will hunt you down, and I will personally take the joy out of killing you!" And then he was gone, and I was left alone in the cave. Starving, grieving, and alone. At least the burning had stopped.
"Skylar!" The boy yelled my name and I came bounding out of the meadow, and happily jumped into his arms. This was my fifth master's son, who had took joy out of naming me Skylar, since I mainly stayed in my Kitsune form and rarely talked. "Come Sky, dad wants us home. He says theres a hunt tonight." I happily followed behind the boy. He was only 15, two years younger than I; And was as handsome as a grown man. He had long dark hair that came down just above his eyes; His pale, pale blue eyes. An opal-blue; They dazzled me. Everything about Vexin dazzled me.
"Vex!" Lord Fredrick called from his horse. "Go back to the castle boy, the hunt is about to begin." Lord Fredrick was as nice as his son; he didn't mistreat me as my first four masters did, and he fed me frequently so I could do a better job. He was an older, more handsome version of Vexin.
Vexin had already ran off heading back to the castle. Feudalistic times had just begun, this was all different for me; But I adapted. Lord, after Lord arrived on their horses to position their selves behind Fredrick. I was the one leading the pack. I would track the prey and take it down. If my poison didn't kill it, then they would burn it. "Skylar," Fredrick whispered so only I could hear. "Hunt well."
That was my mark. I bolted south, the herd of men following but lagging behind a little, they'd catch up later. I always stayed within their sight anyways. I was leading them to a town, a poor town not too far south. Their was a coven of three living there; I had found them while Vexin and I were there two days before.
I was almost there it only took close to a half an hour. The men were still in sight, the town was dark; They were in bed. Except for my prey. I could smell their sweet scent that only appealed to my kind; it was addicting, irresistible. My pace increased, their scent was colliding with the scent of blood now, so much blood. They were feeding; I was too late to save those innocent people. Rage built up within me; Those leeches would die tonight. I entered the boundaries of the town, racing past the sleeping homes. I could here my master and his men catching up behind me. This place seemed so poor compared to the life my master led in the castle. The houses were shabby, and had vegetables outside drying in the air.going to give up to the point of death. I was going to let myself willing fall. But the newborn had laughed, and had already left, Vexin on his shoulder. It was too late.th master. It was the end of every bit of hope I knew. From there out, I would always be a hunter.
There was a muffled scream in the distance that only my ears, could pick up from this far. It was a woman from the pitch I could tell. Poor soul, poor poor tortured soul. The window was opened, foolish Vampires. My master was right behind me, their torches lighted. I leaped through the window, surprising the Vampires. There were three of them, and three humans; The Father, the mother, and the poor cornered girl in the corner. I growled, enraged by their heartless act. I leaped at the larger of the vampires, digging my teeth into his neck. He screeched out in pain. It was a sound like no other, it was inhuman; It could have brought the heavens down upon us. His mate growled out and leaped at me. I released my grip on the male, and dodged the female's vicious attacks. She was quick, faster than the average Vampire. I took two bites, my heart racing, trying to fight off the venom that raced through my veins. I attacked the female, bringing her down within seconds.
The hunters, and my master were already catching the male on fire; His screeches ringing through the once peaceful night air. Some of the hunters were outside keeping the gathering onlookers from coming too close. The female was the nest to burn, she put up quite a fight; but the flames consumed her, eating up the soulless creature. I cornered the newborn vampire. I could tell it was newborn from his eyes. He growled at me, and there was such rage behind his mask that it frightened me for a moment. Newborns were strong, I could barely handle them by myself.
"You'll regret what you've done..." He spat at me. I laughed at his comment, knowing it would be the last time he spoke. "I'll turn the one you love the most, into what you hate the most." Then he lunged at me with such force it knocked me off my feet. Then he ran from the house, past the confused hunters, past my enraged master. His words confused me still, but I quickly got to my feet, and ran after him. My master was already on his horse behind me. It only took me a few seconds before I realized where the newborn was heading; The Castle. Vexin.
I ran faster, thinking of the family, and the friends I let down last time I didn't hurry. I sped up, my three tails flowing in the wind behind me. I wouldn't let Vexin have that fate no I wouldn't, not the fate I had; thought I was a tad bit different. I ran at lightning speed, forgetting about my master, I was catching up; The newborn was still faster. He was already at the castle, I in it. I could smell blood, blood of the servants, of the workers. No. MY legs took me faster, I enjoyed the extra speed the transformation had given me, I was faster. I was there now, at the castle. I entered through the front entrance, it was still opened. I bounded quickly up the steps. There, Vexin's room.
"NO!" I heard the boy scream desperately. The Newborn had cornered him in the back of the room. I growled, transforming back into my human form. I studied them both for a few seconds. The Newborn had an aura of hate, so much hate it overwhelmed my senses. I could smell the overpowering smell of fear coming from Vexin, tears glided down his face; His eyes begging me to save him, save him from the fate that looked in the face.
"Let him go." I spoke. A chuckle only came from the newborn. "You can't transform him, you haven't built up enough resistance..." A fear within told me that the newborn would most likely go too far and kill the boy. "Please, "I begged. "Let him go..." Tears of fear cascaded down my cheek, falling to the floor as in a attempt of suicide. I could almost hear then I they hit the floor, they were destroyed instantly. More tears rolled down my face, I couldn't stop.
"Then, I guess we'll have to wait until I have built enough resistance..." His voice was so cold, so brutal, it sent chills up my spine; The kind of chills that made you fear, fear for all life. His words made me fear, fear for the life of the boy I had loved. The first person that I had loved since I lost my fiancée, and family. He had shown me love, and was apart of me. I couldn't let him have that fate, but the newborn, he was determined. Hate made him invincible, hate, determination, and power. "Come boy." He growled as he threw Vexin over his shoulder.
"NO!" I screamed, the tears flowing more rapidly. My heart being torn in two, once more. Rage, and grief overcame me. I couldn't take this pain, it overpowered my senses. My legs gave from beneath me, and I fell to the floor. Why couldn't I be like the tears, the tears that could so freely fall to their deaths without a fear. It was then I realized tears were a sign of weakness. When you cried those suicidal tears, the showed you how easily they could face their death, how willing they were at giving up. Isn't that what happens when you cry, you give up. I wasn't going to give up to the point of death. I was going to let myself willing fall. But the newborn had laughed, and had already left, Vexin on his shoulder. It was too late.
"Skylar!" Fredrick had ran into the room, he was out of breath. He looked around frantically looking for Vexin. He saw me on the floor, crying to my hearts desire. Crying for the last time. "Skylar...wheres Vexin? Where is my son?" His voice was frantic, fearful of my answer. I could see it in his eyes, there was layers and later of grief behind them.
"The newborn..." I could barely get the words out. It pained me to tell him the truth, to tell him the Vampire had taken his son hostage that he was planning. I didn't want to tell him the fate of his son; The fate of a killer. "He took him...hes going to change him..." I choked thinking about what he'd do to Vexin before that. More tears slipped past my defenses. I couldn't take knowing the pain Vexin would have to face soon, the burning.
I could hear the silent sobs of the Lord. I wouldn't mind if he cried in front of me, he wouldn't have lost his man's pride. I had lost my pride though, all my pride, my heart, my love. Everything was gone. It had been locked behind that dreadful door in the back of my mind. My name, my memories, my family, everything locked away. "I'm so sorry," I managed to say. "I really am master. Its all my fault. I'll accept the punishment without a protest."
Lord Fredrick looked down on me in disbelief. "Punishment?" A wave a grief took over his face, and tears finally released themselves. He collapsed to the floor, and wrapped his arms around me. "I could never punish you, It wasn't your fault; you did all you could." My blouse was growing wet from where the tears had hit it, I didn't mind. "Skylar, you're all I have now...I'm not going to loose you."
And then my tears stopped. I realized I still had something left, a sorta of weaker form of love, the love of friendship. Lord Fredrick was willing to protect me, and for the first time I felt like I belonged again. I just wish Vexin was here to share it, to be here and join in on this. My loves, I must have been a plague to them; Their fates always ended up so tortured. A pang of guilt shot through me. What would happen if I stayed here, would Fredrick's fate be the same? Indeed, it would be.
"Skylar..." John had came to me one morning, he was Fredrick's favorite worker. He did his job so well, that Fredrick was soon to offer him a fief. "Lord Fredrick is dead...the vampire came back and bit him." I stood there, frozen. I couldn't take it , no; There had been too much loss in this past year. It had been only 6 months since the newborn took Vexin. Six months for me and Fredrick to become so close, for me to be adopted as a daughter. Six months of me forgetting what my job was. Now everything was falling apart. No tears came this time, I had already decided.
I remember the werewolf's minions coming and taking me away from the Castle. My next master was brutal, I wasn't used to such treatment. Lord Fredrick had treated me right, but I guess this was the werewolf's punishment for letting one newborn get away. I hated this new life, I hated this new name. I'd totally forgotten it by my 20th master. It was the end of every bit of hope I knew. From there out, I would always be a hunter.
"Wake up..." He whispered. I opened my eyes slowly, Emmett was standing above me. For a moment he almost look like Vexin looking down upon me again; Like the fatherly figure Fredrick waking me from my slumber so I could eat. So many memories came flashing into my mind, the door had been unlocked; I had been freed from nightmares that tortured me in the night, I thought. I looked around, and noticed Edward sitting in a chair. He sat in the shadowed corner, he was focused, so very focused. His face was twisted in pain.
"Edward!" I gasped. He didn't look like a vampire, he looked almost human; A human in immense pain. An extremely gorgeous Human in immense pain. "Edward, whats wrong?" I asked more urgently. Emmett held me back down on the bed. I didn't understand anything that was going on. Edward was in pain, and all spacey. Emmett had a look of urgency, trying to hold me down. Jasper, and Carlisle had came into the room now. Carlisle was helping Emmett restrain me, when I felt a wave of calmness drift over me. Damn Jasper. Damn him and his control on emotions.
"Its okay," Edward finally whispered. "I'm fine Kysa." I looked up at him, my face must have been filled with shocked, because his expression became worried. Emmett wrapped his arms around me and held me against him.
"Where'd you hear that from?..." I asked him. It was so familiar, it was from my dreams. The boy in the corner of my hut, he had called me Kysa. He had loved me. "Samuel..." I whispered. Everything came together now, My name was Kysa Getsuei, I was a Kitsune from the Mori tribe. My tribe was that of the Angelic Kitsune, our rivals were the Demonic; But I was both.
"Its your name." It replied back. I knew he was being truthful. "I've been watching your memories like a movie. You really should not let them overcome you like that." His tone made me shiver, it was so cold; Like that of the newborns. This time I did not let the memories flood my mind like usual.
"Kysa?" Emmett whispered. I looked up and saw him smiling down at me. "Rosalie heard that name in Japan once. She fell in love with it." He let out a small chuckle. "She'll be glad to know that its your real name." Finally a huge grin formed on my face. I looked over at Edward who was still frowning. I felt a little sorry for him, having to deal with my memories.
"I don't mind." He simply said. "I'm the one who pries anyways." He stood up, and looked over at Emmet, Carlisle, Jasper, and I all sitting on the bed. "I guess we have one more added to the family." He walked towards the door. "They're expecting you at school Ms. Getsuei, arriving with Nessie." And he walked out.
I gasped. "School?" I almost felt ready for it now. I wanted to go, if I were to have a changing point in my life; it would start there. My heart told me to go, but always warned me there would be danger, and sacrifice. I didn't listen, I only looked forward to walking the hallways like a normal person, with Nessie. Maybe we could both blend in for once, try to be normal. I heard Jacob's protests from downstairs.
"I will not let you send her to school!" I heard him yell, most likely at Edward. Them Nessie's voice joined in, telling Jacob not to fret, and that I would be enough to protect her. "I want to go with you." I heard his voice rise through the floor boards. The four of us were listening intently. Nessie protested, and Jacob finally stopped and gave him. I cringed when I heard the door slam.
"I guess you start on Monday." Emmett finally said, breaking the silence. I looked up and smiled. I couldn't wait now, anticipation growing inside me. I hopped off the bed and looked at the three Vampires sitting on my bed.
"Uncle Jasper, out." I finally said. "I don't need your comfort now. " I winked at him. "You too Carlisle, and..Dad." I said the last word with a smile. It grew bigger when Emmett's own smile illuminated the room. He looked so happy, as did I. Everything...was perfect again. For the time being.