Chapter 13
I was summoned to Toshiro's study for the second time this month. Though I didn't need guards constantly with me since he holds my son, I could still feel the eyes' of Toshiro's most loyal followers watching me as I make my way through the now familiar halls. Patiently
There are at least two demons following me at all time – they thinking that I cannot feel them as they slide through the shadows, but they are wrong. On more than one occasion I have come face to face with the some of my 'slick' followers. They had seemed more than surprised when I had cornered them – beating them into the ground before leaving just a quietly as I had come.
Yes, training has done wonders on my once worn soul. I had to learn to kill without remorse – though I would never have believed myself capable of some of the things I've done during training. To most, it would mean nothing to soak one's blade in your opponent's life's blood – but considering that my breed is mainly for healing, it was hard for me to accept the fact that was what I was now doing.
I'm brought from my thoughts when I realize my hands are pushing against a heavy door – the door that would take me to Toshiro's studies. I snort in disgust as the fresh scent of bleed reached her sensitive nose. Even though I'm around bloodshed daily, I do not think I will ever get use to the metallic smell.
The metallic smell of blood tells me that Toshiro has eaten. This is a good thing – a very good thing indeed. Now I wont be stuck doing 'things' that I do not wish to do. Though I know I am this only 'lover' to survive a night's encounter with that bastard.
I continue my trek, my steel toed boots making a soft clipping sound on the marble floors. The clipping sound of my boots however, where cut off when I stepped into a puddle that was to thick to be water and the stench told me that it was blood. Ignoring it, I continued walking farther into the study – stopping once I was standing I the middle of the large room.
"What do you want?" The bitterness and disgust easily leaked passed her cold, emotionless façade. Now I keep a façade that was bitter and impassive – I only open up to my child now, my beautiful baby boy.
"There will be four intruders on the Blood Path sometime within the next few days. You are to go and… greet them. I do not want them here; you will rid my land of them. Is that understood?" I didn't answer as I turned to leave – I never show any respect to that bastard. "It'll be your son's head if you fail me." I continue walking, though the last comment has me fighting to go back and try and kill Toshiro for threatening my child, but I know that I must wait for now.
When I exit the study, I make sure to slam the heavy door. Now that I'm standing outside the door I realize that I haven't visited Kyo in a while – everyone's been keeping me busy. So I start up the long staircase that will try me to Kyo's room.
It didn't take me long to reach the medium size wood door. Slowly I entered the room; only find that my son was hiding.
"You may come out Kyo. It's only me." I let my emotionless façade drop as my child comes out from his hiding spot. He always stays hidden – only coming out when it's time to eat or when I'm here.
"Why haven't you come to see? It's been forever!" Kyo questions in his demanding tone, as I hug him close. I do not reprimand him for his demands, knowing all to well that he takes after his father in that aspect.
"I'm sorry, I've been busy. I'm afraid though that I wont see you for a while after this visit either, my son." I feel his aura go from one emotion to the next – anger, sadness, hurt, fear, and something like betrayal – before settling on a mix of all these things.
"Why?" He asked – though I can hear the plea for me not leave him in his voice.
I sigh before giving him a small smile. "To protect you." That's the only answer I can give him for the time being. I cuddle him as I sit down on the floor.
After of few minutes of this he pull away from me – most likely so that he can look into my unseeing eyes. "Will you come back?" His question was one that I was not looking forward to answering. I have never lied to him and I wouldn't start now.
"Truthfully, I do not know myself." At my answer I feel Kyo's aura flare with grief and he tightens his hold on my shirt. "But I'll make you a deal." My voice was soft and musical – just how it use to before I came to this retched place. I finger the gem that I ware around my neck before removing it to place around the necklace in my son's hand. "I will come back for both you and that gem no matter what happens, alright?"
I could feel the surprise coming from Kyo as I placed my precious gem in his hand. He had always been curious as to what the gem was, where it came from and how it got into my possession. I never really allowed him a chance to look at it nor did I ever tell him about it – fearful that he might say something that would end his life.
"You must promise not to tell nor show anyone this. If you do, they will take it from you." As small "Alright" escaped his lips and I could tell he was still looking the beautiful gem in his hands. "I must go now, my little one. I will always love you." With that, I scooted Kyo off my so that he was now sitting on the hard floor. "Go back to your hiding spot."
"Love you too." I make sure he was back in his hiding spot before I went over to the window. Removing my cloak, I pushed the window open before jumping out of it. I make sure to keep a good grip on my cloak – not really wanting to lose it as I feel the air rush around me as I fall.
Excitement boils within my depths as I push my dormant wings to the surface – only feeling a touch of pain as the quickly pierce through my skin. The pain quickly dies, however, when the air picks me out of my free fall and I begin to soar. When I'm in the sky, I feel like I can forget my problems, though I know I could never do that as long as Kyo's was in Toshiro's grasp.
Thinking of that, I circle the keep once before, going off to locate the Blood Path – though it's hard to miss considering the stench it gives off. Even from way up here I can smell the difference between the path and the dead forest around it. Once I find where the stench is the strongest, I follow it back up towards where the market place is.
It not long after that I reach the market place when I feel an energy ripple of a portal opening up. These must be the ones Toshiro wanted me to get rid of. Before landing so that I can feel them out better I reach into my pocket and pull out a mask. Putting it on – covering my nose and mouth before I land in the dark forest a little ways away from the group.
Now that I'm closer to them, I sense at least four different aura's – maybe five. I'm not completely sure because it feels as though they have more than one soul. Focusing on that member I searched through his aura only to find that he is an Avatar – a human with both a human soul and that of a demon's. It is a fox spirit that I find and somehow that does not surprise me. Fox demons are known for trying to before Avatar's but I have never heard of any who have succeeded.
Focusing on the next person I find his aura to be sickened by the sight in front of him – wanting to kill the one who did such a sick thing. It would also seem that this one has very little demon blood running through his veins – whether or not he knows it I can't be curtain, but if he does I do not for see it being a problem.
The next one I look into has the same feelings as the latter one does, but his aura screams kindness and loyalty on levels I never thought possible. I can tell that he is nothing but a human and the weakest of the group, though he is still strong.
The last aura I look into more than surprises me. Though darker and stronger than before, I recognize that aura. I cannot say for certain – not wanting to have my hopes crushed. This demon's aura is dark without being evil. There is also an evil aura coming from his forehead – most like Jagan or something of the type – and then there was an aura I recognized as one of Hell creature's, though it was so much stronger than the aura's coming off of the Hellcats that ran through this dead forest.
I can't help but shudder at the thought of something more powerful than a Hellcat being released from Hell's depths.
I was awakened from my thoughts when I heard the darkest person speak – his voice commanding and deep. "Let's go." He had commanded. I'm impressed that they all started walking – making sure to stay on the path though it sickened them.
They didn't say much as continued their trek on the bloody earth, I made sure that I was close enough to hear with out being seen as I jumped from tree to tree. It wasn't until they had stopped to rest that I had slipped up and gotten to close – alerting the human of my presences. His spiritual senses must be higher than the rest since from what I could tell none of them has noticed me as of yet.
I shook my head as I allowed a smirk to play across my feathers. Checking over the other's in the group, I noticed that most of their attention was being directed in my direction – minus the half-demon, he still didn't have the slightest clue that I was following them, unlike the others.
None said anything for a while as they continued walking once they were done with their short break. Smirking at this I decided to have some fun and scare the death out of the human by getting closer. However, the human ruined what little fun I was having by speaking, saying that they were being followed.
When the demon and Avatar agreed with the human only then did the half-demon get upset – angry that no one told him that they were being followed. Not wanting to listen to a yelling match I spoke up.
"What business do you have here?" I called from my perch above the group. I made sure to keep my emotionless façade up but that could not change the soft tone that my voice held.
"Show yourself." The only full demon among the group demanded. Before thinking about it – I found my body responding to his command as I left my safe perch to stand some distances in front of the group.
"Who are you Miss?" I heard the Avatar's ask me politely. Since he asked nicely I would answer him.
"Unfortunately I have to guard this damnable pathway. Now, tell me, what business do you have here?" I spoke up once more – I hated it when I had to repeat myself.
"We come to see the Lord of this keep. One of the merchants told us where to find the path." The half-demon explain, confident that would get him passed me. I went with for a moment – making it as though I was truly thinking about his answer.
"What's the name of the merchant and why has he not accompanied you?" My question seems to have hit a nerve because I feel him tense. Suddenly I feel it – the spirit energy flying towards my. I don't know how I missed him charging up for his attack but I quickly jumping back into the trees – only getting a bit shaken up.
I hear the human shut something about how you're not suppose to kill girls' or something but what got me stumped is why the demon is anger. Why was he so anger that his friend got rid of a possible threat?
"It would seem that the humans got a temper." I mock as the half-human and his human friend get into a fight. I feel relief now come off of the demon after he heard my voice. I can't help but wonder what's up with that?
"You'll have to be a whole lot quicker than that if you want to kill me with one of those blast." I make sure I voice is blank of all emotion – excluding that softness that seems to be there no matter what I do. As if I had to prove my point I jump down with inhuman speeds and materialize in front of the person who had tried to get rid of me.
My katana was already out and making its way down the half-breed's chest when someone's hand grabbed my wrist. I growl at the demon that had a hold of my wrist, bring my free claw up to swing at him. Which he easily avoided.
Once more I swung my claw out – but this time, instead of going for his face like I did before, I when for his chest, hoping that I could free myself from his grasp. This time, my claws scraped down his flesh and he pulled away – releasing me. I jumped back and glared in the direction I could feel that demon standing and he didn't seem to happy about what I did to his chest.
Author's Note: Hope you liked it and please do review!