Chapter Twenty-Four

Her hair was long, cascading luminously down her back. It fluttered in an invisible breeze, a blonde so white that it seemed nearly silver. Her eyes were blue in contrast, a hue as light as the purest spring. And though her features were young, her eyes betrayed her age and wisdom.

Kendrick stared upon her as he did 1500 years ago.

Only this time, he realized, he hated the sight.

She walked slowly towards him, and he could feel himself cringing. But no, he wouldn't run. He would stand his ground. Whatever she now wanted, he would see it to the end. After all, it couldn't get any worse, he rued silently to himself.

But when she was standing right in front of him, he still couldn't lift his eyes. And he looked stubbornly away, refusing to meet her gaze. She gently lifted a finger, raising his chin to meet hers. And Kendrick found himself looking into those eyes filled with light.

He saw himself then – as he was 1500 years ago. He looked the same, he realized – black hair… green eyes… He saw himself when he was young, happy, free. When he was still innocent, he thought, and felt his soul ache.

But then the image changed, replaced instead by Karina. And he instinctively curled back, his heart pounding with pain. She was also still the same – and as beautiful as ever, with her raven black hair and her shimmering blue eyes…

But as quick as the image came, it changed yet again. And this time, he saw himself once more – standing beneath a star-filled night. The lights glittered like jewels, but it could not outshine the moon. The full moon… he realized – a perfect, concentric circle.

And then came the howl, a bone-chilling cry filled with pain. He was watching a black wolf, dashing swiftly through the woods. Its eyes were green, but slowly turning yellow. And with each passing second it grew stronger… faster…

Kendrick jerked away, recoiling from Kisara's eyes.

"What do you want?" he asked bitterly. "What is your purpose?"

"Kendrick…" she whispered softly. "You know who I am… Is this the only emotion you will show me? Bitterness? Anger? Where is the Kendrick that I know? The Kendrick 1500 years ago? A boy filled with love, passion, happiness, joy…"

"Stop," Kendrick forced out, his voice breaking as he spoke. "You don't know anything. You don't know what you did to me."

"But I do," she replied softly, brushing his hair from his eyes. "I am a goddess, Kendrick. I know more than you ever will."

"Then why are you here?" he cried resentfully, whirling around. "To gloat? To curse me more? Do you hate me so much?"

"Kendrick…" she murmured. "Do you really think so ill of me? Do you really hate me so much? Am I really such a bane?"

For a moment, there was silence, and Kendrick looked stubbornly away. But Kisara was waiting, almost compelling him to speak.

"No," he finally answered. "But you are a bitter reminder."

"Bitter?" she asked softly, and Kendrick felt his composure snap.

He jerked his head up then, his eyes bright with fury. "I killed her, Kisara! I killed Karina! I was selfish, stupid, brash, and just…" he turned his back on her, facing the darkness. "I spent years burying those memories, willing them to go away. But they haunted my mind, my actions, my thoughts." He felt tears prickling his eyes, and brushed them angrily away. "I want redemption, Kisara. Retribution, anything. I just want... I just want to be free."

Kisara stood silently, her eyes filled with understanding. She loved Kendrick as a mother would her child. He had learned his lesson. All was that left, was what he so wanted.

"Kendrick..." she finally said, willing him to turn towards her. "See this as a lesson... and learn from your mistake. I never meant you any harm. But I wanted you to learn. Seeing you that night... 1500 years ago... you were young, rash, and at the time, filled with bitterness. You let that drive your mind, take momentary control. One single wish, that changed your entire life. I could not grant your wish for love, but I saw in you a child that I cannot have. Perhaps it was also my fault, for forsaking the rules. I worked my way around them, to see you happy. But at the cost of the curse, which I was in return forced to give."

"But it was still my own choice," Kendrick replied with a sad smile. "The option was there, but I allowed my anger to blind me."

Kisara's eyes softened. "You really have learned," she said softly.

"But then why do I still feel empty? Like there's a hole in my heart?"

Kisara lifted his chin, and looked deep into his soul.

"That is for you to atone," she whispered. "In whatever way you see fit."

For a moment, his memory flickered, and a distant dream nudged his mind. An abyss... he recalled, and a single phrase that kept echoing...

"How?" he asked of her, pushing the thought away. But Kisara only shook her head, refusing to answer.

"I have given you my forgiveness, the redemption that you so sought. But now it is your turn, to gain redemption from yourself. I see that you won't rest until you've atoned for your mistakes. I have done all that I can. Now, it rests on you."

She pulled him in gently, and kissed him softy upon the forehead.

"You will find your courage."

And she disappeared from his sight.

Kendrick awoke with a start, his eyes blinking against the darkness. His body still ached, he noticed, but his heart felt lighter and filled with hope. He shut his eyes momentarily, recalling the blue eyes and silvery hair. "Kisara…" he whispered, and felt a smile grace his face.

He laid and on his stomach, his head upon his paws. He would be in this form for a while longer, but he found that he didn't mind. His senses were sharper, his strength much greater. He was already almost healed, and his mind was as sharp as when he was human.

Kisara was right, he realized. His redemption wasn't done. He had gained her understanding, but he still required a personal sacrifice. Until he righted his wrongs himself, his heart would still be burdened. But what it enough? He wondered. Because it wasn't just himself. His heart still ached for Karina, for her compassion and forgiveness. If only he could gain that… and know that he was atoned.

But he couldn't, he thought bitterly. And his own forgiveness would have to do.

Turning his mind back to the present, he stared once more at the bars.

His will had been solidified, his determination now absolute. He would see this mess he made to the end, and amend it as best he can.

Staring out before him, he felt his soul suddenly fill with hope.

No longer would he dwell in the past; no longer would he wallow in pity. He had learned his lesson, and it was time to move forward. His greatest battle had yet to come; he could feel it in his blood. And he felt his courage fly to light, from the dark recesses whence it had hidden.

His thoughts went back to Kisara, to the woman who had truly loved him.

"Thank you…" he whispered. "I have found my courage."

The air sped by her as she dashed through the halls, her breaths coming out in quick gasps, her feet pounding on the floor. She paused as she came to a fork, her step slowing as she neared. Yet another fork, she thought angrily, stopping at the edge.

Kimiko had been running for what seemed like hours by now. She knew not where she was going in this labyrinth of a dungeon. And so she had simply run, going this way and that. But the result was fruitless, and she was getting wearier by the minute. She needed a new plan if she was going to escape this prison.

Peeking a cautious eye past the wall into the new hallway, she determined no presence. Feeling her heartbeat slow, she slid tiredly to the ground.

During her entire time in the dungeon, she had met no other person. She had expected many guards, but had come across none. Where were his warriors? His jungle cats? His birds? Surely he would have placed some sort of alarm system to warn him. She shook her head. Or was he truly that cocky?

Closing her eyes, she forced herself to think. There must be a better way than running blindly through these halls. Coming up with none, she gritted her teeth angrily. Damnit! She screamed in her mind. Was she truly this useless?

She pounded an angry fist into the wall, leaving a bright red crater where it smashed. She then turned furiously around, and thought for a fleeting moment that she would just blow the damn place up. But no… she knew. That would attract Chase for sure. And in her weakened position, she would only get locked up once again.

She didn't even have any shen gong wu… stupid Chase had removed them all. She was left with only her wits, and her weakened physical strength.

She glanced up at the ceiling, feeling tears of frustration welling up. She never cried. But she just couldn't help it anymore.

Damnit, she cursed, wiping them angrily away. Be strong, she commanded. You're smart. You'll get out of this.

Looking around her, she scoured her surroundings for any resources. But there were none – just stone, and the torches upon the wall.

She shut her eyes, deepening her breaths. She had to find Kendrick… and then she had to escape. What could she do to ensure both ends?

Her fire… she suddenly thought, thin tendrils of thought entering her mind. What need did she have for torches? She had her own fire for light.

The thin tendrils solidified, and Kimiko felt a plan quickly forming. If she could explore all the hallways – every single one – she was bound to find Kendrick, and bound to find the exit. Now all she needed was a sign to mark her progress. She glanced at the torches, and felt her lips curl into a smile.

Lifting a hand into the air, she concentrated her thoughts on gathering the fire. It would all come to her hand, where it was extinguish into nothing. But not all the fire… just the fire in her current hallway. That way, the hallway would be dark… and she would know where she had been.

With all the fire gone, the corridor was pitch black. But Kimiko lit a flame in her own hand, and saw the room brighten up.

Looking down the fork, she still knew not where to go. But now she had a plan, and she could see her purpose through.

Turning to the right, she sped quickly out of sight, leaving nothing but blackness as the torches went steadily out.

Although Kendrick hated to admit it, he knew that he was trapped. Saying that he was otherwise, was a useless and stupid lie. He needed to stop deceiving himself – he told himself that. Because true, he had found his courage. But a lot of fat good that did if he couldn't escape.

His thoughts went back to Kimiko, to the girl who had helped him so much. He wondered how she was faring, if she was as helpless as he was. He prayed that she was not, and had managed to escape. She was resourceful, he knew that, and felt sure that she'd be fine. But then again, he was also resourceful, and a lot of good that had done him in his situation. He couldn't be sure about anything, and that simple fact worried him beyond anything.

Looking out the window for what must have been the hundredth time, he noted the moon and its position in the sky. Dawn would approach soon, perhaps in another couple of hours. What would happen after… Kendrick could only speculate.

He wondered then what it was that Chase Young truly wanted. He had been weak enough when he had lost consciousness, so why didn't Chase just kill him then? The prince clearly had no more use for him, and should have done away with him immediately. So why did he wait? Why did he lock his unconscious body up instead?

The questions had no answers, and Kendrick felt his stomach tighten. Chase never did anything impromptu. Everything had a reason. What Kendrick didn't know was just as frightening as what he did know.

But he pushed those thoughts away, focusing instead on a new plan of escape. But as soon as he turned his mind, he knew that it was useless. He had been through his options a million times, and had never once come up with a solution. Chase had thought everything through carefully, and Kendrick knew there was no escape.

It's just… to feel so helpless… so utterly useless… it was a feeling that was foreign, and one that Kendrick hated immensely. Only his practicality kept him from screaming out his rage to the world. To do so would do nothing but tire his already wounded body.

Sulking silently to himself, he laid down in the corner, and wondered if anyone even knew where he was. He wondered whether they would come for him, if they indeed knew where he was. He wished with all of his heart that they would, but knew that such a miracle was unreliable. He had learned early on to depend only upon himself. Help from others came too rarely, and was not a dependable action.

But what happened when the time came that he couldn't break away himself? What happened when it became necessary to depend on other people?

Kendrick didn't like the thought; others were not as reliable as he was. But sometimes that situation arose, just as it did in his present case. But what if the others never found him? What would happen then?

He knew the answer already. He would never escape.

But, if he's kept prisoner, then at least Chase still wants him alive. And to stay alive, he would need food, drink, anything. Perhaps when a guard comes… he would get his chance. He could knock the guard unconscious and then somehow steal his keys.

The plan was outrageous… fully impractical. But Kendrick planned anyways, needing something to do. Something…anything… to take his mind off his desperation.

And so it was that he didn't notice the gradual diminishing of the lights; the darkness that slowly began to penetrate the hallway. It was only when it was almost dark that Kendrick finally noticed something wrong. But what was causing the blackness… was something he did not comprehend.

Feeling instinctively that something was wrong, he shrank back into his cell. He couldn't explain what it was, only that something unnatural was happening.

He waited then, patiently, thinking things through. Perhaps Chase had finally decided to come down. Or perhaps he had sent a guard down in his place. The end result made no difference. Kendrick was about to get his one wish.

He was about to get his one chance at escape. And he was determined not to screw it up.

Soon, the hallway was nothing but a dim light in the dark, and Kendrick climbed cautiously and steadily to his feet. Careful not to make a sound, he made his way slowly to the entrance. This was it, he thought. It was now, or never.

But after peering outside, he found a vision unexpected. It was not Chase Young at all, but rather someone wholly different. For a moment, he thought it a guard, but the build seemed all wrong. The figure was too short, too slim… and its right hand was engulfed in fire.

For a moment, Kendrick's heart stopped, and he stared in disbelief at the figure before him.

"Kimiko?" he whispered.

"Kendrick…" Kimiko smiled.

Author's Note:

Well, the set-up is almost complete! Hope you're still enjoying the story because the climax begins in the next chapter. :)

Anyways, I know I probably just lost another bucket-load of readers, but for those who are still reading... I truly appreciate you all. Without your support, I never would have gotten this far. This story is for you guys; I dedicate it all to you. So I hope you've enjoyed it so far! And will continue to enjoy it as I update. :)

Lots of love, Des ❤