~Chapter Twenty-Five: Rescue Is On the Way
Yomi's Point of View
I sat there for awhile waiting for her to do something else to me, but nothing happened. I slowly stood up and listened very carefully for any sound before walking down the hall. I tried to stop my shaking but to no avail. Pictures of Negative, Kairi, and Yoru's dead bodies played over in my mind.
Suddenly, I was grabbed and I felt her nails puncture and drag down my arm. I gasped and tried to muffle the screams that were building up in my throat. When she was finished, she kicked me in the back and I flew across the room. I crashed into the wall.
I whimpered and twitched before falling off of the wall and onto the floor. She slowly walked over to me and grabbed my arm again before I could get up. Slowly, she squeezed my arm making the blood drip more. My arm became much sorer. I whimpered from the pain that felt like she was squeezing the very life out of my arm until she finally stopped and let it fall back to the ground.
I clutched it tightly and tears threatened my eyes. Noel crouched down on her knees, and put her hand on my shoulder. "What a pity, little sister, but I'm sure no one shall miss you when you're gone."
As the words little sister registered in my mind, my teeth clenched in anger and I shouted, "I am not your little sister!" I sprung up off the ground and, pulling my fist back. My fist was only an inch away from her face before she grabbed it and clenched it tight.
I heard a crack before I hit the ground again. After biting my lip to keep from screaming and holding in more tears, I looked up to find Noel gone. "Noel?" I questioned, forcing myself not to whimper. I stood, despite the throbbing pain in my arm and body. "Show yourself, coward!" I called.
A sharp pain and sickening crack caught my attention and I went flying forwards. My shoulder ached in pain as tears streaked my face. When I turned to face her, there was nothing.
I blinked the tears from my eyes only to be kicked in the ribs and feel them break under the force of it. "Stop!" I shouted in pain, feeling myself skid a few feet. I covered my face with my wrist and hand until I stopped sliding across the floor.
As soon as I stopped I was wrenched up by my wrist and felt it being crushed into splinters. "Help me!" I croaked, unable to get anything else out. Too bad no one could hear me…
Cuts and scratches began to cover me as her nails mauled at me; even though she was moving so fast I couldn't see her, I knew she was there, causing this. I just curled up as best as I could despite my wounds, and waited for her to stop.
After what felt like forever, I finally heard her voice say, "Oh, little sister, why won't you fight back?"
My eyes snapped open and landed on her. She was holding a dagger in one hand and sword in the other. I stood, and stumbled a little before taking a sharp painful breath; my ribs were like razors in my stomach.
I didn't want to resort to this, but this was life of death; I had to use my Vampyre senses. I relaxed my control on my senses, my strength, and my power.
"You don't want to hurt your big sister, do you? Oh, never mind. I just remembered you can't," Noel sneered. I squeezed my eyes shut and heard her getting closer. "You can't do anything!"
My eyes flashed open, and I darted forward. Without even hesitating, her arm flew up and sent me flying backwards. I blinked and fell to floor. Noel glared at me and her grip tightened on the weapons handles. On closer inspection, I saw dark purple liquid dripping from the blades of each weapon. I knew it automatically; poison.
I jumped up, and darted around her at Vampyre speed, knowing I had to get away from the poison. I darted down the hall despite the pain racking my body, and heard her following. I came to a dead end, and turned my head in time to see her throw the dagger at me.
I gasped when it pierced my shoulder, pinning me to the wall. Seconds passed as I took in the fact of what had happened. I grabbed the dagger in my hand, and pulled it out, wincing in pain. It fell to the ground with a clatter.
Then I felt the burning. It started at my wound and slowly began to spread. I only had a little time to live, and I was going to avenge my sisters and my Negative. Noel swung the sword at me, and I summoned Judgment and Forgiveness to block it. We danced.
The burning crept over my body as Noel and I fought and I continued to resist the urge to fall down in exhaustion and pain. My reflexes were slower than usual. When Noel's sword entered my thigh, I fell, unable to move anymore.
She ripped the sword from my thigh and crouched beside my now squirming form.
"You failed, Kiyomi," Noel said, calmly. She ran her finger across my bloody arm, collecting some of the blood before putting it in her mouth.
"Hmm…it's a shame, little sister, you could have joined me," Noel mused before standing. The burning sensation was everywhere now and my vision was blurring. My grip on my twin daggers loosened and my breathing became labored. I felt my conscious struggling to stay awake.
"Do you feel it; your life that is slipping away?" Noel whispered.
"I was never your little sister…" I breathed as my limbs jerked and twitched.
"Right; of course you were. You won't be for long though," she said motioning to me. Everything began to dim and my eyes fought against death. My limbs stilled and my breathing did as well.
"I'll be sure to tell Negative how you cried as I killed you. Then I'll take your place. Heh, say good-bye to your teddy-bear," Noel sneered.
"My…t…teddy…bear…!" And then it hit me. Everything I had seen or thought I had seen was a fake! Anger coursed through me. It was all an illusion and Noel had won! Tears fell from my eyes and I let them close.
God, please help me to defeat Noel. Give me the health and the strength to do this. Help me and stand by me the whole way; in Jesus' name, Amen.
My eyes opened slowly to reveal Noel standing farther away than before. "Good-bye little sister," she said before turning to leave. As she did, the burning slowly came to a stop and was slowly replaced by a soothing warm feeling. A new strength began to fill me.
I clenched Forgiveness in my hand and pulled her to me. I streaked her blade across my arm, which didn't even hurt. As I did, I felt myself begin to heal. The scratches slowly faded to scars and my bones came back together. Power flooded through me and I clenched Judgment tighter in my hand as well.
My breathing returned to normal and Forgiveness and my body began to get a shining bright aurora around it. I relaxed and closed my eyes, feeling the power flow through me as I finished healing. Feeling my strength return to me, I opened my eyes again and began using my hand to push myself up off of the floor. The power continued to flow through me as I stood up and steadied myself.
Noel, apparently noticing how bright the room had gotten, turned as the light faded. I dashed up only a few feet away from her and said, "What about my teddy-bear?"
"That's impossible!" she growled.
"Oh is it? Watch me." I kicked the stunned Noel and she went flying backwards into the wall. She slowly peeled off and landed on her hands and knees. "Is that what you were looking for 'big sister'?" I asked as I began making my way over to her. "Me to kick your stupid butt down?"
"If only you knew, little sister," she whispered. She glared at me, and vaporized into nothing.
"Coward!" I yelled, looking around.
"This isn't over, Kiyomi. We'll meet again, sister dear." Her voice slowly faded away. I backed away from the wall. I sighed heavily, and looked around the room. I noticed a door that hadn't been there before my fight with Noel.
Exhausted and close to fainting from it, I decided to go through it. When I opened the door, it revealed a stone hallway with other doors. From one, I heard screams that could only belong to Yami.
Without another thought, I ran for the door. I kicked the door in, not even pausing to open it like a civilized person. The wall crumbled some as the door flew off its hinges. Inside, a room waited with Yami hanging from the ceiling, and that Vampire freak, Leo extremely close to her neck.
"Hey freak! Get away from her!" I yelled, running into the doorway. Leo pulled back, and smirked. I took Judgment, and threw it as hard as I could at him. It hit his shoulder, but Leo did nothing. He didn't even flinch.
"Another little girl? Ah, but this one is Half-Vampire; no Half-Vampyre. Hmm, did Noel not finish you off?" Leo mused. For future reference, there is a difference between Vampires with an 'i' and Vampyres with a 'y.' I glared, and darted forward with my speed. He vanished just as I got right in front of him.
Judgment clattered to the ground. Without hesitating, I used Forgiveness to cut the chains binding Yami. She fell to her hands and knees, and I summoned Judgment back to my hand.
"Yomi, thank god you just came in here and saved me!" Yami said as I helped her to her feet.
"I heard your screams. Come on, twin, we have to find the others before Leo comes back," I said, pulling her with me. I paused to listen closely to any other screams. I forced my Vampyre senses to listen closer, and I faintly heard Mizu's screams coming from the blank wall in front of us. I kicked the wall that had been behind Yami when she was dangling from the chains. It crumbled to nothing and Yami gave me a look that told me she thought it was cool.
Mizu's screams were louder now, and I knew I was on the right track. I glanced down and saw a rope. I looked out of the hole in the wall and saw that it led to a mountain top. I quickly grabbed the rope, and pulled Yami out of the stoned room. We walked out onto a mountain top with stormy skies sending thunder and lightning across the darkened clouds.
I sighed when I heard Mizu's screams grow. I looked to the direction of her screams. A lone tower stood about thirty feet away. In the window, I saw Midnight standing; she had Mizu hanging out of it.
"Crap!" I groaned. I looked closer at the tower, looking for something I could catch the rope on.
"Is that…Mizu?" Yami asked as I did. I nodded and smiled when I found a hook. I lassoed the rope and threw it as hard as I could. It flew through the air and caught on the hook.
I tightened the rope, and ran over to a nearby tree. I tied it tightly to the tree and made sure it would support my weight. I picked up a stick. "What are you doing?" Yami questioned as I put the stick on the string and held it tightly.
"Okay, Yami, stay here. Don't move; don't even breathe!" I said carefully.
"I have to breathe!" Yami called as I jumped up and began sliding down the rope.
"Says who?" I yelled back.
"The Laws of Physics!" she shouted.
"The Laws of Physics have nothing to do with breathing, you dim wit!" I yelled. I glanced back at her and saw her make her mock "offended" face. I shook my head and smiled as I continued to ride the zip line.
Midnight's grasp loosened on Mizu and she slipped from Midnight's hand. She began falling and an ear splitting scream filled the air. I caught her hand, and smirked when I saw Midnight look up just in time to see me coming through the window with Mizu.
I kicked her right in the stomach and sent her flying backwards. She recovered as Mizu and I landed on the stone floor.
"What? Impossible! Noel was supposed to take care of you!" Midnight accused.
"Noel isn't so big and bad, now is she. You'll be a piece of cake!" I said, smiling. Mizu glanced around, taking in what had just happened to her.
"Yomi, dude, that was fucking awesome!" Mizu squealed.
"Language," I snapped, before I darted forward. Midnight glared and disappeared into dark mist. The dark mist took the form of a crow and flew out of the window. Thankful that I didn't have to fight neither Leo nor Midnight, I went to the window and called for Yami to zip line to the tower as well.
"Just make sure you don't let go!" I called to her as she looked down unsure.
"Looking down doesn't help!" Mizu called. I looked down at Mizu and laughed.
"Yea, it's a piece of cake as long as you don't let go!" I agreed. "And get a strong enough stick to hold your weight!"
When she was finally safe in the tower, Mizu, Yami, and I started down the long staircase of the tower.
Kiyo's Point of View
I hit the ground and cried out in pain as Raven placed his hand on my chest. Darkness pooled into me and filled the space around me. Tears streaked my face and more screams emitted from my mouth.
The Darkness pressed into me further, making me feel like I was going to die any moment. It was too strong. "How does that feel, Kiyo? You like the Darkness? Do you want to be a Dark Phoenix like me?" Raven whispered in my ear.
"Get the hell away from me!" I screamed. A strong force of Darkness covered me and I cried out. "Stop it, please!"
Raven laughed out and forced more and more of the toxic Darkness upon me. My screams grew louder and I felt myself literally dying because of the Darkness. I wanted my Ash so bad…
"Ash…" I whimpered. Raven's high pitched laughter twisted through the air again.
"Ash isn't here and neither is your stupid Guardian so shut your whimpering mouth up," Raven sneered. I felt more sobs shaking my body and I knew he was right; I was going to die.
Kairi's Point of View
"Yoru, where is Kiyo?" I called as we dashed through the dark forest. I tried to listen for the distant screams that Yoru could probably hear well. As we ran, I tried to open our connection more and let it give me a sense of where she was or why she was screaming.
As soon as our connection was completely open and free, it hit me like a cloud of smoke. Darkness coated me and coursed through Kiyo and me both. I groaned in discomfort, and Yoru sensed this. She grabbed my forearm and pulled me along faster. I nodded to her in appreciation. We grew closer to Kiyo's screams, and I began to fear; Kiyo was getting really weak.
When she came into sight, we were in a large meadow. She was on the very edge with none other than Raven. He was bent over her with his hand to her heart. Behind him, dark figures that I could only guess were the dead Phoenixes loomed, waiting for their master's orders
I growled in anger, and Yoru whispered, "Kuroyaku and Fira, I summon you both to my aid. Get those freaks away from Kiyo. Go!"
"You as well, Ryokua!" I shouted, not even trying with the element of surprise. Yoru and I dashed forward (as best as we could, considering I had a broken arm, deep cuts, and blood loss and Yoru had gashes from her head to her toes) and ran straight for Raven. At my outburst, he had glanced up. We stopped about ten feet away from him. Ryokua, Fira, and Kuroyaku swarmed the weird dead Phoenixes.
"Oh, how interesting. It seems Bara and Echo have failed to keep you at bay long enough for me to get the queen. Hmm, I guess I'll have to take care of the two of you myself." Raven stepped a few feet from Kiyo and snapped his fingers. "Get them!"
The dead Phoenixes moved towards Yoru and me. We nodded to one another, and ran forward despite our wounds. I swung Kuroyasha to the best of my ability; she cut through several of them.
As soon as the dead Phoenixes came into contact with my Kuroyasha, they screeched and faded away. Yoru smirked, and used Shiroyasha the same way. After awhile, there were no more dead Phoenixes to fight off. We turned to Raven, who was now standing over Kiyo. Kuroyaku, Fira, and Ryokua were flanking Yoru and me.
"Damn children!" Raven snarled. He picked Kiyo up by her wrist. She only dangled there and screamed at the Darkness. "She'll pay for your ignorance."
"No!" I screamed, and ran forward, Yoru right on my heels. I kicked him as hard as I could manage in a kick. He flew backwards and hit a tree, though he didn't seem very shaken.
Kiyo dropped to the ground, panting and whimpering. "Run! Get away Kiyo!" I told her, standing my ground as snarls ripped through Yoru's throat. Kiyo struggled to her feet and stumbled towards the other side of the meadow.
Raven glared, and waved his arms. Wind began blowing harshly, and Yoru and I gasped, but stood our ground. The wind swooshed harder and sent us flying backwards.
"Come, my children!" Raven called to any remaining dead Phoenixes (if there were any.) "We shall visit Mother again, soon." The wind increased, and made me close my eyes tightly. When it all stopped, I blinked and looked around to find them all gone.
Yoru stood near me panting with exhilaration and adrenaline as I was. I looked behind me and saw Kiyo curled up into a ball. I dashed to Kiyo who was gasping on the ground.
"Kairi!" she cried, clinging to me. I held her in a tight hug, trying to calm her down from the Darkness.
"Hun, it's going to be okay. Raven is gone, and now we're going to find Yomi, Mizu, and Yami, and we're going to get the hell out of this place," I soothed. After a few minutes, she calmed down, and I helped her to her feet. She was shaking and incredibly weak from all the Darkness that was still in the air.
Our weapons returned to Yoru and me. Yoru offered to carry Kiyo, and I agreed. Yoru picked Kiyo up, and cradled her. She clung to Yoru for dear life as we forced ourselves to move.
"Why didn't you use Haiiroyasha?" I questioned, trying to fill the silence. Kiyo shrugged.
"I was too scared…" she whimpered in a small fragile voice. That voice made me cringe. She was so weak, and close to the verge of fainting. Kuroyasha faded from me and into her lion form beside me. I leaned on her for support and walked as fast as possible.
After what seemed like miles of walking, we came to the door we had come from. I opened it, and told Kuroyasha to return to me. Yoru followed me in. She sniffed the air, and nodded to one of the doors in the stone hallway.
"They're in there," Yoru said. Kiyo nodded in agreement with Yoru and I led the way. We walked through the door, and came into a stairwell. Steps spiraled all the way up to the ceiling.
"Let's go!" I said. As soon as we started up the stairs, Yomi, Yami, and Mizu came jogging down them. I stopped in my tracks. Mizu and Yomi looked awful, and Yami was wearing some bootie shorts with a skimpy tank-top. On some of her stomach that was showing, I saw black ink.
"Um…?" I questioned to the three of them.
"Couldn't you have shown up about ten minutes ago?" Yomi asked, sounding a bit breathless. I looked up at her and her eyes were golden.
"Your eyes…are gold? What the hell is going on?" I asked.
"I let my Vampyre senses come out," Yomi said, taking a deep breath. She closed her eyes, and relaxed herself. When she opened her eyes, she had returned to their normal clear-blue. She slumped a little bit. Ah, Yomi had faced her Vampiric side. Though, Vampires and Vampyres were two totally different species, but were both pronounced the same.
Vampyres are immune to the sun. Their eyes remain normal until they feed on blood, get emotional, or use their Vampiric nature, and even then, their eyes never turn red, but gold rather. Vampyres are super fast, agile, and really strong. Their hair and nails grow at extreme speed, and they age very slowly. Vampyres aren't immortal, are really pale, and only have sharp canines, not fangs. Vampyres can eat whatever they want, meaning garlic, normal food, or blood. Vampyres can turn others, but can also be born. Vampyres are usually from the Sanctuary rather than the Paranormal World.
Vampires have differences. They aren't immune to the sun, but spells can be placed on them to allow them to be in it. Vampires can eat both blood and normal food (including garlic) but they prefer blood. Without blood, they are never at their true potential. Vampires' eyes stay the same color their eyes were before they were changed. Yes, Vampires can change a victim. When Vampires get angry, upset, emotional, and yes, even lustful, their eyes turn bloody red, and their canine teeth grow into fangs. Vampires are really strong, fast, and can smell any scent and track it down ten miles away. Their hearing is amazing as well. Vampires are immortal and are from both worlds.
Both of the species contain venom in their saliva that enters the bloodstream when they bite their victims. There are many other varieties of Vampiric species, some that can't eat garlic, some that are born, some that can't reproduce, and even some that are almost Human with heightened senses. Yomi was a Half-Vampyre. She only had some qualities of Vampirism, and we were still learning about her abilities.
I was so caught up in my internal babble, and mental debate, I jumped when I heard Yoru saying something.
"Let's get to the infirmary until we can contact Ash," Yoru said. I nodded slowly, and sighed heavily. I was at the end of my rope, and hadn't been this drained since the first time I'd come to the Sanctuary.
We went down the rest of the stairs and out of the door. I gasped when the door lead to a long bridge instead of the hallway from before. Yoru and I exchanged confused glances, but remembered that it was all an illusion so it could all change whenever it wanted to.
We crossed the bridge and Mizu stepped forward. "This is where I came out of the wall," she said, touching it. As soon as her skin came in contact with it, wind blew around us. I gasped, and grabbed onto Yoru and Kiyo automatically.
Suddenly, we were in a castle hallway. Feeling relief course through me, I leaned against the wall. "Which way to the infirmary?" Mizu asked.
"I'll lead the way," Kiyo whispered.
Yoru gave her a questioning look and asked, "Are you sure, Kiyo? Can you walk?"
"Yea, I'm fine," Kiyo said, smiling. Yoru slowly put her on her feet. Yoru and I (with my good arm) helped support her weight as she guided us through the still darkened hallways. After a few minutes of struggling in the dark, Yomi flicked her wrist and all the lanterns in the hallway lit.
"Thanks, that was definitely needed," Mizu laughed. We let the laugh calm the atmosphere. We arrived at the infirmary after finally getting through the dimly lit halls.
"Get Kiyo on the bed over there, Kairi," Yoru said. I nodded, and helped Kiyo to a bed. Yomi collapsed on the one beside her. Mizu held her hand up after sitting on Kiyo's other side.
I gasped when I saw there was a bloody hook sticking out of her wrist. I quickly looked away. "Oh my…" I whispered. "That's just unnatural…"
"And it hurts like a fucker!" Mizu said cringing as she moved it.
"Language, Mizuki," Yomi groaned. Yami had her tank top pulled up off of her stomach showing a square that had been drawn. My eye brows rose. Yoru motioned for me to help her with getting supplies to fix everyone up.
We went into the medical cabinets, and searched for alcohol and bandages. In the midst of our search, Kiyo yelled out. I turned automatically, ready to summon Kuroyasha.
"Ash is here!" she yelled, with her eyes closed. She must have seen it through his eyes. "They won the battle and they're on their way into the castle."
"Wait they're here?" I asked, and as soon as I said it, the lights came on, and Lancer, Axel, and Archer appeared before us.
"Kairi!" Lancer yelled. "Are you alright?" he demanded. I gasped as he charged towards me. Archer and Axel did the same to their masters.
"Where were you?" I questioned as Lancer put his arms around me. I silently winced when his arms touched my slashed back. I also felt very conscious of the fact that he was holding me tightly to his chest…
"We were trapped! Like a mental prison. We couldn't get out no matter what we tried," he explained, pulling back. I winced again when he touched my shoulder. "Oh my god, young master…" he whispered, actually taking in my appearance.
"I'm fine," I said quickly. It was a lie, and he definitely didn't buy it.
"Who did it?" he demanded. I blinked, and felt the rage he felt.
"E-echo?" I whispered unsure. His fists clenched, and he stepped away from me.
"Echo will die!" he growled. I blushed. I glanced over to Axel who was looking over Kiyo who was physically fine, but mentally a train wreck. The Darkness had messed her up really bad. Axel was holding her hand worriedly.
My eyes floated to Archer and Yoru. Yoru was telling him she would be fine and to not worry for her because they were just cuts, though I knew now that the adrenaline was wearing off, the blood loss was taking its toll on her. He was having a miniature panic attack or something.
Suddenly, the doors busted open. My hand shot to my mouth when I saw Ash, Nightmare, Tai, and Negative standing in the doorway. About ten seconds passed, very slowly as everyone took in the scene and what would happen next.
"What. Happened?" Ash demanded as he saw Kiyo and the rest of us. Yomi's eyes widened and she rolled off the bed, hitting the floor because she knew Negative was going to go off.
"We were attacked," Yoru said after a long pause because everyone else was too bewildered to speak. Ash took a slow deep breath.
"Nightmare, take care of Yami. Tai take care of Mizu," Ash said through clenched teeth.
"Of course, my lord," they said in unison. Yami went still as Nightmare walked up to her.
"What wounds do you have?" Nightmare questioned gently. Yami's eyes widened.
"That's the voice!" she shouted. We all turned and gave her a questioning look. She looked around. "Uh…never mind."
I shook my head in confusion, and watched Tai approach Mizu who was still psyched out by her wrist. When she looked up, she automatically went quiet, and blushed.
"That doesn't look too pretty," Tai remarked as he examined her wrist closer. Mizu stayed quiet as if not sure what to say. My attention returned to Ashu-Niisama who had started talking again.
"I'll take care of Kiyo. Axel," he said bitterly, and glaring at the name, "I'll need your help to keep Kiyo calm while Clover helps her with Light. Negative help Kiyomi," he muttered, motioning to Yomi who was still on the floor. Negative was dead silent as he slowly made his way to Yomi.
"Lancer, will you fetch the other members of my inner circle. We need Clover in particular. Rath would be helpful as well," Ash asked. Lancer clenched his teeth, but nodded. He faded away.
"Kairi, Yoru," Ash addressed us. "What happened?" Yoru and I looked at each other.
Twenty minutes later, Lancer was sitting beside me on my bed as he and Rath dressed my wounds that had already been stitched. Yoru sat near us with Archer cleaning her wounds and dressing the rather bad ones.
Yomi was resting, and Negative was watching her chest rise and fall with a soft rhythm. Mizu was whining about her wrist aching while Tai stitched it and Yami was reluctantly letting Nightmare scrub the square off of her stomach.
Ash, Clover, and Axel were with Kiyo. Clover was sending short bursts of Light into Kiyo, hoping to counter act the effects of the Darkness. Ash held her hand as this happened.
Yoru and I had explained everything that had happened. I was exhausted, and worn out. As soon as they finished dressing my wounds, I leaned back into Lancer's arms.
"Rest well, Kairi. You were very brave to fight so fiercely," Rath said. I nodded, too weak to say anything else. Lancer leaned back with me still in his arms. His presence was relaxing, and I easily fell asleep.
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