Choose Your Own Renventure

by Persephone Jinmi

Ren, a mercenary-for-hire, is contracted by the bard Hikaru & his friend Kijima to escort them to Hikaru's betrothed, Kyoko Mogami-whom Ren knows from his own past. Their journey leads them into a bewitched forest where vampires, witches, & thieves lie in wait. Many paths lead them to the ends of this story. Which they take—and whom they love—is up to you. Choose wisely, Reader.

22. Chapter 22

Hikaru moved on instinct, not thought. He slammed his knee up into the chin of the thing that looked like Kijima. The head jerked back, but only far enough to slide off the end of Hikaru's knee. Its mouth fell open.

Hikaru tugged at his wrist, trying to pull it free. The thing worked its jaw, each rotation drawing a deeper smile forth. It stood, its shadow falling over the bard. "Kijima," Hikaru said, the name a whispered prayer. "It's me."

Not-Kijima's lips curled outward from its feral grin, baring the slow birth of long, white fangs for Hikaru to clearly see.

"It's me!" Hikaru shouted. He kicked at Not-Kijima's leg, thrashing against his grip. Not-Kijima bent down in a slow, effortless motion like oil sliding across a wave.

A hand gripped its shoulder and spun Not-Kijima around, ripping Hikaru with it. Ren shoved against the thing's chest. It leaned into the push, an eerie dance beginning between the two larger men, with Hikaru crushed between.

"The hell is wrong with your face," Ren said.

Not-Kijima let his head sink onto his shoulder, the angle bizarre. "My…" his speech was slurred, the single word forced through his fangs. "...face."

Ren's smile back was something no natural man should have been able to make. His grip shifted, sliding to wrap around Not-Kijima's neck. One thumb pressed deep into the side. "You have no pulse."

"He has fucking FANGS," Hikaru screeched. "And you're worried about—pulses!"

Ren waited, his thumb deep enough in Not-Kijima's pressure point a mortal man would be on his knees. Not-Kijima ran his tongue over the tips of his fangs.

"That," he said, his voice still too thick for Hikaru's comfort, "is going to cock up my next date." He brushed Ren's hand off his neck like it was a snowflake. A glance down at Hikaru, the bard still tangled in his grip. "Or make it much more interesting."

Kijima forced his lips around his fangs, hissing as they slid back inside his upper jaw. He tossed Hikaru aside and grabbed the deer's corpse instead, dragging it away. Red painted his trail.

Ren helped Hikaru up, his brow furrowed. He pulled his sword out silently.

Reader, we are at a crossroads. If Ren should decapitate the vampire Kijima, turn to Chapter 27. If Ren and Hikaru should follow after him to the inn, turn to Chapter 28.