Chapter Seven- Rescue

Shiori gingerly rubbed her cheek. This guy ran hot and cold. One moment, he's exploring her body and the next he's abusing her. One would think he would be all loving if he wants me as a mate. She rose from the bed, dressed, and went to the vanity. She grabbed a comb and ran it through her hair before combing her tail. She was not going to take anymore abuse and rape. She was going to try to reason with him and talk politely and kindly. If I can change a thief to be kind, perhaps I can change a kidnapper and rapist to be kind and friendly.

The fortress came to a stop and Yoko leaped off the top and down to the ground; as he crouched there, the scent of the kidnapper filled his nose as well as Shiori's scent. He took off after it, determined to put an end to this. He breathed deeply, allowing Cho's scent to flood his nose. It was strong, very strong. I must be close to his home. He continued to run for some time before he slid to a stop. The trail had abruptly ended! He turned around and found the trail again. He walked slowly and carefully as he sniffed. The scent led him to a deep hole in a mound of dirt. A fox hole, he thought. Appropriate considering his power is earth.

He dropped into the hole and came out in a chamber with at least half a dozen tunnels branching off in different directions. He sniffed the air and found Cho and Shiori's scents coming from the far left. He continued to move slowly and cautiously, his thief's expert eye keeping a lookout for traps. He knew that most traps in Demon World were lethal and fatal. He had no desire to fall to one due to wanting to get his mother out of here. It has been almost two days since her abduction. It may take another day or two to return home. Kazuya and Kokoda may question the supposed trip and that is when we will both tell the truth.

Yoko came out of the tunnel and into a corridor that ended with a door. Cho's scent came from behind the door as well as Shiori's and a female fox. So, he abducted a female demon as well. Yoko jumped as a scream rent the air from behind the door: Shiori. Yoko wanted to run to the door, but suspected that traps were very likely waiting for him. His eyes raked the floor and the ceiling. He spied a rock tip protruding from the ceiling and smirked. He pulled out his whip, snapped it forward, and it wrapped itself around the rock. He gripped his weapon and swung over the floor, landing neatly in front of the door. He yanked his whip loose and used it to break the door and enter it.

Shiori sat on the edge of the foot of the bed, waiting for Cho. The brown fox entered through another door, locking it. He turned and blinked at the dressed and smiling Shiori. "What is this?" he asked.

"I've been thinking that maybe we got off on the wrong foot. I'm all for starting over." She patted the spot beside her.

Cho sat down. "We could start over," he agreed. "Tell me a little about yourself."

"Well, I'm forty-one, have a family and a job. I enjoy sewing, knitting, and cooking."

"Cooking, huh? I like that. I can make an edible meal but that's it."

"I'd be happy to teach you."

"Yes and I could tell you about our power of earth."

"You could tell me now."

"You're right and I can tell you about demons in general. Actually, I'll start there. Well, obviously you are stronger and faster now and you can live longer. Some demons are over 1,000 years old."

Shiori was surprised that her lifespan had lengthened. I'm more of a demon than I had thought. "And our power?"

"We can create anything from the dirt and rocks around us by visualizing it and using our energy to make it real." He put a hand on top of hers. "I can activate your demon energy by hand contact and firing up my energy."

She nodded and gave him a sweet smile. "Please do it." And I may be able to affect my escape.

Cho smiled as his energy flared slightly around him and Shiori gasped as her energy came to life, a vibrant green outlining her body before fading out. Cho released her hand. "Oh, you are strong, Shiori. We could have strong kits."

"Perhaps," Shiori said guardedly. She still had no intention of being his mate or having children. She knew her new power would help her in getting away but wondered how she would get home and if Yoko would recognize her if she met up with him.

She then gasped as Cho lifted off her shirt and bra. "Cho, what are you doing?"

"Obvious, isn't it?" he asked as he pushed her back before removing her shoes, socks, pants, and underwear. "I'm tired of talking and want to have sex."

"Well, I don't." Shiori sat up and scrambled backwards along the edge of the bed.

"Too bad. I want sex and I will get it with or without your consent."

"No!" she yelled and a wall of rock erupted between her and Cho. She blinked at its sudden appearance. Did I do that? Not bad for a beginner. She heard a growl before Cho tackled her from above; he had jumped and clawed his way to the top of the wall.

She hit the floor and Cho straddled her, still fully clothed. He smiled sadistically. "You are definitely strong, but you have much to learn about what you can do. I will teach you and we, in turn, will teach our kits."

"I told you before. I will not bear any more children."

"I don't see why not. By our standards, you are still quite young." He brought his mouth down on hers and he ran his hands down the sides of her body as he kissed her. He pulled back and, as he rubbed her hips, she tried to wiggle out from under him.

"Hey, quit that," he said.

"Never," she growled. "I will never have your children or be your mate. I thought I could change you to be a nice demon."

Cho snarled. "Foolish woman. I am not a weakling like Yoko. You can't change a demon who wasn't raised by humans. But, a human can be taught to act like a demon, especially if they have a demon body."

"I will never act like a demon."

"You already are. You growl like a fox demon and you used your power." He bared his teeth. "If I mark you as my mate, perhaps you will finally act like a demon."

"No!" Shiori screamed loudly.

Cho laughed loudly but stopped at the sound of a breaking door. He stood and turned as the rock wall was split in two to reveal a furious silver fox. He gasped in surprise. "Yoko!? How did you get past the traps?"

"If you were smarter, you would not ask that question," Yoko answered in quiet anger. He snapped his whip and wrapped it tightly around Cho's neck. His fingers and claws pulled and scratched at the whip as his air was being cut off. His attempts to remove the whip grew weaker as he was unable to draw breath. His eyes rolled up into his head as he fell to the floor dead from suffocation.

Yoko crouched down and unwound the whip from Cho's neck before standing to see a black female fox getting dressed and he averted his eyes by looking about for Shiori. He sniffed the air for her scent and it was stronger in the direction of the demon. His head snapped around to stare at the now dressed fox. "Mother?" he whispered, stunned. She nodded and Yoko looked closer. Her hair was a bit longer and her brown eyes had a gold color in them. Her tail was bushy but elegant and it complemented her long delicate ears. He was furious at Cho for changing his mother, as beautiful as she looked.

"Mother, let us leave and head home," he said, his free arm opening while his right hand held the whip. Shiori didn't hesitate as she went to his side and hugged him, happy that she had been saved.