A butler carried a tiny music box was set on a brocaded pillow. He rushed down a grand curving staircase, past other servants.
He raced out the front door, careful to balance his precious cargo on the pillow.
A horse-drawn carriage stood outside, An escort of cossacks on horseback waited, horses impatient, steam shooting from their nostrils, hooves prancing. The Butler came out with the box on the pillow, carrying it.
Dowager Empress Genkai stood regally beside the carriage door, dressed in full evening clothes. Genkai had the appearance of a small-built aged woman, wearing a long purple velvet gown. She had light, wavy silver hair braided into a bun and a tall diamond crown. Her eyes were molten chocolate, full of wisdom and knowledge.
The Butler bowed as he presented the box. She took it from the pillow and put it carefully in her beaded clutch. The Butler retreated.
A footman opened the carriage door, and Genkai climbed inside. As soon as the door closed, the carriage took off, preceeded by the thundering Cossack horses.
Genkai's carriage raced through the street, her honor guard of horseman cutting a path ahead of her.
"Your highness..." said the footman.
The gates swung open for Genkai's carriage. This was the Natsumi Palace, named after Raizen's human lover and Maria's mother. The palace was lit up, with opulently dressed partygoers streaming inside. They bowed as Genkai's carriage pulled up.
The palace doors swung open. Music poured out, and sounds of gaiety. Genkai swept inside, dancing couples bowing as she passed.
Elegant demons, waltzed in the Main Hall as an orchestra played. King Raizen danced with Princess Maria, 8, graceful and spirited. As an eight-year-old child, Maria possessed flawless fair skin, long flowing auburn hair (naturally curled at the ends), and light blue eyes with naturally groomed eyelashes and thick eyebrows. Father and daughter were the couple of the moment - all eyes adored them.
"Hello darling." Genkai said.
Raizen laughed.
Despite being thousands of years old, Raizen's body remained young and strong, consisting of a lean yet muscular appearance. Raizen wore a silk purple and white suit with a yellow belt.
Accompanied by long, white hair, his facial features consist of a long, thin nose, canine teeth, a tattoo below his left eye, and a pained, craving smile.
"Oh Papa!" Maria said.
Genkai was smiling as she watched her granddaughter dancing with her father. Maria, her dance finished, lit up at seeing her grandmother, and ran to her.
Maria gasped.
Genkai handed her a beautiful music box. A servant boy named Kurama, 10, entered through a secret opening in the wall behind Genkai's chair, to eavesdrop. Kurama had short red hair and bright green eyes. He had used his skills as a thief to break into the ballroom and watch the festivities, particularly the young princess.
"For me?! Is it a jewelry box?!"
A kitchen servant caught Kurama spying.
"Kurama, you belong in the kitchen."
"Let go!" Kurama said.
Unnoticed by Maria and Genkai, the boy was dragged quickly into the secret door.
"Look." Genkai took out a key, a small silver flower on a neck chain. She put it into the back of the music box, and wound it.
Maria whispered. "It plays our lullaby!"
"You can play it at night before you go to sleep. And pretend that it's me singing." Genkai said.
Genkai handed Maria the key
"Read what it says." Genkai said.
"Together in Paris." Really? Oh, Grandmama." Maria said.
Genkai smiled and nodded. They embraced.
Genkai and Maria heard a startled gasp from the crowd and the room fell silent.
The crowd parted before Yomi. Shura, his son, was clutched at Yomi's side.
Yomi had sightless eyes and six long pointed ears.. He had long, black hair and two prominent horns that jutted down from his forehead but appear to frame his head. Additionally, he had four horns on his head, two on each side, and one jutting from the back of his head, giving him a total of seven horns. He also wore a light garment underneath red robes and had a defined musculature.
Shura wore light purple and blue, and had only two large pointed ears. He acted as his fathers eyes, and could see perfectly.
Yomi stalked through the crowd, people falling back in fear and surprise, crushing a champagne glass underfoot.
Yomi reached the King, who alone stood firm before him.
"How dare you return to the palace." Raizen said.
"But I am your confidante." Yomi said.
"Confidante, Ha, you are a traitor. Get out!" Raizen said.
"You think you can banish the Great King Yomi? I will be the king of the Makai! I will banish you with a curse." Yomi said.
Maria gasped.
Kurama gasped.
Genkai gasped.
"... mark my words. You and your family will die within the fortnight. I will not rest until I see the end of the Mazaku line forever." Yomi said.
He raised the reliquary, sending a bolt of lightning to the Chandelier which crashed to the floor. When light was restored, Yomi is gone.
Xxx
The Mazaku family was in nightclothes, running down a hallway.
"Hurry children!" Raizen said.
Maria stopped in her tracks, as her family continued down the hallway.
"My music box!" Maria said.
Genkai tried to stop her from running back down the hallway to get it - but couldn't. She followed her.
"Maria! Come back, come back! Maria!" Genkai said.
In her room, Maria grabbed her music box as Genkai rushed in. Shots were heard. Kurama burst in from wall panel.
Shura grunted on impact of landing on window sill as he peeked in.
"Please hurry!" Genkai said.
"Come this way, out the servants quarters." Kurama said.
"Hurry Maria!" Genkai entered the secret doorway. Kurama shoved Maria in behind her, accidentally knocking the music box out of her hand.
"Father, she's getting away." Shura called.
"My music box." Maria said.
Alarmed, Shura watched Maria escape.
"Go, go!" Kurama said.
He pushed her through as angry revolutionaries burst in through the door. He slammed the panel shut and put his body in front of it.
Xxx
Shura, seeing Maria and Genkai escape, ran off looking for Yomi.
"Comrades, in here." A guard said.
A huge revolutionary approached Kurama and slapped him hard.
"Where are they boy?" The guard said.
The guard knocked him to the floor with the butt of his rifle. Kurama, chin bleeding and on the floor, reached unnoticed for Maria's music box.
Xxx
With the palace in flames behind them, Genkai was running with Maria across the ice. it was very cold, the women were not dressed for it. They passed under a bridge.
"Grandmama!" Maria said.
"Keep up with me, darling!" Genkai said.
The little girl looked behind her and gasped.
Yomi leaped down upon them from atop the bridge, landing hard on the ice, and grabbed a hold of Maria's ankle and wouldn't let go.
"Aah! !" Maria screamed.
Genkai saw the evil holy man. "Yomi!"
"Let me go, please!" Maria pleaded.
Yomi thrashed in the water. "You'll never escape me, child, NEVER!"
"Oh, let me go!" Maria said.
The ice broke beneath him and he fell into the river. Maria wrenched herself free, and saw Yomi thrashing about in the water. He went down, and they locked eyes for a moment, his glowing, hypnotic eyes full of rage and fury. He called out to his son.
"Shura!" Yomi said.
"Father!" Shura said.
"Shura!" Yomi said.
"Oh ..." Shura said.
Maria broke the gaze and ran away.
Yomi's fingernails - digging into the ice, couldn't find purchase. He was slowly pulled under. One last desperate reach out of the water, and Yomi was sucked under by the current.
The Reliquary - All that was left of Yomi, rolled away from the hole in the ice. Shura swooped down, scooping it up, and disappeared into the black night.
Xxx
There was mass confusion as people shove to get on the train. Genkai and Maria raced to get on, fighting their way through the frightened crowd.
"Maria hurry, hurry!" Genkai said.
Passengers pulled Genkai on board the train and Maria was running to catch up.
"Grandmama!" Maria said.
"Here take my hand. Hold on to my hand!" Genkai said.
Maria reached up and took Genkai's hand. She was desperate, frightened.
"Don't let go!" Maria said.
Suddenly, her small hand slipped from Genkai's grasp.
"AH ... Maria!" Genkai said.
Maria stumbled, hitting her head on the ground "AH ..."
"Maria!" Genkai shouted.
Genkai tried to jump off the train, but was held back by the other passengers. She watched as the view of her granddaughter was obscured by a sea of humanity disappearing in the distance.