Note: Sorry that this one came out late. My computer was in the workshop again. Anyway, this is the chapter seven, which I had gladly written with my free time. I was kind of busy lately, you know, homework and stuff. So forgive me if this one is short and rather less informative that other chapters. Pity…
And now, I humbly present this chapter seven to everyone. Enjoy!
Chapter Seven
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To hope is to risk failure
But, risk must be taken
Because, the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing
Kana stepped down from a large portal. She knew that she had failed to accomplish her plan. The truth was, she did not even do much when she was down on earth. Kindness and love. Those traits were still carved into her heart. She could not bear to bring suffering to others, just to get her loved one to forget her. There were many other ways, actually, but neither one were without danger. Path after path had she taken, and finally, she reached the gates of hell.
A large wild beast, with four heads and a large horn grew out of each heads, stood guarding at the gates. It sneered and bashed its tail furiously before standing high on its hind legs.
"Erasmus… I have failed," Kana whispered.
The beast was still silent.
"I could not bear to take those people's lives. It is not my duty to pull out their spirits from their body, for my own cause."
"Kana, you have rejected the judgement day set only for you the day you died. Instead, you have chosen to be under me, a devil, and the keeper of the gate of hell, for I have the key to unlock the door to the other side of this place. Your heart still desire to stay with him, thus you could not own eternal peace because without that judgement day, you are not truly free yet and anything that happened down on earth, you still can feel." The beast growled.
"I know…"
"You have borrowed my son and daughter. They, too, have limits and will begin feasting on those victims' injuries once they are drained out of energy. Soon, they, the victims, will die."
Kana was speechless. The beast was right. True, she had ignored the judgement day, but there was a reason. The reason was more that he had stated. Not only she wanted to be with Hakkai forever, but protect him as well. However, how can he find his happiness if he could not let go of the past. It was her fault to begin with. Had she just accept death and let her soul be brought to peace, Hakkai would not feel her presence and remember her. "I want him to forget me," The woman said with tears. "I pity the lady."
"True," Said Erasmus. "Dear Kana, because you have chosen me, the devil, to help you, consider what am I about to say a privilege."
Kana wiped her tears. "What is it?"
The beast circled the woman. "I will allow you to descend back to earth. Do anything that is in your powers to make him forget. Return anytime you like."
'Really?"
"But," Erasmus continued. " There is a price to pay. Do you remember the rules of the dead? In order to keep your spirit…intact, your soul has to eat. In this case, the host and hostess of the person concerned, will be drained out of their energy, one by one, until you return."
"What?!" Kana shrieked. "Why them? Can I not be down there without sacrificing others?"
"I am afraid not," Erasmus said holding up a few pieces of scrolls. "I have asked Vermont to ready the lists earlier. The first person at the top of the is that servant, whose brother of that body you borrowed."
"…David."
"Time is ticking, dear. You better get down there or he will be gone before you could even begin your plans."
Kana stared at the beast furiously as it smiled back at her. Angrily and frustrated, she ran towards the portal. Once again, she felt herself being pulled and warped into the abyss as the strong waves of the descending souls, bringing her towards the other end. Soon, the shadows of the tall gothic structure of the mansion appeared. Should she go to the mansion or stop the fight between the devil's children and Hakkai's friends? Kana immediately shifted herself to the forest. Stop the fight first.
Vermont appeared from behind the gates. Unlike the beast, he looked more humanlike. Yes, indeed anyone would mistake him for a human but the fact is that he is still a demon in disguise. Vermont is a vampire, working under Erasmus commands, just to acquire enough soul for himself. Fore centuries, had he been longing to be free. Free from hell as he had already knew the wrath it held for those that entered it. He, too, like Kana, had chosen the devil instead of justice, as he was afraid to leave the living world, at the other side of the portal. He had his reasons. Just as Kana had received Erasmus' idea, he too had received the same plan.
However, because of a mistake, now, he is stuck in hell forever under Erasmus until he had managed to collect enough souls to satisfy Erasmus' hunger. However, Kana's problem, had brought him even closer to his goals. Together with Erasmus trust, he will finally be sent down to earth to stalk the woman and feast on the host and hostess. Kana had chosen the devil, so the price will be her friends' soul.
"Wait, Vermont," Erasmus called out to the darkly dressed creature. "Do you intend to go down without my permission?"
Vermont turned back. "No, sire."
The beast snickered. "Dear, I have no wish to release you neither sooner nor later."
"…but."
"Shh," Erasmus whispered, patting the grounds by his side gently with his paws. Its saliva drooled out as it speaks. "Do sit beside me, my slave."
Vermont hesitated.
"Do you deny me?" The creature boomed. "Such pitiful creature as you should understand this already. I gave you your chance and you blew it up. Now you belong to me and I shall do whatever I desire with you. Now, let us sit down and enjoy the show."
Vermont pulled away from Erasmus grasped. He hated the beast. Erasmus knew that he needs only one more soul, if he wants to be free. That is why for centuries he was locked up in hell and was never allowed eating. However, this was his only chance. He did not care anymore. If he failed, his soul will turn to dust, but if he succeed, he will be free to roam wherever he desires to be. He had to escape from the torture chamber.
Hakkai spun around and around. He was lost. Nothing that he saw looked familiar. And then, he heard a hideous scream. The scream rose shrilly. He struggled up, but there was something pulling him down, back into the abyss. He was suffocating. Air. He could almost feel his lungs bursting as he panicked. Suddenly, he saw a pair of hands, reaching for him from nowhere. Without hesitating, he forced his hands up and grasped the hands tightly.
Suddenly, he sat straight up in bed, wide-awake. He shuddered, gasping for breath. Grabbing the covers, he glanced around. A familiar image formed inside his eyes. "Yaone…"
The girl looked at his meaningfully, but as he raised his hands to hers, she backed away as if he had some dreaded disease.
"Wh…what happened?"
Yaone continued staring at him from the corner.
Hakkai got up from bed. He could not figure out what had happened.
"Please, do not touch me!" Yaone sobbed. This time, she was right against the door. She could not take it anymore. "Who is Kana?"
"What?" Hakkai was shocked to hear the name. "How…"
"You kept calling her name!" The countess cut. "Who is she?"
Hakkai tried to calm the woman in front of him, but she would not heed his words. "Yaone, please…"
"No, I said do not touch me!"
"Please…"
Yaone flashed him an angry glare. "Kana is you late wife, right?"
Hakkai nodded.
Yaone spun around, facing the large window. She could see the trees shivered in the icy breeze. Through the bare branches of the tree, she could see the lights from the streets not far. "Hakkai," The countess spoke, this time with her usual sweet tone. "Please, do try to forget her, for our sake…"
"Forget her?" Hakkai repeated. "How could you ask me to forget her? She was my wife and still is!"
Hakkai froze, realizing what he had just said. "I am… I am sorry."
Warm tears began flowing down the countess soft cheeks. His words had stung her deeply. Never in her life had she been insulted so badly. "Sir Hakkai, this can not go on. For as long as you can not forget her, I can not marry you." She knew that she had to say something, but could imagine that those words actually had came out from her mouth. Desperate and confused, she excused herself and ran out of the mansion, leaving the count in the middle of his own thoughts.
After a while, the count finally returns back to his senses. He dashed out of the room and went to the stable. Unfortunately, there was no horse there. Yaone had run off. Sadly, he made his way back pass the dining hall. Just as he moved away from the hallway, David suddenly appeared from behind him and both of them crashed into each other.
"Are you alright?" Hakkai said, offering help.
Just then, Lady Maori walked passed them. She had her arrogant look as usual. Giving a disgust look, she seated herself at the dining table. "David," She called out impatiently. "Do get the breakfast ready this instant. We do not have all day!"
The boy quickly got up and ran to the kitchen.
A few minutes later, he came out with the dishes. However, he tripped and fell, sending the things of the morning dishes flying into the air and crashed on the long dining table. He immediately got up and picked the pieces with his bare hands. All the watchful eyes of the house stared at him. David knew that Lady Maori was furious. Who would not? He had, if anyone noticed, broke almost half of the plates in the mansion ever since he was sent off to the kitchen. He wondered, if one day, the lady would even managed to finally eliminate him.
He could hear one of the grand duke's wives taunting him as he, once again made a trip to the kitchen to retrieve more food for the hungry hosts. Apparently, he tripped again and fell face flat on the ground. Damn it! He cursed. Who wiped the floor and is still wet?!
"Are you alright?" Hakkai repeated.
"I am fine…" He scrambled up, totally ignoring the count, which followed him, even to the kitchen. How David longed to push him aside, but he knew that her was a mere servant of the house. "Please, Master Hakkai," He said in a forceful polite tone. "Do sit down and let me ready another dish for the Lady and her friends."
"But you are injured," The count exclaimed, looking at the boy in front of him.
David grinned. There was nothing wrong with him. It was only a bad day for him. That was all. Even though ever since he woke up from sleep, he had felt a little weird. It must only be a migraine. He even realized that there was a mark on his right arm. It could be just a bruised he obtained after cleaning up the mansion. It could not get worst, right?
"David, please, you need help…"
"No!" He spat furiously, pushing the count aside. "No, I am sorry, but really, I am fine…"
But then, he felt himself been pinned up against the wall by a pair of strong hands.
"Sir…" David trembled.
"No, you are not alright. Those red bruises on you arm, that is not a bruise. That is a carved spell. I saw it once in one of the library books. It is a sign usually put on people who are going to die, by other method apart of natural death. Why do you have it?" Hakkai demanded.
David turned his head aside. What was he supposed to say? Should he just tell the count the truth or get beaten up for lying? He was torn between two decisions.
"Please…"
David groaned. Finally he decided to speak up.
End of chapter…