Tainted Hearts

Chapter 8-Capture

Cliffs near Neo Alexandria

5:37 P.M.

Zoe:

          I wasn't surprised when I saw the cliffs surrounding Alexandria. I knew it wouldn't be that easy anyway. I was just concerned about Amuro and Kajin. Kajin seemed to be weakening with every step now. She was bound to give out soon. Amuro…well, she was a baby…a sick one at that. Ryuujin bought a harness for Amuro and a couple of ropes for the climb to be safe.

          "I'll go up first and secure the ropes. Kajin comes up second, Zoe and the child last," Ryuujin said softly.

          The plan sounded safe enough. And so, Ryuujin started up the cliff carefully. It didn't take her long to toss both of the ropes down. Kajin grabbed one and surprisingly pulled herself up quite quickly. Now Amuro and I were left. I put Amuro into the harness and adjusted it accordingly. I tied the rope around my waist and secured it with a loose, yet firm knot.

          I pulled up on the rope and started on the way up. The moment I got up there, I was hoisted to my feet roughly and the ropes and the harness with Amuro in it were ripped away from me.

          "No! Let her go!" I shrieked.

          Two guards held me back along with Ryuujin and Kajin. Lei walked up to all of us, with a smirk on his pale face. At the sight of him, Kajin winced and whimpered.

          "You've eluded us for a long time, Kajin. I wouldn't expect that from you, Zoe."

          That must have been the person who hurt her. If only I could get free from these guards…

          "I'm not governed by you, so you wouldn't know what to expect from me," I snapped.

          Lei shot me a glare that would have melted cities. I didn't flinch. The guards didn't bother to touch Ryuujin, for she had an ugly look on her face that said 'Don't bother me'. Lei walked up to Kajin and touched her chin. She shuddered and drew away from his touch. I jerked forward, trying tot get at Lei before he could hurt her. The guards jerked me back twice as hard, sending me to the ground.

          "Don't hurt her!"

          The surprisingly strong voice came from Kajin as she wrestled out of the guard's grip. Lei grabbed her arm and jerked her back roughly. I jumped up to my feet and pushed the guards aside.

          "Let her go!' I shouted.

          Lei smirked and jerked Kajin back behind him. Kajin hit the ground and whimpered.

          "Careful Zoe. I don't want to be responsible for your death."

          I bit my lip and stopped where I stood.

          "You are so lucky I have to take care of Amuro."

          Lei smirked.

          "I'm not worried. I guess I'll pick up my prize and go."

          "Your prize?"

          He didn't answer as he picked Kajin off of the floor.

          "See you soon."

Neo Alexandria

6:23 P.M. ~After Sunset

Kuja:

          The trip up to the castle had been particularly unpleasant even as it was spent on Silver's long, feathery back. I left Treno to get some magical items for Zoe and Kajin's protection. I knew she was hurt from whatever attacked her on the Treno streets. I felt sorry for my child and I wanted nothing more than to kill the person who did it to her. Recently, I heard word that Zoe and Kajin disappeared from Kyuuden. The guards were actively hunting after them both. This news disturbed me.

          My wife was probably still pregnant and now she was probably stuck in the countryside having her baby. And I wouldn't be there for her.

          "Sir Kuja, two women are here to see you."

          I waved at the guard idly and turned back to the window.

Zoë:

          I was still feeling nauseous after Ryuujin dispatched the guards. I argued against it, but she insisted. So blood was split on the plains outside of Alexandria. And now…we were standing in front of the chambers to Alexandria Castle, waiting for Kuja to show his face.

          "Did you think he'll apologize to me?" I asked.

          Ryuujin shrugged and covered her face. Was she getting exhausted?

          "Ryuujin," I said softly as I reached out to touch her.

          "I'm fine. I'm just really tired, that's all. With Kajin being so far away, I am…kind of weak."

          Oh yeah, that's right. Ryuujin and Kajin shared the same body…sort of.

          "We'll get her back."

          "Zoë…Ryuujin."

          I glanced at Kuja haphazardly. For a moment, he flinched.

          "Where's Kajin?"

          "Lei has her," Ryuujin answered.

          "How did he?"

          "He took her in exchange for our lives. And you weren't there to help us," I snapped.

          "I apologize."

          "You apologize?"

          I held Amuro close and slapped Kuja across the cheek.

          "Thanks for not being there. I feel really loved," I snarled as I stormed out into the hallway.

Kajin:

          I was forced against a wall by Lei and forced to cry out as he hit me in my chest. I sagged to the floor, my face soaked with tears and blood. Lei smiled wickedly down on me, totally happy that he had gotten me back.

          "You look so weak and thin, Kajin. You don't like the gift I gave you?" He asked.

          I edged back against the wall, trying to think of a way to get away from him.

          "Gift?" I asked.

          "The gift of vampirism. The gift of the bloodsuckers. Your food is blood now."

          Blood? Blood! I covered my mouth as my stomach heaved. It caused me to hack and cough violently before continuing.

          "You monster! I'd rather die than to kill someone for their blood!" I shouted.

          Lei pulled me up to my feet and smiled.

          "You will, because I will force you."

          I snatched my arm away from him and backed away.

          "No you won't!"

          WHAM! Lei whipped his hand across my face roughly. I fell backwards from the force of it. Lei grabbed my arms and dragged me down the steps of the building down into the basement. In the basement were two children. He released me after locking the door and grabbed one of them. He forced the small girl's head to the side, revealing the pretty little girl's neck.

          "Come over here."

          I found myself walking to him despite myself.

          "Good girl, now bite her neck."

          The little girl whimpered and shook. I couldn't kill such innocence.

          "No…I can't."

          Lei grabbed my neck and shook me violently.

          "Do it, Kajin. Bite her neck or I'll force you to."

          I didn't want him to force me, I really didn't. I inched closer and bit into the girl's fleshy smooth neck. Blood oozed down my chin and my throat, but I refused to swallow it. Lei pinched my neck and forced my head down into her neck.

          "Drink it."

          I whimpered and gagged despite myself. More blood oozed out and slid down my throat, forcing me to swallow. It tasted horrible…and yet I loved it. I took more and more down my throat until my stomach lurched. I pushed away from the girl and made a break for the door Lei was too busy complaining over the blood to care as I undid the lock and burst out into the open air.

          "Get back here!" Lei shouted after me.

          I wasn't going to come back to him, I refused to. Part of me screamed to go back, but my brain told to me to run and hide. So I ran as fast as my legs could take me along the Alexandrian waterfront. Soon, I heard no shouts or any sign of pursuit, and I slowed my run. Unfortunately, I didn't watch where I was going. I hit the railing that surrounded the castle's moat and fell forward, straight into the river. I immediately swam up to the surface, gasping for air. What was I doing? Why was I running?

          I kicked back enough so that I could float on my back. The moon was high in the sky, unmarred by clouds or even fog. I used to enjoy evenings like this…when I had been completely pure. But not anymore. Lei had taken several things away from me unwillingly. I almost died. I used to wish I would die too. But Zoë stuck with me through the pain, even though she had Amuro to take care of. Even Ryuujin sacrificed for me. I think the last couple of times Lei hit me cleared my head.

         My strength had never really been robbed. My spirit had never really been broken. It was there all along. After a while, a canoe with a guard in it passed by. Seeing that I was actually alive, he pulled me out of the water. Bad idea. The feeding on the innocent child had made me hungry. I was against killing innocent people, but since this was the only way I could survive. I had no choice. I smirked and easily found my way to his neck.

          I bit in swiftly, quickly knocking him to the bottom of the canoe. When the canoe hit the banks of the shore, I straightened up and headed to the castle. I licked my lips softly and hid my smile. Everyone will see the new Kajin soon enough. It was just a matter of time.

Author's Note: The next chapters will come up soon…