The plot thickens . . .

I'd like to thank Kat Morning for the setting of my story, which is based on the alternate universe of her inu fanfic "Blood Ties."

Disclaimer: I do not own Miroku, Sesshomeru, or any other Inuyasha characters. They are owned by their author/creator, Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter 3: Helpless

Kura picked up her staff and, following the ghost of her friend, jogged to the end of the hallway and entered the production floor, a high-ceilinged room large enough to fit three basketball courts. Twenty feet in front of the door was a raised platform, and on it a throne. An ancient Nosferatu lounged in the chair. His young face was unlined and his body was undoubtedly more powerful than ever, but Kura could tell that he was old by his glowing skin, which lit the gloomy room five feet in every direction. He was the eldest vampire Kura had ever seen: two or three centuries old at least. The Nosferatu was watching Kura intently, a tiny smile curving his bloodless lips. Well, well, well. His velvety voice carried across the echoing room. You've far surpassed my expectations. With only a blessed staff and a throwing knife, you took out two of my Nosferatu underlings and caused the deaths of eleven of the lower vampires. You may be exactly what I am looking for. His silk clothing rustled as he stood and approached her with measured steps. Of course, I had high hopes for the other one as well, but she did not become the powerful Nosferatu lady I dream of. A pity, but she's only a lower vampire. With a gesture, the Nosferatu called forward one of the fifty guards standing around the base of the throne. The guard stepped towards him, into the unnatural light cast by the ancient one's skin.

The lower vampire turned at the sound of Kura's anguished cry, but her sharp eyes showed no recognition, only hunger. Kura took an involuntary step away from the corpse of her closest friend. Horror and fear seized her; she turned and ran out the door, pounded down the hallway and was four steps from the exit when something grabbed her shoulder and slammed her to the ground, knocking the air out of her lungs. Lying flat on her back, she could see the ancient Nosferatu looming over her, its red eyes and pale skin glowing in the semidarkness. In those blood-red eyes she could see her own death.

Between the vampire's hands was a pale green filmy sheet, like a bubble. He pushed it down towards her, and she was horrified to see it expand to surround her. She tried to destroy the film with the blade on the end of her staff, but the bubble merely stretched; however, the moment the staff's wooden handle touched the magical bubble, it popped. She scrambled to get her feet under her, but was knocked back down by the force of a tremendous kick that snapped the thick wooden staff in two and sent splinters flying. Kura, dazed, watched as he cast the spell a second time. The staff pieces couldn't destroy the film; the weapon's magic had been shattered as well. The bubble closed in around her. It brushed against her hand, and she felt a tingling just before it became numb. When she tried to pull her hand away, she realized that she couldn't move the muscles in her arm. In moments, it covered her skin until she was completely paralyzed, lying helpless at the Nosferatu's feet.

His left hand closed around her throat; he lifted her by the neck and slammed her limp body into the wall so that her feet dangled several inches off the ground. I am Lord Naru, one of the great Nosferatu lords. When the Gathering comes, the Eight will serve me, the power of the ancients will fill me and the long wait will end. Every human, demon and vampire will know my power and bow down to me.

And you will be beside me. You will have the honor of being my Lady. In time, you will grow to love me, and I will give you all the power you have ever desired; you will hold life and death in your cold fingers. His voice was smooth and persuasive. His youthful face was pale but handsome in contrast to the waves of long dark hair gathered in a high ponytail.

He traced a long fingernail along her jawbone, drawing a thin line of blood. Kura couldn't feel it; she watched as the Nosferatu leaned in to lick away the blood, starting with the chin and following the thin cut up to her right ear. But first, he whispered, you will learn to fear me.

Kura saw her body jerk and heard the sound of bones being crushed. His strike had been too fast to see. The vampire released her throat and the containment spell at the same instant. Pain exploded in her side where the lower vampire had slashed her earlier. She slumped to the ground and curled herself into a fetal position to protect the right side of her ribcage, where the lower two ribs had been snapped into many pieces. The punch also widened the knife wound; warm, sticky blood was flowing between her fingers.

Kura's other hand slid to the hidden sheath on the inside of her belt and closed over the handle of her smallest knife. She was warned of the vampire's approach by his shadow; one of the slippered feet came forward to nudge her inert form. As quickly as possible, she drew the knife and stabbed its needle-like blade through the top of the Nosferatu's foot and down into the white tile floor. With a scream of rage, the Nosferatu tried to pull his foot free, but found it pinned securely. Kura scrambled away from him and lunged out the door. He reached down to jerk out the thin blade, but his hand was repelled. He was forced to kneel down to see the warding sutra wrapped around the the handle. He was impressed; it was a powerful spell that would take him at least 10 minutes to break. At his yell of rage, ten of his vampire guards had come running.

Follow her. Catch her and bring her back. The guards raced for the door with their master's voice thundering after them, Bring her back ALIVE, or I'll hurl you into sunlight!

Outside, Kura was flat-out running. She'd been on the track team before dropping out of high school, so she knew that she could beat almost any vampire sent after her. Well, under normal circumstances she could. Bleeding, with her side burning with every breath, she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep running. Every step jarred her entire body. If the Nosferatu lord came after her . . . He had overtaken her within ten steps in the warehouse hallway, even though she had a head-start of twenty feet. His punches were faster than her vision could register. He had shattered the thick wooden staff as if it was a toothpick. If he chased her, he would turn her. And she would spend an unchangeing eternity without compassion, killing and feeding on those she had known as friends.

Kura ran as if her life depended on it. In reality, far more than just her life was on the line.