Hey, ares here. Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but I've had my hands full with my other story, Sibling Rivalry. Sorry for the wait.
She didn't know what to expect. She had been a vampire for all of a week, and as much as she hated to admit it, there were things she didn't know- like what the master looks like. And what her Ketsu was so angry about.
It's so odd, she thought, as she changed into the ceremonial dress, he's usually so calm....
Currently, he was off in the shade of the trees, brooding. Kagome could tell he was brooding- he had that look in his eyes that said he was angry. As she was done, she went over to him.
"ketsu, what's wrong?" she asked. He turned towards her, but his eyes were still cold and distant.
"nothing, my dear Kagome. Are you ready for the ceremony?" he replied, entirely avoiding the question. He almost pushed his way out before Kagome could even nod. Kagome turned to look as he continued to walk, ignorant that he had left her behind.
She didn't see the second pair of eyes, crescent jades in the moonlight, following the form of her lilac prince.
The gothic styled mansion was gargantuan, from the inside it seemed like a world of its own. Vampires of all ages chattered and talked over wine bottles filled with blood. None of them smiled, but anyone could tell they enjoyed speaking to other undead with curses like theirs. Usually, the younger ones- under a hundred years of age, stayed together and talked the loudest. The older the vampires got, the less there seemed to be of them. And oldest of all was Master.
He stayed in a chamber all to himself, unwilling to let anyone enter but for the most urgent reasons. Some say he kept several humans, just for blood, entire generations of them. Others say he sleeps like a human, only waking during the day. But none of these rumors were started by those who had seen him.
Indeed, to Kagome, it seemed like he was barely capable of standing up. He was seated in a large throne, made of ebony. He sat adorned with robes that didn't fit his anorexic body. His face had changed over the course of thousands of years, turning more bat like than anything else. His lower lips weren't human, instead they retreated under his fangs- the only teeth he possessed. All over his body was a thin layer of black fur. If one looked carefully, the remnants of what must have been beautiful wings were tattered all over his back.
It was this man that Kagome and Ketsueki now kneeled before.
"Kagome... my newest addition..." he gasped. Despite his fragile appearance. The voice was strong.
"yes, my lord" she responded, head bowed and muttered.
"ah, such a beautiful voice.... Stand, let me look at you" he ordered. Kagome rose slowly, conscious of how few actually got to stand in Master's presence.
He looked her up and down, and a creaky attempt at a smile came upon his lips. "yes, you area fine addition... Good Job, Ketsueki..." he muttered.
"thank you my lord" replied Ketsueki, still kneeling.
"now, for the matter at hand.... Kagome, has Ketsueki informed you as to why you are here?" he asked. Kagome nodded.
"well- then let us not waste any time in commencing the ceremony... Do you have a knife?"
once more Kagome nodded, pulling a Knife Ketsueki had given her. Master took it, and sliced along his finger. He took the blood and poured it into a thin wine glass. This he gave to Kagome.
"Drink- and forget of your human life- embrace the light of my darkness" he said. Kagome reached out and took the Blood offering, noticing it was black as pitch. As she raised it To her lips, she thought briefly of Inuyasha. Then, looking to Ketsueki as she raised the cup to her lips- She forgot.
The cup crashed to the ground, blood spattering to the ground. Kagome had fallen to the ground, On her knees and screeching in pain. The master looked on happily- he knew what the end result would be. Her fangs grew out longer until they stuck out almost to her chin. She blinked several times to clear the blood rising and falling like tears form her eyes. Her nails elongated, the back of her dress tore. She writhed on the floor. She screeched even louder as the flesh on her back tore, and the spines of two black bat wings pushed through. She was losing blood, and rapidly.
"Ketsueki!" barked Master, "give her blood, now!"
Ketsu nodded, Grabbing the knife quickly and slicing his wrist. Immediately, he thrust it into Kagome's mouth, and she began sucking.... To the extent that Ketsu started to get dizzy from blood loss.
She started to slow with the blood, eventually lying unconscious on the floor. Master looked down at her with pride.
"She will make a fine Mistress, in a few hundred years. Won't she Ketsueki?" said Master. Ketsueki nodded.
"you may go now, but leave the girl with me. She has much to learn..."
And so, regretfully, Ketsueki stood up and left Kagome with Master. And where to go but the woods?
He was a good way into the forest when something caught his eye- the gleam of silver in the night. He stopped short, and looked around in the darkness. He didn't stop long- the danger soon announced itself.
"'ey, Ketsueki! Y' stole another girl, didn't ye'?" Said Willa as she stepped out of the shadows. She wasn't afraid of Ketsu, she never was.
"Willa. Why are you here?" he responded. He kept his eyes on her- they had fought many times and she always pulled the sneakiest of tricks. The red-head smiled.
"oh, y' know the only reason 'n exile ever goes back t' their clan is to request re-entrance" she said, a little too happily.
"filthy Half-breed Dhampir" insulted Ketsueki "they'll never let you back in"
"why? 'Cause they accepted YOU instead?" responded Willa, Angry, but still happy sounding. She reached a hand for her knives.
"why wouldn't they? You can't even kill a human!" barked Ketsueki. HE got into a fighting stance, and the two started encircling each other.
"Y' wouldn't kill unless they told y' to" she retorted, Grabbing a knife quickly between her fingers and tossing it quickly towards Ketsueki. He ducked, but by the time the first knife had been thrown, Willa had a second already beginning to fly.
"fine.... You want to go back to the clan, right?" said Ketsueki, while dodging Knives, "if you can beat me, I'll exile myself and you'll return"
He was steadily advancing on Willa, but she wasn't afraid. She had insurance, after all.
"fine, Ketsu- you're on!" she responded, running to the right while throwing her knives. The sudden change in direction surprised Ketsueki, and he got caught with three knives- one in the arm, one in the leg, and one in the stomach. He could hear the skin begin to sizzle around the wound, but he didn't care.
Quickly, he ran towards Willa, who stopped in placed as he advanced. He went for a kick when he was in range, which Willa dodged by ducking under it. She then Caught his leg before he could retract it, and bent it beyond the joint, breaking it with her bare hands. But to a vampire like Ketsu, it did little damage beyond slowing him down a bit. He immediately came out punching, landing only one before Willa started dodging again. She was putting almost no energy in dodging- swaying to the left and right, preferring not to duck, jumping low kicks. Finally, Ketsueki stepped back. He adjusted his stance, getting ready for an upper cut.
As he ran Towards Willa again, she didn't move. Instead, she loosed the two arm blades she kept up her sleeve. She grabbed the handles and flipped them towards Ketsueki, slicing him in an X-shape across the back. Since the blades were silver, the wounds not only bled but burned.
"well, then, Ketsu- looks like you'll be out for a while.... That mean's your the exile now...." Said Willa happily as she placed her blades back in her sleeves, and walked away, leaving Ketsueki bleeding in the forest.
There, it's done. I tried to make it extra long because of my absence, but I'll warn you now- Things like this might happen again. I have the bad habit of juggling several stories at once, so I usually neglect one for a while. Anyway, next chapter- The Origin and return of Willa Trenton- Quirinius.
Remember to read and review!
Ares
