Disclaimer: I own nothing except ketsu and any other people you don't recognize.
He couldn't believe it. Kagome was gone. His Kagome, always ready with a smile, was gone. She was dead. She'd left him to be with that Vampire. To be like him, to forsake everything he knew her for. Why? Why had she left him? He loved her, didn't she know that?
I never told her… he realized, bitter.
He breathed her name for the fourth time that minute under his breath. He knew he worried the others- he knew it like he felt the pestering bugs around. He wished they could understand him. He wished they knew what he was going through. But they didn't. They probably never would. He had to accept that.
But he wouldn't accept Kagome. He had to save her, like all those times he had before. There had to be a cure, didn't there? She couldn't stay there forever. She couldn't continue just living off the blood of others. It was wrong, so wrong, to see in his mind Kagome's blood-stained face smile at him. And yet, he couldn't think of her any other way. Now that He had seen her with him.
He couldn't just let that hunter take care of it. He had to help her.
He tried to stand, and found it impossible. Why did it have to be this way? He wanted to help with all his being, and yet he couldn't. For all his powers, he couldn't even save the one he loved.
Exiles draw attention, even if half the current populace never saw them. Willa found herself cursing each and every last pure-blood that looked at her like a dog. She returned those stares- every one of them. It was the least she could do as she wandered in the mansion searching for the Master's room.
She scanned her current room, something like a group feeding room, and found a face she hadn't seen in one hundred years. Desmodus, the man that had conducted her trials, was apart form everyone else, sipping the glass of vintage blood that only the eldest could drink.
She walked right up to him, waited for his recognizing glare. "what are you doing here, Exile?" he spat.
Willa only smiled and swiped the glass from his hands. Then, after taking a long swig, she replaced it in his withered hand. The glare she got was priceless.
"'m not 'n exile anymore, y'know. 'nd I'm almost as ol' as y'. don't I deserve equal treatment?" She said lightly. Desmodus stood, amid gasps from the people among them feeding. He was an old, old vampire- he never stood.
"you, Willa Trenton, are nothing but a stain marring the perfection of the Quirinius line. Leave, before I am forced to kill you"
Willa smiled, in spite of the rising hatred of the onlookers. "'ell no. I jus' got back! I need t' 'ave some fun!"
Desmodus tried for a back hand and missed horribly When Willa ducked and tapped him on the shoulder from behind.
"man, you're slow!" She taunted, and dodged the next blow. The crowd erupted in furor- some aimed at the Dhampir for her audacity, others angry at Desmodus for not disposing of her already. Either way, it only fueled Willa's desire. She would humiliate him here and now, and force him to get the master.
The old one kept swinging, the young one kept dodging. It was a never ending dance that formed a beat solely on Willa's increasingly creative taunts. The orchestra of the crowd simply would not stop, and she was pleased to her some of them screaming for her to win.
"'ey, ol' man, they're rootin' fer me! Better step y'rself up….y'ain't even got one hit!" she yelled, this time tickling him in the neck. He tried to kick her, but she pushed his leg away, and continued goading him.
They both stopped short when the grand door in front of them that led to the Master's chamber burst open. There he was, looking remarkably healthy, and glaring with unparalleled fire at the Dhampir and second-eldest.
"What has possessed you, Desmodus? You know we never strike our clan-mates" He roared. The crowd immediately dropped to their knees, bowing deeply. This was the first time Master had gone outside his chamber in hundreds of years for anything other than initiation.
Willa bowed quickly. "well, Sirrah, this 'ere fella won't lemme in. 'e started ta hit me, but I didn't hit 'im, not once"
He considered them both. "I don't remember you. Who are you?"
"Willa Trenton, sirrah. Dhampir." She replied, looking around. No one recognized the name. Master stepped forward and cupped her pale face in his hands.
"you were an exile, then. Did you win a bargain, to return here? What gives you the gall?"
A devil-may-care smile lit her face up. " Nothin' gives me gall, Sirrah. It jus' comes naturally. I beat My brother to get back 'ere. 'Is name's Ketsueki"
Now the crowd tried to hide their surprise. Ketsueki, of course, was one of the strongest. That he had been defeated by a mere Dhampir spoke a great deal.
"Ketsueki, you say? Did you kill him?" queried master.
"no sir" was her simple response. Master now turned to face the crowd.
"hear me! Anyone who so dares to Touch this one here will have to face me!" he boomed. An obedient "yes master!" echoed through the halls, and he turned back towards his chamber.
"come in, Willa Trenton. I wish to speak with you"
Willa was only too happy to oblige him.
I wonder what's going on, thought Kagome as she sat and waited for Demetrius to return. They had heard the commotion from outside even through his thick doors. It sounded like a fight, which according to Ketsu, was strictly forbidden within the mansion. Who would have the gall to break such a rule, right here in front of the master?
More importantly, what did the master mean? What was he going to do with her? He spoke of… children…. Kagome found herself shuddering. Where was her Ketsueki? She needed to feel his presence, calming her.
"so, this 's where th' master stays. Pretty cushy" she heard. It was a woman's voice, one that sounded very, very cocky. Kagome stood automatically, and began to walk towards the voice. Before long she heard Demetrius's deep voice. "yes, these are my chambers. There is someone here I'd like you to meet"
is he talking about me? thought Kagome, I haven't even been a vampire a month….
Just as she thought this, the Master came into the room, and Kagome saw the woman he was with. She could see from this distance a very confident woman, who carried herself like she knew exactly how to kill everyone in the room. She felt the woman look at her.
"'ey there." She greeted. Kagome found herself surprised by the happiness in her voice.
"Kagome, this is Willa Trenton. Willa, this is Kagome, the new mistress"
Willa laughed. "but she ain't even a month made! With respect, Sirrah, how's the clan gon' respect her?"
Kagome frowned. What she said was true. No one would respect her. No one. She was the youngest, the rookie, the laughing stock. How was she supposed to lead?
"that, Willa, is where you come in. You will be Kagome's Aegis. Anyone who challenges her word will have to answer to you, at least until she learns to control her abilities" Intoned Demetrius. Both women gave him a puzzled look.
"Sirrah, they hate me more than her…." Mumbled Willa. Kagome nodded. " An d I don't need a body guard. I can take care of myself"
Willa laughed. "yearlin', I bet y' can't even read minds yet!" She teased. The master glared at her, and she stopped laughing, but still smiled like an idiot.
"I'm afraid you don't have much choice in the matter, Kagome. If you go out there now, they'll eat you alive. Willa needs a position that people will respect. This way, both of you gain recognition"
Kagome looked to Willa, Willa looked back. What is she anyway? she isn't a full blood, at least I don't think so…. But what do I know. Maybe she is. Maybe Demetrius is right. Maybe it won't be so bad….thought Kagome
a yearlin' mistress. A yearlin' mistress I'm s'posed to save… who th' hell does he think 'e is? I don' hove to guard 'er. I coul' just take her here and now. But it's always better to build trust. At leas t'till it's time ta pounce…
And then, at the exact same time, both of them said "fine. I'll do it"
Another cahp bites the dust. Next one up- How in the world is willa gonna stay quiet and in the background? What a horrible bodyguard! REview!
