Chapter 19

" Nice day for a stroll around the frozen lake, eh, Little Mayura?" Her elder brother bagn to laugh after he saw Rajan." Oh, low and behold the loving tiger! I am grateful for one thing, you've kept Mayura alive long enough for her to face me in a cut-throat battle. Get it? Cut throat—it's my intention, my plan for the evening! Well at least you had 'emotional' support sister! Hahaha!"

Filling the rage that his insultive blows had dealt made the girl lash out, kicking the back of her brother's knee to send him to the ground. Sliding down the hill towards Rajan, she felt his strong hands haul her upright.

Lucray's hysterical laughter almost tore at her heart," Sister...what did you think of the air? I hear it's a beautiful thing to have under your feet..."

Blinking in surprise Mayura saw a red inked tattoo on her brother's right hand—a double lined circle with a six sided star overlapping it. Even more surprised when he dug his claws into it, drawing blood...then the area where they stood disappeared, leaving her in a white room where sound nor time existed. Nothing but a white abyss...that soon landed them right on the outskirts of Paris, the very place where her adventure began.

" The special child...bearing not the curse or the hatred we all face..."

His words were so bitter that it compared to Clockwerk, the Cooper Family's nemisis throughout the ages. Then as if he could see her fear, Lucray began to morph into the hideous wolf-like creature, fangs beared and ready to attack. If it hadn't been for Rajan lifting her from the ground and a safe distance away from Lucray, but her brother would not take that sitting down.

" You wanna play in a wolf war you pathetic tiger?" Pressing his hand against the ground he froze Rajan where he stood." How do you like that Little Mayura? To see your strong lover turn into a statue—never to move again!"

Filled to the top with utter fear Mayura gently lowered herself from the tiger's arms and walked ahead, nervously watching as Lucray circle her with malice in his expression. Stopping short of the waters edge the wolf glowered her brother straight in the eyes." I am no longer afraid of you, so come at me with all you've got because I'm not backing down!"

In the process of attacking his youngest sister a rather heavy pipe fell from the sky pinning his leg to the ground—that pipe was followed by even more debris. A broken peice of concrete nearly caught Mayura off guard but she jumped to avoid getting hit, staring as it struck the ground and crumbled. Then it dawned on her...rubble from the sky? Looking up she swore she saw something metallic flying around with someone jumping on its back.

" Sly?"

Releasing himself from the pipes clutches Lucray leaped but Mayura sensed this, and attempting to move out of harms way. Instead of her neck, his initial target, his fangs sunk into her shoulder, almost biting through the bone. Her vision blinded by tears of anguish Mayura fought for control, control of her hatred. If she weren't careful she'd be lost to it like Lucray—something she couldn't afford.

" Hahaha..." snickered the man vaulting for a safe distance." What with all this bedris adding to fun...why don't we kick it up a notch or two and put that cat of yours into the plan?"

As he made a crazed rush in Rajan's direction the feeling she got before surged through her. Only she wasn't in the back of her mind looking on in horror as everything took place, screaming out in rage Mayura teleported beside her lover and rammed into Lucray as he tried to come to a halt. As they tumbled down the hillside the wolf grabbed her brother's throat with the lone purpose of ending his hatred once and for all—then her sense returned, no longer under the influence of her sudden rage. As she hesitated to finish him off Lucray lunged forward, once again trying to sink his teeth into her throat, but Mayura jerked and he wound up biting into the same injury he made before—pain once again bolted up her shoulder, far more intense than before.

Still something inside her wanted to find some sort of peace with him, framing his face with her hands she looked down into the eyes that hated her so much, tears forming in her own." Why...why do you hate me Lucray...what did I ever do to you...to make such hatred control your heart..?"

Taken aback by his sister's sudden words Lucray only dug deeper with his fangs, maliciousness being the key poison.

" I'm sorry..."

Morphing back into his human-like form the man stared wide eyed at Mayura, trying to figure her out—to see if she told the truth." Why are you sorry for! You're perfect and that's why I hate you!"

As he sat up Mayura threw her arms around his neck," I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."

" Stop!" Demanded Lucray with a shakey voice." Stop it right now! Stop saying you're sorry!"

" Even though...you've done nothing but hurt me...you're still my elder brother!" Cried the girl, her embrace getting firmer." You're still part of my family!"

Touched by his sisters words tears began to form in his previously hate-filled eyes," I've wounded you..tried to kill you and your lover..."

Arching a brow Mayura chuckled slightly," I never said I forgave you brother...the attempt made on my life yes...but Rajan's? No. I just want a family...even if you see meas nothing but an embarrassment to you..."

The hold he had on Rajan vanished and he stood stunned but horrified at the same time," Mayura! Get out of there!"

The sound of something colossal plummeting through the air caught her attention and her gaze, as well as Lucray's settled on a metallic owl that was headed directly towards them. Lifting her hands Mayura prayed that it would work—desperation always made her power work. Sure enough before the owl could land the wind around it caught up and tried to slow it's pace.

Her brother just watched, smiled, then kissed her on the cheek," Good-bye, Mayura."

When I first finished this story I was so excited because, well...I finished! Then in my reckless stupidity I forgot not to save the last few chapters because I thought I alreayd had it on disk. The document on the disk didn't have it...I figured that out the hard way.sniffle But thanks to not having it...the story is an extra chapter long. So you're gonna get 21 instead of twenty. I don't know whether I should be happy or sad I decided to lengthen it...stops to think

Personally, other than Clock-La being a rather unfit name but at the same time suiting...because she was so much weaker than Clockwerk! No one out does the original! Oh yeah! You know it's true!stops Why am I saying that...? I hated fighting Clockwerk! Long live Clock-La and her easiness forever! Even though it shames Clockwerk...I'm freakin' myself out! How sad is that?

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