I know it was a little confusing last chapter. Sorry about that. I wanted to stick in a bit more action, plump it with more plot, and whatnot, but I also wanted to speed up the story. Because it is I update by the chapter, and can't really go back and change how I wrote earlier chapters. It's literally publishing something page by page, without having a real grasp on what you're creating. I surprised myself with how the plotline came out, and I suspect it's going to morph even more in the future. Still, the main reason why it was confusing in the last chapter is because it was a lot of plot in a lot of conversation, merely explaining crap that was going on, not showing it like I aimed to do in all my writing. I also nixed out a lot of movement while they were talking to lessen the confusion, and aimed it into a more rapid-fire speech, kind of like the speed-talking on Gilmore Girls. If I had the choice, I'd probably rewrite the whole chapter with more artistic finesse, or leak out more of the plotline in earlier chapters instead of doing a verbal diarrhea all over the page. But what's done is done, and I digress, so on with the show.
A dark shadow slinked about the room, looming over the bed. The figure grinned mischievously as he yanked the covers away from the canopy bed with a grand flourish. A slender figure was revealed, curled up in only a black t-shirt with the hotel's emblem on the back. Her long lean legs glimmered against the white sheets as the girl shivered. Sakura moaned softly and rolled over on the bed, ducking her head under the comfort of a fluffy pillow.
"For the love of God, get away from me," she grumbled sleepily.
Syaoran, bare-chested and dressed in the matching pajama bottoms, merely chuckled and grabbed hold of her ankle, dragging her out of bed. She kicked him irritably, trying to pinch her eyes shut from the intrusive glare of sunlight streaming in the room, but he overpowered her and in cave-man fashion, slung her over his shoulder and deposited her in the bathroom tub. She glowered at him as she rubbed her messy locks back away from her face with as much dignity as she could muster. He waved before shutting the door behind him, making sure he heard the water running before glancing over a scarlet leather-bound menu with a gold tassel dangling from the binding. He picked up the white hotel phone on the nightstand, taking a seat on the unmade bed.
"Hello, room service? Yes I'd like to have our breakfast served in our room today…"
Sakura stepped out of the bathroom in a plush white bathrobe that was loosely tied around her slender waist, rubbing her head with a fluffy white towel. She paused drying herself off as she glanced around the room.
"I didn't realize I was in the shower for that long, Syaoran."
The room had transformed into a jungle of wild and exotic flowers, emerald vines wrapping around the posts of the bed, a cascade of petals dripping off the canopy with magical sparkles. The carpet was strewn with jeweled flowers, which Sakura carefully sidestepped as she tried to find Syaoran in the mess.
"Syaoran?" she called out uncertainly, glancing at a tiger lily that blossomed and tightened back into a bud repeatedly before her eyes.
"Welcome to the first test of your magic training, Sakura."
It was not Syaoran's voice.
"Eh?" Sakura whirled around, trying to locate the speaker. Suddenly aware of the looming shadow over her, she raised her head slowly.
"Oh…dear," she swore under her breath as she took a step back, emerald eyes glimmering up at the source of the shadow…
"Sakura!" Syaoran yelled.
As soon as Sakura had stepped in, an overly bright light had emanated from the bathroom, accompanied by a soft unearthly shriek. Syaoran grunted as he fought the sudden weight pressing down on his arms and legs, pinning him back to an armchair as he struggled to get up, straining against invisible bonds. Eriol had orbed almost immediately after, wagging his finger at Syaoran as he stared down at him, as a parent would do to a naughty child.
"You shouldn't interfere with the Order of the Clow, Syao-kun."
Syaoran glared up at the twinkling blue eyes that hid behind a silver framed pair of glasses. The small oval lenses glinted at him with similar leering mockery.
"She's hardly prepared to take her first training now," he spat acidly to Eriol.
"And when would she be ready, Syao-kun? After you finish wiping out the few friends she has left?" Eriol smiled.
"Hiiragizawa…" his voice shook. Syaoran trembled with rage, already tested to his limits. He was helpless as he watched the Soul Hunters easily claim Sakura's family and friends, forcing him to kill them with the magic seals provided by Clow's high priestess… but damned if he was going to be helpless now for Sakura.
Eriol smiled as he conjured up the blazing circle of blue fire, the sectioned mirror reflecting the image of Sakura before an enormous harpy, the feathered wings unfurled in all its regal glory. "Just be a good boy for once, Syao-kun, and enjoy the show."
"How beautiful…" Sakura whispered as she marveled at the creature she assumed to be female. It was naked, but covered entirely with brilliant plumes of grey, a sharp eagle's beak the only deformation on its humanoid face. The piercing blue eyes seemingly stabbed through to her racing heart.
It only replied with a shrieking cry, stomping its clawed feet, the talons easily splintering through the rich fabric of interwoven magic flowers and hotel carpet. The sound sent a chill through Sakura, but she was not so afraid… she felt it speak to her…
"She's going to get killed! For God's sakes, you hired me to protect her!" Syaoran yelled bitterly at Eriol who merely sat across from him comfortably on the couch, watching the hovering magic screen that broadcasted Sakura.
"Oh bully, Syaoran. I can't hear the telly with you yammering on like that," Eriol said with a trace of annoyance in his voice.
"Fuck you!" Syaoran snapped back as he watched the bird trash the room.
Sakura's eyes followed the creature, which only seemed to grow more agitated in the confines of the hotel room.
"What's wrong?" she whispered softly to it, stretching out her right hand slowly to it. "Are you hurt?"
There was an unexplainable rush of emotions welling in her heart.It was calling to her… As ferocious as this beast seemed, she felt its gentleness… its loneliness…
"Now that's precisely the kind of childish behavior that makes you such a prat, Syao-kun," Eriol said brusquely.
He snapped his fingers and conjured several tea cookies to stuff themselves in Syaoran's mouth.
"Now shut up. It's getting good."
Getting good indeed. Yay cliffhanger! If you don't understand anything, feel free to leave a review. I like answering them.