Too Close To Tell You

AN: I still don't own it and the next person that reminds me is getting buried in the back yard!

Chapter 11 – Reunited

'We are here ma petite, wake up.' Keith cooed making the woman in his arms open her eyes. She knew that town and she knew exactly where they were.

'How did we get to Zurich so fast?' She asked as he put her down gently. She took in the sights half heartedly.

He laughed that gentle laugh of his. 'Ma petite I am a vampire.'

She said nothing and strolled along the streets, ignoring the lecherous stares of the men around her. They didn't frighten her. After being Lutin's toy for over a year, nothing frightened her any more. 'Well monsieur,' She started, 'Shall we go to the inn and get refreshed.'

He chuckled and walked closely behind her causing most of the men in the streets to return to their work. Only the bolder or stupider of the men in the streets still stared at her.

'What in the hell were you doing!' He shrieked at his sister. 'You borrow my toy my corpse and my plan and you managed to fail in every attempt to find the princess and her idiotic samurai! How does that work? Hmm? Enlighten me a little… You had Prince Alexei until you snapped his neck… The most powerful Necromage in history and a totally fool proof plan to trap the samurai in his own shell! How in the hell do you stuff something like that up?' He slapped her when she opened her mouth to answer. 'You, my dear sister have a lot to learn. Find them now and if you fail again I will personally give your head to the samurai.'

He stalked out of the Hermitage, leaving her to stand there and contemplate what had gone wrong. Alexei's soul didn't work because it was too innocent; it was corrupted by a nether demon forcing it to turn into a monster. As for Cassandra that was just bad timing on her part and she obviously had help getting away. The plan to trap Kurando Inugami in his own soul didn't work either because two obstacles stood in her way. The annoying ghost and the Reaper of Fate.

She thought to herself and smiled… She had one more card left to play. 'Khana?'

Kurando smiled at his Anastasia who by now was exhausted from taking care of him. Arubna slept on his feet keeping them warm and whimpering in her sleep. He had no idea where the others were, but he was happy just to watch Anastasia resting on the bed beside him.

'I really do need you…' That was what she had said and she meant it too. He leaned over close to her ear and whispered gently to her. 'Anastasia the truth is I really need you too. If I ever lost you I don't know what I would do, so that's why I am going to protect you for as long as I live… No forever.'

She groaned a little and rolled over with a small smile on her face. She looked so peaceful the way she slept and he swore that he would never again let any thing or any one shatter her peace. He leaned back and closed his eyes, listening to her breathing as he drifted back off to sleep…

'Hey Keith!' Halley yelled waving across the street. 'Keith!' He raced across the road leaving the dark haired assassin staring the man named Keith and his companion.

'Cassie?' She asked running forward and throwing her arms around the young woman. 'You're alive!'

Cassie choked and pulled her sister off her. 'Erené settle down. Of course I'm alive and I owe it all to Keith.'

'So you got my message?' Halley asked grinning at the vampire.

He frowned. 'How could I not? There's a pretty young thing that needs a hero, go and get her bat boy…' He repeated staring at the gifted young man. 'Bat boy… Almost as bad as Yuri.'

'Speaking of which.' Halley answered with a big grin on his face. 'Did you know Yuri had family?'

'No.' Keith answered. 'Why?'

'Cause I found his cousin, and boy do they look alike. Complete opposites though…' Halley started.

'My goodness this one has manners?' Keith laughed. 'Please introduce us?'

Erené was pulling Cassie by the arm towards the inn, adamant that her clothes were not appropriate for the time.

Halley led Keith to the inn and up the stairs. He opened the door to see the young man sitting up looking much better. The vampire gasped as he saw the young woman. 'That is Princess Anastasia correct?'

'The princess?' Halley asked staring at her. 'Well that would explain the fancy clothes Maya had to damn near cut off her. I thought her entire family had been wiped out?' He asked staring at the two of them. The samurai slid out of the bed silently, not disturbing the young lady or wolf cub as he climbed out. He pulled the blanket up and covered her shoulders gently. He straitened and realized that the door was open. 'Yo! Kurando remember how you said that you were traveling with Yuri?'

The samurai nodded looking back into the room. 'Lets let them rest.' He pulled the door behind him closed gently and strolled down the stairs. 'How long was I out?'

'About two days.' Halley answered following him not noticing Erené dragging Cassie away into a corner. 'Geez you're a wimp! I got bitten by one of those once and I was only out for a day.'

Kurando ignored him and continued down the stairs. 'I think I have met you before, Keith isn't it?'

'Yes, good memory. I had no idea that you were Yuri's cousin. You have great luck.'

'Luck?' Halley asked. 'What's that got to do with any thing?'

'I am the leader of the World Lottery Society.' Keith answered. 'Can I ask you a question?'

The samurai nodded as he strolled down the street and breathed in the fresh air. 'Yes.'

'Why are you traveling with Princess Anastasia Romanov?' Keith asked him leaning against a fence post. 'It seems strange that a samurai has a princess with him.'

He paused. 'I am you could say her bodyguard. Please don't remind her of her family.' He answered. 'She has no memory of that massacre.'

Keith paused this time. 'I see. So you think it's kinder to let her think that nothing has ever happened? She will find out sooner or later.'

'I know that.' Kurando started, 'I-I… Something tells me that she can't take that news right now.'

No one said anything they just looked down at the floor sadly.

Halley sighed. 'Time to start.'

'Start what?' Keith asked patiently.

'Well bat boy! I am gonna get totally wasted with the rum this place serves.' Halley grinned prompting the vampire to smile. 'And they sell excellent wine.'

'In that case, I shall be joining you.' Keith replied brushing his long blonde hair back. 'Will you be joining us Kurando?'

The samurai shook his head in a no answer. 'Drink dulls the senses.'

'That's the point.' Halley finished turning back to the inn with Keith following close behind.

'Did you tell him?' Erené asked staring at her sister angrily. 'Did you?'

'No.' Cassie answered. 'He already knew. I don't know how.'

Erené cursed. 'You are hard enough to hide, what does he want in return for your rescue?'

'Nothing that I can gather.' Cassie said. 'He said that he thinks that no one should have control of my gift.'

The assassin turned on her heel. 'I don't trust him.'

'You don't trust any one.' The dancer retorted to her sister. 'He saved me and he hasn't tried anything with me. I trust him.' She clasped her hands in front of her and studied the ground carefully. 'He has no use for me any way.'

'What?' Erené asked. 'Name one being on the planet that doesn't want your gift!' She growled. 'Necromagick is the rarest of all powers and you seemed to be especially endowed with it.'

'Don't you think I know that? Honestly some one might think that you had the curse. He's a vampire by the way. My gift is useless to him.' Cassie finished. 'The one that died, the one that mattered to him. He accepted her death already and he's moved on. No amount of power will bring her back. It's like I said. My power is useless to Keith.'

Erené sighed. 'I hope you're right Cassandra.'

Cassie nodded. 'I do too.'

That chapter 11 fans! So far I am up to:

1 Bad ending

4 Good ending

Remember you can vote as many times as you like on any chapter for the ending you want. Including this one, just follow the arrows.

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