The Wayward Daughter

Chapter 5: The Truth Hurts

When consciousness reclaimed her she felt tired and sore. It had been a long time since Alexius had cried herself to sleep. Sitting on her bed she allowed her confused emotions to wash over her like a tidal wave. She wanted to fall in love someday but the dark cloud hanging over her past made it hard for her to even try to. Kai had just been the beginning. There were more like him back on earth looking for her. For some reason the though of watching Malakai dying made her insides twist up in knots. She knew before to long her instincts will kick into overdrive and danger would occur. It came about every time she went into heat. (Ok since she is a demon and not human she goes into heats like her animal counter part but she can resist the strong urges to mate.) Her silver fox tail appeared as she let the illusion drop showing off her fox feet. Her tail thrashed back and forth showing her confusion and irritation. Getting up she moved gracefully towards the door and then paced back towards her bed. This pacing kept up for a very long time. It didn't help to settle her mind like it normally did. Finally getting fed up with it she grabbed the old katana and went to the training room. Going out in the middle she got into a familiar crouching pose. Her eyes were closed as she recounted the old rhythm in her head.

The ancient dance was created by her great grandmother. She had traveled the world and had come across many generations of people. The gypsies of Europe and the women of India caught her eye the most. She had watched them move and then later created a sword training technique when she returned home to Japan. Ever since she was a kit she had learned the style even though the elders thought the training and fighting style were to bold. The sword had belonged to her great grandfather. Though it was a cooler sight she had been told if she used fans. Going out she began to fight the darkness that she knew was inside of her. Her focus was so deep that she didn't notice the shift in the air and the new scent.

"What are you doing here human?" a hissing growl was heard from behind her.

Whipping around she had the sword poised to attack the intruder. This predator was defiantly female by her stance.

"Why I'm here is none of your concern," she growled back.

Alexius didn't feel like dealing with territorial females. "I suggest you get out of here before I splatter your iridescent green blood all over the walls little girl."

Re-sheathing the sword she headed towards the door. What she didn't expect was that female to slam her entire body weight into her. She slammed into the wall but quickly recovered her stance.

"You're just an animal that needs to be put down."

"Then try to put me down," she snarled.

Crimson started to taint her eyes. The female Predator never knew what hit her. Before the larger female realized it green blood sprayed all over the wall. Alex changed into her beast mode and began to circle the wounded female like a shark on fresh blood.

"You're so lucky that wasn't a damaging blow."

She continued to circle the Predator. Her tail thrashed back and forth in irritation. Her ears would flick every now and then trying to catch any sound that was made.

"You won't last long among our clan. The Elders will have your head."

"If they want it they can try to take it."

The female Predator rose to her feet with a surprising grace for someone as big as she is. The kitsune calmed within her. This female wasn't a threat anymore. Turning, she then realized they had an audience. Looking at the gathering group she shrugged and then walked towards her room. Her knuckles were turning white as she gripped the katana in her hand. She didn't even care that Malakai was following her.

"What was that about?" he asked as the door to her room shut behind them.

"I'm here to train, not deal with territorial females," she snarled.

"No one…"

"Just shut up Malakai. I will train you nothing else. Be ready for a great deal of pain tomorrow."

She gestured for him to leave her alone. Inwardly she winced seeing the hurt and confusion in his amber eyes. He turned and left the room. Leaning against the darkest corner she cried herself into an exhausted sleep again.

Later

She woke to the sounds of voices in the room a few doors down. They were arguing over something. Closing her eyes she focused on what they were saying.

"Kai you know it's dangerous to associate with her kind. They're prey."

"I told you before Akane. She's been pronounced an honored ally."

"What does your father know? He saved her once that doesn't mean anything."

"Watch it," Malakai growled in warning.

"You're in love with her that's why she's here isn't it?"

"Whether or not I am is none of your concern."

"You are," she accused. "You're in love with that pathetic creature."

"If she is so pathetic then why did she defeat you before in one blow?"

"That battle was a fluke."

"You're dealing with something that's far older and superior to you."

"Stop defending her Malakai she'll drag you down in status."

"No, she won't."

"You're a fool then Malakai."

"Then I'll continue to be the fool for her."

"Is she that worth it?"

"Yes, she is."

The slamming of a door and the enraged stomping down the hall told her that Akane had went to her room. Alex bowed her head trying to fight back the tears that kept threatening to over take her senses. Going over to where her jacket was she pulled out a familiar object. The pendant was shaped like the crescent moon. She held it out before her and began to swing it absently like a pendulum. Her life had been so simple before Malakai took her from her home. Closing her eyes she let her memories take her again.

Flashback

"Momma!" she said loudly.

"What is it Alexius?" her mother asked as she uncurled a bit to look at her daughter.

Alex sat down a full grown pig.

"Alex!" her mother scolded. "That pig could have killed you."

Alex's ears laid back.

"Momma I'm sorry."

The older kitsune got up and nudged her daughter gently to check for any wounds.

"You did well Alex but don't do it again without help is that clear."

"Yes, Momma."

Scene switch months later

A silvery white kitsune entered the cave unbidden. A soft growl escaped Alex's throat trying to scare the intruder away.

"Alexius is that you?" a familiar voice called out.

"Grandma?" (Since she's young she won't use the great before grandma.)

Alex carefully moved out of the deep shadows to see for herself. It indeed was her great grandmother. "Grandma!" she squealed in excitement.

"Are you ready to learn now granddaughter?" she asked the kit softly.

"Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes." Alex said repeatedly.

"Come on kit we start now."

The eager young kit followed the older one out and they began to train in the new dance that the older created.

Every summer for two or three months the great grandmother trained her until one summer the older kitsune never came. Alex had figured she had died. That year however a dragon youkai came to teach her how to use other weapons in combat per her great grandmother's request on her death bed. After the dragon was finished teaching the kit all she knew the crescent pendant was passed on to her also a last request from her great grandmother.

End Flashback

Alex came out of the trance like state. Stopping the pendants swings she leaned back against the wall and stared up at the ceiling. She slipped back into another trance so she could mentally prepare herself for the brutal beating she was going to give Malakai the next day. She had to be as cold as ice to keep him from her. She'd rather die alone than allow her past to claim another person that she loved.

On the Astral Plane.

Looking around the familiar swirl of black and red in the sky greeted her. The sky in here often reflected her mood. The red was the anger that still lingered over the other female even attempting to claim what she had already dubbed hers. The black was the sadness that was always there within her. Moving forward she watched as the grass land become desert. Her feet kicked up sand as she moved. The wind rustled her clothing. Her ears could only pick up her movements and sounds. Sometimes she could swear that her astral plane was a real place in the world, and she was walking there. The one thing that she had to watch for in her own mind was the quicksand holes here. There were traps in here incase someone tried to walk in the particular place without permission. The intruder always got one hell of a surprise. In the horizon there was always the lingering darkness, but Alex never ventured there unless she had to. Knowing that one day she would especially if she wanted to love Malakai any time soon. To actually face her darkness she'd have to find a dark place in the desert to fight it. Vowing to try soon she left her astral plane and fell into a true restful sleep.