This chapter is much shorter than the previous, so enjoy! At the end, Youko and Gwen are talking at the same time, not interrupting each other. Hope that'll help!
Enjoy!
"She's coming around."
"What happened?"
"She fainted."
"I came in here and we got a little carried away."
"A little! Her face is covered with blood and bruises. You knocked her senseless!"
"Maybe she's not that good of a fighter after all."
A hand touched my necklace and I grabbed it. I opened my eyes and saw Kurama holding it, looking at me strangely. Kuronue was behind him as was Yepa, Nika, and the goat couple. I stared at Kurama intently, hoping he would let go of my necklace, but he didn't. He had a firm grip on it and wasn't going to let go and neither was I.
"See, she's fine."
"Shut up," I growled, "get the hell away from me before I slaughter you."
Kurama tugged at my necklace and I looked at him. I remembered what the woman had said and I growled at him. "Don't touch me!" I pried his hand off and jumped away from him. My head felt heavy and the world turned slightly, but I ignored it. These people thought me a thief. That was dishonorable to my family and me. I wouldn't let them touch me or try to commune with me anymore.
"What's wrong?" Nika asked.
"She's just a little sore," my attacker sneered.
"Oh hush, Naikue," Nika spat.
Naikue touched Yepa's head and the child whimpered. I growled. Yepa had bruises on her arms and a swollen lip.
"Oh? Did I do something wrong?" she laughed.
I felt the heat pulse on my neck and I smirked. Fear had come into her eyes and showed clearly on her face. Whatever was happening, it scared her. Yepa began to tremble uncontrollably and let out a small whimper. Kurama grabbed my arm, but I jerked it away from him. "Why haven't you killed me?"
"You are different and have a value that I want."
"Liar! You think of me as a thief, don't you?" I yelled accusing him before I even knew it.
His golden eyes narrowed. "Who told you this?"
I looked at Naikue you had a small smile on her face. Her clawed hand was on Yepa's shoulder and then I knew. If I told Youko, she would beat Yepa. I had grown a liking to the small girl and she knew it.
I lowered my eyes.
"She doesn't know," Naikue said. "She probably made it up, knowing her."
I clenched my fists so hard I drew blood. I wanted to kill her and the heat increased to a burning so fierce I wanted to scream. Yepa began to whimper, but I didn't look. If I did, I wouldn't be able to control myself.
Kurama grabbed my hand and opened it. Blood stained my entire palm and nails. Kuronue and the other goat surrounded me. Kurama waved them off and they sat down. Everyone else was gone. I looked at him. He led me to another bed and began to clean my wounds that I had inflicted upon myself.
"Tell me."
"What's there to tell? Everyone here thinks of me as a thief and not a princess. It's sickening to think and even more sickening to know. It is also dishonorable to me and anyone else in my family."
Kurama stared at me. His fox ear twitched and he shook his head. "Did you ever think that maybe you are both?"
My head shot up. "What?"
He stood up and took my hand. "Follow me."
As he led me out of the room and up a flight of stairs I mumbled, "Do I have a choice."
He grinned and pushed open a pair of wooden doors. Inside the room was filled with sparkling jewels and artifacts of glimmering gold and silver. He dropped my hand as I gazed in wonder. I went from one piece to another and was enchanted by everything. The room was dimly light, but that only added to the beauty. I came to a pedestal that was empty. I looked at the legendary thief.
"The artifact that used to be there was stolen many years ago from me," he said coming beside me.
"What was it?"
"It's a piece of jewelry that I had inherited from my mother to give to my wife. The day before I wanted to give it to her, it was stolen. That day my mother also died."
I looked up at him. "I'm sorry. I didn't know…what happened?"
He was staring at the empty pedestal. "My village was raided by enemy thieves. They killed my mother as she protected me. She told me to check on the necklace. I thought it was odd, but I listened to her. I ran to it and I was shocked to find it was gone. I spent years trying to find it, but I failed. It is a wonderful piece of jewelry."
"You talk of it as if you still had it. Why is that?"
"I do," he grinned and looked at me, "now anyway."
I gripped my necklace, my eyes wide. He laughed wickedly and ran his nail along my cheek. I was frozen with fear. That was why he hadn't killed me. I had the necklace that was his, technically. It was stolen from him and somehow gotten to me.
"Are you saying that I am a thief?"
He shook his head. "You are too young to have stolen this from me. I'm saying someone gave it to you, a family member perhaps?"
I shook my head. "No! You lie!"
"How so?" he asked cornering me.
"My father is not a thief! He despises them and would never be one!"
His face came close to mine, his lips brushed against mine as he talked. "Of course he's not a thief…anymore."
"No!" I shrieked pushing him back. He was stunned but recovered with another wicked smile.
"Your father was a thief and stole from me to give it to his wife, your mother. He is a fox and I'm sure he had heard of the tales surrounding this stunning piece of jewelry that hangs from your neck. If don't believe me ask him." He pointed a finger in the direction of a shadowed corner. Suddenly, a hooded figure appeared and bowed.
"My Princess and my King, what may you wish me to do?" His voice was raspy and croaked every once in awhile.
"My King?" I looked at Kurama and he smirked.
"Why surely you know that my lord Youko Kurama is King of all Thieves, among many others respectable titles," the hooded figured croaked. The voice sounded oddly familiar.
"No I did not," I stepped forward, "May I see your face?"
I was about to move his hood when Kurama grabbed my hand. His eyes glared at me fiercely and his lips were tight. "Ask him what you want to know, princess. That's all."
I wretched my hand from his. "Fine."
"Am I a thief?" I asked.
"Why…of course not. You are a Princess, born from the King and Queen of…well everyone," he answered sheepishly.
"You lie," I accused and yanked off his hood.
I screamed.
It was my guard, Jason.
Kurama put a hand over my mouth and whispered savagely in my ear, "Shut up or I will kill you and take the necklace."
I elbowed him in the side and he grunted. Jason stared at me, disbelief on his face.
I pried Kurama's hand off my mouth and snarled at Jason, "Traitor! You backstabbing, two faced, traitor!"
Kurama looked from me to Jason, confused.
"I'm sorry," Jason apologized, "I never meant to hurt you. I swear it!"
"Liar! You knew what you were doing even while you protected me! You were here with the very person…" I stopped as I realized something. Jason knew I must've because he began to shake his head.
"No! I would never!"
"Jason, I can't trust you anymore. Not you or what you say, even if you are right."
"What's going on here?" Kurama snapped, not liking being left out of the fight.
"This man used to be my guard and my most trusted friend until I figured that he worked for you. He calls you King and listens to your every word."
"You know her?" Kurama asked.
Jason nodded. "Everything she says is true, no matter how much it hurts."
I walked away from him, tracing my fingers over the designs on my necklace. I had never known what they meant and I had never wanted to. I looked at the other artifacts. They had the same designs on them too, each one differing from the next. A language most likely, but for what or whom?
"Thieves," Kurama said as if reading my mind.
I looked at him. "Tell me what this says."
He raised an eyebrow at me. "I can't remember."
"Then read it," I snapped, "I want to know what it means."
"He can't," Jason defended.
I glared at him.
"The designs fade away when it is taken off of your neck."
I leaned myself against the wall where a little light shined through. "Read it, Kurama."
Kurama stared at me for a long time before he approached me. I lifted my head so he would be able to read it better. He bent down, his head at my neck and I felt his lips move against my skin. He had to translate it first before he could repeat it. His breath was hot, but it sent chills down my spine. Jason was across from me, glaring at Kurama. He was jealous! And then it hit me.
I grabbed Kurama's chin and pulled his face to mine. His eyes were wide from shock and nothing else.
"You sent him, didn't you?" I asked.
He said nothing.
"You sent Jason when he was young to be my guard because you knew I had the necklace. He was a spy for you and reported back here with information on everyone and everything. You have been planning to kidnap me ever since then. But it didn't work, did it?"
He growled at me, but I kept going. "That's when you sent Nika to try and lure me to you. Well, congratulations Youko Kurama, you got me, but what are you going to do? Kill me? Ha! You wouldn't dare because then you couldn't get the necklace. It'll burn your flesh once it's off my skin. Yes, I know all about it. I remember the tales my father told me about it when he gave it to me. It is connected to me somehow as was the prophecy told to you a few hundred years ago. Your parents thought it was a wife of yours, but they were wrong-"
"Were they? I can still have the wife that bears that necklace, princess-"
"-That's when it was stolen from you and given to my mother. Yes, I agree with you now, that my father was a thief. That's why I got this. He gave it to my mother and it denied her. It was locked away for years until I was born. My father had to convince-"
"-You are much more beautiful that Nika and much more a thief than anyone else. You are my match, Princess and I intend to break you, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Now-"
"-my mother to give it to me because she feared it would burn me terribly, but my father was right. He knew I was the one, which is also why he locked me away in the castle. He never let me go outside for fear of you finding me and kidnapping me. He trusted Jason with my life and Jason betrayed him because of you. You and my father are enemies, always have been. I wonder-"
"-you are the best thief I have ever seen, even though I haven't seen you thieve, yet. You have the manipulation ability that only I myself have been able to do. You have the right mind to think things through and to tell people things that make them doubt themselves and go in favor of your plans. You also have the body to be a thief. You are quick, agile, and toned. I see it and feel it. You are a-"
"-if you and my father hate each over a woman. Is it my mother that you fought over or some else? If you are right, then I was born to be a thief and I accept that, but that doesn't mean I will be one. I will never be a-"
"Princess of Thieves," we said in unison.
