It was with immense satisfaction that Lory walked down the aisle. There was also panic. Lots of panic. By the looks of it, they had just made it. But they had, and that was the important part.
He couldn't help a glance over his shoulder at Jelly. Seeing her awake and walking had done amazing things for his motivation. Sure, she walked slowly and only with the aid of another person, but she was awake.
Zahir waved at them from the front of the room, trying to regain control. The usually calm man was irritated. No one was listening to him.
"What are you doing back here?" said Sulmod. His eyes were on the champions. A clever man, he had already figured out the potential damage their presence could cause. "You and your friends should wait outside until we're done. We were just about to impeach the king."
Lory ignored him, choosing instead to extend a hand to Jelly. The woman took it, sending him a gentle smile under her brown curls. Even weak and hollow from a week-long coma, her smile was beautiful.
He helped her take a seat behind Kuu. The king beamed a silent approval and happiness. Much was exchanged in that brief look between friends. In fact, their party seemed so overjoyed that no one was interested in whatever Sulmod was still shouting.
"Jelly, it's so good to see you up and about," said Julie. Kuu was shaking hands with the other three champions offering his congratulations and thanks for their service.
"I'm so sorry," said Lory, raising his voice to carry over the din. "Please, continue. I didn't mean to make such a disturbance."
His words were met with loud protests. They wanted to know what had happened. Why were the champions awake? What had happened? Lory couldn't help giving a smug grin as he settled beside Jelly as the fruits of his efforts took seed.
"Please!" said Zahir, raising his arms to calm the crowd. "Duke Lory Takarada, this is a little inappropriate. You should have waited until after the trial to—"
"Oh let him talk!" shouted one of the general, his deep voice booming over the crowd.
At the surge of encouragement, Zahir raised his arms in defeat, motioning to Lory to speak. Sulmod's face was green.
Lory placed his hands on he knees to push himself up. "Alright, I'll give a brief overview."
The room hushed itself, unable to lower past a dull hum. People had lots of things to whisper to their neighbors about this surprise, And Lory was about to give them more to whisper about.
He swept his hands over the now seated four champions. "As I sat here listening to the trial, a thought came to me after a certain admission from Councilor Sulmod. I left to follow the trail and found the traitor who had been keeping our champions unconscious. Now, with this knowledge and my medical prowess, I was able to revive the champions in time for this trial. I would also like to add what tipped me off to the identity of the traitor was an admission from Sulmod." He tipped his head in the councilor's direction. "His knowledge of state secrets has led me to discover that he has had contact with a known spy and double agent of the Accursed."
The effect was so predictable it was too good. Sulmod rose with the noise, face twisted in disgust as he pointed a finger at Lory.
"Are you calling me an Accursed?" Sulmod spat. "I'd never associate with those vile filthy animals."
"I don't know what you are, but I propose a full investigation to make certain of your intentions, Councilor Sulmod."
"You-!"
Another Councilor had to grab Sulmod's shoulder as the man stepped forward. The movement looked involuntary. It didn't help the chaos. Some shouted for Sulmod to leave. Others accused Lory of spinning lies. Either way, people were more confused and Zahir still couldn't regain order.
Lory sat down, sending Kuu a pointed look. The king understood, nodding once before standing up.
"Silence!"
The king's voice stilled most of the room. It was a voice well practice in commanding. It was not one Kuu used often, instead choosing to lead with kindness and equal standing. But at this moment, it would benefit his position to remind the people he was their king, that in this chaos he was in control. His stance gave that impression. Lory approved silently at the effect it had.
"Councilor Zahir, if you please," said Kuu. "I believe we were about to take the final vote."
Zahir gave a grateful nod, motioning for all save the voters to sit down, which they did slowly. As he was about to speak again, he stopped, apparently noticing what everyone else had missed in the chaos.
All four champions were standing.
This was the reason Lory had brought the champions. As guardians of the light, demi-goddess and their kingdom, they had the right to vote in this trial.
Zahir only hesitated a moment longer, thin eyes gauging the room before continuing.
"All those in opposition of the impeachment," said Zahir. "Please indicate."
Hands went up. Lory counted. With each of the champions raising their hands as Lory had asked them to, their vote came to nine against the impeachment. He had no idea if that was enough.
Kouki let out a long breath, turning in his seat to speak to Lory.
"We did it," he whispered. "Fifteen to nine."
Lory sucked in a breath. That had been close. Way to close. The extra four votes from the champions had increased the required two-thirds vote for impeachment to sixteen. They had avoided defeat by one vote.
Not everyone had caught on yet, the math too hard for the slow as the news slowly traveled that it had failed. The impeachment had not gone through.
"Wait just a moment!"
Sulmod stood, pointing toward their booth. "One of those votes does not count."
"Excuse me?" said Kouki, standing up. "On what grounds do you say this?"
Sulmod's accusatory finger landed on Ammar. The young Captain of the royal guards frowned at the accusation.
"Acting Captain Ammar does not have the right to vote," he said. "He never officially took the new title as Captain. That vote still belongs to Captain Dyrus."
The color drained from Ammar's face. Oh hell, he was right.
Lory's head swiveled, his mind spinning to do the calculation. That brought the number of voters down to twenty-three, which brought the needed vote for removal back down to the acquired fifteen votes.
Kouki was already on his feet, arguing Ammar's right to vote as a representative for Dyrus, but it wouldn't work. They hadn't registered him as a representative. They'd forgotten Ammar wasn't formally the Captain of the royal guards.
Lory cursed under his breath.
"This can't be it," Jelly mumbled. "I didn't wake up just in time to witness… whatever this is. What right do they have to do this?"
"Every right," groaned Lory. The room was now debating the Champions legitimacy to vote without knowing the situation. "It's how Ashuron's laws were set up in the beginning. No one's ever changed them because of the Phoenix."
Jelly puffed in annoyance, massaging her head as if she had a headache.
Lory gathered his falling spirits, standing up to join his son as they fought to keep Kuu in command. To plead for a second round of votes due to the new information acquired at the last minute. It was their only chance.
But as he opened his mouth, he noticed the room was quieting. Something had caught everyone's attention and Lory looked back toward the door.
Someone else had entered late.
A large man with a thick beard and a powerful aura that felt muted and downtrodden. His clothes bore the stained and weathered look of manual labor, hands coated in dirt. Dyrus was hardly recognizable without his uniform or cleaned appearance, but it was unmistakably him.
The Captain reached the king who stood, clapping hands with Dyrus regardless of the dirt now staining his sleeves.
"I am sorry I am late, but I did not get my invitation to the trial," he said in a level tone. "And I vote in favor of our King. I trust him to continue to guide us toward the light."
Kuu beamed, quiet words passing between the two men. Lory observed the exchange feeling a large weight vanish. He was back. Finally, after a month of grieving, it looked like Dyrus was back. He'd finally bested his grief.
"I see a lot has happened since I've been sleeping," commented Jelly.
"You have no idea," muttered Lory. He'd just noticed someone else. Someone who'd snuck in silently behind Dyrus wearing a smug smile. It was Shin.
"I assume this was your doing," said Lory, gesturing to Dyrus. Shin shrugged, leaning against the wall with the ease of a man birdwatching.
"Naturally, which means I'm the one that saved the day," said Shin. "Sorry, Lory. The glory goes to me for saving the king's hide."
"Cheeky brat." Lory smiled. "Thank you for bringing him back."
Shin gave the same grin he wore as a child when he'd done something wrong.
The noise eventually died out. Protests were shot down and another vote was rehashed due to the confusion.
The change was instant. With the champions present and a guaranteed save from impeachment, some representatives voted in favor of the king, scrambling for a last-minute opportunity to curry in favor of the king. Thirteen to eleven. The king would remain in power.
Shin enjoyed his spot at the side of the room. It gave him the perfect view of Sulmod's purple face as he realized his no-confidence vote had failed. Shin glowed at the close victory. The closer the shave, the greater the feeling of relief. And it had been close.
"You brought him back."
Ammar had come over to Shin. The young/old/whatever-his-age-was man was giving Shin an expression that placed on the reverent side of the expression scale.
"Who, Dyrus?" said Shin.
Ammar nodded. "That's why you left, wasn't it? You went to bring Captain Dyrus back to us."
"It's what I do. Annoy people until they give in to my demands."
Surprisingly, Ammar smiled at the quip. This man had never smiled at anything Shin said, not even after several nights drinking at different bars. Shin might have made a habit of bothering the man on his off-duty hours.
"I'm sorry," said Ammar. "I misjudged you. I thought you were a lazy, enabled… I think I mentioned it several times when drunk." He chuckled to himself. "But I was wrong. You managed to convince Dyrus to come back. Something that even I had been unable to do."
Now, 'convince' was not the word Shin would have used. 'Carried', 'forced' or even 'manhandled' would have been more accurate to what had happened on the way here. They'd arrived just in time to hear Lory reports on the champions, staying at the doors where Dyrus had finally grown still. Shin had worried the man had had a stroke or something, he'd been so quiet. Only when Sulmod had revoked Ammar's vote had the man made his first voluntary move toward Kuu.
But Shin was definitely not going to tell Ammar any of that.
"This is why I like you, Ammar," said Shin. "You don't do any of that gossip business. You tell it to me straight to my face. Now that we've cleared the air, we can shake hands and be friends."
"Of course," said Ammar, placing his hand at his chest in a salute. "I am in your service, Lord Hizuri."
Shin made a face, about to reprimand Ammar for one: taking what he said seriously, and two: calling him by his last name. But Kuu was calling for everyone's attention.
The man had been in a quiet and rushed conversation with Lory as Shin had talked with Ammar. Now he stood in the center stage.
"My people," said Kuu. "I have an announcement due to recent information. As of three days ago, the gathering of monsters we've been observing has been confirmed to be seen moving westward toward the broken hills."
Okay, the first part of that announcement had been good. Monsters moving away from the capital was nice but not toward the broken hills! That's where Kuon and Kyoko were.
Most people didn't realize the importance of the last part, happy to have the monsters moving away from them. But Kuu wasn't done just yet. Shin couldn't put a finger on it, but something had changed in Kuu.
"Also," said Kuu. "Considering what has happened here today, I've made a decision. Now is the time to act. It's time we take the fight to the Accursed. I am leaving the city with any who will follow me to fight the Accursed and their monsters in the Broken Hills."
Shin blinked twice, then smiled. Now, this was what had been missing in Kuu.
They're getting away.
Kuresaki rubbed his head, his anger adding to a throbbing headache already forming behind his eyes. He pulled his hand away, blood smearing his palm. That wrench! She'd boobytrapped the inhibitor plans.
Everything was in shambles. As a soldier helped him to his feet, Kuresaki assessed the area, seeing just how chaotic the situation was.
Kanae was gone, as was Kyoko, Hikaru, Hiroaki and the Duchess. The crowd had thinned as people ran, but many had already calmed from the initial chaos, pausing to come closer and inspect the destruction. His men… they were everywhere.
Kuresaki shoved away the man helping him.
"After them!" yelled Kureskai. "Don't just stand there! Where did they go?"
"Over the gates, sir," reported one of the guards. "We've got men on them already."
They'd opened the gates, but only half a dozen men were in pursuit. Too many were helping nobles and citizens recover, wasting precious time.
White anger raged through him, but it didn't flounder his actions or make him panic. He was a pool of ice. Calm, black, and deadly when its depth was misjudged. That was when he saw them. Two men, one already down, the other fighting past the hexes, charms and hidden soldiers they'd placed around Cain. He fought valiantly for one man so vastly outnumbered, but he was taken down by Murasame.
The newly appointed Coronel stuck at the first opportunity, wounding the man. He fell with his companion, their plan to free the Accursed foiled.
And all the while, the Accursed scum hadn't even lifted his head to acknowledge the fallen men who had died to try and save him.
"Check for other attackers," called out Murasame. "Spread out, you two stay with me. I want these spells recast in-"
"Where are they going?" said Kuresaki.
Murasame paused, a smatter of blood staining his cheek as he stared at Kuresaki. The idiot thought he was talking to him, but it was Cain Kuresaki spoke to. He sneered at the dying rat before him with suppressed rage.
"You orchestrated this," said Kuresaki. "This is your doing. You did all this so that you could spread chaos. Destroy our city."
This was his fault. He'd done this. He'd cursed them with his plague. That had to be it. They were spreading seeds. Using the chaos and negative feelings in the air to force them to sprout. He was only pretending to be weak.
Kuresaki drew out his sword and pointed it at Cain.
Those inhibitor plans had to be real. They had to be. The Accursed had stolen them and now they taunted their existence to undermine his authority and sow chaos. His hands shook with the ache, the need to kill this monster.
"Where. Are. They?"
Cain raised his head. Through a mop of black hair, he stared lifeless, soulless like the animal he was.
Someone was speaking to him.
Kuresaki's attention snapped back as his way was blocked by one of his own soldiers. Murasame.
The man was speaking.
"Can't defend himself… Already half-dead."
Other words were draining out Murasame's voice.
His fault.
Kill the vermin.
They were all shouting, their voices mixing together. There was so much noise. Blood pounded in his ears. Why did it have to come to this? Kuresaki shook his head to rid himself of their voices.
And through it all that abomination stayed silent. Watching. Judging.
The Duke was still yelling. Always flapping his mouth, not realizing the power his words could have. But they didn't. He was a weak leader. It was his fault they had escaped. His weak leadership skills. Kuresaki wouldn't have let them escape. He just needed more strength. More power.
Kuresaki plunged his hand into his cloak. He yanked out a bundle hidden in the robe's pocket. He unwrapped the tattered dark cloth to clasp his fingers around the item hidden beneath it.
It was a vambrace. Cain's relic.
Power.
The blood on his hands smeared across its surface. He could feel it. The power he needed to stop them from escaping. To stop the Accursed. He could end it all himself if he just had power.
I will protect the people from this blight!
"What is your wish?"
A creature cloaked in black cloth and mist rose from the shadows. Its face wasn't visible. Its voice distant, ringing inside Kuresaki's own head.
"I wish…" breathed Kuresaki. "I wish to—"
The relic was knocked from his hand.
The world snapped in place. He gaped at the clarity and hues of color as it all spun together. People had stopped running, but they hadn't stopped screaming, except now they were screaming at him. He blinked again, more faces coming in focus, namely the one closest who had knocked the relic from his hand.
"What the bloody hell were you thinking?"
It was the musician, Sho.
The blonde was rubbing his hand as if he had burned it. A steady stream of curses involving the demigoddess's name flowed from him like water. Some of the guards had their weapons raised toward him, Kuresaki. The duke stood behind them, face stark white.
"I…" Kuresaki took a step forward, away from the relic. Everyone else took a step away from him.
"No..." he said, taking another step. "I wasn't… The Djinn! He was here."
Kuresaki swiveled his head around, ignoring the thumping behind his eyes. The Dark Djinn had been here. He'd tried to take his soul!
He was gone. The cloaked figure was nowhere to be seen.
The screaming started again.
Kuresaki turned— then fell over in fright.
Cain was there. No longer slumped over. No longer fading. He stood in his dark glory, the vambrace in his hand.
Slowly, the man clicked the relic back into its proper place around his arm.
Power rushed out of Cain. It toppled soldiers and threw dust in the air. Tendrils of shadow snaked around his legs and wrist. It hardened inch by inch into a marble armor, swirls of glowing color embossed between the seams. Kuresaki gaped, breaths coming in short under the enormous pressure.
Witnessing this, a sinking realization took hold of Kuresaki. It destroyed his will to fight, giving him the only option to curl up and die. There was no beating this. Something this powerful shouldn't exist. Without Rosa, there would be no stopping the creature from destroying Ashuron. Only now did Kuresaki understand the significance and fear behind the word Accursed.
The marble armor finished forming, a visor obstructing Cain's face, but it didn't cover everything. The man's chin was still exposed, one hand also uncovered. From one shoulder hung a black cloak seemingly half-formed as it flapped eerily in the windless air.
"I warned you," growled Cain. "Even the most steadfast of men may be tempted by its call."
Kuresaki cowered.
Cain remained still for another moment, then he left. He sprinted across the street, people scattering like gnats as he disappeared among the buildings.
Kuresaki let out a rattling gasp, life flooding back inside his soul. His arms shook with sweat that felt both cold and scorching.
What did I almost do?
Vaguely he was aware of the world around. Sho was cursing, soldiers calling for order. The Duke was yelling at Murasame, wondering how Cain had broken free of four of their most powerful magic suppressors. "My bad. My hands must have slipped."
Then there were others. People cursing at him. Calling for his arrest. Labeling him as a traitor. Accursed.
How could he defend himself? All he'd wanted was to destroy the Accursed. Capture those that had escaped with the inhibitor plans and discover how to save the city through force. Only though obtaining power could he accomplish anything he wanted. Gain the ability to erase anything that got in his way…
Only now, separated from the relic he'd carried for three days straight, Kuresaki realized the severity of the mistake he had almost made.
"We're almost there."
Kanae was practically pulling Kyoko along at this point. She was probably hungry, dehydrated, and still ill from whatever disease she'd contracted. Kanae herself didn't feel perfect under this sun. She'd get through it. They could rest when it was all over.
"Here!"
They turned the corner, finding the area empty. It was a small intersection lined with closed shops and empty houses. They were far enough away from the slums that street rats didn't linger in the alleyways. They'd passed a few people on the way but here, it was eerily quiet.
Kyoko was bent over from exhaustion.
"Where… are they?" she wheezed.
"No idea."
Kanae marched around the perimeter, checking for any signs of foul play. Any hidden assassins. Any spells. Nothing. It was deserted.
"Do you think-?" started Kyoko.
Hoofbeats approached.
Kyoko darted beside Kanae for cover. Kanae took out her spear in preparation.
Three horses rounded the corner carrying three riders; Hikaru, Duchess Itsumi, and Mage Hiroaki. Trailing behind them were two other horses taken from Itsumi's household. Packs were strapped to each of the beats, saddled with a weeks' worth of provisions.
Kanae relaxed, returning her spear to her back.
"Looks like you held up your part, Duchess," said Kanae. "No problems on your end?"
"None," said Hiroaki. He looked the most shaken out of all of them like a flower left too long in the sun. "Yours?"
"We're fine," said Kanae, nodding her head at Kyoko.
Hikaru dismounted worry etched in his face as he approached Kyoko. The two met in a friendly worried embrace, one that Kanae didn't watch too closely. She mostly eyed the jealousy blossoming plainly across Itsumi's face.
"Are you—"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"I was so worried."
"I thought they were going to kill you."
The smile slipped as Kyoko she turned her attention to Itsumi, her face unreadable. The Duchess met Kyoko's eyes, something tense passing between them. Not hard to guess what part of it was. Kyoko suddenly took a determined step away from Hikaru and toward Itsumi.
"Um… Duchess," said Kyoko. "I…"
"I'm not here for you," Itsumi said in a clipped tone. "Let me get that straight. I'm here because Of someone else. Someone who says you're worth all this trouble."
"Oh."
She looked between Hikaru and Itsumi, obviously piecing it all together. Her face certainly said she was. Kanae was surprised. Usually Kyoko was so blind to things like this. It was ultimately unimportant. Someone else was approaching, hoofbeats getting closer.
They waited, watching as two horses turned the corner. Maru and Dorr rode in, faces slick with sweat and something red staining Maru's shoulder.
"Maru!" gasped Kyoko, "And is that…. Dorr?"
Neither returned Kyoko's call. It didn't bode well, especially since Maru's enthusiasm almost never failed. The young man was downcast as he and his companion rode in.
Kanae eyed the nonexistent horses that hadn't followed them.
"What happened?" said Hiroaki. "Where are Horiuchi, Yukie, and Cain?"
Maru wouldn't meet his eyes. Neither spoke, freezing the air as the realization hit the rest of them. Failure had always been a possibility, but they'd never indulged the idea. It hit them now along with the reality of the situation.
"What happened?"
Kyoko, sweet optimistic Kyoko still hadn't caught on, eyes looking between Dorr and Maru so quickly her hair slapped against her cheeks with each jerk. Her hands wrung in tight circles as she stepped closer to them.
"You didn't leave him… Are they okay?"
"We don't know," said Maru. "They were prepared for us. They took them both down and then went after us… we only just escaped." The man looked about to cry.
Tears leaped to Kyoko's eyes.
"We have to go back."
"No!"
Kanae's words snapped Kyoko's attention to her. Their gazes locked, hurt and disbelief shining plainly on Kyoko's face.
"What?" she stammered.
"We can't risk it," said Kanae. "We need to leave now. Take our losses and get out of here."
"You can't be serious."
"We tried, Kyoko, but we failed to save him," said Kanae. "He's dead anyway without his relic. We got you out of there, that's the important thing."
"I can't—you don't understand," plead Kyoko. She floundered for a few seconds before flinging her hands in the air. "It's Kuon, Kanae. He's the prince!"
Hiroaki and Itsumi gasped in surprise. Neither had known Cain was Kuon. It didn't matter. They couldn't go back for him. Not without risking everyone's lives.
"We can't just leave him, or Horiuchi or Yukie," said Kyoko. "They might still be alive."
"Or they could be dead and the enemy could be waiting for us."
"You don't know that."
"Yes, I do, because they're soldiers Kyoko, and they were going to kill you."
"But—"
"Stop acting like a child!" Kanae snapped. "They killed them, Kyoko. Yukie and Horiuchi are dead and Kuon probably is too. I won't fight an entire platoon just so you can confirm it with his corpse."
Kyoko's grief transformed into something else. Something worse. With hunger shadowing her dimmed eyes and mud streaked across her face, Kyoko's despair sharpened to a point that stabbed Kanae's heart. It physically hurt to see it pointed at her. That betrayal.
"I'm not leaving him," said Kyoko. Her eyes no longer saw Kanae as a friend. They saw her as an enemy.
Kanae's sharp eyes turned to Hikaru. The man jumped at the attention.
"You want to save her life?" said Kanae, pointing at Kyoko. "Help me get her on a horse."
They didn't have time to convince Kyoko. Kanae was not losing another person. Not if she could stop it.
Hikaru hesitated, glancing between Kanae and Kyoko.
"Are you sure we…."
"Incoming!"
Maru yelled, the only warning they had. Magic barraged the area, raining dirt and burning wood. Kanae darted forward, her spear blocking a wall of magic from crashing into Kyoko. She couldn't see the attackers, but it didn't matter.
Kanae grabbed Kyoko around the middle hauling her on the nearest empty horse. The woman screamed in protest, but Kanae was much stronger with magic. She deflected each of Kyoko's attempts to push her away, jumping onto the horse behind her.
"Let's ride!" she yelled.
They took off, Maru taking the rear as he waved his extended staff overhead. The battle mage protected them, both blocking and attacking with professional precision. Kanae pushed her horse into a gallop, all the while clinging to the squirming Kyoko in her arms.
"Kanae, please!"
Kanae didn't listen. Their gallops didn't slow as they kept speeding along the trail. After a minute, the attacks stopped coming. Maru had won the fight in the back.
Finally, they were home free. If they could make it out to the post before nightfall they would be fine. Kyoko would eventually understand why she'd done it. Why they couldn't go back. It would be suicide and Kanae wasn't going to lose another person she Lo-
Something was coming.
The hairs on Kanae's neck stood straight, her entire body alight in panic. She yanked on the reins, pulling the horse to a sudden stop as her companions followed her lead and did the same.
"Kanae? What—"
It's here.
Like a meteor from hell, a mass of darkness coated in black armor descended and crashed into the ground before them.
Kanae had fought against an Accursed before. Naomi, an Accursed with a hand-me-down relic and a thirst to prove herself to the Djinn. But this Accursed was nothing like her. His power felt deeper in oblivion. Like the Djinn's hand around her essence.
The horse reared, nearly tipping Kanae out as she scrambled for the reigns. Her reflexes weren't working correctly, the thick air making it hard to breathe. In the mayhem, Kyoko slipped free.
"Kyoko!"
The physician fell clumsily, booking it toward the Accursed. Kanae swore loudly, jumping off her frantic horse as she chased her.
Hikaru suddenly blocked Kanae's pursuit with his horse. He was doing a better job with his animal, Itsumi clinging to the mare's main as they managed to stay on together.
"Wait," plead Hikaru. "Don't follow her."
"She's going to get killed!" said Kanae, rushing around the horse.
This time Hikaru scrambled off the horse, just managing to catch Kanae's arm.
"Please, just watch," he panted. "You don't understand. He needs her!"
"He what?"
Against her better judgment, Kanae stalled. In those few seconds, Kyoko had already reached the Accursed. Her head buried into his chest, both of them unmoving.
Was…. that Accursed Cain?
Kanae yanked her hand out of Hikaru's grip, taking a step forward. Cain or not, he was obviously extremely dangerous. Though every nerve and cell in her body screamed for her to run, she ignored her instincts. She had to get Kyoko away from him!
Cain shifted.
Kanae stilled, disbelief growing as she watched the aura around Cain slowly disappear. First it was the dark magic. Then the metal coating his body. The marks around his arm faded back to tanned flesh, his energy settling around him. He shrank from a monster into a man. Just a normal man now hugging Kyoko as if she were the only thing keeping him alive. Kanae couldn't hear anything from here, but she knew words and feelings were being exchanged between the two.
Kanae couldn't tear her eyes away. Usually she balked at any display of strong emotions but this… she was not equipped to deal with the sudden surge of something pushing hot through her lungs. The dark had completely vanished leaving behind the hint of something sweet. Something… whole.
A loud sniff drew her attention. Itsumi Momose was still atop her horse, eyes fixed on the couple as tears fell down her cheeks. She wasn't the only one. Everyone's eyes had grown soft, Maru's especially misty. Hikaru was the only one that smiled brightly.
For once Kanae didn't judge the duchess or anyone else on their open display of emotions. Not when Kanae herself felt her throat constrict. And she'd tried to make Kyoko abandon him… Shame was not a pleasant emotion. No. Now was not the time for reflection. Not yet.
Kanae cleared her throat, solidifying her heart against the smattering of feelings it had conjured. She approached the two.
"We need to leave," said Kanae. "They'll come after us soon."
"No."
Cain disentangled himself from Kyoko, keeping one of her hands inside his. No tears stained Kyoko's cheeks, but her eyes were especially bright in the golden sun.
"No?" said Kanae. "What, do you think we could successfully hide in the city?"
Cain shook his head. He looked so different from 'Prince Kuon' it was hard to imagine them being the same person. Dark hair, stooped posture, sunken face. The biggest difference was those wild eyes. The eyes that every murderer had. He was dangerous and a tad untamed.
"When I was separated from my relic, things were a little disjointed," he explained. "But I could sense something. Powerful things moving in our direction. The other Accursed are on their way here. They're coming for us."
Kanae drew in a sharp breath. Gods almighty. It just kept getting worse.
"We can't leave the city," continued Cain. "They'll be slaughtered."
Or they could. Kanae didn't really care if the city burned, and yet she knew they wouldn't let it. She let out a long breath through her nose, sensing another headache coming.
"What do you suppose we do?"
It was the duchess who came forward. Her voice trembled along with everything else and she shrank back when Cain's attention turned to her.
"T-they won't listen to us," stammered Maru. "They won't listen to reason… Not after we attacked them."
Cain gently lifted Kyoko's hand, giving it a soft kiss. Only now did Kanae notice how pale Kyoko's face had gotten. Another reason they couldn't leave. Kyoko wasn't fit to travel.
"They won't have a choice," said Cain, his eyes on Kyoko. "Because I'm taking control of the city."
Thanks for reading!
This is where I'm taking a break!
Terrible place, I know, but I can't write the next chapters without knowing specifically what needs to happen next! To be honest, these last like… ten chapters were never planned. They just sort of happened.
Also, last announcement. I'm trying a hand at the social media thing and I got a twitter (for updates announcements) and Instagram (for drawings/pictures of the characters and such). All the same name basically. Blushweaver!
Thanks again! The break shouldn't be too long, at least a month, but hopefully no longer than two. You all are so wonderful with your review and love and all the such stuff I just want to give hugs to all!
-Blushweaver
Thanks for reading! I like how father and son have come to the same conclusion. "I am so done with these idiots, time to take control and get things done." Lol. Any who see y'all when blushweaver starts up again!
-Im0ut0