Red River: Kira Ishtar
The fate of Tito the slave boy is now unknown! After bravely saving Kira from the clutches of Zuwa, the Kashuga—our protagonist will soon have to make a choice regarding her chance to return to New York while facing the consequences that her actions bring.
Chapter 5 - Vengeance
"Open up!" said Kikkuri, pounding his fist against the huge doors. "Tell the Queen she had visitors!"
After a few moments; the doors suddenly freaked slightly open to reveal a tired servant, answering on the other side. He yawned loudly.
"Who dares to awake her Majesty? Come back tomorrow." He insists.
"Prince Kail dares." said the young man firmly. "Now, fetch your mistress at once; this is an urgent matter!" He ordered.
"Prince Kail! Of course—at once!" The servant quickly and hastily retrieved Nakia, who entered shortly after, feigning tiredness and sleep deprivation. All while eyeing Kira closely.
"Oh … Prince Kail." She yawned. "How unkind of you to wake me. I'm very tired."
Blood boiled inside of Kira's fists as she gritted her teeth. How dare she feign innocence when a boy was trapped inside her palace walls and after plotting to kill Kira right on the spot not too long ago either?
Normally, she would've restrained herself from saying something rash—but her anger was too great!
"You liar!" Kira snapped. "You tried to have me killed moments ago! So stop pretending and tell the truth now!"
A hand came up from Prince Kail to halt Kira's emotional words. "Your Majesty; please excuse this intrusion. There's been an embarrassing mishap, I'm afraid. One of my young servants sleepwalks and has wandered into your palace. Would you be so kind as to return him to me?"
His voice was calm, cool and collected with a silkiness that made Kira state at him in wonder at how composed he was in a dreadful situation like this.
"How odd … well, I'm afraid your search has come to an end. The servant is not here." She dismisses quickly.
Tears filled Kira's eyes. She couldn't leave him! Not in the hands of that vicious beast!
"Tito is here! That horrid giant you hired tried to kill us!" She barked. The Queen smirked under her guise of outrage.
"You dare question the word of a Queen?" She asked with a haughty glare. "Your do best to silence your insolent tongue before I have it cut out; Prince's consort or not: you will show respect to me!" She snapped at the girl.
"Please, your Majesty," Kira now begged, unable to control the sorrow in her voice. Kail sympathized with her burning emotions. "Please?"
"Your Majesty; if I may with your consent—search your palace. I shall never forgive myself if my somnambulant servant harmed you!" He tried.
Now—Nakia whipped her head around and flared at the meddling prince. "I told you he's not here! Now, go Prince Kail! And take your raving strumpet with you!" She hissed.
"Wait! Your Majesty, please! If I could—"
"You forget yourself! I am the Queen! The Tawananna! No one but the Emperor commands me! Now go!" She barked and disappeared behind her closed doors. Prince Kail's jaw locked.
"Prince Kail! Don't listen to her! Tito is in there! I swear to you!" said a desperate Kira.
"I know," he replied with a solemn stare. "But she is the Tawananna. Her will is law."
"What's a tawananna?"
Prince Kail's jaw tightened. "It means 'Empress'. The most powerful woman in the Empire."
"Oh no," Kira quivered. "So what do we do now? We can't leave him!"
"I'll plead my case to my father personally. We will go to his palace today. For now … we will have to wait." He says with a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Kira. I will do everything I can to free Tito." She took his words of reassurance to heart and hoped that somehow they would give Tito the will and strength to remain alive until then.
I won't abandon you, Tito. I promise!
AT PRINCE KAIL'S PALACE
"I'm so sorry, Prince Kail. I swear I wasn't trying to escape and disobey you—I was trying to be patient but I heard a noise and it was Tito trying to go get my clothes for me! I had to stop him!" She explained as Kikkuri wrapped her injured hand.
"I understand, Kira—but you must understand that our world is different from yours. You should've alerted me of Tito's actions sooner." He says with a firm but gentle voice. "In any case; I've already sent a servant to tell my father I am here. Though I doubt he will see me at this hour." He frowned. "I'll get him to come to the Queen's palace with me somehow."
"Prince Kail," an unknown voice interrupted. "Why all of this for a servant boy?"
Kira and the third prince turned in time to see a young, yet slightly older gentleman standing in the doorway. He was fair skinned with blonde hair like Prince Kail, but had more of an unfazed expression.
"You have all you need to send the girl home. Forget the slave boy and let it be done."
"Ilbani?" said Prince Kail. "Allow me to introduce Kira. Kira—this is Ilbani: steward of the palace and my foster brother."
'But I can't go home yet! I can't leave Tito in the hands of that monster!' She thought with a shiver.
"I … I can't abandon Tito, Prince Kail. As much as I desire to go home—Tito deserves to be home here as well!"
"The boy may already be dead," said an emotionless Ilbani. "Forget him. You must return home at once."
Appalled, Kira stood. "How can you say something like that? He's innocent and only a child!"
"The 'giant' you speak of that captured you is named Zuwa, the Kashuga." Ilbani explained. "He is cruel, vicious and has … very strange ways. He is a chieftain of a barbaric tribe. They say he loves to wear jewels of all sorts and what he loves even more: is to collect the skins of his victims. Apparently, a child's skin is even more delicate and precious to him. He will waste no time in taking Tito's."
Kira's heart pounded in her chest, drastically and painfully. She could only imagine the torture that Tito must be enduring at this very moment. "Then we have to rescue him! Right, now! He have to save him!" Instinct took over her senses, as she tried to dash for the door—but the Prince was faster.
"Kira, wait!" Prince Kail called to her, but she was blinded and deafened by the silent yet loud sounds of Tito's tortured cries. It broke her heart steadily.
"Let go!" She yelled with new tears in her eyes. "I have to help him! He risked his life for me! I can't let him die in vain!"
Mustering his hidden strength; the Prince caught hold of her arms and restrained her against him while she thrashed wildly.
"Let me go!" She screamed/sobbed. And then, without warning—Prince Kail took hold of her slim waist and her the back of her head, yanking her forward and crushing his lips against hers. She shivered and huffed into the forced kiss, but visibly seemed to relax as he melded his lips with hers gently and carefully to ease her erratic thoughts and actions. Ilbani and Kikkuri watched in silence.
When Kira ceased her movements; Prince Kail pulled away slowly, allowing her to breathe in small pants, while he kissed her forehead.
"Listen to me; I haven't given up on Tito. If I forget that—then I'm no better than the Queen. I hold the life of a slave's as dear as a noble's." He promised and sent a firm glance at his steward. "I will do everything in my power to save Tito. Is that understood, Ilbani?"
The man bowed forward. "Forgive me, I was out of place."
TWO HOURS LATER (THE EMPEROR'S PALACE)
"Is my father awake yet? What's taking so long? I have an urgent matter I need to speak with him about." said Prince Kail. Kira followed behind while her anxiety pooled and looped through her entire body. Time was passing by and the sun would soon rise. Tito could be gone, but she refused to believe that just yet.
That is … until … they came across a few servants whispering secretly amongst themselves. Prince Kail pressed forward.
"What's happened?" He asked.
"Oh! Prince Kail! Nothing, sir! Only idle gossip." A servant replied.
"Out with it, man."
"Well … a guard just told us—a boy was found outside the city wall. A boy of 12 or 13 years."
Kira's heart sank. Oh God, no please!
Following the men's gossip; the trio of Kikkuri, Prince Kail and Kira rushed to the gates outside of the city where vultures hovered over a single spot that was crowded by five men.
A guard noticed their presence. "Your Highness!"
Kira stopped just a few feet away, gazing at the bloodied wrappings that covered the body and face of the victim. Her body trembled uncontrollably.
"Let … let me see the face!" She commanded shakily. The guards obeyed and pulled back the sheet. Her worst fear was confirmed.
The blank, hollow look of Tito's eyes stared at the air aimlessly as dried blood pooled out of his mouth and nose, onto the hot dirt.
Her hands covered her mouth to silence the scream that begged to come out. Nonetheless, it found its way to her throat.
"TITO!" She shrieked. Prince Kail, visibly disturbed bent down and noticed something very gruesome hidden beneath the cloth. How vile could this man be to do such a thing to a child?
"Oh my God," he whispered.
"Please, Princess. Look away!" Kikkuri urged, but his words were futile as Kira plopped to the ground and pulled back part of the sheet that revealed a skinned hand where blood and pink flesh rotted under the heat. The smell was abhorrent; but Kira was too filled with immense sadness and horror to feel or smell anything but her own tears coming again. This time it was a wave of endless sobs that overwhelmed her and forced her to grasp the skinned boy's body tightly in her arms and scream for him.
"TITO!" She cried hysterically.
The guards watched in complete awe of how saddened this girl was … over a slave boy. Prince Kail watched with sadness and through the urge to comfort her was there. He knew it was better to let her emotions breathe out for as long she wanted.
Under the hot Anatolian sun; the Prince watched on as the American girl screamed and cried for her lost friend.
SOME TIME LATER (SUNSET)
Things were very bleak and sad for Kira after burying Tito's body properly. The trio had returned to Prince Kail's palace to digest what they saw and for Kira to wash the blood off her skin and put on some new clothes.
She did so with a blank face.
Death is never an easy subject and this was the first time she had ever actually seen a dead body, but more than that—it was the first time she had ever seen someone so brutally murdered. An image she would never forget.
She sat on the ledge that overlooked the pond and small garden to the east. Her eyes were heavy with sadness and guilt.
"You have to eat, Kira." A voice said. She turned slowly to see Prince Kail appear.
"You haven't eaten all day."
"I'm not hungry." She mumbled. "Tito … is dead … because of me. I may not have wielded the blade that ended his short life, but I assisted in his murder by not making him turn back." She sniffled before sobbing for probably the sixth time today.
Prince Kail's expression deepened with sadness as he moved towards her.
"It's my fault." She whispered. "I can't bring him back. I can't tell him how amazing he was to save me like he did … or tell him how I'll miss his joyous attitude. Never seeing his bright smile again." She trembled. "I-I've never felt a pain so terrible like this." She cried.
On pure instinct; the Prince grabbed hold of the weeping girl and held her tightly in his arms. His fingers ran through the curls of her hair, providing a soothing effect that eased her sobs.
"P-Prince Kail?" She whimpered.
"Don't cry, Kira." He whispered, the tears in his own eyes dripping suddenly. "I can't bear to see you cry." He shut his eyes and then allowed himself to be enveloped in his own sadness at the cruel death of Tito as he held onto Kira for dear life. They clutched each other as if they were each other's life source; neither willing to release the other as they gently rocked each other back and forth—the combined sound of their muffled sobs reaching the ears of Ilbani who watched from afar.
"Forgive me, Your Highness." He suddenly spoke. The two emotional beings pulled apart slightly while still keeping a hold on each other.
"I must speak with you immediately."
"What is it, Ilbani?"
"We must prepare the ceremony for the princess at once. I spoke with the royal astrologer. At dawn: the morning star will rise for the last time in this wet season." He explained. "The last time for an entire year."
"Kira," Prince Kail breathed at the realization. "This coming dawn?"
I … I leave at dawn?
EARLY DAWN—THE NEXT DAY
Night passed over like a summer's breeze—quick and swift. And it made the knot in Kira's stomach tighten. Though the imminent joy of returning home after spending these last few days in Hattusa was refreshing … it didn't feel right.
Regardless, Kira hurried to put back on the clothes she arrived in with a semi-sluggish pace.
"The springs are full. In a few hours; the propitious moment will arrive." said Prince Kail, solemnly. "I am ready. We can start at any time from now."
He watched her keep silent and slip her boots on.
"You … seem ready to go." He said quietly.
"Yes." She replied with a quiet tone. She stood up and approached the young prince. "I didn't like you when we first met; but … recently, I've kind of … taken a small liking to you." She admitted.
Prince Kail smirked and took the brave chance of grabbing her hand to hold. She didn't refuse it.
"'A small liking?'" He repeated with a wry chuckle. "I think there's more to that than you're letting on."
"I guess we'll never know." She whispered with a small smile, before realizing she needed to distance herself. She couldn't get wrapped up in what could be—maybe if she was born in his time, something special. But even without Prince Kail's influence—the decision to stay was still eating away at her thoughts.
Abruptly, she takes a few steps back and looks away from his longing eyes. Kikkuri then enters.
"Princess Kira … we will miss you greatly here." He offers a smile.
She nods and then proceeds to leave, but the voices in her head wouldn't stop causing chaos. She had no life here! What would she do if she stayed? Continue to be his concubine and watch him be with other women? No! She had more dignity than that! Besides—college was where she wanted to go! To be a doctor, save lives, help the sick—being the bridge between those who cannot take care of themselves.
She couldn't abandon everything she's worked towards in New York!
But Tito … how would she move on with her life … when Tito's murderer was still in Hattusa; killing and skinning whomever he desired?
She clutched at her heart and Prince Kail's face became understanding of where her heart was. But just like Kira—he knew she had to go home. Hattusa was no place for a beautiful, gentle flower like her.
"Prince Kail … do you not wish to send the girl home?" Ilbani suddenly asked.
His jaw set in place. "I said I would … why do you ask?"
"That is wise," Ilbani bowed. "When I heard you had taken a concubine; I thought you had finally chosen a wife. I was very troubled."
The Prince sighed. "I haven't forgotten my vow." He said and then looked to the slowly brightening sky. "The Gods brought Kira into my life … but …," he paused, unable to find the words, though he knew what to say.
Ilbani knew this as well.
"You needn't worry," he continued. "Soon she will be gone … and even if she stayed …," he stopped himself as the memories of him trying to make love to her resurfaced. He smiled sadly.
You're not a noble prince—you're a beast!
A FEW MINUTES BEFORE DAWN
"The morning star rises for the last time in this year's wet season. Tomorrow, the season of fire and drought begins. The springs will not be full again for a whole year." Prince Kail said, reminding Kira.
"If we miss this chance—you will be stuck here in Hattusa until the next year when the morning star rises again." He warned. Kira swallowed thickly.
"Prince Kail," said Kikkuri. "I have stationed soldiers at the seven springs. They will defend them should the Queen's guards attack."
"Good." Kail nodded and then turned back to the American girl.
"Kira; this is the spring you appeared out from. Step into the water and then I can send you back home." He instructed.
"B-But … the Queen … has power over the water. What if she—"
"She may try something." He says suddenly. "But I wield as much power as her. I can counter anything she does. Have no fear." Kira nodded and then carefully approached the spring.
Sadness then filled her heart again.
If I go home … I'll never see him again
Suddenly, the water raged at her entrance and rose to trap the girl in its clutches.
"Oh no!" She cried.
"The Queen's magic!" said Kikkuri.
"Stay where you are!" Kail commanded. Then—a powerful gust of wind suddenly emerged. The Prince remained firm and concentrated on the wild water that constructed around Kira. The winds raged harder and fiercer; commanding the water's obedience.
Kikkuri and Ilbani braced themselves while Kira watched in awe of Prince Kail who stood in the center, his garments tousled by the winds while remaining still. The realization set.
He … he can control the wind?!
NAKIA'S PALACE
The rush of wind upsetted the waters Nakia controlled and rebelled against her influence; obeying the master of wind. She yelped as the pan of water erupted and spilled over her pedestal suddenly.
"Curse you, Kail!" She growled. "But it's not over, girl—mark my words: you will never see your home again!"
AT THE SPRING
The water finally slowed and eased; wetting Kira's body but soothing itself back into the spring like nothing happened. Prince Kail smirked as the winds around them eased as well.
"Prince Kail!" She said, wanting to go to him.
"Stay where you are, Kira!" He ordered. "You must stay in the spring! The sun is rising any moment now!"
The girl obeyed and took a deep breath; ready to return to the home she knew and loved.
"God of Time and Space!" Prince Kail began. "Return this girl to where she belongs! Hear me!" She commanded as the winds began to rustle again. Then—Prince Kail froze as did Kira as they looked over at the top of the wall guarding the spring; a huge burly man stood wielding a sword in hand with that same crazed smile.
Zuwa, the Kashuga!
"Little one!" He yelled and leaped down, taking hold of Kira. "We have unfinished business!" He slurped and salivated. Kira yelped in fear. Prince Kail unsheathed his sword.
"Zuwa the Kashuga!" He growled. And then with steady hands—battled the huge man for Kira.
Enveloped by his embrace; Kira took notice of something he wore on his arm. Her eyes widened.
It was Tito's necklace. The one his sister made for him … when he left his home.
"Kira! Get to the spring!" Kail yelped urgently. "I'll finish the spell!"
Zuwa released his hold on Kira to fight Kail, which allowed the girl to see the new headband he wore. Tears filled her eyes again.
No … it can't be …
Zuwa noticed her disgusted and startled expression and grinned. "Do you like my new headband? That child's skin was very soft. I enjoyed skinning the life out of him. His screams were pleasing as well." He taunted.
That monster … that … son of a bitch! I will never forgive him! I will kill him!
Rage and fury overcame her senses and flooded her ears, blocking Prince Kail's words.
"YOU WILL PAY!" She roared with hot tears and rage filled eyes. "I will kill you! I swear I will!"
Kira was not a violent person—Hell, she could barely watch a gory movie like Sweeney Todd without getting sick. But this beast—this inhumane being, did not deserve her kindness, forgiveness or mercy. He needed to die for this unforgivable crime.
Adrenaline surged through her veins and pushed Kira to run after Zuwa as he charged for the prince.
"Kira, no! Don't be foolish! You must go!" He pleaded, but the girl was too consumed by her hatred to listen.
Zuwa turned around to face her and grinned as he raised his sword. "I'll take your little head!"
"KIRA!" Kail bellowed in fear. The American girl surprised both him and Zuwa. Using her rusty, but handy gymnastic skills; Kira made a high jump, completing a cork twist that flew over Zuwa's head and let her take hold of the skin cap of Tito's flesh from his head.
"Little Rabbit!" Zuwa growled.
Kail gasped in shock as he watched her gracefully remove the cap and fall towards him. He caught her with ease and hugged her to his chest.
"The sun is rising!" Zuwa then said. "My work here is done!" He hissed and then ran off beyond the spring wall with his followers from the other seven springs following in pursuit.
Kikkuri and two other soldiers rushed to Prince Kail's side as he held Kira with confusion in his eyes and voice.
"Kira … why didn't you go home?"
"I … I couldn't." She stammered with hiccups. "They have to pay … for what they did to Tito!" She said fervently and looked up into Kail's eyes with tear-stained cheeks.
"They have to suffer for their crimes. For murdering an innocent child! The Queen and her evil must be stopped!" She sobbed. "I can't go home … until I've avenged Tito's murder, Kail. I can't." She cried.
"Oh, Kira …" he whispered and grasped into a tight hug. She buried her face into the crook of his neck, sobbing until there was nothing left to cry for.
Kail held onto her the entire time.
NAKIA'S PALACE
"She's still here? Good work!" The Queen grinned evilly. "Take these jewels as your reward, Zuwa. Now I can get this girl at my leisure."
The barbaric man nodded and took his prize gratefully.
"My next plan is already in motion. And if all goes right—Kail will not be around to thwart me this time." She laughed as the new dawn of the season and new change began.
Peace & Love
xGhostReaderx