.:oOo:.
AN- Chere amies, j'espere que tout vas bien avec vous. Lol ok, thats my french for today. So here we are, the next update IN ONLY 1 DAY.
Frankly, i enjoyed writing this one. even if it sucks.
Please no maiming on how horrible Kharl's master is. He is entirely built of my own imagination (scary...).
Gomensai.
DiScLaMeR
Out of fear I will do thsi correctly.
Kharl, Kharl's Master and Dragon Knights belongs to Mineko Ohkami.
Kharl's Master's personality, speech, and appearance is totally my own creation.
For all I know, kharl's master might be blonde.
He is probably very OOC.
Forgive me and as i said in my AN, there will be no maiming.
.:oOo:.
Obsession
By Lumikuu
Chapter 5 -
A Nameless Demon's Bargain
.:oOo:.
We ate the rabbit over an open fire. And we didn't speak. Well, I would have, but I was too busy trying to chew the charred meat.
Kharl had burned the rabbit, even though he had been observing it the whole time it was being cooked. He literally sucked at cooking.
I think he knew it too, well, I was guessing the grimace of his face as he chewed that he did.
After finishing that rather sordid meal, Kharl suggested we sleep because I couldn't go anywhere without fainting. Which was rather annoying, and if I may add, embarrassing.
So as I lay down to sleep I whispered a few prayers to the Holy Mother and hoped that my best friend was not a murderer like those kids said he was. And then I fell asleep.
I did not dream, as expected. But I had the sensation of being light, and it was scorching. And when I woke, it felt I had slept for an eternity. I was so hungry, and thirsty, and so very, very hot.
Kharl was carrying me, piggy-back style. Even though I had just woken up, I was too tired to protest or even speak. So I groaned into his back.
A few seconds later he had stopped, and propped me gently against a tree trunk.
"Kharl…I..I don't feel..so..good…" I said slowly, my voice was raspy.
"Your fever came back. You've been asleep for two days, you must be hungry."
"Water..?" I moaned, squinting through the light. It hurt and made me want to vomit.
"No, I'm sorry Rei-Rei, I haven't found any kind of river or puddle at all. I'm sorry."
He sounded raspy too. I nodded to show I understood.
"Am I going to die here…Kharl?" I asked with closed eyes.
"Don't be stupid. Here," He put something to my lips, "I've been saving the last of the rabbit for you, I guess I burned it so much, its like beef jerky now. It keeps well." He laughed sheepishly.
I took the strip by my mouth and chewed vainly. Everything seemed to take so much energy from me. Blinking, speaking,…breathing.
I couldn't chew, my mouth just stopped.
The strip dropped to my chin and I just wanted to sleep. The heat was unbearable, and what was even more was that I was the only one who felt it. It was fall, and cold, but I…I was sweating.
"Come on Reina, chew…" Kharl said, putting the strip in my mouth again. I let it drop back out, and then I shook my head slowly from side to side.
Once, twice, and then I stopped because I couldn't do anymore than that.
Kharl frowned worriedly and took the strip back. Silence. Then there was the sound of chewing for a few minutes and I was allowed to rest in peace.
Then there was heat on my face, a light heat, but still, it was already too hot. I tried to back my head, but it was resting against the trunk of the tree and I was forced to endure the warmth. A light pressure touched my lips and I mumbled something deliriously. Kharl (obviously it was Kharl, because I don't know what else it could have been.) took the chance that my mouth was open and pushed the chewed up rabbit into my mouth.
"Now, swallow." he commanded, and I did so. The food went down my throat easily and I cracked an eye open to see Kharl chewing furiously again. Then he ducked his head close, very close, to my face and pushed his mouth against mine. I parted my lips obediently and the food came.
I was too tired, and too hungry to complain or freak out.
Kharl continued to feed me in this bird-like manner until whatever dried rabbit he had left was gone, and in my stomach. And then he lay down on the mossy ground in front of me and slept.
I followed right after.
Kharl was carrying me again and moving fast through the forest when I opened my eyes. It was still hot, but my throat wasn't so dry as before.
"Kharl?" I asked. He turned his head to glance back at me.
"You're awake. How do you feel?"
"I still feel hot and dizzy, but…my throat is better."
"Mmm." he said.
"How long have I been asleep?" I asked.
"Another day." he answered plainly.
"Oh…" Just how long have we been in here? Maybe I was right…Maybe this thing does go on forever, until the end of the world. I leaned my head against Kharl's back and wondered how he did it.
'Carrying me, and he's still running. He hasn't even broken a sweat… Actually, I've never even seen Kharl sweat.'
Everything came so easily to him. I sighed and went back to sleep.
Pneumonia
That's what I have.
I remember that one of the prisoners in the gallows had it, and the doctor wouldn't treat him because no one would pay for the services.
The man who had it called for water a lot, and moaned in his sleep about the heat, when it was relatively nice weather outside.
He died after a week, or something like that.
Death was nothing new to me, or the village I had grown up in. Sickness was everywhere, and the people who caught it died soon after. None of our doctors knew the cure, and some even died trying to find it. Our ruler, the Count, really didn't care much. As long as we paid our taxes and didn't bother him, he stayed inside his manor and only came out to leave for some foreign place who-knows-where.
Us children were the first to suffer. Most of us were raised in the streets because our parents couldn't afford to feed another mouth.
I never had to worry about that though, I knew my parents weren't from the village, or Arinas for that fact. Before granny died, she told me a strange couple, my parents, wandered into the village and dropped their newborn babe off to the local wet nurse. They explained they were from far away, a place called Dusis, and that they would be back for their child soon. And then they just plain out left.
Well, it had been fourteen years, and I had been waiting for along time for their arrival. So a year or two ago I decided they weren't coming back. But that didn't stop me, because I was going to find them. Easy peasy. Now all I had to do was find Dusis…which was…where?
Ok so I still hadn't picked out all the flies in the ointment, but still, I would find out somehow.
And Kharl…Kharl could help me if he wanted to. Would he come? And if there really was an end to this forest what would we do once we got there?
Go together…or go our separate ways?
"Reina!" He was shaking me. His voice, excited. "Reina! Look! A castle! You're going to be ok. They'll help you."
I was happy for him, but I didn't open my eyes. I didn't answer.
I wanted him to be quiet, and the birds and the wind in the trees to just shut up. Couldn't they all just let me rest in peace?
No, not Kharl. Never Kharl.
He was shaking me again.
I was as good as dead, and I longed to hit Kharl to get his attention and tell him so…but I was so tired.
"Hey! Hey, you'll be fine, come on, let's go!" he picked me up like he had been doing for the past many days and began to run. The up and down movement was annoying and I wanted it to stop. Stop. Everything just stop.
Please.
I felt Kharl put me down on the ground. I looked at my surroundings from the floor through slit eyes.
It was a big castle. But there were no guards, no people milling about like a normal castle would have. No flags or banners. No indication that anyone lived here.
And I peaked. I shut my eyes for what I thought was the last time just before hearing Kharl whisper softly,
"For her sake, there had better be someone in there."
Demon of snow
Your cold gaze warms me so
To think that now I know,
You will reap what you sow.
It is too bad you will stay and I will go.
Oh but what an innocent smile.
Like that of a simple child.
Who would have thought,
That what you really sought ,
Was merely a smile to match your own.
A crack in the heavy black curtains let a single ray of light fall onto my face. I opened my eyes wearily. Was I dead?
Half of me wished I was, the other half didn't.
The first thing I realized was that I was in a bed. It had been a long, long time since I had slept on a bed. And this was a plush, pillow-covered one. I had practically sunk a foot or two into the mattress.
The second thing I realized was that I was absolutely naked.
I took this with unnatural calmness and just shimmied deeper under the warm covers.
It had been a smart thing to do, because the door to the room opened and a strange man I had never seen walked in and came to my bedside.
He was clothed in long sheets of midnight that he wore like a many layered robe.
Long black hair reaching down to his waist swayed gently when he walked towards me with inhuman grace. Marks like thick lines bled from his jaw line to the beginning of his cheeks on either side of his face. Deliberate or simply an accident I did not know.
My eyes traveled upwards past the lines. His eyes were coal black.
Oddly, they gave off no shine but did not look dull. Though his body was of a young man, his ebony eyes suggested otherwise. They were wise and held a nameless knowledge that I did not understand.
I liked the eyes more than I was to like the man in front of me.
His face altogether was beautiful.
Flawless.
I sat up in bed, making sure to cover myself entirely with the thick comforter.
"Good morning." He said simply, in a voice that sounded like wisps of smoke and velvet. I don't know why, but it made me think of those things, so that is how I will describe it.
His words were soothing and made me sleepy as soon as he said them. But I kept awake, staring in amazement at the strange man.
He waited for my reply, but I didn't speak.
He sat down in a chair I hadn't realized was there.
Because it hadn't been.
"I would ask if you are feeling well, but since it was I who healed you, I know very well you are cured." he said simply again.
I chose to speak at this moment.
"Who are you?"
"Those who knew my name no longer walk this earth, and it has been far to long to begin using such a calling again." he said. "But I am also he who saved your life. I am he who owns this castle. I am he who deals with darkness."
I looked at him, judging. He did the same to me.
"It has been very, very long since I have had visitors pass into my threshold. I suppose I am obligated in welcoming you." he said tucking a strand of black hair behind his ear.
Was I supposed to thank him?
"Where is the boy I was with?" I asked.
The man cocked his head ever so slightly, as if listening to something I couldn't hear. Then he blinked and resumed his normal position.
"Kharl has told me all about you. Reina." he whispered.
He knew our names. And what was this about knowing all about me?
"What…Do you mean?" I questioned slowly, trying not to sound rude.
"Kharl has also told me about your little adventure. And that you don't know yet."
"Don't know what?"
"You don't know because you are supposed to find out for yourself. And you haven't been searching. You haven't even tried." he scoffed, as if enjoying a private joke.
"I don't know what you are talking about." I said giving him a weird look. But really, a hole had opened inside of me. Somehow I did understand, even though I didn't. There was a note of recognition deep inside of me. Acknowledging this statement.
"I know." he said simply. "But sometimes we don't realize things are there when they are. Even when it is very evident. And sometimes we need a hint and a little push in the correct direction. Like what I have just done to you. Now you are forced to think about it, and forced to search for it. And maybe you won't even find it. That takes luck and skill. And you, child, have neither."
"I have neither? How the- Why are you saying this?" I demanded. The idea of a complete stranger telling me about myself like he knew exactly what he was talking about didn't fly with me.
"We know. Our kind does." his eyes boring into her like he was seeing straight into her. Then he blinked and changed the subject with a brighter, and less ominous tone.
"Your little friend Kharl is quite the catch. He's bright and capable. That's rare when we are raised among humans."
We? His kind? His kind….
And of course it hit me.
Demons.
"You're a demon aren't you?" I asked cautiously.
"Ah, she understands." he said softly. "And now the puzzle is out in the open, and only you can piece it together."
"Where is Kharl?" I asked again. An unbidden image of Kharl being eaten by the strange man quelled fear from inside me.
"Kharl is quite safe. He's here in the castle. Spending time with my birds. He likes them…not all do…" he left off, obviously because he was now thinking. A rather determined look came to his face.
Birds?
I suddenly wanted to leave. Take Kharl and run.
This man was a demon.
Demons were evil.
Evil meant death, or perhaps, worse.
"Judging by you being a demon…" I said, choosing my words carefully, "We won't be leaving this place anytime soon, will we…?"
The demon-man's face brightened considerably.
"Perhaps you are not as dull-witted as I thought, child Reina."
"No more pretense Demon." I growled, tired of his mysterious aire.
He chuckled grimly.
"You call me a demon as though it were a curse. When you complete your puzzle, you'll be even more surprised if you act like that. Surprised to your death, perhaps." He added.
I glared.
He changed face, his features became strict and even a little cold.
"I will make this quick, as pleasantry and familiarity was never my nature." he said. He looked calm despite his rude tone.
"I believe I have now saved your life twice." He stated. "And therefore, to be frank, you owe me two things…Two things equal to two lives. Or perhaps, one thing that equals two."
His manner of speech was confusing, and I was having a hard time keeping up. This constant talk of puzzles, knowledge, and frivolity was making me even more agitated by the minute.
"Excuse me for asking, but, I can understand saving my life once, but twice…?" I said, failing to keep effrontery out my voice.
He inclined his head slightly and looked expectantly at me.
Then he said deliberately, "It seems… You too, like my birds."
"Of course." I whispered. "Your birds. The ones from the forest." I still recalled the incident very clearly. The scent of blood still lingered in my mind.
The demon broke out into a fanged grin. Too wide for his face. Too harsh for his soft features. His coal eyes were approving.
"You knew we were coming then?" I asked.
"Of course. I wasn't going to let you in at first…but after seeing Kharl…I changed my mind and had this bed made for you." he was still grinning.
"…What is Kharl to you?" I asked.
"Kharl is most…Interesting…" Then grin was gone, replaced by that serious, cold expression.
"I would negotiate the terms of exchange with you." he stated.
I looked at him coldly.
"Why do I have to make a deal with you?"
He shook his head, as if he were exasperated with my pig-headedness.
"That is the law of things. Especially alchemy, which is what I do, by the by." he stated. "One of the most important rule in alchemy is that there must always be an equal exchange. You will find it applies in everyday life itself. Equations, nature, et cetera, child. It is the very balance that holds this world together." he gazed at me with a wistful faraway look. And then snapped back to pierce my gaze with his own.
"Plus, it is a debt. And I shall be sorely vexed if you do not return the favor." he added. This, I understood much more than his, "Alchemy" , and "Law of nature."
"Then, shouldn't Kharl be with us?"
"He said what ever you decided was fine with him."
I stared, unsure whether to trust him or not.
"You have been asleep for many a day. We've spoken much over the time." His black eyes hinted no trickery or falseness.
"…Alright. What would you like?" I decided to trust him. "I have no possessions except for my clothes."
"That doesn't matter, I burnt them anyway." he said simply and a hungry look appeared on his dazzling face when he spoke the next sentence. Another expression that did not suit his features.
"Demons often need more than simple cloth and breakable words. We prefer more…meaningful…possessions. For instance…I would have your lovely eyes. They are most unusual. I have never seen such a color." He said indicating my honey brown, black flecked eyes with a long gloved finger.
I shuddered. Losing my sight was not an option. If I were to meet my parents, I would like to see them as well.
"Or…your soul…they are always so pure at your age. Your heart too. Very easy to preserve. " He mused.
"I doubt you'd want them if you knew I've seen death and plague." I answered.
"Hmm…Still…I would have your servitude, perhaps? Seeing as you haven not much else to give. Of course, that only makes up for one debt." he muttered, staring at me now. "There are many ways…" But the rest of the sentence was lost, for now he was whispering to himself and I could not make out his words.
"Then." I said a little loudly to draw his attention from his incoherent muttering, "Then, what else can I do?"
He looked up.
"Actually, that is entirely up to me. If I wanted your heart. I would have it. Same with the rest of your ideas. You are literally entirely at my mercy. I am being polite though, and giving you the chance to decide for yourself, but either way…It's a dead end…"
I stared at him again. Then what was I supposed to do? I could not give more than I had. A question crossed my mind I hadn't thought of before.
"What of Kharl? He owes you nothing. He can leave if he wishes…right?" I asked slowly.
"Ahh….yes. There we have our answer." he said, his ebony eyes glinting. "Kharl…I have taken a liking to Kharl. I would have him, if you wish. Of course, he is worth both debts, certainly. I mean you no offense, but Kharl himself is worth more than your soul, heart and body put together. Yes…Such potential….And then you would be free to leave without harm."
I stiffened.
He, take Kharl?
I think not.
My mind was already cluttered with images of torture and the experiments this demon-man would inflict on my poor Kharl.
The demon with no name saw my reaction and offered solace quickly.
"My dear, I would not think of harming Kharl. I merely meant I would take him on as my apprentice. He would benefit much from my teachings. And once again I mean you no offense, but demons do not belong in the company of humans. I am sure that there will be many, where you are going."
"Are you saying Kharl is a..a…a demon?" I asked, almost laughing. Kharl, in my point of view, was possibly the most unlikely candidate for being marked a demon in the whole entire world. No demon, I was sure, could flash such brilliant smiles, or look so tender and sweet. Demons were demonic. They wreaked havoc and killed for fun. Kharl could never be such a thing.
The man's perfect eyebrows shot up and he eyed me tentatively.
"You don't know that either?"
A cold chill ran down my spine. Was he lying?
He must be. But what reason would he have…
"Lying to me won't change my mind. I'm not giving you Kharl." I snapped.
Now his eyebrows narrowed.
"Silly girl, I would not lie to you for such a petty reason. I could take him if I wanted."
"Don't threaten me," I hissed, feeling my blood start to boil. I was hard to anger, but here this man came, telling me nonsense about puzzles, Kharl being a demon, and speaking like he owned the whole damn world.
He laughed a humorless laugh. Short and bitter.
"We often resort to denial when the truth is too harsh. Even demons." But before I could open my mouth for a comeback he glared at me.
"His ears child. And his eyes, no human iris could bear such a wonderful pigment." he said.
"I-" I started but he cut across me.
"Have you even seen his ears?" he demanded impatiently, but he never expected an answer, for he began to speak again. "Let me give you a tip, a very important tip, child. You ought to remember it for the rest of your life." he said, gazing at me in a fierce manner.
"Humans have ears like yours. Rounded and insensitive. Fairies, the same thing, except they are much smaller, like their bodies. Demons, and Dragons have ears almost identical in appearance to humans, except they are pointed at the ends and can hear things much, much better than yours. And then there are the elves with long pointed ears. They might have the best hearing out of all of us. Remember that, it makes them easier to recognize." he noted, showing me his demon ear with a hand. I never noticed Kharl's ears. They were hidden my his mass of puffy hair that was in desperate need of a trim. I began to worry.
"Can…can I talk to Kharl?" I asked hopefully.
"I would take you to him." he said simply, and stood up, long black cloak billowing behind him as he strode purposefully out the door.
I nearly got out of bed too.
"HEY." I yelled, hoping he could still hear me. "HEY! I need clothes first!"
He reappeared in the doorway.
"Your clothes are on the end of your bed, silly girl. I will wait outside so you may dress." And he was gone. I turned my head to the end of the bed, and sure enough, clothes that had certainly not been there a minute ago, sat neatly folded on the edge of my bed, a pair of boots on top of them.
"Cheater." I muttered, and then put them on without much bravado.
It was a black dress that went down to my ankles, with long sleeves that fit me perfectly, like no other clothing had.
Always too baggy, my boys clothing was. I wondered how the demon knew my size.
Next came the boots, made with a material I had never seen before. They were black like the dress, and made from a leathery, scale-ish cloth. Needless to say they were very comfortable.
I laughed bitterly. How ironic, the best clothes I have ever received came from a demon I had just barely met and who wanted my soul and my best friend.
I met the yokai outside my room and he look approvingly at me, and without saying anything he began to walk down the narrow corridor. He was quite tall, I realized, and I wondered if Kharl would ever be as tall as him. Little did I know, that I would not be disappointed in the future.
I followed him through silent dark winding corridors and little halls that all had odd contraptions, vials, and bookcases and shelves of literature. Everything was dim, because there were practically no windows.
After about ten minutes of walking I realized how big this castle must be. And from what it looked like, Kharl, this demon-man, and I were the only ones that occupied the dark spaces of this dim chateau.
"Are we the only ones then?" I asked quietly, breaking the heavy silence. He nodded briskly, not breaking his stride.
"What did you do with the people who lived here before?" I asked, secretly glancing at the only bit of his face I could see from behind him. I thought I saw the same grin he had given me before in my room. The one to large and too severe for his beautiful face. But it was so dark I wasn't sure.
"They…let me have it." he said calmly.
Yeah, right.
I thought skeptically, glaring at the back of his head.A moment later, we walked into a sunlit room. I know now it is called a sunroom. Quite fitting, actually.
Kharl didn't see us come in, he had his back to us and he was playing with the same two ragged birds that had indeed saved me from the demon in the forest. He was clothed in the same fabric as I, black long-sleeved shirt, and black pants with boots. It looked good on him, but the color made his skin seem transparent and ghostlike. I was sorely reminded of the river demon-woman.
The birds flapped around noiselessly, which I thought was amazing for birds of their size. Kharl was smiling so brightly all the fear I had about him being a demon temporarily vanished.
Demons don't smile like that.
Though he was sixteen, he was still as childlike as ever.
The demon-man motioned me farther into the room. I moved forward towards Kharl, and he noticed me and turned around, still smiling. One of the birds perched on his outstretched arm.
"Aren't they great Reina?" He asked.
With a smile like that, they could be giant onions and I would still say yes.
I thought wryly. I gave him an absent minded smile and nod, but I was focused on the place where his eyes were supposed to be. No chance, they were covered by his random tufts of lavender-white hair.The rangy bird on his arm cawed at me loudly and flew up to join his brother on the rafters above us.
"They're so smart." he appraised them, looking up admiringly. Then he looked back at me, violet eyes twinkling.
"What do you think of master?" He asked.
"Master!" I cried, staring in horror at Kharl. That wretched demon! He already had Kharl calling him, "Master".
"You needn't call him that." I said sharply, turning to glare at the demon-man who I thought was behind me, but had apparently left us to talk about this alone. I turned back to Kharl, who shrugged.
"What else is there to call him? He wouldn't give me his name. And anyway, he's very neat. He know of all sorts of things, and he even said he'd teach me if I wanted!" he grinned happily, nearly jumping up and down out of happiness.
I stared at Kharl.
What had that appalling demon done to him while I was healing!
"Kharl, listen to me." I said taking hold of his hands like I had done many times before in the past. It was his cue to start paying attention, and now he was.
"That demon won't let me leave until I give him something in exchange for him saving my life twice. And Kharl, he wants you." I cried, my hands shaking.
Kharl seemed to think about that.
"Then say yes." Kharl said simply, with another shrug.
I nearly died on the spot.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?" I yelled, shaking his hands. "Who knows what he'll do to you!" Kharl frown and released himself from my grip. He looked at me strangely, as if he didn't recognize the person in front of him.
"Reina," he said quietly. "I don't think, he'd do anything."
"But-"
"Reina." He said my name again. Looking at me again with those violet eyes that gave me the illusion I was melting.
"I want to stay."
Those words were like a white hot knife, cutting through my heart. All hopes that we would get out of here alive, and that he would come with me to find my parents, died.
His eyes were sorrowful, but sincere.
This is what he wanted.
And I had no power to change that.
I reached out slowly towards his face. He didn't move, but he seemed to stop breathing. I touched his cheek.
He was cold, and he looked startled. He had expected me to blow up in his face. To hit him, to rage. But I knew it was a lost cause.
I moved my hand to his temple and brushed the hair back from it.
His demon ear greeted me.
The cartilage at the top came to a point and was more angular than my human ears. Like the demon-man's, my head hurt when I saw it.
This time it was not my hopes that died,
but a part of my desolate heart.
Kharl flinched and pushed my hand quickly away. But it was too late, I had seen what I had seen.
I felt a sob build in my throat. I couldn't swallow. I couldn't breath.
Kharl stared at me in fear, no doubt wondering what I was about to do.
And what I did was turn tail and run out the door into the corridor and lose myself in the depth of the castle and my mind.
I let out the lodged sob, and I knew Kharl had heard it.
With ears like those, who wouldn't?
.:oOo:.
Author's Notes: My fav part was the ending...even if it was badly written. Sorry.
Review Corner:
Sarehptar: Oh, don't worry! I'm just happy you reviewed on this one, lol. I liked the stick part (shocker) too. XD. I hope this day-after-last-update pleases you. And that your eyes dont bleed, P
xenocanaan: Woooooow, new reviewer! You think so? Well, im glad you do. Thanks for reading, and ill try to update soon.