Chapter 17:
Part 3:
Suraco closed the door.
"Suraco?"
Suraco jumped, startled "Princess."Even he had not realized that his heart was beating so violently.
"Are you well?"
Suraco nodded .Now that he was inside the house the feeling he had been having outside had abated a bit. During the short journey to the barn and back he had felt some thing watching him..Something that sends shivers down his spine. It was strange considering that he was not easily frightened.
"I am now."He admitted "Perhaps we should leave."
Keeah raised an eyebrow "Why?"
"This is not our battle."
"I know "
"Then why stay?"Suraco's eyes held his unspoken question ' Why help a Suzaku seishi? Is it not enough that we spared her life?'
"I am not staying behind to help her .I am staying to help myself."
Suraco stayed still awhile watching Keeah's retreating back ' I will pretend I understood that.'
Sighing he followed Keeah.
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Lee sat by the riverside watching Hotohori and Menesku spar in the dull moonlight .She looked at the sky. Never before she had seen anything like this .The stars sparkled like diamonds in the sky, which looked like a veil woven by the hands of the Gods.
"Hey "Faraco sat down beside her "What are you looking at?"
" I am looking at the sky."
"The sky?"
"In the city the lights are so bright .It hides the glory of the night sky."Lee sighed, "Besides I never felt the need to look at the sky."
Faraco sat besides her silently enjoying her company.
"They are pretty good aren't they?"Lee remarked watching Menesku gracefully avert Hotohori's blows.
"They have to be "Faraco said quietly "Fighting the black warrior is no child's play."
Lee smiled. Suddenly the world seemed to be enveloped in an inky blackness. Lee blinked.
' What the hell!'
She looked around .She was all alone. The field, the river, the stars all had been swallowed up in the dark nothingness.
She looked around desperately .Her heart pounding.
' Faraco..Wasn't he sitting beside me?' Lee looked around desperately ' Hotohori? Menesku?'
"Faraco! Hotohori! Menesku "She called their name aloud, desperately hoping for an answer. She felt dread settle in her stomach like a cold weight. There was no answer.
She was shaking ' This is a nightmare .A horrible nightmare..'
' Pinch yourself you stupid girl 'the voice in her head spoke ' At least determine whether you are awake or asleep.'
"Good Idea "Lee spoke out aloud. Even the sound of her voice was better than the silence surrounding her. She pinched herself hard.
' Holy shit that hurt!' Lee panicked looking at the reddened spot on her arm ' I..I am awake.'
Her first instinct was to run in circles screaming her head off. But on further contemplation she felt that it would be of no use. She wiped the droplets of sweat that had gathered on her head.
' Okay ' the voice in her head spoke in a rather strained voice ' There is got to be an explanation for this.'
Lee tensed. What was that? It was almost like the faint flutter of wings. Lee watched a sparrow fly towards her .It was wavering in mid air beating its tiny wings fruitlessly. Something in her gut told her that the sparrow was trying to reach her..
She tried instead to reach for the sparrow but was rooted to the spot where she stood unable to move, the vast darkness like a barrier between them .The sparrow flew hard, but like her it seemed to be restrained by something. Then suddenly the dark ness around the sparrow heaved like a live beast slashing at the sparrow.
' Watch Out!' The scream died at Lee's throat as she watched the sparrow go down helplessly beating its wings and lay as if dead on the dark ground.
The darkness around the sparrow swirled slowly like a whirlpool of dark water with the sparrow caught in the vortex.
Lee felt her legs shake.' What is happening? Somebody ...help.'
Then she saw the darkness near the shadow melt away. An azure dragon lay curled up not far from the sparrow. Light from an unknown source shone on the blue dragon's shining scales and smoke came out of its nostrils .It was sleeping .Lee was mesmerized.
Then suddenly the dragon opened its lazy eyelids and looked at her ...Lee froze. Her world shook..
' Lee..Lee'
Lee blinked .She felt warm. Instinctively she snuggled further into the warmth. Again she felt herself being shaken.
"Lee "
Slowly Lee became aware of the cool breeze that caressed her face and the arms that held her .She bushed vividly trying to detach her.
But the arms still held her protectively "Are you okay Lee?"
"Yes .I am Faraco "Lee tried once more to unsuccessfully detach herself from Faraco's embrace.
"I am glad."Faraco tightened his hold on her and nuzzled into her silky hair.
Lee felt her cheeks burn "Umm... Faraco " She nudged him a little.
Faraco's face became pale when he realized their position and let her go as if he was burnt. They sat awkwardly for a while both their faces flaming.
Then Faraco blurted out "I.I..Am sorry .I was very worried. Its just that..Well you.."
"Its all right "Lee stopped his lame attempts at explanation "I know you meant well."
' That..And you totally liked it ' The voice in her head said slyly.
Lee blushed red ' Get a grip girl .Try thinking of something else.'
She frowned. That dream..Or was it a vision .Was somebody trying to convey something to her?
"I think I had a vision Faraco."
"A vision?"Faraco repeated surprised.
Lee nodded.
"Lady Lee, you are still awake..?"Lee turned towards Hotohori.
Both Hotohori and Menesku had returned to the camp.
"Umm..I couldn't sleep "Lee said lamely.
Hotohori's sharp eyes studied the pink dust on Lee's cheeks and the paleness of Faraco's profile.
' What happened here?' He thought quietly.
' Faraco better not have done anything to upset Lee .If he has then as Suzaku as my witness I will make him pay..Seishi or no seishi.' His face remained pleasant, though his normally kind eyes hardened a bit.
He sat down "I see."
"Lee had a vision." Faraco spoke up abruptly if only to dispel the sudden palpable tension that seemed to hang like stale air around them.
"Indeed "Hotohori's interest was piqued "Would you tell us about it?"
Lee gulped. Everybody's attention was fixed on her. Even Menesku had actually abandoned cleaning his already shiny blade to pay attention to her.
"Well I was sitting with Faraco, when suddenly I was in this black hole..."
"Black hole?"
"Umm..you know ..darkness everywhere .Basically I was alone in a dark creepy place .I called for you but no body answered .Then I saw a sparrow trying to reach me ,but something held it back .Then the darkness attacked the sparrow .I tried to help it, but I ...was like totally paralyzed .Then I saw a blue dragon sleeping just where the sparrow had landed . First the dragon was sleeping ...then it opened its eyes and looked at me ..."Lee gulped again "Then ..I ..woke up ..Does that make any sense ?"
"No "Hotohori had to admit "But it seems that the sparrow ..Could it be that somebody was asking for our help ?"
"Whats the deal with the blue dragon ?"Faraco frowned .
Hotohori turned towards Menesku "What do you think ?"
Menesku was quiet .When he spoke at last his voice was very grim "I know that visions and dreams are a way for the Gods to give us a glimpse of the things to come .I also know that some sorcerers use visions to transmit messages .However .."
He paused a while "However experience has taught me not to put too much faith in dreams .No matter how disturbing a dream may be it would be foolishness to dwell on it .What will be ..will be .What we could do is remain on our guard and be extra vigilant ."
He sighed "And even if somebody did want our help ,where would we find that person ? I am sure that the sparrow did not leave any travel directions ."
Lee frowned .But Menesku's words made sense .True the dream disturbed her ,but it would be unwise to spend too much time pondering on it .
"Menesku is right "Hotohori broke the silence that had descended when Menesku had drawn to his conclusion "It would be foolishness to dwell on something of which we understand so little .Perhaps you should try to sleep Lady Lee .Morning always brings new answers ."
Lee smiled "Perhaps ..I should ."Unbidden and yawn rose to her lips "Goodnight then boys "
' Boys ?' Menesku nodded his head ' No sense of propriety at all .'
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"So how is our patient doing ?"Suraco asked entering into the room .
"The same ."Sotisku's answer was strained .It was the first time that he was hardly getting any response to his medicines .It was frustrating.
It was stifling inside .The windows had been closed and the shutters drawn .
"God ...why have you closed the windows ? "Suraco fingered the collar of his tunic .
"I don't know .Princess asked me to do it ."
Suraco frowned .He did not like the situation at all .Firstly they were helping a Suzaku seishi ..the enemy .Secondly when he was returning he felt something ,a presence that chilled him .Why the hell were they putting their life on the line for some girl ..more importantly ..their enemy ?
"So where is the brat and her mother ?"
Suraco came to stand by the bedside "In the barn ."
"How the hell did you get them out of the house in the first place ?"
"Told them some shitty story about the Black warrior sending vampires to kill the woman ."
Sotisku chuckled "And they bought such a ludicrous tale !"
"Ninety nine percent of the misfortunes in Konon is blamed on the Black warrior Sotisku "Suraco grinned "From the failing of crops to the death of cattle ."
Sotisku yawned and messaged his neck "Suraco sponge her forehead with this .I will be back in a jiffy."
"I will touch the female when hell freezes over "Suraco swore .
"Suraco ...I need to get some more hot water from the kitchen ."
"I will do it for you ."
"I also need to drink some tea ."Sotisku's stomach gave a loud rumble "I also need to eat ."
"Well so do I "Suraco said mulishly .
"You will ..after I am done "Sotisku sighed "What the hell is your problem anyway ?"
"Must I spell it out for you ?"
"Aren't you even remotely interested to know what caused this to a seishi ?"
"No "Suraco's eyes flashed angrily "It is not our concern ."
"Whatever you say "Sotisku shrugged "Be gentle ."
He walked out of the room .
Suraco stared at the Luke warm water in the basin . Angrily he wetted the sponge and proceeded to wipe Chulivey's pale sweat streaked temple .
"Suzaku seishi "He swore lightly "Nothing but trouble ."
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It had taken the last vestiges of her energy to transmit that message .But she had ,and she hoped against hope that her message would be understood .But she knew that help could not arrive ..would not arrive in time .She would not live to see the sunrise ..
She was tired ,incredibly tired . Her limbs felt like lead and her head was heavy .She tried to move but felt as if unseen tentacles was holding her back .She tried to prise her eyelids open but they were too heavy .
She felt something soft and wet on her face . It rubbed her temple in soothing circular motions . Strangely she felt warm and safe .She could not sense the dark shadow that had pursued her for so long .
Where am I ?
Slowly her eyelids fluttered open .Her vision was blurred .But she sensed a shadowy form sponging her forehead .She could sense his lips move but did not understand the words that came through it . She sensed his eyes on her face ..green eyes ..like gemstones ...
Then darkness enveloped her once more .
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"So she opened her eyes and fainted again ."Suraco explained to an anxious Sotisku who had come running into the room at his call .
"So my restorative did work ."Sotisku's face broke into a smile .
"Whatever ."
Keeah was standing by the window ,an unusually brooding look on her face ."Perhaps both of you should take a rest .I will take the first watch ."
"But .."Suraco protested .
"Go" Keeah's voice brooked no argument .
Suraco sighed and glanced at the pale girl once more ' Why the hell are we doing this again ?'
He frowned ' Oh yeah ! I don't know .And even though you are kind of pretty ,you are still the enemy ; so I don't get why we are busting our ass to save your butt .'
"Quit brooding Suraco "Keeah chuckled "But if you really want to brood then go join Sotisku in that corner ."
"I will "
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Keeah frowned .Two hours had passed and still nothing . Yet her stomach was still tied in nauseating knots .Her instincts were never wrong . There was the shadow of death on this seishi .She was surprised at the vileness of the aura that enveloped Chulivey .She was no saint .She had killed people , crushed any who stood in her way ,and had rather ruthlessly waged war .Some of the actions she had perpetrated was bad ..but then war itself was evil ...
But nothing she did could be compared to the raw evilness that pulsated around the comatose girl .It gave her the strange sensation that insects were crawling up her spine .She had felt an aura like this once before .It was very faint ..but ..It was when they had brought in her father's body ...
' Concentrate Keeah ' She told herself
Suddenly she felt the shuttered window shake violently and burst open .
' What the hell ?'
Keeah barely had time to gather herself when she suddenly had the sensation of being doused in ice-cold water . A violently cold wind was blowing through the now open window . The feeble lamps flickered and died out .The room was plunged in inky darkness .
"Princess .."Sotisku's voice shook a little .
A faint ball of fire flickered in Keeah's hand ' Where is all this damn wind coming from ?'
Suddenly she felt another presence in the room "On guard "She hissed "We have company ."
She saw a dark mist swirl like a swarm of bees slowly solidifying into a shape .Keeah shuddered . What depths of hell had dredged out a creature such as this ?
' Seiryuu arm me ' For the first time since she had learnt of the existence of Seiryuu she called his name in battle .Strangely enough calling upon Seiryuu seemed to give her new strength .
She stood between the creature and the bed , a red hot fireball sizzling in her hands "Be gone "Her voice betrayed none of her fear "Or as Seiryuu as my witness I will rip you apart ."
It felt right to call upon Seiryuu in the heat of battle .It was almost as if a part of her being that was missing had returned to her .She felt stronger .
The shadow merely floated towards her ..Angrily Keeah hurled the ball of fire at the creature . The creature did not dodge .Instead it flung out many tentacles and absorbed the fireball into its belly .
' What the ..' Keeah's eyes widened a bit ,but she gritted her teeth and hurled fireballs at it ..And just as the amorphous body of a jellyfish engulfs its prey in its many tentacles ..So did the creature absorb Keeah's continuous fire attacks in its shadowy body .
"Holy ..shit "Sotisku was white watching Keeah's fruitless attacks "This does not look good."
Suraco got up ,Thrusting Chulivey at Sotisku "Keep the woman alive ."He spat .
The temperature of the room had plunged lower .Chulivey was shivering violently .Suraco opened his leather jacket and tossed it at Sotisku "Use this .We are after all trying to save the wench .if she should die from cold then it would defeat the entire purpose of going through this shit ."
"Can It Suraco "Sotisku's eyes flashed "Help princess ."
Suraco edged towards the creature .Keeah was panting .Beads of sweat glittered on her smooth forehead . He concentrated .
The creature turned its sightless face towards him .Before he could react he saw a tentacle move towards him like lightning ..and then the world went black ..
Keeah watched helplessly as Suraco was plummeted through the wooden wall, which collapsed like a sheet of paper .Suraco lay motionless under the rubble in hallway outside bleeding from his multiple injuries . Never before had she seen Suraco being wiped out so easily in a battle .
' Oh ..we are in deep shit ' She hurled another chi blast at the creature .' Damn it ! Why won't you freaking die !'
Suddenly she felt herself thrown violently on the floor pinned there by a dark tentacle .She struggled ineffectually but she felt her energy pass from her like water through a sieve .Vaguely she was aware of Sotisku trying to help her and the dark tentacle piercing his shoulder throwing him backwards against the wall .
' Seiryuu ' She pleaded ' I know that we have forgotten you for long .But we were ignorant .Help us mighty Dragon ."
'He will not help you ' A cold dark voice in her head said ' He has never helped anybody .'
There was a dull ache in her head .She turned her blurry eyes towards the window .A dark shadow stood there .It was the same person who had approached them before .
' But I can .Do you want me to help you ?'
' Get the fuck out of my head .' Keeah struggled ,the ache in her head increasing .The cold tentacle tightened around her neck .
' It would be pity if you were to die like this .We could have been such friends ' the voice chuckled .
' Go fuck yourself .'
' Such language ' the voice was teasing ' you and me are the same .We both have such darkness in us waiting to be tapped . Do you not feel it ?'
The dull ache in Keeah's head intensified . Horrified she felt something uncoil in her .something dangerous ..like a slumbering beast .
' Stop messing with my head .' Keeah doubled her struggle.
' Darkness runs in your very veins my dear . You belong with me .'
' Like hell I do ' Something inside Keeah snapped ' if there is a beast inside me it is for me to control.'
Power flowed like liquid fire in her veins .Her head ached so badly that she felt it would burst open like a rotten watermelon .Her dark eyes turned a shimmering pulsating blue so bright that it seemed to be almost white .Blue fames licked around her body expanding to fill the room with a violent white hot light that seemed to evaporate darkness as it spread ...
And then she sank into oblivion .
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Yusagi :Thank you so much for the review .
The priestess of Seiryuu will be coming soon enough .
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