*************************Hey, this story is on my red list. It's in need of some major revisions so during this week I will be updating each chapter after I've looked them completely over and made sure that spelling and the plot are okay. This shouldn't take much time and you can expect it done before my next update. This story is also red because I plan to give it my attention for the next few weeks. This update should help move things along greatly thankx. I'll alert you to any changes in the next update that are made, plus every chapter that is updated will have a list of anything that changed.
List of Revision That I am SURE of: Rei is now spelled Ray like it should be. This will be changed for all my stories. *************************************
Okay yeah, I've had access to the internet for a few months and haven't updated this story so I feel bad.
Kai: Surprised you actually admitted it. You are stupid.
Why?
Kai: they might tie you down and rape you or something.
Please. I doubt it. Anyway it's time for things to pick up so here's the next Chapter of Prince Wars. I think I've made you wait long enough…..
Kai: Damn straight.
Disclaimer: I don't own beyblade…..if I did Kai would have his face thrown in a toilet on a daily basis. Swirly anyone?
Treason
Evanescence stared up at the ceiling mumbling words that sounded foreign to her own ears as she hid within the corner. There was nothing left to do. They were going to die here.
She growled lowly as someone opened the sliding door that was barely big enough for her head to fit through to place a plate of food on the floor. This was the seventh night to her account that they'd been in this hell hole, and there wasn't anything for them to do. They'd done nothing but sit inside and wallow in their own misery.
The only mercy was that Rina hadn't sent them to any men.
The wolf moved over to the food and brought it near Ilyana's sleeping figure. She wouldn't eat any of it. No matter how hungry she was. As soon as Rina was stupid enough to let them out to sleep with someone like a whore she was going to kill the bitch and make a run for it. If that didn't work she'd kill who she could and than take her own life. She wasn't becoming some whore.
She sat against the wall and stared at what little she could see through the window. "What now?" she thought.
"Is everyone okay with the plan," Hiro asked as he looked at the Ozuma and Joseph. The two men gave him a firm nod. The dragon prince looked out from the woods and caught site of the despicable place. "Hopefully everyone else will get away. It's still pretty early so they can't be that drunk yet."
"If they are than too bad for them," Joseph spat fixing the tattered clothing he wore over his middle. He was dressed to pose as Ozuma's personal servant in the masquerade.
"We're ready to go." Ozuma got moved to the path holding his cane in his hands. "Give me twenty minutes tops before you bust in there after me."
Hiro nodded, "Do you know their descriptions well enough? Maybe I should be the one to go in…" the older male was doubtful. No matter how many times he told himself that Ozuma knew enough, he couldn't get over the bad feeling in his stomach. He was the only that knew exactly what they looked like. And the girls would have been more calm to see him.
Sending a stranger in to do it seemed wrong.
They might kill him.
Ozuma shook his head, "You know the risk is too great for you to be seen. We can't afford it. You have to stay hidden." He grasped his friends shoulder before giving a light squeeze of comfort. There was only one way to do this. He turned and walked down the path, Joseph following a little further behind.
Hiro gave a sigh before moving around to get see if the girls were ready with the carriage.
Ozuma scrunched his nose immediately upon entering the house. The noise from a band was loud as men and others danced around with women in various stages of undress. There were even a few younger men in the hands of older ones as he passed. Most were poor beggers children and hadn't seen a bath in days.
As he spotted Rina, the woman of the establishment, and began to move towards her an overweight male knocked him in the side.
Joseph was there immediately to defend his master. "Back off trash," the green haired youth jumped between them. "Watch where you're going." He pushed the male hard and despite his shorter size he moved. Joseph than cleaned off his masters uniform with a brush he kept in his pocket.
This immediately got the attention of those at the bar, but mainly Rina. The woman smelled the money and a smile spread across her face. She moved towards the two of them like a predator finding his prey.
It struck Ozuma as funny that it was the exact opposite. Too bad she was completely unaware.
"My Lord," the woman's voice was seductive as the once beautiful female smiled dashingly at him. "Please forgive these simple fools. Is there anything I can offer you from my establishment? Some entertainment perhaps?"
Ozuma had to back up from the close proximity she put herself next to him with. Was she offering herself or another? The male tried not to gag on the amount of perfume she'd put on to disguise the cigarette smells locked in her like a permanent fume.
"Yes you can, my companion and I are in town looking for a little company on our way to see King Brooklyn about some business." Ozuma gave a dashing smirk of his own adding the King's name to sweeten the deal. His hand went to his purse and he watched as her eyes lightened up like a child receiving some sweets.
"I know just the girls," Rina smirked at him as he handed the money over. "Tulip and Dandy get over here!" Her voice rang across the room at such a shout the two men had to wonder why their ear drums were still intact.
Two slender females wearing nothing more than enough to cover themselves came down the stairs. Long hair ran down their generous bodies to wrap around their own wastes. Giggling they moved towards their mistress.
"What is ma'am?" One of them with the honey brown hair asked looking up at Rina. The other stood back before moving to circle Joseph like a shark.
"What do you think my Lord? Are they not beautiful girls?" Rina asked him ignoring the smaller woman beside her. The other one had begun to run a ghostly hand down Joseph's spine. Ozuma had to give the boy credit, he didn't jump.
Walking to the girl beside Rina he grasped her chin and moved her head towards his while looking into her eyes.
"Madame these are exquisite examples of the female form." This was the most delicate part of the mission. The make or break it. He looked up over at the woman and gave her a slight smirk. "But I'm afraid they are too delicate."
"Delicate?" Rina looked at the man a little closer. So she was territorial.
"Yes you see," Ozuma put his hands in his pocket. "They already know their place and though I'm sure that they would do anything to please me, I'm into breaking them. I enjoy the rush of resistance that moves into pure surrender. I'm afraid that these women wouldn't be worth the hunt."
Rina stared at him hard as if weighing what kind of man he actually was. She dismissed the girls with a wave of her hand and moved closer to the gentleman. "My Lord I'm afraid I'll have to ask what you mean by that statement. These girls are my lively hood and I have to keep my livestock alive for it to be useful. You understand don't you?"
Ozuma nodded. "I understand completely. I wouldn't hurt your girls no more than necessary and I wouldn't kill them by no means, but I'm sure that you understand that there is a certain thrill in bringing about order to a wild animal." He smiled at her convincingly, "I'm sure that there is someone here who has to be broken. Ming-Ming was telling me the other day about how she brought in two lovely ladies who might be of a problem to you."
There he'd laid all his cards out o the table. It was time to see if the woman would call his bluff or not.
"Oh," Rina seemed pulled back. She didn't think that Ming-Ming talked much about what she did with the monarchy government, but she guessed that the woman had been happy enough with her catch to do so. "You might be just what I've been looking for. They're in a cell now, but if you want I can bring them out to you into a room. Or you can take them in their cell together."
The cell was tempting. He wouldn't have to worry about the girls injuring themselves in the move. But it could also hinder their escape from the fire.
He glanced outside and noticed the difference in the stars. It was almost that late. How much longer did he have? Not enough.
He decided to gamble. "I'll take them in their cell."
Rina nodded and moved towards the stairs. "This way please," she moved quickly and with ease. She led them down a maze of hallways that Ozuma didn't even bother to try and memorize; there was no point in it really.
He stood back as she reached within her own clothing to pull out a ring of keys like some jailer and open the door.
Evanescence growled loudly in her throat as the door opened. She moved to kill Rina when she saw the woman, but Ilyana was quicker and grabbed her before she could make the mistake. There was no doubt that the woman came with some type of entourage to make sure that they didn't' rise against her. She wasn't stupid and rushing in would get them killed.
She understood how upset Evanescence was and considered it her job to keep the younger together.
"You've got company girls. The first of your career so make it worthwhile," She smirked at him and this time it was Ilyana who had to keep herself in check.
Oh how she wanted to whip that smile off of the woman's face.
She stepped aside and allowed the two men to enter. Ilyana frowned at the two of them and felt the girl go stiff in her arms. Rina nodded encouragingly and walked out the door. As soon as she was gone the duel toned haired male breathed a sigh of relief.
Ilyana growled at them along with the wolf in front of her.
"Back off or I'll rip out your throat," Evanescence spoke showing off doglike fangs.
The male frowned and threw up both of his hand in surrender. And that was when he stated at word or name rather that stopped both girls in their tracks.
"Hiro."
Ilyana stared at him in shock. "What?"
"Hiro, Hiro sent us." The male smirked at her in a friendly manner.
"We don't have a lot of time," Joseph spoke up behind him. "Ozuma tell them and let's get ourselves the hell out of here. I don't want to be here when the fireworks start."
The male, Ozuma nodded, "Look we've got to get ready to go. There's a carriage on the edge of the woods ran by two females named Matilda and Emily. Matilda has light pink hair and Emily has a bright orange and is wearing glasses. Their on the far east side. When Hiro sets fire to the place you have to go. Joseph and I will cover your tracks and make sure no one knows you ran. If everything goes right they'll think your dead."
Ilyana couldn't believe her ears. "Hiro survived." Her voice was a light whisper of thankfulness. She didn't think he could last very long with that group of pirates.
Ozuma nodded, "You have to get ready."
"I don't believe you," Evanescence spoke up shaking her head. "You're lying." She barred her teeth again and growled louder than she had in days. She bent over as her body began a smooth change of features.
Ozuma was about to say something when a loud crash came from down stairs followed by screaming. It was time to go.
Evanescence launched herself at the males and Ilyana couldn't grab her fast enough to stop her blind attack.
"Shit," Joseph mumbled as Ozuma side stepped her and left the green haired male to deal with her himself. Joseph threw the brush in his hand hitting the wolf on her temple. It knocked her to the ground. Taking no chances Ozuma pounced on her and wacked her harder upside the head until her form was limp.
"Take her," he looked at Joseph. "Take her and get out. You follow him." He pointed at Ilyana who nodded. Joseph shook his head at the male. "You're stronger than I am. You take her and I'll cover you."
Ozuma was about to protest when he looked into the younger's eyes and saw there was no sense in arguing. He was right and the smell of smoke was heavy beneath them. "Alright," he grabbed her and moved ahead with the other two at his heels.
The bottom of the stars was filled with the fumes and orange dances of the fire that consumed everything at an accelerated rate. All the alcohol only added to advances of the fire.
"Follow me," Ozuma yelled. The entire place was in chaos as men and woman stumbled over each other. Some on fire and others too drunk to notice what was going on or find the door. Ozuma dogged a falling pillar and pushed a female out of his way making it towards the front entrance.
When he got there a red eyed male was laughing and moving about in a drunken stupor. His face was disfigured and drool ran down the side of his mouth. He stood between Ozuma and the exit.
The said male was unable to do anything as the tall giant got on fire and just laughed harder. He didn't understand what was going on. He spotted the two of them and in his state he reached for Ilyana.
"Pretty little thing," he muttered between laughs. His strong and round fingers wrapped around her arms and brought her close in a vice grip.
"Let go!" Ilyana screamed at him using what she could to her resources. The smoke in the room was become so heavy that she could barely make out his figure as he pulled her even closer.
Ozuma looked on helpless. He couldn't lay down the other female to take the man down. He didn't need to as Joseph grabbed a broken glass bottle and moved it into the man's throat. Her gurgled up blood and let the woman go.
"Get going!" Joseph yelled. The ceiling was old and dry wood. It wasn't going to last much longer. Ozuma nodded and ran out of the building with Ilyana following him. The two ran in the clear of the air making sure to stay with one another through the others that had gotten out running and screaming. Their clothes and faces on fire.
Ozuma ran full on with the female behind them until they finally got to the base of the woods. "Ozuma!" Emily hissed waving the male closer. The carriage was thrown upon and Emily rushed Ilyana in. Ozuma put Evanescence of the floor board.
"Let's go before this mob takes us over," Matilda commanded holding the reins of the horses.
"Ozuma where's Joseph?" Hiro jogged towards the male. Ozuma looked at him with a blackened face from the smoke in the moon light. "If he's not behind me than he's still inside. We have to go get him."
A chill ran up his spine as he remembered the larger male.
Hiro cursed and stared back at the building. It wouldn't last longer. "No, I'll get him. You go with the girls and make sure they get home." He didn't wait for a reply but moved at a run. Silver scales grew under his eyes and metallic colored wings that resembled a bats sprouted from his spine matching the color of the moon as he jumped in the air flying.
Ozuma watched him go before turning back to the others. Moving he got beside Matilda and sat beside her as the woman rushed the horses forward towards their sanctuary. Emily was in the back with Ilyana looking over Evanescence.
Hiro cursed as he crashed his body threw a glass window. The door was too hard to get through. "Joseph!" he yelled ignoring some of the helpless cries and the smell of burning flesh. "Joseph!" He moved pulling out a handkerchief to cover his mouth. He could barely breathe.
He moved before spotting the male finally covered in a wooden table that was over turned. He was trapped.
"Damn it," he cursed as he got closer. The male was unresponsive as well. Using his weight as leverage he pushed the table off of the male when he heard the crazy laughter that seemed beyond this world. The man was huge and glass shone out of this throat.
Two strong hands rammed down where Hiro once stood. Dodging the male backed ups as the crazed figure kept coming forward. He growled in frustration before finally aiming a kick at the mans head snapping it back with a loud crunching sound that was lost in the crackle of the fire around them.
He coughed and felt his eyes water from the smoke before grabbing a hold of the shorter male and throwing his limp form over his back. It was time for them to leave. Going back through the window he moved past the remaining flames that licked at his feet in a deadly taste before jumping into the air and flying off into the night air.
Thirty minutes later he landed on the roof of the house. To his surprise Evanescence was waiting for him. A bruise showed on her forehead from the light of several lamps to give off light with the moon and the stars.
"Lay him down," the wolf was now calm and went about resuscitating the male back to life. Joseph coughed several times and drowned the water that was offered too him. It was a sigh of relief when the male was back in bed with bandages over his burns and in a medicated induced sleep.
Hiro stood in the kitchen as Emily applied her own first aid to his skin with little enthusiasm. And even littler care.
The male hissed as she placed the burning fluid on one of the cuts he'd acquired.
"Hold still," she commanded with a growl. Hiro closed his eyes and swallowed the retort that was on his lips. She was still mad at him. And it was beginning to become severely annoying.
"I'm sorry," he voiced again for what seemed like the hundredth time this week. She only grunted in response before finishing up and walking out of the door without a word. He heaved a sigh as Ozuma came in.
"Hey," the male greeted him. He walked over and pulled out a bottle of wine before drinking from it. "Mission accomplished."
Hiro eyed him but couldn't help but smile in response before reaching towards the liquor. "How are the girls?"
"A little shaken up, but recovering nicely. Both of them just wanted to sleep in beds like civilized people," Ozuma shook his head. "They'll probably eat us out of house and home tomorrow when they have the energy to eat."
Hiro just chuckled and shook his head. "Step one done. Now for step two." He stood up and handed the bottle back to his friend.
"Step two?" Ozuma looked at him. Hiro nodded. "I still have a week before Dickenson puts them in the ring so I'm going to check on the girls in the castle tomorrow night."
"No, they don't have but a few days." A new voice came in as Dunga ducked inside. "Brooklyn came by two days ago and told Dickenson that he wanted them all to fight this Saturday. He has a plan involving something or someone. I don't know what it is," the large male sat down. "But I do know that it can't be good. Those boys aren't going to make it."
"What do you mean?" Hiro growled. "They've been trained by some of the greatest fighters in their land. With their training it shouldn't be a problem."
"And it wouldn't be if they would look out for each other. The group that they're going to be fighting is a high ranking group. Professionals at what they do. They know the rule of the ring, stand by each other and you might come out with your life."
"So what's the problem," Ozuma looked at him. "If they grew up together and are in the same situation than it should be second nature to them."
"That's the problem, the prince boys except for Kai are going to be alright," he reached for the bottle and turned it to pour the soothing liquid down his throat. "Kai struggles every time we get him out of the cell and when we put him in general population he hangs back. I can't blame him for the men that have tried to take his life, but all of the trouble makers are dead now. I haven't heard him say a thing since the second day he was with us. None of the others seem to want to reach out to him. Spencer and Bryan are just about joined at the hip. They're good, but they won't last in the ring together by themselves. Gladiators fighting in groups must work together to survive. That lone wolf bullshit only works with the one on one fights."
"Now what?" Ozuma grumbled. Hiro gave a sigh and paced around the room. The wheels running through his head, what was Brooklyn thinking? Why weren't they working together? He knew Kai would have been an odd ball out, but was Bryan really that stupid to allow prejudices no matter how justified they were to get in the way of him getting to Lex?
Telling them to join forces through Dunga wouldn't be enough. And his presence could put Spencer and Bryan with the other Princes, but Kai wouldn't listen at all. And that would be too much of a risk. For this to work someone from within would have to reach out and pull the group together. It was impossible to get them out without revealing too much of their 'rebellion.'
As much as he loved his brother, putting several other men at risk for him was not something that Hiro could do.
"Dunga, you'll have to get them to do something. Now is not the time to spring them."
Ozuma looked at him in shock while Dunga stared at the table. "You're going to leave them there? You're going to leave him there?"
"I don't have a choice." Hiro shook his head. "It's too fragile right now. They'll have to stay there until we can figure out exactly what's going on with Kingston and the other kingdoms. I want to know what the hell they're doing now, someone should be looking for them unless they're involved with him." Saying it now only made Hiro's world feel a whole lot smaller.
It was possible that the kingdoms could be in league with Brooklyn all along.
"So can I drop your name?" Dunga asked standing up and moving towards the door. He had to leave; staying in the household for too long was always a risk. Besides he needed to get back before Dickenson decided that he needed him.
"Yeah, but only to Spencer and Bryan, let them deal with the Princes." Dunga nodded at the command and moved into the night with ease.
Having their leader back was a prayer answered in itself.
"I'm leaving," Hiro moved and winced as a burn rubbed against his clothes.
"You're leaving?" Ozuma stood up and felt the chair move against the floor with a scrape. "What do you mean you're leaving?"
"Tomorrow early in the morning I'm going to the castle. Going to find out what I can, we only have a few days before Saturday and we need to be prepared for whatever comes are way."
Ozuma gave him a smirk, "I'm not so sure you're suit still fits."
Hiro smirked back at him. "There's only one way to find out."
Kane stood to the side as several more men and women were ushered inside. They were quickly separated men to the left and women to the right. The order to remove all Avain's within the human lands had passed by the new King, Zeo.
"Move faster you piece of horseshit!"
Kane jerked his head to the side and rushed over when he saw a larger soilder hitting an elderly female. Her gray wings matched her hair and he was trying to push her for ward at an unruly pace. She could barely walk and he could tell by the way that her jaw was held that there was probably little if any teeth left in her mouth. "Stand down." His voice was full of malice as he looked at the dumb oaf in front of him. "What's your problem soldier?"
The man immediately came into attention. "Following orders sir. I was told to have all of the Avains that arrived today within the fenced in section by sun down sir." Kane noticed immediately by his uniform that the man in front of him wasn't even ranked.
"Lets do it without killing them shall we man? The orders were not to kill them, but to get them behind the border to prevent them from escaping the human nation. Now do what you're told." He turned angry and had to keep himself in check as he saw several other avain's being treated in about the same manners. It had been suggested two days ago that the avains may revolt, so every single one was to be rounded up by the army and placed in a secure holding place. Their wings were to be clipped and several houses were to be erected immediately to house them. The avains themselves would build their own housing units, 8ft by 4 ft for each family which would consist of three adults and four children. The families would be assigned as the females and males were separated by at least an acre of land before it was all said and done. The wings of every avian would be clipped and checked regularly every three weeks.
It was absolutely ridicules, but Zeo had commanded it for the human nation and it seemed like the other nations where considering the same amount of precautions to be placed on their own people. The army and his men were meant to fight and defend the kingdom, not play babysitter.
"Kane," Salima came up to him without worrying about the formal salutations for meeting a higher ranking officer. "Zeo wants you immediately to discuss plans to deal with the avian slaves." He nodded and walked with the woman.
Boris had been a terrible king, and his son was going to be no better in Kane's book. Kane got along fairly well with the younger princes, befriending Tyson to a point of nearly brotherly love. Wyatt was second in line to the throne, but since they'd been called back it seemed that the brown haired male that had favored his mother wasn't going to get the chance. Instead it was going to be his overbearing brother.
Kane wasn't sure if he wanted his job any longer if it meant taking orders from that male. Ever since they'd meet, it seemed that the favorite son of Boris had very little in his heart except his want for his own gain. The man had no thought for his own people and no thought for what was best for the country. He was robotic.
"Ah Kane, I'm glad to see you're here. I didn't' see you at the ceremony to see of the other royal families." Zeo smirked at him from the throne. Their still wasn't a crown on his head, but Kane figured that the male still didn't' realize that he wasn't king. Not yet.
"Forgive me," Kane gave a bow. The priests were still within the room. Robert and his others. It didn't seem like they were going to leave anytime soon. Good. Kane couldn't be trusted to be alone with the king to be. Not now. "I was gathering up my men to finish gathering supplies for the housing units." Earlier that morning the other families had left to go home and council with their own generals on how to deal with the Brooklyn threat. It seemed to Kane to be an absolutely pathetic move. They should be working together, not running off on their own.
But Kings and Queens were selfish worrying about their own lands.
"That could have waited. The tents are good enough for those creatures for the moment," Zeo waved it off with a smile. "That's what we need to talk about. Kane you are the commander of the army and we have things to discuss. First of all the avian removal system." Zeo stood up and paced the room.
"The best thing you can do is to put them in one concentrated area to make sure that none join up with Brooklyn .Fighting an army is one thing, but fighting several small revolts is another in itself." Oliver spoke up sitting at a table on the far left.
Kane gave him a strangled nod. The man wasn't the one out there tearing what little families existed apart or seeing the abuse his own men were placing on bleeding, breathing, men and women.
"But you see that's not good enough," Zeo spoke up with his hands behind his back. "How many fights have broken out since we've started gathering the slaves General Kane?"
Kane raised an eyebrow at the question and tilted his head. "Several. Ten were reported just this morning. I don't have an exact number from the past few days."
"And why do you think that is?"
"We're removing them from their environment and tearing them apart," Kane spoke up. "Sire with all respect, they're just acting as they should by nature. Even as slaves they were accustomed to how they lived. By tearing them out of that environment we're taking them out of their element and scaring them." It was the truth and Kane was going to be damned if someone didn't' say it.
"Exactly," Zeo smirked turning around to face him. "They're acting like nature. Like bugs that deserve to be exterminated."
"What?" Kane lost all sense of formality and stared at the male as if he was crazy. "Excuse me?"
"Killing them all," this time Robert stood up, "is the only way to guarantee that Brooklyn will have no spies within the human territory and that no one will join his campaign to take over the lands."
"Killing them? I thought we were housing them." Kane clenched his fist and took a step for ward. Kill hundreds of innocent creatures? Beings that hadn't done a thing to deserve it.
"You seem troubled," Zeo observed and Kane stared at him dumbstruck. "You have to understand that I only want to protect my people and this is one of the only ways to do it."
"But the housing units? The plans you drafted yourself, you want me to go outside and kill them all after what you promised them?" Kane looked at him. "After all the money you put into this project yourself?"
"No," Zeo shook his head firmly. "We won't do it right away. It'll take about six months before we can have every avian within the borders and if we start killing them right off the back then they would revolt. We have to do this slowly so that they barely notice." He gave Kane a smile that sent a shiver up the other male's spine.
"What about the children? The ones too young to fight?" Kane heard himself voice, but he felt millions of miles away.
Zeo shrugged. "A quick shot to the head. Virtually painless."
"You're serious aren't you sir." Kane whispered standing straighter. The gravity of the situation finally hit him like a blow to the stomach. His orders were clear. Genocide. He looked to the priests. "This is the best course of action?"
"The only course," Robert spoke and the others nodded.
"Excuse me sir," Kane looked up at Zeo in shock. His breath causing the medals he'd won in his service to jingle slightly. "You cannot ask me to do this."
Zeo looked at him with a frown. "I am King until my father is well and both of us decided that this situation needs to be resolved this way. I'm not asking you it's a direct order."
At the sound of his voice and his words Kane frowned and looked at the male. "I am a protector, not a murderer. I cannot obey that command." He stood firm staring at the man in disgust.
"You'll commit mutiny?" Zeo stared at him in slight disbelief. "You will disobey you're King."
"No. I'll disobey a Prince who isn't fit to lead." Kane lost his temper and growled at the male. "You're third in line your highness. And if you'd left my team alone I would have found your bro-" Kane stopped. All of the pieces seemed to line in place. He pulled his sword out and heard the gasps of the men in the room.
"Boris put Brooklyn in charge of the men that were sent to find the others. Boris always put Brooklyn in charge and over me despite our rank differences. The letter that King and Queen sent….it wasn't sent to the others, it was sent to Boris. It was personal, but if Boris and Brooklyn had such a close relationship….and then you pulled me out." He stopped his ranting to stare at Zeo. "You didn't want me to find Wyatt did you? You knew that he would be crowned king the moment I brought him home. And Brooklyn shouldn't' have even known about Wyatt's carriage on his way home. That information was only privilege to your father and Wyatt's own body guards. Your father told Brooklyn about Wyatt."
Kane was near yelling now as he looked at the male, "You and your father set it up so that you would become King didn't you?"
"Guards!" Zeo yelled and the doors were thrown open as Kane moved towards Wyatt with his sword arched and ready to strike the male. It never happened as Zeo moved and the men tackled him before he was allowed a second chance. His weapon was pulled away from him and the astonished men at having to stop one of the most decorated men in the military pulled him to his feet.
"Your traitorous bitch!" Kane yelled at him. "You and your father set it all up didn't you?"
Zeo stared back at him as someone brushed off the dust on his back. Angrily he struck the male across the face and Kane could feel the blood on his lip as it busted against his teeth.
"How dare you!" He slapped him again and the ring on his finger cut across the males cheek leaving a thin line of blood. "I am legitimate blood. I am in place of my father, you dare question my authority? You question your King? My father who is in bed this moment for the kidnapping of his own son?" He pulled back and stared as the guards that held Kane back stared at him in disbelief.
"Take him to him to a cell. Disobeying a direct order and tying to kill a King is treason," Zeo spat in Kane's face and the guards had to tighten their grips as the human general moved pulled himself for ward with a growl. "Set the date to hang him tomorrow. I want to make it clear that anyone who goes against the king's orders will be met with immediate consequences."
Kane's face fell at the words in shock as he looked down at the younger male. The idea and prospect of death hit him hard like a blow to his stomach and he stared at the man. The guards, once under his command, dragged the silent man down to the deepest levels of the castle walls.
Hiro was up long before the sun and he walked softly on the floors of the house. The servants that served under Ozuma were allowed in the castle under the impression that he was a lost cousin to the male and living with the family for a few days after losing his fortune. They didn't say anything and Hiro expected nothing less. Ozuma was fair with them and they were used to seeing shadowy figures in their masters house from time to time.
Hiro walked to the far wall of his bedroom and pushed the painting out of the way to reveal a secret passage. Opening the door he walked into a small room about the size of a closet and lit several small candles. A uniform stood in front of him and beside it a mask.
"Time to see if it fits," the male muttered. He took of his clothing carefully and placed the metal uniform on his shoulders. He held the mask in front of his face only to jump as the door to his main room opened. He'd locked it the night before and was prepared to subdue whoever came through the door, when Emily walked in.
"You're going to need new bandages for those cuts and burns before you go off."
Her voice wasn't as cold as before, but she still refused to look at him. Hiro blinked at her before nodding and stiffly walking towards her. The need to be beside the woman he loved was strong and he wished to become closer to her, but he let it go. Considering the fact that she had yet to yield in her stand to give her the cold shoulder, it wouldn't be the best course to take.
The door was locked behind her and he sat on the bed peeling off the armor he'd put on. He felt her warm hands on his shoulder before the gauze that she'd created herself was placed on the burn. She did her work in silence, and he let her do what she wanted, but when she moved from him he grasped her hand and turned to look at her.
Emily stared back at him, but the contempt and anger he'd expected to see wasn't' there. She was worried. He knew without a doubt that she was scared of losing him. Every time he put on the mask, the woman had begged him to be careful. Made her promise to come back to her. And one time he hadn't.
"Hiro," her voice was soft and he was unsure of whether or not he'd heard her. "Hiro….I…."
Hiro could tell that she was fighting with herself. Between the two wants to be angry at him and another to save what they'd once had. It seemed odd that he could still tell everything about her, even after all these years. Bending down he placed a hungry kiss on her lips that wasn't as demanding as it was questioning. She opened her mouth and let him explore her again.
The kiss was passionate, but all to brief as she pulled away and gathered up the bandages. Without so much as a word she turned on her heel and walked out into the hall way and letting him put on his armor. There wasn't anything to say. He let a smirk come to his face as he placed on the mask to hide himself from the world, something between them had changed. They weren't ready to admit it to each other, but something had changed. Of that he was sure.
The exit under the house that he used hadn't been touched in years. That much was certain as he came out into the clearing about a hundred yards away from the house and hidden behind several trees. He glanced at the sky and noticed that he had several hours before the sun would even begin to come up and stretched his back allowing his wings to appear. Without a thought he went into the sky and moved towards the castle.
Hiro couldn't explain it. The change that came over him whenever he put on the mask was one that affected him both physically and mentally. No longer was he just Hiro, a forgotten Prince, but he became something more. Someone else. Jin of the Gale is what the villagers had called him. The cities surrounding the castles picked up on the name and that was who he became. A devious and devote destroyer of the kingdom in which they lived.
Jin was said to be every creature, some had called him Dragon, others Demon, and some even Avian. Hiro wasn't sure how the rumors had started, but this was what he had become because of them. A traitor to the king and the number one most wanted. His head was worth more that than anyone that the King had declared a criminal of the state. The money that could be made off of his body could keep someone alive and well for years to come.
The idea to add on the Gale part was due to a folk tale that had started on one of the farther southern villages. The idea there was that he was an evil spirit that rode on the gale wind and was sent to torture the lesser beings by his god. It was complete and utter nonsense, but something always seemed true to it when Hiro went to the sky.
Jin was a menace to society, crashing parties, destroying communities, interrupting military functions, and he'd even succeeded in burning down Garlands house years ago. The estate lit up like a candle in the night sky.
Jin was mean, rude, had an extensive vocabulary, and showed mercy to no one. His patience was thin all the time and his attitude was one like a drunkard with a large club.
Despite the years that he'd been without the ego, Hiro felt himself warp into the role like he'd done on so many occasions years ago. He glanced down at the guards outside the castle and snorted. There didn't' seem to be but five standing in the inner fence. And all of them were at the front gates. That made little if any sense.
Jin moved higher into the air and lost himself in the clouds. The sun wasn't up yet and if he had anything to say about it he'd be long gone before then. Landing on the roof with the footing of a cat he glanced around. There were three men total on the roof. Three men.
"Honestly, you leave for a couple of years and everyone seems to think that it's all okay," Jin shook his head. "And I thought you were smarter than this Garland. You must not love your king as much as you thought."
Each of the men held an iron staff. Standard issue for any guard on the roof. Not a good idea when your enemy could control metal. The material bent in the men's hands all at once and wrapped around their bodies like they were putty. Before any could react they each were struck with a curved boomerang object about the size of a hand that Jin kept on him. "And all fall down."
Jin looked at the sky, this was almost too easy. With all of the men knocked out he walked over to the edge and swung his body over to land on the balcony of the first room on the floor. It was storage. Just as he planned, no one lived up here and no one would for a while it seemed. The large castle was enough to cover three acres worth of ground. There wouldn't be any reason to walk around looking for a specific room dressed in the outfit he was wearing.
That would be a death wish.
Jin didn't change clothing, but pulled a large brown coat out of the closet. He'd left it here years ago and it seemed that no one was the wiser.
"Come on Brookie, give me at least a little bit of a challenge," Jin muttered putting the thing on over his armor. It was annoying, but useful in getting around the castle without much notice. Who would stop a priest to ask him where he was going in the house of a King. When you dressed lowly and kept your head down Hiro had noticed that men didn't even realize you existed. And that was a blessing in itself.
Taking off the metal mask Hiro became himself again and put on a mustache and fake beard. The wig was still there, but he had to pull out a few small patches of fur. It seemed like a small family had come to call it home.
All the better.
With the monk look in place Hiro walked into the hallway and down the hallway to his destination. The suit was supposed to take him to the library, from there Jin would be perfectly fine. Among the large house there was several hidden passage ways that he planned to use. The monk outfit wouldn't' be needed then. The only people who knew about the passageways were supposed to be the king and his head body guard. Not even Garland was privilege to that information.
And both of them would be asleep at this hour.
Surprisingly enough it seemed that the entire house was asleep. No one challenged his presence as he made it to the library, took off the disguise and hid it in a hidden section of the floor boards that only he knew about. There would be a servant to remove them and take them back to the room, Ozuma would make sure of that.
Jin moved to the book shelf on the fair left and with ease pushed it open and moved through the darkened passageway. Dragon eyes were sensitive and needed very little light. Hiro could see enough to move himself forward and up a hidden flight of stairs back to the top floor of a different wing. Brooklyn's wing.
"Little pig little pig, let me in," Jin muttered as he opened the passage way to the bath room in Brooklyn's large quarters. The moving really hadn't created a sound as the large portrait of the castle was moved. Jin found himself in a marble floored bathroom. Brooklyn would be sleeping seven rooms further. Jin was interested in the fourth room that was his study.
Moving like the expert he was, Jin moved like an animal as he finally reached his destination. A small pool of sweat had appeared on his lower back, but the adrenaline was pumping through his veins.
He didn't say a word and controlled his breathing as he moved through the papers that were neatly organized. At least it would be easy to find out what he was looking for without making a bit of extra noise.
Hiro glanced outside slightly as he continued to flip through the papers as quietly as possible. He'd been at this for a while and had found nothing indicating what was supposed to happen within the next days. Nothing about the Princes or even the others.
There wasn't even battle plans for the upcoming war that he knew was going to take place.
All there was were invitations to several parties, documents on the census, taxes, and several other common papers. Nothing on what he needed.
"I told them you would return, but to be honest even you had me worried. I'd begun to think that you'd forgotten our little game."
Jin stopped completely and felt his muscles tense. He should have expected it.
"Good morning King Brooklyn," he turned and gave a mocking bow. "Did I wake you from your beauty sleep?"
"Hardly," Brooklyn gave him a smile that chilled the blood running through Jin's veins. "I've changed my schedule. Tell me though; it's been a while, what about you?"
"You've haven't done anything worthwhile," Jin tilted his head. "But enough pleasantries, what do you plan on doing this weekend?"
"Always on business huh?" Brooklyn looked at him and the bored expression made Jin's hands shake with fury. "What do you want to know that you have to sneak into my study?"
"I heard that you got a hold of a royal flush." Jin smirked at him. "I'm curious. Why would you go to all that trouble to get them?"
"So that's why you think I haven't been home in a while, clever." Brooklyn gave him a nod. "It's no secret. I did leave to capture the Princes and have reduced them to nothing more then simple slaves like their own families have done to countless others. The tyranny in the other lands must be rooted out and destroyed. Simple as that. Soon our armies will finish them off."
Brooklyn smiled at him and Jin found himself hating the fact that the male was in white pajamas and his hair still looked like he'd just gotten it done. He was too perfect. It was nerve racking.
"Alright, fine. Saw that from a mile away, but what's so special about this weekend huh? I heard that you're going to have them fight. What's the occasion? And why the girls?"
Brooklyn gave him a slight sake of his head and a chuckle. "You are curious. I plan to marry the Avian that was with them, Lexandra I believe her name was and announcing it after the fight along with my declaration of war."
"Excuse me?" Jin looked at him. He was just going to give up this information. And something like that?
"You asked Jin, so I answered."
Jin blinked. "Marry? You plan to marry?"
"It seems that the news makes everyone speechless. It doesn't matter, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to kill you know." He gave Jin a smile. "You did sneak into my chambers after all."
Jin gave him a salute and stepped back. He knew when it was a good time to give up. "Sure King, but how about we set a date and do this a different time." The swords on the wall behind Brooklyn jumped up and went after the male. Jin knew it was no use, the shadows grabbed them easily, but it gave him a chance to fall backwards and through the glass behind him.
As the glass shattered he spread his wings and took to the skies. Brooklyn wouldn't follow. It was a game to them, Brooklyn would only fight him if Jin was in his territory. He stared behind him and noticed that several of Brooklyn's men were behind him though. He'd have to lose them or kill them.
"Kane," Goki stared into the cell in front of him with mixed feelings. He wanted nothing more than to ring Zeo's neck when he found out about the man's actions against Kane. He Salima and Jim had spent the last of the evening working out a way to get him out. Salima was going to argue and plead with Zeo for his life when Jim suggested that it wouldn't work.
By midnight it had been decided that there was only one course of action. They had to get the man out of the Human Kingdom. No questions asked. Kane would have go.
"Kane, listen to me wake up."
Thank fully Goki heard the male move and come up to the bars. There were bags on his eyes and he looked angry. "Goki, what are you doing here?"
"Listen we've got a plan. Don't worry about the guard," Goki waved him silent. "He's been paid well. We're going to get you out of here."
"How," Kane gave him a firm look. "If I don't die tomorrow you and the others will. Zeo is not stupid; he'll know who helped me escape him."
Goki gave him a smile, "That's why Jim spent all night coming up with a plan. It's early in the morning right now," he knew the man had no sense of time in the damp place. "You have eight hours until they come get you. Two guards, Leo and Devion, young, are going to be the ones escorting you. When you reach the courtyard they'll let you go, but you have to rough them up a little to make it seem like you struggled with them and over powered the both of them. Cut across and move towards the stables. My horse is already saddled because after the hanging I'm supposed to be heading for the Simion River. Get on it and rid. The gates one be closed I promise you there is too much traffic due to his evacuation of slaves order. Head towards Criss' house. He'll hide you. Salima, Jim and I will meet you there tonight."
Kane looked at him and thought the plan over. It was very vague, but it seemed to be the only thing that he had to go on. And with this life on the line there wasn't much of an option to wait to come up with another.
"Fine." Kane gave him a sad smile. "Thank you, but you all have to stay behind."
"What?" Goki looked at him shocked. "We wouldn't-"
Kane cut him off. "I can't and won't ask you to leave your lives here for me. And besides I have a mission for you all. You have to stay behind and sabotage the slave removal at any cost."
"Why?" Goki looked at him confused.
"They plan to kill them all. Listen to me, if they get them all here they plan to kill all of them to make sure that none of them can revolt. This isn't to gather them together for our own safety, its genocide. Zeo plans to kill them and I need you to make sure that it takes for damn ever for every slave to get here. I need you to make sure that they're treated as well as possible until I can come back with Wyatt."
"You plan to go after them don't you?" Goki gave him a knowing look.
Kane nodded. "That's the only way to stop this nonsense. We know that Brooklyn has an army or he wouldn't have declared war, but its like he walked off the edge of the world. He's disappeared. If I can find him then I can find the Princes and bring them back. Our own army would know where to attack then as well instead of standing her blind. Wyatt would take over as King and stop this mess."
Goki nodded dumbly, "But where would you go?"
"Back to the avian lands and back to the volcano. It's the only lead that we have. A one man team could move faster and quicker anyway."
Goki sighed and glanced down. "There's no talking you out of it is there?"
Kane grinned. " No. I'll miss my team, you make sure that they stay safe. You stay healthy."
Goki held up his bum arm. "Sure there isn't much they can actually ask me to do anyway. Listen," he reached through the bars and clasped his hand on the other man's shoulder. "be careful and don't take too many risks. I guess I'll see you when you get back." Kane nodded. The man got up and left Kane to stare at the wall feeling a new sense of hope and purpose.
Zeo would not be in power for long.
"This is it," Devion looked at Kane and spoke lowly. "You know what to do right General?" The boy licked his red lips nervously as Leo cut the rope releasing Kane's hands.
"Clearly. Thank you soldier. I'll make this quick," before any of the young boys could blink Kane swung his right fist and hit Devion square in the gut with enough force that the male's eyes rolled backwards. Swinging his foot collided with Leo's head. Both males were at his feet, breathing, but unconscious. Running with a fast speed he reached the stables and thanked Goki as he mounted the male's horse. The horse knew him well and immediately ran out towards the gates.
He reached the back woods easily and without any interference. He briefly wondered what they had to do pay off all of the men to keep them from coming after him. He knew his destination and wasted no time heading for the volcano. The sooner he found Wyatt and the others the better. There was no telling when the other kingdoms would begin their own version of death.
When Goki told her about the plan Salima was more than furious. She knew that Kane was a risky man, but the fact that he'd went off on his own like this was unnerving. She really wished that she was with him as she stared at an angry Zeo yelling at the two men who let the prisoner escape their grasps.
As she watched the man blow up at the two younger and threaten to take away their lively hood by throwing them off their jobs she hoped that Kane could pull it off. There was no way her country could survive with this man in charge and according to the doctors, Boris wasn't going to be making a comeback.
It was just a matter of time before nothing would stand in Zeo's way from being the King without rival.
When Hiro came home, it was long past sundown. The servants had been told that Ozuma's cousin was sick and should not be bothered. He wasn't going to risk going back and being seen.
He walked into the house and immediately changed before coming down. When he came into the kitchen he was tackled by the elf.
"Thank you Hiro," Ilyana squeezed his middle. "I don't know what we would have done without you."
Hiro seemed slightly taken aback as he pressed his hand to her hair. He looked up and stared at Emily and noticed her looking at him and had to stop himself from pushing the female off. "How are you?"
Ilyana looked up at him and detached herself. "Better now."
"You look tired Hiro," Evanescence gave him a smile from her seat. She was sipping tea and he knew that he wasn't going to get any more thanks from the woman then that. He didn't want one. Hiro gave her a nod as an answer and sat down, "How are you doing Joseph?"
The man was almost completely covered by bandages and there was a bruise covering a portion of his face. "Better now. Evanescence knows what she's doing." The mention woman just snorted refusing to answer.
"So we've been filled in by Ozuma," Ilyana nodded toward the male leaning against the wall. "But what about the rest of them? What have you found out?"
Hiro could see the worry in her eyes, but was afraid that he didn't have anything that could take it away. When he told them what happened all he could see was the lines in their faces darken.
"He's smart," Evanescence spoke up. It was true. Each of them could understand what the male was doing as Hiro explained it.
"Poor Lex," Ilyana muttered. "We've got to get her out."
"It's too risky. We can't do anything without revealing ourselves to them and that could be dangerous for a lot of people," Ozuma spoke up.
"Dangerous for Bryan as well. When he hears this the man is going to go postal." The wolf couldn't help but put her own too sense in.
They spoke for a little while longer before they all retired. Hiro was the last one to go to bed. He knew that Ozuma hadn't told the girls everything. They still didn't know his own birthright.
"Was it really supposed to be this hard?" he asked himself as he walked up the stairs. He stopped at Emilys door like he did every night. It was locked. Sighing he shook his head before walking to his own bedroom.
She was there.
Asleep in his bed Emily slept on her side like an angel. Scared at waking her up and pushing her away Hiro accepted the small gesture and got dressed as quietly as he could. Getting in bed he wrapped his arms around her from behind and smiled into her hair as she touched his hand around her stomach without opening her eyes.
He fell asleep holding her and grateful for every second.
Okay that was long. Come on it might have been a while, but when I deliver I deliver. This is over 10,000 words so muahahahaha.
I am so good.
Listen I need reviews. I need to feel like you guys are still reading this and I haven't lost all my readers because of my lack self. So let me know.
Kai: I haven't been in the last two chapters.
Me: I know, but you will be in the next. There was just some things that needed to be developed. And the plot had to thicken.
Kai: promises promises.