A/N: Oaf! I pour a lot in this chapter and hope you all approve. This one is much, much longer than the other ones so please enjoy the read. Oh yes, I've been careless to thank you all for reading my story and going on this journey with me. I am grateful for all of your support. And a special thank you to all of you guys who review, it always such a delight to hear from you, I wanted to especially thank Just to Dream of You and Trisanlonelyeyes, who have been nothing but supportive and wondeful fans. Thank you.
Chapter 14: Glass Slipper
Summer was seriously reconsidering her decision of pushing Nora to attend this party. The past hours have flashed by in a blur, one minute she was wiggle awkwardly on the dance floor with her best friend. Next, she was found herself upstairs in a bedroom, alone. By the time she managed to get to the main level, she caught Nora darting off, distressed, into the night. On pure instinct, she raced after her, knowing well enough she needed her. But Nora out sprint Summer and she found her pair of heels skewed on the cracked cement. The scene was a reminisce of Cinderella but instead of a glass slipper, serving as a reminder of the phantom girl, two black hells lay on their sides, leaving a dark peg of fear within her.
With all her might, Summer traveled with haste to Josh's house, knowing Nora was in trouble and that only the boys could help her. They were trained detectives, if anyone could do it, it was them. She found Hiei but was met with some resistance. Hiei was off in a dazed and clinging to his side was Lizabeth, Nora's enemy. Just what in God's green Earth was Hiei doing with her?
"Hiei." Summer called, tugging more forcefully on his arm.
Red eyes lazily flickered between her and Lizabeth, the wheels in his head gradually turning.
"Just drink. You'll feel better." Lizabeth offered the cup again to Hiei before throwing a cold glare at Summer.
Summer rolled her head, one second away from snapping her fingers in front of Lizabeth's face. "Excuse me but he is coming with me."
Dark brown eyes narrowed viciously. "Actually, we are having a little chat, so buzz off."
The normally sweet girl placed her hands on her hips. "Hiei. We are leaving. Now." She said sternly.
Hiei felt like a doll being tugged between two selfish children. He was still trying to clear the fog invading his mind. But even with the haze, he could feel the tension of a possible catfight about to erupt when Kuwabara appeared in the kitchen with Yusuke and Kurama, one of their arms each slugged over Kuwabara's neck: both of them appearing in the same state as Hiei, surprisingly the oaf was the only one who had his senses about him.
"There you guys are!" He heaved the two sluggish bodies with every step.
"Is Kurama drunk?" Summer asked incredulously, gawking at the red head.
Kuwabara glanced at Kurama. "Yeah. I think it was that drink Josh gave us. I found them past out in the back."
Kurama mumbled an incoherent response, weakly lifting up his head.
Hiei shook his head. Kurama was drunk. Something strange was going on. He rubbed his temples; the Jagan beneath his bandage glowed dimly. His mind may be contaminated but no substance could stop the powerful eye.
Lizabeth frantically stared as Yusuke and Kurama gradually regained their composure, leaning off their tall friend. This wasn't good; the drug was already waning out of their system. Josh warned her to keep the guys drinking, especially Hiei, Yusuke, and Kurama.
"My head." Yusuke groaned. "Mine as well." Kurama concurred.
"Guys something happened to Nora." Summer told them worriedly.
Their eyes snapped to her. "What happened?" Kuwabara asked and she could see all the boys regaining normal brain functioning.
What should I do?! They'll find out. They'll know Josh took Nora. I have to do something!
To the untrained eye, the next event transpired in mere seconds but to Hiei everything happened at the pace of a snail. Lizabeth's arm reached behind her back, drawing a small kitchen knife. Her arm raised in the air flying downward towards Summer 's exposed neck. Hiei caught Lizabeth's wrist, receiving a startled grasp from the tiny human.
They whole group shared the same startled expression; Summer clutched her chest frightfully, eyes dancing to the blade and Hiei.
"What the hell!" Yusuke roared.
Hiei tightened his grip, regarding the human with angry ruby irises. "You have a lot of explaining to do, girl."
The boys gathered in an bedroom, that wasn't occupy with hormonal couples naked beneath the covers, on the neat bed sat Lizabeth whose hands were tied with vines behind her back. They looked down upon her, masking the shared features of disapproval, but Lizabeth averted their gaze for a different reason. She had failed Josh, though she was the only one who bared this. After the shock of the attack, Kurama and Hiei convinced Summer to check Nora's home while they questioned the girl. Summer resigned without a protest, extremely grateful to Hiei for saving her life.
"Where is Josh?" Kurama questioned calmly but beneath that façade laid an un-amused fox.
Lizabeth sneered. "I'm not telling you a thing." She spit defiantly.
"Fine with us. Hiei here can just read your mind and we'll know everything." Yusuke threatened.
"And I won't be gentle." Hiei commented.
"Do it already. We're wasting time. Nora needs us." Kuwabara stated.
Kurama step closer to the girl. "I will ask only once. Where is Josh?"
She hissed. "No."
"Hiei." Yusuke commanded.
The hybrid demon loomed over the human girl, who stared at him heatedly. She was going to put up a fight which was fine with him cause he was not going to be easy on her. Regardless if she was human. Hiei unknotted the white band, a horizontal slit emerged on his forehead and slowly it opened, revealing a single violet colored iris. Lizabeth didn't have the chance to react before he invaded her mind, tearing down the weak mental shields blocking his path. Information and images blur rapidly past him but nothing to the where about of Josh. Lizabeth went limp and flopped unconscious on the bed as he vacated her mind.
"She doesn't know anything, just a useless pawn."
Kuwabara looked on sorrowfully. "But how are we going to find Nora?"
"Can't you track her scent?" Yusuke asked Kurama.
The red head considered this thoughtfully. "I suppose but he was able to manipulate his own scent. He could do the same to Nora."
Hiei mentally berated himself. He should have kept a better eye on her. Now she was kidnapped and was soon about to be another victim. Time was running out, he needed to find her. Suddenly, a blue light blazed out the small room window and with it a strange and powerful surge of energy. They looked at the brilliant light then to one another. In a flash, they leaped out of the second floored window, landing expertly on the cool grass. Then, the boys advanced out to the night, unaware of the meaning of the blue light and the fate of their friend.
Even with the speed of a demon, Hiei thought he wasn't going fast enough. He had always traveled with the greatest haste, reaching his destination in seconds. He was never subjected to running late. His legs burned and ached as he pumped faster and harder, each second felt unbearably long. The gang ran wit the velocity of a race car, darting in and out of alley ways, evading people and vehicles coming across their pathway. The blinding light had passed as quickly as a flash of lightening but it left a trace, the only lead to Nora whereabouts.
In mere minutes, they fell upon a decaying abandon apartment complex, from the hanging shutters and peeling paint, they all knew this place hadn't been used for years. In the mist of musk and rotting wood, a familiar scent lingered in the air, it was sweet and citrusy.
The girl didn't have the opportunity to scream before the blade penetrated her chest, light blazing brilliantly as it momentarily blinded him. Charcoal eyes regarded the lifeless form on the table, the blood slipping from the dagger in her chest, mouth gaped open in a silent cry, the life in her eyes fading to a blank slants of green. Finally, all his patience and planning will be rewarded. But next came the crucial part of the ritual, extracting the power from the being. If the victim was powerful they would be reborn with the demonic blood in them as with Urameshi. But this girl was weak; she was dead and the probability of rebirth was near zero if any.
The demon's grip loosens around the handle, his eyes shined gleefully as the blade continued to shine a vibrant blue. This dagger held his future, he could become so powerful and Demon World would be his. He was so lost in his reverie; he didn't hear the shuffle of footsteps proceeding down the steps. The door slammed open, the wood whined under the force of the push.
"Nora." Their voices cried in union conveying horror and disbelief.
"I see," he said thoughtfully, grimacing slightly, "I should have known the human couldn't do such a simple task."
The taste of copper resided on their tongues and their eyes finally took in the sight: Nora shackled to the table by chains, a dagger protruding out of her chest. "You killed her. You bastard- she was an innocent girl." Yusuke bellowed, balling his hands on either side.
"A minor detail."
"Minor?! What kind of man kills a defenseless girl?" Kuwabara shouted.
"Where is Josh?" Kurama inquired, forcing the calmness in his voice.
The demon smiled and jerked his head to the side where the human lay, still unconscious. Kurama's eyes darting from the boy to the pale demon across the table. "So you possess him?" It came out more a statement than a question.
"A common trick for weak demons." Hiei said, his voice reflecting the same stillness as Kurama.
The demon grimaced. "Maybe so," he paused, "But effective unless the less. Now, if you don't mind, I'm not quite done with the-"
Hiei crossed the room in a black blur, leaping over the table, pressing the demon between him and the cold wall. His forearm pressed on his Adam's apple, constricting his windpipe. The demon gritted his teeth and flashed a smirk at Hiei, pulling his pale lip in a terrorizing smile.
"You seem oddly fond of that girl.." He coughed as Hiei applied more pressure on his throat, "What reason could that be?" He mocked with a haggard breath.
Hiei raised his other arm, posing for an attack as black flames consumed his fist. He reared back and stopped when Kurama yelled. "Hiei. No."
"Kurama.."Hiei said quietly, but his tone told the fox not to stop him.
"Not when there could be witnesses." Kurama explained quickly, passing a short glance at Josh.
It took all of his will power to release the demon, who slumped to the floor, clutching his throat as he grasp gallons of air. The fire demon turned away from him, coming face to Nora's paling body.
"You fool.." The demon snickered, rising to his feet. "You think I'll go in without a fight?" He reached in his pocket and tossed an un-seen item in the air and suddenly the room was eloped in smoke. The boys coughed out the thick gas.
"He getting away!" Kuwabara announced as a shadowy form knocked him down.
"Oh hell no! Hiei!" Yusuke commanded, the two raven-haired boys advancing through the smoke and emerging in the hall. Hiei bolted up the stairs. "Kurama! Look after her." Then he took after Hiei.
Finally the thick fog cleared and Kurama stood over Nora as Kuwabara checked Josh. With shaky fingers, he unshackled each chain binding her, grimacing internally at the bruises around her wrists and ankles. Soon Kuwabara was at his side, he glanced at Kurama sorrowfully. His mouth opened and closed, wishing to voice the question they all were wondering.
"Is-is.." Kuwabara tried to say but couldn't force the words out.
But Kurama proceeded on, not acknowledging him, his emeralds eyes fixated on the blade stabbed through her chest. Maybe there was is a still, maybe it didn't pierce her heart..maybe. His fingers wrapped around the hilt gingerly, noting the once illuminating blade had now faded. Kurama bit his lip as he cautiously pulled it out, a sickly sound bounced off the walls as the blood covered blade was removed from her. He handed it to Kuwabara who stared grimly at it, holding it between his thumb and index finger.
Any other moment, Kurama might have chuckled at his childish manners but his heart felt heavy as he was sure the others did. The one person they befriended out of their tight circle ended up dead; Kurama couldn't help but feel at blame for it. If only they have figured it out earlier, maybe this could have been prevented.
Eye downcast, Kurama heaved a heavy sigh. He couldn't get emotional, he had to stay calm and think.
"Um Kurama.." Kuwabara said, his voice laced with confusion.
For once Kuwabara, keep your mouth shut.
"Kurama!" He shrieked, grabbing hold of the red head shoulder, shaking him frantically.
"What?!" The fox yelled, wheeling on his friend, this was not the time for this. But then he saw it, from the corner of his vision, Nora's body glowed and levitated a feet above the table.
"What's going on?" Kuwabara shrieked again, in a high pitch.
Hell if Kurama knew, he was just in awe as Kuwabara, watching on wordlessly as a red aura enveloped her body. Suddenly, blue patterns bleed on her skin, marking her arms, legs, chest, and cheeks. Then, Nora's black hair began to elongate, flowing past her butt. The girl lowered on to the table softly, whatever force that carried her now leaving, the boys stood there.
"OH MY GOD!" Kuwabara yelled as the deep wound on her chest started to stitch back together, leaving only a faint scar. "What just happened?!
Kurama stared like a deer in heed lights. Those markings, that familiar demonic aura, the mass of black hair….for once in his life, Kurama was just fucking confused.