**Hello readers, we are getting into the thick of the plot. It is awesome. This chapter may confuse some, so just read with the knowledge that we're seeing what happens to Eiji in Kahn's perspective, and then some.
Enjoy Chapter 17! :)**
Chapter 17: Blood master
My eyes slowly opened, and I was relaxed from the short nap we had...
...I guess it was just me...
I stared half awake at the empty side of the bed... I sighed.
"You couldn't have woken me up first...?" I said to no one.
I sat up slowly.
Why doesn't this feel right...?
(Because she obviously isn't in it for me.)
What? No, Nina is a kind wonderful person... She had obligations I'm sure.
(Like feeling obligated to leave while I'm sleeping?)
Why am I so broken up about this!? There has to be a reasonable explanation.
(Like this isn't a possible reason?)
She's not like that... She has a lot on her plate, and she's probably really stressed.
(Yeah, that sounds plausible.)
"Well, I'll just try to help her as much as I can."
As I was getting dressed, I figured a nice gift wouldn't be a bad idea either.
I walked down the staircase, and ran into Haku in the lobby.
I nodded. "How are you?" I asked.
He nodded. "I'm doing alright I... What happened to your hair? It looks like one of Eiji's Leviathan's mistook you for an ice cream cone!"
I turned red. "It's not that horrible is it?"
He shrugged. "No, not THAT horrible, but close. Hey, I saw Nina down here earlier. It looked like she was really torn up about something... She said she was headed for her camp. I just thought she looked... Kahn? You look..."
I was very red, and if my hair didn't give it away, this would.
Haku laughed. "Oh I get it now! You might want to chase her down before she runs off then!"
I sighed. "Yeah, I might just..."
Eiji walked into the lobby.
Blood was running down his hands, and he was carrying Hiro. Her left side had been injured horribly.
The blood wasn't Hiro's though, it was Eiji's.
Haku ran up to him.
"Eiji! Hold on, just, don't move. Are you alright...? Eiji?"
He walked past him.
I tried to grab his arm, so he would stop. He let out a painful yelp, then backed away.
"Damn... Corpses! STAY AWAY!"
He was very dazed, and seemed almost unaware of where he was.
The bleeding hadn't seemed to slow down, and though Hiro's injuries looked painful, she wasn't in any immediate danger.
The longer Eiji held on to Hiro like he was, the sooner he'd bleed out.
Haku seemed to draw up the same conclusion.
We tried to restrain him, so he would not hurt himself. He let out a painful scream, black wings pushing out of his back, forcing us away.
"What's happening!?" Haku exclaimed.
Black wings, blood running from the finger tips? Oh no...
Eiji had somehow inherited the abilities of a blood master, but without extensive training in a controlled environment? Most died before they could become full fledged blood masters.
Eiji had done exactly what you're not supposed to do. He cut off his threads mid spell, causing a break. The vessels and veins in his arms more than likely burst. This is the reason so much blood escapes through the fingers, because the holes go all the way up his arms and into his shoulders.
He bolted up the stairs.
"Haku! Eiji's a blood master!"
"What in the world is a blood master!?" He yelled.
I gestured up the stairs. "Well, you're about to find out!"
We ran after him, and saw him holding a man to the wall.
"What do you think you're doing." Eiji said monotone.
He held Hiro in one arm, and held the Man's throat with the other. A woman stood behind them, staring.
"That's none of your businesses brat!" He yelled.
Eiji's grip on the man became more firm, and I could see the threads swimming up the Man's throat. The man disappeared, and the threads shot back into Eiji's hands.
He was spiraling rapidly into higher stages, because he kept his spell going too long.
Eiji bowed his head to the woman, she nodded.
Eiji flew again, turning into another hall.
"Wait!" Said the woman. "Your hands! Let me help!"
We continued to chase after him, and ran into Shisuta, Karo, and Haruka.
"What's going on!?" Karo exclaimed. "You look lime you're-!"
"In a rush! Yes!" I finished. "Just keep up!"
We ran after him.
"Eiji!? Hiro!? Linn come here!" It was Kuhn.
We ran to them.
Eiji set down Hiro in front of them. His legs were shaking, and he fell backwards, collapsing on e wall behind him. He started crying.
"H-Hiro! No... I'm sorry... Hiro!"
"I was... No... Walking? I'm sitting..."
We all surrounded him.
Chihiro was here now too.
"What's going on!? Is he okay!?"
Haku shook his head. He grabbed Eiji's arms to look for any internal damage.
Eiji screamed as Haku held his arms. He was beginning to fade, but his screams still pierced the halls.
A red shadow crossed us, it was a Leviathan.
He grabbed Eiji's arms.
Eiji let out a horrific scream.
"Sorry master Eiji, I am breaking rule number one."
The Leviathan let light spring from it's hands, and the holes in Eiji's arms closed.
Color returned to his face, and he relaxed.
The other Leviathan's came racing in.
"Talin, is the master okay!?" One exclaimed.
"Yes, master is SAFE!" He exclaimed.
They all started bawling.
Then they looked at Hiro.
"A MISTRESS!" They screamed.
"Save her max!" One yelled. "SHE SIGNED YOUR CLAW!"
The Leviathan assumed as Max went running to Hiro.
"A Mistress, she's HURT!? I WILL NEVER WASH THIS CLAW AGAIN!"
He showed off his claw for a moment, and yes, it was signed.
He let a large burst of light blast into Hiro. The spell rearranged all of her bones to the right places, and healed all of her bruises and cuts.
She stirred
"Uuuuggnnnh... Where's... EIJI!"
She sat up, and saw him.
"How did I...? Did Eiji?" She began to sob.
"Is he okay!?"
Kuhn nodded, wrapping an arm around her.
"He's fine, don't you worry..."
She continued to cry. "Did we win...? Did anyone else get hurt?"
"The master won, Fred will tell you!"
"The master won!" Said Fred.
Hiro nodded shakily.
"Don't cry, A Mistress! PLEASE!?" Fred exclaimed.
"We found your bat, and made it awesome... Two times upgrade..."
Fred handed Hiro the metal bat, which now had a blade sticking out of the top, and nails sticking out of the side. Even I was impressed with how seamlessly they had merged the blade and nails.
She gaped at it.
"That... THAT is SO COOL!"
"Absolutely NOT!" Kuhn exclaimed. "That's a hazard!"
She clutched the bat.
"It was my birthday present... Please...? Don't take it from me when I just got it!"
Was she guilt tripping him?
"And if self defense matters, then this will self defend... Times two, right Fred?"
"TIMES TWO GUARANTEED!" He screamed.
She grinned. "See? Now who could argue with that!?"
Kuhn sighed. "Give me the bat Hiro."
She gave a look of protest. "Uuugh! But Dad!?"
"Now." He said.
She scoffed. "But it's a gift, you can't just-!"
"Now." He said again. Slightly louder than before.
She set down the bat harshly.
"Fine, take the bat."
He took it, and walked out of the room.
He looked pretty angry. Hiro may be pushing her luck...
Nina walked in the room.
"I heard what happened." She said. "How is he?"
"He's alright for the moment..." I said. "But I worry about his abilities surfacing at such a rapid rate."
"Abilities?" Chihiro asked. "What kind of abilities?"
"He's a blood master... Kahn, how much do you know on the subject?"
I sighed. "I know that without the proper training, things like this can happen. He kept his spell going for too long, and broke the threads to early. They are like physical energy threads, and I am not surprised the ability surfaced in purgatory, the land of physical energy."
"What can he do with the threads?" Haku asked.
"He can use blood magic in tandum with the threads to turn his opponents into his puppets or servants." I said. "If a blood master does not break the spell before he releases the threads, they break inside of him, causing what you just saw happening to Eiji."
"Then you know as much as I do." Said Nina.
"I hate to say this, but he needs to be restrained until-"
The Leviathan's stepped in front of Eiji.
Chihiro looked at the Leviathan's, then at Nina. She looked wary.
"We will not let the likes of you touch master Eiji." One said.
"What's wrong with you!?" She exclaimed. "I'm just trying to help him!"
They stood, not moving from Eiji.
"Move! I'm just trying to-!"
"We tolerate you." He continued. "We tolerate your presence because you have been tolerated by Master Eiji, Mistress Hiro, and Kahn. That tolerance ends should you walk any closer..."
She glared at them "What do you want with Eiji? What's your game?"
"What's your game Nina?" Chihiro asked. "Because I'm starting to get a bad feeling..."
Hiro stood. "Okay, please stop fighting! I'll carry him to his room, and stay there, okay!?"
We all stopped.
Linn spoke. "That's fine Hiro, go ahead."
Hiro walked over, and lifted him, carrying him to his room.
Chihiro and Haku left with Hiro, Chihiro glaring at Nina.
Linn went in to check on Kuhn.
The Leviathan's left after Eiji was in his room.
"Nina... I'm sorry about that. Are you alright?" I asked.
Nina sighed. "I'm f..."
She sobbed. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
She must be horribly stressed as it is, and now this?
I wrapped her in a hug.
"Sh shhh... It's alright... You don't have to hide from me..."
She started bawling.
"N-No, you're wrong." She backed away.
"I've been hiding this whole time! The truth is..."
She covered her mouth.
"WHY CAN'T I HIDE FROM YOU!?" She yelled.
She ran off.
I chased after her. I could feel her pain... It was like I could sense it.
"Nina, WAIT!" I yelled.
I caught up to her, and ran beside her.
"Why are you running!? You can tell me, I swear, I WON'T JUDGE YOU!"
She stopped, and yelled at me.
"YES YOU WILL! They all do... You will."
I kissed her, holding her close to me.
"Never... Try me... I promise."
I gave her another soft kiss. She pulled away.
"I'm using you Kahn." She said.
I froze.
I took a breath. "Okay, for what? You could just ask."
She shook her head, and laughed. "Don't you get it!? God, for being a genius, your so stupid sometimes! I want your throne. I am building you up, so I can steal your power. I still intend to take it, but..."
"It's yours." I said.
Her eyes widened. "You're willing to give up your birthright... To me? Do you have any idea who I am?"
I didn't care. I saw someone in there that she didn't see.
...Someone beautiful.
"Tell me." I said.
"I am she who is known as Batna, Ita..."
Those names...
"Satrina, Kali, Ririsu..."
That name.
"More commonly known as Lilith."
Okay, that one was a little hard to swallow.
I was hurt that she had deceived me, and used me...
But she was no longer deceiving me, so I asked her something.
"Why did you tell me this, instead of continuing to feed me lies?"
She looked at me, and there was genuine pain in her eyes.
"Because you saw me... And you didn't run away."
Tears spilled from her eyes, and she looked away.
"But it's too late, I've already confused you enough!"
She bolted, but I caught her arm.
I pulled her in, and kissed her lips softly, kissing her tears away.
"No... I understand. They all cast you aside and treated you as a monster... Take my power when the time comes, it's yours. No need to hide from me..."
She looked down. "It belongs to you. How can you give it up so freely?"
I smiled. "You'll know what to do with it better than I will, besides, you've got me by an eternity."
She kissed him softly, and another tear slipped. "When the time comes then..."
I kissed the tear away, and softly nibbled at her ear.
"Stay with me..." I whispered.
She pulled me in, and we went into my room.
Our bodies came together, and bliss filled my mind...
...I held her close to me, feeling her warmth as I slept.