Chapter 1

A Light in the Heart of Darkness

The Guardian Heart Crystal Series Book Four

Amy Blankenship, RK Melton

Copyright © 2009 Amy Blankenship

English Edition Published by Amy Blankenship

Second Edition Published by TekTime

All rights reserved.

The Legend of the Heart of Time

The worlds may change… but true legends never fade.

Darkness and light have constantly battled since the beginning of time. Worlds are formed and crushed beneath the feet of their creators, yet the ongoing need for good and evil have never been in question. However, sometimes a new element is thrown into the mix… the one thing that both sides want but only one can have.

Paradoxical in nature, the Guardian Heart Crystal is the one constant that both sides have always striven to attain. The crystalline stone has the power to create and destroy the known universe, yet can end all suffering and strife in the same breath. Some say the crystal has a mind of its own… others say the gods are behind it all.

Each time the crystal has appeared, its guardians have always been ready to defend it from all who would use it selfishly. The identities of these guardians remain unchanged and they love with the same ferocity regardless of the world or time.

One girl stands in the center of these ancient guardians and is the object of their affections. She holds within her the power of the crystal itself. This is the bearer of the crystal and the source of its power. The lines often blur, and guarding the crystal slowly changes into guarding the priestess from the other guardians.

This is the wine from which the heart of darkness drinks. It is the opportunity to make the guardians of the crystal weak and susceptible to attack. The darkness craves the power of the crystal and also the girl as a man would crave a woman.

Within every one of these dimensions and realities you will find a secret garden known as the Heart of Time. There, a statue of a young human priestess kneels. She is surrounded by an age-old magic that keeps her secret treasure hidden and well preserved. The maiden’s hands are outstretched as if waiting for something precious to be placed in them.

Legend says that she is waiting for the powerful stone known as The Guardian Heart Crystal to return to her.

Only the Guardians know of the true secrets behind the statue and how it came into existence. Before the five brothers drew their first breath their ancestors, Tadamichi, and his twin brother, Hyakuhei, protected the heart of time during its darkest history. For centuries, the twins protected the seal that kept the human world from overlapping within the demon realm. This task was sacred and the lives of the humans as well as demons had to be kept safe and secret from the other.

Unexpectedly, during their reign, a small band of humans accidentally crossed over into the demon world because of the sacred crystal. During a time of turmoil, its powers caused a rip in the seal that had separated the dimensions. The leader of the human group and Tadamichi had quickly become allies, making a pact to close the rip in the seal and keep the two worlds locked away from each other forever.

But during that time, Hyakuhei and Tadamichi had both fallen in love with the daughter of the human leader.

Against Hyakuhei’s wishes, the rip had been repaired by Tadamichi and the girl’s father. The strength of the seal had been increased tenfold, separating the dangerous love triangle forever. Hyakuhei’s heart was shattered… Even his own blood brother, Tadamichi had betrayed him by making sure he and the priestess were separated by eternity.

Love can turn into the most wicked of things once it is lost. Hyakuhei’s broken heart turned to malicious anger and jealousy causing a battle between the twin brothers, ending Tadamichi’s life and splitting their immortal souls. Those slivers of immortality created five new guardians to take guardianship over the seal and protect it from Hyakuhei, who had joined the demons within the realm.

Imprisoned within the darkness he had become, Hyakuhei cast out all thought of protecting the heart of time… instead he turned his energy toward banishing the seal completely. His long midnight locks, reaching past his knees and a face belonging only to the most seductive, belied the true evil hidden within his angelic appearance.

As the war begins between the forces of light and dark, a blinding blue light is emitted from the sanctified statue signaling that the young priestess has been reborn and the crystal has resurfaced on the other side.

As the guardians are drawn to her and become her protectors, the battle between good and evil truly begins. Hence the entrance into another world where darkness is dominant within the world of light.

This is one of their many epic adventures…

Chapter 1

For centuries the red moon had always been a sign of the bringer of death. Those who saw the deadly sight hid for fear of losing their lives to the powerful lull of endless sleep it promised. In the distance, a spine-chilling cry was heard from miles around as the dangerous symbol sat high in the midnight sky.

In a forest clearing two lone figures stood, one wounded, breathing heavily with one of his twin daggers clenched in his hand, the other towering menacingly over him, a malicious smirk gracing his inhumanly beautiful face. Predatory ruby eyes gleamed in the full moonlight awaiting his victim’s next move. Hyakuhei’s unnaturally pale skin seemed to glow in the night, giving him the appearance of an angelic reaper.

“You have killed us without death!” Toya snarled, baring his elongated fangs. His gold dust eyes burned in loathing for the man standing before him. Once his friend… his own father’s brother… now his mortal enemy. “You bastard!”

“You say that now with conviction but I gave you eternal life, trained you and cared for you. I loved you and your brother as my own.” Scarlet eyes flashed in anger at the insolent, would be child before him.

“You call making us into monsters… love? You stole our lives away! You turned me to try and force my brother into becoming yours! You lied to us, saying you could reverse the curse if we would join with you.” His breath left him in an angry hiss as he continued.

“If it wasn’t for your twisted fascination with my brother, we would be normal human beings, living normal lives as a family, not the bloodthirsty creatures of the night that you made us into!” Bitter tears poured from Toya’s eyes in anger and betrayal… turning them eerie silver.

“You are a fool to ever think you were normal!” Hyakuhei’s voice held the malicious hint of bitterness. “You and your brother mistakenly weep for something that was never yours to have.” His voice softened for a moment as he swallowed the memories of his twin brother… their father, “No matter.” His eyes burned as he focused back on Toya. “You are just like your father… selfish.”

“Your father’s death left you under my care! You and your brother are mine and I have always taken what belongs to me. I will have his obedience once I have finished with you.” Hyakuhei’s clawed hand flexed in anticipation, eager to feel the younger man’s blood drip from their deadly tips. “It is you that has betrayed your own flesh and blood!”

Toya swung around in a circle listening to the hated voice as Hyakuhei shimmered and disappeared only to reappear on the other side of him. He knew the deadly vampire was only playing with him but Toya wasn’t afraid anymore. That fear had died with her…

"Why did you kill her?" Toya demanded his voice a soft hiss filled with anger and despair. "Did you think that by killing her you would gain the crystal? Never! She refused to give you that power and it pissed you off. Didn’t it Hyakuhei?” he screamed as he pivoted, trying to follow his enemy as Hyakuhei circled him with deadly intent.

“It wasn't a secret that you wanted her for your own.” Toya’s hand tightened on his dagger in fury as he remembered the haunted looks… the stalking… the sight of her lifeless body.

“Anyone with eyes could see the way you looked at her when you thought me or Kotaro weren't paying attention.” His breath left him with a sob as he swayed for a moment knowing he and Kotaro had both loved her… they had fought Hyakuhei and each other for her. No one had won. “We saw you.”

“Kyoko was mine and will always be mine!" Toya shouted, his anger at losing the one he had loved more than air… she was gone. She had been the light in the darkness that his world had become.

She was the reason he had defied Hyakuhei. Now his reason for defiance was gone and Toya felt the fire in his soul rise to a deadly temperature. He had found her lying lifeless with a small dagger piercing her heart. Deep inside he knew… he and Kotaro had both known... Hyakuhei had somehow killed her.

Hyakuhei’s black eyes became a shade darker as he gazed upon his brother’s youngest son in contempt. “Ah yes, the elusive Guardian Heart Crystal… such a power does not belong to a foolish child like you. The most powerful beings have searched for the Guardian Heart Crystal… did you think you were the only one dear boy? Not only vampires but also immortals and wizards and even werewolves share in that desire to gather such a power.”

“Do you not realize what would happen if the Lycan had claimed her first?” Hyakuhei’s eyes bled crimson at the thought of Kotaro, leader of the Lycan tribes, gaining such a power. His anger spiked as he remembered the Lycan’s scent on her flesh this same night. He would not stand by and let such a treacherous thing happen.

“No, careless boy, I have already taken care of the priestess who carried the crystal within her.” Hyakuhei’s eyes hardened at the thought of the small lie.

In truth… he had not murdered the girl. She had committed suicide to keep him from obtaining the crystal. He’d had her in his grasp, ready to claim the power she held within her. The power the legend spoke of, if it could be trusted… would’ve allowed his darkness to walk within the light… and feed upon it.

His fingers still tingled from the briefest touch of her skin. He had stood behind her… feeling the heat of her body with his cold hand. Her emerald eyes had turned and clashed with his for a mere second in defiance. He had only wanted a taste. Too late, he’d seen the dagger in her hand as it swiftly disappeared into her chest. He could have turned her and shared it all with her but… she refused his generous offer.

The brave yet foolish woman had believed that by killing herself, she would lock away the power of the crystal from him forever. Forever was such a long time to try and hide from him.

“She will be reborn!” Toya screamed in anguish, knowing he had failed at protecting her from Hyakuhei’s wrath. His guilt at not being there to save her was eating him up inside. She had known he was a vampire… a creature of the night… and still she had not turned her back on him. She had befriended him instead. Kyoko had trusted him with her very life.

Toya’s mind flashed back over the time he had known her… his body falling to his knees as he gripped the ground watching his tears fall. ‘It had not been long enough!’ he silently screamed in denial.

He had only known her for such a short time; six cycles of the moon. When he had first met her… he had only wanted the crystal… the crystal she hadn’t even known she was carrying at first. But he could see it shining inside her… calling to him. Then something had changed. Toya found himself trying to protect her instead of taking the crystal from her.

Since she had slammed into his dark world, Toya had found the truth behind the legend of the Guardian Heart Crystal, things even Hyakuhei did not realize. He had wanted to tell his brother the secrets but Hyakuhei had made it impossible for him to find Kyou in time… now it was too late.

“You will never have its light in the darkness… I will find Kyoko again and keep the crystal from you!” Toya’s voice was harsh with his need for vengeance. “She will live again and I will be there waiting for her.” A lone silver tear slipped down his cheek unnoticed as he yelled, “Together! She and I will find another way to free Kyou from you!”

Hyakuhei stepped closer to Toya, a dark chuckle coming from deep within his chest. “Oh yes, my dear Toya, she will live again. The crystal will come back into this world and I will be the one to claim not only its power, but the girl as well. As for my precious Kyou… I am sure I can find something to occupy your brother’s time until that day comes.”

Toya growled low in his throat knowing that was a double-edged sword, “You keep your sick notions to yourself. I’ll find a way to make us normal again. And you… I’ll make you dead!” He ended in a shout as the wind began to pick up, howling wickedly across the clearing.

The dagger in his hand flashed in an arc of silver light, barely catching the dark robe that graced Hyakuhei’s body. Toya couldn’t believe how fast his opponent was but his brow was furrowed with determination. A second dagger appeared in his other hand and he swung with it, followed immediately by the first.

Hyakuhei dodged the deadly blades with the centuries of training he’d endured. Humans were such easy creatures to defeat and Toya, though changed, was still very much human in his way of thinking… still a child in a vampire's eyes.

He would admit that somehow, his protection of the priestess had aged Toya’s power to almost the same level of an ancient. Taking the priestess away from him had served two purposes. Without his reason to fight… Toya’s power had diminished greatly.

Hyakuhei’s left hand lashed out, somehow trapping both of Toya’s wrists in a crushing grip. Toya had no way to defend himself when the vampire’s right claws cruelly slashed across his cheek.

Silver eyes clashed with crimson ones for a suspended moment in time as Hyakuhei retracted his claws. His lips hinted at a tainted smile as he reached out to gently stroke the wound he had just given so viciously. “Tis’ a pity to mar such perfection… so much like your brother.” He licked the drops of freshly spilt blood from his finger before adding, “But I cannot have your rebellious love distracting Kyou from me.”

Feeling his wrists being released, Toya took a step back and tried to block the next attack coming for his torso. He grunted in pain when blood spilled from the gashes left on his chest. Pressing an arm to the wounds, his golden eyes widened as he staggered back and, this time, Hyakuhei let him.

Toya could feel the broken bones in his wrists grinding against one another and had to concentrate just to keep his daggers from falling to the ground. Looking up at the man he hated more than death, Toya tried to shake off the pain knowing this wasn’t a game… even the undead could die.

“You foolish child, you thought to save your sibling by killing me? You can barely hold your blades now, much less attempt to take my life.” Hyakuhei sneered then his face turned placid, his anger suddenly gone. The night breeze lifted the ends of his long ebony hair making it look like it was alive.

“You never had a chance little one. I will help you to rest so that you will feel pain no more.” Hyakuhei murmured, his eyes softening toward the wounded man like a father scolding a wayward child.

Silver eyes flashed red in anger at his words. “You will never have my brother, you son of a bitch! As long as he has breath in his body, Kyou will not let you win, nor will I!” Toya screamed as he charged at the figure clad in black in a last attempt to save his immortal soul.

Hyakuhei disappeared in the blink of an eye before Toya’s dagger could penetrate the cold heart hidden deep inside his ageless body. Piercing red orbs gleamed, hungry to spill the blood of the young man who thought to defy him.

His dark form levitating high above… paused for just a moment before descending to attack his prey.

Toya’s senses were screaming danger as he felt the approaching threat to his existence but he was not skilled enough yet to pinpoint where his attacker was coming from. He searched around frantically but with his senses now dull from the loss of blood from his wounds… along with the wound hidden inside his heart, Toya felt his fear rising.

His heart ached from the words thrown at him by his so called ‘father’. “I cannot let you win, you monster. My brother’s life depends on it.” Toya whispered through his labored breathing, making the words thunder within his own ears.

A sliver of fear shot up his spine as he looked up towards the night sky. His eyes grew wide in terror at the sight that he only knew from the giving end… never from the receiving. ‘So… this is what it’s like.’ The thought filtered through his tormented mind.

He tried to move but was held immobile by an unknown force. Their eyes locked in a deadly stare. Red eyes pierced his very soul and Toya knew death was coming.

The scream lodged in his throat was replaced by a gurgling sound. His silver eyes faded back to gold and met the crimson red eyes of his murderer, as time seemed to stop. His body began to feel numb as he slowly looked down between their bodies.

Tears fell from Toya’s eyes as their bright gold color began to fade. ‘I have failed you, please forgive me… Kyoko… Kyou,' were his last thoughts as he drew his final breath.

He could feel his heart beat getting further and further away as the pain faded. Mysteries unfolded with his final heartbeats as he silently whispered in uneasy wonder, “Kyoko… how long have you been here?”

Watching with a sick sense of pleasure, the figure clad in black with blazing red eyes smiled in satisfaction. He slowly lowered them both to the hard packed earth. His clawed hand embedded deep in the chest of the young man with eyes like the sun.

Hyakuhei viciously ripped out the heart that had stopped beating.

Staring into Toya’s lifeless eyes he whispered, “I always wondered what Kyou’s eyes would look like when he cried… I wager they will be beautiful.” He leaned down and kissed Toya’s forehead before rising to turn and face the man who had just landed a short distance behind him.

A sadistic smile graced his lips as he held out the bleeding heart and waited for Kyou to close the distance between them. “For you my pet, now there is nothing to come between us.” His voice carried across the night breeze.

Kyou’s eyes narrowed in disgust as he looked at the fresh heart that was being held out to him. Had Hyakuhei been undead for so long that to him death was a gift?

Disgusted, Kyou turned away from the disturbing vision. He had sensed his brother’s anguish and had come to investigate. Instead, he found his so called ‘father’ and he could no longer sense his brother’s aura.

Something was terribly wrong and Kyou could feel the nerves within his body prickle his skin in warning

He could not see the owner of the heart that still dripped its life from the hand of the ancient vampire since Hyakuhei blocked his view. It annoyed him to be detained from searching out his younger brother. He had not laid eyes on his sibling in over a year but tonight… he knew Toya had needed him. It must have been important for Kyou to have felt the calling so strongly.

Sensing the anticipation in the man before him, Kyou’s golden eyes locked with Hyakuhei’s. “Whose soul did you steal this time?” he asked with contempt in his voice.

“Why don’t you come and see, my pet? I’m sure you will be most surprised. It is my gift to you.” A knowing smile lit his shadowed features as Hyakuhei stepped aside… leaving a clear view of his victim. Extending his hand leisurely toward Toya, he turned to look down at the corpse on the ground.

Kyou’s gaze followed Hyakuhei’s as he slowly took a step closer, confused at the importance of this victim’s identity. His golden eyes widened at the crumpled form lying in the dirt as an ominous jolt of alarm crawled up his spine. His heart began to race when he saw the familiar shiny silver highlights running through midnight black hair, now matted with blood and dirt as it lay across the man's face as if to hide his true identity.

He felt his entire being scream in rage and denial at the knowledge that he was now looking at his missing brother’s slaughtered form.

“NO!” Kyou threw back his head and roared. Tears filled his eyes as he turned to face the one responsible. “What have you done?” He snarled as he shot forward, stopping mere inches from his brother’s killer. His sun gold eyes bled red… elongated fangs bared like a rabid dog. Flexing his clawed hand he waited for the confession with barely restrained rage.

“Only what I should have done from the beginning… remove the one who did not appreciate you as I do.” Hyakuhei’s expression softened for a brief moment as he watched his favorite child.

He had given Kyou all his attention and affection since giving him the gift of dark immortality… but still Kyou had not been happy. It was the sadness in Kyou’s golden gaze that had attracted him so… the loneliness within him was lovely and mimicked Hyakuhei’s own melancholy. He had then turned Kyou’s brother, Toya, in hopes of winning his prized possession’s devotion. But… that had only upset Kyou more.

Hyakuhei watched the bittersweet tears forming within Kyou’s eyes and knew he had been right… Kyou was most divine when he cried.

At that moment, something deep within Kyou snapped as a mournful, earth-shattering cry tore from his body. In a blind rage, he attacked his brother’s murderer, fangs bared and claws slashing. “I will tear out your heart and leave your body to be ravaged by the creatures of the night for what you have done!”

Deftly, the wicked man dodged the attack and in a blur of black had Kyou pinned to the ground. With a calm that did not reflect in his ruby red depths, Hyakuhei leaned in close, his gaze locked on the face that haunted him so… the face of his own brother.

“I did what was necessary for us. Toya did not want you to have my gift and sought to take it away from you. You will understand in time.” He murmured as his soft lips brushed fleetingly across snarling ones as he spoke those words.

With a strength that he did not realize he possessed, Kyou forcefully threw the offending man twenty feet from his shaking body. He swiped his forearm across his mouth in disgust as he growled dangerously.

“Now, now, little one, calm yourself,” the man cooed as he stood and dusted himself off. His eyes blazed with promise as his body shimmered slightly, and then faded backwards into the night. “I will be watching… waiting for you… my pet.”

Kyou’s world shattered around him as he looked down at his brother’s lifeless body. ‘I will avenge my brother’s death and spend eternity hunting you if I have to. When I find you, you will pay for this… Hyakuhei...’

He lowered himself shakily to his knees and gently lifted Toya’s body to his chest… cradling his head gently. His little brother's hair had fallen away from his face making Kyou’s vision blur as he tried to hold back the flood of tears with no success. It looked like Toya was simply asleep… peaceful for the first time in way too long.

He watched as his tears dripped onto Toya’s cheek and Kyou felt his heart fracture. Clutching his beloved brother tightly against him, Kyou whispered in an unsteady voice, “Toya, please forgive me… for not making it here in time.” His breath shuddered from him as he squeezed his eyes shut in pain. “I knew you needed me… I should have saved you.”

Kyou’s mind raced back to the day Hyakuhei had turned him into what he was now… the day after his father’s death. Kyou had known Hyakuhei had only wanted him… and Toya had only been a small child. So to protect Toya… Kyou had left with his uncle even as his little brother had cried for him not to leave.

He could still remember the distrust shining in Toya’s big golden eyes as he glared up at Hyakuhei for daring to take his big brother away from him. It was the memory of that haunted look that had helped Kyou stay away from his sibling for several years… to protect him.

As Toya had gotten older, Kyou had found himself yearning to see him… secretly visiting him and watching from a distance… watching his brother live the life he couldn’t. Watching Toya from the shadows had been Kyou’s only happiness during those dark days. He had often snuck into Toya’s bedroom… to watch him sleep.

Had he known Hyakuhei was following him and watching him watch Toya… he would have never put Toya in danger like that. His uncle had turned Toya because he had thought that was what Kyou had wanted. It had been his fault that Toya had died the first time.

Toya had fought their uncle, during the turning and after. As their arguments became more vicious, Kyou had tried to keep Hyakuhei’s attention away from his brother. Then Toya had started talking about a cure for vampires… the Guardian Heart Crystal. He had sworn he would find it and cure them both.

Toya had found his cure… in death.

Doing his best to avoid looking at the now empty cavity where his brother’s heart had once resided, Kyou stood and carried Toya’s body away from the scene to give him a proper burial.

He could no longer feel Hyakuhei’s presence but knew he was close, watching him somehow… always watching him. Kyou understood now that he would have to leave, go into hiding until he was strong enough to defeat the evil that had stolen the only thing he held dear… his little brother. He slipped past the darkness leaving the clearing in total silence.

Kamui breathed a soft sigh of relief when the brothers were gone and lowered his invisibility barrier from around Kotaro’s battered form. Looking down at the Lycan, Kamui knew it would take a while for Kotaro’s wounds to heal… not just the wounds to his body, but the wounds that now lay deeply imbedded within his heart as well.

“Come on,” Kamui whispered, pulling one of Kotaro’s arms across his shoulders and helping him stand. “Hyakuhei has not gone far and I need to get you out of the open.” His eyes shimmered the color of rainbow dust as he tried to withhold his own tears. It was in vain for he could feel them sliding down his cheeks in hot trails.

So much had been lost in the span of only a couple of deadly hours… he now knew what darker than dark truly was. He would not lose Kotaro as well.

“I didn’t hate him that much,” Kotaro whispered, looking dejectedly toward where Toya’s body had lain just moments before. They had both loved Kyoko and she in turn held affection for both of them… never choosing one over the other when they were fighting… until tonight. The fates had only given him a few short hours… at least Toya had not known.

His hand curled into a fist and tightened. Toya would have been mad… but he would have been alive. “I would rather face his anger… not this… not this.” His voice faltered.

They had both tried to protect her but now Toya… Kotaro’s ice blue eyes swam with unshed tears, “I never hated him.”

“He knows you didn’t,” Kamui said leading Kotaro in the direction of the only safe place he knew… the wizard, Shinbe’s home. He needed to tell their friend of Toya’s fate… and Kyoko’s. Shinbe would somehow know what to do, he always knew.

“I’ll kill that bastard Hyakuhei,” Kotaro snarled as he pulled against Kamui’s restraint, his Lycan nature coming to the surface. “He killed her… he killed Toya because of her. When I find him, he’ll wish he’d been born human.”

As if the wind had been knocked out of him, Kotaro’s body shuddered. He knew Toya was a lot stronger than he had ever acknowledged but without Kyoko to protect… Toya had lost his will to fight. Hyakuhei had known that before the fight had ever started.

Toya’s grief had made him hotheaded… impatient. “If only he had waited… a few more moments. Kyou could have saved him.” Sadness hung on every syllable as Kotaro wiped angrily at the tears that silently left trails down his cheeks.

“I wanted to save them both… Kyoko,” the pain of his weakened body was too much as he closed his glowing ice blue eyes and gave in to the nothingness that would soothe the pain for a short while.

Kamui nodded as he lifted Kotaro’s limp body and carried him. “You have done enough. Rest for now.” He whispered. “It’s my turn to do the saving.”