Home / Lahat / Cursed Hearts / Chapter 1 “Sacrifice”

Share

Cursed Hearts
Cursed Hearts
Author: Amy Blankenship

Chapter 1 “Sacrifice”

Author: Amy Blankenship
last update Huling Na-update: 2024-10-29 19:42:56
Cursed Hearts

The Guardian Heart Crystal Series Book 8

Amy Blankenship

Copyright © 2010 Amy Blankenship

English Edition Published by Amy Blankenship

Second Edition Published by TekTime

All rights reserved.

Chapter 1 “Sacrifice”

The guardian brothers gathered around the remains of the maiden statue. Even wounded and bloody, they were still a sight to behold. Their translucent wings spanned out behind them like the angels of legend, but the deadly weapons they’d just used to beat back the rain of demons told of their true nature. The guardians were more dangerous and lethal than the demons could ever hope to be.

They are the protectors of The Heart of Time… the time portal that is the link between the demon world and all the human ones. Time and space separate the worlds so no one can cross without the use of the sacred portal. The guardians had never expected to turn their power against what they’d been born to protect.

The winds of change had started three years ago when the maiden statue suddenly began to glow, revealing the fact that the human priestess had been reborn on the other side of The Heart of Time. Hyakuhei, once the most powerful guardian, now lord of the demons, had attacked, sending his demonic minions into a frenzy as they tried to get to the portal… trying to get to the priestess on the other side.

The guardians knew why Hyakuhei had attacked with such passionate fury, but the dark guardian’s reason didn’t matter… they couldn’t allow it. Their intense war raged for three long years, never stopping, weakening both sides of the conflict… until today. Hyakuhei had released the most cunning of the demons, banding them together with the weaker ones to fight with a vengeance.

Sending the army of evil to overrun the guardians in sheer number, Hyakuhei had spread his dark shadowy wings, calling forth his ultimate power to destabilize the barrier and escape into the human realm. It’d happened so fast that the guardians didn’t even know how many demons had slipped through the barrier with him and the only way to stop more from following had been to destroy The Heart of Time.

Now the guardians were at a crossroads. Hyakuhei and the demons would be free to stalk the priestess within the human realm, because with the time portal destroyed… the guardians couldn’t reach her.

“We shouldn’t have done that,” Toya growled, glaring at the pile of rubble from where he knelt on the ground. Loss of blood had sapped his energy but not his anger. He’d sent all the power he could through the time portal an instant behind Hyakuhei. He only hoped he had wounded the demon lord in the process. “Hyakuhei will hunt her!”

“She’s just a baby. Three years old and powerless against them.” The sadness in Kamui's voice was thick as his eyes glittered with tears. He tried to wipe the evidence away but only succeeded in leaving a smear of blood across his cheek. “What if the demons find her before he does?”

“She won’t stand a chance against them.” Kotaro closed his ice blue eyes in denial. “She doesn’t have anyone there that can protect her from demons… or from Hyakuhei.”

Shinbe’s amethyst wings vanished as he wrapped his arm around the gash across his ribs. He would heal, but it would do no good. “We may have stopped the rest of the demons from entering her world… but in truth, we have lost it all if he claims her.”

Kyou was the only one still standing at his full height, but only because he chose to ignore his own wounds in light of the dilemma that they were now facing. “It is not over.” His voice was devoid of the anguish that plagued his brothers.

“What are you talking about?” Toya hissed as he stumbled to his feet. “The time portal’s destroyed. We can’t save her.” His silver wings vanished in a flurry of feathers, making way for his anger.

“There is a way… but the price is high,” Kyou informed them.

“There is no price too high,” Kamui spoke what the others were thinking. His hands were now fisted at his sides and his eyes determined.

Kyou’s long silver hair fluttered in the breeze as he turned his golden eyes to lock them with Kamui's. “Would you die for her?”

“If it would save her and her world,” was Kamui's instant reply as he took a step forward. “Then it would be but a small sacrifice.”

“Just tell us what we have to do,” Toya demanded. “Our lives already belong to her… If it takes blood then we will bleed.”

Kyou looked from one guardian to the next seeing they were all in agreement. “If we die in this realm, then we will appear in hers… but there is a cost for such an act. Our powers as guardians will be cut in half, and our wings are the price of payment because they will be the power that carries us across time and space.”

“Will we be together?” Shinbe had the forethought to ask.

“We are brothers and that will never change. We will not be reborn… but slip through the veil of time as we are. To the mortals, we will appear only around the ages of seventeen to nineteen, but our immortality will keep us from aging. The power of the descent will give us a life as if we have always been there among them… near her. The priestess is innocent in the realm of humans… she will have no power until she comes of age.”

Shinbe tightened his grip on his staff as he looked out at the bloody battlefield that surrounded them. “We’ve been attacked by powerful demons many times, and yet we live. Just how does a guardian go about getting himself killed?”

The faintest hint of a smile possessed Kyou’s lips as he answered. “It takes a guardian to kill a guardian.”

“If we are going to do this, then we might as well make it a test of strength,” Kotaro insisted trying to push away the horror of killing one's brother.

Shinbe nodded, understanding what Kotaro was trying to do. “We have always wondered who among us is the strongest.”

Kamui's glittering eyes turned black and the ebony color quickly spread out across his wings as if eating the stardust that glittered there in multi-hued flecks. The instant Kamui came into his true power; it became a fight to the death.

Within moments, Toya was the last one standing. He dropped to his knees from the pain of what he’d just done, and what he yet had to do. No one had thought about the truest sacrifice that was to be made.

“To be with you,” his voice was only a whisper as he kept the rest of his thoughts deep within him. Taking his twin daggers in a tight grip, he plunged them into his own heart. The last of his power activated the sacred daggers as the ice quickly spread out from his heart… followed by the flames.

Kaugnay na kabanata

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 2 “A Voice from the Past”

    Chapter 2 “A Voice from the Past”   15 years later… Kyoko paused in front of the office door not wanting to go in. She’d been at the all girls’ boarding school as far back as she could remember and being called to Mrs. Crap’s office had never been a good thing. It gave the words ‘Oh Crap’ a new meaning. “Come in Hogo.” Even muted from the other room, the female voice seemed harsh and unyielding, the kind that basically grated on people’s nerves. Kyoko flinched wondering how the hell the old lady even knew she was standing there. She took a second to glance around her, looking for the secret spy camera she had never found then shrugged and opened the door. Seeing that the head mistress was not alone in the office, Kyoko shifted from one foot to the other wondering what she’d done to get in trouble this time. Since the school was in the middle of nowhere and there were no males allowed on the premises, she’d never been in the same room with the opposite sex and instantl

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 3 “Hormones Are Us High School”

    Chapter 3 “Hormones Are Us High School”   Kyoko had been frustrated all morning trying to figure out what to wear. It wasn’t like she had much of a selection since she had worn the same thing every day at the boarding school. Luckily she found a slice of color to go with her boring outfit. One of the girls had given her a shirt last year for Christmas. It was emerald green, short, and frilly. She had always loved it but had never had a chance to wear it. Now that she had it on with one of her black school skirts, she felt almost excited about the prospect of going shopping after school and replacing her wardrobe. Mr. Sennin had given her the bankcard along with her account information yesterday on the plane. Kyoko had almost screamed out loud when he’d told her the balance in the account. She was glad she didn’t when he’d added the fact that the card was only from the recreational account. Her true holdings were in a completely different account. Now she was faced with h

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 4 “Bad Boys and Romeo”

    Chapter 4 “Bad Boys and Romeo”   Lunch was next and when Tasuki got in the cafeteria line, Kyoko glanced out the large glass windows and started toward the outside eating area. Seeing tables scattered everywhere on the concrete, she looked past them and notice a of couple picnic tables under beautiful shade trees. Needing a few minutes of solace to calm down from all the morning's excitement, she picked the biggest tree and sat down at the base of it, facing away from the school. Hyakuhei leaned against the tree beside Kyoko, though he knew it was a moot point to do so. His eyes were dark, without any emotion at all and his lips held no hint of his mood. He was already tired of being invisible to her but he knew he had to bide his time. How could he comfort someone that didn’t even know he was there? Reaching into the backpack, Kyoko pulled out the small soft cooler that she’d stuffed full of grapes and relaxed against the smooth bark of the tree. Hearing a motorcycle cl

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 5 “Phantom of the Opera”

    Chapter 5 “Phantom of the Opera”   Toya heard the locks click on the surrounding doors and could feel his brothers closing in at a fast pace. When the room lit up with shimmering light, his gaze searched for Kamui recognizing that it was his magic illuminating the room. Seeing all four of the brothers headed toward him, his senses went on full alert. “Any idea what kind of demon it is?” He backed up in line with his brothers when the heavy stage curtains fell from the ropes that held them up, barely missing him. “I’m guessing it wants to be the phantom of the opera when it grows up,” Shinbe stated then they heard a clicking noise that sounded like claws tap-dancing across hardwood. It moved so fast all they saw was a streak of darkness. “Come out, come out, where ever you are,” Kotaro called making his voice echo softly in the theater. “Nice touch,” Kyou complimented him with a raise of his eyebrow. “Now can we please be grownups and kill this thing?” Toya nodded t

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 6 “What Demons Fear”

    Chapter 6 “What Demons Fear”   Kyoko had just finished putting away her new clothes when the doorbell echoed making her jump. Rushing downstairs, she looked through the peephole and saw a delivery guy holding five large boxes of pizza. Opening the door, she frowned knowing it was a mistake. Before she could say anything, the guy held a hand up to stop her. “I know you didn’t order the pizza because the family across the street ordered it for you. It’s a welcome to the neighborhood gift.” He smiled and handed her the boxes. “And they already paid for the pizzas and left me a huge tip.” He nodded and headed back for his car. Kyoko smiled nervously then looked across the street. Seeing long silver hair flashing in the porch light she knew that could only be Kyou. All the guys from school were out on the porch looking across the street at her. Kyoko’s lips curved into a real smile. She waved at them then motioned for them to come over. “And we have our invite,” Shinbe nearly

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 7 “Awakening”

    Chapter 7 “Awakening”   It was closing in on one o’clock in the morning and Kyoko felt like her brain had been fried. They were now in the living room, spread out on the sectional and recliners. Toya was still beside her, letting her lean against him as they all talked. She had asked so many questions that she’d started repeating them. The guardians now knew everything about her life, but it was still a trip to realize they knew more about her than she did. “If I’m the priestess of this time portal, then where are my powers?” Kyoko frowned knowing she hadn’t asked this one yet. She glanced at Kamui who had shown her some of his gentler powers. He’d called them parlor tricks but she was still amazed. “It would’ve been nice if I could have used them to save my family.” “You were only three years old. If your grandfather hadn’t hidden you away…” Kamui refused to voice it out loud. “Your powers would have been dormant without us here.” “What do you mean without you here?” Ky

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 8 “Enigma”

    Chapter 8 “Enigma”   It was after two in the morning and Kyoko finally stood in the heat of the shower. She was glad she’d talked the guardians into letting her stay in her own house even though she figured she lost the battle to stay alone. She’d left the brothers downstairs with a mountain of blankets. After seeing the demons that attacked, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be completely alone anyway. Demons… real demons… things like that weren’t supposed to be true. She had no choice but to believe everything that they’d told her now. So many secrets she would have to keep, but really… who would believe her anyway? Her mind drifted from one guardian to the other. Kamui had seemed the most normal out of the five brothers. But after seeing him in battle, it was obvious he was just as dangerous as the others. Toya… he was the biggest enigma because she was drawn to him, even when the others were in the same room. He also seemed the most dangerous and possessive… but something t

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 9 “Seduction”

    Chapter 9 “Seduction”   Kyoko felt like she was being rocked and she blinked trying to focus. “Tasuki? Why are you carrying me?” She frowned as she wrapped her arm around him for leverage so she could look around. “Whose house is this?” She was suddenly awake and feeling the adrenalin rush again. Blowing her bangs out of her eyes, Kyoko grinned feeling a little high… ‘Sure, who needs sleep?’ Tasuki placed her on his sofa then took a seat on the coffee table facing her. “This is my house… parents are gone on an extended second honeymoon and probably won’t be back for a month… I was carrying you because you were so tired you wouldn’t even wake up enough to walk in here.” He reached down and pulled her shoes off as he added, “No… I don’t think you’re going to school today because it’s a long walk and in your condition, you won’t make it a block.” He tossed her shoes over his shoulder not caring where they landed. “Now, I’ve answered all of the questions you asked… or were gonn

Pinakabagong kabanata

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 19 “Ties That Bind”

    Chapter 19 “Ties That Bind”   Tama ran up the stairs and banged on the door of the master bedroom. “Hurry up or we’re gonna be late!” The door flew open revealing Tasuki standing there with his hair looking like he’d stuck his finger in a light socket and wearing a towel. It wouldn’t have been so bad if he didn’t have the words ‘bad boy’ written on his chest in bright red lipstick. “What the hell do you want?” Tasuki demanded. Tama covered his eyes with his hands. “Oh my god! Get that stuff off and put something decent on please, there are virgin eyes here.” “I’m having a moment with your sister,” Tasuki exclaimed with a wicked smirk. Tama glared, “Listen here you perverted jerk, you promised we were going to that Halloween party and I want to go. I’ve never been to one and you are not going to deprive me of the finer aspects of being a teenager.” Since her grandfather had hidden her then the same applied for Tama. To date, Tama was no longer one of the unsolved

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 18 “The Demons Between Us”

    Chapter 18 “The Demons Between Us”   Hyakuhei couldn’t help his anger when Kyoko tried to push him away. Rejection? She was rejecting him after all that he had done just to be with her? He paid no heed to the small fists that were hitting his chest and shoulders. Instead, he tightened his hold possessively. All the emotions of the past mingled with the years of separation to center on the fact that he once again held her within his arms… tasting her. He’d fought so long and so hard… if he had to fight her… then he would. Hearing the echoes of whimpers and smelling the scent of tears, Hyakuhei forced his way into her mind looking for a way to erase her fears. Kyoko jerked her head to the side barely having time to scream the word “STOP” before Hyakuhei reclaimed her lips with a low growl of agitation. Damn him. She needed a moment to think. A moment to understand all the damage they’d done in both worlds. She wasn’t placing the blame only on him. This was just as much her fa

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 17 “Black Winged Angel”

    Chapter 17 “Black Winged Angel”   Hyakuhei growled feeling the power push against him. It was part of the power he’d given her in the very beginning. That power was not meant to be used against him, but a way to keep them together and her safe. Jealousy flared once again in his veins knowing the amethyst guardian was still deep inside her and needed to be purged. “Kyoko,” He spoke her name with a low, predatory sound to his voice, his tone dangerously full of warning. “I am the only man that belongs inside of you!” He reached to recapture her, slashing his lips angrily across hers, his kiss punishing in power and dominance, a reprimand in passion for depriving him of her when she knew he couldn’t bear it. Inhaling her cry, he could feel Shinbe’s power leaving her and slamming into him with breathtaking brutality. Rage surged through him, turning his eyes into glistening black voids. The idea of another man touching that precious skin, kissing her sweet, delicious lips, was

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 16 “Breaking Point”

    Chapter 16 “Breaking Point”   Shinbe lifted himself above Kyoko as she clung to him. He couldn’t hear Tama’s voice any more, but he didn’t care. He had what he’d always wanted and knowing he wouldn’t be able to keep her would be the death of him. Even now he could feel them coming for him… Hyakuhei and his demons. Lowering his lips to the shell of her ear, Shinbe whispered the riddle he would leave her with, “You have already chosen your true hero Kyoko. At first I thought he was a mere human but I was wrong. Death will not separate us this time… because we share the same amethyst soul… him and I. It’s time to stop being jealous of myself. We both love you.” Thrusting her away from him, Shinbe turned in midair just as Hyakuhei teleported. There hadn’t even been time to fight. As Hyakuhei manifested into flesh, his hand was already inside Shinbe’s chest squeezing his heart painfully. Kyoko screamed as Hyakuhei locked eyes on her over Shinbe’s shoulder. He was so angry and

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 15 “Disturbing Behavior”

    Chapter 15 “Disturbing Behavior”   Kotaro stepped back into the shadows as he watched Tama run from the mouth of the cave. He’d felt the demonic vibes from a distance but they had quickly quieted. He turned his gaze from Tama’s retreating form wondering if this was where Hyakuhei had been hiding all along. It was only a couple of miles behind Kyoko’s house… right here on the land that she now owned. He flattened his back against the rock as he closed his eyes and silently called to Kyou. He would have no way of knowing if his brother heard him, but Kyou had never let him down before. If Hyakuhei was inside the cave… then he could not fight him alone and win. Hyakuhei raised his ebony eyes to the ceiling of the underground sanctuary. He was no longer alone. In an instant he was standing at his full height in front of Kotaro, watching the guardian’s eyes flash open as his presence was felt. Before Kotaro could lunge at him, Hyakuhei's hand snaked out, wrapping tightly around

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 14 “Caught in the Middle”

    Chapter 14 “Caught in the Middle”   Tama’s confusion was still riding him as the dream came. He was standing out by the pool behind the house where he and Kyoko had been born. The crystal blue water had clouds of crimson floating within it and it was stretching out like creepy fingers leading a trail right to where he stood at the edge of the pool. He was about to back away from the sight when he heard a gasp coming from the direction of the sliding glass doors. His lips parted as he glanced over to see Kyoko staring at him in horror. Her emerald eyes lowered to his hands as she shook her head and slowly started backing up as if she was frightened of him. “No… not you. Please… not you,” she whispered as her eyes stayed riveted on his hands. “I thought you loved me… my brother!” her voice raised with the last words and the sound of her screaming sobs started. Tama felt the cold chills when he watched her fall to her knees. He glanced down at his hands seeing fresh blood s

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 13 “Jealous Hearts”

    Chapter 13 “Jealous Hearts”   Tama sat in a chair beside Kyoko’s bed. Nothing was funny to him anymore as he rubbed his hands over his arms. The cold chills kept sneaking their way back across his flesh every time he remembered the sound of Kyoko’s screams. They had been heartbreaking, wrenching sobs… the kind he had never heard before. He hadn’t wanted to ever hear Kyoko make such a sound. His lips thinned, knowing Hyakuhei had left them for now. Tama had felt his aura vanish the moment Kyoko had started screaming. Killing Toya had not been part of the plan, so what had happened? They were supposed to let Kyoko regain her powers, and then take her away from the guardians. If the guardians were to attack them… then the demons would handle it… right? That had always been the plan. Tama stood up and walked over to Kyoko’s bedroom window, looking down at the three guardians who stood out by the pool. He watched as Shinbe cast a spell on the water, and then Kyou kneeled, reachi

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 12 “Sibling Rivalry”

    Chapter 12 “Sibling Rivalry”   Kamui entered the dining room by himself because Tasuki had decided it was a good time to walk very slowly and look over his shoulder a hundred times as if it would make a difference. He’d just left the brokenhearted houseguest alone knowing there were more important things than babysitting a depressed demi-guardian. He also noted that Toya could sense Kyoko wasn’t with him by the way he refused to look up from the plate that he hadn’t taken a single bite of since he’d left for Kyoko’s house. One depressed demi-guardian, and one depressed powerful-as-hell guardian… Kamui didn’t have to guess at which one truly needed babysitting. He would bet the house on Toya any day. Kamui sighed knowing he was only stalling. “Before I say anything, you have to still yourselves and remain in this room… no running across the road.” This had several sets of eyebrows disappearing beneath bangs. So far so good. “Tama has come home.” There, he’d said it. Now what

  • Cursed Hearts   Chapter 11 “Uninvited”

    Chapter 11 “Uninvited”   “You’re not Superman,” Shinbe informed their reluctant houseguest as the guardians returned home. “Okay Captain Obvious, I may not be anything special when I’m standing next to one of you guys,” Tasuki argued. “But for a human I am. I could’ve stayed at my house instead of being kidnapped into the Brady Bunch.” He sulked, not liking the fact that he didn’t know where Toya had taken Kyoko. “You’re demon bait now and you only have yourself to thank for that. And guess what… You DON’T get to play the martyr.” Shinbe opened the door and shoved him inside. “Welcome to your new home, chew toy.” The others tried to ignore their new member as they took turns glancing up the stairs and at each other. They could feel the barrier and were curious about it. Barriers had not been one of Toya’s strong points since coming to this world and the one they were feeling coming from Toya’s room was very powerful. Sure… he’d always been able to break barriers, but not

DMCA.com Protection Status