Chapter 12 “Abduction” “I came here to help you Kyoko!” Tasuki exclaimed loudly. “I didn’t ask for your help.” They were almost nose-to-nose before Kyoko huffed and turned her back to him. Grandpa Hogo growled in frustration, “And you should have told me you received my letter Kyoko. If you had… I could have sent this idiot before you did something that stupid.” “I am NOT an idiot,” Tasuki shouted at the elder. Grandpa snorted, “If you’d had any intelligence at all, you would have tried a bit harder to find Kyoko, instead of staying home and sitting on your ass.” “You didn’t tell me he was trying to find me,” Kyoko ground out. “You said you didn’t want him here,” Grandpa retorted. “I may have said I didn’t want him here, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have called him,” Kyoko yelled. “Would you have called me?” Tasuki demanded. “It’s been months, I didn’t change my phone number so you could have called at any time.” “This isn’t about who called who,”
Chapter 13 “Tainted Games” Hyakuhei appeared in the alley below his apartment window ready to take his pent up anger out on the demonic army he knew was waiting. His feet hit the pavement and the shadows around him merged on his being and writhed, almost thrashing before settling into silence and allowing light to return to the darkness. His growl rumbled through the enclosed space causing the walls of the buildings to bend out and away from him, crumbling a bit at the sheer magnitude of his power. Thin, threadlike shadows pulled away from the walls sounding like millions of snakes slithering through leafy underbrush. The shadows thickened, revealing Tadamichi’s followers. Hyakuhei almost smirked… it appeared his brother had hit every nearby gym for his current recruitments. Had Tadamichi done so for just this occasion? ‘I’m touched,’ Hyakuhei thought sarcastically to himself, his dark humor almost making him smile again. The half-breeds circled him and Hyakuhei
Chapter 14 “Abandoned” Amni rushed through the tunnels, ignoring the cursing and pummeling on his back, courtesy of Tama. He could hear hissing as he ran and the unmistakable sound of shrieking in front of him. His irises faded into crimson red and he paused long enough to toss Tama in the air, causing the boy to scream bloody murder. Amni dispatched the vampire in front of him and caught Tama as he came back down. The blonde traced to the elevator and pressed the button that would bring it from the hotel above them. He placed Tama on his feet and partially behind him. Tama had stopped fighting and his eyes were wide with fright as he stared into the pitch-black… blackness that was reaching for them, he could feel it. He felt Amni moving around, digging in the pockets of his jacket and reached out, clenching the back of the material with his hands. He could hear the hum of the elevator behind him and wanted to scream at it to hurry up. Amni made a noise that sounded di
Chapter 15 “Covered in Pain” Tasuki cursed the blond vampire for abandoning him as he fought off the rest of the creatures that stood in his way. Finally growling in frustration, he’d created a barrier, blocking off any other attacks keeping him from his destination. He took a step back when three of the bloodsuckers flew up against the barrier and disintegrated on impact, splashing wetly to the ground. Whirling around, Tasuki ran toward the entrance Amni had disappeared into. He slid to a stop and stood frozen in the doorway at the vision before him. Amni lay in a pool of blood less than a foot away from a large cage where he saw Kyoko in the arms of the same vampire that had caused her so much trouble already… Hyakuhei. Tasuki’s hold on the staff tightened and another barrier appeared around him, masking his aura so he wouldn’t yet be detected. The dark hair of his bangs hung low over his eyes, but the amethyst glow was so bright that it shown through the shadows.
Chapter 16 “Darkest Before the Dawn” Amni pushed his way into the club past the bouncers who were immediately concerned about Kyoko. It was a good thing the bar was closed since dawn was approaching but that left him and his precious bundle the center of attention. “She’s fine, she just needs rest,” Amni told them. When they moved to help, he actually snarled at them, barely stopping himself from letting his fangs show. He knew they cared for Kyoko but he’d be damned if he let anyone else touch her. She’d been through too much tonight to let something happen to her now. The echo of Amni’s growl sent a wave of power through the room as he wiped the memory of every human in the bar and swept past them quicker than their human eyes could track. He made it upstairs to his apartment, hearing the pitiful cries coming from behind Yohji’s door as he passed. Feeling a bit angry at the world, Amni stopped and kicked the door open, letting his vampiric traits appear at the sam
Chapter 17 “Shattered” Amni shifted and opened his eyes in confusion. He frowned when he realized that he was now lying alone in the coffin and his senses warned him it was not yet night. He’d only woken a couple times during daylight hours in the past, but the memories had only groggy undertones. He was wide awake now as if sleep no longer had any hold on him and he wondered if this was yet another power of a master… a true demon. Lifting the lid, he sat up and stepped down to the floor. Lifting the panel, Amni hissed realizing the ribbed blinds of normal windows were the only protection on his window. Seeing the small streaks of light cast across his floor, he wondered at their dullness. Had he only imagined the brightness of the sun from so long ago? Reaching his hand out very slowly, he placed it within the strands of light in morbid curiosity, his lips parted when the pain did not immediately come. As he held it there, he could see the color of his skin start to chan
Chapter 18 “The Guardians” Kyoko felt reality clawing its way toward her but she turned her back on it wanting to stay where it was safe. She was safe, warm and protected from the violent soap opera her life had become. “But it’s not safe here… it’s only an illusion.” Kyoko kept her eyes closed as she heard Toya’s voice coming from somewhere on the inside of her. “You need to wake up and face reality.” “But if I stay here… you’ll protect me… right?” Kyoko whispered then sighed as she felt his arms come around her, lifting her against him. She snuggled into him, feeling for the first time in so long like she was finally home. “It’s not that easy love.” Toya whispered close to her ear then dipped forward to caress her cheek with his. “The only way I can keep you is for you to die… and I don’t want you to die.” “Toya?” She whimpered as she felt him slide from her. As she turned to reach for him, someone new took her hand and she was pulled against a firm chest that was
Chapter 19 “Awakening” Deep beneath the rubble of the Grand Hotel, a pair of blood red eyes opened then closed again. A myriad of images invaded his conscious mind threatening to overpower him. As he lay in their blood, Tadamichi’s and Hyakuhei’s memories and emotions slammed into him and his body pulsed with fluorescent blue light. Had he been mortal, his mind would have shattered. He sat up on the flat surface he was laying on and looked around. He could still see the glow where Tadamichi and Hyakuhei’s bodies had been on either side of him but as he watched, the glow faded leaving behind nothing but the cold floor. His eyes adjusted to the pitch black and focused on the five statues perfectly safe from the destruction around him. Their counterparts continued to watch through the orb resting in the maiden’s hands on the other side of the time portal. “Damn… he lived through it,” Toya muttered grudgingly. “Toya, Kyoko made her choice,” Kamui reminded him. “That’s o
Chapter 19 “Awakening” Deep beneath the rubble of the Grand Hotel, a pair of blood red eyes opened then closed again. A myriad of images invaded his conscious mind threatening to overpower him. As he lay in their blood, Tadamichi’s and Hyakuhei’s memories and emotions slammed into him and his body pulsed with fluorescent blue light. Had he been mortal, his mind would have shattered. He sat up on the flat surface he was laying on and looked around. He could still see the glow where Tadamichi and Hyakuhei’s bodies had been on either side of him but as he watched, the glow faded leaving behind nothing but the cold floor. His eyes adjusted to the pitch black and focused on the five statues perfectly safe from the destruction around him. Their counterparts continued to watch through the orb resting in the maiden’s hands on the other side of the time portal. “Damn… he lived through it,” Toya muttered grudgingly. “Toya, Kyoko made her choice,” Kamui reminded him. “That’s o
Chapter 18 “The Guardians” Kyoko felt reality clawing its way toward her but she turned her back on it wanting to stay where it was safe. She was safe, warm and protected from the violent soap opera her life had become. “But it’s not safe here… it’s only an illusion.” Kyoko kept her eyes closed as she heard Toya’s voice coming from somewhere on the inside of her. “You need to wake up and face reality.” “But if I stay here… you’ll protect me… right?” Kyoko whispered then sighed as she felt his arms come around her, lifting her against him. She snuggled into him, feeling for the first time in so long like she was finally home. “It’s not that easy love.” Toya whispered close to her ear then dipped forward to caress her cheek with his. “The only way I can keep you is for you to die… and I don’t want you to die.” “Toya?” She whimpered as she felt him slide from her. As she turned to reach for him, someone new took her hand and she was pulled against a firm chest that was
Chapter 17 “Shattered” Amni shifted and opened his eyes in confusion. He frowned when he realized that he was now lying alone in the coffin and his senses warned him it was not yet night. He’d only woken a couple times during daylight hours in the past, but the memories had only groggy undertones. He was wide awake now as if sleep no longer had any hold on him and he wondered if this was yet another power of a master… a true demon. Lifting the lid, he sat up and stepped down to the floor. Lifting the panel, Amni hissed realizing the ribbed blinds of normal windows were the only protection on his window. Seeing the small streaks of light cast across his floor, he wondered at their dullness. Had he only imagined the brightness of the sun from so long ago? Reaching his hand out very slowly, he placed it within the strands of light in morbid curiosity, his lips parted when the pain did not immediately come. As he held it there, he could see the color of his skin start to chan
Chapter 16 “Darkest Before the Dawn” Amni pushed his way into the club past the bouncers who were immediately concerned about Kyoko. It was a good thing the bar was closed since dawn was approaching but that left him and his precious bundle the center of attention. “She’s fine, she just needs rest,” Amni told them. When they moved to help, he actually snarled at them, barely stopping himself from letting his fangs show. He knew they cared for Kyoko but he’d be damned if he let anyone else touch her. She’d been through too much tonight to let something happen to her now. The echo of Amni’s growl sent a wave of power through the room as he wiped the memory of every human in the bar and swept past them quicker than their human eyes could track. He made it upstairs to his apartment, hearing the pitiful cries coming from behind Yohji’s door as he passed. Feeling a bit angry at the world, Amni stopped and kicked the door open, letting his vampiric traits appear at the sam
Chapter 15 “Covered in Pain” Tasuki cursed the blond vampire for abandoning him as he fought off the rest of the creatures that stood in his way. Finally growling in frustration, he’d created a barrier, blocking off any other attacks keeping him from his destination. He took a step back when three of the bloodsuckers flew up against the barrier and disintegrated on impact, splashing wetly to the ground. Whirling around, Tasuki ran toward the entrance Amni had disappeared into. He slid to a stop and stood frozen in the doorway at the vision before him. Amni lay in a pool of blood less than a foot away from a large cage where he saw Kyoko in the arms of the same vampire that had caused her so much trouble already… Hyakuhei. Tasuki’s hold on the staff tightened and another barrier appeared around him, masking his aura so he wouldn’t yet be detected. The dark hair of his bangs hung low over his eyes, but the amethyst glow was so bright that it shown through the shadows.
Chapter 14 “Abandoned” Amni rushed through the tunnels, ignoring the cursing and pummeling on his back, courtesy of Tama. He could hear hissing as he ran and the unmistakable sound of shrieking in front of him. His irises faded into crimson red and he paused long enough to toss Tama in the air, causing the boy to scream bloody murder. Amni dispatched the vampire in front of him and caught Tama as he came back down. The blonde traced to the elevator and pressed the button that would bring it from the hotel above them. He placed Tama on his feet and partially behind him. Tama had stopped fighting and his eyes were wide with fright as he stared into the pitch-black… blackness that was reaching for them, he could feel it. He felt Amni moving around, digging in the pockets of his jacket and reached out, clenching the back of the material with his hands. He could hear the hum of the elevator behind him and wanted to scream at it to hurry up. Amni made a noise that sounded di
Chapter 13 “Tainted Games” Hyakuhei appeared in the alley below his apartment window ready to take his pent up anger out on the demonic army he knew was waiting. His feet hit the pavement and the shadows around him merged on his being and writhed, almost thrashing before settling into silence and allowing light to return to the darkness. His growl rumbled through the enclosed space causing the walls of the buildings to bend out and away from him, crumbling a bit at the sheer magnitude of his power. Thin, threadlike shadows pulled away from the walls sounding like millions of snakes slithering through leafy underbrush. The shadows thickened, revealing Tadamichi’s followers. Hyakuhei almost smirked… it appeared his brother had hit every nearby gym for his current recruitments. Had Tadamichi done so for just this occasion? ‘I’m touched,’ Hyakuhei thought sarcastically to himself, his dark humor almost making him smile again. The half-breeds circled him and Hyakuhei
Chapter 12 “Abduction” “I came here to help you Kyoko!” Tasuki exclaimed loudly. “I didn’t ask for your help.” They were almost nose-to-nose before Kyoko huffed and turned her back to him. Grandpa Hogo growled in frustration, “And you should have told me you received my letter Kyoko. If you had… I could have sent this idiot before you did something that stupid.” “I am NOT an idiot,” Tasuki shouted at the elder. Grandpa snorted, “If you’d had any intelligence at all, you would have tried a bit harder to find Kyoko, instead of staying home and sitting on your ass.” “You didn’t tell me he was trying to find me,” Kyoko ground out. “You said you didn’t want him here,” Grandpa retorted. “I may have said I didn’t want him here, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have called him,” Kyoko yelled. “Would you have called me?” Tasuki demanded. “It’s been months, I didn’t change my phone number so you could have called at any time.” “This isn’t about who called who,”
Chapter 11 “Uninvited” Grandpa Hogo parked the old beat up truck behind the club. He looked at the address he’d scribbled in his address book then looked out the windshield at the apartments above the building. “This is the place,” Grandpa said to Tama. Tama grinned, “Cool, Kyoko actually lives upstairs from a dance club? That is so awesome.” “Don’t you go getting any ideas young man,” Grandpa scolded. “You’re to stay out of that club while we’re here.” “Awe, come on Grandpa,” Tama whined. “I said no! You don’t know what kind of weirdos hang out here.” He crossed his arms in front of him as if saying the topic is closed. “Your kind probably,” Tama exclaimed before jumping out of the truck faster than he ever had in his life to avoid his grandfather’s Chokehold of Doom. “I’ll show you my kind, you little runt,” Grandpa Hogo grumbled as he got out of the truck. Tama ran his fingers through his dark auburn hair before adjusting his jeans and tee shirt. He n