Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Crimson Shadows ❯ Favor Returned ( Chapter 11 )

Rianna awoke in the night to the sound of someone knocking on the door. She stood up and walked over to the door. She opened it but saw no one. She glanced down at the floor and noticed a package that was addressed to her given name. She picked it up and carried it inside. She unwrapped the package and stared at the clothes that lay in the wrapping. They were exactly the kind of clothes that she had wanted. She picked up a shirt and then glanced at the door. The door was unlocked?? But how could that be? She had tried the lock numerous times but always found it solidly bolted. Why was the lock unlocked now? She pulled on the shirt over her undergarments and picked up a pair of pants. She slipped them on and pulled the sword that lay hidden underneath her bed out and picked it up. She swung it to test the weight and strapped the sheath around her waist. She sheathed the sword and picked up a hair ribbon that lay in the wrapping paper of her package. She tied her hair back into a ponytail, then tried the door again. It was still unlocked.

She opened the door and walked out...right into a palace guard that had obviously been waiting for her. She opened her mouth to cry out in terror and the guard laid a finger on his lips and she fell silent. He took her hand and led her down the darkened hall. He stopped at a corner and pulled on a torch that adorned the wall. A secret passageway opened up and he motioned for her to enter.

"What are you doing?" she whispered and he smiled.

"I said I would return the favor, didn't I?" he asked and she stared at him with her mouth wide open.

"But I thought that you wanted...."

"You seriously thought that? You're extremely beautiful but your heart lies elsewhere. I can see it in your eyes. I'm not below a gentleman to not honor that desire to be with the one you truly care for."

"Thank you. Do you know what my father wants me for? Why am I here? Why has he searched so long and hard for me?"

"I'll tell you as much as I can but please, enter this passageway. This is the only way I can get you out of the palace unseen."

Rianna entered the passageway with the palace guard behind her. She wasn't sure whether or not she could trust him but in her current predicament, she had no choice. He brushed past her, politely excusing himself and led her down to a small room. He pointed to a stool and she sat down.

"Now, King Rynna has heard myths of gaining incredible strength from halfbreeds. Since such a pairing is so rare, stories have come from that that not only, redheaded children bring about bad luck but incredible strength and immortality. That was the king's main goal when he impregnated your mother. She feared for her and your life and she stole away in the night, afraid that the king's men would capture and kill her. They did, eventually but by then, you were safe and sound," the palace guard said and Rianna stared at him in disbelief.

"So the only thing he wanted me for was to put me to death? Spurned by my own father. Constantly damned because of what I am. Why?" she asked and began to cry.

"Please, keep calm Miss Lenora..."

"Call me Rianna. I accept that as my given name, not Lenora. But what's going to happen when they find I'm missing?"

"You have a weapon, don't you?"

"Did you do that as well?"

"While I was inspecting you room, I placed it outside. No one ever looks out there. I know the youkai killer cares a lot about you, otherwise he would not fight so hard to get to you."

"He...he is here?"

"He will be."