InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In the Shadow of Destiny ❯ Chapter IX ( Chapter 9 )

 

 

In the Shadow of Destiny

By

Firebird Phoenix

Chapter IX

 

 

 

Kagome felt InuYasha's lips light brush hers, her senses went wild she wanted to taste his lips on hers, feel his warmth next to her. She wanted to seal their feelings for each-other with a simple kiss. But just as InuYasha was about kiss Kagome and show his love for her, Kagome's heart sank and pure fear swelled in her chest, she looked up into the night's sky terrified and heard the cry of Dragon's. Ten green-Dragon's closed in, Kagome knew the riders, and she'd seen them in her visions. They were the Huntsmen the best soldiers in Kane's army, even the Drakmen were no comparison however fearsome the Drakmen were they were of a one tracked mind, they would track and return unharmed, but the Huntsmen were cruel, they brutally beat any escaped prisoner or slave just for the fun of it before returning him to Kane. Kagome tried to force a change to escape but an intense burning pain in her chest forced her to her knees, she wheezed painfully, every breath burned like fire. InuYasha helped her up she clung onto his Kimono for balance, breathing heavily she looked up at InuYasha, he held her protectively even though he couldn't do anything he was going to be damned if he didn't try. He moved away from Kagome and stood between her and the Huntsmen.

 

“Run...” Kagome choked out, InuYasha looked at her angry, if he ran now he would be a coward in front of his mate.

 

“I won't run from these bastards.” Barked InuYasha

 

“If we're both captured whose going to rescue me?” asked Kagome, InuYasha growled, he knew she was right He couldn't lay a hand on them Kagome was sure to be captured. InuYasha reached for Kagome when six arrows were shot at his and Kagome's feet, Kagome stumbled back trying to move out of the way, panicking she broke into a run. InuYasha tried to follow her but a Dragon swooped down blocking his path to her. Finn whirled his trusty boa above his head, it rapped around Kagome's legs crashing her into the ground. Kagome looked back Finn had landed his dragon it snarled and snapped its powerful jaws at InuYasha forcing him back, Finn arrogantly strolled toward her, none of the Huntsmen weren't taking any interest in InuYasha.

 

“I order you to run away!” Shouted Kagome, InuYasha snarled and turned on his heels and ran, forced to abandon the woman he loved. Kagome had given him a direct order he couldn't disobey it or suffer automatic punishment by his Mark of Subjugation.

 

“I will save you Kagome, I swear it.” Pledged InuYasha as he disappeared into the night; Kagome sighed with relief and smiled, she knew InuYasha would stop at nothing until he rescued her be it hell or high water. Kagome could hear Finn chuckling coldly above her, he kicked Kagome's side rolling her onto her stomach before he knelt down to bind her hands behind her back, and he grabbed a handful of Kagome's hair forcing her left eyes to stare at him.

 

“You have more trouble then your worth wench, I'm going to enjoy teaching you a lesson.” Kagome spat on him, Finn wiped the saliva from his face, and struck Kagome across the face.

 

“That's going to cost you wench.”

 

“What about the Slave?” asked Abel, Abel was a tall man, ruggedly handsome he had long pitch black hair with deep purple eyes and a goatee, he carried twin swords on his back.

 

“He's nothing but a worthless half-demon, he not even worth the effort to pursue him, let some bounty hunter collect him, we have the real prize.” Smiled Finn looking down at Kagome, she hadn't rolled over, but she stared up at him hatefully with her right eye.

 

“So this is the slave Kane was making such a commotion over; pretty little thing I can see why he wants her back to badly.” Abel caressed Kagome's bruised face, she flinched at his touch and pulled away, it was such a disgusting feeling, with one touch Kagome could sense what an atrocious and evil man he was.

 

“Don't Abel, she's Kane's property. Kane would have your have your head if he found out you touched her.” Said Finn, Abel grabbed the collar of Kagome's dress and dragged her over to Finn's dragon and lied her over its back.

 

“Where to now?” asked Abel, mounting his dragon

 

“Kane's has a stronghold south of here; we'll take the girl there, and teach the wench a lesson.” InuYasha had finely stopped running after Kagome was airborne; he stared at the ten dragon's the moon shinning down on them, his blood boiling with pure rage; he roared into the sky like a wild animal. He had failed his mate.

 

*~~~*

 

Tristan watched the Prisoner Cart make its way down the road; he and five other men set up an ambush for the Prisoner Cart that took captured slaves and resistance members to Blackheart City from one of Kane's Prison Camp set up eighteen miles North of the Black Mountains, the camp was a fortress a direct assault on it would be suicide the only way to rescue the prisoners is when they are being transported to Blackheart City. Kane had three Prison Camps in Mika, thirty miles south of the Spirit Forest, forty miles north of the Cursed Forest, and eighteen miles north-east of the Black Mountains; all were built like fortresses housing Drakmen, and human soldiers. Tristan smiled when he saw the two soldiers driving it and two soldiers riding behind. Kane was a smart man, if he needed to transport a very important prisoner he would send two cart one armed to the hilt with weapons to spare, the other with little guards. The first cart would be a diversion anyone trying to rescue the prisoner would go after the bigger cart but the only thing waiting would be soldiers, the would be savors wouldn't stand a chance. While the prisoner was hidden safely away in the small cart; but Kane wouldn't always put the prisoner in the weaker cart he would always switch or send out more then two carts to confuse the rescuers. But the Resistance had an ace up its sleeve, they had a mole in the Black Mountain Prison Camp; he had told them an important prisoner was being transported today in the weaker cart, Caleb didn't want to miss the opportunity the and organized a rescue mission, but Caleb was careful he sent a larger party after the larger cart just incase of any last minuet changed the mole would mark the target with a white line; if the line wasn't there then it was a trap.

 

“I would drop your weapons if I were you.” Said Tristan showing himself, the Soldiers reached for their weapons but noticed the five men holding bows and arrows; they surrendered without fuss.

 

“Who are you transporting?” Tristan asked, they Soldiers looked away ignoring him. The cart was a large wooden box, no windows only a locked door.

 

“Fine don't tell me.” Smugly Tristan walked to the back of the cart and broke open the door; the door gently fell open, then suddenly a heavily armed Drakmen lunged at Tristan, it was a trap the Drakmen lifted Tristan above his head with his superior strength and slammed him into the ground knocking the wind out of him, he painfully rolled onto his side, the Drakmen were slaughtering his men ripping their throats out with there sharp teeth, they fought like animals; within minuets all of his men were killed their throats ripped out, blood was everywhere. A Drakmen liked his bloody lips as he approached Tristan, but the one that attacked him from the cart stuck him across the face with his clawed hand; the beast hissed like a dragon.

 

“Thisss one livesss, Kane wantsss to kill him himssself.” The Drakmen spoke with a hissing accent on every S, some Drakmen worked to lose there hissing accent but most preferred to keep it and remember they were more lizard then human. The Drakmen leader yanked Tristan up by his arm and threw him into the back of the cart with the bodies of his dead men, saved for the Drakmen children to feast upon; they were only a few miles from the Camp, the stench of blood was overwhelming, he was thankful when the door closed so he didn't have too look into the eyes of the men he failed.

 

*~~~*

 

InuYasha stood in the tree-line glaring at the Prison that held Kagome he had run for five strait days to get here. His love, his mate; in the canine demon world once a demon chooses a mate and she accepts they are mates for life. He would defend her until the last once of life left his body, and would hunt for her to the ends of the earth if they were ever separated. That is why masters never separated mates; because they would be of no use to their new masters they would endlessly try to escape, if it was necessary to kill a demon, his mate would often become a lifeless drone, numb to the world around her. Though some thought she would become the perfect slave; submissive, never willing to escape, her spirit crushed. InuYasha clenched in hand over the handle of his Katana; an ordinary blade he stole from a blacksmiths shop in a town he passed. InuYasha has no idea on how to use the weapon he'd seen human use them on occasion; of course it didn't matter even if he'd had a magnificent blade, he couldn't harm any human as long as he was bound by the Mark of Subjugation. He had heard how demons overcame their Marks and protected there masters from attackers, but wither it was true or not he could say. But InuYasha wasn't worrying about his Mark now all he was concerned with was saving Kagome.

 

A cold wind blew past showering him with autumn leaves, but wind carried a peculiar scent along with it, curious he followed it to a camp deeper in the forest. Twelve men camped here; InuYasha could smell their different scents, he was certain they weren't soldiers, two men sat by the fire, and older man with short graying hair, he was obviously the leader giving the respect the other treated him with. The other man was tall and powerful, he looked as strong as an ox, he was bold with dark eyes, his voice was deep and booming as if it could shake the earth itself, InuYasha's ears twitched as he sensitive hearing picked up the quiet conversation.

 

“Caleb, what are we going to do about Tristan?” the man was disciplined, collected and cold, a worrier from what InuYasha gathered, he wore a dark green tunic and dark brown pants and a black hooded cloak. The older man Caleb rubbed his chin with his hand uncertain, flames danced over his face as he stared into the fire thinking.

 

“We can't afford to have Tristan make it too Blackheart City; if Kane manages to torture critical information out of him, the Resistance will be lost.” InuYasha looked at the older man he had heard rumors of Caleb among the slaves; InuYasha had always pictured him a lot younger.

 

“Tristan is strong Caleb, Kane will not break him.” Caleb smiled at the other man, he ran a hand threw his hair and sighed deeply. Caleb had worried this might happen, with Tristan's eagerness to defeat Kane and reclaim his family throne plus his own impenitentness was leading him to become more reckless and take unnecessary risks, his capture was inevitable.

 

“I know Jacob, alright we'll rescue Tristan. I've also heard of an important prisoner of Kane's being held there, they'll probably send them out together, we'll strike when their in route to Blackheart that'll be our best chance. We need to find as much Dragon Thistle as possible; a dragon was slain not far from here so it should be easy to find for a change. InuYasha left quietly he knew the important prisoner was Kagome; his plan was when the Resistance was rescuing their captured man he would rescue Kagome while the Huntsmen were distracted. InuYasha returned to the tree line he would wait the agonizing time until he could free Kagome and hold her in his arms once again, he could feel her warm touch, and presence next to him he longed to hold her and seal their love with a kiss.

 

*~~~*

 

Tristan was yanked out of the cart at last he didn't know how long he has been lock in there but he was thankful to be out of there; he tried to resist the Drakmen's hold but they were to strong it only made them dig their sharp claws into his skin. As he was being paraded threw the camp like a prized pig Tristan noticed the mole hanging from the noose in the Camp square. He was pulled to a small brick building, surrounded by five heavily armed guards waited at the entrance was Finn, leader of the Huntsmen, there was no way he could know Tristan would be leading the rescue party, which could only mean there was an important prisoner here.

 

“Well look here, Tristan Lockhart, Royal Prince of Lockhart City third inline to inherit the throne; too bad Kane's wants to kill you I could fetch I high price for you on the slave market. Put him next to the girl.” Finned ordered the Drakmen hissed acknowledging the order, Tristan looked back at Finn as he was being walked in; five small cells were built against the back wall of the small building, thick metal bars, and heavy cell doors with impossible to pick locks. When Tristan walked in he noticed the young woman chained to the wall in the first cell. She wore an Ao-Dai like the Oracles he had seen pictures of them in history books he studied as a child; it wasn't until he joined the Resistance that he learned the Oracle's still lived.. Tristan thought she was the Oracle he chased from the camp but he didn't get a good look so he couldn't be certain. He watched her as the Drakmen chained him to the wall; she was unconscious leaning against the wall her innocent face looked at him. The Drakmen struck him against the face once he was securely chained, forcing him to the ground, Tristan wiped his bleeding nose; the Drakmen left hissing a laugh. Once they left the woman straitened her head up and sighed deeply slowly opening her eyes, Tristan watched her she wasn't a slave he was certain, this building was for important prisoners, Tristan passed the holding cells on his way over, he could hear the cries for mercy as he walked by.

 

“Are you alright?” Tristan asked,

 

“Yes,” she answered as she lied down on the straw pile left for comfort.

 

“What are you doing here?” he asked, sliding over to the bars separating them, the chains didn't give him much room; they were only two meters long.

 

“Bad directions.” She Answered, Tristan smiled at her answer it wasn't what he wanted and playing nice trying to get answers from her didn't seem to be working.

 

“My name is Tristan Lockhart, what's yours.”

 

“My name doesn't matter; I won't be here long,” Kagome knew who he was; he was King Markel's third son, she had seen him several times in visions, Kagome rolled on her side, and feel asleep, the sorrow of this prison drained Kagome she felt exhausted all the time, sleep seemed to be the only refuge.

 

That night Kagome dreamt of Kane, she stood in her former prison, the setting sun cast a bright light threw the only window, everything had a radiance of different colours from the stained glass window, greens, and blues, reds, and a little orange, it was the only think beautiful about the room. Kagome stared at the door, her heart pounding in her throat, she felt like a scared rabbit that heard the hawk's cry; with no where to go Kagome stood petrified. This dream was so vivid, he felt like she was experiencing it, the musty smell of her room, the thumping footsteps growing louder; suddenly the door burst open, Kane rushed at Kagome he pushed her back into the bed sitting on top of her pinning her down holding her arms above her head. Kagome realized this wasn't a dream, this was a memory, and Kagome had worn a light green dress it was thin buttoned down the front. Kane decided she needed more clothes so bought her several dressed all with the same fashion idea; Kane released her left hand and reached for his belt Kagome knew better then to try and fight him, he would only strike her. Kane pulled out a large dagger and put it to Kagome's throat, slowly moving the tip of the blade down her chest he cut the first button of her dress.

 

“You're my property, so it's only right I fully enjoy my property." Slowly Kane continued to cut another button. Kagome burst awake gasping; she looked around the dark room and reassured herself she was in a cell not her Prison. Kagome sat up her heart still pounding; Tristan was sitting resting his arms on his knees, watching Kagome she hoped Tristan would leave her alone, she had no interest in talking with him, she was the reason all their rebel plans failed and to befriend him wouldn't be right with what she has done.

 

“Surely you're not imprisoned here simply because of bad directions?” Asked Tristan, Kagome groaned

 

“What difference dose it make, that I'm here?” Kagome asked annoyed; with Kane's blood hanging in the vile just outside her cell plus with her exerting herself so much over the last while Kagome's abilities were severely weaker, but even still she could sense the pain the recaptured slaves were experiencing; the sense of dread and hopelessness constantly burned into Kagome's soul. But with the massive amount of emotions from the Guards, Drakmen, and the slaves Kagome wasn't sure if they were all her own emotions or the emotions of the others. There was a way to block out the emotions of others but Kagome was too weak to block anything. When she was in the tower she would occasionally pick up the emotions of the people in the castle, and sometimes she would glimpse a happy emotion it was always welcoming.

 

“It dose make a difference because I'm part of the Resistance I could help you escape.” Kagome looked up at Tristan, his eyes held sincerity, she wondered if he would still feel that way if he knew what she's done. Fear swelled in Kagome's heart dragging her heart into the darkest pits of her soul, Tristan could see the fear in her eyes he'd seen that fear before.

 

“Don't be afraid everything will be alright…” as Tristan tried to reassure Kagome the door swung open, Finn stood strolled he looked from Kagome to Tristan.

 

“The wagons are ready to take you to Kane's Castle, oh and Kagome, Kane is very eager to see you again he's missed his Oracle terribly.” Kagome's eyes glistened with tears Finn reveled in Kagome's despair and fear. With a snap of his fingers two Drakmen led the two prisoners to a boxed Prisoner Cart with the windows boarded up, there were three identical carts with the same amount of guards and boarded windows. It was the same trick Kane used to transport Important Prisoners, both Kagome and Tristan were loaded into a cart the other two were empty, each cart was going to take a different route to Blackheart City but only one would carry the important cargo. Only minimal light managed to peak threw the cracks of the boarded windows, not enough to see properly but enough to make out shapes.

 

Tristan looked at Kagome's shadow, they were the only ones in the cart; she was resting her forehead on her clamped hands, the Drakmen had bound Tristan's hands behind him when the released him from the chains and Kagome in front of her. Tristan opened his mouth to talk to her but sudden exposition shook the wagon, the pair was thrown to one side as the wagon tipped, the door broke open in the crash both Kagome and Tristan scrambled out into the light. A thick cloud of Dust covered the area, they could see faint shadows of horses running wildly but the soldiers or the Huntsmen were nowhere to be seen. Kagome looked around franticly straining her eyes to see for any signs of life. Her heat swelled with joy as she saw the approaching figure in the settling dust; she knew InuYasha would come for her. Finn's ploy hadn't worked on InuYasha, sending three wagons was smart but InuYasha sense of smell could pick up Kagome's scent a mile away. InuYasha looked like a gallant Hero as he walked threw the think dust cloud holding his sword; her heart pounded with excitement with each-step he took closer to her. But suddenly Kagome's heart dropped and fear swelled in her chest. InuYasha suddenly stopped releasing his sword he fell to his knees growling in pain; Finn and the other Huntsmen emerged from the dust cloud unscathed. They had survived the crash, laughing darkly they surrounded InuYasha but took no interest in him, they wanted Kagome who was only a few yards away.

 

Her mind blurred, terrified as she stood alone against the five Huntsmen, Kagome wanted to do something to be brave like InuYasha but Huntsmen still had Kane's blood around their necks she was no match for them. Fueled by the emotion to save InuYasha, Kagome tried to run toward them. In some futile attempt to save the man she loved, but a strong arm grabbed her and held her fast refusing to let her move. Kagome screamed and fought trying to release herself but the grip was too strong; she cried her lover's name, his torture was increasing she could sense his pain. Kagome fought even harder and almost escaped his grasp but she was rapped in a bear hug with a sudden thump her head Kagome was forced into a dark unconsciousness.

 

End Chapter

 

What had happened to InuYasha? And who grabbed Kagome? Was it friend or Foe read, In the Shadow of Destiny chapter 10 to find out?