InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Darkangel ❯ Poison ( Chapter 14 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

AN: Before I forget, "The Darkangel" isn't going to have weekly updates anymore because I'm writing another story and there's another story that's gonna be written soon. If I try to update weekly for all three stories, I'm definitely going to die soon. So sorry. ^^" I'll try to make the updates as fast as I can, so yeah.

Myouga stood looking at Kagome, his eyes deep with concern. He crossed the room from where the fire burned muttering, "So little time. So little time."

He fell on his knees on the pale floor of limestone. He called to the Charter and started to draw marks for digging, unbounding, and revealing with his hands. The sand started to part themselves, forming a pit.

Kagome watched intently, mesmerized by the Charter Marks being drawn. She then noticed the flames of the fire die away. The darkness started to make her feel uneasy. "Why did the fire go out?" she asked.

Suddenly Charter Marks appeared in the air glowing, making small lights. Kagome turned back to Myouga and saw something shine beneath the sand.

The duarough told Kagome, "Be patient. We won't need the fire for awhile."

He brushed off the last of the sand away from the object in the small hole he had made. Light erupted from the object and filled the room as the glowing Charter Marks disappeared. The object was a long sword with a sheath equally shiny as the blade. Despite its rusty state, Myouga lifted the sword out reverently.

"What is it?" Kagome whispered, unable to take eyes off of the blade.

"The Tetsusaiga, the Great Fang," said Myouga proudly. "It fell into my hands a long time ago." He held the sword out to her. Kagome staggered back, surprised. "Take it," he said. "Bring it with you to the vampyre's room. I can't follow you until the sun sets. Keep it hidden if everything goes well. If the plan falls apart somehow, draw the sword out. Its light will blind him and its heat will burn him until you can escape." He tied a thong around the hilt and handed it to Kagome.

Kagome reached for it and felt the Charter come alive from under her hand. She felt the thin line of Free Magic being supported and controlled by the Charter Magic placed into the blade. She put the thong around her neck and watched with amazement as the larger sword shrank to the size of her hand.

Myouga smiled at Kagome's astonishment. "It's shrunk for easy concealment. When you draw the sword, it will grow to its normal size."

Kagome tucked it under her kimono. Myouga rose and took the hoof of the starhorse. He put it into her hands, the liquor shining.

"What is it?" Kagome asked.

"It's for the vampyre. You don't have to be afraid of drinking it yourself. Its properties are extraordinary and it's only fatal to the vampyre and his kind."

Kagome nodded and stood. "I have to go," she said. "I need to go and prepare."

She cradled the chalice-hood in her cupped palms, careul not to spill it.

Myouga gestured her to go. "Yes, yes," he said. "There's no time to lose."

Kagome stood in the spinning room among the wraiths. The sun was finally down. Her body was bathed in warm water of the caves and was now wrapped in the creamy white bridal gown she had woven. She now stood attired as the vampyre's bride.

"It's time," Kagome told the wraiths. "I must leave to kill the vampyre and save your souls." Despite the bravery in her words, she couldn't stop herself from trembling.

"But why are you going dressed as a bride?" asked one of the wraiths. Their minds were slowly coming back to them day by day.

"I'm his last bride," Kagome replied bluntly.

"So this is his punishment for you for running away," the wraiths groaned and cried.

Kagome laughed shakily. "Nah. He thinks he's honoring me."

"As he has honored us to death," they cried.

"Don't worry," she said. "I won't let him kill me. I have the chalice that will poison him and the blade to kill him."

The wraiths murmured with doubt. "But we're still afraid for you. Let us come with you." They said. "We're so thin, we can hide anywhere. We're not strong, but we're horribly ugly. He only pretends to act superior to us, but we know we scare him." The other wraiths nodded eagerly. "If anything goes wrong, we might be of some use."

Kagome started to protest but the wraiths clung to her and refused to let go unless she agreed. Finally with great reluctance, Kagome gave up. Yet she was glad to have her companions accompany her.

"Alright, alright," Kagome said as the wraiths quieted. "You can come with me."

The wraiths formed a train behind her, each holding the helm of the one in front of her. Holding the chalice firmly in hand, Kagome lef them out of the room and into the hall.

As the sun sank down below the horizon, Kagome led the wraiths up the long stair to an ornately - fashioned door. She opened the latch and the heavy door swung inward. Kagome hesitated before leading the wraiths into the chamber.

The bedroom was large and spacious. Curtains, cabinets, and shelves covered the walls. The bed was small and carved of dark brown wood.

At the foot of the bed, lay a chest. At first, Kagome thought it held old clothes but as she drew closer, she realized it was a toychest for on the lid were little toys.

Kagome set the chalice down on the small table and looked around her as the wraiths scattered about. It then occured to her that it was a child's room. What confused her was that nothing seemed to have been disturbed. Nothing seemed to be taken by the queen and people when they moved to Esternesse.

As the last rays of the sun disappeared behind the mountains, the room went dark.

Kagome went to light the oil lamps on the walls. As she lit the last one, one of the wraiths halted.

"He's coming," she hissed.

The others froze. Kagome froze. She dropped her arm from the lamp and walked to the center of the room. She stood, arms at her sides. As she listened, her ears caught the sound of uneven footsteps moving across the hall outside along with the rustle of many wings.

"Quickly," Kagome whispered to the wraiths. "Hide."

The wraiths disappeared into the shadows, becoming motionless and invisible. Kagome picked up the chalice and held it in her cupped hands.

She could hear the vampyre climbing the long staircase and walking down the hall. Kagome steadied her trembling hands and stood facing the door with her eyes cast down.

The footsteps stopped. Kagome looked up and saw the icarus standing in the doorway. His crystal eyes observed her from head to toe.

"Well," he said, "you don't look too bad. You're almost look worthy of me."

Kagome tried to relax by letting out a long breath, but it came out shuddering.

The vampyre smiled. "You're shaking. Cold? Well, soon, it shouldn't bother you."

He left the doorway. As he approached her, Kagome clutched the horse's hoof tighter.

"What's that?" he asked lazily.

Kagome glanced down at the hoof before answering. "Uh, you see, it's a custom of my people to drink a bridal cup."

The icarus laughed. "That's a weird custom. Never heard of it." He folded his arms across his chest and eyed the cup in her hands. "But we're not with your people now."

Kagome felt her heart beat faster as she stared at him. "But-but you have to drink."

"Why?"

Fear and anxiety drowned her mind of thoughts. She looked at the icarus nervously as she cocked an eyebrow. "It'll make me happy," she stammered, "if you drank --"

The vampyre scoffed, interrupting her. "Why should I do anything to make you happy? I'm the important one here."

Kagome forced herself to calm down and to concentrate. She couldn't let the vampyre see her nervousness and fear. She cleared her throat and held her chin high.

"If you don't drink it, then we're not really married. You'll still have thirteen wives instead of fourteen. It's only a small concession anyways," she pressed.

The vampyre scratched his head and pursed his lips. He dropped his arm and snapped, "Fine. I'll drink it, then. Since you're so damn persistant." He held out his hand. "Give me the thing."

Kagome held the cup to her lips first. The drink was warm and strong. It made her feel more alive, stronger, and awake. The warmth spread throughout her body.

She held out the chalice for the vampyre to drink. He took it and looked at it curiously. "Hm, it's strange," he remarked with a frown on his face. "Reminds me of...of..."

Kagome felt the knot in her stomach tighten. She had to say something. Anything!

"Um," she started. "We, uh, borrowed the tradition from the plains."

The vampyre shrugged, ignoring her. "Whatever," he said. He lifted the cup to his lips and gulped down all of the liquid. Kagome watched him intently with sharp eyes, expecting him to dropped the chalice and scream in pain. But instead, he smirked at her and laid the cup aside.

"There," he said, "now we're married. Anyways, this drink. Did you get it from some fruit in the garden?"

"Nothing grows in your garden," she answered automatically, still shocked that nothing so far had happened. She flinched mentally when she realized what she had said and cursed to herself. She should have said, "yes." Now she had to think of a lie...

"Really?" he asked, not really interested. "Where, then?"

"I-I don't know," she stammered. Her muscles tensed. Why wasn't anything happening?

"What do you mean?" he asked, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "It had to be something from the garden."

Kagome did not answer. Something wasn't right. Myouga must have made a mistake, she thought as she slowly started to feel panic. Didn't the cold vampyre feel the burning warmth of the drink as she did? Then she realized. The dram was glowing while she had drank it. But once the chalice was touched by the icarus, it grew dull and ceased to glow. Did the spell wear out? Was the duarought's magic not strong enough?

Kagome's teeth gritted in frustration. Why wasn't the dram working?

End of Chapter 14

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AN: Sorry for such a short chapter. I'll try to make the next one longer.

Next Chapter: "Cries in the Dark"

Why do I have a feeling that chapter title won't be a keeper?