Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Spirit of the Wolf ❯ Chapter 9: Captivity, and a New Face ( Chapter 9 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: WolfGoddess_77 
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Fantasy / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.28.2012 | Updated On: 09.26.2012 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 120 | Status: Work In Progress
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Fantasy / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.28.2012 | Updated On: 09.26.2012 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 120 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual people or places is purely coincidental.
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Vega reappeared with Reyith outside of the abandoned mansion, immediately dropping to her knees, and laying Reyith on the ground. She grimaced, reaching over her shoulder to touch the thin film of ice she had created over the wound, to keep it from bleeding.
Though she had managed to keep it from being as bad as it could have been, the scythe had still struck deep. Well, it didn’t matter. She had successfully completed her objective. That was the important thing. Although… She looked down at Reyith, frowning. Reyith’s partner might have ruined all of that. Eris had never told her what would happen if she used more than a drop of that liquid, but it seemed that it wasn’t deadly, as she had feared. Instead, Reyith seemed to be in a deep slumber. All Vega could do now was hope that it didn’t affect the quality of her blood. If it did, Sirius was doomed.
Leaving Reyith where she lay for the moment, Vega made her way over to the door, knocking on it. To her surprise, Eris opened it herself.
The older girl’s eyes immediately went to where Reyith lay, and a smile came to her face. “Excellent, Vega. I must admit, I didn’t expect you to bring her back so quickly.” She walked down the stairs, then knelt down beside Reyith. The smile on her face faded slightly as she reached out, placing two fingers against Reyith’s neck in search of a pulse. It was slow, and not as strong as it should have been, but the rhythmic beating told Eris that she was in no danger. “I trust you didn’t injure her?”
Vega shook her head. “No, I didn’t, but…” She bit her lip, looking away. “That idiot partner of hers knocked me down when I was trying to give her the liquid in that vial. When he did, I accidentally emptied it all into her mouth. I didn’t mean to…”
Eris studied her for a moment, then nodded once. “It’s all right. It might be kinder this way.” She reached out, pulling Reyith’s arm over her shoulder, and standing up, pulling the unconscious girl with her.
“What do you mean?” Vega asked, arching one eyebrow. “You never explained to me what we were going to do with her.”
Eris began walking back towards the mansion, and didn’t answer for a moment. “You know that her blood has the properties needed to heal Sirius’ illness. Unfortunately, we do not know how much blood is needed to cure it completely. That’s why we will keep her here, with us. It’s true that we could kill her, and hope that her lifeblood would be enough. But I’m not willing to take that chance. We will keep her alive, and harvest her blood periodically. That’s why I said perhaps giving her the entire vial was a kinder option.”
Vega had opened the door for Eris, and they were now making their way into a large room. Unlike the others, this one had been cleared of furniture, though still had the same vines creeping over the walls and ceiling. Eris moved to the center of the room, then lay Reyith down on her back.
“That liquid was made by diluting the essence of a special plant. In its concentrated form, it’s a deadly poison. That was why I warned you to give her only a drop. I was careful, and diluted it more than I probably should have, in case an incident occurred, and she was given too much. However…she will be forever locked in a state of suspended animation.”
Vega watched as Eris began unlacing the strings holding Reyith’s shirt closed. “So…she’ll never wake up?” She wasn’t sure how she felt about this. On the one hand, she had been upset that Reyith had managed to injure her, but she wasn’t angry enough to wish something like this on her. Reyith and her partner had been the first interesting people she had met in a long time.
“There is a chance, though it’s very slim. Do you truly wish for her to awaken?” Eris cast a glance back over her shoulder at Vega. “Not only will she be in a constant state of pain, she will also have to deal with the knowledge that she will have to remain here with us. If she remains asleep, she will never need to know her fate.”
Finally, Eris stood up, holding Reyith’s folded clothes in her hands. She raised one hand in the air, and vines began to wind around the unconscious girl, lifting her off the ground and pulling her upright. Thorns sprouted along the vines, digging into Reyith’s skin. Almost immediately, glittering droplets of blood appeared, flowing onto the vines, where they were absorbed.
Vega kept her eyes fixed on Reyith, frowning slightly. She knew that this was for Sirius, but that thought was bittersweet. She shook her head. This was ridiculous. It wasn’t like they were killing her or anything. Besides, Reyith wasn’t even aware of what was happening to her. She wasn’t in any pain like this; she could dream forever.
But what about her partner? She knew that he would never just give up on Reyith. He would be searching everywhere for her, and when he finally found them, he would be very angry. But… There was no way for him to find them, right? Vega had left no trail, so there was nothing for him to follow.
She stood silently as Eris moved past her, her eyes never leaving Reyith’s still form. “I’m sorry,” she whispered finally, once her sister was no longer in the room. “I knew what would happen to you, but I still brought you here, away from your partner. We need you to heal Sirius. If it weren’t for that, we would have never met, and you would have been free to live your life with him.” She sighed, then turned away. “I don’t expect you to forgive me. I just…wanted to say that to you.” With that, she was gone.
---
Darkness. That was all Reyith knew. There were no sensations to speak of, not even the feeling of being alone. She couldn’t tell whether she was alive or dead; whether she was lying down or standing up. The last thing she remembered was Vega pouring that liquid down her throat. She had grown so sleepy, then… Then what?
After what seemed like an eternity – though it could have been only a couple of seconds – a spot of light appeared in front of her. It grew in size, then finally coalesced into a familiar form. Metsu stood in front of her, his expression unreadable. As he appeared, Reyith became aware of where she was. Unsurprisingly, she was in his world, but the usual expanse of stars was gone. They had been obscured by dark clouds, and Reyith could feel the liquid that made up the ground lapping restlessly around her.
This interested her. When she was angry or upset, the surroundings would change to match her mood. But she had never seen this particular landscape before.
“Am…I dead?” she whispered, her brow furrowing.
For a long time, Metsu didn’t answer. But finally, he shook his head. No. You still live. If you can call this life.
Her head tilted to the side. “What do you mean?” She was relieved to find that she hadn’t been killed, but the spirit’s words still sent a chill through her.
He sighed softly, then moved forward, placing his hand on the top of her head. It was as close as he had ever come to showing affection for her. That liquid you were given…it locked your consciousness deep inside yourself. Your soul is awake, though your body remains in a deep slumber. He paused. A slumber…you may never wake up from.
Reyith froze, her eyes widening. She took a step back, shaking her head. “No…” The thought of never being able to see Cael again sent a surge of pain through her.
I’m sorry. You’re lucky you weren’t killed. I thought at first that you were dead, but it seems that you were fortunate. The poison wasn’t strong enough to kill you. He looked away, his crimson eyes distant. Though…I’m sure you wish you were dead.
“I…do not understand. If my soul is awake, why can I not awaken my body as well? What keeps me here? My body may be weak right now after the fight, but surely my soul is strong enough to eventually overcome the poison that Vega gave me.”
Metsu shook his head once. Perhaps, eventually. But that time could come tomorrow, or years from now. It might not come at all. You must be prepared for that. You must understand, the chances of you awakening soon… He sighed. At your current strength, Reyith…The poison is too strong for you to overcome it. You will not be able to leave. His voice held a definite note of regret.
Again, she shook her head. “I will not be trapped here! I… There has to be a way for me to escape. I am not going to give up so easily. I have a goal to reach; nothing is going to stop me from succeeding!” She closed her eyes, and ribbons of energy began winding around her. At first, their motion was gentle, as if they were merely waving in a breeze. But within a few seconds, they began to whip around her, crackling.
A cry of anger made its way out of her throat, and the energy exploded outward violently. The ribbons lengthened, shooting outward in every direction. Several flew towards Metsu, and he raised one hand, intending to ward them off. A thin, transparent shield shimmered into being in front of him, made of the same red energy that Reyith used. To his surprise, her energy pierced his defense, continuing towards him.
His eyes widened as one lance buried itself deep in his shoulder, though thankfully, that was the only one that connected. The others went past him, though a couple were close enough to singe his clothes. He clenched his teeth as blood began to soak slowly though his clothes, though the energy never came close to him again.
Silently, he watched as the tendrils continued to expand away from Reyith’s body, finally vanishing into the distance.
Finally, the scream faded away into silence, and, her legs shaking, Reyith slowly sank down onto her knees, breathing hard. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself, then lowered her head. Metsu walked over to her, then knelt down, resting one hand on her shoulder.
“Forgive me,” she whispered, not looking up at him. “I just…”
You need not apologize. Your reaction is understandable. If your will is strong enough, perhaps you will be able to escape, but as it is, it will do no good to exhaust yourself. You must rest, and regain your strength. Only then will you have a chance to break free of the poison that holds you captive. Bide your time, and do not worry. Your companion will be coming for you soon. He will protect you until you are able to awaken.
This made her look up, her eyes searching his. “How do you know Cael is coming for me? Or…that he will find me?”
A rare smile appeared on Metsu’s face. He will not rest until you are reunited. Trust me.
Then it occurred to her what else he had said. Her head tilted slightly to the side. “You think that I will be able to wake up? A few minutes ago, you said…”
Reaching up, Metsu touched his shoulder, then held up his hand. His fingers were tipped with blood where the energy lance had struck him. Your attempt to escape from this world injured me. I put up a shield in an attempt to block your energy, but I was unprepared for the force that you used. You were able to break through. It seems that you are getting closer to reaching your full potential. Perhaps I spoke too quickly when I said that you wouldn’t be able to escape.
At this, a spark of life returned to Reyith’s eyes. But Metsu wasn’t finished speaking yet. But you must be prepared. I do not know how long it will take for you to awaken. You must be patient.
Reyith nodded her understanding. She reached out, placing her hand over the wound on his shoulder. “Forgive me. I was not aware that I had hurt you."
The spirit shook his head, standing up. The wound is shallow. You need not apologize. More importantly, you need to rest. You will need your strength. Though you remain strong now, your body will soon begin to weaken. But you must not let yourself succumb to that weakness. If you do, both your body and soul will perish. He placed one finger in the center of Reyith’s forehead, and she felt her eyes beginning to grow heavy. Sleep now. I will watch over you.
Reyith tried to protest, but her voice seemed to have deserted her. Slowly, her eyes closed, and she was enveloped in blackness once again. But this time, it was a familiar, comforting darkness. Cael would be coming for her soon. She just had to keep thinking about that.
---
Cael moved quickly through the forest, following the directions Kago gave him. His mind was focused on only one thing: finding Reyith as soon as possible. He was furious at himself for not being able to keep Vega away from her, like he had promised. The only thing that he was able to take comfort from was that Kago assured him that she was still alive, somewhere.
Suddenly, he stopped, looking around. He was still trying to get used to his new senses, but even though they were new to him, they told him that something was definitely different. There was someone nearby; someone who wasn’t human.
He let energy gather in his hand, but he didn’t form his sword yet. Instead, his eyes scanned the trees. “Who’s there?” he demanded. After what happened earlier, he wasn’t going to take any chances. Vega might have decided to come back and finish him off. Worse, it could be one of the hoyu seishin. With Reyith’s help, the monsters would be no trouble, but he didn’t think he was ready to face one on his own yet, especially as distracted as he was.
He was therefore understandably surprised when the shadow that moved out from behind the trees revealed itself to be a young man about his age. He had messy sandy-blonde hair, and his eyes were aqua-colored. He wore a collared shirt; like Reyith’s, it was two colored, although his was black with red lining. Black pants and boots completed the outfit.
“Relax; I’m not gonna hurt you. Kellan sent me to check on the two…of…” His voice trailed off, and he looked around, a frown coming to his face. “Where’s Reyith? You didn’t let her wander off, did you? You were supposed to watch her.”
Cael stiffened, his eyes flashing. “She didn’t wander off,” he snapped. “She…” A look of pain crossed his face for a moment. “They took her.” His voice was very soft as he said this.
The young man blinked. “Who took her?” When Cael didn’t immediately reply, he moved forward, taking him by the collar. “Who took her?” he demanded angrily. “Answer me! Who took my baby sister?”
Cael coldly knocked the young man’s hands away, his eyes narrowing. “Get your hands off me,” he hissed. “I’ll tell you what you want to know, but you have to answer my questions first, and you have to stay calm. Now, who are you?”
The young man’s eyes narrowed dangerously for a moment, but he finally relaxed. “My name’s Vilan. Kellan sent me to make sure everything is all right with you and Reyith.”
Cael nodded slowly. “Are you like her, then?” There was no way a normal human could have caught up with them so quickly.
Vilan gave him a strange look. “Isn’t that obvious?” He laughed shortly, but it wasn’t mocking. “You may have our instincts, but you don’t know how to use them yet, do you? I’m like Reyith in the sense that I’m not human. But I’m different from the two of you. While you have wolf blood, I have something else.”
Cael arched one eyebrow. “Then why did you call her your sister?”
“We’re all family, even if we’re not blood related.” He crossed his arms, watching Cael silently for a few seconds. “Are we done playing Twenty Questions now? If so, I’d like to know why she isn’t with you, seeing as how you’re supposed to be her protector.”
Cael sighed. Though this guy may have been Reyith’s brother, he didn’t act anything like her. He was much more outspoken, and had a bad attitude. “Did you know that spirits existed? Specifically, elemental spirits?”
This seemed to stop Vilan for a moment. “Elemental spirits?” he repeated, his voice holding a strange emotion. “You met one?”
“Yes; an ice spirit. She confronted us three days ago, saying that she needed Reyith for something. She took some of Reyith’s blood, then left, saying that she would come back. Then, earlier…” He trailed off, clenching his fists at his sides. “I promised her that I would keep her safe, but…”
A soft touch on his consciousness startled him, until he recognized Kago’s ever-calm voice. You mustn’t blame yourself. The fault was not yours. He was wrong to accuse you like that.
Cael sent him a wave of gratitude, though he was doubtful. He kept replaying the fight in his mind, wondering if there was something that he could have done different, anything that could have helped them win against Vega.
“So…she’s in the hands of the ice spirit, now.” Vilan’s voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to the present. “Do you know what’s going to happen to her?”
Cael shook his head slowly. “I asked, several times, but she never said anything about what they were going to do with Reyith. All I know is that she’s still alive.”
Vilan’s gaze turned sharp. “They? As in, more than one?” He heard a dry female voice in his mind, lightly accented, and holding a fair amount of scorn.
The boy is withholding information about what happened.. But why? Doesn’t he want the girl to be rescued? Or does he not want you to know the truth? Ashamed of it, perhaps? Maybe he wants all the glory for himself, when he saves her.
He mentally shushed the voice. Not right now, Eiko (1). It was glaringly obvious that the spirit didn’t like Cael, but that was nothing new. Eiko usually didn’t like anyone, even him, half the time. As for Vilan himself, he wasn’t sure what he thought of Reyith’s partner. It was too soon for him to have formed an opinion.
Cael nodded. “Vega – the ice spirit – said that she wasn’t the only one. They need Reyith’s blood for something, which is why they wanted her alive.”
Vilan narrowed his eyes slightly. “And what do you intend to do about her? Will you leave her to her fate?” He braced himself for the explosion, already knowing the answer before he asked the question.
Predictably, Cael bristled. “Absolutely not! Kago’s tracking her. I’m not sure how, exactly, but he says that he can find her location, and lead me there.”
“Kago… The spirit of your weapon?” This was strange. He’d never heard of a spirit being able to track someone else before. Unless… “Tell me, what’s your relationship with Reyith? You two seem…close.” He was almost certain that a pink tinge appeared on Cael’s cheeks.
“We’re…partners. Of course we’re close. I…I care for her, and I want her to be safe. Wouldn’t you?”
Vilan’s gaze was calculating. “So…you’re just partners. Is that it? Too bad. You seem like the kind of man Reyith needs.”
The voice in his mind spoke up again, incredulous. Are you actually condoning a relationship between them? You should know better, Vilan. He is not truly like us. He has no right to court the girl.
Again, he shushed the voice. Silence, Eiko. I know what I’m doing. Trust me on this. I never said that I was condoning a relationship. But I want to know what he truly thinks of her. If his feelings are strong enough… They may be what’s needed to find out the truth behind where those monsters are coming from. But they need to be close enough to be able to work as one. Otherwise, they’ll both be killed.
He watched in amusement as the blush on Cael’s face darkened. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“You mean she hasn’t explained this to you? I’m surprised, with the full moon coming not too long ago.” He flashed Cael a wicked smile. “She needs a dominant mate. Not someone controlling, but…someone who knows what she needs, and can give it to her.”
This made Cael stop, and his eyes narrowed. This was sounding familiar. He remembered how he had felt the night of the full moon, and suddenly he understood. No wonder her personality had changed so much that night. It hadn’t been his imagination after all. He recalled the fire that had flowed through him, the confidence in what he was doing, and the knowledge that he was doing everything right. Once the morning came, he hadn’t been sure what had come over him, but now he understood. She needed him to be like that with her. “Reyith…”
“I’m coming with you,” Vilan said suddenly. “To find Reyith, and rescue her.”
Cael arched one eyebrow. “Why? Do you not trust me to save her?”
“It’s not about trusting you. I’m sure you’re capable of doing it, but you’re going to need help. If this spirit was able to overcome both you and Reyith, then it’ll be suicide for you to go alone, where there will be more than one enemy. I want to help her just as much as you do. Let me help to save my sister.” His aqua eyes were intense as he watched Cael, daring him to argue.
“All right, you can come, but don’t get in my way. I’ll do anything it takes to get her back. Anything.”
Vilan smiled grimly. “So will I.”
---
In the basement of the abandoned mansion, Eris gently held a sleeping Sirius in her lap. She stroked his blonde hair back, then looked up at Vega, who was sitting against a wall across from her. Vega held an orb of ice in her hands, gazing intently into it.
“It seems another has joined Reyith’s partner. They’re heading this way.”
Eris nodded. “I expected as much. The new one is a surprise, but he shouldn’t pose too much of a threat. From what I understand, the girl is the strongest of them, and you had little trouble with her.”
Looking over into the corner, Eris frowned thoughtfully. A pillar of ice reached towards the ceiling. In the center of it was a thick vine, which descended from the floor above. The pillar was hollow, and inside, rivulets of blood were trickling down its side, to collect in the bowl-shaped bottom.
“It’s almost time for another infusion.” She stood up, then carefully placed Sirius in the hammock. Color had returned to the sleeping boy’s face, and he slept a true, peaceful sleep, as opposed to the fitful near-coma he had been in before.
Vega looked up from the orb, and didn’t respond for a moment. Inside the icy ball, two figures could be seen moving through a forest. They were blurry, but their identities were unmistakable. “I won’t hesitate to fight them, if they find us, but I don’t think they’ll be as easy to beat as you might think. I’ve seen what happens when people have something to fight for. They find strength no one ever thought they could have.”
Eris cast her a sideways glance. “I’m aware of that. But have you forgotten? We also have something to fight for.” Her eyes fell on Sirius, and she smiled tenderly. “Our brother is more important than anything else. I’m not going to let anything – or anyone – take away our cure for him.”
Vega stood up, letting the orb disappear. “I know, but I’m still worried. It won’t be good if it turns into a giant slaughter. None of us will win, then.”
“It’ll be all right, Vega. Trust me. Sirius is going to be cured, you’ll see. They may injure us, but I’m not going to let anything happen to either you or him. You both mean the world to me.”
Vega gave her sister a weak smile. “I hope you’re right. For all our sakes.”
---
(1)Eiko – glory
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Vega reappeared with Reyith outside of the abandoned mansion, immediately dropping to her knees, and laying Reyith on the ground. She grimaced, reaching over her shoulder to touch the thin film of ice she had created over the wound, to keep it from bleeding.
Though she had managed to keep it from being as bad as it could have been, the scythe had still struck deep. Well, it didn’t matter. She had successfully completed her objective. That was the important thing. Although… She looked down at Reyith, frowning. Reyith’s partner might have ruined all of that. Eris had never told her what would happen if she used more than a drop of that liquid, but it seemed that it wasn’t deadly, as she had feared. Instead, Reyith seemed to be in a deep slumber. All Vega could do now was hope that it didn’t affect the quality of her blood. If it did, Sirius was doomed.
Leaving Reyith where she lay for the moment, Vega made her way over to the door, knocking on it. To her surprise, Eris opened it herself.
The older girl’s eyes immediately went to where Reyith lay, and a smile came to her face. “Excellent, Vega. I must admit, I didn’t expect you to bring her back so quickly.” She walked down the stairs, then knelt down beside Reyith. The smile on her face faded slightly as she reached out, placing two fingers against Reyith’s neck in search of a pulse. It was slow, and not as strong as it should have been, but the rhythmic beating told Eris that she was in no danger. “I trust you didn’t injure her?”
Vega shook her head. “No, I didn’t, but…” She bit her lip, looking away. “That idiot partner of hers knocked me down when I was trying to give her the liquid in that vial. When he did, I accidentally emptied it all into her mouth. I didn’t mean to…”
Eris studied her for a moment, then nodded once. “It’s all right. It might be kinder this way.” She reached out, pulling Reyith’s arm over her shoulder, and standing up, pulling the unconscious girl with her.
“What do you mean?” Vega asked, arching one eyebrow. “You never explained to me what we were going to do with her.”
Eris began walking back towards the mansion, and didn’t answer for a moment. “You know that her blood has the properties needed to heal Sirius’ illness. Unfortunately, we do not know how much blood is needed to cure it completely. That’s why we will keep her here, with us. It’s true that we could kill her, and hope that her lifeblood would be enough. But I’m not willing to take that chance. We will keep her alive, and harvest her blood periodically. That’s why I said perhaps giving her the entire vial was a kinder option.”
Vega had opened the door for Eris, and they were now making their way into a large room. Unlike the others, this one had been cleared of furniture, though still had the same vines creeping over the walls and ceiling. Eris moved to the center of the room, then lay Reyith down on her back.
“That liquid was made by diluting the essence of a special plant. In its concentrated form, it’s a deadly poison. That was why I warned you to give her only a drop. I was careful, and diluted it more than I probably should have, in case an incident occurred, and she was given too much. However…she will be forever locked in a state of suspended animation.”
Vega watched as Eris began unlacing the strings holding Reyith’s shirt closed. “So…she’ll never wake up?” She wasn’t sure how she felt about this. On the one hand, she had been upset that Reyith had managed to injure her, but she wasn’t angry enough to wish something like this on her. Reyith and her partner had been the first interesting people she had met in a long time.
“There is a chance, though it’s very slim. Do you truly wish for her to awaken?” Eris cast a glance back over her shoulder at Vega. “Not only will she be in a constant state of pain, she will also have to deal with the knowledge that she will have to remain here with us. If she remains asleep, she will never need to know her fate.”
Finally, Eris stood up, holding Reyith’s folded clothes in her hands. She raised one hand in the air, and vines began to wind around the unconscious girl, lifting her off the ground and pulling her upright. Thorns sprouted along the vines, digging into Reyith’s skin. Almost immediately, glittering droplets of blood appeared, flowing onto the vines, where they were absorbed.
Vega kept her eyes fixed on Reyith, frowning slightly. She knew that this was for Sirius, but that thought was bittersweet. She shook her head. This was ridiculous. It wasn’t like they were killing her or anything. Besides, Reyith wasn’t even aware of what was happening to her. She wasn’t in any pain like this; she could dream forever.
But what about her partner? She knew that he would never just give up on Reyith. He would be searching everywhere for her, and when he finally found them, he would be very angry. But… There was no way for him to find them, right? Vega had left no trail, so there was nothing for him to follow.
She stood silently as Eris moved past her, her eyes never leaving Reyith’s still form. “I’m sorry,” she whispered finally, once her sister was no longer in the room. “I knew what would happen to you, but I still brought you here, away from your partner. We need you to heal Sirius. If it weren’t for that, we would have never met, and you would have been free to live your life with him.” She sighed, then turned away. “I don’t expect you to forgive me. I just…wanted to say that to you.” With that, she was gone.
---
Darkness. That was all Reyith knew. There were no sensations to speak of, not even the feeling of being alone. She couldn’t tell whether she was alive or dead; whether she was lying down or standing up. The last thing she remembered was Vega pouring that liquid down her throat. She had grown so sleepy, then… Then what?
After what seemed like an eternity – though it could have been only a couple of seconds – a spot of light appeared in front of her. It grew in size, then finally coalesced into a familiar form. Metsu stood in front of her, his expression unreadable. As he appeared, Reyith became aware of where she was. Unsurprisingly, she was in his world, but the usual expanse of stars was gone. They had been obscured by dark clouds, and Reyith could feel the liquid that made up the ground lapping restlessly around her.
This interested her. When she was angry or upset, the surroundings would change to match her mood. But she had never seen this particular landscape before.
“Am…I dead?” she whispered, her brow furrowing.
For a long time, Metsu didn’t answer. But finally, he shook his head. No. You still live. If you can call this life.
Her head tilted to the side. “What do you mean?” She was relieved to find that she hadn’t been killed, but the spirit’s words still sent a chill through her.
He sighed softly, then moved forward, placing his hand on the top of her head. It was as close as he had ever come to showing affection for her. That liquid you were given…it locked your consciousness deep inside yourself. Your soul is awake, though your body remains in a deep slumber. He paused. A slumber…you may never wake up from.
Reyith froze, her eyes widening. She took a step back, shaking her head. “No…” The thought of never being able to see Cael again sent a surge of pain through her.
I’m sorry. You’re lucky you weren’t killed. I thought at first that you were dead, but it seems that you were fortunate. The poison wasn’t strong enough to kill you. He looked away, his crimson eyes distant. Though…I’m sure you wish you were dead.
“I…do not understand. If my soul is awake, why can I not awaken my body as well? What keeps me here? My body may be weak right now after the fight, but surely my soul is strong enough to eventually overcome the poison that Vega gave me.”
Metsu shook his head once. Perhaps, eventually. But that time could come tomorrow, or years from now. It might not come at all. You must be prepared for that. You must understand, the chances of you awakening soon… He sighed. At your current strength, Reyith…The poison is too strong for you to overcome it. You will not be able to leave. His voice held a definite note of regret.
Again, she shook her head. “I will not be trapped here! I… There has to be a way for me to escape. I am not going to give up so easily. I have a goal to reach; nothing is going to stop me from succeeding!” She closed her eyes, and ribbons of energy began winding around her. At first, their motion was gentle, as if they were merely waving in a breeze. But within a few seconds, they began to whip around her, crackling.
A cry of anger made its way out of her throat, and the energy exploded outward violently. The ribbons lengthened, shooting outward in every direction. Several flew towards Metsu, and he raised one hand, intending to ward them off. A thin, transparent shield shimmered into being in front of him, made of the same red energy that Reyith used. To his surprise, her energy pierced his defense, continuing towards him.
His eyes widened as one lance buried itself deep in his shoulder, though thankfully, that was the only one that connected. The others went past him, though a couple were close enough to singe his clothes. He clenched his teeth as blood began to soak slowly though his clothes, though the energy never came close to him again.
Silently, he watched as the tendrils continued to expand away from Reyith’s body, finally vanishing into the distance.
Finally, the scream faded away into silence, and, her legs shaking, Reyith slowly sank down onto her knees, breathing hard. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself, then lowered her head. Metsu walked over to her, then knelt down, resting one hand on her shoulder.
“Forgive me,” she whispered, not looking up at him. “I just…”
You need not apologize. Your reaction is understandable. If your will is strong enough, perhaps you will be able to escape, but as it is, it will do no good to exhaust yourself. You must rest, and regain your strength. Only then will you have a chance to break free of the poison that holds you captive. Bide your time, and do not worry. Your companion will be coming for you soon. He will protect you until you are able to awaken.
This made her look up, her eyes searching his. “How do you know Cael is coming for me? Or…that he will find me?”
A rare smile appeared on Metsu’s face. He will not rest until you are reunited. Trust me.
Then it occurred to her what else he had said. Her head tilted slightly to the side. “You think that I will be able to wake up? A few minutes ago, you said…”
Reaching up, Metsu touched his shoulder, then held up his hand. His fingers were tipped with blood where the energy lance had struck him. Your attempt to escape from this world injured me. I put up a shield in an attempt to block your energy, but I was unprepared for the force that you used. You were able to break through. It seems that you are getting closer to reaching your full potential. Perhaps I spoke too quickly when I said that you wouldn’t be able to escape.
At this, a spark of life returned to Reyith’s eyes. But Metsu wasn’t finished speaking yet. But you must be prepared. I do not know how long it will take for you to awaken. You must be patient.
Reyith nodded her understanding. She reached out, placing her hand over the wound on his shoulder. “Forgive me. I was not aware that I had hurt you."
The spirit shook his head, standing up. The wound is shallow. You need not apologize. More importantly, you need to rest. You will need your strength. Though you remain strong now, your body will soon begin to weaken. But you must not let yourself succumb to that weakness. If you do, both your body and soul will perish. He placed one finger in the center of Reyith’s forehead, and she felt her eyes beginning to grow heavy. Sleep now. I will watch over you.
Reyith tried to protest, but her voice seemed to have deserted her. Slowly, her eyes closed, and she was enveloped in blackness once again. But this time, it was a familiar, comforting darkness. Cael would be coming for her soon. She just had to keep thinking about that.
---
Cael moved quickly through the forest, following the directions Kago gave him. His mind was focused on only one thing: finding Reyith as soon as possible. He was furious at himself for not being able to keep Vega away from her, like he had promised. The only thing that he was able to take comfort from was that Kago assured him that she was still alive, somewhere.
Suddenly, he stopped, looking around. He was still trying to get used to his new senses, but even though they were new to him, they told him that something was definitely different. There was someone nearby; someone who wasn’t human.
He let energy gather in his hand, but he didn’t form his sword yet. Instead, his eyes scanned the trees. “Who’s there?” he demanded. After what happened earlier, he wasn’t going to take any chances. Vega might have decided to come back and finish him off. Worse, it could be one of the hoyu seishin. With Reyith’s help, the monsters would be no trouble, but he didn’t think he was ready to face one on his own yet, especially as distracted as he was.
He was therefore understandably surprised when the shadow that moved out from behind the trees revealed itself to be a young man about his age. He had messy sandy-blonde hair, and his eyes were aqua-colored. He wore a collared shirt; like Reyith’s, it was two colored, although his was black with red lining. Black pants and boots completed the outfit.
“Relax; I’m not gonna hurt you. Kellan sent me to check on the two…of…” His voice trailed off, and he looked around, a frown coming to his face. “Where’s Reyith? You didn’t let her wander off, did you? You were supposed to watch her.”
Cael stiffened, his eyes flashing. “She didn’t wander off,” he snapped. “She…” A look of pain crossed his face for a moment. “They took her.” His voice was very soft as he said this.
The young man blinked. “Who took her?” When Cael didn’t immediately reply, he moved forward, taking him by the collar. “Who took her?” he demanded angrily. “Answer me! Who took my baby sister?”
Cael coldly knocked the young man’s hands away, his eyes narrowing. “Get your hands off me,” he hissed. “I’ll tell you what you want to know, but you have to answer my questions first, and you have to stay calm. Now, who are you?”
The young man’s eyes narrowed dangerously for a moment, but he finally relaxed. “My name’s Vilan. Kellan sent me to make sure everything is all right with you and Reyith.”
Cael nodded slowly. “Are you like her, then?” There was no way a normal human could have caught up with them so quickly.
Vilan gave him a strange look. “Isn’t that obvious?” He laughed shortly, but it wasn’t mocking. “You may have our instincts, but you don’t know how to use them yet, do you? I’m like Reyith in the sense that I’m not human. But I’m different from the two of you. While you have wolf blood, I have something else.”
Cael arched one eyebrow. “Then why did you call her your sister?”
“We’re all family, even if we’re not blood related.” He crossed his arms, watching Cael silently for a few seconds. “Are we done playing Twenty Questions now? If so, I’d like to know why she isn’t with you, seeing as how you’re supposed to be her protector.”
Cael sighed. Though this guy may have been Reyith’s brother, he didn’t act anything like her. He was much more outspoken, and had a bad attitude. “Did you know that spirits existed? Specifically, elemental spirits?”
This seemed to stop Vilan for a moment. “Elemental spirits?” he repeated, his voice holding a strange emotion. “You met one?”
“Yes; an ice spirit. She confronted us three days ago, saying that she needed Reyith for something. She took some of Reyith’s blood, then left, saying that she would come back. Then, earlier…” He trailed off, clenching his fists at his sides. “I promised her that I would keep her safe, but…”
A soft touch on his consciousness startled him, until he recognized Kago’s ever-calm voice. You mustn’t blame yourself. The fault was not yours. He was wrong to accuse you like that.
Cael sent him a wave of gratitude, though he was doubtful. He kept replaying the fight in his mind, wondering if there was something that he could have done different, anything that could have helped them win against Vega.
“So…she’s in the hands of the ice spirit, now.” Vilan’s voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to the present. “Do you know what’s going to happen to her?”
Cael shook his head slowly. “I asked, several times, but she never said anything about what they were going to do with Reyith. All I know is that she’s still alive.”
Vilan’s gaze turned sharp. “They? As in, more than one?” He heard a dry female voice in his mind, lightly accented, and holding a fair amount of scorn.
The boy is withholding information about what happened.. But why? Doesn’t he want the girl to be rescued? Or does he not want you to know the truth? Ashamed of it, perhaps? Maybe he wants all the glory for himself, when he saves her.
He mentally shushed the voice. Not right now, Eiko (1). It was glaringly obvious that the spirit didn’t like Cael, but that was nothing new. Eiko usually didn’t like anyone, even him, half the time. As for Vilan himself, he wasn’t sure what he thought of Reyith’s partner. It was too soon for him to have formed an opinion.
Cael nodded. “Vega – the ice spirit – said that she wasn’t the only one. They need Reyith’s blood for something, which is why they wanted her alive.”
Vilan narrowed his eyes slightly. “And what do you intend to do about her? Will you leave her to her fate?” He braced himself for the explosion, already knowing the answer before he asked the question.
Predictably, Cael bristled. “Absolutely not! Kago’s tracking her. I’m not sure how, exactly, but he says that he can find her location, and lead me there.”
“Kago… The spirit of your weapon?” This was strange. He’d never heard of a spirit being able to track someone else before. Unless… “Tell me, what’s your relationship with Reyith? You two seem…close.” He was almost certain that a pink tinge appeared on Cael’s cheeks.
“We’re…partners. Of course we’re close. I…I care for her, and I want her to be safe. Wouldn’t you?”
Vilan’s gaze was calculating. “So…you’re just partners. Is that it? Too bad. You seem like the kind of man Reyith needs.”
The voice in his mind spoke up again, incredulous. Are you actually condoning a relationship between them? You should know better, Vilan. He is not truly like us. He has no right to court the girl.
Again, he shushed the voice. Silence, Eiko. I know what I’m doing. Trust me on this. I never said that I was condoning a relationship. But I want to know what he truly thinks of her. If his feelings are strong enough… They may be what’s needed to find out the truth behind where those monsters are coming from. But they need to be close enough to be able to work as one. Otherwise, they’ll both be killed.
He watched in amusement as the blush on Cael’s face darkened. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“You mean she hasn’t explained this to you? I’m surprised, with the full moon coming not too long ago.” He flashed Cael a wicked smile. “She needs a dominant mate. Not someone controlling, but…someone who knows what she needs, and can give it to her.”
This made Cael stop, and his eyes narrowed. This was sounding familiar. He remembered how he had felt the night of the full moon, and suddenly he understood. No wonder her personality had changed so much that night. It hadn’t been his imagination after all. He recalled the fire that had flowed through him, the confidence in what he was doing, and the knowledge that he was doing everything right. Once the morning came, he hadn’t been sure what had come over him, but now he understood. She needed him to be like that with her. “Reyith…”
“I’m coming with you,” Vilan said suddenly. “To find Reyith, and rescue her.”
Cael arched one eyebrow. “Why? Do you not trust me to save her?”
“It’s not about trusting you. I’m sure you’re capable of doing it, but you’re going to need help. If this spirit was able to overcome both you and Reyith, then it’ll be suicide for you to go alone, where there will be more than one enemy. I want to help her just as much as you do. Let me help to save my sister.” His aqua eyes were intense as he watched Cael, daring him to argue.
“All right, you can come, but don’t get in my way. I’ll do anything it takes to get her back. Anything.”
Vilan smiled grimly. “So will I.”
---
In the basement of the abandoned mansion, Eris gently held a sleeping Sirius in her lap. She stroked his blonde hair back, then looked up at Vega, who was sitting against a wall across from her. Vega held an orb of ice in her hands, gazing intently into it.
“It seems another has joined Reyith’s partner. They’re heading this way.”
Eris nodded. “I expected as much. The new one is a surprise, but he shouldn’t pose too much of a threat. From what I understand, the girl is the strongest of them, and you had little trouble with her.”
Looking over into the corner, Eris frowned thoughtfully. A pillar of ice reached towards the ceiling. In the center of it was a thick vine, which descended from the floor above. The pillar was hollow, and inside, rivulets of blood were trickling down its side, to collect in the bowl-shaped bottom.
“It’s almost time for another infusion.” She stood up, then carefully placed Sirius in the hammock. Color had returned to the sleeping boy’s face, and he slept a true, peaceful sleep, as opposed to the fitful near-coma he had been in before.
Vega looked up from the orb, and didn’t respond for a moment. Inside the icy ball, two figures could be seen moving through a forest. They were blurry, but their identities were unmistakable. “I won’t hesitate to fight them, if they find us, but I don’t think they’ll be as easy to beat as you might think. I’ve seen what happens when people have something to fight for. They find strength no one ever thought they could have.”
Eris cast her a sideways glance. “I’m aware of that. But have you forgotten? We also have something to fight for.” Her eyes fell on Sirius, and she smiled tenderly. “Our brother is more important than anything else. I’m not going to let anything – or anyone – take away our cure for him.”
Vega stood up, letting the orb disappear. “I know, but I’m still worried. It won’t be good if it turns into a giant slaughter. None of us will win, then.”
“It’ll be all right, Vega. Trust me. Sirius is going to be cured, you’ll see. They may injure us, but I’m not going to let anything happen to either you or him. You both mean the world to me.”
Vega gave her sister a weak smile. “I hope you’re right. For all our sakes.”
---
(1)Eiko – glory
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