"Please, Akihiro. She's all I have," she cried, tears rolling down her cheeks.
I nodded, "I'll bring her home." I bowed my head. Then I ran toward the shattered window and jumped, using my wind magic to help me soar above the compound.
I noticed multiple guards fighting off cloaked assassins, some using magic like fire and lightning, while others were using their weapons in close combat.
I landed at the gate and began running down the hill, hoping to catch whomever took Crimson before they vanished completely.
My Kitsune was outraged and wanted blood. How dare someone take our Crim away? On a logical level, why would they take Crimson and not her mother, anyways? Everyone thought Crimson was just a human, so she would be no benefit to them. They had no knowledge of her sealed state. What were we missing?
I slid to a stop when I reached the street. Where...where would they go?
"HOOOT!"
I turned to my left, tilting my head in confusion at the person walking up the road. He had long black hair that blew in the passing wind as he approached me.
The red kimono he wore had little blackbirds on it and he wore a black belt tied in the front with a red coiled rope knotted in a bow.
He had two swords hooked to his waist and wore black geta shoes that clicked and clacked against the cement of the otherwise mostly quiet street.
I met his gaze and pink eyes greeted me. I noticed Urufu was on his shoulder in her owl form and she fluttered her wings, hopping up and down.
"Hoot! Hoot!" I could sense the urgency in her cries and the man lifted his arm like a horizontal platform allowing Urufu to land on it.
The man looked me up and down, but the frown on his face remained. I guessed it was better than the raging anger I saw in his eyes and the pulsing power radiating off of him.
"Who are you?" I blurted out. It was rude to ask first, especially with someone I knew was my elder, but I didn't have time for long introductions. I needed to track whoever took Crimson before it was too late.
"Where's Mosuki and Crimson?" the man demanded, ignoring my question.
I gave him a confused look and straightened my back, facing him head on. "I won't say until I know who you are," I countered.
"I'm from the Empire of Homatomashi; my name is Hotaka Jiyuna. Now, what's going on and where are they?" he demanded.
I swallowed and felt my Kitsune growl inside me, feeling the threat of power that faced us, but I instinctively knew he wasn't the enemy. He wasn’t the one who stole Crimson from us.
"Mrs. Arashi is inside fighting the intruders. They took Crimson," I announced mournfully. Mr. Jiyuna looked even more pissed after that; he sighed, lifting his palm up.
A large pink circle formed in his hand and a smaller white circle formed within it, shifting to form what looked to be a compass.
"HOOT!" Urufu lowered her head, pointing to a particular spot on the compass and it began glowing a turquoise blue that reminded me of Crim's eyes.
"Outskirts," he grumbled and lifted Urufu up to meet her gaze.
"Go track them down and help your Mistress. She'll need you," he ordered her.
"HOOT!" Urufu shot into the sky, headed north.
"Outskirts? The mountains!" I asked and then began to curse. Today wasn’t the day to go there.
"Are you going after her or are you just gonna stand there like a stunned fool?" Mr. Jiyuna demanded, lifting an eyebrow at me.
I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes. "I'll go after her," I declared solemnly.
"Best of luck then, Akihiro Tomashuna."
I narrowed my eyes at him, unsure how he knew who I was, but I'd wasted too much time and Crimson's life was at risk so that was a mystery for later. I gave him a half bow, turned around and began sprinting as fast as I could down the street.
There was no way I'd make it there in time in my human form and if my instincts were correct, the blizzard section would be twice the size today. Crimson would have no chance of survival if I was right.
"Dammit," I cursed as my heart beat frantically and my eyes watered from my anxiety and fear. Her dreams. That's what they meant!
I turned the corner and pulled the ribbon out of my hair, freeing my locks, which began to glow brightly. I grasped the red ribbon with both hands and the gold incantations began to shimmer.
The barrier that held my Kitsune in place shattered and he initiated the shift. I let my mind fade, allowing my predatory instincts to take over.
I won't lose her. I can't lose the woman I love again.
~CRIMSON~
"You guys are absolute FOOLS! She's a human! That attack could have killed her!"
"Sir. We didn't know. The target was Mosuki. She jumped in the way and was hit directly. We're terribly sorry. Please forgive us," I heard a man beg.
My conscious wavered at the familiar loud voice. James? Why is he being so noisy early in the morning? It's morning, right? What's going on and why does my body hurt so much?
I felt disoriented and even the slightest movement sent painful prickly shocks through me. I remained quiet, unsure where I was. All I knew was that I was moving and that James was here.
"You realize what has to be done, right? She won't recover from this. Humans never recover from attacks like these," James yelled and I heard something slam into a wall.
"We're terribly sorry, Sir. Please, spare our lives! We’ll do anything," a different voice pleaded.
"Dammit. Why couldn't things just stay the way they were? It’s those fucking guards’ fault. ARGH!" James raged and something shattered.
I didn't move, trying to stay awake and discover what was truly going on here without them noticing I was awake.
"You will take her to the deepest part of the mountains. Today should be when the blizzard area doubles in size. Leave her there and return here. I'll send some type of hint to Hakua that a visitor saw someone walking toward the mountains. They’ll find her body and nobody will ask any questions. It’ll look like a tragic accident," James announced.
Hold up! What? He...wants me dead? Why? What's going on? Ugh, why can't my mind fucking function right now? Tell me what’s going on!
"But Sir, the watch? And the blue crystal. It's supposed to be in the office," the first man exclaimed.
"I'm aware of that, idiot. We don't have time. The Emperor has been informed of the ambush and probably sent his son over to check out the damage. We'll just have to search for the others until things settle. I'll go back and retrieve it during Crimson's funeral arrangements. I'll have access then," James explained, sighing deeply.
"As for the watch, one of those pathetic men must have it on them. Maybe that grumpy Kitsune shifter. Storm Yuna always seemed to favour him. I'll deal with him when the time is right."
I wanted to scream and fight the darkness that was clawing at my mind, but I was struggling to stay awake. I must have been in a car or something.
A closed space wouldn't help me. If I waited until we reached the mountains, maybe I'd have a chance. I didn't need to be able to think clearly to know James was now my enemy. He wanted me dead and would use my death to his advantage to suck up to my father and mother and enter our home to search for the crystal.
I was thankful for my quick thinking placing a spell on my jacket, but it wouldn't be very helpful if I was dead. I needed to think of a plan and fast. If we were headed to the mountains, there was no doubt we'd be going through the blizzard section.
James said he'd let Hakua know...which means he won't be going himself. He's probably going to let these two take me there to dump my body and leave.
With how evil he sounded, I figured he wanted these two to go and get lost in the blizzard and die with me.
"Sir, how will we get back?" the second man asked.
"You two are wolf shifters. Use your damn instincts. Those tales of being unable to find your way back out of that place are for humans. You guys won't have any problems," James huffed.
I knew he was lying. I'd known
him long enough to tell from the defensive tone in his voice that his words were untrue. These men were walking into a death trap, with me in tow.
"Yes, Sir. We'll do as you ask," Henchman One confirmed.
"Good. Get ready, we're almost there," James announced.
I heard footsteps and was actually thankful I couldn't move or I would have been trembling in fear. I felt something brush against my cheek. I was mostly numb, but I felt the slightest pressure of something pressed against it.
"Why couldn't you remain the caged bird you were? Now I have to take responsibility for this mess. Dammit, Crim," James whispered and I felt something soft press against my lips.
I wished I could cringe at the cool touch of his lips; I felt something inside me growl in anger. An image of my Kitsune flashed into my mind and I could see her rage and impatience as she had to wait for us to make our move.
We won't die without a fight. I promise.
She stopped growling and slowly sat back down in my mind, but her glowing pink eyes continued to glare forward, as if James was right in front of her instead of above us, kissing me like we were still together.
"You always wanted to be free. You even got this feather tattoo to prove it. It’s sad you'll never understand that freedom has consequences. You wouldn’t be facing your death if you stayed in your cage of painting and remained hidden. But it's okay. You'll be free from your boring life and out of my way. Hah. You're just as foolish as Storm Yuna," he chuckled.
I felt Storm's magic flicker at the insult and it took everything in me to tame its rage. My own power was hard enough to hide. I had to stay focused on the new plan. That would be the only way we would survive this.
"We're here, Sir!" Henchman One announced.
James sighed and I felt what I believed was his thumb brush my cheek in what would have been a soothing gesture, if I hadn’t been so creeped out.
"Farewell, Crimson Storm. I wish you had the chance to find out who you truly were and learn of the lies you grew up believing. Oh well. Maybe in your next life," James whispered. His hand left my cheek and I felt my body being lifted.
"Make sure she's deep within the blizzard. There should be some sort of cliff there. Drop her over it just to be sure she's dead. Don't fuck this up, boys," James warned.
"Yes, Sir!" the two men replied in unison.
I was given to one of the henchmen and was thrown over his shoulder like a rag doll.
"Farwell, Crimson Arashi," James hummed.
I wished I could say something, anything to show my burning anger, but doing so would give away my hand and I wouldn't let him win. I couldn't.
Facing the reality of death was hard. But this level of betrayal was the motivation I needed to fight for my life. He thought he had the last laugh. But I would be victorious. I would survive this and my men and I would hunt his ass down and show him how dangerous a caged bird can be once freed.
He'd regret ever loving me.
~STORM YUNA~
EIGHT WEEKS EARLIER:
"Storm Yuna. A pleasure for you to be here."
I kept my facial expression blank and nodded my head ever so slightly. I'd rather have sliced his throat with my katana, but with my hands tied and these two imposter guards cloaking my restraints, no one would see I was being led astray against my own will.
I was taken into the building and we made our way to the courtyard. The crisp, cool air did nothing to cool the burning anxiety and anger pulsing within me. I couldn't do anything though or my men would die.
They were in a meeting that had been bound by magic. If I didn't obey their request, the magic would be set off and all six men that I loved would be gone.
The only way for them to live was for me to die.
"It's such a shame to have you in this predicament, Ms. Yuna, but you should be aware of what happens to people who want to instill peace in the world. There are many examples to choose from, but they all have one thing in common."
I looked up at the man with white eyes and watched the cynical smile form on his lips.
"Death," he whispered, followed by a sickening laugh that hurt my ears and sent my spirit animals into a frenzy inside me. They knew death was upon us and it pained them to see me meet my end.
I wouldn't let them perish. They would be locked in my pocket watch and be sealed there. I only knew one person who'd have the potential to open it, but I had no idea how she'd be able to acquire my watch in time.
"Now, let's get this over with. The meeting should be over with soon. Don't worry, Ms. Yuna. I'll keep my promise. When you stop breathing, your men will walk out of the boardroom unharmed. Well, physically that is. I can only imagine the pain your death will have on them. Oh, the joy of watching someone’s pain; it makes me feel marvelous. After this, Nokamato will fear change." The man laughed yet again and I bit my lip hard.
I couldn't believe how foolish I'd been. I should have gone with them. But for the sake of peace, something we'd been fighting to achieve for years, I let myself get distracted and had fallen into the worst trap imaginable. We reached the middle of the yard and the guard with red eyes forced me to my knees.
He walked around me once then stood before me, pulling out his long sword.
"The Master and I have this handled. Go back to the site and make sure everything goes smoothly. Once we've finished and I arrive back home, call me and tell me the news. I'll make sure everyone else is aware of her death," the red-eyed man instructed; the other guard bowed and ran back into the building.
He smiled when his eyes scanned my body and the tip of his sword gently ran across my left cheek. The sword was sharp enough to slice my skin with ease and my blood coated the silver blade.
He lifted it up to his lips and his sinister smile widened as he slowly licked off the blood.
"I always love to have a taste of my victim's blood before they die. It's like a silent commemoration of their life before it’s taken by me." He grinned and it made me want to vomit.
"Ah, James. This side of you freaks even me out. I'm surprised your girlfriend hasn't found out about who you really are," the white-eyed man said casually as he rested on the bench a few meters away.
"Crimson? Tsk, she's a fool. A pathetic human who can't even figure out that her powers were locked away. It's only a matter of time. She's getting sicker with each birthday that passes. You know the drill. If five years have passed and the shifter hasn't been reunited with their birthright weapon, they'll die. Her twenty-third birthday is approaching. Once that hits, she'll bleed from the inside out and die. Then they'll realize who she really was and the power will already be lost," James sighed dramatically and returned to stare at me.
"Too bad, don't you think? She would have been stronger than you. Having two Kitsune shifter parents, both with SS magic affinities. She'd surpass you with just her awakening. She could have helped you achieve this peace you desperately crave for," he mocked.
Crimson! The Sealed One that I bumped into during my run. She...maybe she can save them?
James pointed the tip of his sword at my pocket watch that hung on my neck. "Imagine if your powers were combined. To think of Storm Yuna, the strongest mage of our time with her beloved guards and Crimson Arashi, the strongest Kitsune shifter with her cherry blossom power. To think such a pretty weak name for a power could actually be a deadly skill to have. Weird how nature works," James shook his head and sighed.
"Hahaha. I can't believe twenty-two years have gone by and no one has caught on yet. I love how frantic Konashi is. I bet he wishes he was the actual father. What a shame," White Eyes said.
"What do you mean?" I interjected, confused by the hidden meaning of their words.
James smirked and tilted his head, his eyes twinkled with excitement. "Crimson Arashi is not the daughter of Konashi. She's not an Arashi at all," James revealed.
"But... that's..." I trailed off. I'd known Mosuki Arashi since I was a child and there was no doubt that the woman I met during my run was he
r child. Even their eyes were identical.
"Ah. Curious little Storm. Since you won't be breathing for much longer, let me let you in on our little secret," he mocked.
White Eyes laughed.
"Mosuki was forced to marry Konashi. You know the sad realities regarding arranged marriages and all that. But she was already pregnant with baby Crimson. I wonder by whoooom?"
I returned my attention back to James who rolled his eyes. "It was rather obvious. Mosuki was head over heels with her partner in crime. Does the name Hotaka Jiyuna ring a bell?" James hummed.
My eyes widened and I now understood what they meant in their assessment of Crimson. Both parents were astonishing mage fighters and Kitsune shifters at their best.
"Wait...you’re not saying—" I realized, but screamed as James sword was driven through my chest.
He smirked as he hovered over me. "Yes, Ms. Yuna. What happens when two Kitsune shifters give birth to a female?" he whispered down at me.
I choked as blood began to pour out of my mouth.
"Now, James. She can't speak with a sword in her chest. Not very kind of you. Just tell her." White Eyes laughed and James chuckled.
James chuckled. "You're right. How thoughtless of me." He swiftly pulled out the sword.
I screamed before coughing up the pool of blood that was bubbling up in my mouth.
"Answer, Ms. Yuna," James demanded and I heard the impatience in his voice.
I glared up at him as I spat out more blood. "Nine tails," I choked out.
He smiled, clapping his hands. "Well done. I guess your parents did teach you about our hidden history before they were murdered. How thoughtful of them. At least they won't be alone anymore," James cheered.
"A nine-tailed Kitsune with an SSS magic affinity. Damn. Hey James, what if she had that pocket watch on top of all that?" White Eyes asked curiously.
"She'd be stronger than the Emperor. Her elements are strong enough as is. I can only imagine what force would be produced if that was in her possession," James muttered.
Taming the Storm (Crimson Storm Chronicles Book 1) Page 28
