downfall in the end? Was Hyakuhei now mistakenly placing Kyoko in the place of his lost love? He wouldnât allow that.
Kyou floated closer to her, dipping his lips to her ear. He didnât want her to fear this. He wanted her to want it. What he used as punishment now was only kindling the fire that would keep her with him⦠forever.
He reached out stroking her hair lovingly. "In order to keep you safe from the demons⦠from Hyakuhei, you have to obey me Kyoko. I do not want to hurt you so I will punish you like this⦠and more if you do not behave."
âThen let me go,â She whispered. âYou say you donât want to hurt me but you treat me no better than he has. Iâd rather have him touch me knowing that he would kill me after, than you touch me not knowing.â
âMy dear Kyoko, I have no desire to kill you. As your guardian I could not⦠it would go against all I stand for. You are meant to be protected by the guardians and I am a guardian. To let you go would only send you away without a guardianâs protection. That I cannot allow. The punishment stands.â He gripped her head between his hands to keep her still and pressed his lips against the top of her head before turning to leave her to think about her punishment.
âHyakuhei is also a guardian,â Kyoko whispered defiantly knowing he could hear her even if he didnât acknowledge it.
Part of him knew she was right but he wasnât about to admit that to her. He wanted to fly into a rage at the mere thought of Hyakuhei touching her as he just had, but refrained. He needed to put space between them in order to keep his own passion under control. He turned his attention to the window.
He could feel demons closing in on his lands from all sides. Had Hyakuhei found out where he was keeping the priestess? No⦠he had only sent them in search of her. He gazed back at Kyoko not wanting anything to interfere. He would stop them before they came any closer to his possessions.
Kyou moved almost too fast for the human eye and when Kyoko peeked up at him⦠he was gone.
Chapter 5 âBlack Wingsâ
Toya looked to the north as he flew. His translucent silver wings danced in the light of the moon, the seemingly delicate feathers fluttering slightly. He needed to find Kyoko as quick as he could. He scanned the area wondering where to search first when the rising smoke in the distance caught his attention.
âA village?â Toya turned in that direction wondering why Kyou had allowed humanâs to even live on his lands.
âKyou hates all humansâ⦠Toyaâs thoughts skidded to a stop⦠âKyoko is human.â His lips thinned with the debatable point.
As he neared the village, he noticed there was too much smoke to just be coming from cooking stoves. The village was in trouble. He quickly scanned the area sensing demons in the midst of the flames he was now seeing.
âWhat were demons doing in Kyouâs territory?â Spreading his senses out beyond just the village, Toya realized demons where crossing the boarders of the northern lands in several places⦠not just here. The color of his eyes shattered into molten silver.
âHyakuhei⦠he knows Kyoko is here somewhere,â Toya spat the words angrily as he heard the humanâs scream below him. âDamn it! I donât have time for this,â He growled even as he drew his daggers intending to rid the small village of the beasts before they could do any more damage.
Toya flew over the village and abruptly pulled his wings in close⦠the feathered appendages vanishing as he landed on one knee in the center of what appeared to be the village square. Lifting his head, he snarled at the demons closing in around him.
âLooks like most of the human population hightailed it,â He growled and stood up, twirling the daggers between his fingers. âCome on you bitches. Letâs see how you stand up to me!â
Toya smirked when two demons came at him from opposite sides. He waited until the last moment before ducking out of the way forcing the two of them to run into one another, bashing their foreheads in their excitement to catch him. Placing his hands on the ground, Toya kicked his legs straight up, nailing each in the chin to send them sprawling.
âJust as stupid as always,â he murmured already bored. A hideous looking demon swooped in from above and Toya rolled away, barely missing its sharp talons in his back. Rising to his feet, he leaned back just in time to miss the claws of another demon⦠losing several strands of hair and getting his shirt ripped in the process.
He plunged his ice dagger into the demonâs chest and felt a surge of satisfaction when the monster turned to ice with the weaponâs power. A hot burning sensation inflamed his left side making him cry out in pain and anger. The flying demon had returned and dug its claws in just below his ribs. Pulling the dagger out of the frozen oneâs body, he tapped the fire dagger against his lips and turned to the demons that didnât realize it had just signed its death warrant.
His lips parted slightly reminiscent of a kiss and fire burst from his mouth torching the winged demon. Spinning gracefully on one foot, Toyaâs right foot came around striking the frozen demon⦠shattering it.
âThatâs gonna be messy when it thaws out,â Toya said with a touch of pride.
Turning toward the rest of the demons gathered, he brought the daggers up swiftly and dropped into a fighting stance. His senses were alive with the thrill of battle and he was getting some of his frustrations out. Each demon around him started to change and he was suddenly seeing Kyou standing in their place.
âOh you are just LOOKING to royally piss me off!â he exclaimed.
The remaining demons attacked simultaneously as Toya crouched, readying himself for the onslaught. Claws and steel met resulting in a bloodbath that left Toya soaked within a few moments. His clothing was ripped as the enemy dug their claws into his flesh but Toya didnât slow down.
Had anyone been watching, they would have witnessed Toya in his battling glory. Despite the wounds on his body and the blood spilled, he was beautiful to behold⦠when his silver wings shattered into existence, he became the essence of a lethal angel.
The attacks suddenly paused and Toya came to a stop. He was now kneeling on one knee with his arms extended out to the side⦠the daggers clutched tightly in his grip. His breathing was heavy and his ebony and silver hair fluttered in the breeze. Long bangs hung down over his intense silver eyes nearly hiding their intent.
After a few moments of silence, the remaining demons surged forward and Toya growled in frustration. It was time to end this⦠this was Kyouâs job to take care of his lands for crying out loud. Bringing the daggers forward, he crossed them in front of him. The combined power of the weapons swirled and writhed forming a glowing orb. The sphere began to grow and soon encompassed him completely.
The following explosion wiped out everything including what was left of the village. Toya lowered the daggers and slowly but gracefully rose to his feet. Tilting his head back, he stared up at the sky that was mostly obscured with dust and debris. Ignoring the stench of burning flesh around him, he walked across the now barren ground thanking whatever gods were up there that no humans had been alive upon his arrival.
âThis is what weâre reduced to,â he thought sadly. âDestroying villages just to stop Hyakuheiâs sick and demented schemes.â
Toya sighed and his wings once more burst from his back, lifting him above the polluted ground and high into the night sky. Kyoko was waiting for him to rescue her and he was determined to find her. As he vanished into the night, a single silver feather floated to the ground and landed in the hand of a small child who had hidden and witnessed it all.
As the small fingers closed around the shimmering feather⦠it vanished.
*****
Hyakuhei