A Light In The Heart Of Darkness. Amy Blankenship

me or Kotaro weren't paying attention.” His breath left him with a sob as he swayed for a moment knowing he and Kotaro had both loved her… they had fought Hyakuhei and each other for her. No one had won. “We saw you.”

      â€œKyoko was mine and will always be mine!" Toya shouted, his anger at losing the one he had loved more than air… she was gone. She had been the light in the darkness that his world had become.

      She was the reason he had defied Hyakuhei. Now his reason for defiance was gone and Toya felt the fire in his soul rise to a deadly temperature. He had found her lying lifeless with a small dagger piercing her heart. Deep inside he knew… he and Kotaro had both known... Hyakuhei had somehow killed her.

      Hyakuhei’s black eyes became a shade darker as he gazed upon his brother’s youngest son in contempt. “Ah yes, the elusive Guardian Heart Crystal… such a power does not belong to a foolish child like you. The most powerful beings have searched for the Guardian Heart Crystal… did you think you were the only one dear boy? Not only vampires but also immortals and wizards and even werewolves share in that desire to gather such a power.”

      â€œDo you not realize what would happen if the Lycan had claimed her first?” Hyakuhei’s eyes bled crimson at the thought of Kotaro, leader of the Lycan tribes, gaining such a power. His anger spiked as he remembered the Lycan’s scent on her flesh this same night. He would not stand by and let such a treacherous thing happen.

      â€œNo, careless boy, I have already taken care of the priestess who carried the crystal within her.” Hyakuhei’s eyes hardened at the thought of the small lie.

      In truth… he had not murdered the girl. She had committed suicide to keep him from obtaining the crystal. He’d had her in his grasp, ready to claim the power she held within her. The power the legend spoke of, if it could be trusted… would’ve allowed his darkness to walk within the light… and feed upon it.

      His fingers still tingled from the briefest touch of her skin. He had stood behind her… feeling the heat of her body with his cold hand. Her emerald eyes had turned and clashed with his for a mere second in defiance. He had only wanted a taste. Too late, he’d seen the dagger in her hand as it swiftly disappeared into her chest. He could have turned her and shared it all with her but… she refused his generous offer.

      The brave yet foolish woman had believed that by killing herself, she would lock away the power of the crystal from him forever. Forever was such a long time to try and hide from him.

      â€œShe will be reborn!” Toya screamed in anguish, knowing he had failed at protecting her from Hyakuhei’s wrath. His guilt at not being there to save her was eating him up inside. She had known he was a vampire… a creature of the night… and still she had not turned her back on him. She had befriended him instead. Kyoko had trusted him with her very life.

      Toya’s mind flashed back over the time he had known her… his body falling to his knees as he gripped the ground watching his tears fall. ‘It had not been long enough!’ he silently screamed in denial.

      He had only known her for such a short time; six cycles of the moon. When he had first met her… he had only wanted the crystal… the crystal she hadn’t even known she was carrying at first. But he could see it shining inside her… calling to him. Then something had changed. Toya found himself trying to protect her instead of taking the crystal from her.

      Since she had slammed into his dark world, Toya had found the truth behind the legend of the Guardian Heart Crystal, things even Hyakuhei did not realize. He had wanted to tell his brother the secrets but Hyakuhei had made it impossible for him to find Kyou in time… now it was too late.

      â€œYou will never have its light in the darkness… I will find Kyoko again and keep the crystal from you!” Toya’s voice was harsh with his need for vengeance. “She will live again and I will be there waiting for her.” A lone silver tear slipped down his cheek unnoticed as he yelled, “Together! She and I will find another way to free Kyou from you!”

      Hyakuhei stepped closer to Toya, a dark chuckle coming from deep within his chest. “Oh yes, my dear Toya, she will live again. The crystal will come back into this world and I will be the one to claim not only its power, but the girl as well. As for my precious Kyou… I am sure I can find something to occupy your brother’s time until that day comes.”

      Toya growled low in his throat knowing that was a double-edged sword, “You keep your sick notions to yourself. I’ll find a way to make us normal again. And you… I’ll make you dead!” He ended in a shout as the wind began to pick up, howling wickedly across the clearing.

      The dagger in his hand flashed in an arc of silver light, barely catching the dark robe that graced Hyakuhei’s body. Toya couldn’t believe how fast his opponent was but his brow was furrowed with determination. A second dagger appeared in his other hand and he swung with it, followed immediately by the first.

      Hyakuhei dodged the deadly blades with the centuries of training he’d endured. Humans were such easy creatures to defeat and Toya, though changed, was still very much human in his way of thinking… still a child in a vampire's eyes.

      He would admit that somehow, his protection of the priestess had aged Toya’s power to almost the same level of an ancient. Taking the priestess away from him had served two purposes. Without his reason to fight… Toya’s power had diminished greatly.

      Hyakuhei’s left hand lashed out, somehow trapping both of Toya’s wrists in a crushing grip. Toya had no way to defend himself when the vampire’s right claws cruelly slashed across his cheek.

      Silver eyes clashed with crimson ones for a suspended moment in time as Hyakuhei retracted his claws. His lips hinted at a tainted smile as he reached out to gently stroke the wound he had just given so viciously. “Tis’ a pity to mar such perfection… so much like your brother.” He licked the drops of freshly spilt blood from his finger before adding, “But I cannot have your rebellious love distracting Kyou from me.”

      Feeling his wrists being released, Toya took a step back and tried to block the next attack coming for his torso. He grunted in pain when blood spilled from the gashes left on his chest. Pressing an arm to the wounds, his golden eyes widened as he staggered back and, this time, Hyakuhei let him.

      Toya could feel the broken bones in his wrists grinding against one another and had to concentrate just to keep his daggers from falling to the ground. Looking up at the man he hated more than death, Toya tried to shake off the pain knowing this wasn’t a game… even the undead could die.

      â€œYou foolish child, you thought to save your sibling by killing me? You can barely hold your blades now, much less attempt to take my life.” Hyakuhei sneered then his face turned placid, his anger suddenly gone. The night breeze lifted the ends of his long ebony hair making it look like it was alive.

      â€œYou never had a chance little one. I will help you to rest so that you will feel pain no more.” Hyakuhei murmured, his eyes softening toward the wounded man like a father scolding a wayward child.

      Silver eyes flashed red in anger at his words. “You will never have my brother, you son of a bitch! As long as he has breath in his body, Kyou will not let you win, nor will I!” Toya screamed as he charged at the figure clad in black in a last attempt to save his immortal soul.

      Hyakuhei disappeared in the blink of an eye before Toya’s dagger could penetrate the cold heart hidden deep inside his ageless body. Piercing red orbs gleamed, hungry to spill the blood of the young man who thought to defy him.

      His dark form levitating high above… paused for just a moment before descending to attack his prey.

      Toya’s senses were screaming danger as he felt the approaching threat to his existence but he was not skilled enough yet to pinpoint where his attacker was coming from. He searched