“So you really don’t believe you belong here?” Vincent said causing that question to echo around the room and reach all the rock carved ears of at least thirty women. What did he expect me to say, of course I didn’t feel like I belonged in this fairy tale dungeon. Even as I thought it he was looking me up and down and I followed his line of sight. Ok so maybe in this dress then, yeah I did kind of fit the part but in reality…
“Give me your hand, Keira.” I did as I was told even before I thought about what I was doing. It was one of the gifts the Dravens all possessed, utter compliance without even thinking about it!
He led me over to an opening by the door and the hole in the stone reminded me of something out of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. I tried to pull back when he proceeded to place my hand in the dark opening but with one arched eyebrow and a look that made me feel like a scolded child I was doing his bidding.
“When you feel a piece of metal shaped like a handle bar then grab it and hold on with your palm flat against it.” I did as I was instructed and felt for the cold bar and as soon as I located it I gripped on tight.
“What now?”
“Now, you hold on tight and we wait for the door to recognise you as being one of us.” I whipped my head round to face him,
“What do you mea…Arrh!” I shouted but then screamed as the metal pricked me again. I yanked my hand away and saw five little pin pricks on the tips of my fingers. I sucked the blood off and scowled at Vincent.
“Next time I think I’ll let you open the door!” I said, frowning down at my hand. I heard Vincent laugh before taking my hand in his. He kissed each of my digits and didn’t take his eyes from me the whole time. I noticed more of my blood smeared along his lips with every kiss.
“You were very brave and I think I made my point.” He nodded behind me and I saw the iron strips being released on one side and swing down one by one in a synchronized motion. When the door had released of all its metal locks, which now hung motionless by the sides the door, it parted and opened for us to enter.
“I did that?”
“Your blood did. So you see Keira, you are more like us than you may think.” I flinched at remembering why that might be.
“Thanks to Draven, is what you really mean.” I said stopping him in his tracks just before the door. The bright light coming from behind him haloed around his figure making him appear ever more the Angel he was.
“Ahh, so you are angry with him?” I shook my head and really wished I could see his face but with the light coming from the opening it put all his features in shadow.
“Not angry but hey, how do you know what happened, did he tell you? Does he think I’m angry at him?”
“And why wouldn’t you be? I knew keeping the importance of your immortality from you was unwise. He and I disagreed.” I hated the idea of them arguing over anything, let alone it being a conflict about me, but when he said the word immortality it caused little bumps to break out over my body.
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“The truth…?” I nodded, not knowing if I actually wanted to hear the grim truth.
“He didn’t think it was your choice to make. You belong to him. You’re his and he is yours. He simply did not see any reason against making it for longer than one lifetime. Do you?”
“I...I… would have at least like to be asked, given a choice. Those still belong to me you know!” I said with a bit of a bite.
“And that is precisely what I told him. You are right, your choices still belong to you, but well, Draven is hot headed and has ruled everyone he has ever met, that is until you came along, so cut him some slack, he is still learning, Keira.” He didn’t say this with anything but love for his brother and caring concern which I couldn’t disagree with. He was only trying to help, which made the flirty attention he showed me sometimes make his words all the more confusing as to why he would act the way he does around me. I mentally shrugged my shoulders and decided not to look too much into it.
We walked into the room and I had to close my eyes and was thankful for Vincent’s guidance as I was momentarily blinded. I think we rounded a corner and stepped into another room because now a noise could be heard that sounded like swords clashing together.
“Great, now he’s at it with Takeshi!” Vincent said with exasperation. I blinked a few times and my vision slowly came back to me which awarded me a sight enough to make any woman swoon. We stepped up to a balcony that wrapped around the room below. It was obvious what it was used for even without the evidence in the form of two very male figures fighting in the middle. It was a training room and all the walls were covered top to bottom with weapons of every style.
There were daggers and swords of different sizes splayed out in a deadly dome against one wall and in between each blade was a throwing star. Another wall had metal rings attached which held an arrangement of spears, all different lengths and different styles. Some with red hair hanging from the blades that looked African. Others, where the blades were a wavy design at the end of poles covered in some animal hide. These also ranged in various sizes.
Then there were the more practical weapons that were arranged all along different stands on the floor that were better suited to training. Wooden staffs, that at least wouldn’t take off limbs with the flick of a wrist, all stood waiting to be used. Of course the danger wasn’t lacking in this section, as there were always the numerous sets of samurai swords that went up in three sizes. They seemed to be the most popular choice as the whole of the training room had a Japanese feel. With the bamboo flooring and cream coloured walls decorated with what I could only imagine to be Japanese symbols on the tapestries. These were in long red strips that hung ceiling to floor in between each section of weaponry displayed.
The more exotic looking weapons were displayed on the largest wall behind the fighters and opposite to where we stood above. I shuddered at the thought of ever seeing any being used on the human body and the irreparable damage they would do. There were axes, clubs and maces, all looking more deadly than the rest, always one bigger, sharper and with more spikes. Even sickles hung there, that looked more for agricultural uses. Blades of so many shapes and sizes, made from a wide array of materials, looked so pristine that they could have come straight from the hands that made them. The collection was vast and no doubt expensive as there was more than one piece that looked made of solid gold, encrusted with sparkling gems and diamond tipped.
And there, in the middle of such destructive instruments stood the man, who not only owned the room, but every being in it. The crowd sat around the edges of the matted area which took up most of the room and watched as two men circled each other holding the longest and most deadly Samurai swords I had ever seen, firmly in their grasp. Two hands held onto the grip part of the sword that was long enough to accommodate both fists. Both held their weapons at different angles, Takeshi in protective stance with his blade shielding his body from a blow to come, while Draven just looked as though he was getting ready for the kill with his blade held in front of him. I was no expert but from the looks of both men they looked as if they had been doing this since the first samurai sword was even created.
I looked down at the man who loved me and in that second saw an equal part of him that could so easily hate. A terrifying thought, when faced with Draven as a man. A horrifying thought when faced with Draven as a demon. But facing both Dravens wielding a blade…
That left me shaking.
Chapter 15
Angels, Demons and the Blades in Between
I think at that point my mouth had actually stopped working and wouldn’t stop from hanging open staring at the most delicious male specimen on the planet. Draven stood with his legs slightly apart wearing only a pair of black, very wide trousers that looked to be authentic martial art, fighting gear and he had crimson coloured strapping wound tightly around his hands that crisscrossed through his fingers, completely covering his fists, stopping at the wrists. And that was i
t.
Draven’s naked torso looked so pumped and primed full of muscles I ached to trace my fingertips across every one and that, combined with a thin sheen of sweat, made him look like the ultimate fighting god! His arms tensed as he gripped the sword tighter and the action caused a ripple of muscles to flex. He had his hair tied back from his face in a thick leather thong making his cheek bones look more defined giving him a harsh, sterner look of a man ready to do some damage. He looked so hard, so strong and so unbreakable I felt sorry for his opponent.
“What’s that he’s wearing?” I asked in a croaky voice not being able to take my eyes off Draven’s powerful form.
“It’s called a Hakama which is traditional wear in Samurai fighting but whatever you do, don’t tell him it looks like a skirt.” He laughed to himself and I could see where it would look like a long black skirt if Draven’s legs hadn’t been parted.
“旧友準備ができて？” (Means ‘Ready old friend?’ In Japanese) Takeshi asked in a smooth elegant voice that held no fear. They circled once more when Draven’s eyes started to glow before he spoke.
“持っていけ” (Means ‘Bring it!’ in Japanese) And then it started.
Draven ran at Takeshi and as their swords connected I jumped. Takeshi had deflected his blow and bent in half at the pressure Draven put on his blade. Then he flipped his body over and the force pushed Draven back. Takeshi spun in the air twice before landing on his feet. He swiped the floor with his sword before bringing it back up and around in the air over his head in a large arc before bringing it down full force at Draven.
Draven deflected it with a loud clash and spun round on one foot before attacking Takeshi’s back but another clash of steel saved him from injury. I couldn’t help but flinch with the sound every time the blades connected and should really have closed my eyes but it seemed like an impossible task when Draven was dominating a room.
They both spun again and it looked more like a well synchronized dance than the deadly game they were both playing. The room was silent although there was at least fifty people all sat round waiting for their turn. I could even see a few bloody faces already, where they had met with Draven’s fury. Then my eyes spotted Zagan’s pale form slumped over slightly, with Sophia at his side looking mighty hacked off at her brother. No wonder, as I could see from here the trickle of blood that was a stark contrast to his snowy albino skin.
Then an almighty clash brought me back to the fight. Draven stood to, his hips twisted and his sword down by his leg with the blade pointing at the floor by his foot, he stood looking ready for Takeshi’s next move. He nodded his head and Draven’s blade twisted with the slight flick of his wrist which caused the reflection of the light to momentarily blind Takeshi. Draven took advantage of his dirty trick and went at Takeshi’s head, blade raised high but Takeshi dropped his body to near splits and raised his sword over his head to protect himself against the oncoming blow. They stayed in this position fighting each other’s strength when Takeshi couldn’t take any more and dropped down further spinning to get away from Draven. He jumped back up using only his back muscles in a flip.
That’s when things turned supernatural. Takeshi brought his blade to his lips and licked the length leaving a blue flame in the wake of his tongue. Draven took another stance, legs far apart and sword held in front of him with the blade pointing to the ceiling.
“そうなんですか？” (Means ‘Is that so?”) Draven said, raising an eyebrow at his opponent.
“時のニーズはわが主なければなりませんか” (Means ‘When needs must my Lord’) Takeshi said before bowing his head in deep respect. Draven gave a short nod back and spoke in what I imagined was perfect Japanese.
“非常によく、古いマスター” (Means ‘Very well old Master) then he let go of the sword’s grip and held it with only one secure hand. He rolled his neck in a wide arch and the click of his spine seemed to echo in the silent room. I watched on in amazement as his back muscles tensed and I could then see the faint purple coming out in his veins as it travelled its way down his arm that held the sword. It seemed to get brighter the further down it went and by the time it reached his hand it was glowing in angry pulses through his skin, until suddenly it erupted into flames and his hand started to fuse itself to the blade in what looked like cooled lava. I took a startled step back but felt Vincent behind me keeping me from going anywhere.
“It won’t be long now.” He whispered in my ear as they started once again circling each other.
“Doesn’t he know I’m here?” I whispered back.
“No, he can’t feel your presence like this, nor can my sister.” He didn’t need to explain. I knew the reasons why and they were the same ones as to why he couldn’t touch me.
“Watch!” Vincent said nodding over my shoulder back at the two fighters that now each held a flaming Samurai in hand. Takeshi’s grip tightened while Draven didn’t even need to grip as it had now become a part of him. I swallowed hard and watched in horror as Draven once again ran at Takeshi who was swinging his sword in a figure of eight pattern in front of Draven, causing my eyes to blur from the effect. It was both a beautiful light show and a death defining move…and Draven was running straight at it with sword in one hand. I almost couldn’t look.
However, just before getting too close to the flying blade, Draven leapt into the air and spun to land behind Takeshi’s back, once there he kicked him sending Takeshi flying forward. Takeshi righted himself before he fell and came charging at Draven, flames held high. They both hit the weapons together and the fire in both joined and sparked with each other, both feeding from different sources of power.
Takeshi swung his blade around in a full circle just missing Draven by a hair’s breadth as he doubled over backwards, arching his body in a painful looking way. Draven then pushed himself back upright with one arm and took a sidestep to catch Takeshi on the arm with the end. It left a slice in his arm but he didn’t even flinch. Blood ran down his embroidered training wear but because it was black it could only be seen because it looked wet from the tear in his sleeve. He threw up his sword and caught it with the other hand preparing to fight with that one instead.
Things got unbelievably faster and it became difficult to keep up and with one quick turn Draven had the upper hand and with his free hand pulled Takeshi by the shirt and brought his head down on his face in a dirty looking head butt. Takeshi’s nose exploded and he staggered back. He shook his head and spat the blood from his mouth to the clean floor leaving a shocking spray of crimson. Takeshi tilted his head and Draven gave him a deadly smile.
“Needs must my friend!” He said to Takeshi, causing him to smile in return. They both nodded and this time Takeshi ran at Draven with everything he had, having lost some of that cool exterior. Draven waited until the last second before turning to the side, catching Takeshi by the wrist and with a quick and ruthless snap, his hand dropped the blade. Takeshi didn’t cry out or even hold his broken hand, no he just came at Draven as his other hand started to transform into long and deadly talons like a giant bird of prey. But before he could take a swipe at Draven he kicked up Takeshi’s fallen blade from the floor caught it in his free hand and put the two flaming blades to the floor behind him. He then threw his body weight backwards and kicked both his legs out at the same time that landed so hard in the centre of Takeshi’s chest you could hear his ribs cracking.
It catapulted Takeshi backward and he landed hard in the centre of the mats. Draven then ran at him full pelt and jumped in the air bringing both his blade up ready to impale down on Takeshi. I couldn’t stop my eruption when I screamed,
“DRAVEN NO!” But I was too late. I closed my eyes on impact but when I opened them again I saw that there were two swords sticking from the mats, one either side of Takeshi’s head, neither one had touched him.
Draven was kneeling down on one knee over a very still Takeshi with his head looking down. The hair that had come loose from its leather tie fell fo
rward covering his face from view. He started to raise his head slowly looking up and as soon as our eyes met his flashed purple before I saw my name being whispered on his lips. Everyone else in the room was also looking up at me and Vincent.
Without taking his eyes off mine he let go of Takeshi’s sword that was still embedded in the floor and said in a voice loud enough so all the room could hear,
“Remember old Master, to lose your weapon means to lose your head! Everyone is dismissed! GO!” He addressed the room and after they all jumped at his shouted command, they all filed out of the doors underneath the balcony we were stood on. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the ones that needed aid to walk and limped out.
Draven then started to back up and made his sword detach from his fused fist letting it drop to the floor, all the time not letting his gaze unlock from mine. I wondered why he was still backing away from us until he reached the end and started to run back our way. He reached just before where Takeshi was trying to get on his feet and launched himself in the air. I yelped when his hands grabbed the railing and it shook on impact. Then he flung his body over the side and landed on his feet in front of us and once again I found my jaw had gone slack at the sight of him.
“Keira…” He said my name like he had waited a thousand years to say it and when he took a step closer I also took a step towards him but then caught my action and retreated making him raise an eyebrow.
“I can’t touch you.” The words left my mouth before I thought about them and he lowered his head in response. I could see his fists clench by his sides and it looked as though he wanted to rip something open with his bare hands.