Chapter One

Chapter One

“Anything Bad That Can Happen, Will”

A scream rent the air of my castle walls in the pre-dawn hours of the morning.  It was shrill and loud, raising my hackles and chilling my blood cold.  It was a scream of terror and pain, and one I would recognize anywhere.  Having heard it many times over the last eleven years, every time my charge would find herself in trouble.

Before I could consciously consider what I was doing, I had leapt to my feet, over the desk in my chambers and was flying down the hall to Rin’s rooms.  Materializing a moment later just outside her door, I was nearly knocked to my knees by the horrible stench that wafted to my nose.  It was vile; like rotten flesh mixed with the petal blossom scent that made up her natural fragrance.  It was enough to make me physically ill.

Rin. 

With the smell of venom laced blood floating thickly in the air, I pushed past the Rin’s frantic handmaiden that met me upon opening her door; blubbering about the end of days.  It was difficult at first to decipher much more than that at the time; the woman was far too upset and that I didn’t fully understand either, until I say Rin with my own eyes.

With a quiet snarl, I brushed past Shiori without the slightest care to her wellbeing.  Rin was all that mattered and my Rin was in danger.  Rin was my only concern.

As I approached her bedside the noxious smell of venom grew stronger, sickening me more with every step.  It was not so much the smell that weakened my stomach or threatened to tear my feet from under me.  No.  The sickness lay within the knowledge that that horrible smell was pouring of my Rin in waves. 

She was so obviously sick that I was furious with the other for not have noticing before now, but mostly I was angry with myself. 

If I had just checked on her.

In the past I had always considered myself a strong demon, a specimen worthy of my bloodline; a demon that feared nothing or no-one.  But in this moment I found myself completely terrified.  My beloved Rin; my reason for living was failing right before my very eyes.

My eyes widened at the sight of her thrashing form.  It was as if she was possessed as her body arched off the bloody linens.  She was sweat soaked and pale.  Her breathing was labored and she seemed to be in great pain.  But most shockingly of all was the human blood that seemed to be releasing itself from her every pore. 

Faster than I thought myself possible I took the space behind her and pulled her back tightly to my chest as I tried still her lashing arms.  She seemed to calm ever so slightly as I assumed she would.   This strange little human always appeared to be comforted by my aura instead of frightened by it.

“Jaken!”  I snapped in my irritation.  I felt completely helpless to the situation at hand; not something I found myself comfortable with and my anger was quickly getting the better of me.

He appeared almost instantly looking bed haggard and rubbing the sleep from his eyes with a tiny clawed hand. 

Worthless, I thought as he stumbled through the open doorway completely oblivious to the goings on within, muttering hatefully about the hour in which he’d been woken.

“Yes, My Lord,”  he bowed as he addressed me without looking, still in a partial dream like state.  “How can this faithful servant be of use—

Rin wailed again, her back completely arcing out of my arms as her chalky pale and cracked lips parted in a scream of agony; deafening Jaken’s groveling.  His eyes bulged at the sight of us both drenched in her blood as I held her and snapping him into action and out of his gaping stupor.

“Rin!”  He yelled, horror lacing his tone as he dropped his staff and rushed to my side. 

As something caught my eye and a low growl rumbled in my chest as I held up a hand for him to be silent.  Two puncture wounds desecrated the beautiful pale skin just above her left breast and I seethed internally as visions danced through my mind; of all the sickening ways she might have ended up with another demon’s fangs in her chest.

There was venom lacing the wound as well; the spidery black veins that sprung from the bite and spread across her chest was enough to tell me that much.  The smell was pungent, vile and upon closer inspection I realized it was the venom of that damnable dragon demon I had slain not but a few hours ago.

My mind raced, question after question as I wondered how I hadn’t realized she had been poisoned.  How I had not realized she had even been bitten was a mystery, one I could only blame on my anger.  I had not been paying attention and had it not been for her screams, she would have died and I would have been none the wiser. 

Jaken was still spluttering about the room, muttering spells and potions under his breath.  He was only trying to think of ways to help but right in that moment nothing more could have grated upon my shaky nerves like his voice.  I couldn’t very well think with his constant jabbering.

“JAKEN!”  I snarled after finally having heard enough.  “Be silent.” 

His mouth instantly clamped shut at my command but before his eyes welled with tears and he started sniffling.  Whether it was for fear of Rin’s death or because I scolded him I decided didn’t really matter, only that he was finally quiet. 

With my mind able to think clearly an old remedy from my mother’s land sprung to thought, it might not work on a human but the attempt was worth it if the results were in Rin’s favor.

“Go to the gardens and instruct Yuri to steep me a tea of Blue Curl.  Then bring me a basin of cool water and some fresh clothing for Rin, the smell of this filthy venom is making me nauseous.”

Jaken remained silent through the entirety of my order and appeared to be calculating it all in his head; possibly trying not to forget anything, but my patience had long since passed and fury was seeping its way into my blood.

A menacing growl emanated from my chest as I let my irritation slip and Jaken gasped. 

“What are you waiting for?  Go!”  I snarled again.  It was a completely involuntary action now, my mate was in dire need of healing and he was standing there gaping at me still.  Should Rin die this night, I feared for the safety of the occupants of this castle, none would survive my rage.

He quickly sprang into action as he bolted through the door and went screaming down the hall, dragging Shiori behind him and barking out orders left and right; sending my castle into chaos.  And yet, I still didn’t care.  Rin was all that concerned me.

It felt like hours had passed as I waited out the return of my vassal and the arrival of Yuri, and yet I knew it had only been moments since Jaken’s departure.  Rin was still violently shaking in my arms like an evil spirit had enveloped her body and was trying to rip its way out through her chest.  Her heart was hammering like the galloping hooves of wild horses and I knew she had to be in a substantial amount of pain. 

In a need to comfort my dying mate, I placed a hand over her heart and she whimpered at my touch.  It was sound I truly never wished to hear from her lips for the rest of eternity. 

As another powerful spasm wracked her body, she screamed again; this time begging me to kill her and spare her the pain.  Her words were slurred and garbled but I understood them well.  She honestly wished to die and it was a token that she didn’t have much time left.

She couldn’t have known that killing her was something I could never do.  For how could she when I had never even breathed a word of my affection for her.  It made me despair, for now I might not ever regain that chance. 

Please don’t die, I silently begged.  For someone who had never begged for anything in his lifetime, I would bend upon knee to the lowest human if they could just save her.  I would beg now.  I would beg for her life and give mine if need be, for I couldn’t imagine a world without her sweet smile or the bell like sound of her song. 

It was then that I saw the blood streaming from her eyes like a river or red pain and I knew then, that I was out of time.  I had but one choice left and I prayed it wouldn’t kill her. 

I prayed to every deity and even my long absconded father that this last hope would bring her back to me.  It did not anger me as I thought it would to beg my father for help and I surmised that it was because I understood him now; understood how he could have ever let a mortal steal his heart.

As I said my last prayer, I pulled myself away from Rin’s body to lay her gently on the soaked surface of her bed and loomed over her prone form before I bit into the supple skin of her breast.  For long minutes I worked, pulling and spitting the toxic bile from her body; all the while raging at the blood memories I found there.  She had suffered so much while in the captive hands of that retch from Takada and it was I who failed to bring her home safely. 

As I continued to suck at her soft and heated skin, she let out weak sigh in what I believed to be pleasure.  Could it have been that she felt such desire from my touch that she would openly express it even in her pained state?

I would have to think upon that a later time.

Jaken and Yuri rushed in just as I was spitting the last mouthful of vile waste from her system.  Jaken seemed almost sickened by the sight, and a sight I’m sure it was.  But Yuri; one of my long trusted and faithful servants – looked to me with affection and some emotion I couldn’t quite place.  It was almost as she was proud of me.

As heartwarming as this moment should have been, I was getting irritated again by their standing about.

“What are you two fools doing?  Bring me what I have asked for!”  I growled. 

They seemed startled by this and they snapped into stride; quickly rushing to my side with the commodities I demanded.

Rin had long ago stopped screaming but her breathing had gone labored and her heart was unsteady and slow.

My Rin was fading.

Lifting her up, I retook my position at her back and brought the steaming cup of liquid to her lips as I silent begged her to drink.  She would not.

“Please,”  I audibly begged.  “Drink for your Lord.”

A weak smile ghosted across her lips as her eyes struggled to remain open and she croaked out,  “Anything…for you.”

Gagging at the tonics bitter taste, she managed to drink it down and all we could do was wait.

“It isn’t working, My Lord.”  Jaken cried in a near whisper as he slumped against the wardrobe at the far right of the room, obviously wanting to come offer his comfort but too terrified to approach.  It was by far the smartest thing I had ever seen him do.  There was not a possible way to predict how I would react to anyone who threatened the tranquility of my den.

As his words reverberated through my mind, reality crashed down upon me like boulders from the sky.  It wasn’t working.

Just as I finished the thought, Rin rose up and with her body came the tea of the Blue Curl as she violently expelled the potion and what seemed like the last of her human blood with it.  She fell back harshly onto my blood-soaked chest and heaved her final breath.  Her skin had turned ashen in a matter of moments, and her eyes that had been so warm and full of life were now black as coals and were as dead and lifeless as she was.