Prologue...
My blood pounded through my veins and my heart was beating out of my chest, yet all I could do was stand there and stare at the demon, furious and starving, in front of me. I was at a dead end, behind me was a ledge that dropped at least a hundred feet. The demon knew that no mortal could survive a fall from that height, which is why he continued upon me, causing me to inch back, closer, and closer, to my death. The wind was bitterly whipping my sleek blonde hair across my face, another advantage for the demon. I was so little, and so young, that I was helpless against it. I was going to die, I thought, die by the hands of someone controlled by my father. Why did he want me dead? Why was he always after me? Ever since mother died he has been after me non-stop, but why?
My thoughts were suddenly broken when I heard the edge start to crumble beneath my bare feet. This is the end I cried in my head. The demon would win. I closed my eyes and tears ran down my cheeks as I awaited my death, but just as the demon swung his arm back, preparing for the swing, I felt a heating sensation emanate from my body like rays shining from the sun. I lifted my head and my eyes flashed wide as I gasped at the sight in front of me. There was a cloud of glowing golden mist, and the demon was crumbling in it. His body was slowly being eaten by the light. I was frozen where I was because I had no idea what had just happened, and then, with another gasp, I watched as the demon fell over the edge. And disappeared. Little did I know, somebody was there. Watching the whole scene….
Chapter 1
That all happened 50 years ago, and I still live on, young and beautiful because I, Kiara Hamakushi, am the daughter of the most powerful goddess in my time, Myanaki. Which made me the most powerful half-demon ever, considering the other half of me wasn’t mortal, it was goddess and I was virtually indestructible. After my mother’s death and my first encounter with my father’s demons, I had searched for the answers to my mind wandering questions. In my training and searching I learned that my father had killed my mother after I was born, in order to obtain the sacred powers she held within to become the greatest demon, but mother, knowing his intent, willed her spiritual powers to me, causing my father to be outdone by his daughter and become furious. Which is why he constantly is deceiving me and trying to lure me into his traps. Try as he might, he still hasn’t succeeded. Half of this is due to the fact that before my mom died she gave me a cloak, woven with her immense power which allows nobody to lay a finger on me unless I am unconscious or I allow them to. It comes into use in hard battles, but my cloak isn’t just for battles, it is like, my mother in a way. It is warm like a mother’s embrace, it is always with me, and it is beautiful like my mother once was. My cloak is a shiny, light, baby blue, and in the sun it sparkles, also it was strong, like my mother.
In the many years, and many hard battles, my cloak hasn’t torn or stained. It still remains the same beautiful and strong cloak as it was 50 years ago. I like to think my mom gave it to me for one of 2 reasons; one, because she wanted me to feel like she had never left me, or two, she gave it so I would live long, and not die a painful death like she did. Either way it makes me feel connected to her, even though she is probably lightyears away from me.
Oh mom, your thoughts before your death still remain a mystery to me. A mystery I will one day solve.
I looked up when I heard something moving in the bushes. I stood there readying myself for battle, but when I heard a little voice coming from the bush, I knew it wasn’t an attacker, it was Nadia, my pet wolf demon.
“Lady Kiara! Lady Kiara!” she said as she ran over to me in her smaller wolf form.
“What Nadia?”
“A demon is coming, but it wasn’t one sent by your father.”
My head shot up and I immediately searched through the trees in the forest. I definitely felt some sort of demonic presence nearby. Only, this presence was different, but before I could figure out how, the many, never-ending, sleepless nights, finally caught up with me, and I collapsed on the cold mossy ground. I would’ve gotten right back up, but the feel of the soft green moss on my cheek and the sun’s warm rays on my back, was overwhelming, and I fell into a deep sleep. The only thing I could remember was Nadia panicking, and then I couldn’t remember anything except my sweet dreams.
Chapter 2
It was nightfall when I woke up. Snow was dancing in the sky outside and someone had brought me to a hut, somewhere deep in the woods. I sighed, probably an old abandoned hut Nadia found in the midst of her panicking. I looked beside me and, sure enough, Nadia was curled up beside me in her smaller wolf form. I looked up at the ceiling and sighed, god, it was so lonely, just me and Nadia. I lived my whole life with nobody but her and yet, Nadia was the one who taught me all my techniques and showed me how to use my powers in battle. I shot up when I heard someone outside. Wow, it suddenly began to feel very cold, and I felt weak, I pulled my cloak tighter around my shoulders and peeked outside. Snow fell from the sky, pure and white as crystal. I stepped outside and looked up. The sky was light, even in the darkness, and I felt as though my mother was looking down on me from her new home in the heavens.
“Oh so you’re awake now?” the voice was that of a boys and I turned suddenly to see who had spoken. I came across a boy outside in the yard. When my eyes fell upon him, my body became weak and I felt powerless. He had black hair and red eyes, a demon for sure. I slowly descended down the front steps and toward the demon. Until I realized he could’ve been sent by my father.
“What is your name?” I asked, authority rang through my voice, showing no signs of fear.
He chuckled, “I save you from demons and the first words I get are ‘what is your name?’ Psh, I could’ve just let you sit there and die.”
I scrunched my face up. “Like I would thank a stupid demon. I can fend for myself perfectly.”
He obviously saw the irritation and hatred, plain on my face because he stopped smiling and immediately said, “Riokotsu. Now may I ask yours?”
“Kiara.”
“Wait, Kiara? As in the daughter of the most powerful goddess ever, Kiara?!”
“Hmph.” I grunted, that was the only person people actually knew me as, Kiara, daughter of the goddess Myanaki.
“Uh sorry I-i…. Never mind.” I was guessing he really had nothing to say after seriously pissing me off. The boy turned around and watched the snow fall from the sky. I wondered… Should he be trusted? He is a demon… My overall moral was that I would hate any kind of demon that reminded me of my father. But Riokotsu was different, if he was working for my father, or was anything like him, he would’ve destroyed me already in order to obtain my powers.
I ignored my thoughts and walked inside sitting down by Nadia. I was trying to decide whether I should wake her up, but Riokotsu walked in.
I didn’t look at him when I asked, “Did someone send you here?”
He paused and then answered, “No. I was simply passing by and saw you laying on the ground. The dog asked me for help so I brought you here to rest. You’ve been out for four days. I thought you’d never wake up.” He smirked, and then it disappeared. “Why do you ask?”
I hung my head and clutched my hands over the amulet around my neck. “Well, my father has been trying constantly to kill me by sending his most powerful demon minions, and I thought, maybe, you were one of them. He was quiet for a minute, and then replied, “I’m not a minion to anybody, nobody controls me as such, so don’t worry about it.”
I nodded and looked over as Nadia began stirring. I took my hand and started petting Nadia, her white soft fur felt nice on my cold fingertips. She started to whine, shook herself, and then got up on all fours. She looked at me, then Riokotsu, then to me again.
“Don’t worry Nadia, I know what he is, which is why I cannot trust him. I’m not mad at you, you did the right thing and went for help.”
Nadia nodded her cute wolf head and then trotted over to Riokotsu. She put her nose in his palm, her way of saying thanks. “She’s saying thank you.”
Riokotsu just looked at me as if saying ok. But for some reason, Nadia wasn’t her usual talkative self. This morning she was being unnaturally quiet. I concentrated and tried to read what she was thinking by looking at her, but my reading power wasn’t working. Nadia is hiding something. There is something she doesn’t want me to know, which is why she blocked my powers from her. That, or my powers weren’t working. Whatever the reason I could tell it wasn’t good. I tried reading her again and my face got all scrunched up. Nadia could probably tell I was trying to read her, because when she trotted back to me she said, “It’s nothing Kiara. Don’t worry yourself.” “Nadia, you are hiding something from me aren’t you?” Nadia stood there and finally replied, “I’ll explain later, for now, just stop trying to read my thoughts before you end up hurting yourself.” Hurt myself? How could I hurt myself by trying to read someone? I looked over to Riokotsu. He was standing against the wall looking, extremely, confused. When he looked at me for information I just slightly smiled and shook my head. Oh my god! Did I just smile at a demon?! I asked myself this and felt instantly sick, so sick that Nadia was able to see the disgust plain on my face. And the boy could too, because when he saw my look of disgust, he rolled his eyes and walked out the door.
When I got up and looked outside Riokotsu was gone, and my body immediately felt stronger. What was going on with that demon. Little did I know, I would find the answer to that question sooner than I’d hoped.
Chapter 3
After Riokotsu left me and Nadia decided to stay at the hut until the snow lightened up. Neither of us wanted to end up catching something and making the both of us vulnerable so we stayed in the hut and prepared ourselves in case of any upcoming battles. Me and Nadia practiced some of my techniques and came up with some great battle strategies and practiced those too, well, at least the ones that wouldn’t destroy the hut. I kept wondering what Nadia was hiding, and what was up with that demon Riokotsu, but I didn’t dare to ask because if Nadia had really wanted me to know, she would’ve told me by now. Besides, it was lonely enough, just the two of us, and I was afraid that if I asked, Nadia would become silent like the other morning and make it all the more lonely. I was a little surprised with Nadia though, because we’ve been together for so long, she’s never hidden anything from me. Ever since I saved her from the demons in the woods. But, like I said, that was many years ago, and people do change. But could they change this much? I already knew the answer. Yes. They could.
It was halfway through our fourth day in the hut, when Nadia decided we needed food. She told me that if she wasn’t back by sundown, that I had to go to sleep and she would be back in the morning, but I wasn’t supposed to search for her. She didn’t want me out at night. Especially alone. I tried telling her that I could go with her, and I wouldn’t be in any danger, but she immediately refused.
So that night I stayed in the hut. Nadia wasn’t back by sundown so I did just what she told me to do, and I slept. I slept the whole night through. Only, when I awoke the next morning, she still wasn’t back. Well, maybe she would be back later, I thought. Or, what if something bad happened to Nadia? I was on the verge of tears when the door to the hut opened and in popped Nadia, covered with mounds of food. I ran over to her and dropped to my knees, holding Nadia in a nice, warm, hug.
“Oh Nadia! I thought something bad happened to you!” I cuddled my face into her soft neck and breathed in the smell of her fur. Hmm… it smelled different. Maybe it was the forest. Oh well, at least she was back.
Nadia whined, dropped the food on the floor, and curled in the corner of the hut where she slept for the rest of the day. I sat there watching her and halfway through the day I found myself curled up against her, sleeping.
I woke before Nadia did, which wasn’t really a surprise considering she must’ve had a long night traveling to get all this food. It all looked great, but I couldn’t eat. I just wasn’t in the mood for eating I guess. I looked outside. Not yet sunset. I was sure it wouldn’t be a problem if I took a short walk, just to get some fresh air. So, with one glance back at Nadia sleeping in the corner, I stepped out into the cold afternoon and walked out into the forest. The further I walked from the hut, the darker the day became, and the closer to the start of my adventure I was.
Chapter 4
The wind was icy, and sounded like the long lasting cries of a ghost. I regretted coming out here without telling Nadia. If she wakes up now and finds me gone, I can only imagine what’ll happen to me when she finds me. I’ll be dead. I can see it now, and it wasn’t a pretty sight. Nadia would be furious!
The darkness was caving in and all I could do was trudge through the snow with my already frozen feet. My body shivered and my teeth chattered. Sure I was cold, but I would just have to stay strong until either, someone found me, or I found my way back to the hut on my own. The second option didn’t seem to give me any hope.
“Ahh!” I tripped on a tree root and fell to the ground, shivering as my body hit the snow with a great forcefulness. With all my strength I grabbed my amulet and stood up.
“Mom! Help me! Even though your dead doesn’t mean you’re useless!” I continued walking. I didn’t know how much more of this I could take, and then I bumped into something warm, or, make that someone. I looked up to see the bright red eyes of Riokotsu staring at me with worry.
“What are you doing out here?”
All I could do was look up at him. I tried to say something, but my lips could only tremble and no sound would come out.
“Wow, you look frozen! I’ll bring you back to Nadia.” with that, he hoisted me onto his back and stumbled through the snow. I just kept still and closed my eyes. How could he be this warm in such cold weather? I didn’t think about it too much though. All that mattered to me was that the warmth was the only thing keeping me alive right now, and, demon or not, I was grateful. My cloak around me was flapping in the wind and each time it snapped back, it stung my skin.
In the same instant my cloak snapped back over my skin again, an arrow shot me straight in the back. I grunted and fell limply off of Riokotsu’s back. The arrow didn’t hurt me, and I could already feel the powers of the robe disintegrate the arrow and heal my wounds. The arrow just, more or less, caught me off guard, which doesn’t come often. I wasn’t sure why, but I didn’t sense this coming. If my cloak hadn’t been over my skin though, the arrow would’ve pierced me directly and ended my life, but luckily, it didn’t.
My head shook as I looked up at what had shot me. Huh? A priestess? Why was there a priestess here? And she was just standing there holding a bow and arrow. Then she stepped into the light of the moon, and my eyes widened.
“Mom!” I cried, “Mom is that you?” Tears poured out of the corners of my eyes. She was an image of my mother. Standing straight, tall, and strong. Even in the cold weather. Her blonde hair whipped around and her eyes looked straight at me, full of hate and remorse. And the amulet she was wearing. I was sure it was my mom, but, mom died many years ago. Was this an allusion? I got up and moved toward my mother.
“Mom!!” my shriek pierced the night like a jagged knife. Riokotsu shook my shoulders as I walked limply toward my mom.
“Kiara! It isn’t your mother! Don’t give into this allusion!
My mom drew another arrow and aimed it at me. The hurt flowing through my chest when I saw this, was worse than it would’ve been if she had struck me directly earlier. And just as she shot it, I heard a long howl and Nadia swooped me and Riokotsu up onto her back. She dodged the arrow and bounded through the forest. I could see the hut up ahead as Nadia continued through the woods, dodging the flying arrows. We were right out front of the hut when Nadia was shot directly with the arrow. She fell to the ground panting, “Kiara, Riokotsu. Get in the hut. Now!”
I shook my head, “No Nadia. I won’t go without you. I won’t lose you here!”
Riokotsu grabbed my wrist with an iron grip and hauled me toward the hut.
“No Nadia!” I screamed. My mother shot another arrow toward Nadia, and right before it struck, I shrieked at the top of my lungs, “Noo!!” My amulet glowed at the sound of my shriek and a bright blue mist covered the entire forest. Riokotsu stood there, stunned as the arrow and my mom’s allusion disappeared in the glowing mist. The arrow in Nadia’s back disappeared too, and her wounds healed.
“I’m so glad, you’re both okay” I said weakly. Tears dripped down my cheeks and my exhausted body collapsed into the arms of the baffled Riokotsu, and shut down.
Chapter 5
“Kiara? Kiara get up! Please!” the voice was distant, but it was definitely Riokotsu.
“Kiara, if you don’t get up right this second, I will drag you by your hair until you do!” Nadia.
I could feel hands and paws shaking me, as I drifted in and out of consciousness. I could feel Nadia’s warm, salty, dog tears on my face, but I couldn’t move or say anything to assure her that I wasn’t hurt.
With Nadia’s last cry, “Kiara!” I drifted back to sleep and I could no longer hear or feel anything. The air in my dream was cold, and images began to take place in the icy blackness. Images from 50 years ago. Painful images that struck me hair and made the hurt from those days, flow through my body.
First image. The day I faced the first demon sent to me by my father. I watched the whole thing. From when the demon first caught up to meat the cliff, to the part where the powers from my amulet obliterated the demon. As I watched this, only one thing caught my eye, the person in the shadows. I tried focusing my eyes to see who it was, but it was too dark.
Next image. It was the scene that had just occurred. The amulet glowed and destroyed what had looked like mom. And again, there was a person in the shadows, but I only noticed him when I saw a blue light come from his amulet. Right before mine.
Why was I seeing these images? Were they trying to show me something?
The two images kept playing and I noticed that the person’s amulet glowed in each one. But who was the person in the shadows? And why was he there?
Before I could figure that out, the images blurred and disintegrated, and I was left all alone in the dark. It was so peaceful, but I was afraid. It was cold and I heard and felt nothing. Then I plummeted out of the darkness and back into consciousness.
I could finally move, and when I opened my eyes I saw the faces of Nadia and Riokotsu. They were both looking down on me with the same emotion. Pity. Could they’ve seen what I saw? No. It was just a dream. Wasn’t it?
I sat up slowly and felt the achy feeling in my muscles. I took a couple minutes to stretch and then I noticed something. Where was my cloak?! In the last image, I didn’t have it on. Had it fallen off after Nadia swooped me and Riokotsu up onto her back?
“My cloak!” My voice was hoarse as I said this with alarm dripping in my voice.
“Where is my cloak?” I stood up and stumbled over to the door. Nadia was the one who stopped me.
“Don’t go out there, it is still night. Me and Riokotsu will go look for it.”
“Ok.” I said sadly. Nadia and Riokotsu walked toward the door, looked at me, and said goodbye. And I was left there alone. Like always.
“Hey Riokotsu,” I asked, “do you think Kiara saw the images of the last two times she used the amulets power?” I looked down at my wolf feet, padding easily through the deep snow.
“Maybe Nadia, but if she did, then it can only mean one thing.”
“Yeah, it means that the next time she uses the power of the amulet, it will determine whether or not she can truly carry out her mother’s will.”
“Exactly. I’m not sure how she is going to figure this out in such short amount of time, but she will have to make a choice eventually. Will she use the 3rd chance of the amulet and destroy her father? Or will she use it on something else?”
“Well, that’ll have to depend on her. She is a smart girl so don’t underestimate her.” My wolf nose smelled the ground as I talked to Riokotsu I already knew where her cloak was, I was just waiting for the right opportunity.
“Yea, I noticed. Remember? I have been around her for almost as long as you have. I think I know how smart she is.”
“Then don’t doubt her. If you believe she is smart enough to figure this out on her own, then don’t hold a single false strand of hope.”
“Right.” Riokotsu coughed. “Let’s go back and tell her we had no luck, but we will keep our eyes open.”
I nodded. Me and Riokotsu both knew where the cloak was. We were just waiting for Kiara to choose her path before we told her. I was already in full wolf form so I looked over to Riokotsu and said, “Hop on demon-boy. Let’s get back to Kiara.”
“Ok.” And with that, Nadia and Riokotsu headed back to the hut, where Kiara was waiting for them.
**This Is All I Have So Far, But When I Finish I will Post The Whole Story(: Please Give Me FeedBack((:
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