Reborn (20 page)

She stopped and looked into the mirrored wall, gazing at her own reflection as a completely different person gazed back. The dazzling reflection looked like her, but she had no connection with this person’s feelings, no intimate memory of who she was or were to go from here. Her reflection showed a complete stranger.

Hearing the loud clanging coming up from behind, she quickly turned away and wiped her eyes.
I must never show weakness
.
It is unforgivable
. The less-than-stealthy beast creaked and clanged as the steel-shelled beast rolled up to her. ���What do you want?” she growled, her back to the boachard. The high-pitched sounds of grinding metal filled the hall as it rose up to its full height. For a fleeting moment, the unstable woman considered taking its life, just for the crime of approaching her at a bad time. She never really needed a reason.

Its thick pink whiskers flopped up and down as it jabbered away, squawking nonsense at her. “Hashiki?” she said, forgetting all about her urge to kill. “Very well, let him know I’ll be there soon.” The loud clanging rang out as the monster folded back down, then noisily rolled back the way it came.

Just like that, her readiness to kill had been replaced by curiosity, but such was the nature of the unpredictable being. “I better go see what he wants,” she mumbled, an odd feeling tugging at the back of her mind.
He never asks for me unless it’s urgent
.

The brief distraction was just what she needed, a feeling of purpose and direction, even if only temporary. She came to the red-tiled stairs, then lifted her dress a few inches before skipping up two steps at a time.
Best to slow down and not seem so eager. After all, he is the one who serves me
.

At the top of the steps, she moved to shoulder open the thick door, but hesitated for some reason. She shook her head before knocking lightly.
What is wrong with me? I’m losing my nerve. The imp serves me, not the other way around
. After only a few seconds, she barged in as originally intended.

As usual, she cringed at the bright yellow walls, which looked even brighter against the dark, red-tiled floor. Gold and silver chains hung down from the red ceiling, each ending in a glass sphere with a blue glowing creature bouncing around aimlessly. She snarled at them, deciding right then and there she wanted them all dead. As usual, no reason was needed.

The broken little creature hobbled up to her, its thin, crippled arm pressed flat against its chest. It cooed and gurgled, looking up at her pleadingly with large dark eyes through its glass mask. “What is it, Hashiki? What did you want to tell me?” purred Morita as she scratched behind his large pink ears. She had to admit, as much as she wanted to be mad at the world, she couldn’t find a single reason to take it out on this faithful little creature. It had never shown anything but loyalty, and always proved to be very useful.

After a questioning gurgle or two, she removed her hand and stood up straight. “No,” she said firmly, her purring voice suddenly turning to ice. “I came alone. I have no idea where he is, nor do I care. Probably attempting to satisfy his gluttonous needs, with little success, I would imagine.” The little creature grinned, making her take a step back. He never did that, and it made him look...mischievous.

Wearing that odd-looking smile, he motioned for her to follow. She accompanied him as he hobbled over to his three-pronged crystal figurine. It twinkled tiny flecks of blue light as they approached, reflected directly from the hanging globes. He poked at it excitedly, urging her to place her hands as she had done once before.

When the two of them placed their hands at its base, it proceeded to give them its familiar light show of green and blue. After a short time, the swirl of color shifted and smoothed, forming the moving image Hashiki wanted her to see.

“It’s her,” she whispered softly, intrigued as the scene sharpened before her eyes. Athel moved swiftly through the forest, holding her string of bags. “The beast master is alone?” Hashiki popped and gurgled in response, before enlarging the image a bit more. Her grin now matched the little creature’s. “So the love-struck human follows like a faithful dog,” she tilted her head slightly, “and what’s more, she’s aware of his presence. Interesting how she feigns ignorance, but it matters not. The feeble human poses no threat, therefore is of no concern.”

She removed her hands, sending the image spiraling back into a swirl of darkness. “She is practically alone and vulnerable now. This is our chance to eliminate the beast. I’ll assemble a number of our forces immedia—”

Hashiki interrupted by waving his hands, gurgling and hissing urgently. She calmly listened to the little creature as he laid out his plan. She nodded her agreement now and then as he chirped away. When he finished, she stood there looking quite amused, rubbing her hands together as she contemplated the details. Then her smile slowly faded as an unpleasant thought occurred to her. “What if he cannot defeat her on his own? That’s certainly a possibility, you know.” The broken little creature let out a hissing laugh, before a final series of pops and purrs. “I hope so too, Hashiki.” She stopped rubbing her hands together and looked him right in the eye. “I hope so too.”

* * *

Jade kneeled at Eric’s bedside, refusing to leave, eat or sleep. Although she would never leave his side, watching him in this condition was almost more than she could bear. His entire upper body was wrapped in white bandages, leaving only his face exposed. His bandage-wrapped chest rose and fell with the raspy breaths of a dying man. Too weak to even cough, she feared that each wheezing breath might be his last.

Nima and Amoshi stood guard at the far end of the room, backs pressed against the wall. They were asked to watch over Jade, just in case her sadness became overwhelming. Kelus feared she might do something stupid. After all, there was little doubt Eric would be gone by morning; no human body could withstand such damage. It was amazing he was still alive now. “Can’t you do something?” cried Jade’s weak, muffled voice, her face buried in her hands. “Are you sure? Can’t you try to—”

“I’ve already told you, dear, burns are different,” said Nima softly. “They are not like other wounds, and Eric’s are so extreme.” She softened her voice even more. “I’m afraid there’s nothing anyone can do. You must...prepare.”

“I will not,” she hissed, eyes bloodshot and tears streaking down her face. “I will not let him—”

A gentle hand touched her shoulder. “Please, dear,” said Nima. “Will you at least go outside and get some air? I don’t think you should just sit here and—”

“If you want to go, then go,” Jade growled. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Nima squeezed her shoulder lightly and shook her head. “Very well, dear. Amoshi and I will be just outside the door. If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to get us.” Jade sat there in silence, eyes fixated on Eric. Nima gave her a subtle shake. “Don’t hesitate.” She turned to leave, followed closely by Amoshi.

Once outside, Nima spun and threw her back against the door in frustration. Smacking the back of her hand against her forehead, she said, “That poor girl. The love of her life has hours to live, yet she still hangs on, trying to convince herself there is still hope. I suppose love goes hand in hand with denial. I tell you, it breaks my heart.”

Amoshi looked at her with disgust. “Breaks your heart,” he scoffed. “That man is no more the Shantie Rhoe than I am. He failed the test, and now you shed tears for a false god. What if—”

“What if that was me lying there?” Nima snapped. She spun away, then softened her voice. “What if it were you? Would I accept the horrible reality any easier, if it turned out you were something different than what others claimed you were? Would that make you any less of a man?” She looked back to the door, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Does it make him any less of a man?”

She gasped when his strong arms slipped around her waist; quivered as his lips kissed up the side of her neck, stopping at her ear. “No, Nima,” he whispered softly. “It doesn’t make him any less of a man, yet it still means he cannot help us. It means...all is lost.” He lightly squeezed her one last time, before turning away and leaving.

She stood there breathless, unable to move, her heart racing with passion, forbidden passion she would never be allowed to taste. Finally able to summon just enough air, she said, “He’s not dead yet.”

* * *

Zhou lay sprawled across his bed, legs spread out and fingers locked behind his head. He yawned loudly, stretching his massive arms out to his side. He had no idea what time it was, nor did he care. With no real reason to get up, laying here all day seemed as good a plan as any.

His opened one eye when the door creaked opened. Morita walked in, followed by Hashiki, limping along behind her. Zhou snarled at the little creature before refocusing his attention on Morita. “Ah, dear sister, have you decided to come to join me at last?” He pushed a rather fresh corpse from his bed. The girl fell lifelessly to the floor, her head twisted, facing her back. He patted the damp, but now empty space next to him, a large grin on his face. “As you see, there is plenty of room. My other guest was forced to leave.”

It took a total effort to force back the swelling rage, white-hot anger threatening to ruin her plans if she lost control.
Patience, Morita. Play his ego; you’re the one in control here
. “We’ve no time for your games, dear brother. You will want to thank me when you hear the news,” she said, fighting to keep her voice cheerful.

“I was hoping to thank you now,” he said, patting the same spot on his bed.

Patience. I must show patience
. “This is no laughing matter, Zhou.”
Must stay calm
. “I’ve found your little pet, the same one that escaped you the first time, but it seems her luck has run out.”

Zhou’s forehead crinkled, looking a bit confused. “The beast master?” he guessed.

“Yes,” she said, feigning excitement, shaking her fists in the air. “We have her exact location, and better still, she is alone. Now is your chance, Brother.” She moved close to the bed and rubbed her hand across his chest, then purred in his ear, “Show that savage what a real man can do.”

He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, still looking confused. “If you’ve got her cornered, then just send a team after that thing.” He thought for a second. “A large team. She is surprisingly dangerous, after all.”

Hashiki began to snicker, cooing and popping while looking up to Morita. Zhou growled, moving toward him with malice etched all over his face, but the redhead sidestepped, cutting off his path. “Well, do you blame him?” she said, rolling her eyes and throwing her hands in the air. “The two of us could hardly wait to tell you the good news, and yet you pass up a golden opportunity to unleash your revenge. To finish what you started before being interrupted by...him.”

Zhou took a step back with a growing look of concern he was unable to hide. “We have several beasts who earn their keep by taking care of these menial tasks, eliminating the minor pests so we can—”

“So you can what?” Morita cut in. “Lay around in bed, ignoring the enemy as she nearly roams free? I thought the mighty Zhou would cut off his own arm for a second opportunity to get revenge on the only person to ever defeat him on the battlefield. The one who traded claws with the mighty Zhou, yet walked away without a scratch.”

He roared with anger, flexing his huge muscles as veins popped out across his neck and shoulders. “That inferior pest did no such thing. That insect never stood a chance against me, nor would it now.”

Morita turned away to hide her grin. “That’s not what the men are saying.” Silence hung thick in the air, interrupted only by Zhou’s heavy breathing. Knowing she had the upper hand now, Morita decided to push it further. “Many believe the woman would prove more that a match for you.” Her smile widened even further. “Others say you have no chance at all.”

He roared again, “Who...who would dare? Why were the traitors not brought to me immediately? I’ll skin them alive and wear their flesh for all to see. I’ll—”

“You’ll what? Wear your wounded pride like a badge of shame? Oh, that should improve your standing with the men.” Hashiki snickered once more, doing his part to help antagonize the narcissistic beast. “I’ve already done what I can to calm their private jokes, more than I should have to, in fact. As we speak, word is already spreading than we’ve found the girl and that their mighty leader is going to finish her off in grand fashion, bringing the remains back for all to see.”

The redhead looked down to Hashiki, a look of disgust plastered across her face. “We shall go ahead and assemble a team, I suppose. I’ll try and have them ready within the hour.” He chirped and gurgled in response. “I have no idea what to tell the men, and I suppose it doesn’t matter anymore.” Her gaze shifted to her enraged brother, who looked as if he would explode. “Go back to sleep, or whatever it was you were doing. I’ll lead them myself just to be sure the job gets done, but I can no longer protect your reputation. Of course they will ask where you are, but I will not provide any answers. Let them make up their own minds, I’m finished defending your cowardice.”

“You will do no such thing!” He marched across the room, snatching his white robe from the corner of the bed, throwing it over his broad shoulders. He picked up a double-sheathed leather belt from the bedpost, and snapped it tightly around his slim waist. With a sharp hiss, he unleashed the two long swords. One would have required two hands for any normal human, but the monster wielded two as if the heavy steel were made of air. With inhuman speed and power, he turned his dresser into a storm of splinters as his arms pumped and slashed in a fierce, whirling dance, then turned back to Morita, breathing heavily with blades in hand. “She is mine and mine alone, send no one else.” Wiry black hair began to sprout from his ears, the burning anger triggering a partial transformation.