Post by doomsdaylee on Jan 24, 2008 15:34:26 GMT -5
Chapter Three
Kai
Morning came all too soon for both Xavier and Mia alike. Xavier blinked as the sun poured from the doorway, into his eyes. He grumbled, standing up. His mind clicked, remembering the Elf he promised to help. He walked out of the room and towards the town’s gate, seeing Kita in beautiful cloth.
“All right, Kita, let’s go.” Xavier sighed, obviously ready to leave the city.
“What about your Human friend?” she asked nonchalantly, as if everyone knew.
“Forget her. She’s not my friend,” he grumbled.
“You’re going to leave a confused Human girl in the middle of a perverted Elf’s home?” She looked at him, as if ready, just curious. “Would the King really like that?” she asked.
Xavier grumbled, turning around.
“Wait here. I’ll be right back with her in tow. Just remember, it was your idea.” He walked back to the bathing area.
“Human, you in there?” Mia opened her eyes, waking to his voice.
“Hm? Oh. It wasn’t a dream.” She sighed, and was about to break down when she heard a voice she was NOT going to cry in front of.
“Human. Wake up! It’s time to go!”
“My name’s not Human for the last time!”
“I know!” he acquiesced. “But, if you want to stay here with an Elf that always has sex on the brain, you can keep yapping at me. Or you can get dressed, shut up, and follow me,” he growled. Within two minutes, Mia had opened the sliding door, fully dry, panting, and clothed, the bag over her shoulder. Xavier smiled.
“I’m a mess,” she complained.
“No more than last night,” he said wryly. Xavier took her wrist, and lead her outside.
Kita tapped her foot impatiently, seeing the two.
“There you are. So you’re the Human he’s been meeting with. What were you doing in the Wyvern’s forest last night?”
“I-“
“Shouldn’t we leave before we get held up more?” Xavier asked before Mia got any further.
“Yeah, let’s go.” Kita turned and began to head out. Xavier walked in front of her, leading them into Wyvern’s forest.
This was uneventful most of the walk, until deep in the forest. Xavier growled to himself.
“What?” Kita asked, her keen Elven ears picking it up as well.
“Someone’s following us.” He paused and listened closely. “Beastia, female, lynx.” His Draconic nose quickly sorting out the facts about their animalistic stalker. He kept watching, looking to the woman, whispering.
“Don’t react; let her keep thinking we don’t know she’s following. You have any weapons?”
“No. But I can use fire magic.”
Mia grumbled, noticing they were whispering. Being a human raised in complete safety, she had no sense for the danger stalking them.
“Good. Beastia usually dislike fire.”
“Not me Dragon boy, I kinda like fire.” A young woman’s voice came from in front of them. She wore a light tan shirt, sitting lightly on her body and black pants over her waist to her ankles, where her long feet began. Her feet were thinner, longer, and cat like, pads on the ball of her feet. The fur on the bottom of her feet was white, and on top a dirty orange color. Her hands were padded too, but less so, more flat than her feet. Her face was Human-like, but her grin revealed pointed fangs and teeth, like an animal. Her ears were animal, on top of her head, pointed, black, and with small tufts of fur on her ears. She had brown hair, falling over her shoulders. A long tail came from behind her, the same color of the tops of her feet, and ending in white. A dagger rested on her hip, and a medium sized bag on her opposite hip. She sat on a tree branch, smiling at the group. Her green cat-like eyes almost twinkled in the soft forest light.
“Oh, hey!” Mia said in awe. “Cool! A cat girl! Like on TV!”
“I’m a Lynx, kid,” she said in an almost feline purr. “So, what have we here? A sexy Dragoon, an Elf, and a Human.”
“Who are you looking at!” Mia asked laughing, unbeknownst to her the danger they were currently in. “I KNOW that isn’t even puppy cute!”
“Shush.” Kita said to Mia, looking between the human and the Lynx.
“Who are you and what do you want!” Xavier demanded, pulling his sword.
“Ooh, bonus! The Prince!” the Lynx grinned.
“Answer my question!”
“Me? I’m no one special. But if you really want-”
“Answer, Beastia! This is your last warning!”
“I am the fastest thing on legs. Magic of all kinds bend to my will. The greatest swordsmen cower in fear at my skills, and drool over the thought of my body. I’m what keeps you awake at night, and dream about when you finally fall asleep! I’m the most dangerous thing you’ve ever imagined! As well as beautiful!”
“And long winded,” Mia whispered. If the thief heard it, she ignored it.
“I am Kai!” She grinned. “The Thief of the World, I’ll steal everything! From your clothes to your money to your heart! I’m the most dangerous mage! The strongest swordswoman! The slickest thief, and the greatest summoner! And I’m not after much, just your money. Or failing that, I’ll collect your lives!”
A silence loomed over the group, Kai’s announcement having hit them all. Mia was the only one who hadn’t heard of the infamous Lynx, the one who had stolen from everyone of the kingdoms’ castles without ever being caught. She could escape any situation, or so the rumor went, even if surrounded on all sides. There was no shortage of rumors over her skills. They said she could even jump a city wall if she wasn’t carrying anything. Kai watched them.
“Well? Hand the money and the prince over. Now.” She watched them carefully, not knowing if there was any power amongst the group.
“No, we won’t hand anything over, Kai, but we will bring you in.”
Kai grinned, there was a bounty on her head, and she knew and loved this. It meant more greedy people trying to catch and turn her in, which frequently meant more for her to steal.
“So, Draggy-waggy thinks he can beat me? Just because he has a big bad sword and an Elf woman?”
“What am I? Ch-“ She began the age old saying.
“Useless.” Kai answered, her tail flicking in delight as Mia flared up, angered at this woman’s interruptions. “Big swords usually only mean one thing. Over-compensation.” She laughed at the implication.
Xavier sighed, not over what she said, but it seemed stupidity was abound today.
“Is that all you women can say?”
“Why? Is it true?”
“I’m not even going to answer that.” Xavier sighed again.
“Okay. I’m getting bored!” Kai jumped down at the group, landing on Xavier’s shoulders and knocking him over pulling Mia to her, dagger to her neck.
“I’ll ask again, give me your valuables and you can leave with an un-cut jugular.” She pressed the small blade to the woman’s neck, still standing on Xaviers back to hold him down.. “Three…two…o-oof!” A blur of blue rammed into her back, causing Kai to fall off Xavier and drop her dagger. Kai fell onto Mia. Wyrin floated for a moment before landing on the ground near Xavier.
“Leave annoying Human alone!” Wyrin shouted, kicking Kai off Mia and holding her down with a single foot.
Xavier rose, dusting himself off.
“Good job, Wyrin, thank you.” Xavier picked up his sword, and put it back on his back. “So where are your escaping skills, Kai?”
“I’m pinned down by a giant winged lizard,” she grunted. “Where do you think they’ve gone?” She was trying to wiggle free, trying to get her dagger again. Wyrin held her in place and growled at her.
Soon, Kai was on her feet, but tied, much like Mia was, from her shoulders to her waist.
“Wyrin, what were you doing here?” Xavier asked.
“You not thankful?” he asked, cocking his head.
“I am. I’m just wondering.”
“Master Shi’nen said he not want you to forget the hatching! So he send me to watch you, to remind you of tomorrow!”
“Shhh,” Xavier hushed him, noticing Kai’s perked ears. “Not for you, thief.”
“Who me? I’m hurt! I’d never steal a Dragon egg to sell it for riches.” She blinked innocently, almost batting her eyes.
“She smell mean, like blood too,” Wyrin half-whispered, not fully getting the concept of whispering, but knowing Xavier wanted him to speak quietly.
Xavier nodded, his sense of smell more attuned then the rest of his group.
“I think she’s a murderer as well,” Xavier breathed, hoping he heard.
Wyrin cocked his head.
“What?”
Xavier sighed and repeated himself louder.
“Murderer! Than she die!” The Wyvern spread and folded his wings, even flapping a few feet off the ground, defiantly worked up over killing, his master was an advocate to life, believing every deserved a chance, but only one.
“Not by our hands…not here. We’ll let my father decide her fate.”
“Your father big softy! He not give her punishment bad enough! She pretty! More pretty than Mia!” He was right, Xavier’s father, King Kien, was a very forgiving ruler, and without proof of her murderous ways, he couldn’t do anything to a Beastia, and indeed, Kai was a very beautiful woman for her species, even if she was a thief.
“Thank you.” Kai looked up.
“Not mean as compliment! You bad person! Deserve death!”
“No I’m not!” Kai looked honestly offended. “I’m the farthest thing!”
“Then why you smell like fresh blood! You murder! People die!”
“M-M-Murder!” Mia stuttered, only hearing that word.
Kai was silent for a moment. Xavier spoke up.
“Come on. We’re going to Dragoniss. Wyrin, come with us.”
Wyrin nodded, growling at Kai and snapping at her to scare her.
Kai may have been tied up, but that wasn’t going to stop her from walking with dignity along with the group. Mia stood near Xavier, on the opposite side of Kai. Wyrin approached her.
“Annoying Human ok? You now smell like blood.”
“I told you, my name’s not ‘annoying Human,’ it’s-“
“Maia right?” He smiled, thinking he got it right.
Mia shook her head.
“Mai? Mial? Iam?” He closed his eyes, cocking his head. “I know it. I just-”
“Mia.” She looked at him.
“Mia! I close!” he exclaimed.
“No, you weren’t,” she teased, smiling at this.
“Yes I was!” he insisted, nipping at the girl.
She slowly, hesitantly, pet Wyrin’s eye ridge, the scaly rough area over Wyrin’s eye. He thrummed, a draconic purr, closing his eyes.
“That feel good…real good.” He purred, pushing his head into the girl’s hand, attempting to get her to scratch both of his eye ridges.
“So this is the Wyvern of the mighty Shi’nen? Reduced to pudding at the mere touch of a girl,” Xavier scoffed.
Wyrin let out a satisfied groan. “Stop talk. Let me enjoy.”
Mia giggled at the Wyvern now taking her side, and currently purring like a small kitten. She rested her hand on his head, scratching as they walked.
Xavier held the rope on Kai, but walked behind her, making sure she was in his line of sight at all times. Kai tried to escape a few times during their hike, but nothing else happened during their journey. Dragoniss was a large town, ringed by a defensive wall. It was a divided kingdom, the walls crisscrossing the insides. The entrance had many large, proud trees, as well as many beautiful flowers. Birds flew from branch to branch, singing their songs. Many species wandered around the area, going from one of the large double doors that lay in the wall to the other, going from the entrance to shopping to the residential area to visit friends. Mia looked around in wonder at the kingdom’s gates, marveling at the grand castle that lay before her. It was easily one of the biggest buildings she’d ever seen in all her life, even bigger than the skyscrapers of her world. Decorative flowers hung on the wall, in the shapes of Dragons. Mia smiled, her eyes darting from one point to another. Kita grinned, finally thinking her life had turned for the better. Upon arriving at the castle, Xavier locked Kai into the castle dungeon, putting her in her own cell with her arms tied to the wall and shackled around the wrists, and again around her legs. She cursed as he left, yelling after him.
Xavier went to the throne room, looking at the guard who stood there. He was a Human warrior, basic silver armor on him. The castle they were in was large and very expansive, as well as expensive. Gold and diamonds lined the wall, making the area very lavish. Mia gaped this time at the castle’s halls, amazed at the wealth they must have. The guard stopped Xavier.
“If you’re looking for your father, Prince Xavier, he stepped out. He said he would return in two days time.”
“I see. Thank you.” Night had begun to fall on Dragoniss, Xavier walked to the group. “Mia, you and Kita will share a guest room. Wyrin, I will lead you to where you will stay.” He turned. “Ask a guard where the guest rooms are,” Xavier said over his shoulder before leading the Wyvern to an open area on the top of a tower, a Dragon guest area. Xavier sighed, heading back to his room, a small, red three-headed dog tackling him, barking and wagging its tail, licking him with two heads, while the third barked. Xavier laughed, petting the Cerebus puppy.
“I’m glad to be back, Trido.” He picked up the puppy, and headed to bed, yawning loudly and falling asleep as he pet the crimson pup. Mia, Xavier, Wyrin and Kita all slept peacefully that night. But there was movement in the castle other than that of the guards, Kai had retrieved a picklock she kept behind her ear and picked the lock on her wrist and arm, before replacing it and picking the other locks with her claw. Kai snuck out towards the entrance, keeping to the shadows whenever a guard who couldn’t see in the dark approached and on the ceiling when one who could did approach. She was obviously skilled in being stealthy, having even stolen a few of the guards’ wallets. As she went to head out of the gates, the great doors slammed shut, locking. Kai gulped, her ears twitching as the sounds of guards approaching footsteps came. She smelled the air. A demon. But, with a weird extra scent. She growled.
“Cubi…”
“Very good.” A voice came from the door, a male voice; the owner of which faded into view. He stood a full head taller than her, his dark green hair resting atop his head, spiky and wild, even curling around the base of his horns like ivy, which rose out of the top of his head at an angle, curling a bit then going straight back, ending almost two inches past the back of his head, and a fourth of a head above. A straight sword rested on his waist, two inches across and two feet long. The blade was made of ebony, the handle golden. He wore clothes from Techion: a white tank-top, blue jeans, and a black trench coat with red lining, the coat resting lightly on the blade of the sword, not cutting the coat. Two wing holes were cut open in the back for his large leathery dark yellow wings which were folded against his back. His ears were fully sideways, rising very lightly in amusement, and his eyes were blue. His arms were crossed as he leaned against the wall. He smirked, his eyes seeming to laugh. The Demon, Cubi, watched her, placing his hand on the door, locking it with magic. Kai growled at him.
“Move out of my way!” she snarled at him, flexing her claws in a warning. He grinned, stepping out of the way, but the doors were locked. “Open them!”
“Move out of the way, open the door. You’re bossy aren’t you?”
Kai focused on nothing, trying to make her mind a blank slate. The man grinned, laughing lightly at her.
“That’s not going to work, your mind’s too active.” He walked towards her, Kai’s heart beginning to race as he approached, and she didn’t know why. He took he face in his hand, whispering to her.
“If it’s not, it’s lust.” He pulled her to him, kissing her lips gently, before disappearing suddenly.
Kai snarled, clawing the air where his neck had been.
“Arrogant piece of-!”
“There! It’s that woman the prince brought back! That Kai!” The guards ran to her, two of them being fought off by Kai, the rest soon apprehending her, putting her back in chains.
“W-Wait! What about that Cubi!” All the guards were either Elf or Human, with a single Dragoon commander, but he was all Human except his eyes, so his sense of smell would do them no better, but to Kai, the Cubi’s scent was still rather heavy in the area.
“There is no Cubi, now come on!” They jerked her along. Kai looked back wondering who had kissed her.