Chronicles of the West

Chapter Seventy Six

Kurama growled softly as the healers removed the arrow, not far from him Saio was being bandaged carefully. He'd known when that massing of power swept over them once again that they were too late. Whatever that power had wanted to accomplish, it had done so.

He'd shoved her harshly to the ground again, shielding her body with his own. The aftermath had been less than enjoyable. Both in pain and panting, they'd staggered to their feet once more and dashed into the yard. Seeing the chaos that ruled. One roar from Sesshoumaru had restored the sanity and order, quelling the frightened sounds of the others.

The west had been successfully invaded, it was unheard of. Such a thing had never occurred in all the years that any could recall. Sesshoumaru disliked that it called his ability into question. Disliked it immensely. His golden gaze had snapped to Kurama and Saio, leaning heavily on one another. He took in their condition and snapped his fingers.

In a flurry of activity, his soldier's had surrounded them, shielding the uniform of the assassin and they were taken to the healer's ward. No one but Sesshoumaru would see them other than the healers. He'd commanded Toga to take over, dealt with Ryu and headed there directly.

Kurama was unsure as to what capacity she served Sesshoumaru, but he was starting to have dark suspicions. He supposed he'd know soon enough. For she spoke of the accounting that she must give. He would wait, and listen.

Sesshoumaru had entered the firelit stone chambers, the neat rows of cots on either side. Tall shelves lined with bowls, and jars, herbs and tinctures. He was pristine, nearly glowing in that warm cleanliness. His movements measured and graceful. His footfall nearly silent and his servants knew of his presence by his power alone.

Saio had fallen at her lord's feet in the privacy of the infirmary. "I have failed you my lord" she whispered. Kurama's silver ear had pitched towards them, catching the softly spoken words. Sesshoumaru stared at his niece, "What has happened?" he asked.

She shook her head, "We followed the reports and the rumors to a castle… in the east". He frowned, again the east. It was always the east. Naraku had been to the east as well. He wondered if he should just kick Koga's ass and conquer the whole of the east to prevent future problems. "What did you find?". She hissed as she tried to straighten, Sesshoumaru caught her elbow and helped her to rise.

Kurama watched as the stoic demon maneuvered her onto a cot, easing her down. She took deep, shuddering breaths. Her eyes closing for a moment. Sesshoumaru eyed her many bandages. He hoped that Taima was not correct in her visions. But Saio and Ninia were never apart.

"The wolf, Adus, he was there. With a strange human. They spoke, but we could not hear it all. We understood that something was to happen. We had seen the wolf and as yet we'd not been detected" she panted, sweat breaking out on her brow. He wished, he'd killed the bastard outright, "Where is Ninia?"

"As we fled, Ninia was struck and fell". Her voice a pained whisper. On her arm, his grip tightened slightly. "Who did it?" he growled. She held her hand up in a helpless gesture, "No one" she said, his brows rose in disbelief. "No one was there. Through her chest was a…..a feather".

Golden eyes narrowed, a feather. The one that knew Satoru came to mind. Saio drew his attention then, he smelled the salt of her tears. "I…..I" she whispered, he waited for her to say what she needed to. Stricken gold eyes lifted to his and he was taken aback by the sheer pain he read there, "I …left her!"

Sesshoumaru watched his hardened assassin crumble before him. She'd rarely shown anything to the world. Anger, coldness, he'd trained her, all of them with his own hands. Seeing her weep so, made his heart constrict. His arms came around her and he rumbled softly to her, as he had when she was young. "She said I had to reach you, to warn you and to leave her….." She sobbed, "But I was too late. I was too late".

Kurama hated the desperate note in her voice. Like a pup lost and crying in the dark. He knew her pain, her world suddenly was uncertain and she felt the pull of fear. Something the house of Taisho had not suffered for a very long time. In halting words, the tale poured from her lips.

Sesshoumaru called for a healer, and ordered she be given a sleeping draught. Her wounds required rest and in her state she'd not be getting nearly enough. She reluctantly drank the bitter herbs and he continued to soothe her, sitting beside her, rumbling softly. When at last her eyes closed under the power of the sleeping blossoms, he rose.

Striding toward the door, Kurama's voice stopped him. "Are you going to let her believe that?" he asked in a hard tone. Sesshoumaru's golden eyes slid to his. He said nothing and walked past the fox, out into the courtyard.

He took a deep breath and ordered Ah-Un be brought to him. The dragon lumbered into the yard a short time later. His two heads observing their master, Souta and Tohma beside him. Sesshoumaru looked at their grave faces. "Seven days running from here to the east, you will find remains. You will bring them home" he commanded.

Souta met the eyes of the lord of the west, "Who?" he asked quietly. Sesshoumaru's fist clenched, hidden by his fur. "Ninia" he replied. Tohma's eyes went wide for only a moment. "She… she has fallen?". Sesshoumaru nodded, "A shrine to her will be erected in the family garden upon your return". The two younger demons nodded and mounted Ah-Un.

Sesshoumaru watched them grow smaller in the afternoon sky. He turned on his heel and went to his study. So, Ninia had fallen in service to him. She was not the first, nor would she be the last, but he knew he would miss her. As he missed her grandmother and mother before her.

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Elda watched with wary eyes as her brother advanced in the shadows of her rooms. He smirked, catching the first strains of fear in the air. Elda knew he stalked her like prey, that this would very likely be her last night of existence.

She lifted her chin and bared her fangs at him, she would not cower from him. Not now, not when she had finally found value and the happiness it brought. She'd fight hard for the simple memory of that. Adus paused, catching the sharp edge of anger in her scent now.

"No fear?" he asked, "Perhaps you are simply tired of waiting for death to come?". She growled at him, waiting. "This could have been so easy Elda" he went on, his voice smooth, soft even, "You only had to support my words to he council and you would have been in line as lady of the west".

He drew close to her now, reaching out toward her face. She backed away, snarling, eyes flashing. "Such spirit" he mocked, "What is it little sister, don't you trust me?". He lunged at her and she sidestepped him. Lashing out, her claws bit deep into his cheek.

Adus seemed quite shocked at her attack. His fingers roved over his torn flesh, staring at the bloodied fingers he drew away. He growled then, "Bitch". She crouched, preparing to spring at him. One way or another this would end tonight.

The door of her cell opened, and the shadowy winged figure stood framed there. "Adus" he said, "You are needed above stairs". The wolf growled but did not challenge the newcomer. He pushed past him and stomped up the stone steps, muttering under his breath.

Elda turned wide eyes to the odd figure. "Who are you?" she demanded, "What is it you want?". A low chuckle floated to her, "I have come to show you to your quarters lady" he said. She blinked. Quarters?

This one was much like the creature that was sealed in the west. Leathery wings, silver hair, golden eyes. He stepped close to her and she winced away, he merely unlatched her shackles, lifting her sleeve to inspect her wrist.

"Come" he said simply and turned and began to walk from her. She briefly considered attacking him and attempting her escape but thought better of it. Silvana was here somewhere and she couldn't leave her, nor could she find her way back without trouble.

So, she followed, keeping a cautious eye on her captor. "Who are you?" she asked softly, wondering if she was allowed to speak. He cast a golden eye back at her, "Niwa" he said simply. She mentally repeated the name to herself. Niwa, somehow, knowing his name made him less frightening. A problem she could deal with.

"The other female that was with me" she ventured, "Is….is she well?". Niwa snorted, "She is alive, much like you". Elda allowed herself a small sigh of relief. It was perhaps the most she could hope for….for now.

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Aislin clung to Toga, the attack had frightened her. A member of her new family had been ripped from the very bosom of safety. Her own fears returned in stark relief. Daisuke had come to see if she wanted to walk with him, the relative safety of the west secured once more. Toga had promptly denied him and shut the door in his face, much to the horse's surprise.

Toga disliked that his scent was only faint upon her now and set about correcting that. He had tugged her to the large chair in the corner of the library and pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her tightly and nuzzling her cheek.

"How did they get through?" she asked him, her voice a tremulous whisper, "Your father's barrier is so strong". Toga had rumbled softly, soothing her. The bitter scent of fear was not something he cared for on his female.

"He allowed them in" he told her. Wide purple eyes lifted to him in confusion, "But why?" she all but wailed, "Why would be do that? They took them, Elda and Silvana". Toga rubbed her back soothingly "Because if he hadn't dropped the barrier, Saio and Kurama might have been killed. Would you have wanted that?"

She shook her head. Demon logic was not something she was sure she liked. She understood that Sesshoumaru could not allow them to perish there..alone. However, what was to happen now? How would they ever find their friends?

"It has happened before" he told her softly, "Silvana was captured by Alastair once before". She straightened and leaned away from him, understanding dawning. "When you went to restore my sight" she whispered. He nodded, golden eyes heavy with knowledge.

"What happened?" she asked then. He sighed and told her a very abridged edition of the occurrences. She was pale by the end of it, tears falling over the smooth curve of her cheek. How he hated them. Those simple droplets of moisture. For he was powerless against them.

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Alastair, or rather his body was quite busy. Josin and he had planned the attack against the west perfectly. They'd lost a few of their winged companions, but that was to be expected. They were the soldiers, the workers, unrefined editions of what would be.

The cells of the dogs had been a true revelation. The strength of that bloodline and it's innate drive for perfection. It saved them a great deal of time. Josin watched the other move about the chamber, checking different bits of material. Sero, the soul that had found his won in the darkness.

"The wolf will have to go" he said finally. Josin had expected that, "I have sent for him" he replied. Sero nodded, his ears catching the sound of the wolf approaching. He turned and set about looking over the newest creation.

"Adus" Josin said warmly, "So nice of you to join us". Adus glowered at him, "So when do I get the vixen?" he asked impatiently. Josin's golden eyes swirled with unreadable light. "You don't" Sero replied calmly. Adus blinked at him, "What are you talking about Alastair?" he demanded.

Josin chuckled, "Oh there is no one by that name here", his golden gaze rolled over to his lover. Adus' brow furrowed in confusion, "What are you talking about?" he asked. Josin smiled, "Alastair is gone now". Sero stepped forward, "At least his soul" he supplied.

Adus stared at him, a chill suddenly creeping up his spine. Josin pressed close against his back, his power wrapping around the wolf. His breath feathering against the pointed ear. Sero cocked his head at the sight and growled in appreciation.

"We require the power of the elemental" he said then. Adus glared at him, trying to ignore the heat of the body pressed against him. The heady scent that made him want to whimper with need. Need for what? He didn't know.

"Yes, you see to attain a god-like status we need the powers she holds". Adus growled, "So you'll kill her" he stated. Josin shook his head, "Not at all" he assured the wolf, "We do not require such drastic measures, Alastair had it wrong. To tap her powers is simple really".

Adus felt the tickle of claws against his stomach, sliding beneath his clothing. Josin chuckled in his ear again, "No need to worry Adus your vixen is safe….enough. It's yourself you should have been concerned for". Adus winced as those deadly claws pressed into his flesh.

Sero watched as Josin nibbled the delicate ear of the wolf as he slow pressed his hand into his body. Blood spattered the floor at their feet, and the wolf cried out in pain. "We are taking a page from your book" Sero told the dying wolf.

Josin jerked his hand, long claws shredding organs and intestines within the cage of the wolf's body. Blood spilled over the pale lips and down his killing arm. "We are going to mate her. Once her power is bound, her soul is as well. Simple isn’t it?" Josin asked and tugged free of the wolf.

Adus fell forward, face first to the floor, his insides glaring at him. It was the last thing he saw.