Hizashi Mansion, Chapters 9 & 10

Chapter 9: The Outcome1

For a moment, neither of us says anything. There’s no sound around us; it’s like we’re in a small, contained pocket tucked within the hustle and bustle of the other doctors at work. Jenka is watching for my reaction to all this and my head is spinning out of control. I swallow, trying nervously not to do and/or say anything stupid. When I finally get a reasonable hold on myself, I run what she told me over in my head a couple times before breaking the silence hesitantly. “So what you’re saying is that whoever wins this war will become the dominant species here, and therefore control this world?”2

Jenka answers with a sullen nod, closing her eyes. Suddenly it looks like her age has gained a great many more years. She looks tired. “And everything in it.”3

“And power is the main focus here,” I venture.4

“Of course, for the Kage. They are bloodthirsty. With the power they possess as a race they could have easily conquered Earth, they say, but it wasn’t good enough. So they resorted to magick and looked for someplace else, and by chance, came upon this world. That happened two hundred years ago though, no one is quite sure anymore. And while the Hikari want power just as much as the Kage, it’s all about how the land will be treated when won. We believe that flourishing civilization and magickal restraint are the best things we can put here.”5

I look down at the hands tangling in my lap. I know she can tell which question I will ask next. “And the Kage? What do they want to put here if THEY win?”6

Jenka raises a slim eyebrow without a trace of amusement. “Do you really have to ask?” she says blankly.7

I thought so. I shrug. “No, not really.” I raise my eyes to look at her, but end up staring at the wall behind her instead. This is all starting to come together now in a disturbing way. All this would scare any sane person to death. “Destruction, right? No restraints? They’d just let the magick flow get dangerous? The world would eventually be destroyed.”8

Jenka looks surprised at how I explained. “You learn fast,” she tells me, and we smile at each other for the first time since this conversation began. But all too soon, she says, “Why don’t you hop on down Miss Ray? I have to send your test results to Kade, and Aldan will be here soon.” 9

I pause from getting off the table, one leg still half up there and my hands stiff with support. I can’t help but stare at her. “Aldan? Again? Why?” 10

She pauses as well, looking at me funny as if I should understand. But then she realizes that that was what she HADN’T been explaining to me. “I apologize, Miss Ray.” She shakes her head. “It’s understandable that Aldan is the last person you want to see, but Kade undoubtedly put him in charge of your well being as punishment, since he’s the one who got you into this mess.” Her emerald eyes glow for a moment, anger making her voice sizzle like bacon dropped into a hot pan. I inch carefully off the table and scoot close to the wall, wary of being too close to her. When she notices my moving away, she looks at me in surprise, and calms down once again. She seems to deflate once again. With one hand brought to her eyes, the sweet doctor covers her face. “Forgive me, Miss Ray.” 11

Now it’s my turn to feel bad. Obviously I’ve stressed her out, and now she can hardly keep a grip on things for the other work she still has to do. Still being as careful as possible, I walk over and gently lay one hand on Jenka’s shoulder. She moves her hand so that one eye is peering curiously at me. She doesn’t start, and I smile. 12

“No Jenka, it is you who should forgive me,” I tell her, trying to sound convincing. I’m probably failing. Whatever. I continue, being so bold as to take one of the hands that had proved my blood is human. “I appreciate all that you’ve done. Thank you.” She is looking down at our joined hands as if it’s been a while since someone touched her, but soon her eyes meet mine, and they are glassy with warmth and gratitude. 13

Suddenly, a sharp buzzing noise fills the air. I jump back, letting out a short scream. Everyone in the medical center turns to stare at me, and Jenka chuckles quietly. When I glare at her, hands over my mouth, she throws her long, fiery hair in the direction of the door. The light on the communication pad is blinking, a soft, yellow pulse. 14

“Looks like someone’s at the door,” she says, gleaming brilliantly like a star. I drop my hands and roll my eyes as she walks over to the pad and after a few exchanged words through it, lets Aldan in. Once again, when he enters he is looking everywhere but at me. He seems calmer though, which is a good thing. 15

Jenka comes to me to the side of the room and gently takes my hand. As we make our way toward the door, she says expertly, “Well, you’re all done here, Miss Ray. Thank you for your cooperation, I hope everything works out well for you.” 16

Acting purely on instinct, I whirl to face her and grab her sleeve desperately. “But wait Jenka! I still have so many questions about what’s going on here. What is Kade going to do to me? What’s gonna happen now?!”17

We’re standing in front of Aldan, who’s eyeing the floor coldly by his feet. Jenka’s eyes harden for a moment. When she looks at me though, she’s smiling beautifully and convincingly. “You will be placed in the room where we keep suspects until we figure out the truth about you.” She places heavy emphasis on the word truth, casting an angry glare at Aldan that would make anyone twitch. He however, takes no notice. Not a big surprise. Jenka puts both hands on my shoulders, cocking her head with a knowing grin. “Don’t worry Miss Ray. Once Kade reads my report, everything should be in order for your release. After that, you’ll be able to go home.” 18

My eyes widen. I stare at her in disbelief. When Aldan clears his throat to get our attention, we both turn to glare at him in unison. We laugh, and that’s when he finally looks up in surprise and confusion. 19

“Let’s go,” the warrior says to no one in particular. When he turns his back to walk out the door, I take advantage of it and throw my arms around Jenka’s shoulders. She squeaks in surprise, and doesn’t respond at all. I wonder why she is so uncomfortable with being touched...it’s only a hug. I draw back, looking at the floor sheepishly. 20

“I’m sorry. That’s just my way of saying...well, I like you a lot Jenka.” I wait a solid minute for her to move, but she’s frozen into place. Huh. That’s only a little bit weird. 21

“Let’s GO!” Aldan’s voice yells from outside, making the halls and the room echo with his deep voice. 22

“I’m COMING!” I yell back at him, causing the same effect. That finally draws a response out of Jenka as she laughs out loud. Her body is relaxed now. Note to self, I think. Don’t hug people out of nowhere, no matter how much you might want to. Especially if you know they won’t like it.23

“Best wishes to you, Miss Ray,” Jenka tells me as I hurry out the door. Before I’m completely out though, I turn back to her and give her my best smile. 24

“Friends don’t call each other ‘miss’,” I laugh. When confusion fills her amazing eyes again, I get to my point. “Just Ray is fine.” I purposely burn the image of those eyes softening into my brain as my I catch up with Aldan outside. As the door to the medical facility closes, an unexpected thought runs through my head.25

Jenka, soon I’ll be with you again. To tell you about Earth, and to make sure you aren’t lonely. 26

Chapter 10: The Request27

“I apologize most sincerely of our treatment of you. I surely hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us.” Kade sits before me in a desk made of wood so light and pale, I keep on expecting it to fly away. Aldan stands behind him, looking dejected and upset. I try to meet his eyes, but he ignores me completely. Right now, the only thing that exists for him is the harsh reality of being wrong.28

As for me, I have been cleared of any suspicion involving Lucy’s murder. After Aldan took me from the medical facility, I was put inside a big, dark room with no windows. Being locked in complete darkness was terrifying at first, but later I got used to it. It seems I fell asleep, because the next thing I knew I was being pulled from the room by three young women dressed in simple white dresses. They all looked about twenty, with long hair and bright eyes inside sweet faces. One of them was dark haired and nicely plump while the other two were thin and fair. For three hours I was bathed, bandaged and groomed by these girls. They cleaned me up and tended to my most serious wounds, and when they were done, they put me in a dress that looked very much like theirs, only the warm, silken materiel was the lightest shade of magenta, like flushed cheeks. My own clothes were ragged and torn to pieces, so they disposed of them. Luckily, I hadn’t worn my favorite shirt or anything that day. The girls brought me here and I thanked them. Before they left, the dark one leaned next to my ear and whispered, “Jenka sent us. She likes you.”29

Now I’m standing here in the boss’s office feeling a little ridiculous in a pink dress and hair still slightly damp, but since it couldn’t be helped I faced him, trying to appear brave, and smiled. “No hard feelings at all. I completely understand.” 30

Kade returns my smile from behind his clasped hands. He pushes his chair back and stands, walking around to stand in front of me. Nervous, I take a couple steps back. My mind is screaming that he’s going to do something weird again, like that link thing, and I’m praying he won’t. I’ve had more than enough excitement for one day. 31

Kade does nothing of the sort. Instead, he drops to one knee and takes one of my hands in his. My face goes up in raging flames as he kisses my knuckles ever so gently with soft lips. Aldan is radiating disgust from across the room, but he’s easy enough to ignore when Kade looks deep into me with his mesmerizing gold eyes. 32

“Then, I bid you farewell Miss Ray. Travel safely until you are once again in the safety of your home.” He releases my hand and stands, and I gawk at it with my face still 1000 degrees fahrenheit. Not functioning properly at all, my hands fold into fists and I bring them up to press against my burning cheeks. I can’t believe how stupid I must look, but...my system has completely shut down. A drop dead gorgeous man just KISSED MY HAND. When I bring my hands away and look at him against my better judgment, his eyes are warm. He tilts his head and smiles angelically with them closed. 33

“Uh...th-thank you very much,” I tell him. There’s one more thing I want to say before I go. My blush decreases as I become more serious, turning my gaze to the floor and playing with with my hands in my lap again. I can’t help it. When I’m composed enough, I look seriously up at Kade and make sure he knows I mean business. “I truly am sorry about Lucy’s death. I can tell she was deeply important to all of you,” I say. I purposely look over at Aldan’s corner, and meet his blue eyes with my own. He’s trying not to show any emotion on his face, but I can detect the tiniest traces of astonishment. I smile at him while saying, “I wish you the best of luck in finding the person who killed her.” When I tear my eyes away and look at Kade, he looks just as astonished, but none the less appreciative. 34

“Thank you,” he replies. Then he walks over and holds open his office door. “Best wishes to you, Miss Ray.” 35

“Best wishes.” With a curtsy and last glance back at Aldan, I sweep out the door and make my way through the halls until I have reached the front door of Hikari Headquarters. Outside, a beautiful sunset decorates the sky. It looks as if a whole shelf full of paint cans has been pushed over, all of them exploding in brilliant shades of crimson, gold and creamy orange. The distant clouds are hazy shades of silver and dark blue from the approaching night. Shading my eyes, I note that I should leave now if I want to make it back home by dark. I’ll just go to the houses I first saw after I ran behind the mansion. I remember vaguely where they are; I can find them.36

But a sort of sadness strikes me. As much as I want to go home, I don’t want to leave this place either. I really like Kade and Jenka, and yes, I even like Aldan, even though he’s a pain in the ass. I turn around to face the spired white building, then sweep my gaze toward the brown huts in the distance...the other humans. I still have so many questions...about the war, about vampires, just about this PLACE. Will I ever get a chance to have them answered?37

As the night clouds sweep further in, I turn to make my leave. But just as I’m about to sprint off in the direction of the huts, I hear somebody call my name. I stop and turn back to Headquarters...and find Kade standing in the door.38

“Kade...” I blink in confusion. Maybe I missed something, but didn’t I just say goodbye to this guy? Maybe something else happened. “Is something wrong?” I ask.39

“Oh no, nothing like that, Miss Ray,” the Hikari leader tells me. As if moved by the wind itself, he walks out out of the closing door and makes his way over to me. “There is a matter I would like to discuss with you. I would have addressed it in my office, but Aldan would have thrown a fit, you see.” 40

The wind picks up around us, the temperature dropping as the sunset begins to fade. I put one hand over my hair to keep it from blowing everywhere and Kade does the same. I can’t help but look at him with an asserting gaze. This just seems a bit wrong. First he sets me free, now all of a sudden there’s ‘a matter’?41

After a few minutes of fighting with myself over whether I should trust him, I finally decide to hear him out. I didn’t have much time, but what the hell. It’s not like Dad is missing me or anyone else.42

“Alright,” I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest. “What is this ‘matter’ you wish to discuss Kade?”43

He smiles at me, and I hear him suppress a small chuckle. I bite my tongue to keep the nasty growl I want to throw at him inside my throat. No person, no matter how beautiful, is going to laugh at me, but giving this particular person that kind of trouble might not be a good idea. He’s in a powerful position after all. When we both are finally calm and the stars are beginning to emerge over our heads, Kade reveals his ‘matter.’44

“Miss Ray, this is rather straightforward, but...I would like you to join us.” 45

For a moment, it doesn’t register. Everything is silent. But then, my eyes bug out of my head and I jump three feet back from him as if he’s just bitten me. “WHAAAAT?!” I can’t help but scream. Not in outrage per se, but getting somewhere close to there. “Join you? Do-do you mean...n-no, th-there’s no way...”46

That annoying smile of his is back as he explains. “Jenka, the doctor who treated you, told me in her report that you’re an unusual human being. She sensed power in you that is beyond many of our current trainees, and said that if you were to be trained as a warrior of the Hikari, you would rival the Vampire Queen herself.”47

“You...have got to be kidding,” I stammer uncontrollably. I bring my hands to my face and shake myself as hard as I can. This is a dream, it has to be. Unusual human being? Power in me? Trained as a warrior of the Hikari? RIVAL THE VAMPIRE QUEEN? Jenka, I think, why did you have to tell him all these WEIRD THINGS?!48

“Jenka was very reckless in telling you about the war,” Kade continues, and I raise my head. He’s getting harder to make out in the growing dark. “But due to the information that she also shared, I decided to let her punishment slide. Jenka is no fool. She knows true power in a person when she senses it.”49

All I can do is stare at Kade. I can’t even move. I feel like I’m sinking into an endless sea of...god knows what. My brain is overflowing. Nothing is working. I have no idea how I managed to choke out, “I don’t understand.” 50

Then Kade says something that makes things a little bit better. 51

“Of course, this is a only a request. But seeing as how we have been low on magickal capability for quite some time, having someone like you fighting for us would boost up our chances considerably.” There’s almost no light left now, but in what small amount is left I see Kade turn back toward the door. It slides open when he pushes a button, but before he goes back in he turns back to me. “Please Miss Ray, do think on it. Once again, I wish you a safe journey home.” And with that, the door closes, and I am left in darkness.