Candy: Book 5 of the Lord Emperor Vampire Saga
folder
Vampire › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
47
Views:
19,169
Reviews:
551
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Vampire › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
47
Views:
19,169
Reviews:
551
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Sukiyaki
I just had to get Haley’s wake out of the way. It was killing me to linger on it but none of my boys would let me rush through….so I hope you like it. Read and Enjoy. Reviewing would be nice too. Thankies
Oh…the Japanese lyrics and English translations for Kyu Sakamoto’s Sukiyaki were pulled from http://www.maddmansrealm.com/sukiyaki/kyulyrics.htm
Chapter 210: Sukiyaki
The cry of the Nation echoed through the woods. My Call had reached even those out on patrol. When the air in my lungs finally gave way, my howl ended. I felt lighter some how. It was cathartic. I brought my eyes down from the heavens and looked across the Nation that Britta had built. Bruce rose to his feet and bowed his head to me.
“You have a gift for words, my Liege.”
“You have to when you’re a cheeky bastard.” I returned lowly.
Bruce flashed me a smile then turned toward the pack. “Tonight is a celebration. Haley has always lived his life with the foreshadow of his death on him. This evening will be how he planned it. His family bids you to dance and be merry because Haley was not one for tears and sadness.”
Bruce gestured for me to pass him on the stairs. “The first dance will be with the important ones who altered the Prince’s life. My Liege. My Lady.”
Ping turned and gave Treska to Claudia then walked towards me. “It’s planned.” She could read my thoughts clearly because they were etched strongly in my face. “Haley planned everything. Don’t you dare…” Ping lifted up her hand and brushed at the tear clinging to my lashes. “You have a lot of grooving to do Xavier. I hope your tootsies can handle it.”
I wiggled my white toes. “You planning on stepping on them?”
“I’m not the ones wearing spiked heels.” Our brood had intermixed off on the sidelines. The boys were tall or on their way to being so and the girls were small. Big things come in small packages and I had no doubt that Lycan or Vampire my headaches and heartaches for our girls was far from over.
“How can…”
Ping laid a hand across my mouth. “As I told your brothers, we lived a lifetime everyday and counted our blessings that we had another day to share when he came back home. You called Haley your little brother, but he saw you as his little brother. His lost puppy who needed some fun in your life. He would see the weight of the world crushing your shoulders and he would kiss me and the puppies good-bye and tell us he was going to make the little white dragon smile. He loved to meet with you and just play. I would just stand in amazement to see you both rolling around on the floor of Von Drachenfeld.”
Hades started doing his thang. A metallic sounding voice called out “Remix!” then the woods began to boom with bass. Holy mackerel. My chest was rattling. Everybody was going to be deaf by the end of this. Ping grabbed my hands and pulled me around the dance floor until I figured out what the heck was playing then I started to get into the groove. This is one of Haley’s favorites -- Calabria 2008 remix. I dropped into a mambo and showcased the Asian beauty across the dance floor. I saw a hand come up and reach for Ping’s shoulder. Ping turned with a frown on her face but dropped it when she saw it was Claudia. “I’m cutting in.”
“Not in those shoes you ain’t.” I glanced down at her feet.
Claudia glanced down then kicked the three inch stiletto’s off. I let her get into the rhythm then began to sweep the floor. We made one circuit when Claudia was effectively cut from my arms and Arashi shoved me backwards trying to lead. I ended up circling with her a couple of times until I got her off balance a bit then I pushed back so I was back in the lead. I watched as Arashi bit her bottom lip and tried to keep up. So the rest of the dance was, Vampire daughter, Lycan daughter, Vampire, Lycan, Lycan, Lycan, Lycan so I was breathing like I had just run a marathon by the end of the song. I ended up with a handful of puppy girl who just squirmed and wiggled and waggled her stubby tail in happiness as her Alpha danced with her.
I noticed no one else had jumped onto the floor, so I figured I might has well head over and get a drink and pant off in the sidelines because this roman soldier type vest thing wasn’t letting me take big gulps of air that I soooo wanted. I shuffled off with little puppy yips screaming for more, more, more! Lia made me laugh. I got almost to the end of the floor when a big arm reached over and snagged Lia from my arms by the scruff of her neck. She got lifted over my head and I pivoted ready to take on the pup napper. Ike brought Lia up to his face and made a rough raspberry sound on her stomach.
/MORE, Ikey/
/Later, I got to hug Alpha./ I was warned but Ike wrapped an arm around my neck and proceeded to try and pop my head off. “Hey there Lord Alpha…now you got to see how the big boys do it.”
“Mummph.” I couldn’t say anything because I was crushed into his shoulder.
Lia got set down and Ike closed a hand around my wrist and I got dragged back out of the dance floor. Wolf was built like his father. Ike, Hugh, Dewy and Louis were going to large and massive like Sang Kyu, their unknown uncle and Hiroshi their Eastern Lycan Warlord Grandfather. Ike hit a growth spurt at twelve and sprouted up to 6 foot four and then spent the remaining seven years starting to fill out the spaces in between. “Dance with girls….pffftttt.”
“One day, you just might like that.”
“I already know whom I going to marry.” Ike was betrothed to Riassa. Von Drachenfeld and Saitou only agreed to this because the Lycan Nation was ready to bite my head off. Things had gotten better between the two Nations and with Azrael on the throne, I couldn’t see they getting worse. There was no need to tie the two kids to that old tradition.
Another bass started pumping out of the speakers. I could see Claudia’s forsaken shoes actually vibrating on the floor from the force of the soundwaves. Flo-Rida’s Low started a roll forward of the younger Lycan to the floor. Ike took up point and his brothers angled off behind him. I noticed Wolf was missing. I glanced up toward the stage and saw him and Lex standing off to the side talking in low voices.
For a big guy, Ike had some moves. The triplets were just a few inches smaller than their bigger First Litter brother but just as wide. I got playfully bounced around like a pinball until I went face first into an apply orchard. Arms got wrapped around me and I was held still. “Uncle Marcus.” Ike flashed a set of fangs at the big vampire.
“He’s tiny, don’t play rough.” Marcus was just as tall but only about three-quarters wide and Ike was still a pup. What the hell is he going to look like when he reached Alpha status. Crap, Azrael I think was about six foot four. Ike was going to be like seven foot something.
“Hey.” I realized I just had been dissed.
“Uncle Marcus, Alpha…uh, King…Benedek…” Louis voice trailed off.
“Alpha is fine.” I twisted in Marcus’ arms and faced the Lycan boys.
“Alpha kicked ass. He’s tiny but a tuffie.” Yip yip yip. Basic translation, booyah.
The Saitou pack jumped around a bit then Dewy stumbled over a small female pup. Ike was quick enough to catch her and steady her but Dewy crashed to the floor. “You all right?” As soon as she was upright, Ike jerked his hands away.
“Dance?”
Ike jumped back like she was poisonous or something. “Me?”
She shook her head and pointed at me. I think my eyes widened but I gave her a gentle smile. I saw the other girls who had edged her on all crowded together their proverbial tails swishing in the night air. “I am honored, Lady?”
“Colleen. Third born, second litter of Gregor Dennings.”
I pulled up Azrael’s Coles Notes of the battle for the throne. Gregor had sworn fealty to the throne.
“Armor would like to hold you in his arms tonight.” Marcus whispered into my ear.
“I thought that was a given?”
“On the dance floor, idiot.” Nice to know we had only taken about twenty years to get to a somewhat normal sibling relationship between the two of us.
I bumped his groin with my leather clad ass and stepped out of his hold offering my arm to the lovely little Lycan. It wasn’t polite to ask for ages but I could tell that she was a pup. She just didn’t smell right. Not that she didn’t smell bad but she didn’t carry the scent of an adult. Once Colleen had gotten me out on the dance floor, I had them lined up around the block…and they all just weren’t pups either. I met matriarchs of different family lines. They were very paw friendly. I spent more time keeping their paws above the equator than worrying about keeping in time with the music. I guess everyone wanted to see the Vampire/Lycan who would be King. Who was now, king. Who was damned lucky to have already been claimed by Ping or I think I would have had mothers breaking out into a fang fest to get their daughters matched to the throne.
Hades finally killed the music. Oh thank god. I was basically ankle to nipples in tight new leather and I was sweating to death. Callia came up and took my hand and extracted me out of the puppy mill and handed me a bottle of water. “What are you, Papa, the wolf whisperer?”
“I’m just to damned sexy for my own good.” I chugged the water then felt uncomfortable as I could feel the icy coolness trail all the way down into my stomach.
“Ha…” She turned and kissed my cheek. “You’re going to cause a riot out there.”
“I need to get this off…”
“What do you need to get off?” Liam popped his head onto my shoulder and looked down my body. “I don’t think anything is moving down there.”
I jerked my shoulder upwards and clicked Liam’s upper and lower jaws together. He straightened and pushed at my shoulders. “Uncalled for but I’ll help you anyways.” His fingers worked at the lacings and loosened up the corset a bit. Sweet, sweet air filled my lungs. Claudius didn’t have to lace it that tight but…where was the black haired man?
Bruce stood at head of the stairs conversing with Hades for a bit then the little shepherd boy nodded and headed down towards us. Well more towards Liam than me. “While we have lost a voice that sweetened the air when he sang, his son, Wolfgang has been blessed with the same talent. Tonight, as a soloist and with his Band, Pack Von D, Wolfgang will sing a selection of his Father’s favorite songs.”
I noticed Father step onto stage behind Bruce and sit himself down at a synthesizer. I frowned. I thought he hated those things. Ever since Sex got him that crimson concert grand he has never touched anything else. Hades sauntered over to us and took Callia’s hand and did a courtly gentlemanly thing and brought it to his lips as he bowed. “You are a sight to behold, my dear.”
“Thank you, Hades.” He had tossed a fit the last time the winglets had called him grandma in public. Within the confines of Von Drachenfeld was fine but…a big no no out with the regular vamps. “I notice you haven’t greeted your other set of grandparents, yet.”
Callia had the grace to blush. “I like my skin intact, thank you every much.”
“Well if you didn’t show so much…” Liam got a slap off the back of the head.
“Inappropriate conversation from a great grandfather.” Armor stepped up and pressed up lightly against me.
I was able to keep my tongue in my head because the rest of the family was making me feelings known about the scantily revealing clothes my babies were wearing.
“Uncle Armor.”
“Callia, my dark rose.” Armor brushed passed me and kissed his granddaughter on the cheek. “One question from me, then you will have to go and see Nana. Did you pick these out?”
Her own cheeks colored more. “It didn’t seem so bad in the store.”
“And Riassa?”
“You know she wanted to be cheerleader. If we could have, I think she would have liked to go to a human highschool. I know, I know. We would just dry up like a sponge but…you gave us a lot…all of you and we do appreciate it.”
“Why do I hear a big butt?” I pulled her into my arms and gave her a hug.
“The grass is always greener on the other side. I looked at the puppies and wanted the freedom to run in the sun. They looked at us and wanted the stability of Von Drachenfeld.”
I heard Liam take in a breath then he grunted as Hades caught him in the mid-section with an elbow. Callia reached up and I bent down to accept a kiss on the cheek. “I love you Papa Xavier. I love all my Papas..and Uncles and Grandparents.”
“Ahem…..”
Callia arched an eyebrow at Liam. “And Great-Grandparents.”
“Nana, now.” Callia untangled herself and pouted. She couldn’t hold it and her arctic blue eyes sparkled with mischief. She turned and went to take her tongue lashing from my Mom.
Armor leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Why do I think that she is going to be more trouble than both Alexander and Riassa put together?”
“Cause you’re not an unintelligent man?”
Liam grunted behind us again. “Ow…”
“I’ll kiss it better later. Behave.” Hades admonished.
“Why is Father up there?”
“One of the puppies was supposed to play the keyboards tonight but once she saw you, she couldn’t do it. You and Haley might have met under less than perfect circumstances, but you were like kinsmen. Her memories of her father are intertwined with you. The loss is still too fresh.”
“Wolf doesn’t look that much better.” He was pale and his eyes seemed to glow golden. He didn’t look like the Wolfgang that prowled the corridors with Lex and Jax. He had an alien countenance.
Liam wrapped his arms around his lover’s shoulders and pressed the side of his face to Hades blonde hair. “He is First Litter. He is second son. His duty is to sing his father home. Until that is done, he cannot grieve.”
No wonder Lex was worried about him. “Can we cut this short?”
“Prince Haley has this planned, my Liege.” The only reason I didn’t yelp and jump sideways was because Armor had his arms on me. Bruce was a freaking shadow when he wanted to be.
“The family and I have spoken. Wolfgang has said that he could do this for his father. That the songs of memory that Haley had chosen were an honor that he would not pass up. The fact that a Vampire and a Human stand with Wolfgang is not overlooked, my Liege.”
Haley sang at my wedding. My eyes searched out Claudia and we shared a moment. We were BFF more than husband and wife but that day was special. The rest of the night afterwards was a nightmare but up until then…it was magic. Wolfgang took center stage and Father began to play the keyboards to “I put a spell on you.” the jazzy Nina Simone version. This seguewayed into “How much is that doggy in the window.” The smaller puppies loved that one. This was followed by the They Might Be Giants arrangement of “Istanbul.” If you didn’t know Haley, you might have thought he was psychotic. He just loved what he loved. Take it or leave it.
“Excuse me, my Liege.” Bruce gave me a slight head nod then moved back towards the stage.
The pain and heaviness that had sat in my heart since this morning was easing. I didn’t want it to but watching everyone here and listening in on their conversations. They knew Haley in various stages of his life. I heard snippets of the antics that he and Derry used to get up to. I heard about the pups he ran with when he was younger. If there were hard feelings about him they were forgotten, or at least left unspoken; the Lycan thought it in bad form to speak ill of the dead.
I had never seen a ‘give-away’ before. Each child had taken one item that had been Haley’s. Distant relatives were called up and they were given something that Haley had cherished or used. I only know how Haley and Ping kept their household which was like a Den – everyone in the same room. I don’t know if other Lycan did the same way. Werewolves lived like humans. In a house where everyone had their own room and a garage filled with so much junk that the car had to sleep outside in the elements. Strange to say it, but it was true. Because so many bodies were in a confined area in a den setting, clutter just didn’t accumulate. Or so I thought. Half an hour in, Claudius was called. He came down the stairs from the stage with his regular elegance.
Ike handed Claudius a crystal punch bowl. I couldn’t hear what Ping said to him but he leaned forward and waited for her to come to him for a kiss on the cheek. He turned and looked straight at me. Well I know who that look was for but he didn’t come over. Sex was perked up and interested but not asking for exchange. What was that about? I glanced around the assembly and then I noticed that Lanseng wasn’t here. They were quite close. Why wasn’t he here?
“Xavier.” Ping called my name again. I padded up to her. She offered her hand and I clasped it. “Haley has already given you his most precious things.” All the puppies crowded around and laid a hand on me somewhere. “The fact that you accepted the honor while he was alive meant more to him that you will ever know.”
Ping laid a finger over my mouth. “There will be a few more dances and Haley’s favorite song then you will be asked to light the pyre. You should go and prepare. I doubt you want to be flying around overhead advertising your cookies to all the bitches in the Den.”
“Lady.” I bowed my head to her.
“X.”
“Ping.” She kissed my cheek and everyone pulled back off the dance floor. I hustled off before I got waylaid by paw pawing females moving back toward Claudius and Armor.
I know that Father isn’t an emotionless man. Sex has proven that. However, Sex brings out the best in him. Most of the times he is still that stony appearance that has given him the name of the Black Death. I looked at the cut crystal punch bowl in his hands. Didn’t I buy that for Haley?
“Ping said that Haley wanted Sex and I to have this for our dance that night. We were robbed.”
Oh, yeah. That seemed so long ago and we were all just a little more innocent. Father looked over at me. “Ping said to tell Sex that he cannot make me sell this. It is a lover’s cup or is to be thought of as one.”
“I doubt Sex makes you do anything you don’t want to do.”
“You would be surprised my son just what I would for my Fallen Angel. It surprises me how much joy it brings to me to see him smile. To be the cause of that smile brings me more fulfillment than the completion of a mission.”
Armor tightened his grip on my shoulder for a moment then turned his head towards the approaching road. “Incoming…” I glanced up to see him touch the small ear piece. “Lanseng and our missing lady friend.”
Ladyfriend?
/I thought you had a short attention span before but you’re getting worse aren’t you?/ Nightshade’s voice sounded in my head.
/Shade! Where the hell have you been?/
/I have a life of my own too, your majesty. Can’t leave you alone for a month and here you are conquering Dens left and right./
/You know…/
The tone that came back was low and full of sadness. /Lanseng told me. I liked that little pup. Once he got his nose away from your tail, he was fine./
/You blocked me./ Oh gees, I sounded like a whiney kid.
/I needed full concentration./ The car pulled up. Actually it was a taxi. How the hell did Lanseng get a taxi to come all the way out here and to even get past security. Then again…I had no clue how Lanseng worked only that Skell put his full trust into the tall blue drink of water. The fact that Little Deadly trusted someone absolutely was a good thing. I thought Queen Nightshade would be out of the car first just like she always did. So many times I was at the back end of the tail as her Majesty took up point. Not a sight to be anticipated. I didn’t expect Lanseng to get out holding Nightshade like Dr.
Evil, nor to have three other domestic cats pop up behind him. Lanseng paid the taxi driver then the car did a 360 and sped off back down the road.
Four cats in a sea of canines. Lanseng set Nightshade down and she transformed into a lovely red panther. The cats behind her all turned into panthers. Snowflake and Morose and…someone else.
“You’re fat.” The word just popped out of my mouth.
Shade glared at me, /I’m pregnant, you ass. Fat. That’s funny coming from you./
“Pregnant?”
/Kitty?/ I glanced down to see Lia blinking up at Shade.
Shade turned her head and looked down at the little puppy. /Greetings, little one. You might not remember me but I was there when you and your sister were born. I am Nightshade, Queen of the Hellcats./
Lia backed up into my legs and sat down on my bare foot. “This is Princess Lia.”
/Alpha?/
I reached down and picked her up. She was tired and seeing such big cats was almost too much for a two month old. “Go to sleep, little pup. You can barely keep your eyes open.”
/Yuki said Alpha is now Daddy./
“Your Daddy asked me to take care of you if something happened to him. Your Daddy will always be your Daddy, Lia. I will be there for you if you need me.”
“So will all of us, little girl.” I thought Lia’s eyes had gotten wide when Shade turned up but when Armor leaned over she had to look up and up and up. I thought she was going to flip out of my arms she had to look up so high.
/Unka./
“Benedek and the rest of us will be there for you.”
Bruce called out from the stage. “Queen Nightshade, Monarch of the Hellcats.”
/Come on boys, let’s make a statement./
/Snowflake, Morose./
The other hellcat was a spotted jaguar in a dull dull burgundy with deeper purplish spots. /Blood Emperor. I am Ravenous. I have been given the honor of being the spark that will send this Lycan prince to his final resting place./
/Ravenous./ I bowed my head in the hellcat’s direction. The bargain that I had made with her majesty so many years ago was still in effect. Once a month a new hellcat arrived ready to leave behind his or her time of immortality. I know that there were whispers about my penchant for eating souls. My great great grandfather Sigmund had left behind a legacy of fear and madness and although the family might have discovered the truth, few wanted to hear it. Lord Emperor Sigmund was still considered a fruitcake, a deadly fruitcake. I was called Blood Emperor to my face. I was named soul-eater to my back. They called me Sigmund in the shadows. The Red Houses who really didn’t like the return of the Empire would absolutely freak if they knew that it really was my first name.
“Go with your Uncle Armor, Lia. I have to change my clothes.” She didn’t tense up but looked up at him.
/Ikey’s bigger./
I bit back a smile and moved back towards the limo. Lanseng bowed. “I am a little better with my timing, My Lord.”
I tapped the seer’s forearm. “I was wondering where you had gone. You should give your regards to the pack.”
“Do you need assistance?”
“I have it, Lanseng. See to Ping. She has voiced her concern over your absence.” Father shifted his hold on the punch bowl and gestured me to the car.
That was good because there was no way in hell I was getting out of these clothes without help. A white leather kilt was set out on the bench seat of the limo. Father followed me inside and set the bowl down on the carpet then pulled out a dagger. He slit the lacings. Oh, sweet merciful air filled my lungs. I pulled the corset strappy thing off and just enjoyed the fact that my lungs could expand. Claudius rolled me on my hip.
“Do not move.” He set the tip of his razor sharp blade against the leather pants then worked the shaft into the lacings and cut them loose. “Do you need further assistance.”
“I’m sorry to say it, but grab the cuffs. I’m going to have to pretend to be a snake and shed this skin.” I saw a flash of teeth as I wiggled my bare ass on the carpet floor. I never was so glad to Velcro the kilt around my waist. I kept the white shirt. Heaven knew what the Lycan females would do if they saw more skin or knew that I was going traditional under the kilt. I had tried underwear once…nasty burns from melting plastic. Armor had suggested a leather thong blooded to keep from burning up in the blue fires of the Phoenix but the string was too damned distracting. I would take my chances and go commando.
“How are you holding up, my son?”
“Azrael and Sex have given me the speech. I’m listening.”
“That is not what I asked.”
“I’m holding up. I think I’m holding up better than Wolfgang.”
“He will need you and Alexander when his duty to his Father is done. You can see the toll it is taking on him. It is easy to forget that they are so young.”
I went to move past Claudius to the door when I found myself in an embrace. “I am proud of you Xavier. You have charmed the Lycan court. You have eased Lady Ping’s concerns. You have shown that your shoulders are broad enough to take up the burden that has been placed there.”
“The Saitou Pack is not a burden.”
“To someone else they would be. Not to you. Your Imperial offspring has been raised with the future Leaders of the Lycan Nation. The next generation will be a strong and peaceful one.” Father kissed my forehead and released me. “Let us escort Haley home, one last time.”
Bruce had everything arranged by the time I got back out of the limo. Nightshade and Ravenous walked in tandem at the front of the procession as an honor guard. I followed after those solemn tails up past the stage to a hill that had logs stacked in a square like a log cabin or a funeral pyre. I thought the Imperials would be carrying the pallet that had a still white canvas wrapped form, but it was the female Imperials - the Xenas. A Female brought Haley into the world. Females would usher him out. Morose and Snowflake brought up the rear.
Wolfgang sang Haley’s favorite song. It was his and Ping’s song. It was one of those odd ones that the melody is happy and upbeat but if you truly listen to the lyrics, they are sad and wrenching. It was in Japanese. Sukiyaki. Not the disco era version but the original one from 1963.
Ue o muite arukoo / I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai yoo ni / So the tears won't fall
Omoidasu haru no hi / Remembering those happy spring days
Hitoribotchi no yoru / But tonight I'm all alone
Ue o muite arukoo / I look up when I walk
Nijinda hoshi o kazoete / Counting the stars with tearful eyes
Omoidasu natsu no hi / Remembering those happy summer days
Hitoribotchi no yoru / But tonight I'm all alone
Shiawase wa kumo no ue ni / Happiness lies beyond the clouds
Shiawase wa sora no ue ni / Happiness lies above the sky
Ue o muite arukoo / I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai yoo ni / So the tears won't fall
Nakinagara aruku / Though my heart is filled with sorrow *
Hitoribotchi no yoru / For tonight I'm all alone
whistling
Omoidasu aki no hi / Remembering those happy autumn days
Hitoribotchi no yoru / But tonight I'm all alone
Kanashimi wa hoshi no kage ni / Sadness hides in the shadow of the stars
Kanashimi wa tsuki no kage ni / Sadness lurks in the shadow of the moon
Ue o muite arukoo / I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai yoo ni / So the tears won't fall
Nakinagara aruku / Though my heart is filled with sorrow *
Hitoribotchi no yoru / For tonight I'm all alone
Hitoribotchi no yoru / For tonight I'm all alone
whistling
Haley was placed on the pyre and the Xenas all bowed to me then turned and returned back down the hill. The three hellcats brushed against me then let loose a cry that broke the silence that lingered after Wolf had stopped singing. I turned to Ravenous. The hellcat sat still and closed the bright golden eyes.
/I know that you would know me, Blood Emperor, but I would rather have all that I was pass into nothingness. /
“I will still regard this as an honor, Ravenous.”
/I am honored to be chosen for this sacrifice./
In the past, I needed blood and death to end the existence of the immortal hellcat. Now, I just needed to closed my eyes. I crushed his heart with my will and called for his soul. The dancing green orb came willingly to me and lighted on my hand for a few brief seconds then absorbed into my skin, right into my blood stream. The power spike hit me hard. I grit my teeth for a moment then a cry broke out of my throat. It was a howl of mourning and pain. The Phoenix came at my call and my world was shot with blue flames. The physical form that was once a hellcat turned to ash. The wood of the pyre caught flame and began to burn yellow. That wasn’t good enough. I angled my wings and the warm thermals of my own heat lifted him skyward. I hovered over the pyre dropping closer so the flames burned the purest blue. The goal was to send Haley to the stars so he would play with the great ones who had gone before. I began to fan my wings slightly creating a vortex. Soon I was in the eye of a tornado of phoenix flame and ashes were whirling skyward.
“Goodbye, little brother. I’m going to miss you.” Tears came but were flash dried in the heat of my flame.
I hovered there letting the hellcat soul power the phoenix until there was nothing left below me. I had reduced everything to ash. I landed lightly in the steaming earth and locked my knees from staggering sideways. A controlled burn of a hellcat soul is a hard thing to do but if I do it right, I don’t end up falling over and knocking out a fang. I turned around and looked back down into the clearing below. Everyone was staring - Lycan, Vampire and Human. I glanced down and noticed I had burnt away everything but my hair. Great. Here I am at a solemn occasion and I’m buck ass naked. I shook my head and some of my massive locks of hair fell forward and covered up the goodies. I started back down the incline. Britta was right about one thing. I was a cheeky little bastard.
* * *
Oh…the Japanese lyrics and English translations for Kyu Sakamoto’s Sukiyaki were pulled from http://www.maddmansrealm.com/sukiyaki/kyulyrics.htm
Chapter 210: Sukiyaki
The cry of the Nation echoed through the woods. My Call had reached even those out on patrol. When the air in my lungs finally gave way, my howl ended. I felt lighter some how. It was cathartic. I brought my eyes down from the heavens and looked across the Nation that Britta had built. Bruce rose to his feet and bowed his head to me.
“You have a gift for words, my Liege.”
“You have to when you’re a cheeky bastard.” I returned lowly.
Bruce flashed me a smile then turned toward the pack. “Tonight is a celebration. Haley has always lived his life with the foreshadow of his death on him. This evening will be how he planned it. His family bids you to dance and be merry because Haley was not one for tears and sadness.”
Bruce gestured for me to pass him on the stairs. “The first dance will be with the important ones who altered the Prince’s life. My Liege. My Lady.”
Ping turned and gave Treska to Claudia then walked towards me. “It’s planned.” She could read my thoughts clearly because they were etched strongly in my face. “Haley planned everything. Don’t you dare…” Ping lifted up her hand and brushed at the tear clinging to my lashes. “You have a lot of grooving to do Xavier. I hope your tootsies can handle it.”
I wiggled my white toes. “You planning on stepping on them?”
“I’m not the ones wearing spiked heels.” Our brood had intermixed off on the sidelines. The boys were tall or on their way to being so and the girls were small. Big things come in small packages and I had no doubt that Lycan or Vampire my headaches and heartaches for our girls was far from over.
“How can…”
Ping laid a hand across my mouth. “As I told your brothers, we lived a lifetime everyday and counted our blessings that we had another day to share when he came back home. You called Haley your little brother, but he saw you as his little brother. His lost puppy who needed some fun in your life. He would see the weight of the world crushing your shoulders and he would kiss me and the puppies good-bye and tell us he was going to make the little white dragon smile. He loved to meet with you and just play. I would just stand in amazement to see you both rolling around on the floor of Von Drachenfeld.”
Hades started doing his thang. A metallic sounding voice called out “Remix!” then the woods began to boom with bass. Holy mackerel. My chest was rattling. Everybody was going to be deaf by the end of this. Ping grabbed my hands and pulled me around the dance floor until I figured out what the heck was playing then I started to get into the groove. This is one of Haley’s favorites -- Calabria 2008 remix. I dropped into a mambo and showcased the Asian beauty across the dance floor. I saw a hand come up and reach for Ping’s shoulder. Ping turned with a frown on her face but dropped it when she saw it was Claudia. “I’m cutting in.”
“Not in those shoes you ain’t.” I glanced down at her feet.
Claudia glanced down then kicked the three inch stiletto’s off. I let her get into the rhythm then began to sweep the floor. We made one circuit when Claudia was effectively cut from my arms and Arashi shoved me backwards trying to lead. I ended up circling with her a couple of times until I got her off balance a bit then I pushed back so I was back in the lead. I watched as Arashi bit her bottom lip and tried to keep up. So the rest of the dance was, Vampire daughter, Lycan daughter, Vampire, Lycan, Lycan, Lycan, Lycan so I was breathing like I had just run a marathon by the end of the song. I ended up with a handful of puppy girl who just squirmed and wiggled and waggled her stubby tail in happiness as her Alpha danced with her.
I noticed no one else had jumped onto the floor, so I figured I might has well head over and get a drink and pant off in the sidelines because this roman soldier type vest thing wasn’t letting me take big gulps of air that I soooo wanted. I shuffled off with little puppy yips screaming for more, more, more! Lia made me laugh. I got almost to the end of the floor when a big arm reached over and snagged Lia from my arms by the scruff of her neck. She got lifted over my head and I pivoted ready to take on the pup napper. Ike brought Lia up to his face and made a rough raspberry sound on her stomach.
/MORE, Ikey/
/Later, I got to hug Alpha./ I was warned but Ike wrapped an arm around my neck and proceeded to try and pop my head off. “Hey there Lord Alpha…now you got to see how the big boys do it.”
“Mummph.” I couldn’t say anything because I was crushed into his shoulder.
Lia got set down and Ike closed a hand around my wrist and I got dragged back out of the dance floor. Wolf was built like his father. Ike, Hugh, Dewy and Louis were going to large and massive like Sang Kyu, their unknown uncle and Hiroshi their Eastern Lycan Warlord Grandfather. Ike hit a growth spurt at twelve and sprouted up to 6 foot four and then spent the remaining seven years starting to fill out the spaces in between. “Dance with girls….pffftttt.”
“One day, you just might like that.”
“I already know whom I going to marry.” Ike was betrothed to Riassa. Von Drachenfeld and Saitou only agreed to this because the Lycan Nation was ready to bite my head off. Things had gotten better between the two Nations and with Azrael on the throne, I couldn’t see they getting worse. There was no need to tie the two kids to that old tradition.
Another bass started pumping out of the speakers. I could see Claudia’s forsaken shoes actually vibrating on the floor from the force of the soundwaves. Flo-Rida’s Low started a roll forward of the younger Lycan to the floor. Ike took up point and his brothers angled off behind him. I noticed Wolf was missing. I glanced up toward the stage and saw him and Lex standing off to the side talking in low voices.
For a big guy, Ike had some moves. The triplets were just a few inches smaller than their bigger First Litter brother but just as wide. I got playfully bounced around like a pinball until I went face first into an apply orchard. Arms got wrapped around me and I was held still. “Uncle Marcus.” Ike flashed a set of fangs at the big vampire.
“He’s tiny, don’t play rough.” Marcus was just as tall but only about three-quarters wide and Ike was still a pup. What the hell is he going to look like when he reached Alpha status. Crap, Azrael I think was about six foot four. Ike was going to be like seven foot something.
“Hey.” I realized I just had been dissed.
“Uncle Marcus, Alpha…uh, King…Benedek…” Louis voice trailed off.
“Alpha is fine.” I twisted in Marcus’ arms and faced the Lycan boys.
“Alpha kicked ass. He’s tiny but a tuffie.” Yip yip yip. Basic translation, booyah.
The Saitou pack jumped around a bit then Dewy stumbled over a small female pup. Ike was quick enough to catch her and steady her but Dewy crashed to the floor. “You all right?” As soon as she was upright, Ike jerked his hands away.
“Dance?”
Ike jumped back like she was poisonous or something. “Me?”
She shook her head and pointed at me. I think my eyes widened but I gave her a gentle smile. I saw the other girls who had edged her on all crowded together their proverbial tails swishing in the night air. “I am honored, Lady?”
“Colleen. Third born, second litter of Gregor Dennings.”
I pulled up Azrael’s Coles Notes of the battle for the throne. Gregor had sworn fealty to the throne.
“Armor would like to hold you in his arms tonight.” Marcus whispered into my ear.
“I thought that was a given?”
“On the dance floor, idiot.” Nice to know we had only taken about twenty years to get to a somewhat normal sibling relationship between the two of us.
I bumped his groin with my leather clad ass and stepped out of his hold offering my arm to the lovely little Lycan. It wasn’t polite to ask for ages but I could tell that she was a pup. She just didn’t smell right. Not that she didn’t smell bad but she didn’t carry the scent of an adult. Once Colleen had gotten me out on the dance floor, I had them lined up around the block…and they all just weren’t pups either. I met matriarchs of different family lines. They were very paw friendly. I spent more time keeping their paws above the equator than worrying about keeping in time with the music. I guess everyone wanted to see the Vampire/Lycan who would be King. Who was now, king. Who was damned lucky to have already been claimed by Ping or I think I would have had mothers breaking out into a fang fest to get their daughters matched to the throne.
Hades finally killed the music. Oh thank god. I was basically ankle to nipples in tight new leather and I was sweating to death. Callia came up and took my hand and extracted me out of the puppy mill and handed me a bottle of water. “What are you, Papa, the wolf whisperer?”
“I’m just to damned sexy for my own good.” I chugged the water then felt uncomfortable as I could feel the icy coolness trail all the way down into my stomach.
“Ha…” She turned and kissed my cheek. “You’re going to cause a riot out there.”
“I need to get this off…”
“What do you need to get off?” Liam popped his head onto my shoulder and looked down my body. “I don’t think anything is moving down there.”
I jerked my shoulder upwards and clicked Liam’s upper and lower jaws together. He straightened and pushed at my shoulders. “Uncalled for but I’ll help you anyways.” His fingers worked at the lacings and loosened up the corset a bit. Sweet, sweet air filled my lungs. Claudius didn’t have to lace it that tight but…where was the black haired man?
Bruce stood at head of the stairs conversing with Hades for a bit then the little shepherd boy nodded and headed down towards us. Well more towards Liam than me. “While we have lost a voice that sweetened the air when he sang, his son, Wolfgang has been blessed with the same talent. Tonight, as a soloist and with his Band, Pack Von D, Wolfgang will sing a selection of his Father’s favorite songs.”
I noticed Father step onto stage behind Bruce and sit himself down at a synthesizer. I frowned. I thought he hated those things. Ever since Sex got him that crimson concert grand he has never touched anything else. Hades sauntered over to us and took Callia’s hand and did a courtly gentlemanly thing and brought it to his lips as he bowed. “You are a sight to behold, my dear.”
“Thank you, Hades.” He had tossed a fit the last time the winglets had called him grandma in public. Within the confines of Von Drachenfeld was fine but…a big no no out with the regular vamps. “I notice you haven’t greeted your other set of grandparents, yet.”
Callia had the grace to blush. “I like my skin intact, thank you every much.”
“Well if you didn’t show so much…” Liam got a slap off the back of the head.
“Inappropriate conversation from a great grandfather.” Armor stepped up and pressed up lightly against me.
I was able to keep my tongue in my head because the rest of the family was making me feelings known about the scantily revealing clothes my babies were wearing.
“Uncle Armor.”
“Callia, my dark rose.” Armor brushed passed me and kissed his granddaughter on the cheek. “One question from me, then you will have to go and see Nana. Did you pick these out?”
Her own cheeks colored more. “It didn’t seem so bad in the store.”
“And Riassa?”
“You know she wanted to be cheerleader. If we could have, I think she would have liked to go to a human highschool. I know, I know. We would just dry up like a sponge but…you gave us a lot…all of you and we do appreciate it.”
“Why do I hear a big butt?” I pulled her into my arms and gave her a hug.
“The grass is always greener on the other side. I looked at the puppies and wanted the freedom to run in the sun. They looked at us and wanted the stability of Von Drachenfeld.”
I heard Liam take in a breath then he grunted as Hades caught him in the mid-section with an elbow. Callia reached up and I bent down to accept a kiss on the cheek. “I love you Papa Xavier. I love all my Papas..and Uncles and Grandparents.”
“Ahem…..”
Callia arched an eyebrow at Liam. “And Great-Grandparents.”
“Nana, now.” Callia untangled herself and pouted. She couldn’t hold it and her arctic blue eyes sparkled with mischief. She turned and went to take her tongue lashing from my Mom.
Armor leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Why do I think that she is going to be more trouble than both Alexander and Riassa put together?”
“Cause you’re not an unintelligent man?”
Liam grunted behind us again. “Ow…”
“I’ll kiss it better later. Behave.” Hades admonished.
“Why is Father up there?”
“One of the puppies was supposed to play the keyboards tonight but once she saw you, she couldn’t do it. You and Haley might have met under less than perfect circumstances, but you were like kinsmen. Her memories of her father are intertwined with you. The loss is still too fresh.”
“Wolf doesn’t look that much better.” He was pale and his eyes seemed to glow golden. He didn’t look like the Wolfgang that prowled the corridors with Lex and Jax. He had an alien countenance.
Liam wrapped his arms around his lover’s shoulders and pressed the side of his face to Hades blonde hair. “He is First Litter. He is second son. His duty is to sing his father home. Until that is done, he cannot grieve.”
No wonder Lex was worried about him. “Can we cut this short?”
“Prince Haley has this planned, my Liege.” The only reason I didn’t yelp and jump sideways was because Armor had his arms on me. Bruce was a freaking shadow when he wanted to be.
“The family and I have spoken. Wolfgang has said that he could do this for his father. That the songs of memory that Haley had chosen were an honor that he would not pass up. The fact that a Vampire and a Human stand with Wolfgang is not overlooked, my Liege.”
Haley sang at my wedding. My eyes searched out Claudia and we shared a moment. We were BFF more than husband and wife but that day was special. The rest of the night afterwards was a nightmare but up until then…it was magic. Wolfgang took center stage and Father began to play the keyboards to “I put a spell on you.” the jazzy Nina Simone version. This seguewayed into “How much is that doggy in the window.” The smaller puppies loved that one. This was followed by the They Might Be Giants arrangement of “Istanbul.” If you didn’t know Haley, you might have thought he was psychotic. He just loved what he loved. Take it or leave it.
“Excuse me, my Liege.” Bruce gave me a slight head nod then moved back towards the stage.
The pain and heaviness that had sat in my heart since this morning was easing. I didn’t want it to but watching everyone here and listening in on their conversations. They knew Haley in various stages of his life. I heard snippets of the antics that he and Derry used to get up to. I heard about the pups he ran with when he was younger. If there were hard feelings about him they were forgotten, or at least left unspoken; the Lycan thought it in bad form to speak ill of the dead.
I had never seen a ‘give-away’ before. Each child had taken one item that had been Haley’s. Distant relatives were called up and they were given something that Haley had cherished or used. I only know how Haley and Ping kept their household which was like a Den – everyone in the same room. I don’t know if other Lycan did the same way. Werewolves lived like humans. In a house where everyone had their own room and a garage filled with so much junk that the car had to sleep outside in the elements. Strange to say it, but it was true. Because so many bodies were in a confined area in a den setting, clutter just didn’t accumulate. Or so I thought. Half an hour in, Claudius was called. He came down the stairs from the stage with his regular elegance.
Ike handed Claudius a crystal punch bowl. I couldn’t hear what Ping said to him but he leaned forward and waited for her to come to him for a kiss on the cheek. He turned and looked straight at me. Well I know who that look was for but he didn’t come over. Sex was perked up and interested but not asking for exchange. What was that about? I glanced around the assembly and then I noticed that Lanseng wasn’t here. They were quite close. Why wasn’t he here?
“Xavier.” Ping called my name again. I padded up to her. She offered her hand and I clasped it. “Haley has already given you his most precious things.” All the puppies crowded around and laid a hand on me somewhere. “The fact that you accepted the honor while he was alive meant more to him that you will ever know.”
Ping laid a finger over my mouth. “There will be a few more dances and Haley’s favorite song then you will be asked to light the pyre. You should go and prepare. I doubt you want to be flying around overhead advertising your cookies to all the bitches in the Den.”
“Lady.” I bowed my head to her.
“X.”
“Ping.” She kissed my cheek and everyone pulled back off the dance floor. I hustled off before I got waylaid by paw pawing females moving back toward Claudius and Armor.
I know that Father isn’t an emotionless man. Sex has proven that. However, Sex brings out the best in him. Most of the times he is still that stony appearance that has given him the name of the Black Death. I looked at the cut crystal punch bowl in his hands. Didn’t I buy that for Haley?
“Ping said that Haley wanted Sex and I to have this for our dance that night. We were robbed.”
Oh, yeah. That seemed so long ago and we were all just a little more innocent. Father looked over at me. “Ping said to tell Sex that he cannot make me sell this. It is a lover’s cup or is to be thought of as one.”
“I doubt Sex makes you do anything you don’t want to do.”
“You would be surprised my son just what I would for my Fallen Angel. It surprises me how much joy it brings to me to see him smile. To be the cause of that smile brings me more fulfillment than the completion of a mission.”
Armor tightened his grip on my shoulder for a moment then turned his head towards the approaching road. “Incoming…” I glanced up to see him touch the small ear piece. “Lanseng and our missing lady friend.”
Ladyfriend?
/I thought you had a short attention span before but you’re getting worse aren’t you?/ Nightshade’s voice sounded in my head.
/Shade! Where the hell have you been?/
/I have a life of my own too, your majesty. Can’t leave you alone for a month and here you are conquering Dens left and right./
/You know…/
The tone that came back was low and full of sadness. /Lanseng told me. I liked that little pup. Once he got his nose away from your tail, he was fine./
/You blocked me./ Oh gees, I sounded like a whiney kid.
/I needed full concentration./ The car pulled up. Actually it was a taxi. How the hell did Lanseng get a taxi to come all the way out here and to even get past security. Then again…I had no clue how Lanseng worked only that Skell put his full trust into the tall blue drink of water. The fact that Little Deadly trusted someone absolutely was a good thing. I thought Queen Nightshade would be out of the car first just like she always did. So many times I was at the back end of the tail as her Majesty took up point. Not a sight to be anticipated. I didn’t expect Lanseng to get out holding Nightshade like Dr.
Evil, nor to have three other domestic cats pop up behind him. Lanseng paid the taxi driver then the car did a 360 and sped off back down the road.
Four cats in a sea of canines. Lanseng set Nightshade down and she transformed into a lovely red panther. The cats behind her all turned into panthers. Snowflake and Morose and…someone else.
“You’re fat.” The word just popped out of my mouth.
Shade glared at me, /I’m pregnant, you ass. Fat. That’s funny coming from you./
“Pregnant?”
/Kitty?/ I glanced down to see Lia blinking up at Shade.
Shade turned her head and looked down at the little puppy. /Greetings, little one. You might not remember me but I was there when you and your sister were born. I am Nightshade, Queen of the Hellcats./
Lia backed up into my legs and sat down on my bare foot. “This is Princess Lia.”
/Alpha?/
I reached down and picked her up. She was tired and seeing such big cats was almost too much for a two month old. “Go to sleep, little pup. You can barely keep your eyes open.”
/Yuki said Alpha is now Daddy./
“Your Daddy asked me to take care of you if something happened to him. Your Daddy will always be your Daddy, Lia. I will be there for you if you need me.”
“So will all of us, little girl.” I thought Lia’s eyes had gotten wide when Shade turned up but when Armor leaned over she had to look up and up and up. I thought she was going to flip out of my arms she had to look up so high.
/Unka./
“Benedek and the rest of us will be there for you.”
Bruce called out from the stage. “Queen Nightshade, Monarch of the Hellcats.”
/Come on boys, let’s make a statement./
/Snowflake, Morose./
The other hellcat was a spotted jaguar in a dull dull burgundy with deeper purplish spots. /Blood Emperor. I am Ravenous. I have been given the honor of being the spark that will send this Lycan prince to his final resting place./
/Ravenous./ I bowed my head in the hellcat’s direction. The bargain that I had made with her majesty so many years ago was still in effect. Once a month a new hellcat arrived ready to leave behind his or her time of immortality. I know that there were whispers about my penchant for eating souls. My great great grandfather Sigmund had left behind a legacy of fear and madness and although the family might have discovered the truth, few wanted to hear it. Lord Emperor Sigmund was still considered a fruitcake, a deadly fruitcake. I was called Blood Emperor to my face. I was named soul-eater to my back. They called me Sigmund in the shadows. The Red Houses who really didn’t like the return of the Empire would absolutely freak if they knew that it really was my first name.
“Go with your Uncle Armor, Lia. I have to change my clothes.” She didn’t tense up but looked up at him.
/Ikey’s bigger./
I bit back a smile and moved back towards the limo. Lanseng bowed. “I am a little better with my timing, My Lord.”
I tapped the seer’s forearm. “I was wondering where you had gone. You should give your regards to the pack.”
“Do you need assistance?”
“I have it, Lanseng. See to Ping. She has voiced her concern over your absence.” Father shifted his hold on the punch bowl and gestured me to the car.
That was good because there was no way in hell I was getting out of these clothes without help. A white leather kilt was set out on the bench seat of the limo. Father followed me inside and set the bowl down on the carpet then pulled out a dagger. He slit the lacings. Oh, sweet merciful air filled my lungs. I pulled the corset strappy thing off and just enjoyed the fact that my lungs could expand. Claudius rolled me on my hip.
“Do not move.” He set the tip of his razor sharp blade against the leather pants then worked the shaft into the lacings and cut them loose. “Do you need further assistance.”
“I’m sorry to say it, but grab the cuffs. I’m going to have to pretend to be a snake and shed this skin.” I saw a flash of teeth as I wiggled my bare ass on the carpet floor. I never was so glad to Velcro the kilt around my waist. I kept the white shirt. Heaven knew what the Lycan females would do if they saw more skin or knew that I was going traditional under the kilt. I had tried underwear once…nasty burns from melting plastic. Armor had suggested a leather thong blooded to keep from burning up in the blue fires of the Phoenix but the string was too damned distracting. I would take my chances and go commando.
“How are you holding up, my son?”
“Azrael and Sex have given me the speech. I’m listening.”
“That is not what I asked.”
“I’m holding up. I think I’m holding up better than Wolfgang.”
“He will need you and Alexander when his duty to his Father is done. You can see the toll it is taking on him. It is easy to forget that they are so young.”
I went to move past Claudius to the door when I found myself in an embrace. “I am proud of you Xavier. You have charmed the Lycan court. You have eased Lady Ping’s concerns. You have shown that your shoulders are broad enough to take up the burden that has been placed there.”
“The Saitou Pack is not a burden.”
“To someone else they would be. Not to you. Your Imperial offspring has been raised with the future Leaders of the Lycan Nation. The next generation will be a strong and peaceful one.” Father kissed my forehead and released me. “Let us escort Haley home, one last time.”
Bruce had everything arranged by the time I got back out of the limo. Nightshade and Ravenous walked in tandem at the front of the procession as an honor guard. I followed after those solemn tails up past the stage to a hill that had logs stacked in a square like a log cabin or a funeral pyre. I thought the Imperials would be carrying the pallet that had a still white canvas wrapped form, but it was the female Imperials - the Xenas. A Female brought Haley into the world. Females would usher him out. Morose and Snowflake brought up the rear.
Wolfgang sang Haley’s favorite song. It was his and Ping’s song. It was one of those odd ones that the melody is happy and upbeat but if you truly listen to the lyrics, they are sad and wrenching. It was in Japanese. Sukiyaki. Not the disco era version but the original one from 1963.
Ue o muite arukoo / I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai yoo ni / So the tears won't fall
Omoidasu haru no hi / Remembering those happy spring days
Hitoribotchi no yoru / But tonight I'm all alone
Ue o muite arukoo / I look up when I walk
Nijinda hoshi o kazoete / Counting the stars with tearful eyes
Omoidasu natsu no hi / Remembering those happy summer days
Hitoribotchi no yoru / But tonight I'm all alone
Shiawase wa kumo no ue ni / Happiness lies beyond the clouds
Shiawase wa sora no ue ni / Happiness lies above the sky
Ue o muite arukoo / I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai yoo ni / So the tears won't fall
Nakinagara aruku / Though my heart is filled with sorrow *
Hitoribotchi no yoru / For tonight I'm all alone
whistling
Omoidasu aki no hi / Remembering those happy autumn days
Hitoribotchi no yoru / But tonight I'm all alone
Kanashimi wa hoshi no kage ni / Sadness hides in the shadow of the stars
Kanashimi wa tsuki no kage ni / Sadness lurks in the shadow of the moon
Ue o muite arukoo / I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai yoo ni / So the tears won't fall
Nakinagara aruku / Though my heart is filled with sorrow *
Hitoribotchi no yoru / For tonight I'm all alone
Hitoribotchi no yoru / For tonight I'm all alone
whistling
Haley was placed on the pyre and the Xenas all bowed to me then turned and returned back down the hill. The three hellcats brushed against me then let loose a cry that broke the silence that lingered after Wolf had stopped singing. I turned to Ravenous. The hellcat sat still and closed the bright golden eyes.
/I know that you would know me, Blood Emperor, but I would rather have all that I was pass into nothingness. /
“I will still regard this as an honor, Ravenous.”
/I am honored to be chosen for this sacrifice./
In the past, I needed blood and death to end the existence of the immortal hellcat. Now, I just needed to closed my eyes. I crushed his heart with my will and called for his soul. The dancing green orb came willingly to me and lighted on my hand for a few brief seconds then absorbed into my skin, right into my blood stream. The power spike hit me hard. I grit my teeth for a moment then a cry broke out of my throat. It was a howl of mourning and pain. The Phoenix came at my call and my world was shot with blue flames. The physical form that was once a hellcat turned to ash. The wood of the pyre caught flame and began to burn yellow. That wasn’t good enough. I angled my wings and the warm thermals of my own heat lifted him skyward. I hovered over the pyre dropping closer so the flames burned the purest blue. The goal was to send Haley to the stars so he would play with the great ones who had gone before. I began to fan my wings slightly creating a vortex. Soon I was in the eye of a tornado of phoenix flame and ashes were whirling skyward.
“Goodbye, little brother. I’m going to miss you.” Tears came but were flash dried in the heat of my flame.
I hovered there letting the hellcat soul power the phoenix until there was nothing left below me. I had reduced everything to ash. I landed lightly in the steaming earth and locked my knees from staggering sideways. A controlled burn of a hellcat soul is a hard thing to do but if I do it right, I don’t end up falling over and knocking out a fang. I turned around and looked back down into the clearing below. Everyone was staring - Lycan, Vampire and Human. I glanced down and noticed I had burnt away everything but my hair. Great. Here I am at a solemn occasion and I’m buck ass naked. I shook my head and some of my massive locks of hair fell forward and covered up the goodies. I started back down the incline. Britta was right about one thing. I was a cheeky little bastard.
* * *