Puppet

CHAPTER 30:


“A perfect guess,” Ra snickers; his body is lowered like a zombie, “Of course I couldn’t expect less from you, Luke.”

Kiyoshi held tightly to his love’s sleeve. This was not the same Ra who had dared try to seduce him. This was not the Ra who had savagely murdered his mother that one cold night. Ra had changed. His figure was bony, his skin as white as a ghost. He moved his arms and waist as if he were some sort of zombie. Was he even human? Kiyoshi could only think, “What the hell is he?” with a fear glooming over his petrified face.

“How dare you,” Luke growls; Kiyoshi could feel his body shaking, “How dare you come here. How dare you step upon the ground here! You bastard! You despicable demon!”

“Now, now Luke,” Ra cackles, his voice different from before, “Is that any way to talk to your old boss?”

“I now know,” Luke keeps going; ignoring Ra’s deathly voice, “You—you are the one who murdered all of those innocent mortals. It was you who murdered Talakani, Yaichiro, those men and women.”

“You caught me,” Ra chuckles, “I admit it…” Each immortal was struck by the sudden change in Ra’s voice. Kiyoshi realized that it had changed back to normal. He sounded like the original “Ra” again, and before they all knew it, the immortals winced at the sound of Ra’s cracking bones. He had looked undead a moment ago, but now looked like a regular human. He gave his neck a good few pops. “I just couldn’t control myself. Mortal skin just tastes so—delicious. You should try it sometime Luke…” Ra turns his head to Kiyoshi, and a wide evil grin grows over his still blood-covered lips, “Oh, my mistake. You already have…”

Kiyoshi cowers further behind Luke. He despised this man; if that’s what he should even be considered as. This beast—Ra—Kiyoshi wished he would just disappear forever.

Pushing Kiyoshi further behind him, Luke never removed his eyes from Ra’s own pair. Though Luke already knew the answer to this particular question, he asked Ra anyway: “What the hell do you want?”

Ra turned his black eyes towards Kiyoshi. He let his pink tongue slide over his red lips. Some of the blood had dried in place, so he could not lick it all. “Why,” Ra began, “I just wanted to visit my dear mortal pal, Kiyoshi, and my old pal Luke. Can’t I do that?”

Ra ignores Luke’s lowered growl. It would seem that Ra enjoyed angering others. “Oh but come now,” Ra laughs, “Where are my manners this evening? I see we have some new faces in the group.” Ra moves his eyes over Ivalyn, who is being protected by Teo, and then he moves his eyes over Etsu, who stands behind Rod; her body was shaking. Ra gives a bow, “I am Ra. I once ran this little group before Luke came. Now I’m a loner; I do things my way…and I run my own little house of lust. Can’t keep the ladies’ paws off of me; those delightful whores.”

Ivalyn spat in disgust. This had made Ra rise from his bowing position. He gives Ivalyn a tiny grin before making his way over towards her and Teo. The immortals wanted to do something to stop Ra, but they all seemed frozen in place; as if their feet were forcefully trapped by thick squares of ice.

“What a beautiful lady,” Ra takes Ivalyn’s hand, “I see you are new here. I believe Teo remembers me, but I never would imagine he would have such a—stunning play toy.”

“I’m not,” Ivalyn spat bravely, “His play toy.”

“Oh,” Ra snickers, “Well then what are you exactly? His bitch? His slut?” Ra’s answer was an unexpected slap to the cheek. His feet never moved, but Ivalyn had made his immortal cheek grow red.

Each immortal was taken back by the slap. Each was afraid Ra would do something destructive back to Ivalyn, but they were all surprised when he suddenly began to cackle maniacally. “My, my,” Ra chuckles, “Feisty, isn’t she?”

Teo wanted to take a turn at Ra too. Teo wished to punch the man’s lights out, but knew he was no match for the ‘supposedly’ indestructible Ra. He never got a chance, though, for Ra soon turned his attention on a different immortal; Etsu.

“And who’s this precious creature,” Ra makes his way towards Rod and Etsu, “A young beauty for a trouble mind? Long time no see, Rod. How are things going with you? Hmm?”

“Stay back,” Rod growls, “You don’t scare me, you bastard.”

“Well aren’t we brave,” Ra turns his head towards Etsu, “You poor thing; being the play toy of such a troubled man. I feel for you, I really do.”

“Don’t talk to her,” Rod pushes Etsu behind him; he could feel her trembling in fear, “Damn it, stay away…”

Ra straightens his back; his black eyes stare deep in Rod’s brown ones. “Very well,” Ra chuckles, “As you wish.” Then, Ra turns to his last interest. He gives Kiyoshi a wide grin and makes his way over.

Kiyoshi lets a few stuttering gasps escape through his lips, and he obeys Luke’s strong arms, which push him behind Luke’s strong body.

“Don’t be alarmed, darling Kiyoshi,” Ra speaks in a hypnotizing tone, “I’m not going to harm you…”

“You keep your filthy hands off him,” Luke steps in; keeping his body placed in between Kiyoshi and Ra.

“Very touchy, aren’t we,” Ra sighs, “Well you’re in luck, Luke, for it is not Kiyoshi I wish to speak with. I wish to speak with you…it has been so long…”

“What the fuck for,” Luke yells, “I want nothing to do with you! Leave Kiyoshi and me the fuck alone!”

“Please don’t make me get violent Luke,” Ra’s voice turns cold, “You know I could easily pass by you. I could easily break your neck and kill you right here in front of your former group—tell me Luke, are you scared of death?”

Before he knew what hit him, Luke felt this strength tightening around his neck. He had used this type of power before; a special power only few immortals could control. He had used this same power when he forcefully kept Kiyoshi from opening his eyes or mouth that one pitiful night. Now Ra was doing it to him, only the power was much more—unimaginable, and strong. Luke let out a hiss as he felt his throat breathing for air, “F—Fine!”

“Good to hear,” Ra releases Luke, and Luke gasps for air. Kiyoshi is stunned, as are the immortals surrounding them, “Let’s go talk privately, then. Don’t worry, it won’t take long.”

Kiyoshi and the others could only watch as Luke led Ra out of the room and down the darkened hallway. His mind was racing in confusion. Had Luke just almost died? Ra tried to kill him. Kiyoshi was thinking, “How is that even possible? Luke’s an immortal“evidently forgetting of what Luke had told him. Kiyoshi jumped back into reality at the soft touch of Ivalyn’s hands on his shoulders.

“Kiyoshi,” Ivalyn whispers gentle words, “Don’t you worry. Luke will handle Ra.”

“Ivalyn,” Kiyoshi trembles, “Did Luke just—did he almost die? Right here? I thought he was immortal…”

“Yes,” Ivalyn nods, “He is immortal Kiyoshi. Don’t tell me you forgot? Though we immortals can’t die by everyday objects, we can be murdered by the hands of another immortal. However, not every immortal has the power to do so. In order to do so, one must be skilled with these certain powers that not even I know much of. I do know, however, that both Ra and Luke have obtained parts of this certain power. They are the only two immortals who I ever know with such amazing power. When Ra entered here, his power—God I couldn’t believe the power I felt when he touched my hand…”

Noticing Kiyoshi understood her words, Ivalyn stopped talking. She kept her arms wrapped around Kiyoshi in a tight hug, there to reassure him that everything would be all right.

“Ra, he scares me,’ Kiyoshi admits aloud, letting each immortal hear him. Looking around, Ivalyn could see almost sync expressions on the others’ faces. Jewels’s once perky face was full of sadness. Rod was angered, and Etsu was shaking. Teo looked as if he wished to pound his fist into something.

“We’re all scared of him Kiyoshi,” Ivalyn sighs. She turns Kiyoshi to face her, and lifts his chin. She points to her immortal friends, and gives Kiyoshi a large smile of hope, “But I swear Kiyoshi, that Ra will never touch you. For me; us, we will all protect you.”

Kiyoshi was struck with surprise when the other immortals nodded. They were promising to protect him? Kiyoshi was sure he was hallucinating, but sure enough, each immortal, even Rod, were giving him their own smiles of hope.

“If Ra dares lay one finger on you,” Teo suddenly speaks, “I swear, if Luke does not get to him first, then I will.”

“That’s right,” Jewels giggles, “It looks as if we’ve grown attached to you, cutie!”

“It’s true,” Rod admits; shocking not only Kiyoshi, but the immortal group, “I may have treated you poorly in the past, but with Ra back; biting at our heels, well this is all I can do.”

“You’ll be kept safe,” Etsu smiles, “We promise.”

Kiyoshi could feel tiny tears form at the corners of his eyes. He couldn’t believe his ears. Taking all this information in was almost to bearable.

“You do not have to worry,” Ivalyn speaks for a final time, “Now that we know of your past life, we will be here for you. Just remember that Luke isn’t the only one you have. You have me, Teo, Jewels, Rod; you have your own mortal friends. You are never alone, Kiyoshi, and I swear on my own that if Ra dares to try hurting you, I swear I will kill him with my own bare hands.”

Listening to Ivalyn’s brave, strong words, Kiyoshi felt a leap of confidence. He knew he had friends, and he knew he was not alone. Luke was back there now, talking with Ra for him. He wished he knew what was going on, but knew if he were to interfere something terrible might happen to Luke. Feeling bad enough for keeping secrets from Luke; for making Luke miserable that one day he got his hair sliced off, Kiyoshi knew that he could no longer keep any secret from Luke, or from Ivalyn and the others.

With one final smile, Kiyoshi could only nod his head at his loving immortal friends. “I know,” Kiyoshi cries, “Thank you, my friends.”

*End of Chapter 30*