Promise

Chapter 5- A monster from the past- part 2

Malakai watched the young slayer through the open window leading into the teens room. He sat, in the form of a horned owl, in a dying oak waiting patiently for Ruby. His sharp eyes carefully took in every detail, every single feature of Tsukiyos pale face. So delicate, so gentle and innocent. Simply perfect.

‘Beautiful,’ he purred lustfully in his head. ‘You’ll be mine very soon little slayer…’
A soft feminine snort interrupted his thoughts.

“What do you see in that boy?” Ruby asked coldly, her tone low, skin glowing as she emerged from the shadows, blood coating her lips as evidence of her latest feed.


The owls yellow glowing eyes shifted taking in ruby for a moment before it fluttered from the window. The bird slowly morphed, shadows embracing it as it took the familiar shape of a man. Malakai smirked, brushing a black feather from the shoulder of his dark cloak, smiling faintly, white fangs flashing in the moon light.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, dear Ruby. Where you may see a weak human child, I see something strong and beautiful….the only thing to have ever escaped myself and my moon weaving abilities.”

He sighed softly, turning his gaze up to the dark sky. “I want him for myself for all eternity….I want to break that strength and make him kneel before me, eager and willing to please.”

He purred in delight at the sentiment.

“Could it be his love for my Irihi that has kept this treasure you seek from you?” Ruby asked smirking, slight teasing in her sultry voice.

Malakai let out a feral snarl, but composed himself, his eyes flashing yellow in the dark. “It is…,” he said darkly. “Without love from both ends that pendent would serve no purpose to bind them. Only the boy can remove it…”

“Then let’s hope I can coax him to remove it,” Ruby sighed boldly. “If you ask me, I say his bond with Irihi is similar to mine. I can not allow that.”
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Ruby entered Tsukiyos home, smirking to herself. The child had forgotten his wards. She entered his chambers, her smirk falling, her delicate face turning to a scowl. Her red eyes narrowed on the teen, imagining what his long throat would look like with a wide slit as she watched the blood drain. She licked her lips at the thought of draining him to a dry husk.

But to do so would be to tempt powers she had no chance against.

Tsukiyo stirred slightly, feeling the weight of a burning gaze upon him. His eyes fluttered open slowly, instantly clearing the moment his heart jumped, his body sensing an unfamiliar aura in his chamber. His heart knew instantly it was not Irihi, but someone he honestly had no want of seeing when he awoke.

He slowly sat up and with speed that would have rivaled a fledgling vampire he dashed to the corner, staring at Ruby with a dark frown. “what are you doing here?” He asked coldly, narrowing his golden brown eyes.

“Why so cold towards I, slayer? It is I who should want your head on a platter,” she sneered.

Tsukiyo glared at her darkly, strands of dark black brown hair falling over his shadowed eyes. “Why might that be, vampress?”

“You’re trying to steal away my fiancé,” She snapped, baring her fangs. “He’s mine as declared by his father when he was head of our kiss. We’re to be wed and you are in the way.”

The words fiancé and wed struck Tsukiyo hard, his heart skipping a beat painfully. His expression became a blank canvas as he stared at Ruby. “What do you mean fiancé? How am I in the way?”

Ruby began pacing the length of the floor on her side of the room, careful as to not let her anger get the best of her and make her foolish. “You know what I mean. Cut to the chase. You’re in love with the love of my life. Years ago, as children we played until he met you. At one ceremony I was destined to marry him. You know how it goes; a prince is forced a wife. That wife will be me. He’s mine, slayer! I tend to keep it that way. Can’t have another on his arm other than I, now can I?”

Tsukiyos heart beat wickedly, painfully and the pendent heated searingly against his skin. He lifted a shaking hand, touching the metal and lifting his gaze to Ruby, now unable to hide the confusion and faint hurt in his eyes. “If he was engaged then why did he….”

He wanted to ask why Irihi had kissed him, something in him wanted to know the answers to those questions before he believed this snake of a woman. He blinked, startled at this fact. Was he…..in love with Irihi?

“Humph,” Ruby snorted. “Irihi does as he pleases. For all I know you could just be another toy he’ll get sick of and toss to the side. Or in this case, kill off.”

Her eyes glittered with dark amusement as Tsukiyos hand instantly went to his chest. He could still feel Irihis’ lips as if they were burning against his skin. Irihi wouldn’t kill him. He’d rescued him. He was his friend and this woman….this woman was full of lies!

“You speak falsely, “He hissed softly. “Your lying. Irihi would never kill me…”
Malakai smirked to himself, scampering across the floor inside the mind of a rat, waiting for his time.

“The blinded words of a human speaking of a vampire. Think about it, you could never be with him,” Ruby taunted. “You’re too different. Vampires follow their instincts while humans kill us off because they’re bored. We kill only for survival. That’s not a good balance for you two. As for I, I’m perfect for him. We’re the same. Stay out of this if you don’t wish to be hurt. Physically and emotionally, slayer. It’s clear that you love him.”

“Irihi would never hurt me,” He snapped, his resolve slipping slightly as anger started to edge his voice. “Quit with you lies, vampress…”

Malakai scampered behind Tsukiyo, shifting silently in the darkness and moving forward to slip a strong arm around his lithe waist and another around his head, pulling back to angle the slayers face to gaze up at his own. A feeling of delight washed over him as he saw pure terror rise in the teens eyes. “But she isn’t lying, my pet…,” he purred.

“Oh,” Ruby cooed smirking coldly. “If you are so sure of Irihis feelings, why do you have doubt in your eyes? I can see it….I can feel your depression, little slayer. You don’t want to believe me, but whose to know the Irihi that hides in dark shadows?”

She smirked proudly. “You could never amount to him. You’re too weak. He needs someone strong. He needs me.”

Tsukiyos eyes widened with sheer terror. He went to rip out of Malakai’s grasp, but his body refused to move and his gaze remained captured by the vampire who was single-handedly responsible for the death of his clan and family.

His breath seemed caught in his chest, a bead of sweat running down the side of his neck. He could hear Ruby clearly, her taunts and jeers tearing at his heart and at his mind just as his own fear was doing. Could she be telling the truth? Was that what Irihi though, that he was too weak?

Malakai smiled calmly, seeing the glitter of tears in the corners of Tsukiyos eyes.

“Ruby is quite correct, my pet,” he purred. “Your sad…and alone. Irihi could never return your feelings for he has none. But I can.”

His eyes flashed a dark yellow shade, his pupils dilating as he wove his spell ever stronger around Tsukiyos mind. He glance over at Ruby, smirking cooly. “I want to play with him a bit longer….he stole Irihi from you…..and has made me wait…don’t you wish him to hurt?”

“do as you please,” Ruby sneered as she turned to exit the room and the house. “I think he has the idea now that he’s worthless.”

Malakai watched her vanish as only some of the oldest of their kind could do and turned his attention back to Tsukiyo, who struggled violently inside, his mind desperate to get free. Tears ran freely down his pale cheeks.

‘IRIHI!’

His mind and heart screamed out in fear, and the moment he did, the spell shattered and he blinked falling to the floor as he found himself in the room completely alone. His heart was beating against his chest with painful thuds, his breathing erratic with fear. He pulled his knees to his chest, backing to the wall, staring straight into the darkness, unable to think past the waves of strong emotions consuming him.

Outside the house in the darkness Malakai stood watching as a familiar figure approached the home. “The game gets more interesting from here on out my pet,” he chuckled and turned, disappearing into the night as Irihi stopped in front of Tsukiyos home.

The vampire lord stood for a moment, unsure as if he should enter and took it upon himself freely to enter, in hopes of surprising his newfound childhood companion.

“Tsukiyo?” he called out softly as he searched the rooms. He dwelled upon the thought that once these many rooms had been filled with slayers but now they belonged to Tsukiyo alone. He paused as he came to the room where Tsukiyos scent clung to strongly and his presence resided, but along with Tsukiyos aura there was another fading aura. Two other auras, in fact. Both fading and almost gone.

He pushed the door open, silver hair falling over his ice blue eyes as they scanned the pitch black room to find Tsukiyo huddled in the corner of the room, balled and trembling, fear resonating like a tangible odor.

“Tsuki….the room is dark, don’t you wish for a light?” he asked calmly, slightly confused. His sharp eyes locked onto the teens delicate strong frame.

Tsukiyo winced at the sound of Irihis voice and a shimmer of moonlight passed through the window, lighting the room as clouds made a spider web over the glowing orb, causing the tears on his white face to glitter like diamonds.

His dark brown eyes didn’t turn to gaze at Irihi , only stared straight foreward, his breathing raspy and slow. At the moment his mind was unsure, plagued by horrid memories and rampant emotions.

He shook his head, his soft brown hair swaying over his eyes. “I’m not afraid,” he murmured. “Please….”

“Afraid?” Irihi said slightly startled and walked hurriedly to the younger teens side, stroking his cheek with his thumb. “Tsuki, your face is stained with tears. What happened during my absence?”

Irihi cupped Tsukiyos cheek, staring at him with concern and a need to comfort the young slayer.

“I’m not afraid,” Tsukiyo repeated, his eyes staring right past Irihi, his earthy gaze slightly glassy with the lingering affects of a powerful moon weave. He did not even seem to see nor hear Irihi.

“Tsuki!” Irihi said softly, but sharply, grabbing tsukiyo by the shoulders. His enraged eyes softened when the teen flinched away from him. “Tsuki…”

Tsukiyo seemed to freeze when Irihi slightly tightened his grip on his shoulders. He let out a sharp cry then, trying to spring away only to be grabbed once more and pulled tightly into Irihis arms. He thrashed wildly, surprising the vampire once again with the strength contained in the teens supposed delicate frame.

“Tsukiyo! It is me. Why do you wish to flee?” he demanded calmly. A small gasp escaped Tsukiyos lips and his body went limp in the vampires strong arms.

“I….iri…?” he whispered weakly and shook his head. “Not him…not…not him…not afraid.”

“Not who?” Irihi demanded softly. “Calm yourself.”

“Irihi…he was…him…not him…,” he continued to mutter in a whispered tone, now still and shaking in Irihis arms. He turned in the vampires embrace, clinging to the taller man tightly, his face suddenly dark with something cold. “He was here…Irihi…”

Irihi pulled Tsukiyo closer, laying back on the bed allowing the small slayer to lay on his chest as he wrapped his arms tightly around the boy. “Whoever it was will never be able to get you with me in the way,” he whispered, stroking Tsukiyos dark hair in an effort of comfort.

Tsukiyo froze as Ruby’s words came to his mind. “I’m in your way of marriage,” he whispered weakly. ‘She said that….and then he came…”

Irihi grew completely silent, his thoughts collecting rapidly thinking the female presence must have been Ruby, for no other would say such a thing.

“Is she associated with him?” he asked ignoring the fact that Tsukiyo knew of his pre-destined marriage to Ruby.
“They said I was weak….that you would never feel anything for me. That he could,” he strangled out, his tone soft but there was an edge of pain and darkness in his tone. “He said that she wasn’t lying.”

Irihi closed his eyes, resting his chin on top of Tsukiyos head. “How could they know? I have never thought of you as weak and Ruby is nothing but lies.”

“I know,” Tsukiyo said, his voice returning to a normal tone. “I know…”

He lifted his head off of Irihis chest, his pale face dark with the streak of faded tears. Irihi loosened his grip on the boy, ice blue staring down into honey brown. “Who is he?”

Tsukiyo shook his head. “He never had a name. I’m sorry Irihi, but Ruby was with him….she was with him Irihi…”

She shook slightly in the vampires arm, both angry and frightened. “She means to rid of me so she can have you…”

“She can never rid of you,” Irihi said in a sultry tone, lifting Tsukiyos chin so their eyes could meet again. “Not before ridding of me and I know she’d refuse that.”

He brought Tsukiyo close, pressing his own forehead to the slayers, their lips a skins length apart.

‘He…he must be Malakai…’

“Promise?” Tsukiyo whispered, his hands loosening their grip on Irihis cotton shirt.

“Promise.”

Tsukiyo didn’t think as he acted, crossing that bare space, placing his own heated lips over Irihis cool ones in a soft kiss, his eyes closing in a moment of bliss that only deepened as the other returned the sentiment, deepening the gentle show of affection.
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Okay I finally uploaded this. I'm sorry readers for the long wait but Senior year is finally here and with a job included im very busy.

It took missing two days of work and one day of school with a serious cold to motivate me to finish this chapter. But here it is. I'd better get some kudos for this. Now I'm going to bed to nest my cold and hopefully I'll feel better in the morning or we'll have a snow day....whatever comes first.