Humans and Beasts

Chapter 11: Coming from Shadows

It was already midday. The bright sun was illuminating its rays above the heads of the small group by the time they made it over the final hill of the dirt path, and now stood looking up at a humongous wall that seemed to stretch for miles. The dark opal stone made it look ominous and scary and if that wasn't enough to keep trespassers away, there was always the giant moat that surrounded the walls of the dark kingdom.

But did that hinder the steps of these wayward travelers? However, Kai, who had taken his usual place leading the way, walking about ten steps in front of the others. Kai stared up at the colossus structure with an almost nostalgic glimmer in his eyes. Something was familiar. Something cold, but also held a spark of warmth deep within. Kai continued to become lost as his mind tried to regain a fading memory, though he didn't notice Rei stroll up from behind him, stopping right next to Dranzer's Keeper.

"Wow…" Rei exasperated with a long whistle, "who would want live in a place like that?" Then he caught, out of the corner of his eye, Kai had struck with a glare. Rei gave a playful cat-like grin. "Then again, I'm sure it would be the perfect place for someone like you Kai." Kai didn't answer, only averted his gaze, and was about to step forward, when suddenly, he was trapped within a strong yet playful headlock. He could only hear Rei's laughter.

"Got remember Kai, you can't turn your back on me! I know you have something to say, now say it!" Rei let go as he felt Kai's sharp grip on his wrist, and gave a small yelp and pulled away as Kai began twisting it.

"Hn. You shouldn't judge something by only their appearance." Kai only said, and was startled again as Tyson appeared out of no where at Kai's opposite side.

"Does that mean sourpuss Kai has a warm heart?"

Before the wild child could laugh or say anything, he found himself squatted low, again holding his head, as he narrowly dodged Kai's broad arm swiping at Tyson in the back of the head.

Meanwhile, Laura didn't really notice the interaction in front of her, or if she did, she didn't react, for her attention was divided to just behind her. Over her shoulder, walking about five steps behind the rest, Princess Tanya, the reason they were on this path in the first place was making her way over the hill. Her steps were slow, but what raised Laura's curiosity was the blank gaze, staring beneath midnight silken hair. Obviously the white phoenix within was conflicted. But what the leopard girl didn't know was that creature's heart was being torn in two. The White Phoenix was in love with two, and couldn't seem to forget either one.

Laura wasn't sure what was the cause of this sudden depression, but she wanted to try and help; so stalling in her steps Laura waited until Tanya caught up to her side, and linked their arms. This made Tanya blink out of her stupor. Laura couldn't help but giggle, as she tried to start up a conversation.

"I noticed you didn't come back to the house last night…" She tried to sound cheerful, hoping it would spread, "Did you at least get something to eat, and a good night's sleep?"

Tanya didn't answer right away, only stared straight ahead. "I don't eat, and I don't sleep. Only humans are allowed such a privilege." This time Laura had to cover a burst of laughter with her hand so it didn't attract attention.

"Every living creature sleeps. Where do you think we get the energy to go on living each new day?"

"The White Phoenix sleeps and dreams. When I become human, I will be able to have my own dreams."

Curiosity peaking Laura asked, "What does the White Phoenix dream about?"

Before she got an answer, Tyson's familiar shout interrupted them. The girls jerked up their heads to see the boys had already made it to the edge of moat surrounding the kingdom, and the drawbridge had already been lowered. With Laura tugging Tanya's arm, urging her to run, the girls soon joined the boys and together they entered the stronghold.

As they walked down the bustling main street, Tyson's dark eyes were distracted off down one side street, and his heart sank a little. "I'll meet up with you guys later…uh…I forgot I have to do something…yeah." He raced off before anyone could counter him. Rei watched him enter a lively yet quaint tavern, and took a step to go after him, was stopped as a strong, callous hand held back his shoulder. "Let him go." Kai uttered, "We have more important matters."

Little did they know that news of their arrival was already buzzing around the castle. In the tall stain-glass window that overlooked the entrance of the castle as well as the main street. A young girl stood dressed in a simple yet amethyst colored dress that swept down just above her knees. Her short blonde hair was pulled into a high ponytail, keeping stray strands from falling in front of her vision of blue eyes. Short-ruffled sleeves showed slender and pale arms. Krystal stood next to the captain of guards Bryan. The sun reflected through the glass, spilling a rainbow of colors across the couple. However, neither of them were smiling, for their problems were sure to get worse.

"Well, she is very pretty, just like Hilary's spirit beast predicted…" Krystal spoke her thoughts aloud, breaking the ice of silence around them.

"That doesn't help much here." Bryan returned, in his usual cold tone, "But the Prince's marriage problems are the least of our worries. Look there at the companion in front of her, doesn't he look the slightest familiar."

"Bryan! We aren't supposed to talk about that! What do think Lord Voltaire would say if he found out Luke was still alive?"

"I know!" Bryan nearly shouted, and waited a few minutes to let his anger subside again, "Luke was never fit to run a kingdom, but Tala is too adventurous and immature to have so much responsibility on his shoulders." Krystal nodded in agreement as she turned back to stare out the window, "who do you think is controlling the kingdom, Tala is only the figurehead. Lord Voltaire can manipulate anyone's way of thinking."

"Yeah," Bryan narrowed his gaze averting into the shadows of the castle, "and he is gaining too much power. He's planning something, I know it. I'm going to found out!"

Krystal turned a worried gaze toward Bryan, "We don't know what he's planning! The rumor is he's building an army, but even if that's true there's no way you can take on a whole army by yourself!"

Bryan turned to her, both eyes glaring at each other with equal force, "What am I supposed to do? It is my duty and my honor to protect this family, and Tala and Luke have been my friends since childhood. There's no way I'm going to let a madman hungry for power destroy their lives!"

"And you think I want that?" Krystal yelled, becoming increasingly annoyed, "I want the best for their welfare as well as their happiness! They're my friends too! I'm going to fight too!"

"No, you're not." Bryan stated with a firm tone.

"Yes I am. I'm not going to sit around only to worry and wonder when or if you're going to come back!"

"You're not going to fight. You're going to stay where it's safe. I'm not going to see you get hurt."

"Who says I'm going to hurt? I can fight. It was you who personally trained me!"

Krystal was silenced from saying another word, as Bryan leaned in, taking hold her chin and swiftly covered her mouth with a kiss. "Is this the only way I can get you to shut up?"

Krystal pulled away from his grasp and crossed her arms in a huff, but a secret smile playing on her lips, "Perhaps, but at night I thought you didn't want me to shut up."

Bryan gave a huff; as he grabbed her and pulled her close to kiss her again, this time a little longer. "That's in bed, when you're not speaking of nonsensical things."

"Hn." Krystal pushed away from Bryan and went back to stare out the window.

"Should we tell Tala they've arrived?"

"I already sent a guard into the Prince's chambers."

It was at that moment a stumbling guard rushed through the endless halls, and breathlessly knocked on the door. Hearing the call of permission to enter, he threw open the wide double doors entering into a lavish room of light blue tapestries hanging low from the ceiling and walls, looking like sheets of ice frozen around room, but it didn't seem to make the room any cooler. The prince was sitting at his elegant hand-carved mahogany vanity table painted a snow white while it was trimmed with gold along the edges. He sat on a blue silk cushion stool, solemnly looking at his reflection within the full length mirror. Behind him, Hiromi stood, with a soft-bristled brush in hand, and combed through the prince's bright red locks. Secretly, they were smiling for they were enjoying the closeness of each other, but neither wanted to speak their feelings aloud. So they reveled in the silence of their company. However, they jumped as the door knocking awoke them from their little piece of heaven. Hiromi halted what she was doing and jumped away from Tala, her head bowed like an obedient servant. Tala turned his head around, slightly annoyed that he was interrupted, and partly disheartened that Hiromi had moved away from his side.

"What do you want?" Tala brushed away his earlier thoughts and addressed the guard.

"Sir, your highness," The guard was flustered and there was a slight tremble in his knees, "The party whom you have spoken of has just arrived at the front gates of the palace."

Tala's eyes widened as he imagined the look of the princess in person, and a blush grew on his cheeks. It wasn't until he felt Hiromi tapping him on the shoulder did he wake once again from his dreaming, and addressed the guard again. "Show them to the main hall, I will meet with them shortly."

The guard quickly stumbled out of the room, forgetting to the close the door behind him. Tala wasted no time in grabbing his royal violet satin cloak. He swung it over his shoulders and walked toward the door, only to pause at the last minute in the entrance. Light blue eyes turned dazzling over his shoulder toward Hiromi, though he wasn't smiling, he was a royal prince after all. "Would you be my escort to the great hall, Hiromi?" He asked smoothly. Hiromi in the meantime, was a little dejected as she watched the expression light up Tala's face, and she wished he would smile like that to her, but that was impossible because of their status. Just then she looked as he spoke to her, and she almost smiled at the sparkles in his eyes, but that too was because he was a handsome prince and must keep up a perfect appearance. Instead, Hiromi just bowed her head respectfully and walked to his side. She took his offered arm, and together, in silence, walked down the long hallways.

Unbeknownst to anyone however, another figure also knew of the arrival of the wayward travelers, and he gave an awful grin, but for a brief second it faltered as they noticed one of the figures.

"It's not possible!" The tall, dark man turned away and disappeared back into the shadows.

Elsewhere, in another part of the castle, ruby eyes lit up for the first time since the boy was small. A gentle hand stroked his cheek and found it was wet with tears, and a smile lingered on his lips. Something good was coming. Slowly the blue haired boy got up and with light steps, as though he was walking on air, Luke walked to the door. His frail hand grasped the handle, and carefully so to not stumble while his hand leaned against the wall, Luke descended from his safe haven. He had waited for so long!

Back with the foursome group, they made it through the front gate; however, the welcome was anything but pleasant. The guards looked upon the group with suspicion glimmering in their eyes. Kai knew it wasn't just him they were worried about. It was because Rei and Laura stood out so much, with their furry white ears peeking out from their thick hair and their cat-like eyes. They had trained enough that they had reached a new level with their beast spirits. Their bodies had somehow merged with the spirits, in other words, the human and beast had truly had become one with Laura and Rei.

Laura decided to take a few matters in her own hands, with her own arm still linked with Tanya, she pulled Rei back with her other hand, conveniently switching Rei and Tanya at Kai's side. Squeezing Rei's hand, the neko-jin took the hint and smiled at her. Realizing that Kai and Tanya weren't taking the subtle hints, he stealthily linked each other's arms. He couldn't help but giggle silently as he moved back to Laura's side, noticing the glare of darkening mahogany. However, he didn't remove his arm from Tanya's, only protectively lead her through the hall. Tanya kept looking at their linked arms. What was this warmth she felt surging through her body? When she was finally human, soon she would too know this feeling. Soon, but the more she thought about the kiss, the more she somehow knew who she wanted to receive it from.

Upon entering the grand hall, Kai's eyes couldn't help but wander. Something was definitely familiar, as if he had sat in that chair before, but why? He was no prince. He was just an outcast. It was then his eyes and ears were drawn to another door opening to reveal Prince Tala escorted by a young red head girl.

Tala couldn't help but stare blankly at the girl holding on to the Phoenix holder's arm. He couldn't forget that pure face. Princess Tanya was indeed more beautiful in person. Stepping forward, making Hiromi fall behind him as a servant should be, he reached out offering his hand toward the princess. "Princess Tanya, allow me to introduce myself. I am Prince Tala. It is my honor to welcome you to my kingdom." Tala said in the deepest, huskiest voice he could muster, his ice blue eyes sparkling along with his usual handsome smile.

The princess, behavior as a noble should, graciously took the offered hand, and gave an approved smile as he kissed the smooth surface. "It is my honor, my prince, to be in your presence." As Tala kissed it though, Tanya felt her body flinch ever so slightly. But she ignored it. Was this how a kiss was supposed to make one feel? If so, why did leave her so unsatisfied after the Prince Tala had stepped back to face her companions.

"Thank you for bringing my new princess here for me, if there's anything I can do to repay," Tala immediately, recoiled as he noticed Kai's fierce crimson gaze from the corner of his eye, however, he wanted to discover if his thoughts about Kai were true, he had to make him stay somehow. "Perhaps, since you all have traveled so far, you must be tired. Please, I will allow all of you to rest within one of the many rooms here at the castle."

Before anyone had a chance to respond, Tala turned to Hiromi and she quickly bowed her head, awaiting his command. "Hiromi, if you could please show our guests to the spare bedrooms, and make sure they are attended to and comfortable." Hiromi looked up and nodded. She could see Tala was trying his best to be hospitable in order to gain the Phoenix holder's trust so he would stay long enough for the prince to find out the truth.

"Please, follow me." She motioned to the trio, but when Rei and Laura moved in front of Kai. He didn't budge. He wanted to get out of there. There was something too familiar, and he just wanted to forget everything. He was broken from his thoughts as a hand placed tentatively on his shoulder.

"Kai…" Tala let the familiar name roll smoothly off his tongue, it seemed right to say, "You look tired, why don't you rest. I'm going to escort Tanya to a chamber across from mine. You can visit her later." Tala flinched and backed away from Kai as he received another dark glare.

"I don't need to sleep." Kai growled at the prince, "I just want to be left alone."

Without another word, Kai turned on his heel and stormed out of the hall.

Tanya just stared after him, not sure what to do. Her gaze finally turned as Tala took her arm and led her away.

---

TBC

---

Whoo! Happy New Year! You know this would've been up yesterday, but I was so enraptured in my newest video, and so intent on finishing it. It stars Kai, and technically also his non-existent family. So please check that out as well on my youtube profile.

Anyway, thank you all for your reviews, I really appreciate them! Keep them coming. I like reading them.

This Danica Loy signing off until next update, which I hope is up soon.