The following day the nasty weather has finally broken, the sea is nice and calm, so Hisashi gives his men the order to head home. When they pull into the harbour they see a tall Westerner with long black wavy hair dressed in strange clothing, is waiting for the ship to dock.
The moment their lord sees him he calls, “Fedor! My dear old friend.”
“Who is he?” Kenzō asks, looking at him with curiosity to see him wave.
“This is my husbands brother. Yes, I know he is the same as me. He was kindly adopted by Alric’s mother Titan.”
“Now I understand. I have to say, my word he is very handsome."
Hisashi emits a soft laugh and says, “Come, I will introduce you to him.”
The Commander follows him down the gangplank and before they reach the bottom the Westerner throws out his arms and says with a voice full of joy, “Hisashi, my dear friend.”
“Fedor,” he laughs, giving him a hug. “It is wonderful to see you my dear old friend.”
Kenzō watches the tall slender Westerner point a hand at his leader and says in a firm voice, “What are you up to? You leave your men all worried, not telling them why you need to make a trip to China, alone. They told me you only allowed this young man to accompany you. Out with it, say over dinner?”
Hisashi nods and replies, “I would like that, old friend. Yes, I promise you I will tell you everything.”
“I hope I am included,” comes a slightly muffled man’s voice.
Fedor smiles, then steps to one side to reveal a man who is dressed in a fine black Kimono wearing a white Noh mask.
“Narsus. Oh my goodness, it is good to see you,” replies Hisashi, giving him a hug. “Yes, yes, you are more than welcome to join us.
Kenzō watches the tall man pat the side of his leader’s face and replies, “I should hope so, because I can tell you are hiding something. Do you not agree, Fedor?”
“I certainly do, my good friend.”
Hisashi emits a soft laugh and replies, “Come.”
The Commander notices the masked man is pointing a slender hand at him and he asks, “Care to join us?”
“A kind offer. However, I had better get home to my love.”
“Oh not your wife?”
Kenzō laughs and replies, “No. I mean not yet. I hope though one day.”
“Ah in that case you had best make an honest woman out of her before I make an honest man out of you.”
Fedor and Hisashi laugh at the Commander’s confused expression, then he too joins in.
Narsus places a hand around the young man’s right hip to pull him a step closer and says in a soft voice, “You might like being with an Eíen no.”
“Kind of you to offer,” replies Kenzō, still laughing. “I am sorry to break it to you though. I am not in to men.”
“What a shame,” says Narsus, placing his long fingers under the man’s chin. “I tell you now it would be a different story, if I removed my mask. You would not be able to resist me. Is that not so, Fedor?”
The Western Soul Drinker nods and replies, “Trust me, I am the same as you, only interested in women. I assure, even I find him incredibly attractive and I have no emotions. Yet he can make me blush.”
The Commander watches the Eíen no's dark brown eyes flash silvery blue as he tilts his head slightly to his left and asks, “Come on, are you not tempted to find out what lies beneath?”
“No, no,” replies Kenzō, quickly taking a step back.
Narsus releases a soft laugh and says, “All right, do not say I did not offer.”
Fedor slaps him on the arm and says with a laugh, “Stop!”
“Sorry old friend. I will stop.”
Hisashi shakes his head and says, “Go my son, before he reveals his face and captivates you forever.”
The Eíen no claps his hands as he laughs and says “I like it.”
This is when the Commander realises they are all just messing around, so he decides to play along and runs off home. When he slides open the door his love does not come down the corridor to greet him and remove his sandals. Kenzō’s immediate thought is could she be ill? He runs through the house to the bedroom to find her lying on the bed, looking very pale.
“My love,” he says, taking her into his arms.
Akiko eyes open, she wraps her arms around him and says, “You’re back.”
“What’s the matter my love? Are you ill?”
The young lady shakes her head and replies, “No, I’m just a little tired as I have not been sleeping well whilst you have been away.”
“My poor Akiko,” replies the Commander, going on to give her a kiss.
They carry on undressing each other and get intimate.
All of a sudden Kenzō is finding it hard to breath and becomes aware of something sharp within his chest. He looks down to see there are now long needle like nails sticking into him and all of his energy seems to be going from his body. The Commander uses all of his strength to pull the claws from his chest and push Akiko off.
“Who are you?” he pants, clutching the wounds.
“I’m your love.”
Kenzō shakes his head and says all worried, “No you’re not. What have you done with Akiko?”
“I am Akiko. Your love.”
The Commander again shakes his head, and tries to crawl away only to have the thing leap on top of him, digging its needle like claws into his back rendering him unconscious. When Kenzō eventually awakens, he is half the man he used to be. He crawls across the floor, puts on his undergarment and struggles to his feet. The poor man has to use the wall of the corridor to steady himself. The Commander does not put on his sandals, he just carries on outside down the hill to the marketplace, where he spots the tall Westerner.
“Help... H-elp me,” he utters in a weak voice, too faint for most people to hear.
Fedor’s sharp hearing homes in on a man calling for help, he looks around to see a now frail Commander is coming towards him. He quickly catches him when he stumbles and holds him in his strong arms.
“What on earth has happened to you? We have not seen you for a week,” asks the Western Soul Drinker all worried.
Poor Kenzō his once lovely muscular toned body has been reduced to nothing more than skin and bones.
“Kenzō, come on my boy, please try to tell me, for you are far too weak for me to just take it.”
The Commander takes a few deep breaths and manages to utter, “It is not Akiko.”
Narsus is looking at some fresh vegetable when he notices Fedor appears to be holding someone. He goes to him and gasps, “Oh my goodness! Tell me did your love do this?”
All Kenzō can manage is a nod.
The Soul Drinker watches his friend crouch to take a closer look and says, “You poor man. You were lucky to escape. It could have killed you.”
“Narsus, what are we dealing with?”
“An Iron claw in the velvet glove,” replies the Eíen no’s in a soft voice.
Fedor looks at him all shocked and asks, “If I am not mistaken that is a form of Demon?”
“You are quite correct, old friend.”
“What do we need to do?”
“First let’s get him to safety, then I will offer myself to the creature. The moment it is captivated by my dashing good looks. Come at it with these,” replies Narsus, handing his friend a small cloth pouch.
Hisashi comes running over with the Commander’s sister and her husband who take him to their home.
Fedor opens the bag, tips it up slightly into the palm of his right hand to make two crystals, that have a blue tint to them, along with a small stone tablet covered in an incantation come sliding out. He shows it all to his dear friend and when they look back Narsus, he has already vanished. This makes them quickly port to the Commander’s home, to come out near the front door. They can hear their good friend's handsome slightly muffled voice is coming from the back garden.
“I give to you my eternal life in exchange. Just think you would never have to find another to feed ever again. I'm yours,” he says, holding his hands out in friendship.
Fedor and Hisashi quickly take cover behind some bushes; from their position they can clearly see the woman walking around him. It is clear she seems tempted by his offer for she can feel his strong Vampiric life-force.
Akiko points her right hand towards his mask and asks, “Why do you wear that? Are you deformed?”
Narsus shakes his head and replies, “I wear this to hide how handsome I am.” Placing both hands on either side of the mask and continues, “What lies under here is a face that makes even grown men blush or faint. For I am more beautiful than you.”
This makes the young lady laugh and say in a bold voice, “You cannot possibly be more beautiful than me!”
“Ha! I assure you even you will not be able to resist my dashing good looks, for I am no ordinary Vampire. I am an Eíen no, and us Eíen no’s are incredibly beautiful.”
The woman emits a chilling laugh and there for an instant they see what lies beneath the lady’s beautiful face. A hideous creature, with no eyes and horns.
She again points the same hand right at his face and demands, “Take it off!”
“If you insist,” replies Narsus, pulling the ribbons to remove the mask as he mutters, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
When the young lady sees his beautiful face she is instantly captivated and is unable to look away. Now the Soul Drinkers can make their move, they both hold a crystal in their hands and run over saying the incantation. Suddenly a huge hand appears in front of them.
Fedor spots a blue jade bracelet and knows instantly it is guardian, he smiles and says Greek, “Théros kind of you to join us.”
“I have come with help, because an Iron claw in a velvet can be unpredictable,” replies the eight foot tall minotaur like creature with a double bladed axe strapped to his back.
They watch as the woman’s face start to crack, her Geisha hair begins to unravel, sending hairpins cascading to the ground. Her Kimono starts to tear down the back as hump appears, and her once small slender hands grow in to large hideous boney claws. Horns sprouted from her forehead and her deep brown eyes become black orifices.
All of a sudden a portal opens behind her and out of it come two huge boney hands decorated with rings. They grab the Demon to drag it struggling and screaming into the Dark Realm. Fedor's guardian again places his hand down in front of them to act as a barrier. Because they know once they hear that loud clap of thunder as the portal closes, it will send out a gust of very strong wind.
Narsus collapses into a heap on the ground, Fedor quickly sit him up. They see he is breathing heavily and there are beads of sweat upon his forehead.
Théros informs them, “The Demon must have started to feed from him when it was being sent back. Do not worry, some blood and a good rest, will help him to recover.”
Fedor uses his abilities to pick up the unconscious Eíen no and they port back Hisashi’s home; where they go on to feed their good friend some pig’s blood and leave him to rest.
Théros informs Fedor, “You will find the young lady’s body in the Dark Forest west of the village.”
“Thanks old friend. See you again.”
The Minotaur gives him a nod and calls, “Avgí!” (Dawn)
The huge axe flies from his back, it slash the air in front of him to create a portal for its master to return to his realm.
Both Soul Drinkers take it in turns to watch over their friend. It is lunch time the following day when he finally opens his eyes to see Hisashi is lying fast asleep next to him. He gently strokes the side of his face which awakens him.
“Narsus,” he gasps, giving him a hug.
“My word I take it from that I have been out of it for a while?”
“Yes. Even so it is good to have you back,” comes a deep voice from the other side of the room.
“Fedor... Please tell me we were successful?”
The Soul Drinkers both nod and Hisashi replies, “With Théros’ help it back where it belongs in the Dark Realm.”
Narsus breathes a sigh of relief and says, “That is wonderful to hear.”
Fedor pats him on the shoulder and says, “Now, handsome you just lie there and we will make you some lunch.”
Narsus nods, he lies back down and watches them both walk out of the room.
A little while later the smell of duck cooking comes drifting in, making him sit and mutter, "I could go for that."
The Eíen no slowly stands up, picks up his mask and heads out of the room down to the kitchen to see his two friends have done a nice spread. There are bowls of rice, vegetables and Hisashi is busy cooking a lovely slice of duck on a hot plate.
“Are you sure you would not like me to take over, dear friend?”
“No, not all as you know perfectly well I do not mind cooking you a bit of meat. Besides you need it after yesterday.”
Narsus nods and replies, “Far point.”
Fedor gets him to sit down at the table and says, “I think you have some explaining to do. It was clear you have dealt with an Iron claw in a velvet glove before. Am I right?"
“Fedor, that can wait until he has had something to eat” says Hisashi, setting the piece of cooked duck down in front of Narsus. “Enjoy my good friend.”
The Eíen no gives him a pat on the arm and they all sit down to eat.
Once Narsus has had enough, he sits back and says, “It was in fact my dear mother who dealt with one and in the process my parents taught me what to. Back then it was a man who was the Demon in disguise and the poor victim was his wife, who my mother knew quite well. Mother did the exactly same thing, through her eternal soul on the line to safe her. Father and I uttered the incantation, which sent the thing back from once it came. Yes, the Demon could have very easily killed us if it gotten greedy and swallowed our souls, leaving us as nothing other than a corpses. However, it is a risk both of us are willing to take to save anyone form those dark thing,s as there is nothing worse than having your life slowly devoured.”
“I completely agree,” replies Hisashi. “The pain they must have gone through... Did your mother’s friend escape?”
“Sorry no. She was meant to be at ours for lunch, however, she never arrived. So mother went to her and that’s when she discovered what had happened. Once she was being looked after by my brother, us three then dealt with the creature.”
“What a shock for your mother.”
“It truly was dear friend. She could not believe what had happened to her. The poor girl it took her quite a long time to recover. Unfortunately, we never found her husband to lay him to rest. The problem was we had no idea where the incident took place,” replies the Eíen no as he places a hand to his forehead.
Fedor pours him a small cup of opium and says, “Drink.”
Narsus takes it, he laughs and replies, “Ooh so demanding.”
“I can be. Speaking of finding the body. Celest and I were talking about going to get the young lady’s body. If you are up to it?”
The Eíen no gives them a nod, setting the empty cup down on the table and puts on his mask.
After Hisashi has collected a blanket from a bedroom cupboard, they all make their way outside. They decide to port to Kenzō’s home to see how he is dong. They are pleased to find him sat up in bed sipping a bowl of soup his sister has made for him. Before they leave the lady’s husband takes them to one side to inform them, his dear brother is recovering, however, he cannot help but wonder if there are going to be any lasting side-effects from his ordeal?
Narsus informs him, “No, he should in time make a full recovery... However, he will never get over the death of his beloved. I mean, yes, in time he will hopefully learn to move on. Nonetheless, you never forget your first love.”
The young man realises the Eíen no is going on experience. This makes him think how blessed he is to have not lost the woman he holds dear to his heart. He bows his head and replies, “You’re right, it will take my dear brother a long time to get over losing Akiko... Are you all going to look for her?”
The small party give him a nod and Fedor replies, “Laying her to rest will also help him to recover.”
“You’re right. Thank you, all of you for your help.”
“No problem, Itsuki,” replies Hisashi, giving him a pat on the arm.
They go on to port to the Dark Forest, to appear just outside it and peer into the gloom for a moment, before stepping inside. Narsus sticks close to the gods as they make their way through the ankle deep foliage. The Eíen no was not afraid, it was mainly because Soul Drinkers can see things he cannot, from Forest Spirits to strange glowing symbols, to invisible barriers.
It is not long before all of them are beginning to smell the stench of death and they can hear flies busing around.
“There,” says Hisashi, pointing to a small pile of leaves.
Fedor uses his abilities to remove them from around the head and asks, “Is it her?”
Hisashi places the cuff of his left sleeve over his mouth and nose. “It’s her,” he replies, pointing two fingers at a necklace around her neck.
Fedor and Narsus see it is a beautiful handcrafted piece of shell that has been shaped into a leaf and their friend continues, “Kenzō made that for her as a token of his love. She never took it off.”
“The poor girl. She looks young... Possibly younger than me,” says Narsus, placing a leaf under his nose.
Fedor nods in agreement and asks, “Well that depends on how old you are in mortal years.”
“Ooh nice try. I am still not going to tell you, old friend,” replies the Eíen no, giving him a pat on the shoulder.
Fedor pretends to sulk and replies like a child, “Oh please tell me.”
Narsus shakes his head and they both laugh.
Hisashi lays the blanket down on the ground, he uses his abilities to move the corps on to it, and carefully wrap it around her before floating her out in front.
Even before they have reach the entrance of the forest, the stench starts to get to Fedor. Until his good friend places the leaf, he has been sniffing the whole time, under his nose. Instantly the foal smell is replaced with a strong sent of clothes and aniseed.
“My word! Is that the Nameless herb?” he asks, blinking his eyes..
Narsus nods and replies, “It sure is.”
The Nameless herb has been used by the Eíen no’s for countless centuries, after it was discovered the strong sent helped control the thirst for blood. Especially when they are around mortals for long periods of time. The smell of their blood soon becomes too sweet to resit and all they want to do is open a vain, and have their fill.
“That’s better I no longer smell the stench of death. Nice one.”
“No problem old friend.”
Hisashi taps his good friend’s arm and asks, “Please may I have one?”
“By all means,” replies Narsus, handing one to him.
With the Nameless herb leaves keeping the awful stench at bay, they continue on their way.
Itsuki sees the gods and their friend suddenly appear in the fields with a floating bundle out in front and his eyes are drawn to a set of delicate feet sticking out the bottom. In that moment he realises they have found Akiko. He quickly runs over to them to direct them to a nice spot, under a tree which has a lovely flowering vine wrapped around its trunk.
Some of the men from the village have dug a nice grave, which has been lined with a white sheet. They take the floating body and watch a chain come floating out of the top of the blanket. Hisashi takes hold of it and gives the nod they can lay her to rest. The men go on to place the corps in the grave, dropping each side of the cloth over it. Then each of their wife’s drop in bunches of cut flowers from the nearby fields Akiko liked to walk in. After they have all taken a moment to say their final farewells, the men start to shovel in the mound of soil.
Once the grave is filled Hisashi uses his abilities to places a white stone on to it and utters something under his breath. In an instant there is a flash of light, when it is gone everyone sees the lady’s name has been carved into it.
Narsus is about to say that is nice, but the words never leave his lips for he begins to collapse and is caught by Fedor who says, “You need your bed.”
The Eíen no places a hand to his masked face and mutters, “Dizzy.”
“Come on, let’s get you home,” says Hisashi, placing his arm around his good friend’s slender waist.
“Can you both mange?” Itsuki asks, full of concern.
The Westerner gives him a nod and replies, “We are fine. He is lighter than us, is that not so, good friend?”
However, Narsus is too out of it to reply.
Hisashi goes on to hand the necklace to Itsuki before they port with their unconscious friend between them. Once they are home they put Narsus straight to bed.
In the end it takes Narsus nearly a whole week to fully recover from the after-effects of the Demon feeding on his eternal soul for only a moment. However, for Kenzō it is mouths before he has the strength to walk. He asks his sister to make them something as token of his gratitude, she makes them all winter blankets for autumn was just around the corner and some of the nights were beginning to get quite chilly.
Hisashi has been busy getting his men ready, fitting them with new armour and weapons. He even teaches some of his arches to shoot from horseback. This time when his men begin to ask questions he tells them to be ready for the village is going to be attacked from the north; when the ground is littered with leaves. The men notice the trees are beginning to change colour and some leaves are starting to drop. This tells them it will happen very soon.
To be continued...
ns 15.158.61.20da2
