Well, Kashya and I have been living in Russia for the past 10 years. That vampire that has been following us is getting closer. I can sense this vampire isn’t hostile, so I may just let it find me. So I haven’t moved from the church in these past 10 years.
Kashya has grown up and is now a fiery 15 year old. I, however, haven’t grown a day over 18, even though now I’m 33 years old. However, I have noticed my body did mature a little more, but only from having a child. And the parts that did mature were essential to sustain the child once she was born.
Anyways, Kiyami has become somewhat of a friend. I hesitate to use the word friend, but I have grown to like her. We have visited each other frequently. Kiyami knows that Tenaka was also my Sire. Kiyami has been more open with her past than I of mine. Of course, with a painful past like mine, one would keep quiet about it as well.
Kiyami does know that I killed Tenaka, but Kiyami doesn’t hold it against me. She was saddened to learn that Tenaka had died, so on and so forth, but she seems to have quickly gotten over that.
Tenaka, of course, still visits and talks to me. She still can’t let go of me. She could easily just pass in to the next world, yet she chooses to stay as a ghost by my side.
I’d rather be a ghost drifting at your side than pass in to a separate world where I couldn’t see you or speak to you. She had told me once a few years back. I accepted this answer.
To tell you the truth, I wasn’t ready to let go of Tenaka. If I let go of her, I know I would be lost. Tenaka had been the one constant in my now insane life. Well, Kashya was also a constant, but as she grew older, she was growing more and more distant from me. Or was I growing more and more distant from her?
It was an hour after sunset and Kashya went out to hunt for herself. I had all ready hunted. I sat outside the church, back resting against the wall. I gazed up at the moon as if it was the last time I would ever see it.
Why so glum, my Love? Tenaka asked. I could see her transparent form beside me. I gazed at her.
I think you all ready know why. Kashya and I don’t have the same relationship we used to have.
It shouldn’t worry you this much. She’s a teenager. Teenagers always grow distant from their parents, but they come back after they hit their 20s.
Are you speaking from experience? I asked. Tenaka smiled and set her hand against my cheek. She drew closer to my face with hers.
Yes, I am. She pressed a kiss to my lips. Her hand slipped to my neck, then across my chest. Tenaka’s mouth then moved to my neck, where she kissed it where she had bitten me 15 years ago. Tenaka then disappeared as Kiyami came towards me. I turned and looked up at her.
“Hello Akuma. The night is still young, so would you like to take a walk with me?” She asked.
“Why not? I’d love to.” I said and got to my feet. We walked side-by-side along the lonely road the church was on. Everything on the side of the road opposite the church was open grassland. It was a never-ending horizon as far as the human eye could see. With the eyes of a vampire, one could see that in the far distance, there was a mountain range.
“I’m sorry I haven’t seen you the past few days. I’ve recently had some troubles with vampires trying to settle on my territory. I was setting up wards to keep them away.”
“I’ve noticed you also set wards up around my territory as well. I should thank you for that. It saves me the trouble of doing so.” Kiyami looked at me and smiled.
“I’m glad they helped. I know you’ve all ready got a lot to do, or at least a lot on your mind, so I thought I’d help you out.” I looked at her and gave her a small smile.
You do know what she’s going to do eventually, don’t you? Tenaka asked.
Of course I do. Like you said, she’s too predictable. Well, in some ways she is, in others you did train her well. I knew Tenaka was grinning even though I couldn’t see her now.
I’ll take the liberty of thanking you for that compliment, Anne. It didn’t bother me that Tenaka called me Anne, but anyone else calling me that would be dead.
I noticed Kiyami stopped walking. I stopped and turned to look at her, standing about five feet away from me. She gazed at me, her purple eyes so deep and intense.
“Is there something wrong?” I asked. She gazed at me another few moments.
“There’s so much about you that I don’t know but I don’t care about all that.” She said softly, gently. She walked up to me, standing now only inches from me. “My heart still yearns for your touch.” With that she closed the remaining gap between us and kissed me. Her arms slipped around my shoulders.
In that moment, I realized that some part of me had also yearned for her. I gave in to my yearning. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around her back, pulling her closer and tighter to my body.
We stood there, locked in a passionate embrace. If my heart still beat, it would be punching a whole through my chest because it was beating so hard. It had been 15 long years since I had known this feeling of someone in my arms that this was exhilarating.
After a long minute, Kiyami pulled her head back slightly and looked at me with half-opened dark purple eyes. She smiled gently, serenely at me.
“So, there are still feelings in you. I’m glad I’m the one you have them for.” Kiyami kissed me again. I returned it, making this a deeper more passionate kiss than before. I held her even tighter. She held me tighter as her arms slipped down to wrap around my back.
I broke the kiss and slid my mouth down to her neck. I gently kissed her neck. Then, I let my fangs work their way in to her neck. She groaned in ecstasy. I let my fangs slide all the way in her neck. I closed my eyes as I held her there in the moonlight.
“Now I won’t be able to stop myself.” Kiyami muttered. She closed her eyes as her hands trailed along my back.
She’s got a magic touch. Of course it’s not as good as yours, but it’s the best this world has to offer after you. Tenaka said.
Magic touch?
Yes. Let her use it on you. I’m betting she’ll use some of my moves on you. I shrugged inwardly. Why not? There was no going back from this point.
Kiyami’s hands then switched routes and moved from my back, around my waist, to my front. Her hands then slid up and began to untie the lace of my bodice.
My eyes flashed open as something ran through me. I pulled away from Kiyami, holding my head in pain. I cried out, falling to my knees.
So, you think you’ve escaped the Curse? Think again, Guardian. A female voice said to me. Another wave of pain flooded through me. I cried out again as my already black world grew even blacker. I collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
I floated through an endless black abyss. I looked around, trying to gain my bearings of where I was. It was no use, for there was no light, only infinite darkness.
“Why do you squirm so, Guardian of Darkness? Or should I call you Anne, since that is your true name.” It was the same female voice. Still, I could see no one around me, nor could I sense anyone or anything near me.
“My name is Akuma. I am no longer Anne and I am no longer the Guardian of Darkness!” I exclaimed. There was a slight laugh.
“Once born as the Guardian of Darkness, you remain that until you die... And even beyond.”
“Who the fuck are you?! I demand you reveal yourself to me!!”
“Oo, she still has some nerve left in her.” There was another short laugh. “My name, you ask. Well, my name is one that is thousands of times older than yours. My name is even older than the title of Guardian of Darkness. My name is Ceres, your Ancestor, the original Guardian of Darkness.” The image of a woman with long black hair and gold eyes appeared before me. Her skin was pale white and she wore a black kimono, exactly the one I wore when I was in Guardian form.
“So, you’re the one that cursed me with this forsaken life. If I could, I’d go back in time and kill you so that I could live a normal happy life.” Ceres smirked darkly at me, crossing her arms.
“Is that so? Well, even if you killed me, another angel would have been chosen to take my place and you would still be sitting here, corrupted by your own power and lust.”
“How dare you say that to me!!”
“It’s true. You were corrupted by your own power and lust and now you are suffering from it. And not only that, you are going through your Test to prove whether you are worthy of your power or not.”
“What happens if I fail?”
“Then you become me. In other words, I possess your body and mind, driving you insane. The only way to counteract this once you have failed is to die. If you fail, your life will become even more torn and broken than you could ever have imagined. Pass, and you’ll be restored to peace of mind. Of course, you’ll still be a vampire and all, but the old Anne will return.”
“I don’t believe you. I’m not going through a test! I’ve all ready failed as it is!” I cried. Ceres’ smirk faded in to a hostile, yet oddly calm glare.
“If you weren’t undergoing your Test, I wouldn’t be here. I have been dead for many centuries, but my power has been passed on. It is a power that can save the Earth from complete destruction. The Balance of Nine has made sure that no evil would prevail. But with one of the Nine gone evil, the Balance shifts. The ball is in your court, Anne. The fate of a world rests in your hands. Your fate is in your hands. If you fail, you will see me again and the Gates of Hell will fall then.” Ceres faded, leaving me alone with only my thoughts. But even they faded as my sweet, sweet darkness faded away.
I opened my eyes to see Kiyami leaning over me, a worried look on her face. I knew we were still in the woods.
“Are you all right? You completely scared me there when you suddenly collapsed.” I sat up.
“I’m fine.” Ceres’ words still hung in my head and I knew they wouldn’t leave.
“I don’t believe you. Something was hurting you before you blacked out, I could tell cause you cried out in pain. What happened?!” Kiyami demanded, violet eyes growing harsh and stern. I sat up, looking at her.
“The only thing that happened was that I met the original Guardian of Darkness.” I said and stood up, heading back to my sanctuary. Kiyami walked at my side, looking at me.
“Is everything all right? Why would she come to you now?” I shrugged.
“How the Hell should I know?”
That was interesting, to say the least, Love. Tenaka said with a slight mocking tone to her voice.
So you were able to hear as well?
Of course. And don’t worry about what she has to say, you’re stronger than she thinks and you can resist her if she tries to possess you. I sighed ever so slightly. Tenaka had no idea of the power Ceres could possibly possess. After all, she had said she was an angel.
I should do some research, just to find out what I’m up against. I thought to myself.
You’re up against yourself. An inner voice told me. Again, I sighed slightly, knowing this was true, for Ceres had been the original Guardian of Darkness, meaning she most likely knew how to use her power in ways I didn’t and knew things about this power that I didn’t.
So, I returned to my sanctuary. Kashya still was out. Kiyami came in, not wanting to leave me alone. I didn’t mind the company, but yet still wished to be alone. I looked up at a stained glass window, holding a picture of Christ on the cross, blood flowing from his wounds, his head bowed. I looked at it, studying it closely. I’m not going to tell a lie, I knew somehow that that is how I would feel at some point in my future.
Little did I know that it would be of my own doing that I would face that fate.