Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  A nod as the stood, Chiren smiled. "Not a problem. I would like the two of you to meet Lady Kiara. The second daughter of Lord Kiyoshi and Lady Yokiyo."

  A smile still on his face, Sidhae gave her another nod. "The honor is ours. This is the most wonderful news we have heard in a long time. Now the men that were forced to turn on Lord Tikae can turn on him." Fisting his hands as he looked at the ground now in a glare, Sidhae closed his eyes as tightly as he could. "It was an instant, but hard choice. The life of My Lord and his family, or the lives of my mate and daughter. Because I wasn't there with them, I couldn't defend him. And because of that, Lord Tikae, Lady Toki, Lord Raidon, and Lady Mizareke are all gone."

  The glare back in his eyes, Chiren took a deep breath as he sighed. "Mizareke and Raidon are still alive." Hearing the gasps he met Sidhae's eyes. "Hideo, Ieyasu and Yukimura were out looking for those that vanished before you when they got your mate and daughter. Ina told them. When they got back, the place was destroyed already. However, Ina knew of a safe room that Aunt Toki had made. Mizareke and Raidon were in there. They are still very much alive." Seeing the worry that was still in their eyes, Chiren reached out and put a hand on Sidhae's shoulder. "No one blames you Sidhae. I admit I was at first. I came across the destruction while the fires were still blazing. But then Hideo and the others told us what happened."

  "I should have been there. I could have protected them." Dropping his head again, Sidhae took a deep breath then lifted his head as he fisted his hands at his side. "I couldn't protect Lord Tikae like I promised his father I would. However, I will protect his children. I will see Lord Raidon take his place as Lord of the Dragons. Just like his father and grandfather were."

  His face still serious, Chiren nodded. "Right."

  Getting that sudden sense of fear, Kiara jerked her head up and growled as she snarled her lip. Her right hand instantly on her naginata. Someone was coming. And she didn't like it. "Someone is coming. Fast. From the palace."

  His eyes wide, Chiren just looked at her for a second before turning toward the palace. He felt the sudden anger, and rapid heart rate when she tensed. But it wasn't him. Pulling his sword he growled as he registered Kenji's scent. "Damnit."

  Pulling his own sword, Sidhae glared with a growl. "That bastard."

  Before he knew what he was doing, just as Kenji landed on the wall of the palace, Chiren moved and put himself between him and Kiara. When his hazed over green eyes landed on Kiara with a sadistic smile, he snarled. "Kenji."

  In utter shock, Kenji landed on the wall of his palace. Chiren was there with the dog that he wanted. His eyes taking her in, he smiled a sadistic smile as he crossed his arms. Then he realized that Sakon and Sidhae were there with their swords drawn. "Well that settles what happens to four of them. I thought you wanted to save your mates and kids?"

  He then turned to the leopard. "Well it would seem though that the heir to the North is somewhat smatter than his father is. But Chiren. You didn't do exactly what I asked. You brought one. But I wanted two females? So where is your sister at?"

  Hardening his eyes as he growled with each breath, Kenji fisted his sword as he tried to keep calm and stay focused. "We didn't come here for you yet Kenji. And you will never touch either of them. Ever."

  "Well then why are you hear?" Laughing he sat down as he leaned on his knees. "I mean all you have done was ensure that Sakon's mate and son are killed. I will make sure to send their heads to you." He then turned to Sidhae. "And Sidhae's mate is going to die. Though I will let the chick live for now. I wonder Sidhae? What will you think of the fact that your daughter will be in my bed each night? Whether she likes it or not?"

  Growling, Kiara hardened her eyes. "That won't happen you bastard. The women and children are free. They are already two days away from the hell you had them in."

  His eyes narrowed to a glare, Kenji growled himself now. "You lie. There is no way that demons could get through the barrier around them. They wo uld have been purified to dust the insant that they touched it."

  "I don't know Father. Like the wolf said. She is different."

  All eyes jerked to the right where the forest was thick and watched as a young woman walked out. She wore a slimmed in black kimono, and had black hair. But the same green eyes that Kenji had. But there was something different about her. Something not right.

  Growling Kiara turned to face her as she kept a firm hand on her naginata. "You are?"

  Walking out of the woods, Jonas smiled as she crossed her arms. "My name is Jonas. Lord Kenji is my father." Stopping just inside the clearing, Jonas hardened her eyes. He was right about her. She could smell the purification that was on her. But was it really because she could use it? Or just because her mother was a miko?

  "Jonas?"

  "I can smell it on her, though I doubt it is because she can use it. She is demon after all. It doesn't matter that her mother was a human miko." She then turned a smug smile to the dog. "She couldn't have done anything with the women and children. She would have died the second she touched it."

  Breathing hard, Kiara was fighting hard to keep her demon at bay. This thing before her was pulling at her chain. There was something about her that she didn't like. At all. Spinning her naginata around, Kiara took up a guard position. "To degrade and judge someone you know nothing about is not a wise choice. It could lead to your own death in the end."

  Crossing her arms, Jonas laughed as she closed her eyes. There was something different about the dog, but not hing she couldn't handle. And she was actually challenging her! "You dare to challenge me? You poor thing. It will not end well. Let me show you!" She then quickly pulled an arrow and fired it right at her head.

  Growling, Kiara dropped her demonic aura and threw up her purification barrier turning the arrow to dust seconds before it touched her. Dropping the barrier when the growls started, Kiara never moved positions. "I told you. Do not degrade and judge someone you know nothing about."

  Her eyes wide, Jonas could only look at her with the same shocked look her father had. It shouldn't be possible! Ever! "How the hell did you do that? You are a demon! You should not be able to use purification without killing yourself! It just isn't possible!"

  Still never moving, Kiara growled loudly. "For the strongest demon in history, and the strongest miko in history to have a child that is a demon? It is perfectly possible."

  "Shut your mouth! There is no way that you were the natural child of a miko! I am not a demon and my mother was a miko as well you bitch! And there are none stronger than my father!" Pointing her hands at the dog, Jonas knew her time as a dragon was coming. And she would kill her for what she was doing!

  Still as stone, Kiara narrowed her eyes. "I am the second child of Lord Kiyoshi, and Lady Yokiyo. She is known even among the humans of the lands that are young as being the strongest miko ever in history. And my father has the same reputation."

  Rage leading her now, Jonas snarled. "Liar! There is no way that he is stronger than my father!"

  Taking a deep breath, Kiara cracked a smug smile as she looked in her green eyes. "If that is the case, and your father is the strongest ever? Why did he have to force the dragons with threat of their loved ones? Why is he the one in hiding? Why is he not in my father's place and my father in his?"

  "You bitch!" Jonas then gave a whistle as her tiger came out of the woods. Taking a deep breath to calm down, Jonas crossed her arms. "I could care less what you think of your father. However, you said your mother was the legendary miko Yokiyo? No way in hell is she your mother."

  Letting his head fall to the side, Chiren blinked. "Wait you know who Yokiyo is but you don't believe that she is her mother?"

  Now sitting on her tiger, Jonas smiled. "I spent some time traveling long ago. I heard of the miko Yokiyo, and I met her one time in passing. Even of the time they talked about how powerful she was as a miko, along with her brother Senri. It was said that if she decided to fight a demon, they would be as good as dead. It just isn't
possible that she mated a demon and had a demon daughter. It can't happen."

  Smiling, Kiara now stood tall as she held her naginata before her. "Oh it is possible. And because of their bond that they have with their demon mates, both my mother Yokiyo, and Uncle Senri are still alive."

  "That's a laugh." Jonas glared at this demon. She did have the same eyes as Yokiyo, but she couldn't be her daughter. Not hers. She then sighed as she smiled. "But let's say that I do believe you, and that your mother is Yokiyo. And she somehow defied logic and birthed a demon like you with Kiyoshi. That would just prove how weak and desperate she was. I am sure that it was just that no human man wanted a whore like….."

  "Enough!" Her eyes bleeding, Kiara dropped her head as she shook with rage. Both her purification and her demonic auras flaring to their fullest, sending Chiren, Sidhae and Sakon away from her. She hated her nicknames from her mother. She hated how she smothered her with rules. But no one else had the right to utter a word about her mother. "You want to run your mouth about me fine. Have at it. I have heard it for more than a hundred years now and it doesn't bother me anymore. Say what you want about my father, he can and will defend himself." But then she looked up with black eyes as she snarled at the woman before her. "However I will not tolerate you standing there and mouthing off about my mother you damn bitch!" She then flinched and charged at full speed at her.

  Laughing as she threw up her barrier, Jonas sighed. But she was different. She was indeed a demon that could use purification. She also needed to know if it was true about what she said about her mother. If it was it would change some of the things that they were planning. Turning her glare to her father she sighed. "Father I will be gone for a while."

  His eyes narrowed, he watched what was going on with his daughter as he tensed. Though he made sure she could stand to anyone, this wasn't you're your typical demon. And while Kenji tried not too, he loved his daughter, and would kill anyone for her. "Right."

  Her eyes wild, Kiara watched as the cat poised to jump. The second it was through the barrier, her naginata hit the ground. "You aren't going anywhere!" In an instant she transformed and leapt up into the air. Missing the tail of the tiger by inches. Falling back to the ground she caused a mighty rumble through the ground. She just missed her. Turning her tense glare to Kenji, Kiara stayed in her dog form as she shook and growled. Every hair standing on end. 'I swear I hate them.'

  Kenji could only stare at the giant dog that glared and snarled at him. He was in total awe about her! But Noke was right and she could use purification. She had all the power and aura of a full blooded demon, but could use the purification. It would seem that she has a temper that would just get on his nerves as well. 'OH well. It would be fun to try and tame her, but I am not sure how I would deal with the purification. Rina never tried to killme. I guess I will just have to go and take some women out of the cage for a spell.'

  Looking up as they were surrounded, Sidhae was finally able to pull his eyes from the giant dog. Seeing eyes that were worried, he sighed. "Our mate's and children are free. We are finally free to return. Lord Tikae may be gone, but his children survived. We now have a duty to them."

  "So how did you do it Chiren?"

  Turning hard eyes to Kenji, Chiren stood tall. "Thanks to Lady Kiara, Lord Katana and Lord Torakus it was very simple. Each one of them are free under guard by the best and on their way to the North. Two days they have been traveling so far."

  "Is it really true? All of them?"

  Turning to a young dragon, Chiren nodded. "Every single one of them." He then turned to Kenji as he narrowed his eyes with a snarl. "For right now, we only came to let them know that you have no hold over them. I want your head so badly I can taste it. However I am not stupid either. Your time will come and I will take great pleasure in steaking your head over their grave."

  Glaring as all the dragons he forced to his side flooded over, the word that the women and children free spread like wild fire. He know looked down at half of the force he had. Growling he glared at them all. "They may not be in a cell but do you really think that they are safe? We got to them once right under your noses and we will do it again. You turn on me, and those that are loyal to me will go after them again. Though this time I can't say what they will do when they get to them."

  Still in a rage, Sidhae snarled as he pointed his sword up at him. "Your time will come Kenji. It will come. Then then deaths of Lord Tikae, Lady Toki, Lord Eiji and Lady Ling will finally be avenged. Lord Raidon will take his place as Lord."

  Breathing hard as she snarled even louder, Kiara watched him laugh as he dropped down the other side of the wall and vanished. A moment later she transformed back into her human form and lifted her naginata. "I hate them. I really hate them."

  With a sigh, Chiren crossed his arms. "I agree with that feeling. But right now we need to get going. We are going to be at least four days behind them having to run through the tunnel. Once there if we transform then we should be able to get to the North about the same time, or just after they do."

  Taking a deep breath, Kiara slowly let it out. "Right." But a quick glance toward where the woman went. 'I will get you myself at some point. I never forget a scent or a face. I will track you down. Bet on that.'

  Turning to Chiren they started to move but then stopped when no one else did. Looking around, Kiara blinked. "What is it?"

  Giving them a low bow, followed by the others that were there, Sidhae sighed. "I think I speak on behalf of all of us, when I say that we are forever in your debt for what you have done. Not only did you free our mate's and children, you mate sure that we knew it. If you need the use of us, please say the word."

  With a smile, Chiren nodded as everyone stood up. "Thank you. I am sure at some point, either against Kenji, Noke or both we are going to need your help. But we will talk about that another time. Right now we need to catch up to the others. It took us two days to get here, it will be two more days to the end of the tunnel where we can track them and transform."

  "Then let's go."

  With a nod to Kiara, Chiren smiled as the two lead the way down the tunnel for the other end. The whole army of dragons behind them. Kenji no longer had the motivation that he needed to make them do what he wanted. Now all that was left was to take down Kenji himself, Shinra, his daughter and Noke. Then, maybe they could live in peace for at least a little while longer.

  Branching Out Chapter 128

  Even though they were making good progress, with so many tiny little ones, the last three days have been long. They were still two full days from the North, just a little over half way there. But especially with the tiny ones, they needed to be nursed, and they women were weak and needed time to eat as well from being locked away. But they were at least keeping a good pace.

  Walking next to his brother, Katana showed just how much like his father he was with his glare. Wolves lurking in the shadows stalking them. But who were they after? One of them or the women and children again.

  Smiling, Seiji looked at his brother as he winked. "So who do you think they are after? They got more than a few."

  "And just what tipped you off that they are after someone?"

  Laughing, Seiji closed his eyes. "Oh I don't know. Maybe the lurking in the shadows like a creep?"

  Growling, Katana crossed his arms. "Smartass."

  Turning when she heard Seiji laugh, Nyoko arched an eyebrow at them. "Okay you two. What is so funny back there?"

  Moving so that he was walking right next her, Seiji smiled as he spoke low. "Oh we were talking about how we are being stalked by wolves that are most likely under Noke." He then held his hand to his mouth when her eyes jerked to his.

  Her eyes extra wide, Nyoko blinked. "Are you sure? There are more than a few wolves in the women and children."

  Nodding Seiji never lost his smile. "Oh I am sure. The lurking in the shadows is what did it."

  Shaking some now, Nyoko gave him a nervous look. "Don't you think you need to tell t
he others about it?"

  Shaking his head as he glanced over at Kuri, Torakus and Isamu he smiled. "Nope. They know. Just sort of waiting to see what they do at the moment."

  "Right." But just as Nyoko looked to the side of her with a sigh, she stopped and froze. Fear washing over her. Standing there with a glare for her and a sadistic smile was the biggest wolf that she had ever seen! She couldn't even turn her eyes. "Se….Se….Seiji…"

  Not realizing that she stopped, when Seiji heard her voice in barely a whisper he looked down but didn't see her. Looking back at her he blinked, but then followed her eyes to see the wolf coming into full view now. Moving instantly he was between him and Nyoko as he pulled his sword. The others joining them as all the women and children stopped. He could smell the fear that hung heavy in their scents. "So who the hell are you?"