“Shameful,” Iris growled. “To let some measly humans get the best of me. Do not dare to presume that I’ll allow myself to be defeated by any of you!”
“I-Iris?” Lilian gazed upon her sister with frightened, trembling eyes.
Iris raised her left hand and black flames leapt from her fingers like Sith lightning. She could have given Palpatine a run for his money in the freaky department.
“Let the Void consume you!”
The machine became covered in even more black fire. Despite this, it still continued trying to fight and, having apparently designated her as a greater threat than Kevin, it leapt at Iris to try and finish her off.
Kevin wouldn’t let it. He fired off round after round into the machine’s back. It stumbled forward, losing its balance, clawed feet gouging out chunks of the road. He couldn’t get too close due to the void fire, which would consume him as surely as it did the machine. Kevin made sure to keep his distance as he continued to unleash a barrage of youki bullets into it.
Iris didn’t even bother moving as the machine rushed at her. She stood there, her hand extended, flames darker than midnight pouring from her palm and fingers, laughing maniacally.
Kevin grit his teeth. “Lilian!”
“Celestial Art: The Barrier that Protects the Princess.”
A shield of celestial energy sprang into existence between Iris and the machine. The void fire tried annihilating the celestial creation with its flames, but the divine energy was not a force that the Void could consume without repercussions. It was like trying to mix water and oil, or maybe even oil and nitroglycerin. Cracks appeared along the barrier. Lines of light and darkness spread across its entire surface. With a sound similar to shattering glass, the celestial barrier exploded, sending a spray of golden energy and black flames everywhere.
Kevin darted past the flames. Slamming into Iris and lifting her over his shoulder, he put several feet of distance between him and the sentient flames threatening to consume everything around them.
“Put me down.” The order came from a familiar source, though the voice sounded nothing like the one he remembered. “Put me down now.”
While Kevin didn’t really understand what was happening, he did as he was told, setting Iris on her feet as Lilian walked up to them.
“Iris.” The redhead took a tentative step forward. “Sis…?”
“Don’t,” the growl caused Lilian to take a step back, but only for a moment before she pressed on.
“Iris, please, don’t… don’t let this consume you,” Lilian pleaded with her sister, tears in her eyes.
Kevin didn’t understand what was going on, but he made a mental note to ask about it when he had the chance.
Iris shuddered and twitched, her body moving like a puppet whose strings were being controlled by a mad puppeteer. The raven-haired girl closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly, ever so slowly, the blackness receded. It crawled back up her legs, disappeared from her arms, and evaporated from her neck and torso with a slow hiss, the dark matter wafting off her frame like steam before dispersing into the atmosphere.
“There,” Iris breathed, sweat forming along her brow as her body slumped, exhausted as if she’d just run from Arizona to New York in seven days. “That’s better.”
“Iris… sis, are you… you’re not…” Lilian sounded like a frightened child, though Kevin knew the fear constricting her heart wasn’t for her, but the two-tailed vixen with raven locks.
Iris’s smile was surprisingly gentle. “I am fine.”
“I see. I am glad you’re okay.” Lilian’s lips twitched, but tears stung her eyes.
They both knew that Iris was not fine. Lilian could see the way her sister’s legs shook, the sweat accumulating on her forehead, and the ashen pallor of her skin as surely as Kevin could. She was simply trying to be strong for her sister.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kirihime back on her feet. She was grimacing and rubbing where she’d been stabbed, the wound no longer present save for the crimson smeared across her skin. A worried Camellia stood beside her, fretting over her like a mother hen—or more like a child who’d just realized their parent had been hurt.
Kevin turned to look at one of the burning vehicles, the same one that Justin had been hiding behind. It had been tipped over by the battle. Lying on its side, the vehicle looked like it had been turned into Swiss cheese. Covered in holes, melted steel sloughing off its chassis, the military vehicle had definitely seen better days.
He pointed his guns at it. “I know you’re still there. It would be best if you surrendered.”
Justin walked out from behind the military vehicle, hands above his head, his demeanor calm and unharried, as if he wasn’t worried about what might happen to him. He grinned at Kevin. That smile made his lips thin into a tight line.
“While our organization normally has a no surrender policy, I suppose, given the circumstances, I have no choice but to surrender. I am at your mercy.”
Justin’s mocking smile made Kevin wonder if he’d ever truly known the young man standing before him.
“Lilian,” he said calmly.
“On it.” Lilian turned toward Justin. “Celestial Art: Heaven’s Chain.”
A massive chain at least fifteen feet long wrapped around Justin, binding him. Kevin nodded, satisfied that his former friend wouldn’t be able to escape from that. He turned his attention to the people with him. Lilian. Iris. Camellia. Kirihime. They were looking at him. Even Camellia seemed to be expecting him to take charge of the situation.
“We’ll take him with us to the distribution center. I’m sure Monstrang would like to know more about The Sons and Daughters of Humanity, and Justin can probably provide him with that information.”
“Whatever you say, Stud,” Iris sounded sick, but she tried to act strong for her sister by presenting a fearless smile. “You won’t hear me complaining.”
“I would rather we skin him alive,” Kirihime admitted, “but it is your call, Lord Kevin.”
Kevin looked at Lilian, who shrugged and smiled at him. “You already know what I’m going to say.”
Kevin smiled back. “In that case, let’s get moving. This battle cost us a lot of time, so we can’t afford to spend any more of it here.”
“Good idea,” Iris started before frowning. “I just have one question.”
“What’s that?” Kevin asked.
“How are we going to get to the distribution center?”
Kevin blinked. Then he looked at his car—his totaled car, which looked more like scrap metal than a car. He looked back at everyone else, who watched the emotions flickering across his face in rapid succession.
In a situation like this, Kevin could only think of one thing to say.
“Hawa.”
***
It took a lot longer to arrive at the Newspaper Distribution Center than Kevin had originally anticipated—mostly because they had to hoof it on foot, but also because they couldn’t allow themselves to be seen by humans. It was difficult enough to walk several miles after exhausting oneself in combat. Add in carrying a prisoner with them and having to avoid humans, and you had a recipe for potential disaster. Kevin thanked the gods that he knew this area like the back of his hand, which allowed them to avoid busy intersections by using side streets and alleys.
The large, square building, built with gray bricks and containing very few windows, looked boring as always. It was almost reassuring to see, in a way. The sheer dullness of the building presented a soothing contrast to the last half hour of his life.
Kevin led Lilian and the others into the distribution center. The door was unlocked. Bound together and being dragged along, Justin walked resolutely behind them, seemingly unbothered by the golden chain wrapped around him like a boa constrictor.
Monstrang was waiting for them when they entered. He stood before them, his massive frame looming over them. He didn’t look any different than he usually did. His body was still the size
of a sumo wrestler, and his many chins jiggled as he spoke. Beady black eyes peered out from underneath a thick brow ridge as the giant of a man uncrossed his arms. His Hawaiian T-shirt creased over his thick gut.
“I knew you’d be coming,” the man said in his gruff voice. He didn’t give them a chance to reply. “Follow me.”
The man turned on his heel and walked away. Kevin shared a glance with his mate and Iris, wondering if the man already knew about what had happened to them, before quickly hurrying to catch up.
Monstrang led them into a room on the opposite side of his office. It looked like a basic storage space. There were a lot of odds and ends inside. Boxes and appliances sat against the walls, gathering dust. Monstrang knelt down, his frame creaking as he grasped a handle and pulled, revealing a small passage with a well-lit staircase.
“Come on,” Monstrang grunted as he descended the stairs.
“Not much of a conversationalist, is he?” Iris asked as she leaned against Lilian for support. Her skin was pallid and white. Sweat drenched her skin as her belabored breathing echoed around the room. She looked like death warmed over.
“L-Lady Iris,” Kirihime murmured softly, “you shouldn’t say such things about someone of Lord Monstrang’s stature.”
“Hawa.” Camellia seemed to agree, though Kevin was almost certain she had no clue what they were talking about.
“Monstrang has always been gruff,” Kevin said before Iris could come up with a snappy reply. “Well, let’s not keep the man waiting.”
They followed after Davin, walking down the stairs. They had to move slowly, though, as one of them was injured and another bound. When they reached the bottom, it was to see Monstrang standing impatiently next to a set of large steel doors at the end of a wide hallway. He saw them wandering up to him, grunted again, then slid a card through a small slot on the side. A series of beeps echoed out from the slider before, with ponderous slowness, the massive doors slid apart to reveal a sight that made Kevin gawk.
The interior space looked like a combination of well-loved home and command post. They walked in, their feet lightly tapping against white tiles. To their left sat a lounge, built within the chamber, slightly submerged. What parts that weren’t covered by furniture were covered in white carpet. It even had a TV. A little to their right were doors, several of them.
It was the area in front of them that garnered most of their attention, however. Arrayed around the walls were several computers and sitting stations—command consoles, Kevin realized. Situated in the very center of the room was a large island table that gleamed with the shine of freshly polished steel.
“Woah,” Lilian muttered, clearly impressed as well. “This place is pretty cool.”
“It’s kinda boring, though,” Iris muttered. “Just look at the awful decor.”
Lilian looked confused. “But there are no decorations.”
“Exactly.”
“Hawa,” Camellia muttered as she glanced at their new surroundings—and then tried to go exploring.
“Please don’t go wandering off right now, My Lady.” Kirihime gently grabbed her mistress’s arm and kept her from wandering off.
Several other people were already present. They sat at their consoles, typing on keyboards or talking into headsets. Kevin didn’t know any of them, but he knew they were not human. A multitude of tails swayed and animal ears twitched. One of the people present even had blue skin, gills, and webbed hands and feet.
“Mack!” Monstrang bellowed, and a young man with pinkish red hair and bunny ears turned to the large man.
“You need something, boss?” Mack asked.
Monstrang grunted and gestured to Justin. “Take this prisoner to our holding cell.”
Mack looked at the group behind Monstrang. Kevin noticed the way his eyes lingered on Lilian and Iris a little longer than the others and clenched his hands into fists.
“Sure thing, boss.”
Mack stood up from his console and walked over to them, grabbed Justin by the shoulder, and began leading the young man away. Kevin watched them go for a moment. Then he looked at one of his companions.
“Kirihime,” Kevin stole her attention, “please go with them. We don’t know what kind of tricks Justin might have up his sleeves, and I would rather have someone I trust watching him.”
Kirihime looked pleased to know that she would be doing something useful. “Of course, Lord Kevin.” She curtsied before hurrying to follow Mack and Justin through a sliding door that closed behind them.
“Hawa. Kiri-Kiri.”
Camellia made to follow Kirihime, but Kevin grabbed her hand.
“Please stay with me, Camellia. I would rather you not go wandering off right now.”
“Um!” Camellia gave him a joyful smile before gripping his hand tightly. “Camellia stay with Kevin-kyun.”
“Thank you.”
“Go sit down over there, you four,” Monstrang told them, gesturing to the lounge. “I’ll be with you in just a moment. There’s a lot that I need to take care of right now.”
The beefy man walked off. Kevin watched his boss wander over to a console and begin talking to one of the yōkai, which he recognized as a tanuki, then he looked at Lilian and Iris. The raven-haired beauty was now practically hanging off her sister, who had been forced to reinforce her limbs to accommodate for the additional weight. Even then, Kevin could see the strain being put on Lilian’s bunched muscles.
Kevin slid an arm around Iris’s waist. She looked at him, her eyes showing surprise, but he ignored that.
“Put your arm around my shoulder, please,” he instructed, and Iris did as told, straining a bit to raise her arm and place it around his shoulder. However, once she had done so, Kevin was able to take more of her weight onto himself, thereby relieving Lilian from some of the burden.
His mate tossed him a smile, and through their eyes, he and she held a silent conversation.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Come on,” he continued out loud. “Let’s get Iris over to the lounge where she can rest.”
“That sounds like a grand idea,” Iris agreed. “The sooner I get off my feet, the better.”
While he and Lilian helped Iris onto a large, red couch near the back of the lounge—Camellia following next to him—Kevin paid close attention to what was happening with his boss.
Monstrang appeared disgruntled, maybe even disquieted. His pensive expression had stretched his face into something of a frown. Even the way his several chins jiggled seemed to reflect the worry he felt.
Once Iris was comfortably sprawled on the couch, her head resting on Lilian’s lap, the redhead tenderly stroking her hair, Kevin allowed himself to relax. He leaned his head back against the couch and closed his eyes for a moment. A weight on his left let him know that Camellia had fallen asleep and was using his shoulder as a pillow. If that wasn’t enough to tell him who was leaning on him, then the snores were.
“Zzzz… hawa-hawa-hawa-hawa… zzz… hawa-hawa-hawa-hawa…”
Kevin didn’t think he would ever get used to Camellia’s snores.
“Kevin?”
“Hm?”
“Do you think Kotohime is okay?”
Opening his eyes, Kevin glanced at Lilian, who worried her lower lip between her teeth, green eyes radiating uncertainty. She didn’t stop stroking Iris’s hair; however, the look she gave him made his chest ache.
Kevin placed his free hand on Lilian’s knee and reassuringly squeezed it. “I’m sure she’s fine. This is Kotohime we’re talking about. She’s not the kind of vixen who would go down easily.”
“Yes, I’m sure you’re right.” Lilian nodded several times.
“Try not to worry too much, okay?” Kevin kissed her cheek. “We need to have faith in Kotohime. She’s the strongest person out of all of us. If anyone can defeat that machine and come back alive, it will be her.”
This time, when he said those words, Lilian relaxed more full
y. She cast him a grateful smile, her vibrant irises filled with her gratitude and love.
“Thank you, Kevin.”
Lilian leaned in, but rather than simply brushing him on the cheek, she captured his lips. Kevin welcomed the kiss, tilting his head down while hers tilted up. He captured her lower lip between his teeth and gently suckled on it. Lilian sighed pleasantly into his mouth and returned his gesture.
On some unspoken mutual agreement, they slowly broke away. Lilian leaned her head on his shoulder, her fingers still idly stroking her sister’s hair. Kevin kissed her temple and leaned his head against hers, while also shifting Camellia so she was sleeping with her head on his lap. It was more comfortable than having her squashing her breasts into his arm.
Kevin must have drifted off at some point because the next thing he knew, someone was calling his name. It was a gruff, yet familiar voice.
He opened his eyes a crack and, upon seeing Monstrang standing before him, realized that he might finally get answers to the many questions bouncing around in his brain.
Shifting from half-asleep to fully alert, Kevin moved to a more comfortable position, absentmindedly noticing that Lilian had also fallen asleep. He shook her awake. The redhead lifted her head from his shoulder and yawned as she stretched her arms above her head.
Kevin turned back to Monstrang. “I’m not sure there’s any polite way to ask, but can you please tell me what the heck is going on?”
Monstrang grunted and crossed his thick arms over his equally massive chest. “I suppose I should tell you about what’s happening. Considering what just happened with you and your… family, you’re pretty much knee-deep in our current crisis.”
“Crisis?” Kevin narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean by that?”
Was there more to this than a simple assassination? Kevin had assumed that he, Lilian and her family, and Kiara and Heather had been the only ones who were in danger. Was that not the case?
Before Monstrang could answer, the door leading up to the distribution center opened and three figures walked in. Lilian’s eyes widened.
“Kotohime!”
Standing side by side, looking like they’d been through a war, Kotohime and Kiara strode over to the group. Heather trailed behind them, looking the best out of the trio. That said, Heather was wearing a pair of dirty pajamas, so that didn’t mean much.
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