by Julie Wetzel
Dropping her shoulders in defeat, Shuri let out a long breath. “I have tried many times to take back what is mine, but he never puts them down. He carries them on a leather thong tied around his neck.”
“And the only way to get them is to kill him.” Darien supposed.
“He’s unwilling to give them up for anything I’ve ever offered,” she explained. “And anything less than his death would leave him seeking revenge.”
They walked in silence for a few moments while Darien processed that. “And you took Victoria, hoping to force my hand?”
“I was hoping you were here to challenge him,” Shuri explained.
Darien filled in the part she had left out. “And you would have reclaimed your property after I killed him with no one the wiser.”
“Yes,” Shuri said, nodding. “Imagine how I felt when I found out you were only here to visit.”
Anger rose in Darien. “So you poisoned Vicky to provoke me into action?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “Kimberly Hunter poisoned her to provoke you into challenging Kusanagi.”
“Why?” Darien asked, not seeing the logic behind the girl’s action. Didn’t she know that Vicky’s death could have started a war between whoever Darien could call up and the Hawaiian Council?
“That man has tormented poor Kim since the day he turned her,” Shuri explained. A touch of sadness filled her voice. “She’s old enough to be a full master, but he keeps her starved and weakened so she can never reach her full potential. Recently, she met a young surfer who washed up on our beach by accident. They were well on their way to a solid friendship when Kusanagi found out and killed the man in front of her. Until yesterday she’d been confined to her room.”
“Confined?” Darien asked with disgust.
“He’s prone to locking his people up when they displease him,” she explained. “The greater the offense, the smaller the space he locks them in.”
Darien gave her a curious look. “And he let her out for the luau?”
Shuri nodded and continued. “He wanted to make sure all of his people were present in case you’d researched the Council. It would have been insulting if one of the Council members had missed the visit of an Ancient.”
Letting out another exasperated breath, Darien shook his head. “It wouldn’t have made a difference to me,” he admitted. “I didn’t start researching the Council until after we had already checked into the hotel.”
“You really hadn’t intended to meet with us,” she said, sounding insulted.
Darien shrugged. “We really had only come for a vacation. I thought I could avoid a meeting with the Council entirely.”
They walked on in silence for another few feet before Shuri spoke in a soft voice. “Then, I’m sorry.”
“So will you give Vicky back?” Darien asked hopefully.
Shuri shook her head. “I can’t.” She met Darien’s eyes again. “Kusanagi wants me to kill you before you contact the Great Council. He would punish me if I let you go.”
An awkward silence fell between them as they continued along the edge of the water.
“You know I could kill you, find Victoria, and be gone before morning,” Darien said in a very soft voice that held no threat.
Shuri considered him for a moment before looking back at the sand in front of them. “True. You may have the strength to kill me, but your love is under my spell. You’d be hard pressed to find her before Kusanagi discovers my death and kills her.” Again, there was no threat in her voice, just two people stating the facts as they were.
The thought of Vicky in Kusanagi’s hands angered Darien. “So he has her,” he growled.
“No.” Shuri soothed him. “I would not trust him with your delicate flower. She would suffer mercilessly in his care.”
Darien’s anger cooled just slightly, but he glared at Shuri, still upset. “So where is she?”
“Safe,” she said, avoiding further elaboration. “You have my word asyōkai that as long as I breathe, she is protected in my care.”
His eyes narrowed as he pinned her with a hard look. “And you will return her if I kill Kusanagi?”
“Yes,” Shuri said with a nod. “Free me from this tyrant, and I will return your lover.”
Darien let the conversation hang as he considered his options. “Come on.” Turning away from the ocean, he headed across the sand to the row of hotels that lined the beach. “We should probably get back to the hotel. I’m going to need to get some real rest before I challenge Kusanagi.”
“So you will do it?” she asked hopefully, following a step behind him.
“You’ve given me no other choice, so yes, I’ll do it,” he grumbled, glaring at her over his shoulder for a moment before turning his attention back to navigating the uneven sand. “But don’t expect me to be happy about it.”
Pulling up in front of the Council’s complex, Darien shut down the car and stared at the structure sprawled out in the growing darkness. Loathing filled him as he studied the sharp lines of the lovely building. It was official—he hated this place. Thoughts of what he was getting ready to do ate at him, building on his disgust. Throughout the day, he’d tried to put the upcoming events out of his mind by alternating between resting and drinking as much of Lady Aine’s mead as he could stand, but as the time drew closer, he couldn’t help thinking about what he planned to do. It disgusted him.
Life was too precious to waste like this. He’d taken life before when the need called for it, but it never sat well with him. The very idea of challenging another to a battle to the death irritated every fiber of his being, but he had to fight to save Vicky. Why couldn’t people just find a way to get along peacefully? The soft sounds of laughter filled Darien’s mind. He looked around for the source, but he could see nothing. He glanced at the woman next to him.
Shuri sat there waiting.
He considered her for a moment, shook his head, and looked out the front window of the car. She was not the one that let out that phantom laugh. She had barely spoken to him since their conversation on the beach. Disgusted with the way she had forced him into action, he had sent her to the spare room he had rented to wait out the day. She’d met his aggravation with dignity and grace, and she promised not to leave until he was ready to take on Kusanagi.
Shaking away his thoughts, Darien chalked the strange laughter up to nervous energy and reached for the door. “Let’s get this over with,” he said, climbing from the car.
Shuri joined him, but remained silent.
He glanced at her as they made their way to the house. The expression on her face was as somber as he felt. He turned his eyes back to the door of the building. One thought brought a smile to his face before he forced himself to run over several sets of sword exercises to get his mind to focus properly. If things should go sideways in there, Zak would be there in moments to take the Hawaiian Council apart and save Vicky. But he hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
Pushing the door open, he paused on the threshold before stepping over and into the Council’s home. He felt the brush of magic as he crossed the line, but it did not keep him out. He looked around cautiously as he walked into the room. He had been sure that Kusanagi would have revoked his welcome when he had told him to leave the last time. Either the man hadn’t thought about it or this building wasn’t truly anyone’s home.
Stepping up to the edge of the pool, Darien drew a bit of magic from the world around him and laced it into his voice. “Akihito Kusanagi! Show yourself,” he bellowed. The power rolled out, carrying the sound to every corner of the connected buildings. He smirked at the small bit of magic. It had been years since he had to use that spell, but it worked just as good here as it had to address a village square full of rowdy peasants.
The loud chirping from the nightingale floors met his ears and he wiped the smile from his face, preparing to make his demands. He watched as several members of the Council spilled from the hall on the right side of the room. They gathered
on the steps, waiting to see what would happen. Darien turned his attention to the left hall just in time to see Kusanagi—flanked by Kou—step out.
“Master Darien,” Kusanagi said with a curious cock to his head. “What has brought you to my door this evening?”
Darien considered the man. The dark material of his Haori jacked hung over a lighter kimono that was tucked into hakama pants. Narrowing his eyes, Darien cleared his throat before calling out to him loudly. “Akihito Kusanagi, for insults to myself and my wife, I have the right to call for retribution. Since you have stolen that from me, I demand compensation.”
An intrigued look drove one of Kusanagi’s eyebrows up. “And what compensation would you have?”
“The Grand Master seat to the Grand Council of Hawaii,” Darien said firmly.
A loud, barking laugh rolled out of Kusanagi. “You cannot have it,” he said when his amusement passed. “Pick something else.”
Darien’s jaw clenched at the insult. “Then I challenge you for it.” He could hear the rest of the Council draw in a surprised breath as Kusanagi went dangerously still.
“I see,” Kusanagi said, his eyes narrowing. “You were never here for a vacation. This is what you desired all along.”
Holding his ground, Darien met the younger man’s glare, but he did not respond to the taunt.
“Admit it!” Kusanagi screamed.
Darien held his head high, but refused to give him an answer.
“Very well,” Kusanagi said, giving in. “Have it your way.” Turning his attention to the room in general, he yelled, “To the dojo!” Pausing, he waited for Darien to make his way around the end of the pool before instructing Kou to lead the way.
Drawing in a fortifying breath, Darien stepped up on the squeaky floor and followed them down the hall. The hushed whispers of the Council and the sounds of their footsteps followed behind him, trapping him into his decision.
Kusanagi slowed until Darien was next to him. “From the moment I discovered you were coming, I knew you desired the Council for yourself,” he taunted.
Darien just glanced at him. There was nothing he could say or do to convince this man that he had not come to take over. Attempting to explain after making his challenge would only show him as weak.
“Rumors travel far and wide in this world.” Kusanagi went on. “I’ve heard of the army you are raising. Amassing power by ruthlessly killing your own to gain what they have.”
This drove Darien’s eyebrow up in curiosity. He was unaware that he had been raising an army. “What are you talking about?” he asked, honestly intrigued.
“Don’t play coy with me,” Kusanagi said pointedly. “I know of the death in the Brenton Council. Don’t think your actions have gone unnoticed. But that ends tonight.”
Both of Darien’s eyebrows climbed into his hairline. Those were dangerous accusations to make against a person. Raising a vampire army was strictly forbidden by the Great Council on pain of death. The fact that someone had informed Kusanagi that Darien was gathering power concerned him. Yes, taking in Lillian’s kiss had added to his power base, but that wasn’t why he’d claimed her people. He was definitely going to have to check to see if this rumor was being spread, or if it was Kusanagi trying to intimidate him. He walked in silence, considering the man’s words.
When they came to the door of the dojo, Kou stood next to it and slid it open for them.
“You will bow before you enter,” Kusanagi demanded.
Darien turned and glared at the man. “I will not.” Even though he knew it was rude, he turned from Kusanagi and stepped over the sliders into the room.
“Then you will die,” Kusanagi growled as he bowed at the doorway before stepping into the room.
Ignoring the younger vampire, Darien crossed the bare floor along the wall and stepped onto the mats in his shoes.
Kusanagi bristled with anger at the insult.
“Chose your weapon,” Darien called as he stretched out his shoulders preparing for the fight.
“The bo staff,” Kusanagi said. He pulled off his Haori jacket and handed it to Kou. He bowed before stepping out on the reed mats.
Kou bowed to his master and took the jackets away. After a few minutes, he came back carrying two long poles. Bowing at the edge of the mat, he came forwards and handed them both to Kusanagi. Once relieved of the poles, he turned and left the mat.
Kusanagi compared the staves before choosing the one he wanted. The other one he threw to Darien.
Darien caught it and looked at the staff. It wasn’t quite six-feet long, and it was made of hard wood. The ends were tapered to rounded points about the size of a dime. He tapped it on the ground, getting the feel of the weapon. It had a slight flex to it, but it was going to hurt like mad when it hit. He looked up to find Kusanagi had taken up a place three quarters of the way down the open mat. The man was twirling his stick around in an impressive display. Changing his grip on his staff, Darien swung it around in the unfamiliar way it was supposed to be used. He knew a style of staff fighting. He’d learned it during the middle ages, but it wasn’t nearly as elegant as the form Kusanagi was showing off. Watching the man move, Darien couldn’t help thinking that he was going to come out of this fight hurting. It had been years since he had tried fighting with sticks, plus he had never had much practice with a staff. He preferred the feel of his sword to a thin wooden pole. After a few clumsy swings, he held the staff in both hands and took up his place, mirroring Kusanagi.
Kusanagi laughed at the awkward way Darien stood with his feet apart and the staff grasped in both his hands. “I’ve done my research on you, old man,” the younger vampire taunted as he took a closed fighting stance. “I know you’re a broadsword man. A heavy, clunky weapon with no elegance at all,” he said in a disgusted voice. He bowed to Darien and shifted the staff into an attack position. A smile turned the corner of his mouth. Snapping the staff up, he brought it swishing down in an easy attack that closed the distance between them.
Darien jumped back, bringing his staff up catching the end of Kusanagi’s before it could hit him.
Leaning on the staff, Kusanagi eased into Darien’s face. “You’re weak, old man.”
Anger flashed into Darien’s eyes and he shoved the staff up, knocking Kusanagi away from him.
Kusanagi caught his balance with ease and twirled his staff around. He shot Darien a smug look. “I know you hide behind your second, letting him shoulder the burden of your growing army. Rumor has it you don’t even hunt as you should.”
Darien gripped his staff and held it out in front of him as Kusanagi circled. He didn’t know where the younger vampire had gotten his information, but the level of detail he had bothered Darien. In a way, it was true. He did let Elliot handle much of the day-to-day life of the kiss, but it wasn’t because he wasn’t capable. He was just so busy with everything else in his life, and Elliot had stepped in to help without being asked. It was also true that Darien didn’t really hunt, preferring the ease of his bagged blood to chasing down his food. But that had also changed since he’d taken in his people. He now had a regular supply of willing donors to feed from, although he still kept a healthy supply of fresh blood in his refrigerator.
Swinging his staff, Kusanagi came at Darien with a series of obvious attacks.
The wood of the staffs cracked together as Darien blocked the assault with ease.
Kusanagi backed off, giving Darien space, and started circling him again. “I also know that you haven’t fed since before you arrived.”
Darien raised an eyebrow, but didn’t let down his guard.
“Oh yes,” Kusanagi said before launching into another bout of hard blows that Darien blocked. Toying with the older vampire, Kusanagi backed off again. “I know everything you’ve done on my island.” He faked an attack that made Darien flinch. Laughing, he spun away and avoided the return swing Darien tried. “Shuri has kept her watchful eye on you since you landed.”
Darien laughed. “Then you
know nothing.” Stepping forwards, he swung his staff at Kusanagi in a series of short, but sharp blows that caught Kusanagi by surprise and drove the man back.
As Darien attacked, Kusanagi slipped under his pole and jabbed Darien hard in the stomach breaking the man’s forward momentum. A few fancy steps had Kusanagi out of Darien’s reach. “But I do know you’re not good at this.” Sliding his foot forwards, he dropped into a lower stance and came at Darien with a quick line of hard blows.
Darien caught most of them before they could land, but the last tagged him hard enough in the ribs that he felt bone give. He staggered away as fast as he could and brought his staff up in a defensive position.
“And I know you can’t use your magic here,” Kusanagi said smugly, resetting himself so his staff was held high. “This room is warded against it.”
“That’s nice to know,” Darien said as he launched himself into another attack. “But I don’t need magic for this.” Working the pole for all it was worth, he managed to slip under Kusanagi’s staff and catch him in the side with a hard hit.
Staggering back, Kusanagi grabbed at his side and gave Darien a surprised look before grasping his pole and swinging it down on Darien, driving the less experienced man back. With a skill that Darien could not keep up with, Kusanagi landed blow after painful blow, driving him across the mat. “You’re mine, old man,” he taunted. “And once you’re dead, I’ll drain your human and feed her worthless body to the sharks!”
Anger filled Darien as he threw himself into the fight. “That human is my wife!” he growled.
Kusanagi backed up as Darien came at him with a passion fueled by fury. As they danced across the mat, they exchanged bone-cracking blows without doing any major damage to each other.
When Darien brought his staff down on Kusanagi’s side, the younger man took the opportunity the vicious blow gave him to slip under Darien’s defenses and trip him. As Darien went down, Kusanagi leaped on him and sunk inch long fangs into his shoulder.
Hollering in pain, Darien flipped him off, ripping a huge hole in his shoulder. Blood poured out, soaking his shirt. Staggering to his feet, Darien backed up. He held his staff out so it pointed at Kusanagi while he pressed the heel of his hand on the wound, waiting for it to close.