by Mika B. Coit
"W-what about Father?... He shook his hand yet... he seems fine."
"I asked Lord Baddesley not to involve him."
"What of Andrew... our driver? He..."
"Lord Baddesley went out to the back of the mansion where all the chauffers had parked the cars and shook their hands as ‘a kind gesture’."
Iliana rubbed her forehead, annoyed of how she did not see any of this at the time.
"That’s why you acted strangely when you shook his hand!" Kazuki stated looking down at Iliana. "He tried to possess you."
"He knew what you were and I was so obsessed to please him that I agreed to give up my own daughter... Just so I could be... so I could be... higher up in society along side Lord Baddesley." Mother sobbed into her hands.
Iliana began to feel a pulsating pain in her head. She shut her eyes tightly. Her legs felt weak and her stomach felt queasy.
"Iliana... are you okay?"
Iliana heard Caitlyn ask but it sounded as if cotton wool was stuffed in her ears. Her throat was so dry she was unable to speak. The same shrill screams blared loudly in Iliana’s head, it felt like she was listening to a voice player with the volume to it’s maximum capacity.
Her body went stone cold as the same flashes of fire sparked in her mind. Then something gripped her upper arms sending warmth back into her body like a surge of electricity. Iliana opened her eyes to find blue sapphire eyes staring into hers. She was sitting on the chair with Kazuki kneeling before her with his masculine yet gentle hands wrapped round her arms. His silver chain was now hanging round his neck and dangling over his open collared black shirt.
"Iliana... are you alright?" Mother asked sitting on the edge of the bed with her legs dangling out and showing the leg that had been bandaged up to the upper calf.
Iliana nodded wearily, shifting her arms so Kazuki could let go and avoiding his heart melting eyes.
"Just a... bad headache, that is all." She replied wiping the cold sweat that moistened her forehead with the back of her hand.
Jung and Caitlyn rushed into the hospital room panting as if they had run a marathon. When they saw Iliana sitting on the chair, Caitlyn asked worriedly.
"What happened to you?... Are you alright?"
"I am fine... it was just a bad headache." Iliana replied.
After a little sway on her feet, Iliana steadied herself and stood up straight. She then noticed Mrs. Rawlins was not where she last saw her.
"What happened to Mrs. Rawlins?"
"We told the nurses to take her to the chapel room... she is fine." Caitlyn answered.
"But the others are not." Jung added then pointed his thumb towards the open door. "According to the panicky nurses out there, patients are attacking other people out there and kissing them."
"Kissing them?" Mother repeated in a high pitched and shocked tone.
"They are breathing the darkness into them and causing the others to become vessels for more demons!" Kazuki exclaimed then ordered firmly. "We need to Purify them and we need Father Benjamin."
"I have already just got off the phone with him a minute ago.. he is coming." Caitlyn stated.
Caitlyn pulled one end of the small knotted bow releasing the white leather string that laced round her silver bracelet. Within moments the silver bracelet unclipped from her small wrist and morphed into a glowing white bow.
"I love it when you do that!" Jung commented gazing at her with admiration.
Caitlyn smiled flirtatiously and winked at him.
"Come on my little Korean bear... let us do our thing."
"Take care." Iliana said to them as they turned to the door.
"You too." Jung responded before they both disappeared.
Kazuki turned to Mother and said...
"We need to get you to safety incase they come after you."
"But I cannot walk properly... my leg is still..."
"I know... that is why I am going to carry you."
Kazuki stood by Mother ready and prepared to help her up when Mother snapped.
"No!... I am not having you carrying me!"
"Why?... Because I am commoner to the rich people?"
Mother gaped at Kazuki’s blunt comment. Iliana’s eyes darted between Mother and Kazuki not knowing how to react or even know what to say.
"No... not because of that... because... I am heavy!"
A smile crept at the corners of Iliana’s lips relieved that Mother had began to turn over a new leaf with Kazuki.
"I will be fine, I have carried heavier... now put your arm round behind my neck." Kazuki requested.
Reading the signposts Iliana led the way to the chapel room. In the distance she could hear Caitlyn’s beautiful voice singing graciously in the air. The nurses were bustling around the corridors and tending to those who have collapsed to the floor. Iliana bent down to an elderly man slumped on one of the chairs that lined one side of the corridor. His head was tipped back on the wall. His face was pale and his eyes were vacant. Iliana tentatively stroked his frail cheeks only to feel a prickly burning sensation on her fingertips. Kazuki let out a deep sigh next to her.
"You really need to stop doing that." He said his eyes now fixed down the stretch of corridor in front of them.
Iliana looked up and tutted in annoyance. At the end of the corridor behind the flurry of nurses and patients stood six demons. Everyone except Iliana, Kazuki and Mother was completely oblivious to the presence of demons that towered over the hustle and bustle in the corridor.
"Can no-one else see those demons standing there?" Mother questioned sitting comfortably in Kazuki’s strong arms.
"No... humans excluding those who have been invited... like yourself, cannot see the Unknown World." Kazuki replied gently lowering Mother down onto the empty chair next to the old man.
"So... how can you fight those demons with your weapons without the humans seeing you?" Mother asked sounding a little confused.
"Our Holy weapon once drawn allows us to pass the invisible fine barrier between our world and the Unknown."
"So you... become invisible to the human eye once your weapons are drawn?"
"Something like that!"
Whilst Kazuki took off his silver chain Iliana gave her messenger handbag to Mother then faced the demons. Her hands tingled with the presence of water nearby which she commanded to abide with her. Within moments jets of water flew out from the rooms either side of the corridors.
"Whoa!..." Mother gasped in awe as the water swirled around Iliana’s body.
Iliana turned round to smile at Mother when she saw six more demons standing regimental behind them.
"Uh!..." Was all Iliana could muster at the sight of them.
Kazuki turned to her and followed her gaze.
"If only you did not touch that man we would be at the chapel room by now... instead of facing these demons."
Iliana narrowed her eyes.
"You did not exactly stop me from doing so."
"I cannot keep my eyes on you all the time... I do not know if you realised... but I was busy carrying your Mother!"
"What happened to the... ‘I do not mind being your babysitter’... which you said to me after the events at Lord Baddesley’s mansion?" Iliana questioned getting fired up all of a sudden.
Kazuki glared at her, firstly looking a little baffled then gave a sarcastic chuckle.
"I never said that!"
"Maybe not to those exact words." Iliana confessed in a mutter. "But it was along those lines."
"I did not say anything near such lines... How did you even get?..."
"I hate to interrupt your little bickering here!" Mother cried out loudly. "But those demons are coming at us."
Iliana and Kazuki swivelled round to their left. Both facing one end of the corridor. The demons rushed through the crowd like a ghost passing through humans. Iliana stretched out her arm in front of her commanding the jet of water to fly ahead. The water zigzag passed the people as fast as a lightening bolt. With a swift
flick of her hand the twister of water opened up and engulfed two demons. Calling in another jet of water Iliana forced it towards the other four but they all leapt out of the way of the incoming tentacle like gush of water. Iliana headed towards the forthcoming demons as they simultaneously flew up into the air above the crowd. Conveniently a group of people moved out of the way into a room near them giving Iliana a free gangway. She sped up a little before falling to her knees and skidded underneath the flying demons. Bending as far back as she could, her long straight hair swept the floor behind her like a carpet of black satin floating in the light breeze.
And as if in slow motion the demons looked down at Iliana sliding on her knees below them. It was the perfect move to distract them. With a wave of her arms and hands Iliana commanded the twisters of water to strike the demons from behind them. The four demons were then trapped inside the water globe. Their gurgled screams sounded as if they were suffering from excruciating pain. Like a soaking wet towel being rinsed, the ball of water twisted and turned along with the immersed demons inside. The water dissipated in the air just as Iliana stood up from her knees then turned round.
On the other end of the corridor Kazuki was casually leaning on the wall loosely holding his sword in his hand. Not a demon in sight. A smile stretched across his face when their eyes met. Trying to ignore the plucking at her heartstrings Iliana walked to his direction.
"How long have you been watching?"
"Long enough."
"You took out those demons that quickly?" Iliana asked in shock.
"What can I say... I am good at what I do!" He replied quite arrogantly.
"You were astonishingly amazing Iliana!" Mother stated enthusiastically. "You are like... the Lady of the water."
"Hmm... that does sound catching. ‘Lady of the water’..." Iliana agreed with a hint of amusement in her voice.
"I would not call you a ‘Lady’!..." Kazuki remarked in mockery.
Iliana threw him a deathly glare which soon quite unintentionally shaped into a flirtatious smile when Kazuki grinned at her before turning to Mother and picking her up again into his arms.
"What am I doing?" Iliana asked herself as they made another attempt to get to the chapel room without having to face any other demons.
Kazuki walked in front of Iliana holding Mother without a flinch of a struggle as if she was as light as a feather.
‘I am supposed to turn my back on these feelings yet....’Iliana gazed at the back of Kazuki’s head. ‘....Yet I cannot keep my eyes off him, let alone stop these growing feelings I have for him.’
They eventually made it to the door of the chapel room without meeting another demon. As Iliana opened the door her name was called out. Father hurriedly came down the corridor squeezing past the cluster of people on his way. His white coat was left undone and fluttering behind him showing his dark trousers and pale blue shirt that now hung over it. His matching coloured tie loosely hung round his neck. A look Father does not often let people see, he always liked to be smartly dressed and not look like he had just thrown on his clothes blind.
"I have been looking for you both everywhere... When I went back to the room the door was smashed from its hinges and laid shattered on other end of the room... You were all gone! I was worried sick!" He panted loudly sounding out of breath.
"I am sorry to have worried you Leslie, but we had to get away. Some of the patients got a little... wild back there." Mother apologised choosing her words carefully.
She flitted a quick glance at Iliana, a smile flickered at the corner of her mouth.
‘Quick thinking Mother.’ Iliana thought to herself, pleased at Mother’s good cover up.
"Just as long as you are both safe." Father forgave, then added. "I have no idea what is going on with these patients of ours. This is like a deja vu from a few weeks ago... Back then the police told us to keep this ‘special behavioural incidents’ quiet... but I do not think we can keep this quiet any longer... it is getting worse!"
Mother requested Kazuki to put her down. She stood on one leg whilst lifting the other slightly off the floor. Father slipped an arm round her waist holding her up for support.
Jung and Caitlyn appeared from behind the bundle of people. Both of them breathing heavily as they made their way to them. Sweat dripped from the side of Jung’s face. Caitlyn’s usual tidy blonde locks which Iliana envied now looked a little unruly.
"Hey!... We thought you might be here!" Jung said standing by Father.
"Oh my goodness!" Iliana gasped looking down at Caitlyn’s blood stained trousers.
Her beige tailored trousers had a claw torn ripped right across her right thigh.
"What happened?"
"It is just a scratch." Caitlyn reassured. "Apparently from the gorgeous Italian Doctor whom we bumped into on the way here said I will survive."
Jung rolled his eyes when Caitlyn giggled at his dull expression.
"He is not as gorgeous as me!" Jung remarked though with a hint of jealously in his voice.
"Of course... no-one can be as gorgeous as you... my little Korean bear!" Caitlyn cooed pouting her lips at him.
"This is really not time or place for that." Kazuki stated with a distasteful look.
"Like your one to talk... You and Iliana always seem to bicker at the most inconvenient of times." Jung retaliated firmly.
"Oh wait... do they do that often?" Mother asked sounding intrigued.
"Don’t tell me... you have seen them bicker already?" Jung questioned in such an amused and surprised tone.
Mother nodded smiling from ear to ear.
"It is so adorable is it not?" Caitlyn added turning to Iliana who was completely lost to where this conversation was going.
"What are we talking about here?" Father inquired also utterly oblivious to what they were all talking about.
Kazuki threw Jung a glare that could rot a fresh fruit in seconds. Jung cleared his throat then quickly changed the subject.
"Anyway... to the more important matters. We need to hurry... they have scooted away from the hospital. All of them heading for the same direction."
"And you decided to tell us now!" Kazuki remarked with sarcasm and frustration entwined in his tone of voice.
Jung chuckled nervously ushering Caitlyn to start moving.
"Time to get going then."
Kazuki shook his head and rolled his eyes as Jung tottered behind Caitlyn.
"It might be best for you to stay in the chapel room. It is one place they cannot tolerate." Kazuki suggested turning to Mother.
"When did you start to get religious?" Father asked her when Mother nodded.
"Today I guess..."
"Let’s go!" Kazuki said to Iliana before following Jung and Caitlyn.
"Wait!... Kazuki!" Mother called out.
Kazuki quickly spun back round. A sprinkle of uneasiness brushed over Mother’s face before she took a deep breath and said...
"I want to thank you and your family for looking after our Iliana for the past few days."
Iliana glanced at Father who smiled anxiously back.
"Yes... I have heard about that." Mother said raising an eyebrow at Iliana who quickly looked away. "I know... I have treated you unkindly and... I do not deserve the kindness that you have already shown me. Like carrying me all the way up here when you did not have to, and sharing your home with Iliana." Mother continued. "But I want to ask another favour of you... please, could you look after our little girl?"
Iliana’s eyes rose up to meet Mother’s, but her gaze was fixed on Kazuki. Iliana did not even dare look at his direction. There was slight pause before his answer was disclosed in almost a whisper, but could just about be heard over the hustle of people that roamed in the corridor.
"Of course."
Iliana’s heart and stomach lifted as if she was in roller coaster that was about to fall into a steep drop.
‘He would do that?’ She thought, surprised.
It was not only his ans
wer that surprised her or gave her a flutter in the heart, but the way he said it. Those two words made Iliana feel precious.
‘Maybe it was my imagination... There is no way he would think of me as being precious especially when we always bicker about the silliest of things.’ Iliana said to herself. ‘Although... I am starting to enjoy our bickering.’
Kazuki turned his back and began to make his way to Jung and Caitlyn who both stood and waited at the entrance of another corridor leading to the exit.
"Take care." Mother said to Iliana.
Iliana held Mother’s warm hand for a brief moment then smiled at Father. Mother handed back her bag that she had been holding for her before Iliana walked away.
"Honey... what in the world is going on?" Iliana heard Father ask when she turned her back to follow Kazuki’s lead, hoisting her bag over her shoulder.
"Nothing for you to worry about my love. Just be... be proud of our girl."
"I am so glad to have you back."
*** Chapter 11 ***
A silver Ford Focus parked just outside the hospital entrance as Jung, Caitlyn, Kazuki and Iliana briskly walked out into the dusk air. Father Benjamin leant over and swung open the front passengers’ door.
"Come on... get in!" He ordered.
Caitlyn got into the front passenger seat while Kazuki crawled in the back sitting behind Father Benjamin. As Iliana waited for Jung to slide in after Kazuki, she heard a familiar voice call out.
"Iliana!..."
Chloe was standing by Yuki by the benches. She was holding two bunches of flowers both professionally made up with pink and lilac bows. Chloe was dressed in a simple flowing black dress brushing just above her knees. A touch of makeup was delicately applied making her look very attractive.
"Excuse me for a moment." Iliana said to the others in the car before quickly dashing to Chloe.
"Hey... Chloe!... You look divine."
"Oh... thank you... I was supposed to go to a party but when I got there it was cancelled. Apparently a few people went a little berserk!" Chloe explained. "It has been a productive evening."