by Hickory Mack
“Gideon?” Nakia asked carefully.
“They’re bonded. He’s family now,” Yuuki said as though it were settled. Mai still looked confused, but her surprise had faded into an interested smile. Saya still looked suspicious.
“Lord Makkai said I can keep him,” Chiori added and Gideon snickered. “He won’t have a contract anymore, so he gets to have his name back.”
“To your left, Lady Chiori. You will be to Lord Makkai’s left, so we’ll put Gideon on the opposite side with you between them,” Nakia answered with a resigned sigh. Saya frowned, rising from her place. Yuuki, Mai and Saya stood and moved as well, automatically adjusting according to the rank they’d created amongst themselves. The wolf moved next to Nakia with Mai on her other side. Yuuki settled next to Gideon’s seat and Hina stayed where she was to Yuuki’s other side, looking pointedly disgruntled.
“But-”
“This is what’s right,” Nakia said, motioning Gideon into the seat. He cleared his throat awkwardly and sat down. Chiori took Gideon’s hand again and looked at her girls. There was no food on the table and a few of them looked unnecessarily guilty.
“You already ate,” she accused.
“Yup,” Mai said.
“Guilty,” Hina replied. She was looking anywhere in the room other than Chiori and Gideon. Chiori made a mental note to speak with her later and clear the air, she could only imagine how uncomfortable and embarrassing the situation was for her. She didn’t want Hina to be so unhappy.
“I didn’t, and neither has Saya, we had the patience to wait for you,” Yuuki said cheerfully. “We can eat together. Hina please inform Milly that Lady Chiori and the rest of us would like to eat.”
“They didn’t have more patience than us, they got here shortly before you did,” Mai said, making a rude gesture at Yuuki who laughed. Hina did as she was asked willingly enough and as soon as she was out the door Mai leaned forward with a smile.
“Tell us everything,” she said. Chiori wrinkled her nose.
“I will not,” she said flatly.
“Good. The rest of us do not want details,” Saya said. Chiori got the feeling her hackles would be raised if she were in her wolf form.
“Amen,” Nakia muttered.
“Speak for yourself. I think it’s adorable,” Yuuki said. She pointed at Gideon. “Except you. You still look like death incarnate. I thought this was supposed to fix you.”
“How long have you known about this?” Nakia asked, motioning vaguely at Chiori and Gideon, her keen eyes boring into the sprite’s.
“I figure since the day it happened. Little more than a week ago,” Chiori answered, tapping her fingers on the table.
“Rude!” Mai squealed.
“I know, right? I didn’t even know,” Chiori agreed then nodded at Gideon. “It’s his fault, she promised him her silence.” Food arrived, two of Milly’s people bringing it themselves. Chiori clapped her hands together in thanks.
“The food’s a lot different for you,” Gideon grinned, digging into a dense vegetable stew with steaming hot bread rolls.
“Airi was right,” Chiori mused. “What have you been eating?”
“Good, but much simpler food,” Gideon shrugged.
“Because you eat for fun. Milly doesn’t have to put as much effort into your meals,” Nakia said, looking at him from the corner of her eye.
“Being in Lady Chiori’s circle has its perks,” Yuuki agreed, biting into a big chunk of rosemary seitan. “Rumor has it Lord Makkai eats even better.”
“It’s true,” Chiori took a drink. “When he’s here it’s like a feast for every meal, sometimes there’s courses and everything. Milly’s lasagna is the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life.”
“Sounds delicious,” Mai said.
“Sounds extravagant,” Saya added.
“What are your plans after dinner?” Nakia asked Chiori, but she was looking at Gideon. “You haven’t practiced for Moscow’s class yet, and you need to make up for your behavior in Ichio’s class today.”
“You misbehaved in class?” Gideon asked, amusement coloring his voice. He smiled and popped a carrot in his mouth.
“I was inexcusably distracted,” Chiori answered, turning to Nakia. “Do you think I should write an apology letter?”
“Yes I do,” Nakia didn’t skip a beat.
“A long one,” Yuuki added. Chiori nodded.
“Distracted by what?” Gideon asked.
“You,” she admitted.
“Told you so.” Mai gave Saya a meaningful look.
‘Sorry,’ Gideon mouthed and Chiori shrugged.
“He’ll forgive her. Ichio is terribly fond of you, Lady Chiori. You’re throwing off so much Earth magic he can’t help himself,” Yuuki said. Gideon frowned, studying Chiori. The sprite wasn’t wrong, Chiori was leaking power all over the place.
“That doesn’t excuse you from the apology letter,” Nakia said firmly. Chiori gave her a private smile. Etiquette lesson received.
“I’ll work on both of those in the library. I need to check on the birds first, though, and after homework I’m going to the tree for the night,” she said.
“I’ll bring you some tea later. Do you still have the bell I gave you?” Yuuki asked. Chiori nodded. “You know how to use it, so give it a ring if you need anything. One of us will bring you out tonight, if that’s agreeable?”
“Yes, that’s perfect,” Chiori agreed. She looked over at Gideon and frowned, resembling the fox she loved so much. “Do you want to come meet the alicanto, and study with me?”
Nakia raised an eyebrow. She foresaw so much trouble in their future.
“I’d like that,” Gideon said.
Epilogue
Makkai handed Chiori out of the boat. The Sun was setting on another June nineteenth, her fourth in Makkai’s house. She’d been given the day away from lessons for the occasion. Makkai so rarely came to her unless it was Sunday, Chiori was determined to enjoy every second of her time with the fox.
She’d grown, not just in height and physical strength, but in power, too. It had a magnetic affect to those with an Earth affinity. They flocked to her, finding any excuse to be in her presence. If she spent too much time in a single place the world came to life around her. Plants grew, flowers bloomed, all manner of living beings thrived. It didn’t hurt her, but it was becoming a problem.
The volatility of her magic was becoming dangerous to those around her. Chiori had to keep her emotions under tight control, excitement produced tremors in the ground. Anger had caused earthquakes and more than once a landslide. She practiced exchanges with the Earth every day, bolstering Ichio’s gardens with her magic. Gideon got her into the habit of walking around barefoot so her every step released some of the power. Sometimes she fed it to the Kami tree, but not often. Makkai told her it made him miss her more, when her magic was in his soul.
It wasn’t enough. Gideon had taken to siphoning some of her power to help take the edge off. It had started with once a week, but now it was almost every day. And that was just her witch magic. Yuuki was convinced her fae power would begin manifesting sometime in the next year, Chiori dreaded that day.
Keeping her powers a secret had become a full time occupation. Three members of the house had been assigned to the task. Makkai did not want to invite trouble by letting the world know how much power she had. Moscow had brought them the news that the forest was thickening with her magic, expanding at an alarming rate.
Demons without an affiliated house were pressing into the territories, seeking to be closer to the source of all that magic. The neighboring nests couldn’t keep up, the hunters were kept busy clearing their towns of plant life and dealing with the extra demonic activity. It had taken some of the pressure off Lord Makkai, they couldn’t harass him as much when they were so busy.
Gideon had been in correspondence with his coven, looking for advice. They’d been reluctant to respond, insulted by Chiori’s refusal to visit the coven for the customary bonding r
itual. She couldn’t leave Makkai, even the thought of it was too painful. Gideon had pressed his Aunt, and then the elders until they relented, but so far none of their suggestions had done anything but frustrate her.
Tomorrow they planned on trying something new. He was going to teach her one of the ancient spells. One that demanded a lot of power. His thought was for the betterment of the entire area. They may as well use all that extra power to help the Earth Mother. That was tomorrow, tonight she had Makkai.
He tucked her in under his arm. The changes in him over the past three years had become noticeable even to those outside of his territories. Only the outer ring of his eyes were black now, the inner iris had become a pair of fiery suns, orange and red. Chiori often found herself transfixed by them.
Bands near the tips of his tails, strands of his hair and the base of his ears had all slowly turned a dark, burnished red. A couple weeks before she’d found a single, steel gray strand among his midnight black hair. He gave her all the credit, but Chiori knew better. The Devil’s Black Fox was changing because as their bond slowly strengthened, he gave her his soul, pulling tiny bits of it away from the tree.
It made him stronger. He tested his boundaries more frequently now. He could travel fifty-three miles from the tree before his magic was affected. The neighboring Lords had not failed to notice his ventures. One had silently moved his border back, retreating from Makkai’s advances, he was the only smart one. The others stood their ground, waiting for the Fox to make the first move. Makkai let them stay. He had no quarrel with them, and there was no use in fighting over two miles space. He had time.
Makkai kissed each of Chiori’s fingers and she smiled. He nuzzled her neck, taking in her scent. Chiori trembled with excitement, it was finally time. He’d promised. Sixteen was old enough. She leaned against the Matriarch tree and he backed away into the clearing, a devilish smile on his face.
“You’re ready?” he asked teasingly.
“Show me,” she said, her arms crossed in front of her to keep her hands from shaking.
“Don’t scream,” Makkai warned.
“Ha!” Chiori scoffed. “Please.”
He stripped off his kimono and kicked off his sandals, maintaining eye contact. Chiori bit her lower lip, watching closely, ignoring the bare skin he wouldn't allow her to touch. It was subtle at first. His legs lengthened and took on an odd shape. His face sharpened into a distinctly vulpine angle. The hair on his head shortened while his arms and feet sprouted hair everywhere, black as coal. When it was done he stretched and yawned, shaking his coat.
Lord Makkai in his full demon form was astounding. He’d said he’d stay as small as he could, to keep from frightening her, but he’d been right. He was easily twice the size of Airi’s horse. Makkai sat down, a prim and proper fox, two of his six tails curled over his front paws, his big flame orange eyes pointed at her. Chiori covered her mouth to keep from making the high-pitched sound that wanted to escape her throat. She did a little dance of excitement, a huge smile on her face.
In his fox form the red was a little more prominent. The fur at the base of his ears was thicker, longer. Floofier. Chiori squeezed her hands into fists and pressed her lips together until her mouth formed a thin line. The deep red was also around his eyes, almost a mask. He looked so incredibly soft.
“Please let me touch you,” Chiori said, her pent-up energy barely contained, clover and bluebells sprouting around her feet. Lord Makkai sneezed at her, which Chiori had come to think of as canine amusement. Saya did it in place of laughter when she was in her wolf form. Careful not to run at him Chiori practically skipped across the clearing. As soon as she was close enough her hands were on him, reaching for his leg, his chest, his face.
Lord Makkai humored her, laying on his belly so she could reach him more easily. He was exactly as soft and silky as he looked. Chiori buried her face in the scruff of his neck, his fur so thick her hands disappeared in fluff almost to her elbow. He made a humming sound, similar to a cat and let her squeal and hop around and touch. She exclaimed over his paws, the claws thick and deadly sharp.
Chiori reached for him and he lowered his nose to her feet, pressing his forehead to hers.
“You’re beautiful. Why didn’t you show me this sooner?” she demanded, looking into his massive eyes. She felt the feather light brush of his mind against hers.
‘Normal people find me terrifying.’
Chiori heard his voice as clearly as if he’d spoken to her aloud. He sounded amused and relieved at the same time. She petted his cheek fluff.
“Did you really think I would be afraid of you?” she asked, shaking her head.
‘Yes, actually. What is wrong with you?’ he joked.
“Probably has something to do with being raised by scary demons,” Chiori joked back. “You really shouldn’t expose young children to such things. It’ll desensitize them and turn them into murderous heathens you know.”
Makkai huffed at her.
“Show me your scary face,” she said, standing back to fully appreciate it. Makkai rolled his eyes and wrinkled his nose, showing the tiniest bit of tooth. “Come on, I want to see.”
The Fox lifted his lip in a half-hearted snarl, showing her a set of bone white canines longer than her forearm. Chiori smiled, he wasn’t showing her his serious face. She stuck her tongue out at him and his countenance changed. Makkai’s body stiffened and his snout curled in a true snarl, a growl emanated from his throat, his eyes locked behind her. The hairs on the back of Chiori’s neck stood.
‘Come here, Chiori,’ Makkai ordered. She ran the handful of steps to his side, turning to see what had shown up behind her.
“How kind of you to come meet me yourself,” the speaker was a woman, her face hidden in the shadows of her crimson red cloak. She tucked large red wings behind her, the tips of long feathers brushing the ground.
“It’s impolite to intrude without a proper invitation. We weren’t expecting visitors,” Chiori said, her hand on Makkai’s shoulder, her toes wiggling into the dirt.
“The child is bold. That’s good. No room for weakness. Have a care, Witchling. No one disrespects me,” the woman said. Makkai’s growls grew louder, deeper. “Use your nose, pup. You and I are well acquainted.”
Makkai’s nose quivered and he breathed in her scent. His growls abruptly stopped; his ears perked forward. He glanced at Chiori, faced the woman and bowed his head. Chiori blinked and quickly did the same. She’d never seen Makkai bow first. Not once.
‘This one is dangerous, Little One,’ he said.
“Oh indeed I am,” the woman agreed.
‘To what do we owe the honor of your visit, Gabija?’ Makkai asked. Chiori was confused, the woman’s name was unfamiliar.
“For all these years you have kept the hearth for me. Of those who remember the old ways, so few still pay their respects. Every night your Milly puts me to bed and every morning she stokes the hearth flames. Every day an offering is given. I have washed with the water you leave me and have watched over you for centuries,” she said.
‘I am old enough to know better than to give fire a reason to walk. Gabija bak pasotinta. I appreciate your attentions, Goddess of Ashes.’ Makkai said and Chiori’s confusion turned to an outright frown. She’d learned several languages from Sen, and the words he’d spoken weren’t in any of them.
“I have been satisfied with you. I looked into the flames and saw this one,” Gabija pointed at Chiori. “She belongs to the fox, and soon she will grant me a great gift. As such I bring you this warning. In the year of the lamb the clans will find the one they seek. The Priestess will come when the seven are whole. Kith and kin they are. Only the child who is unafraid can overcome death and give the priestess what she needs. If she cannot, Elander’s final prophecy will fail.” Makkai looked at Chiori sharply.
‘She is the key,’ he said.
“Make sure she is ready.”
‘I will.’ Makkai bowed his head again.
&nbs
p; “Next time we meet, Witchling, you will be a powerful ally in what is to come. Embrace your nature and when you find them, keep them all. You’ll need them. Learn all they have to give,” Gabija said.
“I don’t understand,” Chiori replied.
“When the time comes, you will.” The goddess stalked forward until she was uncomfortably close. Chiori sank into Makkai’s fur, the ground trembling beneath her feet. “Be at peace, I have a gift for you, in exchange for the future you bring.”
“But I don't-"
Gabija reached out and touched Chiori’s forehead, right at the center. With her other hand the goddess touched Chiori’s abdomen. She flinched at the heat building, hotter and hotter. Gabija gave a great yank, not physically but with her magic, the fire drawing out the tiny thread of metal Gideon had shown her, hidden among the Earth. The goddess filled it with fire, heating it, expanding it, making it whole.
Chiori gasped and Gabija stepped back, a horrible, predatory smile on her face.
“The metal was already within you. I simply woke the red moon inside, none of them will be able to do it for you,” the goddess stepped further away. Without another word she unfurled her wings and lifted into the air where she changed, her body morphing into a black cat before turning to flame and vanishing in a cloud of smoke.
Chiori jumped sideways when Makkai’s arm went around her shoulders. She hadn’t seen him change back.
“What the heck just happened?” Chiori asked, dazed.
“We’ve been visited by one of humanities oldest goddesses. She looked into your future, Little One. Wherever and whoever she is, you’re somehow related to the Dragon Priestess. She’s going to need your help,” Makkai said, looking down at her reverently.
“That’s just a story. A legend. They’ve been searching for the priestess for hundreds of years,” she protested.
“That legend is reality, everything your teachers have taught you about them really happened. Gabija said ‘when the seven are whole.’ Chiori, you’re destined to bring the elements into balance so the priestess can call the Dragons back.”