Enslaved

Chapter 48

The wind on Ryuu's face was cold and crisp, helping him to clear his thoughts. His friend, the closest thing he had to family, was the traitor to the rebellion. The very one who had helped him start the rebellion, was actively trying to dismantle it. His eyes scanned the ground, searching for Kajeel among the dozens of other hybrids as they milled about. Where was he? Ryuu snarled into the sky, stopping his circling of the camp and coming to a hover. He spun around in a full circle, scanning every single pair of wings that he saw and still not spotting Kajeel. He was about to start circling again when he spotted someone flying in the opposite direction of the camp, looking for all the world like they were carrying something. He frowned and shot off in their direction, steadily getting closer and closer when he noticed the golden hair flowing in the wind from the arms of the other hybrid. What was going on? Where were they taking Kaida? He finally got a few feet away when they stopped and Ryuu back flapped, changing into a hover mid-flap. He turned to look over his shoulder and was surprised at how far they had gotten from the campsite before turning back around.

"You shouldn't have followed me, Ryuu."

Ryuu's eyes widened before he drew his sword, the sound echoing through the air. Kajeel laughed.

"You don't need that, old friend." Kajeel slowly turned around to show Kaida, unconscious with blood around her temple and a knife at her throat. "You can't hurt me without hurting her too."

Ryuu's heart lurched and he swallowed the urge to run Kajeel through with his sword but didn't sheath it.

"Kajeel, what are you doing?" Ryuu kept his voice passive. "What happened to Kaida?"

Kajeel let out a low snarl, baring his fangs.

"Don't play stupid Ryuu, I've known you too long to buy that."

Ryuu let the confusion drop from his face and bared his own fangs.

"Fine." Ryuu flew forward slightly, his sword still held out in front of him. "How about what the hell are you thinking?"

Kajeel laughed, causing the knife against Kaida's throat to bring a few droplets of green blood to the surface. Ryuu tensed at that and Kajeel laughed harder.

"What were you thinking, Ryuu?" Kajeel abruptly stopped laughing, glaring at Ryuu. "Starting a rebellion? Going against the Emperor? Did you ever stop to think for a second that our people would be more safe if you didn't?!"

Ryuu just blinked at him, his mind whirling. What was he going on about?

"You were the one to agree with me that a rebellion was the right idea!"

Kajeel snorted, his knuckles turning white around the knife handle. Kaida still didn't stir and Ryuu's heart wrenched at that. How hard had he hit her?

"Maybe at that time! Now look around you, Ryuu!" Kajeel gestured with the knife before returning it to Kaida's neck. "Look at the slave camps and the hybrids who are forced to kill their own families so that the Emperor knows they aren't a part of the rebellion! How many more kids have to lose their parents before this is all over?"

Ryuu growled, the sound vibrating his chest.

"All of that is because of the Emperor, not because of the rebellion. You know that! You were there too!"

A sick smile grew on Kajeel's face as he shook his head.

"No, it's because of the rebellion, Ryuu. It's because of you."

Ryuu saw Kajeel flick the tips of his wings and before he knew it, there were arms grabbing his wing joints and causing him to stop flapping as he tried to turn around and see who it was. Just as he turned, someone grabbed his sword wrist and twisted, causing him to drop his sword. Arms wrapped around his chest and he was immobile, his wings pressed up against his back. He turned away from the hybrids bearing the Emperor's insignia on their pitch black clothes and locked gazes with Kajeel, who was now right in front of him. Kajeel smirked as Ryuu struggled.