Sakura

Chapter 8

 "Xayah?" Rakan called out tentatively, his knuckle rapping against a closed wooden door. No answer met the Vastayan as he cracked open the entryway and walked into the dark room beyond. A strand of long blue-green hair fell over his eyes and Rakan pushed it away as he continued inside the dark sparring room. Weapons were haphazardly tossed about, training dummies reflecting a history of brutal damage.

 "Baby?" The man stood in the center of the room, his eyes looking around for any sign of his partner. Just as he turned to leave Rakan was met with a childlike giggle that drifted through the darkness. Instinctively Rakan felt his hands ball into fists of rage. "Zoe, what are you doing here?" There was a deep disdain in Rakan's voice as he looked around for the child.

 "Ohhh, Rakannn. That's no way to talk to someone who saved your life," a sickly sweet voice chimed.

 A bright purple ball of light appeared, illuminating the room brightly and casting long shadows from the targets up the walls. Rakan's lips turned up in a grimace as his eyes met the cynical face of Zoe. Perhaps at one time Zoe was just an ordinary child, but now she was a creature twisted in darkness, her moon-like eyes reflecting irises of different colors that gleamed with madness. The ruffled purple dress she wore fluttered mutely in the air.

 "You're the one that killed me to begin with," Rakan said with venom.

 "And I gave it back. That makes you mine-," Zoe said with a grin. "You and your feathery mate."

 Rakan felt a dark rage inside him surge, a growl rumbling through his chest. His mind raced, urging him to do unspeakably horrible things to his captor. Destroy the child, Vastayan. For Xayah. For your people. For the realm. The whispers continued but Rakan ignored them, instead moving towards the exit. Rakan was sick of Zoe and her twisted games, he would get Xayah out of this place, take her home, remind her of the beautiful, wild magic there. Maybe- if he could just get away...

 Zoe appeared in front of Rakan, blocking his exit with her small, floating frame as she met his eyes. A huff came from Zoe as her nostrils flared, arms crossed and looking as though she were the very picture of a child not getting their way.

 "There is nothing you can do, Rakan," the girl said, her face twisting into a smile as though to taunt him. "I've got my hooks deep in Xayah and soon-," Zoe hovered a finger just above Rakan's heart before pressing against his skin there which let out a bright burst dark purple and black energy. "Soon, they'll be deep within you. I can already sense the darkness spreading there. Give in to the whispers, Rakan. They'll set you free-," Zoe began but was interrupted by a hard slap of Rakan's hand.

 "Don't touch me," Rakan snapped, his eyes burning furiously. "I will leave this place with Xayah. I will get her out. Even if it kills me... again."

 Zoe giggled at this exchange, the sound sinister.

 "Oh, it will kill you," Zoe spun around in the air and began to float away. "And I'll make sure it hurts extra bad the second time around."

 Rakan exited the room, the door slamming harshly as Zoe continued to float around the sparring room.

 "Your old magic is fading more and more each day," the young girl said, her tone both pleased and satisfied. "He can't even sense you anymore. How wonderful!"

 Xayah stepped from the shadows, her face looking crestfallen for a moment as anger began to shape her features. An occurrence that was beginning to happen more and more often.

 "He's holding on so hard," Xayah said, a trace of admiration drowned in the annoyance. "You're pressing him too hard though," she said looking over at Zoe. "He needs time to realize I don't need saving."

 Zoe shrugged, holding up her hands as she rolled around in the air.

 "The sooner he joins us, the sooner we can make our move," Zoe said impatiently. "You know how he doesn't like to be kept waiting."

 "I know that," Xayah said, flicking her wrist and summoning a feather as she played with it. "But-," and with a flash Xayah released the feather at Zoe, the object piercing the young girl's violet dress and pinning her to a nearby column, "if a single square inch of Rakan is hurt," Xayah moved effortlessly towards Zoe who looked on in surprise. "It will be you who dies this time, Zoe. Not him."