Blood Tainted Rose

Chapter Eight: Wolves Cry

    Ryker was engulfed in the darkness of Than. He knew that he was better than he fought, he knew the power that this demon had could be his down fall, but why did he lose so quickly to this shadow? In truth he knew better than to let distractions get in his way, but Lotus was there with her head about to be cut off and what was he supposed to do? Lotus was a distraction that led him to this. Ryker knew better than anyone else not to let distractions influence your fighting style or how you look at your enemy. Yet there were none for the demon until now.

     Now he paid for what he had done. Letting someone into his heart allowed a weakness to enter. He was better than this. Ryker knew he was.

     Opening his eyes he knew that this shadow still consumed him and he was scared. Images of horrifying this flashed right in front of his eyes. Images of people dying left and right. Awful images. Then came the worst one of them all, the lifeless body of his father slain during a battle. Without even realizing it he screamed so loud it sent shivers down his spine. As the shadow receded he looked at Lotus. She looked just as terrified. This was her first time witnessing Than’s ability to attack his prey. This girl was terrified of it all. Ryker looked up at the edge of the forest trees, tears coming down. He didn’t mean for them to happen, they just did. Along with his nervous twitching. It wasn’t that he meant to do all those things; he just did them, almost natural even. He tried to curl up to hide from everything, but Ryker couldn’t or wouldn’t move. For fear that Lotus would think of him any lesser.

     Than walked over to him smiling like he had some kind victory towards Ryker. Leaning down he began to speak into Ryker’s ear. “I’ll kill that little, one day. And you will watch.” Ryker looked up at him with such hatred. He knew Lotus didn’t hear what he just threatened, but he didn’t want to say anything to make her worry. He smiled, “good luck then.” His smiled turned into a frown. This meant he was ready for the kill. Done playing with his food, ready for the kill. A sharp shooting pain came through him, coming close to his heart. Ryker wanted to scream with pain, but he didn’t. The shock of blade was too much. He might die; this might be it for him. Soon the darkness began to creep around the woods. The world around him began to go dark. This was a different darkness though. Than had gotten into his head somehow and was showing horrifying images. No. It wasn’t Than at all. It was his powers still in his head. It was awful seeing those images. The image of his dead mother’s body in the garden filled him with horror. That was the one thing he remembered from his childhood.

     Than had told him that she was killed by a human servant, but Ryker didn’t believe that for a minute. Everyone loved his mother because she kind. Everyone. He knew someone else killed her and that someone was within those walls. It was after a few months after his mother’s death he wanted to find that out. He wanted to know who killed his mother.

  Ryker was just about eight when he was living on his own. His old home were empty and sad. The only thing that remained of his mother was her clothes and pictures. The only things that remained of his father were his clothes and pictures. The clothes still smelled like they were still around holding him close. He often missed the smells of baked goods that his mother made. All of his found memories were gone. He wanted to know the truth behind both his parent’s death. No. He needed to know.

     Walking out of his house he went to where Than live, who was put in charge of Ryker. He noticed the window was open just a crack. He thought nothing of it until he heard a woman’s voice. Peering in he saw Than sitting down drinking some tea with a woman he had never seen before. She didn’t look human, nor demon. Almost like she didn’t belong in his country at all. She was stunning though. High cheekbones and light skin. Her eyes were this orange color and she had long white hair that was pulled up in a messy bun. The clothes she wore were almost like royalty, a black dress with red around the edges. Whoever this woman was, she was not to be trusted.

    Than suddenly spoke to the woman. “How was your trip here?” he asked staring at the woman. She seemed cold and distant. “Any trouble?”

    “Yes,” said the woman looking straight at him. “There wasn’t any way to get here other than flight. Ever since this war has started the other countries have just abandoned it. When will this war end?”

    “In time,” said Than calmly. He was so easy to talk to it was scary. No matter what situation he was in he would talk calmly. “This war is still just beginning. Now did you get what I asked for or not?”

     Handing him over it was a red gem. Ryker felt like he had seen this somewhere before, but couldn’t place his finger on it. “How did the last one brake in the first in the first place?”

     “My students mother broke it,” he said looking at it. “But now she is out of the way. I ensured that myself.” Ryker’s whole world came crashing down as he heard what came out of his mouth next.

    “And what about the father? You know it will only work if he has no family.”

    “I killed his family,” said Than. “No nothing will stop our plans. Nothing.”

   The woman looked out towards the window. “Then your weapon will escape.” She pointed towards the window, smiling a little. Than noticed a boy with large scared green eyes. He had heard it all. Ryker turned around and began to run. Than went after him running faster Than. Ryker didn’t know what to do to escape his teacher. He was stronger than him and faster. If he caught him who knows what he would do to the poor boy.

    Ryker tripped and fell on the ground. Than came right at him, rage in his eyes. He was going to die. The young boy remembered he had a knife in a sheaf. Than came over him extending his hand to fallow him back. Ryker refused, then of course Than had to use force. Shadows came around him fast. He didn’t want to return back with him. He didn’t want to be controlled by those people. Taking out his knife he attacked Than. Jumping he managed to cut his eye. He let out a scream of a pain with blood gushing out from his wound. Ryker quickly ran away into the woods. From there he stripped and transformed into his Full Form. Running through the woods he came to stop. Turning back into his normal form he put on his clothes. He took in his surroundings. The woods were different, the air different. Ryker knew he was nowhere far enough away from Ryoku.

    Walking he tripped on his feet out of pure exhaustion, falling into more darkness. Now he was no longer a child, but back to the way he was before. This time the terrifying world he was in was darkness all around. Standing in the middle of it was Lotus. She looked like she had been fighting for days. The girl looked over at him and smiled. Just as he began to walk in the direction of her a sword went through her body. Kern was the one holding the blade in his hand. Tearing it out blood came rushing out covering her. Ryker desperately tried to come to her rescue, but it was too late. She fell to the ground. Dead. Lifeless. He had failed to protect what he loved. Now that flower lie dead. Lifeless.

  He soon became very depressed about what he saw. There was no reason to keep fighting if she was no longer alive. There was no reason to even live if se wasn’t alive.

  He woke up a little groggy from his nightmares, everything going crazy in his mind. As he woke up a little he felt some warmth beside that he wasn’t expecting. It was Lotus curled up beside him. She looked so small when she slept. He noticed her red eyes open. He smiled with relief knowing that she would be safe for another day. But for how long would it stay that way? He loved her more than she would ever know. Yet he could never tell her how she felt. Lotus was the moon and Ryker was the poor sap watching it. Night after night, always watching. Never touching.

    This is why I must protect her, thought Ryker closing his eyes for a night of night horrors. To protect my beautiful flower from ever wilting. Falling asleep he awaited what horrors Than had planned. He knew none of them were going to be pretty, but as long as Lotus stayed by his side everything would be safe.

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Anyways this is a little look into the past of Ryker. So this is just the start to understand Ryker and Jiro. Thank you again for reading! Also don't forget to rate, coment, and vote! See you guys in two weeks.