Arcanum

Chapter 4: Aiyana

I approached the boy with the black hair, and kept my calm as I walked up to the bars. The boy looked up at him with a tired expression, but I could tell he was shocked on why I was visiting him. I stared down at the boy, and examined his appearance. He was very masculine looking, and handsome with spiky black hair, and red eyes. His appearance was all to familiar though. Then I realized who he was. It was Lukas, the General of the human army. I instantly lost my calm, and threw myself up against the bars,

"I could kill you right here and now." I hissed, and drew a machete from under my skirt. The boy glared at me, and I pulled out the key, and unlocked the cell. I then closed it behind me before he could escape. Lukas darted for my waist, but I dodged him, using my legs to sweep the general out from under his feet. The black haired guy landed with a thump, and I pinned him to the floor, snarling in his face, "do you know how many of my kind you have killed!" I screamed in his face. Lukas suddenly pushed me off him with his strong arms, and threw me up against the wall. He then pulled out his kunai, and I transformed into a lioness and pounced on the boy. Then, I opened my jaw, and was about to kill him, when someone shouted my name. I instantly spun around to see one of our best knights standing there.

"Princess, I know what he has done to us, but think what we could do if we kept him here. I'm sure someone from the Kingdom would come looking for him. We could even blackmail the King." He explained, and I nodded, transforming back to my normal form. I then looked back at Lukas, and glared,

"After this is over, I'll make sure your dead." I whispered, and then spun on my heels, and walked out of the jail cell.

---

"Hey, I heard about last night. How are you feeling?" The brown haired Kyrin came up beside me, and placed a hand on my shoulder. I looked over at him, and examined his large wings,

"Okay. Still a bit shaken up." I said, and scratched my neck. Kyrin moved his hand overtop of mine,

"I'm here if you need me." He gave me a caring smile,

"Thanks." I then moved my hand, and clutched the boy's hand in my own. Kyrin had always been a good friend to me, but we both knew we wanted to be more than that.

"I swear I'll murder that Lukas if I get a hand on him." He snarled, and I gently nodded, and squeezed his warm hand.

"Princess!" A guard called out and came running toward us. I looked around my shoulder at him, and rose to my feet, "Lukas has escaped. We sent a few Knights after him." He explained.

"Ok, thanks." I patted the guard's back and then jogged to my house. I rushed into my bedroom, and pulled a black cloak over my outfit, making sure my machetes were still present on the way out. Charlene walked toward me, but I just ignored her as I rushed to the stables.

"Aiyana, where are you going?" She asked me, as I saddled up a horse and leaped onto their back,

"Out." I replied, and kicked the horse into a gallop out of the stable. I urged my horse to go faster as we bolted through the trees, and my eyes scanned through the jungle, inspecting everything I past. Lukas was nowhere in sight, but I still continued on.

It had been almost five hours of riding, and even though it was the late evening, I noticed the human town of Birchdale was coming up. I pulled the hood of my black cloak over my head, and slipped off my horse. There was no turning back until I found Lukas, and wether I killed him or not was for me to decide. I cautiously snuck into the village, hiding behind buildings every time I saw a villager passing by. There were so many guards outside of the castle, but after being a Catori, you know how to hide. I transformed into a house cat, and carefully snuck past the guards, while hiding in the shadows.

When I prowled into the castle, I noticed the Princess walking across the hallway. I let out a low snarl as I stared at her. The Princess of this kingdom enraged me. She did nothing to help her kingdom, and just cared about whether she had pretty dresses or not.

"Aw, what an adorable cat!" She giggled and looked at me, her light blonde curls bouncing as she did so. The Princess than walked toward me, and picked me up from the ground. I wanted to bite and claw her, but I knew this could be my chance to finding the General,

"Oh, hello Lukas." The princess smiled widely, and turned around. I looked ahead of us to see Lukas walking into the castle, a hand on his forehead. He grumbled a hello, and then suddenly looked up when he noticed me,

"When did you get a cat?" He asked, a cautious tone in his voice,

"I found her, isn't she adorable!" The Princess squealed, and tickled my chin. I tried very hard not to hiss at her.

"Wait." Lukas approached, and the Princess placed me into his arms,

"Please bring her back soon!" I heard the Princess call out as Lukas brought me up the stairs, and into a room. I assumed it was his. He placed me down on the bed, and then climbed above me,

"You have five seconds to transform." Lukas snarled at me, and I let out a confused meow, "listen, I know it's you. Princess Aiyana." He said. I growled, and then transformed back into my normal form, knowing my cover was blown. Lukas pulled me up, and held my wrists together with his hands. He then dragged me out into the hallway, and I tried to fight him but I realized it was no use. Lukas stayed emotionless as he lead me into the jail, and pushed me into a jail cell. Before he left, I went up against the bars,

"You're going to pay for all you've done, General." I growled.