The Venatrix

Chapter Thirty- Malkai

 There is always something so rewarding about watching people improve. In just a week's time these wolves have turned from simple everyday individuals into highly trained soldiers. They will be able to fight alongside us and handle the vampires without any issues..

Nora is the one I am worried about. The longer she works with his powers the more divided she becomes. I always thought Asian languages would be hard to learn and understand. I had to learn quickly. I had to be able to talk Ichika off the ledge. When Ichika appeared, that is. Ichika and Nora are two seperate people trapped in one body. Ichika is stoic and silent. Her face is always blank but her eyes show nothing but sadness. When she talks nothing is positive. She is the true embodiment of depression. Nora is expressive, intelligent, and strong. She is a fighter. She has conquered everything the world has thrown at her and came out on top. His powers are no exception.

"How is she?" Hikaru asked, stepping up beside me. 

"I don't know." I confided. 

"Ichika wasn't always timid. Even after she moved here. We would skype all the time. We would laugh and joke. We even wrote some music together." He said smiling. 

"What changed?" I asked. 

"Shouta's funeral. She found a song that he had started writing hidden in his wallet. She finished it and asked everyone to come together. So it could be performed at his funeral. When we were setting up, I caught a glimpse of Edgar's face. He was pissed but he didn't try to stop us. When it was over he took it out on her. The guys all stepped in to stop him but the damage was done." He said, sighing. 

"I didn't see the video on the laptop." I said not taking my eyes off of Nora.  

"There is only one copy and it's not on that hard drive. That video has more emotion than any video on that laptop. It shows two sides of us. Our best and our worst. That laptop has more evidence on it than the Delta vault. Nobody deserved to be able to hold that moment over us." He said. 

"Do you think if she saw that video it would help her regain a part of who she was before Shouta died?" I asked. 

"I don't know." He said, sighing. 

"Well, I know she is at war with herself. Ichika is terrified while Nora is confident. The longer she messes with his powers the more she seems to split. What if she develops two personalities? What if her mind fractures and she loses her humanity all together?" I asked. I glance over to see that Hikaru is at war with himself. 

"Yame sasete! Make it stop! Yame sasete! Make it stop! Yame sasete! Make it stop!" Ichika started yelling. I flew across the yard and wrapped her up in my arms. She kicked and screamed. I run my fingers through her hair and whisper calming words in her ears. I look up and see Hikaru slowly moving towards us. When her eyes lock on his she relaxes. 

"O mise shitai mono ga arimasu" Hikaru said sitting down beside us.   

"Nani?" She asked. 

"Ichika you are a very strong, sensitive and spirited person. You took a lot of risk knowing that the outcome may not be good for you. Nora is a very tough person who has been hardened by life on the run. She knows her worth. So she understands a different level of love and acceptance than you do. I want you to see how we saw you." He said

I watched as Hikaru muttered some words under his breath and then made a few hand gestures. A small blue screen appeared with a play sign in the middle. When he hit play my jaw hit the floor. Nora and all of Shoutas band mates stood in front of his picture dressed to the nines wearing all black. Their instruments are proudly on display. The only person who was actually looking at the camera was my mate. She couldn't have been older than eight but she looked fierce. Her head is held high. Her chin is jutted out in defiance but her eyes are full of sorrow. I've watched video after video of her singing and her voice is amazing. She could have easily won one of those singing shows. This was different. This song was pure emotion not only from her but from his friends too. Then she screamed and the music stopped. Then men all looked at her with concern. After she took a few deep breaths she started singing again. When the song ended she looked up and tears were streaming down her face. Then you see Edgar pull her off stage and the video ends. 

When I finally look at my mate her head is down. Her body is shaking. Her fists are clenched tightly together. then  I watch her places both of her hands on the ground. A feral snarl escapes her lips and the ground starts to shake. Hikaru looks at me with eyes full of panic. I look at him and implore him to be quiet and remain still. He knows more than anyone that the demon's powers could kill us all. None of us know the exact amount of power that he has shared with her.  Which is an even bigger reason to be cautious.

Cracks appear and smoke fills the air. Fire erupts from them. My body jerks at the sight. Fire provides vampires with a quick but painful death. I really don't want to die today. Then the fire was gone. A fast moving crackling sound fills the air. The cracks have been filled with ice. Then fire again and just as quickly ice.   

When I take my eyes off the scene in front of me and look at my mate I am in awe. Her posture is relaxed. Half of her apple red hair is now midnight black. When her eyes met mine I saw that one of her eyes was no longer red. It is jet black with no white sclera in sight. Her face is no longer pained. It is serene. Maybe a reminder of who she once was is what she needed. She slowly stands up and turns to face us. Then she bows. 

"I'm sorry. I haven't been myself. I know I have caused everyone here pain." She said still bowing. 

"What happened Nora?" I asked. 

"Kostchtchie is the demon lord of wrath and fury. He has a crap ton of abilities but his strongest powers are fire and ice. Everytime I would try to use one or the other, all I felt was pain. It's like being burned from the inside out. Even when I stopped all I would see is something that onced caused me pain. No matter if it was from my past or now in the present. Edgar would beat me if I spoke Japanese. The faces of disappointment. Watching my dad die. The pain of being bitten by a wolf on one of my first jobs. The agony I felt when I became a vampire. It was just all too much." She said 

"Nora no one is going to be disappointed in you if you can't master this. I would say you're only human but you're not a vampire. We still have human emotions and you have a lot on your plate. It's okay." I said smiling. 

"I just don't want to hurt anyone in the process." She said, 

"I won't let you hurt anyone that doesn't deserve it." I said. 

"I love you Malkai." She said flashing me a smile showing off her jagged teeth. 

"I love you too Nora and we are going to win this war." I said pulling her to me. 

"Yes, yes we are." She said, giving me a quick kiss on the lips.