Blood Blades

Faeri and Ari

     Damn...my adrenaline is pumping, aura eking out from under the veil. My demon is humming, Karuma thought. Get it under control, half demon...Geez...the elves would definitely notice if her aura was fully unleashed. Gotta be stealthy...she took a deep breath, then another.
Sesshomaru's head bent as he brought his fur up around them, shielding them from everyone around them with a wall of fur. "Look at me, woman." She swallowed and looked up at him. "Calm down, Karuma, lest your aura give us away." His right hand reached up and cupped her cheek, tipping her head back, while his other arm pulled her in closer. His eyes were intense as he tried to read her inner struggles that she was having a really hard time hiding.
"The demon has grown stronger, Sesshomaru. It is difficult for me to keep under control...like that tear earlier when my Soul Solution escaped. The demon senses the tension...and wants to fight, it calls for blood and revenge with hunger and lust. Needless to say is that my demon side is pissed and fed up with running...from anything. That dragon is next." She growled, shaking a bit. Sesshomaru's eyes widened as he sensed her aura slipping out more.
"Dammit, Karuma, focus. Breathe." Right...she took a couple more deep breaths, listening to the elves preparing for their mission. Himitsu helping the council to explain the plan to the rest of the elves. Her brother knew she needed time. The tension was thick in the air, causing her demon to react. She still shook...and her scent barrier became more difficult to hold. Not good...
"Shh...easy, sweetheart." His lips brushed hers, shocking her system.
"Do that again, Sesshomaru." She sighed, leaning back further and letting her eyes slip closed. He was helping to calm her insides, with a mere touch of his lips. His head lowered, his lips touching hers softly. Her aura settled as the kiss deepened. He nibbled at her bottom lip, then ran his tongue softly across it. Karuma let out a whimper as he lifted his head, opening her eyes to his heated gaze.
"It's good to know that my kiss calms you, princess, but it has the exact opposite effect on myself. If I continue, you will be the only one to calm me, beautiful." She chuckled at the thought.
   "You think anyone would notice if we slipped away, baby?" She responded, tilting her head to kiss his neck as she nuzzled into him. He groaned, but chuckled.
   "Unfortunately yes, they might miss their princess. You are needed to lead them after all."
   "Himitsu seems to be doing just fine...but I suppose they do need me for the Serenade." She ran her lips across his skin again.
   "Karuma..." he warned, groaning once more. "You must stop now, wench, because my instinct to take you far outweighs the importance of our current situation. I have little control left in me to deny those instincts anymore."
"Boy, do I know that feeling. It hurts deep down in my belly denying those cravings. I am having a very difficult time myself." She leaned forward with a sigh. "Other than being highly turned on, I think I am okay, for now...but, and this is a big but, once everyone is ready to march, it will probably return full force. The excited energy flowing around us, permeates the air with a stench I can almost taste. Fear and adrenaline, a strong concoction indeed."
"Do you need air, Karuma? Your brother seems capable of rallying your forces. We can inform Caladis, then I shall take you out of this dank hole. A goddess does not belong underground in the dark." He said with a smirk to the edge of his lips.
Aww...he is so thoughtful. She smiled softly up at him. "That sounds wonderful, love. Yes, get me outta here."
Nodding, he dropped his fur to many eyes staring at them, among her companions and the elves as well. Her aura rising had definitely drawn attention. Caladis walked away from Himitsu and the council, approaching them and kneeling in front of her.
"Karuma? Are you alright, princess? Your aura just now...was intense to say the least."
"I shall endure, Cal. A bit of fresh air may help. May I go above while you and Himitsu rally the elves?"
"Absolutely, my Lady. You should bring a guard with you though."
She chuckled lightly. "But I already have the perfect guard, my friend." Sesshomaru growled lightly in approval. "And nothing gets past our noses, elf. I promise not to go far, okay?"
    He looked like he wanted to argue, worried on her behalf. Sesshomaru spoke up, reassuring the elf. "Do you honestly think I will let any harm befall her, elf? What do you take me for, a gentle lap dog!?" His eyes flashed red as his own aura rose a bit stronger.
    Caladis' eyes grew wide. "Damn...no, I guess not, demon. She is definitely safe in your capable hands. Just keep alert, we shall join you shortly, after everyone is prepared."
    Sesshomaru nodded, calming himself once more. He held his hand out to help her rise. "Come, princess." She smiled, taking his hand and pulling herself up. He rose to his feet beside her. Ah-Un lifted their heads as she stood up, letting out a gentle 'chuff', Kieru laying up against their side once more.
"Stay here and keep an eye on the pup boys, please? You can bring her above when everyone is ready." They 'chuffed' low once more and nodded their heads at her. Karuma bent down to their faces and wrapped her hands around both heads, bringing them closer together along the sides of both her cheeks. "Thank you, loves. Be calm, you two march beside me soon once more. We shall dance together...perhaps show our Lord what we can really do, eh?" Their eyes shown bright yellow, almost glowing, a tremor running through their body as both heads rose up above hers, noses angled up, their mouths opened wide and each head released an ear piercing "Roar!!" that echoed inside the large cavern, causing many to jump in fear, reaching for their weapons.
Ohh, yes, loves! They are ready, Karuma thought, her ears ringing and a fanged toothed grin on her face.
"Wow! Is Ah-Un okay?" Kieru asked, a bit shaken as she leaned forward and rubbed her offended ears. Many eyes were turned to them once more.
"They are just excited, is all, Kieru." Karuma answered, stepping away from Ah-Un and petting their snouts affectionately. She winked at the beast. "Keep an eye on them for me, Kieru? I am going above to get some air, pup...you can ride them out when everyone is ready."
The pup couldn't possibly beam brighter as Karuma looked toward her. Karuma was glad she had asked, as it must seem a huge responsibility to Kieru, and she was proud Karuma trusted her to do it. "Yes!! I'll keep an eye on them for you, Karuma! The elves are all gonna stare again. Can Lingul maybe ride with us too? He really likes Ah-Un...and it would make the other elves so jealous!"
Karuma chuckled softly. "Well, what do ya think, Ah-Un? Is that okay?" The beast 'chuffed' again and nodded their heads. "Yup, that's acceptable, Kieru, guess Ah-Un likes Lingul too. I'll see you guys in a little bit." She turned back to Sesshomaru, a gleam to her eyes. He held his arm out to her, she wrapped around him then they made their way to the tunnel, many eyes watching them leave. Those close bowed their heads to her and murmured "my Lady" as they walked by, making her uncomfortable. Finally, they made it to the door, stepping into the dark tunnel.
Her pent up breath came out in a loud exhale. The tunnel still held the scents, but not nearly as strong. Sesshomaru almost immediately dropped her arm and swooped down, lifting her up in his arms, making her laugh out due to her fluttering belly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him as he continued walking. "Yes, love, that's much better." She spoke softly to him with a smile.
"Hmm," he nodded, pulling her in tighter. "You did amazing tonight, princess. Your parents would be proud. Those elves respect and almost fear you it seems. As they should. They all know you could've easily slaughtered them after they fell under your spell, but instead got woken up to laughter and good spirits. I'm sure most of them believe demons to be evil, but you showed them just how wrong they are. They fear you because they do not understand you, but I have a strong suspicion that that fear will soon turn to love, as it does with everyone you share yourself with."
    "Thank you, love. I know one elf who should fear me though. Death comes on white wings for that twisted dictator." She had a vision of Hitler flash through her mind. Clean cut lines between the races indeed. She pitied all the slaves made to dwell within the castle walls, and that strengthened her resolve. She would free them all.
"Easy, sweetheart. You don't need to work yourself up again. I can feel you tremble, Karuma. Be calm, beautiful." Right...yes, calm. She leaned in and rested her head on his fur, taking a deep breath and letting out a sigh, breathing his scent in, she calmed herself and closed her eyes. His soft humming could be heard down the tunnel as he walked.
"Oh yes, baby. That helps immensely...do not stop." Her mind blanked as she snuggled closer to his neck to hear him better. His warmth and voice combined was a soothing balm to her fried nerves. It seemed so natural as her voice joined him, two spheres rose into the air, floating beside them...violin and flute. The sound soft and beautiful, amplifying in the dark tunnel, lighting the walls as he walked. Neither sang, but them simply humming together with the music was mesmerizing, hypnotic, and sooo comforting.
     Karuma forgot where she was, getting lost in the sound, gently swaying in his arms, eyes still closed, content on the threshold of war.
     Not realizing that they were getting closer to the end of the tunnel, and that Sesshomaru had stopped walking, his voice dropped off, making her eyes open to his soft, golden gaze staring at her intensely as she still hummed. Her voice slowly quieted, though she kept the music still playing. Her heartbeat sped up, her lips parting as she rolled her tongue out to lick them. He started breathing faster as he watched her, staring at her mouth now with a hungry growl. Guess it's not just my scent that attracts him, considering I have my barrier up...
His next words confirmed her thoughts. "Gods you are irresistible, woman. It's amazing how you can make me forget the world around us. Harsh reality pales in comparison to what I feel surrounded by your magic, Goddess." She smiled softly at him, a slight blush to her cheeks. Another growl rumbled through him as his lips crashed down on hers, devouring her in their intensity. His fangs grazed her bottom lip, drawing a trickle of blood that he lapped up hungrily, her blood scent rising out from her barrier...blood and tears escaped her scent shield when they flowed...and if she got turned on enough to the point of dripping, so they had to stop soon, or they wouldn't be able to...This was her thought anyhow, as she opened up for him.
His tongue invaded and whipped around her mouth and tongue, tasting every inch and causing her to moan into his mouth as she practically melted into him, scraping their armor together yet again as her arms tightened around him. Hearing their armor scrape, he groaned and ripped his mouth away, resting his forehead on hers, his eyes closed and panting heavily.
"Damn, wench...this is getting out of hand. Even without your scent, my control is reaching it's limit." His eyes opened, burning into hers as he lifted his head. "You are my greatest treasure and biggest weakness, Karuma." Truer words were never spoken...she agreed with him completely.
"I need air, baby..." a growl left him, she cleared her throat, releasing her spell, the Serenade disappearing, "Let's get outta this tunnel. Put me down, love, so I can remove the sutra." His arms squeezed her tighter as his eyes raked her up and down slowly, possessively.
"I do not want to." Their current problem was solved however as the barrier wall on the door lifted.
"Father is wrong...we are old enough to attend such an important council. I want a chance to see the princess for myself. C'mon, Ari." A young dark elf spoke, standing back to them, but Ari saw them, another young dark elf...maybe early teens?...with liquid silver eyes and silvery white hair flowing loose and unadorned, many piercings along her ears, youth still lingered in her cheeks, her dark skin a bit lighter than that of her companion, high cheekbones and a gorgeous face, a still developing, but beautiful form and grace in a yellow starburst on a dark blue, one piece dress with a long skirt that flowed around her legs...and at the moment her face resembled that of a fish with mouth opening and closing rapidly and eyes wide.
"What the hell is your problem, Ari!? You ain't scared of demons...are...you...?" The other elf trailed off as she turned around, then mimicked her companion like a mirror. Obviously the two were related, closely. This one looked almost just like the other girl...only a bit older and fully developed and wearing a similar styled dress bearing silver flowers on deep green...and very pretty with long silvery white hair that flowed like satin around her, even bearing the silver tattoos, like her father Karuma assumed, if her hunch was correct...and, perhaps old enough to know better than to sneak to an elven council she was specifically told to stay away from. Karuma smiled down at the two reassuringly.
"We are so busted, Faeri. Father is never gonna trust us alone again after this." Ari said in almost a whisper, wide eyed as she stared at them and swallowed hard.
Faeri was quick to regain her composure as she bowed her head. She reached over and pushed down on the back of Ari's head and mumbled, "you're supposed to bow your head, dummy..." she spoke up, addressing Karuma now, "forgive us, my Lady, if we caused any offense, but you really surprised my sister and I. When I said I wanted to have a chance to see you, I didn't think it would happen as I turned around."
Sesshomaru smirked at her, then reluctantly set her to her feet. She turned to the two young elves, standing in front of him so they wouldn't be intimidated. "Alright, c'mon quit the bowing you two. I've had quite enough of that tonight." They both stood up slowly with a surprised look. She stepped a bit closer to them and leaned in, smiling brightly and flashing a fang. "Want a good look you two? Sure you ain't afraid of...demons!?" At that, Sesshomaru burst out laughing...watching their eyes get huge and their mouths drop once more.
      Ari answered, quite taken off guard. "Wow...you are nothing like I expected...and, no, I am not scared of you...maybe him..." she mumbled, eyeballing Sesshomaru, "But I also didn't expect to hear a demon laugh either...like ever. Makes it difficult to be scared of him, I guess..."
    Faeri rolled her eyes. "Please forgive my sister. She tends to ramble when she's nervous."
    "And you tend to apologize for no reason when you're nervous, am I correct?" Karuma said with a bit of sass, and hitting the nail on the head it seemed, because Ari started laughing hysterically as Faeri's composure slipped.
    A sniff confirmed she was correct about their father, his scent lingered on them and they both smelled similar to him. She smiled softly at them both. "Imri must have his hands full with you two beauties. I am curious, do only the first borns bear the tattoos? Are you next in line to lead the drow?"
    Faeri's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "How did you know who we were if you did not know that? And, yes I am. You are very perceptive, my Lady."
    "Your scent tells me a lot, Faeri. I can smell Imri on you, and both your scents are similar to him. Offspring always smell similar to their parents I have found, even if they are not raised by them. Strange, huh?"
    Ari actually sniffed herself, making Karuma chuckle, raising her arm to her nose to smell it, then shrugged. "All I smell is my soap. Is your nose really that good?...I mean, I know you are half demon, but that seems like something only a full demon could do."
Sesshomaru scoffed, answering Ari's question. "I am a full blooded Inu, and her sense of smell is better than mine, elf. Do not underestimate your princess. Her powers are phenomenal." Karuma's cheeks turned pink at his compliment, but her tail wagged, drawing the girls' attention.
"Father wasn't kidding when he said you had a tail! Kinda makes it hard to hide when you are happy though, huh?" Ari asked, grinning.
"Ari!..."
"It's okay, Faeri...Young one, I shall answer your question with a question. Why on earth would I want to hide my happiness? I have toiled hard all my life to be happy, and now that I am, the last thing I want to do is hide it."
Ari smirked in confusion, shaking her head and mumbling almost to herself. "When I think about demons, I honestly don't picture happy..."
Karuma couldn't help it as she burst out laughing, saying between laughs, "Perhaps my comrades and I will have to change your perspective on demons, Ari."
"Speaking of your comrades...are you two the only ones here? I didn't think to find you here at all, obviously. And I shouldn't ask this, but how did the council turn out? Are we actually gonna follow you, princess?" Faeri's curiosity got the better of her.
This elf...she seems close to my age, which is still pretty young to an elf. Hmm...If things had been different, they may have grown up together. "Can you answer me first? How old are you, Faeri?...and please, call me Karuma. Your father does."
Surprise passed over her features once more. "I am seventeen, my sister is fourteen, well almost fifteen...and we have been training many years already in battle and tactics. Father said if the outcome of this meeting recognized you as heir, it would most likely lead to war with Kanastus and that he didn't want us involved. Dammit, I'm sick of being treated like a child. I think we are ready to be of some help at least."
"What about your mother? I'm sure she would have something to say on the matter." Should be with her daughters...
"I wouldn't know. She is a slave at the castle." Oh shit...my foot tastes awful. I knew about Imri's mother and sister...but his wife too!?...damn.
"Crap, I'm sorry, Faeri. I will tell you this though, if everything goes as planned, you will be reunited with your mother by tomorrow's sun. That should tell you the outcome of the council. And I will see what I can do so you can be involved more, after all, my youngest cousin is helping me, and she is about Ari's age. But, I also understand why your father doesn't want you involved...after all he has had taken from him already. He doesn't want to lose you two as well."
    "I understand too, my La...Karuma. But it was also our family that was taken as well, not just Father's. We have every right to fight for them...just as Father and our uncle does. I feel so useless just sitting here waiting for the world to change for me...I want a hand in bringing about that change."
    "And you would drag your sister down with you by defying your father's decree?" Sesshomaru spoke up, but what the girls didn't know is that Sesshomaru respected backbone, and defying their father for something they strongly believed in fell into the whole backbone thing. No...they thought he was reprimanding them.
    "It was my own choice, demon. I am old enough to help. I trained right along with my sister, and I ain't no pushover, if I do say so myself..." Ari visibly swallowed, contradicting her next words a bit. "I'm not scared."
"Huh...clearly not." Sesshomaru looked down at Ari with a chuckle, then back to her. "What shall we do about these two, princess? Have them locked up?" Both girls sucked in their breaths quickly, their eyes going wide.
Karuma tried not to laugh, a snicker slipping through, shaking her shoulders. "No, I think not..." she winked at him, "I do find myself in need of a guide and guard though, while I take the air with you, love. Perhaps someone to show me the cave behind the waterfall? I'm sure it's gorgeous."
Both girls now stood up straighter, happy to volunteer. "We will take you, my Lady! And keep you outta danger!" Ari spoke up happily.
"Ari...Father will find out for sure if we stay with them. We were supposed to remain in our rooms, after all."
"You just let me worry about Imri, Faeri. I wish for company closer to my own age. That stuffy council was way too serious by far."
Ari's laughter rang out. "They're not that much older than you Karuma! But, you're right, they are definitely stuffy! C'mon, we'll show you the cave." With that, they all exited the bar together, laughing like children.