The Cursed Ones

Chapter Three

          After helping me move Isamo to our guest bedroom, Suzoko settled into Hanako's room while Hanako settled into my room. Which left me taking care of Isamo. Kuma had volunteered to do the job but despite having the ability to do everything, she wasn't the best with dealing the sick and injured. So with Suzoko agreeing to cover my shift for the next day, I agreed to take the responsibility.
           He had begun to get a but feverish but it wasn't anything too bad. I placed a cold rag on his forehead to cool off the fever a bit. Being a cursed one like us, he would heal faster than most people. Still, fresh air would do him good.
           I pulled back the curtains to let the cool summer night air in. It felt nice in the unused stuffy room. I went to the cot Kuma had set up for me and I sat down on it. Despite of today's events, I wasn't tired. If anything I was anxious. Lunara hasn't called on me for nearly two weeks now. Normally I was called upon at least twice a week. After all the king had plenty of enemies.
With Isamo sound asleep, I lit a candle so I could write. I had been inspired but inspiration fled me. So I stared out the window waiting for it to return. But nothing came. At least nothing inspirational. Lunara has finally come to call on me.
           It wasn't that I was eager for her coming but I wasn't sure what was worse. What the king would ask of me or what won't. If he asked something of me I knew he considered me to be on his side. If he didn't...he might decide to get rid of what he no long found necessary. Usually he got rid of their existence. I took the parchment from her claws almost afraid to read it.
          He still found me useful. Which means he had no reason to see Hanako as useful and try and take her away. It meant he couldn't figure out that Hanako could no longer be useful to him. And the. He would get rid of her. Permanently.
          You have been summoned. That's all it said. No more. No less. Suddenly I was more terrified than I was earlier. Now I knew something was definitely wrong. Silent as a ghost, I crept up into my room. Inside, Hanako was completely sound asleep. I moved to the closet and tried to quickly grab my change of clothes and boots. I changed in the bathroom, setting my clothes into the guest bedroom chair before sneaking out into the night.
          I sticked to the shadows as I made my way all across town. Carefully I avoided the Guards. The didn't know about me. No one but the king and his most trusted knew about me. When I reached the wall gate into the Capitol I moved into some of the tress that surrounds the huge walls. Behind one of the bushes was a small opening. Just large enough for me to squeeze through. I listened carefully before pushing the bush out of the other side. I covered my tracks after passing through and returned to the shadows. It was a bit difficult making my way to the king's castle. He had a lot of Imperial Guards surrounding him.
          Still, with the demon blood in me sneaking around them wasn't impossible. I took a lot of back entrances moving quickly, dodging the security, and servants, until I found myself in the king's chamber.
           I wasn't exactly easily frightened but no place was more frightening than his chambers. Here he could do anything he wanted to me and no one would stop him. Here I was defenseless. But if it meant my sister would stay safe then I would take the risk as many times as I have to. I stood at attention as the king sat in his chair, calmly drinking his tea.
          He had me wait until he finished it and I stayed perfectly still as he did. Finally he acknowledged me. "Miyuki. It's been awhile. You see, I have been waiting because I have a specific request. I have heard rumors of a betrayer in my own court. We don't know who it is but they already had an attempt at my life. They had made it past my guards. The best of the best. They had worked poison into my wine and if my new drink tester hadn't drank from it first, I wouldn't be here right now."
          I hid my interest. I had to wonder who would be brave enough to attempt such a thing. Making an enemy of the king was unwise. "There has been rumors of a second attempt coming tomorrow night. We don't know if it's completely true but I want you to be the one guarding me. Understood?" Not exactly a request but an order however I wouldn't dare trying to call him out on it.
           I nodded. He rarely expected me to actually answer. "Good. You're dismissed for now, return here right after curfew tomorrow." I bowed a prepared to sneak back but he called out again. "One more thing. If you fail, if someone I didn't request even gets two feet near me, you can be assured you and your household will be charged with treason. Now you are dismissed." My throat tightened as I nodded again. Treason meant one of two things. Public execution or private execution. In comparison, public execution was the more merciful of the two.
          Never had I wanted a person more dead than I have before. If the king's main advisor hadn't told the king about myself and my sister, I wouldn't have to worry about this situation. Failure isn't an option and I couldn't afford any mistakes tomorrow. If I failed....well my options were very limited. But I wouldn't let my sister die.