Love's Not Void

Chapter 10:

Sooner than later, they arrived at a cave-like entrance.

Getting her phone out, she turned it on to use it as a light. She had a 'flashlight' option, which made the light on her phone brighter.

Rai passed her, walking forward with his pride leaking from every inch of his being. Asato followed, eventually leaving Konoe and Kimberly out in the cold.

But even they entered the dark cave.

Standing in front of the altar was exactly whom you thought it was. Kitty's eyes narrowed at the sight of him.

Ugh, here we go.

"Hou-hou, back again?"

"In a manner of speaking," Konoe responded. "But it isn't me who needs help."

Turning, the man's eyes landed on Kimberly.

"Something dark lurks within you..." He stepped closer, and suddenly smiled. "I take it you all know what ails her?"

At least he knew that she was a 'she'.

"Yeah, they know," she budded in. "Here's how it is; I'm cursed. I know that there isn't necessarily a way to break the curse, so can you just tell me what I can do?"

He placed a finger to his chin.

"Perhaps... give me your hands."

She did as he said, and looked into his eyes.

His green pools of, probably, toxic waste seemed to draw her in like a vacuum.

"I'm getting a sense of da-ja-vu," he finally spoke, "Three shadows stand behind you, my dear."

"Devils," Asato questioned.

He only nodded in response.

"They seek your soul...but how strange. I cannot sense a heart-beat."

Rai gave him a skeptical glance.

"What does that mean? She's clearly alive."

"Yes, alive, but living? No."

So basically, she's a walking corpse? That'd make sense. Nobody human can live for 2 thousand years. She'd be dead far before now.

"That's nonsense," the white cat said.

"Actually," she spoke, "it makes perfect sense. Besides, if I'm a zombie, then our worries are over."

Everyone gave her a strange look.

"No life equals no value. I'm basically an empty meal-ticket." She glanced at the man in front of her, whom still held onto her hands. "Right?"

He released her finally, and smiled. "If they were to consume her, they would get no benefit out of it. However, you aren't completely worthless either. A soul is still a soul."

Polish a turd it's still a turd...just a polished one.

"So what do I do about that?"

"I think you know what you must do."

She gave a nod.

"We're going to the four monuments," she huffed.

Konoe looked worried almost immediately.

"Are you sure?"

"What else am I going to do? Sit here with a hand on my ass? Go to Ransen and wait to be eaten or murdered? If the party isn't gonna come to me, I'll go to the party."

'And I'm VIP, bitch,' she wanted to add.

Turning, she waved at the creepy shaman.

"Thanks, I guess."

He waved as well.

Okay, so maybe this wasn't a complete waste of time. She found out that she may have a shot in the dark, if she plays her cards right. She finds it hard to believe that these devils will simply give up on her.

That will be the second biggest mistake of their pathetic existences. The first was choosing her.