Chapter One...Shadows

It was silent in the library. A musty scent was draped over the rows of shelves, smelling like death itself. The eerie creaking of the gnarled old oak trees outside the window echoed through the room; their branches basked in the washed-out blue light of the full moon.

I sat at a small table in the center of the library, a book in my hands, and only a small candle to read by. I poured over the pages, soaking up the black printed words. I was so absorbed that I didn't hear the door groan open.

Suddenly, a cold finger ran down my arm. I froze. The book fell from my hands and clattered to the floor. The finger slowly traveled back up to my shoulder and began to trace the vein at my neck. Another hand brushed my silky black hair aside to expose my neck entirely.

Blood pounding in my ears, I tried to keep my knees from buckling beneath me. But I couldn't breathe. I couldn't even utter a sound. I was petrified. Yet my curiosity was getting the best of me. So I swallowed, and taking a deep breath, fearfully glanced over my shoulder.

Deep, piercing amber eyes gazed back at me. And, sensing my fear, the creature gave a feral grin, revealing a sharp set of fangs. My lips parted in a silent scream, but a hand clapped down over my mouth.

"Shhh..." the creature whispered into my hair. "Shhh...I won't hurt you, my sweet." His voice was like cool water flowing over river stones. I immediately relaxed in his arms and he took his hand away from my mouth. "That's a good girl," he crooned.

Then suddenly I sat up straight. I knew that voice. "Battousai!"

"Yes, Kaoru. I'm pleased that you recognize me."

"Let me go, you snake!" I began to struggle, kicking my legs and trying to wrench myself away.

But he only tightened his grip. "Not in a hundred years." Again he ran his finger along the vein in my neck, sending shivers down my spine. The sick feeling in the pit of my stomach was growing. I was beginning to understand what he had in mind as his eyes feasted on the smooth white flesh of my neck.

"Let me go or I'll-"

"You'll what? Tell your father?" Battousai's eyes glittered dangerously.

Oh, he was good. He knew exactly where my sore spot was. Treating me like a spoiled little Daddy's girl and daring me to tattle and run to my father. "No!" I hissed. "I'll tell Rangor!"

That did it. Battousai instantly released me and backed away. Sniffing indignantly, I retrieved my book and found my place. I began to read again, but I could feel eyes burning into my skull. I furrowed my brow and concentrated harder, but it was no use. Finally I slammed the book shut and looked up.

Battousai was seated across from me, hands folded together on the table and staring at me intently with those haunting amber eyes.

Like many vampires, he was amazingly handsome; with pale, almost translucent skin and shocking red hair. His bangs fell over his golden eyes. Those eyes were intense, focused, and seemed to see right into your soul. But although he was over a hundred years old, Battousai had the body of a twenty-year-old; slim but strong. And hidden beneath his black cloak were two sleek, leathery black wings.

Those wings in flight were a beautiful sight to behold. I remember, when I was twelve, standing on the balcony, leaning far over the edge, watching in awe for the first time as Battousai unfolded his wings and with a shrug of his shoulders soared into the night sky. He knew, however, that he was being watched and quickly landed in the nearby courtyard. But for a few lovely moments, he'd been high above me; his head thrown back and wings outstretched and bathed in the moonlight.

"What are they going to do with you, my sweet?"

I was jolted back to reality. "What do you mean?"

"Such a beauty, such a waste." Battousai replied in his oily voice. "You won't even let me have a little bite."

"I like my blood in my body, thank you. Not in your mouth."

"That's exactly what I'm talking about. So many ache for you, my sweet. So many men would give their lives for you. So many worthless, spineless humans."

"Battousai, is this about Prince Aoshi?" I sighed. "Because if it is..."

"That brat should keep his hands off what belongs to other people. And that boy, Eon, too. And yes, I know," Battousai waved his hand. "You won't marry the worm. You detest the worm. He's as ugly as dirt. But that's an insult to dirt."

My jaw dropped. "H-how..." How could he have possibly heard all those things? I never spoke my thoughts aloud. Except maybe to Rangor, and he wouldn't have told a soul.

A sly smile played at the corners of the vampire's mouth. "Ah, my sweet. The walls have ears."

"You...YOU'VE BEEN SPYING ON ME! YOU UGLY, DISGUSTING, BLOOD-SUCKING CREEP!"

I was on my feet in no time flat and bringing down my hand to slap him. But before my palm connected with his cheek, Battousai caught my wrists in an iron grip. Faster than lightning, he whirled around and pinned me against the wall, keeping my hands above my head. His lips dragged along my collarbone until he discovered a vein and then bared his fangs and prepared to bite down.

I knew what was coming next. Ever since Battousai had arrived at the castle, I knew I'd one day become his prey. We all did. It was an inevitable fact that hung over us like a nasty odor. He was a hungry young vampire, and we were mere humans at his mercy. But he wasn't going to drink my blood. At least not tonight.

Somehow I found my voice. "Battousai, listen to me. Don't do this."

He stared down at me.

"Battousai! Snap out of it! Stop! Right now!" I was starting to panic again. I knew Battousai wouldn't kill me if he drank from me, at least I didn't think so, but it was still terrifying. To have him sink his fangs into my flesh, feasting on my life's blood...

I felt his mouth settle back on my neck. "Please, Battousai," I begged. "Please..."

Just as his fangs broke the skin, Battousai paused. For a moment he stood there, breathing into my neck. Then slowly, his head came up again, and he met my eyes. I could see the bloodlust burning in his gaze. He leaned forward. Our foreheads touched and our breath mingled. And as I watched, the crazed, bloodthirsty look drained from his amber eyes and they gradually faded to deep violet.

"I'm sorry, Kaoru," Battousai murmured. Then he tore himself away from me and disappeared out the window.

Shadows danced as I sank to my knees on the library floor, trembling all over. I couldn't understand it. I considered myself a brave person, yet my encounter with Battousai had sucked all the courage out of me. Vampires tended to do that to people; drain them until nothing was left but a walking corpse...

For years my father, Lord Kamiya, had reigned over the province of Saire, one of the most diversely populated regions of the great kingdom of Tetorasha. Saire was home to many races: elves, mages, vampires, telepathic beings, dwarves, and faeries, just to name a few. Even most humans had traces of other races in them. My father worked diligently to keep peace among the various peoples, and to even more greatly forge bonds of trust and alliance, many of the races sent their children, when they came of age, to our large castle to be taught the arts of magic and self-defense and other useful abilities.

My godfather, Rangor, was a powerful mage, feared and respected by all. He'd been godfather to generations of our family. He was one of the professors at the castle, his specialty being telekinesis. He could read minds and see what had taken place in the past just by being in contact with a relevant object and could also teleport. He was a firm believer in self-control and made sure that the students' inner thoughts and emotions were in check. He kept an especially sharp eye out on Battousai for obvious reasons.

I entered Rangor's study the next day, careful not to let my face or eyes portray what had taken place last evening in the library. He sat at his wide oak desk, massaging his temples with one hand while drumming his fingers on the tabletop with the other. He looked up when I entered.

"Ah, Kaoru. What a pleasant surprise. But I already knew you were coming." Rangor's eyes twinkled.

I forced a laugh. "Of course. You always know."

My godfather suddenly became serious. "Eon missed you yesterday. You were to help him teach swords in the weapons-training hall."

"I'm sorry. But something came up and I was...busy."

He raised an eyebrow. "Really? What was it that had you so occupied?"

"I...um..." I fiddled with a ribbon on my sleeve, my mind rushing to conjure up a believable lie. "I was...in the library. With Battousai."

"Battousai?" Rangor asked, clearly surprised. "And what were you...doing in the library with Battousai?"

This was it. I could either turn in Battousai for attacking me or save his hide. It was tempting to report him, which was the reason I had come, but as the words formed on my lips, I paused. He hadn't actually drunk from me, or really even bitten me. And he had stopped himself, showing signs of some form of self-control.

If I told Rangor that Battousai had attempted to make me his prey, he would have Battousai's wings cut off. And in Battousai's clan, vampires were nothing without their wings. The more beautiful their wings were, the more respected they became. So if he lost his wings, Battousai would be scum in their eyes. Worthless, pitiful scum. And his wings were magnificent. I could never forgive myself if he lost them because of me.

Rangor was still studying me as I made my decision. I knew there was an obvious struggle on my face, and he'd probably already discovered what had happened. But still, Battousai was almost like, well, a friend of sorts to me, no matter how horrifying he was. So finally, I licked my lips and spoke.

"We...he was helping me research the gnomes' current colony in the south. I needed it for a paper on them and their habitats." I said quietly.

We held each other's eyes for a minute, and then Rangor, of all things, smiled. "I'm glad to see that you're finally getting along," he said, obviously pleased. "Battousai, like most vampires, is naturally a lone wolf, but it's important that he communicate with his peers during this time of his life. And you too, Kaoru. Your father is getting concerned because you spend so much of your time behind locked doors."

"If I lock the door no one will bother me and I can finally have some peace," I argued. "And what else am I supposed to do? I help out in the weapons-training hall, shelve books in the library, and help you mix potions-"

"But," Rangor interrupted, "how many friends? Sure, you may have hundreds of acquaintances, but true friends, people that don't see you just as Lady Kaoru, how many of those do you have?"

I thought for a minute. "Two. Eon and Megumi."

"What about Battousai?"

"We're just casual acquaintances," I lied.

The mage folded his arms. "Casual acquaintances? Does he call you by your title, Lady Kaoru?"

"Well no. I mean he does sometimes, but..."

"So that makes three. Three friends out of a castle of hundreds."

"Look, Godfather, I didn't come here to have you lecture me. My father already does it enough. And you know what else? I'm not marrying Prince Aoshi! And if you try to force me, I-I'll kill myself!"

"Kaoru, when did this become about Prince Aoshi?" Rangor's tone was soft and understanding, like a parent patiently instructing a small child.

"It's always been about Prince Aoshi!" I shouted. My knuckles bleached white. My hands clenched into fists at my sides. "Ever since I've been born it's been about him! That ugly, stupid, spineless worm! I was born just to be forced to marry him so that my toad of a father could keep good relations with the King! But I'm never, never going to marry him! Never!"

I stood there panting, glaring at my godfather. Somehow, he became the person to blame for my problems. He could convince my father, use mind-control or something to make them change their minds about this marriage business. But he wouldn't.

Rangor looked thrilled now that he had found the true reason behind my anger, and it only infuriated me more. Using a voice almost as oily as Battousai's, he said, "Have you ever met Prince Aoshi? How do you know that he's an ugly, stupid, spineless worm? Hmm? How do you know he isn't a good-looking, charming gentleman?"

His tone calmed me down a bit, and I regained control. I forced myself to breathe evenly, remembering my training, and concentrated on my center. After a moment I could answer.

"Because. He keeps himself shut up and.…..and all the servants say it's because he's deformed or his mind is messed up! And they say that he's unbelievably cruel and could care less about the people. Godfather," I swallowed the growing lump in my throat, "I don't want to be the wife of some monster."

"But isn't Battousai a monster as well? And aren't Eon and Megumi too? And what about the others, the other creatures in the castle? Aren't they monsters? What makes them different?"

I'd never thought of it that way before. The other races, they were part of life, and I naturally accepted them. I never thought of them as monsters or freaks of nature as some did. I'd been almost bitten by a vampire, yet I still cared enough to save him from a horrible punishment a Rangor's hands. It didn't seem to matter that the people were different, we were all fighting the same battles, all experiencing the same problems. There was a sense of unity among us.

My godfather sighed. "Sleep on it, Kaoru, before giving me an answer. And now I think you need to go visit Eon and apologize for not showing yesterday."

I nodded reluctantly. "Yes, Godfather." Slowly, with my head bowed, I left the study and closed the door behind me.

As I began to turn down the next corridor, I could only think of Prince Aoshi, and see in mind the faces of the servants who whispered the terrible rumors. And then there was Rangor's question. What did make the races at our castle any different from monsters? Maybe they even thought I was a monster, because I wasn't like them.

"Hello, Kaoru."

I was so immersed in my thoughts that I almost jumped a mile high at the voice. Shakily, I turned around.

"Battousai!" I hissed. "What are you doing here!"

The vampire shook out his long crimson mane and ran his fingers through his bangs before answering. "I could ask you the same question."

"But you're not supposed to be out during the day!"

"Just because I'm not supposed to doesn't mean I can't, does it milady?" A smile played at the corner of his mouth. "And aren't you supposed to be somewhere yourself?"

"Oh gods!" I cried. "Eon's waiting for me!" I pivoted in my shoes, but before I could break into a run, Battousai grabbed my arm. He gently, but firmly drew me back to him, so that I was staring up into his piercing violet eyes with swimming flecks of gold.

"Kaoru, milady, I..." he trailed off, struggling with what to say. Then suddenly, he cupped my face in his palm, his soft fingertips stroking my cheek. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I would never, ever mean to hurt you, Kaoru. I swear it." A sad light came into Battousai's eyes. "I try so hard to protect the ones close to me. I can protect them from the dangers of the world, but...I can never protect them from myself."

"But Battousai, you're trying, aren't you?" I couldn't believe I was suddenly taking his side, but the tone of his voice struck a chord inside me. I almost wanted to take him into my arms and comfort him like he was a crying child.

"Yes. But the pig's blood isn't working."

Battousai was given pig's blood to reduce his cravings for human blood, but it couldn't subdue his cravings entirely. The pig's blood was the safety latch on his vampirism, but when it failed, we were all at Battousai's mercy. His cravings must've been especially vicious of late, since he only rarely attacked humans now.

My mind unconsciously wondered back to last night. I could still feel Battousai's hot breath on my neck, the lazy drag of his tongue across my collarbone, his fangs brushing against my skin. And suddenly, I was drowned in a tidal wave of fear.

"No!" I screamed. I shoved Battousai away and fled down the hallway. Ignoring Battousai's voice shouting my name, I ran to my room. I slammed the door shut and my hands trembled as I frantically tried to lock the door. Finally, I slipped the key into the lock and turned it. As soon as I heard the click I sank to the floor in relief, resting my head back against the door, trying to catch my breath.

My heart felt like it was going to burst inside my chest, and still I couldn't get the bloodthirsty savage look flaming in Battousai's eyes out of my head. I pulled my legs up close to my body and wrapped my arms around them. Chin resting on my knees, I rocked back and forth, trying to breathe, trying to forget.

"Kaoru?"

Before me wavered the image of a wispy woman. She was slightly translucent, as if she wasn't quite there. Tendrils of raven black hair streaked with red fell to her waist and eyes of the darkest blue flashed against her ghostly pale face. A dark purple tattoo swirled across her left cheek and up across her eyelid onto her forehead. She was dressed brazen robes of crimson and black and gold. Resting against her shoulder was a glaive, a curved blade set at the top of a wooden pole. The glaive was bejeweled with rubies encrusted in gold.

"Hi, Megumi," I said, swallowing.

Megumi sniffed. "Don't 'hi, Megumi' me. I smell vampire on you."

"Um, that's because Battousai, um, stopped me in the hall. He just wanted to talk to me. That's all, I promise."

For a long moment, Megumi's narrowed eyes held mine. Then her gaze softened slightly and she lost her customary regal air. "All right," she sighed. "It's just that I worry about that stupid vampire...and you of course. He has an uncanny fascination with you. It isn't healthy." Her eyes became smoldering coals again. "And if he ever, ever touches you, tell me. I already have his place reserved in Hades."

I almost saw the inferno of Hell blazing in her eyes. But it could only be expected from the twin sister of the Grim Reaper. Once again, it made me realize only more the amount of power held in the grasp of the person before me. Actually, Megumi wasn't even flesh-and-blood person. She was more of a ghost, unable to age, unable to be injured, unable to die. Instead Megumi reigned on, assisting her brother in the collection of the souls needing to be ushered to their proper home in the afterlife.

Megumi experienced the pure lights of Heaven and the anguishing screams in Hell on a daily basis. She often drifted between the worlds, Earth and the Spirit World, which was how I first met her.

When I was nine, my mother died. Megumi had arrived in the castle moments before her final breath. I could remember watching wide-eyed in horror, while Rangor held me, as Megumi withdrew my mother's last ounce of life. But then Megumi had seen me trembling and swept over, black cloak swirling at her feet. She took a small vial from her pocket and held it out to me.

Inside the vial was an eerie blue mist, and as I took it into my hands Megumi explained that it was my mother's last breath. Then she had vanished, taking my mother's spirit with her.

Now the vial rested inside a small wooden keepsake chest next to my bed, and I wore the key to the chest on a leather cord around my neck. That vial was my most precious possession, and I had Megumi to thank for it.

Suddenly, my heart ached. I missed my mother so badly. She had been a gentle, beautiful woman, always smiling, yet I could sometimes see sadness in her eyes. There had been many things I never understood about my mother, and now, I never could.

Megumi crouched down next to me, placing a cool, transparent hand on my shoulder. I looked at her, fighting tears.

"You'd think I'd be over it after six years," I hoarsely. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but it only grew.

Megumi reply was soft. "No one ever "gets over" death completely. There are eternal wounds; the absence of their love can never be replaced. Believe me, I know."

I gave her a tiny half-smile. For a moment we simply gazed at each other. I instantly had the same feeling I'd experienced with Battousai. It was like Megumi's eyes were diving right into my soul. And as I looked into her eyes, I found something there that I didn't expect. Fear.

A little confused, I asked. "Well, why are you here anyway?"

Megumi immediately rose; her slender form outlined by the setting sun. "I came to see your godfather, Rangor. There is an urgent matter I need to discuss with him. I better go." She shifted her glaive on her shoulder, and then disappeared, leaving me alone in the shadows of the fading light.