96Reign of the Dark Goddess
The Awakening - Part One
By PasifiKStaR (Len)
Author's Note: This is my first story posted on FictionPress. Please be gentle with the story. ^_^ Thanks!
Smoke coiled from the fire in the center of the deer skin tent as dozen or more men sat around it. Outside, the sound of rain drops falling against the roof gave notice of the angry storm.
The shadows from the the flames danced across the faces of the men as they awaited the messenger from another tent. A crack of thunder echoed in their ears as the outside was illuminated with silver-white light.
The oldest man in the group, whose hair was thin and wirey white, whose gray eyes had been dulled by the years, and whose skin was wrinkled and worn, opened his eyes. "She has come."
Outside, the sounds of footsteps running across the soaked earth got closer and closer and suddenly, the flap at the front of the tent was opened. The wind blew it aside as a cold gust entered the warm room.
A shaking female figure dressed in a heavy animal skin cloak ran it. She knelt down and bowed her head. "King Valere," the young woman gasped out as her clothes and dark hair dripped water on the floor of the tent. "Queen Sapientia has given birth."
Within moments, across the temporary settlement at the dry base of a sea side cliff, the flap of another, smaller tent was throw aside as burly man covered in layers of dark clothes and a thick animal skin cape entered. There was large nest like bed in the center of the room. Pillows and blankets were piled high on it as a single woman laid nestled in the warmth.
Around her, attendents bustled around, cleaning up the birthing area to the left and making tea for her to drink on the right. Upon the man's arrival, they bowed their heads to welcome him. He lifted his hand and removed his hooded cape, allowing a long mass of straight black hair to fall over his shoulders.
He walked towards the bed and smiled warmly at the woman who laid there. His gray eyes settled on a little figure in his wife's arms. "Is that her?" he asked quietly, with affection reserved for his family. "Is that my little girl?"
Queen Sapientia nodded. Her hair was as white as snow and straight. It was tied into a messy bun behind her and stray locks went across her elegant face as she looke down at her daughter. "Isn't she beautiful?" the woman asked. "Oh, my little girl...my darling child..."
"Peculiar hair," King Valere smiled as his corse hand gently ran over his daughter's tuffs of hair. "All black... except for this part in the front...it's white..."
"A sign from the gods," Queen Sapientia assured him. "Do you remember that night, Valere?" she whispered intently. "When I went out and was struck by lightning..."
"How could I forget?" he asked. His hand moved over to her and gently caressed a few locks of her white hair. "When you left, your hair was black...when you returned, your hair was white."
"A few weeks later, we found out I was going to have a child," she added. "And the gods have blessed her as they have blessed me..."
"We should take her to the priests and have her be blessed by them." he added.
"She does not need to be blessed by those old men," the woman chuckled. "My daughter has been blessed by the gods themselves. She will accomplish great things...things no man has ever or will be able to accomplish. Things only she can do."
She stared into her child's closed eyes and watched as they tried to open and adjust to the hazy glow of candle light. Gray eyes peeked from underneath long black lashes and mirrored her mother's gray ones.
"Have you decided on a name for her?" the king asked.
"No," his wife replied, shaking her head slowly. "I am waiting for you."
"Well, what do you want to name her?" he persisted, allowing the baby's tiny hand to grasp one of his fingers. her small hand could not even encircle it all the way. "Oh, I know what she wishes to be called."
"What, Valere?"
"She wants to be called Roman."
"Isn't that a boy's name?" Queen Sapientia asked. Her husband smiled and shook his head.
"No...it is the name of power and conquerers," he told her. "Yes...your name is Roman, my daughter. Roman, Princess of the Obsidian Tribe."
Twenty Years Later
The drums were being beated energetically as the huge collisium was filled with the powerful members of society from all around Archea World. Five stories of seats were sold out for the festival that came once every fifty years.
It was to commemorate the the arrival of the most powerful man in all of Archea World. As the people were seated, a group of dancers at the floor of the arena were dancing to the drums, horns, and stringed instruments of the Emerald Palace.
Seated in a large, squared off area on the third level were the Five Immortals of Archea World. There was one chair, the largest of them all, decorated in gold with white cushions, in the center, in front of the other four.
The other four were behind him. The black and red chair and the silver and green chair to his left. The black and blue chair and the silver and purple chair to his right. On the black and red chair was a well built, pale man. His hair was long and red, wavy and reaching his waist. It was parted in the middle and framed his face. His eyes were gold and he wore a long black robe underneath a red, long sleeve tunic.
Next to him on his left and sitting on the silver and green chair was a pale and busty woman. She had long, straight brown hair and reached the floor behind her chair as her green eyes surveyed the scene in front of her. She wore a black skirt that reached her feet and hung at her waist and a green midriff with black sleeves. Gold hooped earrings and bangles adorned her ears, neck, wrists, and ankles.
On the other side was a pale, slim woman, seated on the black and blue chair. She was quite petite and had long, wavy blue hair that mirrored that of the red haired man. Her hair was held up in a pony tail and silver drop earrings and pendent were her only jewelry. She had a black skirt and a sleeveless blue tunic with two black buttons on each shoulder that held up the black, gauzy fabric of a slight cape behind her.
To her right was a tall and slim man with a bowl hair cut. It was straight and lavender in color with black tips. His eyes were the same color of lavender and he wore a black robe underneath a deep purple, sleeveless tunic. The sleeves of the black robe were explosed over his pale arms.
In front of them, seating on the white and gold chair, was the creature that created them all. His hair was long and white, straight and reaching his mid back. It was also parted in the middle and framed his pale face. Blue eyes watched the dancers with little interested as he wore black slacks and a white tunic with black sashs going over each shoulder.
Aside from the guards behind them, there was one more person on the extended balcony. She was sitting at the edge of the elevated marble platform were the white haired man was seated. She was dressed in a long, strip of blood red satin that coiled around her body to give her a skirt and top. Her hair was down and the color of darkness. It was straight and in perfect condition as it was parted down the center. Her bangs, however, were a rich red color, as they had been stained. Her gray eyes were cast down as her arms were draped across the seated man's lap, her head leaned against his right thigh as his hand gently caressed the back of her head.
A black stone ring was around her neck with a white diamond in the center. She hardly spoke in public and was always by his side. She had suddenly appeared to the public two years ago, clinging on to the white haired man with down cast gray eyes.
"Nyoko," the white haired man whispered to her gently. "Are you all right? Are you tired?" He looked concerned as he lifted her chin up with his right hand.
"Yes, master, I am fine." she replied quietly.
"Hmmm..."
"Lord Kannon," a deep voice said behind him. The red haired man was leaning forward. "Perhaps it is time to start the celebrations of your arrival."
Kannon nodded. "You may proceed, Fudotomi."
"Yes, Lord Kannon," The red haired man stood up and headed towards the front of the balcony. He signaled the trumpeteers across from them. The sound of trumpets sounded across the massive stadium, demanding everyone to be silent and devote their attention to the Lord of Ruby, Lord Fudotomi. The trumpets died down and the man began to speak. "Welcome to the celebration of the Lord of the Spirit World! We, the elite of Archea World, have come to the capitol of Diamond for the Festival of Spirit! Our first event of this celebration is the Gladiator Fights! Champions from around Archea World have been gathered to fight to the death for the honor of their masters! Now by the order of Lord Kannon, Lord of the Spirit World...Let the games begin!"
The screams of the crowds were all but drowned out by the sounds of the trumpets and the beating of drums. The demons and sorcerors that comprised the crowds cheered as the gladiators were paraded in front of them like cattle.
"Nyoko, come here," Kannon said as he patted his lap. The young woman obiedently stood up and sat on his lap. He put one arm around her waist and pointed to one of the gladiators on the field. "That is mine."
"Will he win, master?" Nyoko asked.
"Of course he will win," Kannon said as he kissed her shoulder. "He is mine."
"Well, his skill is beyond compare," a sultry voice said behind him. It belonged to the Lady of Emerald, Dymphna. "I doubt my champion will win. Lord K, isn't it true that he has won every match?"
"That he has, Dymphna," Kannon smiled in pride. "No human has more power and strength than my champion."
Behind him, Fudotomi laughed. "Why do we even bother competing with you!?" he laughed. "We loose every time!"
"Maybe this year will be different, brother," said the blue haired woman next to him. "I think I have choosen a fine champion for this year's festivals."
"Oh?" Kannon asked, amused at her thoughts. "That is the fighting spirit I like to hear, Namiren. You all should take a lesson from her. Think more positively. What about you, Fiachra?"
The lavender haired man looked up slowly with emotionless eyes. "I believe that I, too, have choosen a specimen of a champion."
"What do you think, Nyoko?" Kannon asked affectionately as he pulled the woman closer to him and held her. Her head rested against his chest as his chin gently rested atop her head. "Who is your champion?"
"My champion is your champion, master." she replied as she leaned against him. His icy hands ran up and down her arms as she watched the gladiators walk back into the stadium.
"Now, now," Kannon told her. He looked down at her and kissed her head. "You can choose a different one if you wish."
"I wish to have your champion, then, master," she informed him. "I, too, have watched his matches. He exceeds the others in skill and power. I believe him to be the over all champion."
"Fine choice, my love," Kannon smiled. "I'm so happy I have you. Are you happy, Nyoko?"
"I am what you wish me to be, master." she told him. Kannon frowned.
"You can tell me the truth," Kannon assured her. "Remember, though...that I have raised you. I took you in and made you what you are."
"I know, master."
"Good..." Kannon said. He ran his hand down her hair. He lifted up his free hand and summoned one of the servants. A human woman, dressed the same as Nyoko only in black knelt down next to him with her head bowed. "Blood."
"Yes, my lord." she said. She stood up hurriedly and scurried off. A few minutes later, she returned with a tray of two crystal glasses, filled half way each with a thick red liquid.
He took one and handed it to Nyoko. "Drink, my love," he told her. "You don't look too well."
She nodded and opened her mouth, revealing two sharp canines, longer than a normal human's. They matched her master's fangs. He took the other one and drank from it. "Thank you, master."
He nodded. "Servant, go get some more for Fudo and the rest...you four do what some, am I correct?"
"Yes, of course, Lord Kannon." Fudotomi replied. Kannon nodded and sent the servant away again. Suddenly, the almost empty crystal wine glass fell from Nyoko's hand. Her body swayed and fell forward.
Kannon dropped his glass as well, opting to prevent his most precious possession from hurting herself than saving his glass. "Nyoko!" he gasped. His arms went around her and pulled her back towards him. "Nyoko! Are you all right, my love?"
"My head..." she whispered quietly. Her eyes were shut tight as her hands went up to grasp her temples. "It is throbbing, master."
"Servants!" Kannon bellowed as he cradled the smaller body against him. Two more servants appeared next to him and bowed. "Take Nyoko back to her quarters...she is not feeling to well. See to it that her every need is provided for."
"Yes, my lord." they chorused. The two women dressed in black stood up and helped Nyoko off of Kannon.
"What's gotten into her?" Dypmhnia mumbled. No one answered her, but Namiren watched as the black haired vampiress was dragged away by two servants.
"Namiren." Kannon said, his mood now spoiled at the distress of Nyoko.
"Lord K?" she asked, sitting at the edge of her seat to hear him better.
"Tonight...see to it that she's given another dose." Kannon ordered her.
"Yes, Lord K." Namiren replied. Kannon looked back at the arena floor.
One gladiator sent a pike into the stomach of his competitor. Kannon narrowed his eyes. "Servant!" he growled. "More blood!"
"I want you to run!" a cloaked figure ordered her sternly. Two hands were clamped on her shoulders and shook her to make sure she understood. "Understand? Run into the forest and don't come back here!"
"But-"
"Go!" Screaming was heard in the background as she was physically turned around and pushed forward. Her sense of smell was flooded with the unmistakable scent of buring flesh and fresh blood.
Her mind whirled as she ran through the dark forest, leaving behind the glowing remnants of a tent village. White bangs fell over her face as she ran. It had begun to rain. She could hear thunder at the back of her mind as lighting flashed before her.
Something was scarring her. It was driving her forward. Something bad. She felt the scrapes of braches and leaves cut her face and bare arms as she ran. Underneath her bare feet, she felt rocks protrude from the now muddy ground. The soil was getting heavier, harder to walk on.
Her feet began to sink deeper into the brown muck as her outstretched arms struggled to pull her forward. At last she fell to her knees. She turned around, black and white hair in her face as a shadow loomed over her on what looked like a horse.
A hand reached forward and grabbed her.
She sat up. She felt cold all over as she lifted the white sheets up to her bare chest. Next to her, another body stirred.
"Nyoko?" he whispered. Blue eyes opened and looked at her with confusion. Her hair was disshelved and she looked as if she had been running. She looked tired and out of breath. Immediately, he sat up, his face oozing concern. "Are you all right? What happened, Nyoko?"
She shook her head. "Nothing...nothing master..." she gasped out. His arms went around her and pulled her towards him. Her shivering body was against his as he kissed her head.
"What's wrong...tell me..." he whispered gently as he caressed her head, in an attempt to sooth her. "Did you have a nightmare?"
"Yes...yes, master...I did." Her voice was still full of panic.
"It's all right now," he assured her. "You're safe with me. I won't let anything hurt you, I promise."
Her body was still shaking. His cold skin did nothing to sooth her. "There was shadow...and I was running..." she rasped out. "It was raining...there was thunder and lightning," Her eyes stared out into space, as if reliving the whole thing. "I fell and the shadow...the shadow reached for me...and it got me..." she looked at him with worry. "What is it, master? What does it mean?"
He is a vampire, but for a split second he seemed to turn paler. He swallowed hard and squeezed her hand. "It is nothing," He said. He gently pushed her away and proceeded to get out of the bed. "Go back to sleep."
"Where are you going, master?" she asked.
He put his robe on and looked at her as he tied it. "Just go back to sleep."
"Master," she whispered. She looked down at her hands as she played with the sheets on the bed. "Tomorrow night...may I return to my old quarters?"
He paused as he headed for the door. He turned back to look at her. "Why?" he asked quietly.
"I do not wish to bother you like this again," she told him as she looked up. Her gray eyes met his blue ones. "I seem to have distrubed you tonight, master."
He smiled at her lovingly. "I am fine, Nyoko. You don't need to leave."
"But I want to return to my quarters," she told him, a little more forcefully this time. "Please...master?" she added.
He looked somewhat suspicious, it not doubtful, but conceeded. He nodded his head and opened the door. Kannon stared at the huge ivory door and narrowed his eyes. His hand let go of the brass handle and headed down the hall and down another set of stairs.
His palace was huge. It had taken decades to build, but it has everything he wanted. For one like him, time was nothing. He was an immortal being. One of the most powerful. A high level vampire who could survive just by being in the presense of humans and drinking their energy that flowed in the air.
Blood was something for lesser, weaker, and younger vampires. Even now, the other Four Lords he himself had turned into vampires needed at least a little blood to survive although they usually drank human energy. But Nyoko...she was barely turned two years ago. She needed blood in general. Animal blood would only give her a little strength, but human blood... one cup would keep her strong for days.
She had, after all, his blood in her. Powerful blood. Within a few centuries, she too, would no longer need blood to survive. But until then, he had him to give her everything she needed. And he would not give her up.
Kannon looked up at the huge wooden, double doors. He lifted his hand and knocked on it. A few moments past and he knocked once again, this time the door opened and a woman with wavy blue hair met him at the door.
"Her memories are resurfacing."
"What?" Namiren gasped. She narrowed her eyes and shook her head in disbelief. "That can't be," she stated deadpan. "I spent two hours today giving her a dosage. How did this come about?"
"I don't know," Kannon told her roughly. "She sat up in bed, shaking and terrified. Do something, Namiren. I don't want to loose her after all these years."
"Yes, Lord K."
"But start after the festival," Kannon added as he turned around. "I can't afford to have her away from me during this time, understand?"
"Of course, Lord K." Namiren bowed her head as he left her. Slowly she closed the door and leaned against it in the darkness of her room.
"Is there a problem with Mistress?" a soft voice asked from inside the room.
Namiren's eyes opened and settled on the figure by the window. Lavender hair seemed darker in the moonlight. "I didn't think she was that strong...her memories are powerful."
"I told you she was different," Fiachra told her quietly. He turned around, his eyes glowing. "Mistress Nyoko never was an ordinary human."
Once again, the stadium was filled to the brink with the demons and sorcerors that dominated the high society of Archea World. On their balcony, the Five Archea World Lords sat, watching the ceremonies.
Today was Kannon's favorite day of celebration. Executions of those who opposed him. In the center of the arena was a large wooden stage with two different executioners. They would take turns. There was one flat bed in the center with a large hole at the end where one's head would be place.
At the time of execution, the executioner would bring down a heavy axe on your neck, cutting your head off and allowing it to fall into the hall to the hole into the basket. There were also four nooses behind that one bed for lesser rebels.
Nyoko was sitting on Kannon's lap again, her hair being fondled in his hands as one arm went around her waist. It was late afternoon and they were about to announce the last of the executions before another round of gladiator battles.
"The Dark Rebel himself!" announced the spokesman on the stage. "Prince of the Mani Tribe! Tynan!"
Two guards entered the arena floor from the left. Between them was a striking young man with lavender hair and amethyst colored eyes. He was pale and tall, and held his chin up as he walked. He work a band around his head of dark red and his hair was tied at the base of his neck, ending in a thin, slightly wavy tail.
His clothes proved his was of noble tribal blood. He wore a loose light purple shirt under a dark colored vest. The long sleeve shirt had tapered wrists and went over black pants and dark red-brown, knee length boots, that matched the color of his vest and the leather collar around his neck. His skin was tanned slightly.
The guards dragged him up to the stage and had him stand at the center, before the balcony. "What are his offenses!?" someone in the crowd growled.
"He is the leader of a rebel tribe! They have been annihilated by our forces!" the spokesman shouted. "He as killed demons and sorcerors alike and is known as the Rebel Master! He wished to over throw Lord Kannon and the other Lords of Archea World!"
"Kill him!"
"Cut off his head!" The crowds cheered with blood thirsty excitement. They yelled and screamed as the stadium moved with their jumping.
The human man called Tynan looked up at the balcony. His proud smirk vanished as his eyes settled on the figure seated on Kannon's lap. Her eyes were staring at him with no emotion.
*Roman...* he thought to himself. *You're still alive!* The vampiress cocked her head at him and closed her eyes. She gently rubbed her temple, as if pressure were coming upon her.
"Nyoko, my love?" Kannon asked worriedly as he brushed her red bangs aside and looked at her. "Are you all right?"
"Master, it hurts again..." she whispered. She winced slightly and felt his cold hands on her head.
"Servants!" he shouted. Immediately, two female servants ran up beside him. The knelt down, their heads low. "Take Nyoko to her room and see to it that her every desire is met."
"Yes, my lord." they both chorused. Just like last time, they helped her off of his lap and lead her away.
Kannon leaned back against his chair, his attention diverted from the execution in front of him. He turned his head towards his right. "Namiren," he told her roughly. She leaned forward to hear him. "I want it done, tonight, do you understand. Her head aches are getting more frequent."
"Yes, Lord K." Namiren bowed her head slightly and leaned back on her chair as soon as she saw him looked back at the stage.
Now in a bad mood, Kannon straightened himself. "KILL HIM!" he shouted.
The stadium set up roars of blood thirsty yells of earnest. Tynan felt himself being pushed down on the flat bed. Blood already stained the edge of the bed. He was being forced to go down on it stomach first.
He laid down on his stomach. *Now's my chance!* he thought to himself. The guards held his lower back and legs down as the executioner stepped up. The burly man lifted up the glimmering, blood stained axe into the air.
Just as he brought it down, he froze. Suddenly all the dust and dirt on the floor of the arena was lifted up into the air, like a dust storm. It sent the guards and executioners coughing as the entire lower level of the stadium was covered in a thick cloud of dust.
Kannon leaned forward, sensing the work of a telekenetic. Just as soon as he had felt the huge exertion of telekensis, the feeling had vanished. The dust began to settle on the floor.
Gasps of disbelief circulated as the dust finally did settle. The guards looked down, shock written on their faces. Immediately they dispursed to find the escapee. Tynan, the Master Rebel, had disappeared.