Blood Prize (Bloody Dance #1) (11 page)

“Soji!” Emiko yelled out. Azul was rushing towards Soji as his head was bowed. The demon was nearly on him as Soji lifted his head up. He pointed his cross at the rushing demon. All the pricks of light flew towards Azul. I could see the light all pass through the demon’s body. Azul stopped looking over his arms and legs as if trying to see what damage had been done. I couldn’t see any damage. What was Soji doing.

“This is the strength of a white mage.” Azul tossed his head back laughing at Soji. “Your magic is a joke.” Soji only smiled at the demon as he tucked his cross back into his pocket. This battle didn’t seem to be over yet. So what was I missing.

“Amen,” Soji used a clear loud voice and Azul stopped in his tracks. His whole body started to glow white and then he exploded. Instead of blood and body parts spilling over us and the road there was only dust. One of Azul’s tusk hit the ground. It was the only proof that the demon had been here. “He’s been purified.” Soji spoke walking towards us.

I watched as Soji’s hand started to glow with his powers. He moved his hand over Emiko's face healing her. He moved on to Rai healing the cut that was on her leg from where glass stabbed into her. Last he ran his white light over Fang healing the broken arm that he had received in the crash.

“I can’t heal your shoulder, Zero.” I was a demon so I highly doubt our powers would mix well. I shook my head. My woman would hear within another hour or two. Soji had stood up before his eyes rolled into the top of his head. I grabbed him before he could fall holding him in my arms.

“He used too much energy. He needs rest.” Emiko said and I cradling Soji to my chest. Our car was trashed, but the town was only five miles away. Nothing like a long walk to clear your head.

SIXTEEN

It had been a little over eight hours and Soji was still asleep. We had gotten three rooms so Soji could have his own to rest in. Emiko and Rai were in another and for now Fang had the room we were meant to share by himself.

I laid in the bed Soji was in. He looked so peaceful in his slumber. Still I was worried about him. How much longer was he going to be sleep? How much longer were we suppose to wait before we worried? I guess it was too late for that. I was already worried about Soji.

Had I failed once again? Squeezing my eyes shut I rolled off the bed walking towards the window. I could see the world that was spread out under us. No matter what town, what city we were in it all looked the same. There was always the drunks that stumbled down the street. There was always the working girl that looked for her John. Always the junkies looking for their next high.

Demons walked the earth. Magic was no longer just in books; it was something real, something tangible. Yet some things never change. I guess it was a testament to human nature. This was what I was clinging to. These people were who I so desperately wanted to be.

Pressing my forehead against the cool glass I could feel a weariness pressing down on me. My day of sleep had come and pass. I couldn’t remember the last time I slept. Before Shu was lost to us. Before we went hunting for the Blood Demon Kenji. That felt like a lifetime ago. Look at how much changed in a matter of months. How much more will change in the months to come.

I failed again. I was supposed to protect Soji the same way I was supposed to protect Shu. The same way I was supposed to protect Rai. It seemed like lately I was incapable of doing the things I was once good at. I couldn’t beat Kenji and Ban. I could have beaten Azul, but Soji wanted to fight him. He did a wonderful job but now he was paying for it.

Was this really my fault this time? I shouldn’t have let Soji fight. He was a mage though;when you are on a team of Demon Hunters every member countered. Our other members couldn’t fight and I had to get them out of the car. Soji was all we had. I didn’t know that his powers would use so much energy. So now what?

Now we wait.

“Zero,” a soft voice spoke and I turned around to see Soji behind me. He looked tired. How could someone sleep for so long and still look completely drained when they rose?

Reaching out I yanked him forward. I pressed him against my chest holding onto him. I was . . . happy he was okay. I didn’t want to lose another person that I cared about.

Soji’s arms wrapped around me. Bending down, I pressed my face into his neck. He smelled so sweet. His scent should have made the hunger press down on me, but I felt no desire to eat Soji. I just wanted to hold him, to welcome him back to the land of the living.

“How are you feeling?” I asked as I pulled back from him long enough to look down into his blue eyes. My hand cupped his cheek and he reached up grabbing my wrist holding my fingers against his flesh.

“A little tired. I didn’t realize I used so much energy. It was a careless mistake. I’m sorry for making you worry.” I shook my head. Even if I had been worried, it was all okay now that I knew he was fine.

“I’m just glad you’re okay.” It was the truth. I wasn’t even sure why it meant so much to me for him to be doing okay. I just hated seeing him so . . . weak. I hated seeing him in that bad. It pulled at something in the corner of my mind and threaten to rip a hole in my memories.

“You watched over me the whole time?” Soji asked his blue eyes seemed to be searching mine for something. What was it that he was trying to see? He reached up his fingers brushing under my eyes. I felt as if he was looking through me. Why? What was it that he wanted from me?

“Soji . . .” I started, but his fingers moved down my face. He pressed them against my lips halting my words. His eyes burned into mine. His fingers slowly lowering from my mouth. What was he doing? Why did this feel so . . . intense?

“I see you. I see your soul. I see the thin thread that links you and me together. In this life and the next one and every life we ever had and ever will have. I see you. And I love your darkness, and I love your light. But most importantly I love you, Zero.”

He . . . saw me. He loved me. We only knew each other for a few weeks now. How could he love me? Why did when he say the words it felt different from when Ban says them? What was I suppose to say to him? Telling him that I loved him seemed . . . fake.

I wanted to do something. I wanted him to know that I felt something towards him. His fingers were tracing over my face. I could feel them moving over my eyes, my nose, my mouth. His touch was gentle. It was so much different than the way Ban touched me. Yet it made me want in the same way Ban seemed to.

Leaning down, I pressed my lips into Soji’s. His mouth opened for me and my tongue slipped inside. Twisting them together I pushed my fingers into his hair. Backing him up towards the bed I could feel his fingers running up my chest. I paused long enough for him to pull my shirt over my head.

Tossing his shirt away I lifted him up so that we could move farther onto the bed. Pressing my mouth to his neck I flicked my tongue out. Tracing patterning on his skin, his fingers pushed up my chest. I could hear his heart racing from my licking. His bulge pressed against me and it made me growl deeply in the back of my throat.

I hooked my fingers into the band of his pajamas and pulled them down his hips. I could see his pale skin taint red as his underwear followed. Leaning down, I pressed my mouth to his again. His mouth yielded to mine once more.

Reaching down I started to stroke him as his back arched. Reaching up he tangled his fingers in my hair. Deepening our kiss I moved my hand faster. Was this really a smart move? Soji was a white mage. He was supposed to remind pure. He didn’t seem to have a problem with me tainting him right now. His back arched as I pumped my hand over him faster.

There was the sweet sound of a moan that I could almost swear I heard before. Soji’s hips jerked as I felt the warm liquid shoot from his body and coat my fingers. Moving my hand away, I smiled at him before I took him in my mouth.

Moving his hips as I licked and sucked; he was moaning as I bobbed my head. I moved my hand under him so I could slip a finger inside of him. Testing how tight a fit it was going to be. He let out a cry as I twisted my finger inside. Soji moaned more and more lasting a good ten minutes before I tasted his load in my mouth.

Quickly undressing myself I held up Soji’s legs. I pressed my tip to Soji’s hole teasing him with myself. Closing his eyes, he reached down and started to stroke himself. I slowly pushed in and he gasped with pain and pleasure. He was so tight. I sat still enjoy the feel of how he squeezed around me.

“Move,” he demanded, “Please, Zero.” It was a beg and I found that I liked the way it sounded on his lips. He loved me right? That meant that this was okay. Maybe it wouldn’t taint him because he loved me. Sex with love was more than just sex. He loved me, but I didn’t know if I loved him back. I was a demon and I didn’t know if I could love him.

His arms wrapped around my neck as I bounced him up and down on my length. Leaning down, he started to kiss me. His kissing made me move faster and harder. He was moaning into my mouth and I needed more. I had to remember that Soji was only human. He was also the first person I had sex with that wasn’t Ban.

By this point, Ban and I could either be fighting or he would have tied my hands up by now. He always tied me up so I couldn’t fight back. Not that I thought of fighting when Ban was inside of me. There was only the burning need to make him give me more. Now that need was for Soji. It was to take him harder, faster. It was to please him in every way that I knew how.

Soji moaned my name into my ear. His soft voice sounded heavenly and I could feel the built up deep within. Pulling away I tossed Soji on the bed turning him around so I could be behind him. Entering him again he was grabbing the covers tightly in his hands as he moaned my name loudly. I gave his ass a slap and he reached down and started to pump himself. Holding his waist in one hand I grabbed a fist full of his long hair in the other.

He was begging for more. Feeling my release, I slammed into him a few more time before I shot my load inside of him. At the same time, he release himself on the sheets and fell away from me. I laid down beside him looking over at him as he was breathing hard.

“That was amazing,” Soji was panting as I laughed turning on my side so I could trace my fingers down his back. He was beautiful. Once again, I found myself thinking that. Even as I compared him to Ban, he didn’t look less beautiful to me. It was just in a different way. I wanted him all the same.

“Are you okay?” I asked. I wanted to make sure he was fine. I wanted to make sure that he was still . . . pure.

“Don’t worry about it,” Soji told me. He reached up pressing his fingers against my cheek. I smiled at him grabbing his wrist and pressing a kiss into his arm. Rolling away from him Soji moaned and I sitting up. “Where are you going?” He asked me.

“To check on Rai,” I told him. Rai was still my responsibility. Moreover, I didn’t trust Emiko. I didn’t like the spell that she had over Rai. I didn’t know if Shu would have approved of this friendship. I didn’t think Amy did. She watched Emiko just like I did. I wanted Rai to be the same little girl that she had been. The death of a father can change anyone. It changed me.

Pulling my clothes back on I moved out of the room that Soji had been resting in the next door. Without knocking, I opened the door to the other room. I could hear the soft sound of someone moaning. I froze in my steps before rounding the corner.

Looking towards the mirror that was on the opposite wall of the bed I could see Emiko. Tilting my head to the side I could see Emiko in all of her naked glory. She was on the bed closest to the wall as she kneel before some unseen woman.

The other woman’s legs were spread apart and Emiko’s face was buried between them. I could see fingers tangled in Emiko’s hair as the woman she was with rocked her hips towards her. I didn’t know who the woman was. Where was Rai?

I didn’t mind seeing a little girl on girl action. If one of the girls weren't Emiko, I would have probably enjoyed it even more. Before I decided, I liked boys I have been with girls. Honestly what man didn’t want to see two girls touching each other? What person period didn’t like a nice pair of boobs?

I thought about just standing there and watching for a moment but if Emiko put Rai out of the room so she could get her freak on I wanted to know where Rai went. Moving farther into the room both parties were now in clear view. Frowning I slammed my hand down on the dresser making both women turn around to look at me.

“What the fuck?!”

SEVENTEEN

The both of them rushed around grabbing at clothes trying to cover themselves up. I walked towards them grabbing Rai and yanking her towards me. I could feel her trying to pull away, but my fingers were like iron around her arm.

Pushing her to the door I didn’t need to speak she just let out this angry teenager scream before walking out the room. I looked towards Emiko next. My eyes glaring at the older woman for a moment. A part of me wanted to rip her throat out. I wanted to call her every nasty name I could think of.

It was probably what Shu would have been doing if he walked in on the two of them. Those were human actions. Emiko has seen me as nothing but a demon since I met her. She didn’t deserve to see the human side of me.

“Have you lost your fucking mind? She’s fourteen!” I didn’t care that laws that involved ages no longer implied in this day and age.

“Seem like we got daddy all mad,” there was this mocking tone to her voice. Emiko was trying to provoke me. She wanted to arouse a reaction from me. She wouldn’t like any that I gave her.

“What’s the matter, demon? Upset that I was with your little girl.” Was this just a game to her? Was Rai someone she was just using to get at me?

“If I was angry you would be dead right now.” There wouldn’t be anything the others could do to stop me either. “It's from my respect of Soji that you’re still alive.” Because he loved me. Because something about him drew me to him. I watched as her face twisted when I brought up Soji.

She had been doing a bad job keeping him away from me since we met. Before it had only been kissing. Tonight was the first time we went farther. How long had Rai and Emiko been doing this? Why didn’t I notice sooner? Because I been so wrapped up in my own life. I’ve been wrapped up in Ban and Soji. How disgraceful. Shu would have wanted me to do better.

“For Soji,” she laughed openly at me, “If any of this was for Soji you would stay away from him.” I raised an eyebrow at her. “Soji is our white mage. His powers have saved many lives. He is father’s most precious possession.”

Now I frowned. She was talking about Soji as if he was nothing more than a tool for his group to use. I had gotten that vibe from her before. She was so possessive of him. Not because she felt protective over Soji, the person. Just because she didn’t want me breaking Soji the object, Soji the tool, Soji the white mage.

“I’m here at his side to make sure that he doesn’t get caught up in people, or rather things like you.” My lips pulled back in a sneer. I could see her smiling. She thought that she was doing something. I suppose she was. She was pissing me off. “Did I hit a nerve, demon?”

My lips twitched slightly. Did she think calling me a demon was offensive? I knew what I was. When I accepted what I was like Ban told me the fog cleared away. For the last forty years of my life, I lived with a clear head and a clean soul. Her bantering was just amusing to me.

“Would you like to know why Soji was allowed to stay with you? Why he hasn’t be taken back home and you locked inside of a cage?” My arms crossed my chest as I leaned back into the dresser. This was bound to be interesting. Why was Soji the church’s doll allowed to stay at the side of a demon?

“The first night you took him he made a call,” I remember that call. I didn’t know who it was too. “He called his father. Told dear old daddy that he could learn all of your secrets. That he could learn what links you to Ban.” She giggled as she walked closer to me. I moved my arms standing up straighter. Emiko had a nasty habit of attacking me and I was going to be ready.

“Do you really think someone like him could love someone like you?”

Love, no, I didn’t actually believe in love. It was nice when Soji said it to be, but I wasn’t going to get my panties in a twist over a few little words like love. If I let love trip me up, then Ban would have me right where he wanted me.

“He’s very good at his job Zassago.”

I rolled my eyes as she used my demon name. Emiko reached up touching the chain around my neck. She ran her fingers along the chain, but I grabbed her wrist before she could touch the ring that rested at the end of it. I didn’t care what she said about me. I hardly cared what she said about Soji. No one but myself and Ban was allowed to touch this ring.

I tossed her away from me with little effort. Her body falling at the foot of the bed. She jumped back up quickly. Her gun was in her hand. I doubt that the bullets inside of it was going to kill me. Still getting shot hurt like a bitch.

Moving towards her quickly I grabbed the arm that held the gun. Twisting it behind her back I yanked it sharply. She screamed as I dislocated her shoulder. Crumbling to her knees, her hand hovered over her shoulder. Grabbing her I snapped her arm back in place and she screamed out again. I knew that getting the limb put back in place hurt more then having it taken out.

“Don’t touch my ring.” I hissed in her ear watching as she slumped to the side. Turning from Emiko, I walked out the room going next door. Rai and Soji were both in the room that we had gotten for Soji. They were looking at me as I came in. No doubt that they heard the screams from Emiko.

“Soji, Emiko needs your attention in the other room.” He was a white mage he could heal her and make all the pain go away. He was just a tool to her. It annoyed me that she saw him that way.

Soji was a person. I’m sure he had hopes and dreams. None of those seemed to matter to the group that he was in. They should have treated him like a person because he was a white mage. Being their tool would taint him in the long run.

After Soji had left, I turned my eyes to Rai. She shrunk under my gaze; her mouth opened and closed as if she wanted to speak. I waited for her, waited to see what she was going to come up with. My arms folded over my chest my finger tapping my arm as I waited for her to speak.

“I’m not a child,” she spoke up at last,“I’m only a year younger then Soji.” My eyes shifted to the door. “You had sex with Soji, so it’s okay for me to do it with whoever I want.” She sounded like a child trying to make up a reason for why their repulsive behavior was okay.

“The way Soji parents raise him has nothing to do with us,” I said it calmly. Soji and I only just had sex tonight. How long had she and Emiko been doing at it? If she wanted to use age, I could as well. Technically, I was only sixteen. There was hardly any age between Soji and I. It wasn’t the gap between her and Emiko.

“How can you say it has nothing to do with us? You’re fucking him!” I had the feeling that Rai got in her head that Soji and I had been coming together for much longer than we were. Maybe it was because she saw me kiss him. A kiss was hardly anything. Because Soji didn’t, something wasn’t an excuse.

“You’re not Soji!” I yelled at her.

“And you’re not my father!” She yelled back and I could feel the shift inside of me. My golden eyes became red as my anger built. No, I wasn’t her father. Because Shu was dead. Because if I was her father she would be home right now with Amy and not trying to play at adult games.

“No Rai, I’m not your father. Shu is dead.” That was probably the worse thing that I could have said to her. I saw the tears swell and spill from her eyes. I sighed, I hadn’t met to hurt her. Or maybe I was trying to hurt her. I wasn’t really sure what I was doing anymore.

“I hate you,” Rai whispered wiping at her eyes. “I hate you!” She ran from the room and I sighed. Watching Rai leave, I saw Soji appear in the doorway again. He watched Rai fleeing form before he turned back to me.

“Emiko said you attacked her?” Soji spoke softly.

My eyes moved towards her as I found more annoyance. I was going to take Emiko words with a grain of salt but still how much of it was true. Was Soji just trying to run game on me? Was all of this just about Ban? Why was everything always about Ban?

“You dislocated her shoulder.”

“It was nothing less than she deserved. Plus, I put it back.” I even sent the little healer to her. She should have been happy I didn’t let her suffer in pain like I should have done. Soji was still standing there looking at me.

“Rai is-”

“A child.” I cut him off. “She’s fourteen; that’s still a child. You brought your big tit bimbo and she touched a child. If she comes near Rai again, I will kill her.”

“Why do you have to be this way?”

“Why don’t you go home, Soji? Why are you here? Because daddy gave you permission.” I was angry and now I was taking that anger out on Soji. That was unfair. Still, it annoyed me. Was he actually just using me for information? What did he want from me? What was I suppose to tell him about Ban that wasn’t common knowledge?

“Don’t speak of things you know nothing about.” Soji’s tone was cold. He was right though. I knew nothing about him. I didn’t think I wanted to either. He was a white mage and I was a demon. Even if he tossed around words like love and linked souls it was all just pretty words. They meant nothing.

“Drop the act Soji. Your bitch sold you out.” Emiko already told me about his father and why he was here. Soji shook his head.

“Emiko was wrong. I didn’t call my father. I called my brother. She was wrong because I do love you. I have loved you before I met you. Yes, my people want to know about Ban but what we have is more than that.” I didn’t know what it was that we had.

“Ban slaughtered my family. He took me in front of them and then again in my brother’s bed. He . . . he killed me. The only reason why I’m here is because I bit him. Because his tainted blood got into my mouth and three days later I woke up a demon.

Then I killed the very person that came into my home to pull my family body out. The next time I woke up I was buried alive. I dug myself from my own grave. I watched as my brother ran from me.

According to Mother Fate, Ban and Kenji are trying to bring hell to earth. The Night of Demons is what she called it. He will need someone pure to do that and he has his sights on you. I was supposed to be protecting you believe it or not.

So there, you have it. Other than the times he pops up just to have sex with me. Just to kill someone else I love or confess his empty feelings to me that’s all I know about the Great Demon Ban.”

“I’m sorry,” Soji whispered touching my arm. I looked into his blue eyes; the anger in me fading away slowly. “I’m sorry for my actions and for Emiko’s actions. I’m sorry Ban caused you so much pain. But I do love you. My soul and your soul . . .” he leaned in pressing his face into my chest, “You’re important to me Zero.”

I sighed wrapping my arms around him. I didn’t know why but he was important to me as well. I should have been pulling from him, but I didn’t. Why was that? Because he had some kind of hold over me. Because when he said he loved me I wanted his love.

“We need to pick a new demon to hunt. We need the money for a car.” We had to hunt to get a car. We needed a car to get home. I would call Amy later and explain everything to her. She didn’t need the stress of us not coming home in time. Soji nodded his head against my chest. This boy . . . He was going to be the death of me.