Blood Prize (Bloody Dance #1) (16 page)

TWENTY-FOUR

Pleasure rocked through my body. Ban’s finger raked down my chest. Catching my nipple, I sucked in a deep breath. My breath was forced from my lungs as Ban delved deeper into me with rhythmic pushes. His lips were near my ear as my finger flexed.

The handcuffs that he had on me was laced through the bars of the bed. They pinned my arms above my head as his hands gripped my hips holding me to him. I could feel the slight burn of the ring heating against my chest. I wasn’t sure how once again I ended up entangled with the one person I was supposed to hate.

“Darkness falls and the moon bleeds. Light stalls because the sun feeds. Mortals die when sacrifices are made.” Ban whispered the words gently in my ear. I didn’t know what his words met. Why was quoting nonsense to me? What was he trying to do?

His thrust was just as powerful as always. I wanted to reach for him. I wanted to touch him as well. Ban liked control though. He always had it. I doubt that he was ever going to give it up either. I moaned more my back arching into Ban.

“Gods cry as the world fades. Demons crawl as hell is raised. Humans brawl in chaos phase.” He kissed my jaw as he finished this poem. It was different, gentle. These were the rare moments that Ban and I had. It was in these moments that I forgot that Ban was evil. In these moments, I almost believed when he said he loved me.

“What is that?” I asked my breath was ragged as I tried to get the words out. Ban was over top of me. He was still thrusting into me. His fingers came down between us as he stroked my member. My back only arched into the pleasure more. He was impossible.

I didn’t understand how someone so beautiful could be so interested in me. I paled in comparison to what Ban was. He could have anyone in the world and time after time he came back to me. He loved me in his own sick twisted way.

My golden eyes locked with Ban’s black ones. He was soft right now. Even the motion, as he rocked into my body, was soft. I didn’t have to ask for more. I knew that Ban would give it to me. His red hair came down around both of our faces. It created a curtain between us and the rest of the world.

“It’s the future,” Ban spoke and my brows pulled down. What did he mean it was the future. Ban fingers drew back up my chest. “It’s going to get stuck that way.” He touched the spot on my forehead between my brows. I shook my head at him. “It’s just a dream, Natsu.”

It didn’t sound like a dream. It sounded strange. Some dark poem that Ban made up. “One day I will make it true.” It didn’t sound like something that could be true. Maybe Ban was just having a go at me. It wouldn’t be the first time.

He leaned down his tongue flicked out over my nipple. I gasped again his cock was still shoved deep inside me. Ban pulled back bucking his hips faster. I could feel my body clenching around him as his hand wrapped around me. He stroked me in time with his thrust.

How was I suppose to hold a conversation with him when we were connected to each other like this. It made hard to think as his movement started to become faster and frantic. I knew Ban, we have been coming together in this matter for nearly hundred years now. I knew that this motion meant he was close to his climax. I was close to mine as well. I wanted him to release inside of me. Of course, he was going to. It was what he always did.

“You say that like it’s a good thing.” It didn’t sound like a good thing. Of course, I couldn’t actually tell what was supposed to happen from what he said. It still sent shivers down my spine. Ban laughed a little his hips moving erratically as he stroked me. “Ban!” His name was always a cry on my lips when we were like this.

He was still thrusting into my body until I hissed. I could feel his hot liquid filling me. His prick pulse inside of me as he gave up his seed. Leaning down he pressed a kiss to my jaw. He released my hands and I let out a sigh. We had been at it all night.

Ban’s touch flicked over my neck. I could feel his fangs bite into me. The pain and pleasure always drew me higher. My hands came around his back. My nails sank into his flesh breaking the skin. I could feel his tainted blood leak over my fingers. When he pulled away, my chest heaved with desire.

“I love you, Natsu,” Ban whispered even as my blood coated his lips. I closed my eyes. A part of me wanted to believe him. A smarter part of me knew better.

A yawn split my face as I stood behind Soji’s chair in their supposed war room. There were ten individuals seated at the table including Soji. Rhett, Able, and Soji’s stepmother were among the ten. I zoned out for most of the boring talk. Every now and then I would tug on Soji’s hair so he wouldn’t nod out and face plant the table.

My eyes moved across the room to Able. He was shuffling through papers that were laid out in front of him. This meeting was about Ban and Kenji. I got that much from the bits that I listened to. None of them seemed to be listening as they all talked over each other. The only thing they agreed on was the Night of Demons had to be stopped.

Rhett clapped his hands together making them all shut up. I yawned again as all the others snapped their mouths shut to listen to their master. I didn’t get it. As far as I could tell Rhett held no power inside of him. So why were they people so willing to follow him.

“Ban needs someone who is pure to complete the ceremony. We will use Soji as bait to blitz him.” That was Rhett great idea. It sounded like a sure fire way to put Soji in danger and give Ban just what he wants. No one blitz Ban. No one lures him out. He shows up when he wants where he wants and Ban always gets what he wants.

I chucked at this notion drew the eyes of the others to me. I couldn’t help it that it was a laughable idea. For all of that they should have just gift wrapped Soji and told Ban to please end the world for them. It would have been the faster more respectable way of doing things.

“Do you have something to say, Demon.” Able asked. It was never Zero when Able talked to me. In the three days that I have been here he only referred to me as Demon. I didn’t know if he thought I was going to be upset about this or not. I was a demon. Calling me one had no effect.

“What do you suggest, Zero?” Soji’s step-mother asked. Unlike the others when she looked at me she didn’t hold the same hatred in her eyes. She was the one that called me a coward but let me go. She was like a real mother. I think she accepted me just because Zero did.

“Why would you ask him?” Able hissed out his words. I rolled my eyes at this man.

“How many times have you run into Ban?” I asked Able. I already knew the answer to that question. None, Able was the kind of person that Ban hated. He would have killed him just because he didn’t like his face. “I don’t know everything about Ban. In fact, I hardly know anything about him. Ban isn’t the kind of man that let you pull back his mask. I do know that Ban will see through your trap and take Soji.”

“What then?” Soji asked. I wanted to reach out to him, but I wouldn’t with his father in the room. “They are going to bring hell to earth the next new moon. We only have three days.” I knew that. It still didn’t make it a good plan.

“We target Kenji. Ban needs Kenji or else he wouldn’t be keeping him around. Kenji is prideful and pride makes you stupid. We lure him out, attack him, kill him. That’s how we do this. You’ll need your best mages. Ban will probably pop up after we attack Kenji. They are both S-Classed demons. They won’t just lay down and die.” If they really wanted to stop this, they had better be smart about it.

“Zero is right.” Soji backed me up and Able growled at the white mage. This could be my chance. If I had these idiots backing me up then maybe this would be the only chance that I got to kill Ban and Kenji. I wanted to end them both. They killed my families and now they would pay.

I reached up touching the ring around my neck. Then it would be over. I wondered what I would do after it was done. I spent the last two hundred years only thinking about Ban. What would my life be out when Ban was gone?

“We’ll focus on Kenji,” Soji’s step-mother spoke. Looking towards Rhett he was frowning. He didn’t like the idea of going after Kenji. Or maybe he just didn’t like the fact that it was my idea. If he wanted a chance at winning this battle, he would listen to my idea.

Whatever Rhett was thinking he kept it to himself. They went back to planning out their attack until the meeting was finally over. I stretched as Soji and I left out the room. As soon as I was in the hall someone slammed into my body making me stumble back.

“Zeo!” Rai yelled her arms were around me as she embraced me. This was the first time I saw her in two days. Following Soji around didn’t leave much room for anything else. They kept the white mage busy. He was always in meeting like this. Or he went around healing anymore who might have needed it. His down moments were still spent behind a desk buried in paperwork. I felt sorry for him.

“Hey, little one.” I stoked Rai’s hair as she pulled back a smile on her face. I was starting to think that she was never going to smile again. I was happy that even after all that happened to her she still found something to smile about.

“They are giving me awesome training.” She beamed and I smiled at her. I figured that this would be good for her gift. There was a lot of mages here. She would get the training she needed here. That was what I wanted for her.

“I can’t wait to see you in action,” I told her. I could see the question in her eyes. Deep within her eyes I could still see sadness. I wanted to take that away from her. I wanted to make everything right in Rai world again. I knew that there was nothing I could do. These kinds of wounds heal in time.

“Ayase told me you all are going after Ban.” That wasn’t all the way true. We were actually going after Kenji and not Ban. I wouldn’t tell her that though. “Kenji will be with him.” I squeezed my eyes shut. I knew where this was going.

“Rai . . . it’s not-”

“He killed my mother!” Rai cut me off. “He took my brother from her body.”

“He’ll kill you as well. If you give him one chance, he will slaughter you. You aren’t ready for this battle, Rai.” I didn’t want her to think she was weak. She wasn’t weak, she was the strongest person I knew. Still I couldn’t allow Rai to come with us. It was too dangerous.

“What am I supposed to do? Just let you handle it. I’m going with you. You can’t stop me.” I could if I wanted to. I could stop her.

“I promised Shu to keep you safe. I can’t do that if you’re running off into battles you can’t win.” She couldn’t win this. Rai stomped her foot before running down the hall. I sighed leaning against the wall and sliding down the wall before sitting. I was happy I never had children. They were too much work.

“Darkness fall and the moon bleeds. Light stalls because the sun feeds. Mortals die when sacrifices are made. Gods cry and the world fades. Demons crawl as hell is raised. Human brawl in chaos phase.” I whispered the words licking my lips. So this is the future. The Night of Demons. “It’s my move now Ban.”

TWENTY-FIVE

All of the mages in the church were suiting up. They were preparing for the battle ahead. Kenji was the target, but I wondered if even with all of this firepower was it going to be enough. I probably should have told them their armor wasn’t going to mean shit against Ban and Kenji.

They were so focused, so sure that they were going to win. I didn’t want to crush their dreams and bring down morale. Of course, most of the people here wouldn’t listen to me anyway. I was just some stupid demon in their mind.

Leaning against the wall in their armory I bit into the apple Soji had given me after breakfast. He wasn’t in here with the others. Soji knew that the armor was just for sure. He was making his own preparation for his part in this battle. Raising the apple to my mouth again it was taken from my fingers. My eyes shifted to the left of me as I watched Fang bite into the fruit.

“Ready for your slaughter?” Fang asked holding the apple out to me. I didn’t take it. I had no idea where Fang’s mouth been or more importantly who he’s been putting his mouth on. I might couldn’t get any human sickness, but I still didn’t want to risk it.

He said me, but he would be a part of this Fang as well. His power would be useful in the battle to come. I didn’t want to get hopeful. I was afraid that if I allowed myself to think today we were going to kill Kenji and Ban something was going to go wrong.

“I died once. It wasn’t so bad.” Of course, that was a lie. My death was awful. It made me cling to life harder. It made me come back as something that was greater than what I had been. I wanted life so badly I became a demon in order to live.

“You have bigger problems than death at the moment,” Fang said and I frown I always considered not dying to be my main focus in this world. Fang pointed towards a cluster of the mages that were in the room. My eyes followed as I saw Rai.

Sighing I pushed off the wall walking towards Rai. What did she think she was doing? It was like this girl couldn’t wait to die. No, she was just a teenager. She didn’t know what it meant for her life to be in true danger. Even as we went after the other demons, she had been protected. This wasn’t that kind of battle. There would be no standing on the side lines and watching.

I grabbed the chest plate that Rai was adjusting around herself. She paused looking up at me. I glared down at her. I tried to give her the same look that Shu would have been giving her right now if he was here. The mark was probably missed by a mile but still she got the point.

“How did that get there,” she gave a nervous laugh. Looking around as if someone was actually going to answer her. I watched as the other mages stepped away from us. They were more than likely moving away from me. They wouldn’t want the taint of a demon to touch them or whatever nonsense they teach here.

“Rai . . .” I started and she shook her head wildly. Brown hair was tossed around her face.

“If you’re going after Kenji I should be there.” Her voice held a whine to it. Reaching out I pushed my fingers through her hair. She was a strong girl, such a brave child. Rai was a child though, only fourteen. She had her whole life ahead of her. There was no need for her to so recklessly throw it away.

“I know you want this. I know how important this is for you. I understand the burning need inside of you. I have that same need inside of me, Rai. I lost my family in the worse kind of way. I watched them die in front of my face. Even worse it was at a time when demons were just in the Bible or on TV. So I know, believe me I know.”

I knew how much this meant to her. I knew what it was like to be driven by one thought. How the want and need to end the person that took everyone from you could be. I knew the desire that fueled her fire. I also knew that it was pointless. I have come across Ban so many times and each time he could have killed me again. Kenji wasn’t Ban and Rai wasn’t me. Kenji would kill her just for shits and giggles.

“I can’t stay here knowing that everyone else is out there. He killed my family. He has been the monster in the dark all my life. My grandfather promised to ever let him get away. My father . . . my mother . . .” Rai choked and I stroked her hair. “He killed my mom.”

I pulled her closer to me. I wanted to give in. I wanted to tell her to come with us. That once she killed Kenji the hurt inside of her would go away. That would all be a lie though. I couldn’t lie to Rai. Not when her life depended on me being honest. She didn’t need pretty words right now. She needed the cold harsh truth.

The the truth was she would be slaughtered if she went out there. Rai would just be in the way of everyone else. She couldn’t take out an C-Classed demon with her skill set right now. There was no way she could kill Kenji. If . . . when Ban showed up it would just be worse. This wasn’t a battle that she wanted.

“Look around Rai, what do you see?” I asked her. She pulled back from me so that she could look around the room.

“Mages ready to fight to kill two demons.” I looked around the room as well.

“I see men and women who are saying their final peace. Over half of them won’t come back here. They will die in this battle. Do you want to know why no one is laughing, joking, smiling. Because before they came here they said goodbye to the people they loved. They told them to go on if they didn’t make it back.

Shu should have done the same with you. He always believed he was coming home though. I believed it for him. Because I wanted him to always come home. This isn’t a game, Rai. You don’t get extra lives. You can’t hit the continue button when your health points run out. You only have this life. You have to protect it, guard it, treasure it for all time.”

Rai opened her mouth to speak, but I held my head up halting her words. Leaning down I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I love you so much, Rai. You have been like an annoying little sister to me since Amy brought you into this world. I know you’re going to be upset. I know that you will hate me. I just want you to know that I love you. That my actions are because of that love. Please find it in your heart to forgive me one day.”

Touching the center of her forehead with my black flame she dropped but I caught her before she could hit the floor. She would sleep for the rest of the day and when she woke up win or lose this battle would be over. I scooped her up into my arms so I could put her in her bed.

“Zero,” Soji called to me as he walked into the room.

“Rai will sit this one out,” I told him and he looked down at the sleeping girl. His eyes followed mine as he nodded his head. He wouldn’t fight me on this. There was nothing to fight over. I carried Rai to the room she was given. My fingers pushed the hair out of her face as she rested in her bed. When she woke up, I hope I would be able to tell her it was over. That Kenji was dead. That the battle was won.

Pressing a kiss to her forehead I moved away from Rai. Now it was time to join the others. We were working under the pretense that Kenji would come for Soji. Ban wanted Soji, he needed him. Kenji wanted to please Ban so he would get the white mage for him. At least that was how this plan was supposed to work.

Coming into the courtyard I stood beside Soji and Fang. All of those who were a part of this mission had gathered. Rhett looked down at his men from his high place on the stairs. The pretension asshole was going to make some kind of speech. His type always had to.

“Brothers!” His booming voice carried throughout the yard. “Sister, friends!” They all bowed to him slightly. Fang and I seemed to be the only people here unwilling to bend our backs for this idiot. “We are gathered here for a mission. Not just any mission but the most important one we have ever taken on.”

He was laying it on thick. Looking around I could tell that all of his followers were buying what he was selling. He paced the stairs his hands behind his back as he was decked out in his armor. He looked the part of someone important. I hated to be the one to tell him he wasn’t.

“We will stop the Blood Demon Kenji and in term the Great Demon Lord Ban from bringing hell to earth.” There were cheers in the cheer. I could see the smile on Rhett's lips. His people pumping his ego more. “For too long we have been suffering from the infection known as demon kind.”

That was a bit rude. I didn’t think of myself as an infection. I had all my shots and everything. “For too long they have fed on us, treating as if we are nothing more than cattle.” That was because to demons they were. I’m sure lots of demons would want nothing more than to stick a barcode on human asses and take them to the slaughter house when the time was right.

“Earth is ours by birth right. God made us in his image, not them.” He hasn’t been reading the Bible correctly. Demons were just fallen angels. That meant God made us as well. Which God would he be speaking of in the first place. Nowadays there was so many. “We cannot allow the demon scum to take it from us.”

The men and women standing with us started to beat on the chest plates they wore. Whichever weapon they held slapped against the armor making a rhythmic beat. There was no less than two hundred individuals in the courtyard.

They already held and kiss their families. Already told them what to do if they didn’t come home. They prayed to their God and they made peace with whatever held them here. Was this really the time to listen to empty words from an idiot leader. Or was this the time to be alone, to collect yourself. To ask if death was what you were truly ready for.

I’ve learned no one is ever ready for death. Still he walks beside you, he sits with you, he eats across the table from you. Death, the bastard he is lies, on top of you. He crushes you on a daily basis. Most of us are just too dumb, too blind to ever notice. Death isn’t a stranger. He’s an old friend that watches your every move, he’s an enemy waiting to strike.

“Today is the start of our greatness. Today Kenji dies by our hands. Today the Gods wins.” Rhett finished and there were roars of his people. I shook my head. If this was what it took, I suppose it was needed. It was just said that all of those words meant nothing.

They all bowed their heads praying to Gods that didn’t give two shits if they lived or died. Once they were finished, we all got into vans. The field that this was going to happen on was a little over five hours away. Out in the middle of nowhere where no innocents would be hurt.

I yawned as I sat in the grass. We were waiting for Kenji to show himself. I had my doubts that he would come here. The time was drawing near. Only two days left until the big showdown. Ban would want all of his tools before it was showtime.

“I feel honored,” it had been two hours but that voice was unmistakably Kenji. Jumping to my feet I could see the Blood Demon. He stood on the other side of the invisible line Rhett seem to have drawn. I was at the front of the line with Fang, Soji, Rhett, and Able. The rest of this small army was behind us.

“Even Ban’s beloved Natsu came to greet me. I feel so special. I leave gifts for others everywhere I go. No one has ever gone something so nice for little old me.”

“Probably because you’re an asshole,” I spoke up and Kenji frowned as he looked over at me. I could feel my fangs pushing down. This was it then. The moment we have been waiting for. I owed him a death. For Shu and his family. For Rai would couldn’t be here. I owed Kenji blood as I took my pound of flesh.

“Ban won’t be here to save you this time,” Kenji said and my black flames surrounded my hands.

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing. I rushed towards Kenji. Lesser demons popping up over the field to engage the other. I reached him, and he ducked as I swung at him. I followed up with a kick landing it to his ribs.

He took the kick grabbing my shirt and punching me in the face. I could feel pain explode behind my eyes, and could taste blood. I flicked my tongue out tasting my blood. Hurting me just enraged me. Just made me more sure I wanted to take Kenji out.

He backed away from me his blood snakes wrapping around his arms. He moved his hand sending them out towards me. I ducked, rolling out of the way so that I could get close to him again. I stabbed my hand out my nails grew to their demon length. Kenji grabbed my arm twisting it behind me.

“What’s the matter, Natsu?” The way he said the name Natsu was bitter, it was mocking. Nothing like the way Ban said it. I hissed at him as he stood behind me. His hand reached around my front as he groped me. “Can’t get it up. I thought this was how you liked it.” Maybe with Ban, Kenji wasn’t Ban.

I slammed my head back into him, and he released me. Laughing as I punched him in the face again, and again. He kicked me in the stomach, and I stumbled back away from him. His face was a bloody mess, but that was just how I wanted it. He was still laughing though, and that annoyed me.

“I don’t to get it up. Ban gets plenty hard for the both of us.” I mocked him. I knew that he wanted Ban. I also knew that Ban wasn’t the type to play bottom for anyone. Doing a quick scan of the field, it was an all out war.

Humans fought against demons. The roar of the battle was deafening, the thrill of it strangely fulfilling. I found Soji handling his own against three lesser demons. His blade of light cut through them like a hot knife would butter.

Fang was standing still as the fallen men rose to attacked. I was glad I made Rai stay back for this battle. It was hell here. The cries of the dying were haunting, Rai didn’t need to be haunted by these things so early in life.

“When I give the white mage to Ban he will reward me.” I laughed at Kenji’s words. He was working so hard for his reward. How was it that Kenji could want Ban so badly and not be a blip on his radar. All I wanted was to kill the Great Demon and he confesses his love to me every chance he gets.

“You’re pathetic.” I hissed at him as his eyes narrowed to glare at me. His expression changed into a smile. All the while we were still throwing kicks and punches at each other. The battering adding anger to our attacks as each word was spat at each other.

“You should have been there, Natsu.” I rolled my eyes at that name. “You should have heard her screams. If only you tasted her blood.” He licked his lips as if he could still take it. I didn’t need to know who the ‘her’ was. He was talking about Amy of course.