Blood Prize (Bloody Dance #1) (9 page)

I kneed her in the gut. She started to go down, but I caught her before she could. Grabbing her I yanked her back onto her feet and Soji and Emiko started to clap for her. I watched Rai glare over at the pretty boy but then her expression softened as she took a bow. Reverting back into my human form I spun around her my nails at her throat.

I could feel her gulp. I could smell the light sheen of sweat that coated her forehead. Her heart was racing again as I lowered my head allowing my fangs to brush against her neck. Amy was still in her seat watching all of this. The whole time she had a small smile on her face as she rubbed her belly. She wasn’t worried about Rai. She knew I would never actually hurt her daughter. She knew that Rai needed this wake-up call if she wanted to be a true Hunter.

“Never trust a demon.” I hissed in Rai’s ear and she nodded her head slowly. If she remembered that, she might just become a Demon Hunter after all.

THIRTEEN

The next morning we all left after breakfast. Driving to the Demon Hunter bar we all stood in front of the board to see who our target would be. Just as always Ban and Kenji remained on the board untouched by everyone who didn’t have a death wish.

My eyes stayed on Ban’s smiling face. Just as beautiful as every. He stared from the picture as if he was looking at me. I could hear Mother Fate’s words. She asked me if I loved Ban. How could anyone love a demon? I’m a demon. I’m incapable of love. Even if I could love Ban has only earned my undeniable hatred.

Shaking silly thoughts like love out of my head I cast my eyes away from Ban so that I could look at the rest of the board. A C-class demon would be best for this team. It was strong enough to get us some money. Weak enough to be used as the practice we needed in order to get our teamwork down pack.

Looking at my ragtag team of misfits I wondered if teamwork even existed between us. Rai hated Soji because I kissed him. Emiko hated me because I was a demon. Soji was free loving and smiles all around. What was I? Annoyed with all three of them.

Pulling a page from the board I looked at the demon on it. The Soul Demon Azul. He would fetch us forty thousand credits. He would be a good first mission for the team. Maybe being trapped in the car as we make it to him will be good for team morale.

Spitting up we all needed to go shopping for the road ahead of us. I didn’t need anything so I sent Rai with Emiko and Soji. It would be good for the three of them. At least I hoped it would be. For now I wanted a few minutes to myself. Since Shu's death and making to back to Rai and Amy, I don’t think I had a moment that it was just me.

Pulling a pack of cigarettes out, I placed one between my lips. Flicking my finger, the black flame appeared lighting the end of the stick. Inhaling deeply the smoke burned slightly as I blew it out through my nose. I could feel the stress of the last few weeks melting away from me.

Turning I started to walk when I was frozen in my tracks. My eyes fell to a man who wasn’t actually a man. The Blood Demon Kenji was in this city. It had been a while. Maybe he picked this city to be where he got his next meal. Some family was about to be demon food.

The last time I saw him he was kicking me around as if I was some rag doll. The last time I saw him Shu died. The thought of Shu made my blood boil. He was alone, without Ban around I wondered if I was demon enough to take him. This was my chance to avenge Shu and his family. It was my job as a member of that family to take my pound of flesh.

Flicking the cigarette away, I followed Kenji as he walked through the streets. Fighting him out in the opening would just mean more humans would die as they were caught up in our battle. I would follow him until he was somewhere less crowded.

As Kenji walked down an alley, my nails and fangs pushed down. I was ready to end his life. He had to pay for all the sins he commented. He had to pay for the pain that he has caused the people I love. The people who took me in when I had nothing. Kenji had to pay.

My steps started to quicken. Soon I was rushing towards the Blood Demon. Before I could touched him, hands grabbed me yanking me back. They covered my mouth and wrapped around my waist as I was pressed against something, no it was someone.

I could feel my mind racing as I struggled against hands that had enough strength to hold me. Who was this? Kenji wasn’t alone. Who was he with? I stopped my struggled for a moment. I could feel someone lowering themselves so their face was beside mine. My eyes shifted and I could see hair as red as blood.

“You’re so feisty, Natsu.” Ban’s lips were at my ear as he whispered. My eyes shifted down the alley, but Kenji was gone. He got away because of Ban. They were trying to bring about the Night of Demons. I was the person who was supposed to be stopping this. Killing Kenji probably would stop it.

In a smooth motion, Ban slammed me against the wall of the alley. My face hit the wall hard enough for spider web cracks to form. I hissed out as he was still behind me.

“I live to see that look of pain on your face, Natsu.” Twisting my head Ban pressed his lips to mine. I parted my mouth under his. Our tongue twisted around each other as I started to close my eyes. I knew what this was. I knew how easy I could get lost in Ban. I could feel his fingers grabbing a fist full of my hair as he slammed my head into the wall. The warmth of my blood ran down my face as dust from the wall rained down on us.

Ban slipped his fingers into my pants groping me. I gasped at the pleasure of his touch. How could this man make me feel so good? A small moan parted my lips as his fingers wrapped around my length and started to stroke me. I shook my head. Trying my best not to fall into the trap Ban was laying for me.

Jerking my head back, I could feel it slamming against Ban’s face. He backed away from me and I quickly turned around. My lips pulled back in a sneer as I let out a low growl. Ban was rubbing at his nose, but there were no outward signs that my headbutt affected him.

“You know it turns me on when you fight.” He was smiling that perfect smile at me. His fingers wrapped around my throat as his other fist slammed into my stomach. I doubled over as he let me fall down to my knees. His fingers pressed into my hair as he yanked my head back hard enough to make me look up at him.

“You’re so hot when you’re on your knees, Natsu.”

“Burn in hell, Ban,” I growled at him and he laughed before punching me in the face. I thought I saw stars for a moment, but I shook it off trying to get back to my feet. There was no way I was going to stay on my knees in front of him. Ban pulled on my hair making me raise back up. He pushed me into the wall again before mashing his mouth against mine.

My fingers pressed up his shirt resting against his chest as he deepened our kiss. He tasted like coffee and blood. I could feel myself giving into him before he pulled back. There was a frown on his perfect face. I don’t think I ever saw Ban frown before. There has never been a need to. He has always gotten what he wanted.

“You smell different.” He pressed his noses into my hair sniffing me as if he was some kind of animal. Maybe being a demon and a dog wasn’t that far apart. He shoved his fingers into my pants again and I gasped as he squeezed his hand around me. It felt amazing as he started to stroke me.

“Who has touched you?” No one touched me. At the very most Soji and I kissed. Could he smell that on me? Or maybe it was just the fact that Soji was so close to me now that he could smell his light on me?

“Ban,” I moaned his name as he pressed in closer to me. Ban was the only one that touched me like this. Maybe I wanted someone else to. Maybe I wanted Soji, there was no maybe about that. I knew that I wanted the white mage. Maybe that was what Ban was smelling on me. My want for someone other than him.

“What whore did you lay down with?” I laughed. Was he . . . jealous?

“Any I like.” I hissed at him and moaned when his fangs sank deep into my neck. I could feel him drinking from me. My nails ran down his chest as he continued to stroke my member. I didn’t know how much longer I could last. The pleasure this man caused was always overwhelming.

Ban was the only demon I knew that drank from other demons. I had some of that power in me. I didn’t drink from demons, but I could take their powers by eating their core. It was the same thing I had done with Maya and so many others before her.

Pulling back I watched as my blood dripped from Ban's lips. He grabbed my shoulders turning me around. My face was slammed into the wall again as my pants were yanked down my waist. I could feel two of his fingers enter me and it sent another wave of pleasure coursing through my body.

“You’re mine, Natsu. Only I can have you. Only I love you.” This was whispered softly in my ear. It was almost said a plea. I shook my head. I didn’t accept his words. I wasn’t his. I didn’t believe that someone like him could love. Even if he could, I would never love him back.

I could feel him licking the back of my neck. It sent shivers down my spine to feel him touching me. I wanted more than his fingers. How long has it been since Ban and I done this. Forty years since he been inside of me. I wanted it, I needed it.

Mother Fate words played inside of my head again. It was sobering to think that someone thought I loved him. He was a monster. He killed my mother, sister, and my father. He killed my sister-in-law and tried to kill my brother and the niece I never got to meet. More importantly he killed me. My brain hated him, my heart rejected him, my body wanted Ban.

“Ban,” Kenji’s voice echoed in the alley. I had been coming after him so how had Ban and I ended up like this. “We need to go.” Kenji called and Ban tongue ran over my neck again. His hand was still pumping my member as his fingers continued to slide into my body. I could only moan in the pleasure he was bringing me.

“Ban!” Kenji yelled and my eyes shifted to him. Ban let out a deep threatening growl and I could see the Blood Demon take a few steps back. He was scared of Ban. That was something I never felt towards the Great Demon. Fearing him seem pointless after I became a demon. Fear had gotten me nothing but dead.

Removing his hands, I hissed out in disappointment as he turned me around again. His black eyes looked down into my golden ones. His eyes were beautiful. Yet they served to remind me he lacked a soul. There was only darkness inside of this demon. It sobered the lust growing inside of me. Still I shivered when he licked the blood from my face.

“I’ll kill any and everyone who touches you, Natsu.” Ban yanked my pants back up as he stepped away from me. My mind shifted to Soji. To what Mother Fate said about Ban killing the white mage. It was my job to protect Soji from this beast.

“Over my dead body.” I hissed my words at him and Ban gave me that perfect smile of his.

“My sweet Natsu. That’s already been done.” He laughed as the two demons disappeared in front of my face. I hissed out a breath I didn’t know I was holding in. Pressing my back against the wall, I slide down to sit on the ground. Reaching up I clenched the cloth over my heart. Ban, his name echoed inside of me.

FOURTEEN

I kept my meeting with Ban and Kenji to myself. There was no need to get the others involved when they didn’t seem to be after us. We stayed another night at our new home before hitting the road. Emiko insisted on being the driver so after a day of her bad driving we pulled over to a motel.

Since we been on the road, I noticed Rai opening up again. Mostly she was clinging to Emiko. I watched as Rai followed her around like some kind of kitten following the milk bowl. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Rai attachment to Emiko.

Even now, she sat on the bed with her legs crossed as she talked endlessly about everything that came to her mind. Emiko nodded her head giving her replies where they were needed. All the while Emiko kneeled behind Soji brushing his hair as if he was some kind of doll.

It didn’t go unnoticed how Emiko kept the white mage close to her. It was as if she was trying to keep the boy under her thumb. It made the once open and chattering Soji withdraw within himself. I wondered if this was what he was like at home with his people. If he guarded his words and kept to himself.

The silence Soji was a stark contrast to the chatterbox he had been when we first met. His endless string of conversation had been annoying when Soji first came into my life. Now I found that I missed the sound of his voice in it’s absent. Emiko should give him more room. How was he suppose to stretch his wings?

Pulling a cigarette out, I placed it between my lips about to light it when Emiko lowered me with a glance. She held her hand up pointing towards the door. Her non-smoker rule was starting to get annoying. She wouldn’t even let me enjoy one in the car.

Rolling my eyes at her I turned on my heels leaving the room. I was starting to think that I was the only outcast inside of our new team. They all flocked around Emiko treating her word as if it was law. It was lonely out in the cold.

Lighting the stick I left the hotel we were in joining the stumbling drunks that were walking the streets at this hour. I found that Mother Fate word implanted themselves inside of my brain. Protect Soji, stop the Night of demons, love Ban. I shook my head at the stupid thought.

I hated Ban wholeheartedly. How can you long to be touched by someone you hate? My life was cut short because of Ban. I never got a chance to love anyone. No one had the chance to love me. Ban keep saying he loves me, but I didn’t want his kind of love.

I was a demon. I shouldn’t be worrying about silly things like love. Maybe it was time I cut my losses. Shu was gone. Amy and Rai could make money doing something better than hunting demons. Amy could open up a bakery. She was a good baker. They could lead a good life. Shu’s unborn child as well. I needed to get away from all of these people. Hanging around humans were making me weak. I was never going to get my revenge on Ban the way I was now. I needed to be stronger.

There was a tiny voice inside of my head that chanted a single word. Run, Run, Run. I found myself wanting to obey this voice. I wanted to take out my wings and get as far from her as fast as I could. Soji would be safe if he went home to his people. Maybe Soji’s people would take Amy and Rai in. Rai was so taken in by Emiko. I didn’t know if it was because she was trying to hate me or if the older woman weaved some spell over Shu’s daughter. It hurt slightly. To see the child who you help raise turn their back on you. Maybe that was for the best. It made running easier.

Squeezing my eyes shut it seemed as if my mind hand been made up. Flicking the cigarette away from myself, I started to run. The wind was slapping me in the face stealing my breath away as I pumped my legs faster. With a thought, I shifted into my demon form. My wings stretched out taking me into the air.

Beating them faster I smiled at how light I felt in the air. Pouring on the speed I twisted and spun around in the sky. There was a freedom that settled over me that I never felt before. Was this the real me? Not a demon, not a human, just Zero.

Laughing I scooped down before raising back up. I set my sight on the moon and I just flew towards it. Time didn’t exist up here. There were no responsibilities. There was no Ban, no Soji, no Mother Fate with her annoying words. Up here there was no Amy, no Rai, and no Shu. There was only me, alone in a world so big that even in two hundred years I still didn’t understand it.

The feeling of euphoria was leaking from my body. My wings started to slow and I being to lower myself to the ground. Up there I didn’t have the people I loved. I didn’t have the family I wanted to protect. How could I leave Rai hundreds of miles from home with two strangers? What kind of man was I becoming?

If I was serious about leaving there was a correct way to do it. When Rai was home safe in her bed. When the baby was born and had someone to take care of them. When Amy was back on her feet and had a job that was enough to support them. That was when I could leave.

My feet touched the ground as I reverted back to my human form. Looking up I could see the moon hanging low in the sky. Its pale glow lit up the small area that I was in. Reaching up I closed one of my eyes. It looked as if I was holding the moon.

Letting my hand dropped I notice there was no one around in this town. My eyes shifted, but there wasn’t a single soul that stirred in this place. I could hear the soft trickle of the fountain that was in the center of the clearing I landed in. Where was I? How far had I gotten before I decided I couldn’t run anymore?

Taking in a deep breath I shifted back to my demon form. It was time for me to get back to the others. Snapping my wings out again I started on my return to the hotel. There was a sharp pain that hit my wing and I went spiraling down to the ground.

I hissed as I hit the ground hard. The dirt gave away under me creating a crater around me. I could feel the shockwave that ratted the buildings nearby. Looking at the wounded wing I yanked the arrow that hit me from. Shifting back to my human form I crawled from the hole I made. When I made it out, I could see high heel boots standing in front of me.

Deep green eyes looked down at me. They were displayed behind a pair of squared silver frame glasses. When I drew my eyes from hers, I could see the crossbow she had used to shoot me from the sky. Rising to my feet I rolled my shoulders. The pain from the crash hurt more than the arrow. I was just caught off guard when she shot me.

This woman wanted to pick a fight with me. So I would use her blood to heal the wounds she caused me. My fangs pushed from my gums as I sneered at her. Sniffing at the air I didn’t smell any power within her. How foolish to come after a demon when you didn’t even have magic on your side. Didn’t she know it was going take more than a few arrows to put me down?

Her heart was racing and I wondered if she even knew what she had gotten herself into. I could taste malice coming off of her in waves. This woman wasn’t a normal Demon Hunter. I wasn’t sure she was a hunter at all. There was a strong scent of blood that hung to her. Only this wasn’t the tainted blood of demons. It was fresh and sweet. Human blood.

She must have been some kind of outlaw to smell as strongly as she had. That meant she fell into the criteria of all of my meals. She loaded her crossbow again aiming it at me and fired. I moved to the side watching as the arrow go pass me.

Before she could reload, I was upon her. My fingers wrapped around her throat. She elbowed me in the nose and I stumbled back. Swing on her, my nails sliced into her left cheek. I could see the scraps of flesh hanging from her face as her blood poured from the wound to stain her shirt.

She moved away from me pressing her fingers to her face as if that was going to be enough to stop the bleeding. Looking down I raised my fingers to my lips. Licking away the blood that coated them I frowned at the taste. It reminded me of milk that had gone sour. All the malice inside of this woman tainted her blood. She wouldn’t be a tasty meal, but she could be one none the less.

She turned around ignoring her crossbow as she tried to run. I shook my head at her. Why did they always run? You can’t attack someone then run away. I used my demon speed to catch up with her in a matter of moments. My foot connected with her side sending her into the fountain that I had been near when I first landed. Coming towards her I could see her leaned again the fountain blood dripped from her lips as she turned the water red.

I stepped into the water with her and she let out this scream of pain and anger. I wondered how many screamed, begged, and plead with her to live. I frowned at the thought. Remembering my own cries for life that fell on deaf ears.

Reaching down I grabbed the woman by her throat. Yanking her towards me I sank my fangs into her neck. Her sour blood coated my mouth making me ignore the taste in order to drink it down. I could feel the wounds from the arrow and the fall to the ground healing. I drank every drop of the tainted blood in her veins before I dropped her into the fountain.

Rubbing my arm across my mouth I slowly bent down pulling one of the knives that I had strapped to my legs free. Turning around quickly I threw the knife towards the line of trees that was only a few feet away. I heard someone hissing out before I smelled the blood in the air.

“Show yourself.” My voice was threatening and cold. I didn’t feel like fighting again. I had only come here because I was trying to run away. Now it was time for me to go back. I watched as a man walked from the trees. There were no weapons on him that I could see. He didn’t need weapons I could smell the magic on him.

There was the faint scent of human blood that hung to him as well. My eyes shifted back to the woman I had just drank. A friend of hers maybe? I didn’t know why she attacked me. I wondered if this man was going to make meal number two.

I stepped from the fountain as he walked closer to me. I could see the cut on his cheek where the knife I threw hit. Short dyed green hair was messy. It looked like he haven’t seen a brush in years. His hazel eyes stayed on me as he stopped a foot away from me. He looked older than me, mid-twenties probably. I could tell he was no stranger to death. He had the look about him of someone who been in many battles. Who looked death in the eyes and walked away.

“Who are you?” I asked. What did he want? He wasn’t attacking me without warning as the woman had done.

“Not a Demon Hunter.” He held his hands up as if to show he wasn’t going to attack. His fingers moved as he pointed to the woman. “I’m a Bounty Hunter. She was worth fifteen thousand credits. Now that she’s dead I’m ten thousand short.” My eyes shifted over to her again. They were always worth more live.

“She attacked me.” I wasn’t sure why I was defending myself. I was a demon. It wasn’t as if I needed to explain it to him. Turning from the man I needed to get back to the hotel. The sun would be up soon and I wanted to be back before the others rose.

“Wait,” the man called me. I paused looking back at him. “You use to be with a Demon Hunter name Shu. He saved me when I was younger. I owe him my life.”

“Shu’s dead.” It was that simple. He didn’t owe anyone anything. You can’t repay a debt to a dead man. The man seemed to pause for a moment. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. I wasn’t sure why I was waiting for him to speak again either. Maybe because he knew Shu because out of respect for my dead friend I would hear this man out.

“I’m a mage. You have a team don’t you. Let me repay my debt to Shu this way.” I frowned at him. I could smell magic on him, but it wasn’t white magic. It wasn’t the burn of black magic either. I couldn’t smell any of the element on him. So what kind of magic did he have? What kind of mage was he? When had Shu saved him? Must have been the month he and Kaleb gotten into an argument and Shu ran away.

“If you die that’s on you.” I wasn’t going to protect him. I wasn’t going to promise him safety. There was no such thing in our business. You live for the job and you die by it. “My name is Zero.”

“People call me Fang.” Grabbing his waist I snapped out my wings so we could go back to the hotel. The flight was easy even when the extra weight. In my demon form, I hardly felt it. Fang hung onto me. It was probably for the best. I didn’t know if I would drop him or not.

The sun was just coming over the horizon as we landed. Walking into the hotel room Soji was the only one awake. He jumped up at the sound of the door opening then smiled when he noticed it was me. He started towards me but paused when he saw the stranger at my side.

“What a beauty,” Fang walked to Soji taking his hand and kissing it. I watched as Soji yanked his hand away rubbing Fang’s touch off on his pants. His eyes found mine looking slightly shocked that the stranger was bold enough to kiss him. “I’m Fang. You are by far the most beautiful creature I’ve ever had the honor of laying eyes on.” What was with this guy? Who even talked like that?

“I’m Soji. Welcome to our team.” Soji gave Fang a bright smile. I found myself frowning at the smile. I wanted him to only smile at me that way. How silly was that line of thinking? Fang reached towards Soji, but I was beside him grabbing his wrist before he could touch the white mage. He was mine. I frowned since when was Soji mine.

“Don’t touch him.” I hissed at Fang. He looked from me to Soji. Raising an eyebrow, I knew what he was thinking. Why would a white mage be with a demon? The truth was I didn’t understand it either. Soji was the one that decided to follow me. I guess he had his reasons.