Part 29: The Ritual

 

"Wolf demons all originate essentially from one tribe, which dates back over the years to a few millennia. Though not the first demons ever to walk Makai, they are among some of the oldest around.

In the main tribe, the ruling family comes from a long line of royals before them. These royals are descendants of The Elders, the ancients – the first Wolf Demons. Humans would call them werewolves. 

The Elders were in essence, large dog-like creatures, several times the size of an average wolf, and with the strength and power of Gods.

During the ages, and wars in Makai, The Elders mated with different breeds of demons, and thus the blood thinned and different breeds of Wolf Demon were created - who are now in different tribes in different areas of Makai.

 

The family however, who had the most Ancient Blood in them was appointed Alpha Male and Female, over the original pack. This is how today's wolf society works, though each tribe has a leader, that leader is ruled over by the main Royal family, more importantly by the Alpha male and female of the main pack.

 

There was however a pattern found within the blood. That being that every 10th generation, the child's blood would be more potent with Ancient Blood. The Wolf blood, whenever it runs risk of becoming too little somehow revitalizes itself every 10th generation, to ensure that the wolf stays dominant in the interbreeding. The child in the royal family that this happens too is in essence, an Ancient. They have the strength, of a Werewolf, they are God-like."

 

You were painfully confused.

You squinted, groaning lightly looking around. What exactly had happened? Who was talking? Where were you?
Your mind ached for the questions, but nothing came to substance. It all seemed blank. What was the last thing I remember? The last thing I saw?

"My dear, are you paying attention?" A face came into view over head. Mismatched eyes, cold and dead that held only amusement; pale skin and a slow; lazy sneer of a smile showing off one long, slender canine.

It all flooded back like a tonne of bricks. You tired to bolt up right, lashing out with your hand; but nothing happened. The grin grew wider.

"I must have hit you too hard... it's okay. You're not alone, look..." Your eyes impulsively followed to where he pointed. "They're all here to watch the finale. Front row seats too. I'm too nice really."

 

"Hiei! Yusuke... shit, Kurama, Shad! Wake up! Wake up!" You shouted, terror ripping from your throat making the echo amplify. They hung limply from the wall, too tight cuffs making blood drip from cuts on their wrists which hung about their heads. Hiei's eyes slowly moved, you're heart quickened.

But how did this happen? I only remember charging, what happened after that! God, why can't I remember?! Panic seared your clouded brain, making your breath hitch and falter in your already restricted lungs. Your hands were bound over your head. Dimly you felt shackles about your feet, too.
Trapped.

 

"Let them go." You turned your eyes to Akki's, and winced when he grinned that malicious grin. You turned away ashamed. You were pleading to him. Pleading.
"They have nothing to do with what you need right? You just need me." You kept talking, the words stumbling out your mouth before you could stop yourself. He was toying with a rather lethal looking knife. You hoped you wouldn't witness what that was for...

"They are involved. I can't let them go back to their precious little prince now, can I? I'm not stupid. The defence force would be on my tail like a bad case of fleas. Not that it'd make a difference after The Ritual's completed, but still. It could be troublesome." He lent down and smoothed your hair from your face. "You understand that I have to kill them right?"

You shrank away, but it didn't stop your skin from crawling.

How do I get out?

 

Hiei's Point of View

 

The world came to you in waves of moving splashes of colour, and dampened sounds. It felt like you were swimming in deep water but unable to control yourself. What happened to Brianey?

It flooded back...

  ~ 

 

You watched from a distance as Brianey charged at the Wolf Alpha, swinging her sword up to block his own and then jabbing her shoulder into his stomach. Pride flashed through you as you saw Akki had been unaware. He stumbled back from the attack and then was forced to the defensive.

She was pushing him to block her attacks. Using her anger to override her emotions so that she'd simply react, instead of think.

Her fighting has improved. She isn't thinking of the consequences to her actions anymore. She doesn’t care if she kills. Reckless... but it's working.  You commented quietly.

 

Her movements were graceful; all flowing as if it were a co-ordinated dance. Her attacks leaking from one to the other in perfect rhythm, until even the S-classed Alpha was taking damage – His arm was missing muscle tissue, the blood pooling out of the wound in small throbs that must have been synced with his pulse.
Brianey only continued her assault, with a thrust to his leg and then her new Luna Coil attack. Akki barely dodged the attack and you had to move quickly as it swung your way and took out part of the wall to your right.
Her power, you realised in shock, had increased ten fold, in less than five minutes.

How? ...

 

"My, my Brianey. How you tease me!" Akki's voice rang out, purring in pleasure, as he threw one of his own attacks at the girl. Spirit Chain's wrapped around her body and bound her. She keeled over with a yell.

"Brianey!" Anger flared as you launched at your enemy, aiming a slash to his back. You flew backwards in shock as your blade only glanced off the air a few centimetres from him. He aimed a grin toward you.
"No, no, you annoying brat. How do you like my moon barrier?" He turned back to Brianey as you snarled in frustration. A moon barrier? So that's why he wasn't concerned in being alone in a large open space. The moon unlocks some of his attacks. When it's full, it must increase his power. It makes sense as Wolves have always become more active around a full Luna Cycle.... Shit! Flipping up you pushed off the wall behind you, trying to aim yourself toward where Brianey lay. Her sword was a few metres from her outstretched hand, and her eyes were wild and vacant.

Her eyes were hollow.

 

Something's wrong... You suddenly realised, as you landed by her. She was growling deep in her throat, her hair a tangled mess of brown, white and black.
"Brianey?" You asked curtly.
A chuckle from behind you. You leaped numbly aside, dodging a kick, and slowly turned toward Akki. "What did you do to her, you bastard!"

"Do? It's not me... it's her power, you felt it right, forbidden child? How her power gloriously increased ten-fold? You know as well as I, that no ones mind... or body can take on that amount of sudden strength..." You tensed, eyes flicked back to Brianey. "Her minds trapped inside a wild body. She has no idea probably, what's going on. To us... we can see. To her... well it's probably like being asleep." He laughed. "Such a pathetic thing really... I thought she would be able to handle it."

"This is your fault! You made her angry on purpose!"

"Naturally.” He laughed at you in delight, as you're face grew cold and angry. "Anyway, enough chit-chat." He threw his arm up sharply, like a whip, Brianey following the movement as she was connected to the chains. You dove forward to try to break her fall, but found instead she was flying toward you. Akki's had used her to get to you.

The contact of the hit made your breath fly out, and you took an involuntary gasp, trying to get air to your lungs, only to find you couldn't easily. Looking around wildly you felt cold ice climbing up your arms constricting you like an anaconda.

Akki's chains had bound you too.

 

"Let's see how you both do under my absorption chains?" He smirked.

The last thing you saw, before the pain, were Yusuke and the others piling through the door.

Then all you felt was pain.

  ~ 

 

He must have drained our energy. You mused.
You lifted your head, more aware and opened your eyes. They met Brianey's frantic storm raged ones.

"Hiei!" She carried on screaming at you, calling out different names, all the while Akki circled her nursing a large blade as he did. Tensing at the hunger in his eyes you yanked upward, but grimaced as you felt a bone in your shoulder scream in protest. You looked up and then across.

You and the rest of team Urameshi were chained; arms over heads, in an inset in the chamber. Probably used for torturing or holding the prisoners Akki had glossed over on first arriving in the room with Brianey.

"Focus!" You forced out loud enough for her to hear. She stopped calling, and you saw the relief in her eyes to your answer. She was showing relief to you being conscious. You frowned confused, as your stomach clenched.  She should be more worried about herself. Not me. Not them either. You looked to the others, before closing your eyes and focusing your Kai.

You felt the change come slowly.

"Ah, the forbidden one is awake. Only the others now and then we can start The Ritual." Akki's voice came to your ears. Blocking it out, you used your Jagan, and slowly influenced the rest of your team back to the waking world.

Come on you idiot's. Do you really want to be asleep for this? Baka's!

 

  *

 

Thank God he's alive! You gulped an intake of air, before it was replaced with sickness.

He wasn’t going to alive for long, if you didn't get out. You started up your struggling again, ignoring the pain that welled up in your arms and your legs, feeling the shackles cut into your skin at the wrists. The white hot burning of your blood dribbling down onto the already blood caked stone you lay on.

Groans from the inset. Your eyes flew back to Hiei, and as they adjusted automatically to the decrease in light, you ran them along the wall to the rest of the members- they were waking up too.

"And so the warriors of three worlds do awaken to face their end. As the key lays feeble on the stone." Akki recited, as he sauntered over to them. You tensed growling.
"Get away from them!" You screamed in panic. "Stop hurting the people I love! Why do you always hurt them and not me! You wanted me! I'm here! I'm trapped, and I'm defenceless! TAKE ME INSTEAD YOU SADISTIC BRINGER OF PAIN!"

He only turned to you, his eyes glinting in pure overflowing hunger. In complete and utter satisfaction, pleasure; lust.

You read the words that came to his lips.

 

"It's time."

 

You continued screaming, as he came back toward you. Panic was overriding every other sense in your body. You had to get out. Had to.
His eyes simply grinned at you maliciously.
You watched him take a book from a cloth you had not noticed before hand. Propping it open on one hand as he found the correct page, he looked at you over the book.

 

"On this night, with witness by the Goddess Luna.
Let this Ritual proceed."

 

You kicked and screamed, rocking side to side, straining with your every fibre to break the chains. Dimly you heard similar sounds to the ones you made, echoing from somewhere. Looking up, you saw five other bodies trying to escape.

Your comrades, no. Your family. Were trying to escape to help you, too.

"Pull Bri! GET OUT NOW!" Yusuke screamed, as he growled against the pain in his arms. Shadow was leaning up and biting the metal, ignoring the blood that came from her teeth.

Kurama, had changed to Youko. But his plants were unable to eat through the metal or pull effectively.

 

"Five sacrifices, to the Five Gates;"

Akki read the line, before moving over to the others. He took the knife, and, starting with Hiei, he cut a symbol into his left wrist.
You saw Hiei bite back the pain, and instead stare murderously at the wolf demon. All that he received in return was a cruel chuckle. "The Gate and bearer of Fire."

He moved onto Kurama. You glared in terror and rage, as he cut another into Youko's arm and then lazily followed along with. "The Gate and holder of Earth."

 

He moved to Shadow. "The Gate and keeper of Water." Another symbol, and a slap too. She had spat blood in his face. You glared at Akki in pure loathing as Shadow's eyes rolled to the back of her head, but saw her fight unconsciousness. The rage inside you was increasing until your ears were buzzing, and your vision narrowed to only that scene.
You knew this was game over. You were drained of power, tied down, and your friends were defenceless too. Even with all of there strength, the S-class detective team of Prince Koenma, were no match for this, twisted sadistic container of evil.

After all the training, everything single experience with demons they had, had.
This was how it would end.

They would never see their families; they would never see their homes, again.

 

It's my fault again. After everything I said, everything I did to stop this. All I've really done is steer the ship right to the iceberg myself. I'm stupid, and I know none of us are a match for him, but please.
Please someone... anyone... Let me find the strength, to fight. I don’t care how. I don’t even care if it kills me anymore.
I want the power to kill that creature.
I want the power to kill.

 

"I'm going to rip you to pieces!" Your eyes widened at the thought, it had come so powerfully. "I will watch in pleasure as you are slowly torn to shreds within my claws. You will feel the pain you have bestowed upon me."

 

"The Gate and wielder of Air." He cut Kazuma, and you wince. He had chosen Kazuma's previously damaged arm, and you knew it was out of spite.

 

"You will bleed for me. And I shall drink the blood of the one who dares to harm my vessel!"

You closed your eyes in shock. Choking slightly, as your body continued to move of its own accord. And to your horror, you could feel another presence in your mind.
An old presence.

"Do not fear, vessel. You only hear me now, because we are to be split. The Ritual awakens the beast." It chuckled almost seductively. "I am you, and I am not you. And I can give you what you want."

What I want? Your body started shaking. What was going on?  You felt like you were going mad. I must have finally cracked under the pressure.... Is this what happens when you're so terrified of watching you worst nightmare play out before your eyes?

 

"The final gate. The Gate of the Spirit." You barely registered as Akki ripped Yusuke's shirt, and carved inexpertly into his chest. Yusuke gritted his teeth, a few colourful words escaping him in anger.

Akki swung around in elation and almost ran toward you. You watched in silent horror, as the sound cut off around you, and the knife shot through the air in eager pleasure, and the pain torn into your chest.
You felt yourself convulse.

"The Key and the Host, are united."

 

"I shall avenge my vessel!"

 

It went dark.

All you could hear were screams in the dark.