At the end where Destiny awaits: Book 6 of the Kinstone series

I pass through more and more people, trying to reach my destination. I’m eager to, simply wanting to finally talk to someone I respect deeply. There’s a lot to talk about, some topics more than others.

When I finally arrive, Andriy smiles down to me, still with the same warmth and gentleness I’ve come to know from him. He doesn’t have a glass of Triizi with him, something I know he loves. Often it means he’s taking the session seriously and no doubt today is especially meaningful.

I grin up to my vampiric mentor, happy to lay eyes on him again after so long.

He grins to me, unfolding his arms as he easily towers over me. His crimson eyes look over me, appraisingly. He takes a long, deep breath, letting out a pride-filled sigh.

“You truly are beautiful in this form, little Aria,” he says. He then leans over, “Even your fangs shine true. If you were a vampiress you would be the envy to many.”

I blush deeply at his remarks. Most people tend to compliment my eyes when I’m in my human form. Yet for vampires, they compliment your fangs. Mine have grown a lot since I first became a kitsune, showing I’ve matured in more ways than one. Although not that long.

“It’s been too long, Master Andriy,” I tell him. “So much in fact,” I then giggle, “I’ve been to Dewloura. There’s so much more I now know, much I’ve already told my family.”

His face grows with shock as his eyes dart about. However his smile returns, reverting back to the face of the mentor I’ve come to highly respect. He pans down, seeing the crest of Shyair adorning a pendant on my obi, the same one Serasfall gave me. It’s an object of pride and longing, one I hope to bring back to where it came from.

He nods to me, “You have much to tell me. Hopefully able to restore what was so tragically lost to the world.”

I grin, nodding to him. “Not only tell, but to show you.” I lean back a little, folding my arms behind me. “Would you like to come with us when we go to Dewloura?”

His eyes grow wide as he staggers back a little. Andriy isn’t from Dewloura, although he has traveled there before the Fall. It’s why he has one of the larger collections of Dewlouran lore and knowledge pertaining to the city and empire. I really have to thank him and Viktor for all they gave me as it helped give me a basis when I first arrived in the past.

He smiles brightly, nodding. “I would be honored to travel with you. I also know battle will take place there. In that case, you have my blade at your service, miy uchen’.”

I smile, “Thank you.”

The two of us then begin to speak in Alcoran about my time there. I go into some intricate detail about it, mostly the places I traveled to, even my time at school. The old vampire merely smiles as I rave on and on with him asking questions along the way. I nearly lose myself the conversation.

However, I glance over to my right, still seeing the same dragon and elf from before. They seem to smile, as if I get the impression they’re actually following along with what I’m saying. Granted, some of the Alcoran I’m speaking with is laced with slang used by the students at the Acadenora. Meaning it’s not fully the “proper” language, yet somehow they still seem to easily follow me.

Just who are these two?

“Sernka, I came with the documents your counterpart asked for.”

My ears flick back, hearing the voice of someone entering the chambers. It’s male, slight tenor in pitch, however, even though heard once, I’d recognize it anywhere. Like everyone loves to say, I have good ears.

I curl my tails, feeling some anger rising within me however I keep it check. I then flick my hand behind me, sending something small towards the direction of the door. Once in place, I flick my fingers, sending a slight stream of magic towards the object.

When I turn to face the door, I see the man standing near it. He appears to be in his early to mid-thirties, with sleeked back hair and pale brown eyes. He’s dressed similarly to Andriy, albeit in a servant’s garb.

When he locks eyes with me, he stops cold in his tracks. His eyes twitch, only to then turn away.

“Hello there,” I tell him.

The man once more stops as I appear right in front of him. “Where are you off to?”

The man looks back to where I once was, only to find me waving back to him before poofing away. Yeah…I’ve gotten really good at switching places with my clones, especially when on the fly. I also know this shocked Andriy as he stares at me in surprise.

Here’s another rule of the Court, no magic is permitted unless when your life is in danger. Well, mine has been and in this case, I’m preventing danger to myself. It’s a slight grey area.

The man’s mouth quivers as little mumbles spew out of it. “I…" he then clears his throat, "forgive me, my Lady, I have duties I must perform for my master.”

I nod and back away. He looks to me puzzled and starts to walk off.

“Oh, for which master?” I ask. “Master Andriy or are you off to tell Regulus that I’m here?”

Again he stops dead as his eyes lock onto mine. They’re cold and filled with fear. The hook is in, time to reel.

I step closer to the man, “Regulus knew I had the Xur’canah, practically bragging his head off over it. Now, I trust Andriy deeply, and I know for a fact he never told anyone I had it. Nor would Master Titalos or Arcturus betray me when I showed it to them. Finally, Regulus even admitted that he’d never been able to ensnare anyone from my home.”

I take a deep breath, centering myself. It’s been awhile since I’ve gone on a rant like this, and it felt sort of good to. My tails swish and coil around me as I stare at him. “That leaves only one other person who could have told Regulus about the lantern. To be honest, it was a little obvious when I finally thought about it. For there was only one other person who was there the night I called Andriy when I opened the Ze’criesch. The first person in fact, and I should tell you, I have really good hearing.”

The man stares at me, half-shocked, half-wanting to merely brush me off. His eyes dart for a moment, no doubt trying to collect his thoughts. He then smirks, letting out a huff as she looks to me.

“You must be joking little one,” he tells me, his tone rife with arrogance. He again starts to walk away, “You have little proof I spoke to anyone, and I doubt the words of child carry much.”

Wow, this guy’s sure of himself. I’m not being vain here when I say he’s got some balls for talking to me like that. It’s also no secret that no one is listening in, despite our voices being in a near whisper when compared to the rest of the ongoing conversations.

I nod, “You’re right, all I have is my good hearing.” I then cross my arms, bringing a finger to my lips. “It’s also true that Regulus is a bastard, and has really been desperate to find it and me. He’s been searching for the markers all this time since little ole me has been out of his reach.”

Knife inserted, now twist.

“I bet he’s really hurting and pissed right now,” I add, sounding a little dramatic. “So without me in the picture and him searching like a madman, he’s really pathetic in the end. Having to trust in someone like you, who’s really nothing more than a lapdog? Always at his beck and call, with no real shot with anything.”

A bit petty and not to mention way out of character for me. It actually hurts to speak like this, however I am teenager and being snarky little shits is sometimes par for the course.

The man then turns and stares at me, eyes filled with anger and contempt.

I smirk. Gotcha.

A hand then grabs the servant by the shoulder and yanks him back. He stares directly in the glaring, blood-red eyes of Andriy as the vampire grits his fangs at his servant. I can actually taste the bloodlust and rage my mentor is exuding and it's overwhelming. It’s been a few months since I felt this level before, and this is coming from a singular vampire no less.

My mother and aunts then appear, with Fenris and Athena growling and snarling at the man from behind, ready to rip him apart. Fenris himself steps towards him, fangs glistening in the light as shadows and ice start to pour out him.

Silvi also stands behind him, crackling her armored knuckles, which echo loudly through the chambers. Her golden eyes glower down at him as puffs of flame snort from her nose.

The captive man trembles as he’s surrounded. His arrogance from before is shattered, now leaving him in a state of jelly.

“Is it true?” angrily asks Andriy. “That you told Regulus little Aria here possessed the Xur’canah?”

The man then regains some of his composure, actually managing to throw off the vampire’s grasp. “Yes,” he replies. “A new world order is coming. Dewloura shall rise once more on Nethune and Lord Cromwell’s terms.”

He then glares gleefully at me. “And you, little Shyair princess, will be nothing before the coming storm.”

My wolves let out a series of angry growls with Fenris inching closer to him. “Pathetic man. You dare to threaten my daughter in my presence?”

Yep…don’t piss off my lupine father. He’s a little testy when it comes to me.

Andriy snarls at the man, “How…how could you betray me? I gave you a home, a purpose.”

The man snarls back at the vampire. “You gave me nothing! I am a mere servant, nothing more. I have a chance at really power, station in the coming empire. I was promised immortality.”

His gaze then fixes onto me. “All it was to cost was this stupid, little girl. She doesn’t deserve to be standing here as she is now. Shyair will die for good and it shall finally die as it was meant to be.”

Athena’s fangs shine even brighter as she nears him, jaws slowly opening, ready to bite deeply into his neck. Her tails whip wildly behind her as she bears down on him.

I can feel Mom’s magic flaring to life as she holds onto me. I peer up to see her violet eyes glowing brightly like never before.

Andriy’s bloodlust grows as a crimson aura flows from his body. His fangs grow the more he snarls.

Yukari’s tails flare as kitsune-bi lights up at their tips. Translucent blue flames roar like mini infernos as they orbit her. Asha summon tiny storms which encircle her arms, with little flashes of lightning arcing about her.

Through all of this, I slowly watch as the man’s bluster is replaced with abject fear. I take one little sniff, smelling sulfur and urine. Oh dear God, I think he just pissed himself.

Can’t say I blame him, the magical pressure that everyone is exuding is beyond heavy, crushing even. I can even hear the walls themselves starting to creak.

He turns to me, his face now a complete mess of fear and anguish as Fenris lets out another bark at him. It would only take a single flick of my wrist and I’m pretty sure the man would be turned into a bloody paste.

“My daughter has nearly died numerous times because of your greed,” says Mom. “She would have lost her soul as well, feeling being dragged into Hell if Regulus had his way with her.”

Yukari’s own fangs shine as she bares them at him. “My niece lost her home, having to live in exile because of you.”

Asha and Silvi grip the man’s shoulders with their clawed hands, both dragons squeezing tightly, ready to pierce his flesh.

“I worried over my sister,” says Silvi, “never able to learn anything for months after your boss attacked our home. I was even shot out of the sky with her on my back.”

Asha glares at him, lightning crackling by his face. “My poor little niece suffered horrible nightmares for months, robbing her of precious sleep.”

“I trusted you,” adds Andriy. “Now…you will die for you betrayal.”

The man looks to me terrified, as blood sweats from his pores. The veins in his eyes protrude as his breathing increases.

“Please…please forgive me, Your Highness,” he begs. His eyes seem like their ready to burst the more he looks to me.

I nearly feel myself choking from the immense pressure that so many are exuding. It’s crushing in how heavy it feels. This is far beyond when Mom first started my training. I can’t simply allow it to wash over me, there’s just too much. Plus it’s coming from over half a dozen people rather than one person.

I take in a deep breath, trying to stabilize myself. “Stop,” I let out. “Let him go.”

Everyone looks to me in shock and surprise. Yet they nod and slowly back away.

The man immediately drops to his knees, panting heavily as he struggles to regain his breath.

I let out a haggard exhale, as I’m sure everyone else is in the chambers. It takes me a couple moments to catch my breath as I stare down at him.

“Thank…thank you,” he expels.

I kneel down, staring into his eyes. “Now that I have your attention, you’re going to do something for me,” I tell him. “I will not kill you. Nor will you die by my hands. Even if I should.”

He looks to me, nodding slowly.

“You are going to call Regulus for me.”

He stares at me for a moment before nodding again, “Yes…Your Highness.” He then slowly rises to his feet and pulls out a phone from his pocket.

As I watch him dial, he looks more and more relieved, if only slightly. I clench my fists, this was a humongous gamble. So many things could’ve gone wrong, so many little pieces could have not fallen into place or even been missing entirely. Thankfully, my little scheme is working. Now for the true payoff.

“Yes,” says the man, “I need to speak with Lord Cromwell. I have word of the girl.”

I listen softly, ready to pounce. I steady myself from what’s to come next.

“Yes? You have word?” I hear the unmistakable sound of Regulus’ voice.

I quickly step over and snatch the phone from the man’s hand and bring it to my ear. If anyone thinks that I’m a perfect young lady is about to be shocked. Hell, time to throw out politeness and just say what I’ve been bottling up since I fled my home.

“Hey there, shit-for-brains,” I exclaim. “Been having fun looking for me for the last few months?”

I hear him snarling from the other side of the phone. “Well…hello there, little Aria,” I hear him reply, trying to sound pleasant. “You’re correct, we have all been missing you terribly.”

I grip the phone tightly, thinking of how he manipulated Marron into taking me, attacked my home, forcing me into hiding. How he had a warrant placed on my knights, hounded my coven.

I take a deep breath, righting myself again. “You and Selene have a lot to answer for. Now…if you’re not too busy, how about meeting me in Dewloura? It’ll be like old times Selene, and I know you’re listening.”

I listen to him grumbling. Yep…he really doesn’t like having a sixteen year old girl ordering him around. He’s been dogging be all over the world, ruining my life, now it’s my turn to dictate how this will go.

“I will end your life, you little bitch.”

I smirk. “How many times have you tried and failed? I seem to remember you promising me that before. Well…I hope you can this time.”

I then shut off the phone, tossing it away. Well…now I’ve done it.

Then man before me looks to me. “May…May I go now? I did what you asked of me.”

I turn to him and nod.

As he stands and turns for the door, a hand then grabs him yanking him back. He turns, seeing Andriy glowering at him, his bloodlust returning.

His mouth quivers as his swells an is now palatable. It’s a feeling I know all too well and it always sickens my stomach.

“What…what’s happening,” he frantically asks. “You said I could leave.”

I nod, “I did, but they didn’t.”

“You promised-“

“Silence, you worm,” interjects Yukari. “I have plans for you.”

“I agree, my Lady,” adds Andriy. “If you will allow me, I wish to partake in this.”

My aunt nods, however does not smile. I see a cold, murderous look in her eyes, something I’ve never done before. She looks to me, nodding slowly.

The man looks to me, “You said that I could live.”

I turn to him, “Again, I said that I wouldn’t kill you. Never said anything about them.”

His eyes grow wide with terror as Asha drives her claws into his shoulder, with blood spewing from the wounds. Mom quickly wraps me into her, shielding my ears and closing my eyes as my yokai aunts and Andriy drag him away and out of the chamber hall. Even through her hands, I can still hear the muffled screams of him wailing.

“My niece is still far too pure and innocent to see what we’re about to do to you,” says Asha.

His screams continue to echo, only to gradually diminish the deeper and further away they travel. They pierce deeply, even though my mother’s hands cover my ears.

She holds me closely to her, stroking my hair. “Let not this burden your heart, my love. Your aunts and Andriy shall deal with him. Let them shoulder the weight of his life, not you.”

I nod as my hands hold onto her. I feel shaken from what I just did, yet I know I’ll get over it at some point. This was really cold and dark, even for me. I’m worried now, worried how others will see me. I glance out, seeing my sisters smiling warmly to me.

I then feel cold, wet noses pressing against my cheeks. I pull back, seeing two sets of ice-blue eyes staring gently and softly to me. I smile, reaching over and stroking the muzzles of my wolf parents, happy as always to have them with me. They smile, pressing their heads into mine, feeling their soft fur on my face.