"Let go of me!" I thrashed wildly, kicking my legs in an attempt to free myself.
The hands roughly threw into the room. The mahogany doors were thrust open, the golden knockers clanging loudly with the force. I dropped like dead weight onto the floor. I wiped the back of my hand across my forehead, it came away wet with blood. My vision swam before my eyes, shuddering, I tried to stem the flow of blood. Rivulets of dark liquid dropped onto the group, as my eyes watching it splatter to the floor, I realized where I was standing. All around me were chalky white engravings into the marble. The lines intertwines, spinning around me like a net. A net...
A Pentagon. I scrambled to my feet, trying to take even a single step away. I slammed into an invisible force field. I was trapped. Bile rose in my throat as quiet chanting reached my ears.
"Bone and blood..." the first half of the phrase shot tremors up my spine. The Pain incantation.
My head slammed against the marble wall. Scrunching my eyes up in pain, I tried to twist to the side. Claws were at my throat, the pointed ends close enough to rip through my larynx and a few important muscles. Possibly the ones that keep my head attached to my body. I squirmed to extricate myself from the grip but the red eyes above me bore no mercy as they stared unblinkingly into my own. I could feel my pulse racing, like my heart was about to leap out of my chest.
"Lanien, Lanien, Lanien," the cold voice on the opposite side of the room whispered. The voice was light, airy, as though he was merely reciting lyrics to his favorite song. But underneath it all was cold, icy fury.
"F-father, please," I begged. I was on my knees now, the claw vanishing from my throat. I pressed my forehead into the floor, my breath clouding up the shimmering stone.
"I don't want to hear your sniveling," he snapped in a voice like shattering glass.
I was silent.
"I want to hear the reason you messed up, again." All emphasis was on "again". Although I didn't want to look up, I could see his expression in my mind. Shivers ran up my spine.
"First born son of the Nakita Clan. I'll admit I had some hope for you, but at the rate you're going... Things might change." The underlying threat was as obvious as if he had said it plainly.
"It wasn't my fault," I began.
"Silence!" he screamed at me, his hand flying out and slapping me harshly. I stumbled backwards, frozen on the spot. However, my father moved quickly to the other side of the room.
"How could you manage to send our own soldiers right into a waiting ambush?"
I opened my mouth, but he cut me off swiftly, seeming determined to blame everything on me.
"The Princess had no servants. She was weakened. And yet, somehow she managed to take out an entire battalion single handedly before dying?"
"She used a Heavenly Chant!" I protested loudly.
"There were hundreds of you!" he roared, "Not one of them could've sealed her lips?"
Silence. "No."
"Apparently not."
"Maybe I should've sent your brother. Younger. Brother. Out instead of you."
"I am more than capable of taking on this war myself," I stated firmly.
"Where's the proof of that?" he merely spat.
"Give me one more chance," I pleaded, on the verge of losing all dignity and having to beg.
"Why sh-" Suddenly the doors banged reverberated with repeated knocks. He ignored them, turning to me again. However, the knocks became more and more repeated. Nearly growling in aggravation, he called, "Come in!"
A hooded figure sprinted into the room, it bowed on one knee.
"My Lord," it whispered softly.
"What is it?" my father snapped impatiently, still glaring at me.
"I have news."
"Yes?" he replied testily.
"Word in the underground is that the Royal Family still has Heirs."
My father froze. If there were still Heir's, then according to the Ancient Magyk, the Nakita Clan weren't the true rulers. Only when the Royal Family's full bloodline is purged; can the power be overturned. So far, the Princess and her parents, the Emperors had been taken care of. But...
"Are you sure?" he said slowly.
"The news was gained from one of our spies from the Palace. The Princess herself had a vision."
"This isn't good," he cursed loudly, "Where is the Heir?"
The Princess was renowned for her Premonitions; anything she saw from the future was imminent.
"Earth." Came the swift reply from under the hood.
Father stiffened. Sending a Daemon without proper training was a death sentence; usually they were found out and killed before serving their purpose. A trip any longer than for Feeding, was dangerous. He slowly turned to me, and I could almost see the cogs working in his head.
"Lanien."
"Yes, Father." I was scared of the words I knew would follow.
"I have decided to give you another chance. Track down the Heirs and kill them. If not, the consequences... will be significant." He smiled widely, the tips of his pointed teeth flashing in the half-light.
"Yes..." I trembled slightly, "Father."
I stumbled out of the door a few seconds later, nursing my injuries. As the doors closed in back of me, I leaned against them, resting my head wearily. Anger was running through my veins, cooled only by my fear. In a rush of boldness, I turned and spat at the foot of the door. I could feel my pupils narrowing into feline-like slits, and struggled to contain my anger. I walked angrily through the mansion, barking at servants to get out of my way. Lifting my slit wrist to my mouth, I let my tongue shift into it's normal forked style. Like a serpent, it flicked over the wound, sealing it.
I just need to get to a portal, I thought. I need to Feed. Fast.
"Lanien~" a cheery voice called out behind me.
Crap. I sped up my footsteps trying to reach the safety of my room before...
"Gotcha!" she cried, her breath tickling the inside of my ear. I turned to face her, one hand running through my blonde hair. The strands were so faint, that it almost appeared white. My long blonde hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, tendrils climbing down my eleven face. I tried to avert my blue eyes, but she was now permanently attached to my midsection.
Golden curls hung around her heart-shaped face. Wide, glimmering amber eyes stared into mine. Her lips were pouting now, glossy pink shimmering. It hurt my eyes. Her hands were on her tiny waist, her high heels clicking on the marble.
"Why are you running away from me, Lanien~?" She drew out my name until it was a good 5 syllables long.
"I wasn't running away, Maria!" I said in false enthusiasm. She sparkled.
"I missed you so~ much!" She launched herself at me and planted a wet kiss on my cheek.
"Euukk!" I disentangled myself from her, and shuffled as far away as possible. I slapped the offending kiss off my face, wiping remnants onto the floor.
"Don't bother with that loser." A snide voice sneered, preceding the entrance on my brother.
His sharply boned face resembled a predator, beryl almond eyes narrowed to slits as he appraised me. His short, shaggy blonde hair was spiked, an ironic halo around his head.
"Syrien," I tried to keep the venom out of my voice.
"Well, isn't it my failure of a brother. Have you been disowned yet?" A vein twitched in my temple.
"You wish. At least I wasn't watching on the sidelines." I snapped, "What? Too scared?" I turning on my heel and pushed my way through the gathering crowd.
I had some business on Earth.