“He’ll come for his love.” The evil head of the Sakura family grinned. His body neared me, and he pushed the sweaty hair against my face back.
“He just needs the proper motivation.” His low voice scared me, and I waited for more pain to come.
“I’m motivated enough.” A growl whispered around the room right before someone screamed. Sounds of flesh ripping and throats choking echoed off the walls as shadows crept around like a dark mist. Tatsou had come for me. He was here.
“Kill me and she dies.” Kano Sakura laughed maniacally, and something sharp pressed into my throat. Blood flowed and tears fell down my cheeks. I winced, and a body dropped to the floor.
“That is what I assumed.” The real monster in this story chuckled and came into view above me on the metal table I laid upon. His hand touched my forehead, and I didn’t dare move for fear of the blade. He thought he was in control of the situation. Tatsou could devour everyone in the room, but I honestly didn’t know if he’d risk me dying to do it.
“Angel’s maker was created by an original. We both know you are quick, but are you willing to risk it?” His evil voice teased the ex-ninja vamp. Tatsou remained silent, which proved how full of rage he was.
“Change me, and you two can go. Fight, and lose Katsumi. Your choice.” Shadows swirled around the room at the mention of losing me. I couldn’t see what was going on but wanted to look at Tatsou before the blade cut my head off.
“Shadows won’t help you, Bugeiman. Angel is immune to supernatural powers, and any one who he focuses on will have that same immunity.” I heard the smirk in the crime lord’s voice and my lip curled. Why did he have to be such an asshole? I genuinely hated him.
“Kat,” Tatsou murmured as his footsteps grew closer. My father moved out of the way but barely. The legendary Wisterian Vampire’s golden eyes glowed bright, and his fangs descended. I tried to smile but failed. He nodded once, then shifted to my father. A few drops of blood splattered onto my head as Tatsou sank his teeth into my father’s neck, then commanded him to drink blood from his wrist. As soon as the deed was completed, the blade was gone from my neck and the chains broken between Tatsou’s sudden grip. He removed the poker from my stomach, and I failed to keep the groan inside my throat. He scooped me into his arms, and we were gone in seconds. Our bodies blended with shadows, and I cried. The vampire took me wherever he deemed safe and despite the need to soothe the burning for blood, my body knew it was not in danger. I needed sleep. Tatsou had told me that he didn’t need sleep but when their bodies and mind grew too weary, they took long naps to recover. I needed that regenerative nap after being a vampire for only five days.
“You’re safe,” Tatsou whispered the words I so desperately needed to hear. My fingers clung to his blood-splattered shirt, and I forced myself to sleep. My monster had come, and he’d fight the nightmares away.
Chapter Thirty- Eight
Tatsou
I sat on the floor beside the bed where Kat slept. My focus wavered between her peaceful breaths and the slow beat of her heart.
“Will they heal?” Hiromi stepped into the bedroom with two cups of tea. Their father hadn’t wanted me to find Kat right away, so he used multiple vans and scents from her clothes to keep some distance. While I had searched for Kat, she found a list of all her father’s properties, which led me to Kat’s torture chamber. After leaving, I called Romi and met her here. This was Romi’s safe home for situations like the one we were in now.
I glanced at the abrased skin marks on Kat’s body and winced. “They will heal but some will turn to scars. Since she was tortured and sweating during the process, the salt in sweat dries out our skin and prevents the completion of healing. She’ll bear the wounds on her wrists, neck, and stomach for the rest of her life.”
“Too bad you couldn’t kill that monster.” Romi clenched her teeth and handed me a cup of tea. I set it on the table next to me for Kat when she woke up.
“He might not survive the transition.” I offered a tiny glimmer of hope, however unlikely. Kano Sakura would become a powerful vampire. Once he figured out his new gifts, he’d seek to take over Japan. Men like him wanted the ultimate power and that made him predictable. Her lover, Takeo, had been slain at the mansion trying to protect her. She lost her love and wanted her father to suffer. Had Kat died, I would have done unspeakable acts of rage afterward.
“A girl can dream, but I doubt it. He’ll survive and do unspeakable things with that new power.” She sat in the corner chair and pulled her legs beneath her. We’d both been at Kat’s side for two days. Most of the time we sat in perfect silence, sometimes we spoke a few sentences like now. I relied on the love she had for her sister to care for her and provide safety until I came up with another plan.
“I wish she’d wake up. I hate feeling so helpless.”
I shared Hiromi’s sentiments, but Kat’s body needed rest after everything.
“Ahh!! Stop!” Kat jackknifed up, her eyes still closed as she screamed.
“Kat, Kat, wake up,” I commanded as she thrashed. Her arm smacked me back. She had become very strong. Her vampirism had taken hold of her body.
“Kat! You’re safe.” Hiromi moved to the bedside, but I quickly warned her back.
“She’s a new and unstable vampire.” Kat would be mortified if she hurt her sister by accident. She didn’t need to suffer any more than she already had. Tears rolled down the cheeks of the woman I loved.
“Little Flower, you’re safe,” I whispered, completely aware she’d hear me as if I yelled. Her eyelids shot open and her brown irises swirled brightly. It pained me to see her as a vampire, but there had been nothing else to save her. She pushed me away and scooted her body to the wall behind her. Hiromi gasped seeing her sister’s supernatural eyes, which drew Kat’s attention to her.
“You’re safe, Little Flower.” I showed my hands and remained still. Her breaths picked up, then stopped all together. She didn’t need to breathe, but it had calming effects on us like it did humans.
“Hiromi, please go.” Her voice sounded off, and despite not wanting to leave, Hiromi left without a word. Her glowing eyes turned to me, and her fangs dropped. Her fingers flew to her mouth to feel them.
“I loved your claws, Kitten, but I think I’ll like your fangs more.” I kept still as the glowing in hers flashed hot, then dulled.
“You came for me.” She inched forward and I waited for her to make the first move. So much had been taken away from her, and I’d been a large component in the taking.
“You assumed I wouldn’t?” It would be easy to understand if she didn’t. She was pissed, and I’d hurt her severely. But I did what I did to protect her. I love her and her feisty attitude wouldn’t stop me from protecting her.
