Chapter 20 “Heartbeats and Cruel Smiles” Hyakuhei’s long midnight hair caressed the wind as he flew high above the night-shrouded ground, wrapped in the protection of his miasma. Tonight his little game would come to a conclusion and he would claim his prize. Of course, he would indulge in a little entertainment first. What is the joy of destroying one’s enemies after all, without letting hope flood their faces before you crush their soul. A cruel smile played across his perfect lips as he pictured the final scene. Misery would reflect off of their faces… misery and pain. He would bask in the gloom of their torment. They would all die, save for the priestess. The priestess was his prize, and her anguish would bring him the utmost pleasure. He would make sure she had a clear view of the board as he crushed her guardian’s, one by one. Each would desperately fight in his game, fight for her and die for her. Each death would bear down on her heart, smothering her with guilt a
Chapter 21 "Blinding Pleasure" Kyoko launched herself into Shinbe's embrace, not caring if she almost knocked him over in the process. As his arms came up behind her, she didn't care that one lingered on her bottom. If that was where he wanted it to be, then he could keep it there. All she cared about was that he was there and alive, and she didn't want to be away from him right now. Looking up into his misty, amethyst eyes, she realized she didn't want to lose him at all… ever. Shinbe's body tensed and melted all at the same time. He wanted to be all around her and inside her as he pulled her tighter, feeling no resistance from her. The thin layer of her silk nightgown hid nothing from him, and she was trying to kill him, this was the proof. The heat coming from her body only added to the fire within him. With one hand pressing against the small of her back, and one hand cupping her bottom, Shinbe stood up shakily as her legs wrapped around his waist and he moved to sit
Chapter 22 “Enraged Terror” Kyoko’s lips parted in a silent scream as midnight locks of hair wrapped around her before her feet could even touch ground in the demon realm. She struggled vainly against the hair that lifted her up out of the time portal by her wrist, ankles, and neck. Hyakuhei dragged her into the night air, bound in the silken strands of his hair. The steely bindings brought her face to face with true terror as her gaze locked with the blood-red, enraged orbs of Hyakuhei. Kyoko shuddered at the waves of pure anger and rage that flowed off of the enemy guardian as he tried to see into her soul. The caressing note in his voice as he spoke to her sent a deadly chill down her spine. “Ky-yo-ko,” Hyakuhei’s voice licked at every syllable as his eyes began to glow blood red. Hyakuhei held the priestess up over the ground, her feet inches from the grass, and glared at her. How dare she take what was his and give it freely to the amethyst guardian. Hyakuhei’s lips
Chapter 23 “Sacrifice” Shinbe and Toya were still fighting the massive waves of demons Hyakuhei continued to throw at them, when Shinbe caught a glimpse of the other side of the battlefield. He could see Suki reaching out her hand, and her mouth open as if she were screaming, though all he could hear was metal clash against ripping flesh and bone as he fought. ‘Suki…’ his heart clenched painfully at seeing her muted cries. ‘Suki… I know you, survive! Don’t let him defeat you!’ Shifting with the next swing of his staff, Shinbe’s eyes widened as Kotaro came into his sight. His body was falling headfirst, back to the ground with blood running from his side where the talismans had once been. “Not good,” he whispered to himself as he blocked another attack. Kotaro’s talismans had been ripped from him, which could mean only one thing. “Damn it!” Shinbe shouted over his shoulder in Toya’s direction. “Kotaro has lost his talismans!!” His gaze fastened on Hyakuhei, seeing the s
Chapter 24 “Rebirth of Rage” Hyakuhei’s senses were alive and burning as the void’s opening screamed behind him with hurricane force winds. The suction pulled them through the air at such a speed that within seconds they could no longer feel the wind, nor could they hear the wailing sounds. They were now deep within the heart of the void. The wailing sound of the winds from the dying curse had been replaced with the dark sounds of demon souls trapped within the void. Their raging anger and malevolent auras felt like a personal homecoming for the vile guardian as they surrounded his still descending form. Hyakuhei’s eyes glittered dangerously within the confines of the void as he silently assessed this new turn of events. He would have an army of demons to assist him in retaining his priestess. There would be no saviors within this realm to protect her from him. Darkness encased him as Hyakuhei’s feet gently touched upon what seemed to be hard packed earth. His raven lo
Defy Not the Heart The Guardian Heart Crystal Series Book 2Amy Blankenship Copyright © 2006 Amy Blankenship English Edition Published by Amy BlankenshipSecond Edition Published by TekTime All rights reserved. The Legend of the Heart of Time The worlds may change… but true legends never fade. Darkness and light have constantly battled since the beginning of time. Worlds are formed and crushed beneath the feet of their creators, yet the ongoing need for good and evil have never been in question. However, sometimes a new element is thrown into the mix… the one thing that both sides want but only one can have. Paradoxical in nature, the Guardian Heart Crystal is the one constant that both sides have always striven to attain. The crystalline stone has the power to create and destroy the known universe, yet can end all suffering and strife in the same breath. Some say the crystal has a mind of its own… others say the gods are behind it all. Each t
Chapter 2 "Morning Frights" Shinbe jerked awake with a start when he heard Toya’s shout. He felt all the muscles in his body cringe at the thought of becoming shish-kabob on Toya’s twin daggers. Morbid fascination had him slowly opening his amethyst eyes to see what was going on. "Shut up!” Kyoko yelled, throwing her hand up and casting the taming spell, then instantly grabbed her head in panic as the pain rocketed through her brain. "What was that for?” Toya growled as he glared up at her from the floor. "Oww,” her mouth made a little ‘o’ as she cringed again. “Shhh,” She added hoping he would get the message. Shinbe sighed, knowing Kyoko most likely had a hangover, and Toya wasn’t helping the matter by being so loud. He was glad she could paralyze him, even if he did find it strange that the taming spell only worked on Toya. Sometimes he found himself jealous that she could put a spell on Toya at all. It also didn’t help that Toya was the only one who could leap b
Chapter 3 "Kiss of Jealousy" Kyoko set off in the direction of the hot spring. She was tired, sore, and couldn’t wait to just be able to relax in steamy water. She stumbled on a rock and wondered if it was going to take weeks to get her balance back after getting drunk only one time. “Damn it… Geez, now I sound just like Toya,” she said to herself with a giggle. Shinbe followed quietly, peeking out from behind trees ever so often. He had to stifle the laugh that threatened to escape him when he heard the comment about her sounding like Toya. It was great to find out he wasn’t the only one in the group that held complete conversations with their self. If he was crazy, then they made a great couple. He stayed back long enough to let her gain some distance between them. Finally getting to the secluded hot spring, Kyoko rummaged through her bag. Finding what she needed, she arranged her bathing supplies by the side of the water. She quickly undressed, easing her aching bod