Nightwalker

It was the eve of Finals, the only part of a tournament that ever really mattered. Maiora, daughter of Sugil and Draiko, stared out her window and sighed. What is the point of this useless tournament, anyway? She thought, gazing as the three moons of Yusuna danced across the sky. Tomorrow, she was to fight Ky, one of the only people that actually mattered to her. The fight would be to the death.

It was not by choice that she had entered this tournament. It had started as a harmless form of entertainment for the restless citizens of the Yusun Empire, yet since the current emperor, Suyano III, had taken the throne; it had grown into something much more. The tournament used to be entered only be free will. Now, sons were taken from each village, willingly or not. Daughters were occasionally taken as well, like Maiora herself, if they displayed unusual talents. These sons and daughters were brought to Naiyu, the capital, and forced to fight in a tournament to the death. The winner was draped with wealth and splendor, yet forever racked with the guilt of killing another Yusunian.

She slipped off her window seat and over to the large bed that sat in the middle of the room. Not her room, not her bed. She would never think of them as such. She was only participating in this brutal tournament because the emperor, wretch that he was, was holding her family captive in the dungeon and would kill them in a heartbeat if his slightest whim caused him to fancy such an idea. As she slipped between the smooth sheets of the bed, she thought of Ky. As soon as they met, they had become great friends. They had both come from the northern region of Suyu, and both had been forcefully taken from their families. They met in the dank pit of a room that all the parcipitants are taken to at the start, and had started talking. She had been intrigued by his silver hair and night-blue eyes, and he by her auburn hair and big green eyes. Soon, they had told each other everything about themselves.

Maiora sighed and hugged herself. She was in love with him. He had been her only solace in that cold place, and even now in the lap of luxury. Such was the cruelty of the emperor, forcing them to kill friend and foe alike. And now she wouldn’t even get to know if he felt the same way about her. Tomorrow they would fight, and only one would be left standing, for their families’ lives were on the line. A tap on her window sounded. She sat up, the blanket slipping down to her lap. She slid out of bed and walked over, cautiously peeking out the window. A familiar shape waved at her. “Ky!” she breathed with relief. She opened the window and let him in. “What are you doing here?”

He touched her cheek gently. “I wanted to make sure my girl was ok. “ he smiled and swung inside, sitting on the windowsill. “Are you still having nightmares?”

She shuddered. Ever since the first round of the tournament, she had been plagued by nightmares that haunted her every moment, be it waking or otherwise. Always, they were the same thing, a victim on the ground, pleading for their life and she raised her sword and dealt a deadly blow. Then, she would feed on the blood spurting out of the neck from her fierce decapitation. You see, Maiora was no normal girl. She was a Nightwalker, a vampire of one of the oldest clans on Yusuna. Ky, however, was a mortal human. One of the Death Dealer families, committed to slaying the Nightwalkers. Yet the two of them were closer to each other then they were to any other member of their family. Ky rejected the ways of the Death Dealer, and Maiora the bindings of the Nightwalker, making her the only one to survive the twin suns of their planet in centuries. That is why she was dragged into the tournament, and she loathed the emperor for it.

“Ah.” He said softly, noticing her expression. “So you’re still having them.”

She nodded. “They won’t stop. I’ve tried everything, from holy water to sleeping upside down, yet still they come.” She closed her eyes. “It’s because of this twice-cursed tournament.” She punched a pillow lying on the window seat. “A bane on that god-forsaken emperor of ours!! He has no right to live!”

He touched her arm. “There’s nothing we can do about it. He has a stranglehold on us.” Then, he sat back. “And everybody has a right to live. Some people just abuse it, like our emperor.”

She glared at the pillow. “You don’t know him like I do.”

On the first day of the tournament, they had been paraded in front of the emperor as if to show him what kind of people he had taken. As Maiora had passed in front of him, he halted the line and stepped up to her. “So you are the Nightwalker girl who can survive the suns.” He said, cupping her face in his hand. “You look nothing like him.” He sighed. “It is a pity, though you are beautiful. It will be a shame to stain those lovely hands of yours.” He dropped her face. “But I’m afraid you must.” He stepped back up onto his throne and pressed the tips of his fingers together. “Otherwise, your family shall pay the price. They shall die at my hand. And believe me, my dear Maiora, I do not wish do so, so you had better do as you’re told.”

“He is evil.” She said quietly, still staring at the pillow. “I wish we didn’t have to fight.”

He looked down as well. “I know. I feel the same way.” Then, he looked up, a glint of steel in his deep blue eyes. “But he has Elyra, and your family. We cannot let him kill them”

Maiora felt a pang in her heart. Elyra was his fiancé, the only person in the world who mattered to him more than she herself did. At least, that was how he acted about her. “I cannot let him harm my family any more, either.” She replied, careful to keep a waver out of her voice. She looked up at him. “Tomorrow… do not hold back.”

He ruffled her hair. “I wouldn’t even think of it.” He skipped out the window again and, waving, down a story to his room. Maiora watched after him, a small smile on her face, then she turned to her bed.

“Sleep.” She said, crawling in her bed, fighting the impulse to hang off the canopy like a bat. Not that it mattered. She usually ended up there, anyway.

Meanwhile, one floor down, Ky leaned against the wall next to his window. “Mai…” he said, using his pet name for her. He sighed and pushed off the wall. Things were so confusing. She was a Nightwalker, and he a Death Dealer, yet there was an undeniable attraction that, even when he fought it, still overwhelmed his mind and controlled his impulses. He sank down onto the bed that he had pushed to one side of the room, reluctant to give himself over to sleep’s gentle embrace. For lately, her embrace had not been so gentle. It had been racked with prophetic dreams and nightmares, most of them involving fangs sprouting from Maiora’s gums and sinking into his neck. He shook his head. Even though the gift of prophecy ran in his bloodline, they didn’t always come true.

He didn’t want to kill her. He didn’t want to do anything to hurt her, yet he had a duty to his family, and to the Empire, and he couldn’t fight without sleep. So, he laid his head down and drifted to the realm of nightmares.

He was standing in the middle of the huge coliseum in which the battles were fought, a sword in his hand. Maiora stood across from him, her favored rapier still sheathed. The emperor stood and raised a hand. He waited a few seconds, then dropped it, the signal to fight. He raised his sword and stood firmly, awaiting any attack that may come. However, his friend only stood there, a dead look in her eyes. “Mai?” he asked, lowering his sword and walking over to her. Boos from the crowd sounded. They wanted action. They wanted blood. He ignored them and touched her shoulder. “You ok?”

She raised her head, her eyes drained to pale silver. “I’m hungry.” She opened her mouth, revealing glistening fangs curving down from her upper gums. “Can you help me? I need food. I need to feed.” She leaned in closer to him, bending near his neck.

“Mai…snap out of it. You said you gave up the bindings of a Nightwalker, remember?” he said calmly, trying to placate her.

She snarled. “Why would I give up my heritage for a puny Death Dealer like you?” she sank her fangs into his throat and drank him dry, throwing his lifeless body to the ground and raising her head in triumph, her blood-stained mouth open in a hideous grimace.

Ky opened his eyes and shot up. “Oh… just a dream.” He said in relief. He put a hand to his forehead. I hope it’ll turn out to be just a dream… he thought, flopping back. After a few minutes of lying there, he got up and got dressed. Breakfast stood on his nightstand. Obviously, some maid had snuck in during the night, eager to get a glimpse of his sleeping face. He sighed. These maids were so predictable. But, he still sat down and tucked into his meal, his sword heavy on his hip, and an even heavier weight on his heart, knowing that this was the last day he ever got to see Maiora. And that he may have to kill her.

Meanwhile, Maiora was having a similar dream. She watched helplessly as her body ripped off Ky’s head and gorged itself on the blood. She awoke with a sense of foreboding. Somehow, she had managed to repress her Hunger so far, but how would she react to the blood of the man she loved? She shuddered, not wanting to think about it. She flipped down from off the canopy where she had been sleeping; bat-like and got dressed, donning the traditional green and blue of her family crest. She picked up her rapier and pulled it out of its sheath. The folded steel blade far surpassed any human or Nightwalker workmanship, and could withstand centuries. She had found it in the ruins on her family’s land, and had fought with it ever since. The hilt had a single red bloodstone set into the obsidian pommel, and a small rope of gold filigree wound around it, forming the hand guard. A knock sounded on her door. “Come in.” she called, sheathing her blade again.

A timid maid opened the door. “Excuse me, miss. I have your breakfast.”

Maiora turned to face the maid. “Yes, thank you. Can you set it on the nightstand?” The maid quickly did so and hurried out of the room. Maiora sighed. All the maids were scared of her. She had been the only Nightwalker in the tournament, and many of them had never seen or spoken with one before. Naturally, they thought she was a monster that would eat them, given the chance. Unfortunately, when it came to most Nightwalkers, that was the case. She sat down and ate it, though it only contained a few slices of bread and butter and an orange. Hardly enough for a warrior, but she never complained, for the emperor still held her family. The one time she had tried to escape, he had taken her little sister, who had only been five, and killed her right in front of her as the Sela, the imperial guard, held her back. She finished the measly excuse for a meal, slipped on her sword belt, and stepped out into the corridor.

Downstairs, Ky had already finished and was busy polishing his sword. He finished and held it up to the light, admiring the way the light reflected off it. It had been his grandfather’s sword, entrusted to him when he had graduated the Death Dealer Academy at the top of his class. Of course, he had never even guessed back then that he would become friends with the very being he was sworn to kill. He nodded in satisfaction and sheathed it, clipping the sheath to his belt. He stretched, then opened the heavy oak door to his room and walked briskly down the hall. Maids giggled as he passed, thinking him handsome, and the male servants glared at him, jealous of all the attention he was getting from the maids. He met Maiora on the main floor. “How’d you sleep last night?” he asked, unable to stop a concerned tone from slipping into his voice.

She rubbed her forehead. “Another nightmare.” She looked up at him. “I have a really bad feeling about this, Ky. I do not think I will be able to control it this time.”

He hugged her. “It’s all right. It doesn’t matter if you’re able to or not.” He stood back and looked at her. “All that matters is if you tried to stop it, ok? That is what shows you have a good heart.”

She sighed. “I guess. But I cannot help but feel that something bad is going today.”

“To tell you the truth, I have the same feeling.” He said, falling into step beside her. It was a beautiful day outside, with a clear purple sky that was the usual for Yusuna. However, grey storm clouds gathered in the distance, promising rain later. Nonetheless, they continued on toward the magnificent coliseum that was the jewel of the Yusun empire. It was 600 feet in diameter, and towered ten stories over the streets of Naiyu. Made of marble and obsidian, it looked as if t was made of bones and dried blood in the morning light of the twin suns. And with the Tournament going on, perhaps it actually was. They reached the base of it. “Well, be seeing you.” He said, turning to the right.

She nodded. “Yeah. Be seeing you.” Unspoken words hung between them; the knowledge that when they did meet again, it would be on the battlefield in a fight to the death. She turned to the left, and headed to the A-block entrance. As she walked on, her steps grew heavier, knowing that every one brought her closer to a fate she did not wish for. She reached the entrance and stepped inside. The cold, dank area where the fighters waited was empty. All the others were gone. All that were left was her and Ky, yet after today, there would only be one. She sank onto one of the stone benches, trying to gather her thoughts, to straighten the tangled mess of hurt, sorrow, and guilt in her heart. Today was the day, and it was kill or be killed. Her head flopped back and she stared at the ceiling. I have no choice… she reminded herself reluctantly, but deep down, she knew that a small, dark part in her heart was eager for the kill. Her Nightwalker instinct, her Hunger.

Ky sat on the opposite side of the coliseum, in a room that was a twin to the one where Maiora sat. He had his head on his hands, trying to remind himself that it was for his family. That she was a Nightwalker, so it was ok. But it wasn’t ok. She was his friend. No, more than a friend. He loved her, he realized, sitting up with a start. Then, he laughed, first quietly, then one loud enough to echo. “How ironic. Two people from warring races fall in love, yet are forced to kill each other.” His laugh turned bitter. “How cruel the emperor is.”

A memory came to both of them at once: the day they had met. Maiora had just gotten back from a fight, and was hunched over in a corner, her emerald eyes dulled. Ky had seen her and went to kneel in front of her. "Why so sad?" he asked softly.

She raised her head, showing the small, pointed fangs that protruded from her upper gum. "I'm so Hungry... It's hard to control..."

He swallowed, knowing that what he was about to do broke all of the Death Dealer codes. He sat next to her and put a hand on her head. "It's ok." he reassured. "You're strong. You'll get through it." He didn't think about why he had helped her, he just... did. Even though she was a Nightwalker, albeit one that could survive the suns. Who knew that they would come this far? Who knew that it could hurt this much to do something he was supposedly born to do?

A guard came to the entrance to the coliseum, breaking his stupor. “It is time.” He growled, motioning for Ky who got up and walked out into the coliseum, the sting of the irony not yet faded. The roar of the bloodthirsty crowd surrounded him, screaming at him to kill the filthy Nightwalker, that he was a Death Dealer, he could do it. He looked across the packed ground to see Maiora walking towards him, head held high. He smiled to himself. He knew she wouldn’t let the jeering crowds get to her. He faced her, hand on his sword hilt, his heart breaking into a million pieces.

A hush fell over the crowd. Maiora looked up into the stands and narrowed her green eyes as the emperor ascended the throne. “Let the finals of the tournament now commence!” he shouted, clapping his scepter on the ground. The crowd erupted into a roar again. He sat back, satisfied, and eyed the two on the battlefield. What shall you do, my little puppets? Will you dance on my string, or will your families pay the price? Choose wisely. Many fates lie in your hands. He thought, putting his fingertips together as was his habit.

Ky drew his sword and rushed Maiora. She leapt back, surprised, and drew her rapier. Its point slipped in and out, weaving an intricate pattern that he could barely follow. The rapier just missed him and he ducked, throwing a kick up toward her head. Anticipating this, she flipped over his head, forward, and sent her rapier slicing toward his neck. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, expecting this to be the final blow, but he rolled out of the way, the blade only slicing a shallow cut on the side of his neck, blood pouring out.

Maiora’s eyes widened. They grew shades paler as she went after him in earnest, now. Her Nightwalker instinct was taking over. Ky stumbled back, her flickering blade barely an inch from his neck, face, nose. He was overwhelmed by her unusually aggressive attack, and was surprised that she would be so harsh with him, even though they had an unspoken pact not to hold back. Then, he noticed her eyes. They were almost completely silver, with only a hint of green left. She was in her last vestiges of control. “Mai!” he gasped, trying to stay out of her sword reach. “Come on, fight it! You can control it!” he parried desperately, but he was losing ground, the force of her Hunger pushing him back.

She blinked, and her eyes got a shade darker, but lightened again when she made another cut, this time on his exposed arm. “Blood…” she hissed, her blade swishing faster, become a flashing blur that he couldn’t even begin to see. “Food… I need to feed…”

Ky gasped. It was just like his dream. He tripped, distracted, and in an instant, Maiora was on him. She sank ivory fangs into his neck, drawing out the lifeblood running in his veins. He screamed, agony coursing through his body. She shivered in pure ecstasy, drinking deeply until he went limp in her arms. She stood up and threw her head back, her blood-stained mouth howling to the skies.

“Mai…” he gasped, holding on to his last bit of life.

She gasped and the color returned to her eyes. She looked down at him lying on the ground. “Ky!” she knelt down and touched his neck. “Did… I do this?” he nodded weakly and she grabbed him in a rough hug, the blood running down his neck, staining her clothes a dark brown. “God, Ky, I’m so sorry!!”

“It’s all right.” He rasped. “You tried to control it. That’s what counts…Mai… I love you…” and with those last words on his lips, he died in her arms.

Tears streaked down her face, mixing with the blood. “Ky…” she hugged him, his corpse still warm. “I love you, too.” She leaned back and brushed his silver hair out of his face. “I just never got to tell you.” She closed his eyes and hugged him again.

“Well, isn’t that sweet?” the emperor’s voice came from behind her. Somehow, he had gotten from his throne to the battlefield without anyone noticing.

Her eyes snapped open, and she spun around, whipping her rapier out of its sheath. “You vile excuse for a human!” she spat, her sword point at his throat. The Sela immediately moved, but the emperor held up a hand, allowing her to finish. “You bring children here, force them to fight, and this is what happens.” She pointed at Ky’s still body fiercely. “He was the best friend I ever had, the only friend I ever had, and you took him away from me!”

The emperor smiled cruelly. “Yet who was it that lost control of their Hunger and fed on the one they love?”

Maiora snarled. “And who was it that brought about the events that that caused me to lose control?”

He bowed. “Why, you, of course. You were the one that allowed yourself to feel so deeply for him, not me. All I did was bring you two together in this tournament.”

She opened her mouth, about to shoot an answer back, but found she had none. He was right. “A bane on you and your house.” She said quietly.

He tilted an ear towards her. “Excuse me? I didn’t quite catch that.”

She looked up at him, a steely look in her green eyes. “A bane on you and your house!” she shouted. “I cast a curse on you! May you and your family never enter Heaven! I curse you to forever remain in Purgatory after your death!!” the crowd collectively gasped and immediately started a roar of conversation.

The emperor laughed, throwing back his head and immediately silencing the crowd. “You curse me? And my family? We shall never enter Heaven, you say?”

“What is so funny about such a curse?” Maiora shrieked, angry that her declaration was taken so lightly.

He looked back at her, a smirk on his face. “You don’t get it? I am your uncle. You father is my brother. Yes, I imprisoned my own brother.” He said in response to the look on her face. “We are related by blood, you and I. You have just cursed yourself and your entire family! Now you shall never join your love in Heaven and your family shall suffer with you!!” he threw back his head and laughed, not caring that he was included in the curse. Maiora sank to her knees in despair. She was never going to see Ky again. She was also the niece of the very man she despised the most. Tears ran down her face once more. “It can’t be.” She whispered. “It simply can’t…” and she crumpled to the ground as the emperor laughed, and thunder growled in the distance.