Chapter 16

Turning the doorknob, Inoue looked back at Ken.

"I won't be long. You'll be fine here on your own for a bit right?"

Seeing him nod his head and lay down, Inoue nodded and entered the shop.

Looking around the seemingly empty store, still holding the crystal, he walked toward a table.

Placing the Demon crystal down, he heard a thud from the back area of the store.

"Hello? I was here yesterday. With the Kitsune woman. We bought a tome from you and you told us to come back if we ever needed your expertise."

Stepping closer to the back area, he listened closely, hearing only quiet whimpering.

Assuming the worst, he took his sword in hand and slowly entered the back room.

Scanning the split hallway, he glanced from side to side, waiting until he heard the sound of whimpering again to move toward it.

Opening a door, he entered a storage room filled with boxes of potions and magical items.

"Help."

Hearing the weakvoice of the shopkeeper, he ran in, seeing her laying face down on the floor.

"Are you ok? What happened?"

Dropping his sword, he ran over and sat her up.

Feeling her weak, almost limp body agaisnt his, he shook her gently.

"What happened? Did someone attack you?"

Shaking her head, the shopkeeper, Morigan spoke in a whispery voice.

"Hungry... Need food."

Nodding, he sat her agaisnt a large crate.

"Right. I'll find you something to eat."

Standing, he looked back when she grabbed his wrist weakly.

"Not actual food."

Crouching again, he looked at her, confused.

"You're hungry... But not for actual food? What do you need?"

"Blood."

Looking at her closely, he saw a set of fangs for the first time as she panted, realizing that her skin was pale beyond that of a normal human and that her eyes were bright yellow.

"You're a vampire?"

Nodding, she clung to him weakly.

"Please, I'm not a monster like most believe. I'm not like the other Vampires. Please believe me. I just need some blood. I eat other things but without proper nutrients. I'll die."

Taking a moment to think, he looked into her eyes, seeing g the desperation and fear.

"Please. just a little. I promise. I won't try to attack you. I love this town and I am not evil."

Nodding, he moved some of his armor to reveal his neck.

Lifting her closer, he held her head up to his neck.

"I'm trusting you. Ok?"

Nodding, she opened her mouth, licking his neck before bitting him as gently as possible.

Shivering slightly at the feeling of having his blood sucked, he held her close, watching as color returned to his skin and feeling her body become stronger.

He stumbled slightly when she released him, sighing in relief as she helped him to his feet.

"Thank you very much. I am in your debt. If not for you, I may have passed back into the soul engine."

Rubbing his neck, he raised an eyebrow.

"Soul engine?"

Nodding, she clasped her hands in front of her.

"Yes. The soul engine is responsible for returning the soul of a dead Demon into another body. Or in the case of one of the chosen, into a copy of the original body. It is why the Demon army is believed to be unstoppable."

Hearing her explanation, he stared at her in shock and confusion.

"Youre a Demon? Wait! Why are you telling me this?"

Smiling, pulled out a chair for him to sit on.

"You saved my life. And since you already know that I am a vampire. I didn't see any reason to hide the explanation from you. Yes I am Morigan. Vampire and Demon. I am also one of the Demon King's chosen."

"You're one of the chosen? Why are you here in town with a shop?"

A small mouse ran up to her and climbed into her hand, squeaking to which she nodded.

"I see. Thank you Jacque."

Kissing it's head she placed it on a box and it calmly walked away.

"I abandoned the Demon King's army years ago. The constant wars and drama and power struggles of the other chosen.i grew tired of it all. That's when I left, found this quaint little town and set up my magical emporium. I enjoy helping adventurers and normal townsfolk with my magical items and alchemical skills. Here. To prove that you have nothing to fear from me. Take this."

Looking at the bat shaped pendant that she held, he glanced at her smile before taking it.

"What is it? I can feel power coursing through it."

Waving at him to follow her put into the shop, she hummed.

"My insignia. All of the chosen bear one. Each signifies us as one of the chosen. It also acts as a key to the castle. Though you'll need all of them to enter the Demon King's castle I'm afraid."

Pocketing it, he followed her.

"Why give it to me? There are other parties way stronger then me and my friends."

Nodding, she glanced back at him.

"You are special, Inoue. I can feel it. Besides. I trust that you have what it takes to defeat the Demon King so I bestow my power to you. With my insignia, you will have higher magical properties as well as allowing you to commune and access assistance from my cute little friends wherever you go."

Looking at the insignia again, he saw a bat on one side and a ret on the other.

"So rats and bats are my friends now?"

"Yes. My babies will sense that you are one of them and they will do whatever they can to assist you. But first. I assume that you have something you wanted to show me?"

Nodding, he walked over to the table, showing her the Demon crystal.

"Oh my. A Demon subjugation crystal. Where did you come across this?"

Inspecting it, she hummed used a monocle that she took from her dress.

"A cave. A wyvern had it sticking out of it. Apparently some cloaked men forced it on him but he escaped before the control spell or something. I thought you might know more about it."

Humming, she backed away and gasped as the yellow eyes within the green mist inside of it locked onto her.

"Oh, dear. That isn't good. Not good at all."

Looking at her, he glanced at the crystal.

"What's wrong?"

"This subjugation crystal belongs to another of the chosen. The weakest of us but still a threat. The beastmaster, Nazim. He enploys these crystals to subjugate and control beasts to do his bidding. He is sadistic and cruel. He likes to watch his beasts play with his targets and loves to hear their screams as they are eaten. This wyvern you said that had this. Where is it?"

Pointing at the door, Inoue took his sword when a group of fifteen rats pulled it from the back room.

"Ken is outside. Yozora pulled the crystal out and he seems to have taken her as his master."

Opening the door to see the Wyvern patiently waiting, she took a deep breath, holding out her hand.

Inoue watched when a yellow, brand like symbol appeared on his forehead before vanishing with a hiss like sound as the crystal inside the shop shattered.

"What the?"

Sighing and turning back to him, she had a grim expression.

"The control spell had not yet taken place, but the ownership bond had. On contact with the subjugation crystal that poor wyvern was claimed as Nazim's property. Using the crystal, he could track it and see through its eyes. He knows where the wyvern is. He knows that you and your friends stole him... And now he knows where I am as well."

Sheathing his sword, he took a deep breath.

"What do we do?"

"Well, there is not much too do at the moment. It will take a few days for Nazim to arrive here from the Demon realm. He does not possess teleportation magic. For tonight, you should find your friends and enjoy yourselves before telling them about this tommorow. I will do what I can to help you. And if need be, I will fight by your side when he arrives. He may be one of the chose but he is weak in phisical strength. His power lies in his subjugation magic and his cruelty that makes his beasts savage, bloodthirsty monsters."

Taking his hands, she smiled as she opened the door.

"He will come, but we will stop him. You have my word. I will not let this town fall."

"Neither will we. Would you mind helping me explain it to the others? I can bring them here tomorrow."

Nodding, she released his hands and watched him pet Ken who stood and moved toward the road.

"Absolutely. Please enjoy yourself tonight.i will await your arrival tomorrow with tea and pastries for you and your friends."

Waving and watching until they vanished into the darkness of night, she took a deep breath and glanced back at the shattered remnants of the crystal. Knowing what would soon arrive.