Caged - On hiatus

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Deafening roars reverberated all around the mansion halting William from his actions. I watched him furrow his brows before his eyes widened and he let out a string of profanities. He immediately got off me and hastily barking out orders and ignoring me completely.

I was thoroughly perplexed and thankful at the same time for whatever it was that took his attention. Another round of fierce growls sounded, this time ringing louder. I could almost feel the power it held in my heart.

By the sound of things, it wasn’t just one beast howling outside. My heart that was beating fast earlier was starting to calm down. A muffled noise at the side had my head whipping to the right where I saw Fumi calling out my name.

I almost forgot her when I was so hopeless.

“Akane, are you alright?” She asked although she knew I wasn’t. I simply nodded my head at her and she sighed deeply. “Whatever it was that trespassed here, I thank the Gods that they came.” She said her tone relieved and her eyes full of worry for me.

My own softened at how devastated she was, then it hardened seeing the blood in her glass. It was also a bit cracked and I looked at her body to find her knuckles bleeding profusely.

“Fumi, your hand! What did you do?” I shouted aghast, trying to sit up only to be pulled down again by the ropes on my limbs.

“Don’t worry about me. You need to find a way to get out of your binds. We’re not sure we won’t get caught in the crossfire if they come inside the mansion.” She dismissed my worry and instead ordered me to get out.

If only it was easy to get away from here. I tugged at the ropes but they won’t give way. “Damn it.” I cursed as I tugged again but to no avail. I seriously need that sudden strength from before this would be a piece of cake.

But how do I achieve that?

My mind racked brain to remember how I became strong before but my concentration was being shattered by the ever growing commotion outside. There were sounds of gunfire now along with vicious snarls and growls. My spine trembled at hearing it.

Focus Akane!

I don’t know if I’m just being paranoid but each seconds passing makes the noise louder and nearer. My heart frantically beat again at the thought of being unfortunately killed by the trespassers.

Then my thoughts suddenly went to Kairo and my heart stuttered at the thought of him dead in his cell. Why I am suddenly saddened and heartbroken at that thought I don’t know but the thought of why he was littered in wounds and laying in his own blood earlier made my own boil and she grit her teeth in anger for William.

My initial worries were gone and I forgotten the commotion outside as my head filled with malevolent thoughts about William. Oh, the things that I would do to that man. I felt my mouth quirk into a wry smile as my vision redden once more. I could feel the thrumming of my blood and my body felt hot.

Anger. All I need is anger.

And then I snapped the ropes binding me like it was nothing. I heard Fumi gasp but I wasn’t paying too much attention as I undid all the ropes. After that I straightened my clothes and turned to Fumi.

“Get away from the glass.” I told her, my voice sounding deeper yet enchanting. Fumi took one look at me and immediately obeyed my words. She run towards the far end of her cage and curled away to shield her from the debris.

One punch was enough to shatter the glass into thousands of pieces. “Let’s go.” I ordered her and she nodded her head at me, not questioning my authority.

I have no idea where the sudden confidence and authority came from but it wasn’t time to analyze it. For now I could hear the fight come inside the mansion a few moments ago from the booming sound of the door slamming on the floor.

“Let’s go back to the collection room. There’s a door there going outside.” Fumi said quickly as we were running. I nodded my head at her.

That’s a valid idea, also the collection room was the opposite of where the fight is. The intruders are gaining an advantage and was able to come inside but that doesn’t mean they’ve won yet. Besides, the enemy of our enemy doesn’t exactly equate as friends yet.

The thought of going back to that place and seeing Kairo sprawled out lifeless in his cell made me cry out a bit. Fumi looked at me worriedly but I just shook my head. There’s no time to explain my current sadness and heartache to her and I don’t even know why I’m devastated at the thought of him dying.

Sure he was supposed to be my ticket out of here but I just met him. This extreme emotion isn’t logical and I don’t have time to mull over it.

Within seconds we arrived at the room where dozens of creatures were cowering inside their cells. I thought for a second to let them out but I don’t have the keys and they are probably safer inside their cages since they’re too weak to run away.

“The door’s this way. It’s usually locked but maybe with your new strength we could get out!” Fumi shouted, it was the first time I heard her voice louder than anyone. She’s usually so elegant and demure, even her way of speaking is soft and mellow. So I know that the mere inches of freedom is making her excited.

I am excited too and I was going to run after her until a soft voice made me stop.

“Akane?” It asked and I turned my head so fast I got whiplash but it was worth it because the moment I looked back, I saw Kairo on the far wall of his cage, leaning on it so heavily. He was still bloodied but he was alive!

I don’t know what possessed me but just hearing him and seeing him alive made me run towards him.

“Kairo! You’re alive!” I shouted, my heart soaring when I said that out loud. He simply gave me a weak smile and it was enough to make me crumple to the ground if I wasn’t running towards him.

I vaguely heard Fumi calling out for me and asking me who Kairo was but I ignored her. I wasn’t out of breath but my heart is pounding loud in my chest that I don’t doubt they could hear me. But who cares, Kairo is alive!

“You’re alive you stubborn dog.” I told him, I was so happy I flung the cage door aside like a fly taking him by surprise.

“Woah, did you just suddenly turned Hulk?” He asked amazed but his voice was hoarse and barely audible.

I did not get his words, who’s Hulk? Is that another supernatural being? Anyway, that wasn’t important right now. What I need to do is heal him so he could run together with me.

“I don’t know who that is but shut up and preserve your energy. We’re getting out of here.” I said to him and he only closed his eyes as an answer. I knelt beside him to assess his wounds and found out that the bullet shells are on the ground.

“You took them out yourself?” I asked, my tone incredulous. He nodded weakly and I marveled at his will to live. I was about to heal him when I heard Fumi’s frantic voice just behind me.

“Akane what are you doing?” She asked her eyes furrowed despite lacking a brow bone I could still see that she was panicking.

“I’m going to heal him.” I pointed out the obvious and she only opened her mouth as if what I said was totally bonkers.

“We don’t have time for that! Can you hear those growls? It’ll only take a minute for them to reach this place, besides you just exhausted your energy earlier. How can you still open the door? They’re going to come here and we’re all dead!” She said without stopping with matching dramatic hand gestures.

I get what she’s saying. Clearly, our chance to escape was here, it was perfect and I can finally taste of freedom, yet the thought of leaving him alone here, just seconds away from death is killing me. Even the promise of freedom doesn’t allow me to leave his side.

“I can’t, I have to heal him. I don’t know why but I must. Please let me do this.” I begged her and she looked at me in shock. Fumi’s mouth thinned and a thoughtful expression flitted in her face. It took her only a second to nod her head.

“Fine but make it quick.” She said and I almost hugged her if we weren’t in a time crunch.

Quickly I laid my palms on top of his chest near his heart, this helps in healing faster. I have no idea why but as I felt my powers leave me, the usual feeling of fatigue is gone.

I was almost depleted of my energy earlier but at the thought of Kairo needing my powers I felt like I could heal anyone right now. I quickly patched him up like I was in my best shape.

Kairo was nodding in and out of consciousness and I urged him to stay awake and I had gotten all of his large wounds to close up when a loud sound came from the doors leading to this room. Looking through my shoulders I could see scared men running away from something and that something was an overly large beast.

I almost fainted in fright at the sight of them.

They were more than two meters tall and they are hairy with large muscles and a wolf’s face. Their canines were frothing and dripping with blood. Their chest were colored the same. They were snarling and growling and they preyed on the running soldiers.

They pounced on them, tore them limb from limb and feasted on their flesh.

The sight was horrific and fascinating at the same time. Fumi went beside me the moment they came and was trembling by my side.

“Oh Kami, what are they?” She whispered on my ears, her eyes shut from seeing the c*****e before us.

All of the men were already dead but I couldn’t see William among them. I hope they already killed him and ate his meat. After feasting on the flesh of their kills, the beasts are now roaming the whole room. Their snout high in air sniffing.

They seems to be looking for something. But what?

It took me a minute to understand what these creatures were and when I did I looked at Kairo whose eyes were fully opened now and looking straight at the rampaging beasts but instead of the usual blue it was itch black. I jumped in shock at his appearance and I vaguely answered Fumi’s question.

“They’re Lycanthropes.”

At my answer his eyes turned to me and a malicious smile spread across his mouth. “You’re saved now my dear.” He answered and I felt a shiver up my spine. He said it so creepily scaring me. He must’ve seen me flinch away from him because he frowned and stared me down.

“Oh my God, they’re coming here!” Our staring match were interrupted by a wailing Fumi who was looking behind us all terrified. She buried me on her huge body trying to hide away.

Looking back I brought Fumi with me to the farthest corner of Kairo’s cage when I saw three large beast baring their teeth at us waiting to pounce.

A growl rang loud, Fumi and I hugged each other as we screamed in fright at the attacking beast.

“Stop!” The voice rang with authority and power.

The room silenced with his words and I could feel the hot puffs of air on my face testament on how close this beast mouth was from taking a bite of our heads.

I heard a few shuffling in front of me and seconds later the breath was gone and so was the monster about to eat me. I cracked open one eye to assess the situation.

Fumi was still cluthing at my arms tightly, her eyes sealed shut. I roved my open eye to see the other beasts standing just outside of the cage, all bowing at someone.

I followed their line of sight and saw Kairo, who was moments ago was on the verge of death standing there and looking regal. Like he wasn’t bathed in his own blood.

My mind whirled at the connotation of this gesture and at what this man really is. He was only here for a day and an entire legion of lycanthropes were saving him the very next day.

I let out a staggered breath at the realization that Kairo isn’t just a simple Lycanthrope, which wasn’t simple at the first place, but something more.

That made me looked up in him in wonder and fear at the same time.

Who is this man that I got to promise to help me?

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A bit shorter than my usual update but I feel like it’s just right to finish that there. More will be revealed later of course.

About my uploading dates, I will upload every other Sunday… I’ll do my best to stick with this uploading schedule but I have the worst track record in this so do forgive me if I lapsed. Give me a nudge if I failed to deliver because maybe I just forgot.

Anyway, for those reading my other werewolf book, His little maid, I will be uploading there every other Sunday as well. They will be alternating in uploads. Ch