Knights of the Elements Book 1: Air

  The girl was so small when she was born. Her hands tiny, her feet much smaller than a human finger. She was born four weeks too soon. Quiet. Too quiet even for a baby. A grand total of six pounds and 19 ounces, 19 inches long, red hair, bright silver eyes, a color that is not natural for any child, and a small nose to match her tiny pink lips. Her skin was a pale light crème color. The baby gazed up at the one holding her in wonder and in awe. “We need to name her.” The mother said softly. A fey, multicolored wings that glittered in the sunlight, slender, pale skin from exhaustion yet not too exhausted to stay awake and alert, dark brown hair that reached down to her waist, green and blue eyes, small nose and medium sized lips that were currently pulled into a soft smile. April was only five foot six. She was well built for a fay and had the attitude to match. She was not sour in any way but rather strong. “Yes.” Ken’Shinto, the father, looked over the young child. So fragile in his own demonic hands. He was a demon. A Warrior Wolf to be exact. He stood about six foot, had dark brown short cropped hair, a black mask covering his nose and jaw from the world to hide his demonic markings that openly showed to the world on his face. He was very well exercised and had his own muscle build to his body. He wore a black shirt and black pants. April now looked up at him still with the soft smile expecting a name from him. “It’s a girl.” He said exasperated. He still could not believe it. The entire pregnancy, which he had attempted to keep silent towards his entire family of wolf demons, they had been informed that the child was going to be a boy. It was commonly believed that the ultrasounds did not lie. Even if they were the best in the world in the early 1990’s. The child still was a girl. The great Lord had given them something different than what the world expected. Ken’Shinto Honshu came from a long line of royal demon wolfs. All children born into the family had been male. His family line went back over three thousand years. The eldest in his family was his father now, at over 600 years of age, as demons do not age quickly as other creatures. His mother was only twenty years younger than his father. His brother was 200 years older than himself. Ken’Shinto still couldn’t comprehend that the child was a girl. The first female born into the family in over three thousand years since the family had the first boy with the name of Honshu. April, on the other hand came from a long line of royalty from the fey side of the world. Her father and mother did not approve of her marrying a young demon such as Ken’Shinto and refused to even acknowledge them. Her mother and father were both fey, though her father was a sun fey and her mother was a night fey, April herself was a horse fey. She could ride, cure, and help any species of horse in the magical world. April was the first of the family to deny marriage to one the parents chose. She had twin brothers, and a elder brother who too were fey though of different types. “Ken.” April said softly drawing him back into the current predicament his mind had drifted into. He held the child closely to himself and still gazed with wonder down at the little infant. The marriage between a fey and a demon was rare, a child from the two was unheard of. No doubt the child would have powers beyond any of their control, Ken was sure of that. “Kashin.” He said. The child blinked and held onto his finger tightly. “After the flute that you play.” “Kashin?” April seemed pleasantly surprised by this. “Why?” “We both know you love to play the flute.” Ken said to his wife. “I figured it would be a good name for a girl that is even more loved.” Ken, himself, loved and was drawn to April’s ability with music. They met under the circumstances of her captivating sound with the kashin. Ken was never raised around good music. He was raised around small amounts of dancing and more amounts of fighting. The Warrior Wolves were never to be double crossed or messed with. The king himself wanted to make sure this was possible. A harsh hand raised both Ken and his brother. The warrior wolves lived up to their name. Any being who attacked them, ended up tortured beyond the point of begging for death. They were known around the world for being harsh and very unforgiving. However, when met in person in peaceful terms, they were not unpleasant. “Ken?” April again caught his gaze and his thoughts flying rapidly. “You are worried about what Keshaun would do?” Ken’Shinto nodded. His father was the king to the warrior wolves. Keshaun was a very strict and tough demon. His jaw and features were always sharp, he stood proudly with his shoulders back and his arms at his sides where usually a sword with demonic abilities rested. He usually wore a white shirt that matched his white hair, slight wrinkles and dark eyes. HE was more built than Ken’Shinto was and stood taller than Ken by several inches. Speaking of him and thinking of what he might do, Ken turned to the door which had opened. Keshaun himself strode into the room carrying a vase of flowers for the young couple. Very seldom did the man smile but he was in a good mood. He was expecting to see a strong little healthy baby boy. His look became confused at once. “My son, daughter-in-law.” He greeted in a booming voice. “Why do you look unwell?” “Lord Keshaun.” April dipped her head briefly and then reached for the baby. Ken’Shinto gently handed the baby to the mother still unwilling to give the news. Keshaun noticed the blanket around the child being pink. “It-it’s a girl.” April whispered. “A girl?” Keshaun had been accustomed to women only used to bear children until about a century ago when women rights started to come up. He thought then that the world was going to change and now he knew it was. “A girl.” He repeated. “Move out of the way, I want to see her.” Came a more demanding voice. Keshaun stepped aside and let his wife into the room. Ken’Shinto’s mother, Lady Rose, was very slender and short compared to her husband. She had the deep purple marks on her cheeks and a purple crescent moon on her forehead. Her hair, too, was white and long. She had aged a little but still looked like a 30 year old. She had gold eyes, dark red lips, and a small nose to match. She marched right up to the bed and held out her arms. April unwillingly gave the child to Rose. “April,” Rose breathed, “She is lovely.” “A granddaughter.” Keshaun spoke again still reacting to the news. “She is the first.” “Yeah. She is.” Ken muttered to more of himself. He too was still in shock that Kashin was a girl. The baby started to coon softly as she stared up at her grandmother. Rose started to rock the child still standing. “She is a wonderful little thing.” Rose said softly. “So tiny.” Rose turned to her son. “Unlike you, you were so big.” “Lady Rose,” April attempted to speak but Rose shushed her. “How many times must I tell you to just call me Rose? None of this “Lady” business.” Rose gently handed the child back to her mother. April took the baby and held her close still uneasy about what Keshaun might do. “We have work to do my son.” Rose turned to Ken. He looked back at her confused. “We will need to announce her arrival…” “The very first princess.” Keshaun said softly. “It must be done at once.” “What must be done at once?” Ken’Shinto asked slowly. “You will need guards and help with the baby and-“ “Slow down,” Ken’Shinto said to his father. Keshaun didn’t like Ken’s tone and his look clearly expressed this. “She will need a husband of good breeding.” “I can’t believe you even said that!” Ken’Shinto exclaimed. “He is right, the girl was just born.” Rose half exclaimed herself. “Extra guards I could understand but a husband?! Keshaun, you of all people!” “A young girl like she will be expected much of. We must prepare her at once.” Keshaun looked over at Kashin in April’s arms. April pulled the baby closer to herself. “I have already chosen a husband for her.” April said to protect the child. Ken’Shinto spun to his wife along with Rose in shock. Keshaun raised his eyebrow. “You have?” He questioned her. “Yes I have.” She said a little more strongly. “And James has already agreed to it.” “You can’t be serious.” Ken’Shinto couldn’t believe this talk was already going on. The child was still just a few hours old. “Enough of this.” Rose said suddenly. “Keshaun, the child and her parents will need rest. For now, let us just focus on the extra security.” “I don’t need-“ “Ken’Shinto, I’ve already foreseen you getting attacked by Orion’s men.” Rose said cutting her son off. Ken looked at her blankly. His mother was a very strong psychic. She could see the dead, gaze into the future, dream about things that people would not talk about, and even read into others mind. The genes were to be passed to Ken’Shinto and his brother however neither of them acquainted the abilities.   “The guards then.” Ken finally agreed. “Only the best for my granddaughter.” Rose assured. Ken’Shinto looked to Keshaun. He had said nothing or done nothing to show his acceptance of the girl. Noticing his questioning gaze, Keshaun walked over to April. “What is my granddaughter’s name?” “We were just going to-“ Ken’Shinto was cut off by his wife. “It’s Kashin.” April said. “Please allow me to hold her a moment.” April was hesitant. She gently handed Keshaun the baby girl. He held the child a moment and looked over her. Ken was about ready to attack if he did anything to harm his child. “A very fine beauty indeed.” Keshaun said softly. He pulled the baby up and kissed her on the head. “She will make for a beautiful young princess.” And then it was done. Keshaun handed Kashin back to April. He had announced his acceptance of the girl. Ken’Shinto thought he was going to pass out.   Keshaun announced to the press that the baby was a girl the very next day. He even left his personal guards outside of the hospital door that very night after leaving Ken’Shinto and April to rest. Ken’Shinto sat with his wife on the bed watching the television on the wall of the hospital room when Keshaun himself made the announcement. Kashin was asleep in the bassinet next to Ken. A third person was in the room this time and one still rocked by the news. His name was James Windky. James Windky is a dragon that is currently in a human form to fit into the hospital room of his best friend which he loved as a sister. When in his human form, he has white hair tied back into a low ponytail, creases on his face, dark grey eyes, a large nose and tan lips. He had slight wrinkles around his eyes from age. He stood about Ken’Shinto’s height.  When in his dragon form, he had white scales with black talons, spikes and claws. His wings were feathers unlike most dragons. James Windky had been friends with April since they were about five years old. They had never had romantic feelings for one another but rather felt like family. They had classes together, worked together and even lived together for a short while until April met Ken’Shinto. Ken’Shinto and James became friends at once though James was not as close of a friend to Ken as he was to April. At James’s side was a small dragon. He had opal white scales, purple talons, nine purple tails, and even small purple claws. His wings were not yet fully developed but silver feathers stuck out of them. The small dragon was asleep next to James, letting his head rest in James’s lap. “Well then.” James said when the news report broke for a commercial. “You came up with a plan to have my little Windjuste marry Kashin?” He clicked his tongue. “I’m sorry James.” April seemed to plead. “It is either that or have Keshaun himself marry my child out from under me.” “Believe me, I understand why you did it. I’m not even angry.” James put up a hand. “I don’t particularly like the idea of having my son betrothed at such a young age.” April was about to say something but James put up a hand again. “However, given the circumstances, I suppose I have no choice but to agree.” “You’re serious?” Ken was shocked again. This seemed to be a repeating feeling over the course of a few days. “Very. I don’t wish to see my son leave me so soon, especially since he is the only thing I have left from my late wife. I also cannot sit and watch Keshaun take little Kashin away from April and you.” James was married to Celestina. She was a nine-tailed fox demon who had loved James for a long time. However, she was hunted down by demon hunters under Orion’s order and killed. James tried to save her but could only save their son instead. A short but prompt funeral was held for her a couple of years before this day. Their son Windjuste Windky was born several years before Kashin. “Thank you James. I’m so sorry.” April apologized again. James was taking the sudden promise better than either she or Ken’Shinto had hoped. The fact that he immediately agreed shocked them both. “No need to apologies.” James smiled. “I have a daughter-in-law and now we CAN be related.” “You are nuts.” April shook her head rolling her eyes. James chuckled. The little dragon beside him stirred and awake. James picked up the boy and carefully took him over to the bassinet. “This is going to be your wife.” James announced to his son. Windjuste yawned in response and carefully crawled into the bassinet. Then he curled up next to the baby and went back to sleep. “See, he’s already excited.” “I hope not too.” Ken muttered to himself. April gently nudged him and looked over at the two sleeping children. “It is settled then.” James went and sat back on the sofa at the end of the room. He brushed back his hair with one hand and then glanced up at the TV where the news anchor described, once again, the announcement from the King of the warrior wolves. Other clans would see this, if they haven’t already, and plan an immediate visit.   *************************************************************************************   However, another seen this that also planned an immediate visit. Orion was a hard man. He stood about six foot tall, was extremely well built, wore black shirts with pants, and had dark black hair, dark eyes and even a dark mark on his face right below his left eye. An upside down star with a triangle around it. He folded his arms in response to the news and grimaced. A cry from down the hall startled him. He turned and faced the closed doors at the end of the hall. The glary hall was just as he liked it. Dark. No windows, only candle lit lamps. Dark black drapes and even dark Oak Wood for doors. The cry came again catching his attention. He unfolded his arms and walked to the door. When he was about to nock, the cry got louder. Ignoring the need to nock, he walked in. His own wife, Sina, was slim. She wore a white gown that was now needing to be changed, had dark fay wings, had light blond hair in contrast to her slightly tan skin and dark brown eyes. Her lips were parted as she cried openly. Orion crossed the room quickly and seen why his wife cried. “Orion,” Sina sobbed noticing him. Orion glanced into her arms and seen the child. Stillborn. Unable to come back to life even with the darkest magic that he could create. He did try even though but it only tired him and gave his wife false hope. He glared at his hired man. Jacob winced. Sweat poured down his dark ebony face and past his dark eyes and large nose and mouth. His jaw was softly rounded and he stood only inches shorter than his king. Currently, he wore scrubs along with others in the room, the nurse maid, the nurse, and the other doctor. Blood covered him. Orion knew that it was Sina’s blood from the birthing. “What this time?” Orion demanded in a hard cold voice. Jacob winced again and held back a shudder. The nurses in the room kept their eyes down and did not move. Nor did the other doctor whose features Orion did not care to see. “I’m sorry my lord.” Jacob stuttered. “He was a stillborn. There was nothing we could do.” “Jacob.” Orion crossed his arms and sighed. “Jacob, Jacob, Jacob. You are my right hand man.” “Yes my lord.” Jacob muttered. “It is my fault.” Sina said sobbing. “I’m the one that keeps having worthless pieces of s**t!” Sina threw the dead child at the nurse. Her wings cast an eerie glow around the room. Orion turned to his wife and quickly put a hand on her arm. “It is not your fault Love.” He promised gently. His voice only softens for his wife. Orion continued. “It is not your fault. You did everything as expected.” “Why can’t I have a child?” Sina cried out. “WHY?!” “I am unaware of the answer.” Orion said softly. “Calm yourself Sina.” He turned back to the others in the room and glared at them. “Clean this up.” With that he turned and left the room. He had other things to attend to. Another dead child was not one of them. Orion and Sina had been attempting to have children for years. However, April Honshu had stabbed her sister, not by blood but by oath, in the abdomen promising to curse their attempt at ever having a child. Orion knew not of this fight until after he had found his dying wife. He used his magic alone to revive her and saved her but not even the strongest magic, black or white, could heal Sina from the wound that April caused upon her. Seething with rage, Orion stepped out of the room and slammed the door behind him. April Honshu will have to pay for what she done. And it was going to cost what he and Sina wanted most. A child.   *************************************************************************************   The third day of her life, Kashin had caught an infection in her lungs. April grew worried and even paced the hospital room. Ken’Shinto had to leave to attend to some of his duties as a prince. James and Windjuste stayed with her for support. Windjuste was still too young to understand what was going around him however he knew to stay quiet and watch after Kashin. He was still in his small dragon form and was laying across James’s lap. He gazed openly where the bassinet had been. Now it was empty because Kashin was taken to the infant care unit. April had let her wings out while pacing the room. They sparkled in the sunlight dazzling the room. James gently stroked Windjuste’s scales watching the stricken fay. She circled the room twice, brushed her hair out of her face and then circled the room again. “Good lord April, calm yourself.” James finally said. She sighed and turned to him. “I don’t feel right. Something is wrong.” April murmured. “My baby,” she said looking at the hallway. “Keoko has the child. You have no reason to worry.” James said to his friend. “She is in good hands.” “But I can’t shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen and soon.” “April, look at yourself, you are as worried as a little baby rabbit about crossing the road.” James teased. “A little baby rabbit crossed the road and was killed by a car.” April replied flatly. “You amuse me.” James smirked at the fay. April rolled her eyes and turned again to the hall. Still dressed in a gown with soft slippers on, April lifted her head and marched out of the room like a soldier going into the battlefield. James picked up his son and stood. He quickly followed her out the door and to the infant care unit. “You will see that the girl is doing just fine.” “Until then, I worry.” April turned a corner and came to three large windows that shown the infant care unit. Because she was on another floor on request of Keshaun, Kashin was the only baby in the room with the nurses and Keoko. Keoko stood about seven feet tall. He was a dragon that stood on his hind legs only, like a human. His eyes were a deep emerald in contrast to his bright red scales and his black talons, claws, webbed wings and spikes. He had a small thin spike that stuck out of his jaw connecting with his neck but he often clipped this short as if it was hair. His tail was shorter compared to most and his neck was only a foot long. He had very strongly built arms, and smaller hands than most dragons. He kept himself very clean and trimmed. Keoko kept a white lab coat on most of the time and his wings tucked inside. He wore no shirt, for there was no need for a dragon such as him however he did wear black worn pants. He never wore shoes however on occasion was seen wearing the shoe covers over his feet. Right now, he needed none of this. Just the lab coat was over his wings. Keoko noticed them and gave a quick nod from the inside the clean white room. April sighed though James was not sure if it was relief or more anxiety. He glanced through the room again for the hundredth time. The room was smaller than most, had incubators in it, although Kashin was not in need of one. Regular medical cases full of equipment that would usually be needed, IV stands and such. The only window to the room was the three that James and April now looked into. The floors, walls and roof were all white and plain. Fluorescent lights hung from the ceiling giving a soft glow to the room. Kashin was laying on a small hospital bed that was meant for infants such as herself. She had an IV in her foot and a small heart monitor on. Currently, she kept her eyes shut against the light and attempted to sleep. Keoko gently nudged her checking the child over thus making it look as though rest was not going to come easy to the child. She wore no shirt or any cloths save the diaper on her. It too was plain and white like the hospital room. “See she is just fine.” James turned to April. April didn’t take her eyes off of the baby. Keoko did a final checkup of the girl and then washed his hands in a nearby sink. He exchanged a few words with a male nurse who had short cropped black hair, softly slanted dark eyes, a small nose and small lips. His skin was slightly tan and he was a little taller than April. The nurse too wore a white lab coat over dark blue scrubs. April knew who it was. His name was Sandwood Hart. Sandwood was currently finishing his final studies under Keoko and soon to become a doctor himself. He had helped Keoko throughout April’s pregnancy. Sandwood turned his dark eyes to the glass and smiled showing his flawless teeth. April smiled back softly and dipped her head. Keoko turned away from them a moment and then walked out of the room through a door on the side. He turned to April and James. “There is no need to worry, the infection is only slight and she is healing rapidly.” Keoko reported in his deep voice. “There you see?” James said again to the fay. April didn’t seem to hear him as she glanced at the baby again. “She will need to be fed soon.” April said. “Yes indeed.” Keoko agreed. “However it is not quite that time yet. I am administering some medication to her with the IV. I’ve already checked to see if it would help her rather than aggravate her system.” Keoko gently put a hand on April’s shoulder comfortingly. April had been a patient of his since she was born, the same as the mother before her and the mother before her. Coincidentally, Keoko had been long time friends with Keshaun and was often asked to look at Ken’Shinto and his brother. He knew the both of them before April or Ken’Shinto knew each other existed. Keoko was not racist by any means against any creature, good or bad. Keoko healed them all the same as long as they didn’t attempt to kill him. He often traveled around the world upon request from many however this was becoming less often. Keoko aged quicker than most dragons and looked as if ready to retire to some however he kept his work going. “April, go back to your room and rest,” Keoko caught her wavering attention. April glanced at the medical dragon and then back at her child longingly. “I personally will see to it that Kashin is properly turned over to your care in a few hours.” “She is my baby.” April put a hand on the glass window and spiritually reached for her child. The baby yawned in response and kept her eyes closed clearly attempting sleep again. “I can’t leave her alone right now.” “I do not dare separate a mother from her child however I will make you sleep if you do not follow my orders.” Keoko said firmly. “Don’t threaten me Keoko.” April warned. Keoko dared to smirk at her. “Young lady, you cannot expect me not to threaten you when you do not listen.” “He’s right April. Come back to your room and get to bed.” James eyed the two wolf guards that were heading their direction. They were easy to distinguish because of wearing heavy gear, guns and knives at their sides and black vests on them that said Patrol. Both males were tall, sharp chinned, built, white males and had dark eyes. They did resemble each other which gave a feeling of the two being brothers. They both wore black baseball caps over their military style cut hair. “The guards have come for you.” Keoko pointed out. “Get back to bed.” “I do not like this.” April protested. “Something is wrong.” “Nothing is wrong.” Keoko assured. “Sandwood and I are keeping all eyes and ears on Kashin. Go back to bed or I will be forced to put you under myself.” “Fine.” April hissed bitterly. She turned to the two guards wondering if they would listen or not. “One of you stay with the baby.” She ordered. The guards exchanged a look and then the taller of the two stepped forward. “Of course Lady April.” He said softly. “If you insist this, then come with me briefly. You will need some scrubs on over that.” Keoko muttered to the wolf. April watched them enter a room on the side of the infant care unit and then turned and walked back to her room. James smirked at her. “Don’t you dare James.” April warned not looking at him. “If you insist my dear.” James mocked.     Windjuste was born from Celestia on August 14 of 1988. He was the first nine-tailed dragon ever recorded in history. He was a very bright and smart young man. At the age of six months, he began to read and write. At the age of two, he could easily shift between his dragon form and a human form. At the age of three, he had the vocabulary of that of a college student. Although he didn’t quite understand everything, he was still above that of his age. When he seen Kashin for the first time, he was in awe. There was nothing special to him about this baby but something drew him to her. He didn’t dislike her but had no real feeling for her at first. Windjuste looked up at his father from the back seat of the sedan that his father drove. He wanted to ask many questions, especially why he was to get married to a baby, however he remained quiet. Windjuste was a very good mind reader and could easily communicate nonverbally through the mind. Even miles away, James could still mentally hear his son when something went wrong or when his son had questions for him. Though James was not psychic or had any of the abilities, he could answer his son with a single thought. “Why must I marry a baby?” He finally asked. Windjuste had slowly worked up the courage to talk with his father about such a thing. “She is a very special young girl. You will be her rock.” James answered glancing in his rearview mirror. Windjuste looked down at the grey seats under him. He curled into a blanket under the seat belt. “And because she is a close one to our hearts.” “Like mother?” Windjuste only had a single memory of his mother, when she gave birth to him. He had often asked questions about Celestia to James and James answered them openly. “Very much.” James answered. Windjuste sighed silently still trying to understand what was so special about the baby. He felt a need to be with the girl. “Why do I know her already?” Windjuste asked curiously. “You will know her more and more every day of your life. And one day you will love her more than life itself.” James answered. “Until then, do not worry too much about the topic. The wedding will not happen until she is 18.” “That’s a long time.” Windjuste observed. “She is only a baby.” “Yes. As I have said, no need to worry about it.” James said softly driving down the road to their home. “But I do have something to say.” Windjuste responded. James listened. Windjuste knew he did. “There is going to be something about her, a circle of twelve to protect, three twisted souls to hold the key to her and then she will be something that helps with a balance of some sort.” “How do you know that?” James asked curious of his son’s sudden response. “I just know.”