Masquerade By: Jenna Johnson

Case 2: The Legendary Bloodlines Cross

Alex slowly came to and looked around blankly. He was lying on the floor in his living room right? He held his head and slowly pulled himself up before seeing he had red and black clothing on. He had a thick strap across his chest that was attached to a sword across his back.

“What the hell’s going on?” He saw a few strands of silver hair fall over his face.

He walked to his bathroom and looked in the mirror after clicking the light on. Alex saw a kid with green eyes and shoulder length silver hair staring back at him. Red and black clothing replaced his black shirt and jeans now too. He also noticed the pendant poking out from under the folds of a tattered red cloak draped around his neck.

“This is a nightmare right?” He muttered.

“About time…” He heard a voice mutter.

Alex looked down and saw a red and black cat with two tails and large gold eyes standing at his feet.

“What’s going on here?!” Alex realized the cat spoke.

“I’m one of your guardians. Calm down.” The cat replied.

“Guardian? Why do I look like this and what’s going on?!” He hissed.

“If you let me explain…ahem. Okay, I’m Kiyoko a nekomata guardian and possibly your only way to understand what’s going on. That rock you’re wearing isn’t just a necklace kid, it’s part of your family’s legacy. See every so often that thing will awaken your alternate form so it can fight demons that walk the earth; this alternate form has kinda been in your family since…well…it’s always been there and it’s up to you to continue slaying demons now. Like this you’re no longer Alex, instead you’re called ‘Rave’ and it’s up to you to keep humanity safe.” Kiyoko explained.

“Why me?”

“It’s a male thing. The guys in your family all turn into this so, sorry.”

“A demon slayer huh?” Alex snickered.

“There’s another thing I should caution you of--“ Kiyoko got cut off as Alex ran past him.

“Let’s try this out.” Alex pulled the sword out of its sheath.

“Oh boy…wait up!” Kiyoko ran after him.

Jenna looked at the round pendant around her neck and sighed as it began to glow faintly.

“I don’t want this to happen…” She muttered before sliding off the roof.

Rave stopped and looked around then sighed as the cat finally caught up to him.

“You run way too fast.” Kiyoko panted.

“So where are these demons?” Rave looked at him as he sheathed the sword.

“Give it time. But there’s really something I should warn you of!” Kiyoko meowed as Rave ran off again.

“Doesn’t this kid listen?” Kiyoko muttered before bouncing after him.

Jenna slid to a stop then looked up and saw yellow eyes glaring ahead of her. She gulped and darted down another alleyway as this creature now took off after her. Her pendant began to glow brighter as she kept running then stopped and saw it was a dead end.

“A human girl…just when I was getting hungry too.” A growling voice laughed.

She looked back then gasped as a large creature loomed over her with its fangs exposed.

“Hold still and I’ll make this as painless as possible.” It hissed.

Jenna slid down and covered her head as it lunged. She then looked out from behind her arms as green blood ran down its legs to the ground before it felt apart. She lowered her arms and looked up seeing a silver haired boy with a sword behind the remnants.

“You okay Jen?” He asked.

“Uh huh. Who’re you?” She asked as he helped her up.

“It’s me, Alex.” The boy replied.

“Alex? A little early for Halloween don’t you think?” She tilted her head.

“Funny.” He sheathed the weapon.

She looked at her pendant as it turned a deep red color.

“At least this is temporary. Huh?”

She ran off when he wasn’t looking.

“Not even a ‘thanks’?” He placed his hands behind his head.

Kiyoko panted and leaped onto Rave’s shoulder then gasped for air.

“Where were you?” Rave asked.

“You run too fast…. There’s something else I forgot to mention to you.” Kiyoko panted.

“What?”

“There’s a strange custom to your bloodline. A female demon will surface who wears a stone like yours. But her transformation is irreversible.” Kiyoko meowed.

“Irreversible?”

“The only way she’ll turn human again is if you kill her. So far no one in your family’s failed in killing her. I mean, she’s ruthless.” Kiyoko panted still.

“Why don’t I like you telling me that?”

Jenna stopped at an empty park and looked around as her pendant remained glowing bright red. She actually had been dreading this day since her mother first gave her the item. She looked at it sadly then gasped as several demons had gathered around her.

Kiyoko looked around then darted further ahead with Rave running after him.

“Just what’re we doing?” Rave panted as they stopped.

“I’m looking for her. If we’re lucky she hasn’t changed yet.” Kiyoko kept scanning around quickly.

The little cat then darted ahead again with Rave sighing and running after him yet again.

Rave looked around then whistled as Kiyoko scurried to each of the remains.

“You sure I have to slay demons? Someone got to these guys first and did way better than me.” Rave said.

“That’s not good…” Kiyoko sniffed at one of the piles of meat.

“A bunch of dead demons…hm.” Rave rested his sword against his shoulder.

“Come on.” Kiyoko darted ahead.

Rave groaned and followed the cat yet again.

Another demon splattered against the wall as she held the item in her hand. Others lunged but also blew apart just from her glancing at them.

“Hurry up!” A voice yelled.

She blinked then looked around then at the demons she destroyed. Soon a little red cat poked around the corner and growled. Jenna lowered her head after releasing the pendant back to over her heart. She then heard running footsteps before closing her eyes.

“Can’t you wait?” Rave panted.

Kiyoko kept growling.

“Huh? Where’d you go?” He noticed her at the end of the alleyway.

Rave sheathed his weapon and walked ahead with the cat now trying to stop him but found the words die as soon as he opened his mouth.

“Jen, what’s wrong?” He asked as he stood ahead of her.

“Get away from me…” She muttered.

“What?” He tried to look at her face.

“I said get away from me!” She howled as she looked up.

Rave and Kiyoko jumped seeing her eyes had turned bright yellow. Rave stepped back and drew his sword as she growled. She then lunged at Rave with his shoulder getting ripped into by her nails. No, her claws was more like it. Kiyoko growled and tried to block her path but was also thrown aside as she ran off once again.

“What…was that?” Rave held his wound.

“You’ll find out…sadly…” Kiyoko replied before they both tried to run after her.

Rave and Kiyoko stopped in the middle of the park once more before noticing strange splatters among the grass. Rave knelt down to inspect one of the stains before watching as something splashed into a fountain nearby. He looked at Kiyoko before they walked toward it and looked around.

“We’re too late…” Kiyoko poked over the edge of the fountain.

A body was staring up at them lifelessly from the water before they looked back and saw something standing on top of a statue. It was silhouetted against the moon and apparently had pointed ears and a tail and bright yellow, slitted eyes. It jumped down swiftly and stared at both of them.

“What is that?” Rave asked.

“It’s her, the demon I mentioned.” Kiyoko replied.

“She doesn’t look so threatening.” Rave snorted.

“I actually was scared of this day but now I realize I can avenge my mother. Rave you killed her now I’ll kill you!” It hissed as it crouched down.

“Okay, that changed quickly…” Rave gulped.

Rave now realized her voice was slightly familiar before jumping aside as she lunged. She then spun around and growled as she stared at him coldly. She smirked then lunged again and fell short on purpose, kicking his feet out from under him. Rave landed in the damp grass then rolled to the side as she tried to dig her claws into him again. I don’t want to hurt her. Rave didn’t draw his sword but instead tried to grab at her ankle as she tried to kick him again. He grabbed her ankle and threw her as best as he could. The demon slid over the grass and laid there as he drew his sword.

“Who am I kidding anyway? I really am scared.” She said as she lay there.

Rave stopped and stood above her as she looked back at him with teary eyes.

“Go ahead and kill her before she attacks you again.” Kiyoko meowed.

“It’s my fate to lose anyways.” She sighed.

“I can’t.” Rave lowered the weapon.

“What?!” Kiyoko meowed.

“Come on, she’s not anything like your story. Plus I think I know who she is and I can’t kill her.” Rave said.

She sat up and pulled her knees to her chest before he knelt down and smiled gently.

“I can’t kill you even if you are a demon Jenna.” He said.

“Espio.”

“Hm?”

“Espio. That’s what my mother named my demon form before she died.” She answered.

“I can’t kill you either way.” He said.

“You’re betraying your legacy then?” She tilted her head.

“Not really. I just won’t kill you. I mean I’m sure there’s a way to return you to normal no matter what the legend says.” Rave answered.

Espio brushed her magenta bangs aside slightly then watched him get up before he helped her up.

“I suppose I owe you.” She laughed.

“Not really.” Rave blushed a little.

Espio laughed then looked at the cat as he fell over into the grass with a groan.

“What are you anyway? A cat?”

“I’m some kind of hybrid. Dog ears, cat’s tail, somehow my chest got bigger…” She sighed.

Rave then noticed the pendant around her neck still.

“Go home okay? I’m sure your dad can help you figure out how to cancel out your curse.” Rave said.

“I doubt that. But, still thanks.” She said.

She then ran off again after lightly kissing his cheek. Kiyoko groaned and remained face down in the grass as Rave stood there blankly.

“You should’ve killed her.” Kiyoko said.

“I couldn’t do that.” Rave answered.

“She’s not the same person, you let her walk free and you’re technically handing your neck over to her claws.” Kiyoko looked up at him.

“She’s not that kind of person no matter what happens to her. I know her.” Rave looked back and smiled.

“We’re dead. We’re so dead.” Kiyoko shook his head as he plodded after Rave.

“Look, we’ll go home and have a good rest. By tomorrow things should be a lot better.” Rave sounded reassuring.

“We’re gonna be impaled on sticks and she’ll eat our guts. We’re dead.” Kiyoko wailed.

Alex placed the pendant inside the box before resuming brushing his teeth. Kiyoko laid on the windowsill in Alex’s bedroom and would sigh from time to time at the realization Alex spared that girl’s life. Kiyoko then looked at the busy little mouse in the cage that was still running on his wheel.

“Do you ever stop Cheez-It?” Kiyoko muttered tiredly.

The mouse squeaked and kept running. Alex walked into his room and looked at Kiyoko blankly.

“I know, I know. I shouldn’t have spared her but I care too much about her to do that to her.” Alex said.

“You’re in love with her? Interesting situation.” Kiyoko murmured.

“Whatever.” Alex walked to his bed.

Alex and Kiyoko both jumped after he’d pulled back the blankets to find Espio asleep in his bed.

“I told you…” Kiyoko snorted.