The whip came down again, cutting another burning slice across her small arm. Akira hissed silently in pain, and began to scrub the floor even harder with her other arm. "Both arms!" The man roared behind her. "Faster!" Quickly, she grabbed the dirty rag with both her hands, clenching it with pain as she scrubbed. With each rhythmic stroke she made with her arms, the wounds gradually opened more, causing blood to seep into the rag she was cleaning with. Not stopping her arms, Akira saw she had begun to rub a scarlet stain into the wooden floor. Realizing her efforts were futile at this point, she allowed herself to collapse. Before she even hit the floor, she could feel a rapid succession of her skin being torn open by the whip. Akira didn't care anymore. She was only a piece of meat now. Her real self was deep inside like a small flame ready to be snuffed out.

Part I
Salvation

When Akira awoke the next morning, she was disappointed. She was still alive. Tenderly she pushed herself up, feeling the familiar soreness that accompanied all her movements. Akira looked around her, remembering last nights events. In her right hand she still held the torn cloth, which was now a reddish brown color and stuck to her hand with dried blood. Looking past the cloth, she saw a ring of blood outlining where she had fallen. She curse silently. It would be up to her to clean it up. Akira then moved to the bathroom, where she stared bitterly at the little girl in the mirror. She rubbed her hair between her thumb and forefinger. It was once a soft cloud of pale lavender, but now it was dark, filthy, matted, and caked with grease and dried blood. She also stared into her own eyes, which were once like honey, but were now dull like gems that hadn't been dusted or polished in years. Shaking off her golden past, she removed her shirt and took a rough estimate of her new injuries. Several welts and cuts covered her lower back and shoulders. Her skin was tinged with yellow, spotted with brown and purple in various parts of her body. Akira pressed her face against the cool mirror, hoping to make the pain reflected in it vanish. Then in one of those rare moments, she though about her future, wondering where she'd be in ten years. In a grave. She thought grimly.
It was the same ritual Akira had followed for years, working until she collapsed, awaking to take account of the previous day's beatings, then going back to whatever "chores" her master had planned for her. Finally the day came when her master had a guest. Akira was sweeping the foyer when he arrived, his hair was like obsidian, and his eyes were as green as the marble floors in the dining hall. Just by the feel of his aura, she could tell he was far stronger than her master. As the guest entered, she let a sigh of relief. Her master would be stricter with her around a guest, but she was never beaten as severely as when she was alone with him. Her sigh must have caught his attention because his eyes snagged her own like a hook, slowing pulling her in. He's a...god. Akira realized.
Their eye contact was immediately broken by the sound of feet coming down the stairs. "Kamui, Lord Raven will see you now." A spritely looking woman called. Akira looked over at the woman, remembering her name was Cyprus. As Kamui walked calmly to the stairs, Akira bowed her head in respect though out of the corner of her eye she could see Cyprus looking him over. Ha. That bitch claims loyalty to our master when she'll nail anyone who walks through here. To disgrace herself in front of the gods... She shook her head. She should focus on working now. As the hours went by, voices from above drifted down like a light fog. Most of the words she caught didn't seem to make enough sense but her efforts were interrupted by a light knock on the front doors. Akira hurried over to the door, cracking it open. Standing outside in the cold air was a girl no older than she was. The girl was slightly pale and had a heavy mantle of turqoise hair that cascaded down to her mid-thighs.
"I've come to see Kamui." The girl said in just above a whisper. "I trust he is still here?" Her voice was near monotone. "Umm, yes, he's still in a conference with my master." Akira said. She opened the door to invite her inside. As the girl entered, her eyes moved about the ceiling as if pinpointing the god's location. Akira motioned with a hand to the padded sofa. "While you are waiting you may sit here. Is there anything I may offer you?"
"I do not eat or drink." The girl stated simply as she remained standing. Akira didn't know what to say next. She noticed the girl's clothes, seeing all she wore was a light slate colored cloak that covered her entire body. "My name is Elia. What is yours?" The girl asked while examining a painting.
"My name is Akira." Then she looked up at the sound of voices coming down the stairs. Sweeping with her head bowed, she watched as Raven and Kamui walked down the stairs being tailed by a young woman with silver hair and crimson eyes. Ignoring her completely, Raven shook hands with Kamui and walked him to the door. He introduced himself to Elia and continued talking to the god. Elia moved close enough to Akira so no one else could hear.
"He will die." Elia stared at Raven with unblinking eyes before turning her gaze upon Akira. "And you...are going to kill him." Then she turned abruptly to silently follow Kamui out the door. Raven walked past Akira without acknowledgement and led the young woman into the dining hall, apologizing lightly for keeping her waiting. Akira shut the front doors, pondering Elia's words. And you...are going to kill him.

After their first encounter, Kamui's visits to Raven's manor became more and more frequent. On each visit he had always brought Elia who became more and more valuable to Akira's sanity. On one visit, while Akira was cleaning in the kitchen, a fight had broken out upstairs. "Blood has been spilled..." Elia said in her usual monotone, looking up at the ceiling. Akira noticed the shadow of a smile on Elia's lips, but it flickered out like a candle flame. "A fight..." Akira dipped her hands into the hot water, soaking the fine dishware. "...all that means is more cleaning." She lifted the dish out of the water and began wiping it gently with a dishrag. Once it was fully dry, Akira reached over to set it on the counter.
"Your birthday...it's today isn't it? How old are you"
Akira almost dropped the plate, but grabbed it before it hit the floor. "My what?"
"Your birthday." Elia repeated. "You're...thirteen, right?"
Akira held her breath. My birthday? I can't- I can't remember. How old am I? She slowly thought out that she was very close to Elia's appearance so they must be the same age. "Err, how old are you?"
Elia blinked, her usual dreamy expression seemed to have broken like a mirror. "I'm like..." She trailed off, looking up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Hmmm...I never really though about it. I know I'm at least a few thousand years old." Akira's jaw fell open with suprise, and another loud crash from upstairs reminded her of what would happen if she was caught off task. Elia seemed almost pleased at her expression. "Why? Do you think I look older?"
"No. More like my age." She muttered with disbelief. "Oh..." Akira looked into Elia's reflection in the window. "Are you...a vampire?"
Elia's face went back into it's dreamy state. "No. I'm a shade element. I can tell by your age; you must be thirteen."
"That's another thing." Akira started, soaking more dishes into the sink. "How is it you know so much about me"
She beamed, as if she was a student being asked how she had gotten so many A's. "I can see the darkness in people. It tells me their secrets. And you...you have a lot of darkness in you."

When it came time for Kamui and Elia to leave, Akira noticed more people left as well, among them was the girl with silver hair and crimson eyes. The girl must have felt Akira's eyes for she turned and stared right back. Respectfully, Akira lowered her gaze and noticed the girl's hands were stained the color of her eyes. Later that evening, she mustered up enough courage to ask Raven about the loud noise upstairs and blood on the girl's hands. Her reward for her curiousity was a hard strike in the face that broke her skin, leaving a beaded line of blood under her eye. "Who told you to question me!?" He snarled. "It's my business what I do in my home and you are not to forget that!" After striking her several more times with the handle of her own broom, Raven seemed satisfied and tossed the broom at her, leaving her to nurse her new bruises.

The next day Kamui arrived, though to Akira's disappointment she learned that Elia was ill and couldn't come with him. "I'm sorry, Elia was looking forward to seeing you again." Kamui apologized. Akira bowed her head and Raven appeared to guide the god upstairs. This time Akira followed them, her small feet silent on the marble steps. I have to know. What matters are important enough that a god would have to come here? She reached the top, thankful for the thick carpet that muffled her steps. Akira snuck down the long, dark hall and peered in through the crack in the door. "It seems like a waste to me." Raven said leisurely, leaning back in his padded chair. "What would I gain from giving away fifty packs"
"The answer is obvious." Kamui said with the same calm tone, only his had a hint of amusement. "Say we are in a catering business. We give out samples of our product and if they like it, we're in business"
Someone had leaned forward, and a woman's voice said. "Well what if they don't like it? Or even better, what if they copy it? Red E-X isn't exactly that complicated to reproduce if you already have enough of it"
"Which is my reason for concern." Raven nodded to the woman.
"What concerns me most..." Said a fourth voice; a male. "...is how we can hold this discussion while somone listens in."
Akira was about to turn to run when the door swung open, almost knocking her over. Raven siezed her by the back of the neck and shook her roughly. "It seems..." Raven said through clenched teeth. "...that a good home is not without it's rats."
"And it seems a good slave driver is not without his disregard for his slave's well being." Kamui said, his smirk hidden behind interlaced fingers. "You know, they say judgements and punishments are extremely rude things for to carry out in front of a god."
"Oh?" Raven's attempt to appear neutral was not easily concealed with a scowl that etched itself into his face. "Not to be disrespectful, but what business would a god have with the punishment of a lowly human insect"
"None." Kamui's eyes narrowed. He wasn't exactly thrilled with Raven's more and more frequent audacious attitude. "Except my Shade has begun to show a rather keen interest in your human, and whatever interests a Shade, should be at least some amusement to me...wouldn't you agree Raven?"
The vampire's frustration now clear, he tightened his hold around Akira's throat. "I still don't see how this is relevent." Raven said shortly.
"Well seeing how we already changed the subject..." Kamui stood up. "Do excuse me Tolf...Tekoni." He nodded to the woman and then the man. "I'll need to ask you to retire early. Raven and I have some business that requires my immediate attention. Shrugging, Tekoni disappeared, and Tolf chose to leave through the door Akira had come through. Once they were alone, Kamui tossed a small pouch onto the table. "Here's fifty packs of mine. Distribute these. And let go of Akira, she's going to pass out if you continue to hold her like that."
Raven dropped Akira. What was going on? He had control over this deal, this god, but as soon as this girl showed up, the nature of the situation had become hostile. What the hell is going on?
On all fours, Akira rubbed her throat, gasping for air and coughing. The god called Kamui walked over to her and scooped her up gently, like a father with his daughter. God, he's so... The confusion of the situation finally caught up with her and she fell asleep in the god's arms.
"What- What are you doing!?" Raven stood there, dumbstruck. "Where are you going? That's my slave!" He shouted as Kamui walked down the steps, being careful not to wake Akira.
Kamui said calmly. "I'm giving you the fifty packs you wanted and in exchange, you are giving me Akira. It sounds like a fair enough trade to me"
"You can't do this!" Raven appeared in front of the entrance, blocking it.
Kamui stopped. His eyes were emerald flames. "I can't? Are you presuming to tell me what to do Raven? I am a god. You are nothing but a lowly vampire insect." Kamui threw Raven's words back at him. "Now stand aside. I'm opening that door whether you are in front of it or not, and in case you didn't know...it's daylight"
"But you're a vampire god. You're still a vampire" Raven grasped for any excuse he could make.
"Gods..." Kamui said lightly. "...have no weaknesses." Suddenly enraged again, Raven disappeared. Kamui walked out the front door to where his carriage awaited him. A few warm sun beams kissed Akira's cheek and in her sleep she murmured.

"Heaven."