-1 Killing Prologue (1/2)

Prologue

Japan, 1102 A.D.

I watched the demon closely as I sat there curled up. I was in such pain, so much pain that I couldn't stand it. It was unbearable, and I had never known such a pain. This felt so much more than the small twinges of pain my handmaidens had foretold to me with my marriage coming the next day.

I sat there crying softly, waiting to see what he would do next. I had given myself to him, knowing that he would kill me and destroy my village just like he had destroyed so many others.

He dressed himself and he looked...almost dissatisfied, irritated even.

He glanced at me. ”What is your name, girl?” He asked.

I was almost startled. I couldn't imagine why he would care. ”I am Saya,” I said softly.

He paused a moment. ”Call me 'Katana',” he told me.

”Katana...” I whispered.

He gave a tight nod. ”It is Lord Katana to you,” he said. Then his tongue began to steam, and I startled and moved slugishly to my feet as I watched him shout out, and a winged creature came from the distance.

What was I to do, now that he had used me so? And I wasn't even sure I wanted to marry the young war lord the next day, so...

Where did that leave me?

”Lord Katana!” I cried out as they flew away, and I fell to my knees.

I watched as they faded into the night sky, and then I turned my attention to my battered body.

I slumped forward, my hand covering my abdomen as I felt a burn in the pit of my belly. I had conceived, I just knew it.

His seed had burned, and it was only natural that I would feel it root itself into place in my womb.

I sobbed as I thought of it. Takeshi would be so angry...

As the sun began to rise, I heard my hand maidens shouting my name, searching for me.

When they found me, along with the guards, they were all startled to find me in my used state.

They carried me to my chambers, my hand maidens dressing me in a new kimono and burning the old one out in the courtyard.

”What are we to do?” I heard my father shout outside. ”She has quite obviously lost her virtue, what are we to make of this? We were depending on the alliance that her marriage to Lord Takeshi would secure! Blast that girl!”

”My lord, she was taken by force. If you saw her, you would see that she was certainly not a willing participant. Surely, we can ask her what happened and try to make her a hero?”

He huffed. I heard the footsteps on the wood outside of my chambers, and he slid the door open.

His eyes widened when he saw me. ”Saya,” he whispered, coming to kneel before me. ”Is it true?”

I gave a small, tight nod. ”It is, father,” my voice was hoarse.

”Who was it? I will slaughter the man who would dare to lay a hand on my daughter!”

I hesitated. ”He was no man,” I said.

He startled. ”It was the demon that we have heard so much about?” He asked.

I nodded.

”Why would he take you?” He asked.

”He said that he liked that I was above the 'average humans'. I offered him riches in exchange for our lives, but...but he said that he was the prince of his people, and that he was much wealthier than we are. He then took me, and told me that if I didn't fight him, he would spare us.”

”Then...” A hand maiden stood up. ”Then you truly are a hero, and we are all in your debt!” She cried, flinging herself to bow low to the ground in front of me.

”But what are we to do about Lord Takeshi?” My father asked. ”Surely he is not a fool and will clearly be able to tell you have lost your purity,” my father spat. ”Surely he will be most displeased.”

”We will have to postpone the wedding,” I said. ”Tell him that I have injured myself during a horseback ride, that I need time to recover. Give him a month.”

My father hesitated, before giving a nod. ”I will inform him.” He patted my head lightly before he stood and made his way out of my chambers...

Before I started crying all over again.

*

It was a month later that Lord Takeshi returned. He had been displeased when my father had told him I had been injured, but he had taken his leave and went back to his home. Now, he had returned and, ready or not, it was time to marry him.

My maidens dressed me in the finest white wedding kimono, and put my hair into an elaborate hairstyle before they escorted me out to the courtyard.

Everyone was watching, and as I looked upon my fiance, I couldn't help but think of the dark, gray skinned demon with the sad, stricken blood-red gaze.

Takeshi was a good looking man, absolutely. He stood tall, his stance proud and his brown eyes were hard but kind.

After the ceremony, he took me to the carriage that was already packed with all of my things and we rode off to his territories.