A Light In The Heart Of Darkness. Amy Blankenship

cannot let you win, you monster. My brother’s life depends on it.” Toya whispered through his labored breathing, making the words thunder within his own ears.

      A sliver of fear shot up his spine as he looked up towards the night sky. His eyes grew wide in terror at the sight that he only knew from the giving end… never from the receiving. ‘So… this is what it’s like.’ The thought filtered through his tormented mind.

      He tried to move but was held immobile by an unknown force. Their eyes locked in a deadly stare. Red eyes pierced his very soul and Toya knew death was coming.

      The scream lodged in his throat was replaced by a gurgling sound. His silver eyes faded back to gold and met the crimson red eyes of his murderer, as time seemed to stop. His body began to feel numb as he slowly looked down between their bodies.

      Tears fell from Toya’s eyes as their bright gold color began to fade. ‘I have failed you, please forgive me… Kyoko… Kyou,' were his last thoughts as he drew his final breath.

      He could feel his heart beat getting further and further away as the pain faded. Mysteries unfolded with his final heartbeats as he silently whispered in uneasy wonder, “Kyoko… how long have you been here?”

      Watching with a sick sense of pleasure, the figure clad in black with blazing red eyes smiled in satisfaction. He slowly lowered them both to the hard packed earth. His clawed hand embedded deep in the chest of the young man with eyes like the sun.

      Hyakuhei viciously ripped out the heart that had stopped beating.

      Staring into Toya’s lifeless eyes he whispered, “I always wondered what Kyou’s eyes would look like when he cried… I wager they will be beautiful.” He leaned down and kissed Toya’s forehead before rising to turn and face the man who had just landed a short distance behind him.

      A sadistic smile graced his lips as he held out the bleeding heart and waited for Kyou to close the distance between them. “For you my pet, now there is nothing to come between us.” His voice carried across the night breeze.

      Kyou’s eyes narrowed in disgust as he looked at the fresh heart that was being held out to him. Had Hyakuhei been undead for so long that to him death was a gift?

      Disgusted, Kyou turned away from the disturbing vision. He had sensed his brother’s anguish and had come to investigate. Instead, he found his so called ‘father’ and he could no longer sense his brother’s aura.

      Something was terribly wrong and Kyou could feel the nerves within his body prickle his skin in warning

      He could not see the owner of the heart that still dripped its life from the hand of the ancient vampire since Hyakuhei blocked his view. It annoyed him to be detained from searching out his younger brother. He had not laid eyes on his sibling in over a year but tonight… he knew Toya had needed him. It must have been important for Kyou to have felt the calling so strongly.

      Sensing the anticipation in the man before him, Kyou’s golden eyes locked with Hyakuhei’s. “Whose soul did you steal this time?” he asked with contempt in his voice.

      â€œWhy don’t you come and see, my pet? I’m sure you will be most surprised. It is my gift to you.” A knowing smile lit his shadowed features as Hyakuhei stepped aside… leaving a clear view of his victim. Extending his hand leisurely toward Toya, he turned to look down at the corpse on the ground.

      Kyou’s gaze followed Hyakuhei’s as he slowly took a step closer, confused at the importance of this victim’s identity. His golden eyes widened at the crumpled form lying in the dirt as an ominous jolt of alarm crawled up his spine. His heart began to race when he saw the familiar shiny silver highlights running through midnight black hair, now matted with blood and dirt as it lay across the man's face as if to hide his true identity.

      He felt his entire being scream in rage and denial at the knowledge that he was now looking at his missing brother’s slaughtered form.

      â€œNO!” Kyou threw back his head and roared. Tears filled his eyes as he turned to face the one responsible. “What have you done?” He snarled as he shot forward, stopping mere inches from his brother’s killer. His sun gold eyes bled red… elongated fangs bared like a rabid dog. Flexing his clawed hand he waited for the confession with barely restrained rage.

      â€œOnly what I should have done from the beginning… remove the one who did not appreciate you as I do.” Hyakuhei’s expression softened for a brief moment as he watched his favorite child.

      He had given Kyou all his attention and affection since giving him the gift of dark immortality… but still Kyou had not been happy. It was the sadness in Kyou’s golden gaze that had attracted him so… the loneliness within him was lovely and mimicked Hyakuhei’s own melancholy. He had then turned Kyou’s brother, Toya, in hopes of winning his prized possession’s devotion. But… that had only upset Kyou more.

      Hyakuhei watched the bittersweet tears forming within Kyou’s eyes and knew he had been right… Kyou was most divine when he cried.

      At that moment, something deep within Kyou snapped as a mournful, earth-shattering cry tore from his body. In a blind rage, he attacked his brother’s murderer, fangs bared and claws slashing. “I will tear out your heart and leave your body to be ravaged by the creatures of the night for what you have done!”

      Deftly, the wicked man dodged the attack and in a blur of black had Kyou pinned to the ground. With a calm that did not reflect in his ruby red depths, Hyakuhei leaned in close, his gaze locked on the face that haunted him so… the face of his own brother.

      â€œI did what was necessary for us. Toya did not want you to have my gift and sought to take it away from you. You will understand in time.” He murmured as his soft lips brushed fleetingly across snarling ones as he spoke those words.

      With a strength that he did not realize he possessed, Kyou forcefully threw the offending man twenty feet from his shaking body. He swiped his forearm across his mouth in disgust as he growled dangerously.

      â€œNow, now, little one, calm yourself,” the man cooed as he stood and dusted himself off. His eyes blazed with promise as his body shimmered slightly, and then faded backwards into the night. “I will be watching… waiting for you… my pet.”

      Kyou’s world shattered around him as he looked down at his brother’s lifeless body. ‘I will avenge my brother’s death and spend eternity hunting you if I have to. When I find you, you will pay for this… Hyakuhei...’

      He lowered himself shakily to his knees and gently lifted Toya’s body to his chest… cradling his head gently. His little brother's hair had fallen away from his face making Kyou’s vision blur as he tried to hold back the flood of tears with no success. It looked like Toya was simply asleep… peaceful for the first time in way too long.

      He watched as his tears dripped onto Toya’s cheek and Kyou felt his heart fracture. Clutching his beloved brother tightly against him, Kyou whispered in an unsteady voice, “Toya, please forgive me… for not making it here in time.” His breath shuddered from him as he squeezed his eyes shut in pain. “I knew you needed me… I should have saved you.”

      Kyou’s mind raced back to the day Hyakuhei had turned him into what he was now… the day after his father’s death. Kyou had known Hyakuhei had only wanted him… and Toya had only been a small child. So to protect Toya… Kyou had left with his uncle even as his little brother had cried for him not to leave.

      He could still remember the distrust shining in Toya’s big golden eyes as he glared up at Hyakuhei for daring to take his big brother away from him. It was the memory of that haunted look that had helped Kyou stay away from his sibling for several years… to protect him.

      As