The Kitsune
In Memoriam
Dark nights are all that prevail
For those who have kissed your soft lips
When do I get to rest in peace?
Dark trials that lie ahead
Under the moonlight
To light the flame in hearts long dead
Like the waning of a half-moon child
Half-blood
Half-pain
Much fear
It's very silent here
At home in the darkness
No love
Floating in the cold vacuum of space
For those who do not know love
Do not know loss
Cannot hear your voice screaming out on that warm last day of happiness
Cannot hear the screams that drowned out your laughter in memories
Therefore can smile
Most, as the world crumbles beneath their feet
Can smile
***
There was the familiar crackle of fire and bones which consumed her until she transformed into a four-legged beast, a white fox, slightly bigger than a normal one. The sound of boots on the ground drowned in silence as her human feet were replaced by swift, graceful paws.
It had almost been a whole day stalking this demon. The sun was setting, dying the clouds orange as it faded on the horizon, night looming overhead in purple hues.
The man, eyes red and bloodshot, was transfixed with the children at a nearby park. "Dinner," he snarled. Black ooze dripped from lips that curled to reveal sharp fangs. The man's boots broke with a tearing sound as his feet became large hooves. His curly brown hair parted to unveil a set of goat horns that grew larger with every breath the fox took as she watched from behind some bushes.
"Oh, no, you don't," she growled, a low, guttural sound.
They were in a forest near a park where people would bring their weak human offspring to play, unbeknownst to the supernatural dangers around them. Demons, vampires, werewolves, you name it, they were all real, stalking the night for humans, most blissful in their ignorance, to serve as food or worse.
Lunna did not care much for humans, but she'd let no innocent soul be harmed. Not on this night nor any other. Not on her watch. She became very still, as if in a deep meditative state, her body ready to pounce.
The man had heard the low, guttural growl, his demonic eyes now settling on the fox with fierce bloodlust. Anything living, even an animal, would have sufficed to feed it, but the bloodlust would never subside, never be satisfied, that is, unless halted abruptly.
Lunna leapt, soft animal steps becoming long strides in a blur of white fur and blue light. It was a mesmerizingly beautiful display of the mystical blue fire that flowed like water across her joints and limbs as they became those of a beautiful young woman with the deepest blueish-green eyes the demon had ever seen.
Caught in a trance, he merely saw the gorgeous, ethereal creature pull something bright out and yell, "Scaphoriel!" He saw her silvery-white hair flow like silk and fall gracefully past her shoulders before his whole world went black like the deepest creases in the bottom of the ocean where no light can reach.
Lunna stood over him, her katana stuck in the demon's lifeless chest-which was half as furry as it would've been on a fully transformed Krampus-and yanked her faithful sword free with the slimy sound of thick blood and the faint one of splintering bone. Once the sword was removed, the goat demon turned to ashes, his remains taken by the wind.
"Great. Don't I love it when they leave a mess," she muttered to herself sarcastically as she wiped Scaphoriel's blade with a handkerchief to rid it of the sticky black ooze that was the demon's blood.
Scaphoriel was a special katana. It had a red, pink, and gold embroidered handle, with an engraving of a cherry blossom tree on the blade, its branches and flowers stretching to the tip of the sword, that was filled with what looked like melted diamonds. The butt of the hilt had the protruding image of a golden koi fish.
And it had the ability to trap evil souls.
Scaphoriel's blade glowed a bright blue before fading back to normal, indicating that the Krampus's soul had been trapped."My job here is done," she said as she turned toward the park, "you're welcome, humans."
"I'm sure they'd appreciate your help if they only knew about us."
Lunna turned, startled, toward the source of the female voice as a figure emerged from the trees. The person was tall, and wearing a red hooded cloak which hid away their face in shadows. A shiver ran down Lunna's spine and her hand instinctively went to rest on the hilt of her sword.
The figure continued walking forward, except it looked more like it was gliding or hovering toward Lunna, the person's feet not visible under the cloak, which dragged closer. The hand on the hilt of Scaphoriel tightened its grip.
Lunna pulled out the sword so fast you could hear it ripping through the air, and pointed it at the mysterious figure, "Stop right there. I know what you are, witch."
"Kitsune," the witch replied as she stopped dead in her tracks right before meeting the tip of the katana. She pulled her hood down to reveal a young woman, about Lunna's age and quite as beautiful even though they did not look alike. The witch had black hair that was long and straight with bangs falling on her forehead, pale, porcelain skin, and eyes that were blue as the morning sky.
Lunna sheathed the sword and yelled, "Acacia! You startled me!"
Acacia's laughter filled the silent woods with a lovely sound, "It wasn't my intention, but it was funny."
"How did you find me?"
"I was told your assignment by The Conclave, this is near the last spot the Krampus had been sighted. I tracked it down, knowing you'd be there to kill it," replied Acacia.
"And I suppose you haven't come here to congratulate me in person, to wish me a happy birthday or a merry Christmas? What exactly is it you want?"
"It's your birthday?" asked Acacia, "Well, then, I suppose I have the perfect gift," she added.
Lunna arched a perfect brow at the witch. "Care to elaborate?"
"The demon that killed your mom has been sighted, and we tracked down the human mafia that killed your girlfriend. It was the Russian Bratva. A dangerous group, as far as humans go. I have all the information here," she pulled out a large yellow envelope from her cloak, "I guess it's just a matter of who you want to pursue first."
Lunna grabbed the envelope. She was speechless, as if a swift punch had taken the air out of her lungs. It took her a few seconds to compose herself, "Thank you. I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll avenge them."
Lunna's expression became dead serious and dark, "Oh, I will," she said, and Acacia could have sworn she saw the Kitsune's eyes glow, as if a fire furiously burned behind them.