CHAPTER 1
BEING GENRE SAVVY ISN’T EASY
Justin stood by the door, listening to Commander Paine speak to a bunch of people dressed to the nines in really expensive suits, wondering what he was doing there.
The room they were in wasn’t large, but then, conference rooms never were. Shaped like a rectangle, a long table sat in the center of the room. Sitting around that table were several people, prominent members of the United Nations, the United States, and various world governments. Many of them he didn’t recognize, but that didn’t surprise him either. Standing at the head of the table, before a projector displaying the video feed of a battle between two kitsune, was his boss: Commander Ethan Paine.
“You can see here how the attack unleashed by the yōkai decimated the entire shrine in China,” Commander Paine said, his stern expression glaring at the people present, making them squirm in their seats. Justin snorted. His commander had a frightening glare. “Over two hundred people died in that attack, a single attack committed by a yōkai during a fight. That kind of unmitigated power is dangerous, which is why I believe we should not allow these monsters to roam free any longer. We must take decisive action against them now, before more lives are lost.”
Justin watched as the group of old men mumbled together, seemingly discussing the situation. One of them, a younger man with shaggy brown hair and eyes of the same color, turned to the commander.
“We’ve long known about the threat that yōkai pose,” he started, his voice confident and strong. “That is part of the reason we agreed to help fund this group—to ensure the protection of humanity. However, it is that same threat posed by yōkai that has kept us from doing what you suggest. Numerous as we are, our numbers do not guarantee us victory over the yōkai, especially if the various races decide to put aside their differences and fight us as one.”
“I doubt that would ever happen.” Commander Paine was dismissive of the young man’s concern, waving his hand as though warding off a bug. “There are hundreds of different races of yōkai, and very few of them have ever gotten along. Even back in ancient times, yōkai tended to fight more amongst themselves than they have us. Back then, we humans were simply so weak and powerless that we would get swept up in their conflicts, which is usually how humans die at the hands of yōkai these days, too. To them, we are like insects, tiny little creatures that scurry beneath their feet. They barely even notice when they step on us.”
Commander Paine paused, though whether this was to let his words sink in or to take a breath, Justin didn’t know.
“However, I do understand your concern to some extent. If the yōkai races ever did form an alliance and fight against us, we would surely incur heavy losses, though I am confident in our chances of victory regardless. That being said, my science division has recently created a new weapon, one which should serve as an admirable deterrent in the event that the many yōkai races ever do form an alliance to fight against us.”
A door in the back of the conference room slid open, and in walked something that only vaguely resembled a humanoid. It stalked forward on whirring servo motors, moving with an unusual grace and a deadly intent. Clawed metal feet scratched against the carpet. Its gleaming silver surface rippled as it moved. Strange, undulating patterns seemed to form along its body, as if it was made of liquid instead of metal. A red visor created a V-shape on its face, seeming to glare at everyone from its bullet-shaped head.
“This is the YK series war machine, a killing machine made specifically with exterminating yōkai in mind. We have already field
tested it against various yōkai, and it has held up well against everything that has been thrown at it. This machine can even fight on par with an oni, the most physically powerful type of yōkai that we know of. With this invention, gentlemen, killing yōkai will be easy, and we won’t need to sacrifice our sons and daughters to do it.”
That was not technically true. Few of these yōkai killers had been produced. Commander Paine was merely showing his war machine off to make those who would be otherwise reticent about starting a war agree with his idea.
Justin observed the politicians from his place in the back. He could see how Commander Paine’s words affected them, could see how the sight of this machine struck fear into their hearts. Yet as the seconds passed, most of those who might have disagreed with starting a war started nodding at the idea.
He almost scoffed. Idiots.
“This invention of yours does indeed sound promising,” an older man wearing a turban began, “but in my experience, there are always downsides to weapons like this.”
“They do cost a lot of money to make,” Commander Paine admitted. “With the budget we’ve been given, we have only been able to produce twenty of these. Three prototypes and seventeen finished models. The parts are also difficult to make, so it will be awhile before we can fully replace our troops with them.”
“Then would it not be better for us to wait until production costs are lowered before going with your proposal?” asked another gentleman, this one speaking with a heavy British accent. “We do not want the yōkai to initiate hostilities between us while we’re still waiting for our forces to gather strength.”
“Of course you would say that,” another scoffed, his accent hard to place. Justin thought he sounded Greek. “Your country has not yet suffered from any serious incursions. Just one month ago an expensive island resort in the Pagasetic Gulf was completely annihilated by a battle between kitsune. We were lucky that no one was there during the time it was destroyed. Even so, the amount of damage done to our land was extensive.”
“The island resort you’re talking about was a kitsune-owned resort, wasn’t it? I do not see a problem with that. If they want to destroy their own property, then I say we should let them. So long as they do not involve us, I couldn’t care less.”
“They’re a menace to humanity!”
“So long as they don’t involve us in their battles, I don’t really care what they do.”
Justin looked up at the tiles on the ceiling, absently counting them while wondering what he should have for dinner that night.
IfIeven make itbackintime for dinner . Withthewaythingsare goingrightnow,thatdoesn’tseemverylikely.
“They’ve already involved us in their battles,” Commander Paine interjected. “I have already shown you the battles that happened between several kitsune in China, which not only decimated a prominent shrine, but also killed a large number of people, many of which were tourists from your own countries. If you need further evidence of the threat these yōkai pose, then I will give it to you. I have brought one of my subordinates with me. He has firsthand experience with yōkai and can tell you about how grave a threat they truly are.”
Justin knew that was his cue. With something of a sigh, he uncrossed his arms and walked to the front, ignoring the eyes on him and the whispers commenting on his young age.
Coughing into his hand, Justin pressed a button on the console controlling the projector, which changed the video feedback to another yōkai battle, one in which a three-tailed kitsune was attempting to kill a two-tailed kitsune with red hair and green eyes.
“If there is one thing that I have learned from my time observing the various yōkai, it is that they do not care about the lives of us humans. As you can see here, the kitsune with three tails, who we have since learned went by the name of Seth Naraka, enslaved the entire student body of a high school in Phoenix, all in order to kill another kitsune called Lilian Pnévma…”
Kevin Swift rested his head on the desk, only paying a modicum of attention to the many conversations flowing over him. His eyelids threatened to droop and his mind wanted to shut down, but he admirably held onto consciousness. Class was starting soon.
“You look tired.”
Lifting his head from the desk, Kevin directed his weary eyes toward the girl who’d spoken.
Lindsay was one of his best friends, someone he’d known for many years and once had a crush on. Her pixie cut blond hair framed a cute face, and her athletic body was slim and toned from years of playing soccer. Nothing really seemed to have changed, nor did it look like anything was out of place, at least on the outside. Ever since Kevin, Lilian, and Iris had returned home, an air of melancholy seemed to hang over the young woman.
“That’s because I am tired,” Kevin deadpanned.
“Yeah, I kinda figured that. I was just stating my observation.”
“Whatever.”
The resounding thonk! of a skull meeting a desk echoed throughout the class room as Kevin let gravity do its work with his head. He could hear Lindsay’s chuckling. He also heard the snickers of Iris, who sat behind him.
“What’s wrong, Stud?” came the taunting voice of Lilian’s fraternal twin sister. “You seem so exhausted. Did you have problems keeping up with Lily-pad and me last night?”
“Last night?” Lindsay asked.
“How many times have I told you not to call me Lily-pad?” asked Lilian.
“Don’t know. Probably a couple hundred by now.”
“Tch!”
Sitting in the desk next to him, Lilian ran her fingers down his back, soothing his agitated nerves with her gentle ministrations.
“What’s this about Kevin having trouble keeping up?” Lindsay questioned.
Kevin somehow found the strength to lift his head again. He turned and pierced Iris with a baleful stare.
“I can keep up with you two just fine, or did you forget who had both you and Lilian panting on the ground from exhaustion? As I recall, you were practically begging me to stop.”
Lindsay suddenly turned red. “B-begging you to stop—just what were you three doing last night?!”
“He’s got you there, Iris.” Lilian grinned at the now pouting Iris. “Though I will say that if you hadn’t gotten the drop on me with that surprise attack of yours, there’s no way you would have been able to tie me up like that, which, I might add, is the only reason you won.”
“T-tie you up?!” Lindsay squeaked, her already red cheeks turning sixteen shades darker than before.
Kevin scratched the back of his head. “Okay. I’ll concede that you might have won if I hadn’t surprised you, but you know what they say about love and war. Trickery and deception are just as important in a fight as combat skills.”
“I guess.” Lilian leaned down and kissed him on the cheek, earning a sleepy grin from him. “It’s not like I can’t say I didn’t enjoy being tied up by you. It was kinda hot.”
“Hot?!” Lindsay was practically shrieking by now. “Just what happened last night?!”
“Is your masochistic side coming out, Lily-pad?” Iris asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
Lilian stared her sister down. “I don’t think you’ve got any room to talk, especially since you were the one who was panting and drooling all over the place by the end of it.”
“J-just what are you three talking about?!”
“Hmph!” Iris crossed her arms under her chest. “That’s because I was going easy on him. I thought I would be nice since it was his first time with both of us. Now that I know better, I won’t go easy on him ever again.”
Lilian and Kevin shared an amused glance.
“So you say…” Lilian began.
“… But we all know how hard you were trying to keep up,” Kevin finished, his voice teasing. “Face it, without those supernatural abilities of yours, your stamina is seriously lacking compared to mine or Lilian’s.”
“Tch!” Iris turned her head to hide the way her cheeks flushed at being double-teamed. However, it was easy for anyone to see how red her face had become. “Stop acting so cocky. The only reason you managed to pin me down like that was because you have more actual experience than I do.”
“That might be true,” Kevin agreed, nodding along with her. “Lilian and I have been doing this a lot longer than you have.”
“There, you see? If I had the experience that you two do, then I wouldn’t have been so thoroughly humiliated like that.”
Lilian leaned and cupped her hand to Kevin’s ear, whispering in an exaggeratedly loud voice. “She says that, but we both know that she enjoyed it when you wrestled her to the ground and pinned her down. Iris is surprisingly meek when it comes to these kinds of things.”
Her cheeks finally puffing out in a pout, Iris opened her mouth to speak—
“WOULD YOU THREE STOP IGNORING ME?!”
Kevin, Lilian, and Iris stopped talking amongst themselves and turned to look at Lindsay. The tomboyish blond was panting, her breathing labored and her face beet red. She looked like she’d spent several hours playing soccer in the middle of an Arizona summer.
“Sorry,” the three said in unison.
Lindsay huffed and crossed her arms. “If you guys were really sorry, then you’d stop ignoring me and tell me what you’re talking about.” Her face suddenly took on a brighter hue of red. Kevin mused that she might be red enough to glow in the dark. “You weren’t… I mean, you three aren’t talking about doing… that… are you?”
“That?” Kevin tilted his head before eventually shrugging. “I’m not exactly sure what you mean by ‘that,’ but we were just talking about our training last night.”
“W-what? Training?” It was almost amusing to see the flabbergasted expression on Lindsay’s face.
“Um!” Lilian beamed brightly as she explained what they’d been doing. “Ever since that Fan lady attacked us at the end of the school year, Kevin and I have been training to get stronger. We normally train with Kotohime because she’s way more powerful than us, but recently we’ve been sparring against each other, too. Last night, Iris asked to join us.” Lilian sent an amused glance toward her sister. “I don’t think she realized that ‘sparring’ actually meant fighting without any kitsune techniques.”
“I think you two didn’t tell me what sparring entailed on purpose.” Iris pouted. “I bet you got a real kick out of watching me suffer.”
“Whatever gave you that idea?” Kevin and Lilian asked in unison.
“See that?!” Iris pointed at them. “Those smiles are perfect indicators! They tell me you two were getting your rocks off!”
“We have no idea what you’re talking about,” Kevin and Lilian said, hiding their smiles behind their hands. Iris clicked her tongue. Grumbling, she slowly crossed her arms, then her legs, and looked away with a pout.
“Oh, I see.” Lindsay’s embarrassment slowly disappeared. Kevin could only shake his head at how she had jumped the gun. “Yeah, I guess that would make sense. With how injured you guys were after that attack, I think I understand why you’d start training like that.”
She really didn’t understand. Lindsay was aware of their battle against Fan Shénshèng, which had nearly ended in their deaths, but that was all she remained aware of. She didn’t know about how
Lilian had been kidnapped, nor about how he and Iris had traveled into the very heart of the Shénshèng Clan’s stronghold, the Citadel of Light, to rescue her. Despite that, she knew enough about what had happened to know why he, Lilian, and Iris were training.
But Kevin knew that his friend’s thoughts weren’t necessarily on what they had gone through.
“Are you thinking about Christine?” he asked.
Lindsay looked down at her feet. “Yeah…”
Christine had left Arizona while Kevin, Lilian, and Iris had been living at the Pnévma Clan estate.
Kevin had been shocked to hear that Christine had left to learn how to better control her powers. It had taken time, but he had eventually come to understand how helpless the yuki-onna must have felt. To have these powers and not be able to help her friends must have hurt her a lot. Tsundere personality aside, Christine was a very kind individual who cared a lot about her friends.
Lilian placed her hands over Lindsay’s and gave the girl her most encouraging expression. “I’m sure you’ll see her again. She left because she wanted to get stronger so she could protect her friends, right? That means she’ll come back. After all, she can’t protect her friends if she’s not even here.”
Lindsay stared at the girl for several seconds before, unbidden, her lips twisted, curving into a delicate U-shape that lit up her entire face.
“Yeah,” she chuckled, “I guess you’re right.”
Kevin felt bad for Lindsay. He knew of her feelings for Christine, but, well… he was pretty sure their tsundere gothic lolita friend went for hot dogs instead of tacos.
“So,” Iris started, breaking up the touching moment between friends. Her devious grin struck fear and arousal into the hearts of those who saw it. Kevin almost facepalmed when several boys and a few girls were blown back by nosebleeds. “What exactly did you think we were talking about just now? Could it be that our little Lindsay has a dirty, perverted mind?”
“Wha—no!” Lindsay’s face looked ready to spontaneously combust. “O-o-of course not! I wasn’t imagining Kevin’s half-naked,
sweaty body pinning you and Lilian to the ground or anything! Why would you even think that?!” she shouted, waving her arms in front of her face as fast as she could.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then…
“Kevin?”
“Yes, Lilian?”
“I like this girl’s idea. Can we try it?”
To his credit, Kevin actually looked like he was considering the idea. “Uh… well… maybe… some other time.”
While Lilian pouted, Iris’s grinning face peered over his shoulder. “Oh ho. So, you are considering doing some naked wrestling with Lily-pad and me?”
“No!” Kevin shouted at the same time as Lilian’s, “Maybe later.”
“Hmph!” Iris leaned back, crossed her arms, and puffed her cheeks in a petulant expression. “I swear, Stud, you never let me join in on yours and Lily-pad’s fun.”
Before anyone could give her a comeback, the teacher walked in and class began. As Kevin took out his pen and some paper to jot down notes, he felt a pair of eyes on him. Looking up, he tried to ascertain who was staring at him, but couldn’t see anyone. Just Dr. Allan Spencer gazing at the class from where he stood at the front of the classroom. With a shrug, he went back to taking notes.
“… And that concludes my report,” Justin finished giving his report on yōkai to the delegation of government officials. He’d told them about the types of yōkai he had observed, to the many ways they manipulated and abused humans. What he didn’t tell them was that most yōkai didn’t abuse humans and just wanted to live in peace. He also didn’t mention that the ones who abused humans were a very small minority.
“Itwoulddefeatthewholepurpose ofourcominghere tohumor these fools,” he could practically hear Commander Paine’s words in his head. How many times had the commander said that on the way here? Ten? Twenty?
“I always knew these yōkai were no good, but I didn’t realize they were this dangerous,” one said.
Another nodded. “They’ve clearly learned how to cover their tracks well over the years.”
“Something must obviously be done about these menaces!”
Justin watched with what almost passed for amusement as the government officials all rallied against the threat posed by yōkai. They were like a group of children ganging up on that one boy because he was different.
However, even while many of the people present spoke in agreement with Commander Paine’s idea of getting rid of yōkai, one voice rose above the din.
“I have not heard anything that would warrant us initiating hostilities between humans and yōkai.”
The woman who spoke was young. At a guess, Justin would say she was in her mid-twenties. Her dark hair appeared to be more of a dark blue than a true black. Intelligent amber eyes peered out from behind smart-looking rimless glasses. The black business suit and skirt combination that she wore made her look more like a secretary than a politician. How she had become a UN delegate was beyond him.
“Of course you would say something like that, Sophia,” an older gentlemen started, his voice dripping with condescension. “We all know that you’ve been obsessed about opening up a dialogue between yōkai and humans for years.”
“Naturally.” Sophia’s glasses flashed as she pushed them up the bridge of her nose. “Just think of all that we could learn if we opened a dialogue with them instead of tried to eradicate them. Their powers could easily be used for the betterment of mankind.”
“The betterment of mankind. Ha!” Another politician barked. “Don’t try to sweet talk us, Ms. Grace. We all know the real reason you’d rather we open a dialogue between them. Your dalliances with these menaces is well known.”
So, this girl has been sleeping with a yōkai? Justin eyed the woman curiously.
It wasn’t all that unusual for a yōkai to bed a human. It was, in fact, very common. Yōkai had a tendency to seduce humans, though it was rare for someone to actually know they were sleeping with a yōkai.
“Who I sleep with is no business of yours,” Sophia stated cooly. “Especially since rumors about your own sexual appetite have recently come to light.” The man she talked down was practically spitting at her, but the woman ignored him and directed her attention to the others. “However, now that my relationship with a yōkai has been brought up, I can honestly tell all of you that you clearly know nothing about yōkai.”
“And what makes you say that?” one of the calmer gentlemen asked.
“Because I have firsthand experience.” Sophia adjusted her glasses again. “I’ve spoken to them. Having conversed with several yōkai, I like to think I know them better than anyone who has never spoken to one.”
“And what does your experience tell you?” asked the calm man.
“That they are just like us,” was Sophia’s answer. “Aside from their abilities and general longevity, they are no different than a human. In fact, most yōkai have willingly chosen to live completely normal human lives. They have no plans for world domination. They do not want to subjugate or exterminate our species. They, like us, merely want to live their own lives how they see fit.”
“It is exactly because they live as they see fit that we humans have been placed in jeopardy,” Commander Paine cut in. “I don’t know if you’ve realized it yet, but over thirty percent of all human deaths are caused by yōkai. Most of the time, these deaths aren’t even done on purpose either. We humans simply get in the way of their secret wars. To them, we are like bugs. We’re not even worthy of being noticed when they squash us.”
The commander’s gloves creaked as he clenched them into fists.
“Of course, that’s not saying there aren’t yōkai who take the time to screw with us humans. There are many yōkai living in the human world who abuse us. They take us in, steal us from our family and
friends, use us, and when we’ve been all used up, they throw us away. We mean nothing to them.”
“That is a blatant exaggeration and you know it.” Sophia reminded Justin of a cat. She looked ready to start hissing at the commander. “While there might be a few yōkai who do exactly what you just said, the vast majority merely want to live in peace with us. Don’t let your irrational hatred of the yōkai get in the way of making the right choices.”
Commander Paine twitched.
Uhoh.Lookslikeshepissedhimoff.
“Ms. Sophia Grace,” Commander Paine’s voice was a low bass rumble. “I do not appreciate what you are insinuating. I have never let my hatred of yōkai get the better of me. Every decision I make is always made with humanity's best interests in mind.”
“Is that why you want to start a war that could end with our species on the brink of extinction?”
Sophia’s biting comment caused Commander Paine to smile.
It wasn’t a very nice smile.
“Ms. Grace, I never proposed that we start an actual war with the yōkai,” Commander Paine said, his voice calm yet commanding. “I merely believe that we should put some… precautions in place to help protect humanity from their manipulations.”
“It’s the same thing!” Sophia looked ready to smash her fists on the table. “If we go with your proposal, we might as well be stating our intentions to initiate genocide!”
“You’re young, Ms. Grace. You do not yet see the world for what it is, and you have to understand how it works.”
“I know how this world works plenty. It’s you who understands nothing.”
Before the argument could erupt further, the gentleman with the British accent spoke again. “We do not need these kinds of arguments right now. The United Nations and various world governments must always be united during times such as this, so I would like to ask that you two cease bickering.”
“Very well,” Commander Paine acquiesced easily enough. Sophia did as well, though she did not look pleased.
The British man coughed into his hand. “And now, perhaps we should put Commander Paine’s proposal to a vote. All those in favor of the notion?”
Many hands were raised, though a few seemed reluctant to do so. In fact, only two people seemed to have not raised their hands — Sophia and a younger man who didn’t appear to be paying attention.
“All those opposed?”
Only Sophia raised her hand.
“With one vote against and nine in favor, the notion set down by Commander Ethan Paine has passed,” the British man said. “May our choices today help better protect humanity from the potential manipulations of yōkai everywhere.”
Lunch time rolled around and Kevin, Lilian, and Iris were joined by their friends.
They sat inside instead of outside. Being that it was still August, the temperature was such that none of them wanted to spend more time out in the heat than absolutely necessary. They had chosen to sit at one of the many round tables that littered the cafeteria.
Almost as soon as they sat down, Kevin found himself beset by minor annoyances.
“My Lord, would you like to have some of my lunch?”
“Why would he want your lunch when he can have some of mine?”
“It’s the same lunch, you dolt!”
“Except mine is better because it’s coming from me.”
“As if!”
Kevin resisted the temptation to cover his face with his hands as Alex and Andrew began to fight. Such occurrences happened near daily ever since school had started this year. They’d been fighting long before that, however, ever since he had known them, in fact.
He didn’t know what was worse: How they kept fighting, or how they’d been treating him like some kind of lord ever since Iris jokingly mentioning his nonexistent harem?
I guess that question will remain as one of life’s greatest mysteries.
“If you two don’t stop fighting, I’m going to beat you unconscious,” Kevin threatened.
“S-so manly!” the two cried in unison, seemingly impressed by his words instead of afraid.
Kevin pinched the bridge of his nose.
WhatdidIdotodeservethis?
As he tried to deal with his exasperating friends, Lilian and Lindsay held their own conversation, until the tomboy noticed the sketchpad situated in front of the kitsune.
“Are you drawing those comics again?” Lindsay asked, leaning over to try and peer at the sketchpad.
“It’s manga, not comics,” Lilian said before she noticed that Lindsay was trying to look at her work. She covered her sketchpad so the tomboy couldn’t see her illustrations. “And yes, I am.
“Right. Manga,” Lindsay agreed, still trying to peer over Lilian’s shoulder. “Can I see?”
“No.”
Lindsay actually had to blink at the swift and blunt answer. “What? Why not?”
“Because they’re not ready.” Lilian’s cheeks colored. “And I don’t really want to show anyone. My drawings aren’t that good.”
Ever quick to defend her lovely sister, Iris jumped at the opportunity to speak. “My beautiful Lily-pad is being modest. I’ve seen some of her completed manga panels and they’re really good. They’re like sex on paper.” It took Iris a moment to realize that Lilian and Lindsay were giving her matching deadpan stares. “What? It’s true. Her manga panels are amazing.”
“I-Iris, don’t tell people about my manga… wait.” Lilian’s face took on a flabbergasted and slightly betrayed quality. “You went looking through my sketchpad?”
“Um, no?”
“Iris!” Lilian hissed, her face flushing a furious red that matched her hair. “How could you?”
“You only have yourself to blame.” Iris stubbornly crossed her arms. “I always ask if I can see what you’re drawing, but you’re never willing to show me. The only person you’ve let see your artwork is the stud over here.”
Having been listening to the conversation, Kevin raised his hand and pointed at himself. “Um, hello, Lilian’s mate here. It’s only natural that she would show me her artwork. Besides, unlike you, I can actually appreciate the magnitude of what she’s trying to accomplish. And I can help her improve by comparing her work to professional works and offering my opinion.”
Iris huffed while Kevin looked at the beautiful redhead sitting next to him. Lilian had removed her sketchpad from the table. She no doubt was hiding it on her lap so no one could look.
“I do agree with Iris on one thing, though. You really do sell yourself short. While you might have not been that good starting out, you’ve improved a lot since then. I was really impressed by some of your more recent illustrations.”
While her cheeks remained somewhat pink, Lilian’s lips curled into a beaming smile filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Kevin.”
Kevin grinned and placed a hand on Lilian’s left thigh. “Anytime.”
They stared into each other’s eyes, getting lost within their depths. They would have remained that way for some time. However, a cough interrupted them.
“So, are you two gonna make out, or are you just gonna keep staring at each other?” Iris asked. “I don’t mind either way, but if you keep acting like such a loving couple, you’re going to make everyone here jealous, myself included.”
“Whatever,” Kevin mumbled as he stopped staring at Lilian, who sent Iris a very mild glare. He scooted closer to his mate until their thighs were touching, and then tapped a finger against her sketchpad. “Would you mind if I looked at your most recent drawings?”
“I-I guess not,” Lilian muttered softly, her cheeks gaining color. “B-but they’re not finished yet. I only have a few thumbnails in this one, so don’t laugh at them, okay?”
“You know I’d never do that.”
Kevin kissed Lilian on the cheek before pulling the sketchpad off her lap, setting it on the table, and opening it to look through the last couple of pages.
While she seemed embarrassed to show them off for some reason, Lilian really was quite talented at drawing. While her lines weren’t as crisp as some of the manga artists he knew of, she had a real talent for shading. As he flipped through her sketchpad, a part of him wondered how much better she would be if she had the equipment and programs needed to create illustrations on the computer.
Maybe I should think of getting her Photoshop and a Wacom tablet…
“So, um, what do you think?” Lilian squirmed in her seat. The way she looked at him from beneath a curtain of crimson hair, anxiously and nervously awaiting his thoughts, was so endearing that Kevin had trouble suppressing his desire to kiss her silly.
“Well, like you said, these are just thumbnails, so they lack details, but it looks like you’ve got the proportions right. Your panel placement could probably use some work, but you’re definitely improving.”
“Proportions?” Eric, who, up until that point, had been silently glaring at a sheet of paper in front of him, suddenly looked up. “What’s this about proportions?” He saw the sketchpad in Kevin’s hand. “Do you draw, My Lord?”
“Um, no.” Kevin deadpanned at Eric. “Did you not even pay the least bit of attention to the last five minutes of conversation?”
“Not really.” Eric shrugged.
“Figures.”
“So, if you’re not the drawer, then who is?”
“Lilian.”
Eric’s head swiveled to Lilian like a robot whose neck joints had too much grease in them. “You can draw?”
Under the scrutinizing gaze of the perverted young man, Lilian could only look down. “Uh, yeah, a little.”
“Do you think you could teach me?”
“Eh?”
“Yeah, I need someone to teach me how to draw.”
Lilian peered at Kevin who, upon seeing the questioning glance directed at him, merely shrugged as if to say, “Don’t look at me.”
She turned back to Eric. “Why do you want me to teach you how to draw?”
“Master has given me a most import task that I have yet to finish,” Eric informed them with the utmost seriousness. Even Iris was leaning in to hear what the salacious young man had to say. “She wants me to learn how to draw naked women. That way I can help her draw illustrations for her books.”
In the poignant pause that followed, Kevin could only shake his head.
SMACK!
“Gaoi!”
“Not happening,” Lilian declared, her tail retracting from whence it came before anyone could see it. Eric, whose head had dented the metal table when her tail shot out and smacked it, could only groan.
Immediately after the meeting with the UN delegation, Justin returned with Commander Paine to the Sons and Daughters of Humanity’s headquarters.
While the Sons and Daughters of Humanity had bases located all over the world, their main base of operations was about fifty miles outside of Denver, Colorado, located deep underground.
Justin looked down at the base—what he could see of it—as the military helicopter they were in prepared to descend. The entrance, which had been built on a lake, consisted only of a helipad jutting out of the water and a small elevator entrance that led into the base.
“Are you sure that was a good idea?” Justin asked suddenly.
“Don’t tell me you think I was being heavy handed.” Commander Paine didn’t even look at him. Decked out in his black military uniform and black cloak, the man sat with his legs spread as he leaned back in his seat and stared out the window.
“More like stupid,” Justin quipped. “You not only insulted a delegate in the middle of a UN meeting, you threatened her afterward. That woman looked like she wanted to murder you on the spot.”
“Ms. Sophia Grace is a fool, and she will be dealt with soon enough.” Commander Paine paused, a large red vein pulsing on his head. “And what have I told you about your smartass comments?”
“I can’t remember,” Justin said with a completely straight face.
“Tch! You’re lucky that I have need of your talents.”
Justin said nothing. He merely offered a smile.
The helicopter set down on the landing pad, and Commander Paine exited the vehicle.
“Follow me.”
Justin followed the stern commander out of the helicopter and into the elevator. The giant war machine, a model of the new YK series, trailed behind them. No words were spoken as the elevator descended, and when it stopped and allowed them to disembark, the noise on the other end made Justin flinch.
The elevator led into a busy hallway composed entirely of cement. All of the people who were in the hall stopped what they were doing and saluted the commander as he walked past them. Justin simply ignored the salutes his commander received and followed the man to his office.
Commander Paine’s office was a simple affair. It lacked any form of decoration, and the only furniture it had was a desk, which the commander sat behind. Justin looked at the bare walls with a sigh. Why couldn’t this man at least decorate his room a bit? Was some color too much to ask for?
“It seems you finally got your wish.” Justin moved to stand in front of the commander’s desk and crossed his arms. “The United Nations has not only agreed to increase your budget, but they have also decided to let you kick off the war against the yōkai. Even if they haven’t realized it yet. Now you can finally begin exterminating all those big bad monsters you dislike so much.”
“Watch your tongue, boy,” Commander Paine grunted as he pressed a button on his desk, activating a holographic computer
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qualche istante di fiore in fiore come se attendesse a rialzarne i calici, poi condursi lentamente verso le piante, e appena giunta dietro i cespugli correre lesta lesta al cancello, aprirlo, uscirne, chiuderlo di nuovo e sparire. Egli allora recandosi da un’altra porta frettolosamente sulle di lei traccie potè osservarla nel momento che volgeva i passi ad una contrada appartata dal lato di Porta Nuova. Maravigliato la vide accostarsi alla porta d’una casa d’antico aspetto che sembrava disabitata, ed ivi sospendere i passi e leggiermente percuotere l’imposta. Ei s’arrestò e stette in agguato osservandone ogni moto senza quasi trarre il respiro; ma allorchè mirò il pesante battente socchiudersi, ed ella dopo avere girato intorno un rapido sguardo penetrarvi come di soppiatto, lo stupore fece luogo in esso lui al sospetto più nero.
Stette un istante immobile, oppresso da atroci pensieri che si presentarono in folla alla sua mente.... Sola.... in tal’ora.... in quella casa deserta!... qual scellerato intrigo ve la traeva? — Oh colpo irreparabile all’onore, alla fede! — Impallidì: grondò sudore dalla fronte. Trasse la spada, corse a quella porta ne spinse con gran vigore l’imposta, la quale con sua sorpresa cesse all’impeto agevolmente. Passò d’un andito ed entrò in un cortile; era questi folto di sterpi e d’erbe selvatiche che sembravano non essere mai state calpeste da piede umano; i quattro lati dell’edificio che formavano parete a quel cortile apparivano in istato di totale deperimento. Cadenti li stipiti, le grondaje; sfasciati gli ornati e le cornici. Non ombra, non traccia d’abitatori.
Un’idea più scura, più orribile s’affacciò a Reginaldo a quella vista! Si rammentò che quelle erano mura maledette, abbominate, asilo d’empietà e di vituperio su cui pesava un secolo d’esecrazione, poichè quivi era stato il luogo de’ secreti convegni de’ proseliti di Guglielma, l’eretica Boema, l’amante del Saramita, maestra di nefande dottrine cui arsero per venti anni i cerei nel tempio, e poscia ne furono l’ossa tratte dal sepolcro e combuste sul rogo[13].
Dal dì che vennero inceneriti i resti dell’empia donna nessuno aveva osato prendere dimora colà, ed era destinato quell’edifizio a divenire
per la sola forza del tempo un mucchio di macerie.
Mentre il Marchese coll’animo inorridito e in tempesta volgeva torbido l’occhio onde scoprire in qual parte potesse essersi ricettata Cunizza, ode in una delle camere terrene calpestìo di piedi. Sta in aspetto, e vede entro l’uscio di fronte lo svolazzo delle vesti d’una persona passante: si precipita in quella stanza e tosto ascolta uno strido e il tramutare di passi accelerati; seguendone il rumore trapassa varie sale, e penetra in un oscuro e ristretto corritojo, in fondo al quale s’accorge dal suono delle pedate che la fuggente discende una scala. Gridando e minacciando s’avanza verso quel lato, trova tasteggiando i gradini e cala velocemente esso pure.
Assai profonda scendeva la scala, e giuntone al termine s’avvide dal rimbombo della propria voce d’essere sotto ampie volte ma affatto tenebrose. S’arrestò, porse l’orecchio e più non udì alcun rumore: regnava in quel sotterraneo un silenzio di morte. Ritornò allora alquanto in se stesso, pensò al periglio cui poteva andare incontro fra que’ ciechi avvolgimenti, onde determinò ritornare sui proprii passi, affine di poter uscire da quella casa, farla circondare d’armati e sorprendere così la scellerata che lo tradiva.
Si volse, cercò brancolando la scala, ma dopo avere fatti qua e là varii passi nel vano, sentì d’essersi accostato all’umido e freddo sasso della parete: la seguì da destra e da sinistra sempre toccandola impaziente di rinvenire l’uscita, ma quel muro era per tutto chiuso e continuo. Si rimise più volte all’opera, ripetè diligentemente le ricerche, e quando alfine vide riuscire inutile ogni tentativo un secreto terrore gli ricercò le vene, poichè paventò d’essere disceso entro cieco fondo che avesse la scala fatta a ribalta, la quale fosse già stata rialzata, volendo la rea consorte lasciarlo perire colà per seppellire con esso lui la propria ignominia.
Mentre assorto nell’angoscia disperata di tal pensiero stava immoto tra quelle tenebre mute e profonde, una voce sconosciuta profferì il suo nome a breve distanza da lui. Reginaldo sobbalzò a tal suono inaspettato, poichè non aveva udita in quella quiete sepolcrale movimento o respirazione che annunziasse la presenza di persona
viva. Ridestato però tostamente l’usato ardire — «Chi sei tu? (esclamò). Palesati, e se mi conosci t’avvicina. Ho d’uopo d’una mano che mi guidi perchè son perduto in questa oscurità». — Così dicendo allungò la destra movendo in giro la spada per trovare ove fosse quei che lo aveva chiamato onde poterlo afferrare e costringere a liberarlo di là.
Il suo ferro però non potè incontrare corpo alcuno, e un gelo mortale gli corse per l’ossa, rizzandoglisi sul capo le chiome, quando udì presso all’orecchio la stessa voce pronunziare in tuon minaccioso le seguenti parole: — Reginaldo! tu sei in mio potere. Inesplicabile è l’arcano che ti circonda; nè tu uscirai da queste nere cave se non deponi il pensiero della vendetta. — Per alcuni istanti mancarono ad esso le forze, onde articolare un solo accento. Era quella forse la voce dello spirito d’abbominazione che regnava colà ove aveva presieduto alle orgie infernali degli adepti nel sacrilego dogma della Boema?... od era ella stessa revocata dal seno degli abissi ond’essere pronuba del nuovo delitto che si consumava nella chiostra di sue iniquità? — La di lui mente si turbò, gli si offuscarono le idee; profferì varii motti che parvero assentire a ciò che gli andava chiedendo quella voce, la quale poscia allontanandosi da lui l’invitò a seguirla. Egli si mosse e dopo avere camminato a lungo per una ristretta via nel tetro bujo, gli venne a ferire lo sguardo un leggiero bagliore. Avanzandosi con meno incerto passo pervenne ad una spaziosa Rotonda, nel mezzo alla quale ardeva sopra un’ara una fiamma azzurrognola. Elittica era la volta di quella camera circolare, lucido il pavimento e per tutto andava figurata ad emblemi tali da non potersi descrivere che co’ più impudenti numeri fescennini; compivano un giro intorno gran numero di porticelle che davano adito forse ad altrettante camerette. Presso all’ara vedevasi ancora il moggio di ferro, arnese sacro ai nefarj riti de’ settatori di Guglielma, che quivi avevano formato l’abside del loro sotterraneo tempio[14].
Benchè il lavoro degli anni avesse guasti con iscrostamenti le modanature ed i dipinti, pure ne rimaneva ancora più che a sufficienza per dimostrare che l’opera era stata fatta con tutta la squisitezza dell’arte che concedevano i tempi. Reginaldo nello
stordimento mentale in cui trovavasi provò maggior ribrezzo e paura alla vista delle strane oscene figure ch’erano in quel sepolto luogo, le quali alla tremula e livida luce che spandeva la fosforescente fiamma dell’ara sembravano moversi ed agitarsi con magico sussulto.
Chiamato dall’incognita voce entro una delle molteplici porticelle che circondavano la Rotonda, esso vi penetrò e presto trovossi di nuovo totalmente nell’oscurità. Dopo molto andare, essendo disceso e salito a più riprese, giunse in luogo ove sentì l’aria rinfrescarsi ed alleggerirsi; travide un pallidissimo chiarore ed indi a poco pervenne ad un foro, che s’aveva l’aspetto della bocca d’un antro ingombro di bronchi e di spini, uscito dal quale si trovò nell’aperta campagna[15].
La luna coperta da bianco velo di nebbie mandava una smorta luce sui campi circostanti al di là de’ quali vedevansi sorgere le torri della città. Il Marchese non era più in se stesso, l’ordine delle sue idee s’era guasto e scomposto del tutto, i suoi pensieri aberravano. Fu rinvenuto il mattino a poca distanza di là seduto sopra un ammasso di pietre col sorriso della demenza impresso in volto.
Riconosciuto dalle persone accorse, fu ricondotto in Milano al proprio palazzo, ove gli si spiegò immediatamente una fierissima malattia che fece crescere in lui lo stato di delirio. Le sue genti ed i famigliari, pieni di stupore e di rammarico per sì strano e doloroso avvenimento, fantasticavano invano onde comprenderne la cagione; nè mancò tra essi chi lo attribuì ad effetto di malìa, di sortilegio, o d’altro diabolico potere; alla quale credenza oltre che già inclinavano con troppa agevolezza le menti in quella età, prestavano assai le parole che di quando in quando uscivano dalle labbra del Marchese, le quali palesavano trovarsi il suo spirito in preda al profondo terrore ed all’angoscia prodotta dalla presenza d’un essere malefico e formidabile.
Le molteplici cure che gli vennero prestate, scemarono alfine le forze del morbo, e a capo ad alcuni mesi, ricuperato in parte il vigore delle membra, cesse in lui la perturbazione dell’intelletto per cui potè riprendere le assuetudini della vita. Rimaneva però il marchese Reginaldo di continuo immerso in una grave tristezza; mai gli
spuntava sulle labbra un sorriso, non profferiva quasi parola, nè oltrepassava la soglia di sua camera se non per recarsi in abito di lutto ad orare nella chiesa più vicina, ch’era di Monaci obbedienti ad una regola austera; e qualche rada volta couducevasi a passeggiare nel giardino d’onde però sembrava sempre rinvenire più oppresso ed afflitto.
Ma ch’era addivenuto mai della marchesa Cunizza? — Una falsa apparenza, un precipitato giudizio, avevano forse illuso il marito od era essa veramente colpevole? gioiva delle conseguenze del proprio fallo o le aveva questo già recati gli amari suoi frutti? Varie correvano le voci intorno ad essa. Alcuno asseriva ch’ella era stata rapita da un Cavaliero di Francia e trasportata in estraneo paese; altri pretendeva che si trovasse tuttavia in Milano, celata gelosamente nella casa d’un potente signore; e alcuni finalmente dicevano ch’erasi ritirata in un castello sul Ticino presso i suoi materni parenti. — Infelice! — Vittima della seduzione e d’un’anima appassionata, pagò il suo errore con una serie di quelle amare sventure che si concentrano nel cuore, e lo trascinano sino alla disperazione. La battaglia di Ravenna[16] , gloriosa e fatale ad un tempo, aveva troncato l’ultimo filo di sue sciagurate speranze.
Riconobbe allora, ahi troppo tardi! i proprii falli. Benchè avesse facoltà di condurre signorilmente la vita lungi dal teatro delle sue colpe, ella volle a costo d’affrontare ogni umiliazione rientrare nella casa maritale, ove chiamavala il pentimento e il dovere.
L’error suo era grave, ma che non possono le lagrime spremute dal più sincero cordoglio? Il Marchese sentiva ch’egli andava mancando solo, deserto come pianta isterilita: la compagna de’ suoi giorni lo aveva abbandonato per sempre! viveva sconsolato senza sperare di rinvenire sulla terra chi gli recasse un istante di conforto. Quando un giorno la moglie gli si gettò ai piedi, pallida, estenuata con tutti i segni d’un lungo accoramento, soffocata da singhiozzi sì che non poteva formar parola, egli sorpreso, agitato da contrari affetti, stette esitando fra le smanie della vendetta e la commozione, ma quest’ultima vinse alfine, ei le stese impietosito le braccia e perdonò.
INDICE
Avvertimento dell’Editore pag. 1
Ingelinda o la Suora Benedettina 7
Il Bravo e la Dama. Scena Storica 39
Adelberta Boniprandi. Episodio della Storia Novarese 59
Macaruffo venturiero o la Corte del Duca
Filippo Maria Visconti 73
Il Bacio Fatale 163
Le Nozze al Castello. Scene feudali 185
Il Sotterraneo di Porta Nuova 245
La presente Edizione è sotto la tutela delle Leggi.
NOTE:
1 Robiallo fu nel secolo XIV interamente distrutto Veggonsi ancora su un’eminenza petrosa i ruderi del vasto castello.
2 Fu nel 16 maggio 1412
3 Andrea Baggi e Giovanni Pusterla, nipote di quello sopra rammentato, erano stati capi della congiura ed uccisori del duca Giovan Maria
4 Si vegga la nota in fine a questo racconto
5 Il Carmagnola in premio de’ suoi servigi venne dal Duca nel 1415 creato Conte di Castel Nuovo, essendosene fatta la cerimonia all’altare maggiore del Duomo Fu dieci anni dopo che sdegnatosi col Visconte egli passò allo stipendio della Repubblica di Venezia. Veggasi la rinomata tragedia di Alessandro Manzoni.
6. Essa potè chiamarsi ben avventurata tra le Favorite, perchè il Duca gli si serbò costante, e il popolo soleva pregare per lei nelle chiese. Ebbe una figlia di nome Bianca Maria, che fu isposata a Francesco Sforza, il quale per tal matrimonio pretese alla successione dei Visconti ed ottenne il Ducato.
7. Il seguente articolo è relativo al personaggio storico rammentato alla pagina 129.
8. Ponteschi e Breneschi erano due nemiche fazioni, una Guelfa, l’altra Ghibellina, che si formarono nell’Ossola verso il 1300, prendendo nome dai due capi rivali Ponti e Breni. Sussistettero più d’un secolo pugnando soventi fra loro e mantenendo vivissimi gli odii non solo fra le diverse valli coll’Ossola confinanti, ma tra le terre d’una stessa valle e per sino tra famiglia e famiglia. I Ponteschi portavano per impresa negli abiti e nelle bandiere i colori rosso, verde e nero; ed i Breneschi il rosso, argentino e bianco
9. Gazzaro parola corrotta usata dal volgo per significare Cattaros ossia Puri, nome assunto dagli eretici in quell’epoca
10. Fra Dolcino famoso eresiarca, capo d’una setta numerosa, stanziò per lungo tempo nei monti dell’alto Novarese. Egli s’aveva una donna detta Monaca Margherita che lo seguiva dovunque Il Vescovo di Vercelli Rainerio coadiuvato da molti nobili di Novara lo vinse nella battaglia datagli il Giovedì Santo del 1307 a Zebello; e consegnatolo con Margherita in potere del frate domenicano Emanuele Testa, inquisitore generale, questi li condannò entrambi a perire nelle fiamme
Nel Canto XXVIII dell’Inferno, ove è descritto il modo in cui sono puniti i seminatori delle eresie, Maometto così parla a Dante di Frate Dolcino.
Or dì a Fra Dolcin dunque che s’armi, Tu che forse vedrai il sole in breve, S’egli non vuol qui tosto seguitarmi; Sì di vivanda, che stretta di neve
Non rechi la vittoria al Novarese
Ch’altrimenti acquistar non sarìa lieve
11. Esso era uno de’ più possenti feudatari dell’alto Novarese. Il dominio feudale nella famiglia Biandrate ebbe principio sino dall’anno 1209 essendo stato alla medesima accordato dall’Imperatore Ottone, col privilegio di portare nello scudo l’aquila nera in campo d’oro
12 Carlo d’Amboise di Chaumont gran Maestro, era in quell’epoca Governatore di Milano per Luigi XII Re di Francia, il quale dieci anni prima, cioè nel 1500, aveva tolto il dominio e la libertà al Duca Lodovico Sforza soprannominato il Moro
13 La storia dell’eretica Guglielma o Guglielmina Boema va annoverata tra le cose patrie più singolari ed importanti, anzi si può dire l’avvenimento che offre maggior campo all’analisi delle vicende e de’ pregiudizj dello spirito umano nel decimo terzo e decimoquarto secolo. Regna però su di esso tuttavia una misteriosa oscurità che merita d’impegnare il criterio d’alcuno de’ nostri moderni scrittori a diradarla; nè v’ha a tal uopo scarsezza de’ documenti, imperciocchè ne parlarono estesamente molti storici, e in particolar modo il Puricelli ne’ commentarj sul di lei processo.
14. Sacerdotali ornata amictu ad aram obmurmurat: In unum co... et lumen sub modio ponite. Trist. Calc. Hist. Patriae.
15. Flexuosum os informemque aditum habebat spelunca obsita vepribus. Ripamon. Hist. Urb. Med. an. 1300.
16. Il giorno 11 aprile del 1512 fu data contro il Pontefice ed i suoi collegati la battaglia di Ravenna, in cui la vittoria costò all’armata di Francia il fiore de’ suoi cavalieri In essa cadde estinto pugnando Gastone di Foix, duce delle squadre, fulmine di guerra, che partito tre mesi prima da Milano aveva sconfitto don Pietro di Navarra, liberata Bologna, vinti i Veneziani, riconquistate Bergamo e Brescia, e recata la guerra nella Romagna Il suo cadavere fu trasportato in questa città circondato dai conquistati trofei, tra cui v’aveva la spada dello stesso Giulio II il più guerriero de’ Pontefici Gastone venne sepolto nel Duomo alla foggia de’ Duchi, ed essendo stato dagli Svizzeri distrutto il suo tumolo in quel tempio, al nuovo ritorno de’ Francesi gli fu eretto un magnifico mausoleo nella chiesa delle Monache di Santa Marta.
Nota del Trascrittore
Ortografia e punteggiatura originali sono state mantenute, correggendo senza annotazione minimi errori tipografici.
Copertina creata dal trascrittore e posta nel pubblico dominio.
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