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loveless-scribes · 2 years

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100 Days, 100 Drabbles: Day 2

Here we are at day two, same rules apply. Send me prompts, people! Without further ado, Day 2: A Lust for Power - A SesshKagu Modern Vampire AU CW: Mentions of abuse, suicide, and blood.

The sharp clack of her heels striking the cobblestone road echoed back to her ears – a sound both hollow and cold. Kagura blew a stray strand of hair away from her face with a huff and pulled her jacket more tightly around herself. It was a light summer jacket – out of season for a chilly autumn night heavy with rain-laden clouds – and riddled with tears that she had sewed up as discreetly as her discerning eye could manage. It was all right, better than nothing she supposed.

Her face was made up as she liked it, enough eyeliner to be intimidating and a bold red lip. Although the foundation that covered up the nasty bruise on her right cheekbone was starting to wear thin. No matter, she was only on her way home. There would be no questions as to her wellbeing there, and none at all that she could avoid – makeup or no.

A glance at her wristwatch revealed it was one in the morning and Kagura cursed under her breath. Another five hours and she would be on her feet again in the café down the road, serving enough coffees to feed a small army of single moms. Her arms ached and her feet throbbed with every step.

“Damn cheap heels,” Kagura muttered. She supposed it was her own fault. Working a full shift in the mornings and another in the evenings at the bar downtown – she knew she was on the fastest track to a burnout, at least if her coworker Miroku was to be believed. Maybe it was her self-destructive nature that wanted to put an end to all this that drove her to work herself down to the bone this way, maybe she truly hoped she would simply keel over where she stood one day and never open her eyes again. Or maybe she just didn’t want to be home any more than strictly necessary.

A resentful sigh escaped Kagura’s lips. It was probably the latter.

Just her luck, too, that he had given her a new bruise just as the ones on her throat were starting to heal. She suspected he did it on purpose, that he didn’t like to leave her for any length of time without some manner of “mark” to remind her of who she belonged to. Sadistic bastard.

Kagura’s vain hopes that her stepfather’s control over her life would disappear when she came of age were quickly dashed by Naraku, whose torment of her had only increased through the course of her 17th year leading her to an ill-advised and unfortunately unsuccessful suicide attempt. She could still remember the cold, wet tile beneath her clammy skin as she lay there convulsing, rasping for air that would not come, but still at peace in her conviction that it would soon be over. And all the while, Naraku’s wretched laughter echoing off the bathroom walls as he stood over her trembling form, nudging her onto her back with the toe of his shoe as he dragged on a cigarette. As if she were lying there for his amusement.

He had used that incident as ground to apply for a conservatorship, which was granted by one of the many judges lining his pockets. She was now five years into said conservatorship without any hope of release – at least not alive.

She shook her head, trying to clear her mind of those dismal thoughts. She had promised Kanna not to leave her alone with that asshole and going back down memory lane was no help on that quarter. Naraku said he was using the money she earned for her siblings’ schooling, and she chose to believe it. Otherwise, the futility of it all would be too much to bear. She had to believe she wasn’t doing all of this for nothing.

Kagura reached for her jade earrings thoughtlessly, feeling the cool, green stone between her fingers. They were a last remnant of her mother, and she had found herself keeping them for some stupid, sentimental reason. She had no love lost for a woman who had found herself so swept up by a crime lord, she had accepted every degradation to be one of the many women he kept on a string – only to meet her end at his hands. She could forgive her mother for dying a fool, she couldn’t forgive her for leaving her children at his mercy.

A cold wind kissed the nape of her neck and Kagura shivered. Her grip on her jacket tightened and she hastened her steps. Being tired was no excuse to be dawdling. Not at this hour, not in this neighborhood.

She chanced a glance over her shoulder and saw nothing but the usual shadows that haunted these alleyways in the dark of night. Still, she could not shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Even as she turned a corner, she was on edge, her hackles raised, certain that some unknown predator prowled just over her shoulder.

Was she being paranoid?

Not to her right, nor her left… apart from breaking into an all-out run she could not walk any faster. She grit her teeth and whirled around breathlessly, ready to confront her pursuer, but was met only by the empty alleyway beyond.

Kagura shook her head and made to continue on her way, promising herself to avoid any such shortcuts in the future, when a golden glint in the corner of her vision caught her eye. She hesitated and sought out the curious vision, tilting her head up to the radiant, full moon as she did so.

Her breath caught in her throat. She had to have been hallucinating.

There, levitating high up in the air, stood what she could only describe as a man – although the word man did him no justice. Golden, narrowed eyes peered down at her, luminous and transcendent. Strange, purple markings slashed across proud cheekbones. Long silver hair that glowed even more brightly than the moon behind him framed his form. He could only be a demon – or a god.

Her own vermillion eyes widened in awe at the sight of him, but meeting his eyes seemed to have been a mistake. No sooner did their gazes connect, than his jaw set and his lips – divine and luscious – pressed into a firm line. A decision made.

He leaned forward and dashed through the air towards her, a flurry of air rushing towards her as he approached at blinding speed. She could not doubt the reality of his being when his hands – very tangible, very firm, very warm – made contact with her shoulders flinging her the half-step back into the alley wall behind her. A sharp pain shot up her back as she fell against the brick, but even as she opened her mouth to cry out only half a strangled exclamation fell from her lips, because now –

Now that vision of a man was right in front of her, hovering over her. For the love of – he had to be at least six feet tall! Those mesmerizing, golden eyes were even more dazzling up close. She was close enough to be engulfed by the scent of him, something warm and feral and intoxicating she could not place. Kagura struggled to clear her mind, it was not at all like her to be so taken aback by a man, god or not.

“Who are –“ she began, but was cut off when the apparition paid her no heed, lowering his head and parting those lips she had admired to reveal sharp, gleaming fangs. A vampire…? She immediately chastised herself for the foolish thought but when his teeth sank into the soft flesh at the junction of her neck and shoulder, her mind blanked entirely.

A sharp pain blazed through her body from the point of contact and she struggled against him, her aching arms fighting to shove him off, but it was like fighting a mountain. He did not budge, nor even acknowledge her attempts. She felt her blood flowing from her with increased vigor the more she struggled and could hear the sound of him swallowing so close to her ear, she felt faint. It was her blood he was drinking, and the more of it he took, the weaker she felt. She felt the warm liquid gushing out of her faster than he could swallow, spilling past his mouth and soaking her white blouse.

She had meant to scream, she knew she did. So, she could not at all explain why the cry of alarm – half-sounded – had quickly petered out to something not unlike a whine. She refused to call it a moan.

At length, she could fight him no longer. She lacked even the strength to lift her head and let it fall back against the rough brick wall. Was this the Death she had been courting nearly all her life? Had it finally come to take her? Kanna could not blame her for this one, could she? And what a beautiful death it was… Although, it was only fair, she supposed, given what her life had looked like.

She opened her eyes blearily to get another look at him. His face was buried in her neck but the lovely, silver strands had fallen over her form like a moonlit blanket. She could not help but reach weakly out for them, wanting to feel their silky length. If the vampire took any notice of her efforts, he gave no sign.

Kagura’s strength waned further still, and her hand fell away. Her head lolled to one side, coming to rest against one of the well-toned arms caging her in. She blinked at the clawed ends of his graceful hands and tried to remember if vampires were meant to have claws. She supposed it didn’t matter. Her eyes fell shut.

Her legs would give way next, she could feel it, and maybe that would be the end of her. When she fell to the floor, the lovely vampire would leave her there and move on to his next victim. That was how these things went wasn’t it? But as vertigo closed in and she felt herself slipping, the tall predator stepped closer towards her, all but crushing her body between himself and the wall behind her. His hands left their positions on either side of her and instead cupped her face, tilting her head to the side so as to allow himself better access to her throat.

If Kagura had not been teetering at the edge of consciousness, she might have felt something at being so close to the stranger she had so admired moments before. As it was, she could only vaguely muse at the sensation of being so firmly encaged by solid, firm muscle. And it wasn’t just that, his very being emanated power. Every glance of his smoldering eyes declared unmistakably that there wasn’t a man alive he considered his equal. She doubted anyone could get the better of him – not with force, not through the law, not by trickery. Not even Naraku. The edges of her lips twitched upwards at that thought.

What a pleasant idea.

Even as the demon feasted hungrily, and she was quickly fading, she struggled to hold onto consciousness – in order to savor the notion just a moment longer. The demon at her side forcing Naraku to his knees. What she wouldn’t give to see it!

The power that had so quickly subdued her, turned towards her hated stepfather…

Kagura felt a twinge of pain as the warm mouth left her gaping wound open and exposed to the chill night air as the demon, or god, she hadn’t yet decided which he was, pulled back. Kagura used the pain to force her eyes open and with a sudden burst of strength, her hand shot up to grab the wrist of his right hand with what strength she could muster.

She could feel more blood trickling from her neck, but the vampire had had his fill and was not distracted from her burning ruby gaze. Kagura’s brow furrowed as she struggled to regain her footing. The silver-haired man’s left hand fell away from her face as he pulled slightly back – his right hand still held firmly in place by a stubborn Kagura.

She did not see the way his eyes narrowed slightly as he removed his left hand, she had long forgotten about the bruise on her face. She was far too concerned with catching her breath and trying to get to her feet as she staked her claim.

“I demand – “ she rasped. She tried and failed to stand tall, falling back against the wall behind her. Kagura shook her head to clear her vision. Sweat beaded on her forehead but her clammy hands refused to release him, certain he would disappear the moment she did.

“I demand compensation for the blood you have taken.” It was no good, her vision was going. She could feel the blackness closing in. Desperation emboldened her. She would get what she wanted, goddammit, or she would die trying.

“If you don’t… you will live in dishonor for the rest of your miserable life.” Her second hand caught out for his wrist, now in search of support more than as a threat. “A thief,” she mumbled for good measure. It was all she could manage; he seemed the proud type. Haughty and arrogant.

But it was too late. She felt herself slipping, felt the sharp pain of her knees hitting the cobblestone, and then … nothing.

Sesshomaru gazed down at the mortal woman lying at his feet. She had displayed some characteristics unusual for her kind. Sharp instincts had allowed her to locate him before he attacked her. Usually, he caught his prey off-guard and finished them off without a sound.

How had she managed to retain consciousness until he had drunk his fill from her? And what desperation had led her to barter with one such as him?

Her kind should have died of fear before they perished of blood loss, and yet…

He considered the purple bruise on her face, on the cheek that had felt soft beneath his hands – like a delicate silk - and wondered what other bruises lay hidden where no one could see. She had to know some measure of pain to take his assault as if it were nothing. And fear, to stare him determinedly in the eyes and call him a thief.

Sesshomaru was no thief. He took what was owed to him by virtue of his power. He bent down towards the woman lying on the cobblestone floor - not quite dead, not quite living.

He traced his fingers along the open wound on her neck and the flesh sealed obediently at his touch. It was apparent what she wanted from him. Eyes like hers wanted for one thing only.

“Live, Kagura of the Wind, and you shall have your revenge.” He rose to his feet and turned away from her, his black boots padding softly along the road before taking off into the air with a single, soundless leap.

“Die, and you will have paid the price for your insolence.”

#100 days of drabbles #sesshkagu #inuyasha #vampires #writing #fanfic #let's go

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