5 Thief

Four pairs of aggressive yellow eyes looked at the white haired man strangely. As the chill swept around the room silently, the wind rattled the oil paper doors.

The ripples on the surface of the warmed Sake dulled.

If it were anyone else surely you would feel a certain amount of sympathy, but Ise whose eyes were glazed over spoke as if speaking about a complete stranger. Rather than his only direct blood relative and heir.

Jacobs breathing stagnated as he thought of something, his yellow eyes trembling before placing an indifferent expression on his face.

'We'll talk later. Leave the room and don't look back.'

He said inwardly making Marcus confused, holding his snarl.

"What does that have to do with me?!", grabbing the collar of his robes. Soulless blue eyes staring back at him shamelessly.

A thread of red bled into his eyes before disappearing making Marcus frown. From his fingertips he drafted a small dagger made of ice and pressing it against his neck, his lips curved mockingly.

"Wolves did it."

***

Petite footsteps lingered towards a large area of untouched land. Fertile soil and green cedars, the splashing of water with the sounds of animals lingering. The lush green and white, like the backdrop of a fairytale and at the roots of a purple maple Aoi had fallen asleep.

The blue paint on her mask outlined the shape of a Fox, the red cord like blood emphasised her small face. Sleeping with her lips pursed, ignorant of the world outside.

Her head tilted to the side as it suddenly went quiet and all that could be heard were Aoi's slow and steady breaths. The leaves didn't rustle on the trees and the birds didn't chirp. Except the soft padding of light fleshy paws, prodding against her thighs and the feeling of soft fur brushing against her face and neck.

"What?" Swiping her hand away from the long red tail she held the creature by its nape, resting with her legs crossed.

"Have you come to leech off me too?"

'Are you the only who's allowed to sleep here? I happened to find this place comfortable to sleep- does this tree belong to you?'

With a soft chuckle, her hazy and clouded eyes focused as much as they could on the red fox that pouted sullenly.

'But I'm not apart of the tree silly fox.'

'Hmph. It's not every day that you can find a human with the aura of heaven and earth.'

'Oh?'

Whilst she was having a mental argument with the fox, she hurried to her feet when she heard a childish shriek.

Jumping into the trees awkwardly as splashing and sounds of struggle could be heard, she tiptoes quietly to the edge of the lake.

Her bamboo sandals barely making a dent in the soft snow.

A child in torn children's clothes shivered as she urged herself out of the freezing cold water. Aoi who listened to the sounds of the billowing wind, the chirping birds and the fox that followed along in curiosity relayed the situation to her.

The rope like lotus roots tangled around her small body as it pulled her along towards the fairy like woman.

"Are you Jacob Fangs granddaughter?" She squinted trying her best to see her blurry face.

"I.." With tears and mud on her face, her teeth chattered as her lips went slightly blue.

"I got lost."

"Should I take you back Cassie?" She smiled removing the thick shawl and her outer robe, which she then wrapped around the confused yet cold girl.

"How do you know my name?"

"You forgot me already... I'm sad, it's Blue." She teased hugging her in her arms like a baby, her skin so white that her blood vessels could be seen in her neck and arms.

Snow gently fell as her green eyes sparkled happily, kissing her forehead she absorbed the chill in her as her cheeks resumed its rosy hue.

The birds guided her back as they spoke to her in her mind, changing the course of the wind so it wouldn't further freeze the already wet girl.

All Cassie could see was the long blue-black hair that had a sheen to it, reminding her of the doll she has at home.

"Are you a fairy?" She asked naively.

"No. I'm... a demon."

"Huh? Aren't demons bad?"

"Do you think I'm bad?"

"No!"

"I see." Chuckling quietly.

***

Biting her lip she shivered as she looked at the death glare from Alpha Marcus.

"She ran off?" He sneered looking down at the group condescendingly.

"You said something to her." Pointing to the nervous wolf who looked down in shame.

Grabbing hold of his collar he threw him down with a hard punch, taking it quietly as he spat out blood.

"I had one request, don't involve my sister in wolf matters." He growled lowly, ready to tear him to shreds.

"If I needed a mate I would get one."

'Alpha one of the members of the Okuyama family is with her, she'll be attending the ceremony so we'll see her there.'

He didn't bother wiping the blood off his hands and left the room, following the servant who guided him to a cushioned seat.

Overlooking a large pond he sat amongst other guests on a white bridge like platform.

Seats occupied the rear as servants provided refreshment and small snacks, he sat awkwardly as he pushed back the delicate table. Unable to stretch out his legs considering his large frame, Jacob sat opposite him lost in thought as a gust of wind blew making him stand up with shock.

"Cassie!"

***

A woman dressed in a white silk robe, her blue embroidered waist band carrying a snowflake shaped pendant. Standing unstable a top of the bridge, she held a hand out to the servant who helped her down and placed Cassie in the woman's arms.

"What are you doing here cripple?" A short haired woman asked abruptly as she blocked her way.

"Kaede even if that's true, I'm still the direct lineage." Adjusting the red cord which held the mask to her face. "So if you don't want your tongue I'll cut it off."

"Can you even control water, let alone make ice." She looked at her with jealousy for her heritage which she took for granted.

She didn't want to listen to such spiteful words, especially from people who took advantage and helped the servants steal and destroy all of her mother's things.

Her cold hand slapped her cheek mercilessly, feeling her steely gray eyes like a sharp blade ready to cut her.

"You're clothes are luxurious for someone not even apart of the family Kaede." Reaching out for the glittering pin attached to her auburn hair.

Feeling the ice diamonds which she absorbed the cold energy from, she ignored her nervous fidgeting as she felt her mother's name faintly scraped off with a nail.

"Kaede," Her white fingers wiped the red blood dripping from the side of her mouth, fierce cold energy attacked her insides just by her touch. "Once this is all over you'll be... amongst others the first people I kill."

When she put her hand down from her face, the pain immediately subsided and she immediately regained her haughty demeanour.

"Oh what can you do about it Aoi?, it's not like you can appreciate it since all you do is wear masks." Trying to take back the pin that would help increase her power in the family.

"Your face was probably scarred right? If you don't watch yourself you'll end up like your cheap slut of a mother, so give it back Aoi." A smug smile on her delicately painted face.

"It's not like you have a use for it after all its not me who would relinquish a decade old torture method because you wouldn't listen." Quickly pulling on the red chords and untying the knots, making her an embarrassing sight to behold.