Chapter 17: Untitled

"Now what? Why do I have to come here every time I almost get killed? Sigh." I tried to stand up but couldn't. My whole body was weak. I saw someone walking over to me. A man. "What? Sora? Why him?" When Sora came to me he shook his head as he was annoyed. "Zuri you get yourself into trouble so much. You've done this even when you were with me. We only were together for 2 years and still your like this. You are already 17 and have a child now. You have to start growing up. If you don't you really will die and the Gods will give up trying to save you. You need to see our son grow up to be a man. You also promised your brother. I know this time it wasn't your fault and last time when you got stabbed wasn't either. Just be careful. You will need to get the dagger sooner than you think. You will know when to get it. That is all I can tell you. Now go. Before I hold you here with me which I want to." "Wait before I go I have to ask you something." "What is it?" "I got stabbed by the Acacia Blade. My wound is changing shape. What does that mean?" "Seriously? Dammit. Well you won't die or nothing. You will have a scar sort of like a tattoo. You also could…" "What please tell me. I need to know." "If you have the side affect, you could end up in your demon form forever. That is why your demon form was fluctuating. As for what its supposed to do, it can give you strong powers, but at a price. If you don't know how to use them you could die. If you do, you would die for real this time. As for the one that stabbed you, if you ever use them even once when you are ready they will die as well." "Sigh. Well I do end up a demon forever, at least I will understand what dad is feeling. Do I look bad in it?" "No you look beautiful. Just as beautiful as you did in your human form. No matter what. Your son will know who you are. He won't be afraid of you. No one will. I promise." "Can I give you a hug before I leave?" "Sure." Then he gave me a huge squeeze and I returned it. Then I felt my body fall.

(In reality}

"Good she calmed down. Whatever was happening to her is hopefully gone. Now we have to worry about this wound. I have to slow it down somehow." Then Kei touched the wound and he felt her jerk. "Sorry Zuri. I'm so sorry this happened to you." Then he used his power to try to slow down the process.

A few hours after he finished she started waking up. "Hmm. Argh. What happened to me? I feel sick." "Hey Zuri. Take it easy now." That voice. "Kei is that you?" I looked at him. "Yeah its me. How are you feeling?" "Well loads better now. Right now the pain is about a 3 or 4 in my head. So it still hurts. My wound doesn't hurt as much either." "That's good. I slowed down the process of what was going on with you." "Thanks Kei. I'm still scared. Sora told me what would happen. I could be demon forever and that I would have strong power. I have to be careful or I would die. Even if I did use the power right the one who stabbed me would die anyway. I wish I knew who stabbed me. I wish I cold help the person who did." "Sigh. You are still soft hearted Zuri. That can get you killed one day." "I know but I can't help it. I was raised that way. Yes I am a trouble maker and I know I need to grow up because I have a little one. I just don't know how? I can't change who I am overnight. I was told I was just like my grandma. The first swordsmith when she was alive." "That explains a lot. I knew you acted and looked familiar. Zuri how old do I look to you?" "I don't know like you 20's maybe." "Yeah I thought so. I am actually older than I look. When I was younger and we meet I was older then too. I am actually 124 years old. So if I was normal I would be 24. I am actually 100 years older than I look." "So when I met you how old were you?" "Hmm lets see. Well I told you we met when you where younger which is true. I think you were about 11 or 12. Lets see that would make me. 117." "Oh wow. How long ago did we loose contact?" "Zuri. You may not know this, but I was charged to watch you. I wasn't told to interact just make sure you stayed safe. That day you jumped into the river, I was sort of in a bind of my own battle. I knew where that Lake took you so I went to the demon village and found out that Hazel and Kade took you in. I was relieved. They are good men. I was surprised when I knew you lost your memories. I'm glad you got most of them back." "Yeah. I just wish I knew why I turned so soon. Wait if I turned so soon, why did I change later? Was there a spell put on me?" "I don't know much. Like I said, I wasn't allowed to ask questions. Since we were the same demon, they thought I could calm you down. It took awhile but I did. After that they took you to a room." " I see. Well thanks again for saving me. I should get home soon." I tried to get up but my wound was still a little sore. "Easy. If you want to get home so badly I will carry you." "Fine that will work. I just want to lay in my bed and see my family." "I understand." Then he picked me up princess style and we came closer to where I lived then he stopped.

"Why did you stop?" "I contacted your father. You see demons can hear far away. Is said it for him to hear." Then not long after I saw father. "Here sir. She's good now. I slowed down the process of the wound. She was stabbed by the Acacia sword." "Thank you Kei. We owe a good debt to you." "No problem sir. Happy to help a friend." Then I saw him leave. He looked back once and smiled then he ran off.

"Dad. I'm so sorry." "Hey its not your fault Zuri. Its whoever stabbed you that did." "I just wish I can find out who did it. I want to save them." Then she fell asleep in her fathers arms. "I know you do Zuri. You just can't save everyone. Sigh. Your mother wanted to save everyone too. She even tried saving the man trying to kill you." Droll kissed his daughters forehead then continued on home.

They finally got home and the boys saw Droll bringing her in. "Is she ok?" said Kade worriedly. "She will be fine. Kade. She just needs rest." They went to her room and Droll laid her down on her bed and covered her up. "Take care of her as best as you can promise me." "Yeah of course we will. What's going on Droll?" "Nothing. I just have to be somewhere is all." "Ok. Just don't die. Zuri will be devastated." "Yeah I know. She is too kind hearted like her mother." Then he said goodbye and left.

Zuri was sleeping peacefully. She was just so tired. Hazel lifted her shirt up to see the wound. Kade saw it was well. "Damn. That looks like it hurts." Said Kade. "Yeah I bet it did. Kade. In another year you will be able to watch your nephew Rio by yourself. Just the first few times I'll have the neighbors watch you. I'll still pay you though. Then you can watch him yourself. If you need any help just go to them ok? They will help you." "Sure. Is everything ok?" "Yeah it will be. Kade. There may be a time Zuri and I won't be around to watch him. I need you to take Rio far from here if that is the case ok?" "But brother." "No buts Kade. Father I'm sure will be around. If he isn't, there will be someone in the forest to meet you in case of emergencies. It will be a demon so don't be afraid." "Brother I will be one eventually. I live with them. Of course I won't be afraid." "Ok good. If that time comes I will let you know there name and meet them there ok? They will take you to a safe place along with our son." "Yes Hazel I know. I just hope that day doesn't come." "Yeah us too. we both want to see Rio grow up. I'm sorry Sora didn't get to see his own son grow up. I feel bad for him." "Yeah I wish I could have met him myself. He seemed like an interesting kind of guy." "Yeah he sure did." Then he chuckled.

"Hmm. Who, whose there? Kade? Hazel?" "Hey easy now. Yes its us. Take it easy." "Ow. My wound still hurts. My head feels much better after some rest." "Yes well. Until your wound fully turns, you will be in a little pain." "So you know about it then?" "Yeah your father told us." "Oh. I just hope my body won't be demon forever. If I do, I won't be able to do my work anymore. Everything would be too hot for my body. Where is father?" "I don't know. He said he had something to do. He told us to take care of you like he wasn't sure if he was going to survive." "Oh no. Please tell me he didn't. Dammit." "What is it Zuri?" said Kade. "Where is dad?" "He went to find the man who stabbed me in the first place. He went to find evidence. I have a feeling it was someone at work that did this. I'm sure he thinks the same. He is going to interrogate those who I work for to see if he can find them." "He is doing it for your own good Zuri. I'm sure your father will be fine. He is a strong man." Said Hazel. "Yeah I just hope he is strong enough. Hazel help me up. I need to go see Jim." "You are not working right now. You need to rest." "Who said I'm working right now? I need to talk to him." "OK Kade stay with Rio. This is a test ok?" "Yeah sure. Go. I can watch him." He helped me up and put my arm around his neck for support.

We finally got to work, we saw dad interrogating people already. "Shit. We are too late. Jim! Jim!" He heard me shouting then came over. "What is the meaning of all of this Zuri? What is wrong with you?" "The only ones who knew I had made a sword of the ori material is everyone that works here. I assume that is why he is here. To find out the culprit. If he ever did, I wanted to talk to that person. I think I might be able to save them. I'm still weak from the changing of where I got stabbed. I will remain that way until it is fully transformed. It still hurts but not bad. I know you aren't the person who did this. As for the others, even if I have worked with them I can't trust them. I'm sorry Jim. Until I find out who could have done this, I won't be able to trust anyone but you. Also I won't be able to come back until my wound has fully transformed and we find out who did this." "I understand. We will all miss you." "Yeah thanks. I will miss you all too. Just let the others know I'll be thinking about them. I have to go back now. See you some other time. Oh and Rusty Vince's brother might be stopping by." "Ok thanks for the heads up." Then Hazel helped me back home.

When we got home, I heard someone else was in the house. "Who could that be?" I asked Hazel. "Lets find out." We went inside and Hazel sat me down next to Kade holding the baby. "Who might you be sir?" Hazel asked. "Hazel its fine. I know him. Zanter what are you doing here? Have you come to tell me you are the one who did this to me?" "What if I said I came here to tell you just that?" "Don't get smart with me. I don't have the energy. Why are you here!" "Calm down you'll scare Rio." Said Kade. "Kade. Take Rio to Kira's house please." I said. "Yes of course." Then he grabbed Rio's bag and left.

"OK now. Why are you here Zanter?" "Your not going to like it." "I don't care just tell me." "Ok I am here to tell you about the incident about your stabbing and that's the truth. I wasn't the one who stabbed you. I did see it happen and was about to get to you, but I was to late. I was going to help you, then I saw your father pick you up." "Wait so you saw what happened? Did you see who stabbed me?" "I did." "OK will you tell me please? I know I may not like it but I have to know. I can handle the shock. Its someone from work isn't it?" "Yep. Its someone you may not have expected." "Ok who?" "All I can say is talk to your own teacher Zira. I know she is involved. Now I'm off. Good to see you again. Wish it was on better terms." "Yeah thanks Zanter. You were a big. Help. Stop by sometime when Im not in danger." "Haha I'll try." Then he ran off back to the woods.