Chapter Ten: My Predator:

The Mother couldn’t chase away his voice. Anna fought to resist the hunter’s siren’s song. Airi floated over her vessel as she hurled up into a ball.

“Anna,” she said. Anna turned over in her futon.

“I can’t stand his voice,” she whimpered. “Thinking about it makes want to vomit.”

“You have to tough it through,” Airi said. “This is part of the plan.”

“I don’t like it,” her vessel said. The kitsune frowned.

“Yes, you’re told me this several times,” she said. Anna pulled the pillow over her head. Airi threw back her head and groaned.

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll help you out.”

“You mean it?” Anna asked. The Mother rolled her eyes.

“You are just as annoying as Asato and that old man,” she muttered. Airi vanished into thin air.

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Her eyes scanned the empty space around her. His voice echoed louder here. Airi snorted and clicked her tongue.

“Okay! I know you are here!” she shouted. “Come out and show yourself!” Thunder rumbled above her. Airi folded her arms across her chest.

“Okay,” she said. “If that’s how you want to play it…” Airi drew in a deep breath and blew out a long string of fire. The empty space lit up faster than a candle soaked in gasoline. Airi’s eyes slowly shifted back and forth. Come on… Come out you bastard! Her eyes moved forward.

“There!” she shouted. Airi stared down a pair of soulless back eyes.

“Heh,” she said.

“Impressive,” the eyes said. “You’re just as good as I imagined you to be.” Airi sneered.

“I won’t bother asking who you are,” she said. “What are you after? Who sent you?” The eyes chuckled.

“You,” he said. “You are what we are after.”

“We?” The Mother blinked. “Who is this we? And why me? Why are you so interested in me?”

“My employer. That’s all I can tell you.”

“And why is that?”

“Let’s just say I don’t like giving away spoilers.”

“Really?” The Mother’s right eyes twitched. The hell? Who’s this guy?

“As for what make you special,” the eyes said. “Well, let’s just say you are just his type.”

“His type?” the Mother asked.

“Yes,” they said. “You’ll have to meet them yourself and see.” A high wind blew past her.

“Wait!” the Mother yelled. A burning sensation appeared above her chest. She clinched her teeth and looked down. The Kanji for “rose” formed on her skin. More letters formed, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. It didn’t take long for her to figure out the calling card.

“Heh,” the Mother said. “Well, okay. If that’s how it’s going to be…” She stuck her hand up in the air.

“Come at me, bitch!” the kitsune shouted. She vanished into thin air.

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Meanwhile, the client sat in his office with a glass of scotch in his hand. He smirked as he felt the tingle run through his body.

“Perfect,” he said. “Now we can begin our game.” He finished his drink, smirking. Visions of his prize danced in his head as he sat his glass down on the desk.

“Round one begins,” the client muttered. His laughter filled the darkness.