A Path Through Destiny, Wolfheart [crime books to read .TXT] 📗

was a tradition dating back to the days when wood was their most valuable thing in their world. Gaia was represented by trees, as they are a symbol of earth – life, death, survival, eternity. Aki admired the work. Trees were sacred; especially in her heart.
“I love that violin…” She said quietly as Kasumi situated it.
“I see! That explains why you have remained with such a proud, stupid fool as I.” Kasumi answered right before she began to play the song that had brought them together. It was a song few people could play even on the traditional flutes; the song of the Demi’s creation and rise.
It began with slow, long notes that make it seem as if the very violin was crying. There were purposely rough notes that would draw out to sound like a cat’s scream or a wolf’s sad howl. The beginning was within breeding factories within Japan, which were full of pain and sorrow, of experiments on animals and Humans alike. Then, slowly, the song picked up speed and became almost violent and rapid. This was when the Demi fought the Humans and one another. There was a long period of this, though there were lulls as if the races were asleep. For centuries, Demis fought one another and Humans. Demis massacred Humans to prove they were superior, or Humans would burn forests or camps of the Demi to drive them out and kill them. Then, there was a sudden shift in the song. It rose and rose and rose in violence until all of sudden, it stopped rising and fell suddenly until it even out. Then order came into it, and the song took on a peaceful sound. It was now the time of the war and then government and the sudden appearance of Human realization that Demis were sentient creatures. The Demis had been forced to ally themselves against the Humans to prove this. The end of the song usually was a note that meant “to hail Gaia and live for eternity” from the bards, for this was when Demis found Gaia’s true acceptance of them as a people. That is when religion as well as government and science began to take real shape. But Kasumi played haunting notes that gave an impression of insecurity, and a plea of help to Gaia, before ending the song customarily.
But none-the-less, when the music ceased, both were relaxed and in a pleasant mood. Kasumi silently put away her violin and climbed into bed. Aki curled around her, enjoying the feel of her fur and the scent of her, and both of them fell fast asleep. For the first time in months, Aki did not dream.

Kasumi woke as faint light filtered into the room. She carefully untangled herself from Akira and dressed. She gave her lover a gentle kiss on the forehead, smiling when she sighed and rolled the other way, toward where Kasumi would normally be. Aki sleepily felt for her warmth, then stirred.
“I wanted to tell you I was going.”
Or else there would have been a fight about it. Poor Aki. She works and works for me and all I do is leave her here by herself…
“Good. But you’re not leaving yet!” She pulled me back into bed. “Not until I fall back asleep.” She gave Kasumi a gentle kiss on the lips, who definitely accepted it.
“Of course not.”
Kasumi remained beside her until she was asleep, then rose and gathered her maps and terrain notes on both Russia and Japan. She’d been expecting this for about a year, when Japan first began to take a dive. Overall, then it had been just-in-case notes and strategies. For months, however, she had been privately forming strategies on these maps. She’d highlighted the weak points of Japan, Russia and America. But they now needed updates. With only the Great Cats in Japan and the Reptilians (known as the Drakes by most) not even in the war, most of her tactics fell to suicide missions, fool’s play or impossible feats. Kasumi had never thought that The Union would play as individual lords so soon after its birth. They weren’t fighting, but they weren’t working together either.
And High Lord Ren’s heart was failing her. If she fell, Azoic may have to take lead. Kasumi shivered at the thought.
As she left the room she nearly ran over the twelve year old servant who had been cleaning just last night. He screamed, making her hiss at the high pitch that pierced her sharp ears. She shoved him against the wall and snarled in a crude form of Japanese “Shut up, boy, before I tare out that larynx of yours!”
He shut up. She let go.
“What are you doing, standing around outside my room?”
“I’m sorry, lady.” He almost whispered the words, but not so quietly it was hard for her to hear him. “I didn’t know what you two would want to eat for breakfast, and was trying to figure it out when I heard you moving about. I realized I was late, and lost my nerve. It won’t happen again, Lady Kasumi. I’ll be on time from now on.” His voice shook, and the fear in it and eyes haunted and confused Kasumi. Then she realized he was her assigned servant; royals had that luxury, and apparently now they did. Akira would be relieved she didn’t have to cook her food or buy all of their meals. So long as he wasn’t a bother, anyway.
“You listen well, boy. First thing’s first; I don’t beat servants unless they become a threat. But that doesn’t mean the punishments won’t be harsh. A fist may be the first thing in mind, but I find it rather ineffective for boys like you. Now, second thing; do not wake her when you go in, and never look her in the eye. Cheetah Demis don’t appreciate it when servants don’t know their place. Third of all; I am leaving to discuss military tactics with my Commandants. I expect this place to be clean and lunch to be waiting, warm and fresh with some tea. Lastly; serve her lightly in the mornings, without meat and with green tea. Never with sake.”
He bowed. “Of course my Lady.”
Surprisingly, he was calm now. It seemed he was more comfortable when he was told what to do – and that he wouldn’t be beat by his new mistresses. Kasumi knew Akira wouldn’t beat the boy; she wouldn’t even like to tell him to get her a glass of water or watch him mop the floors. She was a Priestess of life, and it had always seemed cruel to her. Kasumi didn’t completely disagree, but she wasn’t going to try changing him; it would only make his job more difficult to do.
“Do you know where Sauda’s room is?”
“Yes, my Lady.”
She sighed.
“Alright, repeating that is already getting on my nerves. Look, I have a problem with that title. I’m a Commandant, not a High Lord. Call me Kasumi or mais. Same for the priestess in there; call her Priestess, Akira or mais. Understood?”
He nodded with a smile in his brown eyes. She let him take the lead.
As they strolled through the silent and huge halls of the dawn morning, Kasumi felt amazed that the Humans had enough time to sleep so late in the middle of a war. The only other people she saw were the royal servants and the guards as they changed shifts. She was amazed, and disgusted. Royals treated everything like it rightfully was theirs, and that everybody else was less than them – simply because they and their families had the money, which somehow gave them power here.
Why don’t the peasants revolt? I highly doubt the farmer that supplies their meat has a servant to harvest and plant their fields, or feed and butcher their cattle. This isn’t right.

But their culture was their own, and if she was to get respect, it wouldn’t be by causing a revolt during a time of war.
“Here we are…mais.” The boy muttered. He opened the door for her.
She shook her head but thanked him and entered the room. Anya and Sauda were there, but there were two humans present as well, and things weren’t exactly peaceful.
“I’m not going to send half my best warriors down there to get massacred!” Anya snarled. Her black pelt gleamed nearly purple in the unnatural lighting that stung the eyes. Blinking several times, Kasumi stood by the door silently, listening to get a feel of what was going on.
“We’re not some kitty-cats to send in to play with rats!” Sauda agreed, surprising Kasumi. Usually, she was slightly less hostile in politics.
“You’re stronger than our men, and far greater numbers.” A huge, burly human snapped back like some kind of rabid mongrel. “And you’re here to help us, not the other way around.”
“We aren’t disposable!”
“He never claimed you were.” The other man, wiry and cold in the eyes with a feel of wisdom and the scent of magic, commented smoothly.
“Now…children…” Kasumi spoke with a thick African accent, the one she’d been born and raised with, getting everybody’s attention. “No need to throw sticks and stones at one another. Play nice.”
Even Anya and Sauda looked surprised. Kasumi rarely spoke her accent. It reminded her days she’d rather forget – days of hunger, heat and the sorrow of losing her family to Drake warriors.
“What in the…?” The big, burly man growled. “Who let the African Princess in to play?”
Instantly, the powerful man was against the wall with claws digging into his jugular.
“Human pigs don’t need to stink up the room, now.” She snarled furiously. “Shut your damn mouth or this ‘African Princess’ will play a game you’ve only seen in training and in the war zone.”
He swallowed, the fear lit in his eyes.
“I may be small, ass whole, but I’m no push-over.”
She released him, whipping the blood on his white general kimono.
“Now listen up.” She looked the general and then the mage in the eyes. She looked at Anya and Sauna; if they started this, they were going to pay. “I don’t play around in a time of war. Either we get along nice and there is equality or I’m taking my plans, maps and strategies right to my High Lord’s door. There will be no suicide missions for the Demi people. If you want to kill men uselessly, send out your own.”
The mage helped his general to his feet. Kasumi took her seat at the head of the table.
“Demis don’t play games, humans. Take your seats or Sauna and Anya will be forced to assist you.”
The mage did quietly. Still pale, the general followed. Anya and Sauna sat down with subdued looks on their faces.
Kasumi took to her human form and shot glares at the two Demis who remained as cats. They quickly corrected their mistakes.
“Now. What in Gaia’s name is this arguing all about?” She demanded.
“This.” Anya handed the Cheetah Demi sketches and rough maps. Kasumi looked it over, keeping her face blank as she forced her anger aside.
Humans are volatile and arrogant. I’m going to have to solve this.
“The information is good, and I’ll add it to my maps, but the plans we can throw out the window.”
“What did you expect? Us to send our own men there?” The general demanded.
“First of all, I’ll have your names before you speak to me.” She kept her tone even but firm. “I will not speak to a