The Tiger Within 236 Expressionless

Within the palace of the Dancing winds, the air was cold and heavy with concern. Two days had pa.s.sed since the Emperor had come. Kyera had still yet to wake, and healers had no idea what was wrong. Even the Empress Dowager had sent her hand maid to look after Kyera while she slept. Granted most the palaces were alive with gossip as to why the royals cared so much about a simple Lady and most a.s.sumed it was because she was tied to shadow Veil and in some ways they were right.

Akira sat beside Kyera's sleeping form watching her expression. There were no signs of a nightmare which, she at this point would have prefered. At least fear and night terrors would be expression, signs of life and yet there was nothing. Only shallow movements of her chest, up and down and the sent of warmth.

She reached out gently dragging her fingers through Kyera's soft hair, trying to sooth the messy strands. A complicated expression formed on the woman's face as she looked down at her daughter. There was so much left between them… she had to wake up. He wouldn't be so cruel as to take their daughter as well as their four sons. Was it her fault? Was he las.h.i.+ng out because she had turned her back on his hand?

The door to the room opened, and two new scents filled the air. A wolf and the familiar but faint memory of the forest were fairly easy to discern from the palace smells. Half eye entered, his eyes focusing on Kyera, the maid was meaningless. He walked over and knelt beside her looking Kyera over from head to toe.

Tracing her aura he began searching for a break or damage but he didn't find any. "What in the name of the Shadow King happened to you, Princess." Half Eye murmured as he drug his shadows over her body, the void around her pulling in every ounce of energy he offered her. Slowly, the weak aura around her body began to glow and swirl to his eyes, still invisible to the untrained eye. However, before he could do much, sweat was pouring from his brow.

There was a tightness in his chest… something was obviously wrong. Yet, it was hard to nail down what exactly was causing this odd sensation.

"Rayo what is wrong with My Daughter?" Akira demanded, unable to handle the prolonged silence. His eyes settled on her, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Who are you, Miss?" Half Eye asked coldly "And I do we know each other well enough to call each other by first names or names at all for that matter?" Akira blinked a bit startled by the way he spoke to her. She knew he was old but… old enough to forget her?

"Akira Mei, Kyera Mei's mother." Akira reminded him and he settled her with a expression several steps past ice.

"Ahh Yes, The Shadow Dancer." He shook his head and turned his attention back to his student. "You are far from home, Perhaps you should visit… but it is much too late for that." He added quietly before pouring more of himself into Kyera's body.

"No one's called me that in years." Akira replied looking away a slight bit uncomfortable now. Not that it bothered Half Eye a bit, her discomfort had been his aim. Though he had no right to outright shame this woman, he could not stand to let the past just be after everything.

"I can't say I am not pleased about that. However, if you don't mind I am here for business not chit chat and your distracting me. Shut up or leave." Half eye growled as he tried to focus once again, there was enough confusion about what was going on without adding this. He wouldn't have been surprised if her emotional state had put Kyera into…. Half eye's eyes widened. "Emotional State."