Page 45 of Cherry Moon

Finally. No more silliness.

Her eyes raked my body, and I went to dropkick her.

She grabbed my foot, her grip hurting every bone in there. She twisted with zero effort, spraining my ankle.

Ouch!

“The Taker will wait his turn.” She flung me like a ragdoll back at the grass.

I hit the birdbath again, breaking it this time. The top of it almost smashed my head open.

Jumping to my feet, I ran at her, limping but too focused on saving G to care.

“I’ll have you out of there in no time,” I cried.

Bony Hag moved so fast toward me, all I could see was a blur. She delivered a punch into my guts that winded me, sending me to my knees.

G…

I’m gonna lose him…

“I could kill you now, Taker,” she hissed. “But the feeding will be meek. I want suffering, and what greater suffering for you than to see your love die first? Become a slave first.” Here came her evil laughter again. “Yes, two slaves. Two hearts that cannot join again. So close, yet so far, forbidden to ever consummate the burning, aching love again, even with mere feet between them.”

I got to my feet, hearing a clock ticking in my head.

He ain’t got long…

“This is the end for you, Taker.”

I wove around her, leaping off the edge of the garden, taking a swing at the hourglass.

She got me back on the grass in no time, holding me by the hair, bringing her face close to mine.

Rancid breath attacked my poor senses as she spoke. “The former wolf dies tonight. You cannot save him.” She grinned, showing me hints of those feral teeth. “Gone are the days when we feared being close to your tenshi blood. The Nine do not fear it or them.”

Blossoms swirled around us, the heady aroma of cherries filling the air.

“The choice,” the voice spoke.

The nice voice from before.

Bony Hag released me, blurring away toward the hourglass. “Tenshi!”

I stood up, stumbling forward. A katana fell from the sky before I made it to the edge of the garden, landing in the grass with a thwick.

Tripping over myself, my anguish at its highest peak, I landed on my arse. “What…what now?”

Sakura formed a ring around the sword. It’s steel blade gleamed with an iridescent cherry-red glow, its tsuka woven pink fringed with white.

“The Cherry Blade,” the voice spoke. “A katana more powerful than those you lost. They are lost now, useless in the fight against The Nine.”

Bony Hag hissed, backing away some more.

“The mazoku have manipulated the magic of the Cherry Moon to their own advantage, creating fresh abominations by twisting the magic into a despicable tool. Spun The Nine into being, and those who serve them.”

I didn’t care. I didn’t fucking care.

“The Nine themselves are designed to be indestructible, the power of your former katanas useless against them. Hence their breaking.”