Caramel: Book 3 of the Lord Emperor Vampire Series

I thought this was going to be a ‘fluffy’. Ooooh, it went downhill pretty darn quick.

Spirit
Q: When is Claudia due? Does her parents know?
Claudia is due date is November 11. She will be six moths (and showing) when she gets married to X in August. And no, her parents didn’t know until Az spilled the beans at the auction.

Brittany
Q: Some pointers on writing a story.
Oh god Lord….I have no clue what the hell I’m doing half the time. I guess, my big thing is to work with your strong points. Some people can do descriptions really well. (As you can tell, I’m not one of them. Ie. What color are Chesterton’s eyes?) I can do dialogue so easily though. I write my dialogue then have to go back and add in description especially if you can’t tell who is supposed to be talking.

Take your time, don’t rush it. [Big pointer here. Had to learn that one the hard way]

If the characters want to discuss something over breakfast instead of heading off on a killing spree or to bed, you let them. (that probably sounds strange, but after a while the characters become their own individuals. Ie. Az is not going to cry over a ‘sappy’ tv commercial, or cry over having to kill a child – that is not his character. But to have his identity shaken and his heart and soul trampled will finally get the tears going.) If your characters are complete [believable] they will resist you trying to write them into situations that they would never get themselves into. That is always a pain in the ass if you have to scrap pages because they just aren’t working.

Cake started as a vivid dream. Okay, overly erotic dream for me. I woke up in my own pool of drool at 4;12 am and fumbled to the computer and started writing it down. Little did I know that it would morph into something this long or this complicated. As long as the characters you are writing about believe the world they are in is real, you should have the makings of a story that others want to read too.

I’m rambling. I don’t know if this will help. I’ve always written, so I never really tried to sit down an analyze it. My brain hurts now….waaahhh.

Sesshomarunaraku
Thanks for the stream of 14 continuous reviews. Whoo Hoo!! Glad you wandered over from “I was His”. Oh, your Council question is answered below…read on.

Laur:
Q: How they find Marcus?
Lanseng narrowed down the search area with his Talent. Haley used his nose to track Marcus down in the Park. Claudius just marched his wayward Cherished Eldest home, told him to stay put them went home. Ya, know, Claudius should have known that Marcus wouldn’t listen.

Bambigirl
Q: What happens at Lanseng’s after Azrael leaves?
First person narravtive. Azrael isn’t going to know until someone tells him. You’re not going to know because I have no clue….it’s bubbling in my mind right now.

Thanks again for the reviews. Love it. Appreciate it. Need it. I’m a glory hound. Sorry, it’s just the way I am. Here’s to the Loyal: Paradox; BlackOpal; Rosemary; k; Steph8503; Mihara; jenna T.; romanticfae (any art posted yet?); rosei; a taste of insanity; Laur; Soda


P.S. What do you think of Sex in this chappie?

PSSst: In regards to the early reviews: Lanseng & Marcus have had a frank decision (later, later -- I'll talk about it later)Marcus gets to go to work. He is #2 after all.

Pssst psst to S: The time Marcus went psycho and raped X then stalked him for six months. (End of Cake beginning of Cinnamon) That is the time I am referring to as Azrael's first abandonment.


Chapter 105: Little Brother; Big Sister

Sunday just couldn’t get any better. It’s been going down hill since I opened my eyes. My face stung from the slap of the Lady Regent. In the old days, in the human days, that would have driven me to my knees and more than likely would have given me a concussion. As it was, my head snapped sideways and my eyes watered. The board room was absolute stillness as I straightened up.

The room was a sea of firearms. Hunters pointed at Vampires. Vampires pointed at Hunters. Father had his fangs on. Marcus stood in front of me, a little too late but he was quick enough to prevent round two of slap little brother.

I found blood in my mouth. “We need to talk, big sis.” I gestured off to a side door that would lead to a hidden corridor which would take us back to my office.

“Fangs down, Loyal. Carnage, please bring Father back. William, Hades. Could you see that everyone has something to drink? We won’t be long.” I stepped around Marcus without a backwards glance.

“Stand down.” Shayne ordered.

“Haley.” I gestured for him to take point. He glared at Shayne then went and got the door.

“You know how fond I am with Lycans.”

“You want to know what the hell is going on, it’s all about him.”

Shayne’s face hardened for a bit then she nodded. I lead the way. I had been expecting a phone call from Mom. I sure as hell didn’t expect to see Shayne arrive with her Hunter entourage. Not wonder the little hunter punklings looked at me funny when I said I used to be her son. Haley handed me a coffee mug full of blood then set a bottle of water on my small boardroom table for my sister. He stalked off to the left, crossed his arms and just stared at her in challenge.

“Haley, stuff it.”

He turned and stared out the window.

“When the hell did you become Regent?”

“Last week when you were out of the country, Mom had a heart attack, Azrael.”

My knees got weak. What? “Why didn’t anyone tell Xavier?”

“I called and left a message with your assistant that Mom was in the hospital. I wasn’t going to give out more information than necessary. She’s fine, a little weak, and more than pissed but Dad’s ecstatic.”

“I thought there was a big ceremony and coronation thing that had to go on.”

“There was and it did. Mom was not happy to step down, but she was even worse when you didn’t show up, or send anyone as your representative. It wasn’t until we got the latest updates that we found out you were in Tokyo.” Shayne went and leaned against the boardroom table. She snapped the security ring off the water bottle and took a drink. Her eyes ran over the office and she smirked at the jukebox. “Based on your reaction, you didn’t even get the message that Mom was sick.”

“I didn’t like hearing from Tokyo Local that a white demon of death ripped a path from the airport all the way through the city to the top office of Shadoe Inc. That didn’t sound like the little brother I knew, but then I see this…” She gestured with the water bottle at my office. “It’s got your sensibilities written all over it.”

“You should know that I am not the brother you helped raise.” I took a sip of my blood.

“No shit, Sherlock. Aside from being a sex symbol and the white hair, which is becoming a rage by the way, you’re married three times over, and you’re gay—which I suspected but wasn’t going to give you any grief over it. You’re a vampire and not just any vampire you are the Lord Emperor. You were the top assassin in the House and now you’re top of said House. At least that is consistent, when you put your mind to something, you give it your all.”

“Which brings us to what happened last night. Care to enlighten me? The newbies were basically incoherent just rambling about some blue haired freak of a vampire who killed three werewolves then stuck a head on a stake.”

“You send someone to investigate?”

“The place was crawling with Lycan…and not just the regular Lycan from the area. We have those tagged. These were bigger, older and female. I have never heard of a Female Alpha pack, little brother. What the hell is going on?”

I gestured toward Haley and he came to my side. He cleaned up nice when he put on a suit. Shoes would have been nice, but I’d take what I get lately. I saw Shayne tense up even though she remained in her deceptively relaxed pose. “Shayne I would like you to met Haley Den…sorry, Saitou. He is the little Pup, X saved that night out at the farm. Haley, this is my sister, Shayne Westie – Lady Regent Hunter of the Southeast Region.”

Haley bowed gracefully. Shayne returned it with a nod of her head. “Haley here contacted me about Vampires who hunt down werewolves for sport. They kill them even in safe houses.”
Shayne sat up straight. “I’ve had disturbing reports, but the Hunters haven’t gotten anything concrete. It has been very hush hush. Your doing?”

“Vampires don’t know about it either. The hushing is on behalf of the Lycan Nation. Haley decided to try and do something about it, and because of that he was cast out and branded traitor.”

“Why does what happened on the farm relate to Female Alphas roaming the streets?”

“Britta the Elder is my grandmother.”

“I killed her Male Alpha pack. I killed a pack of young bounty hunters. A Northern Alpha Male came to Shadoe Inc to buy a contract on my life. Because I have Haley in my Household.”

“Needless to say, he didn’t get far with a contract.”

“No, he didn’t. They took their request to the High Council.”

“Alpha has a seat there.” Haley came up and stood off to my right a little forwards, trying to place himself between me and the Lady Regent Hunter. Shayne would hand him his head if he tried anything. I reached out and pulled him to my side, looping my arm around his neck.

“I take it, Council didn’t go well.”

“No one would sponsor their complaint. They couldn’t bring it forward.”

“Just your presence did that.”

“Yeah, right. It was probably the Loyal and Claudius. I just sat there and tried to look menacing.”

/You looked like you were constipated./ Haley added.

/sshh../ I growled back.

Shayne watched us and an arched eyebrow, “As I said before, you don’t do anything half way, little brother. Now you speak Lycan. So Britta is commanding the making werewolves to do…what?”

“Exactly what almost happened in the board room. Have Humans and Vampires kill each other off. Walk in and take the pup.”

“I am your Zsigmond. I will defend you to the death.” Haley assured with a low growl.

Shayne looked at me totally shocked, “Zsigmond! You accepted an oath of protection?”

“I take it you know what that is.”

“Zsigmond cuts across bloodlines. The only thing stronger is….

“Elek.” I finished the sentence for her. “I was going to say that this has nothing to do with the Hunters, but last night kind of blew that out of the water. An Elek made those werewolves and set them on the homeless to draw out both Hunter and Vampire. The Lady Regent and me.”

“And, I am assuming the Britta the Elder doesn’t know you come from the Lady’s family.”

“I don’t think so. I don’t think she knows that you are now Regent. How can you be Regent you need a mage?”

“I found one. He’s competent but he’s not Reggie’s replacement.”

“When do I meet him?” I crossed my arms across my chest.

“You want to check him out? Azrael, what are you two?”

“As Xavier has said you are family. My sister, is too good for any man.”

“You’re such as spaz, Azrael..” Her smile faded, “Where does this end, Lord Emperor? How many will perish in this Vampire/Lycan feud?”

“It’s not a Nation feud. It’s between my Pack and Hers.”

“Your Pack?”

/My mate will get here soon. She can become your Elek, Alpha. She would rather be a Huntress than a protector./

“The Imperial Pack. Haley and his mate, an Eastern Lycan who wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“Are you crazy? You’ll be upsetting the balance of power in the Lycan Nation. There hasn’t be a new pack that has been allowed to rise in centuries. You know how much I like Lycan but your little pup seems okay. They will tear him to shreds.”

“They will have to get past me first then if I fall the will have to get past his female alpha. There won’t be many left for her to handle if that does happen.”

“Do you know how crazy that sounds? It would be simpler to hand him over.”

“Not going to happen.” I drained my mug and handed it to Haley. “More please.”

Shayne paled a bit. I licked the corner of my mouth to get the blood that leaked out. “It’s hard to come to grips that you’re a blood sucker. I can handle your gayness and your polygamy. The blood thing…is hard to swallow.”

I stilled my face. I wanted to smirk so bad but big sister was being earnest. “Sex had it beaten into him by the Tokyo Local to inform the Hunters in the Territory of what might be going on. You’ve been informed. You’ve been asked to not interfere. Haley is part of my House. It doesn’t matter that he is a Lycan. He falls under my wing. I will defend my own, Lady Regent. That extends to you, Xavier’s nieces and his Mom and Dad.”

“That doesn’t sound like you’re asking, its more like you’re telling.”

“Pick whatever reasons offends you the least.”

“It doesn’t matter who the hell is in charge, you still a prick, little brother.”

I busted out laughing. Haley popped out from around the wall with the refilled mug. He tossed another bottle of water at Shayne as he came up and handed me my blood. /I like it when you laugh, Alpha Azrael, you don’t laugh enough./

‘Thanks, Shayne. I’m getting tired of everybody kissing my ass.”

“You are such a spaz. Keep the human causalities down. If this feud comes to the Regency Council, the Hunters will move against one of you…and little brother, it will be you. You are upsetting the status quo.”

“Good enough.” Shayne spit in her hand and extending it. This wasn’t a Hunter thing. This was between brother and sister. I spit into my hand and went to shake her hand then Haley leaned over and spit in my hand too. Er….eewww. Shayne grabbed my hand and shook it.

She looked over at Haley. “I expect you to stick to your Zsigmond oath, little Haley. I raised him. I do not give his care to just anyone.”

“I will never leave his side.”

Shayne nodded. “Call mom. She’s at home.”

“I’ll have Xavier call her. He’s got some news to pass on anyway.”

“News?”

“I’m getting married.”

“We kind of figured that out when the Baroness of Whitecombe Technologies showed up at Eddies and Armor’s wedding.”

“No. Xavier HAS to get married.”

“Has to get….OHMYGOD! She’s got balls.”

/Your Female Alpha is male?/

I think my eyes bugged out.

“I knew I would like her. She went to a clinic and got herself inseminated without your knowledge didn’t she?”

“You approve?”

“All of you were kind of cruel to her when you came to the Farm. True, she invited herself and she got what she deserved but you rubbed it in her face. She went out and secured her position in your life. Three months?”

“Four.”

“Good for her. When’s the wedding.?

“I have to do an charity event August 4th. We are to have the wedding on the 5th – it’s a Sunday.”

“Speaking of charity event, what the hell was up with the bachelor auction…and the cello playing? You wouldn’t play a recognizable song on a kazoo.”

A sad smile crossed my face. “I thought so…there was so much tension between you.”

“I don’t know what you mean?”

“Are you having a trial separation, or have you broken up, with tall, dark and slouching?”

I turned toward the window. What it just yesterday, I laid in bed, Marcus safely tucked away in my wings:? It seems like a lifetime ago.

“Azrael?”

“I don’t know…but I think it’s the latter.” I leaned my forehead against the glass and looked out across the city. The serenity of the night skyline was shattered by the moving cars and ant-like specs wandering the mazes of the city.

Haley plastered himself against my back and rubbed a circle of comfort on my upper shoulder. The other held onto my stomach. Intuitive little Lycan.

“How does this effect the others?”

“It shouldn’t. We are separate individuals. I’m messing up the schedule for today though. Sex should be here with Father right now.”

“I am sorry to hear that, Azrael. You looked so in love laying in the potato salad.”

“Stupid thing is, I still am. Marcus’s done stupid things. I’ve done something worse. We are tearing each other apart. It’s better if we just stop.”

“Call Mom and Dad. If she hears about the wedding and the upcoming winglets of the news, you are going to be needing a new ass. Oh…the girls asked me if Uncle would give them their own feather, Apparently my red one isn’t good enough for sharing anymore.”

“They are growing up quickly.”

“I’d invite you over…”

“But I’m a lightening rod. It’s best this way. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to them because of my association.” Haley backed away and took my suit jacket. I shrugged out of my holsters and unbuttoned my shirt. I was ripping my wardrobe to hell when I winged it. I left my sheaths on and Haley pulled my shirt off.

“You need some sun, little brother. A little color would hide the bruising. I’ll return the favor.”

“I got it.” I willed my wings out and wide. She gasped. I frowned. Oh yeah, they had only seen X Phoenix out at the farm. “It happened the same time I got the snowflake hair.”

“You were impressive with red wings, Azrael. You look like an angel.”

“We both know, I’m the devil’s cabana boy. Even as a kid, Sex wasn’t an angel.” I gritted my teeth and waited for the agony of having my feathers ripped out.

“You know Mom would want a white one. I want one too.”

“Just do it evenly.”

It stung and hurt just as much as the last time Shayne ripped feathers out of X’s wings. It’s akin to pulling nosehairs out with tweezers. My eyes watered and I hissed with the sharp sting. My wings tinkled as they shivered from the after effects. I leaned my forehead against the warm glass and blinked away the tears. I’ve had more than my share of them today.

Shayne ruffled my hair and spread it all over the place. “I would so kill for this hair. I’d be dying the crap out of it, but on you, snowflake it looks good. I know it hurts now, Azrael, but it will get better eventually. You should kick him out of your penthouse. It’s bad enough you have to work with him.”

“He’s Armor too. X would have a fit.”

“Well, I think we left our little camps in suspense long enough. I better get back.”

“I know I asked you to butt out, but any intell would be appreciated on werewolves acting outside the norm. It would keep non combatant causalities down.”

“Can’t give you as much information as you might want, Azrael. Our head Lycanthropologists, Luke Felton, was assassinated a while back. In his own apartment. Someone shot him point blank in the face. We investigated and found a witness but her mind had been tampered with. So we are assuming that it was done by a Vampire. The Regency isn’t so bold to accuse the House of Assassins.”

Oh crap. Xavier thought that old man looked familiar. “The Regency want retribution?”

“Answers. Felton was a bookworm. He was no threat to anyone. He specialized in Lycan history, mainly Britta’s pack.”

“I’ll make some inquiries.”

I turned around, my wings folded across my back naturally. “Holy, mother of god. You little freak!”

What? She was staring down at my piercings. “When the hell did you do that?”

“One started out as a gift between Armor and X. It changed into a promise to Claudius. The other one is a wedding ring.”

“You could take that one off.”

I gestured to the small gold band at her finger. “You could take that one off too.”

Shayne returned quietly, “You know that happily ever after isn’t for Hunters. Mom and Dad are the exception.”

“We are lucky enough to know that it exists out there fore someone, even if it unattainable for some of us. Nice to see you, Shayne. Nice not working with you.”

“Prick. Don’t be showing those piercings to Lois or Lane, they’ve already asked for a nose stud. I had a hell of a time laying down the law on that one.”

I grinned. “Here’s a bribe. Tell them, if they get good grades and no piercings, on their sixteenth birthday, I will buy them each a car of their choice. This is all dependant on your say-so, big sis.”

“Bribery is so wrong, but I think you just might have saved me six years of mental anguish.” Shayne’s Hunter face dropped down, “Keep everything off the radar as much as you can, little brother. The Regency will be after you if they believe that taking you out would bring a strained peace back to the Nations.”

“I didn’t start this, but I will finish it. I’ll have X call Mom with the wedding date and the winglet news. Haley, start up the jukebox and then escort the Lady Regent back to the boardroom.” I turned back to the vista.

“It does get better.” Shayne packed up her four feathers offered a slight nod of the head then turned and followed the Pup back through the door to the secret corridor.

The last song that played started up again. Caramel. My wings shuddered with my distress as the instrumental music washed over me. Agony ripped through me afresh. Marcus shouldn’t have left me. He asked for music, I got him music and he walked away, after singing such beautiful words into my ear, my heart and my soul. I gave Marcus the moon and it wasn’t enough….I, Azrael, wasn’t enough. I made Marcus my world….and I wasn’t enough; I was still an afterthought. I had a mortal wound. I was still bleeding inside. Unfortunately, I was immortal, was I going to bleed forever?

I rested my forehead on the window and closed my eyes. How could everything hurt so much? It hurt to breathe. I took the comfort Lanseng offered because the pains was unbearable. I shouldn’t have. I used the tall Seer. That didn’t reflect well on me either. I wanted exclusivity and the first test, I go off and fuck the first friendly face.

“It won’t do
To dream of caramel
To think of cinnamon
And long for you.”

I wouldn’t do that to Lanseng again. I wouldn’t do that to anyone again. Saturday will be ‘our’ day of rest. I’ll take the time to learn how to play that damn cello with my heart and soul. It seemed to work for Father. I was so tired. I was tired of chasing my Puppy down…because he didn’t want to be mine. To be honest, he never wanted me. He saw X and that is who he wanted.

“So much for my happy ending….” I whispered as I tucked the dangling strands of my hair behind my left ear.

“Whose fault is that?”

I stiffened slightly but didn’t change my stance much. My voice got cold. “Yours.”

“I’m not the one who slept with someone else.”

I stared forward, I didn’t want to see him. “Xavier. You raped Xavier. You knew I was there, waiting for you and you chose Xavier. You always choose Xavier. I get it. I’m slow and stupid, but you beat me over the head with it enough, I do get it. Just remember, you can’t have him. He belongs with Armor.”

“I know that. Last night, I wasn’t thinking…”

“That seems to be your excuse for everything, Marcus. It’s not my fault…I’ve had a bad experience. Don’t blame me for my actions.”

“You fucked Lanseng.”

“I shouldn’t have done that. I hurt so much, I wanted contact…with anyone. If it wasn’t Lanseng, I probably would have gone out and found some stranger. Not a great thing to realize about yourself.”

“Master…”

“STOP IT!. Just….stop it. You’ve won. I’m not good enough for you. I could be wearing lo-jack and I still wouldn’t be on your radar. You don’t have to stay at Von Drachenfeld if you don’t want to but I’ll stay out of your way.”

“It’s your house.”

“Don’t mess with Amour and X’s time. Don’t be that petty.”

“Azrael…..I love you.”

“You don’t know what love is, Marcus. You’re two hundred and forty years old and you have no clue what love is. If you haven’t learned that in all that time….I feel sorry for you”

Marcus took three steps toward me. I dropped my dagger down into my hand. He stopped. I turned my gaze back out the window. “If I can’t love you…I don’t want to love you.”

“Azrael…pet angel…”

“Thank you for working your way to number Two in the House. You can drop back to Fourteen.”

“AZRAEL!”

The door to my office opened, “What is going on here?” Father walked into the room looking really good in his tailored navy blue suit.

“Nothing. Marcus we’re done.” I returned my dagger back to my sheath. /Sex, get in here./

/Azrael…talk to him. He’s going to cry./

/Let me go into the dark, bigger brother. I’ve had more than I can handle today. Just leave me in the dark…and don’t listen./

“You fucking asshole! You treat him like shit and he comes crawling back for more. He’s wrong…you’re the one not worthy to be with him.” I snapped my dagger down and jumped at him. Marcus wasn’t expecting it. I slashed at his cheek. It took grim satisfaction as I sliced deep and blood poured from his wound. Father caught me and pinned my arms to my side.

“Blood for Blood, Marcus. For every wound you inflict on my little brother, I will return it to you two fold. I never liked you. I told you before, I will kill you if you ever fucked with Xavier again. That goes for Azrael too.”

“Sex, stop it.”

Marcus held his face and just stared at me shocked and hurt. Big puppy dog eyes. I wanted to poke them out. “I don’t care what Azrael said. I want you the fuck out of my House by tonight. I don’t care where the hell you go, so sleep in a ditch somewhere. Armor is still welcome. But not you. Never you.”

I watched my eyes itching with the desire to turn on my blue flame and try and beat the big Vampire senseless. Father held me tightly, his arms under my wings, his face pressed against the back of my neck. “Sex, calm down…” I never felt such righteous, protective fury before. I quivered with tension.

Marcus dropped his hand down from his bloody face and knelt in reverent pose. “By your command, Lord Sex.” He rose, bowed his head once more then pivoted and walked out of my office.

The bastard left blood stains on the carpet.