Candy: Book 5 of the Lord Emperor Vampire Saga

Thank you Loyal and True for sticking with me. These sections have been kicking my ass. I hope confusion is clearing up. I think I got a handle on the Lycan Nation now...tell me if not. As always, I appreciate all the reviews and advice and admonishments and clicks and ratings. (hint, hint HINT!!)

So as always,

ENJOY


Chapter 200: Dancing with Wolves


So this was hell. And it was choreographed.

Carnage. Mayhem. Gees, I was even expecting to get jumped as soon as we exited the Den. This…was unexpected. Never in a million would I have expected this – I mean someone tried to kill a nursing pup for heaven’s sake. I heard Manu snort out loud. He wrapped a forearm around Potyr and gestured with his head. “Newbies…”

“Bruce…you want to fill me in?”

“You are fighting for the throne.”

“Uh, no. What the hell is this?” I gestured to the open area arena/stage that was now filled with the six challengers and their alphas who were doing ballet style warm ups.

“There is the challenge; then there is the fight.”

“Don’t you mean dance off.”

“NO, I mean challenge.” Bruce returned evenly.

“Azrael…it’s like a showdown before a throw down.” Ping dropped it down to my level.

“Nobody said anything about dancing.”

Vladimir looked around himself and shook his head. “It doesn’t look there is going to be much dancing.”

I repeated myself. “Nobody said anything about dancing.”

Sang Kyu came up and dropped a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll make you look good.”

“Uh…that’s not what I’m pissed about. I’m just here to kill things.”

“Which you might get to do.” Ping returned her gaze narrowing as a pack of female pups came cruising by checking out the newest member of the pack. She sent a growl in their direction. Just that alone sent them scampering off with one last lingering look at me. Too bad for them that I preferred the company of men.

One word caught my Lycan marked ear. “Might?”


Ping had motored off already. Haley seemed to have rubbed off on her.

“Seneschal, you want to enlighten the High Alpha. Imperials, let’s warm up.” Vladimir took his job as Leader of the Pack seriously. He commandeered a space on the ‘stage’ and the Imperials just moved the other Alpha pack out of the way by sheer presence. I know that “presence” is a hard thing to pull off. Its good when it works. You look stupid when it don’t and then you have to get the blades flashing.

Bruce looked about as happy as I was to be left with each other. “What did you and High Alpha do?”

“Well Haley really didn’t come to hang out with me. He came for Xavier or for Sex and from what I gather, they played.” I gestured to two young pups rolling around in the dirt. “No High Alpha and No Blood Emperor duties came into consideration when they got together. They were just friends out to have fun.”

“And they danced.”

Well Sexy and Haley would defineately cut a swath through the Golden Phoenix when they were in a party mood. “I thought you said it was a challenge.”

“It’s know wonder the Den Mother would curse your name. You are being deliberately obtuse.”

“Don’t get your panties in a twist, Bruce. I’m with the tour.”

I heard the distinctive snap of jaws. “The challenge is all about intimidation. In the histories, yes it was just carnage and fangs but at the end, the pack was left weaker and vulnerable. Britta institutionalized this style of fighting. It has been adopted throughout the Lycan Nations of the World. We are not so many that the full bloods need to kill each other.”

“So the Lycan just grand jete instead.”

“Don’t….” Bruce snapped back whatever he was going to say. “High Alpha. I understand that the Vampires have a mysterious association that you are the head of. Surely you have rituals.”

I nodded. If Sex and Claudius would quit blowing the training grounds up, yeah, I guess we have our own little trials and tribulations. “Okay. So this dance is a challenge then?

Bruce pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit up. Azrael, the Angel of Death did it again. I drove someone else to distraction and I wasn’t even trying to be a dink. I truly didn’t understand what else was expected of me aside from blood vengeance. That part of the gig I got in spades.

“Have you ever noticed, High Alpha that Lycan refer to their ranking a lot.”

“House of Puppies here. I hear that all the time.”

“But you don’t understand it. Birth order is set and cannot be changed. Even if you kill your sibling, you will never be first born. Rank, rank is something you can achieve. It is time honored and a tradition. Mano a mano as it were. Face to face. None of this assassin crap. No offense.”

“You’re just lucky, I’m not a crappy assassin.”

“These new crops of pups don’t have the…sense of history of their lineage. They are into cars and money and human women. Werewolves are popping up all over the place. Challenges…they are rumbles now, not a fight of honor. Look at Hennessey. He’s not even an Alpha although he is of high birth. No Alpha should bow to him. No Alpha should swear to him yet he has the strongest pack aside from Britta’s.”

“Where is Britta’s Alpha Males?”

“The Leader is gone. The pack is dissolved. It is not often someone can retire from an Alpha pack, and it is never a good thing when one does.”

I took it to mean that the Alpha pack failed their Lord or Lady Alpha. Honor was a high commodity here in the land of the dancing Lycan. So much more important that I originally expected. Big Sigh.

“So…what happens now?”

“You are the lowest ranked of the litter. Even though some are twice to three times removed from Britta’s original litter, they are of higher birth than you. You challenge any one of those who want the throne. The Overseer will govern the challenge and the battle. Her word is law. If you do not yield when she says to…the Females Alphas will rip you to shreds. Poor hearing is considered bad blood amongst the Lycan.” Was that a joke? Did sourface Bruce the Mighty here, crack a joke?

“So, how do I challenge.”

Bruce turned and looked at me. “You are High Alpha. You do not challenge. That is why you have your Alpha Pack. You’ve had the pack for almost fourteen years, didn’t you ever…”

“This is the first time I have ever come to Lycan Land and you can attest to that.”

“You are such a pup.”

“Enlighten me, Bruce.”

“Your Pack Leader will make the challenge. The Overseer will bring out the colors….” My eyes were blank. Bruce sighed. “Each rank within the Alpha Pack is assigned a color. Red, Yellow, Green, Blue and Black. White respresents all the Pack. Purple is for the Lord Alpha. Which ever color is drawn by the Overseer, those of equal rank challenge. If the winner is obvious, the Overseer declares the challenge over and the winner can then call forth their best fighter and choose that fighter’s opponent.”

“Then it is a fight to the death.”

“You are blood thirsty, High Alpha.”

“Vampire.”

“Not anymore.” Bruce returned easily.

That shut me up.

“The battle can be for submission or to the death. Again, full bloods killing each other is not beneficial to the Nation. The only challenge that needs to be to the death is the final one – when you challenge Hennessey for the throne.”

“So…let me get this straight. Vladimir challenges a contender to the throne. The Overseer pulls out a stone. Whoever’s color that is has to dance. If they win the dance, they get to pick their best fighter AND they get to pick who that fighter is going against.”

“With no weapons other than what comes naturally.”

Cool. I waved Vladimir over to me. “You guys any good with the dancing gig?”

“Better than what we have seen here at the moment.”

I turned to Bruce. “Who’s the strongest here?”

Bruce turned and looked over the stage. “Gregor, fourth daughter of Seventh Litter, Second daughter, second son. None of the lineage remains except for him. He was to be named Britta’s successor after Haley’s banishment. Haley’s return with the Eastern Lycan support has not sat well with him. He is a battle seasoned Alpha, High Alpha.”

I shook my head. “Azrael. Too many Alpha, Alphas here, Bruce.”

“That is not an appropriate appellation.”

Valdimir offered with his this is my-serious-voice-and-you-better-pay-attention-because-my-more-serious-voice-comes-with-fangs. “Lord Azrael, then Seneschal Bruce.”

“Let’s get this party started, Valdimir.”

I watched interested as a graduate student finally allowed out of the classroom into the big wide world, as the White Russian walked up to Gregor’s Alpha Leader and punched him in the snout. Oh! That’s gotta hurt. It was an out and out sucker punch. “This is a challenge?”

“Valdimir must attract the attention of the Overseer.”

Violence; music and dance; blood line; birth place and birth rank were all adding up to be a hell of culture to try and walk into and understand. The fall of an Alpha leader onto his ass attracted attention all right. Vladimir was surrounded by Gregor’s pack. The Imperials rushed in. Hell I think every contender except for the one I wanted to get my fangs into rushed the stage.

/ENOUGH!/

The Female’s pack call sent us all reeling and stumbling around. It felt like it was a ringing echo inside my skull. I staggered into someone and Bruce caught me by the shoulder to steady me. I take it this little skirmish wasn’t part of the sanctioned event.

/A Challenge has been made. Azrael vs. Gregor. Clear the stage./

Britta’s Female Alphas ranged the stage interspaced by the Female Imperials. There was some grumbling from the other contenders but soon it was only us dancing fools left.

“Lord Azrael. Front and center. Say nothing. Do nothing. You are the Alpha of your pack. Vladimir is your voice and your arm.” Bruce warned me lowly.

“So what, I just go up there and look pretty?”

“Basically.” He gave me a slight push to get me moving up to the Overseer.

She was a big girl. I mean, the Overseer was going to have puppies any second. My baby-vision kicked in and she was just glowing blue. Four balls of light huddled together in her mid-section. Vladimir cleared his throat. I looked up to the Overseer to see her Lycan yellow eyes looking down at me with expectation. Uh….I missed something.

“State your claim.”

Vladimir leaned in and whispered, “Name, Litter, Birth and Rank.”
“I am Azrael Von Drachenfeld, er…11th Litter of Britta the Elder, First, High Alpha.”

I thought I saw a softening of her eyes as I spoke up. Apparently, the Females had approved of me as Britta’s choice. “Be it know that Azrael DENNINGS is confirmed within the Rolls of the Lycan Nation as a member of good standing. The challenge stands.”

“I am Gregor Dennings, 7th Litter of Britta the Elder, Fourth born mother, First Litter of Olga Dennings, First, Alpha.”

I blinked. I sort of followed that. So Gregor was a cousin three times removed? I think. No, I didn’t follow it. I was getting a headache.

“Let it be known that Gregor Dennings is confirmed within the Rolls of the Lycan Nation as a member of good standing. Let it also be known that Gregor was formerly named High Alpha.”

The Overseer turned to my opponent. He was a big man. A little smaller than Bruce, but he was wiry and you could see the way that he carried himself that he was confident with his body and what it could do. So needless to say, he towered over me. They grow these Alpha’s big out here in the North. “A formal challenge of rank and succession has been issued by Azrael, High Alpha. What is your response, Gregor?”

“Draw the colors.”

Gregor never took his eyes off me. I could literally see the wheels turning in his head. I, well we, had a reputation out in the Blood Nations. I was the White Demon of the Death. I had a history with the Northern Pack. I had killed Britta’s Alpha Pack. I had killed a young Alpha Pack. I had taken down werewolves. I had defied Britta’s commands at every turn. Now I was here, listed as a Lycan. Listed as the last litter of their beloved Den Mother trying to take over the legacy she had left. They were a little off on that regard. This was to save the throne for Arashi to bring the Nation into prominence. I was here just for some major payback.

A Female came forward stage left holding a velvet pouch that was turned inside out. Another Female came from stage right with a tray. As this one got closer I could see the rainbow of colours spread out on it. “Do you verify that all the colors are represented, Gregor?”

“Yes.”

“Do you concur Azrael?”

“Yes.”

The tray was tipped and all the pretty little colors disappeared into the folds of the velvet bag. There was the click click click as the Overseer swished the contents back and forth then while the first Female held the bag, the Overseer reached in and pulled out a white tile. The whole pack. Gregor sneered at me then turned on his heel and headed back to his pack.

Vladimir reached into his suit and pulled out a cd. Music to ascend the Lycan rank, I guess. Well good luck to the Imperials. I headed back to our own little enclave. There was worry in their eyes but they were all huddled like a football scrum. What were they worried about? Didn’t they say they were good?

“What’s the problem?”

“It’s the whole pack.”

“I thought you said you had this down.”

“The odds of the whole pack being pulled on first challenge was a remote possibility.” Vladimir stated. “There is nothing to be done about it now…”

“Let me say this again, what is the problem?”

Manu eyed me, “White. The whole pack.”

“Which you said you had under control.”

Vladimir turned to me, “The whole pack, Lord Azrael. You are considered the head of the pack.”

Uh…no, nonononono. “We’re fucked.”

Bruce came forward. “Gentlemen, is there a problem?’

Sang Kyu dropped his paw on my shoulder. “Not necessarily. Lord Azrael, this is your first introduction to the Northern Nation as a whole.”

“What is that, you never get a second chance to make a first impression? My first impression is turning into a Alpha then fainting on my ass.”

“What do you do every morning?” Sang Kyu’s hold tightened a bit as he shook his head.

Well I doubt shagging Marcus in a deliciously deviant way was what they wanted to hear. So what else did I get up to in the morning light. “Practice.”

“All of us at one time or another have worked out with you. We know your routine.” Oh, a light blub moment went off in my noggin.

“Dah, Lord Azrael. You just put your workout to the music. We follow your lead.” Pytor nodded and grinned widely at me.

“And we incorporate part of our routines as you go through your workout.” Vladimir finished. “End with your wings, Lord Azrael. Show them who you truly are.”

/We will not fail you, Lord High Alpha./ Manu silently offered to me.

“Challenger Azrael. Take the stage.” The Overseer called out.

“What’ the music?”

“It’s something you know.”

Well gees thanks guys, that really helps a lot. I took center point and stared out into the audience. I had never seen so many Lycan gathered in one place. They ranged in ages, sizes, colors and disputations but they all had those slightly varying shades of feral gold of Lycan fervor and those eyes were all looking at me. Eep.

/Azrael!./ Ping called out to me. /Do you best. That is all that I ask. You did not expect to be doing any of this, this morning./

Ping was holding herself together but I could see the stress of presenting a front of calmness around her eyes. I bowed my head in her direction and then closed my eyes to find my center then took in a deep cleansing breath. I nodded slightly. I was either going to pull this off or I was about to make the biggest fool of myself ever.

“Let the challenge begin!”

There was the sound of a gong then panting before an electronic voice started speaking, “Test your might.” A grin broke out across my face. My Marcus’ mix cd. “MORTAL KOMBAT!”

Alrightly then. I bowed then dropped easily into first position to start my daily warm up routine. It wasn’t hard to move my usual timing up to the frenetic beat when it stepped up. If I tried to do this right when I woke up, I would be tearing tendons or dislocating something. As it was, my movements were fluid and easy. I pivoted on my heel and sent out a spinning kick followed up by a closed fist hammer backhand; a complete revolution once more and I jerked to a halt with an elbow strike. I fell back moving my arms in blocking motions, twisting my hips to avoid possible blows.

/Keep moving back./ Vladimir called out as he jumped past me with his own Lycan high kick to the head. As I passed by each of the Lycan they crossed in front and did another maneuver. Once I got behind all the Imperials, they dropped down into a v shaped pattern in ranking order. /Strike a pose./

What?

The rest of the pack froze in their tracks as Vladimir took the spotlight and began to do that Russian dance…you know the kind I mean. He pops up and down from almost sitting his ass on the stage flooring to jumping back up into a stylish jumping jack. He did about ten of them then rolled out of the way for Manu to step up and do a few sweeping leg circles then he rolled into a summersault and Pytor jumped at him. Manu caught his red pelted lover and Pytor clasped hands then vaulted up into a handstand over Manu’s head. Wow… That wasn’t over yet, Manu rolled from off his back rising up slowly back to his knees then to his feet as he carefully lifted the red Lycan over his head. Suddenly Manu threw Pytor skyward and the Lycan twisted so when he landed Manu caught him by his feet. Pytor threw his arms up and jumped into a pike position and completed two revolutions before landing on the stage again. He flashed a wide grin at his partner then did a back flip away from the center. Baojia came in almost like his was flying. His feet barely touched the floor as he spun in a circle. His long black hair swung out behind him as he twisted and kicked at the sky. Sang Kyu ran and slid under Baojia in a well timed skid. He came to a halt and with one arm he pushed himself into a back arm spring. He landed and pivoted his arms coming out on the axis and his hands ripped through the air with the force of a full battle proven Lycan.

The music was coming to an end. Damn. My Imperials were lined either side of me to do something spectacular. This was going to hurt. I jumped skyward then kicked out with my right leg while twisting away from the spin which snapped my other leg out while in mid-air. End it with the wings eh? I was going to hand hard on my left knee. I brought my left shoulder down to take some of the impact then willed out the wings.

I dropped like a brick off an overpass. There was the sound of a metallic thud and the crunching of wood intermingled with the grinding of tank tread. I slammed shoulder first into the metal feathers that were now embedded into the floor of the stage. The side of my head followed and I rattled myself a good one and cut my temple and cheek open. Skell’s other wing was outstretched across my back onto the stage floor but the feathers were spread so the razor sharp edges were posed like knives.

/Sorry, brother…I should have told you I was going to lend you my wings./

Blood filled my mouth. I cut up the inside of my face when I bounced off the metal barrier. /A head’s up would have been nice./

Skells wings were as heavy as they looked. I was hanging suspended from the trapped wing for a few seconds then I got my feet under me. The music at ended and there was nothing but silence. I dragged the spread wing back into resting position then tried to pull the other one out of the floor. It wasn’t moving. Vladimir stepped into my line of sight.

“Lord Azrael…are you….”

“I’m stuck.”

“Everyone is still watching.”

Crap. I gave one last yank but the metal wing wouldn’t budge. I willed them away in a shower of blue light and stood up hopefully with the expression of I-meant-to-do-that. I thought the Lycan audience were staring before. I bowed to them gestured to the Imperials and they did their own little curtain call and we all shuffled off the stage. Ow…owowow. Skell’s feathers were superfine cutting instruments and I cut myself pretty good. Blood was streaming down the side of my face from my cheek and forehead. I had chopped some of my warbraids too.

“Sorry I messed up. You guys were amazing.”

“I didn’t know you could call Lord Skell’s wings.” Vladimir said as he frowned at me. “You are bleeding, my Lord.”

“I didn’t either. They are heavier than I expected and they knocked me off guard.” I raised my hand to my face. It was sticky and cinnamon scented. Skell hit me with a little bit of the blue and the sting disappeared.

/I’ll tell you next time I want to share something./

/No problem, Skell. I think we fucked up the stage though./

Sure enough the Overseer had come forward from her position as observer and was poking at the gash left in the floor. Manu and Pytor went into cleaning mode and I was attacked with Lycan tongues. Since we were still in full view of everyone, I let them lick the blood off my face. Manu’s long tongue snuck into the collar of my leather but then he slurped himself back up my neck to my jaw. Pytor’s sucked at my ear. Okay…I was getting aroused. I shrugged my shoulders and turned my head away.

“Really, Lord Azrael.” Bruce walked up with a damp cloth in his hand. Manu and Pytor backed off as the big Alpha wiped my face clean. I just stood there like a messy little kindergarten kid as the teacher cleaned up my face. “Now, that was impressive.” He reclined his forehead to me slightly then rubbed lightly at my temple. “Not a mark on you.” He turned as the Overseer approached us and backed behind me.

“You are not allowed weapons, High Alpha. I am sure that your Seneschal explained that to you.”

“I was told that I could use nothing foreign. My wings are a part of me.”

“I would examine them.”

/Skell?/

/Here they come./

I centered my balance and lowered it by bending my knees then I called on the silvery metal wings. The weight pulled on my shoulders but I was ready for it this time. I flared my wings slowly allowing the Imperials time to get clear and to make sure that I wasn’t seen as attacking the Overseer. She reached out and tapped my feathers with the back of her knuckles. There was a metallic ring.

“May I?” She gestured to a single feather. Pulling a feather from my white wings was a killer. I was going to find out if Skell got the same nostril hair pulling agony. Carefully the Overseer took hold of the feather and yanked down. The trademark sound of metal grating on metal sounded as she took a razor sharp feather. No pain. I got the short end of the stick yet again.

The Female looked the feather over then threw it to the floor. It embedded itself into the wood just like a dagger. It quivered for a moment then stilled. “Pack them away.”

The metal wings glittered away but the liberated feather stayed in the floor. The Overseer looked down at me. “You can use them, however, when this matter has been decided, you will cover the repair costs to the stage.” Her voice lowered. “You cheeky little bastard.”

Gees, everybody just loved me.

She pivoted on her heel and headed back to her position. “Gregor, take the stage!”

Bruce’s hand landed on my shoulder. “We are in, Lord Azrael.”

What do you mean we? I didn’t see Bruce spinning around out there in front of about two thousand Lycan eyes. Gregor and his Alpha pack took center stage. I watched as Gregor started down at the gash in the floor. He didn’t disregard it. I let a slow dark smile cross my face. My stumbling boob routine had actually turned out to be a golden opportunity. I am the intimidator. I am the cheeky little bastard.

One down, five to go.