Caramel: Book 3 of the Lord Emperor Vampire Series

Thanks for the quick words of encouragement. I had no takers on the Japanese translation, but I think I worked around it. Ya’ll tell me if works or not.

Don’t be expecting a chapter a day, I’m just overly inspired right now. :)
Enjoy!!

Chapter 93: Land of the Rising Son – Part Two

This was shaping up to be a pyramid. The large chunk that made up the base was all human. Those that I killed down in the markets were the grunts. These were the ones that were taking all the risks, therefore the consequences when the shit hit the fan. They did it out of desperation and for the money. I cut my way up the pyramid. The middle men were a mix of humans and pinks—lower grade vampires. These were mostly for the money as well. As I got higher, ideology started to come into play. Basically, it was petty jealousy. Someone had been overlooked or an idea was dismissed and they went ahead and tried to create their own alternate reality. My two hour window was shot all to hell.

As the day wore one, the sun dropped and I was able to deploy my Loyal. I gave them the intell through a forehead touch. They knew their targets. I was confident that those outside of the city, and my immediate reach were going to be brought to heel. Time was still the key. I was fast but I can’t out run a cell phone or a text message.

Hades was proving to be useless.

I was less than impressed with Hades attitude. Liam really wasn’t impressed either but he didn’t say anything…and Hades knew it. So now he sulked in the corner of the Sedan. It felt like I was back in highschool. So much drama. I was just waiting to get shoved into a locker.

My cell rang. The owner of the contract was calling no doubt to find out where the hell I was.

“Moshi moshi”(1)

“Is this the Enforcer from the States? Where are you? You speak Japanese?”

“Amerika kara kita bakari desu.(2) Nihongo go wakatte kimashita.(3)” He didn’t seem impressed with my grasp of the language.

“What are you doing about the situation? Are you rectifying it?”

“Shite imasu”(4)

“When do you think it will be done?”

“Yaku nijuppun gurai desi.” (5)

“Watakushi no tokoro e motte kite kudasai”(6)

“Sayonara.”

He hung up. Well that was kind of rude.

Liam looked at me, “Our window just got smaller. Hades.” He turned and looked at me. “Are you going to help, are you going to sit and mope?”

“You’re doing fine.” Well that said it all. I reached into my new suit jacket. Hades tensed and Liam slid over to him. I pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

“What you think, I was going to shoot him?”

“I never know what to expect from you, Xavier.” Liam returned honestly. “Not that he doesn’t deserve it.”

“Don’t think you can back after four hundred years and pick up right were we left off you…”

I snapped my fingers between their faces. “I don’t care if you’re masking your horniness with this shouting match. We’re on a job here. Hades, get your panties untwisted because you are going into Yotohama as CEO.”

“I can’t do that. It’s been a month. Everyone knows about the take over.”

“The call I just got just asked for a generic enforcer. Maybe the corporation knows, but the clients don’t. All I got for the leader is a voice over the telephone. I need time to figure out who that is. We get this done, you guys lock yourself in a room and you work this out. The rest of us shouldn’t have to put up with you drama queens.”

Hades eyes got big and he blinked in amazement that someone dared to talk to him like he was a child. I held up my two fingers and sparked a thin line of Hand of Light. “If I have to convince you, don’t think I won’t use whatever force is necessary.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“I tagged my own Father…actually Sex tagged his lover. You’re attitude this trip has flipped you back over to one of my least favorite people.” I let the Hand of Light fade as I jammed my hand forward to his crotch. Just my hand touched him. He screamed and curled into himself. I pulled my hand back and hissed at him. “Get over it.”

“You son-of-a-bitch.” When Hades realized I didn’t zap him, he uncurled and made a move as if to attack me.

Liam finally stepped in and smacked Hades a good one. The little blonde held a hand to his face and stared at his former Lord Emperor/Personal Assistant. “It doesn’t matter that you aren’t in the House any more. You are employed by Xavier as his personal assistant. This behavior is unacceptable even if he wasn’t Blood Emperor. If you got a problem with me, you take it out on me. You look like a teenager, Cillian but we both know how old you truly are. You’ve been nothing but petulant since we got here. Your superior has given you a job and you will do it.”

“Contrary to popular belief, you don’t own me, William.”

I flipped out a cigarette, then offered one to Liam. He paused for a moment then took the pack and tapped one out. He pulled out his lighter, flicked his bic and offered me the flame first. I took a long drag on the cigarette and looked through the smoke at Hades.

“When did you start this bad habit, little Emperor?” Liam asked calmly. He saw through my rouse to get everyone to take a chill pill. That’s all we needed was a rock’em sock’em bout in the back of this car.

“Well you can thank your little Honeybee for this. It was either this or alcohol. I don’t do well with alcohol. Actually, I’m avoiding it for a while.” His forehead was furrowed as he looked at me. “I was trying to get the taste of hemlock out of my mouth.”

Hades just glared at me.

Enough is enough. “If you’re not helping, you’re in the way. Stop the car.”

The Sedan rolled to a smooth stop. I reached into my inner suit pocket and pulled out a list. “That’s fine, Hades if you don’t want to help out with House business. As you said, you’re no longer obligated to do anything about it. However, you do work for me. I’m getting this job done, and I’m going home as soon as possible, so as my personal assistant, I want to get these souvenirs for my family. Get receipts. I’ll reimburse you when we get home. Wait for us back at the jet.” I reached over and opened the door. “Now, get out.”

Hades mouth dropped and he stared at me as if I was kidding. When he realized I wasn’t kidding he looked over at Liam. The tall thin white haired vampire slid back on the seat and looked out the other window drawing on his own cigarette. He snagged the paper out of my hand and slid out of the car. He slammed the door closed. “Go ahead!”

I turned and watched out the back window as we pulled away. “Don’t worry about him, Little Emperor. We’ve both been shown that he is more than capable of surviving on his own.” Liam raised a hand to his forehead. “I’ve got a headache.”

I leaned back and let my head fall on the head rest. “Welcome to my world, Liam.”

I heard the leather of the seat creak. I held up my taser letting it spark but not looking at Liam. “Not in the mood for it.”

There was a soft chuckle and the blended vampire leaned back against the seat and blew smoke rings into the air. “He has changed so much…and so little. This month has been trying. One minute, I can’t get him off me, the next he’s got a blade swinging at me.”

“Why did you do that to him?” We didn’t need to explain what ‘that’ was.

There was silence. “I used to tell myself it was for his own protection. But as you and your brothers pointed out…I wanted to own him. I don’t like other people touching my things. Then time past so quickly and there were no more royal blue males…and I got scared. I’ve always had him. As a sweet young shepherd boy, as my right hand man, as my lover…my passionate, beautiful lover with sun kissed hair…I was scared that he wouldn’t want me anymore especially if I was weaker.” Liam lowered the window and tossed out the rest of his cigarette. “This is just as bad as I thought it would be. No, actually I thought he would knife me when I showed up. You did that instead.”

I made no apologies. “You got in the way.”

A wide grin flashed back at me. “Even though I’m thoroughly pissed at him for this attitude he’s got right now, I’ll do it again. I’d step in front of that blade to save him.”

I can’t believe I’m playing marriage counselor to this two -- a rapist and a manipulator. They deserved each other. “Have you told him that?”

“He knows.”

“Funny, I didn’t know Hades had the mind fuck talent….well he does; but not the way I mean it. Don’t make assumptions, Liam. You’re not what he remembers and what you’ve told me about your little honeybee, I can tell you he’s not what you remember. He’s desperate for a lover. If you can’t get into that mindset for him, step away and let him find someone who will fulfill that need.”

I didn’t need any special abilities to show that I’d pissed the progenitor off…again.

“What the hell makes you think you can give advice, little emperor.”

“You are kidding, right?” I turned and held up my wedding ring. “Three times over, old man. It’s not all sex and tears. There’s a hell of a lot of talking. As some one told me, you got to get out of bed sooner or later.”

Liam proceeded to smoke up my cigarettes while staring out at the different landscape. I’d take it. We were heading to Yotohama. The last stop…I hope. There was a high possibility that word had gotten out I was sniffing up the pyramid. There was an equal possibility we were walking into a trap. Maybe Hades just saved his ass by being one. It was a good thing I had Haley head off with Riot to hunt down that other lead. He had a scent trail for that one anyways.

I let a wry smile cross my face. Listen to me, big time screw up giving orders and making plans.

“You have little faith in your abilities, little emperor.”

“Gees, I wonder why that is?”

“I apologize for that…and for your blindness and for keeping you so virginal for so long. That definitely played into Armor’s hands. But that has been forgiven, hasn’t it.”

“Yeah, there’s a term for it, I think – the Stockholm syndrome. Where the victims became emotionally attached to their victimizers, and even defended their captors after they were freed. When I got strong enough to get away…there was no place for me to go. I was a vampire. My family would kill me on site. They almost did.”

“I thought you were happy?”

“I am. It took me a hell of a long time to get to happy. And if talking and screaming at my big monkey is necessary for me to keep it, that’s what I’m going to do. You know what Azrael will do for Marcus to keep him happy.” I involuntarily shuddered at that last comment. Just dealing with the residual damage from their switch up days, was….eeeewwww. “You know what Sex will do for Father. You know what you’ll give up for Hades happiness…but he doesn’t.”

“And how old are you?”

“Far too old some days.”

“With your permission.” I glanced over at Liam and he moved closer. I nodded warily. He kissed my temple. “You are doing fine. I will play decoy.”

“Can you read them?”

“Not in this body. Its frustrating as well to think of all I could do with a mere thought, and now I’m contained.”

“William didn’t have to merge with you.”

“William knows how grateful I am. Who do you think gets to love my Honeybee? He does all the work and I get all the pleasure…”

TMI. TMI. Time to change the subject. “So, You’re going in as Hades. I’ll be your PA. I’ll sweep the room. I’m assuming that the Voice is there. He’d have to be there to take over the reins.”

“You thought about this.”

“I’m good at puzzles.”

The sedan rolled to a stop. I glanced up at the large building. Ostentatious. Well, the lobby is designed to impress the client. Liam had no problem walking like an important man with a mission. Two Eastern Vampires met us at the door. I just stepped up, “Mr. Hades from Shadoe Inc.”

We were escorted into the building. We both smelt of cigarette smoke. Maybe this wasn’t a habit I should be picking up. The smell just clung to me. I did I quick light walk through their minds. There as nothing there but worry and concern. No sign of treachery.

I leaned forward and faked a stumble. I hung into the man and whispered into his ear in Japanese. “You have snake in your midst. We are here to cut off its head. Protect your boss. Do not get in our way. Keep your eyes open.”

I stood up straight and flattened my tie. The man tensed slightly but kept his eyes forward.

“First?”

“Just clumsiness on my part, again.”

“We will really need to look at getting you new shoes.”

I frowned down at my docs. Maybe they needed a polish, but they were passable. “What’s wrong with my shoes? They’re more for function than style anyway.”

“If you say so.” Liam returned not looking at me. The elevator doors opened to an Asian vision of angelness. Her hair was long…not as long as mine but it was jet black just like Father’s, except hers had a bluish shine. She bowed graciously then rose. She was a small thing, barely reaching 5 foot. She straightened up and I saw a flash of feral gold. Lycan. Her nose flared and her eyes snapped to me. /Greetings, Lycan./

She didn’t hide her surprise. /Greetings, you smell like an Alpha male./

/That’s because I travel with one./

/And you talk like an Alpha female./

/It’s a gift./

/A rare one indeed. I am Ping Saitou. I am to escort you to the Head of the Corporation, Kobayashi-san. I am also to make sure that your intentions are honorable. HE is not the enforcer./ Ping flicked her eyes over at Billiam. Liam clued in that we were communicating on a different level and covered both our stillness with a gesture at some artwork. /What are you?/

/He is the bait, I am the trap. I am still hunting your traitor. The trail has lead me here./

/Is Kobayashi-san in danger?/

/Yes. It has taken too long to follow the trail here. The traitor probably knows he’s hunted./

/He is a vampire. You are…/

/A different kind of vampire./

/White hair, green eyes. You are the winged one./

/I’ve been called worse./

/You are not a mere enforcer. Pluck out the serpent from our midst. You still have not given your name./

/Xavier Von Drachenfeld./

Her eyes widened and I glared at her as she moved to drop to her knees. She stopped. /Blood Emperor, I am honored. Please…/ “This way, gentlemen.”

We got to a set of highly and ornately carved doors. The male escorts turned and made a move to search us. Ping snapped at them. “They come at our request. I have done my job.” Her eyes flashed again.

Ping pushed the doors open. Seven men stood in the center of the room. The tension could have cut with a butter knife. They turned and looked at us. Liam stepped forward behind Ping and looked around him drawing all attention to himself. Ping walked up beside him. “The Enforcer.”

I hung back by the door with the guards. I felt the eyes of the man I spoke to in the elevator on me briefly then he scanned the room as well.

I started from right to left. Vampire - Nervous but loyal. Human - Angry but loyal. Vampire - Pissed off but loyal. Human - Annoyed and more annoyed that some pale white people are here to take care of an internal manner. Human - Regretting taking the money that was offered to look the other way…I gently mind walked through him. Human to the right, another one - but he was blackmailed for his love of boys. Leaving…he was shielded. His eyes were locked onto Liam. He had felt my touch but assumed it just the Enforcer.

Boytoy?! He had the nerve to call me boytoy?

The three I wanted were bunched together but the Head Vampire had brought his own men. Aside from Ping and the two at the door the remaining five guards all Vampires, all scarlet, all in the Head Vampire’s pocket. Interesting.

/Progenitor, two humans to the left./ I got a minimal nod.

I flipped over to the Pack Call. /Ping, protect Kobayashi-san./

Liam held out his hand, “Contract, Xavier.”

I walked forward reaching into my suit as if to pullout the aforementioned slip of paper. I grasped the hilts of my Glocks Liam dropped to his knee and flipped out his daggers and threw them at the two targeted humans as the first of my shots rang out. I got the first two guards who were at 180 degrees, right and left. I ratcheted my arm to 10 and 2 o’clock and took out the next set. The two humans dropped with Liam’s daggers protruding from a neck and the other from an eye. Ping knocked over the head of Yotohama and they landed on the floor as the last guard fired at them. The bullet ripped into the floor. I shot him four times, he staggered back and hit the large glass window behind the ornate desk. He brought his gun up again. I shot out the glass right beside his head. The glass exploded outward and he dropped out of sight.

The Head Vampire had taken out one of the door guards. The second went flying from a vicious backhand. I took aim and shot out the back of his knee. He screamed but kept standing. I shot out the other leg. He dropped to his knees then flopped over sideways. He had the gumption to pull a gun out of his jacket. I twitched a dagger into my palm and ripped it through the air at him. It went through his wrist and stuck into the floor.

“Nice throw, Xavier.” Liam went to count his coup.

Technically I didn’t have to touch him to get the information I wanted but it seemed to have a focusing effect. He had a strong mental shield even with all the pain. I twitched out my other blade and rammed it through his other wrist so he was now crucified to the floor. There was a little gap in the shield when I rammed my blade home. I wriggled it back and forth then I got my mental fingers into his shield and ripped it apart. He started screaming. I rummaged through his mind grabbing at things and looking at them, shaking some things clearer then discarding them. I knew how much this mindfuck hurt. After a while he couldn’t scream anymore. He just twitched pinned with my daggers. I didn’t like what I got from him. Not one damn bit. Shit.

I wretched my daggers out the floor. He was still alive, it you could call it living. There was nothing upstairs now. I dug into his pockets and pulled out his cell phone.

“You are all bloody again, Little Emperor. I think you might want to stick with dark colors from now on. What?”

“The day isn’t over.” I wiped my blades off on my sleeves then tucked them back into the sheaths. “I’ve got to go and clean my division house.”

“It went that far?”

“It goes that high.”

I pulled the contract out of my inner pocket and walked up to Kobayashi-san. I bowed. “The contract is fulfilled. Please sign to verify that it is done to your satisfaction.”

Ping had helped Kobayashi-san stand. He looked around at the carnage that once was his office. “Irrasshaimase” (7)

“Mr. Kobayashi, my work isn’t done. Please sign.”

“How do I know that it’s complete?”

“Do you want the particulars?” I reached for his forehead. He scrambled away from me.

“Who are you?”

“William.”

“Xavier Von Drachenfeld, CEO of Shadoe Inc. Our apologies for this mishap. The contract has been fulfilled. It will be pro-rated.”

“Von….I thought Hades ran Shadoe Inc?”

“Change in management last month. William can I leave this in your hands? I need to get to division right away. There a vampire waiting for a phone call. It would be a shame to make him wait.”

William dropped into reverent pose. Ping followed suit. Mr. Kobayashi just stood there, a little shell shocked for an underworld boss. “You might as well get us a hotel room for the night. We’ll fly out in the morning.”

“I’ll call for a car.” Ping rose to her feet. She was an exotic flower with fangs.

“Not necessary.”

“Shadoe Inc. is across town, it will take a 20 minute drive.” Her face was puzzled. I wonder if that is a Lycan trait, their emotions are spread of their face for all to see. Or is it just a pup thing.

I tucked the traitor’s cell phone in my pants pocket then stripped off my jacket. I called on my feather wings. Another shirt ruined. “I’ll go as the crow flies.”

Ping just looked at me blankly. Kobayashi sat hard on his desk staring up at my wings.

“Oh, did I mention that this is also the Blood Emperor?” Liam enjoyed that as the man blanched even further. “Good hunting, Xavier.”

“Let’s Dance.” I turned and ran for the broken window. Diving out, I let myself free fall a couple of stories then snapped my wings wide and soared back skyward. The air had a different scent and feel but it was freedom.

/Hey flyboy./

I took a deep breath, inhaling that unique signature that was Tokyo. X faded back and let me fly. I flapped just enjoying myself for a few minutes then I banked and turned to our destination. A white spire glittering off in the distance. A lone female Lycan hunting howl trailed after me. I grinned. She was a little cutie. But right now, it was time to start cleaning house. I grinned a little colder. Tick Tock.


______________________________
1. Hello (telephone only)
2. I have just come from the United States.
3. I have started to understand Japanese.
4. I’m doing it.
5. I would say about twenty minutes
6. Bring it to my place please.
7. Welcome


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