Caramel: Book 3 of the Lord Emperor Vampire Series

Irrashaimase. That is almost the extent of my Japanese. Well, no one has ripped me a new one regarding the Japanese in the last chappie, so I’m assuming that is correct or a least not as offensive as it could be.

AsenMari,
Unfortunately or maybe not but, I’ve picking up Japanese from fansub anime as well. It’s probably akin to learning English by watching the superfriends. But I’m not going to stop any time soon…I’m waiting for “Winter Cicada” ovas to get fansubbed. drool

Steph8503
Regarding Flashbacks, I hate reading XXXFlashbackXXX. To me that means the writer didn’t try hard enough. So, I will try to make my flashback, time jumps etcetera clearer and more distinct. How, I have no idea but I am trying to improve my writing skill as I go along. So thanks for the critique…I’ll work on it. No need to apologize. :)

Laur
Hmmm, heres Snake’s Notes (blatant rip off of Cole’s Notes) someone is trying a corporate takeover in the Eastern Division. To do this, they had to mess with the corporations cash cow ‘Yotohama” and people got killed. This got the attention of the Head Office—the mysterious Chairman of the board and Xavier. X has been sent to clean up the mess and take out the traitor and he’s killing his way to the top

Rosei
Pale whitish/platinum blonde hair of billy idol. That’s why X was calling him billy envoy. Tall and thin with brown eyes. Well they used to be brown but now they are gray due to the blending. I tried to stay away from Spike…I mean I loved Spike but it’s more of a billy idol in a tailored three piece white suit. :)

Question to the Loyal:
There seems to be a little hesitation on acceptance of X’s “maturity”. I was planning to have this color his life or should this hardness just be his game face? Tell me your thoughts. Thanks

And a warm spring welcome to the R & R loyal: Miles; bunnicle; rosemary; romanticfae; bambigirl; cria31 (welcome); k; SODA;

Bunnification will occur in the next chappie.

Ohh, if you're interested, I finally figured out some of those new fangled webthings and i got myself into myspace. I'll try and dump so stuff there about moi, if your interested. http://blog.myspace.com/kiix2 &
http://www.myspace.com/kiix2



Chapter 94: Land of the Rising Son – Part Three

Here I was looking out across a major city half a world away from where I wanted to be – killing again. The psychopath in me missed that. I snorted. I felt too much to ever be a psycho. I took a deep breath and enjoyed the breeze that blew around my face. Japan. I’d never been anywhere…well expect as First when I was hunting down targets. I hadn’t been anywhere outside of the States. But then, Shadoe Inc. was multi-national. The way X explained it, which still confused the hell out of me, is that Shadoe Inc is everywhere-into everything legally, just barely or outright underworld. The House of Assassins is only back home, but contracts come from everywhere. Each G7 nation had a divisional headquarters which basically operated independently, reporting back to the parent company every quarter regarding their situation and reporting/sharing their earnings and they were left on their merry way until something like this happened. When the shit hit the fan, the CEO of the parent corporation – which is us brothers —gets to clean it. Eeewww bad imagery.

So this lead to me standing at the apex of a glass pyramid, with my weight lightened – I don’t want to go crashing through and alert my intended dead I was there. I watched the President of the Eastern Division of Shadoe pace his lavishly decorated office. Man, X’s was bare compare to this. I had my wings out and flared for balance. If the president bothered to look up, he could see my white wings against this magnificent backdrop.

I pulled out the traitor’s cell phone and hit re-dial. I watched as the president grabbed his phone. “Itou-san , what the hell is going on?”

I said nothing. I just watched him stand and head to the window to the left. He was rather jumpy for the president. “Itou-san?!!”

“Itou-san cannot come to the phone right now…he’s dead. Suzuki.”

He turned and rushed to his desk. He pulled out a revolver. Ooops. I was going to have to make this quick or I was going to get shot. I jumped up, flapped a couple of times to get a little distance and then formed an bow and arrow of Hand of Light. I needed more than just a ball. I needed accuracy and a show of force. This is the first time the new head of the corporation was out and a lesson needed to be taught. The goal was to go for incapacitating but non-fatal. I nocked the arrow and pulled back on the thin line of light. Wait for it…don’t rush. Surprise is the key….Suzuki stepped into my line of sight. I let the arrow go.

The glass pyramid I had been standing on was still there. I frowned. My arrow had punched a perfect hole clean through the pane and skewered the president to the wall. Dammit, I eased back toward it and kicked at the pane. It was still solid. I pulled my Glocks and shot out the glass so I could get inside the building. So much to doing this quietly.

Suzuki lay on the floor, propped up by the wall. There was a perfect cauterized hole through his shoulder. He was in shock. He blinked as I came through the sky light. My wings wrapped around me to keep the glass from embedding itself in my hair. I shivered and glass dropped to the carpet. The outer door to the office slammed open. I slapped a binding on the three guards then opened my wings. Again, I heard, White demon of death. No, just your normal Royal Blue Vampire with benefits.

“I am Xavier Von Drachenfeld, CEO to Shadoe Inc. Headquarters. Mr. Suzuki has been found guilty of insider trading and selling this corporation to the highest bidder for his own personal gain. The penalty for that is quick and immediate justice.” I could feel X smirking in the background. Announcing I am Sex, would get me gang raped and there was no way I was using Azrael’s Angel of Death gig.

“No….” Suzuki raised his hand.

Just to double check that X’s intell was accurate, I mind fucked the former president. Crap. I was going to have to take out some of the directors and managers. This was just so wrong. Don’t people, er…vampires believe in loyalty anymore. Most of these guys were old enough to know better. Okay. If I had to teach a lesson, I was taking everyone to school.

I pulled Suzuki upright and away from the wall. I took a handful of his hair and jerked him to his knees. The guards just looked at me. “Bear witness.” I willed my lightsabre, spread my wings to look impressive and severed the traitor’s head from his body. I’d probably have nightmares about this later, but I lifted up the head. “Witness what happens to Vampires who forget their place and use what was built for all for their own personal gain.” They didn’t know which way to look, at my hand full of lightsabre or the severed head of their boss.

“Call a meeting, now. I want all section heads here in twenty minutes.” Then my stomach growled really loud. “How about some blood and something to eat?”

/X take over…I’m carrying a severed head here./

/It’s not bleeding, suck it up, Sex./

/Then you get out here and hold this, Az./

/What did I tell you about shortening my name? I’m supposed to be with Marcus in two hours. We both know that ain’t going to happen. You won’te betting frisky with father either. Besides, you need the mind fuck ability for this job./

/Which you have, Azrael. I remember you walked through Marcus./ There was silence. /You thought I forgot didn’t you./

/It’s a lot of work. I can’t pop it out like you and Sex, X. And to tell you the truth, now is not the time for me to be practicing./

I blinked and lowered my arm. It was true. I turned and emptied out the trash can, put my hard earned prize into it then gestured for the last remaining man to lead on to the board room. I got a nice warm type O in one of those little sake jars. I set my trashcan under the boardroom table then waited for food to arrive.

“ALPHA!” I turned as Haley bounded in. He had a cut on his cheek but otherwise looked none the worse of wear. I glanced over at Riot. He dropped into reverent pose then took over guard duty.

“Come here.” I concentrated a bit of healing light to the end of my finger and ran it along Haley’s cut. He squirmed.

“That tickles.” I turned his head sideways and looked. Flawless. I let him go.

“Food is coming. I don’t know how much.”

Haley sniffed the air. “It smells like burnt steak.”

Eeeewwww. His eyes zeroed into the can under the table. I caught his shoulder. “Leave it be, for now. I need it for the upcoming meeting.”

He got my little jar and poured me another drink. He handed it over and I just happened to glance at him as his eyes flashed gold. It almost like a Dudley Doright glint. Sparkle, sparkle. He sniffed my hand then went right up to my elbow, where Ping had held my arm briefly. “Find something you like?”

“Female Lycan.”

“She seemed quite impressed with your scent too.” Crap. Haley began to hump my leg. Not just play bumping but working up a lather really quick. I ended up taking his face in one hand and really forcing him off me. I had to use a lot of strength to back him up. Haley started to whimper and tried to dodge around him outstretched hand.

“Go and finish up in the bathroom.”

“Dominate me, Alpha.”

“We’re in public. Go.” Haley had difficulty walking away and he looked back at me with puppy dog eyes. Note to self: don’t get scent marked by a female Lycan…Holy Moley.

“Should I watch him, Sir?”

He didn’t make it to the bathroom. There was a mournful howl from the next room. I know Haley had said that he wanted to wait until the time of change but jees if just the scent of a female Lycan did this…he was ready for puppies. As far as I know, Lycans don’t deal with recreational sex well the Alphas don’t. Again, I’m not a lycanthropologist or whatever those who study Lycan are called.

I looked over at Riot. No need now. “Are you okay, Haley?”

“I messed up my pants.”

“Clean up in the bathroom.”

I debated getting rid of the wings but again, this is the time I’m actually going around introducing myself as CEO and Lord…er Blood Emperor. “Mr. Von Drachenfeld.” A secretary held up a bag, bowed and came into the room, “Your food you requested.”

Riot took it from her. He returned her bow, check it then handed over the bag. Here I was in the middle of a foreign culture, really and willing to sample something new and they give me McDonalds. My stomach growled. Riot dug into his pocket and pulled out a vial of my little pills. “Your medication, Sir.”

“I’m going to ask a silly question…”

“All your Loyal carry your medication, Sir. Your health is paramount.”

I gave a weak smile, well that was good to know. Riot also pulled out extra clips for my Glocks. I sniffed the fries then set the bag down and reloaded my weapons. Unfortunately, they probably weren’t done for the night. I flexed my wings and hiked them over the back of the chair and sat at the end of the table with the trashcan of scary delight at my feet. I flipped out the fries and Big Mac. Riot carried my little blood sake over to me and I started to chow down as the upper echelon of the Eastern Division of Shadoe Inc started showing up. I read each one as they came in. I thoughtfully chewed on my fries. Just a few bad eggs. For the most part they were completely committed to the running of this corporation. Winter and Garrote arrived. I can only assume that Billiam had informed them were I was. They took up spots at the back of my chair as my right and left bower. I ate the Big Mac remembering why I didn’t order them. Messy…I got a pile of lettuce in my lap.

A small dainty hand reached between my legs as I was looking in the bag for a napkin. I stilled and looked up. Ping copped a quick feel then gathered up all the escaped lettuce and dumped it in the trashcan at my feet. /Nice./ She flashed me some fang.

What the hell was she doing here? Liam sauntered up surveying the scurrying. “Whatever did you do, Xavier? He glanced down were Ping’s hand had been. “Impressive. I am referring to the head in the trash basket. You do move with purpose, Little Emperor. You’ve got some….” I thought he was going to wipe it off. I got licked at the corner of my mouth.

“BASTARD!” All of us looked toward the door. Hades stood there. Shit. All the directors were here now. I forced a binding down on Hades. He fought me…he almost broke free when I felt another binding slide down over mine truly trapping Hades were he stood.

/You came here. You’re here. You fuck up this meeting, you’ll have to answer to the Board of Directors whether you are with the House or not. Now, rein that attitude in and lock the door. Nobody leaves here until we get everything reorganized./

I know he heard me. His eyes narrowed and he struggled a bit more then I felt Liam say something to him. Wow, somehow he blocked me hearing it. Hades just stopped. He dropped his eyes and I felt Liam let go. I dropped my binding. Hades turned and shut the door then took up position in front of it.

“William.”

“This is Xavier Von Drachenfeld, new CEO of Shadoe Inc, Headquarters. He is also Head of the House of Assassins. As you can see, He is also the Blood Emperor of the Vampire Nation.”

I reached between my legs and pulled my trashcan out setting it on the table in front of them then I rose to my feet. My Loyal deployed out around the room discreetly behind those directors who were not above screwing the company over. I shifted my wings and listened to the tinkle of glass chimes. The room was absolutely silent..

“First of all, I would like to offer my apologies for calling this meeting so late. I commend you for arriving on time. This is the first time for me in your fair country. I haven’t seen much of it as I have been dealing with a situation that should never have arisen if this Division was being run correctly. I am tired and although I have eaten, I am still hungry. You see I’ve been killing since I touched down at the airport. I came on a different matter, but it seems that they are intertwined.”

“Where is Suzuki-san?”

I reached into the trashcan and pulled out the former president’s head, shook it to dislodge the scattered lettuce. Ping reached forward and pulled the trashcan out of the way. Their reaction was just like Sex’s. I set the head on the table. “I’ve been tracking traitors all across your town today. I am disappointed that the president has shown poor judgment.”

I nodded. Each Loyal stepped up to those I had read and found them in cahoots with the former Suzuki. Four section heads died. Chaos reigned for a few moments until I bowled the head down the table. There were two senior vps present. I guess the third didn’t want a promotion. I carefully scanned both of them then made my choice.

“Ms. Nakamura, you are now President of the Eastern Division. Congratulations. Choose your new subordinates carefully. Now, if you will excuse me it’s been a long day.” I bowed my head in her direction and headed toward the door. “Haley! We’re leaving!”

He tore out of the other office, the front of his pants were soaked with water now. He skidded to a halt and snapped his head to the left so hard, I heard the crack. I saw his eyes flash that feral gold. Ping tossed her hair back, her eyes narrowed then she cocked her head to one side as if considering something. I knew that look. It was a female thing. Even my nieces had mastered that look. I smirked.

Haley just found himself coveted and claimed in the span of two seconds. Ping snarled at him but let him pass. By the time we got to the elevators Haley caught up to us and he had the same problem he had before. I realized where Ping had touched me this time and there was no way Haley was going to be sniffing there in public. I held him out at arms length away from my body. He whined but stopped trying to hump my leg.

/Who was that?”

/Ping…She works at Yotohama./

There was nothing else but a low groan.

I left my wings out. We crowded into the car. Liam and Hades took up opposite sides. The exhaustion I was feeling hit me. I swayed a bit and stumbled sideways, pushing Hades further into the corner. Haley caught my arm and pulled me back upright. “Sorry.”

“Alpha?”

“Just tired. I think I need to eat some more. Let’s go to the hotel.” I let the Loyal out of the car when we reached the lobby. Liam started forward but stopped when he realized I made no move to get out. Hades went to move past me and I blocked him with my left wing.

Liam reached back and grabbed Haley by the neck. “Come on Pup, your Alpha needs some privacy.” Liam turned and pulled the Lycan after him not once looking at his little Honeybee. The elevator doors began to close. I rammed my wings into the sides of the car wedging them tight, my left side across Hades neck and forcing the other wing into the corner by the control panel. I shoved as hard as I could as Hades fought against me.

“Don’t you ever do that again, Hades.” I turned and reached out running a hand along his cheek. “When you had me at your beck and call you wouldn’t have allowed me to undermine your authority. No matter how much agony I was in, I did my job; I backed you up; and I never, never embarrassed you. I had a sense of responsibility to my position and to my employer.”

“I know you built the House into what it is today. I know you’ve never had to bow to anyone in 400 years. But you chose this, Hades. You forfeited the challenge and you swore loyalty to me. You hold others to their pledges. It’s a shame to think that you can’t.”

Hades tried to sputter something but I shoved my wing up harder into his throat. “I’ll have you know, I’ve been given a red card for you.” His eyes widened and he stilled. “The Chairman has told me in clear terms that as long as you are useful to me, you can live. You have too much knowledge to be allowed to run around the Nation free. You have a cult of personality that could undermine the corporation and the Nation if you decided to use it.”

“No one else knows. Liam would go rangy if he even suspected this. I’ll take your behavior behind closed doors – but I shouldn’t have to put up with this drama, but I will because of your service to the House and to the Corporation; but in public…you’re my personal assistant. You are loyal, supportive and you got my back.” I dissolved my wings. Hades grabbed his throat and stared at me. “If you can’t do that. I’ll give you one chance to run…one chance to disappear. Then I’ll start hunting you down.”

I stabbed at the open door button. Liam was standing right at the threshold. How could Hades not see this? “If you’re on the jet when we leave, you’ve agreed to this. If not, hide well, Hades.”

I passed Billiam with his surprised look of shock. He glanced at me then turned at looked at his fucked up love. I heard Hades slide down the side of the elevator and hit the floor. I curbed the urge to turn around.

I walked out and gestured for Winter and Garrotte. “Stay with them. I’m heading to the hotel. Haley, Riot, let’s book.”

Haley looked back then caught up to me. “He’s crying.”

I firmed my jaw and headed out into the pale light of the new morning. Why the hell did I have to play the cold hearted bastard?

“You’re crying too, Alpha.” I went to brush at my teary eyes but Haley beat me to it. He carefully wiped my face clean. “Don’t cry, Alpha. You’re just tired. I’ll guard you so you can sleep.”

Riot held the door open as I climbed into the sedan. I just laid across the seat. The dawn of a new day in a new country and I had killed thirty-two men in the space of six hours. Oh God, I carried around a severed head. I broke down and sobbed. Haley’s hand rubbed my back like you would a baby with colic. I wanted Armor. Haley pressed his head against my shoulder and just hummed something low and pretty has his hand kept circling on my back…that was the last thing I head.

* * *