Caramel: Book 3 of the Lord Emperor Vampire Series

Be careful of what you ask for. You just might get it. Whew…well I asked for it. Thanks for the lashing Minako, I deserve it. At this time, I will leave the previous chapters as they are—but I WILL come back to it. I do want to have a real favor of Tokyo. Looking at maps and guidebooks just don’t provide that. So eventually I will try to see if some people are interested in collaborating on getting everything just right. So thanks.

As the moving pictures are still in my head, I’m not looking a gift muse in the mouth so I am motoring forward. (can you mix your metaphors anymore than this? Heheheh)

*General Note* - This is all a flashback, the crew and partial pod are all sitting the plane heading back home. (yes, I will work on my “flashbacking” skills)

So special thanks go out to K; Rosemary; Spirit; miles; karoolaa; bambigirl; rosei; Laur and Soda.


Chapter 96: Tokyo Local

Why is it that people who know that they can’t sing, or shouldn’t sing…or even worse believe that they call sing end up in karaoke bars…or on American Idol? My eyes were watering from that last attempt at caterwauling. I shivered.

“You should go up, Alpha Sex.” Haley was drinking beer.

“There ain’t enough Sake in Japan to get me up there.” I was totaling tea. “Why don’t you go up there?”

“I would but I don’t know Japanese”

“You could pick a popular song and just wing it.”

“I will if you’ll be my go-go boy.” I spit tea all over myself.

“What?”

Haley wrinkled his nose at me. “You heard me.”

“You think I won’t do it?”

“No.”

“Who danced for a waterbowl?”

There was a panicked look on his face now. He had forgotten about the fixed dance off. A-ha! A suit stepped in front of our table, followed by two others. Riot made a move to get up but stilled suddenly as the feel of a blade against his throat as a third man snuck up on us from behind. Haley growled. I snatched a hand out and grabbed him around the neck and dragged him to my side.

Hunters.

Damn it. I reached out picked up a napkin and wiped my spilt tea off myself. /Chill./ Haley leaned against me lightly.

There is a Hunter vibe. I knew it because I grew up with it. I recognized it. Their’s was something a little dangerous. A Hunter works in the shadows protecting humanity from things like….well me. Damn, I never thought we would draw their local Hunter’s attention. But then again, the police were looking for a white haired man who everyone who saw me called the demon of death. Crap. I thought we would have been out of here by now on our way back home. I didn’t want to start an incident with the Hunters. Eventually it would get back to X’s…hmm my Mom. And there would be hell to pay for that.

A good offense is a good defense. “Talk to Shadoe Inc.”

“What?”

“You better talk to Shadoe Inc before you start something we will both regret. Everything was sanctioned from Headquarters. Ms Nakamura will verify.”

“Mr. Suzuki is head of Shadoe Inc.”

“Ms. Nakamura has had a sudden promotion.”

“Riot, phone please.” Slowly Riot reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. I dialed the number. It was late but I had a feeling that the new Eastern Division President would be in. “Yes, Ms. Nakamura’s office please.” I looked the Hunter over as I was passed through switchboard. “Yes, Could you please connect me with Ms. Nakamura. This is Mr. Von Drachenfeld. I need to discuss an urgent matter with her immediately.”

There was a brief pause then a professional greeting met my ears. “Blood Emperor, I am delighted that you called. I understand you have a matter to discuss.”

“Yes, how well does the Division get along with the Hunters?”

“We have established a good working relationship with Tokyo Local. The outer regions, not so much.”

I covered the mouth piece, “Are you part of Tokyo Local?”

He nodded. “I have three Tokyo Local Hunters standing in front of me. They think the body count from yesterday is just a rampage. Would you speak to them? Don’t let me down Ms. Nakamura.”

I handed the phone over. He hesitated then took it. I watched him carefully. I was stupid to have forgotten about the Hunter element. I should have remembered. Any time there is a massive killing like yesterday…even if it were only as low as a three body count, the Hunters would be called in. They had thought that I was alone. That is why they came with four into the club. There is probably five to nine waiting outside the club at the minimum. You just cannot blow off thirty plus dead.

Haley shifted beside me. I reached out and stroked his hair. /Be still, Haley. We are still in danger./

If Nakamura didn’t convince these lieutenants that yesterday was a sanctioned sweep, I’d have to kill these four as soon as possible. In the chaos that follows, I’d have to try and get Riot and Haley to blend in with the humans. Like that would work. They would not leave my side. I reached for my tea and took another sip. Giving myself up would not help Haley and Riot get back to the rest of the crew. Damn it. If the killing started…we would have all the Hunter mobilized against us in a matter of minutes.

“Yes. I understand.” He handed the phone back to me, “Nakamura-san wishes to speak to you.”

“Yes?”

“My apologies, Blood Emperor. This is an oversight on the part of the Eastern Division. Although, I was surprised by my good fortune, I should have instructed the proper channels to deal with the police and the hunters. I have straightened out this situation.”

“Thank you, Ms. Nakamura. Please don’t take all the blame as your own. I should have known better as well. Oh, thank you for the donors. Their presence is appreciated.”

“It is only courtesy, Blood Emperor.”

“Still. I would like to purchase their debts from you.”

“What? What was that?”

“I wish to purchase their markers. Please contact William Von Drachenfeld at the Regency with the details and he will get the funds transferred.”

“If this is your wish, Blood Emperor. May I ask what you intend to do with them?”

“You may ask, but I don’t have to tell you, Ms. Nakamura.”

“Of course, Blood Emperor. I will make arrangements.”

“Arigato.” I closed the phone and handed it back to Riot. The blade had disappeared off his neck but a thin trace of blood betrayed that it had been there. Riot was quivering with rage. I gently touched his thoughts and sent calming images to him. We were not out of the woods yet.

The lead lieutenant was a blacked hair man with a broad cheekboned face. His eyes were dark…killer dark. I had no doubt that he had taken down different Bloods in the pursuit of his duties. A Pup and a single Vamp would be no problem. I was the unknown factor. Thirty-two dead in six hours. Did I do it alone? Did I have help? Did I do it at all? I kept all emotion off my face as I took another sip of tea. This was just like hold’em poker, only there would be a lot of blood on the table if I played this guy wrong.

“Blood Emperor, Xavier. New CEO of Shadoe Inc. Spokesmodel. We thought you had red hair.”

“My agent thought it would be better if I changed my image a bit.”

“Blue?”

I picked up a strand and looked at it. “It will take some getting used to.”

“Suits you. You’re young enough to pull it off. What are you, two?”

“Twenty-eight months.” Haley snapped back. His eyes flashing feral. I tightened my grip on him.

The Hunter looked over at the pup and a slow creepy smile graced his features. Haley growled.

I snapped back at him in Lycan. “Haley, back off and keep quiet. Say nothing. Do nothing. Understand?”

“A collared Lycan pup and you speak his language. Captain of the largest Vampire corporation in the world, Head of the Assassins and self proclaimed Lord Emperor…oh pardon me, Blood Emperor of the Vampire Nation. You are one busy toddler.” Can you say sarcasm?

I felt Haley move and I slapped my hand over his mouth. I regarded the Hunter carefully. “You are wrong on one point. I am not self-proclaimed. Everyone has been falling at my feet whether I want them to or not.”

“Such a hardship.”

I decided to cut to the chase, “So, how are we going to do this?”

“Do what?”

“You told Nakamura what she wanted to hear. So what are we doing now? We go outside and shoot it out?”

“Nothing so drastic, Blood Emperor. If anything happened to the Vampire’s little winged wonder, there would be hell to pay all over the world. We just want to tap dance with you a bit, for encroaching on our territory without going through proper channels.”

I let Haley go. “Lead on MacDuff.” I rose to my feet.

“Lord…” I snapped my eyes to Riot. “I must protest.”

I took his chin in my hand and turned his neck. I leaned forward and lapped at the drying blood trail. I let my tongue flick up to his ear then whispered to him. “Take Haley and get the hell back to the hotel. Get the jet ready. Get everyone ready to go. We leave as soon as we’re done with the Lycan.”

“My Lord!”

“That is an order.”

Riot lowered his head. “Understood, my Lord. Haley, come here.”

“No.” It came out as low growl. With his sensitie Lycan hearing, he had heard me. “I stay with you.”

I didn’t need the Hunters to hear this. “I want you to go with Riot.” My Lycan rumbled lowly in my throat.

Haley snapped back, “I said no. I am your protector. I stay by your side.”

“You’ll be a distraction.”

“I stay with you.” His eyes flashed feral gold and I panicked as I felt him start to change. We were still in the karaoke bar full of human who were actually beginning to notice something strange was happening. I reached out and caught his forehead. I ripped into him hard. “Sleep.”

He yelped and twitched them just collapsed in my arms. “Riot, take him.”

The Hunters backed up a bit and allowed Riot to move around the table and gather Haley up. The pup looked so small and fragile in his arms. “I’ll be back as soon as possible, My Lord.”

“Stay at the hotel.”

I thought for a moment that Riot was going to give me problems but he lowered his head, “Yes, Sir.”

I leaned over and pressed a kiss to Haley’s forehead. “He’s going to have a real bad headache. Don’t leave him alone.”

“Come back to us, Sir.” Riot hiked the pup in his arms then headed for the door. The one that had nicked him with the blade escorted him out.

“Loyalty…it’s a rare thing.”

“Like attracts like.” I gestured for him to lead the way, “Let’s do this.” I fell in behind him and the last two Hunters came up behind me.

“And what is your name? Since you know mine.”

“Tanaka, Daisuke. First Lieutenant, First District, Tokyo Local.”

“I’m not going to stand still and let you wail on me.”

I followed Tanaka off to a little bit more secluded area. “Oh, I don’t plan on wailing on you, Demon. They are.”

I turned and spied five Hunters arrayed around the way. /Az…./

/You’re going to get our asses kicked eh? And until you can use my real name you’re on your own./

/Azrael you ass./

One of the Hunters stepped up and starting doing that typical movie thing of kicking the air and spinning and basically looking really impressive. Didn’t look too good for my ass getting out of here unkicked.

/You get me that skill…I’ll finish it./

/What? What do you mean get that skill?/

/X just had to have someone read that blood glyph ancient vampire writing while he read them and after that he could read ancient vampire. See if you can pick “that” up./

“Weapons some out, people die. Understood?” I called out to Tanaka.

“Unarmed only!”

I got kicked in the face. FUCK. I staggered back. I brought my forearm up and blocked another kick as I got surrounded. That kick was hard enough to numb my forearm down to my wrist for a moment. Instinctively I ducked and another foot past over my head. I got punched in the shoulder and knocked sideways. Damn, they were fast. I threw a punch and got slammed in the ribcage three times. The way I was going I could have just stood there and let them wail on me. Somehow I ended up flat on my back. Ooof. The sound effects were a little slower than the blows.

I saw a foot stomping down on my face. I brought my forearm up and deflected that blow. I shoved hard against that foot and that Hunter went flying. I still got the boots to the ribs. I rolled over a couple of times then grabbed at an ankle. I did a Claudius and crushed it with my hand. He gave out a cry and landed hard on me. I got my forearm up to my face as another kick came in. I blocked most of it, but I still saw stars. I shoved the man off me but touched his forehead, searching for that skill Az wanted…

“What are you doing!” Tanaka yelled at me.

Trying to keep my face pretty, you sadistic prick. I shoved the man toward another pair of legs and scrambled to my feet. A punch came at my head. I blocked, stepped sideways then punched back under his defense. I heard the rib crack. He staggered backwards. I pivoted on my heel and pin wheeled my arms around catching another Hunter in the side of the head. I saw his feet go cart wheeling past my face. He hit the ground and laid there. Two down.

/Helllloooo? Azrael?. Got the skill you wanted./

/You’re doing fine, big brother./

/What?/

/You’re not helpless, Sex. Handle it./

Round two started. One Hunter stepped up and punched at me. I was able to angle my shoulders so it past me then I used one of Az’s signature moves – an elbow to the side of the head. I used my momentum to spin around and brought a hammer fist around to slam into his other temple. He dropped to his knees and toppled over; out like a light.

I had one healthy Hunter and one with a cracked rib left to deal with. I pointed at Cracked Rib “Forfeit, you’re injured.”

“Never demon.”

What’s with this demon name calling thing. /Sleep./ His eyes rolled up into his head and he fell over backwards.

The last Hunter watched his comrade topple. “DEMON!” He pulled a blade. I flicked my wrists dropped my blades and snapped my wings at the same time. He stared at me stunned for a moment then took two stepped forward. I brought my blades up, my right wing angled back like a shield my left up and forward blocking him from trying to cut around me.

Tanaka cold cocked the bastard from the right. The Hunter went down hard. Tanaka kicked the blades away. “My apologies for my subordinate’s behavior. There was no call for him to draw. None of the fallen are dead.” He showed his hands were empty and he bowed.

I stayed tense for a moment the relaxed as well. My wings settle back into their natural resting position. Damn, I liked this shirt. He looked up at my white wings. “I see why they call you special. You adapt on the battlefield. What did you do to Yamamoto? You touched him and your fighting style changed.”

I said nothing. I was hurt. A fang was loose. I was pissed at Azrael. “Is your pride satisfied enough or are we going to dance now too?”

“It was an honor to meet you Blood Emperor. When are you leaving?”

“I’ve got meetings tonight. I’ll be out of here by dawn.”

“See that you do.”

I reloaded my daggers then dissolved my wings. The downed Hunters were groaning back to life. I walked back to the street and turned back toward the hotel. I ached everywhere but I couldn’t heal…not until I got to Haley. I hope I didn’t hurt the little guy too much.


I was fine on my adrenaline high and I got to the hotel doors when everything just hit me. I stumbled in the revolving door and hit my knees. I grabbed at the handle in front of me and the automated door dragged me inside. The doorman saw me and helped me back to my feet.

“Sir…do you need medical attention?”

My ribs were aching with every breath. My hip hurt where I landed – one of the Hunters much have kicked my feet right out from under me. My cheek ached where Armor had broken it so long ago. I probably got a hairline fracture there. My left eye was swollen shut. I had lost my bandana in the fight and I was hiding my face in my blueness. My forearms were throbbing. They were probably black and blue.

“No….thank you.” He got me back to my feet and I lurched for the elevator.

“EDWARD!”

Fuck. Not now.

Hades caught me around the waist. “What the hell is going on? How badly are you injured?

“Get me to Haley.”

“Why didn’t you heal?”

“Hades…just get me to Haley.”

Unless you saw the mess that was my face, one might think it was just two teenaged friends staggering back from imbuing too much. Hades basically carried me into the elevator. Damn that kid is strong. “Sex.”

“What?”

“You called me Edward.”

“You will always be Edward to me.” Well I could see why Az…rael would get pissed. “Riot said Hunters cornered you. Suzuki-san should have cleared the proper channels,”

“Suzuki is dead. He caused this mess.”

“Hmmm, I never really trusted him. Lean on me, you’re barely conscious, Edward. Still you should have cleared….”

“That’s my PA’s job…don’t tell me, you didn’t do it.”

“No, I didn’t. I forgot.”

I stumbled and a sharp pain ripped into my chest. Maybe I fractured my ribs. “Quit thinking with your dick, Hades. I’m lost out here. I got a two word order “fix it”. I fixed it. You should have done everything that needed to be done to allow me to do my job. Stop…stop. I need to rest.” Hades propped me against the wall. I took shallow breaths. “I know what X told you. Since Carnage beat an apology out of you, I don’t hate you so much, but I only tolerate you for brother’s sake. I’m worked over because of you. Just coming into contact with you, in any shape or form, I’m left in agony.”

“Edward…”

“That’s not my name. Just….don’t talk to me. Don’t touch me. I’d be happy if you did your job.” I gritted my teeth and pushed myself off the wall. I could see my room. The door was opened. “If there are any donors here…bring them in. I’m going to need blood. A lot of it.”

“Sex…I want us to be friends.”

“Hell will freeze over first. Quit sniffing around me, Cillian. You’ve had your last fuck in this body. I gave you an order.”

“Blood Emperor.” Hades voice was tinged with emotional distress. I narrowed my eyes. Tears didn’t sway him. I wasn’t going to let it sway me.

I used the wall to get me into my suite. Billiam was directing traffic. He turned and Liam caught me before I kissed the carpet. “Hunters…” His hissed word held contempt and hatred that only immortality could harbor.

Liam picked me up as easily as a little pet dog. “You are a mess, Sex. Guess you won’t be sucking on me this time.”

“If my fang wasn’t falling out, I would bite you for that remark.” Liam carried me into my bedroom. Haley was there curled into a ball. He set me beside the Lycan then brushed my hair out of my face.

“Why didn’t you Heal right away?” He stuck his finger in my mouth and opened my lip. He touched the aforementioned fang and shook his head. “Surely, your Father told you how dangerous it is to lose a fang. Heal now. I’ll get blood.”

I groaned and turned toward my little Pup. I laid a hand on his forehead and another across his waist and called on the healing light. Please….please heal little pup. I closed my eyes and concentrated on trying to trying to wake him up. My wounds were knitting. They would have healed quicker if I sent all my energy to them but…Haley. He gasped and bolted upright. “Alpha!” Good…that was good. I flopped back on the bed. Of all my injuries, I concentrated on getting my fang back in my head. Haley twisted and gathered me up. I grunted as he bumped my tender ribs.

“Alpha..Alpha…I’m supposed to protect you. You have to let me protect you. You’re not supposed to get hurt…I promised Sensei. I promised Claudius. I would watch over you.”

“Haley…Haley…put me down…it hurts too much.”

“Heal, Alpha….” Haley lay beside me, hugging my back to his chest, his cheek along me. “Heal.” This never happened before. I fainted while in the middle of the Healing Light.

I opened my eyes…a blue light lit up the darkness. Xavier was sleeping. Azrael turned from watching over brother and arched an eyebrow at me. “What the hell are you trying to be?”

I glanced down at myself. I was now in armor. Greaves, gauntlets, breastplate and whatever else all the rest of the sundry bits are called. They were blue. As blue as my frickin hair. I glanced back and saw I had the phoenix wings burning but they hadn’t changed from the last time I ate from Liam on the beach. There was a pole standard sticking from my back. I look up and saw the original glyph for Von Drachenfeld fluttering in the updraft of my fiery wings. Another second look at the armor I was in saw that it was a mix of European and Japanese.

“A Samurai Knight?”

Azrael stood up and walked over to me. He was in his typical black leather gig. Glocks and knives and a bullwhip at the hip...I binked. A katana? I gestured to him. He looked a little surprised but drew it easily. That blade was the same blue as my armor. “Okay…is this because you mind fucked that guy?”

“We’ve, all of us, have mind fucked people and we never got this.” I hand my hand down my side and found a hilt as well. It was the twin to Azrael’s. “I took his fight talent.”

“His samurai spirit?”

“I guess. What about X?”

“Elder brother is exhausted. I’d say he’s been running on fumes for weeks. I’m sorry to have to say this but we’ve been jerking off while X has been running himself into the ground.” Azrael sheathed the blade. “You know as well as I do, that I cannot sit in his office all day. You’re going to have to pick up the slack.”

A spike of anger hit me. “Pick up the slack…why the fuck didn’t you take over back there!”

“Cause you didn’t need me to. As the progenitor said, Sex, you are our center post. You are our power supply. You’ve changed over the months, and I am personally glad because I hated listening to you cry in the dark. You are Number One brother.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Deny it all you want. Who’s got the cool new power? Who’s got the cool new armor?. You are the original. Anything we get, flows through you.” Azrael stepped into me and brought his arms around me in a hug. “You are not to blame for our childhood, Edward. I think the blue gene in us, called all those demons to us when we were kids. They may have only wanted to serve, but we were too young to understand. And, at the time, you were alone.’

‘Let that guilt go. X and I only want you to be happy. If you want to stay as number two, that’s fine, but let the rest of that old baggage go…cause trust me, we are getting new baggage. We’re going to be daddies. Soon. And based on how horny Haley got just by sniffing that pretty little Lycan, we are going to be up to our armpits in puppies.”

Haley. I glanced down at X. “He’s fine. Can’t you see the big drool spot there?”

Azrael caught me by the hair and pulled my head forward so our foreheads touched. “Listen carefully, Sex. You are not stupid. You are not a scaredy cat and you sure as hell ain’t a fuck toy. You are my older brother and while you piss me off most of the time. I love you and I will die to keep you from harm. Are we good?”

“Yah.”

“Go on.”

I opened my eyes to a curtain of black hair. “Sasha?”

Gold eyes stared down at me. “You’ve forgotten me already?”

Ping! She was sitting on my waist. Wait, I was naked. What? She leaned forward and ran her nose through my hair. “Haley’s scent is all over you…”

I’m sure this was every straight man’s dream but I preferred waking up without a beautiful woman sitting on naked me.

“Get off my Alpha.” I turned my head and Haley walked out of the bathroom carrying a basin and a towel.

Ping sat up and pressed her bottom right against my genitalia. She grinned down at me and let out a snarl of satisfaction. Haley dived at her and knocked her off me. Holy crap. I was naked in the middle of a Lycan battlefield. “Haley!” I pulled my legs out of the way as Ping knocked Haley a good one in the head. He landed on me. His eyes were dancing with gold flecks. Damn, he was in bloodlust. “Haley!”

I got yanked out of bed by my hair. Sonofabitch. I glanced up and saw the biggest male Lycan I have ever seen. It also could be because I was laying on the floor on my backside. He dropped a yukata on me. “Never get in the middle of a mating ritual, if you want your throat intact. Come.”

Clothes were being divested. I got up. Everything was healed but I had my own little bit of heady bloodlust to deal with. I slipped into the yukata and wrapped it around me and left the two Lycan in lust to the bedroom. A heard a yelp and turned around. Shouldn’t have looked. Ping had Haley down by the privates. Well, we knew who was going to be wearing the pants there.

Once we were out of the room, the big grey Lycan turned to me. “I am Kiyoshi, Ping’s father. Normally, her mother would carry out this duty, but she fell when Ping was just a pup. My daughter has chosen your pup has her life mate. He has been branded. He cannot stand at my daughter’s side, but he can stand behind her. He will be her consort, not her mate. Normally this would be a time of celebration but since he is without a pack it will be a quiet affair. You must remove your mark. You must leave and never make contact with him again.”

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Caramel Page 13