Demi: ZOMFG! I am so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so… sorry for not updating for over two months! I have been so busy with my other fics and then I realised the ending I had for this story sucked like a vampire so I revamped it (please note none of the previous chapters have been altered). This took a long time because I had to wait for inspiration, then had to tie all the loose ends up. I hope I'm forgiven –cowers-
On with it woman!
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
"I do apologise, Bryan."
I sigh, rubbing my forehead. "Yes, I know, Kukoro. Part of plan, et cetera…"
He chuckles and something flickers in his eyes, put I can't put a finger on it.
"Where is Tala?" He asks.
"Still asleep." I reply. I look him in the eye, lavender clashing with marine-blue. "So, what is this hocus-pocus that can save me then?"
He sighs. "Well, to be quite honest, I don't think you need saving. You and Tala seem okay- he says he is okay with letting you drink his blood. What needs to be done is Ehoin."
"What do you mean?" I ask with a frown.
"I know him," He admits, shocking me. "Yes… unfortunately, he has been causing havoc around the world and I have been called to deal with him. But every time I arrive, he vanishes." He pauses to take breath. "He seems to be looking for something… I don't know what, but it must be something he needs, because he has everything…" He looks at me. "You see Bryan, what you don't know about vampires is that they are divided; the Great Spirits only know how this came about…
"Yet there is some kind of supreme power within them. It's called The Ninelian Dynasty. And he is the Ninelian King-"
"So he is King of the Vampires…?"
He nods solemnly. "It is strange; why does he roam around like this?"
"Sadism?" I suggest. "Or he may just be a thrill seeker."
"Maybe… but I need to get rid of Ehoin. I may have thousands of Vampires on my back for assassinating their king, but… I must do so, before he causes more harm." He pauses. "Follow me."
I do so, following him to his room. In there, he pulls out a coffee thermos.
"In here," He says, "is not coffee. It contains an exorcism potion. This potion can drive out any spirit." He pointed to the armchair. "Did you know that that chair contains the spirit of a five hundred year old Scottish gardener who was obsessed with ladies' dresses? Well, if I were to drop half of this potion on it, two things would happen- one being the spirit would be driven out instantly."
"Out of curiosity, what is the second?" I ask.
"Eh," He chuckles sheepishly, "it creates such a stain it'll never come off and will smell like shit until the cows come home- and with that stink around, the cows will never come home."
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
Tala keeps looking at me; glancing in my direction as if to check on me. Though I enjoy his attention it does get rather tedious after a while.
But it's most likely my doing. I've been tense and on edge since we left our apartment and arrived at our hotel. I don't think I could describe how I'll feel at the tournament…
Ehoin could get in easily. He could get anyone he wanted easily… he could get me easily…
But not Tala. I will not allow it. Never.
"Yo, Bry. Calm down, will you?" Ian says. "It's not as if people are going to drop dead at any moment."
I snort. "Like that would happen…"
No… everything has a cause.
We are sat in our joint locker room; beside us are the Bladebreakers- our roommates. Kai is sat with his arm around Tyson's waist, the Dragoon murmuring things in a low voice to the Phoenix.
That brainbox, brunette girl and Tate are sat around each other, conversing with the speaking laptop whom they call 'Dizzi'. I don't know where the Neko-jin is; he's most likely with his teammates - the one with the pink haired… thing.
I watch as Tala stands from the opposing couch and moves over to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of- actually, I don't care what it is. All I care about is the fact that it's alcoholic.
He wanders back over with a somewhat cheeky smirk and sits next to me, leaning against me. I wrap an arm around his waist on instinct and take the green bottle out of his slim fingers to take swig. I give it back to him and nuzzle his hair as he takes a mouthful too.
He places it on the coffee table before us. "I guess I smell nice," He murmurs to me, "because you've still got your nose shoved in my mop."
"It's not a mop," I murmur back. "Unless they now make mops out of silk…"
He smiles softly and contently, running a hand up my neck to sift through my own hair- although mine is much longer… it's shoulder length now; though I have it tied up usually.
"Er…"
We halt immediately and slowly look over to the other couches. The whole room - albeit Kai and Tyson - are staring at us with surprised and amused looks.
"Hm…?" I hum casually.
"Are… are you two together?" Spencer asks.
"What if we are?" Tala asks.
He shrugs. "Nothing - just curious."
"So are you two screwing?"
I roll my eyes but Tala goes an extreme red - almost the colour of his hair.
"Even if we were, Ian, you would be the last to know."
"Not if I lived with you…" I heard him mutter.
"Shrimp, put a sock in it." Kai barks, shifting away from Tyson (which the Dragoon looked very upset about).
Ian simply glares at the Phoenix. He-
…
I can sense something… and I don't like it… bastard vampire.
"Bry?"
"Stay here."
I stand and walk quickly from the room- only to be blasted back when I open the door.
"Bryan!" I hear Tala shout.
I hit to wall, denting it severely. I land on all fours, slowly rising to my feet just as Tala reaches me.
"Bryan, Bryan, are you okay?" He asks quickly. I nod.
He turns to the doorway and I notice that all (well, nearly all) the people in the room are in defensive positions and glaring at the door.
I look too and I'm not happy to see who's there. No, it's not Ehoin… it's worse.
'How could it be?' you ask.
A history lesson, I think. Kukoro didn't only tell me about the Ninelian Royalty.
You see, way before vampires fought each other, our main enemy were the Zivonian Monks. Yeah, monks. Scary…
But my… ancestors were banded together tightly. You see, these monks could (and can) kill vampires with one spell. One. I guess it's the same one Kukoro has stashed away in the coffee flask- only it's not a potion…
Hah, you think it's all about the stake through the heart or whatever those 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' episodes tell you. It takes more than a twig to pull us down… it takes that spell and a twig (just to keep us down).
Luckily for us, the spell's ingredients are very rare… something about cutting some sort of grass at a blue, full moon- and that's only one ingredient.
As vampires slowly disappeared in numbers, so did the monks. The teachings were lost in modern times and the vampires shrunk back into the shadows…
But I bet you can guess who's knocking on our door, can't you?
I freeze instantly. "Gods above, no…"
Their robes are white, just like a Christian monk's robe, but are fastened with a large waxen rope-belt. The hoods hide their eyes, and I feel fear rise in everyone.
Tala looks back at me with a questioning glance. "What?"
"Ray!" Tyson shouts with a gasp.
My eyes find the neko-jin being held by one of the monks at the back. He's struggling, his lip cut and cheek bruised.
"Bryan!" He gasps, still struggling against the monk who had his arms behind his back. "Get… get away! They've-"
He is cut off by a sharp curved dagger to his throat. A bead of sweat rolls down his face from fear.
"Let him go," I hiss, pushing Tala behind me for safety, "your battle is with me; not him."
The front man chuckles. "Are you negotiating with me, vampire?"
Ian laughs. "V-Vampire? What loony bin-?"
"Ian shut up." Kai hisses. He looks back at the white monks. "What do you want and why are you here?"
"The vampire." He answers. "Give us the vampire and we'll give you your friend."
There is silence for some time- well, not for me; I can hear everyone's heartbeats… lucky me…
"Why now, Azik?" Asks a voice. I- and many others- look over to the window (where the voice had come from) to see Kukoro, aqua-marine eyes blazing. "Why not three weeks ago? Why not when I wasn't here?"
"Kukoro, you know him?" Tyson asks.
"Know him?" Kukoro smirks; I have never seen him looking so dangerous. "I know him alright. Why, he's my old school chum."
"Quiet, Shaman."
"Screw the titles, Azik." Kukoro snaps. "Answer the boy: why are you here?"
"Do you remember my good friend Danya?" Azik asks casually, as if he were talking about the weather. "Well, yesterday… I found him dead."
Tala's eyes widens. "And… you think Bryan did that?" Their silence answers it for him. He glares fiercely. "He was with us yesterday. And why do you say it was him? It could be anyone!"
"Shut up, you insolent child!" Azik snaps. "We know it was him because it was a vampire attack and he's the only vampire around."
"Not true," I state calmly. "A vampire by the name of Ehoin is roaming about."
"You have no evidence," Azik retorts. "But then again, it does not matter who killed him. Both you and this 'Ehoin' are going to be destroyed."
"Not true," I state again with a smirk, "Ehoin: maybe. But I will not roll over and die in your hands."
"Oh, I do so thank you, Bryan." A voice purrs nearby.
I growl, not needing to look over. "Ehoin- so nice to see you again." I glare at him in the corner of my eye. His disgusting long dark hair is tied loosely behind his back. He wears the usual tatty robes… oh, haven't I before described him? Well now you know - so be quiet.
He stares at me with calm stone grey eyes and I pick out a spark of… lust?
His attention turns to the monks and he chuckles. "So, you think you can destroy me?"
"Tala," I whisper to him, "Take the others to safety."
"I'm not-"
"Leave." I hiss. "It is not safe for you." I catch Kai's eye and he nods, as if he knows what I'm saying to Tala. "Please… I can't bear to lose you."
Tala hesitates but leans up for a long, chaste kiss. "Be safe…" He whispers before Kai pulls him and the others out of the room. It just leaves me, Kukoro, Ehoin and the monks… oh and Kon.
Speaking of whom, he looks to be at the point of passing out – maybe… dying… His normally tanned skin is an ashen olive and once-amber, now-dull-ochre eyes bore into mine with a pleading sense…
I start to wonder what is making him so weak until I notice the knife upon his throat has cut into the skin, bringing up blood that trickles over the shiny blade and under his shirt slowly…
That's why Ehoin's eyes had brimmed with lust…
"Let Ray go." I growl levelly. "He aids you in nothing."
"Hm, he doesn't, does he?" I can sense him smirking. He turns to the monk holding Ray. "Slit him."
My eyes widen and my mind frantically searches for an excuse…
"Why waste precious blood?" I ask in a whisper, loud enough for them to hear. "I thought that unbaptised boys were rare and very useful in spells…"
"He is right…" One mutters.
"But enough of that…" I smirk… I feel normal – like I had been before; when I was the Sadist Bastard. I take a step forward. "You want us… come get us."
"We do not want you." Azik replies. "We want to kill you."
I whip out a knife from a pocket inside my pocket and throw it, lodging it in the throat of the monk who was holding Ray. The mysterious man fell to the ground, Ray slumping too. I dart past the rest and pick him up, rushing through the door to another room across the hall.
I lay him on the floor and stretched his neck slightly. He whimpers quietly as the small wound stretches, more blood bubbling out. I lick it up, before encompassing the cut with my lips and sucking. The sweet taste of blood enters my mouth, but my saliva heals to wound quickly.
Standing and leaving him in the room, I exit to face the monks. Closing the door slowly, I grin, flashing a bloodied fang.
"Now gentlemen… shall we?"
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
Demi: just a wee note: The Ninelian Dynasty – I named it so because if you took the 'ian' off and reversed it, it becomes 'Lenin'… huh, clever, ne?
… no, t'wasn't, t'was it? T'was rather sad…
Ah, I will try to update soon. If I get lots of nice reviews, might be this week or so. But don't bet on it – I have a fancy dress outfit to plan -scurries off-