Chapter 3 “Hunger”

Chapter 3 “Hunger”

Hyakuhei stood in front of The Underground. Normally he stayed away from this area of the city because it was heavily infested with half-breeds. It was also closer to his brother’s underground lair, making him wonder just who had named the small, overcrowded nightclub. It was not a good place for the girl to be.

He vanished and reappeared within its walls, taking a seat in the darkest corner.

Amni was still smiling when he opened the door and entered the club only to stop dead in his tracks. Something wasn’t right. His head snapped to the side and his eyes widened. Tadamichi? Jerking his gaze away, he took off behind the bar, completely disturbed.

Why was the Master here… in his bar?

***** Kyoko stood looking in the mirror wondering just how drunk she would have to get before she could go through with it. She fluffed her hair and started to change but didn’t… deciding what she was wearing would hopefully do the trick. She would just have to stop herself from punching whoever came on to her for once.

She nodded at her reflection, giving herself the pep talk of her life. “Ok Kyoko… you can do this. Think of all the vampires you will be able to sneak up on if they don’t sense your virginity coming.” She rolled her eyes at the strangeness of that conversation. “Alcohol… that’s what I need.”

Within minutes she was sitting at the bar thinking about what Grandpa had said. She glanced up at Amni as he worked at mixing all the weird drink requests. She frowned wondering why he seemed so nervous. She tilted her head a little as she watched him completely miss the cup he was aiming for with the scoop of ice.

Hyakuhei felt her presence the moment she entered the room. He was in no hurry as he leaned back in the chair surveying her. The girl seemed not to pay attention to anything around her, leading him to believe she didn’t want to be here at all… so why was she? He watched her in the mirror as she took a wall seat at the bar, confirming the fact that it appeared she would rather be alone.

He followed her line of vision and realized it was the bar tender that held her attention… the blond vampire that had been nervously eyeing him.

Amni glanced again wondering if it was his imagination or not, but it seemed that corner had gotten even darker. Trying to pretend it wasn’t bothering, him, he leaned his hands against the bar and gave Kyoko a distracted smile, “Want a drink?”

“Yes,” Kyoko informed him, the determination in her voice nearly making Amni fall over. “Long Island Iced Tea… strongest you can make it.” She announced.

Amni faltered and looked around wondering if he’d stepped into the Twilight Zone for the evening. First, the vampire lord walks in and sits down like he owns the place, then Kyoko asks for an alcoholic drink. What next… Polar Bears performing the Nutcracker Suite?

His hand unconsciously went to his neck, remembering the night Tadamichi had turned him so long ago. Was he here looking to take another life? He pushed the thought forcefully from his mind.

“Kyoko,” Amni said quietly. “I don’t believe a drink is what you really want. Why don’t you go back upstairs and get some sleep? That’s better for stress then a hangover. I’m sure everything will look better in the morning.”

Kyoko had told him many times that she was a non-drinker and there were already enough alarm bells going off tonight for her to be changing her mind. On many levels, he was glad she hadn’t noticed the atomic bomb of all vampires hanging out in the corner… and he would like to keep it that way.

“No can do,” Kyoko said with a pout. “I’ve got some baggage I need to get rid of tonight and it’s going to start with that drink you’re going to give me.”

“All right, all right,” Amni said now that she held his full attention. “Retract the claws and stop hissing at me or you won’t get any.”

Kyoko glared and Amni chuckled. He wished he could fix whatever it was that was bothering her enough to make her drink. She was the only one he knew whose life seemed to be just as complicated as his. Trying to cheer her up, he winked and turned on the charm.

“Well, it’s true,” He said while pouring the rum. “All that’s missing is the fur, tail and ears. You’ve already got the temperament and the attitude.”

Kyoko clawed the air in front of her playfully with a grin on her face. “Maybe I should go stand out in the alley tonight meowing off key and waiting for a furry boyfriend.”

Amni placed the drink in front of her before shaking his head. “And here I thought I was the only man in your life. You wound me Kyoko… I may need comfort.” He placed his hand over his heart for added affect, though somewhere deep down… he wasn’t joking.

Kyoko paused with the drink half way to her lips. “Amni… stop flirting with me. It’s a bit disturbing.” She looked up still playing but as she held his eyes a second too long, her breath stilled within her chest. If only he wasn’t a vampire. Closing her eyes, she took a very, very long drink from the glass.

“I’m being serious,” Amni continued as they locked gazes in a silent battle of wills. “If you can’t tell me what is going on, then who can you tell?”

“I need another drink first.” Kyoko batted her lashes at him sparring for more time and courage to tell her dirty little secret.

Amni slowly made her another drink. He cringed at the urge to jerk her upstairs and lock her in her room for the night. By the time he glanced back up and handed her the drink… her first one was empty. He started to press her but someone at the other end of the bar called out. With an agitated growl, he took off.

Kyoko watched him as he worked. Amni was right though… if she couldn’t tell him, then who could she tell? In the entire city, he was the only one she could freely talk to… the only one she would call a friend. She felt her eyes water and wondered if she would be what they called a crying drunk.

“No!” She scolded herself and lifted the drink in a self-toast. “Here’s to losing one’s virginity.” She turned it up and didn’t stop until the glass was once again empty.

Being a vampire had many perks and really good hearing was one of them. Amni pushed the mixed drinks in front of the noisy crowd but his wide eyes were on Kyoko as he watched her down her drink like it would save her. “Lose what!” He practically flew to her end of the bar and was staring her down when she opened her eyes.

Kyoko flinched seeing Amni so close so suddenly, then her lips parted as she realized… “You heard me?” She gulped trying to get over the burning sensation left over from the alcohol going so quickly down her throat. By the time she caught her breath, Kyoko could feel the drink start to work its magic.

“Another, please.” She pushed the glass back at him ignoring the giant elephant in the room that was now sitting between them.

The sudden anger that shot through Amni was tempered with pain. His blue eyes became a shade darker. His hands shook while he fixed ANOTHER drink for her. It didn’t have the calming effect he was hoping for.

“Yes I heard you… this is not the place for you to be getting drunk and horny. Keep drinking those iced teas tonight and you will be in the alley singing off key while a faceless male...”

Kyoko’s emerald eyes glowed defiantly, “Sounds like fun… keep ‘em coming.”

Amni made a face. “Oh that’s low.”

Kyoko grinned at Amni over the rim of her glass and the vampire couldn’t help but return it. He had decided how he would solve this problem. He would let her get drunk… but he would not let her leave the bar… not in a million years. For now, he would play her little game of lets lose my virginity.

Kyoko sighed when Amni went back to the other end of the bar again. She reached across the counter and grabbed a straw this time. Why does it have to be something like virginity giving her away to the demons? It’s not like she can ever fall in love with anyone. If she did love a guy… then she could never be with him because she would only put him in danger.

A face flashed in her mind’s eye and she closed her eyes wanting to savor the picture… Tasuki. If she didn’t love Tasuki then he would be her choice. It’s because she did love him that she couldn’t call him up and… let him help her solve her little problem. Slipping the straw between her lips, Kyoko started drinking faster, trying to get up enough nerve to turn around and play ‘Eeny meeny miny moe’.

“You’re really looking to get laid then?” Amni questioned as he made her another drink.

“Of course I am,” Kyoko stated. “But I don’t want to look like a slut by turning around.”

“Then use the mirror,” Amni offered and breathed a sigh of relief when Kyoko brightened at the prospect. He didn’t want her turning around and spotting the vampire lord sitting in the corner. The ancient had been watching her since she came downstairs… and in her current state, Kyoko was in no shape to protect herself and Amni wasn’t strong enough to fight him off.

“What about that red head?” Amni asked deliberately picking the worst looking guy in the room. If she were going to dream, then he would make it hard on her.

Kyoko squinted at the mirror before shaking her head. “He’s got no ass.”

Amni rolled his eyes, “Who the hell cares if he’s got an ass?”

“I care,” Kyoko slurred. “I need something to grab onto.” For a moment, she remembered the imaginary guy she had described to Yohji a couple hours ago.

“Okay,” Amni conceded. “How about the one with the spiked hair?”

“Can we just put an ‘L’ on his forehead and cross him off the list?” Kyoko asked as she wrinkled up her nose then added, “And you happen to have crappy taste so far.”

“That blonde over there is cute.” He grinned knowing that guy only dated other guys… she didn’t stand a chance.

Kyoko shook her head and nearly fell over with the motion. “What are you trying to do Amni? He’s about as unattractive as Yohji.”

“You don’t think the king of the third floor is cute?” Amni faked a look of horror then laughed at her deadpan expression.

The next twenty minutes were spent looking at the different guys in the club. One was a player, one was too thug, another was too old, too young, too fat, too skinny, too nerdy, too preppy and so on. Amni finally threw his hands in the air in surrender.

“That’s almost every man in the club Kyoko,” He informed her. “You’re too drunk to really tell a good looking man and wouldn’t know one if he bit you on the ass right now.” He silently added, ‘thank god!’

Kyoko smiled drunkenly, “If he bit me on the ass, I wouldn’t care what he looked like.”

Amni’s eyes widened knowing Kyoko was only trying to talk tough because he could smell her innocence.

“Big talk coming from a virgin who has never even been kissed properly,” He grinned hoping he was right.

Kyoko coughed when the drink went down the wrong way. “What did you say?” She demanded then blinked refusing to bring Tasuki into the conversation.

Amni smiled, “Don’t be worried. I won’t tell a soul unless you piss me off.”

“What would you do if I pissed you off?” Kyoko demanded starting to really enjoy the high.

“Well, I’d probably stand up on the bar and announce very loudly that we have a virgin in house tonight and the bidding starts at five thousand dollars. Of course, you would only get twenty percent of it and the rest would go to me.” He gripped the edge of the bar knowing he would outbid everyone.

“Why would I only get twenty?” she asked. “It’s my virginity… I should be the one getting paid for it.”

“Damn you’re expensive,” Amni grumbled.

“I heard that,” Kyoko exclaimed and stood up on the foot bars of her stool. “I’ll have you know I’m a very cheap date,” she nodded.

“Cola and moon pies at my place after work,” Amni said with a bright smile.

“I’m not going on a date with youuuu,” Kyoko managed and caught herself before she fell over, then pointed a finger in Amni’s face, touching the tip of his nose with it. “I’m going on a date with the first man that doesn’t come onto me and treats me like a lady.”

Amni arched an eyebrow, “This coming from the woman that’s looking for someone to take her virginity? Do you even want to know what this guy looks like in the morning?”

“No,” Kyoko hissed and plopped back down on the stool but still didn’t lower her finger. “I don’t want to know anything about him because…” she paused searching for the words. “…I have my morality.”

Amni chuckled, “Kyoko, do you even know what morality means right now?”

Kyoko’s face went blank, “No,” She said in a deadpan voice. She suddenly looked down at her lap and back up at Amni. “I’m not wearing underwear.”

Amni, with all his grace, fell over behind the bar while Kyoko continued to sit there with an expression of wonderment on her face over not wearing undergarments.

“Damn it!” A disembodied voice muttered from behind the bar.

Amni stood up and looked at Kyoko’s face before he started laughing. He truly couldn’t help it. He’d never seen the woman drunk and had to admit she was quite entertaining in this state. “You never did tell me why you are so dead set on doing this.”

Kyoko bit her bottom lip then told him the truth, “IT is making me a target and IT is going to get me killed if I don’t get rid of IT.” She chanced a glance up at him then quickly looked away. “IT seems to be attracting more… dangers than I can fight.”

Suddenly Amni knew exactly what she was babbling about and swallowed. “Would you like another drink?” he managed.

He had never thought of it like that but what she said was true. If he were to decide to drink from a human again… even he would pick her. It was a rare treat to find a virgin her age… it’s like flavored blood.

“Another drink?” Kyoko asked then looked down at her glass. She held it up to eye level and turned it around as though searching for something. “It’s empty.”

“No, really?” Amni asked mockingly before taking the glass away from her. “No more drinks for you tonight.”

“Hey!” Kyoko said a bit loudly. “I need that.”

“For what?” Amni inquired.

“So I can lose my virginity,” Kyoko answered. “I can’t have sex without that glass.”

Amni placed the glass back on the bar and Kyoko glared at it.

“What’s wrong now?” He knew it wouldn’t be much longer before he helped her up the stairs and safely to her room.

Kyoko turned her glare on him. “Who drank it?”

“You did,” He informed her.

“I did not. It was full when you took it away. Who did you give a free drink to… and where’s mine?” she accused.

“That was four drinks ago,” Amni pointed out trying to confuse her.

“Noooo,” Kyoko pouted. “I didn’t even get a chance to enjoy it.” She pushed the glass back at Amni. “Give me another drink and make sure I enjoy it this time.”

“You enjoyed the last one,” Amni stated. “I’m cutting you off tonight.”

Kyoko smiled sexily at him. “What are you cutting off of me?”

“Don’t tempt me, Kyoko,” Amni answered then felt a silent threat. His blue eyes rose to meet the ebony ones across the room.

Hyakuhei sat watching the scene between the woman and the bartender, his eyes and his mood growing darker by the minute. He had silently observed as her gaze traveled around the room using the mirror to look at all the men in the bar. For reasons that eluded him, he was tempted to shut the place down just so everyone would leave. He did not want her looking at others.

This behavior… this sensation he was feeling… disturbed him.

The bartender was a vampire and the girl seemed very friendly with him. Hyakuhei looked the boy up and down while the girl conversed with him. He was young; still a baby in the vampire sense but something about the young man separated him from the other vampires Hyakuhei had encountered since coming to the city. The ancient shook it off… he would figure it out when the time came.

The bartender suddenly looked him straight in the eyes. He smirked and the man froze in place before visibly shivering and looking away. Now he knew what was so different about this one. He didn't possess the uncontrollable bloodlust of most new vampires. Perhaps he wasn’t as young as Hyakuhei thought.

He latched on to the connection in the bloodline and peered into Amni’s past… feeling his brother there. He closed his eyes as Amni’s memories floated through him… so Amni had been Tadamichi's first… the one that had cured his loneliness. His eyes slowly opened now knowing why the vampire had been visually stalking him… he thought he was his sire.

For the underling not to feel the difference told of his relationship with Tadamichi… or was it evidence that he and his brother were truly the same? His amusement hit an all-time high when the young vampire placed another drink in front of the girl and she took a sip of it. The following scene made him want to laugh outright.

Amni took Kyoko’s glass away from her and wanted to grin at the frown she gave him. He moved about grabbing the different bottles of rum to pour her another drink. Luckily, she looked away and he grabbed the non-alcoholic bottled mixture of Kyoko’s drink of choice… Virgin Long Island Iced Tea.

Pouring the liquid over the fresh ice he’d just scooped into her glass, Amni decided to be cute and added a cherry and tiny umbrella to the drink before placing it back in front of her.

Kyoko turned back to Amni then looked down at the bar. Her face lit up when she saw her drink had been refilled. Instead of taking the first taste, she picked up the cherry by the long stem and placed it in her mouth. Amni swallowed as Kyoko’s mouth moved around a bit before the cherry stem peeked out from between her lips. She removed the stem and placed it on the bar.

“What do you think?” Kyoko asked after studying the cherry stem with intense scrutiny.

“I think you would be a lousy kisser,” Amni said in a deadpan voice after seeing the cherry stem had not been knotted with her tongue.

“What do you know?” Kyoko grumbled and took out the umbrella before swallowing her first taste. She froze with her head still tilted back before very slowly lowering her face until she was looking Amni directly in the eye. She swallowed the concoction and picked up the tiny umbrella. Without warning, she slammed the pointed end of the umbrella down less than an inch from Amni’s hand.

Amni, for once, was thankful for his quick reflexes as he jerked his hand away. “I told you that you were cut off for the night.”

“That tastes like crap,” Kyoko fumed. “If you’re gonna fix me something without booze in it then give me a ginger ale next time. And if you plan on cutting me off then you’re going to be paying my bar tab because I will be a very unhappy customer.”

“My god Kyoko!” Amni exclaimed dramatically, hoping the spark in her eyes would stay for a while. “You’re going to leave me broke. I won’t have a way to pay the rent.”

Kyoko smirked evilly. “Talk to Yohji… maybe you can cut a deal.”

“You have a wicked streak, you know that?” He put his palms down on the bar as he cocked an eyebrow wondering if she would admit it.

Kyoko’s wicked expression faded in an instant, replaced by one of complete innocence before tilting her head to the side. “I do?” She looked deep into his blue eyes feeling like she was falling into them.

Amni glanced down the long bar when he heard someone shouting for him. He leaned over the bar toward Kyoko, close enough that she could smell the cologne he was wearing. “Don’t do anything stupid until I get back,” he ordered and quickly went to get their drinks, leaving Kyoko alone.

Hyakuhei settled back in his chair, feeling a little calmer now that the bartender had moved away to wait on other customers. He watched as the girl leaned back a bit from the bar and pulled her hair up into a messy bun before continuing her scrutiny of the club’s male populace in the mirror. By the gods… she was tempting fate and didn’t even realize it.

He realized that his fangs had elongated to the point they were almost poking into his lower lip and his body was responding to her innocent action. His dark eyes were glued to her long slender neck and it wasn’t her blood he wanted to taste… it was her skin. He gripped the edge of the table just to anchor himself in place. The creaking of wood and metal reminded him of where he was and what he was doing.

Letting go of the table, he resumed watching her and saw that she appeared to be looking through the mirror right at him and smiling. He frowned and looked around before glancing toward the table closest to him.

He scowled when he saw a young man, barely in his twenties staring back at the auburn haired beauty and smiling in return. Hyakuhei released an uncontrolled growl low in his chest. He watched with immense satisfaction when the man’s drink shattered in his hand, causing small bits of glass to cut into his skin.

The man cursed and quickly got up, heading toward the bathroom while cradling his injured hand. Hyakuhei smirked… the man wasn’t looking at her anymore.

Kyoko frowned and sighed in frustration when the guy who’d caught her eye in the mirror suddenly jumped up and ran for the restroom. She let a pout appear on her face making the unseen stalker in the mirror smirk in amusement. Taking another drink of the non-alcoholic beverage Amni had given her, Kyoko decided not to look in the mirror anymore.

Her gaze, instead, drifted over to the dance floor where the lights were flashing in wild pandemonium. The sudden urge to join that writhing mass of bodies overcame her and she slid off her stool. Kyoko held onto the bar until she got her balance then started across the room intent on finding someone… anyone.

She wondered if this was what a cat felt like when it was in heat then blamed the thought on the alcohol and too much loneliness.

The atmosphere in the club suddenly changed, becoming thicker with dark power. Kyoko didn’t feel it because the alcohol she’d consumed had dampened her senses to the point of uselessness. Had she been paying attention… she would have seen four very attractive men step into the club.

Hyakuhei’s attention was yanked from the girl when the four men walked in. He gave them a quick once over and sneered. On the outside to the unsuspecting humans, they just looked like four friends out for a night on the town. To Hyakuhei, they were vampires looking for their evening meal and perhaps a bit of foreplay.

He stood when the four vampires immediately split up going in different directions. However, one was headed for the dance floor with his eyes set on the auburn haired female that had captivated him. Hyakuhei’s dark eyes scanned the room seeing the other three were now watching the dance floor with interest. As his gaze crossed the bar he noticed the bar tender felt the shift too even though he hadn’t figured out where it was coming from yet. He had paled though… and that was a neat trick for a vampire.

Kyoko swayed to the music, feeling a bit lightheaded but honestly, she didn’t care. Even though her eyes were closed, she could feel someone’s hungry gaze devouring her and it made her skin tingle nicely… she could feel the gazes roam across her as if they were hands.

She slid her own hand across her body as she danced. Concentrating on the music, she became lost in the motion as a pair of large hands placed themselves on her hips. They weren’t hindering her movements, but instead were moving with her… sensually.

Very slowly a warm body pressed up against her back and she leaned against it, letting her head fall back onto a broad shoulder. She couldn’t help it and whimpered when the hands moved from her hips to her belly. She felt fingers brush her bare skin underneath the hem of her top while the other slowly moved up the front of her body, brushing over her breasts before gently cupping the side of her face.

“Dance for me,” a dark, sultry voice whispered in her ear.

Kyoko felt her heartbeat slow down and she found it difficult to breathe. That voice was sex given resonance and she had to see the face that went with it. As she turned in his arms, the stranger pushed her outward then brought her back, closer than they were a second ago.

Her gaze met with a pair of deep blue, almost hypnotic eyes and her breath stopped in awe. He had long black wavy hair that swayed from side to side with their movements. Kyoko became contentedly confused… when had she started dancing with him? His face was soft… almost feminine in its perfection. He had a fading tan complexion that made her want to touch him with full lips that were a shade redder than normal.

Kyoko felt her body start to heat up from the inside… or maybe it was all the alcohol she’d drank.

She could hear erotic music pulsing from somewhere and groaned when the man’s knee pushed itself between her thighs until his leg was pressed against her center. Kyoko couldn’t look away while her body started to move against his wantonly. It felt like every nerve in her body was alive with sensations… she could even feel the air circling them in heat.

When she leaned back a bit to look up at him, his arm pulled her closer with a quick jerk and she gasped when she felt his lips against the skin of her neck. She could feel every inch of his body pressed against her as they continued the seductive dance. The rest of the room was spinning but he was very steady… aligned with her and larger than life.

In her drunken state, she didn’t even realize that the music was starting to fade to a dull throbbing… all she knew in that moment was the man holding her.

Amni felt the wave of power rush through the club from the vicinity of the dance floor. It wasn’t unusual to feel it this time of night and he usually ignored it. Out of reflex, he looked toward the other end of the bar and noticed Kyoko was gone. His eyes widened and he did a quick sweep of the club.

The drink he was mixing fell from his hand and landed on the floor with a loud crash. He had chanced a look up at the mirrors behind the bar and saw Kyoko dancing… with herself! Her face was flushed with her lips slightly parted and eyes closed. He could have sworn she was in the middle of a climax.

Whipping around in panic, Amni rushed toward the opening in the bar so he could go out and drive off the demon holding her. He hadn’t felt the craving to kill in so long it shocked him at how quickly the urge could return… the urge to kill even his own kind.

“Damn it, Kyoko.” He growled from between clenched teeth. If she were this desperate… desperate enough to take on a vampire, then he’d sleep with her and that would be the end of it.

Amni halted in his steps when he saw Tadamichi standing in his way. The vampire lord didn’t even look at him but Amni knew he was standing there just to keep him from helping Kyoko. Amni moved close enough to be within touching distance of his master hoping he would take the subtle hint. When that didn’t happen, Amni bowed his head slightly in strained submission. His blue eyes became overly bright and icy at the barricade but he would do her no good if he were killed for his insolence.

“Sire please… She doesn’t realize…” Amni whispered knowing the ancient could hear him loud and clear. “Let me by before she falls to the same fate I have.” He silently cringed at the implied insult that had left his lips but never had he taken pride in the fact that he was a vampire. He had not asked for the curse. “She is my friend.”

The reply Amni received was a low growl that made the wine glasses behind him shake in their hanging devices.

“I am not your sire, boy.” Hyakuhei set him straight once and for all.

Amni felt the shock settle within him as he nervously took a step back. His eyes widening knowing he had just met Tadamichi's legendary twin brother. This close, he could feel the difference between them and that difference made it hard to breathe.

He turned and grasped the edge of the bar while looking at Kyoko fearfully. That’s when he knew for sure what the vampire on the dance floor was planning. Kyoko was so drunk, she didn’t have a clue what she was dancing with… or that she was a willing victim.

Hyakuhei crossed his arms over his chest while he watched the conceited vampire glance up at his comrades as if telling them he would get the first bite and they could have the leftovers. He felt complete calm settle over him but it was a lie… it was the calm before the storm.

He felt the anxious presence of the bartender behind him. “You treat her as though she were yours.” His voice held a dangerous tone as the mirror behind Amni cracked.

“No,” Amni whispered finding courage and fear to be a fine line. “She is not mine. A woman like that belongs to no one.” He stayed rooted to the spot not knowing what to do. He’d only heard Tadamichi talk of his brother once… the night he had been turned. This was the man that had killed his sire, only to die himself as punishment for the crime.

Amni’s thoughts flashed back to his master. Tadamichi had placed him under a thrall… taking his will to fight. The master had whispered to him of his loneliness… of his wicked desire for his twin brother. Amni had been privy to the knowledge of Tadamichi’s weakness and had therefore been turned… the first of Tadamichi’s children.

His gaze swept back to the brother whom he’d been a replacement for so long ago. Tadamichi had only wanted someone to witness his passing of time… the loneliness was too much for someone who craved attention.

Hyakuhei had to be a very powerful demon lord to have killed his brother… Amni’s sire. It made the blonde swallow hard at the sheer magnitude of killing intent the brothers possessed. For a moment… Amni wondered what it would have been like to have Hyakuhei as his sire rather than Tadamichi… to be his possession.

He could already see the difference between the twins… where one was a killer… the other was deadly.

Kyoko was in a state of euphoria and her lips softened… opening slightly with pleasure while the man’s hands roamed her body, lightly touching under the back of her shirt. She couldn’t suppress the shiver that raced down her spine when his hand brushed the small of her back. It was like soothing liquid fire roaring through her body, making her want more from him.

Hyakuhei watched the half-breed look away from the woman and nod over his shoulder at the other vampires that had come in with him. One by one, they started to move toward the club’s exit before stepping outside to wait on their evening meal. Hyakuhei saw the hungry looks in their eyes and knew it was more than just blood they would take from the girl.

His lips thinned as he tried to remain calm… to wait it out. The sound of cracking glasses behind him told a different story. The hands that were touching her would soon feel nothing but pain.

Amni swallowed while his gaze went from the vampire lord, to Kyoko, to the glasses that were shattering one by one. He didn’t need the attention of having a full out vampire brawl taking place in the club, but if that was what it took to save Kyoko… he would not stop it. The humans would only blame it on city drugs and violence. None would be the wiser.

Kyoko felt like she was dizzy, almost trancelike when the guy released her. She reached for him again thinking he was leaving only to have him bow slightly and hold his hand out for her to take.

“Come with me,” tall, dark, and handsome whispered as if they were alone.

His soft voice seemed to echo within the room, drowning out the little bit of sound that was actually reaching Kyoko’s muddled brain. She slid her fingers across his palm, feeling the fire and wanting it to burn… wanting nothing more than to go with him. His hand tightened on hers as he led her toward the door. ‘Come with me.’ The voice still echoed within her mind like a chanted request she couldn’t refuse.

Hyakuhei observed as the half-breed led the hypnotized girl through the club, out the exit and into the treacherous night. He immediately moved away from his place at the bar, following the girl and cursing Tadamichi and his brood for getting in his way… again.

His eyes widened when he heard the sound of his brother’s haunting voice come uninvited within his mind. “Brother… you would slaughter my children for her? Save her then… you will only rip her to shreds later. You are a demon, a cold blooded killer… do you really think she will have you?”

Hyakuhei’s vision swept across the room knowing his brother was close… watching him. ‘I did not ask you to stalk me Tadamichi. Have you become so bored with killing that you have decided to watch me do it instead?’ With a deep growl he severed the link with his twin seeing the girl was already gone. He felt an uncontrollable jealousy flare within him at all who were trying to come between him and his target.

He felt more than heard an unseen whisper of movement coming from behind and abruptly turned, holding his hand out in front of him. His power blazed, hitting the bartender dead center in the chest.

Amni was thrown across the room, crashing into a mirror behind the bar and sending a shower of wine glasses spiraling in all directions. Almost all movement stopped in the club and Hyakuhei cursed at his own brazenness.

Amni stood up and met Hyakuhei’s gaze a bit unsteadily. They silently came to an agreement and turned their gaze to the other patrons of the club. Humans were not to witness such things.

Suddenly, everyone went back to what they were doing and Hyakuhei turned his back on the bartender, not waiting to see if doing a mind wipe on so many at once weakened the half breed or not. Let the underling clean up the mess… Hyakuhei had better things to do.

Stepping out into the night, he let a dark smirk spread across his face when he saw the three half-breeds start to fall in behind their friend and the girl.

“You want so badly to feel me brother? Feel this.” The words left his lips as his power surrounded him in a red haze that radiated outward. Feeling the shift in the aura, the three demons turned back to look at him, their eyes pitch black and glowing darkly. They hissed in fear and confusion, mistaking him for Tadamichi before slinking into the shadows in an effort to escape the rage within the air.

Becoming a blur of movement that the normal eye couldn’t see, Hyakuhei slipped up behind the closest one and thrust his hand through the retreating half-breed’s chest. He let a muffled gurgle escape from his kill before covering the demon’s mouth with a clawed hand and twisting its head with a sickening crack.

The vampire stiffened as its face contorted, revealing its true identity before falling to the ground in a pile of dust and goop. The other two half-breeds saw this and stared openly in horror at the vampire lord in their midst… death had found them.

Hyakuhei’s eyes shown with fathomless ebony in the light from the street lamp before he slowly turned his attention on them. The remaining two demons hissed viciously at him before vanishing deeper into the shadows. Hyakuhei shook the remains of his kill off his hand in contempt and gave chase.

The second was much easier and soon found itself separated from its head… quite literally. The third… Hyakuhei decided to have a bit of fun with. Cornering him at the end of an alley, the half-breed demon made an attempt to scale the wall to get away from the ancient but Hyakuhei would have none of that.

Whimpering softly, the last underling made his final mistake and met Hyakuhei’s gaze. Taking a deep breath, Hyakuhei tilted his head to the side and held out his hand palm up for the vampire to take. The half-breed slowly staggered toward him, unable to resist the thrall of the vampire lord. Once within touching distance, Hyakuhei wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close.

“She was not meant for you,” Hyakuhei whispered softly. He parted his lips, letting his fangs grow to their full length before sinking them into the throat of his kill. Part of him was disgusted with his actions but to take the life of another in such a way had its advantages. By taking the life of a vampire half-breed in this fashion, one could learn all of its knowledge… such as where others could be hiding.

Much to his disappointment, this one knew very little. He quickly withdrew his fangs taking a large chunk of flesh with them. Hyakuhei spit out the offending taste and let the body drop to the ground. He felt no sympathy when he saw the pleading expression on the face of his victim.

The blood that the scum had already partaken of for the evening was slowly running out of him… it didn’t belong to him anyway. He would now be too weak to call for help in any fashion but Hyakuhei did not want to take the chance that the half-breed would live. Placing his foot on the half-breed’s face, Hyakuhei put his weight on it… crushing its head.

He stepped back in satisfaction when the fluid burned off of his shoe and pant legs leaving the material untouched.

As the vampire expired and dissolved into a shapeless dusty puddle, Hyakuhei felt a bit more justified at robbing them of their prize and their lives. Now all he had to do was take care of their ‘bold leader’. He almost smirked at the title but it would best describe the filth at this point.

True, they did need a leader and Hyakuhei was pissed that Tadamichi hadn’t taught these underlings manners or even vampire etiquette. All they knew was ‘bite them and leave them for dead’ as he’d recently overheard a half-breed say.

Tadamichi had turned them into nothing more than demonic bastards with no father to teach them morals of any sort, which always led them to make idiotic decisions. Didn’t they know they were supposed to submit to an ancient if they ever encountered one? Hyakuhei decided it didn’t matter… he had killed them for their indiscretion.

He slowly turned in the direction the other vampire had gone. He fixed his collar and started nonchalantly following them. His feet moved silently across the pavement of the sidewalk and Hyakuhei resisted the urge to mentally fuck with the creature as he had so many others recently.

This new breed of vampire Tadamichi had created were a paranoid lot… ready to bolt at the first true sign of trouble. One thing they had not been taught was that only the strong survived beyond death.

He was starting to grow angry again wondering where this imbecile was taking the girl. The sidewalks were starting to get more crowded as they approached the center of downtown. Hyakuhei ignored the passes made at him by prostitutes… they were no better than the demons of the night. Every now and then a street lamp would suddenly shatter as he walked under it due to his repressed anger.

“What’s your hurry baby?” A whore asked as she stepped into his path. “If you’re chasing someone then I’d be more than happy to let you chase me.”

Hyakuhei gave the woman a death glare. At the same moment, the windshield of the car next to her blew outward, causing the people around them to cry out in surprise. The whore moved out of the way and Hyakuhei resumed his stalking. He knew at this point the girl would not get away from him… he would not allow it. And if anyone else tried to stop him, he wouldn’t think twice about ripping their heart out and shoving it down their throat.

The half-breed Romeo led the woman in his arms down the sidewalk. He couldn’t believe his luck when his bloodthirsty friends suddenly disappeared from behind him. He quickly made the decision to keep her for himself, not wanting to share his dinner or the sex that would happen beforehand. He was in a hurry to make her scream one way or another.

He led the girl further downtown and smiled when he looked up and saw the classiest hotel in the city. With an arrogant smirk, he steered the girl past the front entrance and around the back to one of the pool areas that was always closed this time of night… perfect.

Reaching out, the hungry vampire barely used any effort at all as he broke the lock on the gate. Sliding past the privacy fence, he led the girl to one of the private pool cabanas and stopped. Turning the girl in his arms, he knew she didn’t even remember the walk they had just taken. He hadn’t even needed to put her under his thrall… whatever she’d been drinking had been enough.

He smiled wickedly before leaning down to kiss her… bringing her body back to life so he could take that life away.

Kyoko groaned in appreciation, so high on the alcohol that she wondered why she hadn’t done this sooner. She gasped when she felt hands push upward beneath her top to slowly graze over her hardened nipples before pulling the shirt over her head. The man started kissing his way down her neck… making her shiver and arch against him.

The hands roaming her body gently pushed her back to land on something soft. She turned her head to stare lazily at the pool just beyond the cabana entrance. A hand on her cheek turned her face forward again and she smiled when she saw the intense blue eyes of the man in front of her.

This had been what she wanted… this would solve everything. She closed her eyes loving the fact that her body was on fire, but even as the thought caressed her mind the flames turned into an inferno making her feel desperate.

She arched her back when his hands took full possession of her breasts this time, cupping and kneading them until she was whining with the ache deep within her body. Kyoko realized she couldn’t keep still as her body moved in rhythm as if she were still dancing only now lying down.

The vampire smirked down at her and decided to taste her before he entered her body. His fangs suddenly grew and he lowered his mouth to her neck where he whispered as if parting a dark secret, “One thing I can promise you… this will hurt.”

A strong hand on the back of his jacket suddenly pulled him away from his meal and he went sailing backwards through the night air into the pool, landing with a huge splash. He broke the surface of the water but froze when he suddenly found himself face to face with an actual vampire lord.