Animus
Chapter One
-Stratagem-
Three figures walked out onto a balcony overseeing a massive courtyard that was filled people. There were children cheering and elder women throwing bright sparkles into the air that seemed like mini fireworks. The three stopped at the edge, the one in the center raising his hands to the people and smiling. He was tall and well built, with dark hair falling into his brown depths. He was wearing black pants and a tight black shirt, with a red cloak around his shoulders. "My brothers and sisters of the Coven!" he announced, erupting another cheer from the people.
The two women on either side of the man rolled their eyes, though they stayed near him. The woman on his right had short green hair, the right side lengthening to her shoulder, her bangs framing shining hazel eyes. She wore a strapless white dress, adorned with crystals and diamonds along the hem, forming a trail like stardust from the bust down, a matching diamond hanging from her neck. "Oh Shusui…such a dramatic queen you are." she giggled.
The dark haired woman on his left scoffed. "Well he's definitely a queen alright." she said, crossing her arms. She was a thin, willowy woman with short black hair, though her side bangs fell to just about her shoulders. She wore a black dress, a strap with raven feathers on it going over one of her shoulders. It was tight and clung to her body perfectly, until it fanned out around her thighs. Her aura was fiercer than the other two, and even more focused. Around her neck was a white gold chain with a large black diamond hanging from it.
The brunette turned and frowned back at the two sisters. "Quit calling me that. I'm a king, not a queen. Queens are women." He huffed.
"True, but witches have only ever had a queen." The green haired woman pointed out, still smiling. "So you have to keep the tradition going through your title."
"Yeah Queenie." Viletta snickered, glancing off as her mirth was joined by Valencia.
He sighed. "Laugh all you want, I'm still above you two." He pouted slightly, turning his attention back to the crowd. "My brothers and sisters! I have come to you with great news!" he announced, exciting the crowd once more. "It is time for the tyranny of the vampires to end! And I, with my awesome power and wisdom, have devised a way to bring about their destruction!"
The dark haired woman rolled her eyes once more as the crowd below erupted into thunderous applause. "Idiot."
Valencia looked over at her older sister. "At least he has the necessary flair to keep up the show." She shrugged as Shusui continued to talk about how great his plan was, and assure everyone that soon things would be turning up for them. And when he finished, he bowed dramatically, dismissing everyone to enjoy the festival they were holding as he turned and walked back inside the mansion with the two women.
"Well I think that went well, don't you?" the brunette asked them, linking his fingers behind his head in a self-satisfied manner.
"As good as you blabbering on about how amazing you are can get…yeah…it went well." Viletta sighed, stopping when they were met with an angry yell.
"You stupid witch!" a purple haired woman shrieked, running towards them. She was a gorgeous woman, her locks cascading around her and stopping just past her rear. Flowers were tied messily in her hair, and her dress was only a hair off, but clearly she had just thrown everything on.
"Ming?" Shusui blinked.
The purple haired witch hissed, her glare narrowing. "That juvenile told me the wrong time!" she shouted, pointing directly at Viletta, who couldn't wipe the dark smirk off her face.
"Did I now?"
Valencia blinked. "Lettie said you were feeling under the weather, and wouldn't be able to make it tonight."
"Yeah, something about female stuff." Shusui shuddered slightly, as if it repulsed him.
A dark red blush came to Ming's face, though she looked as if she were about to explode. "I most certainly was not gross like that!"
"Well it's not like I'm an expert on that subject." He shrugged.
Ming pushed him aside, storming up to the dark witch. "Just what is your problem?" she yelled, making Viletta close her eyes.
"I believe I've made that very clear…I simply have a problem with you and how you seem to think you are the center of the universe." Viletta said, meeting a furious blue with her own deep green gaze.
"No one person is the center of the universe, and to act as such is very presumptuous." Valencia said.
"Ladies, let's not get in a fight about this." Shusui said, holding his hands up in a placating manner. "Ming, next time we have a big announcement thingy, make sure you come to me about what time to show up. You know Viletta likes to do whatever she can to rile you."
The purple haired woman huffed and crossed her arms, nodding as they went into a large circular room. "I didn't even get to finish dressing up and you know I love to do that." she huffed. "And stupid Viletta looks fantastic."
"As always." The dark haired woman smirked, sitting in her black seat around the table.
"Don't I look fantastic as well?" Valencia pouted slightly, sitting in her white seat.
"You all look fantastic. Geez, why must women worry so much about their looks?" Shusui asked, taking a seat in his grey chair.
The green haired woman rolled her eyes. "Easy for you to say. Men just throw on their clothes and ruffle their hair and look perfectly acceptable. Women like to take time to look beautiful. It's like an art for us."
Ming nodded. "Exactly!" she said, sitting down and leaning back in her red chair.
Shusui sighed. "Alright, well on to more important matters." He said. "How is everything coming along for the spell?"
Just then another woman walked in, her long dark brown hair braided down her back, her bangs cut straight across her forehead. She was dressed nicely, though not as elaborately as the other three, and her bright blue eyes were nearly concealed by her large, round glasses. She was holding a few books with her, and frantically set them on the table before sitting in her navy colored chair. "Sorry I'm late, I discovered something that will change our plans a bit." she announced somewhat breathlessly.
The brunette arched a brow. "What is it Faia?" he asked.
"We're going to need a sacrifice to ensure that the spell goes off without a hitch." Faia replied. "To strengthen it."
Viletta frowned, pulling one of the books towards her. "What kind of sacrifice?"
She let out a breath. "A pureblooded vampire." She announced.
"Do you have any idea how difficult that will be to capture?" Shusui asked. "They hardly stray too far from their own covens, let alone allow themselves to fall into any kind of trap."
"I could always send one of my wolves after one." Valencia offered. "They're more than capable of retrieving a pureblood. Especially as it gets closer to the full moon."
Viletta scoffed. "No offense sister, but those pets of yours are not so reliable."
The younger woman huffed, crossing her arms. "Taizen is one of the most reliable beings on this planet, and while James is a bit more difficult to deal with, he is still learning. If I send them both out we are guaranteed to have a pureblood in no time."
Faia nodded. "With their speed and strength, it shouldn't be much of a challenge for them to take down a pureblood. Not to mention they are a new species, so their wolf forms will be unexpected." She said. "Though I do agree with Viletta, and that it may not be wise for us to place all of our chips in one area."
"Send the mangy flea bags." Ming said, crossing her arms. "I don't want to go out if I don't have to."
"You don't want to do anything if you don't have to." Shusui smirked, not affected by the glare she shot his way. "Very well, we'll send out the wolves. But they only have a week. After that we cannot afford to keep waiting for some results, and will have to go out and catch one ourselves."
Valencia smirked. "Don't worry, I'm certain they will be finished well before that deadline." She said confidently.
"Then it's settled." Viletta stood and headed out of the room. "Let the wolves handle it."
Valencia glanced over as her wolves entered the garden in which she was planting some new flowers that would bloom and be used as an ingredient in creating a very potent poison. She paused in her task, wiping her hands off on a cloth and standing to face them. They were both tall, well-built men, each capable of more than they appeared. One had light blue, nearly white hair, which fell around his face and framed deep indigo eyes. The other had a head of shocking red hair that spiked in almost every direction, and a pair of blue eyes. Both wore serious, blank expressions, and stood there with a stiff posture, as if they didn't know how to have fun.
"Hello my darlings." She smiled, walking up and pinching the two men's cheeks, only to have them both move out of her reach. The green haired witch giggled. "Lighten up boys, I have a task for you. One that should give the two of you some entertainment."
The blue haired man arched a brow. "What kind of task?"
"I want the two of you to go out and fetch me a pureblooded vampire." Valencia said, checking her nails to make sure no dirt got under them. "Preferably unharmed, but if you must be rough in your capture of them, I understand."
"No." the other man said sharply, glaring at Valencia. "I've heard about vampires and their dislike for werewolves."
She looked over at him. "What, are you saying that the gifts I bestowed upon you are not powerful enough?" she asked, an edge coming to her voice. "Don't worry James, if you get scared, I'm sure Taizen will protect you." she smirked.
Taizen snorted. "I most certainly will not."
"I didn't ask for this curse. It was forced upon me." James snapped.
"What you have is a gift." Valencia said, giving him a hard look. "And if you want to keep living, you will use it to do as I say. Meaning you will go with Taizen and get me a pureblood. If the thought still worries you, bring me a female, the gender does not matter."
"You people are sick." James hissed, turning and leaving. "If we're going to go get this vampire, let's get going already."
Taizen bowed slightly to Valencia. "My Lady." He said, going after the redhead.
"You have a week to complete your task." Valencia called after them, waving before returning to her work.
The blue haired man waved, signaling he'd heard her words as they left the garden. When they were a distance away, he glanced at James. "You should watch your tongue when speaking to her. She will not be so gracious if you keep this up much longer." he advised.
"I'd rather be dead than an animal." The redhead snapped, crossing his arms as the two walked.
He sighed. "You really should try and be grateful for your new abilities. Now you're more powerful than you ever could have hoped to be as a human, and your lifespan has increased exponentially."
"So what?" James glared forward. "Now I'm a slave to that witch!"
"It's not like she asks us to do things all the time." Taizen said.
"She's a witch." He stated simply. "They're just as bad, if not more so than vampires."
Taizen rolled his eyes. "Well now you're not any better, so you may as well accept it. If you continue to fight what you are, it will weaken you."
"Whatever." The redhead grumbled, opening the door to the outside, which led into the forest. "Let's just go. I'm tired of being here."
The blue haired man held in a sigh as he began to shift into his wolf form, along with his companion. He just knew the task set before him wasn't going to be an easy one, and it had nothing to do with the vampires. For the one he felt would bring him the most trouble, would be James.