OH! Hey! How are you all doing? It's been a hot minute, right? Okay, I am not going to sit here for a long, long time blabbering on, but I will kind of say a few words because so much time has passed.
This is the sequel to "Unholy Matrimony", so if you haven't read that, you will want to. There are things within this universe that were created in that story that are important. Also, I am sorry for the delay in this release. I've been working on a few things for a couple of months now in regards to this, but I've held off posting this, as I wasn't sure if I was ready for it all again. But I've had the help from of a couple of great people who sort of pushed me forward.
Vani (Blackened Wing) – as always, you put up with my nonsensical gibberish and text messages and phone calls, and again, nonsense. Thank you. And a recent PM I got from Addy10 and Yukino Mizumi, reminded me that there are people out there still waiting for a sequel and they wanted to know what happens next, and really said some amazing things. Thanks for that!
I am rambling, yes, sorry. I am just a tad nervous. Sequels are scary, because you have to try and make sure they live up to the success of the first one. Here is hoping! :D I'll shut up now. Enjoy the story.
Disclaimer – same as all of my other ones. Don't own the characters, but I am borrowing them for a bit of fun and will return them in one piece (maybe).
Prologue: Behind Door Number One
A man watched the bustle of the human traffic below from where he sat, perched high up on a building several stories high. His hair curled at his ears, but the wind blew it out over his face in messy brown waves. Those people—those humans—were under him, as they should be, as everyone who was beneath him should be. Their behavior was sordid yet predictable. A man, as he witnessed, shoved a woman with a stroller of his way so he could catch the taxi before her. A child wandered alone, several feet behind his mother, who walked ahead, her cell phone attached to her ear and the only worry to her. Someone could snatch up that child—he could—and she wouldn't notice until minutes later. Easily manipulated, those humans—easy to control.
"Aoi," he whispered to the approaching figure, his continued gaze transfixed on the small figurine-like people walking below. "I hope you have good news."
The voice, quite and monotone, deadpanned the news without hesitation. "No, all the subjects are deceased except for the half-American noble, but we've yet to start trials on him."
"Hmm…" he hummed and tapped his chin with his forefinger in a thoughtful manner. "They weren't adequate then." He turned to Aoi. He smirked and tilted his head in invitation. "Any other candidates scouted?"
Aoi used the back of his hand to push his bangs from his eyes. "Yes," he replied, very formal and to the point – as was everything the younger vampire did. The black-haired vampire presented a manila folder and opened it, wetting his thumb and pointer finger before flipping through the papers inside. "There are a few we've found who would be suiting to your trials. Through the data we've gathered, we selected a young hunter. We've never tried the trials on someone whose hunting powers are just coming into fruition. Nakata Takeshi, age 12, and he just started to train in the Association's field training. He's been assigned to an experienced hunter, Ryu Endo."
He looked to the stars, as if they would give him the answer. He inhaled a deep breath and pursed his lips. "Okay, obtain him. I think the age is a great recommendation, Aoi. Let's try it on someone that young and just growing into power. It'll be interesting to see if his cells react differently." He looked to the young noble, urging him silently to carry on.
"There is another hunter of African Am—."
"No, we've tried that before and it didn't work, Aoi."
"You're right." Aoi flipped through a couple more sheets of paper. "There is a rare, stabilized ex-human in Kyoto."
He shook his head. "No, we've tried that already. Remember the outcome?"
"Right, I nearly forgot. That subject did perish in the end."
"Exactly," he agreed. He waved his hand to encourage Aoi to continue. "Anyone else?"
Aoi seemed to hesitate on the last sheet of paper, before ultimately deciding to carry forward. "The last one is an oddity, and could carry serious repercussions if we acquire this subject."
A challenging smile tugged at the sides of his lips and he lifted an interested brow. "Now you have my attention. I do love a challenge. Who is it?"
"Kuran-sama's newly married spouse."
The lines on his forehead drew together as he contemplated the name. He nodded a small nod in agreement. "Yes…Kiryu Zero, right? He is an ex-human, hunter who's probably thrived on pure blood for…" He paused. "How long have they been together now?"
"A year," Aoi answered.
Fascination lit up in his eyes. "An entire year of this hunter, who is turned vampire, sustaining himself on probably nothing but pure blood. He's an interesting specimen indeed, Aoi." His smile grew wider as he weighed the consequences of his next statements. "The pureblood would be furious. They are often protective of their belongings, especially their mates. I know what you mean about serious repercussions."
He waved a hand at the noble to draw him closer. Aoi, with grace, jumped onto the ledge of the building and sat down next to his leader. The small vampire's arm brushed up against his leather jacket as he reached over and took the manila folder from Aoi's grip.
"Let me see the details on him before I make the call. You can't crack open a bee's nest without knowing whether or not taking on the hive is worth the reward." He scanned the paper with Kiryu's name, picture and details on it, making a low humming noise as he considered his next prize. "We've been targeting Kuran-sama since their marriage, ironically, due to what he married—when in fact, perhaps, he has had the key to my research all along."
Aoi understood the silent want in his leader's expression and started to calculate the next moves. "Do you want me to gather Satoshi and the twins?" he asked his boss.
A light, cold breeze dusted his face and hair. "Yes, the twins, and Ko, too."
"Five of us? You think Kiryu is that big of a threat? I've read the files and—."
"And nothing, Aoi. He's a vampire who's been fed pure blood on a consistent basis, who also happens to be of hunter blood, and he trained under the current head of the Hunter's Association. I would say he is a formidable opponent and we can't take chances, not with this one. If he got away, seeing your face, you can guarantee his spouse would obliterate you. Take precautions and be safe. You cannot fail, Aoi."
Aoi got up from the buildings ledge and hopped back onto the rooftop. "You're right."
"Good," he said. "Oh, and Aoi, please tell your brother, Aki, to get something together to keep Kiryu tamed. I am not sure how far the connection of the Union goes between spouses." He listened to the noble's footfalls fade before he yelled out one last thing. "Aoi, please don't get overzealous. Kiryu is to remain unharmed. And don't frighten the hunter child."
"Katz," he said, speaking his leader's name in annoyance. "Perhaps you would like to take on Kiryu instead?"
"I trust you," he said, as he slipped off the ledge into the empty space below. He landed on the concrete with ease. His leather jacket welcomed his hands as he slipped them in his pockets and carried on a casual stroll down the sidewalk. He smiled politely at the humans who walked past him, even bowing to a few women who stared at him a few moments longer than the average gaze.
But they were all worthless beings—tainted creatures. Their blood ran inside his veins, as his pure blood ancestors had mated with mortals to create nobles and the vampire chain. He was sullied by their kind. And he hated them for it.
The pitiful world he resided in didn't understand the unstable ripple he was creating. These humans couldn't sense the pending shift in power, or the small tremor that tilted the frail, balanced scale in his favor—a favor that would destroy the very foundation of their existence.
They didn't know of the change he intended to bring upon the entire world. They didn't know of the purification on the horizon.
And he couldn't wait to share it with the world.
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Hey! Long time no see, right? Okay, okay, so this was short, I know. But it's a prolgue and I wanted you to meet the antagonist right away. It's like wanting to warn the boys' but you're not able to scream at them that something terrible is coming.
Anyway, please review if you would like to. And I have a good portion of chapter one done (actually, I have it all done) but I just need to go over it and edit it. I'll post it in two weeks. J
I've missed you all. Hopefully you're all ready for this ride, as it's going to be one hell of a ride for both Kaname and Zero.
Again, thank you all for your continued support. This wouldn't have been possible without your faith in me. 3
Here is a little preview of the next chapter (which is crazy long already, but you guys know me enough by now to know I can't keep the short), and it shows we'll get right into Kaname and Zero and their relationship over the past year. I just wanted to give you something to look forward to with the next chapter. :D
A half circle booth and a round table were the only things in the little room, besides the smiling ornament seated at the leather seat.
"You're late," Kaname said. The bemused grin that graced his lover hinted at more than a normal welcome. There was something sinister in that gaze. "Again."
"If you expect me to be late all the time, shouldn't you just set everything a half hour earlier than normal, so you can be sure that I'll show up on time?" he responded sheepishly. "And I'm not always late." A weak counter, because he knew he wasn't the most punctual lover in the world.
The pureblood got up from the booth and closed the small space between them. The warm arms that circled his waist relaxed his tense muscles. Kaname pulled him close, leaning to the point his breath was felt across his neck. Those movements made his skin crawl in a good way, like little gooseflesh bubbling to life and tingling his skin.
"You are always late. And I did set it a half hour later," the pureblood whispered into his hair, kissing a small line down his exposed neck. "I set the dinner staff to service us at seven, which means we have ten minutes before anyone comes in." The kisses grew heavier and were filled with more need—a desperate want from their days of separation.