Chapter One - It Begins

"Madam," Lilly knocked upon her door. Her head jerked up from over the letter she was writing. "May I come in?"

"Yes, Lilly, you may,"

"Madam, Mr.'s Goldschmidt and Goldsmith are coming for dinner and…" She trailed off, noticing her mistress's blank expression. "And you already know. My lady, you must stop spying on the telephones!"

"I can't do that," Francois replied. "If I do, then Amshel will keep calling!"

"My lady,"

Francois smiled at laughed at her guardian's frustration. In truth, Lilly was a very fit thirty years of age. She was of Irish decent with wavy, red hair, loads of freckles across her cheeks and nose, and bright green eyes. She had known Francois for many years and was considered her best friend.

"Lilly…"

"Don't 'Lilly' me, lady, come, it is time for your transfusion, then lunch."

"How can I plan a hostile takeover if I have to break for lunch?" She pouted.

"I'll never understand why you want to rid the world of Cinq Flesche, they've done no wrong!" She shook her head. "Or why your Father permits you to handle these affairs!"

"One, not that you know of, and to the second," Francois replied most assuredly. "Because he loves me,"

"That might be why he scheduled for you math tutor at 3 today." Lilly smirked.

Francois paled. Math was not her strong suit. "You wound me, Lilly, are we not friends?"

"Yes, of course, lady," She nodded. "I only meant it as a tease! Calm down."

A tall, pale, brown-black haired, caramel eyed boy dressed in tight black jeans, a black anime tee and gothic boots walked through the doorway to the two girls.

"Hey, sis,"

"Hello, brother."

"Bonjour, Lilly,"

"Bonjour Master Kaji,"

"What'cha doin', sis?"

"Hostile Takeover of Cinq Flesche."

"Coo-ool,"

"So you say, you do not have to do it,"

"Master Kaji, Can you convince your sister to stop for her transfusion and lunch?"

"I can do you one better!" He exclaimed as he picked his sister up and slung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Lead the way Miss Lilly!"

"You cur! You Brute! Jerk! TERRIBLE TYRANT!" She shrieked. "HOW DARE YOU! PUT ME DOWN!"

"Sis, no one speaks like that anymore,"

"Which is a shame," She sniffed. "One of the reasons I do!"

"Dork,"

"FOUL DEMON!"

He sighed angrily as she continued to berate him.

"CAD! DEBAUCHER! CHIKAN!" then she tried begging. "Please do put me down, now, people can see my undergarments!"

"Your undies?" He sighed. "Whatever, we're here."

He set her down when they were finally in the infirmary.

She punched him hard in the stomach. He doubled over in obvious pain.

"D-DAMN!" He managed. "Why'd you do that?"

"Traitor," She huffed. She then collected herself and sat on one of the infirmary's beds and held her arm out to receive her transfusion.

"Master Kaji, aren't you going to receive your transfusion?" Lilly inquired.

"Already got it over with," He replied still holding his sore stomach. "Unlike Some people!"

Francois stuck her tongue out at her annoying elder twin.

"And you say YOU'RE the mature one!" He laughed. "As if!"

"I wish that you could go five minutes without reducing yourself to a two-year old," She sighed. "Such a shame…"

"What do you mean—"

"Anywho," She continued as if he wasn't there. "Your dear friend Solomon Goldsmith is coming tonight for dinner,"

"Sully's coming?" He pumped his fist in the air; eager to continue their paintball fight.

"Amshel too,"

"Great," he moaned. What a mood-killer.

"I need to keep them away from," She made a motion.

"Oh! You mean your stray dog!" He laughed. "Alright!"

"Stray dog?" Lilly growled. "What does he mean--?"

"Lilly, it's a relative who he calls Nora Inu, not a real stray." Francois explained. "Nora Inu is Japanese for stray dog."

"Ok," Lilly replied warily. "As long as whatever you're doing isn't illegal…"

"It's not," She grimaced as the i.v. drip was removed. "Do you trust me so little?"

"No but—" Lilly started.

"You can't tell either of them, Miss Lilly," Kaji intoned softly. "It's impertinent that you don't!"

"I won't but—"

"Good, so we have an understanding?" Francois replied.

"Just promise me, you'll tell me everything once they leave."

"Don't we always?" Kaji intoned with a smirk.

Armed in their best formal wear the twins descended the stairs together in preparation of facing Amshel.

"Alright, the Ak-47 dad acquired from Mr. George is under the sink in case things get messy," Kaji whispered to his sister.

"I hope it will not come to that."

The two walked to the library to wait for Solomon and Amshel's arrival.

"Kaji,"

"Yes?"

"I'm afraid your friendship with Solomon—"

"Sully," Kaji whined. "Call him Sully! It makes him more approachable! I'm sure you'd see how fun he is if you'd talk to him outside of meetings."

"It cannot continue."

"W-why not?"

"Because he killed my Karl."

"HE WAS FORCED TO!" Kaji snapped.

"Forced or not, he has to pay."

"He's my best friend!" Kaji snapped. "I've known him since I was fifteen years old!"

"And Amshel made him HER chevalier! That makes him the enemy!"

"WHAT ABOUT KARL?" He Growled. "YOU NEVER GAVE UP ON HIM!"

"Fine!" She retorted. "Do as you please!" Se crossed the room and opened a book at random. The discussion was over. Kaji may have won, but the price of the win was terrible on him.

"Sis," He tried. It was a useless gesture. He knew she would not listen to him. He sighed and threw himself in a Windsor chair. He knew how she would be when Solomon got here. How she always was.

"Masters," the butler announced. "A Mister Solomon Goldsmith and a Mister Amshel Goldschmidt to see you."

"Thank you, Evan, please show them in." Francois replied, the perfect picture of grace and dignity.

"Misstress Francois," He nodded and went to do so,"

"Sis,"

"Abuhbuhbup," She made the silencing sound. "After our guests leave."

"Hello, Francois, looking as beautiful as ever," Amshel greeted with false honesty.

"Save it for someone who might believe you, Mr. Goldschmidt."

"Ouch, cold as ever too," Solomon intoned with his silky baritone. "Still hating us because of our parents fued?"

"It's ours too," Kaji replied darkly.

"No," Amshel smirked. "You're all safe while your big brother Haji protects you."

"And You're all safe while Grandpa Nathan protects YOU." Francois snapped back.

"Look, I'm sure you didn't call us here to fight," Solomon tried defensively. "Let's all calm down and—"

"FORGET THE TREATY!" Francois snapped in Rage. "FORGET PEACE AND FORGET ALL OF YOU! AAAARRRRGHHHH!"

Kaji barely held her back. She must really be angry. He had never seen her act like this before! She was always the good child. She did everything to please daddy. He had always been the rebel. That's always how it had been.

Something had changed that day when Miss Saya killed Karl.

Amshel laughed. "Ah-ah-ah, I wouldn't if I were you!" he smirked. "Without your big brother you two are nothing! No more powerful than Riku and he's dead."

"Oh Am I?" A clear tenor voice intoned. "Am I really?" A boy of at least nineteen years stood before them. He had light brown hair and Blue-grey eyes. He wore a Victorian suit and smirked at Amshel. "So good to see you, Murderer."

"What in the world?" Solomon tilted his head. "Well, glad to see you survived."

"I didn't," He replied coolly.

"Then how?"

"Ask Nathan."

"You know, that's all I hear this week, 'Ask Nathan'. How about," Amshel slammed him out through the window. "I just make you tell me, boy."

Riku coughed and stood up. He transformed his hands into red-armored claws like Haji's. "Bring it on, Old Man,"

Amshel Jumped out the window after him. Francois took her chance and broke free from Kaji's grip. She punched Solomon, who merely fell with it then grabbed her by the shoulders.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING? FIGHT ME!" She snarled. "THE TREATY HAS BEEN BROKEN ANYWAY!"

"No, It hasn't and no I won't"

"But Amshel Attacked Riku-ojichan!"

"You forget; Riku isn't included in the treaty." Solomon shook his head. "Only you and your brother."

"But,"

"I'm truly sorry for what I did to Karl, But you must understand," Solomon held her close and whispered to her so that only she could hear. "I no longer work for Diva as her chevalier."

He released her and she stepped back staring agape at him. "Wh-what? But you—you can't!"

"I can and I have," Solomon shook his head. "I love Saya."

Francois was still staring agape when Riku was thrown bodily into her. She went flying Landing through a glass case under him and onto the floor. Cuts covered her body. Blood gushed from wounds that already began to knit closed.

"SISTER!" Kaji screamed. Flame broke out upon his skin and hair, which danced with the sheer power and rage flowing through his body. With a simple action a simple gesture his body was consumed by power. And at the gesture, Amshel's arms burst into flame.

"Brother, stop." She managed weakly as Riku helped her to her feet. It was too late. The treaty was now broken. The house and its inhabitants were fair game. One simple action had now brought the war on Chiropterans back to france.

Amshel screamed but soon freed himself of the flames, which hung in the air awaiting their master's command.

"Francois…" Kaji growled.

"Do as you like," She replied calmly. "But save a few hits for me."

He smirked as soon a full bloody Chevalier fight broke out. Solomon stayed in the background helping Francois tend to her wounds. James was summoned from who knows where. He and Riku were fighting hard but Riku simply was not strong enough yet. Soon he and Kaji were fighting back-to-back; switching opponents every few minutes.

"Solomon hurry," Francois coaxed. "They need our help."

"Our? So you've accepted me as your adopted brother?"

"No, but I do need your help."

"Fair enough."

Lilly was locked in Francois' room. The servants knew their masters' secrets and were used to what to do if a fight broke out. Lilly paced the room in agitation. Suddenly she heard a rustling from in Miss Francois's adjoining room. She walked over to it. The steel doors gave a violent shudder.

"Let me out! My Lady needs me!" A voice yelled.

"I know that voice," Lilly murmured. "Mr. Fei-ong?"

"LET ME OUT! SHE'S HURT! I HAVE TO PROTECT MY QUEEN!"

Cautiously, Lilly opened the locks on the door.

The door burst open and Karl sprang from it. His eyes were blood-red from blood lust and fury.

"Where is she?" he demanded.

Lilly pointed to the door that led out of Francois' room. 'She invited Mr.'s Goldschmidt and Goldsmith over but I think they're fighting."

"Thank you," He managed around his dark glares.

"Yes," Lilly replied meekly as he moved o leave. "I didn't know you were a vampire, too."

"There's A LOT, you do not know about any of us," He replied and was gone.