Chapter 3

"AARRGGG!" I yelled as I awoke to a slimy tongue in my ear and collided hard against the floor face first. After rolling onto my back, Set was looking down at me curiously.

"Did you seriously just lick me!?" I gasped at his mischievous grin.

I let out a deep sigh and draped one arm over my eyes. We were up all night with Mai and Ryou, the vampire living on the first floor that I'd never met before. In fact, I didn't even know there was a vampire in the building. She was very shy and so cute and adorable, but very willing to help. Long white locks fell to the small of her back and her eyes were a soft lavender. It was obvious Mai had woken her up since she was in a long oversized t-shirt and baggy shorts. She kept to herself in her very tidy apartment. I felt really bad bringing Set down there, but she insisted.

Set was very calm around her, doing everything she directed him to do. That is until he actually tasted the blood she gave him.

"I get all my blood from a supplier on the other side of domino. It's quite difficult to come by, due to my living arrangements. Other vampires can smell the werewolves and such on me and refuse to sell to me. It's not the best tasting blood, but it gets me by," She explained in a beautiful soft voice with a slight British accent. It was quiet, but she had this air about her where you just really wanted to listen. I got the feeling she'd make an excellent teacher.

Set proceeded to drink every bag of blood Ryou had in possession. "This is quite a situation you got yourself into here, Johanna," Ryou said light heartedly, scratching the back of her head and yawning.

"You're tellin' me. I'm really sorry about this, I can pay you, all that you need it's yours," I said touching her shoulder.

"You really care about him don't you," She said softly, giving me a knowing look. My cheeks turned bright pink, "What?! N-no! Of course not!" I quickly turned away to look at Set, who was sitting on the floor with blood all over his mouth, down his front, and pooling on the floor. I let out disgruntled sound and rubbed my forehead. Mai busted into laughter.

Ryou just let out a light laugh, "It's quite alright. I've dealt with worse messes before."

"Really? Say, do you recognize him at all?"

"I can't say I do, but I'm not really allowed in the community anymore," She gave an uncomfortable laugh.

"Oh! I…I'm sorry."

The laughter that filled the air was light and genuine, "Oh Jou, it's not like you did anything! It was several years ago, I am not ashamed of it. I spoke out against my clan, they wanted to pass a law to incarcerate any werewolves that got to close to our territory. I disagreed, and here I am!"

"Ryou, that's… thank you," was the only thing I could think to say. Just like that, they disowned a member of their clan, for disagreeing. Not that some packs wouldn't do the same thing, this world is just fucked.

We proceeded to clean up Ryou's then took Set back to my apartment to clean him off, after thanking Ryou a million times. Mai was very willing to help me with this task. Yugi had passed out on the couch, so we tried to move quietly, which proved to be quite the challenge with Set's newfound fear of bathwater.

Long story short, I ended up hitting the hay around seven in the morning.

A warning bell ringtone started playing to bring me out of my flashback. It was my father. I really didn't want to deal with him right now, but I know I would never hear the end of it if I didn't answer. After frantically trying to find it, I answered.

"Johanna, you better be outside this house, or so help me," he growled.

"Slow your roll Papa bear. What's goin' on?" I asked.

"Jou, goddamnit there's a council meeting today. You told me you would be here on time today!" He boomed.

Shit! I forgot all about that! After quickly spurting out a "be right there", I swiftly looked around for some decent clothes. I dashed about the apartment, throwing laundry out of my laundry basket, grabbing what I wanted and throwing it on the couch, quickly brushing my teeth and clipping up my hair, desperately doing the squirm into dress slacks dance, and tucking in my white button up, only finding one shoe, trying to put in some contacts, looking for keys, and just standing there after to make sure I didn't forget anything.

Shit. Fuck. Shit. Goddamn. What the fuck was I forgetting?! Then I looked over to my bed. Set was laying on his stomach looking at me, all smug.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Yugi and Honda had already gone to work, and I didn't know Ryou well enough yet to just throw him on her. That left Otogi, or Mai. I didn't have enough time to explain to Otogi what was going on.

I loudly knocked on Mai's door. Once she opened it, I pushed Set inside and yelled, "Please watch him for the day and make good choices!" Before bolting it for my car.

I arrived at our clan's homestead, which was a vast amount of forest for miles and miles. Good for hunting. I passed the area where I picked up Set, noticing the black tire marks on the pavement from my lovely little car. I wonder what would've happened if I'd just left him…

It was at least a ten minute drive before houses started appearing. Our homestead was practically another town. It was slightly cliché, with a large fire pit in the center of town were our clan would perform initiation rituals, and on three sides were the houses of the three council members, and on the fourth side was my father's house.

Teh, the largest house for the alpha of the pack, and it was passed on since our clan started. So classic. There were several stories, each had some symbolic meaning that I'd forgotten, but it resembled a plantation home with its huge white exterior and several large pillars with two perfectly parallel rows of trees leading up to it. The roads around the square were all dirt, but it just added to its quaint feel.

I pulled up to my old childhood home sprinted inside to burst into the council meeting huffing and puffing.

There were more people in here than usual. My father look furious. I was suddenly very aware of all the eyes on me. I let out some nervous laughter and floundered to my seat to the left of my father.

"Thank you for honoring us with your presence Johanna," my father said, through gridded teeth, "As I was saying…"

Who were the people sitting on the other side of the table? They all looked very fancy and regal. Let's see there's about ten, and whooooo is that?

The man who caught my attention was sitting adjacent to my father, usually implying they were the head of their organization. He was wearing a black business suit, but had his jacket resting on his seat. He had on a black vest and tie with the sleeves of his white button up pushed up to reveal muscled and tattooed forearms and a classy watch. Damn. Blond bangs framed his face and black hair stood spiked up with red streaks. His hair reminded me of Yugi's.

I must have been gawking because when those crimson eyes looked into mine he gave me a smirk and a wink.

A blush adorned my face I looked away.

Wait a minute, red eyes? Fuck, these people are vampires. I quickly tuned into what my father was saying.

"…treaty. I would very much like for this partnership to last. The Sennen Clan is welcome in our territory with certain restrictions. This is new, and I'm sure some will be upset in our decision. But this petty feud has been going on for too long and it needs to end. I don't doubt the high council in their decision to marry one of each species to bring unity to the land, however we need to show the people we are taking step to make changes." My father finished.

"I agree. I appreciate you taking the time to speak with us, Master Katsuya," Mr. Handsome said, in a deep baritone voice that could melt chocolate, "We agree to the terms of your treaty, and I look forward to doing business with you in the future."

So Mr. Handsome was the leader of these vampires. It seems I have type, doesn't it. Those vampires are just really doing it for me.

My father wrapped up with some closing statements and blah blah blahs. My father and I stood at the door, shaking the hands of our new brethren. Once Mr. Handsome came to me, he gave the back of my hand a kiss.

"Such a beautiful young daughter you have her, Master Katsuya. Might I inquire your name," He asked, slightly tilting his head to the side. So sexy.

"It's Johanna Katsuya, Mister…?"

"Doctor Atem Sennen," my father interjected.

"But please, call me Atem!" He said giving my father a pat on the shoulder, "I can't wait until our next meeting!" A bright smile appeared on his face, showing off his jaw muscles.

As he walked out, my father gave me a glare. "Jou. Damnit, this was a very important moment, and you couldn't have been here on time?"

"I'm sorry I forgot! And why can't I open up a fuckin' restaurant in their territory, but they get free reign here?"

"Watch your mouth young lady! You know how I feel about them. I've lived several years in anger, and I'm ready for it to be done. I can put my hatred aside to better our people. But no more than I have to. I am not going to put you in any more danger than I have to."

"Are you cussing kidding me right now?! For real? I am a grown ass, sorry, I am a grown adult! I can make my own cussing decisions!"

"My decision is final Jou. Now go wash your hands. I don't like the idea of him touching you."

"I cannot even believe you right now. This is bullshit. You literally just said you're willing to put your hatred aside!"

"Jou, you did not see them before this all started. You have not experience the assaults they've done towards our people! Don't you dare patronize me, young lady! You haven't lived enough or experienced enough to see what they have done."

"We haven't exactly been the best towards their people in case you've forgotten!"

"Jou, I don't want to argue about this any longer."

"RAAAGGHH!" I roared and stormed out. I plopped on a swing on the front porch of the house and pouted with my arms crossed. I don't care if it looked childish, I was pissed. This place was beautiful, but there was reason I left. My father was much to controlling. My mother left with my younger sister when I was in my preteens. She tried to get custody of me also, but my father demanded he have one of us to pass the title alpha down to.

My sister, Serenity, comes to visit often when she can, but my mother is remarried and taking care of foster children in her new pack, so I don't get to see her quite as much. She is a very sore topic to my father. He refuses to talk about it with anyone.

But my father does love us very much. He just has a weird way of showing it.

Actually, now that I think about it, I do believe Serenity did have a follow up appointment from her eye surgery she asked me to with her to. My step father's pack was quite wealthy and quickly jumped on the opportunity to help her.

My condition on the other hand, since not life threatening, and thus consider cosmetic by my insurance, I can't do anything about it. Just blackout when I get really stressed and headaches. My father would love to pay for me to get the procedure done, but the money simply isn't in the cards right now. Half a million dollars without insurance, and it had to be paid in full. Yeah, my eyes could wait.

Running my fingers through my hair, took a deep breath, and closed my eyes.

The sound of footsteps filled my ears then I could feel pressure on the swing next to me.

"I happened to overhear," a familiar voice said.

"Sorry about that. Shit. Please don't take back the treaty now, I know what my father said, but we really want this to..." I trailed off, there was no way I could undo what was said, and my father didn't exactly sugarcoat his feelings, and I was unable to look Atem in the eye.

He let out a hearty chuckle. "Not to worry, I've dealt with much worse than your father. The way I find best is to show that we are not all as bad as he thinks we are. Anything we can contribute. I want this war to be over, too.

"Say, you've had to deal with the worst of our kind too, but you're still quite optimistic about the future."

I raised my eyebrow at him.

"I saw the most peculiar thing this morning," he began, "It was some video footage of some female wolf coming to a police station in my territory…"

A wave of terror rushed through my body. Oh shit, it was his territory.

"…and was attacked by one of my officers, she managed to disarm him. Funny, that officer was actually on suspension. I had to relieve him of duty and arrest him. You wouldn't know anything about that would you? I need to give an apology to the wounded party."

I looked over to find him awaiting my gaze with a smile. He totally recognized me.

"How coincidental I had a meeting with your father today and got to meet you. You did quite the number on Keith. What I'd like to know is what did he say to you? Our camera only have visual feedback."

I laughed, was something actually working in my favor? "He said his daughter was murdered by werewolves and that I would be paying the price..."

He looked puzzled, "Keith's daughter... huh. That's not what my records say. I need to look into this.

"Regardless, I am very sorry for that, I hope to improve your experience in my territory. I'd love to show you around sometime. If there's anything I can do for you, just ask."

The thought of my restaurant popped into my mind, but I just met the guy, I should wait, maybe ask in a formal letter or something? That's what we adults do right? I'd have to keep that in mind.

"T-Thank you Atem! Actually, if you could just keep that between us, I really don't want my father finding out. Anyways… how did someone as young as you get to become the leader of a vampire clan? I though you all lived forever or something."

Another chuckle escaped his lips, "Well sort of. We're not immortal, but we do live for long periods of time, not until werewolves I suppose. I became leader because my father was killed back in wartimes."

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean, I mean, I just, I, um, uh…"

"Not to worry, he was a strong supporter of the war and actually he never would've signed a treaty to end the segregation anyways, and he was nearing the end of his life regardless. It was only a matter of time. He taught me well, and I do miss his guidance at times, but I think I'm doing alright."

"That you are," I agreed.

Atem looked at his watch then said, "Well, I must be going. I've got another meeting with another clan. It was lovely chatting with you Jou. We should go for a ride sometime."

"What?!"

"On my motorcycle," he said, gesturing to it, parked a few rows down from my car.

"Oh! Yeah, that'd be nice."

He gave me a bow then sauntered off to his bike, which roared to life, and he drove off into the sunset. Or something.

He was cute and all, but I don't really think anything could become of that. He was much too intelligent for me. But my cheeks turned pink anyways.