AN: I swear I'll see this story to the end, I won't quit on it. So no worries there. : )
I Do NOT Own Rosario+Vampire; It Belongs To Its Respective Owner/s.
Chapter 12: The High Counsel
"Don't act so surprised! It's not like I ever had a chance to learn how to swim!" Moka mumbled in defense.
"I understand Moka. I'll just have to teach you then! Swimming is easy you'll learn in no time!" Tsukune said as he hefted himself out of the water and stood next to Moka, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"..."
"What's wrong Moka?" Tsukune asked in a cheery voice.
"It makes me sick to think that I can't do something you say is so easy. I can't believe something so weak like water can defeat a mighty vampire." Moka said in a strained, frustrated tone.
"No one is perfect, though you are dangerously close." Tsukune took Moka's hand and lead her to a shallow area of the lake. "Everything about you is so amazing. I can't help but wonder what could possibly make you love me. Out of all the people a mighty vampress like you could have chosen, you pick a pathetic, lowly human. I don't think I will ever understand why."
"Dear Tsukune, you belittle yourself far too much. You are much better than me. My beauty, strength, everything, it's all for not when compared to you. You gave up so much just to be with me..."
Meanwhile, a pair of crimson eyes watched the show from afar.
"Oh me, oh my, how pathetic. The boy is right; Moka never should have chosen a human. Father will be furious when he finds out that Tsukune was once a human. Even more so when he discovers that it was in fact Moka who attempted to change him into one of us in the first place."
Ria laughed inwardly as she thought about it. 'Father will want to kill the boy if he becomes aware of the relationship between the boy and Moka. The only thing that has kept father from killing the boy was the counsel. They know how dire the boy's future will be for the vampire society. The fate of the future lies in his hands. Though why fate would choose a weak, frail, thick-headed human; I will never know.'
The High Counsel rules over all the vampires and enforces the vampire laws. Many duties are practiced here including: sessions of law, petitions of the people are reviewed, and trail of criminals among the vampires, though trails are rare because no vampire would take the side of a different race of monster rather than another vampire's. There are a surprising amount of laws among vampires. Most are set to govern the nobles, too keep the clans in a state of peace. Though not all of the laws are still enforced due to corruption in the system and minds full of pride; however, there is one law that is kept at all costs:
Protect the race at all costs. All other Youkai are forfeit to the worth of a vampire.
In an assembly only select officials are allowed into each session. The room itself is the shape of a pentagon. There is a common seating section for the representatives of the noble clans set behind the lowest level of the room. At the last level there are four separate grand chairs, they are occupied by the representatives of the four regions of the vampire clans. The representative from the North sits farthest to the left of the four. Then comes the South, followed by the East, lastly the West.
In front of them lies a small circle, raised two steps from the ground. It is only large enough for one person to stand on at one time. Inscribed into the circle is a five pointed star, each tip points to a corner in the room. A person leading a discussion or a criminal on trail would stand before the counsel in this circle.
Past the circle is a large area raised three steps from the ground, the area is occupied by two grand seats even more elaborate and opulent compared to the other chairs. They are to be occupied by the Chancellor who is chosen by the counsel and a presiding Dark Lord. The Chancellor oversees the assembly; he is to make sure that every region and clan are represented fairly and to ensure a peaceful resolve of conflicts. While the Dark Lord is present to listen to the counsel's discussions so that he may make the best choices to further the good of the society and to receive the opinions and suggestions of the counsel.
(AN: Link for picture is at the bottom of my profile. But I forgot to draw the star, my bad.)
Deep in the heart of the vampire society, hidden from all unwanted eyes, the High Counsel of the Vampires was in session.
A messenger boy ran through the building, he had a message of great importance to deliver to the counsel. Messengers were chosen for their speed, it just so happened that this particular messenger was the fastest of them all. He was charged with only the most important documents. He rushed to the counsel doors, flung one open and rushed to the center circle to address the entire counsel. Everyone in the room wore hooded cloaks that covered their faces in shadows. Every ruby-colored eye was now fixed onto the messenger. Whatever the session had been called for was quickly forgotten when he spoke is first words.
"My lords; I have news relating to the young vampire Aono." The messenger stopped, breathing hard to catch his breath. But one of the noblemen did not have the patience to wait.
"Well spit it out boy!" said the nobleman from the East.
"Yes, how fairs the young man in the trials?!" asked the nobleman from the West.
"Speak, now.", said the man sitting in one of the two raised seats. The Dark Lord Akashiya, master of the vampires as such, master of all Youkai. He was seated in a relaxed, bored position. Hand on his chin, cloak covering everything but the glow from his deep red eyes. On his hand was a brilliant ring, brandishing the crest of the Dark Lords, the pentacle, otherwise known as a pentagram.
"Yes sir Lord Akashiya. Unfortunately the boy has not yet begun the trails, nor has he fully transformed yet." the messenger was cautious as to the reaction of the counsel. Every trip into the room was a dangerous task, the messenger never knew if one of the nobles would attack him in retaliation to the content of a message.
"WHAT?! Why hasn't he?!" the Eastern nobleman thundered.
The representative from the North interjected next. "Lord Akashiya, it was your duty to make sure he transformed. Why is it not yet carried out?"
"I assure you, I have my best agent on the task. She is infallible and will no doubt succeed soon."
"That was the other part of my message. Your agent infiltrated Paradise and is partaking in the mission as we speak." the messenger added quickly.
Lord Akashiya raised his hands and said, "Ah, you see? Ria will take of everything flawlessly."
"...U-Um... Lord Akashiya, it was not Ms. Sekitan who I was mentioning. Did you not send the young... Akashiya... to perform the task?" As he said this, Lord Akashiya's face shifted to a menacing, furious glare filled with anger.
"...MOKA?! MOKA IS WITH THE BOY?!" Lord Akashiya stood from his seat and flashed to the messenger's throat wrapping one of his hands around the boy's neck. Lord Akashiya was dangerously close to snapping his neck. "SPEAK BOY!"
The messenger had trouble obeying the command but he managed to sputter five words. "Y-yesss... i-it wasss h-her..."
A loud crack sounded through the chamber followed by a crash from the body being thrown and slammed into the far wall in the back of the room. The body slid down the wall, blood pouring out of the wounds smeared onto the wall leaving a trail to the floor. With the scent of blood filling the room, every set of eyes in the chamber glowed with desire, only to be shut out by each person's restraint. Not one of the nobles would degrade themselves by acting like a beast. They brushed off the murder and moved on.
Lord Akashiya brushed off his cloak before stepping onto the center to speak. "I am withdrawing from this session to deal with the matter."
The representative from the South spoke next, "Lord Akashiya, you are aware that you may do the boy no harm, also that you may not intervene in his training."
"You should be wary of what you say to me, Mikale. Or I will kill you... As to Aono, I have no intention of doing so. I must convene with my intended agent on her clear failure, also to update the change in events."
"Just keep in mind that this counsel cares not how the training come to be; only that it does. Do not interrupt the process for any reason." The nobleman from the South said.
Lord Akashiya immediately hid his fury. "Yes of course. My lords; I take my leave." He turned towards the door.
"Wait." The Southern representative interjected quickly. "Where is Lord Lucius, should he not be here as well?"
Lord Akashiya stiffened and turned his back again to the counsel. "Why should I know where that man is?"
"He is your brother is he not?"
"The Chancellor is none of my concern."
AN: Hi again! When I was writing this chapter down in my notes, it looked a LOT bigger. So it frustrates me that it is actually so freaking short! But I really wanted to end where I did so you'll just have to deal with it I guess. :)
I wasn't really sure how to explain the whole Counsel Chamber so if you would take less then 5 minutes to go to my profile for the link of the picture, you would understand the layout MUCH better.
