Delivery
Chapter 19
Lady Alcina Dimitrescu attempted to seem engaged with what was happening. The trial of Moka Aono, or perhaps it would be better to refer to her as either Moka Akashiya or Bloodriver. After all, there was little doubt in her mind that Tsukune Aono would annul their marriage. Personally, she believed that her daughter Cassandra would be a smart match. She was cunning, willing to study human culture to more easily fit in, and she would be loyal.
Their children would be beautiful, powerful, and the Shino bloodline would be held by noble vampires that did not abandon Romania. She was certain that with some gentle coaxing Cassandra could convince Tsukune to move back to Castle Dimitrescu. Her daughter would give her body fully to her husband, she didn't have a doubt on that, although she believed that her heart may remain cold.
Afterall, Cassandra was always more pragmatic than her sisters. She looked at things logically. Oh, she was certain that her daughter enjoyed a romp or two, after all, one doesn't live for about a mortal lifetime without experiencing some of the wonderful pleasures around them. But more than the potential to bring Tsukune into their fold her mind was on her youngest daughter. A daughter that had taken a trip with a bodyguard that betrayed them.
Oh, Krauser paid for his deception. Once she found out that her daughter had been kidnapped, stolen away, and that Krauser had not perished in protecting her, it was mere child's play to track his movements. The fool hadn't changed his human disguise. He still appeared to be American, of Hungarian origins, blond hair which was cut short into a military style hair cut, strong nordic cheekbones, piercing blue eyes, and a scar that started at his cheek and went through his upper lip. Having loyal witches working for one such as herself made finding him all the easier. He believed himself intelligent by being in Roanapur. The city of the Walking Dead. She'd heard the stories, how everyone in the city was merely waiting for their bullet.
For Krauser it was true. He had been waiting on his bullet. A bullet which found him thanks to a group of mercenaries. His causian skin stood out among the citizens of Roanapur, and of course it made finding them all the easier. Hotel Moscow had done well in exterminating him. Of course her request that he be burned alive made it all the easier. It was much harder for an orc, in a human form, to escape napalm. But his death did little to give her the solace she desired. It wasn't until two days ago that she learned a new crew would be delivering her daughter.
The man who spoke to her, Rokuro Okajima, explained what had happened. He even detailed how those which captured her daughter, and tortured her, were dealt with. While she would have preferred that their suffering had lasted longer she was pleased that they had been eliminated. As such, she agreed to allow them to return her darling Dragă. They were arriving this very day, and she couldn't focus on the battle of wills that had happened between Gyokuro and Tsukune.
As it was she would need to tell Cassandra, Bela, and Daniela to view the proceedings. She was certain that her daughters would not disappoint her. And besides, it would give Cassandra a chance to take in how Tsukune moved. Her daughter was meticulous in her planning, and she would take in his movements, every one of them, in order to plan how to best react in order to conceive a child. That would be priority on her list of things to do. She would conceive a child with Tsukune. If he wished for their child to be raised around humans it would be all the better.
It would allow them to see how humans react, what they do, and how to fit in with them. Her daughter would see the wisdom of this as well. She took a final look at Moka. A faint snarl escaped her lips. Debasing herself, allowing a lesser monster to breed her, regardless of the reason, was treasonous at best. She had broken the old covenants, threw down the long honored traditions, and for what? She didn't know the squabble that caused the split, nor did she care to.
At this moment Moka Akashiya was a dishonored, and abandoned, fledgling. She was no better than a turned vampire without a maker. She stood, her spotless white gloves, dress, and polished black shoes reflecting the fact that she was from wealth.
"Girls," she said primly, "Observe the squabble, report what happens, I wish to know all of it."
"Of course mother," Cassandra said, dipping her head. Her raven locks framing her face perfectly, "Although, may I be permitted to ask why you are leaving?"
She looked at her daughter. Cassandra wore a black dress, much like her sisters, it was cut to show off her cleavage, which unfortunately her daughter seemed to have inherited her frame and form from her father. A pity, such a brilliant cunning mind, but a body didn't quite match. Still, she believed that she was far more beautiful than several of the others present. Of that she was proud. Her white skin was perfect, her eyes matched her sisters, and of course her own. One red eye on the right, a yellow dragon's eye on the left. The mark of the Dimitrescu line. Vampires that had a bonded dragon to them. A servant dragon, if one would, that lived below the castle.
She looked at Cassandra with an amused smile, "I go to collect Dragă."
Her sister looked thoughtful for a moment, "Shall I accompany you?" she asked quickly, "Because I could decapitate the one which decided to hold her for ransom."
She enjoyed the pragmatic way her daughter viewed things, "No," she said simply, "While I appreciate the thought, she is being delivered by a courier service. They have dealt with those who tormented and tortured her, and that has endeared them to me. They have earned the right to continue to exist, at least for now, and depending on how well she responds perhaps even earned some of our business."
Cassandra nodded, "Very well mother," she said before cocking her head to the right, as she was prone to do when she considered various variables, "Perhaps the one that dealt with those who captured, and harmed, my sister deserves a special reward. If you desire, I can look into their past, and see if there is someone disappearing would make their life easier, or perhaps better."
She nodded, "Do so. I will report a name, and I ask that you use that divine sight of yours for that reason."
"Your will be done, mother."
She gave a nod, satisfied knowing that Cassandra would indeed do all that was asked of her. There was the possibility that she would do more, but it would be if Cassandra saw some benefit for doing so. She began walking, the clicking sound of her heels echoing on the castle's ancient stone structure. Oh, the place where they were meeting was indeed grand, although she would have been happy to host the ordeal at Castle Dimitrescu.
Still, she didn't complain. The staff that had been arranged were competent, all knew their stations, and some were actually a joy to behold. She made her way toward the back of the castle. There was an open portal there that connected to something of a waystation to the section she instructed the couriers to bring her darling Dragă. Dragă was special to her. All of her daughters were special, but Dragă was born from an infatuation she had. The infatuation had been a younger nobleman.
He was some connection to the Tepes family. He'd been wonderfully charming, idealistic, and pure. That was the true draw. She shivered remembering the exquisite pleasure he'd provided. Oh, he was willing, able, but clumsily. It was something she was willing to work with. Like fresh clay she molded him into a lover of fabled skill. But, as with all things, she had to let him go.
His place was with his noble family, specifically with his father. But in his place was their daughter. The daughter that she now went to retrieve. She stepped out, and she saw a Jiang shi, one that was not bound to the will of the necromancer who revived it. Near her was a snow woman, a succubus, a Yōkai, and then one that she couldn't quite make sense of. He smelled delicious, like a human, but there was a strong smell of death around him. Almost as if he was one of the dead already.
Perhaps he was a Loa, or an onryō*, but regardless standing near him was another, just like him holding a rifle and between them was her daughter. She stepped forward and her daughter burst into tears and ran to her. She swooped her youngest into her arms.
"Dragă, darling, have these ones harmed you?"
She shook her head, "Mr. Rock and Ms Revy have been kind," she whimpered, "Ms Revy killed the ones who hurt me."
She studied the pair, "Upon the honor of the Dimitrescu line, I owe you a favor," she said, "I will have my daughter Cassandra reach out to you to repay it. Now, I will take my leave. There is much I must learn from my daughter, and plans to make to ensure those who aided in her capture are taught a very powerful, and painful, lesson."
She turned and walked back through the portal. Not far behind them the Yacht sat, and within minutes Xia-Long made his way toward where the others stood. He grinned at his cousin, "Fang Fang, I believe we have a chance to have a little fun."
His effeminate cousin smiled, "Perhaps, although I suppose we should pay our ride."
He turned toward them, and saw Dutch getting out from the boat. Beside him was Chyou, and the harpy seemed interested in staying. Xia-Long shook his head, "Chyou, is this really your choice?"
She shuffled her taloned feet, "Father, I am a Miao, and as such I will follow your command, but I am interested."
He looked them over, "Far be it from me to attempt to curb your interest," he said before looking to Dutch, "However, I will say that when we have a job, that you put all things to the side, and focus on that. We have two jobs. Deliver my cousin, Tsukune Aono's gift, and the succubus to our employer."
He then looked at his cousin, "And after that we have been hired to escort them to Tsukune Aono."
She nodded, "And I will assist, on my honor, as a Miao."
He grinned at her, "Good, you make me proud daughter," he said before looking at his secondary employer, "Mr. Rock, I will not ask for payment before time, but I will request that you stay nearby. Perhaps, someday, you will have the chance to join us in the dark. I believe that you would enjoy it."
Rock gave him a smile, "Maybe, but being in the twilight isn't so bad."
Ling Ling walked toward Dutch. She held a black briefcase, one that he'd seen off and on again, and she placed it on the deck of the Lagoon. She opened it and he saw the cash that was offered.
"For services rendered."
Dutch nodded, "The Lagoon Company honors its contracts. If you need us again, we'll be for hire."
She smiled, "very good."
Revy watched as the collection of monsters walked into the building, and she felt a sense of dread. That whatever was happening inside would come spilling out. She didn't like the feeling, and she wasn't sure that she wanted to stay there. Sure, Rock had hired the Miao Family, and most likely they accepted because it was something they wanted to do anyway. From what she'd seen they honored their contracts, but beyond that she had no clue.
That bird girl seemed interested in Dutch, and while she wasn't going to say anything the girl couldn't be much more than nineteen. Dutch himself was moving into middle aged, if not already there. It was difficult to tell, but she figured that he was older than he appeared. There had been rumors that he was in the navy, and that he'd been part of Desert Shield. If that was true then he was close to fifty.
It wasn't her business. Dutch wasn't the kind to push things, and the bird girl was an adult. Her musings ended with the sound of something between a scream and horrific howl coming from the place where the others walked. She felt a cold feeling, almost like the very hand of death reaching out. She readied herself, the rifle cocked and aimed.
*Bite sized Monster Fact! The Onryō are vengeful spirits that are cursed to walk the Earth until they've taken vengeance for their untimely slaying. Most countries have multiple versions of them, but in Japan they seem to focus mostly in large cities. They are stronger than normal humans, using their spiritual energy to attack. All Onryō are able to use the method of their deaths to torment the living.