Chapter Twelve
Feng Teng sat across from Xiao Nai in his office. He felt his maker's glare at him grow with each passing second.
"He called her Shanshan."
"Well-"
"He knew her name progeny." He cut him off before he could defend himself.
"How am I supposed to know how he got it. Contrary to what you believe sometimes, I do not go out of my way to talk to your enemies." Xiao Nai spoke, trying to keep his voice calm.
"He knew somehow!" Feng Teng wasn't calm, yet he wasn't yelling. Something Xiao Nai knew from past times, was not a good combination.
"The only time I can think about a data leak was when we were hacked by the hunters…" Feng Teng looked up at him, both knowing the answer the question they asked.
"He would be the only one dumb enough to use vampire hunters to do his bidding." Feng Teng stood up, his eyes moving to the girls' apartment across the way. He could make out shadows moving in the light.
"Or smart enough. Who would suspect a vampire of using vampire hunters to get the data he needed." Xiao Nai grabbed his glass of blood, downing the rest of it. He tasted the bitter brandy he had put in as well. The fire going down his throat. "Brilliant. I would have thought of that."
"Well I always did like the smart ones." Feng Teng mumbled, finishing his blood. Yu Banshan came running in, a list of names that haven't reported back.
"I checked with all the vampires in each district for you Feng Teng. All the sheriffs have been notified and all accounted for. Three of our vampires are missing, Zhan Tianxia, Diemo Weixing, and Youming Guilao."
"Guilao, hes a massive son of a bitch if I remember correctly. Taking down him wouldn't have been easy."
"Is anyone else missing?"
"Hao Mei hasn't responded." A knowing look passed between the sheriff and his second.
"Yu Banshan, Lock Qiu Younghou in, make sure someone has eyes on him at all times. He'll be a main target."
"What about Hao Mei?"
"The human? Why is he special?" Feng Teng leaned against Xiao Nai's desk looking at his progeny's worried expression.
"Hao Mei is a friend. He's been nothing but loyal. Hao Mei is more a friend to vampire kind then any human we know." Yu Banshan spoke up.
"He's someone both Yu banshan and I have kept very close to us. The most trustworthy person we can have. If we need eyes in the daylight, hes the guy."
"More importantly-" Feng Teng held up his hand stopping the love speech that Yu Banshan was about to give.
"I understand. But you can't go after him yourself. Neither of you can."
"We can't just leave Hao Mei with him."
"If he is even alive." Feng Teng interjected.
"Hao Mei is alive." Xiao Nai stood in between the two of them, placing a hand on Yu Banshan's chest, trying to keep him calm. He pushed him to back off, nodding for him to cool down. Balling up his hands, he took a few steps back, his anger getting the best of him.
"Fine...I know a guy who can help find him. We just need an article of his clothes." Feng Teng stood up, pulling out his phone.
"None of us have been invited in yet."
"I thought you said he trusted you?" Feng Teng looked at them puzzled.
"We never had time to visit his new place." Xiao Nai reasoned.
"Weiwei and Shanshan have. They are human, so they can-"
"No." Feng Teng cut him off speaking over Xiao Nai's "Out of the question" remark.
"I'll escort them myself. They are in the same apartment building, 3 floors down. I'll even block out that part of the building so no one can leave or enter until they grab the clothes. Put them right back in their apartment safe and sound." Yu Banshan reasoned again. Both of them stayed silent, a conversation between them, that only a progeny and his maker can have. "Boss." Yu Banshan said softer. "It's Hao mei...They would want to help, no matter what you decide."
"Don't let them out of your sight." With a nod, Yu Banshan quickly left, heading next door to the apartments. Feng Teng stood up straight, putting his phone back in his pocket.
"The contact will meet Yu Banshan at apartment. Make sure the girls don't leave until he's left the building. I trust this man to get the job done, but that's about how far I trust him." He started to walk out the office, an exhausted Xiao Nai quickly followed him.
"Where are you going?" Feng Teng pushed the first floor button, the doors closing in front of him.
Someplace other then here." He stated, leaving Xiao Nai frustrated and alone in his office. Getting his maker to do anything against his will, was not something he was cable of doing. That he learned a long time ago.
Weiwei came out of Hao Mei's bedroom holding a sweater he liked to wear, while Shanshan sat on the couch, holding his jacket. She tried to keep from crying, only to feel hopeless. Weiwei wrapped an arm around her, wiping away her own tears. Yu Banshan stood outside of the doorway, pacing back and forth.
"Did you find anything yet?" Shanshan walked over, holding his jacket and sweater in her arms.
"He must have done laundry recently, these are the only things that seem unwashed."
"We just need-" Before he finished his sentence, he paused, quickly catching the scent of someone else. His eyes darting down the hall to the elevator. Just as soon as it dinged, a vampire was in front of him. He had a good foot on him, fangs out and ready for an attack. Weiwei ran next to Shanshan pulling her back, while Yu Banshan brandished his own fangs.
"Is that Shaoxiang?" Weiwei asked, looking at the new stranger.
"No. I don't know who that is." The Vampire turned his gaze on the girl's smelling the air, his eyes glancing at them a little too hard before turning to the other vampire, he stood up straight clicking in his teeth.
"Yu Banshan?"
"Yes?" He answered, not getting rid of his weapon.
"Feng Teng asked me to come. You need help finding someone?" Shanshan quickly ran over holding the sweater and jacket out the door.
"He's a human, about her height maybe a little taller-" She pointed to Weiwei. "He's-" The vampire held up his hand, stopping her.
"I just need his scent." She pushed both articles of clothing closer to him. Taking the sweater, he bowed towards them before leaving without another word.
"Who was that?" Weiwei asked, leaving Hao Mei's place.
"I believe that would be K.O. The best tracker in Shanghai." Yu banshan escorted them to the elevator, hoping to get them back inside their apartment sooner rather than later. "I wonder what Feng Teng has on him to get him to do this kind of work."
"Feng Teng isn't like that." Shanshan spoke up almost instinctively. Yu Banshan gave a sort chuckle, closing the elevator doors.
"Whatever you want to believe. But I know he will kill me, if you aren't back in your apartment soon." Weiwei pinched Shanshan's elbow, giving her a glare.
"Snap out of your daydream. Feng Teng is the King of Shanghai, the most deadly vampire in the city, how do you think he got there, kissing puppies?"
"More like eating them." Yu Banshan mumbled, but both girls heard him.
"He may be the most dangerous to you, but to me...he isn't." Weiwei shook her head. Her thoughts went to Hao Mei, hoping he will be safe with them soon.
Feng Teng gazed out at the harbor, the sea just beyond it. A world out there, he's been to, yet this was always his home.
"I remember when you brought me here for the first time." Zhen Shaoxiang said from behind him. He came to stand next to him, his gaze on the ships leaving and coming. The night sky shined brightly, yet the knew dawn was fast approaching.
"I also remember the last time I brought you here." He looked at his progeny, who started to sizzle with rage. He turned on him, gripping his collar. Feng Teng seemed unamused and unbothered.
"The last time, you ripped off the head of the only woman I ever loved." With little strength, he tore his hands from his shirt, pushing him back.
"She was a hunter, she was going to kill you-"
"I was going to turn her! She was the love of my life." He cut him off. "You ruined that. Put her head on a spike!"
"We are vampires, we don't have loves of our life. We have the love of blood." He watched Zhen Shaoxaing smirk at him.
"Is that what she is too you? In all my years of knowing you, working beside you, you never once treated blood like how you treat Shanshan." Quickly wrapping his hand around his throat, he squeezes tight enough to make him go off his feet.
"What makes you think I won't kill you now?" Shaoxiang pulls out his phone, a live video feed is coming through.
"You see, one thing you always taught me was to have a way out. Insurance." Feng Teng put him down, taking the phone from him. It showed a snipper on a building, the gun aiming right towards a window. The video zoomed in, showing Shanshan in her night gown. She was sipping on wine, her phone in her hand. "I wonder who is calling…" Shaoxiang taunted. A few seconds after she put the phone to her ear, his phone began to ring.
"You will die soon." Feng Teng pushed him away throwing his phone at him.
"I'm not the dumb progeny you left abandoned and forgotten in the waters." Shaoxiang smiled watching his maker rush off. He looked at the camera once more, Shanshan smiling into the phone before quickly looking up and running away from the window.
Weiwei was lying on the couch, while Shanshan was asleep on the chair, curled up hugging a pillow. Neither of them felt safe in the rooms after Feng Teng had called telling her about the sniper. All the window drapes were shut and they had the TV going so no one could hear them talk. The front door opened, with both Feng Teng and Xiao Nai walking in. Feng Teng went over to Shanshan, softly waking her up. Weiwei stood up, going to Xiao Nai who took her to the kitchen, hiding behind a wall for visible privacy.
"Is Hao mei found?" Weiwei asked, but Xiao Nai shook his head.
"Feng Teng thinks K.O. will find him soon." Weiwei wrapped her arms around his waist holding him tightly. He kissed her forehead, hugging her back.
"I was worried all day. Shanshan and I haven't been able to go near any windows without getting scared."
"I came as soon as the sun went down." Leaning down he kissed her softly, breathing in her scent. Xiao Nai wanted to get lost in her again and again, yet he knew he couldn't. "I can't stay long. During the day, Shaoxiang's men struck the district 3 vampires, their coffins were set a blaze with them inside."
"I wish there was more I can do to help." He nudged her nose with his, smiling at her.
"Being here is helping me." She smiled, leaning up she kissed him.
"Just please come back to me." Weiwei whispered, tears prickling the back of her eyes. "The only person who ever seems to come back is Shanshan."
"I will." Xiao Nai promises, kissing her. He pushed her gently against the wall, her hands wrapped around his neck holding him there. Their lips moving in sync with one another.
Feng Teng was kneeling in front of Shanshan, ignoring his progeny's time. Sometimes he wished he couldn't hear everything.
"Feng Teng." Shanshan leaned closer to him in her chair. He looked at her smile, wondering how something so sweet and innocent could ever love something so horrible and evil as him.
"I won't be away long. Just king business I have."
"You know with me, you never have to act tough." Shanshan leaned in kissing him. "I'm not going anywhere." Feng Teng kissed her moving his lips against hers, wishing to hold on to her longer. But just when he wanted to he knew he had to stop. Breaking the kiss he stood up, placing his hand under her chin.
"I'll be back." He whispered, his thumb tracing her bottom lip, before turning to walk in front of the wall, the two were currently pressed on. "Xiao Nai, enough, let's go." He staid sternly. Weiwei blushed, placing her feet back on the ground, unwrapping themselves from his waist. Xiao Nai, kissed her on the forehead, giving her a smile, before straightening his shirt. He walked around the wall, not smiling at his maker. They walked out the door, exiting to the elevator. "You know I can hear right?" Feng Teng asked, while Xiao Nai shook his head, a grin not leaving his face.
"I got carried away." Feng Teng slapped him on the back of the head, the smile leaving his face.
Weiwei came around the corner again, sliding under her blanket on the couch. Shanshan came to sit next to her.
"Sometimes I wish we never left the small apartment." Weiwei gripped her cousin's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Sometimes I do too. Life seemed easier then." Shanshan leaned her head on her shoulder, both falling asleep to the TV.