I like to thank all of those who have supported me, including the reoccurring reviewers. Because of you, we have finally approached a milestone.

{~0~}

Run Away Bride

The tenth day had come and the night finally bled to plague the minds of all three races. Humans particularly were neurotic with their beliefs on doomsday and its upcoming cataclysm. They would hang superstitious artefacts and crucifixes on their front door to ward off any evil spirits that may try to gain a foothold in their world. For werewolves, this was a time when aspiring warriors could exert their true strength by fighting in an arena since the bloodmoon amplified their supernatural abilities. The winner will be able to aggrandize their social standing, therefore ranking them as the upper alpha male or female and rewarding them with bountiful riches. Meanwhile as one race hid and one combated for recognition…one hunted for love.

A long time ago, in ancient times, there lived a wealthy young vampire. He was an avid student, committed to his studies in the arts of magic and known for his daring experiments. His parents were proud of his achievements and showered him with love. As happy as he was to be the jewel of his family's eye, one day they approached him and insisted that he marry his distant cousin and preserve their sacred bloodline. Disbelieved by such exhort from the admiring couple he called parents, he refused, for he was in love with someone else, a commoner. Unable to obey, he ran from home and convinced his beloved to elope with him – she agreed. Angered by their son's betrayal, they hired secret agents to kidnap him and return him home. Once found, the couple were separated by force and his parents locked him in a gloomy basement to punish him – the woman was banished and threatened to abandon him. But all of this didn't stop the assiduous vampire from fighting for whom he loved. Reciting a powerful incantation, he was able to break free from their grasp and ran in search for his lover. He never stopped, even when his family's servants were pursing him – he continued on hunting.

At last, when he found her during the beautiful night of a full moon, he proposed to her, but they didn't have a ring, nor could they arrange a fancy wedding. However, being a magic user did have its perk in the relationship department. The young vampire conjured a spell, one that branded skin to symbolize eternal binding and an excellent replacement for a wedding ring since it was permanent. The night after they consummated their marriage, he came back from downstairs to find his wife, dead – assassinated in bed without any signs of struggle. Her throat was slit open and the sheets were covered in a splatters of blood. His heart shattered into glass pellets, he knew his parents were held accountable, but he didn't have the inner killer instincts to carry out a revenge, they were his biological parents after all, driven by selfish emotions. He could not live without her, not by himself, so he casted one last spell with the tips of his trembling fingers…He sacrificed his life to walk by her side hand-to-hand into the white light. Thus every fifty years, their story of undying love, pain and hardship painted itself on the moon.

For ages, people speculated on why the moon would transition to a red illumination every five decades, though the most reasonable answer given was that the young vampire was an awful spell caster. He even forget to set the binding process to private mode. Now every vampire in the world could propose by binding, but to marry, was to consummate, and the binds then can remain permanent. And to divorce, was to abandon.

Nevertheless, from the young vampire's incanted error – birthed the Bloodmoon Hunt. It's controversial practice gained popularity amongst those desperate for companionship, or for those who wanting to conquer the weak for self-pleasure or triumph. Both harm or good to the victim depends on the hunter themselves. Overall the hunt has two simple rules: thou shall not kill and thou shall only use swords. Generally these rules are disregarded, but with Lord Asami in power, it was compulsory to adhere to it. Finally, in order for the marriage to be complete, a hunter must follow three mandatory rituals. These are: selection, binding and consummation, and must be fulfilled correctly before dawn, otherwise the binds would be deemed invalid.

Asami will show you how it's done…

…||[]||…

Through the light haze of the forest night, glows of fiery torches and the sounds of rotating machinery screeching in the distant, signified the advent of an ancient hunt. A mammoth beast of silver, forged by steel was manned with its circular mouth positioned to face the sealed cave hole. Down under, all traps were setout and the woman and children congregated by the emergency exit. Akihito and Val were given specific orders to guide them to safety, whereas the others had been assigned as protective fighters, equipped with pitchforks or one-handed swords, blunt of its sharpness, but still, harmful in the hands of a skilled warrior. The colony waited restlessly for time to pass, their hands fidgeted with whatever came in touch and conversations were minimized to a brief chat. Every now and then a child fussing or the echoes of booted feet clomping and isolated coughs would disturb the quietness.

A sixth generation infant squirmed and fussed in her mother's arm, her greed for attention irritated those around her, regardless of the pampers she received. Akihito, whom had been sitting on the ground with his legs crossed beside Val, frowned tiredly after enduring a two hour session of musical wailing. A replay was about to start, judging from her whimpering pout and watery eyes, and he wasn't going to tolerate it anymore. Especially since she was directly to his right. His poor ears. Akihito leaned forward, catching her gaze before making funny faces in hopes to pacify her. Surprisingly it worked and the baby giggled at his lips pursing, amused by his ability to voluntarily deform his normal expression.

"Are you having fun there?" Val asked with a hint of annoyance in his tone. According to his logic, this was classified as babysitting, and it was tedious for a man of his skill. A proficient swordsman should be allocated with a more challenging task, or to say, a violent one, involving slaying which suited his tastes more.

Akihito shrugged his shoulders. "What's there to do? We've been sitting here for three hours now. Gah, my legs feel uncomfortable." A numbing sensation prickled his legs, recommending that he should uncross it and allow proper blood circulation, he heeded his body's wants by stretching it out. Nicely repositioned, Akihito sighed jadedly before seeking one's company to his left. "Hey Val?"

"What?" He replied while staring elsewhere with a lack of interest.

"What's the best way to kill time?" Akihito wanted to immerse himself with an engaging activity to accelerate time and alleviate the growing anxiety. The faster the night ends, the better it was for all of them and life could resume back onto its original track.

"Meditate, read a book, eat, drink, I don't know. It's up to you."

BOOM!

A terrifying explosion sent the entire cave quaking for several seconds. Up on the ceiling, dust gratified and the spires of stalactites shook, threatening the dwellers below it of its falling danger. Shouts of alarm spread and everyone stumbled onto their feet to stare towards the entrance, manifesting with fear. Babies became frightened and began to cry, while the children buried their small faces in the skirts of their caretakers with their arms tightly wrapped around a thigh or waist, cowering in terror.

"Oh Aurieas, they're breaking in!"

"It's begun!"

"And Asami let them bring their weapon too!"

It wasn't unexpected that the Silverbloods would utilize such unfair tactics to infiltrate their fortification. But were their efforts to no avail of holding them out, against a weapon that sunders the earth? Straight after the first, another thunderous bang came and timorous yells pitched higher. The blast felt incredibly stronger than the day when Asami conducted his search for sorcery, clearly, this weapon must be greater in size than the initial one, for it's impact was far more deafening.

Akihito internally fell into despair, the bringing of this weapon could mark Lord Asami's participation – Val's theory haunted him to this very second and he questioned its veracity. Perhaps if he was gifted with a special ability to see-through things, maybe that would offer some relief, or worse, it could indicate the demise of his intended future. Right now a third shot had been cannoned and the group he was directed to supervise, huddled closer to the emergency exit – their focus never drifting from the entrance. Masato, Eri, Akihito's friends and the other cave dwellers remained in their respective spots, either trembling nervously or praying. For a minority of humans living within the vicinity, their bladders were fairly close to bursting and their concerns were much more greater, they just hoped the Silverbloods did not dine while hunting.

Meanwhile as Val attempted to calm the group of their jitters, Akihito realized something odd. "Wait! Did they stop?!" He exclaimed. The attacks had been discontinued for a few minutes now.

"They did! But why?!" Val queried.

All heads swayed to glance at each other, confused by the ceasefire. No one moved an inch nor spoke, they listened carefully, analyzing the enemy's next potential move. Akihito looked down to his father on the second level, the two exchanged perplexed shrugs and communicated by mouthing out succinct words. He was told to stay put until Masato authorized the evacuation. With that said, Akihito returned to Val's side and the two idled by the stone door with their backs turned to it. Moments later, a mortal toddler styled in braided piggy tails, saw the door parted open slightly. She gaped in wonderment, but due to her young age little knowledge had forestalled her capability to warn them of the unfolding situation.

Akihito's nose twitched, he had caught the scent of an animal. "Is it me or do I smell wet dog?"

"I smell it too," Val also noticed this anomaly – the other vampires begun to pick up the odor as well. "But we don't have any dogs in the pen." A chill of realization slithered along their spines, the two boys instantly swiveled around at the same time to confirm their suspicions. Oh no! They gasped in horror at the daunting sight of a black gap, which meant the button had been pressed on the other side or theirs to unlock it – but by whom?

"Akihito, did you press the button?" His voice lowered as cold sweat perspired.

"No, did you?" The blond denied.

"No," he shook his head before leveling his eye to meet with Akihito's. There was only one explanation to this problem – the enemy had discovered their secret path.

Without warning, the stone door began to budge open, something or someone was pushing it. The two immediately sprung into action and jammed the stone back in place and drew every ounce of energy to brace. The group saw the foray and settled the children aside to join in and help. The many arms contributed to keep the intruders out, never before had Akihito been so proud of his people's strive, he barely had to strain a leg, for now.

"Akihito, Val! What's wrong?!" Masato frantically sprinted to the gather. Eri and Akihito's friends also followed on afterwards. Arriving up, a young lady quickly explained what happened. Shock by the news, Kou and Takato weaved themselves through to replace the weaker pushers while Eri ushered the children to a safer place. Masato scrambled in search for boulders and ordered his men along the way to help barricade the door this instance. This was unforeseen, just how did the Silverbloods navigate their way through a labyrinth of tunnels? Even with dogs, whose pheromones did they trace? And was the weapon merely used just to distract them?! Evidently it appears that the enemy sought the element of surprise, but thankfully Akihito and Val were nearby to halt their entry.

Open and close, the door went, as the other side was also trying their hardest. Akihito's teeth grinded and his face reddened as he withheld the opposition with his back and digging his boots into the ground. "Push!" They repeated over and over again. All the sudden, they could feel the outsiders slacken their push. Strange, Akihito thought. Were they giving up? Apparently he was wrong…A powerful force, extreme in its plow, thumped loudly against the stone door. Every sheer pound caused their hands to rebound off, but they were quick to plant their palms back on and resume pushing.

"What the hell are they using?!" Kou cried.

"I don't know!" Akihito panicked.

"Guys this isn't good! It's crackiiinggg!" Val warned aloud. Indeed the stone door was breaking, the cracks zigzagged through the middle, chipping off with every hit taken.

"This cannot be happening!" Akihito pressed his palm on the lines as if he could bandage it from further damage.

"It's going to give!" Takato yelled.

"Noooooo!" Val wailed.

And it did give way…

The stone door, right in front of them, crumbled to a pathetic pile of rubble. Akihito and the others bounced back a few meters, unsheathing their swords from their belts while the rest of the group ran off screaming, "they're in, they're in!" In the veiling shadow, emerged Lord Asami, grinning as his golden eyes glinted darkly with malevolence. He was dressed in a simple hunter's clothing consisting of track pants, high boots and a white shirt, where its short-cut sleeve choked to show his muscular biceps. The vampire lord dusted his fingerless-leather gloved hands before rubbing his palms together in a conceited manner to intimidate them of his strength. Did he just smash a thick stone door with his own bare hands?! The cave dwellers gaped widely in astonishment. Snapping out of their minds, they pointed their shaky swords at Asami as a warning not to overstep his line. The only person unmoving…was Akihito. He froze, eyes wide like he'd seen a ghost. This is not possible, he cried inside, its not possible. Why?! It felt as if a fatal blow had been hammered to his chest and all he could feel was the aura of doom squashing down on his shoulders. Val was right. He had been blind.

"What is Lord Asami doing here?!" Takato gritted emotionally.

"Takaba Akihito." Asami eyed his prey with a predatory stare, beckoning his index finger back and forth. "Be a good boy and come here."

"Back off!" Val snarled while slashing his sword in diagonals when he stepped in front of his younger cousin. "Akihito is not going with you!"

"How did you find a way in?!" Kou demanded an explanation.

Without saying much, Asami shuffled to the side. From behind him, a brown werewolf revealed itself slowly, trotting on four legs and deeply growling before dipping its mouth down to spit out a blond wig belonging to Akihito. The cave dwellers could not utter a single word, they knew based on the trio's story that Akihito lost his wig somewhere, but little did they know Asami had kept it for this very reason.

"Gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to Goro." The vampire lord gently patted its soft fur. "He's a young tracker for hire in Vldörf. He's done an excellent job, and not to mention your scent was fresh. Did you know during the Bloodmoon a werewolf can track a scent that has been left there for months? Interesting isn't it?"

No! Akihito averted his gaze to the floor, grasping his hair and tugging it until a dull ache radiated on his scalp. This was all his fault, his doing, and it has brought disaster to his colony. He was a failure, a shame and he deserved to be banished for his foolish mistakes, now he must face the repercussions. Akihito cursed himself, the guilt jabbed his gut, tormenting him of his letdown, he wore a pensive look.

"Stop gloating and go back from whence you came!" Val hissed.

"Feisty, aren't you Lady Mura?" Asami angled his chin up with a smile Val wanted to wipe off.

The brown haired glowered. "So you know…"

"It wasn't so hard to guess…besides, I know a few who've caught a keen interest in you, and they can't wait to start." Lord Asami clicked his fingers and finally stepped into the main cavern before moving aside and creating room for his men. "Let the hunt begin!"

Thus heralds the official start of the Bloodmoon Hunt.

One by one, in single file, the participants and volunteers who had come to lend a hand for their buddies, marched into the premises, endlessly, as if the tunnel spawned out Silverbloods. Asami had truly brought his army and most likely for protection purposes. Val, Kou and Takato shielded Akihito – forging backwards – as the enemy closed in and surrounded their front with Asami leading in the middle. All swords were drawn and a mood of bellicose imbued fiercely.

"Aki, run now!" Val beseeched and roughly shoved his shoulder.

"What about you?!" Akihito looked to him with worried eyes.

"I'll be fine. Now go!" He gave him a smile of reassurance, a swordsman trained for this should have no problems, that's what he tried to put in Akihito's unnerving self.

The boy's head swayed from Val to Asami, dithering on whether he should stand and fight or scoot, assessing the risk.

"I said run! Don't be stubborn you idiot, you won't win!"

Eventually, Akihito ran, dropping his weapon to lighten his escape. He sprinted down the slope and shot frequent glances at the vampire lord to monitor his progression in terms of chasing. However along the way, he accidently crashed into his father and yelped. Masato propped a stout stalagmite, the same length as him, against the wall.

"Akihito! They're in, why aren't you fighting?! We need to spare time for…" He couldn't see Asami from this field of view, but when he saw the trouble lingering in his son's eyes, his heart sank deeply. His nephew had predicted the worse and he'd should've been more serious with his preparation.

"As—Asa—Asami he…" Akihito stuttered, unable to complete his sentence with all the adrenalin pumping through his brain.

"That bastard, how dare he hunt my son! Akihito, listen to me!" Masato's palm rested on the side of his son's head – their eyes making contact, "you must run! Find somewhere to hide, go to the mines, lose him there if we can't hold him back!"

"Hai!" Akihito nodded. The best area to prevent his precious body from being turned into Asami's spouse, was the mines and that's where he headed.

Meanwhile up by the exit, the three men, joined in by the other cave dwellers, were completely outnumbered. They firmly held their ground, the space thinning between them. The Silverbloods grew impatient and eager, who knows how long the selection process will take, hence they shall spare no time. In the rising heat, the enemy charged and the two sides clashed on. Sharp sounds of metal clanking hounded the cavern, followed by an obstreperous war cry and pandemonium. A battle reigned and the cave dwellers weren't having that much luck, even through all the parrying and the aggressive display, they were forced into a gradual retreat. The numbers are just overwhelming, and in consequence, each individual cave dweller was ganged up on and physically knocked out by the pommel end of a sword, leaving the hunted vulnerable to the hunters.

Mid-battle, a mighty swing had whacked Val's sword off from his grip, he gasped as his only weapon of defense went flying out of his reach. Stripped to his bare hands, he knew he had to run without delay. However his freedom will not be easily granted, the Silverbloods nabbed him by the arm, neck and chest and hauled him like a pack of hungry monsters pulling their prey in to be mauled. Shrilling in protest and wriggling every movable limb possible, Val became the first victim to be carried away…

Well pleased with the interference his army provided, Asami and the majority of participants cruised through the rabble and towards the main lower cavern. Arriving, their eyes scanned all over the area, including the ceiling, studying the barren rocky landscape and animal pen that seemed quite fishy to their liking. Traps may be present – but hidden, they proceeded in caution. Asami spotted multiple fake floors, his brilliant vision, even in the dark, enabled him to discern a grey fabric from a plain rock. Kneeling down on one knee, he curiously removed the quilt in front of him and inspected what laid under. His left brow crooked, for what he saw, could have been where he would've fallen.

Beneath the camouflaged material, was a pit, wide enough to fit two grown men and high enough for them to get stuck in. Asami pointed to the locations of all the suspected pits and his men noted every detail. They began to walk to an opening that lead to the mines, carefully, and avoiding the pits. Passing an animal pen fenced by wooden rails, a small group of cave dwellers disguising as sheep, unveiled themselves and leapt out to ambush the hunters. Again swords crossed but Asami was in no mood to fight, he had his own blade strapped to his belt, however it was reserved for actual enemies and not some bat. Two cave fighters stormed to his direction, but his men were quick to his aid. Life was simple, he didn't even have to raise a finger. Though boredom was the key problem and he ditched the rest of his party in search for his bride.

The vampire lord, confident in all his glory that no one could interrupt his hunt…was wrong. Striding along, he sensed a whoosh of air wafting his way, his iris shifted to the corner of his eyes before widening in surprise, but his reactions to dodge were too late. A stalagmite; thick and concreted, pummeled against his chest, he let out a "oomph" before being pancaked onto the ground. Someone had dared to oppose him and by throwing a freaking, massive rock at him too! Blinking and shaking his head to clear the blurs, Asami recollected his bearing, a burst of anger prompted him to push the stalagmite crushing him off to the side, if he were human, he'd be dead and his ribs, fractured. Staggering a little as he stood back up, he exhaled heavily through his nose, fuming, while his eyebrows furrowed inward until they could almost meet, his death glare, sharper than a dagger traced to the perpetrator…the chieftain, a neighbor from hell.

Masato stood defiantly in his samurai hakama – showing no weakness – all muscles were flexed, arms placed on his hips and his chest popped outward, demonstrating the fine attributes that define him as chieftain. He, too, glared at Asami with disdain. "You dare try and take my boy! Out of all the woman, why him?!"

Asami gave an arrogant smirk – one that nettled the chieftain's temper. "Let's just say I have an interest in him."

Exasperating, Masato's face reddened. "Bullshit, is this marriage politically driven? Are you attempting to end the Takaba's ascendency?! Is this what it's all about? Removing the only heir for your own benefit?!"

"You use such big words for a mere bat," he condescended. "And to answer your question, Akihito is indebted to me and your accusations are partly correct."

"You son of bitch!" Masato spat at the provocative response – his veins, bulging. "Akihito is indebted to no one, not even you! He's just a young lad, he makes mistakes, it's normal, doesn't mean you have to kidnap him!"

"I understand your concern." He nonchalantly patted away the dust motes coating his shirt. He knew how to ruffle someone's feathers while making himself appear as the bigger man. "Now if you excuse me, I have a hunt to attend to." The vampire lord rudely excused himself and turned his back.

"OI! YOUR NOT GOING ANYWHERE NEAR MY BOY!" Masato's deep voice bellowed at him as he waved his fist in the air. Asami paid no attention to his warning and kept on walking. "STOP ASAMI! I SAID STOP! FIGHT ME YOU COWARD!"

This piqued Asami's interest – he stopped. An invitation to duel? Well this is something he was unable to decline. He detested Masato, and for all the crimes committed that he had forgiven in the past, he was now able to teach him a lesson. "Very well…this shouldn't take long. I've always wanted to crush you. Prepare yourself. Bat…" He cracked his knuckles threateningly.

The two leaders, future son-in-law and future father-in-law (they hated the very thought of this connection), confronted each other face to face with a ten feet gap between them. In an imaginary dimension, Asami's qualities depicted a black panther whose traits were cunning, stealthy, fast and prowling with strength. Whereas Masato could be described as a grizzly bear; powerful, formidable opponent and deadly, but slower in speed. Eyes filled with hostility locked on, waiting for the other to initiate the first move. Masato, being fueled by emotions, roared in rage before charging in madly, his body mass similar to an oncoming horse. Asami swerved to the side and deployed a cheap counterattack. With his left leg, he extended it out and tripped Masato as he ran by. The chieftain face-planted and grunted in pain, his complexion, now red as a beetroot.

"Asami, you little…" He muttered and clenched his fists. Shooting back up to see the vampire lord muffling his snicker, Masato ignited. His volcano exploded from humility. Gritting his teeth, he retaliated by hurling swings, Asami veered from it's course with agile steps, left and right, with each punch swishing past his nose by a small margin. Even though Masato's attacks were missing, he didn't give up, instead he lunged forward with his arms spread as an eagle and coiled it around Asami's neck and spinning him around before suppressing him with a suffocating head-lock from behind. Asami motioned his hands to tightly clutch Masato's big arm and flipped him over his head – forgetting how strong he was – this body slam resulted in an instant KO. Masato, like the rest of the defeated fighters sprawled out, were sent on a trip to dreamland.

The vampire lord scoffed. "And you call that a fight? Unbelievable…" He knew from the beginning that this was going to be a fight, unworthy and vapid. Werewolves are his perfect foes, fearsome and armed to their teeth when provoked, thus putting up a good fight. Nonetheless, Akihito's father was finally detached from his tail and Asami celebrated the freedom available. He rendezvoused with the participants now entering the mines.

Like hunting a wild animal, his excitement accrued.

…||[]||…

Blood curdling screams for help resonated through the unlit tunnels in every direction as they were separated, captured and dragged away. As much as Akihito wanted to save his people, he couldn't, he had to save his own neck from Asami. Disbanded from Eri's side by an unstoppable swarm, he fled, running into the darkness and down into the deepest layer. There was nowhere to hide, his untamed figure moved swiftly, brushing his palm along the claustrophobic walls for guidance, his pupil dilated to adjust to the pitch dark. Initially he was born with hazel eyes, but living in a cave altered his pigment to a light blue shade, a normal physiological change commonly seen in most cave dwelling vampires to adaptively enhance their night vision.

Akihito kept running, his legs set to autopilot as his mind became addled with the fear of being taken. "Fuck!" He met a dead-end. Turning around immediately, the boy stilled when he heard the clacking of booted heels not far from his location. Someone was close by, he could no longer loiter. Tip toeing as quietly as a mouse while leaning his back against the wall, he peaked half of his head out and surveyed. With no one in sight, he crept from the corners, flicking vigilant glances here and there while listening. But all he could hear was the sound of his heart pacing and his heavy breathing and the occasional shrieks in the distant. Akihito took tentative baby steps, his main objective point was the emergency exit. Every inch of the cave served as a hunting ground, therefore he must seize this opportunity to outrun Asami through this intricate maze.

"Akihito…" In the eerie silence, a whisper, ghostly and familiar, faintly echoed his name, calling for his presence.

Goosebumps spiked like ice gliding on his skin. Akihito shuddered and recoiled away from an intersection. He could not pinpoint to its exact location, but he did register the voice belonging to a stalker, pervert and a bastard strictly known as Lord Asami. The predator was nearby, waiting for its tasty rabbit to come out of its burrow. Akihito clenched the chest fabric of his shirt and crouched lower. Unsure to why the older vampire decided to casually call him by his first name on a whim, Akihito gulped with a sense of foreboding, a knot formed in his dry throat.

"Akihito…" Asami whispered again, this time the volume drew closer. "I can smell you. You can't hide anywhere…"

All of Akihito's muscles stiffened into a statue, he had totally forgotten about his scent. But why can't he smell Asami? Then, he perceived the truth, Asami had definitely created the potion for his own benefit and was currently wearing it, giving him an extraordinary advantage. That in fact would mean that Akihito had no other alternative but to scram, fast, no hesitation, for he was detectable on Asami's radar.

He scampered for his life around a corner without checking and unexpectedly colliding into a body. Petrified by the solid, black, tall silhouette, Akihito screamed, "Haaargghhh!" Its hands, tough as steel ensnared him in an instant. He writhe, punched and kicked relentlessly but he was no match, he fell prisoner to its wrapping arms. Looking up to his captor, golden orbs floating in the dark stared right into his like it was able to catch a glimpse of his soul.

It was Asami.

Akihito had a stupefied look and his teeth trembled before he could summon enough courage to put up one hell of a resistance. "Let me go! Let me go! Let me go you bastard! Gnarhhhgg!" He protested while repeatedly beating Asami's chest with the side of his fists.

"Well aren't you eager to become mine," Asami teased. He clamped the boy in closer like a snake coiling in its meal.

"Fuck you! I'm not going to be your…mgfffhh." Akihito's words were eaten by the vampire's lord mouth. A tongue, cold and wet invaded his soft lipping barrier, worming its way to his throat and Akihito squirmed. He couldn't avert his head since Asami's cupping hand secured his jaw perfectly. Bubbling with anger, the boy socked him to the cheek, liberating the undesired French kiss.

Asami glared at him with icy dissatisfaction.

Akihito gasped in deeply for air supply. "You bloody perverted, piece of …!" As he continued to insult Asami, the vampire lord's eyelids narrowed, burning holes into the boy, though not enough to quell his foul mouth.

Asami snubbed the blond's harsh language before hoisting him up from his feet by the waist – eliciting a yelp – and tucking him under his armpit as if Akihito was his precious teddy bear. The vampire lord had selected his bride, that was one stage complete, now it was time for the binding ritual. He carried his chosen prize out of the mines and pass the captured dwellers who stared in pity at the colony's only heir throwing a frenzied fit under his curving arm.

Akihito spat a chain of profanity, exhausting the entire list known to him. He thrashed, twisted his body side to side, wriggled like a stranded fish, gritted his teeth, flailed his unrestrained limbs to hit him and caterwauled louder than a dozen babies crying. Their gazes met and Asami smirked down smugly. Akihito scrunched his whole face into a frown of discontent and crossed his arms while pouting. The vampire lord chuckled at his cuteness, although that's not what Akihito was trying to convey. How was he suppose to wrench free?

The boy spotted a sword attached to Asami's belt and he motioned his arm to sneakily grab it but was caught mid-way by Asami's glower. Akihito faked an innocent chuckle before shrinking back into his shell. Oh how he wanted to wound his captor in the eye at this moment, but there was a fear of severe punishment refraining him from doing it. Even if he did, it was the Great Lord Asami, one whom you must not defy, ever! He cried on the inside, a bitter fate was set upon him and it claimed him prematurely.

Out of the blue, two voices, each from a different gender hollered at the two. "Stop Asami! Give Akihito back!"

Asami whisked his head back to check. Behind him was the chieftain, revived from his unconscious period and carrying another stalagmite – ready to shove it down the vampire lord's throat. The other was a woman, blond and adorned in wolf fur and fairly barbaric in nature and not the elegant type he was used to seeing, he also assumed that she was Akihito's mother. The two were visibly enraged and pursued him like an overprotective mother lion would. "Damn, angry parents…" Asami bolted in a hurry.

"Eri, father!" Akihito face lit up brightly with a feeling of hope. "Save me! Don't let him take me!" He waved his arms towards them.

"Akihito!"

"Aki-kun!"

The couple worried beyond comprehension tailed after the madman who had dared to take custody of Akihito without their approval. But a blond guard brawny like the chieftain and his subordinates intercepted the couple, baring them from ruining their master's hunt.

"Step out of my way right now!" Masato ordered aggressively.

"Move it!" Eri tried to pry the brute aside.

Suoh shook his head impassively. Squeezing through the line of Silverbloods, a bespectacled man emerged. "I'm sorry chieftain, but my sire has instructed that you may not interrupt his hunt." A speck of shine reflected off his glasses mysteriously. "Besides, your too late, the binding ritual has already begun," Kirishima smirked.

Such smart talk resulted in a flying stalagmite towards the four-eyed's direction by the chieftain.

Finally outside, Akihito witnessed the Bloodmoon for the first time and it didn't quite warm him or struck an awe, it actually did the opposite, it reminded him of a living nightmare. Yes, a real living nightmare where he was trapped and forced into a marriage. He shouldn't even call it a marriage, it lacked the appropriate setting and the blissful vibes. This should be called slavery.

The vampire lord noticed the garrison stationed out here were sprawled out all over the forest floor, some just awakening and rubbing their stiff necks, others still asleep. Livid and consternated by what happened to his men while he was down in that cave, he stalked to a nearby Silverblood resting against a tree stump whose droopy eyelids slowly arose.

"What happened here?" Asami interrogated sternly. Akihito squirmed uncomfortably, Asami's bone crushing arm was constricting him.

"Oh Asami…" The man looked to him confusedly.

"What happened?" He repeated.

"Oh, well. My friend over there," the soldier pointed tiredly, "was about to bind to that young cave dweller when POOF! And all we see is white light. And the sorcerer, I think he took the lad with him." He scratched his tilted head to try and recall his memory.

Asami did not look pleased with the news except for Akihito, his smile widened to life. "Val and Halvir made it out?! Yes!" He cheered. "Wait, what about me?" His voice died and he frowned miserably from realization.

Asami snarled at the boy's rejoice over a matter he considered highly problematic. The sorcerer had escaped from prison, but how and what was his next creation? Was he going to replicate his potion? Feeling insecure, Asami would need to send out a search party for the escaped convict. But he was currently busy with Akihito, Kirishima would have to fill in his duty.

"Wake the others up and inform Kirishima of the details," the vampire lord instructed.

"Yes my Lord," the soldier yawned when he stretched his arms.

"I can go instead! I'm quicker" Akihito beguiled.

"No. Your coming with me." The vampire lord headed off and begun to scout for a quiet area just for the two of them.

"I don't want to go with you! Your a monster who kidnaps innocent people!"

"Innocent?" Asami found a nice secluded place behind the thick shrubs and tossed Akihito down. The leaf matter bedded his fall and Asami plopped on top of him, imprisoning him to the ground with his weight and fencing arms. A venomous glare glued to Akihito's eyes, blazing his statement to ashes. "I don't think theft, property damage and disorderly conduct is classified as innocent."

"Get off me! Get off!" Akihito fulminated as he pushed the older vampire on both shoulders with his hands. "So what if I broke a couple of rules, big deal!"

"A couple?" He laughed, "Should I go through the entire list, your crimes have cost me a lot of gold." Asami's hands greedily explored all over Akihito's abdomen, slipping under his shirt and molesting the smooth skin with a tantalizing massage as he smothered his lips on the boy's neck.

Akihito moaned feebly, "Stop please."

Asami began to rut his crotch against his partner and letting out a low vibrating and beastly growl, foreign to Akihito's ear. The boy naturally emitted a feminine pheromone which had invoked a hidden instinct within the vampire lord and it was beginning to surface under the influence of the Bloodmoon. His growls grew more animalistic and he rutted harder while nipping Akihito's soft earlobe. Akihito stifled his aroused moans as two sensitive spots were stimulated at once, but was surprised when Asami abruptly stopped his sexual attacks. The vampire palmed his right face as if he were having a migraine and grimaced. "Fucking moon…" he mumbled and grinded his teeth before shaking his head like he was trying to suppress another conscience from overtaking him.

"What are you, seriously?!" Akihito had been observing Asami's abnormal behavior and it scared him. First the impressive strength and now the monster-like growls?! Was he even a vampire? Maybe he was a rare species or a hybrid?

It took Asami a couple of seconds to recollect his composure before returning his concentration to Akihito. "One that you should fear," he answered sinisterly. A cold smile stretched across his face. "Now I shall bind." Giving Akihito no warning, he dove straight towards Akihito's left neck with his protruding fangs and bit him, stabbing deeply into the flesh and slicing through the thin vessels like four pointy skewers.

"Ngarrghhh!" Akihito shrilled in excruciating pain, his entire body convulsed and jerked violently. Whoever said that getting bitten by a vampire was pleasurable, is wrong. It hurts. His eyelid's widened to the fullest and all that came out of his mouth was air and choking rasps. Luckily the binding process was just a bite, not a feast. Asami withdrew and licked his lips to savor the metallic taste. Trails of cool blood seeped from the punctured holes and Akihito curled himself on his side under the vampire lord, shaking and whimpering. The late night frost tickled his skin as he felt his energy slowly drain.

Above the half conscious boy, Asami brushed the blond locks aside, admiring the beauty that lay beneath him. Very soon these four red dots would heal to become permanent scars after consummation. This was the binding ritual – one that brands skin for eternity.

Now it is time to commence the next ritual. Asami lifted the boy up and carried him bridal style towards his noble steed.