CHAPTER 14

CORMA'S NEW JOB

Corma looked up at the looming structure in front of him. He had been traveling for two days, and he had finally reached the place where his family resided. The Castle was similar to that of the Akashiyas, but it had an evil aura about it that the other castle lacked. It has moss and other fungus in between the many bricks of its walls, and there were several vines curling up the sides. But Corma found the dark atmosphere rather homely, due to the fact that this was where he had gone at least once a month for 12 years on his breaks, since he had started working for the Akashiyas since he was 5. He walked up to the door, but didn't knock due to the fact that the door was moist and would have broken under his vampire strength. Instead, he simply called out "I'm home!" and the door opened. He stepped inside and was instantly at home in the dark, dank, windowless castle. Like Castle Akashiya, it was lit by several torches along the wall. He was standing in a quaint room with no decorations save for a family portrait. Corma stared at it and saw himself at the tender age of four, looking quite regal in his suit. Standing to his left with a hand resting on his shoulder was his father, quite a bit taller than him with cropped silver hair and the same blood-red eyes that every vampire shared. He was wearing a long purple cape, which only added to the air of regalness that was obvious even through a painting. Next to his father was his mother, her long hair pulled into a tight bun on the back of her head. One of her fangs was protruding from her upper lip; a display of the fierceness that lay directly below her calm exterior. Corma grew tired of looking at his family (he would see them again soon enough) and directed his attention to the room that he was in. Directly in front of him was a hallway that broke off to the left that led to the rest of the castle. From the hallway emerged the very people that Corma had just been looking at in paint form. The years had been kind to them, his father looking even more powerful and muscular than he had twelve years ago. His mother had turned even more dangerously beautiful, enticing yet deadly at the same time.

"Hello Father; Mother." Corma said, giving his parents their customary greeting. His parents nodded, then looked him over. They frowned at the wounds that he had received from his fight with Moka, and they immediately knew what had happened.

"So, son. Why did you engage our rivals?" Count Stomocula said in a low, enticing voice.

"There was a… complication. A new servant came along and stole away the princess."

"Are you saying that you were usurped by a peasant?" His father asked. There was no change in his voice, but Corma knew that his father's temper was rising from experience. However, he refused to show weakness.

"Yes father." Corma said, not letting his voice betray him. He knew that he was going to get punished, and he didn't want to get a worse punishment by showing his fear. His father sighed.

"Start from the beginning and tell us what happened, Corma."

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Corma finished by explaining how he retreated (not ran away, retreated) when Kokoa interfered. His mother clicked her tongue, indicating that she was impressed at how he had taken over the fight.

"Looks like all of that training we've been having you do has paid off. Good job." Corma's heart swelled up with pride; he hardly ever got compliments from his parents, so he had to treasure them when he got them. His father cleared his throat, drawing Corma's attention back to the man of the castle.

"What you have told us has been immensely helpful, son. Now, this Tsukune fellow… you are sure that he is not a monster?"

"100 percent, father."

"Well then, he should be an easily solvable problem. We just need to separate him and the princess. Due to the wound that you gave him, he should be in the hospital for quite some time." Corma hesitated, then decided against his better judgment to go ahead and speak up.

"Um, father, with all due respect, I don't think that it will be that easy." Count Stomocula's eyes flashed.

"And why is that?" His tone of voice indicated that Corma needed to pick his next words carefully, but Corma swallowed his fear and spoke again.

"Well, Father, she seems to be genuinely in love with Tsukune. I don't really think that she would leave his side so easily." Corma made eye contact with his father, unwavering.

"Good point son. I'll leave the job of killing Tsukune to you then."

Corma couldn't believe his ears. His father was giving him an important job? If this was a dream, then Corma didn't want to wake up. He bowed deeply.

"I won't disappoint you father."

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Moka was still sitting by Tsukune's bed, watching him sleep. She heard a knock on the hospital door. "Enter." She said, not really caring who it was. The door opened and a servant walked in. Moka spared them a glance, recognizing them as Tsukune's replacement while he was bedridden. She had scoffed when she heard that (Tsukune was irreplaceable), but had gone along with it so as not to seem suspicious.

"Pardon me, Princess." The servant said meekly. "I have an important message for you."

"Well? What is it?" Moka asked, wanting to get rid of this annoyance as soon as she could.

"Um, you see Princess… Prince Gin is scheduled for another visit tomorrow. And he says that he will come no matter what." Moka's temper flared. As much as she hated that perverted smooth guy wannabe, he had one thing going for him: he was damn persistent. If he said that he was going to visit no matter what, than he would be here tomorrow no matter what. So, Moka did the first thing that came to mind:

She swore loudly into the room, already dreading seeing the horn dog's face again.