Hello... It's been a while... I'll spare everyone the details of how the last few years of my life have gone but I am slowly getting back into writing for pleasure so enjoy this short chapter to get back into the swing of things
Chapter 11: A Loyal Deceit
"Every moment that pest is with them, her resolve to come back is weakening!" A slam onto a wooden table rang throughout the room.
"She'll come back. We have the most important people in her life under our control"
"Maybe it's time to transport them to a safer location. If she does betray us, we can't let her get a hold of them so easily"
The throne room was silent as Maisie watched the small queen slit her wrist, the vials sitting on the armrest of the throne open and waiting.
Maisie was bothered by the sight, the cut on the queen's wrist making her queasy, but she didn't get a choice in the matter. Because if Maisie wanted to eavesdrop, as Krul put it, then she could "Give Mika a break and be at my beck and call".
This is what I get for trying to sneak into the Nagoya meeting Maisie sighed, not surprised she had been caught. Krul truly saw through everything.
"You're awfully quiet" Krul smirked, her blood draining into the first vial. "Not a fan of blood?"
"Actually, I consider myself a vege-"
"Melissa"
"No, Krul. It's not that" Maisie sighed, her attempt at a joke going over poorly. "Just not sure how you can easily cut yourself like that"
"Well when you live as long as I have, little cuts and scrapes aren't as concerning" She smiled, closing the first filled vial. "Besides, I have a pet to feed"
As if on cue, the doors leading to the throne room were opened and a familiar blonde vampire burst in, looking flustered. His frantic blue eyes scanned the room, landing on Maisie first before quickly switching to Krul, who was still filling those vials with her blood. Maisie could hear how frantic his breathing was as he approached Krul.
"Ah, Mika! We were just talking about you." Krul smiled, almost sweetly. "I was just getting some blood ready-"
Krul was interrupted as the blonde grabbed her, dropping the vial she was filing. Maisie's fangs shot out as Mika held the queen up and bit down on her neck, feeding ravenously. Maisie almost launched herself onto the boy only to stop when she saw Krul lift her hand, showing a flat palm.
Maisie understood the hand signal clearly. Stand down
The blonde got a few more gulps in, Krul smiling as Mika eagerly fed. Maisie felt uncomfortable at the sight, like she walked in on an intimate scene between lovers.
"Were you really that thirsty?' Krul teased. She wrapped her arms around Mika, allowing him to bury himself deeper into the crook of her neck. "There, there. Drink your fill, my pet"
Mika stopped to take a breath, his eyes widening as he realized what he had done. He quickly pushed Krul off of him, stepping back in horror. Maisie's fangs remain out, prepared to tackle the blonde if necessary.
"I-I'm sorry, Krul" Mika sputtered out, blood dripping down to his chin.
"We all get a little ravenous when we haven't had enough blood" She reasoned, turning to face Mika. Maisie could see the punctures Mika left were already healing.
"Um, can you give me a little extra?" Mika's head tilted down. "Of the serum, I mean"
"Oh, I can give you as much as you want" Krul smirked, walking towards Mikaela. Reaching up, she cupped his face in her hands, whipping the blood from his mouth. Her smile quickly faded. "But you know, you won't last forever on my blood alone. The day will come where you'll have to drink from a human"
Krul retracted her hands, rubbing the smeared blood between her fingers before turning and walking away from Mika. "Wait outside. I'll have Maisie come and get you when I'm done."
"Right" Mika nodded as he walked towards the doors, stepping over the vial of blood he had broken in his hungered rush. He stopped just before the stairs, Krul sensing his hesitation.
"Was there something else?" She questioned.
"You were supposed to kill Yuichiro and me" Mika stated, turning back to face Krul. "So what are you playing at by letting us live?"
"You sound so serious!" Krul teased. "Don't tell me you're worried about my safety again"
"Why would you put yourself at risk to save us?" Mika interrogated. "It just doesn't make any sense to me"
"You and Maisie with all the serious questions and risking family nonsense. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you two were comparing answers" Krul sighed. Glancing at Maisie, her signature smirk filled her face. "You can put your fangs away now, I can defend myself."
Maisie scoffed, retracting her fangs. Mika glanced at the other blonde in the room, realizing her tense body stance. He chose to stay where he was standing, wanting answers but not a fight.
"What are you planning on doing with Yuu? And me?" Mika questioned.
"Oh, Mika" Krul turned to face him. "That's information I'd rather keep to myself"
"DON'T MESS WITH ME" Mika shouted, taking a step forward. Maisie hissed, her crimson eyes beaming at the blonde. I'd rather not fight, but I can't be seen as a traitor. Not now She thought, her fangs threatening to reappear. "If you're gonna end up hurting Yuu, then I'll put a stop to this right now!"
Mika launched forward only to have Maisie intercept, dodging his hand and slipping behind him, her hand on his throat. Mika's hands flew to his neck, trying to pry the girl off. Her hands only tightened, her grip forcing Mika to his knees. Krul's brows furrowed at the scene in front of her.
"Melissa, enough with the theatrics" Krul demanded.
"But Krul-"
"Release him, now" Krul ordered. Maisie obliged, releasing her grip as Mika dropped to the ground, gasping for air. She wasn't stupid, she could've let Krul handle him, but the more loyal she appeared, the better for her. I'm only loyal to them for one thing and one thing only
" As for you" Krul walked over to a gasping blonde, the smirk never leaving her face. "How exactly would you plan on stopping me? You couldn't even fight dear Melissa here and you've both been vampires for quite some time. Don't forget you're still my little pet"
Mika looked up at Krul, his expression pained. "S-stop it! I can't do this anymore"
"Now you're just being dramatic" Krul sighed. "Eventually you'll realize vampires aren't as bad as the humans. It's for the better; I like you and your old friend. Even Melissa has grown on me"
"You expect me to believe that?" Mika growled, his face staring at the ground in defeat. She was right after all, he couldn't lay a hand on Maisie. She could have easily killed him. Even now, the blonde was standing beside Krul, her fists clenched at her side as if ready to strike again. Although he knew very little about the female vampire, he knew that she had something she was fighting for as well. Whether that made her an ally or enemy to Mika's cause was still undecided.
"Without question" Krul stated, her smirk finally falling off her face. "Fine, if you're going to start sulking, then I'll tell you I've kept the two of you alive… and why I require the power of the seraph of the end for myself"
Seraph of the end? Maisie recalled hearing that phrase several times before she was caught listening into the meeting. It sounded important and it obviously involved headstrong Yuuichiro. Krul bent down towards Mika, whispering something into his ear. Maisie couldn't hear anything but judging by Mika's eyes widening, it was important.
"Next month we're attacking the humans again" Krul announced as she stood back up.
"Next month?" Maisie questioned. "That's-"
"Are you questioning my decisions?" Krul snapped.
"No, Krul" Maisie responded.
"Good. We're sending in our strongest units and we won't stop until every one of them is dead" Krul lifted her arms in a shrug. "This will be the final battle between humans and vampires. In order to save Yuu, Dustin and Hannah, You both will have to go undercover and hide from both sides of this war."
"Hide?" Maisie mumbled. How am I, the most wanted vampire in all of Japan, supposed to hide?
"Yes" Krul smiled as she turned to face both of her subjects. "But if you two fail, you'll be traitors to both sides and the whole world will turn on you."
Mika rose to his feet, his face full of determination. "I understand. I'll save Yuu from the vampires and the humans as well"
"Glad we could come to an understanding" Krul smirked. "You are dismissed, Mika"
Mikaela made his way out of the throne room, leaving the two female vampires alone. As the door shut, Krul looked at Maisie.
"You didn't have to attack him. I can handle him myself" Krul informed.
"I just-"
"Save your breath" The queen sighed as she walked back to her throne, resting on it. "I know why you're putting on this act, you're not fooling anyone especially not me"
Maisie bit her lip, almost ashamed she was caught. "Sorry Krul, you're right I shouldn't have interfered"
"Now I didn't say that" The queen smirked. "Mika did need to learn his lesson and I think seeing you handle him as quickly as you did only progressed my point further. He needs to understand what he's up against as well who not to turn his frustrations on"
The two sat in silence for a moment as Krul resumed her task of filling vials for Mika. Soon, Krul's smirk disappeared as she turned towards Maisie.
"Melissa, be honest" She softly demanded. "How much time before Mika will be experiencing rejection"
Maisie knew this question was coming. She thought back to how desperate Mika was to get a hold of Krul, how it seemed the mild mannered boy she had become acquaintances with over the past couple weeks had been replaced with a ravenous beast. It was so unlike him, but it seemed by Krul's reaction that this was not the first time it had happened.
"Not long" Maisie admitted, the queen's face souring for a split second before looking down. "He should be experiencing stomach pain any day now. I'd say less than a week"
"I'm hoping he'll hold out until his mission is over" Krul admitted. "You two have a common goal. You're familiar with the city. You should work together with Mika"
"I barely know him" Maisie scoffed.
"But you know Yuuichiro" Krul reminded the blonde. "And you know what it's like to have someone on the other side of this fight"
"That I do" Maisie admitted, fiddling with the band on her ring finger.