CHAPTER 11: Trouble After six centuries of walking the earth, nothing could excitesurprise Julia Spider anymore.

The red-haired, tiny vampire had trekked each and every rough path the world had to offer. She had never been one of the popular ones, and that included her human days as well. She carried her cocky attitude and tough exterior from her childhood years into the dark world, always remembering who she was and what she had become. She never had it easy, and she never made it easy for anyone. For a crude being like she was, Julia could never understand a gentle vampire like Mai Anderson, her maker and possibly her only friend. It puzzled her that they both had nothing in common that she sometimes wondered why Mai picked her from the start. Ultimately, their extreme differences were the reason Julia left Uriah for the outside world. They parted in good term, and she had always remained loyal to her maker. When Julia learned what Reito Brown did to Mai, she secretly swore vengeance against him. Reito, who cheated his way up and survived the inside politics with his insincere flattery, was pardoned by the queen for his offense against Mai. He then had dared to ask the queen for Mai's hand in marriage. As unfair as everything else in the world, the bastard had it his way. Her maker's downfall pained her more than anything she could ever imagine. Mai was born to a vampire father and then human mother, while Julia was raised as her lady-in-waiting. They became close confidants over the years, and there wasn't any trick or tale they hadn't shared with each other. But now Reito had taken it all away: her maker would not even recognize her now. After centuries of breathing the earth, there was no more surprise or excitement, only shames and regrets to live with. "Where am I? What am I supposed to do here? Hey, I'm talking here" No response. "Great," Julia grunted over her cup of fresh blood, her gaze scanning the quiet, lush dinning hall. She had asked all kinds of questions, but the human waiters in black suit continued to ignore her. Obviously, they were not permitted to converse with her. It had been weeks since she woke up from the deep, agonizing slumber to find herself in a warm bed, confined in a square, little room. A big, human nurse, who looked to be about fifty years old, would bring in blood to feed her daily. From the heavy footsteps out in the hallway to the blatant WOOHP logo, a yellow halo with a dagger in the middle, on the nurse's chest pocket, Julia knew exactly where she was. WOOHP Headquarter. What she didn't know was why they requested her to shed off her white blouse and dressed up in a leather bodysuit with a pair of knee-high black boots. The uniform was similar to what they wore in Uriah, but the logo on her left arm only made her feel ridiculous. She would never surrender to WOOHP, and it'd be a grave mistake on their part to try to recruit her. Sitting at one end of the long, wooden table, she looked up and only then noted a presence by the doorway. It was a young man, or rather, a young-looking vampire, standing still and looking her way. She was startled for failing to detect his presence earlier, but he simply

smiled as if he had expected that look on her face. His slightly curly, short, brown hair and grayish-blue eyes oddly complimented his pale skin. He was clad in the same black, leather uniform, a modern costume that seemed to crash with his aristocratic air. He proceeded to take the seat at the opposite end of the table. The space between them could easily escort twenty more participants on each side of the table. A waiter followed in and served him with a glass of wine. Upon leaving, he bowed before closing the heavy, steel doors. WOOHP was everything modern and human, while clearly this vampire was anything but. "Julia Spider of Uriah, I have heard so much about you and your heroic deeds. You cannot possibly imagine how pleasantly surprised I was when it was you they found in the crypt." His easy voice went like a soft whirl of wind around her. However, the moment he took a sip of wine, Julia knew he wasn't one to waste time with. Only the elders, no younger than a thousand-year-old, could handle a consumption of anything other than blood. With time, they evolved. They tasted. Julia stared at him hard. "Cut the crap. Who the hell are you? What do you want with me? Why thisthis stupid uniform? What are you doing here with them humans?" At her questions, he burst into giggles which sounded more terrifying than irritating. He put the glass down and licked his lower lip. "Kazuya is my Japanese name. As you can see, we live to have so many names that I can barely remember them all." Kazuya Kazuya? Her mind raced to find if she had ever heard of him before. "I am the founder of WOOHP," he said, smiling. "What You" Julia stopped as the revelation gradually sank in. She then made a face in disgust. "You set up this shit gang and hunt down your own kind! You're a sick animal!" His smile never wavered. His gaze followed her as she shot up from the table in anger. "Time has changed. Learn well, Ms. Spider. Humans can be your best ally at times: they are smart and greedy. You are certainly young, and history books written by your queen definitely did not tell you the whole truth." "What truth? What are you talking about?" Julia breathed, her gaze fixing upon the elder. Kazuya quietly stood up and walked over the open terrace, soft wind blowing his hair. The night view of the dark sea outside only reminded Julia that she was in no position to bicker. She had nowhere else to run, not to mention surviving out of this room with the elder in her way. "Three thousand years ago, I was born Caleb Adam . My homeland, Nifelheim, was once a prosperous, peaceful kingdom. But the king, my uncle, was weak. Our kingdom became deeply divided and impoverished during his reign. It wasn't long before the neighboring tribes invaded us and eventually swallowed us as one of their own." Julia frowned at the information, not knowing if she should believe anything he said. "Nifelheim does not exist anymore as Uriah is inaccessible to human. Back then, the island was just a part of our realm, standing a few miles off the west coast. It is now the only

remaining pride of my lineage." Kazuya now turned to face her, his gaze steady. "When the crown prince was killed, your queen slaughtered my clan and drove us from our land. She doesn't stop. She never has I survived the calamity and became the first Death Dealer of the Old World Coven." The Old World Coven Julia paused at the notion. Her maker once mentioned an ancient faction divided from Uriah, but Mai, too, was too young to know what really happened then. For thousands of years, Uriah had cast the Old World Coven merely as a group of separatiststraitors, the like of the Serpent Coven. Without looking, Julia could feel his cold stare on her. She could sense his anger, the dangerously contagious kind. She couldn't deny that she understood where his hate came from. Ignorance and tenacity to the past and traditions came with the wealth of time to waste and life that was lived day to day without real purposes. It was one thing she despised about being an immortal: they'd lived long enough to see everything until they saw nothing no more. "Thousands of years have passed and you still seek vengeance" she muttered almost to herself. "When you lost everyone you loved in a barbaric carnage, you will understand that time will not make you forget. It only lets you live with the pain longer." His soft voice sounded like a plea, asking for her understanding. Her fists clenched, Julia looked away in silent refusal. As hard as she had tried, she could never forget the face of the murderer of her human father no matter how much time had passed. The incident happened when she was just a child. Julia grew up and began the search for the murderer who got away with his crime. After she was turned into a vampire, she became even more obsessive of the quest to revenge. It was many years later that she finally found him. The man had then grown old to be in his late seventies. Blood in her eyes, she wasn't going to let him go peacefully. She was going to make him suffer for as long as his frail body could take. But it was Mai who took his life instead. Mai Anderson, a reluctant vampire, was willing to tarnish her own hands, so that Julia wouldn't have to live with hate forever. Julia eventually looked up at Kazuya. She saw herself in him, standing there and dreaming of the enemy's blood on her hand. And she only felt grateful for what her maker did for her. Kazuya smiled again before he continued, "What I am about to tell you, of course, was never recorded in anything you have ever read Your queen was a slave, Ms. Spider. She was the beginning of the end of my kingdom. It started when the crown prince fell in love with her. After his death, she took everything from him and his bloodline. It was his crazy love that destroyed us." There was a certain seriousness in his eyes as he approached her. Julia staggered in her post, unwillingly taking a step back. "I am only asking for what is rightfully mine. As far as I know, Uriah has not been kind to you. You could join us and make things right again. You could become a Death Dealer." "Dream on!" Julia spat.

Kazuya let out a small chuckle. "I can wait, Ms. Spider. I will not press you into making a decision today as I know that you will never forget what they had done to your maker." "You don't talk about her, you hear me!" Julia snarled in his face. "It's a small world after all. Sooner or later we are bound to run into the people we would like to forget, or things we would like to pretend they never existed." Kazuya turned to grab his wine and raised the glass. "Here's to the past and the future. They are not so different to us, are they?" Her whole body growing cold, Julia just stared at the elder as he sipped his drink. It seemed that the decision had already been made for her. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Spencer found her tiny room a lot more comfortable than she previously thought. A bed, a desk and a chair were all she needed. Although it was much smaller than her room in Annie's basement, it was far better than a jail unit with artificial UV light. What astonished her was a black bag she found on the bed when she first entered the room. It seemed that Ian had gone back to Annie's house and gathered all Spencer's belongings here. There were her clothes, the reading light from her desk, some books, and Annie's black rosary. In a black sweatshirt and a pair of jeans, Spencer was lying on the bed, holding the rosary. It was a gift for Annie's twenty-fourth birthday, a mere practical joke which Annie had teased the vampire. Spencer never expected the woman to keep it for so many years, and the memory now only saddened her. Annie wasn't the first that had entered her life and left her with emptiness. It had happened many times before, and every time she thought she was immune to it, she was proven wrong. Every time she thought she wasn't human anymore, she was hurt again. The loud chatters in the hallway brought Spencer's attention to the thick, wooden door. A group of werewolves had just passed her room. Their presence reminded her of danger so near. There were those who respected Hideaki's decision, and then there were others whose hatred against the vampires was enough to raise flag. It wouldn't be long before Spencer had to find a new home, if she ever made it out of here alive. Things were not looking good for her. For the past few days, her only alliance was nowhere to be seen. Ian obviously had been avoiding her. Amidst a thousand werewolves in the central hall, Hideaki had announced Spencer's stay, much to reluctance from pack members. Spencer had stood next to Hideaki, inwardly dreaded her escape plans that held zero chance to succeed. Although she could see doubt, terror, or even anger in her enemies' eyes, it was Ian's indifferent gaze that had struck her the most. As his father spoke, Ian had kept his distance, standing near a column many rows behind other residents instead of showing himself next to Hideaki. The usually vivid, green gaze had been heavy with thoughts. Spencer had to admit that he hadn't really paid attention to the hisses and boos around him, being taken aback by Ian's unanticipated reaction. Letting out a sigh, Spencer brushed her bangs aside a little and got up from the bed. She edged to the desk and poured herself a cup of hot green tea, a drink she found effective in easing her mind. She knew she needed Ian's alliance, but the man's lack of enthusiasm to collaborate wasn't the worst of her worries. She couldn't help but be bothered by the

distant look from Ian. She never got frustrated over one's intention as long as they served her purpose, but she wasn't sure why she cared how Ian truly felt about having her here. "Trouble" Spencer murmured to herself over the tea. Unexpectedly, Ian Kruger had become her trouble without her welcoming it. Her hands were a bit shaky though from the limited amount of blood she was allowed daily. The werewolves made sure that she would survive, but not to grow strong enough to fight them. But who on earth was smart enough to face off with two thousand werewolves on their own? Spencer shook her head; the paranoia was unsound even for canine standard. A knock came upon the door, and Spencer stopped for a moment, trying to catch any sound in the hallway. It was quiet and calm. She put the cup down on the desk and slowly approached the door. "Who is it?" she asked. "It's me, Alex." Spencer gladly opened the door. Alex had been the only person who dropped by her room and brought her a glass of blood every day. "Thank you," she said, taking the tray from the werewolf. Alex followed into the room, and Spencer noted how quickly she closed the door, so that her peers wouldn't spot her befriending a vampire. It was perhaps already a difficult position to be Ian's personal guard. For an immortal, it was crucial to fit into belong, and it was why Spencer comprehended how Ian felt for being a pariah in his own territory. Spencer, too, was an exile herself. Alex turned to her, seemingly relaxed a little more in their privacy. "How's everything so far? Lord Ian has gotten you several books to kill time with. Have you found anything interesting?" She went through the pile of books on the desk. Some of them were Annie's, but several others were Ian's own. The dark-haired werewolf had supplied Spencer enough in his absence. Spencer kept her smile intact. It wasn't her intention to lock herself up in the room, but rather her attempt to stay away from hassle. This was, after all, the werewolves' lair, and it was practically a minefield for her out of this room. "Would you mind telling me where Ian is? I'd like to have a word with him, please." A slight pause from Alex confirmed Spencer of her assumption. Turning around with a smile, Alex said, "Ms. Lee there's something I need to warn you about." Spencer nodded, anticipating any news concerning Ian. "We don't know why Master Hideaki decided to keep you here, but there's a lot of commotion and anger out there. They don't want you here, and they'll try to kill you every chance they get. Please don't make it harder for Lord Ian. He's got a lot on his mind already to have to move back here because of you Well, you see, he doesn't really get along with the rest of the pack. You've put him in a difficult position enough as it is." Spencer remained silent. Ian had surprisingly softened to her ever since her capture. It was probably best to be grateful to him and leave him alone.

"II don't mean for you to completely cut off all your communication with him, but just to minimize it your best. It's unsafe for him to be seen with you," Alex said, guilt written on his face. "I understand. And I'm afraid for you as well." Spencer stood up and walked to the door. "Please, I wouldn't want to keep you here for too long." "Spe Ms. Lee" The vampire offered a sincere smile. "I'm truly grateful for all your help, Alex." Alex smiled back and said, "Very well. I'll see you tomorrow then. Good night." As soon as Alex left, Spencer locked the door right away and returned to the bed. She should have been accustomed to isolation, but having spending decades with a human had done much psychological damage to her defense. At any rate, it was good enough that she was able to have a small chat with someone even for just a few minutes a day. Spencer immediately washed down the blood, refreshing herself, and then grabbed a book from the desk. She lied down, a grimace set on her face. Her body was crying for more, but she tried to keep her mind busy with the next adventure in her hand. "Hmm, what have we got here? Legend of the Vampire. Is Ian trying to be funny?" She mused aloud and shook her head jadedly. The royal blue, leather-bound book was half an inch thick, a size easily handled. Spencer wasn't really interested in the content and only flipped through the yellow pages for any interesting illustrations. It could pass as a children's book if not for the gory drawings of dead bodies and murky landscapes. "My how clumsy of me" Spencer pouted when she accidentally tore a brittle page. However, she halted upon seeing an elaborate depiction of a creature on the said page. With pointy, elf-like ears and dark, slimy skin, the creature stood twelve-feet tall to a muscular warrior of an ancient time. Its menacing, large, muscular wings spread high in assault. Eyes wide, its fiery gaze was fixed upon the human enemy, its talons upon his shoulder. The warrior had his sword drawn, his broken shield on the ground. Behind the two figures was the sun rising over the hill. Below the illustration, the author documented the warrior as Prince Darius of Nifelheim. It was said to be the last time anyone had witnessed the creaturethe supposed origin of the vampire. Terror in her eyes, Spencer flipped the book to find the name of the author, but the cover only gave her an initial, 'M.M.'. Letting out a deep sigh, she closed her eyes for an instant, dropping the book to her lap. She had no idea how Ian got this book, or if he had read it. She was discouraged that millions of people could go by the initials that it'd be nearly impossible to identify the author. Without second thought, Spencer ripped the page off and tore it into pieces. Everything concerning the legend had cost countless lives, and she didn't entertain the idea of Ian ended up on the same unfortunate list as Ann. Beneath his tough exterior, Ian was unquestionably far more fragile and innocent than his mother ever was. Being a natural born werewolf, the one and only, Ian had yet to apprehend how special he washe had yet to foresee what hardship would be coerced upon him in the future.

As much as Spencer wanted to go to Ian now, she refrained herself from the urge, sitting tight on the edge of the bed. Biting her lips, she stared down at the bits of paper in the trashcan near her feet. Ian ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: "Hello" In the cold night wind, Hideaki stood by the handrail, gazing out at the dark sea before him. He was standing by the cliff, the very same spot where his wife was driven off to her death. In his black suit and a black hat, he was warmed with a beige coat and a white scarf around his neck. The cell phone in his hand, he listened to the cold voice on the other end of the line. "Hideaki, is that you, my child?" "What do you want?" Hideaki scowled at the way his master had just addressed him. It was just like the old time. "It has been a hundred and fifty years since you betrayed me, but I have been nothing but merciful to you. Is this how you greet me?" Hideaki could hear the snicker in Kazuya's voice, and resentment fumed up inside of him. "What do you want?" he repeated coldly. Only a few surveillance cameras in the lair had actual records of the activities, and the spy must have taken precaution not to deliver the pin straight to his desk, where it would be carefully watched. The only way was the spy had put the black envelope on the mailer's desk, where all mails were gathered before being delivered to each resident in the lair. It was one of the rooms where the camera had no recordings. Hideaki inwardly cursed for the failure to secure his lair, harboring an infiltrator all this time. "It is rather simple. I am a Death Dealer, and you are a Lycan, the first to be exact. You know what I want." "I won't join you. I will never be your slave," Hideaki said, his voice stern. Kazuya chortled. "Lycans are made to be slaves. You cannot run from me forever, Hideaki." At Kazuya's words, Hideaki couldn't help but look over his shoulder in paranoia. For over a century, he had tried to stay as far away from Kazuya as possible, or else his master could easily take control of his mind and made him act against his will. If he were not a strong Lycan physically as well as mentally, he would never be able to break out of Kazuya's spell even for a moment. As long as they were far apart, his master would not be able to feel him. The vampires of the Old World Coven sought slaves to serve their purposes, a tradition which Uriah vampires seemed to abandon. "I hope you like the pin. It reminds us of our good times, does it not?"

"I know where WOOHP is. Don't you think that you're indestructible, Kazuya. I destroyed you once, and I will do it again," Hideaki bluffed. As long as he had Spencer under his control, WOOHP' location was within his reach. "I do not take threats very well, as you can see. But I am kind, Hideaki. For old time's sake, I will release you." Hideaki was astounded by the vampire's last words. "WhatWhat?" "We were friends. Partners. I have always liked you. I never wished to kill you I will release you on one condition." "You better not be greedy," Hideaki sneered, secretly dreading what he would have to hear. "Hand the pin to your son. When he becomes my slave, I will release you." Hideaki had to remind himself to breathe again when he finally gathered his wind and said, "Consider it your death wish." With that, he shut his cell phone and threw it into the sea below. He couldn't help it; his hands were trembling now. It wasn't entirely unexpected from Kazuya since it was his true purpose in creating a generation of Lycans after all. Death Dealers sought the strongest slaves to ensure their strength and power. Gritting his teeth in fury, Hideaki turned and strode back to his car. Knowing Kazuya, he had already considered a backup plan. Seated in the driver seat, he pulled out a tube-like, steel container from his coat pocket. He lifted it up and studied it with a heavy heart. This could be a disaster, and Ian might hate him forever. Spencer Lee Hideaki always planned one step ahead, if anything should happen to him. He had taken Spencer's blood while she was unconscious on the first day they captured her. Being a strong vampire of no consequential coven, Spencer was the safest bet he had right now. He would make sure that Kazuya would not get Ian unless he killed his master first. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Sitting on the edge of the bed, Spencer looked up from the floor when a loud thud out in the hallway caught her attention. Then a series of laughter followed with the sound of booing. The noises continued to intensify, and Spencer could guess a gathering right about her door. They wanted her attention. They wanted her to come out. Her hands gripping the bed sheet, Spencer contemplated whether she should respond. One thing for certain, the door wouldn't be able to hold back the werewolves if they were really determined not to leave her alone tonight. She couldn't exactly wait for Ian or Hideaki to intervene and save the day either. For the little dignity she had left, she thought it was better to face the consequence. Slowly opening the door, Spencer stepped into the dim hallway to find half a dozen werewolves gathering around, laughing at the crawling Alex. Eventually, they looked up at her, and everyone fell into silence.

"Are you all right, Alex?" Spencer kept her tone steady. She took a step forwards as Alex unsteadily got up to his feet. Through those dark centuries, she had roamed the world as if fearless. But, in truth, the only reason that had kept her alive to this day was fear itself. Fear had driven her from place to place, fleeing enemies or taking lives that would save her own in return. "Youyou should go back to your room," Alex said, his voice slightly shaken. Keeping her face calm, Spencer felt her heart beating so fast, counting the seconds the werewolves would launch an attack on her. A tall, dark-haired werewolf, who looked to be in his late twenties, grabbed Alex by the arm and shoved him around. "So it's true that you're a friend of this murderer. You do know that she killed one of us just a few days ago, don't you? You want to become a vampire now? Just say so. Come on." The others soon joined him in the bullying act, thrusting and kicking Alex. They pushed him further and further towards the stairway at the end of the corridor. The dark-haired werewolf briefly looked back and snickered at Spencer. He then turned and followed his peers. In the now quiet hallway, Spencer stood still, watching them all disappear to the upper level. It was an invitationa trap. Should she wait it out in her room, Alex would almost certainly survive the bullies. Everyone else in the lair was a better candidate than her to step in and save the man. For a moment, Spencer forced herself to turn a blind eye, but the panic look in Alex's eyes stopped her from walking back to her room. However, a voice deep in the back of her mind kept telling her not to follow her impulse. The last thing she wanted was to repeat her crime against the Serpent Coven. If she had started it again, she would have to track down and terminate them to the last one. But you do what you have to do Her mind set, Spencer looked up and took in a deep breath. She walked towards the end of the corridor, passing the opened door to the central hall, where several pack members were socializing around the stony tables. They all quieted down when they saw her, but made no move to stop her, apparently curious or simply assisting the plan. Looking away from the inquisitive eyes, Spencer walked up the spiraling staircase fortymeter to ground level. Alex had advised her never to leave the residential floor. But Alex himself was put in a dire situation because of her, and she just couldn't hide in her room like a coward. Soon Spencer found herself at the doorway of a large living room. It appeared that she had just emerged from a secret passageway behind the ten-feet-high painting of a foggy cliff. She must have been taken along this route the day she was kidnapped. All of a sudden, her head snapped at the strident chatters and the sound of piano playing in a room nearby. She went around the crimson, leather couch and out of the room, following the awful music, which rang out like a group of drunken men at the instrument. Across the hallway, the music room stood almost at the end of the corridor. Spencer could see the dark-haired werewolf sitting at the piano stool with Alex, forcing him to play along

with him. Another pack member whistled to signal him of Spencer's arrival at the doorway, and they all turned around, gawking at her. "Spe.Ms Lee" Alex looked horrified, or even disapproved of her presence. "This is nothing. Please go back to your room." Grinning, the dark-haired werewolf stood up and thrust Alex away from the chair. "This should be interesting. Why don't you join us? After all, this is your new home. We should get acquainted. We're family now, right? Come on, play something for us. Play something nice." "Henry, leave her be, or Master Hideaki will be very mad!" Alex tried to object, but the others only laughed at him. 'Play something nice for me, would you?' Spencer froze by the doorway as the words echoed in her head. Someone once spoke the kind words to her, filling her with warmth and welcome. Three hundred years ago, she was taken in and cared by the Kyoto vampires. Lived and blended in the Gion district, they disguised themselves as merchants, poets, geishas and prostitutes. The period was one of a few Spencer remembered being trusted, the time which she had individuals whom she could consider as friends. Yet she betrayed them in the end and sent them all to death. She still recalled the old tune played by her master, but it resonated like a hymn of death to her now. Henry stalked across the room and grabbed the dazed Spencer, practically throwing her at the piano. Spencer was only brought back from her thought when she suddenly found herself kneeling on the floor, her arms clinging to the keyboard of the black, grand piano. "I bet you're eager to please us, Lee. Lee, is it? You're one of thethe Kyoto vampires, right?" Henry sank down on the couch, crossing his long legs comfortably. Spencer climbed to her feet and sat down on the bench. Looking grim, she started playing Moonlight Sonata. Whilst her fingers moved flawlessly as if she had been rehearsing for this special night, her mind kept revolving around the melody from the Kyoto days. "No, I'm not" she muttered, knowing that her voice was muffled by the music she was playing. "How did you survive the massacre? Didn't Uriah attack and burn your coven down at dawn? That was cruel." Henry spoke louder against the music, laughing hysterically with his friends. "What's this you're playing? Mozart?" he asked casually, brushing his nose in amusement. "Beethoven," Spencer replied uninterestedly. "Lord Ian loved Mozart. Every time I asked him, he always said, 'Mozart'. He was his mother's favorite," Henry said as he walked up behind the vampire. Spencer kept playing, her ears registering his every movement. She doubted that his intention to bring her up here was to tell her of Ann's favorite composer. Even so, she was confident that she knew Ann better than any werewolf standing in this room. With a smile on his face, Henry leaned forwards and struck a few keys, interrupting her music. "Lord Ian was one of us. Well almost. It was until he was brainwashed by a

bloodsucker like you. And now Master as well. What did you do to them? You killed a Lycan, but they spared your life. They let you live right here in our lair." Uninterested in squabbling with him, Spencer glanced out the window behind the piano. The sky was still dark. It was three o'clock in the morning, and she pondered of a good hiding place out in the forest. She once followed Reito here, and there were quite a few spots to evade sunlight by dawn. However, the werewolves would certainly be more knowledgeable of all the routes around here than her, and any rash escape plans would seem inconceivable. "Hey, I'm talking to you" Her thought was interrupted by Henry's hand on her right shoulder. Her senses mechanically heightened, and her hand moved to grab his, breaking it and literally throwing him forwards, smashing his head into the piano. It was a rule she lived by for centuries: never allow a stranger's touch. Spencer shot up from the piano stool, struck by her own impetuous reaction. Her gaze briefly lingered over Henry's staggered body over the back of the piano, his legs hanging over the keyboard. The lid prop was broken, and the lid itself had fallen over him. She then looked up at the remaining werewolves in the room. For a second, they all halted in their posts. No one uttered a word. Nobody offered Henry a hand, or delivered an attack at her. Only until Henry seemed to regain his composure a little, whimpering in agony, that his friends turned to the vampire and jumped at her, growling as their fangs jutting out. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: With a cup of coffee in his gloved hand, Ian was seated in the backseat of the limo, his gaze drifting out the window to the dark woods along the graveled road. The tall trees stood, barring with the thick fog, lending soft, dull light in the night. The same, constant view of landscape had accompanied him for over an hour now, and he knew he was getting closer to home. However, his mind dreaded what was waiting for him. It wasn't the silent protest, the leers and sneers he had received from other pack members upon his father's decision to take in Spencer. As much as he had never got along with his peers, he came to agree with them for once. It was, indeed, absurd to shelter a vampire. It was dangerous as both races never shared a kind history together. Except for Jerry, the werewolves came from families that were murdered by vampires, and Spencer's freedom, although limited, definitely disgraced Hideaki's integrity as the leader. But it wasn't the most pressing argument of Ians concerns. The conversation between his father and Spencer kept replaying in his head. His worry over his father and his secret relation with WOOHP only distressed Ian, reminding him how little he really knew about his parents. He only understood now why his father had built the lair so remote from the rest of the world, literally burying himself underground deeper than a vampire would. Yet, he left him for a better world out there out of his own brash need to be left alone. I'm still doing it Ian felt a pang of guilt rising in his chest. Ever since his father's announcement in the central hall, Ian had done nothing but avoiding both him and Spencer. He had always been

the one with quick and decisive decision, his temperament almost volcanic. But it wasn't the case now. His father's life was on the line, and he found his mind unable to construct a practical strategy. Not to mention that the rogue vampire was not to be trusted, ever. Spencer had dared to lie in the face of a death threat, deceiving the First District librarian about her Kyoto maker. The image of a lonely, miserable vampire in an abandoned warehouse his mother once knew was crunched up and shoved back into the dark. It was proven that Spencer was willing to mass murder her own kind for her own benefit. The lair eventually emerged at the high slope in the middle of nowhere, and the limo pulled over the driveway. Letting out a sigh, Ian opened the door and stepped out. His pale skin took a sharp contrast with the gray, turtleneck sweater and the thick, black coat he was wearing. The muddy ground softened at the heels of his boots. He walked up the stairs with a disgruntled heart. But the sight of two pack members running out through the front door stopped Ian in her track. The frightened look on their faces immediately set his defense on high alert. They halted a little when they saw him, and then glanced at each another. "What's going on?" Ian asked. "LordLord Ian Youryour friend" One of the werewolves stuttered, his face pallid. "Where's father?" Ian instantly pulled out a gun from his shoulder holster, moving cautiously into the lobby. The two reluctantly followed his back in. "Master Hideaki hasn't come back yet, sir." Damn it. Where did he go at this time of night? Ian walked further into the hallway. Bits and pieces of broken furniture littered around the floor along with some pools of blood further down the corridor. He raised his gun in an instant when she saw a wounded werewolf crawling weakly out of the music room. His ears picked up an unfamiliar melody coming from the direction. "Pplease, be careful, Lord Ian," the werewolf behind him whispered. Taking a quick glance down at the wounded by the doorway, Ian moved to the opened door and involuntarily froze at the sight before him. Much of the furniture, the walls and windows were slimy with splattered, fresh blood, presumably from his injured kinsmen lying around the room. The whole room was practically torn down, shards of glass everywhere. The music kept playing, intensified by the second. Spencer was sitting on the piano stool, her back facing Ian. From the sound of uneven drums of fingers, Ian could tell that Spencer had been hurt as well. But the vampire remained the only one in the room capable of doing anything so much other than breathing. Ian bit his lip at the violence before him, moving to the side to check if Alex was still alive. It appeared that his personal guard had taken quite a few brutal wounds as well. Alex gagged as he tried to grip Ian's arm. "Lo Lord Ian" Alex coughed up in blood, his body shaken.

Feeling the feeble hand on his arm, Ian snapped, raising his gun at the vampire, who had not responded to his presence. "Why!" Ian roared over the music. The vampire didn't flinch. She kept delivering the tune in mad ecstasy as if she had missed it so that she would die for it. "They didn't like my music," Spencer said simply. From the reflection in the mirror Ian could see her lips curving up slowly into a scornful smile. For a brief moment, Spencer took one hand off the keyboard and yanked Henry's unconscious body off the back of the piano almost in annoyance. Ian watched him fall flat to the floor, recognizing him as one of Toby's men from Detroit. They were a team pretty much of their own accord, openly displaying their animosity towards the vampire and their stand against his father's decision. But Ian wasn't going to let a vampire rampage his lair without paying for it. He steadied his aim and pulled the trigger. BANG! BANG! BANG! Before his eyes could catch it in the act, Spencer had dodged the bullets and closed in on him. The vampire slammed him against the wall, toppling the gun off his grasp. Ian quickly freed his other hand from Alex and grabbed Spencer by the collar, tackling her down to the floor, shattering the tiles in the process. Looming over his opponent, Ian had Spencer's throat on a chokehold with his fist, pinning the vampire to the spot. He pulled out a switchblade from his ankle holster, but Spencer was fast to seize his wrist, holding the sharp point at arm length. Fighting to turn the blade, they both tried to drag the other, crashing into the walls and crumbled furniture. When the blade jerked and cut his right cheek, Ian jabbed his other hand at the deep laceration on Spencer's shoulder, effectively causing the vampire to let go of the switchblade. "LoLord Ian!" Alex tried to call out for him. Ian bolted into the air and charged at the stumbling vampire. Spencer made a slight turn to avoid the sharp blade, grabbed Ian's arm and twisted it. Trying to take control over the other, they collided into the door, tearing the adjacent walls down with them, tripped and rolled into the hallway. While Spencer still reeled from the impact, Ian was quicker to get up and climbed atop her. One hand gripping the vampire's neck, Ian sharply raised the switchblade up high. "Lord Ian! Please, stop!" The urgency in Alex's voice finally registered in Ian's mind, stopping the point of his blade only an inch from the vampire's heart. Out of breath, Ian stared down at the struggling Spencer for a moment before looking over his shoulder.

Alex had crawled towards him, a hand pressing the wound on his abdomen. "She She didn't do this to me. They They were going to" But he was cut short by a hard kick in his face, knocking him out cold. "ALex!" But Ian stopped at the sight of Toby emerging from the living room. It appeared that he had been watching them all along. For a moment in silence, their gazes were locked. The large, blond man was in his black garment, a gun in his hand. He glared down at him. "You put up quite a show. I was convinced for a second there that you were really going to kill that bloodsucker." "You!" Ian barked at Toby, but his attention was brought back to Spencer at the slap on his hand. Ian turned to see the vampire pushing her way out of his harsh grip. Coughing, Spencer shakily pushed herself up from the floor, his gaze flickering between Toby and Spencer. Ian had to hold his breath for a second when he caught a flash of fury in the crimson gaze. The look was nothing reminiscent of a human emotion, but of an awakened monster. Biting his lips, Ian fiercely turned to Toby. "What's going on? What did your men do? She wasn't supposed to leave the residential floor." "She left on her own will, and look what she's done!" Toby took an aggressive step towards Ian, prompting the vampire to step between them. Ian was taken aback by Spencer's gesture, confusion clouding her judgment. More werewolves gathered around the hallway, watching them as if waiting for some kind of retribution. As far as Ian knew, it was going to be easy on the vampire, and he wasn't sure why he should care. "She harmed our people, yet you spared her. Are you a traitor!" Toby's rumble was loud enough for everyone to hear, and Ian could see the resentment rising in their eyes. "I will never turn my back on the lair. But I demand to know how it started," Ian said, trying to keep his voice sturdy. However, with Alex unconscious, there was no liable witness whom he could trust. "Does it matter? If you will not kill her, I will challenge her for a duel," Toby said. Spencer hissed at him. "Challenge accepted." "No," Ian interrupted. He put himself in front of Spencer and stared at Toby in the eye. "I will take the challenge." Spencer frowned and quickly pressed in. "What are you" "I will take the challenge on one condition that you will let her go regardless of the outcome," Ian said. He believed that Toby would accept his demand, not out of his honor, but his need to show his spirit. After what happened tonight, there was no chance that Spencer would be able to continue to stay at the liar. Given his military training, Toby was most positively a better shooter than the vampire was. Ian was now placing a bet on his life, trusting in his own skill and praying that he would live to see dawn again. A triumphant smile crept onto Toby's face. "Very well," he said, and pulled out two bullets from the pocket of his jacket. "Silver-nitrate. One for me One for you."

When Ian snatched the bullet from Toby's palm, the spectators cheered in madness. Toby and the crowd of twenty then moved out of the building, yelling as they made their way down the driveway and heading into the woods. The werewolves didn't seem to know how serious the situation really was. They were a pack of wild animals, hungry for blood and violence. To Ian's dismay, they still had not learned to embrace the significance of their supernatural strength earned through sorrow and heartbreak. Ian moved back to retrieve one of his twin guns from the floor. He took one look back at Alex and gestured for the remaining pack members to take care of his guard and the wounded. He then followed the mass out into the woods, Spencer next to him. "You don't have to do this, Ian. I see now that it's a trap. They want you, not me." "I know" Ian mumbled, briefly glancing at Spencer. While the minor cut on his cheek had already healed, he noted that the vampire hadn't been able to heal herself with the inadequate amount of blood given to her. It was a cautious step thanked to his father, considering how dangerous Spencer was during their fight. As quick as his glance was, the vampire seemed to catch his gaze and instantly straightened up. It struck him how Spencer was always on the edge, careful to keep her composed look at all times almost to the point of paranoia. Brushing the thought away from his mind, Ian loaded the silver-nitrate bullet into his gun right away. One had to wonder why a werewolf would carry silver-nitrate instead of UV bullets. For one, Toby didn't seem to care that those wounded in the music room were his men. He was visibly ecstatic when he accepted his challenge instead of Spencer. Ian abruptly halted in his track, and then turned to face the vampire. "What happened to Alex back there?" Spencer staggered at the sudden question before looking away almost in guilt. "He tried to help me when they attacked me Why?" Shrugging, Ian turned to follow the loud crowd down the hill, leaving enough distance to keep their conversation private. "Nothing. Just want to make sure that I'm not sticking my neck out for the wrong person." Spencer followed in a heavy gait. "I'm flattered. You actually think I'm a person." "I don't know. You tell me," Ian retorted sharply. Spencer must have noticed his curt tone; she slowed down, almost losing Ian's pace. "Have I offended you in any way?" However, Spencer's soft voice irritated Ian to no end. He spun around and scowled at the innocent-looking face. "I heard everything, what you and my father talked about in the lab. I heard you threatened him." For a moment, Spencer paused at the revelation. "He was out of line," she eventually said. "He was out of line?" Ian rolled his eyes in exasperation. "You stupefied me. You controlled my mind! How dare you get into my head like that? I thought we were becoming friends!" Spencer didn't show as much as a blank look on her face as she said, "I simply did what I had"

"Enough of the I-do-what-I-have-to-do shit list! I've had enough of it! You. You and my mother, I've had enough of your indulgences! She died because she had to, wasn't that right! Leave now and never come back. I won't be doing this for you for the second time. Mark my word." Ian breathed hard, aggravated even more now that, with his harsh words, Spencer still hadn't moved. In the dark, he could almost swear of the glimpse of hurta sentimentin the vampire's eyes. "I don't trust you. I don't want you near my people GO!" Ian snarled. With that, Spencer turned and ran fast into the dark. Before long, the vampire disappeared behind the thick curtain of fog, and Ian's trained ears gradually lost track of her footfall. To his own surprise, Ian could only stand still, frustrated by the sudden thought that they might never see each other again if the vampire chose to. It was only until the noisy chatter down the hill eventually disrupted him thought that Ian turned around and walked down the slope to join the pack. They were his people, but the look in their eyes said otherwise. They were watching his every step. They were waiting to see his blood shed. Tightened the gun in his hand, he moved towards Toby, studying the smile behind his baleful glare. "Let's get it over and done with. I don't want her to stray too far for too long. Your father will be back soon, and I don't want trouble Whatever business he wants with her," Kenta said, staring down his nose at Ian. "The agreement was to let her go, and I will make sure of it." Ian then turned and walked away. It was clear to him now that he had designed and calculated the whole incident, Ian freeing the prisoner as a result. It would make a perfect excuse to Hideaki why he must take him down. One of the men stepped up from the row of spectators, while the rest backed away in caution. "I'm going to count from 10 to 1," he declared. Toby spun on his heels and trekked the opposite way. "This is so unlike what I've heard about you, Kruger. You were supposed to be a vampire hunter like your mother." "10!" "Shut up. You know nothing about my mother." Ian took a glance down at the trail before him. It was dark and cold out here, and he didn't have enough bullets to get through a pack of twenty werewolves. They were unlikely to honor the outcome if he won the match. "9!" Toby laughed, while the crowd remained in silence, anticipating the countdown. "8!" "Oh? Was she in love with a vampire like you are now?" "7!" Trudging ahead, Ian gritted his teeth at Tobys snickering.

"6!" "Spare me the garbage. You know nothing about me." Ignoring his attempt to defocus him, Ian tried to concentrate on Tobys movements behind him. "5!" "Of course, I know a few things about you," Toby said, his voice coarse and low. "4!" "I know for a fact that you care for this vampire more than your own kind." "3!" "And I know that my brother went on a mission to rescue you." "2!" "Yet you left him to die by WOOHP' hand!" "One" "AHHHHHHHH!" At Toby's cry, Ian spun around, gun drawn, only to find that he was already lying on the ground, twisting in pain. Spencer had dived down from the treetop and stabbed him in the back with the tip of her right wing. She even had his gun pressed against his face. The spectators momentarily halted, petrified by the frightening speed of the entire event. Ian sprinted towards Spencer, holding her back from Toby. The vampire sharply retracted her wing, causing him to scream even louder. "Why did you come back! Are you crazy! I told you" "He turned before they finished the counting," Spencer stated as a matter of fact. Although her voice was calm, there was a dangerous expression in her gaze. "Idiot!" Ian blurted out, involuntarily stunned and upset by the protective act. At the furious howls, Spencer instantly wrapped her arm around Ian's waist and took flight before the werewolves, now in their bipedal, nine-feet-tall, lupine form, could swarm them in the spot. One arm around the vampire's neck, Ian looked down, panic in his eyes. The gray-furred werewolves crawled fast onto the trees and leapt into midair, one in particular had swung his paw at Spencer's wing. Ian shot the silver-nitrate bullet up at the sky before firing at the attacking werewolf with the UV rounds instead, successfully veering him off course. Hollering in pain, he fell to the ground in his human form, plunging into a few of his fellows. "Drop me!" Ian kept shooting and took the pursuing few down with his precise aims. "You have only an hour to find a hiding place! Drop me now! I'll stop them!"

Spencer flew them higher and faster into the woods, disregarding her order. But it didn't take too long before Ian noted Spencer's faltering speed at the weight of both of them. "Watch out!" Ian tightly gripped Spencer's shoulder and forced them both to roll midair, their torpedo dive barely escaping the claws of the werewolf leaping from behind a tree. Three other werewolves soared into the air at once, their enormous weight and uncanny agility shaking the whole ground. Their jaw snapped open at the plummeting pair. Ian slightly loosened his hold around Spencer's neck as he directed his full-force kick right into a werewolf's snout, busting off his fangs. He then turned and fired a single bullet at the other before he could crack Spencer's wing. The vampire pulled Ian close again and somersaulted backwards to elude the strong paw from the third attacker. Flown fast against the harsh, cold wind, Ian blinked once and suddenly found himself blinded in total darkness. If it were not for the trembling arms around his waist, he would have thought that he had blacked out somehow. His feet seemed to have landed on a large branch of a tree, his balance stable. His ears caught the howls and snarls that passed below him and grew softer into the distance. Breathing hard, Ian took the little time to regain his composure. He blinked a few times to adjust his sight, and what he saw materializing in the blackness was the pale face just an inch in front of him. The vampire was staring right at him. The fierce look in the crimson eyes captivated and frightened him at the same time; he had to tear his gaze away. Ian glanced around in the dark, gradually realizing that he was enfolded in Spencer's wings, which acted like a coffin, blinding them from the werewolves below. Judging from the slight shudder from the vampire's body, Ian knew that Spencer wouldn't be able to fly them for too long without a break. He tried to lift his arm, meaning to ease the weight on Spencer's injured shoulder. "No," Spencer whispered, stiffened her grip around Ian's waist. Ian froze, not because of the warning, but the hot breath brushing against his neck. She's warm How's that possible? The sharp drop from Spencer's shoulder instantly pulled Ian out his thought. Ian loosened his grasp around Spencer again, but the vampire tensed up in stubbornness. "Wait They're still around," Spencer hissed, her breathing ragged. Ian frowned. "It's almost dawn. You need to" His words trailed off when he noticed the cold, damp patches on his chest. He glanced down a little to see patches of blood on his gray sweater. Spencer was bleeding profusely from the harsh flight, her wound tore deeper. Ian gaped in alarm. "Spencer" Before Ian knew, Spencer had thrown him off the branch and dove down herself to avoid the angry swing of a paw from behind. A werewolf had caught their hiding spot and climbed over. Landing on the leafy, muddy ground on his feet, Ian quickly turned and fired right up at the werewolf diving down right at him. His limping, heavy body fell and rolled on the ground,

sweeping him towards the gigantic tree behind. Fortunately, he had reverted back to his human form before full impact, or else Ian was sure to be crushed into pieces. Pushing his naked body off him, Ian shook his right arm from the pain the collision had caused. Soon, he snapped at four other werewolves returning, snarling at the top of their lungs. Without hesitation, he pulled another gun from his shoulder holster and shot them with his twin guns, all his marks precise and effective. The werewolves tumbled and smashed into the trees next to Ian, breaking the trunks in half. Leaping to avoid the falling trunks, Ian took a quick look down at his peers in guilt. They would survive the injuries from the UV rounds, but would not be able to regain their strength in time to fight her. At the thought of the vampire, Ian frantically turned around for a sign of Spencer. For a brief moment, he sighed in relief when he saw Spencer only thirty meters away. The vampire feebly got up to her feet. It seemed that Spencer had taken a nasty hit from the fall, failing to fly out in time. Ian hurried towards the vampire, who was clutching the wound on her shoulder. But the sight of a dozen werewolves emerging from behind the curtain of fog, their fangs protruded, put him to a halt. Roaring, they stampeded towards Spencer, in which the vampire quickly flew into the air but was not fast enough to avoid a vicious paw. Caught by the claws goring at her ribcage, she was flung against the tree. The vampire twisted, her legs kicking, as she tried to lose the deadly hold. As the bloodthirsty werewolves gathered around, pushing one another to take the prize, Ian pulled off his coat and leapt into the air. He could feel the freezing wind against his bare arms and legs, his blood boiled as every element of his being ripped, died, and regenerated. The raven wolf landed on all fours in the midst of the wild horde, and a few were hurled out of the way like flies with just one furious strike of his strong claws, freeing Spencer from the grasp. The vampire fell to the ground, coughing as she bent in pain. His thick fangs jutted out, Ian stood up, towering them all with his thicker, broader and thirteen-feet-tall body. His black fur and snout were longer than his peers', his lupine form much more reminiscent of a real wolf. His growl alone sent shiver down their spines, and they cowered, lowering their heads in uncertainty. He paced slowly in front of the kneeling Spencer, guarding her. "Ian?" At the weak call, Ian turned and saw the almost terrified look in the crimson eyes. For a split second, the vampire recoiled at the menacing transformation of his body. "Ah" But Spencer didn't make it as far as a wobbly backward crawl. She quickly pressed the fresh wound on her ribcage, her face paling to the shade of green now. Her fangs retracted as she slumped back down on the ground, panting. At the sight, the gray werewolves roared again and blindly jumped at the fallen prey. Promptly, the raven wolf turned and rammed them away before their jaws could snap at the vampire. Rage in his eyes, he continued to plow through the horde, tearing them down with

his sharp, thick fangs. A werewolf jumped onto his back and bit his neck, but he immediately rolled on the ground and thumped the assailant down with his powerful paw. "I Ian!" For a fleeting moment, the raven wolf turned to Spencer, struck by the rare urgency in her voice. But he couldn't move further as his knees buckled. He looked down at his own hands and realized that he had reverted back into human form. But what stunned him even more were the bullet holes in his chest and stomach. Sil Silver-nitrate All of a sudden, the gravity took control over him, and Ian found himself dropping to the ground without restraint. His body shook as pain seared all over his being. He lied on his back, wheezing. Only a few werewolves were still standing, but they retreated in a fearful gait as the vampire soared past them in a violent flight. Injured, Toby bent a little as he now directed his aim at the vampire. But Spencer landed her kick at his chest before he could pull the trigger, spinning him off balance. With a vicious stab through his heart with her left wing, she drove him against the tree, hissing in his face. Her fangs protruded, she impaled his neck with the tip of her right wing and thrust it up, decapitating him. Retracting her wing from his body, she grabbed his head in midair and hungrily drank from it. As the vampire turned around, tossing Toby's head away, the remaining werewolves drew back at the glowing red eyes and ran into the fog, leaving their wounded fellows behind. Ian had to remind himself to breathe as he watched the scene unfolded, trying to get up only to fall back down again. His body shuddered at the cold wind, and his sight began to blur. Spencer had rushed back to Ian's side, her face screwed up in worries. She lifted her left hand to her mouth, but suddenly froze. Reluctance had set in her eyes, and she seemed to be lost in her own thoughts for a moment. Taking in a deep breath, Spencer eventually bit her own wrist. Vampire blood lent an extraordinary healing power. "Nnno!" Ian grunted in Spencer's arm, weakly pushing off the bleeding wrist from his mouth. Spencer paused at his reaction, and then realized that Ian had learned of the consequence of taking a vampire's blood. To Ian's relief, Spencer tiredly nodded in obedience. But the haze thickened, the pain intensified, and his body grew frailer by the second. He glanced up at the sky and noted the faint blue shade above. Dawn was breaking. As hard as he tried to fight it, his heavy eyelids closed and caged hm behind the thick veil. "Trouble" The soft murmur was the last thing he heard before his world went black.

Author note: Kyoto is a city in Japan , it s a place Spencer grew in as a vampire, but remember she Is a couple of thousands years old, so she lived in a time of traditional Japan.