《Dark Illusions: Blood Love》 Proof of Existence Proof of Existence Edo, Japan. 1829 (Bunsei 12) February 2nd Commander Takeru of the Ryoku and his charge, the Young Lord Shinosuke were on horseback traveling from the city of Edo to their village in the mountains. They rode hard at first, hoping to make it home before the storm hit but they were not fast enough. It was a very chilly mid-winter in the southern island of Japan. It was the first snowstorm of the season. And it left the trails leading to the villages completely hidden under a foot of snow. Takeru lead the way with Shinosuke trailing behind him. He could feel his horse struggle to walk through the mounds of snow and it was moving increasingly slower. He urged his horse Takafumi on but he felt the animal groan in protest. By then, the snow was falling so thickly, it was impossible for human eyes to see even 5 meters ahead. The snow was not their only problem. Takeru was also worried for the Young Lord¡¯s safety. Being an immortal Takeru was fine for he could not feel the cold. Shinosuke however was human. ¡°My Lord Shinosuke!¡± Takeru called behind him. ¡°We must find somewhere to wait out the storm. We are still days from the castle.¡± ¡°Can you see anywhere we can take shelter?¡± Shinosuke answered, his voice carried by the wind. Takeru scanned the area with his gifted eyes and spied a shrine. He saw no signs of any shrine keepers or priestesses so they were sure to not to disturb anyone. ¡°There is a dojo some distance away. We can take refuge there for the night,¡± he called to his young charge. He could see Shinosuke sigh with relief as his warm breath hit the chill air. Takeru screwed up his face and urged his horse on determinedly. As an immortal, Takeru could withstand the harsh temperature, but Shinosuke gifted though he was in spell casting, he was still mortal. It took some time to reach the dojo in the thickening snow. It wasn¡¯t very large. Just one main dojo in the middle of the compound with smaller structures surrounding it in the shape of a U. Takeru hoped that the owners would be willing to provide them with shelter through the night. If they refused, they had limited options. The horses were straining and Takeru could sense they were nearing their limit, as was the Young Lord.They entered the dojo¡¯s grounds cautiously, Takeru used his abilities to scan every inch for signs of the dojo owners of disciples. The grounds were covered in thick layer of untouched snow, indicating that owners might have taken shelter elsewhere during the storm. But then Takeru saw a light coming from one of smaller structures on the right. He approached the small building on horseback and sensed mortal blood. Whoever was inside must have heard the horses neighing because Takeru heard some rustling and an elderly man came hurrying out the door with a weapon in hand. Takeru quickly jumped off of his horse and stood between the old man and Shinosuke who was still mounted but unarmed. ¡°What do you want? Come to pillage while the dojo master is away?¡± the old man called into snowy night brandishing a sword. ¡°No,¡± said Takeru softly holding up his hands. ¡°We were on our way back to Edo when we were caught in the storm. We seek only shelter. Not treasure.¡± Silence followed his words, only the wind and horses made sounds as the old man considered them then he lowered his weapon. ¡°You were foolish to travel in this,¡± he said against the howling wind, his voice loud and gruff but Takeru sensed concern not anger. ¡°Come on, you can put the horses in the stable and take the room next to it. But just for tonight,¡± he added in a raised voice. ¡°We understand,¡± said Takeru bowing. ¡°And we are very grateful.¡±The old man took hold of the horse¡¯s reign and began guiding them to the stables. ¡°Thank you so much for your hospitality Sir,¡± said Shinosuke his voice soft and full of sincerity. ¡°We shall call upon the Master when the storm has passed to give him and you a proper thank you. What is your name so that we know who it is we are so obliged to?¡± ¡°You may call me Yoshinori young man,¡± he said ¡°My Master will be most welcome to receive you. He is on a journey at the moment, with his disciples. He should return before the sakura begin to blossom.¡± ¡°We will remember,¡± said Shinosuke. Takeru smiled to himself thinking how proud he was of his young charge. It didn¡¯t take long to get the horses situated in the stable which was well equipped. They said their goodbyes to Yoshinori then Takeru draped his arm around Shinosuke¡¯s shoulder. He looked up at Takeru, with his watery eyes and his paler than ever skin and Takeru held him even closer. ¡°Come My Lord, let¡¯s get you warm,¡± he said as he led him to the sleeping quarters near the stables.It was small, only about 8 tatami mats but it suited their needs perfectly; it had dry futons, a fireplace, and a tea kettle. Takeru started a fire in the small hearth in the middle of the room. It was a sunken fireplace with the tea pot bound to a contraption in the ceiling. Eager to make Shinosuke as comfortable as possible, he found supplies to make tea. Shinosuke sat on the other side of the fireplace still shivering slightly in his kimono. Takeru looked over across the fire and his eyes drooped at the sight of Shinosuke. How could he allow Shinosuke to come to such a pass. He chided himself while he stoked the fire, waiting for the water to boil. The Young Lord was silent as Takeru worked but he could feel his eyes on him. Once the water was brought to a boil, Takeru prepared the tea and handed Shinosuke a cup. He took it gently careful not to burn himself and began to sip the tea slowly. Takeru watched the tea do its work as it started to make Shinosuke¡¯s body heat rise. ¡°We passed a small shrine next the entrance,¡± said Shinosuke staring into his tea. ¡°Tomorrow I would like to make an offering to the spirits for guiding us here and ask them to bless Yoshinori.¡± ¡°Yes My Lord, we must,¡± Takeru agreed as he took a sip of his own tea. He looked down at the fire but the corners of his mouth were turned up. In some ways, Takeru still saw Shinosuke as a boy even though he had come of age some years ago. It was difficult not. He could recall vividly the day Takeru was first assigned to look after him. Shinosuke¡¯s father was the leader of their village and a great warrior. Assignation attempts were not uncommon and the threat of attack was always imminent. With his prestige he knew that the lives of his heirs were in danger, especially Shinosuke, the youngest who was a gifted shaman. So it fell to protectors of their lands to look after the princes. The Kyuusetsuki known in the common tongue as vampires. They were the most powerful beings in the region. No one could challenge them, lest they be Gods. There were several clans of Kyuusetsuki, but the Ryoku and Madoushi were assigned to Edo. Through peaceful alliances, they co-existed with the mortals of the village, never hunting among their people. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Shinosuke¡¯s older brother Kyoshi was looked after by Takeru¡¯s leader and maker Tatsurou. Takeru who was second in command, was assigned to be the guard of the younger Shinosuke who was thirteen years old then. 10 years had passed since and yet Shinosuke still had the glow of youth. His face was not yet lined and his skin was as flawless as untouched snow. Since boyhood, Shinosuke had looked up to Takeru. He wanted nothing more than to be like him. Now a young man, Shinosuke¡¯s feelings for Takeru had grown from admiration to affection. The problem was that their relationship was of a nobleman and his guard. There was a thin line drawn between them that could never be crossed. As Takeru stared at Shinosuke through the crackling flames, he pictured his fangs piercing that perfect skin while in the throes of passions. He bit his lower lip and blinked away the vision with difficulty. He recalled his Ryoku training after being sired. Learning to resist human blood was the first challenge. He received no such training in resisting his more carnal desires. And being alone with Shinosuke in an empty dojo all night did present him with a lot of possibilities. He thought knowingly that he would have to work hard to fight his urges, both vampiric and physical. ¡°You should sit closer to the fire My Lord, you¡¯ll be warmer,¡± said Takeru once Shinosuke had finished his tea. He was worried Shinosuke would freeze before the storm ended and they were safe to go home. He looked up at Takeru words, and then his eyes drifted down and away from Takeru. ¡°What troubles you My Lord?¡± he asked at once, eyebrows raised. ¡°Perhaps I would feel warmer if I could sit next to you,¡± he answered, taking Takeru so completely by surprise, that he nearly dropped his tea into the fire. He stared blankly at the look of longing in Shinosuke¡¯s eyes. Takeru could sense how much the Young Lord wanted to be near him. It amazed him that he hadn¡¯t sensed it before then. Shinosuke must have been holding back his emotions while his mind was focused on getting warm but at the moment they were loud and clear and focused on Takeru. Staring at the flames instead of Shinosuke he said, ¡°That would not be prudent My Lord.¡± ¡°Prudent,¡± Shinosuke whispered. His face falling. ¡°That¡¯s you, Master Takeru of the Ryoku; Prudence and propriety. Don¡¯t you ever forget all of that and just¡­be?¡± ¡°I¡­,¡± Takeru started but then he closed his mouth and started again still staring resolutely at the fire. ¡°We Ryoku are a noble clan. You and my honor are all I have My Lord. If I were to do something to jeopardize those things ¡­my existence would mean nothing.¡± Shinosuke did not respond at first. Takeru could feel Shinosuke staring at him even though he could not see him. He had hoped that Shinosuke would let the matter rest but then suddenly Shinosuke was on his feet and walking over to him. Takeru froze as Shinosuke sat on the ground directly beside him daringly. ¡°Is that the kind of existence you want? An existence of denying yourself, of denying who you are?¡± he asked him incredulously, his eyes piercing into Takeru''s very soul. ¡°I have lived that way for many years and I am sick of it,¡± he continued and Takeru finally looked at him and he saw the fire in his eyes. He saw the pain and passion there and he couldn¡¯t look away. He understood Shinosuke¡¯s pain well. ¡°My Lord, do not think me unfeeling,¡± Takeru started. ¡°If I had the nerve to risk everything and dared to give into my desires, there would be no turning back. It¡¯s something I could never take back, never undo. Like becoming immortal, it would change everything forever. I take risks with my life my Lord because I am immortal. I don¡¯t take risks with my virtue.¡± Takeru was never a man of indulgence. He was not raised that way. He lived a life of denial and discipline as per the vows he took as a young man himself. ¡°Aren¡¯t somethings worth risking everything for?¡± Shinosuke asked incredulously. Takeru did not respond. He just looked back into Shinosuke¡¯s marble eyes as a voice in the back of his head thought how stunning his charge was; his princely robes fell delicately on his slender shoulders, his milky white collarbone peaked out from the top of his layered kimono. His lips were the color of cherry blossoms and at the moment they were parted slightly and the pained expression on his exquisite face only made him look more irresistible. Luckily his shoulder length black hair covered the veins on his neck for it was not the time to test Takeru¡¯s need for mortal blood when Shinosuke was mortal with warm blood pumping through his veins. Takeru had to shake off the urge to throw his arms about his young charge. He wanted to look away but Shinosuke¡¯s deep expressive eyes held him captive. ¡°I know you are frustrated My Lord but you must know that I am no good for you. I¡¯m not good for anyone in that way. You belong with a human like you.¡± ¡°You think it matters to me whether or not you have a heartbeat?¡± Shinosuke asked as disbelief spread across his face and he inched closer to Takeru. He was too close to him Takeru thought distracted by the scent of Shinosuke which was intoxicating. Takeru could hear Shinosuke''s heartbeat quicken as his warm blood rushed through his body. It was all he could do not to tear the delicate cloth away from the Young Lord''s shoulders and taste his milky white skin. ¡°What matters to me is whether or not you feel something for me and if you want me the way I want you. Well?¡± Shinosuke waited for Takeru to answer with his hands on his knees. There was no way he could lie to Shinosuke. He was the only other person besides Takeru''s maker that he couldn¡¯t lie to. Watching him wait for his response only made it more difficult. He sighed and looked down away from Shinosuke and he could almost feel Shinosuke¡¯s heart breaking as he broke eye contact with him. ¡°I honestly can¡¯t say yes or no to that. I don¡¯t know what it is I feel because all of this is very foreign to me. I was sired before I really understood anything about myself. What I do know is that I can¡¯t bear to be separated from you, that I would hunt down anyone who tried to harm you, that I want to be your side my Lord," he said with his eyes still on the ground and he noticed the gap between them was smaller now. Takeru could feel his self-control slipping. ¡°I couldn¡¯t bear to be separated from you either,¡± said Shinosuke as his hand slide across the floor. He rested it on top of Takeru¡¯s hand and Takeru did not pull away. He couldn''t. ¡°I''ve wanted you since I was a still a boy in your eyes, but I knew I couldn¡¯t have you. Your honor and your duty to my family made it impossible for me to pursue you. Therefore I hid my true feelings as best as I could. I knew that not having you as a lover would not be as difficult as losing you as my guard. I had to be content with just having you by my side." "So I distracted myself with concubines but no more Takeru. Unlike yours, my time on this earth is limited. If I died tomorrow knowing that I didn¡¯t even try, I would be mourning what we could have had in my afterlife. My soul would not be a peace. Now I sit here as a man, not a boy telling you that I love you, asking you if you love me too.¡± Takeru looked back up into Shinosuke''s eyes and he saw it. It wasn''t lust and it wasn''t infatuation, it was love. Then without saying a word Takeru pulled Shinosuke by the hands into his arms and kissed him fully on the mouth. He didn¡¯t know what made him do it. All he knew was at that moment he couldn¡¯t think of anything else. Shinosuke responding quickly by pulling his hands free and wrapping them around Takeru''s neck, kissing him back. Shinosuke''s mouth was moist and slightly sweet with remnants of the tea he drank. And they were soft, pressing against Takeru''s lips lightly. Suddenly they were on their knees caressing each other as their mouths moved together rhythmically amidst the howling wind and the crackling flames. They stopped briefly, Shinosuke panting as they stared at each other. Then Shinosuke smiled. The grinned spread across his face and then he laughed. ¡°My Lord?¡± Takeru said slightly concerned with his reaction to their first kiss. ¡°I woke up this morning thinking of this journey home,¡± he said while putting a hand up to push Takeru¡¯s long black hair out of his eyes. ¡°I was hoping that I could have a chance to speak with you freely about my feelings. I never imagined that this day would end with me in your arms Takeru,¡± and they kissed again, this time more playfully, his tongue excitedly exploring Takeru¡¯s as his hands moved up into his hair. Takeru could practically feel Shinosuke¡¯s elation. Takeru was elated as well. He knew nothing had changed, that his feelings about their situation were the same but when Shinosuke said that he loved him, Takeru knew that he felt it too. There was no other explanation for it. He was in love. He knew that they would never be able to go public with their relationship, that their love would be pushed into the shadows. At that moment however, it didn¡¯t matter to them. Reconnaissance Chapter One Reconnaissance TOKYO (MODERN DAY EDO) JAPAN 2008 (HEISEI 22) DECEMBER 1ST Sitting alone in the corner of the dimly lit Club Eden was the vampire Takeru of Clan Ryoku. With a glass of Gin and Tonic in one hand, Takeru flicked through a black leather-bound notebook with the other. He scanned the room carefully, moving only his eyes. By extending his energy outward like wings, he could get a feel for the surrounding area.. Takeru was adept at remaining unseen in a sea of people. People extolled him for this trait. It allowed him to both hunt and gather intelligence while being completely hidden. It was your typical high-end Tokyo night club; too dark to make out facial features from a distance, men in crisp business suits sitting on the balcony away from throng of dancers below, a DJ spinning records in the corner surrounded by enthusiastic fans and attractive bartenders who flirted freely with the patrons. The bar was lit from below by beams of light. The dance floor was filled with effect smoke and flashing lights from the ceiling and walls. Against the walls were black booths and small tables, each with a single black tea light on top. The atmosphere was furtive, as the patrons paid little attention to what was going on at other tables. It was the place people went to be unseen. No one ever asked for identification, and there were no reservations. It was normal to find men in impressive-looking suits with gorgeous women at their sides and occasionally some near the back of the club conducting meetings or collecting debts. It was not place where you would find the average night club goer. Club Eden was a watering hole for the underbelly of the Tokyo night scene. That made it the perfect place to hunt prey; for it was not unheard of for people to disappear there and never be heard from again. Takeru Furuyoshi had an art of stalking his prey; he always took his time looking for just the right person. Someone alone, someone inconspicuous, and someone no one would notice slipping out of sight. Takeru took a sip of his drink, holding the glass up near his face. His electric blue eyes hid in the curtain of hair that fell around his angular jaw. As he set the glass down, Takeru spotted a young man in a white suit eyeing him curiously. Seemingly unfazed by the mortal even seeing him when he was semi cloaked, Takeru grinned, intrigued by his admirer. When he met Takeru¡¯s gaze, the young man quickly turned away. Takeru took in the mortal¡¯s appearance. He narrowed his eyes and scanned every visible inch of him, noting his flashy suit, designer watch, and snakeskin boots. A host He concluded, taking a swig of his drink without his eyes leaving the man. A Host was a male escort who made his money by swindling gullible women into spending their fortunes on them. They hunted among the rich and vulnerable, who were more susceptible to their charms. The Hunter and the Hunted. Takeru smiled to himself as he watched the man thinking, we are similar creatures. Using his hyper intuition, Takeru pulled from his mind and his movements that he was mildly interested in the dark beauty lurking in the shadows. Takeru was used to stares when he was not completely cloaking his presence. He was very handsome, and the candlelight hit his face at just the right angles, highlighting his superior bone structure. He stood at 178cm with a slim but toned build. A black designer suit hugged his form as if it were made for him, contouring to his body shape. His dark hair nearly covered the left side of his pale long face and his eyes which were like almond-shaped sapphires were nearly hidden from view. A few strands of his hair fell to the bridge of his thin nose like the tip of a knife. He nonchalantly brushed the strands out of his face, his thin lips curved into a smile as he once again caught the eye of the young man at the bar. Confirming his assumption, the mortal¡¯s cheeks went slightly pink in response to his smile. Takeru drained his glass in one gulp, slipped his notebook into his pocket, and stood up. The vampire strode over to him noiselessly. His crocodile boots made no sound as he glided through the club, stopping next to the young host leaning against the bar. The host¡¯s body heat rose as Takeru neared him. Their eyes met and then he had him. No mortal could resist his mind trick. With that look, he could bind any mortal¡¯s will to his own. The young host followed Takeru to the restroom, then he held him up against the wall. Takeru slipped his arm around the back of his neck, then he tilted the young man¡¯s head to the side with his long white fingers and saw his pulsating artery. He opened his mouth, Takeru¡¯s lips on his creamy skin, then he sank his teeth in his neck. Delicious blood flowed rapidly into Takeru¡¯s eager mouth, strengthening him, and relieving him of his thirst. His eyes glowed with brilliant blue when the blood touched his lips. As his victim¡¯s blood flowed into him, so did his memories, flashing like visions in his mind. He saw him in a bar with countless patrons, male and female, drinking and engaging in more intimate activities. He could learn his victim¡¯s life story just from his blood. It was called Blood Knowledge, a shared link between the vampire and its prey. Mortals did not have the same mental shields as vampires, so their thoughts and memories were free for the taking. Takeru moaned appreciatively, enjoying the intimacy of taking blood, the bond between the hunter and its prey. He took in everything the mortal felt, his thoughts and emotions were shared as if he were draining both his life and his blood. His hunger for blood quelled, he sealed the tiny pinpricks left by his fangs with the swipe of his tongue across them. The mortal stood limp against the wall. Frowning, Takeru locked eyes with him once more and delved into his mind, pulling the image of himself from the man thus wiping his memory of the event. Takeru steadied him against the wall and broke the connection to his mind. As soon as he left the restroom, the mortal was left thinking why he went into the restroom in the first place. Takeru cloaked his energy completely upon exiting the restroom, his body tensing slightly as he scanned the club once more. All too easy for someone to attack a vampire still high from fresh blood. His eyes were everywhere, from the patrons leaning against the banister on the top floor to the patrons¡¯ caressing in a shadowed booth near the back of the club. The club was just as he had left it only minutes ago. The vampire had another reason for being at Club Eden besides hunting, but the only vampiric energy in the area came from him. Sighing, Takeru pulled out the notebook from his breast pocket, took out a pen, and flipped to a previously tabbed page. Squinting, he scrolled down it and crossed out the words CLUB EDEN. Then he looked down the list to the next club: LA LUNA. Takeru left Club Eden shortly after, reached into his back pocket, pulled out a tiny black device, and pressed the button upon it, which unlocked the doors of his dark SUV parked just outside the club. He jumped in and started the vehicle with the push of a button. ¡°Welcome back, master!¡± the voice navigation greeted him. ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°Club La Luna, Hachioji,¡± he said. The navigation screen showed a series of spinning orbs than a detailed map of where he was in relation to the club. ¡°Club La Luna, Hachioji. You will be there in 23 minutes if you take this route,¡± said the navigation, the route highlighted on the screen in red. Takeru turned onto the street and set off for Hachioji. ¡°We have received intelligence that the enemy are frequenting clubs in the Kanto region.¡± Takeru recalled his leader¡¯s words. ¡°They are hiding themselves amongst the Tokyo underground scene. You must locate their hub discretely and report back. The safety of the people of Kanto rest in your hands. May the Gods be with you.¡± Takeru squeezed the stirring wheel and sped up. He could not let his leader down. He was entrusted with a dangerous, and taxing task and he was thought to be the best for the job. Takeru was one of the oldest vampires in his clan, second only to the Methuselah of Clan Ryoku, the most powerful group of vampires in the Kanto Region. I have been to 5-night clubs in the downtown area and there is no trace of the enemy¡¯s stronghold. He could not return to his maker with no news. The enemy had to be found. Takeru easily ran a light that changed to red halfway through passing it, but he did not slow down. Tokyo was their land, land they had protected since the Edo period. Enemies within their territory could mean only one thing: conflict. *** Some 20 minutes later, Takeru was turning on to a quiet side street. He drove carefully down the road, eyes wide looking for anything unusual, but that was difficult to differentiate. The street was unusual. It was so unlike the area around Club Eden with its expensive eateries and pastry shops. Takeru was surrounded by abandoned buildings and closed businesses. He came to a stop at the end of the road and peered around cautiously, cloaking his energy to appear mortal as opposed to invisible. ¡°Your destination is on the right master,¡± the navigation system announced, and a smiley face appeared on the screen. Takeru looked to his right and there it was squashed between two larger buildings. ¡°I heard of off the beaten track, but this is ridiculous,¡± Takeru commented. ¡°Right window down,¡± he said to the screen, and the car window rolled down slowly. Takeru leaned out slightly and looked up at the wooden sign hammered above the entrance. It read CLUB LA LUNA in fading gold letters, a tiny half-moon sitting next to the letter A in Luna. It is definitely open, he thought as he heard music with heavy bass from outside it. Dark material covered the club¡¯s windows, making it impossible to see in it from the outside. The street was deserted since everything else there was closed. ¡°No crowd or security guards outside and no foot traffic, this would be the perfect place,¡± he said, then he closed his eyes and opened his senses to find traces of the enemy. Vampiric energy was like physical pressure but invisible to most immortals. He let his mental shields down a fraction and then he felt it, it was like an ocean closing in around him. He quickly replaced the shields, his skin paling before his eyes. The strength of the pressure depended on the power of the immortal. Some vampires could cripple weaker vampires with the pressure of their energy. Such vampires often held back their energy to stay hidden in public and when they fed. Mortals also suffer discomfort around vampires, but even the weakest vampire could hold back their energy to make it easier to hunt for prey. What Takeru felt was like the pressure of a dozen high-level vampires. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!He screwed up his face and made a U-turn for the parking garage he passed earlier. There was only one space left in the garage. He locked the car with a push of a button, pocketed his key device, and made his way down the empty street to the club. He opened the club door only wide enough to slip inside, then he quickly closed it behind him. La Luna could not have been in more contrast to Club Eden; it was crowded with young patrons dancing to EDM tracks spun by a DJ near the back of the club. It was lit only by strobe lighting and other DJ effects. He slipped past the large vampire near the entrance, who said nothing to him. The vampire was foreign, taller even than Takeru, and stood like a statue by the door, but he did not pay him any mind since he was not giving off any particularly powerful energy. Takeru marked that he felt weak for a vampire despite his rather large physic. He strode by him and found an empty table in the left corner of the club where people had stacked their bags and jackets. As soon as he sat down, he was scanning the room for the source of the powerful vampiric energy he felt outside when a waitress in red came by to clear glasses off the tables. She approached Takeru and greeted him brightly. ¡°Good evening. What can I start you off with tonight?¡± she said, eying Takeru curiously, her thin eyes taking in every bit of his appearance. ¡°Mm, what do you have?¡± he said seductively, locking her gaze to his eyes. She grinned in response and leaned close to him. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re interested in something special, we have ¡®Chidori¡¯¡± she said with a pointed smile. ¡®Chidori¡¯ was Japanese for Blood Bird, code name for warm blood. In this way vampires could attain blood without all the trouble or if one were too weak to hunt. ¡°What¡¯s in it?¡± he asked, picking up the drink menu card on the table. ¡°Red wine, cassis and strawberry juice,¡± she answered in the same cheerful voice, but Takeru could read the suspicion in her eyes. He pulled a face and shook his head. ¡°Seems too sweet for me. I¡¯ll have a double martini,¡± he said, replacing the menu card on the rack in the middle of the table. The woman wrote his order, nodded, and walked away. Takeru followed her with his eyes through the tables and patrons, then she approached a large booth on the other side of the club and whispered something to the man sitting in the middle. He hid his face with a black mask usually worn to ward off germs or the cold, a common look in the winter. His black hood was pulled too low over his eyes to be normal. So Takeru reached into the waitress¡¯s mind and eavesdropped on the conversation. It was a little trick he could only perform with lesser vampires. Since he had locked eyes with her earlier, he could get into her mind without the use of blood knowledge. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s a Ryoku Master, not even a vampire,¡± she said to the man. Takeru could not see the man¡¯s face because it was too dark, but he was curious about the shadowed vampire. Takeru¡¯s skin prickled. This vampire¡¯s energy was off the charts. He could feel it through the woman¡¯s mind. ¡°Or he¡¯s cloaking himself pretty well,¡± the shadowed vampire replied. His voice was not deep. It was high-pitched, and he spoke slowly, pronouncing every syllable. ¡°Find out Rin,¡± he said to a female vampire at his side. ¡°Follow him out when he leaves and take some troops.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± She said, her eyes flashing in Takeru¡¯s direction. She stood up and disappeared through the door behind them followed by a pair of male vampires. Before Takeru lost connection with the waitress¡¯s mind, he tried to get a glimpse of the one she called Master, but she turned on her heels and left the table. Once she was out of sight, the connection to her mind was broken. Takeru¡¯s mind was racing. There was no mistaking it now, this was the enemy¡¯s hub. Now he had a bigger issue, they suspected what he was. He kept calm on the outside, pretending to enjoy the music, all the while thinking he needed an escape plan. I must get out of this area and lose those enemy vampires with no one finding out I am Ryoku. Seems like an easy enough task. The waitress came back a while later with his drink while he went over ideas in his head. ¡°Here you are, one double martini, enjoy,¡± she said still as bubbly as before, but Takeru noticed she was being careful not to meet his eyes, smiling widely and bowing low before hurrying away to another table. She would not him to enter her mind, but little did she know it was already too late for that. Takeru would not let it be too for him. Once the headlining DJ was through with his set, Takeru knew what he had to do. He got up, placed some money on the table for his drink, and disappeared into a large group of patrons. He exited the club alone by slipping past them, and out the back entrance. He sped down the street towards his car at a run but before long; he sensed vampiric energy following him; then suddenly three vampires surrounded him the female vampire Rin from the booth and two lackeys. Rin wore skin-tight black pants and a matching leather jacket. She adorned her neck with a spiked collar and a chained necklace held together by a tiny lock that rested against her throat. She had a small build, came up to about Takeru¡¯s chin, and but her small stature did not make her appear any less ferocious. She bared her fanged teeth and fixed him with a cold stare, her eyes as red cherries and her energy emanating from her like flames. ¡°Leaving so soon?¡± she asked playfully, with her fangs in full view and her red eyes gleaming. ¡°I got what I came for,¡± was Takeru¡¯s reply. Then faster than any of them could see, Takeru was suddenly behind Rin, his arm around her waist pulling her to him. The other handheld a small silver dagger embedded with rubies to her throat. The other vampires froze and looked at each other. ¡°One move and I¡¯ll slit her throat,¡± Takeru shouted at the other vampires. However, before his very eyes, Rin miraculously dissolved into water then reappeared next to her companions. ¡°Madoushi,¡± growled Takeru, glaring at her. Only a Madoushi could change their shape at will. ¡°Which must make you what? Ryoku? Tennshi?¡± she spat back at him icily. ¡°I¡¯m just a wandering immortal who doesn¡¯t take kindly to being attacked for no reason,¡± he said agitated, his eyes taking in their positions and the surrounding area. The street was at present still deserted, but if that changed innocents could get involved and he did not like the idea of fighting three vampires while defending a hostage. ¡°Such a pity! If you were mortal, I would have made you my slave,¡± she said wickedly. ¡°I like to inflict pain ¡®wanderer¡¯¡­excruciatingly slow pain that would have you kneeling at my feet.¡± ¡°You think you could scare me, Madoushi?¡± he growled back. Takeru turned his other hand outward as something long and silver pierced through the middle of his hand, revealing another dagger. Takeru¡¯s slender body made fighting with daggers like a dance. He twirled around and slashed the three vampires in the chest. The female looked down at the blood seeping through her top, then she glared at him, her eyes flashing. ¡°I like to inflict pain too,¡± he said then his daggers dripping with her blood. Rin sneered and whispered ¡°Downpour,¡± but this time when she morphed in water, it came down like a piercing waterfall. Moving quickly through the deluge, Takeru carefully dodged all her cascading attacks. Soon her attacks became erratic. Smiling to himself, he used her irritation and her lack of focus to his advantage. The lackeys watched in silence surrounding the two, and Takeru took this opportunity to throw the daggers right at them. They howled in pain as the poison tipped daggers bore through their flesh and then they fell to the ground unconscious. Rin stopped dead and watched her kin lying unconscious on the ground. Rin should have been poisoned too the moment she was first slashed. Must be her water morphing diluting the effect. Must find another way to take her down. ¡°They were weak,¡± she said coolly, not showing the slightest concern for her kin. ¡°We underestimated you. Now I hold nothing back. Shatter!¡± she shouted as she pulled out an ice spiked whip. The whip looked like it was made of flexible ice and the spikes stoke out like lethal shards of crystal. Rin swung the whip around rapidly, Takeru had to jump and flip out of the way but the whip was free moving, thanks to her ability to manipulate water, and she hit him in the face and leg. The ice cut him like a knife. Traces of the shards glittering in his wounds. A line of blood trickled slowly down his cheek and oozed from his leg. To make matters worse, she continued to dodge his attacks by morphing. I have to immobilize her. His eyes flashed as the idea hit him. He watched Rin¡¯s moves carefully, counting the seconds between her morphing and directions she went in each time until a pattern emerged. Reacting quickly, he grabbed her just as she was about to change her form then Takeru sunk his teeth into her neck which completely halted her movements. It was over. Madoushi could not change their form while their blood was being drained. She struggled against him, but to no avail before going limp in his arms. Her blood was like liquid fire. He felt her rage as it entered him, but not much else from Blood Knowledge. He could, however, alter her memory, which he did with ease. He sealed her neck wound with a slip of his tongue and set her down at his feet. He bested her, but now he had to deal with the aftermath. Bending low, he used his incredible strength to drag Rin and her lackeys by the arms to the side of the abandoned restaurant. Rin¡¯s memory was dealt with, but he still had to take care of the other two. Takeru could not take her lives. If anything, the vampire from La Luna might sense Rin¡¯s energy disappearing. Takeru reached into an inside pocket and drew out a syringe. Inside it, venom taken from a water-dwelling creature that caused its victims to experience short-term amnesia. The Ryoku cultivated the venom in mass for just such a use. ¡°Time to head back,¡± he said as he straightened up. His eyes darted to every window and every car within a 100-meter radius, careful to look for anyone that might hide in the shadows. Once he was sure no one was watching from either the club or by any means of surveillance, he disappeared into the night.