Politics: Poli (many) + tics (blood sucking creatures)

Chapter 16

"Too simple." Sepsei shrugged.

"Why do I get the feeling this is not what King Burai wanted?" Misceo adjusted his glasses slightly before massaging his temple.

"Screw what he wanted…" Bella grit her teeth, crossing her arms, sitting at Misceo's desk.

"Oh come now…or perhaps did you? By a vampire?" Sepsei smirked.

"Ah no. It's not screw what hewanted, it's crew what says the Crimson Demon, who has done nothing but waste our time by convincing us your plans were worth it? I take back what I said. Let's go get the dumb bitch and bring her to him. That is what Burai wanted." Bella's yellow lime stare had the deep power of daggers to Sepsei's playful glance.

"Not at all the correct account of events. As a matter of fact, I am simply inducing a suggestion of the fact that convincing herthat her group of harem brothers are not as innocent as she thinks they are." Sepsei shrugged. "As a matter of fact, I haven't bitten a soul yet so please don't claim me as useless yet. Not to mention, she is the closest to his kin."

"If we can avenge this event… perhaps there is still valor in this." Savide looked to his sister for a brief moment.

"But is hethe Vampire King?" Misceo looked to her as well.

"He is a shrouded man who played my own game…and I'm not saying a word more about anything else. He is a bastard with an affinity for poisons and clever remarks, nothing more." Belladonna bit her lip hard as she tried to swallow her lack of pride in the events, having been no less than overcome by Reiji.

"As I said…why not have fun? Folly in these splendors that both you and your brother provide us? Misceo what about your venom? I am not the only one who has not bitten…"

"Protective. A rather acidic type I only use if need be." Misceo looked to Sepsei, replying bluntly.

"Oh that's just a fancy way of saying he spits." Bella cackled.

"Defensive? Interesting." Sepsei shrugged. "No matter, I think we ought to play a game of turn the vampires against the vampires, don't you? Come now, surely, we can prove we are the superior demon race like this? Not to mention, the girl won't come our way if she despises us because we take her captive. Burai would never be able to convince her either. His heir is dead, so if it is her heart he desires, then we will lead her here with a bit less of a convinced heart that the Vampires offer her the best offer. Let's point out all their weak spots. Either they'll come running our way for revenge, and we can do them in that way, or she'll come running to us."

"And I am not giving up my goal either. I will find out who the King is. Brother perhaps you can assist me as well?" Bella looked to her sibling, his dark skin contrasting his slivered green eyes. He looked back with a nod, ready to avenge any one that took advantage of her.

"Ah, so let the fun begin."

"Any news?"

"No, nothing of interest… I mean that lovely bimbo fan girl of yours Ayato wasn't at school but I'm sure her pride is quite demolished between being prey for a Vibora and then being publicly humiliated by my dear King brother." Laito looked to Ayato, who's head was resting on Yui's lap. "And of course, there were a few accusations that we're in hiding but I'm sure that the Mukami brothers took care of that."

"We don't need them as our security." Subaru scoffed.

"No, but if they are going to reek of half-blood at least the half of them that is worth something, can do half a job of reinstating the power we hold." Shu said bluntly.

"I don't like it…it's too quiet." Kanato added, hushed.

"I agree with this. Something does not add up." Reiji nodded.

"Well I don't care as long as Yui is safe." Ayato spoke up.

"But we are not justprotecting Yui, noble King brother. We are protecting … or are supposed to… be protecting our vampire kind as well. Just like dear father did, scare the shit out of everyone else so they'll let us be." Laito reprimanded in an overtly teacher-ish way. "No offence, Lady Bitch."

"No… he's right." She slightly nodded, not quite sure being a tyrant was the perfect way about it but held her tongue.

"Yea, I get it. But, either way, Yours Truly is in charge and I'm not about to make a stupid move and allow another vibora near you." He pushed up off her lap and crossed his arms. "Which means we keep tabs…"

"The marigold will do for some protection; however, it is not just our classmates I am concerned with." Reiji shook his head. "They want to smoke out which one of us is King. Which means we cannot trust anyone…knowing what the vixen one can do…"

"The persuader also made for an interesting time…what was his name? Suavid? Savid?" Laito tipped his hat a bit. "I saw the way he screwed with that bitch's mind…dangerous those vibora with mind controlling poisons…"

"Neurotoxic illusions. When the brain is susceptible to accept suggestion for truth, it may treat it as such. Humans think they are the ones to come up with devilish ways of torture, when in fact they merely borrowed from us demons. But at least now I know I can use their saliva to create antidotes. So we cannot allow-"

The sound of knocking at the door interrupted Reiji.

"What now?" Subaru groaned.

The door opened to two of the Mukami brothers standing in its arch.

"We may have a problem." Ruki looked at them, his eyes landing on Yui, who now was under Ayato's carefully placed arm, wrapped around her shoulder.

"Oh, cut the drama, what is it, dear half-blood? Do tell?" Laito smirked, all too keen to the direction of Ruki's stare.

"We got two girls in our class. Missing." Kou smirked back. "Anything to do with you?"

"Me? No…never. While I do keep them amused for over two minutes myself, I can't say that I'm satisfied with the same one for a full twenty-four hours… except for the odd occasion." Laito's eyes went back to Ayato and Yui for a moment. "Now, on the other hand, you probably wouldn't know anything about that would you?"

Kou smirked, knowing full well that he was just as able. "Not a thing. I am not one to keep a mere one of my fans as the only receiver of my gifts."

"Cut the shit." Subaru demanded.

"What do you mean missing?" Reiji asked bluntly.

"Were supposed to come into school yesterday. Sisters. In a limousine. Never showed up. Gone again today. Rumor has it, now their parents are returning from an overseas trip to attend to their missing in action status." Ruki looked to Ayato.

"So? Did they play hooky?" Ayato looked back with his emerald eyes, still unconvinced.

"No. Still missing. No answer as to where or why. However, their transport was found empty."

"Oh well that must be it. Aren't you all inconspicuously infamous for running people off the road? Getting bored without Yui there perhaps?" Reiji fixed his glasses, with his gloved hand, as the slightest hint of a cynical smile brushed past his lips.

"Again? So?" Subaru sat down with no hesitance, as the chair slightly bounced in the weight of his pouted decent, sick of dancing around the point.

"Another girl, in Yuma's class. Which would be from both yours, Reiji and Shu, also went missing today." Ruki looked to the near sleeping Shu.

"Skipping?" Ayato repeated.

"No, perfect A student." Kou shook his head. "We're not daft. We checked it out to make sure it was a pattern." His eye glinted for a moment.

"Perhaps I tutored her…" Reiji mumbled. "So, we have females going missing? Have you spoken to the head of the office about this? I suppose most vampires don't just skip for no reason, but I would hate to jump to conclusions…"

"What gain do they have taking our vampire women?" Kou asked.

"It doesn't make much sense… cross breeding is looked down on from all angles." Reiji put his hand to his mouth in thought.

"Ah says the man, who just did what?" Laito laughed at Reiji.

"It worked however, using the game of sexes to evoke power…which is a valid proposition."

"What now?" Ayato asked, who like Subaru was sick of all the roundabout talk.

"Well one way to wage a war is to demolish our power by presenting themselves as more worthy. However, this war does not put us in much danger, other than the damage control it causes." Reiji pondered.

"Close the school." Subaru shrugged.

"This would cause panic." Shu shook his head.

"He is right. If we cannot answer for these girls who may be lost to this cause, we will be subject to a question of power. Or rather you will. No elder vampire will allow our generation to be victimized, if you cannot do your job to protect our people." Ruki looked to the brothers and then to Ayato. He couldn't help but catch Yui's eye, who seemed afraid of what that might mean, perhaps for both these vampiresses, and the brothers.

"Our people? Watch yourself." Laito challenged. Ruki simply stared back, wondering if the triplet was once again, defending his brother by moving focus to his fault in considering himself one of the pure-vampire kind instead.

"If they do die by the vibora's hand, it is the vibora who will deal with that price by their head. If Burai wishes to create an uprising by acting out, then he should foresee the end to that. Our people will have to see the truth in this is fault lies on a war they would be pronouncing against demon kinds. On the other hand, if it is the mere idiocy of his minion serpents then they will deal with it when we do find them. Ifthis is even an issue. If these female classmates do not return, I will have some people look further into this…" Reiji shook his head.

"If they are missing, I think it's about time we get rid of the pests." Ayato crossed his arms. "By means of yours truly."

"Do we have a good way to kill them? Beyond the flowers of course? While I do recall the seventies, I don't quite think Flower Power is our best shot?" Laito surmised, with a keen grin.

"No, I will have another go at that as well…but perhaps each female…or male for that matter, at our school ought to keep a few of those flowers in their lapels? A quick way to fight one off might in fact be a small fix." Reiji crossed his arms, trying to recall his father's journal, sure he was missing something.

"Well call us up if it's war we're playing at. I'm sure Yuma could use a good fight." Ruki nodded.

"Screw it, I could use some snake-skin shoes…perhaps a new addition in merchandising for myself." Kou snickered. "Just thought we'd give you brown nosers the heads up. Ciao."

And with that the Mukamis left.

"So what's the plan?" Laito looked to his brother.

"Simple. Reiji you need to keep up with those antidotes…I don't want YUi or any one of us dealing with their shit again. But we need a good way to kill them too…so… Shu can go to school tomorrow and watch his class. Check up on this rumor they gave to us about the missing girls. In the mean time, I think we ought to go for a snake hunt."

"Meaning?" Reiji wondered what he meant by this as he still hadn't quite worked out the reference to gold in his father's journal beyond the marigold.

"If we see a snake, we kill it. One thing I do know, is my seraphim can destroy them…I'm sure if I can chop of the head of our father, surely it would kill a measly garden snake."