The Curse

Chapter Eighteen- Got a Plan?

I rise from my bed and yawn.
We're doing this plan at night.
I was training all day.
King was acting strange--just little things, but he would nod to his crew or stare at me. But I hope he understands I must kill the HeadMaster myself. At whatever cost. Even if I have to disobey the plan.
It is funny, though. The EU-NH crew all look extremely tired. They're trying to get used to the vampire bedtime, since everything's reversed--day is our bedtime, night is our wake-time.
I stand up and trudge over to Kuroji's bed expecting to have to shake him. But he's already up.
I look in the kitchen and realize he must be with Katoro.
I feel my cheeks get hot and my eyes wander to the floor.
Why do I feel like this...?
It's like I almost...
No, that's not it.
I run to the hole in the bathroom and slide down. Apparently it's after noon because I see a little crew of people in heavy-duty leather suits and bullet-belts washing dishes.
For some reason, I find that funny.
Inside a deep dark secret hole, there is a crew of tight-black-suited people doing...dishes.
Heh, heh...
I run in and ask Corey where King is.
"He's right down the tunnel to the left. Why do you wanna know? Getting a little...snack?" he teases. I roll my eyes and grin.
I go through the tunnel and pass several entries to my right which lead into several underground rooms. I finally get to the end where I see a entry on my left side. That room is the only one that has a lock on the door.
I knock.
"Yes, what is it?" I hear him mumble.
"It's Nobara. I have come to discuss the final plan."
"Hmm...I'll come out," he replies.
He walks out and locks his door behind him. I don't know...I just don't trust him.
"We're clear on the fact that I get to kill the HeadMaster, right?" I say.
"I see you didn't hear my plan correctly last night." he says.
"No, I heard." I say back.
"Okay, you distract him while we kill him from behind. You're still technically part of it. What's the problem?" he sighs.
"The problem is, I want to kill him.
Up close and personal. I deserve at least that." I snap.
"No. He knows you want to kill him. What he doesn't know is that you have a secret agency with advanced weapons out to kill him." he replies calmly. I fight to find another way, but I have to admit...his plan is pretty sound. The HeadMaster is smart.
He would expect me to kill him if I was acting even a bit different.
I sigh and nod, blinking back tears of anger. I quickly walk away before he can say anything else. I am climbing up the rope to get out just as Kuroji slides down. We stop just in time, just missing plummeting into one another. "Oh, heh...Hey, Rosie!" he says. "Hey yourself. Went to see Katoro?" I ask, still hanging below him. "Uh, yeah. I told her the plan and stuff..." he mumbles.
I can tell they've had another fight.
"Right. Now after you mingle, get ready." I say. We both slide down and when he hops off I start climbing up again. I'm obviously going to kill the HeadMaster myself. I just hope my luck works out for me. This will work...somehow.
It's midnight and I'm sitting up in a tree staring at the moonlight, feeling wide-awake and energized.
What do I do? Follow the plan?
Go after the HeadMaster now?
Do I do it during the plan?
I'm not sure. But whatever I'm doing I must do it soon.

I stealthily crawl in the shadows towards his castle. There's a guard at the gates. I run up to him. "I'm...bringing the HeadMaster a snack." I say. It's not unusual, for night is a vampire's time.
"Oh, really? I think you're going to kill the HeadMaster." he replies. I'm shocked and speechless. But then I recognize the voice.
"Kuroji...?" I whisper.
"Haha, yup! You think I didn't know you were gonna do this sort of thing?
I already knocked out the guards."
he replies, almost bragging as he winks. "Wow. You are totally my partner in crime." I laugh. "C'mon, the EU-NH will be here soon. And what's the plan!?" Kuroji asks. "Want me to distract?"
"No. For some reason I feel powerful tonight. I think...I think I can face him on my own." I reply. "What!? This is the HeadMaster we're talking about." he says. "And this is Nobara we're talking about." I say. A flash-back of the HeadMaster's bloody eyes and razor-sharp teeth enters my mind, but this time, I shake it off. "But...what if...and...ugh, Nobara! Are you sure?" he argues. "Yes." I reply. I feel a power rising in my chest as I gaze at the moon.
I grin. "Let's go,"

I hold in the pain as my huge bat wings lash out behind me. Kuroji looks surprised. Only pure vampires--not turned vampires--can have powers of the animals which the ancient vampires once had as accomplices; bats, crows, sometimes snakes, and rarely cats. Kuroji holds my hand and squeezes it. My cheeks suddenly feel hot and I fly with him.
We get to a window and peek in.
It's just an old, dusty, un-used library. No guards or anything. I get ready to punch through, but Kuroji catches my hand. "You'll need these for the HeadMaster." he says, nodding. Then, without warning, he punches through the glass. He shakes his hand as glass falls out of his cuts.
We crawl in.
"I'm sorry...You didn't have to do that..." I whisper. "Hey, no biggie." he says, shaking it off. I decide to take some time to hug Kuroji. Show him how much I appreciate his help he's provided my whole life. And...because I may die tonight. He stands there and as I hug him he gets uncomfortable and stiff.
Then he hugs back. We hug each other for a minute but for some reason it feels like a few seconds. It's funny--Kuroji is a vampire--known for their coldness and paleness--but yet he still brings warmth to me. "Now, let's go."
I say, letting go and straightening up.
We open up the door and peek out.
An empty dusty hallway.
We walk out and pace our way to another door. "What if we get lost?"
he asks. "Um, we don't. That's the plan." I mumble. "This seems too easy." We jog in silence, going through hallway after hallway. I'm wondering why we haven't seen a guard yet...then I realize...
"Kuroji," I mumble. "Yeah?" he says, stopping. "The HeadMaster can talk to me in my mind." I say. "What!?" he says. I shiver as I say,
"That means...he knows we are here,"
"Well, what do we do about it!?" he asks, nervously brushing his hands through his hair. "We have to take him on hard and fast." I say. "And this is why I felt like taking him on myself--he would've known about the EU-NH surprise attack before it even happened!" Kuroji looks worried. Then suddenly, he looks mad and stands in front of me.
"I can't let you do this!" he says.
"Kuroji, what are you doing? I have to do this! And you're my partner in crime." I say, giving him a playful push. "I can't let you get hurt," he says in barely a whisper. "I've already lost Hebi, who was practically my mom. I can't lose you, too." he says. I realize that if I die, he will have no one left...
"I won't die!" I say confidently, walking around him.
"No, Bara. I'm not kidding." he says, stopping me. "I need you alive, by my side." I can tell he's in pain. "Kuroji, what is living when we have to kill innocent people and live under the rule of a snake?" I spat. He stares at the ground. "Please, Kuroji." I plead, placing my hands on his shoulders and looking into his eyes. He hesitates.
"Besides...Katoro and you can live together then," I mutter. Kuroji looks surprised and steps back. "No, Nobara. No matter what..." he says, "we're going to live together."
He hugs me, and this time, I pause and hug him back. I can't help it when a tear escapes. Nothing has changed--we're still family. "So...you're letting me go...?" I say, stepping away. "Yes. It's your choice and I won't stop you," he says, frowning and looking away. "Now go."
I run down the hall. I know that when I fight the HeadMaster Kuroji will be ready to jump in. I finally reach what looks like the HeadMasters throne-room door. Big, lined with gold...
This is it.
I should be scared, but there is some force inside me that's almost pulling me towards the HeadMaster.
Now is the time. I must defeat him.

I swing open the doors and run in.