Euphoria

Chapter Ten

The cold, desolate emptiness that was the underground city was nothing more than a livestock pen, housing children upon children ranging from the tender age of six up to the ripe age of thirteen. It was a dreary place for them, but to the vampires it was a controlled sanctuary. 

Ayato grinned, the sound of his approach sending the small children of Sanguinem running on sight. He reveled in the feeling of superiority, towering over them with an almost terrifying aura. He was number one, an undefeatable foe, and a creature that the puny humans whispered about. 

It wasn't long until Ayato made it to the Queen's throne room and he stepped to the doors. It was common practice to knock first and ask for permission to enter, however, Ayato wasn't just any vampire and decided to enter without doing so.

"Hey you old bat, I've got to give you my report," he practically yelled. Ayato paused and raised a brow at the sight in front of him. 

 The vampire Queen, current ruler of Japan, was a small, petite, pink-haired vampire who looked up to cast him a look of annoyance. Her arm was extended, the pale flesh exposed as blood dribbled from the puncture wound. The heavy scent of her blood wavered through the room with a nauseating scent  that was enough to make any vampire thirsty. At her feet was a recently turned vampire, his face buried into her flesh as he sucked viscously. 

"Haven't you heard of knocking you fool?" She snapped. 

"I didn't know you were busy," Ayato replied curtly.

The Queen huffed, and pulled herself away from the vampire at her feet. She  brought her right hand to rest on her left wrist to wipe away the blood and seal the wound. She stepped away and sat on her throne, crossing her legs swiftly. 

"You may go," She said, motioning to the blond vampire and the door. 

There was blood dripping from the blond vampire's lips as he rose from his position on the ground without question. He silently obeyed, refusing to spare a glance at Ayato who watched him pass by. 

Once the vampire left the throne room Ayato smirked and said, "You're still keeping that boy around huh Krul? How heartless of you." 

"Be quiet or I'll cut out your tongue," She ordered. 

"If I'm quiet how will I give you your report?"

The Queen narrowed her eyes and rested her cheek in the palm of her hand as she slumped in her chair. "Get on with it," She snapped.

"As you know, we headed to Shinjuku to put down the humans. While there we encountered a black thingy that fought us. While I handled the creature, Subaru slacked off and got himself hurt so we were forced to retreat." 

"Is that all?" The Queen replied lazily. 

"Well--"

"That's bullshit!" The voice of Subaru roared.

Both the Queen and Ayato turned their gaze to Subaru as he stomped inside. His arm was completely scorched purple yet his eyes blazed in irritation. 

"That damn Ayato had me fighting off six imperial demon officers at once while he played with a damn monster!" 

The Queen stood suddenly and stepped down from her throne to approach Subaru. "Your arm, it looks horrible!" 

Her eyes were laced with concern as she touched his arm lightly and tilted her head to observe it more clearly. "You need curse detoxification immediately. Has Reiji been informed?"

"Yeah, he's working on it right now."

"Good. Reiji's always been reliable."

Ayato groaned and rolled his eyes, "Can you two not? It's disgusting how you two always flirt in my presence." 

"Hah?! There's no flirting going on!" Subaru growled. Despite his protest, Subaru's cheeks grew pink. 

"What's wrong Ayato? Are you jealous of your baby brother?" The Queen teased. She grinned and slipped her arm with Subaru's left, yanking him down until his head was in full view. She ruffled his white locks and eyed Ayato with mischief. Satisfied with the wrinkled nose and the barfing sound effects displayed by Ayato she let go of Subaru and collected herself.

"In any case, your father has already given me a proper report. That said, I want you, Ayato, to continue to patrol the surrounding area while Subaru rests up."

"Alright. Whatever you say old bat," Ayato replied with a shrug. 

The Queen ignored his words and continued with, "Since I can't expect any of your other brothers to be as willing to participate in combat you'll be getting a new partner Ayato. His name is Michaela, and I want you to behave." 

"Sure sure." 

"Are you sure it'll be alright to let that idiot pair up with a newly turned vampire?" Subaru questioned.

The Queen smiled. "It will have to do. Besides, Michaela isn't like the other vampires. I am, after all, his sire." 

"That still makes him trash compared to the great and powerful Ore-sama," Ayato retorted. 

"Actually, that makes you two similar in rank," She corrected. "I'm the queen and a third progenitor, thus my sire is considerably stronger than the common vampiric trash that you speak of." 

"Yeah yeah, whatever." 

She rolled her eyes at Ayato and turned to Subaru. "Make sure you get plenty of rest. I want to see you when you get better." 

"R-right," Subaru replied.

Ayato rolled his eyes again and walked past his brother, making sure to brush his shoulder with his own. 

"Queen's pet. Subaru's a queen's pet," Ayato whispered, sticking out his tongue.

Subaru scowled and shot his brother a fierce glare before giving his goodbye to the Queen and following Ayato out. 

"You lying bastard! I did not slack off!" Subaru growled.

"It's not my fault that you're not as strong as the great and powerful Ore-sama."

"Not as great? I was fighting off six  while you couldn't even handle one! So don't give me that bullshit!"

Ayato rolled his eyes, ignoring the words of his younger brother. "Yeah yeah, it's fine though. You're still alive, and being a big baby." 

"B-baby? Why you!" 

Subaru raised his fist to hit him when Ayato said, "Oi, look! It's that vampire! Let's show him who's boss!"

"Haah?"

Ayato laughed and made his way to the vampire, his lips already drawn to a sneer, "Hey, you! You're the Queen's pet aren't you? Fight me, right here right now!"

"Ayato!" Subaru yelled, following after his brother. 

Not giving the blond vampire the chance to respond, Ayato drew his sword and aimed for his neck. 

It was sheer stupidity, that much Subaru knew, and he thought of leaving his brother to bear the full force of Krul's wrath once she discovered that Ayato had attacked her favorite. But he didn't. A part of him wanted to see just how powerful Krul's favorite really was, and he'd have been lying if he had said he didn't want to see his brother get his ass handed to him.

The vampire didn't flinch, his sword deflecting Ayato's with a soft, "Hrm," slipping from his lips.

Ayato grinned wider and stepped back, sizing him up before placing a hand on his hip.

"So you're Michaela huh? I can't believe the Queen expects me to work with a weakling like you. Fight me seriously, because Ore-sama won't go easy on you!"

The vampire Michaela said nothing, his cool blue eyes staring at Ayato for no less than five seconds before he had turned on his heels and walked away.

His reaction only served to make Ayato's eyes widen and his brows furrow in annoyance.

"Hey! I'm talking to you! Don't you dare ignore Ore-sama!"

Ayato began pursuit despite Subaru yelling for him to leave the vampire alone, and Subaru resigned himself to rolling his eyes and clicking his tongue in annoyance.