This chapter was written by lickerfish

....

A few hours ago

Agitation seeped into the sharp struts emanating from Sakura's swaying hips as she pushed the intricate set doors open to her meeting room. Muffled coughs spilled from her royal advisors who immediately rose up from their red leather seats wide-eyed at the sudden intrusion of their Queen stepping into the meeting room.

Sakura was ordered to wait outside until they had come up with a better solution into dealing with one of their soldier's kidnapping. She simply ignored their shocked gazes blurring in her eyesight as they all blended into one similar look.

Wrinkles sagging from their loose cheekbones, dark hair sleeked back attempting to veil the tints of grey seeping through their thin strands and the musty residue of their dry cologne peeling off their expensive black suits. But one of them stood out the most and he was seated at the very end of the long table. Aldric Emmerson.

Her father's former best friend and also the head of her royal advisors. Fragments of the chandelier light sunk into the crevices of the scowl etched into his face as he lifted it up from previously looking at the numerous sheets scattered upon the glass table.

Sakura's mother Diamond used to tell her that the reason his beard was so long was due to the many secrets hidden in them. Sakura never truly believed in silly tales like that, she merely laughed at them but now it didn't seem too far from the truth.

He was difficult to read especially with his usual monotone facial expressions. His protruding nose rose in the air as he narrowed his eyes over the rim of his glasses glaring at Sakura, clasping his leathery hands together. The last time she was in here was when she attempted to warn her father about Aya's intrusion but this time she wouldn't allow herself to be ridiculed in front of all these people. They worked for her now.

"So did you find anything or did you waste your time with a plan I told you wouldn't work?" Sakura clipped he fingers into her cinched waistline standing at the edge of the table.

"Darling a girl without patience is like a wolf without its claws, you could have waited a little longer I was just about to let you in" a cheerful voice snuck up behind Sakura clamping his hands onto her shoulders causing her to jump due to the unexpected surprise. He sauntered to his seat flicking his red scarf over his shoulder before crossing his legs in the chair. "No wonder you're still single" he giggled airily letting his delicate manicured fingers hover over his lips.

"Philip could be anywhere by now, we're wasting time" she was surprised to see him touch her so freely out in the public especially in front of Aldric and the other members of her royal advisors. It made her wince a little.

"Stress causes wrinkles honey and we don't need that on that pretty little face of yours but what you do need is some faith in us, I actually managed to gather some information from the peasants they say the last saw the blondie somewhere in Vixen territories"

"Isn't it obvious where the peasants stand, they adore that mutt and her group of mongrels, trusting them would mean immediate downfall"

A deep clearing of the throat caused all vision to shift towards the end of the table. Allowing his gaze to scrap across the room Aldric slowly took a sip of his water but even with this simple act tearing an eerie silence into the room it caused everyone else to either cower into their seats or clutch onto their trembling hands trying to avoid his look.

At a slowed pace Sakura ran her tongue over her teeth catching onto the sight of their nervous reactions feeling a gnawing sense quicken the tempos of her pulse as she craved for that same type of affection.

She desired for all people to grovel at her feet.

"Don't question Fredrico's skills in investigation, he is the kingdoms best secret security, after all, he's never failed any of his missions" Aldric's gravelly tone boomed across the room churning Sakura's blood into a hot pulse as she dug her nails deeper into her sides. He reminded her of her father.

If Fedrico weren't dressed in his sheer red scarf and thick fur coat some would think he was no different from an ordinary noble's man. Everything from his ruffled white hair to his deep-set silver eyes made him appear as if he was a typical rich vampire.

But he was far from it with his angular jawline, thick eyebrows and hairy muscular arms all indicating factors of his werewolf features which aided him into becoming the kingdoms best spy being able to shift into the border of half wolf half man.

"That's because his missions never involved going after the leader of this rebellious organisation all he does is keep the peasants in check"

"My Queen a lady shouldn't be using language like that" Aldric's voice darkened with the pitch of anger foaming through his clenched teeth.

Sakura smirked delighting in his hints of anger slipping from his formal façade.

"Don't worry Aldric those were fathers words, not mine, a lady like me would never dampen her lips with such filthy talk" she hopped onto the table crossing her legs before giving him a cute wink over her shoulder.

"I'm sure you'd prefer to dampen your lips into something else" Fedrico inched his gaze up and down Sakura's body biting his lips as he poured her a glass of water. "You seem parched" he handed her the glass.

Sakura's giggle melted into the water as she gently slid her hands up her thigh subtly exposing her smooth ebony legs once hidden underneath her scarlet satin dress.

"So did you find anything else worthy of mentioning Fedrico?"

"Nothing that would contribute to this discussion my darling" he attempted holding back a smirk, prancing his fingers on his lips as he noticed the black lace garter coiled around Sakura's supple legs that he so vividly remembers caressing on their eventful evenings shared together.

Sakura swung her legs jumping off the table teasingly not giving into his lustful gazes as she snapped her fingers heading towards the doors.

"Then we'll go with my original plan, you still have Philips scent all you need to do is follow it and lead me to his whereabouts-"

"Your majesty won't be going anywhere" Aldric bellowed.

"And why is that?" Sakura looked back over her shoulder.

"Because we've arranged a marriage proposal with the werewolf leader"

"I refuse" she hummed averting her head back to the door.

"You have no choice we need to secure ourselves in case of an attack and you were part of the bargaining deal to get Fedrico to help us with this case since he's of werewolf descent his leader has requested to meet with you, he's asked for your hand in marriage"

"I had no input in this and besides it was so typical of my father to go for the violent route it's like he expected another outcome other than bloodshed and fear" she scoffed. "If we want to defeat this new enemy then we need strategies, the act of surprise would be useful if we could just sneak into their camps-"

"And how do you suggest we do that?!" Perhaps sleeping around with them like common harlots to gather information" he narrowed his eyes back and forth between her and Fedrico. "And even if you manage to perform such scandalous acts like common harlots what do you suppose will happen if someone finds out who you are? You won't have the royal army to protect you"

"If I have such a great disguise I won't need protection, I can handle myself let's not forget who killed the original leader of this terrorist organisation"

"Under the commands of your father" he seethed pinching the crease of his forehead together. "Women have such reckless minds that's why it's better suited for you to marry and bear children for a future ruler"

"It's insecure men like you that want to envision us that way"

"You are Queen but that doesn't change the fact that you are still a woman, remember your place" he yelled slamming his fists on the table causing a ripple effect of silence to creep onto the now downcast faces the meeting room.

Once again her ideas were dismissed as irrelevant and simple-minded yet the ways of her father still lingered into the thinking of these old-fashioned men. In Sakura's mind, it was futile relying on brute strength to win a battle. That may have worked for her father in previous times but the rebels were becoming much smarter and more advanced and a few weapons weren't going to scare them.

To defeat them she had to think of a new form of attack never tried before something that would win the favour of her people again but in order to do that she needed to make them lose hope in this terrorist group. The human body could be injured in more ways than one, it isn't confined to just physical torture but also emotional too.

It reminded Sakura of a time when Aya even though when injured in a training session with her father as a child still prevailed putting on a brave face for him attempting to hold back her weary shy self. Sakura had always envied her ex-best friend's relationship with her father. So much so that she would sometimes sneak around to the undergrounds to witness their training sessions.

A shiver crept up her spine as she winced not wishing to recall a time where she once asked Aya's father Exavier Kamishiro to teach her how to fight, if only she hadn't been so naïve into thinking that she could overpower someone as strong as him. Then maybe she wouldn't have resulted in catching a cold on that rainy evening.

Once Sakura's continuous sneezing twitched its way into Aya's shaky fingers fidgeting with the loose ends of her long black hair she called on her maid Lezebella to treat the small princess.

However, a small pang of heat tinged Sakura's sunken heart as she bit into her crimson lips thinking of how inseparable both her and Aya were towards each other to the point that she still remembers how Aya clung onto her dainty hand not wanting to leave the side of her ill friend as Lezebella tucked them both into the bed.

She certainly couldn't forget the foul stench of the herbal tea she was forced to drink but with Exavier making silly faces to distract her from its horrible taste it cheered her up in some way. But she had always wondered how she was healed so quickly and he replied simply by cooing a soft shush into the air before flashing her a cheeky wink stating it was all just a bit of magic.

The idea of witches made Sakura's stomach churn, she despised anything demonic tending to be more favourable to the things of God. But it caused the sides of her mouth to curve as an idea laced a playful smirk on her cheeks.

Biological warfare was going to be her new strategy into defeating the rebels. Not only would she be killing them off one by one but she also wouldn't even need to lay a single hand on any of them because if she could master the art of magic or at least obtain it she could slaughter them from within.

"Fine" Sakura gave him a half-hearted smile knowing full well that if her plan succeeded she wouldn't just get rid of the rebel enemies but also the ones within her own ranks. "But I'll do the honours of gracing his kingdom with my presence"

"You may go"

Before she could even attempt to twist the glass doorknobs she noticed Aldric raise his hand in the corner of her eye causing her to halt.

"Clarence and Fedrico escort her to the werewolf kingdom"

Sakura didn't even notice of the lanky boy with baggy eyes cowered in the chair next Aldric was in the room. However, once he stood up he was hard to miss with his tall stature and stringy mousey shoulder length hair. But other than those defining features he seemed too quiet for Sakura to take any interest in.

Instead, she licked her cherry flavoured lips scoffing as she strutted out of the palace reaching the outdoors. Letting the floral-infused air coming from the front of the palace gardens wisp into the strands of her lengthy double ponytails she rested her hand on her forehead squinting at the vast skies. The cusp of night was at hand with the vast skies rusting into ruby bronzed currants with inklings of navy hues threading through the clouds.

"Your majesty your carriage awaits" a short man with a rounded belly on the verge of breaking the buttons off of his butler's suit bowed before Sakura gesturing towards a black and gold illustrated carriage with a white horse on the end.

"There's been a change of plan we will no longer be needing your services" Sakura slid her fingers down her dress seeping it underneath until she managed to reach her black garter pulling out her signature red laced fan. She fanned herself fluttering her feathery lashes over the rim of it before in one quick swoop hit him on the neck.

"D-Did you just kill him?" A yelp slipped from Clarence as he jumped stumbling back onto the beige cobblestoned ground.

"Maybe" Sakura giggled clipping her fan back underneath her dress.

"D-Does she do this often?" surprisingly Clarence's voice resonated into a nasal tone contrasting to his tall blunt looking exterior along with his beady wide eyes staring at Fedrico for help.

"She only does that to ugly people" Fedrico crouched down poking Clarence's cheeks before tugging and squishing them together laughing lightly instead of actually helping him up. "So don't worry darling you'll be spared once you get rid of those designer bags underneath your eyes but if not, then you won't get to find out if there's a next time or not"

"B-But we needed the carriage driver to get to enter the werewolf royal grounds" Clarence couldn't determine whether he was more scared by Sakura's impulsive action or by the fact that his face was being squeezed upon by a complete stranger. Either way, he slowly crawled back trying to conceal another countless gulp.

"Clarence darling does have a point Saku" Fedrico helped Clarence up rubbing the curve of Clarence's hunched back trying to soothe his soft trembles. "The king isn't exactly too fond of my work, having a royal entrance would have been more pleasing"

"No need to be so dramatic all I did was hit a pressure point on his neck, he'll wake up...eventually" Sakura yawned climbing up onto the white horse.

"H-How are we going to explain to the king of werewolves that we were late? I- I heard that he's a very reserved person wasting any second of his time could cost us our lives" Clarence bent down slightly clutching his jerky knees.

"Who said we were going there?" she smirked looking back over her shoulder.

"W-Where else would we be going to?"

"To get my knight in shining armour back"

"My father told you that you have to go to the werewolf kingdom"

"He can give me advise doesn't mean I have to listen"

"I-I can't disobey my father"

"So you wish to disobey your Queen instead?"

Clarence's mouth wobbled open to speak up whilst Fedrico merely looked back and forth between the two before clamping his hands on Clarence's shoulders. Shaking his head with a small sigh he spat on his hands rubbing them together before smoothing down Clarence's messy tendrils.

"My parting gift darling Clarcey, please get rid of those dreadful split ends" he climbed onto the front of the horse holding onto the reigns.

"E-Even if you do go what will we say once this carriage rider tells my father that we disobeyed him?" Clarence clutched onto his shirt.

"That's not my problem I won't be back here for a while so I'm sure you'll think of something creative"

"B-But my Queen-"

"Send my regards to daddy dearest" she blew him a kiss winking at him before clinging her arms around Fedrico's torso.

Present time

After Sakura and Fedrico had finished their business trade with Aya they decided to allow their horse to run free not wanting anyone to be able to retrace the hoof prints to find out their next destination.

Sweat licked down Sakura's back as her, Fredric and Lezebella trekked through the lands of the Elven Kingdom, it being the first stop for Sakura's plan of biological warfare. Even though hunger pains twisted in their guts they couldn't help but take in the beautiful architecture of the place.

Weaving over the mountains were chunky branches acting as curved bridges connecting the little elf cabins together, each arrayed in different heights. The towering trees arching in different directions were coiled in tendrils of vines until they draped into long leaves grazing the skin of water from the waterfalls. Crickets buzzing oozed into curdles of rippling streams lapping against the stones. Other than the moon dust sprinkling across the meadow valleys twinkling golden balls of light submerged into the lush grass brewing the earthy scents of nature.

"You came all the way back for your armoured knight yet leave without him" Fedrico held onto the chains tightly fastened around Lezebella's neck.

"He was just an excuse to get my hands on this lovely woman" Sakura licked her pearly teeth with her mouth curved into a grin.

"Such a perverse Queen" Fedrico tutted shaking his head in dismissal.

"I'm innocent" she winked at him before bouncing over to Lezebella resting her head on her arm. "Lez knows it too she's watched me grow up alongside that mutt"

"If only you were still as the little girl you used to be, sadly you've turned out to be exactly like your father" Lezebella's croaky voice caused Sakura to snap her fingers prompting Fedrico to stop. Giggling softly with her index finger caressing her lips Sakura slid her fingers through the brittle fibres of Lezebella's grey hair inching closer to her cheek letting out her sultry toned speech.

"Would my father have saved you from a building about to be burnt down into ashes?" she tripped Lezebella up squinting her lashes down on the elderly woman. "I think not so instead of complaining an apology would be nice also a thank you since I haven't decided to kill you...just yet"

Lezebella coughed with hints of phlegm spitting out as she staggered trying to get back up.

"It seems as if you've forgotten my apology, did you think I was joking?" Sakura tilted her head pursing her mouth into a small o shape. She then shoved her back down slipping her foot underneath Lezebella's chin drawing it closer to her face. "Haven't you heard of a thing called respect? I guess since you've spent so much time with that mutt it's more of a foreign concept to you"

Sakura's jewellery decorated palm came in contact with Lezebella's cheek with jewellery marks scraping the side of her face whilst the noise of the slap still rung in everyone's ears.

"S-Sorry" was all Lezebella could mumble out.

"Don't worry I'll make sure you regain it especially with Aya's life on the line" she snaked her fingers around Lezebella's neck sniffing along her bare skin. "Even the smell of your blood disgusts me, how sickening, I guess you'll have to repay me back some other way" gripping onto her hair she yanked her up pushing her back onto the balls of her feet to stand again.

"Alas, my darlings looks like we've arrived" Fedrico stared up in awe at the large gates.

"I've noticed" Sakura clipped her hands onto her waist tracing her tongue along her mouth as she looked up at the high wooden doors. Ivy sprawled over it looping past the emerald gems and curvy designs engraved onto the mahogany wood.

"Who goes there?" A monotonous voice boomed from behind the structure.

"Is that any way to talk to your future Queen by hiding behind a wooden door?" Sakura flipped her fan out letting it tickle her cheeks.

"Queen Sakura of the Vampire kingdom Idreselle, you have no right being here after what your kind has done to us"

Sakura thought about all of the destruction her father had plagued upon various different species but the elven Kingdom had suffered such a terrible fate from her deceased parent so much so that it caused a pout to etch upon her face. Not out of pity for the elves but out of sheer disappointment that if she didn't succeed in her plan she would forever be upstaged by her father.

But her thoughts were cut short once the monotonous voice spoke up again.

"You have 10 seconds to leave before we strike"

Copyright © 2018 by LickerFish

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