However, since the day they took out the rogue vampire lords, there had been no other reported sightings as of yet of any other activity past their patrols of the surrounding areas. Most of their territory, for now, was free of outside interference. The lords continued to send out their best scouts to see if any other rogues or female vampires were even present. Each passing day seemed to end in failure as no word seemed to come back at all concerning the scout's tasks. The only conclusion, other than female humans that had been forcibly turned, there was no one outside Kaida that was of pure blood standing. Botan's plan to use her family to its fullest would need to be put into place soon. He only hoped he would be able to pull off bringing in her family with little to no pushing back. But that would be a plan used for later on in the future. After all, there was currently only her two sisters that were not of much use. Their powers were not on par with Kaida. The next generation would hopefully prove more useful. With all this known, the only thing that could be done was for Kaida and Tsubasa to continue their study on the laws and ways of vampires and properly commit the knowledge to memory.
Many days spent were spent in the library, reading, writing scrolls of her own out of the many things being told to her through the queen's stone. The more important things were being placed in glassed framed tablets. It would be the best way to ensure that they lasted longer than sitting on a shelf with no protection. Tsubasa was having a hard time keeping his vampire self under control, so he had spent most of his time as far away from Kaida as he could, at least while he was awake. Though this made her lonely, she did understand why Tsubasa was doing it. While he stayed away during the day, he spent most of his time practicing his skills to hone them better.
Though she still had no idea to the extent of his sleepwalking incidents. Every night around the same time, Tsubasa would wander into her room. Leaning in as usual, he would lift her hair and mutter to himself words of admiration at how powerful she was and how he would make her his. The competitive nature he always seems to show now, is not one of his original behaviors. It has everything to do with the nature of the vampire. It would seem that the stone helped to awaken that attribute in them both. His seemed to be on the breeding aspect while hers seemed to mainly focus on the need for knowledge with breeding being a secondary thought. Periodically, Kaida would take out the drawing of the ring while she studied. Encased, she made sure it would remain intact for as long as possible. She focused on the design and the different stones that were inset in the leaves coming off the vines. She was not sure how far into the future the image she drew would come to pass, all she could do now was prepare for when it finally came into play.
Five years had now passed since Kaida and her brother were brought to the home of Botan Date and the others. Several loads of children and supplies had been delivered at least once every six months in that five years for Kaida and Tsubasa' s previous village. There was no doubt now that there would be a large line of the bloodline to come. Though Kaida was feeling home sick, she did her best to keep her studies and practice of her magic in check. It had become such an ingrained ritual that she was finding it hard to believe it had only been five years. Patrols had come back with no more incidents since the rogue vampire incident took place. But that did not mean they could relax any. Rumors of the queen had already spread to the far corners of their territory and the outlying regions. Kaida feared it would not be too much longer before vampire lords from other lands came calling to their doorstep. Or at the very least, their territory. She only hoped it would not end up like the rogues, that was a very tiring day she would not ever forget.
As Kaida had feared, with the rumors of her presence now being known, it did not take long for vampire lords from other nations to start showing up. Kaida was not sure if it was the fact that she was the queen or female. Whichever the case was, Tsubasa as well as the four other lords in the manor were instantly jealous in the way they spoke concerning the outsiders. All Kaida could do was sigh heavily knowing this was going to be a challenge for her. She may well have to destroy more of her own kind just to keep their jealousies in check. With this weighing heavily on her mind, Kaida just could not seem to concentrate on her studies. Each time she thought about it a large sigh would escape her without realizing it. After half a day or so of this behavior, Tsubasa and Botan were getting increasingly worried for her. So, they approached her on the subject.
Tsubasa Endo: "Keep sighing like that and I will slap you on your shoulder. What the hell is bothering you so bad that you cannot even study today?"
Kaida Endo: "I am not sure really. I just know that those vampire lords that are trickling in may cause us issues. I already had to deal with those rogues in the past, last thing I need is more trying to take our people."
Tsubasa Endo: "Well that much I understand. Besides, there are already five of us lords here, there is no room for any others. They can find a different territory to occupy."
Botan Date: "I cannot help but to agree with Tsubasa on that. There are already more than enough of us in this area. I do not wish to see any more of the people being taken due to outside interference."
Kaida Endo: "I would never allow that to happen. If they do not leave after a timely warning, they will fall to ash just as those rogues did. I will not tolerate any more conflict of interest upon our territory. I am the queen; I refuse to let them do as they please. I gave up my personal life to ensure the safety of my family."
Tsubasa Endo: "Calm down sister, there is no need to be so angry just yet. Save it for when an enemy may show. Then go and let loose upon them."
Botan Date: "And again, Tsubasa actually speaks words of wisdom. Yes, let us bide our time and see what they will try and do. If they dare approach and their intentions are not that of peaceful in nature, then you may have your fun my queen."
Kaida Endo: (Tilts her head at both of them with a devilish smirk...) "Now you both are trying to flatter me. You both are just dying to see me wield my powers again. I know you both enjoyed that during the rogue incident. You even bet on it, are you so eager to bet again that you want them to come into our territory?"
Tsubasa and Botan just looked at Kaida with a smirk, which seemed to answer her question without using words. She just shook her head lightly with a sigh, as though she wished they were not so damn obvious all the time. Putting her hand to her face, she pinched the bridge of her nose, as she squinted her eyes shut. Sighing once more, she lifted her head back to them.
Kaida Endo: "You know, not everything will go the way you may want it too. I know you both and the other lords are just dying to see my powers being used again but let us save that for those who really need it."
Botan Date: "I suppose you are right. The scouts have been reporting in periodically and there was a caravan heading into our territories outskirts."
Tsubasa Endo: "How many days ago was this report?"
Botan Date: "Reported in just yesterday. Which means they probably have entered the outskirts by now for sure."
Kaida Endo: "I want everyone on high alert just in case they are hostile. Send word to the scouts still watching the activity to report anything concerning our human farmers. If even one goes missing, they will know my wrath."
Tsubasa Endo: "Damn sister, not going to even bother this time, are you?"
Botan Date: "Of course, my queen. I will send word as soon as possible. If there is any signs of that occurring, we will move out immediately. Tsubasa, have the troops get prepped, just in case."
Tsubasa Endo: "You got it Botan. Sister, just make sure to keep your head level till we get all the details."
Kaida Endo: "I want all the farmers rounded up and put inside the town proper. I do not want to take any chances. It is short notice, so we have to watch the activity on the outlying parts more closely."
Giving Tsubasa and Botan an evil glare, she leaned back in her chair picking up a glass, she swirled its contents as she sat at the desk in the library. Thinking on all the things she may have to do once again. She wondered if there would ever come a day when she did not have to worry about other lords. But that time was definitely not now. As she was lost in thought, sipping on her glass, one of the scouts came flying in with a report of an abduction on the outer perimeter. Downing her glass, she stood up from the desk and headed for the main hall area. Kaida sat in her throne as she listened to the report given. Immediately standing up, she began walking towards the front door. Walking to the top of the stairs she look out to make sure the garrison had prepped as she had commanded. Getting inside the armored carriage, once again, she was going to have to deal with these jerks who dare take people from her lands. Now they must pay the price. Her blood boiled at the very thought as pure hatred seemed to emanate from her. Tsubasa just seemed to shrink back as he sat next to her in the seat.
Hollering out the window, Botan gave the order to have the scout lead them to the area they were taken. One of their men was still sending messages by bird and a second one had been snatched that very morning. Kaida, full of anger at this point at the blatant disrespect was having a hard time containing how upset she was. And so, they set out to retrieve the people in their care once again. Kaida could not believe there was at least a five-year break before someone dared be stupid enough to try again. But that was beside the point, the point was, they are people in her care. How dare they commit such atrocities. They were not even decent enough to make sure there were no lords governing. What gave them the right to think they could just go in anywhere and set up shop? Kaida was determined to make them pay. She only had a small hope that they would have at least tried to see if there was anyone here before grabbing up what is theirs. But she supposed that was too much to ask. She continued to sit quietly as they headed toward the area the outsiders had last been seen in.