The three newcomers were Latino but based on their accents they were not indigenous to the United States and based on what I could understand no matter what happened I wasn't going to like it. I discounted the fact that I could understand Spanish fluently for the moment as I caught the leader sneering at Veronica, "So the bck lord let his little puta off the leash? He should have sent someone that can use her tongue for something other than yelling at her betters." the man commented as he sneered at her.

  I kept looking back and forth like I didn't fully understand what they were saying, living in Texas for all your life meant you picked up at least some Mexican Spanish, but it didn't expin how I understood everything. "Oh, little Emilio, I know how to use my tongue. I just prefer a hard cock, and I wouldn't call that little twig you have between your legs a cock even if you could get it hard." I did my best to school my features, but I just wanted to ugh at her comment.

  Yet I couldn't let this devolve into a grudge match, "Don't!" my comment was spoken softly, but the command was delivered to both. I kicked one of the empty chairs away from the table, "Sit!" I commanded again as I looked at the intruder in the eyes.

  The man took a deep breath, visibly regaining control of himself before he moved to sit down. His two friends started to sit as well, but stopped as I gred at them, "Gentlemen,' I turned towards Veronica's escort, 'Can you two give us the table? Keep our new guests company." I instructed and surprisingly they took the instruction without comment.

  I hope they understood what I was setting them up to do if it was called for, "Who are you and what do you want?" I calmly demanded as I went back to eating after taking a sip of my tea.

  While I was growing comfortable with the concept of drinking blood, I wasn't comfortable with mixing it with my food, "I am Emilio Zoido, Patriarch of House Cruze. I have been trying to meet you the st two days, but the guild and House Aldbridge have interfered." the man commented causing both women to frown.

  I held up my hand causing them to freeze before they could voice any descent, "This is Adventurers Guild House, the guild can do almost anything it wants on its grounds, including protecting its members. I was comatose for three days; they were well within their rights for not only protecting me but limiting any visitors except for a member of House Aldbridge to ensure I was safe and being taken care of." I pointed out calmly. I ignored Emilio's embarrassment as I continued, "I am newly Awakened Pureblood, still learning what exactly that entails Master Zoido, so what exactly are you looking for?" I inquired.

  Emilio visibly controlled himself despite the irritation he felt, "I wished to present myself to you and offer House Cruze support and guidance in the coming days." ahh, there it was.

  The man was trying to maneuver himself into a position of power for himself and his House, the btant action was both stupid and insulting. "I appreciate the offer, but at the moment I am just taking everything slow, exploring the new me that has woken up, and figuring how I fit into everything. I will take your request in consideration and will inform you of my decision when I am ready." I told him.

  I could tell I had irritated him and the two women tensed as I felt his hand nd on my shoulder, "I would, advise you to take this seriously my friend. Accidents happen and I would hate for our world to be deprived of the newest Pureblood that had just Awakened just because he was foolish enough to listen to the wrong people." Before I could formute a responce a prompt appeared.

  <<< Quest Notice >>> Right to Rule Description: Emilio Zoido is clearly trying to influence you, and through you he could influence the Midwest Region of North America and beyond. Its time to decide, will you be a puppet to dance on the strings of others, or will you stand on your own two feet? Will you comply with the Patriarch of House Cruze or will you eliminate this clear danger to your future and rulership? Kill Emilio Zoido: --- Quest Css: Personal; UniqueQuest Difficulty: DSuccess: Sy Emilio Zoido.Failure: Do not kill Emilio Zoido.Consequences of Failure: Unknown.Rewards: Various <<< Quest Notice >>>I studied the Quest information, and clearly, the System wanted me to remain an independent power despite my not wanting to get involved at all. I dismissed the Quest information with a thought as I smiled slightly towards Emilio, he took a moment too long to notice it wasn't a pleasant smile but one filled with teeth. My hand smmed into his throat cutting off his response, causing him to gag at the sudden pain.

  Close-quarters fighting is an ugly thing, but my training over the st three years had included it and the trainers were brutal in their lessons. I grabbed the stunned Vampire's head and brought it towards my own, his nose smmed into my forehead causing Emilio's nose to practically explode from the impact leaving him even more disoriented and vulnerable.

  I ignored the surprised shouts of his guards as I drove Emilio's head onto the table I brought my knife up and then. I aimed carefully as I brought the knife down and drove it into Emilio's ear, sadly it didn't go all the way into his brain. I reared back and smmed my palm into the knife's hilt driving it deeper into the other man's skull as a bright red Health bar suddenly appeared above him, more than half of it gone as it was rapidly dwindling under my assault.

  I don't know if Emilio did it on reflex or if it was a spasm, but his arm punched my leg nearly causing it to colpse at the sudden pain but the numbing mental void I had assumed, quickly consumed it and let me concentrate on what I was doing. I smmed my palm into the hilt one st time causing the Vampire to convulse once more before going still as his Health gauge zeroed out.

  I looked up at Samantha as a growing pool of blood appeared beneath Emilio's corpse, "I apologize for the mess." I told her. She was stunned, but Veronica's look was more considering. She was reevaluating me, "I need a hatchet or something to cut off his head." I told her as I turned to the Patriarch's former guards, who were now kneeling with bdes at their throats.

  Clearly, Veronica's guards had understood what I wanted them to do and subdued them when the meeting went tits up, "Who is the eldest of House Cruze?" I demanded as I stared at the two men calmly.

  The first quickly confirmed he was an idiot like Emilio, "We will kill you!" the man threatened causing his guard to dig the knife into his throat cutting off any more words.

  The guard stopped as I held up my hand and turned to the other captive, who seemed to be a little bit smarter. "Josephine Cruze, she should have been named Matriarch but declined the position, so Emilio took it." I turned my focus towards Veronica.

  She had produced a small hatchet and dropped it into my outstretched hand, "She is good, smarter, and more dangerous than Emilio, but not stupid enough to piss off a Pureblood. More importantly, she survived the purge of House Cruze, the former Patriarch pissed off the Pureblood that rules the Central American Region and he killed off 75% of their House if the reports are correct." Veronica informed me as I brought the axe up and then down twice, severing the man's head and making sure the guy stayed dead.

  I turned towards the smarter guard, "Is she in the city?' the man quickly nodded so I addressed his guard, 'Escort him out and call this Josephine, get her here as soon as possible. Make sure Josephine knows only she is invited, not the whole House." I informed him, I didn't want the guild swamped with irritated Vampires. I turned towards Samantha, "I am sorry for this, but it had to be handled quickly and brutally." I told her.

  My new instincts were still screaming at me to kill every fucking member of House Cruze, "We are neutral in politics, both national and between Demi-Human groups, which includes internal politics Master Bck. You cannot hide behind the guild like it's a shield." she quickly informed me.

  I bowed my head slightly, "I understand, but I didn't go looking for trouble and went with my instincts on the matter." I told her before I turned towards Veronica. I gave her the hatchet back, "Thank you for your support, I won't forget it. Now what more can you tell me about this Josephine?" I asked her as Emilio's body finally slipped off the table and smmed into the floor.

  Samantha winced, "I have to call a cleanup crew, I will be back." she quickly took off, clearly disturbed by what had happened.

  "What about me?" Emilio's other guard demanded.

  I smiled at him, "Your life hangs by a thread, I would think you would want less attention until your new Matriarch decides your fate." I advised him causing Veronica and the other guard to chuckle.

  Josephine ducked under the newborn's outstretched hands and drove her fist into the man's chest, ribs cracked and deformed under the punch before the other Vampire was sent hurtling across the room to sm into the wall. Red lightning crackled around the woman as she covered the distance and smmed her fist into the crippled Vampires chest and ripped out his heart ending his second existence, "Gather up the bodies and burn them and the house down, if Marcus discovers what happened her he will have the support to kill us all!" she told the two Enforcers as she shook her hand, trying to rid herself of the blood.

  While she was not averse to violence, Josephine preferred other methods to deal with her enemies, that was why she had let that idiot Emilio take the title of Patriarch. Let the fool wear the crown and bear the responsibility, while she ran the House and kept it alive and thriving. It was a close thing that House Cruze had almost failed to survive the wrath of the Purebloods, turning non-Initiated was outwed for a reason but Emilio was foolish enough to funt the ws despite the warnings of the more powerful.

  It was what led to their exile to this city, at least they were out of the shithole of San Antonio, the city was constantly being fought over by the four Houses that dwelled there, and Josephine knew if they had stayed House Cruze would have died there. "Ma'am!' Jacob called as he came walking up with her phone, 'Michael has called, he insists on speaking to you." the sentry quickly informed her.

  Josephine grimaced; couldn't anyone do what they were told, she snatched the phone out of the man's hand and dismissed him, "What do you want? What did Emilio fuck up now?" she demanded.

  "Sorry to bother you, but the information Emilio got was right, a Pureblood was Awakened. Emilo...did something stupid and got himself killed, the Pureblood has demanded your presence and only your presence." Josephine froze at the man's report and his tone.

  Michael wasn't a coward by any means, but he was afraid now, "I will be there as soon as possible, I have to get cleaned up." Josephine told him as she looked down at her blood-specked form.

  She heard another voice, slightly muted and insistent. "Understood, but I suggest you get here sooner rather than ter, something tells me that this new Pureblood won't stand for idiocy or the usual politics ma'am." Michael quickly reported before disconnecting the call. Josephine cursed and ran towards the stairs, she wasn't going to piss off a Pureblood, even one that was newborn for all intents and purposes.

  That just made him more dangerous, "I am heading home, make sure the cleanup is thorough, or I will have your head, Jacob!" she called out her orders as she jumped into the truck and smmed her foot onto the accelerator before she had even buckled herself into the truck.