Such a huge, huge school. I stared up at Cross Academy and it stared back down at me. Turrets soared so high it looked as though they could drape the clouds around their shoulders as scarves. Not that there were many clouds today – brilliant sunshine illuminated the cherry blossom petals swirling to the floor, the flowers dancing till they died.
I sighed. The school was vast and I was small and insignificant and alone.
And it's not going to get any better when I start classes, because no one is going to even think of being friends with me.
I picked up my bag and pushed the high gate open. It swung easily, silently, and I slipped through. I was a stranger, and it felt better if I left things as they were as much as possible. Better if I made no sound. Better if I tried to blend in with the background.
With every step towards the Chairman's office, to which I'd been directed by the grounds staff, the tension rose in my stomach until I thought I was going to be sick. I tapped the knocker against the door several times. It stuttered in my grip, beating as irregularly as my heart was.
I don't want to do this! I don't want to do this! Amaya, I promised you I wouldn't miss home too much, but I was never good at keeping promises, was I?
The door was pulled open. The space inside was dark and the tall boy who'd opened the door matched it perfectly, black uniform and even blacker scowl. He opened the door wider to let me in.
"Thank you." My voice was a whisper as I stepped over the threshold. I'd never been to school before and the first person I'd met was looking at me with an air of such powerful dislike and distrust that I felt like crying.
Not so much of a surprise though, is it?
The boy looked at me then, after I'd spoken, his brows raised, dusky purple eyes widening for a split-second. But then he shook his head, silver hair spilling across his handsome face as he looked away and strode down the dark corridor. I followed him, heart heavy.
He opened a door into a sunlit office. I entered after him. My pulse was hammering so much from nerves that soon even humans would be able to hear it. No, no, no…even though I wanted to escape the Kitagaki household, this is not the place to go!
Illuminated by the spring sun was a man with a ponytail, sitting behind the desk in front of the windows. He looked up. "Ah! Kasumi Takemura, isn't it?" He stood up and came over to me. "You must have had a long drive to get here; would you like a drink?"
I shook my head. "No, thank you." My legs felt as though all the blood had been drained from them, and putting anything in my stomach would certainly have resulted in a rather disgusting carpet decoration.
"Well, welcome to Cross Academy! I am the Chairman, Kaien Cross. As you know, this school aims to promote harmony between humans and vampires such as yourself. To protect the human students, however, we have a two-class system. The Day Class are all human and are educated during the day. The Night Class is the vampire class and receives its tuition at night," the Chairman explained. I nodded weakly.
"Now, all of the Night Class are aristocratic vampires except for two, Yuuki and Kaname Kuran, who are Purebloods. They rule the Night Class as dorm presidents."
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the silver-haired boy's mouth tighten at the mention of the Purebloods' names. His whole body seemed to stiffen and he flicked his gaze sideways out of the window. Personally, I was feeling even sicker – the butterflies in my stomach were hyperventilating. Purebloods? A whole class of aristocrats, and then the Kurans on top of that? Oh God!
"Kasumi? Kasumi? Are you alright?" The Chairman was waving a hand in front of my face. "You look very pale. Do you want to sit down?"
I nodded and sank into a chair. "Kiryuu, can you get some water please?" The Chairman looked at the silver-haired boy – Kiryuu.
"I don't think that's a good idea," I said faintly. "I think I might be sick."
A smile seemed to flicker across Kiryuu's face. I would have frowned but my churning stomach made all other thoughts disappear.
The Chairman patted my shoulder. "Don't worry, Kasumi, the Night Class are all very friendly."
Kiryuu lifted an eyebrow, and I felt I had someone on my wavelength in the room.
"Now, in the school, we have Guardians, also known as the Disciplinary Committee. They patrol the Academy and ensure that the Classes are staying where they're supposed to be. The Night Class must stay in the Moon Dormitory except for walking to and from lessons. This rule is strictly enforced, Kasumi. Stay within the Moon Dormitory boundaries, please. We don't need anyone being bitten. It goes without saying, of course, that you must not take blood from anyone."
That statement was almost humorous to someone like me. You don't have to worry about that, Kaien. I used to be human. I have three human little sisters. And someone taking blood from you without your consent...well, I know all about that. It's not something I'd want anyone else to go through, ever.
I bit my cheek in an attempt to exorcise the memories, to vanquish the ghosts of strangers' lips against my neck, to sooth the cold burn of fangs piercing my skin. I shook my hair across my face and attempted to concentrate on Kaien's words.
"Kasumi, are you there? Good, okay. Well, the Day Class students are not allowed anywhere near the Moon Dormitories and must stay inside after dark. This rule is more troublesome for the Guardians, as Day Class girls are rather…infatuated with the Night Class."
Kiryuu rolled his eyes slightly.
"At the moment, only Zero Kiryuu is a Guardian," the Chairman said, and I was focusing less on Kaien as he spoke ("Please listen to Kiryuu – he is equipped to – aha, deal with any vampires who disobey the rules.") than the expression of pain on Zero's face, the slight tilt of his head backwards, the tightening of his mouth, the shutting of his eyes. There was great hurt concealed beneath that brooding, indifferent exterior.
Why, Zero? What have they done to you? Why are these things so painful for you?
"So, time for the tour!" The Chairman bounced across to the door. I stood shakily, picking up my bag again and walked to the doorway. Zero remained leaning against the wall. Continued to stare out of the window. I turned, closed the door quietly and followed Kaien.
The Chairman led me through a maze of corridors and courtyards, and there were barely words to do the place justice. Swirling rose stems, thorns and leaves and flowers, grew across high, vaulted ceilings. Towering arched windows. Sunlight falling across the floor like golden tresses. Sweeping staircases like brushstrokes. Countless fountains burbled in countless courtyards. Flowerbeds like ruffs, fur of green foliage and accents of vivid blossoms.
I sure hope that the Night Class all have their classes in the same room, because otherwise I will spend all night trying to find the classroom!
"And this is the Moon Dormitory," proclaimed the Chairman, opening another tall wrought-iron gate. We passed through a large archway and then a huge building rose up in front of us, the afternoon sunlight stroking its marble face.
He led me up the steps and opened the door. I stepped into a vast entrance hallway. A balcony ran along the back wall, with twin staircases leading up to it. The curtains were all closed to protect the nobles' sensitive skin from the sunshine. In front of me were a coffee table and several sofas, and dotted around the room were vampires.