There is something in the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable
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Disclaimers: I own nothing but the plot and idea.
A/N: Hello everyone, I'm back and this time with a new penname. AndyBunny. Anyhow, The Netherworld Academy Chronicles title has been changed into Evernight because I think that kind of title suits the story more than its former one. So, yeah, do enjoy Evernight and as always, do tell me what you think of this story.
You know the drill, people.
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This is dedicated to all Usui Takumi and Ayuzawa Misaki fanatics.
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There is something in the forbidden which makes it unspeakably desirable.
-Mark Twain
-The Notebook
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One: Ever Night
"Welcome to Ever Night Academy."
The one fated to you will come around the place where nocturnal beings gather…
The snow covered the entire pavement as I stood gloomily matching the peculiar aura of Ever Night Academy.
The place was filled with students already rushing in for the late semester rush. Some are wearing the assigned school uniform while some are clad in nothing but casual attire not suitable for the cold weather of the season. People stared as they passed by—more like taking a swift whiff of my smell—and backs off at the sight of some small woman waving to my direction. I leaned by the car, waiting for someone and look around the disconsolate ubiquitous shade that was the Academy. It would have been beautiful, mind you, since I was a sucker for anything vintage but what completely puts me off is the fact that people here hides a teensy secret that could set all worlds against one another aflame.
Ever Night Academy—Eternal Darkness, Abyss Break, and or Crevice of the Earth—is a school that, by evening, nurses nothing but creatures from the grave.
I promised Mom I'd be in a good mood once we get here and I wasn't one to break promises. But at the sight of how… exaggerated Ever Night Academy was, I felt my will to survive in this kind of establishment start to crumble into pieces. I looked around the ancient establishment that was probably built older that the granny of Mom's grandma and thought of how I'm going to live in this kind of place when I felt a shadow blocked the sunlight shining brightly behind me and loomed over me. I spun around, expecting to see Mom as she waved on my face the huge folder she got from the Registrar's Office with that bright smile on her face. I smiled back and got the admission folder and stared at the huge vintage looking Manila envelop on my hands.
Mom giggled beside me, a hint of childishness on her system. "Are you happy?"
One look and one can say my mother is more childish like me. She was barely twenty when she conceived me and despite the passing of time, she still looked rather… youthful. She already on her late thirties but really, she still looked as though she was a teenager fresh out of a story book—and maybe it contributes to the fact that she doesn't age at all. Mom was beautiful and childlike. She have those flat black eyes and hair wavy by the middle the shade of raven and she was damn pale. She was really beautiful—a pacifist—and she writes stuff with regards to History and other things related to the creation and origin. I wouldn't be surprise if her motto will be make love, not war. Aside from that, she was a few inches shorter than me, a fact that makes people who doesn't know as to mistake me as the mother and Mom as my supposed daughter. Her work makes her pretty dirty too since she was an archaeologist but still, despite looking filthy, all the more she exudes an aura of a woman who was able to obtain the things she wanted in life.
One more description to sum it all up is that she was a free spirit.
I smiled at Mom and showed her my admission form again before nodding. "Yes." I answered timidly. "I'm happy." I traced the flap of the envelop before looking up at her again. "What time is your flight again?"
But I know my Mom too well to know that she won't buy any of my excuses. She knew that I wanted to come with her on her expedition but I'm already eighteen and that I needed to focused more on my field of interest if I really wanted to become a historian like her. She knows I never really wanted to study—and live—here in Ever Night but she has such a demanding job and her next project requires her to move from place to place. She wanted me to come, but I needed to prove something too so, when she discovered the dormitory school of Ever Night, she immediately suggested that I should try schooling too—and at the same time, practicing my field on Education of History—so I could achieve whatever it was I wanted to achieve.
I deliberated, of course, since this would be the first time I'd part from her until I finally agreed to attend Ever Night as a student facilitator by night and researcher by morning.
Mom held a lock of my raven hair and smiled at me. "Misaki," she said name for the last of a thousand times. "—You know I could always make way for you. You could come with me—"
I see the sacrifice behind her eyes and I panic that I would suddenly give in so I decided to quickly interrupt her. "You know I wanted to become a Professor, Mom. This is another possibility—and it was you who keeps on telling me that when I see a chance, I should grab it, wasn't it? This is a chance. Ever Night is a good school. It would give me a better background." I got the envelope again and this time, I wave it right in front of her. "And besides, you've spent thousands of bucks to enroll me in this place. I cant just let it go to waste just like that." I smiled at her. "I don't mind teaching seniors, you know that." She mumbled something impolite and I culdnt help but laugh. "What was that you say?"
"Until you get annoyed and stabbed them with a pencil." I laughed again. Mom, pouted. "Will you really be fine here? You know you could always come to me when you need me."
I smiled at her. "Mom, I don't want you leaving your job just because of me."
Mom frowned. "You're my daughter. You aren't some trivial matter to me."
I smiled reassuringly again. "I'll be fine here so you should stop worrying now. You know me whenever I get anxious because you're such a worrywart. I'll be fine, Mom. So just suck it up—my decision, I mean."
"Fine." She says in defeat. "I'll call you once things are settled in Winchester." She trailed behind me as I got my things from the back of the car and put it all down on the ground. Mom sighed and once again, I could see the sacrifice behind her eyes as she watched me do things on my own. After I was done settling my things, I faced her and smiled. She smiled back at me. "Aoi called and he said he'd be the one to tour you around the entire University once he's done with every thing that he needs to finished."
I nodded. "I understand. I'll give him a ring later once I've settled my things, too." We stared at each other for a full minute with me ending up laughing. "Don't make it look like we won't be seeing each other forever."
She sighed. "We wouldn't know that."
"I'll be fine here, Mom. So you should be, too." I risked a quick glance on my wristwatch before smiling back at her. "Don't be worried on me. I can take care of myself, Mom. I'm a big girl now."
"You're still my baby girl, Misaki."
"Yes, yes." I drape an arm around her and dragged Mom to the driver's side. "You should go by now Mom or you might end up missing your flight—God knows you have that kind of hobby."
"Fine." She says in utter surrender. "You'd be fine, won't you? You'd miss me, right?"
"I'd be fine and I'd surely miss you." I hugged her for the last of a thousand times and places a kiss on her forehead since she was way smaller than me. "Be careful, Mom."
"You too." She took one last glance around the University as if she was suspicious about it before smiling back to me and hugs me tightly. "If something comes up, I'd come flying here to you to take you away from this place immediately. Call me, okay?"
I sighed. "Yes. Goodbye Mom."
"I'll see you very soon." Another suspicious look before she finally settled into her car, honked her horns and finally, she was gone in a cluster of trees.
I look around the Academy too, tearing the flap of the Manila envelope I was holding as soon as I was settled down on one of the nearby benches. According to the terrain map, Ever Night Academy has four educational buildings—more like castles—named Bran for Math subject, Cachtice for English-related offices, Poenari for History and Covent for Science and Alchemy related courses. Since everything all I wanted is History, I was assigned to teach on the History department and do my researches on the Historical facility where they would provide me with all the necessary materials needed for my practice as a Historian. The room I'm to stay at is inside the Coventry towers just a few walking distanced from Poenari castle. The forest surrounding the entire Academy is named Hunyad Forest that hides the school from people who would be considered as interlopers once they dare enter the forbidden school grounds of Ever Night.
I look around again, wondering how long it would be until I get sick of this place and leave on my own when something blonde and brown flashed on my peripheral view. Stunned, I snapped my head towards the direction of what I saw, ignoring other students who are loitering around the area when someone tapped me by the shoulder. I look up to the stranger in time to see Aoi—my cousin with his raven hair disheveled in a way that suited him quite well—standing before me with that infectious grin on his face.
"AOI!" I screeched and stand so I could hug him.
Aoi merely laughed. "Get off, you dork. Someone might think I have a geek loser for a girlfriend." I slapped him on his arm before surveying him from head to toe. He did the same on me. "Still the usual loser, huh?"
I scoffed at him. "And to whom do you think you're talking to?"
"I don't know, some dork?" when my fist swung towards his direction, he was fast as he avoided it. Ha laughed again. "Loser, indeed. Welcome to Ever Night Academy, Ayuzawa."
I smiled. "Thanks. I thought you'll be ditching me like what you're always doing."
"Hm, tempting. Where's Minako?"
I shrugged. "I coerced her to leave. She looks as though she wanted to stay here too because she can't bear to part with me. You know Mom so let's just leave her as that." I looked around the Academy and sniffed the cool wind and turns back to me ever lovable cousin and smiles. "Nice school—apart from the name."
"Why, of course. Nocturnal beings occupy this place."
This is a secret to other unknowing humans but in Ever Night Academy, at exactly the break of evening, the Academy becomes invaded by nothing but creatures coming from the Abyss. This is the reason why Mom—a nocturnal being—hesitates on leaving me all by myself to this school because she think its dangerous for a human like me. It is a place filled with nightly figures that dominates more than the number of humans staying here. Nocturnal beings… creatures of the dark… demons shaped in human form to blend well with the race of mortals—they are the evening students of Ever Night Academy.
Smiling at me, Aoi lend out his hand. "Ready to explore the darkness?"
I could only laugh. "Hell yeah, I am."
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At last… you've finally come… my fated one…
I woke up with a jolt, the whispers coming from my dream still echoing on the four corners of my bedroom. Disconcerted, I look around my slightly messy room, searching for the mysterious man in my dreams, and when I was finally on the right presence of mind, I shake my head and tried to shake off the remains of my lassitude. I rubbed my eyes, trying to make a good view of the silhouette and when it was safe enough to say that it was nothing but a figment of my imagination, I made me way towards the bathroom and took a quick bath to washed away fatigue off my system.
After I was done with everything I needed to do, I prepared my things since I'd be facilitating a History subject and got out of my room with all the necessary references I'd need and went right straight to Poenari where my subject is located. I walked through the gloomy corridors and admired the view outside when I noticed another silhouette standing by the fountain on the courtyard. I stared at it, wondering who could it be when I remembered that the place actually gets inhabited by nocturnal being once night falls on us.
I ignored it, waving at Aoi who waited for me by the exit of Poenari and runs towards him as he help me carry out my things. "Good evening to you, too, cousin." He nodded at me and I immediately noticed his sudden change of disposition. My forehead creased over his aura. "Is something wrong?"
"He's here."
I frowned. "Who?"
"Him."
I followed the place he was pointing out that led my eyes to the area of the red brick fountain. I didn't see anything at first because it was a bit dark but the intense pull of gravity made it impossible for me to not notice the person seated by the fountain. The dark clouds released the moon and its light, as if on cue, shone on the person Aoi was talking about; thunder sliced the skies apart and when it was bright enough to see the person properly, my eyes rounded. Holy—
"Nngh." That's what happens whenever I'd try cursing. But since the connection between my mouth and brain would somehow get disrupted, mu tongue would go short-circuited and I'd say something hard to understand—sometimes, it doesn't even sound like a normal word.
Confused, Aoi, turned to me. "What was that noise?" he asks, his forehead creasing in confusion. "It doesn't sound like a word would."
I sighed. "I get that a lot."
"Once we pass by that person, lower down you head, okay?"
"What? Why—"
"Just do it, loser." He hissed at me in irritation. Aoi pulled me with him and I followed as he says when we finally pave our path that passes by that guy seated by the fountain. But my curiosity peaked and I couldn't help but secretly dart a quick glance on the guy and was startled to see him staring at Aoi and I's direction. But technically speaking, it wasn't really surprising that he was also gazing our way. What precisely startled me were his eyes. It wasn't the usual shade I've seen before. Sure it was green and there were a lot of green-eyed people I've met before on different countries Mom and I have visited but his eyes, it was bright—almost as if it was glowing. It glowed against darkness as if it was more neon than emerald and well, what can I say? It tantalized me—his eyes did. And that strong pull I have for this person, it felt as though something was pulling me from the inside so I could collide against the body of that person seated by the bench.
He'll come around on a place where the nocturnal gather around…
"Aoi."
From in front of me, Aoi cursed, and it was as though he was trying to avoid him as much as he could. Aoi released my hand and faces the person standing before us now. "Takumi."
Hm… what a hunk—I shake my head internally and tried to look away even if I know it was too late now. I wondered if simply looking at him is already a sin when he's sinfully handsome and all? I stared down at Aoi since he was way smaller than me before looking up discreetly at they guy before me. Takumi, as what he's been called, looked down on me too and before I could even realized what's happening, he already took possession of my hand and suddenly kissed it.
"At last, you came." He said this and stands properly and looked down on my confused disposition. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for your arrival… Ayuzawa Misaki."
I went still while Aoi merely shook his head, as if he already expected it—as if he knows what's to happen. I stared at the guy again—at Takumi, I mean, who actually knows my name. Stalker much? "P-Pardon me?"
Aoi exhaled. "Misaki, I want you to meet my brother, Takumi." He says almost lackadaisically. "—And according to the predictions of the Ever Night office, you are the one suitable to be married to him."
I felt my jaw drop. "Excuse me?!"
.
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"Okay, class dismissed, people." The subject professor, Maria-sensei, renounced tiredly as soon as the four o'clock—AM—bell rang. I stretched rigidly, feeling some of my limbs aching before gathering the papers of my students and passed them all up on Maria-sensei. She smiled at me—a hypnotizing smile coming from a succubus—and placed the papers in order before turning back to me. "You're dismissed for the night too, Ayuzawa-san. I don't want to keep you long enough—someone might bite my head off."
My forehead creased. "I don't understand."
She pointed out the last person seated on the last row in a corner waiting patiently—according to her—for me. "Takumi-sama awaits your arrival for years now. Don't keep him waiting any longer." She winked at me and then black bat-like wings sprouted off her back as she flew out of the room to give us privacy.
Defeated, I sighed. I wonder how long this would go? I gathered all my study materials and spun around to face Usui Takumi when it startled me to see him already standing before me. I let out a startled shriek since he really surprised me as I drop down all my things on the cold tiled floor. I cringed away, still startled. "Y-You surprised me!" I hissed at him, too shock to say anything proper.
Still wearing that poker expression he so likes to wear, he bent down to gather my things up and carried it himself. "I'm sorry." He says dully.
But I couldn't have the heart to deny him. Still awkward, I nodded. "It's okay." I pointed the books out. "You don't have to carry them. I've got it."
"I'll help you."
Dang, when he says it like that, it felt as though I have no other options for another way out. I started my bad hobby of checking him out and well, he doesn't look that bad. In fact, his body is fit enough to be a model and he had those strong arms that would make anyone feel safe inside his embrace. He isn't a talkative one and it was so obvious that he'd rather choose the company of a wall instead of being buddy-buddy with someone. I wonder how it would feel being trapped in those strong arms of his? Trounced—again—I got my bag from the floor and walked towards the door.
He remained on the spot as if he was waiting for something from me.
I faced him again. "Well, come on. What are you still waiting for?"
He remained unexpressive as he walked towards me before leaning forward to peck me on the forehead before he walked off to the darkness that was the hallway. I stood frozen on the same spot, wondering how a stranger like him could make my heart beat so fast as though hell has been chasing after me.
I shake my head. No, I'm not going to fall for his kindness. He's a demon—allegedly speaking, he wasn't supposed to be kind on me—and I'm nothing but a human with such an evanescent existence. According to Mom, another human sired my existence and he died right after months I was born because of a terminal illness leaving her immediately widowed. That's why she's against it whenever I'm concerning myself with demon males. She think it's better that I date someone who's on the same page as I do than be with someone I'll be leaving after eighty or so short-lived experience.
But then again, it was the human who doesn't have her first relationship—nor first kiss—before speaking. I sighed, ignoring his sudden display of affection—which is unnecessary—and followed him into the path of darkness.
.
.
The mornings were a busy thing as humans—unknowing humans—occupied the entire Academy. These people doesn't know the true face of Ever Night once night falls in on the dark corners of the Academy and unlike the night class, they don't live inside the school. It was prohibited for them to stay past school hours and the punishment for rule breakers is immediate expulsion.
I walked across the hall, vaguely remembering how these same halls looks after daytime and proceeded right straight to Poenari Library II and continued my research about the origin of demons like my very own mother and cousin. I scanned through pages, focusing myself on what I was to do and eagerly reading when I noticed another article with regards to the Ever Night office that deals with the accurate prediction of the future of a certain demon.
Annoyed, I went on to the next page and continued reading until my thoughts brought me back to Usui Takumi. I exhaled; saying my goodbye to research since I couldn't focused anymore before closing my books and stared out into the vast space outside in time to see a flash of brownish blond hair by the old twisted willow tree. In due time, I was able to make out Usui Takumi's very noticeable figure. I gathered my things and took the seat near the window before opening the book onto some unspecified section.
"Rule breaker." I said as I flipped through pages, making sure that no one would notice me since by daytime, demons like him are usually invisible to those without the power of Sight.
He jumped on a branch and leaned closer to me. "What are you reading?"
I pretended as if I was reading through a particular page. "The art of Prediction." I mumbled thoughtlessly. "This is the place where all predictions originated, on countries Egypt and Greece, do you agree with that?" he nodded before jumping on the table—causing it to create loud noises which earned stares from different directions—before taking the seat right in front of me. I stared at him. "People nearly notice you." I scolded.
"That's far from happening." He said timidly and looks up to meet my gaze. I flushed scarlet red and swiftly looked away before focusing my self again on what I'm reading. He watched—and he knows that I know he's watching me because he stared at me continuously after smirking. Giving up, I look up to meet his gaze. "What is your problem?"
Takumi shakes his head. "Nothing."
"Ignorance is unbecoming of you."
"Ignorance is bliss."
"Ignorance is temporary." He stared at me for what seemed to be a full minute before he looked away and into the vast courtyard of the school. He suddenly seemed so far away now since he wasn't looking at me with those eyes that seem to be able to convey everything without the need for words. But then again, he was a demon—a male demon—and it was already given that they don't need words to say whatever it was that was inside their head. They use actions to express everything. I looked away when he suddenly snapped his eyes back at me.
"You're right." Takumi says, agreeing to my previous statement. "At first it could be bliss… until you get to know to know the real meaning of the truth… and then you'll finally realized the true meaning of the word happiness."
I look up at him. "What do you mean?"
He smirked almost evilly before saying, "I mean, until I get to know the prediction, I wasn't a very happy person. I've got something I wanted but I don't know what it was… until the Gray sisters told me their prediction about the human I'm subjected to be married." He looked back into the clouds again and when the sunlight hit him, I saw him winced and cringed away almost discreetly—almost. He looked back up at me. "I've waited for you for thousands of years… you can't deny me happiness now that you're here. It was all thanks to your mother and father who sired your existence. Marry me… and you wont regret it." He said it with such conviction that the only thing I could is stare at him since whenever he speaks; it was as though I've got no other way out.
I was about to retort but then he jumped on the table again and into the branch. "Of course, you don't have to answer now. Think about it a day or two… and then, you can give me your answer. Don't make me wait long… and I hope it is an answer that would make me exultant." That and he disappeared into the dark shades of the willow.
I scratched my head. Damn… don't make it sound like your happiness is left in my hands. But then again, it was indeed. And it was an engagement I found no way out.
.
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"So, how is your student cum fiancé that stalks you like crazy?"
I scowled at Aoi and went on to eating my more humane than his food before darting a quick glance on Usui Takumi as he ate along with his friends during dinnertime. He must have noticed that I was staring at him because he suddenly snapped his eyes on my direction and winked at me before paying attention well on what the person before him is saying. I flushed beet red and looks down on my food again and when I caught on Aoi stealing some of my meat, I swiftly stab him with my chopsticks.
He pouted. "Stingy."
"I thought you don't eat cooked meat?" he snorted at me and I can't help but sigh as I darted a quick glance on Takumi again and back to Aoi. "Well, he's pretty persistence, I admire that."
"You admire that or you admire him, pick one."
I kicked him under the table. "Neither, jerk." I sighed. "But persistent he is. And when he asked me to marry him, God, it sounded as though I've got no other choices out there." I stab my meat. "It was… well… it got me speechless. I never expected someone would propose to me that way. He has got the looks, yeah but… but… we're so different, it's weird."
"That's because he's a demon, idiot." Another snort. "At such a juvenile age he had led diverse victorious feuds. Takumi was good in almost everything but it was so noticeable that he was yet to find his happiness. That's why when the Gray sisters predicted his future, he didn't allow me off anymore because he found out that, before you could even be born, you would be someone related to me. He avoided sending me to battles just so the future wouldn't be disrupted by any unnecessary events."
I stared at AOi. "Why are you telling me these now?"
"I don't know, maybe because you're a dork?" he shrugged. "Misaki, he likes you—he wouldn't have waited for you for so many years—I don't know, a thousand? More or less, I guess—if he wasn't serious about you."
"I'm not sure. I don't want to settle down when I haven't known that person well. Sure you're saying a lot of good things about him but Aoi, he's a demon." I emphasized the last word. "I'm a human."
"So?"
"So?"
"Yeah, I mean, so? So what? That's not much difference." He waved his chopsticks impolitely. I frowned at him. He said, "Converting you would come in handy. Takumi was no Crowned Prince for nothing."
"And how did you became his brother again?"
"I mean, brother by blood? We're demons, remember? Or your brain really couldn't get that much information?"
"You really can't get enough of bullying me, weren't you?" he smirked. I simply ignored him. "I can't like him that way… Aoi. He was… he was just too… too perfect for me." he frowned but thankfully enough, he didn't say anything. I look down on my food again. "I can't like him more than what he wants me to do."
"Is that your answer to my proposal?"
I stilled and alarmed, I spun around only to face Usui Takumi standing right in front of me. I scowled at him. "You weren't supposed to be eavesdropping on any conversation I'd be having with anyone." I hissed at him in annoyance. "That's foul."
He grinned slyly at me, something I have never seen him showcase on me since he's always been so gentle and kind despite being a demon. I froze when he leaned forward my ear and whispered, "You'll regret ever saying that." I cringed away from him but he was fast as he grabbed me by the arm and kept me on my spot. "And I'll make you fall so hard you'll regret ever denying me."
"What are you—" I gasped when he suddenly tilted my chin up and leaned forward to kiss me on the lips. Other demons gasped and I noticed Aoi looked away as he allowed Usui Takumi assault my lips in public. That and he pushed me away.
"See you around, wifey."
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And it's done. Damn, this story was damn long and strenuous! It took almost every ounce of my imagination to create something as hard as this. I hope you did enjoyed reading this. Since I can't write TBM yet—and the Grim Reaper is having some kind of trouble—I was thinking of making this into not only a three chaptered story but rather a long one. What do you think, people? Should I or should I not?
Anyhow, as always, do tell me what you think.
AndyBunny