The Truth | Mariah Bryant

Book Two, Chapter One

After the War

The dinner, which was hosted by the Senate, was enjoyed by everyone who knew about vampyres. This included the Night Class, vampyre hunters, vampyres, the senate – everyone. There was music and dancing and such. Our army was so busy that none of us had any time to change into more presentable clothes. I was still in my black and purple kimono, stained and torn from battle. Mike was still in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. Pictures were taken of our army, all lined up on the lawn. The senate went out of their way, pressing their chefs and musicians and reporters to produce a night to the nines. Mike and I scarcely got to dance – everyone wanted to know our stories from our mouths. Many people congratulated me. Many asked questions, some about the future. Many people congratulated Mike on his knew species.

Many people still hated me and did not approach. Plenty were terrified of me, and wanted me dead.

My brother got a lot of attention, too. Kaname hated soirees, but he hung around through the whole of this one . . . Yuki in his arms, of course. Aido enjoyed the publicity thoroughly. Kain took to the walls, but spoke politely. Ruka and Seiren stuck close to one another, awkwardly talking with reporters attracted to Ruka's beauty and Seiren's air of, "I just won a war."

Senri and Rima had disappeared.

"Whose plan was it to attack in a V-formation?" a man asked me.

"I think it was Kaname's idea, really." I said, but really I did not think it was a plan at all. It had simply worked.

"How was it being in the mansion again?" a woman asked.

"I never went into my parents' bedroom or the library, but really it was not as jarring as I had thought it would be. I love the mansion, actually, and though I will never enter that room again I may move back in after I finish high school at Cross Academy."

"Would you say Cross Academy is safe for our children?" a different woman asked.

I chuckled. "Between Kaname, Mike, the Night Class and me, of course your children are safe, no matter what their race."

"It was said that you have friends that you left in America, and it is speculated that you might return to see them and Michelangelo Thomson-sama's family. Is this true?"

"Yes. I love my friends. I have so many now. Really, I would not be here today without them. And who am I to keep Mike from his mother? That would be awful of me!" In response, the crowd laughed.

Meanwhile, Mike was also being bombarded with questions.

"How many times did you get stabbed and what was it like being under Shiki's control?"

"Do you love Amara Kuran-sama?"

"How are you liking being a vampyre?"

"How on Earth did you defend yourself against the army?"

"Is Amara Kuran-sama planning on turning you into a pureblood?"

"How much do you even know about vampyres?"

Mike was not fairing particularly well with the crowd, so he joined me and we answered questions together.

When the sun rose, everyone was housed in the Night Clan Great Hall. This time, I was not guarded. I snuck out easily, making myself invisible again, and joined Mike in his room.

Without words he opened his arms to me and I snuggled against him. We were both extremely tired and were quickly dreaming with one another again.

We returned to Cross Academy the next day, but everyone was still unable to attend school because of the war, so Kaien allowed us to have the week off. Most of us spent that week cleaning the mansion up. Because I had not had to pass by the library before, I had Mike close the door before I came near it. Kaname was busy filling out reports to go in the senate's permanent records. Not a full week passed before we received the letter.

"The Senate cordially requests the presences of Kaname Kuran-dono, Amara Kuran-tono, Michelangelo Thomson-sama, and any guests you wish you join you, at a ball we will be holding in honor of the resolution of the long-disputed Kuran Case, and for the victory of the Kuran Army, who fought and won against the odds a battle for justice, on Saturday, January the seventeenth at five o'clock." Kaname read it aloud, sitting in a chair across from where Mike and I were sitting on a couch in the mansion.

"They are going to ask us to be in the senate." I said.

"Why me?" Mike asked. "I do not even know how to become a pureblood."

I sighed sadly. "Ah, Mike. You will soon. I had wanted to go visit our friends in America before we were called to the senate, though."

"Why are you putting it off?" Mike asked.

I kissed his cheek lightly, practically begging him not to press matters further. "It is a personal thing."

"So what is the plan?" Kaname asked, putting the letter down. "Of course we will not deny them,"

"Of course not." Not wanting to speak, I paused, but of course had to continue. "We will attend."

In a flash I got a new prophesy. To anyone else, my eyes rolling back in my head would have been a bad thing. To Mike and Kaname, it was a completely horrible thing.

"What is it?" Mike took my hand.

I rolled my eyes back into normal position. There was a small grin on my face. "Uh, nothing of any immediate concern. Anyway. As I was saying: we will attend and say yes, and I will just take Mike to America whenever we feel like it either before or after that date."

"Well, the sooner the better." Mike said.

"Then we will leave tomorrow." I announced. "You do know what is in store for us, do you not?"

"Yes." Mike met my eyes with determination.

I would not contest him. I had just wanted to be sure. I gave him a reassuring half-smile. Mike smiled back. It was still so hard to believe that he had chosen this life!

"I'll phone Cross Academy." Kaname said, rising.

I giggled. "Yeah. I'll be . . . here."


Note: this story takes place after Vampire Knight 6.

Thank you so much to everyone who read the first book and has been a dedicated fan! I will not dissapoint.

Sincerely,

Mariah Bryant