Shu let out an irritated exhale as Yui paced across the entrance hall for the umpteenth time. It was only recently than the little blonde sacrifice had officially turned vampire, and already she was on his last nerve. As she was now, Yui was as strong as he and his brothers were. And though the triplets denied it, Shu and Reiji couldn't help but think her blood had retained Cordelia's sickly sweet taste.
Not that any of them had gotten a chance to taste her recently. The minute Yui had fully awakened she'd been whisked off by their father to the same tower Cordelia had once frequented. None of them really knew what had gone on in that stone tower, but they had to guess he'd been conditioning Yui into what he expected a sacrificial bride to be. Shu had been the only one to accept their father's decision, remaining neutral while the triplets pouted and Subaru moped more than usual. Reiji had been too busy agonizing to notice the girl's absence. Shu didn't really care about Ayato's little toy. The girl was useless as a human but for her blood. Now as a vampire she was entirely obsolete.
And yet here he was, gathered in the entrance hall with his brothers. Karlheinz had instructed all of them to wait here for some unknown event that had Yui on edge. The girl wasn't the only one anxious either. Laito had been on edge all mourning and Kanato had tucked himself into a corner and was rambling along to his bear. Shu could even hear a faint tapping noise coming from the window seat Subaru was occupying, as if the youngest son was frantically tapping the hilt of his dagger against the marble.
"Would you sit down already" Shu sighed as Ayato snapped. He opened one eye just soon enough to see his brother seize Yui by the shoulders and forcefully sit her on an antique chair near the base of the grand stairs. The girl squeaked in surprise as she was moved, her eyes flickering up to Ayato. He held her arms to the chair, though they all knew she could easily remove him from her if she wished.
"Ayato. Release her" Ayato spun as the cool voice reached them. Their father was standing at the top of the stairs, his cloak drawn around him as if there was a draft in the air. Shu sat up from the couch he'd been relaxing on, looking up at his father with a bored expression. "You should be respectful when we have guests" Shu frowned as his father's eyes lifted from Ayato and focused on the wide doors to the entrance hall. "Do come in my dears"
The doors creaked open slowly, revealing the presence behind them. A tall woman, dressed completely in red, stepped into the hall. She swept her waist length black hair over her shoulders, a pouty smile on her red lips. "That's no way to treat your children, Karl. You should know better than that"
"If he were reacting as he should, he wouldn't need to be scolded." His father was calm as always, though Shu could almost detect a hidden snarl underneath the words.
"And who the hell are you" Ayato snapped, infuriated that he'd been reprimanded.
"Didn't you tell them" The woman in front of them cackled, bringing a snarl to Ayato's
lips and a tense grimace to Laito's.
"Boys" It was the first time their father had addressed them directly since the woman had appeared. "This...is Madeline Kirasawa." His expression was dark. "My fourth wife"
"Fourth?" Ayato rounded on their father. "But Christa isn't even-"
"Don't speak my mother's name" Shu wasn't surprised when Subaru snarled at their brother.
"Hush" Karlheinz snapped at his sons. "Madeline. I trust you brought your own with you? They must be tired from the long trip. Romania is quite far away after all"
"Romania" Ayaato gave Madeline an incredulous look.
"Mother always said vampires from Romania have powers" They all turned toward Kanato as he spoke for the first time. He was still violently stroking his teddy bear's ears, eyes turned toward Madeline as he spoke. "Was mother lying?"
"Cordelia didn't lie to you boy" Madeline laughed again. "And my girls are just behind me, Karl. Awaiting their cue"
As she spoke shadows flitted into the room. Six young women appeared before them, all in a strange formation around their mother. Shu's eyes were drawn to the tallest of the women in front of him. An exact copy of Madeline but for her eyes. Where Madeline's were brilliantly red, the girl's were a dark, stormy green. She wore a long gown, black gown that fit perfectly over her generous hips and accented her breasts in a low v-cut. Madeline touched her shoulder first, a cruel smile spreading over her lips.
"My eldest daughter, Kira." She said, introducing the tallest girl. "She's a bit...hotblooded if you know what I mean"
"The one they call Wildfire" Karlheinz nodded, now leaning his weight against the banister. "And the little one staring so heinously at me?"
Madeline touched the dark blue hair of the smallest of her daughters. A girl barely shorter than Kanato with heavily lidded, black eyes. She cringed behind her mother as Karlheinz singled her out.
"Ayane." Madeline said. "She's a bit shy. But her powers as a Romanian vampire haven't developed yet. Though it appears hers will be of possession. She's the youngest"
Kanato sniffed at the girl, causing her to tuck herself further into her mother's skirts. Another of her sisters reached out and took her hand, drawing her away from Madeline. This one's hair was pale lavender and fell thickly across her bare shoulders. A thin, wispy material made up a cobalt blue gown. Bright pink eyes met Shu's boldly as he drew her sister backwards into her, gently guiding the little girl.
"Azuka" Madeline waved her hand at her. "The third daughter. Power of electricity." She drew a sharp nail across her third eldest's chin, drawing the tiniest bit of blood. To Azuka's credit she didn't flinch, apparently pleasing her mother.
"Then the second child, Zara" Madeline used the snap of her fingers to draw the next daughter forward. She seemed to be a sallow girl, nearly as tall as Ayato. Her red hair was drawn up into a bun, highlighting a widow's peek and her sour expression. Zara's dark blue eyes were blank an empty. She reminded Shu of one of Kanato's dolls. "Her power is of wind"
Finally Madeline brought the final two of her children forward. Twin girls with equally neutral expressions. "Isari and Isami. The fourth and fifth" The girls were identical in every way. From the long, white blonde hair that was curled neatly around her shoulders to the serious violet eyes that seemed to stare directly at Yui, even with the other girl moved uncomfortably. "Ice and Water. My sweet little twins"
"Your new sisters" Karlheinz said with a flick of his fingers. Madeline looked boldly up at him as he addressed his sons. "I trust you've had the time to take in my own sons. Shu, the eldest" He flicked his eyes toward the blonde vampire lounging on the couch. "Reiji, the second" Shu's younger brother scowled as he was turned on, clearly displeased. "The triplets. Ayato, Kanato, and Laito" Laito and Ayato sneered while Kanato barely blinked at the mention of his name. "And the youngest. Subaru" The youngest of his brothers looked blankly at the girls in front of him.
"And this young lady?" Madeline's eyes turned on Yui. The blonde girl gulped as each of the sister's turned their gazes toward her. Shu rolled his eyes as Ayato laid a possessive hand on her shoulder.
"That would be Yui." Karlheinz said coldly. "The reincarnation of Cordelia" The room fell silent for a moment. "And my only daughter"
" What's to fear then, my darling" Madelina smiled. "You now have seven"
