Chapter 1

I sighed before hitching my school bag higher up my shoulder before walking out the school gate. I knew I was supposed to wait for Mr Usui, our butler, to pick me up. But it had already been two hours. Perhaps something happened and he was not able to contact me? It's not like our home was that far away or anything. Perhaps I should have walked with my sister and Yukiya? It was stupid that I had to wait for Mr Usui every time. I was not a little girl anymore for crying out loud! Why it was such a big thing anyways I didn't understand, it wasn't like someone was going to kidnap me or anything...

"Hey there little girl," a man's voice suddely interrupted my thoughts. I was walking down a narrow street which was a shortcut to a main street further down. The man looked like he was in his 30's. His clothes weren't tattered or anything, but he had a scar running down his right cheek. Perhaps it wasn't so bright of me to walk after all... The charm bracelet I wore felt warm like it reacted to this man, it must mean...

I was wearing the acadamy uniform, which was basically a school for rich kids, but I didn't think that is what got this man's attention.

"Good day to you too sir!" I said as cheerily as I could and pretended not to know that he was intentionally trying to block my way. As I tried walking past he grabbed my arm. He was surprisingly strong, his grip actually hurt.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I yelled in surprise, "let go!"

"Not until after you give me something of value," he said close to my ear.

"Something of value? I don't carry cash on me...but I can give you this watch?" I said pulling back my sleeve to reveal the silver watch that was given to me for my 14 birthday. His reaction confirmed it, he was not human. He jerked his hand away from the silver.

"For your information my blood is laced with traces of silver. If you wish to kill yourself, go ahead," I said with as stable a tone as I could manage since I was telling a lie. I wasn't sure if I was convincing enough... I've never had to deal with these guys before. They never showed up with Mr Usui around... My family had special blood, or so I was told. It could grant non-human creatures power or even extended life and this made us targets. This had been drilled into my head since I was a little kid, but since I never actually saw other non-human creatures apart from Mr Usui and his son I didn't take it too seriously. Well, even Mr Usui and Yukiya looked very human to me. It wasn't like they ever shaped-changed or anything. The only thing that convinced me that they weren't human was that their eyes sometimes changed colour to gold. I didn't know why that was.

The man made a very non-human sound, almost like a feral cat hissing and he was struggling to keep up a human-like appearance, but he hadn't completely let go of me. His true form was starting to show which was terrifying...

I pulled hard, trying to free myself from him. Just then I heard a swooping sound.

"Causing trouble so early in the morning?" the newcomer asked. The monster who was still holding on to me snarled as he turned to see who was talking. His attitude drastically changed.

"My lord! I...I...was just holding on to the vessel for you..." it said sounding very submissive, but it hadn't let go of me. The newcomer was a young man who somehow seemed familiar...he had long black hair and dark blue eyes. Where have I seen him before?

"Now, now, I don't recall ordering any of you to kidnap this girl. Let go of her."

The quiet way he said it was somehow even more terrifying than the fact that a monster was holding on to me. The monster reluctantly obeyed. Who was this person?

I used this chance to dash past him and ran full speed towards the main road. I didn't wait to see if he followed. I was soon surrounded by people and the hum-drum of the main street, but kept running. Eventually I was too tired and sat down on a bench in a park. I couldn't see that I was being persued so I thought that I'd rest for a little bit to get my breath back.

"Ayana!" a voice suddenly called out, making me jump up with a scream. I was still reeling from seeing the monster's true form... A hand had grabbed my shoulder and I instinctively pulled away, but then realised it was Yukiya.

"Yukiya, it's you!" I said in relieve and almost collapsed.

"Why did you not wait like you were supposed to?" he scolded, "you know it is dangerous for you to walk around unguarded! What if something happened?"

Just then Yukiya looked at me as if noticing for the first time that I was shaking uncontrollably.

"Aya, are you allright? What happened?" he asked now holding on to both my shoulders as if trying to prevent me from falling over.

"I...I'm fine!" I said and pulled away from him. Why did he always do this? Normally he'd ignore me, but when I am distressed he looked at me like I was the most important person in the world. I didn't get him at all.

Yukiya's eyes widened.

"You..."

Just then the limo pulled up next to us and Mr Usui got out. Yukiya quickly let go of me and didn't look me in the eye as his father scolded me as well for not waiting at the school. I wondered what Yukiya wanted to say?

"I didn't hear anything from you for two hours, what was I supposed to do? Sleep there?" I asked sarcastically. I knew this wasn't normally how I would be, but somehow I was shaken by my encounter with the monster and confused about Yukiya behaviour.

"What do you mean, I sent you three messages and phoned you four times!" Mr Usui continued as if not noticing that I had just talked back to him.

"Where is your phone?"

I dug in my bag and there it was...but it was turned on silent...oops...

All my life I had lived separated from society to protect me. I knew that my sister was in the same boat, but she somehow seemed fine with it. I was so excited when we were allowed to attend the acadamy after having been privately tutored for several years. I had thought it would mean more freedom and in a way it did. I could make friends at school. No one there knew about our blood and no one treated us special in any way. I was just another kid. If it wouldn't cause unwanted attention I am sure Mr Usui would have been following me around at school too. It was a strange set-up. Yukiya was always keeping an eye on Aveline and his father on me. Why they had the task of watching over us I had no idea. I tried asking Mr Usui once and he said it had nothing to do with me! As if! And our grandmother didn't want to say anything either, especially things concerning mom and dad or what had happened to them. To outsiders we were two rich kids who lost their parents when they were young and are now being looked after by their also wealthy grandma. And we have bodyguards...

I was on my way to join up with my friend Kari for lunch the next day and bumped into someone because I was not paying attention to my surroundings.

"Oh, sorry!" I quickly apologised and then looked up into dark blue eyes. He was holding onto me to prevent me from falling. I immediatly recognised him, it was the man who intervened that other day!

"Oh...it's you!" I blurted out and then I realised what I was saying. It probably would have been better if I pretended that I didn't recognise him and the fact that he could command monsters...

"Er..."

"I don't believe we have had the opportunity to fomally meet yet Miss Sou," he suddenly said while smoothly disengaging himself from me and reaching his hand out to me. There were a small group of students with him. The girls were practically snarling at me...

"Um...you're right. You aready seem to know who I am... Ayana Sou."

"Akiro Igarashi. Pleased to meet you."

I knew of the Igarashi family – they were one of the most influential and rich families around. His father donated the grounds that the acadamy was built on...I was surprised that in the next moment he had brough my hand to his lips and lightly kissed the back of it. Was that still the way guys greeted girls in the modern age?! My face turned red from embarrasment.

"Just as lovely as I thought," he murmered and let my hand go.

What on earth did he mean?

"Be more aware of your surroundings Ayana, there are wolves about."

With that he just smiled at me and continued down the hall with the other students following him and whispering amongst themselves and some of the girls glaring at me. Igarashi looked stunning in his white acadamy uniform...and he seemed very popular. Everywhere girls checked him out. The way he just looked and smiled at me...what was that about? And what did he mean wolves? Was he referring to himself? If he had wanted to hurt me he could have done so the other day couldn't he?

I couldn't concentrate in the afternoon classes. Why would Igarashi bother to introduce himself to me? And was he just being a player? He was having those chicks around him? Just then I felt a fist lightly knocking on my head.

"You are in lalla land again, Aya. Come to earth!"

Aya was Kari's nickname for me.

"Aww...sorry Kari, I was just wondering...what do you know of Akiro Igarashi?"

"Igarashi? Oh no, don't tell me you have finally opened your eyes and fallen head over heels for him too!"

"What...no, that's not what I mean...anyway, are you saying you are in love with him?"

"Who isn't?" Kari said dreamily, "his family is super rich and own lots of commercial and residential properties. He is the only heir. Whoever gets to marry him one day will never have to lift a finger again."

"That...sounds a bit boring, doesn't it?"

Kari looked at me like I was going mad.

"Why would you want to work? Could you imaging men ogling you while you waitress or trying to feel you up when you are just trying to lead them to the correct isle in the grocery store? That doesn't sound great either."

"Why would I want to work as a waitress or in a grocery store Kari?"

"Oh...so you mean you would..." she had a knowing look on her face.

I took me a few seconds to catch on.

"No, definitely not! I didn't mean having to do menial or that kind of labour Karli. It is just that I somehow would want to be of more use to my future...husband than just laying around at home waiting for him to return so I can play wife. Also...I want...to travel places and see things."

"Why don't you just ask your grandmother to let you go to the hot springs or something?"

"I could, but it would mean my sister and our body guards have to come along. Firstly my sister will hate my guts and I would be a pain to Mr Usui and Yukiya. I mean to travel freely, without always having to rely on or be held back by other people."

"Uh-huh...sounds like someone is going through a rebellious phase! And why are you so gloomy about the idea of Yukiya going with – he's also a super dreamy guy! He and Akiro actually share the same class!"

I had no idea...that must be why he knew who I was...perhaps he and Yukiya are friends?

Just then my phone beeped.

"Okay, I need to go – my escort is here."

"See you tomorrow then, bye Aya!"

"Bye Kari!"

I suddenly had this feeling that I was being watched as I was walking, but looked around and couldn't see anything. A single black feather fluttered down and settled on the ground.