I'd been around long enough to be familiar with the "prospective bride's" usual reactions. Most of the feelings were confusion mixed with fear. Occasionally, there would be one who thought they wanted to be here. Somehow they found the idea of being a toy for blood thirsty vampires would be a walk in the park. I guess they found it… exhilarating.

That kind seemed to last even less time here.

But this girl, she was the first kind. Extremely frightened and on edge. She knew something wasn't quite right with them. To make matters worse, she came during day hours… which meant grumpy vampires…. Which I would have to deal with.

Ayato was back to calling himself "yours truly" like he did with all the new girls. I stayed back by the stairs. My sweatpants and sky blue tank top were not what Reiji would call "appropriate attire for receiving a guest" but I hadn't taken the time to change when I saw her walking up to the house from the upstairs window.

Laito's voice floated down from above me. "Well, well, what do we have here? Could it be that a cute little human girl has decided to pay us a visit?"

I watched Laito appear beside and lick her, telling her how sweet she tasted. Kanato was next, always eager to join in with his brothers. The girl, Yui, obviously didn't approve. She cringed and shook her head. And here we go again, the bickering over the new girl. I hated it.

Subaru was the next to come in and I knew that things were about to get heated. Ayato and Subaru always fought and then Yui being completely clueless that she'd just woke them up was too much for me to deal with. It wasn't until she asked Subaru how he entered so quietly that it dawned on me…

Yui had no idea that they were vampires.

That was strange. Usually the church would leave a letter for them to read on their way here.

"Do any of you know what is going on? I must find out why this young woman has come to live with us," Reiji said, getting more annoyed by the second. Adjusting his glasses, Reiji's harsh glare fell on me. "Kaori, do you have any prior knowledge of this young lady?"

Slightly terrified, I responded, "No, Reiji. I have no idea why she's here." I would have told you echoed in my head but I'd been here long enough to know when to bite my tongue. Of all of them, Reiji was the only one who could make me feel fear by just looking at me.

In an instant, I'd moved from my spot at the staircase to behind the couch with Kanato's arms around my waist. His teddy pressed into my back at an uncomfortable angle. "Kaori wouldn't keep things from us," he said, leaning his chin on my shoulder.

"Well I—" Yui stood up.

Oh, god. Don't try to leave. I sort of wanted to tell her that but I didn't. It wasn't my place to tell her and Reiji would have surely been angry with me for speaking out of turn. I couldn't have if I wanted to, though. Kanato had gotten bored with conversation and tilted his head down so that he could run his fangs across the skin of my shoulder. It was extremely hard to concentrate.

"Wait just a minute," Reiji's voice snapped me back to the problem at hand. "I'm attempting to get to the bottom of this situation. Don't you think it's quite discourteous to leave right now?"

I rolled my eyes at her. She's one of the dumber ones. She still hadn't figured it out. Kanato's torture stopped when Shu spoke up about a man from the church contacting him. He didn't have to say his name to get a reaction out of me. I clenched my fists together, staring at the floor.

That man. Yui's father, she said. A true monster.

Kanato left me to surround Yui. I wasn't listening to her talk about calling him. At this point, I couldn't care less about what they were going to do to her. Subaru looked down at me after crushing her phone. "Your pulse is racing," he said quietly. No one else paid attention to me, which is one reason I hated new girls.

Yui fell, scraping her knee on the carpet. When Subaru's eyes left me, I exited the room. In the upstairs hallway, I tried to take deeper breaths, running my hands through my hair. My pony tail loosened with each jerk. Dammit! Yui was a pain but to know she called that man her father… I hated her.

I wanted to scream or punch something or both. Knowing I should calm down, I started to count backwards. It was supposed to help.

"Kaori," Reiji said from behind me.

I finished counting but all my anger had melted away. Then I said, "I need to prepare her room." Silently cursing myself, I turned around. It had completely slipped my mind.

Reiji's stare hardened when I looked at him. "And yet, you are in the hallway. Do I need to remind you of your responsibilities?"

Oh, shit. I tried not to look absolutely petrified. "No, I remember. It won't happen again."

He backed me against the wall, grabbing my chin to force me to look up at him. "It surely won't. Later I will be collecting what you owe me from this incident." Reiji jerked my head to the side and bit down into my neck.

I balled my hands into fists and pressed back against the wall harder if that was possible. His fangs stung but I couldn't hold back the moan that escaped my lips. I'd gotten used to the pain, so much so, I liked it. If they took enough blood, it gave me the feeling of being high.

Just before I hit it, Reiji pulled back, licking the blood that rolled down my neck. He glanced up. Something must have happened. "6 PM. Don't be late." And then he was gone.

It took a solid thirty seconds for me to regain my body. I rubbed my neck as I walked to the room that would be Yui's. Her suitcase was already in here along with new bedsheets folded on the mattress. The room was pretty dusty since it wasn't used unless there was a prospective bride. I pushed open the balcony doors to let in some sunlight.

Taking the duster, I started to fix up the room. Dusting, putting the sheets on the bed, and unpacking her suitcase. It took longer than I expected. The door opened and Ayato came in, carrying an unconscious Yui in his arms. Laito and Kanato followed. Hanging up the last dress in the closet, I caught Laito's attention first.

He grinned, walking over to me. Since Yui showed up, they'd all been acting weird…. Weirder than normal, I guess. He dropped to one knee and slid my sweatpants down before lifting my leg to bite the sensitive part of my thigh. I almost lost my balance but Kanato wrapped his arms around me from behind.

"I want some, too," he said, licking my ear.

A shiver went down my spine and I tilted my head to the side. Kanato sunk his teeth into my neck. My eyes slid closed in pain but I couldn't deny that I liked it. I could feel them sucking out my blood which was strangely calming.

"Look at me," Ayato demanded, now beside me. He wouldn't ever admit it but he was a little bit of an exhibitionist. When I forced myself to open my eyes, he smirked. "We don't get the fear as much anymore but I think I like this look much better. There's nothing you can do except like it. It turns you on, both Laito and Kanato biting you. More pain, but you always liked the pain, didn't you?"

Laito licked his bite mark with a chuckle. "I agree. Heart racing, short breaths. Tell-tale signs, Kaori."

I shifted my eyes down but Ayato growled. "Eyes on me," he snapped, licking his lips when I groaned because Laito bit down again. "Keep your eyes on me. I want to see your eyes while they're taking your blood." He stepped closer. "I can see it, you know. You want me to bite you too don't you?"

Sometimes I hated how perceptive they were. Or how weak I was. Maybe I'd just been made for this. That's how Karl Heinz explained it when he brought me here. A creation made for vampires.

Ayato kissed me slowly. "Say it. Tell me that you want it."

"Take my blood."

"No, beg me," Ayato coaxed, kissing my lips again.

My leg almost gave out but Kanato held me up. The triplets were always doing this. They liked games. They liked the chase. And they hated losing. I'd lost all my fight a long time ago. "A-Ayato. Take my blood… I need it."

He smirked, lifting my wrist to his mouth. "Need what?" He ran his fangs over the skin.

I moaned softly. "Need you to bite me… god…please."

He chuckled but bit down hard, making me cry out. "Don't hold back. I want to hear you." Again, he bit hard.

This was my life. Constantly being bit and tortured. Constantly at the whims and mercy of these vampires. But these were my boys. I understood them better than anyone. It wasn't easy being here, though, I had nowhere else to go. I'd never say it out loud but they were my family.

Laito carried me to my room after they were satisfied. He pulled the covers over me and laid down beside me, gently jerking the hair tie out so my pony tail came down. "Are you jealous of that little bitch? Her blood smells so much sweeter than yours."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not. She's temporary."

He laughed, playing with my hair. "Who knows for sure. But it doesn't matter. You're still my favorite plaything."

"Gee, thanks," I mumbled, closing my eyes. My whole body felt all tingly and tired.

"Get some rest. I heard Reiji wants to see you in a few hours."

I curled up tighter. "Don't remind me." I was not looking forward to it. I'd have to sit through school in more pain that I'd ever want. Though, that was probably part of the punishment. Sleep took over quickly with Laito playing with my hair.

My alarm went off at twenty till six. I took a quick shower because I knew that I wouldn't want to take one after I got home from school. Slipping my robe over my underwear and bra, I slung my backpack over my shoulder. I grabbed my uniform, still on the hanger, and headed for Reiji's room.

Knocking on the door before I went in, I swallowed hard. Reiji was busy working so I hung up my uniform and backpack behind door. Before I could turn around, Reiji said, "And the robe."

It was cold in his room but that was probably on purpose. Standing in the middle of his room, half naked, would drive anyone crazy. Waiting only made me more anxious. I could see him working on something and as soon as he poured it into the tea glass, I knew I was done for. This night was going to suck. And not in the fun way.

Reiji stood and waited for me to drink the whole cup of disgusting liquid. Extra slowly, he set the tea cup back on the saucer and took his gloves off. "I see the triplets have had their fun."

It wasn't a statement that I should respond to. Reiji sighed and took his glasses off before walking over to his bookshelf. He meticulously took the books off to reveal the hidden screw eye. He had a few of them hidden in the room. Without words, he tied some rope around my wrists and slid the end through the screw eye to keep my arms above my head. Then he replaced the books except for one.

"If you knock one off, I will double your punishment."