Screaming. That's all I could hear. All I saw were flames. I couldn't take it. I couldn't breathe. The screams were getting closer and therefore louder. I could hear my name being called. I couldn't take anymore and started running. thud
"Jesus Maia. You didn't need to fall off the bed. I understand how good it must be to wake up and see me but still"
"Asshole. Why'd you wake me up?"
"I'm up. And I'm bored"
"I hate you Andy." I took that moment to open my eyes and stare at my 'best' friend. His gold-blonde hair was a mess, due to him having just woken up. Those stupid ice-blue eyes, that always got him out of trouble, were staring at me, a hint of amusement in them and he waited for me to get up. The look on his face told me he was obviously trying not to burst out laughing at me. Looking at the clock behind him, I groaned and curled up in my blankets, which had fallen with me.
"Get up Maia." He shouted, snatching my blankets from me.
"Andy, its 8:30. What the hell? Why are you not a normal teenager? Is sleeping until at least noon that hard for you?" I was furious at this point. That inconsiderate….how dare he laugh at me! "What is so funny?"
"Your pant hair" he choked out. I glared at him. My day was not starting out good. I stood up and considered how upset I'd be if I killed him. It wasn't worth it. I'd actually be sad. He was all I had. Shooting him a death glare, I walked into my bathroom. I really didn't want to look in the mirror and see the damage my pillow had done but I had to know. Damn curiosity. Dark blue, almost black, eyes stared back at me. My eyes were a little red and slightly darker than normal. Had I been crying? It was obvious I had been but I didn't recall it. Oh it was that damn nightmare again. And here comes my dinner from last night. It was becoming a daily routine for me. Wake up, crying and a wreck, run to the bathroom after remembering the dream, and throw up. I guess it was my way of dealing with the events I lived through.
Flushing the toilet, I prepared myself for my hair. I looked in the mirror, preparing myself for the worst. A silver rats nest looked back at me. Yeah I know, silver? Well according to the physicians, it was from all the stress I had endured. I had 'prematurely aged' at just 17. I originally had dark black hair but it had turned a jaw dropping silver colour. I'm not sure when exactly it turned and Andy never told me. I guess I was ok with not knowing. I groaned as I looked for my hairbrush to start the torture and I heard Andy laugh from my bedroom. I so did not want to deal with this. I was working on only 3 hours of sleep. I honestly couldn't believe my pillows had done this much damage in that short of time.
"If I chop my hair off, will you still be my friend?" he was gonna get a kick out of that.
"Yes but no one else will" jackass. He really must love pissing me off. Oh well. A shower will make this better AND it'll piss him off. Haha! Score one for me. Too bad I was still losing. I walked out of the bathroom, leaving the brush stuck in my hair, and shoved Andy out so I could grab clothes and not have to walk out naked. Not that it mattered. He's seen me naked before. Not in THAT kind of way. But when you have a hole in your stomach, shirts are kinda impossible to wear. Not to mention all the times he's had to stitch me up and tear off clothes. No! Don't think of it Maia. I decided on jean shorts and a halter over my bathing suit. Nothing special. He was probably going to make me go swimming anyways. After showering I got dressed, threw my hair up like normal, and threw on sunscreen. I was already tanned and I didn't feel like getting cancer. It would be just my luck too. Survive hell just to die of abnormal cells.
"Maia! Are you done yet?" Andy whined from outside my door. Oooh another way to aggravate him. But he's lucky I'm not that mean.
"Coming. I hope you realize I'm not staying awake all day"
"It's ok. I know you actually can't. You sleep as much as a cat." He had me there. I opened the door and jumped on his unsuspecting back. Fortunately he was strong enough to hold me there without even losing his balance. Not as if I weighed a crap load. Being 5'4" had it advantages.
"You're just mad you're an insomniac and can't enjoy the sleep I get. So what're you dragging me off to do today?"
"We got some new neighbours yesterday. Lets go say 'hi!'."
"No. They're probably sleeping. Like NORMAL people."
"Was that a crack at me?"
"Maybe. Whatcha gonna do about it?" splash oh. I guess that. I hadn't realized we had made it outside and to the pool. He had thrown me in as if I was a rag doll. Stupid tall men that like to pick on me. What was wrong with me? I was normally more alert on these things. But oh was he gonna get it. I resurfaced, spitting water.
"You dick. What if I had something electronic on me?"
"Then the Chinese place would be enjoying some fried kitty" I gave him a confused look before it dawned on me. Pervert.
"I'm ignoring that for your own safety" he smiled at me and waited for me to get out of the pool. I was losing really badly today. Something was off. "Let's go to the beach for a couple hours."
"People watching?"
"Something like that"
A COUPLE HOURS LATER"I hate you"
"Liar" I really couldn't help the smile on my face.
"I should then"
"Then we are even, my friend" it was noon-ish and we were headed back to the beach house we were renting for the rest of our summer break. I could feel a burn starting on my shoulders, since all my sunscreen had washed off when Andy threw me in the pool and I'd been too lazy to reapply it. Andy's torso was turning a slight pink. That's so what he gets. Sadly, it was already 90ºF out and we didn't feel like roasting so we were retreating for lunch and a nap for me.
"Maia, you got three guys to follow me for 2 hours and make my life hell. That hot chick thinks I'm gay. AND I HAVE SAND RASH IN MY PANTS!" I died of laughter then. I couldn't help it. The way he said it made it seem like he'd been on the rack for Hades. He always exaggerated and it always made me laugh. "Not funny Maia!"
"Oh yes it is" I was starting to feel a little sorry. He seemed seriously upset. Ah! Don't let him know you're caving in Maia. He'll use it against you.
"sigh I guess your right. It was kinda funny. You know this means war right?" he gave me the look that said I was gonna be in trouble later.
"You know you screamed that sand rash comment and our new neighbours are outside." His face turned red and he spun around. I just walked by him chuckling and entered the house. Andy would apologize to the neighbours to save face. He really was shallow. I wouldn't have bothered. But I'm not the biggest fan of strangers. Hopefully, they would distract him enough for me to get a good nap in. I decided my room was too far away (a flight of stairs was too long of a walk for me) so I settled myself on the couch, forgetting Andy's threat to me.
After what only seemed like seconds after I hit the couch, I was awake and on the ground. Andy, my mind growled. I shot up immediately and managed to hit someone in the head.
"Ow!" we both said in unison. I heard laughter that sounded familiar but I ignored it to look at who I had hit. At first I thought it was Andy but as my eyes focused I could see it wasn't. The man had the same gold-blonde hair, only slightly longer and his ice-blue eyes were more like ice than Andy's. I couldn't help but stare. Man he was gorgeous. Then a throbbing pain hit my head and I remembered what happened/
"Ohmigawd! I am so so sorry. Are you alright? Here, I'll go get you some ice and some ibuprofen and why don't you lie down. Your head is probably killing you right now" I got up in a hurry, felt dizzy, clutched my head but still worked on getting him the stuff he needed. Unfortunately, I didn't get far because whoever I had hit pulled me back down.
"It's alright. I've had worse. And it didn't even hurt." He smiled. Dear god, I was stunned by how amazing it was.
"You said 'ow'. That means pain," I pointed out.
"Reflex action m'dear. " I stared at him in disbelief. Someone was refusing my help. I must've hit him a little harder than I thought.
"She's gonna do it anyways, Aidou-san. Just let her. Plus it'll stop her from freaking out and fussing over you all day." Trust Andy to be a dick.
"Shoulda hit you instead, you ass. At least he's being nice about it. And then I wouldn't "freak out"." Ok, so the air quotes were a tad immature but I was peeved. Andy glared and I heard that guy, Aidou? laugh.
"No really, miss, I'm fine." My face obviously still looked worried.
"His head's thicker than anything else I've even come across. Don't fret too much." Newvoicenewvoicenewvoice! Where is it? I looked at one of the chairs and my jaw dropped. Where are these guys coming from? And when did I go to heaven? Messy light brown hair with gorgeous chocolate brown eyes to match. The way he was sitting showed he was laid back and I immediately took a liking to him. I suddenly felt a little plain being in a room with two angels.
"If you say so…by the way, I'm Maia. No miss. I'm not old."
"So you say." I may have walked into that one.
"I'm ignoring that Andrew. And may I ask why I am on the floor?"
"Of course you may." I waited, glaring at him the whole time. "I wanted the couch"
That's all he said. That's all he needed to say. The added shoulder shrug added to his 'I-don't-care-cuz-I'm-selfish' attitude. Don't kill him, you'll miss him.
"Oh Maia," Andy was using his sickly-sweet voice. Not good. He wanted something.
"What?!" so snapping isn't the nicest thing to do, I know, but what else am I gonna say to him? 'What would you like oh wonderful Andy, greatest man on Earth?' in his dreams.
"Nice hair." don't kill him, don't kill him, do NOT kill him. Throwing a couple knives won't hurt. He can dodge well enough. I grabbed a butter knife out of the drainer, just incase one of the new guys got in the way, and with a flick of my wrist I sent it flying towards Andy. I heard a satisfying thud followed by Andy cursing. I held in a laugh as I went to get a drink. I always did believe in the whole 'violence solves everything' theory.
"Maia, you bitch! That almost hit me. And I think you got some hair!"
"Sorry. It slipped." He dove across the room. I really didn't feel like fighting so I dodged him and put him into a police hold. "You have guests. Behave."
"I hate you. Don't sleep." I couldn't keep my smile from showing. We both knew that was impossible.
"I know. I'll stay up when you sleep, k?" I let go of him and started walking upstairs.
"Where are you going?"
"Well it seems someone interrupted my nap-" I was stopped dead in my tracks. I looked down and saw Andy clinging to my leg, preventing me from going any farther. He was also giving me the puppy-dog eyes. I quickly looked away. Not gonna work. "What?"
"It's lunchtime." I. Could. Not. Believe. Him! And of course, I gave in. "if you don't mind."
"That's low. Really low" but I still walked back into the kitchen to make some food. Thankfully, I felt lazy and just made Easy-Mac. Andy wouldn't dare complain. "Am I making some for them?" I called to the living room. I could hear them discussing it and waited.
"If its not too much trouble Maia-chan." The blonde said. I'd already forgotten his name.
"Not at all. At least you're polite about it."
"That was another crack at me."
When the food was done, Andy and the blonde guy ran in. I still didn't know his name.
"Oh by the way, I never got the chance to introduce myself. I'm Aidou Hanabusa and that's my cousin Akatsuki Kain. We're your neighbours." That smile again. I couldn't help but smile back. It was infectious.
"Way to be lazy Maia" asshole! Andy was eyeing the Easy-Mac with distaste.
"Way to make your own food Andy."
"Touché"
"So are you two dating or what?" aidou asked in an innocent way. I choked on my lemonade.
"No. We're more like…siblings." How in the hell did he come up with dating? We don't even act like friends.
"For now though," Andy was giving aidou some stupid guy look. " But I can-"
"You finish that and you will never enjoy the process of making children." Akatsuki and aidou stared at us. I sighed, knowing exactly why. "He's convinced that he's god's gift to women and that I'm secretly lusting for him."
"But you are Maia." smash "I mean, you will?"
"No." Aidou looked confused but just kept going with the questions.
"So how'd you meet then?"
"It's a long story." Damn. I hate this part of meeting people.
"Full of adventure and action and daring heroics." We all stared at Andy.
"What?!" Aidou seemed so enthusiastic to hear. "tellmetellmetellme pleeeease."
"Of course we will."
"We? Andy, no. I don't like telling it."
"Well then you'll have to deal with how I tell it."
"Fine. You win." He beamed. Jackass. Just had to play that card. I sighed. "I'm sure you heard about the outbreak in America."
"Yeah." Akatsuki seemed to be curious now. " The one that made everyone zombies, right?"
"Not everyone but that's the one. Well, me and Andy were living in a small town in central New York, practically right next to the epicenter. We went to the same high school and hated each other. Well the outbreak hit and all residents were moved to the school for safety. I brought my family's swords for protection and Andy had his guns. Unfortunately, the virus made inside the building. We were forced to watch as all our friends and family were turned into those things. We were the only ones that weren't effected. In order to survive, we hid in one of the science rooms. To make it shorter, we passed our time by Andy observing the creatures and me studying the cells and the virus, hoping for a cure. We eventually figured out they couldn't go out in the sun and started venturing out during the day to restock and look for any other survivors. For 5 months we did that while I analyzed the virus and attempted to counteract it. In order to survive, we were forced to kill everyone we had known and cared for. Eventually I discovered an antivirus that I had managed to extract from our DNA. We did what we could to get the antivirus out. We made bombs, shots and rounds for Andy. I even managed to use its synthesized form on my sword. We killed as many as we saved. When the military came, they just mowed through the rest of the creatures. We didn't care. Kinda just wanted out at that point. We had already seen our loved ones killed so we didn't care for the survivors. After the military put us through 'debriefing' and gave us compensation for what we had gone through…"
At this point I was staring straight at the ground, forcing myself not to remember anything. I felt as though I was going to cry. This is why I never talked about it. Or thought about it. All my swords were locked in storage except for one. My past was gone.
"What do you mean compensation?" I didn't eve look to see who had asked. It sounded like a very serious aidou.
"Payment. They gave us a lot of money to try to make up for what happened to everyone we knew. Plus they gave Maia an even fatter check for making that antivirus thing."
"Do you want to finish?" Andy shook his head. "Ok. We decided to stick together and to leave the country. So we came here. I'm originally from Japan and andy wanted a chance to work for technology companies after college."
"And now we're gonna go inland and go to some stupid school that won't let Maia in their 'genius' class. So tada! Action, adventure, daring heroics…"
"Hot girl." Aidou said. I couldn't help staring at him in shock but recovered as fast as I could.
"Aw, andy, he thinks you're hot." Akatsuki snickered while aidou blushed. It was adorable. I wanted to just hug him.
"Maia, he meant you. Are you dumb?" I just stared at him. "Oh wait…" wait for it, wait for it. "Nice. Somehow you called me gay AND made me look stupid. I'm proud of you."
"You're rubbing off on me. And IF YOU TURN THE DIRTY I'LL KILL YOU!" he snickered. I gave up.
"So wait," Akatsuki said, turning to me. "You're the Maia Miske?"
"The?" I asked incredulously. "What am I, famous?"
"Sorta. We have heard about what happened in America. We don't live under a rock Maia-chan" aidou was glaring at his cousin. My curiosity was peaked but I couldn't help realize I had insulted them.
"Ohmigawd Aidou-san no. I didn't mean it like that." I was panicking. Aidou just smiled at me and I realized he was just kidding. I wanted to hit him.
"What about me? Have you heard about the great Andrew Holst?"
"No. Sorry." I didn't even laugh. I was watching Akatsuki, waiting. He kept avoiding my gaze and it was obvious. Like and idiot would notice, obvious. Well, except Andy. He was oblivious. His poor bruised ego. I obviously wasn't getting any answers either. I really didn't like not knowing about something. Curiosity killed the cat and Andy always called me a cat. I really wanted to know what that exchange had meant.
"So you guys went through hell and back together. Don't people normally fall in love in those scenarios?" aidou was trying to change the subject. Damn him. He's smarter than I gave him credit for.
"Normally, yes, but if you can't tell, we don't really get along. We're too different to be anything that's not really forced. So we're like brother and sister. Stuck together because of what we went through so there's always going to be a bond there. And I don't really mind him hanging around. He is really all I have."
"That's putting it bluntly, sis," Andy said with a smirk. I wanted to slap him. "But you never were one to beat around the bush"
"I'm taking that as a compliment."
"It was meant to be one."
Days went by. Aidou and Akatsuki were practically living with us once they realized I could cook. And not just Easy-Mac. Aidou was constantly asking me about the antivirus too. I didn't really go into detail, afraid he wouldn't get it. He was also constantly keeping Akatsuki away from me. It only made me more determined. I really hoped it wasn't just nothing. Then it would be a wasted effort. And a disappointment. But from the way they were covering, I kinda figured something was up.
The day came when I found out their secret. I was in the kitchen dicing tomatoes for homemade spaghetti sauce when I cut my finger. It was a bad cut too. Before I could even call to Andy to get the sewing and first aid kits (I don't go to hospitals. They ask too many questions), Akatsuki was in the kitchen, holding my hand and staring at the cut with red eyes. Wait, red eyes? His were brown. I was confused now. Maybe he got contacts. That makes sense. I felt everything stop when I looked at his face. He looked hungry. My stomach fell. Was he infected? I felt myself grip the dicing knife in my hand, ready to keep him from biting me. My eyes were glued to him, as he slowly brought my hand to his mouth. I had no idea why I was hesitating. Maybe it was because he was so gorgeous. I honestly had no idea. My whole body was tensed, ready and waiting for his mouth to open. Before I could react though, his tongue shot out and licked my cut clean. I felt everything around me collapse. He had licked my cut and was now staring at me, waiting. It was then that I realized I had dropped the knife.
"Maia, I can explain-"
"You better" my voice came quite easy. I was shocked. Akatsuki just looked at me. "What? I want an explanation right now or I'll cut your head off."
"With what? That knife on the ground? I'd get to it before you even bend a vertebrae." As if to prove his point, he was suddenly holding the knife in his other hand. I hadn't even blinked. I stared, completely dumbfounded.
"Th-tha-that's impossible. H-h-h-how? Wait…explain. Now." Everything I knew was crashing. He moved so fast. And had licked me. Nothing I'd ever read had prepared me for this. Suddenly my mother's face appeared in my head. I shook my head, clearing and looked back at Akatsuki, waiting. "And why are your eyes red?"
If I knew my warning signs, I would've known I was having an anxiety attack. My breaths were becoming ragged but I ignored them. I just HAD to know. He sighed as he watched me go from panicked to confused in a split second.
"Sit down Maia. I'll make some tea. This is, well, probably going to knock you on your ass."
"I would but I need to close this cut."
"Already done. Just listen to me. Please." How could I not listen to him when he used that face? I really just wanted to hug him and tell him it was going to all be ok. But I couldn't I didn't even know what it was. But honestly, when someone that gorgeous looks terrified and worried, motherly instincts tend to surface.
"Alright. But –"
"Hanabusa knows." I swear people can read my mind. Can't figure out why though.
"Damn straight I do. Well except why you're about to break the biggest rule and tell her the truth. I mean, I'm usually the irresponsible one but this just takes the cake. Me chastising you. Kaname-sama'll have a field day with this." I couldn't help jumping when Aidou first spoke. Neither could Akatsuki apparently. He had pulled me right against him in a protective stance. He didn't seem to have noticed.
"Hanabusa, shut up. Its not like she isn't suspicious. I'm actually surprised she doesn't know. And she has a right. With her family and all. It was only a matter of t-"
"Oh I don't care. I just can't wait to tell Kaname-sama. Hell, I'd settle to know how she broke your near indestructible control." He looked at me expectantly.
"I cut my finger?" I said unsure. Yeah I was lost. Aidou just started laughing. The he froze.
"Wait, Kain, you don't think that-"
"Yes I do. And knock it off." Akatsuki had way better self-control than me. If our roles were reversed and aidou was Andy, Andy would be dead.
"Goddammit! This is NOT fair. You did this on purpose Kain. I knew you were jealous of me. You always have been. But whatever. Its just-"
"Knock it off. I am not jealous of you. Idiot. And I have no control over this. You know this. Now suck it up."
"Whatever. Just tell her. I'll leave if you want. Actually, I think I have a phone call to make." He left looking a lot happier than when he came to whatever realization it was he had come to. Again, I was in the dark. And I hate the dark. I was contemplating how to get Akatsuki to tell me when I realized how close I was to him. I knew I should probably get away from him, he had just tried to suck my blood after all, but my body wasn't listening. In fact, I think I liked being held by him. No, no. It's just the shock of what's happening. Whatever that is.
"Maia, are you alright?" hello reality. He seemed to snap me out of whatever it was that was wrong with me.
"yeah. I'm just…confused?" I asked unsure of what I was actually feeling. He smiled at me. It just hit me that I had never seen him smile before. It was well, w-o-w.
"Sit. I'll make tea."
"Explain while you make it." I sat at the kitchen table and watched him.
He seemed to be stalling for as long as he could, busying himself finding the tea and if I wanted honey or sugar or whatever else in it. I just sat there waiting. I'm not a very patient person but I pulled it off.
"What do you know about vampires?" that was NOT what I was expecting. I was completely thrown off guard.
"Um, well, I know a lot of folk lore and myths about them. Pretty much the basics according to what my 'rents taught me." I slapped my hand over my mouth. Ohmigawd I just said that. No one knows about my nut job parents. NOONE! He didn't even seem to notice my slip though. Too busy with that tea (which happened to be taking really long…)
"So you think they're mythical?" okay, if he hadn't noticed the slip up with my parents he was probably gonna realize I'm crazy after my response.
"There's nothing disproving their existence. My parents raised me on the belief that they're real. And also, if there are zombies, why not vampires and even maybe werewolves." Yup he thinks I'm crazy. I can pull it off though. I went through trauma. Of course I'm a nutter. Nutter butter. Off topic.
"Well then, this'll be easier since you're so open minded." I searched for humour or sarcasm. Anything to make my mouth close.
"Huh?"
"You're slow, aren't you" that struck a nerve. I was never called slow. Or stupid. Annoying and nerdy, maybe, but not slow. I forced myself to think. Put it all together. Let's see, we're talking about vampires. What do I know about vampires? Fundamental, they drink blood. And Akatsuki…
"Oh my god. That's not- no? – wha-" all my thoughts had stopped when I figured it out. This happens a lot lately.
"Good girl. Me and aidou are vampires." He spoke slowly, possibly giving me time to absorb it. I sat there, staring at him. My mouth was probably still hanging down. I wouldn't have known. I was in too much shock.
"So…" think Maia think. Yeah, I got nothing. He just sat there, watching at me. I just could NOT get my brain to work. The silence was killing me though. So I said the only question I could come up with. "Are you going to kill me now?" he broke out laughing. I stared. He kept throwing me curve balls and I didn't like it. I couldn't figure him out.
"No- hahahahahaha- no. I couldn't…" he kept laughing while I sat there, completely lost. His laughter did manage to snap me out of brain-dead-mode.
"Then what now? Wait…" my temper had flared up but was easily replaced by the stupid light bulb going off in my head. Excitement flooded through me. "Can I study you?" that shut him up. I felt my excitement build. Maybe he would say yes. Oh yay. How fun! He just stared at me.
"You're insane. You have to be."
"Hah! I wish. Its something I'll blame on my parents. They were cough 'vampire hunters'. I was brought up on stuff about you. Kinda fascinating 'till you're 13 and start high school. I've honestly always wanted to meet a real vampire and study them though. Kept it in the back of my mind." What the HELL?! Why was I telling him this? How is he doing this to me? I don't tell people stuff like that. It's a secret for a reason. It was so embarrassing. I'm a goddamned scientist. A world-renowned goddamned scientist. I don't believe in myths and I don't want to study them. And my parents. They were nutcases. They were constantly running around killing 'vampires'. I never got any evidence. I had told the press my parents cover story and had tried to forget that they were nuts. Focus on good memories, not ones that'll make you dislike lost loved ones. It would ruin my reputation if anyone found out. And here I am, telling a stranger I barely know (a hot stranger I barely know) about them. And worst of all, he's saying he's a vampire. My breathing was coming shorter and shorter but I forced myself to stay focused. Akatsuki didn't seem to notice my internal conflict that was soon to become external.
"I know about your parents. They were some of the best hunters out there. Really famous in our community too." Jaw dropped. Gasp for air. What did he just say? "Your family has been infamous for centuries. They were amazing at what they did. Efficient and merciless. Scared the hell out of the ancients. They still cower and your family name. And if you bring up your swords, well they practically give up. Its rumored one of your ancestors killed a pureblood and everyone who hears that legend is terrified of the Miske family." He trailed off, thinking obviously. I didn't notice. I had stopped breathing completely. The room was spinning and I felt my body stop responding to me. Shit.