BLOOD
Disclaimer: Maria-sama ga Miteru and its characters are not mine. I am simply borrowing from Konno Oyuki-sensei.
A/N: This is my first fanfiction in this genre (supernatural). I was inspired when I watched Diabolik Lovers, but trust that the storyline of Blood will be different from that anime. If you find this story interesting, please do leave a comment, if not, then I totally respect that and I wouldn't force you to read it ^^.
Now I know the title is a bit of a cliché, but right now, I think this best describes what this story will be about. But if I do think of something better, then I might change it.
And I think I might warn you in advance that it would take a while (4 chapters to be exact) until you get to the part about Yumi and Sachiko. But please bear with me because I need to properly paint a picture of their 'universe' where the story takes place, and at the same time, properly introduce the characters.
Prologue
- - o 0 o - -
It was a cold afternoon. Dark clouds loomed overhead and she was filled with an anxious feeling. Not a good sign on her first day in the city. But looking around, it was far from the image of what she had expected Tokyo to look like. She seemed to be in the outskirts of the city, the street was lined with tall imposing walls, hiding the houses from view.
The cab stopped in front of a gate. The driver rolled down his window and peeked outside, and so did Yumi. And the moment that she did, a mechanical sound reached her ears and the gate swung open.
"It's automatic" the driver said upon seeing the confused look on her face reflected on the rearview mirror.
The cab entered the compound. Inside were rows of trees and bushes that gives off a feeling of quiet solitude. It felt like she was in the middle of the forest. A forest she had been forbidden to enter by her grandmother because the big bad wolf was likely to eat her. Yes, Yumi felt like she was little red riding hood, about to be eaten by the big bad wolf. But in her case, it hadn't been her grandmother, but more like her guardians, who sent her here.
The car soon pulled over. She swallowed down her nervousness as she stepped out of the vehicle and looked ahead. In front of her was a vast manor. It would have looked elegant and grand if it were not for the eerie feeling it gave off, and the nimbus clouds covering the afternoon sun, was making everything look much more ominous. Floor to ceiling glass windows covered the front of both the first and second floor, but with its curtains drawn, the house appeared to be uninhabited. The house was filled with ornate details, but instead of beautifying the house, it gave off a spookier feel.
"Are you sure we're in the right place, mister?" she asked the cabby, who was standing beside her, carrying her luggage that had just been unloaded from the trunk.
"Yes miss. This is the exact address written on the paper you gave me." The man, appearing to be in his mid-forties, answered. "But I can understand. This place seemed deserted."
She turned around and took her bag from the man.
"If you want, I can take you back to the train station. It looks as if you are not from around here and I don't think it is safe if I just leave you at a place like this." The man sincerely said.
She looked at the house again. With its stone walls and archaic architecture, it seemed like it has been cut out from an old fairy tale book. Like a small castle in the middle of the woods that had been abandoned. The only sign that people actually lived in this house, were the well-kept plants that surrounded the area.
Probably a gardener comes by once in a while. She thought.
"Thank you for the offer, mister. But I will be fine." She said as she handed bills to the cabby.
After one last look at her, the driver soon walked back to his vehicle and departed.
She was still hesitating if she should enter. But with the light cold drizzle hitting her skin, it appeared she didn't have a choice. The clouds overhead looked thick and heavy, and she knew that it would only be a matter of time before it became a downpour. Add to that, she had nowhere to go. There were no vehicles around and she knew that the nearest bus stop was still a few minutes walk from where she was. She saw it while looking out the cab window earlier (that is on the assumption that she would be able to get past the automatic gate). And if she ever made it to the bus stop, assuming she didn't get lost, where would she go? The place she grew up in was so many hours away, even by bullet train, and she didn't have the money to even buy tickets. Her guardians were not necessarily rich. But they were loving and kind people who took her in when she was just an infant. They treated her like a real daughter, and their only son considered her like a blood-related sister. The only reason she was sent to this place was because her biological parents left a letter, tucked in her baby mattress based on what her guardians told her, saying that she was to be sent to this place when she reached the age of 16. No further explanation was given, or at least that's what her foster parents said. And for some reason, despite her adopted parent's qualms about sending her here, she knew they didn't have a choice but to abide by her biological parents' request. Again, as to why, Yumi was not informed.
She had been so busy idling around on the porch that she hadn't noticed that it started to rain.
"Ah"
Yumi ran, luggage in tow, towards the double wooden doors.
She eyed the gargoyle-shaped brass door knocker with hesitance. Her heartbeat thumped in her ears as she slowly reached for it.
She took a deep breath as her fingers lightly brushed the knocker, but she hadn't even gripped it tightly when the door swung open. It surprised Yumi so much that she jumped backward, out of her shelter and into the pouring rain. The cold rain that drenched her hair and her face shook Yumi out of her musing. But she remained where she was, thinking she'd rather stay in the rain than enter the dark interior, visible through the barely opened doorway.
She shook her head violently. She was being silly.
Despite her anxiousness, Yumi took a tentative step forward, followed by another and another until she now stood in front of the door. She reached out and gently pushed it open. The person who seemed to have opened it for her was nowhere in sight.
Did he just expect me to come in?
Yumi gripped the handle of her luggage tightly and solidified her resolve, before braving another step into the open doorway. Once she was inside, the door closed shut behind her. She jumped again in surprise. The house, despite how ancient it seemed, appeared to be equipped with modern technology that automatically opened and closed the door for guests. With her optimism, that was the reason Yumi came up with.
She was now standing in a dimly lit entryway. In the middle was a grand staircase that branched out left and right midway up. The steps were covered by a red carpet, while the railing was made of smooth dark wood.
To her left and right were doors, no doubt leading deeper into the vast manor. Yumi chose to take the door to her right, which was slightly ajar.
"Hello?"
Yumi called out, before she pushed the door open. The room beyond appeared to be a small library. Its walls covered with wooden shelves and countless books. A mahogany table stood in the corner and ornate couches lined the walls, no doubt for those who preferred sitting comfortably while reading.
Like the foyer, the room was dimly lit. She entered as quietly as she could. She was already inside when she noticed that in one of the couches lay a woman who seemed to be asleep. She was the first person Yumi had encountered since entering the house and she was filled with excitement.
"Excuse me?" she asked tentatively. When the person didn't move, she approached the sleeping figure.
Yumi's breath got caught in her throat.
The slumbering woman was beautiful. No, not just beautiful. She was the most stunning woman, Yumi has ever seen in her entire life.
Her hair was midnight black. Her face was so lovely, from the long lashes that lined her closed eyes, to her perfect nose and pink lips that was drawn into a frown. Her skin was so pale and smooth that Yumi was not able to stop herself from reaching out to touch it.
Her fingers were inches away from touching the woman's face when a strong cold grip suddenly stopped her hand. Slowly she moved her gaze and she was filled with terror as her brown hazel orbs met with glowing blue ones.
A/N: I hope you find this short prologue interesting. Let me know your thoughts.
