Disclaimer- I own Reina, Michael, Ryjin, Leiko, and...That's it. I do not own Vampire Knight.
Chapter 2
Caged Beauty
It was a warm summer afternoon and a light breeze blew through the tall grass, creating a beautiful sea of green waves. Birds twittered and flitted about in the trees that surrounded the large open meadow while butterflies flew lazily over the grass.
There was a large English manor sitting majestically atop a small hill above the meadow. It was made of red brick with windows that were framed in white and were evenly spaced along each of its two levels. There were three chimneys, one on each side of the large house, then another larger one, towards the center. The front of the manor looked out over a driveway that circled a large garden with several statues and a gurgling fountain in the center.
It was the essence of tranquility and peace.
Sitting in one of the second story windows, overlooking the meadow in the back of the house, was a girl that looked no older than sixteen. Her features were soft and delicate, almost as if the world's best sculptors had created her from the finest marble they could find. Her creamy skin was flawless and her white hair fell over her shoulders in soft, wispy waves. Her delicate chin rested in the palm of a fragile hand while her fingers rested lightly on her cheekbone. Dark sapphire eyes stared out over the sea of flowing grass, there was sadness and loneliness behind their crystalline surface.
She sat upon a little bench that was draped in dark purple velvet with a few round black pillows. Her small bare feet rested on the soft wine colored carpeting beneath her, and her torso was turned so that she could rest an elbow upon the white windowsill to hold up her head, her other hand rested on the top of one of the black pillows that was placed in her lap. A book lay open beside her, but she paid it no mind as she gazed longingly out the window.
The room she occupied was plainly, yet beautifully decorated. The walls were painted in a neutral beige and the curtains over the two windows matched the red of the carpet with black lace draped over them to give the room a more gothic feel. A large four poster bed dominated one wall, its dark wooden poles were draped in black, red and a pale gold lace. The sheets were a black silk and the coverlet was a burgundy velvet that matched the bench she sat upon. Several small paintings hung in elaborate frames upon the walls. Aside from that there was little furniture, just the bench and a little table that was beside the bed.
Soft footsteps could be heard padding over the plush carpet in the hall outside of her room. There was a quiet tap on her door and she turned her head away from the window to look at the door on the opposite wall.
"Enter," she called lightly.
"Sorry to disturb you, Reina-sama, but there is a letter from your parents for you," an older woman said to her. The woman was short and thin, with thick dark brown hair and emerald eyes. Her name was Midori, and she was Reina's personal attendant.
"Thank you, Midori," Reina said as she took the thin envelope from the silver tray that the woman was holding before her.
Opening the envelope and unfolding the single sheet of white paper, Reina read through the elegant cursive writing of her mother.
A small frown darkened her features once she had finished the letter. She let the paper slip from her thin fingers and glide to the floor as she turned her head back to the window.
"Is everything alright, Reina-sama?" Midori asked.
Reina sighed and nodded before dismissing Midori with a slight wave of her slim wrist.
'So my engagement has been called off, and my parents are going to be visiting over the weekend to discuss other plans,' Reina thought, her eyes watching a single butterfly float across the meadow.
Reina stood emotionlessly before the grand staircase that led to the lower level of the house. Before her were two large wooden doors, she stared at them blankly, waiting. It was a little past 1am and her parents were due to arrive shortly.
Her snow white hair was down and rested upon her shoulders. She wore a long blue dress that brushed against the floor as she walked. The dress had long sleeves, and a square neck, a cream colored ribbon tied just under her chest and from there the dress flowed freely around her small frame.
There was some rustling outside of the double doors before they were thrown open to reveal four people. Two were tall, slim men in black suits with gray button up shirts and black ties, bodyguards. The other two people were a male and female, her parents.
Her father was a tall man with short white hair and green eyes. He wore a pair of black slacks and a white button up shirt. Her mother was a little shorter and lean, her blond hair was pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck and her blue eyes were lined in black. She wore a knee length, short sleeved black dress and had a black shawl draped over her shoulders.
"Ah, Reina dear. How have you been?" her mother asked with a smile, a fake smile. Her mother had never wanted children, but being a pureblood it wasn't really for her to decide.
"Well. How have you and father been?" she asked politely.
"Great. Europe really is lovely this time of year, it's a pity we had to leave early," her mother answered.
"Yes it is. How are you, Reina?" her father asked, walking forward to give her a hug and a peck on the forehead.
"Well, but I am curious about why the engagement is off," she replied.
Her father was a kind man, he had always treated her well, but he was a busy man, and a very important man so she rarely ever saw him.
"We'll talk about that after dinner," her father told her.
Reina answered with a small smile and a nod.
Her parents didn't live in the manor with her, they never had. They spent most of their time in the city or traveling. Meaning Reina was left on her own almost all of the time. Her only company being the few attendants and even a few guards that kept watch over the house. The attendants treated her as royalty and nothing less and so she rarely ever talked to anyone. It had made her very a quiet person, she was used to silence and being alone. Whenever parties were thrown at the manor, which was about once a year, the noise and multitudes of people made her slightly nervous, she enjoyed being around others, she just wasn't used to it.
Her life had been sheltered and she was treated as though she would break if she set foot out of the house. She knew the reasons why she was kept locked in the large house alone though and she didn't really mind. Being one of the few purebloods left and having Ryjin and Leiko Tsukina as parents meant that she was not only a rare pureblood vampire, but also the daughter of two of the strongest and most powerful vampires in the world.
Her father was a member of the vampire council, one of its most trusted and influential members, his idea of a pacifist world was becoming quite popular among many, but definitely not all. Her mother was the last of the ancient Fujiwara clan. They had been nearly as powerful as the Kuran's whose family now consisted of only two living members, but was still quite powerful.
Both of her parents also held high ranking positions in a large worldwide banking company. The company did business with both vampires and humans.
Pacifism, was also another reason why her parents kept her apart from the rest of the vampire community. Not everyone agreed with their ideal of creating a pacifist world, and it meant that she was a target for those people. They had hoped that in marrying her off to another prominent pureblood family who shared their views, the risk to her would be diminished and she would be watched over by two pureblood families then.
Of course that didn't mean she would gain anymore freedom. She still wouldn't have been allowed to do much even after her marriage. The only change would be the window she looked out of every day.
She longed to be able to see the world, but she knew she likely never would. For her life wasn't hers to live as she wished, she had to live as her parents wished, it was her duty after all.
Reina followed her parents into the dining room that was off the main hall of the house. A large gold chandelier hung above a long, rectangular dark wood table. Hand carved chairs were placed around the table and three spots had been set with ornate china and crystal glasses.
Her father took the seat at the head of the table, her mother the seat to his right, and Reina the seat to his left.
As soon as they sat a servant bustled out of the door behind them and poured a red liquid into the crystal goblets. After filling the glasses she disappeared back through the door and reemerged a few moments later with a tray of food that she placed on the table before the three people.
Dinner was quiet and uneventful. Reina was glad that it seemed to be almost over when her father sighed and took a sip of his drink. She wanted to know what had happened to cause her engagement to be so suddenly called off. Not that she minded in the least, she had never liked the beady eyed Micheal that she was to marry. He reminded her of a snake that was constantly looking for mice, but was never satisfied when he found one too devour.
When her father had nodded to the female servant that he was through with his meal, she quickly gathered up the dishes and left the room. She came back with a bottle of red wine and three glasses which she set before each of them. After pouring each a glass of the high quality wine the servant took her leave and left the room.
"I suppose, my dear, that you wish for me to explain why I felt it necessary for your mother and I to travel here to tell you of the reasons why your engagement to Michael Takamora has been ended,"
her father began his voice was masculine and strong, but there was a hint of tiredness behind it.
"Yes, I am curious," Reina answered.
"Well, it seems that the Takamora's do not fully adhere to our ideal for a world where we can live in peace with the humans. Two weeks ago your ex-fiance attacked and killed a young human family. His reasons were simple. He said he just couldn't help himself. We have always known that the Takamora's were only interested in power and money, but we never imagined that they would actually kill an innocent family just for fun."
"I see." Reina had always known that Michael wasn't a good man, his family was greedy and felt that since they were a strong pureblood clan they could do what they wanted and never worry about consequences for their actions. They had only wanted her to marry into their family for the added power her name would bring them, not to mention the money she would have control over.
"I called off the engagement shortly after hearing of the event. I don't want you marrying into a family that is so obviously careless and dangerous," her father finished.
"Of course not, but what now? Do you have another suitor in mind?" she asked sweetly.
"Not at the moment, no. I have invited a few people over tomorrow though to discuss a few possibilities."
"How.. How did the Takamora's take the news?" Reina asked curiously.
"Not too well. The family elders are furious with Michael for his actions, and he has been in quite a bit of trouble over it. Don't worry about that though, they wouldn't do anything rash," her father said with a smile.
Reina nodded. "Who is coming by tomorrow, if I might ask?"
"You'll see tomorrow. I'm going to retire for the evening," her father said as he stood from his chair.
"I'll join you dear," her mother said, standing as well.
"Goodnight," Reina called with a smile, watching the two leave the room.
Sighing, she finished her wine and stood from her spot at the table. She made her way quietly and slowly up to her room. Walking to her large walk in closet to the rightof her door, she changed out of her dress and slipped on a black lace and silk night gown. Its thin straps rested on her shoulders and the silk tumbled to her knees.
She walked out of her closet and took up her seat in front of the window again. For several hours she gazed out at the moonlit sky and watched as the clouds slowly moved across the emptiness.
'I really wish it would rain,' she thought absently. 'I love the rain, it always makes me feel lighter.'
Standing up, she pulled the curtains over the window closed and went to bed.
She awoke the following day to Midori knocking softly on her door before slowly pushing it open.
"Sorry to disturb you, Reina-sama, but your father wanted you to ready yourself. He would also like to speak with you before the guests arrive this evening," she said politely.
"Thank you, Midori. Tell him I'll be down shortly," Reina answered as she slid her small, lithe frame from the bed.
"Yes, milady." A short bow followed and then Midori was gone from the room.
Reina began to walk towards the door next to her large closet that led into her private bath, but she paused as she walked passed the window she usually sat in.
She pushed the curtains aside and squinted as the brightness of the sun entered the dark room. Her eyes roamed over the wooded area that surrounded the manor, but nothing seemed to be out of place. Frowning, she let the curtains fall back into place, plunging the room into darkness once more.
'Strange,' she thought as she made her way to the bathroom.
When she had finished showering, she wrapped a plush off white towel around herself and opened a door that led her into her closet.
There was a box with a blue bow on the bench in the center of the room. With a sigh she walked to the box and removed the lid.
'Whoever is visiting must be important for father to have gotten me a new dress,' Reina thought, moving the stiff tissue paper aside to reveal a white gown. Carefully lifting the garment free of the box by the fabric that would soon be resting on her shoulders, Reina admired the floor length dress, a smile pulling at her lips.
She slipped into the dress and admired herself in a full length mirror. The dress was somewhat revealing but not in a way that would be considered distasteful. It was cut in a V in both the front and back. In the front the V ended under her chest where a thick silver sash wrapped around the dress. The fabric of the dress was soft and smooth, it moved freely as she did, and to her she felt almost ghost like in the loose fabric.
The white of the dress suited her pale skin and dark sapphire eyes. As she walked back to her bathroom to brush out her hair, she listened to swooshing of the light fabric around her feet. She thought about pulling it up into a bun since she thought that the whiteness of the dress and her hair might be too much, but instead she settled for leaving it down.
She padded through the halls barefoot, her path taking her to her father's study door. She knocked lightly before she entered and approached the large desk that her father was currently sitting behind, papers scattered before him.
He looked up at her and smiled. "The dress suits you."
"Thank you, it's a beautiful dress," she replied.
"Our guests will be arriving in just a few hours. I only wanted to tell you that we will be meeting privately before dinner. I would like you to make sure that two rooms are ready as well as to plan what the meal for tonight will be. The cooks probably already have something planned, just be sure that it is suitable," her father said.
"Of course, but may I ask who the guests are, Father?"
"You'll see dear," he answered with a smile. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be happy to see them. One of them we haven't seen in quite awhile, and I don't believe you've met the other."
"I'll go make sure everything is prepared for our guests' arrival then," Reina said with a smile and small bow before leaving the room.
She knew that her father had most likely already had rooms prepared for the guests as well as informed the cooks of what he wanted served. He just wanted to make her feel useful. In a way she was thankful, but she already knew her uses and they were few.
After checking two of the guest bedrooms and speaking briefly with the kitchen staff, Reina wandered to the library on the first floor. It was a large room lined with bookshelves. A leather couch and two chairs sat in the center of the room, around a round table. Running a finger along the spines of the books, Reina walked along one of the walls pondering what she felt like reading while she awaited the arrival of their guests.
Placing a finger on a thick black leather bound book, she tilted the volume towards her and pulled it from the shelf. It was a book of collected poems. Shrugging, she took the book and went up to her room.
Two hours had passed and she was sitting in the window seat, the book in her hands and her dress laid out around her so that it wouldn't wrinkle. The house was quiet except for the occasional sound of someone walking through the halls.
A soft tapping noise caught her attention and she turned to look out the window. Suddenly, a series of taps and tinks flooded the room as rain began to fall from the evening sky.
A happy smile curled the corners of her lips as she watched the rain fall from the fading sky. She loved the rain, it had a calming effect on her, and she loved to listen to it pitter and patter against the earth.
She closed her eyes with a sigh, and leaned her head against the cool glass of the window. It felt like she sat that way for hours, she might have actually, for when the sound of breaking glass startled her into opening her eyes the sun had completely left the sky and darkness was quickly descending.
Shouts and the sounds of people running could be heard throughout the normally calm and quiet house. Closing the book and lying it down on the bench, she stood and glided towards her door. It flew open before she reached it and Midori ran inside, a panicked expression on her face.
"What is it?" Reina asked worriedly, her eyes flitting to the door and the hallway beyond.
"They came for you. The Takamora's," she said frantically. "Your father wants you to stay in here and lock the door, he says he'll handle the situation."
Reina nodded and Midori fled the room. Not bothering to lock the door, knowing it would do little to keep anyone who was set on entering out she sat back down in the window seat and gazed into the rainy night.
It hadn't entirely surprised her to hear that the Takamora's had come. They had been made a fool of with the ending of the engagement between herself and Michael as well as by Michael's actions. So it was most likely that Michael had decided to try and solve things by taking revenge against her and her parents.
Several minutes past before any other noise could be heard. Screams tore through the quiet night air so suddenly that she gasped. Moments later the scent of blood wafted into her room.
"So, it's come to this has it?" she murmured quietly, continuing to watch the rain fall against the window.
The sound of footsteps running down the hall reached her ears and she waited for her door to open. As the door creaked, she turned her head away from the window to look upon the man who was staring at her with hateful, glowing red eyes.
"Hello, Michael," she greeted blandly. "Come to kill me, have you? You always were passionate."
A growl emitted from the man's throat as he stepped into her room. There was no light except the moonlight that was filtering in through the her window and it cast an eerie glow on his pale face.
She stood up when the dark haired man took another step towards her. They were now separated by only a few feet.
She stared at him with emotionless eyes, she wasn't scared of this man and she would not run from her fate. If she was to die here, then so be it, she would do so without fear or regrets.
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