Hesitantly, Subaru lifted the brass ring and knocked on the Church's large oak doors. When no one immediately answered, he turned around to beat a fast retreat. However, something in his heart made him pause mid-turn…
He was always so quick to drop his concerns, and Kamui had always given him a hard time about his low self-esteem. He thought this time he should listen to his twin and pursue this troubled feeling to the source. He shouldn't just sit on it until it went away.
Resolutely, Subaru lifted the brass ring and pounded away on the door.
But then again his twin had looked so…mad at him for taking the Hunter in. Maybe he should just—Subaru turned around to beat that fast retreat he had denied himself, but one of the doors creaked open before he could even take one step down. He turned around to find standing in the threshold to greet him a redhead in a crimson silk mantle. She smiled graciously at him.
"Mistress Karen," Subaru said helplessly, his face wearing a troubled expression.
"You look extra tortured today: I know I can always count on you for that. Come in before someone in the courtyard thinks I'm bulling you."
Subaru stepped out of the night only to be greeted by even more darkness. Like any vampire he could see in the dark, but he had always preferred to inhabit well-lit spaces.
The dark could be such an introspective place.
Karen noticed his discomfort and, as she walked down the aisle, the candle-stands placed at random in the room flared into existence. The candles in the inner sanctum, however, remained cold, so only a dusky glow was thrown over the area by the sacrament table. Karen practically draped herself over the sacrament table as she had a habit of doing, and Subaru took his usual seat in the first pew. He clasped his hands together.
"I think I did something that I wasn't supposed to," Subaru confessed.
"There are many things we're not supposed to do, but that's what makes it so much fun."
"Mistress, I'm being serious!" Subaru said in a high-pitched voice that echoed awfully.
"I know, that's why I'm telling you this."
"But I… drank from a man today."
"We're vampires. We can't be punished for giving into our urges. I had two men today. I got over it pretty quickly."
Subaru nodded. "I know that's our nature. I'm not saying we should not feed, but I still feel… bad about it. I not only drank from him, but I…" Subaru closed his eyes and suppressed a shudder at the memory of his fangs sinking into the Hunter's throat, "…I greatly enjoyed it. And because of that, I kept him alive when I knew better. He is now suffering in the dungeons because of my actions, even though I felt that I did not want to hurt this person." Subaru took a deep breath and clasped his hands even tighter. "I also… lied to my twin when he questioned my motives for keeping this man. I have never felt that I could not tell him anything, but I just could not tell him this. Instead I lied and told Kamui it was for the good of the Nation that I was keeping the Hunter, when I simply… wanted him."
"Jesus, you did all this in one day." When the tortured expression made a second appearance, Karen smiled sympathetically at the younger vampire. She rose from her sprawl and came to stand before him, her face taking on the forgiving visage of the Mother Mary statue near the entrance. She cupped his cheek in a loving palm.
Karen had known the twins ever since they were babies. She had been one of the caretakers before the mother and father's death. But the old guard had a way of being replaced around these parts, and everyone who had served the old regime had been quickly sent out of the Castle to eke out their own living.
The Adunarea was strict about the twins' associations, and the bohemian Karen was not on their lists of inspirational mentor figures. A vampire who kept a church in town and read from Scripture everyday was unusual, but she had come to possess a tolerance to holy objects from her mother, and her mother had learned it from her mother before that, and so on down the lines. It was the inheritance of her clan, to be a missionary of the word. But Karen was not good at moving on, so she had stayed on to be a priest of her own church. It was a lonely job, as the vampires in town rarely stepped into these hallowed walls. Some came to seek out her advice in the streets, but that was as far as her mission had gone.
Subaru had been something of a god-send when he had been born—the first son of the Grand Duchess, a child of the darkness and at the same time very much existing in the world of the light.
After he had come of age he had sought her out for information on his parents, a loving child through and through, and had unknowingly stepped into her Church. There was no stained glass nor any cross on the façade announcing that this was a holy site, as it would be painful to the vampires looking from the outside, and Subaru had entered, completely oblivious, completely innocent, but willing to learn about his parents and about other things.
He was a willing vessel for knowledge. It was one of the reasons why he had kept coming back, even after he had learned all about his parents and the circumstances surrounding their death, or what Karen could piece together of it to tell him.
He was also coming to her out of a need to protect. There was talk that his younger twin was a candidate to ascend the throne, and Subaru felt he needed to become stronger if he were to protect his younger brother from the dangers that came with appointment.
Karen had taught him all that she knew about necromancy and about her inheritance. Subaru was an apt pupil and had gone onto to learn everything there was to learn until she could teach him no more. Then he took over his own education, mastering techniques that she had only read about. She'd had mixed feelings when Subaru had gone onto surpass her. She was proud of his mastery but at the same time she was sad that she could no longer guide him.
But his mastery had not meant their relationship was over and she was surprised at the frequency of his visits to her Church, which at this time was now a second home to him. She had even joked to him about it, saying she was going to be reduced to mistress if he kept taking up all of God's time.
Despite her feeding, Karen had promised herself to God, so she knew she would have no children. Many of the other purebreds had looked down on her for that, as it was her duty as a female and a pureblood to further the race, but she would not consent to one of their arranged marriages. She could only follow the one she loved, and that one was currently the Lord God Savior.
But when Subaru had entered her church, she had not realized she was missing something from her life until he had told her in that terribly earnest way he had that he didn't know what it was like to feel the love of a mother, but if the relationship they shared was anything like that, then he would have died long ago for want of it.
Those pure words made her feel extremely loved, and even through the loneliness of her calling, and the pain that her surroundings could sometimes inflict upon her (right after a kill the church would reject her and act as her own personal instrument for carrying out self-flagellation and penance), she still could not leave this place and find better pastures to graze. She would protect the place where Subaru lived and continue to act out her role as his foster-mother, doling out advice, chastisement, and forgiveness.
"And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the veil of the sanctuary."
"Ours is a lot that feeds on humans to live, but like the humans that feed on the calf, we must feed on them. It's not mal-content or evilness that makes us this way: it's a desire to live. Take that with you and go back to this man and wait on him. I would have advised a fast merciful death, but if you can't raise your hand against him, then make him as comfortable as you possibly can until he can be judged by the Adunarea."
"I will," Subaru said, standing up, rejuvenated in body and purpose. "I wasn't sure if I should follow my heart in this matter. I'm putting my brother at jeopardy, not to mention every other vampire in the Castle; and I don't want to hurt anyone. I don't want anyone to be hurt by my choice."
Karen turned her back on him, lowering her eyes to her own hands. "But that's the thing—not everyone can be made happy by our choices. Some must remain unhappy in order for others to gain happiness. Happiness does not come without a price, and we must bear the price if we want to be happy."
Subaru crept back into Castle right before dawn. Kamui was still sleeping off his injury and would not seek him out until the next night-fall, which gave Subaru ample time to sneak down into the dungeons.
He did not want to go behind his twin's back in order to fulfill his heart's wish. He wanted to be able to tell him upfront how he felt, but it was too late to ask for forgiveness. He had brought the Hunter into the Castle and now the only thing he could do was go after the reason his heart could not bare to be parted from this strange man.
"How is… he feeling?" Subaru asked the knight guarding the cell.
"There has been no movement from him yet, your highness."
Subaru had taken the royal mantle from among his brother's things and was now wearing it under a guise of deception. He knew if he pretended to be Kamui it would be easier to gain access to the prisoner, so he swallowed his guilt, straightened his back, and played the part. "None at all? Well…that's good. Stupid human deserves what he gets."
"If I may speak out of turn, your highness. We can take him off your hands. The rest of the Guard see no reason to keep one worthless human alive. We could get rid of him before the Adunarea learns of this and puts him on trial."
"Oh no I could never!" Subaru cried but stopped himself from further exclamations when the knight gave him a weird look. "I mean, no, that will not do. I want him alive so…I can torture him slowly." Subaru blinked at his own words, as he was certain not even his brother would utter such things. He was being a bit unfair in his interpretation, but the knight seemed to favor this "Kamui's" actions and he began to open the cell.
"I would like to have some time alone with him," Subaru said.
"Certainly, your highness." The knight bowed and retreated down the long hallway that would take him to the upper levels of the dungeons, leaving Subaru and the Hunter completely alone.
Taking a deep breath, Subaru hurried towards the empty cell near the exit and pushed the gate open. It swung open easily, and he stooped down to retrieve the food tray he had stashed upon his entrance. Rats scurried away when he picked it up, and he raised the lid to check if they'd gotten to anything in the short time he'd set it down.
Satisfied that the food was untouched, he proceeded to the Hunter's cell. He pushed the gate open and stepped in, resting the tray down. Then he locked the gate behind him and hid the key in the royal mantle, which he shed almost immediately and folded. He tucked it away in one of the corners of the cell.
Subaru picked the tray back up and began to slowly approach the Hunter's bed. Tentatively he sat down next to his elbow, the tray balanced in his lap. There was a bowl of water and a wash-cloth among the tray, and Subaru picked up the washcloth, eyeing the bloody fang bites on his throat. He swallowed, his mouth suddenly going dry, and to distract himself he pulled off one of his white gloves. He touched a bare finger to the neck of the Hunter's white cloak, tugging it back as he raised his other hand to clean the wounds.
A hand suddenly shot out and clamped around Subaru's throat, wresting him violently to the side. Before the tray could even clatter to the floor, he was forced down in place of where the Hunter had been lying, the man staring down at him with an impassive expression on his face as he choked him.
Subaru gasped and struggled; his hand dropped the washcloth, clutching at the arm pinning him. He scratched at it helplessly, heaving.
The Hunter seemed to take notice of the washcloth and the other amenities scattered on the floor. But his hold on Subaru did not loosen any, as he held the vampire down while he trashed.
"You're certainly the kindest individual I've ever had the pleasure of hunting. But I wonder… which is your true face?" the Hunter mused. He dragged Subaru out of the bed, still struggling, and fitted his hand over his mouth. "Is it the face you showed me when you thought I was a simple treasure-hunter?" He leaned over his shoulder, whispering in his ear: "or is it the face you wore when you tried to tear out my throat?"
"Mmph," Subaru struggled.
"I suppose we'll have some time to find out. Now," he began cheerfully, "where is the key to let me out? I'm not that keen on spending another moment in enemy territory." The Hunter felt around in Subaru's pockets deftly with his free hand. "Hmm, not here it seems." He eyed the thigh-high boots Subaru was wearing, catching the fastener for one and plucking it open.
Subaru whimpered.
"There's no need to be scared for your virtue. I'm just checking," he assured in a soothing voice. He made fast work of his second boot and then gazed around the cell. He spotted the royal mantle in the corner and headed for it, dragging Subaru along. Nudging at the fabric with his shoe, the key fell out of the folds and unto the floor. He smiled.
"Ah, would you be a dear and pick that up for me. My back's not what it used to be these days."
Subaru was shoved downward. He shakily picked up the key and handed it to the man at his back.
"Thank you," the Hunter said, full of gratitude before he grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and hauled him up again. He grabbed Subaru's hand, the one divested of the glove, and with his other hand he began to trace a pattern onto the back of it. An inverted pentagram glowed on Subaru's skin before it went out like a shooting star.
"So we'll meet again," the Hunter clarified with a cheerful tone. "But don't worry; because I only marked one of your hands it's temporary. I won't keep you waiting… Subaru-kun, is it?" The Hunter chuckled. "Is that what the humans are calling you? After the seven maiden star-cluster. Well, I've returned one star to you."
He lifted his hand to his lips, placing a tender kiss on his mark; then as if the gentle gesture had belonged to someone entirely else, the Hunter tightened his hold on his hand and flung him away like a flower whose petals had been all plucked out.
Subaru hit the wall and slid to the floor. The gate clanged behind the Hunter and Subaru heard him locking it. Through the bars he jangled the keys playfully at the vampire. "It would be nice if you waited here for me until my return, but I'm not that optimistic." He dropped the keys on the floor, right in front of the gate but also just out of reach, so Subaru would have to strain against the bars if he even wanted to graze it with his fingertips. The cheerful smile he turned on him looked nothing but cruel now. "Let's keep this between us, shall we? I promise not to go after your twin if you promise to give me all your attention from now on." And with that he was gone.
Subaru dropped his face in his hands and restrained the sob in his throat.
What had he done?
A mysterious figure in an olive-green cloak stood atop one of the tallest trees of the Forest. The wind began to pick up, battering the cloak steadily, and as if sensing a disturbance in the air, the figure turned his head in the direction of the Castle. The cloaked being leapt onto the branch of a shorter tree and gazed down at the forest floor right at the moment that a white flitter darted by—so fast that anyone would have mistaken it for the silvery edge of a leaf as it spun down from the ashen trees of this Forest. But the figure knew better, knowing this particular flitter of a man since childhood.
"Nii-san, where are you going in such a rush?"
The Hunter halted dead in his tracks and stared up at the tree branch above him. He dropped his hood and smiled. "Fuuma, what brings you by this side of the Forest? You know big brother is in the middle of a job right now. He has no time to play. Plus it's not very safe here," he lectured in a brotherly tone, or what they both supposed a brother would sound like.
"Job? If it was a job I would think you would have been finished by now." Fuuma jumped down from the tree and settled next to his brother. "It seems you found something of value in that vampire castle. A treasure perhaps? That's not very nice of you, nii-san: to not share your things. Mother and Father are rolling over in their graves right now."
"Let's hope so," the Hunter said, and patted his little brother on the head in a curt fashion. Fuuma was a bit taller than him, so it was somewhat strange to watch him pat him on the head like a preschooler. He was also slightly broader in the shoulders. Even though he was in his early teens, his little brother was fast becoming the larger of the two, and from his bone structure he would guess that his little brother would only continue to grow.
"Ah but big brother can't share all his toys with you," the Hunter said. "That would only spoil you."
Fuuma dropped his hood and turned a knowing smile on his brother. "Your employers are becoming strangely anxious. They sent me to keep an eye on you," he said in a serious tone, done with their sibling games.
"They are rather annoying," the Hunter said tiresomely. "But you should really know better than to interrupt my work, Fuuma. I might accidentally kill you if you get in my way."
Fuuma smiled. "The same might happen to you if you're not careful, nii-san. That Castle isn't only yours to pillage. Legend says that in every Vampire Palace a mountain of treasure lies for anyone fool-hardy enough to enter. I'm particularly interested in the Munich-handbook on Necromancy."
The Hunter turned to look at Fuuma. "Necromancy? How do you know they have a text like that in there?"
"Our employers, of course. They said I might find it in one of the family tombs."
"Hmph," the Hunter said, narrowing his eyes. "They certainly could have given me fair warning when I was attacked by one of those necromancers. I didn't think any vampire could practice necromancy."
"They said only a certain clan can practice it." Then Fuuma rested his elbow on his brother's shoulder in a gesture of sibling confidence. "You wouldn't happen to know where I could find one of these practitioners, nii-san? It would help me greatly in locating the book."
"I will, for a price," the Hunter said shrewdly. "If our employers have sent you here then I'm obliged to use you. I have to go back to the village for supplies anyway, but I would like you to stay here and keep a watch on things for me, especially the unwelcomed element of my job—his royal highness."
Fuuma's elbow dropped from his brother's shoulder. "You wouldn't be talking about the crown-jewels of the vampire clan himself, now would you? If you give me such a dangerous job I might start thinking you don't like me. You know why our village calls him Kamui?"
The Hunter shrugged. He had heard the tales before, but he had not really been that interested.
"Because he's a monster that lures humans out of their homes by transforming into the one thing they desire, and then when they've followed him back to his Castle, he devours them whole. They say he only goes after virgins," Fuuma said with a disconcerting smile.
The Hunter sighed. "I see you still read story-books and think they're real. Well, whatever. Just keep him busy. I'm not exactly fond of his butting in." The Hunter spun on his heel, throwing his mantle over himself. "Divide and conquer, just like big brother taught you."
"Yes, but what exactly will I be keeping him from butting in on?"
"I'll tell you when you're older."
A/n: I was kind of bummed when I'd learned that Kamui was the twin and not Hokuto, but I think it worked itself out. I like that Subaru is now the older twin. Hokuto had always looked after and protected him, even at the cost of her own life, so I wanted to have Subaru be that for Kamui in this story, even if it was for a short amount of time.
Leviticus 4:6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the veil of the sanctuary. The church scene was kind of inspired by the pic of vampireSubaru in a room full of candles. Can't give you a direct link to it, but it's currently on my profile page--don't know how long that will last tho. There's another pic of Seishirou in a pope-hat and Subaru bowing before him, but I can't find it anywhere. It's kind of hilarious so I wanted to share, but you guys probably know what I'm talking about…I think. Oh, and Karen had to make her entrance here because I could not write a church scene and not have her in it, the sexy thing. Wow, how inappropriate since she's like a nun now:)
Munich Manual of Demonic Magic is a fifteenth century grimoire manuscript. The text, composed in Latin, is largely concerned with Demonology and Necromancy.
Subaru is named after the Pleiades star-cluster, which is a group of seven sister stars. His name can mean "to govern" "unite" or "gather together."
Kenash Unarabe is an Ainu kamui (god). She is a blood-drinking monster who preys upon hunters. Kenash Unarabe is said to have emerged from the decomposing tools the gods had used in their making of the earth. She is a monster with a thirst for human blood, and a sister to various poisons and diseases. She often takes on the appearance of Hash-Inau-uk Kamui, the goddess of the hunt, in order to deceive hunters. She employs this trick to lead a hunter deep into a swamp; when he tires, she turns on him, killing him and drinking his blood.
I had this AU Kamui based loosely on the myth of the Kenash Unarabe. Since the Kenash Unarabe is basically a kamui (god), Fuuma and the rest of the humans call him that for short. Anyway, I'll leave the rest of the explanation for the next chapter, so I hope you stay tuned.