-Chapter 2-
"Stay back. You are not to get any closer." Yuki Cross, member of the Disciplinary Committee, orders with a stern demeanour towards a crowd of screaming girls who want to catch a glimpse of the Night Class students coming out of their dorm to attend class at changeover. "Stay back!"
A disinterested Zero Kiryu watches as the obsessive fangirls crowd around once again. Every night, these girls (and that one guy who is obsessed with one of the Night Class girls, Ruka), gather around the gates. Why do they do so when they are nothing more than just monsters, according to Zero's many opinions towards vampires. Yuki seems to be struggling, again, as she never seems to get through to them unless they actually do listen. With a roll of his eyes, Zero then decides to help the voiceless girl who keeps being drowned out by fan girlish screams.
"Stay back and do not get any closer." Zero simply says and they follow what he had said, out of sheer fear… All of the girls seem to fear him, all but Yuki that is.
The gates then open and the fangirl screams get to a point where you can barely hear yourself, as the Night Class students then exit to head down to their classes. Yuki maintains order, acting upon her duties while Zero merely standing in the background and in some sense staring down the vampires. While walking down the path, which, thank heavens, remains clear as they walk through, Kaname is holding a rose, not any of his schoolbooks, as he walks past screaming fangirls that always seem to gather around the Moon Dorm. Of course, he then goes in a totally different direction as the rest of the vampires head to class. Zero notices and immediately suspects something is up, as he has his many suspicions when it comes to vampires because of the incident that had happened four years ago… He then follows, unbeknownst to Yuki. She herself is dismissing the girls who gather around pretty much every night, giving the usual talk about they will get in trouble if they don't get to their dorms. She then is handling it as the crowd disperses and she looks around, and cannot find Zero.
"Zero?" Yuki says as she looks around with wonder
At the school gates, they open as a private car enters, arriving after being dispatched to pick up the new student, who had flown in from Italy only tonight. As they pull up, Lysander takes the owl off Catherine as she is about to get out. He gets the cage and puts the owl inside. They have arrived finally after a long flight and it is about time when the Night Class is in session. Kaien Cross, the headmaster of the academy is in his office when seeing the car pull up, knows that their new student is here, and decides to look for where Yuki had gotten to, as she is the nicer of the committee towards these ones.
In the bushes, Zero is hiding and observing while Lysander then gets out of the car and the two friends greet each other with a handshake and formalities. Kaname and Lysander have been friends from around the around since they were younger. And, if anything, it is Lysander who told him about his cousin, Catherine. A moment later, Cecilia then gets out of the car and then Takuma opens the door so Catherine can get out and helps her, as it is the noble thing to do.
Catherine looks more elegant than the picture Kaname had seen of her off Lysander's phone and that her name, in some occasions given to a queen, suggests. Her dark brown hair, laced with streaks of red effortlessly hangs down her back with many, many curls and waves. It is topped off with a dark green bow, tied right at the back of her head, and a back headband tucked in her hair behind her ears. Her slightly tanned skin going well with the dark green coloured gown she wears and a silver and emerald necklace around her neck and silver studs in her ears.
Kaname is looking at a member of what are the second noblest family, and ideally one of his Italian counterparts. She looks slightly nervous, as she knows who he is and how first impressions are everything… and as a timid and shy girl, speaking is not really her strong point. She appears nervous, though supposing a slight smile either way.
"It is nice to meet you." Kaname says as he takes her hand, "You must be Lady Catherine D'Amico."
"Yes, I am Catherine, Lord Kaname Kuran." Catherine softly replies while maintaining a curtsey of respect, gulping down anxiety "It is a true honour to be in your presence."
"Likewise." Kaname says before kissing her hand "It is a true honour to meet you, dear madam."
Kaname hands her the rose, as a good gesture. Kaname is the suitor who wants her hand in marriage for when she comes of age. As I had said before, Kaname has known Lysander since they were younger and he would always talk about his cousin, who is a free-spirited pureblood with a mind of her own. If anything, after all he has heard about her, he finds her very interesting and unique, unlike some of the other girls, Pureblood or Aristocrat, he has seen, which are pretty much all the same.
"Before you receive the tour, dear madam, I have to inform you of the one main rule: No going near the humans and/or drinking their blood. Because it is simply not allowed." Kaname informs her after letting go of her hand, which she holds the rose
"I behave within the interests of my calibre and if anything, I have been having the tablets since six years ago." She answers, still trying to impress
"I will escort you to the headmaster's office, Catherine." He then says before taking two steps, before looking back to see that she just stands here looking lost before Cecilia comes by her side and tells her to go on in Italian. They then have a slight bicker before Kaname turns around and she then stops and then smiles and follows.
Catherine follows as they enter the building and head up the corridors quietly. Zero then takes off, as he always has his suspicions when it comes to vampires, always thinking that they are up to something. The Night Class is in session currently and it is fairly quiet in the hallways, besides hearing the noise of shoes, especially high heels, clatter against the ground with every step. Catherine takes a look around with some curiosity, as is definitely a completely new place.
In the headmaster's office, Yuki stands there with a serious face as she is being told about what is going on. She was in the middle of finding where in the hell Zero went, but her duties as a Guardian of the academy do have to come first, really, especially as you never know what could happen. In addition, if anything, she is the nicer and less… well, vampire hating of the Guardians, explaining why Kaien had asked her to come to his office for an update.
"Now, Yuki, we have a new student who has enrolled to the school. She is all the way from Italy." Headmaster Kaien Cross says to his (adopted) daughter seriously before easing up, "Very lovely country don't you think? We should go there on holiday. Check out the historic sites."
"From Italy? Does she speak English?" Yuki enquires
"Yes, yes. She does, with a strong accent I am told. But anyway, I am going to have you show her around..." He answers before a pause "…With Kaname."
"Kaname?" She asks, astounded of why he would be showing a new student around when it is not his business or anything to do so and, really, he should be in class, setting an example "Shouldn't he be in class?"
"You see, our new student, Catherine, is a Pureblood vampire, like Kaname. And if anything he had asked to be…" The headmaster explains before being interrupted
A knock comes to the door suddenly as the headmaster is about to explain what is going on, though it is a difficult matter to explain when one is not within their vampire aristocracy and how this thing actually works… However, at least she knows their new student is a vampire, a Pureblood vampire.
"He asked to be what?" Yuki enquires
"That must be her now." Headmaster says, "I'll explain at a later time."
Kaname opens the door, something you do not expect him to do, as he takes her hand and leads in the elegantly dressed young woman, about the same age as Yuki, enters the room followed by her attendant. Though she has a darker shade of skin than normal to the others, Yuki takes one look at her and she can tell she is a vampire, though she already knew that when she was just told a moment ago. Headmaster then comes beside Yuki.
"Lady D'Amico, it is good to finally meet you. I am Kaien Cross, headmaster of Cross Academy." The headmaster says, before butting Yuki softly with his elbow, "This is my daughter, Yuki; she is head of the Disciplinary Committee. She will you be showing you around with Lord Kaname."
Yuki bows with respect, getting the picture that she must be an important person, "pleasure to be of your acquaintance."
"It is good to meet you both, truly." Catherine smiles, while feeling a little nervous
After a few moments, Yuki is leading down the hallway while explaining everything she has been told to say, on cue cards that were given to her for quick reference for if she forgets. Catherine looks around while exploring the sites, really, as she is terrible when it comes to a sense of direction in new places. And if anything, only Cecilia is paying close attention to the speech and tour Yuki is giving, and she doesn't even attend the school.
Kaname looks to his left to the female who is eyeing everything "How was your flight?"
"Fine. It was a long flight, although I slept most of the way. And most of the way Lysander was playing Jetpack Joyride on his phone so… A machine gun jetpack kept me up." Catherine quips, before she quietly laughs
"You could hear the others playing Call of Duty from somewhere in the Moon Dormitory. It's their main pastime besides homework." He muses
Catherine tries not to laugh, before breaking into a slight giggle. She realises what she is doing and shuts up, clearing her throat as she trying to stay professional, "I see."
They then continue on the tour before ending up at the dorm and Kaname then tells Yuki that she should attend to her duties now before bed. Catherine then says it was nice meeting her before they take off into the pretty much one place that a human shouldn't go near, well at the gate is fine for screaming girls, but inside, it's vampire only. The school is segregated for a reason, especially for the sake of having vampires and humans on campus. The Day Class should never know the true reason for the Night Class… As it could compromise the somewhat unity of the school.
The dorm is vacant and fairly quiet, as the Night Class are, well, in class. Kaname then shows Catherine where she is staying, Cecilia is staying in the room opposite to be close to her mistress. Funny, usually he'd usually be doing something right now, more important, but tonight, he decided to take a night off from class. Her luggage cases are already in her room as she enters.
Though it looks a little bleak, though decorated finely enough, at the moment, her room will feel like home when she finishes unpacking. It is just as big, maybe even bigger than her room back home. The walls are an off-white/cream colour with white carpet, a grey rug in the centre of the room. There is a crystal chandelier hanging in the middle of the room, which lights the whole room perfectly. There is a bed, which has curtain boarders that match the colour of the bedspread and the drapes. They then relate back to the wall colour. She opens to see the view and finds windows and a door onto a balcony she walks out on it and it has a nice view of the academy and it is shaded as well.
"I hope you like the room." Kaname says before going over to a small table, where they have placed the cage "It was remodelled recently, as a Pureblood Princess should deserve the best. Of course, your father is a very… insisting man. They had done the chandelier and the paintjob only a week before tonight."
"It's fine, really. A finely decorated room indeed, with the colour scheme and the French style windows and door, a nice view of the school also." Catherine says while looking at the view
Kaname then lifts the cover of the cage and finds Catherine's pet owl "Is this your pet, Catherine? It is a Tyto Alba."
"Correct, Lord Kaname. –A Barn Owl. That is my pet, Lillian-Mary, but we call her Lily." She answers as she turns her head, "I had her since four years ago. She keeps me company and she is well trained."
"I see." He then says before placing the cover on the table and joining her "As soon as you are ready and settled, you will be attending the school with the others in the Night Class. And what about your attendant, Cecilia? Is she in attendance?"
"She's 19 years old, Kaname, and has been serving in my family since I was seven with her mother. She has no need to attend the school, as she says that she would be too busy to, and her mother who was my governess schooled her as well as me." She explains
"I see." He answers
Lily lands on Kaname's shoulder and he isn't alarmed by the Barn Owl as he then pets her on her head. Catherine turns around and Cecilia explains that she had let her out and she is holding Catherine's uniform which is on a coat hanger. Kaname then asks why Lily wouldn't have flown away when she got the chance and Catherine then says that Lily only ever flies around her room and she likes pats and her treats too much to even want to leave. Catherine then says to her owl to come to her and she flies of Kaname's shoulder onto her forearm.
Before Kaname leaves, he then stops at the door "Catherine, come down to the lounge in a few minutes. Miss Cecilia, you can come too if you would want to. The Night Class students will be back in half of an hour and we're holding a small gathering."
"Um… Lord Kaname… I am not good at social events." Catherine answers feeling a little uneasy
"I am well aware of that." He answers with a nod before closing the door
On their way back, in the early hours of the morning, the Night Class students find it strange that Kaname nor Takuma didn't attend classes this night, and think something must be going on. Lysander then takes one last look upon the academy and then sends Catherine a text before leaving. Back at Moon Dorm, Catherine heads down the stairs, and Kaname then is sitting in a chair in the main lounge, which is located in the main area of the Moon Dorm. He then hears word from Takuma says that the rest are coming. Kaname then tells Takuma, Catherine and Cecilia to go back upstairs and come down when he tells them to, like a dramatic entrance. Catherine is reading the text while hiding behind the wall and she replies to it before putting her phone away. Takuma and Cecilia are standing there nearby.
"So, you're from Italy, huh?" Takuma asks, breaking the silence between them
"Yes, I am." Cecilia answers, "I am originally from Venice. My mother moved out to the country to be servant to Catherine when I was little."
"Italy is a great country. " He replies, trying to impress her.
The Night Class enter and Kaname is standing in front of a table in which has some finger foods and punch. His (and Takuma's) little disappearing act tonight has been talk of the class this night. There is an outpour of curiosity and questioning from the students.
"Everyone, I know that my absence from class this night has been very strange, but it has been for good reason. We have a second Pureblood on campus." Kaname explains before looking up "Takuma, if you may do the formality."
"Yes, Lord Kaname." Takuma says before emerging from behind the wall in compliance "Presenting her ladyship all the way from Tuscany in Italy, Lady Catherine D'Amico."
They all look up and as Catherine comes from behind the wall, Takuma bows and she then nods her head in a thank you and as she descends down the stairs, they bow with respect. Cecilia follows with Takuma close behind and Kaname holds out his hand with a bow and she takes it as she finishes her decent. They notice the bow and find it a little strange, though it is a notice of respect.
"This is Catherine. I usually do not miss classes, but tonight, I had to welcome my future wife." Kaname explains briefly "I ask of you not to spread the news as this is a personal matter of mine and of the D'Amico family. For now, this informal gathering is to welcome Catherine to Cross Academy."
Hushed discussions start and Catherine looks with worry. On the background and in the middle of the crowd, one is actually outraged that he would do something that he would never do, chose a girl as his bride and ask not consider her, and she is older than Catherine, who is 16, going on 17 in more or less eight months. If anything, it is envy… That he would take notice of the girl, but not her.
After a few moments, the festivity begins and Catherine is meeting the others of the Moon Dorm. All she has to say is a few words, really in the beginning. When it comes to conversation, she remains a little shy about it and Cecilia answers some of it for her mistress, well, mostly the stuff she can answer, such as things about Italy and where they lived. Catherine's pretty much is on her own when it comes to everything else, such as her hobbies and whatever else comes to mind. Kaname watches on from the sidelines, as this is about Catherine and he just figures that this is about her and should be seen, but not interrupting in some sense.
By the time that it ends, Catherine then heads upstairs. She feels so relieved when she is able to kick off her heels, as she has been wearing them since maybe seven-thirty or something like that and it's now five in the morning. She is changed into her pyjamas and starts decorating her room. She starts putting up her One Direction posters, well, a majority of them are One Direction, before her phone goes off and she already knows who it is.
"Lily, answer phone." Catherine commands
Cecilia was about to get the phone, but Lily the Barn Owl flies over to the phone and taps on the answer button, as she has been trained to do. If anything, she is trained to do many a few things that shows her intelligence. Cecilia however puts it on loudspeaker and turns up the volume.
"Ciao, papa." Catherine says while pinning a poster
"Catherine, for your mother's sake, I am calling to see if everything's ok. Lysander says that you arrived at the academy alright and handled introductions, but I want to hear from you." Her father replies
"Papa, tell mama that everything is chill. Besides, Lysander's going to be here a few more nights and if stuff goes bad, well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it." She tells her father after pinning her poster
"Lady Catherine, the Barn Owl picture, another One Direction poster or the Taylor Swift poster?" Cecilia asks as she holds posters
"Was that Cecilia? Catherine, do you have it on speakerphone?" Antonio asks
"I'm currently busy at the moment, papa." Catherine says to her father before turning to Cecilia, "The Owl one, if you may."
"Anyway, I have to go, your mother is getting a little worried if I stay on too longer." Her father says "Bye, Catherine. Love you."
"Ok, bye, papa. Love you too." Catherine says, "Lily, hang up."
Lily does as she is instructed and ends the call. She then gets a treat and gives it to her while getting more pushpins before finishing the posters. Within a matter of half an hour, she has decorated the room a lot like her bedroom back at home in Italy. Catherine is about to do the tedious task of putting her clothes and everything else away in the wardrobe, but Cecilia says that she can handle it. Catherine says that she can help, but Cecilia says that she should be getting to bed. Catherine then yawns and says that she is right. Cecilia finishes with the tedious task, quickly as she has had a lot of practice, and then heads to bed herself, after outing Lily back in her cage.
Meanwhile, back in Italy, just as Antonio had hung up, Amarelle is wondering how things went as she had bugged him to call their daughter. She is sitting in the armchair a distance away from a fire with her youngest of the two daughters, Rosalie, against her chest and wrapped in a blanket falling asleep.
"How is she?" Amarelle asks softly, by no means disturbing the infant who is falling asleep.
"Fine, dear. She is fine. Lysander was speaking the truth. She is at Cross Academy and all right. She also had it on speaker phone and I think she had the owl answer it again." Antonio answers while putting his phone on charge
"If it shatters the glass in that iPhone, I'm making her pay for it out of her savings." Amarelle says while moving hair out of her infant daughter's face and kissing her forehead "Let's just hope that Kaname Kuran keeps his word about looking after our daughter or the engagement will be called off."
"I'm' sure she'll be fine, dearest." Her husband assures, while sitting on the arm of the armchair and kissing her head "Catherine's a big girl now… Rosalie is the one who needs looking after, she's an infant."