AN: A new story and 2 updates in an hour? Le gasp. This story was originally written as a collaboration/role play with one of my best friends. She gave me permission to publish it on here. I've got a few chapters written but I have to edit them quite a bit. I have quite a few random allusions to literature, etc.

I feel that I should warn all of you lovely readers that I have created quite the extensive world within the lovely "Vampire Knight" universe. Therefore I have an abundance of minor OCs. If that is not your cup of tea, then I apologize and you have been warned now. Otherwise I hope you all enjoy!

All of your sorrow, grief and pain
locked away in the forest of the night
Your secret heart belongs to the world
of the things that sigh in the dark
or the things that cry in the dark.

- Sasha Lazard, Monoke-hime Theme

Elaine's first experience with the Day Class' obsession with her students was, she was loathe to admit, something that took her uncharacteristically off guard. As a mortal who had grown accustomed to operating on the vampire's biological schedule and therefore had little interaction with the Day Class. Indeed the Moon Dorms were kept completely separate from the Sun Dorms by a lake and two individual gates, and the Night Class staff residence building was only yards and a handful of woodlands away from the Moon Dorms.

It should be noted that at this time, Elaine was the only full time employed Night Class instructor and therefore had the run of the building, albeit as creepy as it was. Finding her solitary residence in the building disturbing Elaine spent as little time there as possible. Cross had given her the largest office for Night Class instructors in the Main Building, and if she was honest she felt that room was more her home then the residence building. If one wanted to seek her out and couldn't find her in her office or her legal home she was most likely in Cross' private quarters wrecking havoc alongside him in the lives of his adoptive children.

However she made it a habit to keep long office hours once the courses for the Night Class had concluded. Frequently a handful of her more motivated (or just gifted, like Aido who had the talent but no drive) students could be found talking to her about research ideas or papers.

That being said, this particular visitor she was quite fond of but rarely saw him outside of the dorms or class.

"Mr. Kuran?" Elaine looked up from article she had been editing and bent over for the last hour and a half when the pureblood knocked politely on her open door. "What can I do for you?"

Kaname respectfully stepped inside the spacious office and gestured at the door. "May I speak to you privately sensei?"

Nodding, Elaine gave him leave to close the door. She wasn't sure how much privacy it would lend them as she could sense Serein standing directly outside but out of sight. Leaning back in her chair, the teacher cracked her aching toes that had been shoved in her, while stylish, pinching high heels and propped her hosiery clad feet on the corner of her desk.

"Has someone been bullying you, Mr. Kuran?" Elaine smiled wryly, attempting to crack a joke. Normally Kaname's eyes would lighten at her humor but tonight there was nothing in those dark eyes but concern.

"I hope not to offend you, sensei, but I must speak bluntly and honestly about sensitive subjects to both of us." He began, searching her face and seeking permission to continue and easily lowering himself into one of the plush chairs in front of her desk. "You are aware that I have a very impressive network for intelligence gathering."

"Yes,"

"I researched you quite thoroughly when you first arrived." Kaname continued coolly. "Not only because Cross Academy is under my protection, but the presence of another ruling family could possibly affect my position."

"Understandable," Elaine acquiesced, certain she knew where this conversation was going. "I never expected for my heritage to remain a secret for long, as I am the head of my household in the ways that matter to vampires." A wry smile touched her lips. "Especially with a Kuran here."

"Your reputation precedes you as well, sensei." Kaname replied with a small, mirthless smirk. "I understand that Headmaster Cross views your abilities and skills as an asset to this Academy, and I place my faith in that as well."

"A seal of approval from you is quite the feat." Elaine grinned. "If you wish to tell the rest of the Night Class, I give you leave to do so. There is nothing I have to hide nor am I ashamed of what I am."

Kaname inclined his head in acknowledgement. He had not yet decided if it was necessary to tell the others about just who their teacher was. That being said her permission to do that if he deemed it required was a courtesy he appreciated. Much like humans, historically vampires had not been kind to Druids.

"If we are speaking plainly Kaname, may I just say," Elaine inhaled deeply. "I fucking hate talking in veiled political niceties. Stop beating around the bush and tell me what is up with Zero Kiryu." Kaname showed no change of expression but Elaine gave him a look. "That is what else you wanted to talk about, right?"

"Headmaster Cross would quite disapprove of this conversation." Kaname had to stop his lips from quirking upward when Elaine replied with a theatrical eye roll and loud scoff.

"He's not the boss of me! I can talk about whatever I Goddamn well please! And it's not like I have any personal agenda!"

"Technically he is your boss, sensei." Kaname couldn't resist the correction with a smirk.

Narrowing her eyes at the pureblood Elaine ran a hand roughly through her disheveled hair. "Shit or get off the pot, Kaname."

Only he could pull off looking amused at her crude statement and still look like cool as a cucumber about it. "I'd much rather hear your unbiased opinion before I inform you of mine, sensei."

Pursing her lips, Elaine absently fingered with the ornate, aged looking dragon pendant she constantly wore and rose to her feet. "What happened to the Kiryus resonated with all of us that know what goes bump in the night. Even those like me, the descendants of the Old Ones, were shaken. The fact that Zero was the only one who walked away from a massacre by a pureblood isn't something too difficult to puzzle out." Staring up at the moon, heavy in the sky with Kaname's reflection staring at her through the glass of her window, Elaine hummed to herself. "I pity that boy and the wretched fate that- that thing left him to." Glancing over her shoulder, Elaine smile apologetically. "That isn't how I feel about all vampires, but Shizuka in my opinion has no soul or any shred of dignity."

Kaname was about to respond when the bright flash from a camera went off outside Elaine's window. Jumping and letting out a shriek, Elaine practically dropped to the floor. The pureblood seriously struggled not the laugh at the slightly mortified, startled expression on her face. "What the hell was that?!"

Gathering the tattered remains of her pride Elaine huffily rose to her feet and threw open the window. Below the second story view from her office she could see Yuki and Zero reprimanding two girls in Day Class uniforms. They were crying in protest as the male Guardian popped open the back of the device and yanked out the sleek film.

"No, my pictures!" The one lamented.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON DOWN THERE?" Elaine bellowed. "YOU TRYIN' TO GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK?"

Yuki waved nervously up at the red faced woman. "S-Sorry Doctor Hex! These girls were out breaking curfew, Zero and I will make sure they don't bother you again!"

Harrumphing Elaine grumbled something that to Yuki sounded like 'fuckin' teens and their hormones Jesus' before the window was shut and latched firmly before the teacher pulled the curtains across her large windows. Releasing a long, suffering breath she turned to see Kaname's composed expression.

"Oh shut up,"

"I didn't say anything, sensei."

"Your eyes are mocking me." She accused, plopping ungracefully into her chair. "Are they always like that?"

The pureblood assumed she was referring to the Day Class. "They are… passionate."

Staring at her student, Elaine inwardly amused herself at how much of a diplomate Kaname was. She didn't know anyone could who could sound as stuffy as him when talking about girls who had die hard crushes on him! "To get back on track, what is your opinion about Zero?"

Kaname didn't reveal anything in his expression, something the Druid noticed. "I am merely concerned about his mental state. If he were to devolve to Level E status it would be my duty as a pureblood to deal with him. I'd rather keep my finger on his pulse, metaphorically speaking, then deal with the adverse affects of his transformation once he's done damage."

"Understandable. Pacifism is very much important to you, like your parents." She smiled kindly. "I don't mean to bring up any bad memories at mentioning them, but I did admire them for their morals. I can see they passed to you."

"Thank you," Kaname replied, all cool and politeness. Rising smoothly to his feet the vampire took his leave. "Enjoy the rest of your evening, sensei."

Elaine liked to think that the reason why Kaien Cross eventually settled on her to teach the Night Class was because she had no personal agenda toward the vampires or humans. Druids, indeed any paranormal mortal, had never received much mercy from either group. However she was too smart to deny that the real reason was her blood curse was a twisted sort of blessing when dealing with vampires.

As the Night Class students filed out of the classroom Elaine looked up when there was a mild disturbance from the hall. Zero Kiryu and Yuki Cross stood outside the doorway, waiting for the room to empty. Elaine couldn't see, but she could hear Aido exchanging rapid fire barbs with the silver haired boy. Poor Yuki, to be caught in the middle of that particular halestorm….

"U-Um, Dr. Hex?" The female prefect piped up after recovering from Kaname greeting her.

God that makes me sound old… "No need to talk to me like I'm a stuffy old man, Yuki."

"Oh of course! I'm sorry!" She bowed at the waist. "I'll just call you Miss Elaine then!"

"Sure," Tapping her pile of papers to even out the stack, the professor eyed the two school guardians who were now loitering in her classroom. "What can I do for the two of you this evening?"

"Headmaster wants to talk to you." Zero grumbled, most likely put out by whatever her most troublesome and promising student had thrown at him. "He says it's urgent."

That could range in severity from him legitimately dying or wanting to show me his newest knitting project. Sighing heavily, the Druid shoved her paperwork into her tote purse and slipped on her black trench jacket and grabbed her violin case. "Alright,"

As she was adjusting the hold on her bags awareness prickled along the back of her neck. Slowly zipping and tying the waist of her jacket Elaine coyly observed the two guardians through her lashes. Yuki was admonishing Zero for speaking to Kaname disrespectfully, the silver haired boy blithely retorting to each comment.

Yuki's aura had always been a bright, vibrant pink. It permeated through everyone and everything, unable to turn away from such kindness. Elaine could find no fault in Yuki's heart, though her naivety and air headedness could grate on her at times. In contrast Zero's aura was pitch, heavy black. Fear, depression and loathing seemed to roll of this boy in waves, trying to smother his natural, silver aura which struggled underneath the surface.

However today it was different. Mingling in Yuki's was a faint haze of black, while a weak pinpoint of pink glittered in Zero's.

What have you two done?

Nodding once at Yuki she gave Zero's shoulder a good natured bump with her fist and a significant look.

Zero's expression was unguarded at the uncharacteristic physical contact from the professor and he frowned slightly at her. The way she was looking at him made him quiver internally, it felt like she was peering into his very soul and trying to drag out every dark and bloody secret.

"It's like you're peeking inside me! I hate it!"

Chest tightening uncomfortably, Zero quickly looked away from both women at the unbidden, sudden memory. He didn't see the quick flash of comprehension play across Elaine's face or the way her hand shook as she let her arm fall to her side.

As the Headmaster's residence came into view Elaine felt a cold prickle at the back of her neck, the hairs rising and goose bumps breaking out in a wave over her skin. Giving herself a little shake, the blond steeled herself for whatever Cross wanted to tell her as she let herself in.

"What happened?" She asked in a serious tone when she found the Headmaster sitting pensively, but distractedly, at his desk.

A small smile touched Kaien Cross' lips from where they rested pressed against his clasped hands. "How long did it take you to sense my mood?" He was always surprised at the sheer potency of her abilities.

"A few yards away from the house." Elaine frowned, setting her purse and violin case down on the floor before lowering into a chair across from him. She didn't even shed her jacket. "What's wrong?"

Waving his hand, the retired hunter genuinely felt a little bad at causing such concern in his friend. "It's nothing horrible! Well not terribly…"

"Spit it out, Kaien."

Uncharacteristically somber, Cross straightened and turned his chair to fully face her. "The Hunters Association is sending someone to conduct a lethality assessment on Zero."

Sucking her teeth harshly, Elaine leaned back in her chair and ran a hand roughly through her white ash hair. This news certainly left a bad taste in her mouth. Elaine Ambrosia Merlinus Hex did not have a positive relationship with the Hunters Association, no Druid did.

"Should I make the Night Class aware?"

"No, I don't think there's any cause for that. We don't want to cause any unnecessary worry."

Cross stared at the woman across from him. Her eyebrows had knitted together creating a faint furrow between them. Lips pursed and frowning, he could see her one good eye was cloudy with doubt. He'd seen that look a few times before… "Elaine?" He prompted.

"I learned a long time ago to trust my instincts. And it feels like I've got a stone in my gut." Straightening, Cross could see real concern in her eyes. "Kaien something is going to happen…"

Despite his reassurances that everything would be alright, indeed Zero had not yet reached level E status giving the Association no cause to bring him harm, Elaine could not shake the feeling from her.

The two agreed that Kaname should at least be told, as the pureblood was responsible for regulating the behavior of the other vampires. Cross maintained that he would talk to him before class the next night.

As she was shrugging into her jacket, Elaine spoke lightly. "It's commendable how Zero's kept the madness at bay."

"Yes," Cross couldn't keep a hint of pride from coloring his voice. "I'm proud of his strength of character."

Looking over her shoulder, Elaine's milky white eye revealed nothing. "You're the best hunter in history; you must know what your children are doing."

Cross' face fell into a stony look. "Yes,"

Elaine paused before looking away. "They're playing a dangerous game, Kaien."

"You think I don't know that?" Cross snapped, anger sharpening his voice.

Turning around fully to stare at him, Elaine tilted her head to the side. "If the hunter finds out, there will be trouble. If Kaname Kuran finds out, which I am quite sure he is already aware, there will be strife. Either way Zero will have to face retribution for it."

Cross looked miserable and Elaine pitied him. "I know."