Mayumi let out a short breath, barely managing more due to the corset. Her worst fears were confirmed. She could also understand why they wanted her to marry him. He was a Kuran. . . the highest of the Pureblood families... But Kuran or not, he gave her the creeps. The differences of his eyes she could look past, but it was what was in his eyes that made her stomach turn. She could see it, but clearly her parents couldn't. His eyes lusted after her, most likely all of her, blood and body alike.
Rido took her hand politely and led her up one of the stairways. She glanced back at her father, who stood watching her proudly, her mother by his side. Every step they took the crowd parted more, every one bowing respectfully. He stopped in the middle of the second floor, turning to address the sea of faces before him. "Lady Mayumi and I are to wed!" he declared grandly. One of his hands slid around her waist, pulling her close to him. Rido's strong fingers tightened possessively around her as he stooped to whisper in her ear. "And the sooner, the better"
The warning bells went off in her head, but she could do nothing about it. Was it because she didn't want to marry him? Or was it something else entirely? He seemed...she had been thinking 'polite enough' but the feral lust in his eyes made her rethink that. All he wanted was her blood. And if he got the chance to have it, he would suck her dry.
The world grew painfully blurry as she stayed by his side, accepting congratulations from everyone there, even their host. Throughout it all, Rido's hand never left her waist. He brought her with him as if she were an accessory to show to the world. A trophy of the Kuran's. Why couldn't she be engaged to one of the other Kuran men? She tried to remember the family members of the Kuran family who were still alive. Three siblings... two brothers... she sighed. Of course. Haruka Kuran had married his younger sister Juri. She'd bet anything that Haruka was the sweet one. Instead she was stuck with the psycho.
Finally, her father approached them. "I'm sorry, Rido, but we must be taking my daughter back for now. She will be your bride soon enough." her father smiled pleasantly, flicking some of his out of place blonde hair back from his eyes.
Mayumi felt his fingers tighten almost painfully against her side before he released her. "Of course. I greatly look forward to her company"
Mayumi swore then and there that she was going to vomit up her breakfast when she got home. His words disgusted her. It seemed she was the only one to catch his hidden threat.
She kept herself in tack as she gratefully left his side. Her skilled face was one that the least experienced poker player would love. Schooled to perfection, revealing none of the turmoil that she felt. All she displayed was apparent joy at her engagement. Even her azure eyes were perfectly happy. Her heart itself was perfectly trained so that Rido wouldn't notice a drastic change in her heartbeat and begin to suspect something.
She descended the stairs calmly, her hand lightly holding the marble railing. She felt incredibly dizzy. She had fed recently, so it wasn't lack of blood. Her hand tightened on the rail as she stopped. "Papa?" she whispered, knowing her father was behind her. "Use your power to put me to sleep.."
Lord Hanadagi looked at her in shock. "Why, Yumi?" he reached a steadying hand for her back.
"I feel light headed... as if I'm about to faint" she whispered. The words barely escaped her mouth before the world went black and she slumped towards the floor.
Strong arms caught her before Mayumi hit the ground. Rido shifted her in his arms to hold her bridal style. Her parents watched in shock at their daughter's collapse. "The poor darling, so distraught at leaving my side she fainted" Rido laughed richly, turning to look at Lord and Lady Hanadagi. "Akihiko, Aimi, perhaps I should take her with me to make her my bride immediately, so she won't have to be so distraught again"
Akihiko Hanadagi sighed and looked at his lovely daughter. "Very well, Rido. . ." he said reluctantly. Aimi's hand fluttered toward her heart and she looked at her husband. Akihiko silenced her worries by holding her close. "Don't worry, Aimi, we'll go visit her after she's settled in with Rido" his restless hands stroked her hair.
Rido nodded and walked out with Mayumi still nestled in his arms. "Soon, you will be mine" he whispered to her, his deep voice holding a sensual and threatening note to it.
Mayumi awoke on her side. She was curled up and cramped, and whatever she was on was very narrow, and moved under her. She pushed herself up and examined her surroundings. She was in a carriage, heading away from the town.
"Good, your awake"
She turned towards the voice to find Rido sitting across from her, one leg crossed over the other carelessly. "Rido?" she asked curiously, her voice instantly on the defensive. "Where are my parents? Why aren't I with them?"
He smirked darkly, his mismatched eyes glowing as he stared at her. "They have graciously agreed to let us wed now" he leaned forward and put his hand on her neck in what seemed like a tender motion. "We are going to my manor, my little bride"
Bride? Manor? She felt like vomiting at those words. "What about my maids? And my belongings?" she asked, hoping that she would need to go back for her things. But her hope was short lived when Rido replied carelessly.
"They will be brought to you at a later time" he waved his hand before a smile lit his face "Ah. We're almost home, my little one" he crooned happily.
Mayumi turned to look out the window and spotted the manor easily enough. It was huge. Huge enough to house a ballroom twice the size of the one that took her breath away not even an hour past. Perhaps in its walls she could find a better place to avoid his claiming her. If true luck was with her, though she doubted it, perhaps his siblings would be there and help her.
The carriage drew closer and she felt her breath be taken away by the grandeur of the home. It was almost a palace. All it lacked was a moat, a portcullis and towers. But it was large enough to be a palace. How could one man need so much room? she mused.
The carriage hit a pothole, causing the young Pureblood to gasp. The hole had caused her corset to jar against her hard. She could smell blood, so she knew that it had cut her. Rido's eyes glinted dangerously, and she knew he could smell it too.
He seemed as insane as a teapot. It sounded strange, but a teapot is calm outside while the water boils, and then it starts letting off steam. What would be enough to make this man begin to scream like a boiling teapot? She wasn't sure she wanted to be around to find out. But for now, she might have no choice.
Outside, the crunching under the carriage wheels stopped, signaling they were now on a dirt road. It wouldn't be to much longer before she entered her new home. Various scenarios ran though her head as she tried to find a way out of this. The easiest seemed to be the Hunters. She'd heard of one who was known as 'The Vampire Without Fangs'. Perhaps if Rido was truly as mad as a teapot, that Hunter would slay him for her. Until then, she supposed she had no choice but to see if she needed to resort to that.
The pace slowed and stopped outside of the steps leading to the door. Rido exited first, then offered his hand to her. It was only polite for her to accept and step out with him. The jarring of her movements dug whatever part of the corset into her flesh again, drawing more blood. Rido smirked at the sweet scent and pulled her inside.
She ran to keep up with his long strides as he pulled her past the luxurious opening hallway, filled with masterpieces, and beautiful pieces of work she would have to view later. The stairs caught her off guard as he tugged her up those as well. After a few steps in that manner, one of her shoes fell off, quickly followed by its twin.
Finally the running stopped as he pulled her into a room, locking the door behind him. She stumbled forward, taking a quick once over of the room. Hardwood floors, a few large rugs, giant canopy bed, lounge sofa, and side door to the bathroom. Mayumi spun around she heard the lock click in the door. "Rido?" she asked warily.
His dark smirk had returned, and in the sconce and lamplight of the room, he looked even fiercer with the flickering shadows around him. He stepped toward her, his eyes evening out into a bloody red.
The last thought she had time for was This isn't good.
