Chapter 2 – Sweet fragrance

The worst thing that could ever happen was to fall asleep on such a cold night. Zero Kiryu was trained to surpass these kinds of situations, he had survival skills but when he grew tired and weaker because of the long journey, he couldn't help but submit to his own self. How long has it been since he last had a good sleep? Or a good meal? Or good time to take care of his wounds, his body…his mind? It's true that he was a vampire and that his body could heal by itself but the continuous stress and the fact that he didn't take proper care of his own body only managed to make this process take longer time.

He was sleeping like a little baby with his arms wrapped around his body and his head resting on his knees. The young man became weaker during these last three years and he now he looked as if he would break if touched. Zero didn't move an inch looking translucent. He was so still as if all his senses were frozen. The snow came inside through the broken window and was resting on his shoulders. His beautiful silver hair was dancing in the wind. It was much longer now. He let it grow and was too lazy to cut it.

The wooden door of the cottage made an annoying creak. The wind made itself at home in that room. Footsteps made the snow on the floor cry under their strong movement. The hunter didn't even flinch. He was in his own world right now and the reality surrounding him wasn't in his reach.

The intruder noticed that and became more confident. He moved faster with an animalistic agility. It was only a small boy, much younger than Zero. Maybe he was ten or twelve, but no older than that. He had a green coat and black jeans, but he was dirty and looked as if he came out of a pile of garbage. He had a messy brown hair and green eyes. His face had nice features but he had mud on it. He had small hands and they were all red because of the cold outside. It appears that he wandered around for a long time because he was shivering.

He approached the sleeping body and he could see some cans around him and a bag pack left in a corner. Slowly he looked inside it but he couldn't find much: only some clothes, a long box made of silver; the boy opened it thinking maybe he could find something of some value inside, but it seemed that there were only some bullets and three small bottles storing strange liquids. He put the box aside and started looking again. He also saw some paper and a few pens, and then he got bored looking. He couldn't find there what he was seeking for. He approached Zero, very carefully trying not to make much noise. He reached his pocket and slide one of his hands inside. He could feel it: a small box. He took his hand out and he started smiling. He opened the box and he started laughing with joy without realizing what was going to happen.

Zero woke up startled because of the unknown noise. He took out his gun and pointed it in the intruder's face. The child became frightened, he fell on his back but then he gathered all his courage and rushed through the door. Zero became aware of the situation and followed the kid.

Outside was really dark and the storm was at its peak. He could hardly see what was in front of him but he managed to see the child. He was running away from the cottage right into the heart of the forest. Zero was panting and a slight pain stabbed his heart. He was cold and hungry. It's only a child, why should I follow after him? I should get inside. Hungry…Where are those disgusting pills? What the…Then he realized that they were gone. The brat…stupid brat…I should've known better…

Zero started running after the kid. But he wasn't that fast. The pain became stronger. A stab in his heart made him stop and he panted more and more. His breathing became heavier and his heart throbbed. He was thirsty.

"St…stop…brat…" he said. His left hand grabbed the jacket right around his heart and he fell on his knees.

The child came back, approaching Zero with fear. "I need these. You see…my mom…" but he couldn't speak anymore. His tears were falling on his cheeks and he was sniveling. His cries were heavier now.

"Look…I need those, too. I…aaaah" Zero couldn't finish. He was suffering now. His eyes turned red and his fangs were showing.

"You…you…too…just like mom…but different…you…MONSTER" the child said shivering and becoming more frightened than before. He was slowly turning his body away from Zero who was trying to gain control over his weak body.

He was on his feet once again but he was shivering as well. The kid left him behind running away from the scary man. The silver haired man was after him walking slowly, panting and gnashing his teeth with anger. His vision became blurry; he walked a few more steps, the cold embraced him making Zero became more furious because of his own weak body. He couldn't feel his feet anymore, or his hands. His whole body was cold and hurting all over. He couldn't walk, think or breathe. The pain took full control he closed his eyes and fell on the icy cold ground.

Zero…Ha ha ha…Look at me…Zero…Damn, why are you always late…You know, I can't keep an eye on all these girls…Did you oversleep again? Hey…Zero…You didn't forget, right? You promised…You promised…to…protect…me…Where have you been, huh? Can't you see? I'm all covered in blood and it hurts…but don't worry, I'll make you hurt, too. And you will looove the pain. Look at me…at my blood…you want it, don't you…you monster…monster…MONSTER…HA HA HA HA…I hate you, you weak mongrel! You filth…gross mutt…you call yourself my knight? Don't make me laugh…you make me sick…HAHA HA…

Zero woke up shivering and screaming. The pain in his chest was still there, but it wasn't that painful anymore and also, his gasps were faster. He could feel his cold sweat running on his face. His eyes were big and his face expression was one of a terrified child that just woke up from a nightmare. The Yuki in his dream was unbearable to watch or listen. She was hysterical and ugly. All covered in blood. Her eyes were cold and she was looking at him with disgust on her face. She was blaming him. That wasn't her…She wasn't Yuki…She wasn't

But before continuing thinking about his nightmare, he realized something about himself. His jacket and shirt were gone, as well as his boots and socks. Only his pants were on. His hands were tied with a heavy rope above his head. The rope was connected with a hook that was suspended from the ceiling. The room was lighted by a small lamp. On the walls Zero could see lots of weapons and some strange metallic instruments that were half rusted. They appeared to be some sort of torture instruments. He could also feel a feint smell of bad blood, he could tell it was kind of old. And then he saw it. The floor and the walls were painted in blood.

There was a door to another room and it was wide opened: dead bodies were lying down the floor, the smell was awful, metallic and gross as if they were dead for months. Cockroaches and flies were covering them.

Zero was about to puke everything. Only the smell made him ill, not to mention the view. Not even once in his entire life has he seen something like this. It's true; he saw dead bodies before but never like this. This was sick. This was more than any vampire hunter, human, or even vampire could handle.

Another door opened. There were three men standing there, looking at him. They were human. One of them looked like a medic: dressed in a something that looked like a dirty white coat, he had a curly dark hair, black small eyes and glasses on his nose. He was very thin, his bones could be seen. The second man that entered was average, dresses normally, with a pair of jeans and a shirt. He had a white beard and grey hair but he wasn't old. The third man looked like a butcher. Fat, with a messy hair tied in a tail, he was the first to approach Zero.

"Looks like you are alive. What? Nice dream, yea got there? Yea were moaning…we all could hear yea pathetic sounds. I am Dimitri. Anyway, no need for introduction…Yea name, mutt?"

"Dimitri, don't be so rough with the main guest. His last day on earth should be happy, right?" said the doctor. He was preparing a syringe with a yellow liquid. Dimitri took a whip from the wall and gave it to the normal looking man. "You can call me Doc…or should I say, yell Doc…Ha ha ha."

"Who are you people? What is this place?" Zero said looking confused at the three of them. He opened his mouth to say something again, but he couldn't spell another word because his mouth was shut by a terrifying throb. And then the pain came and grabbed all his senses. The needle was in his neck and Doc was pumping the liquid inside of his body.

"You know, you shouldn't talk when you aren't asked. You need permission first? Didn't you mommy taught you that? You know what this is? It's something the hunters in our county invented. It's a magic potion that stops vampires from regenerating. Oh, and also, stops them from becoming dust after their death. Amazing, isn't it? Well, it's also illegal." Doc's voice was hysterical and pathetic. But he enjoyed this.

After a few seconds, Zero calmed down. His was looking at the floor. The sweat appeared again on his forehead. He was suffering.

"Jost, you can start whipping him now. Gently, not to hurt him…HA HA…"

"Ha…I just can't wait…Do you call this pain? It's nothing…try controlling yourself from becoming Level E." said Zero sarcastically and with a smirk on his face.

He could see Doc becoming angry and serious. He stopped for a second to glare at the young man and then he spoke.

"I know what you are. You are worse than a bloody vampire: an ex-human and a still-vampire-hunter. Pathetic. I can't figure out what is your country thinking. And the Association. What are they thinking? I know all about you, Zero Kiryuu. And about your pathetic vampire hunter family. Dying so easily and so pathetically makes one sick. Your country is weak and so were them and so are you. And tell me…How long has it been since you last drank any real blood? How long has it been since you last took enough pills so that you couldn't feel the hunger? Looking at you makes me think that it's been months. Real pain? Do you see them?" He was pointing at the bodies in the other room. "We didn't kill them. They died from blood loss. Of course, we helped a little. Do you know the feeling of being alive and feeling flies and insects feeding from you flesh? Ah, and now I remember, on the last one we used a rat. Even more efficient than bugs." He approached Zero and now he was whispering in his ear: "You won't' be able to feel anything anymore, with your body, that is…But your mind will feel everything…all the sweet pain…"

After that, Zero was in shock. Those guys were nuts? If they were hunters, why were they doing this to him? He was one of them…They were the monsters, not him.

"I'll get away…somehow…and you will regre…aaaaaaaaaah….aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah" Jost was whipping his back with strong beatings.

Zero bit his lips so much that the blood started going out. He shut his eyes and tried enduring the pain. He was never tortured before. This was agonizing. Minutes felt as hours.

"Ah, so, how's this pain?" asked Doc.

"S…Sw…Sweet! He…ha ha." Zero's eyes were red now and a few teardrops appeared in the corner of his eyes.

Dimitri was taking down a ling and rusted knife from the wall. He had a stupid look on his face. He put the knife in the lamp's fire. Zero could smell blood coming from that. But it was disgusting, making him sick. I have to think of something, of anything…Yuki…Ichiru…Kaien...Ku…Kuran. It doesn't matter, anything is fine now, even people I hate…

But his thoughts were lost when the knife touched his white pale skin.

"Aaaaaaaah…" his voice became husky from screaming. I can't pass out like this…I can't be that pathetic…I have to endure…for Yuki's sake…I have to find her…I have to…

His back was full of wounds and he was bleeding like hell. His could feel the burns and the smell of burned skin mixed with the smell of his own flesh. Then Doc ordered them to stop.

"Bring the water"

Dimitri walked outside. Zero felt the cold wind entering the small room, he could feel something that was somehow familiar but he thought that his senses weren't working quite well right now. Dimitri returned with a bucket full of water.

Doc took the bucket and poured the water on Zero's beautiful and agonizing body. He was frozen in an instant. Damn it…cold…cold…cold as hell…

"Oh, what a beautiful boy yea are when yea wet…" Dimitri said looking with lustful eyes at Zero.

"Can I strangle him? Can I? Can I?" acting like a small child, the butcher asked Doc.

"AAh, what can I do with you…Ok, but don't kill him…I still don't understand this fetish of yours." Said Doc with a warm voice.

The next moment, the hunter felt two hot slimy hands touching his neck and pressing hard. He couldn't breathe well at first and started panting so he could grasp more and more air. The hands tightened the grip and Zero was choking. He needed air, he wanted air.

"Dimitri, enough…enough…THAT IS ENOUGH!" yelled Doc. He also punched Dimitri for his disobedience. "Cough…cough…Haaaaa…haaaaaa" Zero started breathing irregular, with both nose and mouth, exhaling and inhaling aggressively and hungrily. His breath became more regular after a few seconds and he even stopped coughing. But he could once again feel the burns and the opened flesh on his back and also the wet pants. His whole body was burning with pain…Zero couldn't tell if he was cold or warm anymore…His body was giving up the torture, his senses started to fall asleep.

I can't hold it. I can't even guess what is their next move. I have to focus. I have to…

Even his mind gave up. He could still hear their dark and sick laughter. The three men were demons. The minute he lost his hope he could feel the cold air again

But his eyes were closed and he was too weak to open them. He could only hear Doc screaming angrily and Dimitri and Jost swallow their laughts.

"Who the…"

But not even another word could be spoken. Only some strange noises the appeared to be noises made by someone in agony. Zero gathered his last piece of strength to open his eyes. But his view was blurry. He could distinguish Doc, standing in front of the opened door. Jost was lying on the floor, on his back, but his head was gone. Dimitri was glues to the wall and he was crying. The Doc raised his hands and they fell on the floor. He was screaming so loud but no one could even help him. The next thing Zero could see was another body on the ground.

"Ple…please…It wasn't me…I'm sorry" Dimitri said in a pleading voice. He was crying and begging for mercy.

"You burned his skin…How could you say that it wasn't you…"

What a strange dream. I wonder how long I've been sleeping in that cold room. I should wake up, gather my stuff and start looking again. Maybe the storm is over now and maybe it's daylight. But there is an intoxicating smell of blood and there are strange noises coming from far away. And a shadow that is so familiar. And there is something else…My back hurts…Every part of me hurts…Maybe I died. But it's not cold anymore. The silence is so peaceful…I wish I could have the strength to open my eyes, but I'm becoming lazy. AAh, there is again…that sweet fragrance…sweet blood…

Hello! I'm sorry to have taken so long time to write this new chapter. I wanted to make it look realistic; I don't even know if I succeed doing so. Anyway, it's kind of bloody and messy everywhere. I should mention that I hate pain and I really hate torture and stuff that brings pain. But somehow I enjoyed writing this chapter. (Creepy, if you ask me). I also believe that there will be lots of questions after you will read this chapter, but don't worry; there is an answer for everything. I kind of like bringing mystery in my stories.

I also wanted to mention this before, this is my fist fic (really sorry for the English mistakes, sometimes I am really lazy to correct them), and I really have the urge to finish it. And it's rated M not only because the bloody scenes…there will be sex, too (a little spoiler).

Yes, I created a bond between Yuki and Zero so I could make the characters suffer more and develop real feelings for each other: hate, guilt, sympathy, lo…HA HA…Not telling anymore. Just wait and see:D

Ah, I was asked how could there be a bond between Yuki and Zero, because I said in my story that this kind of thing could only happen between vampires, and Yuki was still human when Zero drank from her: that is true, but I consider that even if she wasn't awakened (her powers, memory etc.), her blood was still the same…I mean, she couldn't change the composition of her blood. I believe that this is logic, right? So, even if she was human, and then vampire, her blood was the same:D
See you next time.