DISCLAIMER: I do not own Vampire Knight, this anime/ manga series was written by Matsuri Hino. However, I do own this Plot and OC; Aria, as well as any other OC's I add.
Chapter 2: Markings
My fingers hooked the end of my shirt and I pulled it roughly off my body, feeling suffocated by the high neckline and tight arms sleeves. Wincing slightly as it scratched against my tender flesh. The shirt gave over my head and I flung it to the floor in annoyance, about what I had to hide. My long chocolate locks cascaded over my shoulder like a waterfall and tickled lightly against the curve of my waist. I flinched as my upper arms and halfway down my back burned, spreading heat through my entire body burning like a waterfall attempting to burn away my entire existence.
Painful tears slid down my cheeks as I turned to the mirror examining the crimson coloured tattoos that had been carved into my skin the moment my sister had ever first appeared to me in my dreaming state. It was diamond in shape and there were interwoven curlicues and knots with strange shifting symbols and flowers; I knew whatever it was it was a curse not a blessing. I twisted my body around to see the ones o my upper arms, they were slightly smaller replicas of the one on my back but they were even more terrifying.
I ran my fingers over the one on my right arm feeling the grooves and diverts that had been almost burned into my skin but some unknown source. I whimpered once again as the pain radiated from beneath my finger tips and the burning flame spread through my body, joining each of the markings together in an endless burning circle.
Sliding my denim blue skinny jeans over my slender legs I hoped around the room, clipping it up and grabbing a soft grey singlet and my sister's favourite black jacket, covering my entire body in muted colours, the same colours my sister had loved so much but I hated, but I did it for her, and for my own grief. I had literally thrown out all my own clothes, the beautiful cream dresses and lacy pink and rose colours once my favourite made my stomach turn, knowing all the good memories I had in those clothes but not wanting to relive them. I was always hovering between the twilight, never quite brave enough to kill myself after what I had done, and knowing it would be cowardly to do it anyway.
Lifting my head, I sniffed at the air while pulling on a pair of black boots; I opened my door to investigate the scent. The delicious scent of coffee and bacon wafted into my room, I shut my door and followed the scent to the kitchen. I was greeted by the sight of my mother bustling around the small kitchen, tongs clattering against pots and pans, turning the bacon over with a satisfying sizzle. The breakfast table was already laden down with toast, eggs and pancakes. My mother placed another plate of bacon and fried tomatoes topped with cheese, she placed down a brimming cup of coffee and a pitcher filled with fresh orange juice on to the table.
"Sit and eat, we are going to be having a nice Sunday brunch." She said her eyes never leaving the kitchen sink as she splashed water over the now empty frying pan, the sizzle of water on a hot surface filled the awkward silence, and I just hovered in the door way, unmoving. My mother sighed loudly as she turned to see me in my sister's black jacket once again, "Aria, I wasn't asking. Sit down."
My body reacted without my conscious thought, propelling me to the table and forcing me to sit down, the hard wooden seat cutting into my back; I tried not to cry out in pain as my back twinges in discomfort. I watched as my mother set a plate in front of me piled with food along with a steaming cup of coffee, there was absolutely no way I was getting out of this little 'family time' extravaganza.
The clink of cutlery against plates filled the oppressive silence, I swallowed my food around a dry throat and skulled the coffee in seconds. My mother upon seeing this sighed, filling the cup once again, I watched as the amber liquid once again filled the white china.
I turned my peacock hazel eyes away from my mother's amber gold ones as she smiled at me gently, motherly. I continued to eat, hoping that she had forgotten what had happened in the early hours of this morning, "Aria, I'm really worried about you." My mother's voice reached me softly from across the table.
Apparently not.
I sighed out loud, my breath stirring the bangs framing my slender face. The curls danced around my face as I turned back to her, long locks brushing along my lower back, just before the gentle curve of my spine. I shivered under the intensity of her gaze as she waited for me to say something, anything. But I didn't. I remained silent, frozen; just waiting with baited breath for her to say something else.
"I don't know what to do anymore…" my mother's eyes filled with unshed tears, her slender frame shaking, "These nightmares you keep having are unnatural. You awake screaming in the dead of the night. I hear you crying before you go to bed, whimpering in pain all the time."
I stared at her my eyes darkening slightly, "Do you think that I want this happening to me?" I snapped, "It isn't something I can turn off, if it was I would be completely catatonic." I said sarcastically.
"No… oh god, Aria… no! I just want you to get better." Her eyes now held purpose, "That's why I called your Uncle. He gave permission for you to go stay with him for the rest of the year, a change of scenery can do you the world of good." Her head was down, probably not wanting to see my glare.
"No!" I yelled, slamming my hands on the table and standing up abruptly, knocking the chair over and continuing to yell over the clattering of wood on marble flooring, "You can't send me away like some insane person." I screamed.
"That's not what I'm doing." My mother said as she began to rise out of her chair in anger, she caught herself and continued on, "You're going to the Academy, finishing the year away from the pain ad where it all happened. I want you out of the area, so you can have time to heal and come to terms with the fact that she is dead."
"I know she's dead Mother, I know she is never coming back." Tears rolled down my burning cheeks, my mother stood once again and slowly made her way towards me like I was cornered animal in preparation of defending itself. She pulled me into her arms just holding me. Her embrace was warm, compassionate, I may have lost my sister but now I was to be separated from my mother too. I cried in her arms, my body trembling as she hugged me close, running her hand up and down my arms soothingly.
"Please Aria, if you won't go for yourself, will you go for me?" her voice was laced with so much pain and anguish.
I paused and then slowly nodded my head against her neck, "I'll go. I will go to Cross Academy."
"Thank you. Would you be willing to go this afternoon?" she asked her voice quite.
I lifted my head and stared at her, my full lips widened in surprise, "I guess there is no time life the present." My voice was dejected and quite.
"Thank you." My mother left me and began bustling around the house looking for the suitcases.
I stood in the kitchen, just standing there as once gain my life began to fall to pieces around me. The fragments that had been left in my life were falling away once again, leaving me raw and exposed. But this time I would stay strong, I went to my bedroom and randomly threw clothes onto the bed.
I paused as my mother walked into my room and handed me a small cream and blue duffel bag, "Fill this with what you can't leave behind, I have already packed all your clothes."
I stared at her in confusion and glanced at the small pile of black clothing on the bed and raised a questioning eyes brow, "What other clothes?"
"The ones you attempted to throw away." She said her voice smug as I gaped at her, my mouth opened.
I didn't even fight her on this; I was too spent of energy to fight. I placed my favourite bottle of perfume, Taylor Swift Wonderstruck (a gift from my sister), all my vanilla body products and conditioners, and delicious jasmine scented soaps. I threw some make-up in a pile into a black bag and tossed it into the duffel bag for good measure, I tossed I my hairbrush and toiletries as an afterthought, along with some shoes and dark clothes. I ran around my room grabbing things I couldn't live without, like a few of my novels and movies and whatever my hands landed on long enough to throw into the bag.
I hefted the bag on my shoulder but my mother pulled it off me with a strong grip and handed me a small black box in return, I glanced up at her but she had already disappeared through the doorway. I opened the box and tears began to gather in my eyes, my sisters favourite necklace glinted up at me. It was nestled in the black velvet, I had chosen it for her, for her thirteenth birthday, she hadn't taken it off for that whole year.
The slender gold chain glittered dully in the darkened room, and the teardrop shaped pendant was threaded through the chain, it was made of swirling filigree, and encased inside it was a real, perfect cut garnet, my sister's birthstone. I lifted the chain slowly from its bed and slipped the chain over my head, the strange pendant settled just between my small breasts, I let it hang over the top of the jacket. I gently slipped the black box into my pocket.
I leant down, the pendant swinging free and I fumbled under my bed, my fingers scrapping against wood. I pulled it out; the long wooden box that held my dagger. I hadn't taken it out for an entire year so the box had accumulated dust and cobwebs; I unceremoniously dumped it into the bag, leaving it inside the wooden casing. Unwilling to touch it but knowing I would need it where I was going.
I walked out of my barren bedroom and into the new life my mother had prepared for me…
READ & REVIEW: I had written this yesterday but I wanted to work on it for a little longer, but I guess I couldn't wait long. I guess you can all tell where she is headed? How do you think she will react? Read to find out…
