Mayumi spent the first part of the day trying to repair her dress. Despite the daylight out, she was to awake to sleep. One thing was certain; a bride shouldn't be scared stiff of her groom. But she was. The dress was still tattered looking when she was finished. Her stitches had been awkwardly done since she hardly picked up a sewing needle. She climbed back into her dress, doing her best to make sure it looked proper. She had long ago decided that the door wasn't the only way out. There were windows in the room after all. And she could escape there. Where ever Rido had gone, he would most likely be back come sundown. Repairing her gown had taken up most of her time, and the light was beginning to fade. She held her breath as she heard footsteps. It must have been a servant because no other sound was heard.
Her necklace had been the first thing she put back on, followed by the shoes. She would have left them, but if she cut her feet, following her blood would be easy. Slowly, she exhaled and finished tying the bodice. There. Good enough to go out in public. Maybe. Lets just hope it made it past her two story jump. Mayumi moved the thick curtain out of the way and examined the ground below. No trees on that side. At least not close to the house. Most likely to prevent a human from climbing up the tree. It was a long way down, but it was something she could do. And it wouldn't hurt in the least. She opened the window and stepped onto the sill. She used her power to shut and lock the window behind her. It left her very little foot space, barely allowing her to stand tiptoe.
She took a breath and jumped. The wind from her downward spiral tore at her hair and her dress. Thankfully her seams held and she landed perfectly on the ground, her skirt pooling around her. She quickly gathered her courage -and her skirts- and ran for it. She stayed near the carriage path, so she would know where she was, but not so close she would be spotted.
Mayumi may have been a Pureblood, but even she could get tired. She leaned against a tree, holding her sides and gasping for breath. A strange scent caught her attention and she ducked as a bullet hit the tree where her head had been. Great. A Hunter. It couldn't be the one she was looking for; he used a sword. Tired or not, she grabbed fistfuls of her skirts and began to run as fast as she could. Another bullet whizzed past, grazing her arm. She winced, feeling the pulsing sting of her injury, but she refused to stop.
Instead, her pace quickened and her breath came in harsh gasps as she tore through the trees. From a distance, she probably looked like some sort of demon, or phantom. Her thick hair streamed behind her in thick ribbons. Finally she reached a point where she could go no further. Well, not directly. It was a small farm on the outskirts of town. She'd wandered into the farmyard. The Hunter could do nothing if the humans there stood up for her. Especially since she had no intention of biting them.
A dog ran towards her and began to bark at her harshly. She sighed. Perfect, a barking dog. Maybe it would attract the farmer. She was in luck. A middle aged woman with grey streaks in her brown hair, ran from the house, shushing the dog. Her eyes quickly fell on the tattered girl. "My dear, you look like you ran from one side of town to the other" she remarked in concern. "And your bleeding!" she rushed forward, taking Mayumi's arm and examining it closely. "Come inside my dear, I'll clean you up"
Mayumi was ushered inside before she could protest. It was actually a great relief to her. From back in the forest, she could sense the Hunter leave, for now.
"I still don't understand why any person in their right mind would try to harm a pretty little thing like you" The Farmer's wife said politely as she wrapped a clean white bandage around Mayumi's injured arm.
Mayumi flinched "I'm not sure...I was just out for a walk... and the person attacked me" The farmers wife rose from her careful attendance to the bullet wound. The woman had mashed up some fresh herbs from her garden to make a poultice for the wound. I wouldn't get infected anyway, but Mayumi was touched by the gesture.
"My name's Aimi by the way. Whats yours, darling?" Aimi asked warmly, as she moved to the fireplace.
Mayumi looked taken aback before replying softly "Mayumi. . .My. . .My mother's name is Aimi" she commented, following the woman with her eyes. For the first time, she let the layout of the house surround her. It was small, two other rooms off to the side, a bedroom and a bathroom. The living room was open and warm, lit by a glowing fireplace. A roughly made couch sat across from the fireplace. The couch seemed to be the barrier between the living room and the dining room. A row of shelves and cabinets surrounded the fireplace. Aimi removed the tea kettle and dropped a few green leaves into the water.
"Fancy that" Aimi said softly, pulling two tea cups from a shelf. "Would you like a cup of mint tea, Miss Mayumi?" she asked politely
"Yes, thank you" Mayumi replied softly, watching the woman. Tea wasn't what she was thirsty for, but she could survive off it. Aimi poured the cup of green tea and handed it to her. Mayumi took it gratefully, sipping at the warm liquid. She felt a pair of eyes on her, so she looked up. Aimi was looking at her thoughtfully. Scratch that, she was looking at her dress.
"Its such a shame.." Aimi said, softly. "Such a lovely dress in pieces. If you'd like.. I could repair it for you" The older woman offered kindly.
Mayumi considered the offer for a fraction of a second "I'd like that. It was a gift from my father"
Aimi smiled and helped her up. "I have some old cloths that might fit you. Believe it or not, I was once young and thin like you, dear" she smiled "Then I married and had a family" she led Mayumi by the hand into the bedroom. Besides the bed, the room had few furnishings, a dresser, a wardrobe and an old chest.
It was the chest Aimi knelt by, opening it tenderly. It was clear many memories came with that chest. She rummaged in the cloths that Mayumi couldn't see, before she picked out a light blue gown. Not elegant or made of silk, but it was beautiful. "Here we are. A lovely color to frame your eyes" she gave the dress to Mayumi before helping her to undress and redress in the blue gown. "I remember helping to dress my own daughter, Hoshi when she became a young woman" Aimi smiled tenderly, fastening the lacing on the back of the dress.
"Hoshi?" Mayumi turned, when the dress was finished. "Thats a beautiful name" she murmured softly.
"Yes.. She's the star of my life. Besides my husband of course"
Mayumi's eyes widened. Husband? Fiance. "I.. I have to go...You've truly been kind to me and I promise to thank you properly one day, especially for fixing my gown.." she was gathering her skirts, touching her neck to make sure her choker was still there. She couldn't stay there much longer. Dusk had fallen and Rido would surely find out what had happened soon.
She hated to leave Aimi, but it was for her own safety. The woman stood in the room, the crimson gown in one hand, watching in shock as the teenager fled.
Mayumi ran down the road, the barking dog following her for a few feet until she left the yard. She ran up the gravel road until it became cobblestones. She was in town. She examined herself in a window reflection. Her long hair looked quite the mess. She quickly pinned it up and smoothed it, so it looked proper.
Convinced that she looked as good as she could, she started searching the town for the Hunter's lair. She knew roughly where it was, so she headed for a more upscale part of town, where there were better shops, and actual warehouses for things. She finally found the place. Taking a seat atop a nearby roof, she waited. There was no way she could go in, she would die instantly. She needed to wait for her target to exit the building.
Not long after she began to keep watch a sword pressed against her back. Her body stiffened and she turned. Behind her stood a tall man with honey colored eyes. Blonde hair hung just past his shoulders and a black buttoned duster coat hung around him. His face was firmly set and he glared down at her. "What do you want here, Vampire?" he asked firmly
She raised her hands in surrender, well aware his ridged sword was pointed at her heart. "I mean you no harm, I am here to ask for help"
The man watched her evenly "Why should I, or the Hunter's, help you?"
"I know a Pureblood who has relations with the Senate and a threat to the Hunters"
"You would sell your own kind to save your life?" he asked harshly.
She flinched at the words "He is the threat to my life."
"Hmph. Get out of here. If you persist in returning, it will cost you your life, Pureblood or not" The man put his sword away and left.
Mayumi sighed. There went her hope. Not her only plan, but one of the only ones. She'd been sure that one would work. She sighed and jumped from the roof onto the street. Night had fallen and she felt at home in the dark street. She turned her steps towards the farmhouse, wanting to see Aimi again.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her hair, pulling it down and shoving her back against a stone wall. "Thought you could run from me?" Rido's dark voice growled. His eyes flashed with fury. The teapot was definitely steaming. "Did you think I wouldn't find you? Did you think your parents would take you back? Or that the Hunter's would help you?" Her hair was pulled out of its up do by his firm grip "No matter" he sneered darkly "I will make sure you stay mine. . ."
