Dark and cold. Those were the only things left. And they seemed alive. Shadows danced in the blackness, creeping and reaching for me with clawed fingers. Chills lightly caressed my damp skin, teasing my already freezing flesh. I shivered and my teeth chattered in my skull.

I stood alone in a cell. Kaito had dragged me down dark, narrow corridors, led by a torch bearing old man. He was silent as he marched me dutifully into the cold belly of the beastly castle. When the metal bars slammed shut, with me inside, I whispered his name, but he left without a second glance.

If I'd had any heart left, I would have been hurt. I would have felt abandoned.

But such feelings were beyond that of a prisoner... I rubbed my eyes. More dampness would only make me colder, and bring me one step closer to hypothermia.

Groping through the darkness, I discovered a small cot. But seeing how it took up half of the tiny cell, it wasn't hard to locate. I curled up on it, hugging my knees for warmth. There was no window in my cell, and there had been none on our lengthy journey down into the castle. The odds of escaping... were beyond me. I didn't even want to imagine how slim they were...

I was not tired. I was vividly awake. My veins burned dimly with adrenaline that urged me to find a way to escape... but I suppressed that urge.

… running won't do me any good... not here... getting out of this castle is one struggle. Getting through the forest is another... good behavior is my only way out of here... isn't it...?

I rubbed my eyes fiercely with my wrist.

I can't think of any other way...! If I just... pretend to be a lady... to be proper, to... obey them... then they'll let me go home... right..? That's what they wanted... to educate me... on being a lady... right..?

Miserable and cold, I huddled up against the cold wall, praying that it would warm up soon.

… it's very late, Aika... you're going to need your strength tomorrow... to face whatever nightmare these monsters have for you... sleep now, worry later... you have to make it... for Haru... for the people that... need.. you... home...

I wasn't sure how long I'd slept. But I was awake when they came.

"... ugh... she kinda stinks..."

I kept my eyes shut and slowed my breathing.

"Hmm... that's true, but they're all the same inside, aren't they..?"

Maybe if they think I'm asleep, they'll go away...

"Just hurry up, Ayato...! We're getting thirsty... right Teddy...?"

A grip on my shirt dashed my hopes of ignoring my company. I can't just sit here! I sprang up. My shirt tore with a shrill riiiip as I pulled away. I stared blearily, holding a hand up to the unwelcome light and holding my shirt up with the other.

Three men stood outside my cell, illuminated by a torch in the hand of one of them. The worst part was I recognized them... the short haired one with an irritated expression.. the purple haired one with the bear... the long haired one with the torch... Half of the Lords of the Forest were visiting my in my cell... how lucky could a girl get...?

"Ah! Ayatooo... you let her get away..." The shortest complained anxiously, hugging his bear with a sullen glare. "Now how will Teddy and I get a taste of her...?"

"Oi, come back here..! I haven't even done anything yet..!" The short haired one demanded, reaching through the bars for me, but I scrambled off of the cot and out of reach. He rose back up with a scowl. "You're going to disobey me..!?"

I stared up at them from the cold, stone floor, unsure of how to react. W... what should I do..?! Should I let them do whatever it is they want...? Would that get me out of here, sooner..? Whatever it is... I'm not sure I'd like it, and I'm not sure I'm ready to be around these kinds of people... I just want to run away... I feel so cornered...!

"Ayatoo, you're scaring her..." The one with the longest hair crooned, touching the shoulder of the one who reached for me. So the angry one is Ayato... Ayato shook off the offending hand.

"Huh?! She should be scared for pissing me off..!" He snapped, shifting his fierce glare to me. "Hey, get over here woman! What kind of a prisoner disobeys their master?!"

M... master..? Am I supposed to obey all of these lords...? I thought the blonde one was my lord.. Ugh... this is all so confusing... I didn't know I had even one lord before tonight..! Ahhh, I don't think I'll be able to handle being bossed around by so many people..!

The one with long hair shook his head with a smile. The shorter boy made an irritated noise.

"Stupid Ayato, she's not used to having a master; she was under Shuu's dominion. You know he never taught his dolls how to behave." The little one with the bear said haughtily, drawing more angry noises from Ayato. "That's why we have to teach her how to place nice... right Teddy...?"

"Tch. You and your dolls..." Ayato muttered. "Everyone knows that the relationship between a lord and his humans is master and servant! She should be punished for disobeying someone as great as me!"

The long haired one chuckled. "... even if that's true, Ayato, one can catch more flies with honey.." He kneeled, holding the torch in one hand and reaching through the bars with the other. "Hey, what's your name, beautiful lady...?"

I stared at his hand uncertainly a moment before meeting his eyes again. Plainly rejecting his touch. "... Aika."

His smile betrayed a hint of annoyance before he rose to stand again. "See, Ayato? Results." He winked at the other man.

"Tch. Don't think you're better than me because I won't flirt with trash." Ayato glared at me. I bristled at his insult but swallowed my retaliation. "Oi. Don't think that these bars will keep you safe, cow! I could rip them out of this wall and tear you apart if I wanted to."

My jaw went slack and my eyes went wide. Staring up at his displeased visage, half glowing by hellish torch light, half obscured by shadow, it was easy to believe he was a demon... that he could actually do what he was saying. But that was insane; no man, no matter how noble or royal, could break solid metal with his bare hands...! I gathered my wits and grit my teeth with a glare. Okay, confirmed for unfriendly, and possibly insane! Do not approach this guy..!

The doll bearing one kneeled down, peering through the bars at me with excitement. "Hey... do you want to be my doll, Aika-Chan..? We could have lots of fun..!" He whispered creepily, extending a hand out towards me. I hesitated, staring at the hand before I shook my head. His hopeful expression vanished. In its place was outrage. "... you don't...? I offer you the chance to play with me and you won't take it!?"

I stared in shock. He... he's throwing a tantrum... The long haired one had to hold him back as he pulled on the bars of my cell. I shouldn't have been afraid; I was on this side, and they were on that one... and yet, I heard the bars creek as he was pried away... and I wondered if the bars were just old...

"There, there, Kanato-Kun..." The long haired one said soothingly, patting the smaller boy's head, but Kanato didn't care, he continued to reach for me. "She's just scared, right now..."

"You filthy peasant! You don't deserve to play with Teddy and I! I'll rip your head off and stuff you with straw! You're trash!" He shrieked wildly. Ayato watched the other lord with his arms crossed and an irritated expression.

"Tch. See? We should just rip the cell open and kill her now." Ayato said.

I felt my heart knock on my ribs. Like it wanted to leave my chest, it hammered against my bones.

"We could save us all some trouble... who wants a stinking cow like her hanging around our castle? It's obvious she's a lost cause..."

The way he's looking at me... I'm not even human to him... how can he talk about killing someone like that...? Does life really mean nothing to royalty...?!

"Hmmm... maybe you're right..." The long haired one sighed. I turned to stare at him. His eyes gleamed in the fire light.

"Yeah! Kill her! Teddy wants her dead!" Hatred burned in his purple eyes.

Why was everything shaking...? Was the earth quaking...? Or was it just me..?

"Let's get this over with." Ayato said, reaching for the only thing that kept me away from them. Run Aika. I scrambled to my feet, knocking my shoulder on the cot in the process. I fell over again and failed to stand up a second time, but that didn't matter; there was nowhere I could go. I could reach out and touch both sides of my cell and there were too many of them. If they really did get in... if they really were strong enough to break metal... no... I have to make it back to Haruka..! I can't die here!

"How can you do this!?"

Ayato paused and looked at me dumbfounded. "Huh..?!"

… did... did I say that...? It's too late to stop now...!

"How can you do this to another human!?"

The three of them were silent, wearing similar looks of surprise.

"You and I are the same, aren't we!? We breathe, we eat, we sleep, we live we die; we're all the same! We're all humans! How can you just... kill, like it doesn't matter?! What if someone did that to you; didn't your mother tell you to treat others how you wanted to be treated!? YOU CANT DO THIS TO ME!"

I was crying. I was shaking. I was terrified.

And I was being laughed at.

I stared up at them through the bars of my cell from the ground where I'd fallen. By the light of a torch, the three men chuckled nasty, mocking laughs. I couldn't take it. They were making fun of me... wasn't it enough that I was locked up, that I was taken from my home, that I didn't live a life of luxury? Did they have to torture me so...? I covered my ears and closed my eyes. Anything to not acknowledge this shitty existence.

… have I died and gone to hell...?

A hand closed around my arm, I gasped, but I couldn't hear it through my hands, yet my eyes opened wide.

A hole.

A hole in the cell bars.

That hadn't been there before.

And there hadn't been three men inside my cell before.

The torch was the only thing left outside my cell.

No..

I screamed as they dragged me to my feet.

Hands were everywhere.

I flailed with everything I had, but no matter what I did, they stopped me.

H-how is this happening..?! Why?! WHY!?

My wrists were in two strong hands...

Someone stood on my feet...

Two hard bodies pressed against my front and back...

There's no way... there's no way...!

There were tears on my cheeks and all the while, their sick laughter was in my ears... their cold breath on my neck...

Make it stop...!

A gentle grip on my chin turned my head.

"Hey, Bitch-Chan... if you stop struggling, I'll tell you something good..." An excited voice whispered. I put on my most hateful face and peered into the dim light. Green eyes, glowing with glee leered at me. He had a grip on my right wrist and held it up to his mouth. I bared my teeth and couldn't resist trying to pull it free. "Nfu... you just can't obey, can you...? We'll, I'll tell you a secret anyways..."

I winced and whimpered, doubling my struggles as my shirt was further ripped at the collar. "N-no! Stop it..!"

Their amused chuckles rumbled through their chests and into mine. Someone was pulling my shirt down around my shoulders. A cold damp sensation slid up my neck. I shuddered in disgust. Get your hands off of me...! Please...

"Listen carefully, would you..? I'm being generous." The long haired man slid my shirt's sleeve down my arm. My eyes snapped into a tearful glare when I felt the moistness of a kiss upon my wrist. He smirked and opened his mouth. Revealing...

"... fangs... are you...?"

"Vampires? Bingo~"

"You and I..." Ayato's breath fanned my neck where he'd licked it. "Aren't the same..."

Kanato's teeth scraped across my shoulder. "We're much... much better..."

I screamed.