I've literally had this chapter sitting in my folder for several weeks. Mabye months. It was nearly ready for posting, but it took me this long to accept it. Sometimes it takes stepping away from a story to return with a fresh pair of eyes. Enjoy. Comments are well appreciated. I like to know that I'm writing for people, not this site.

After dinner, Yui quickly made her way back to her room. All she could think was the horrifying idea that the guys might be in the mood for dessert. That, and the way Ruki stared at her over the rim of his glass.

She wondered how long he planned on staying. Worse, she thought with a gulp. Did her captors intend to share her with him?

These thoughts haunted her as she tumbled face first into Subaru's chest. She would've mistaken him for a sculpture if it had not been for his mismatch eyes and starlight hair. He wore a sweater that hung loosely around his slender frame and an uncompassionate scowl.

"Subaru. Were you waiting for me?"

"Don't flatter yourself. I only want to give you final warning. Leave this place."

She searched his eyes for an explanation.

"Does…does this have anything to do with Ruki?" she asked, slowly fingering her metal cross around her neck for support.

"Yui," he said, dropping his voice to a murmur. "If I tried to kill you now, would you stop me?" he asked.

He moved forward and bore his fangs. She took a staggering step back.

"Would you stop me?"

It was an effort to even get her legs to move. She felt like she was stuck in tar. While she contemplated how quickly or slowly her life might end in that chilly hall, Subaru stared down into her frightened pupils. This wasn't the same Subaru that urged her to abandon this mansion and save herself from a doomed existence. This wasn't the same Subaru that gave her a silver blade for protection.

His eyes were glowing. Soon his hand moved into her hair, using it to draw her head back further.

Kisses were sometimes rough, Yui reminded herself. But Subaru's kiss was always different from the rest. They were echoes of his lonesome existence. She could feel his bitter sorrow pass through her when his lips rested on her neck. But he suddenly moved away and let out a noise between a gruff and a sigh. He ran a rough hand through his pale hair and looked at her despicably.

"That's it, then."

"I- she didn't know what to say. What did she do wrong? Perhaps it was all her father's doing. He'd probably condone such behavior, allowing others to make the hard decisions that determine the outcome of her life. At least, he didn't seem to have a problem doing so, letting the church send her to a place like this to keep the vampires quiet.

Subaru grabbed her wrist and dragged her down the hall.

"Subaru, where are you taking me?"

"Do you still have that silver knife I gave you?"

"Yes, I have it here," she said using her free hand to retrieve it from her pocket.

"You would've died," he hissed through his teeth.

"I don't believe you," she said as they entered the courtyard. They passed the garden of white roses, the fountain. When they were near the edge of the garden he thrusted her forward.

"You are the shallowest human I've ever known," he sounded angry. "What do you think you're achieving by staying here to be our blood pet? We will never be human again. We will always crave blood and kill for it. You're a fool if you think you'll survive this place much longer."

She looked away. She couldn't believe that. There was a lot more to these guys. He just couldn't see that.

"Get up," Subaru ordered.

She hesitated, but rose to her feet.

"Point the knife at me."

Despite her internal warnings, she felt compelled to bring it out. She was admiring the weight, the craftsmanship of the smooth cold plate when Subaru jerked her toward him.

She gasped loud and shut her eyes. The knife didn't move much further so she popped her eyes open to find he'd stopped it inches from his heart.

"This is the best place to strike. We die almost instantly. Still, it will be difficult for you because we can move quickly," he demonstrated this by materializing on the far end of the courtyard and then resumed his position square in front of her without her seeing him lift one foot. "Strike where you can, the silver will disorient us, burn us. You can even do so through our back to pierce the heart. Like this."

He moved in close to her as though he were going to bite her neck. His arms were wrapped around the small of her back. He used one arm to lift the knife through the crook of his arm.

Yui feebly held the blade and flinched when the tip of the blade settled on his back.

"Make sure you plunge it deep enough. You'll be sorry if you don't," he said, but he didn't moved. His body tensed against her and she knew what was coming.

She closed her eyes and ignored the piercing force through her flesh with a deep sigh.

"I…I get it Subaru," she said quietly, listening to the sound of her blood leaving her and joining the pleasant scent of the air. "You want to prove to me that vampires are lifeless monsters." He let out a moan against her neck and held her tighter, his gulps becoming more impatient.

"You may not have beating hearts…but you still have unique personalities…and natural emotions. Ayato…" she trailed off, feeling herself grow faint. "He's jealous. Possessive. Reiji…proud and polite…Shu…uninterested in anything besides his music. K-Kanato…shows compassion for his bear. And you live a melancholy existence that you blame yourself for. So I can't believe that you guys are just soulless creatures. Without the blood lust, you'd just be a regular person."

He stopped. Without a word he started away.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked quietly, and he stopped. For a moment, they were just listening to the fountain in the courtyard and the hidden sounds of life pouring in from the night.

"If I had that fragile life of yours, I'd fight for it, Yui. I wouldn't let my fate be determined for me."

"Subaru-

"And stay away from Ruki. He's dangerous."

"You all are dangerous," she answered, still clutching the knife.

"Hmph, glad you realize that. Never let that knife out of your sight."