"Mana, what the hell?!" Zero spat.
Mana just narrowed her eyes at him before snatching Bloody Rose out of his grip, the blood whips bringing it to her hand before retreating back into the cuts she had used with her vampire claws. She winced a little as it reacted violently at her touch but she took in a deep breath and shook her head. She then shook her other hand free to pull her gag out.
"Really, Zero," she sighed as she began pulling her legs free "Didn't anyone ever tell you that you shouldn't play with guns? You could hurt someone or worse."
Rido smirked wider as she stood and pulled Artemis out from underneath her skirt. She held it out as it too reacted to her touch.
"Oi, stop," she murmured as she extended it "Don't you remember what your previous owner wished for?"
The staff began to glow blue and Kaname's eyes narrowed when Artemis grew to her true form. Mana held up Bloody Rose towards Zero whilst directing Artemis's blade at Kaname's throat. Both of them stood still, staring at her in disbelief.
"Mana, why?" Kaname asked softly "What are you planning?"
"Planning?" Mana tilted her head to the side with a soft frown "Hm, well the plan was to get rid of you but a certain little hunter decided to mess that up."
She turned her head towards Rido.
"Neh, are we going to have to switch to the other plan now, Uncle?" she asked in a sickly innocent tone.
Rido embraced her tightly from behind, a wicked smirk adorned on his face.
"Depends, are you up for fighting these two?"
Zero didn't miss the way Mana's eyes lingered on him momentarily before sighing.
"So much work," she whined "It was hard enough to convince that Kaname that I actually liked him."
Kaname bristled a little at her words as she gave him a cold look.
"I honestly don't think I have enough strength in me to fight both of them at once."
"You were pretending?" Kaname prompted.
Mana smirked and shrugged with one shoulder.
"Have you forgotten already?" she asked with a mockingly curious voice "I am one hell of an actress."
"For how long? And why?"
Mana turned her head again to lean her forehead on Rido's.
"Hm…ten years?" she murmured and Rido nodded "Yes, ten years, I've always been on his side."
"Impossible," Kaname said calmly "Your memories were wiped clean because of Juri's sacrifice."
"Don't even know why she wanted to do that in the first place," Mana huffed "Such a waste…"
"I protected her memories."
All eyes went to Rido as he hugged Mana tighter.
"Do you remember Mana's habit to wander, dear nephew?" Rido purred "Supposing she would stumble across me during one of those wanders?"
Kaname set his jaw as he didn't lose eye contact.
"I could have killed her but how could I when she smells so much like her…"
Mana giggled as he nuzzled her neck teasingly.
"But why? He killed Haruka…"
Mana fell quiet as she lowered her eyes. Rido answered for her again.
"When they're very young, children can be very impressionable."
Kaname's eyes widened by a fraction as he dared to step forward.
"Mana, you don't have to support him," he said calmly, not flinching as she inched Artemis's blade closer to him.
"I don't have to listen to you," Mana said as she looked up to glare at him.
"Mana, what good is going to come out of it? Are you really just going to stand at his side whilst he kills humans in cold blood? Whilst he kills Yuki?"
Yuki widened her eyes as she looked up at Mana who rolled her shoulder, sighing.
"I don't care much for humans; I don't care much for Yuki either."
"She's your sister!"
"So?"
Kaname glared at Rido's smirk whilst he squeezed Mana reassuringly. Mana leaned back towards his face, leaning her forehead against his.
"Rido…will make me happy," she said "So long as I stay by his side, I will be happy."
"Your words mean nothing," Rido purred as Kaname opened his mouth to try and convince her again "Mana will always be mine. Did you really think that she would be your queen?"
Kaname closed his mouth, narrowing his eyes.
"Mana…"
Mana's eyes darted towards the window and she hesitated with Bloody Rose.
"We're running out of time, Uncle."
Rido reluctantly stepped away from her as she reached around the squeeze her bun.
"Give me an hour tops," she said as he kissed the back of her head.
"I'll be waiting."
Kaname shifted with narrowed eyes as Rido backed off and opened the window behind him, jumping through into the darkness. Mana stepped back slowly and pressed the barrel of Bloody Rose to Yuki's head. Yuki shivered, eyes brimming with tears as her younger sister rolled her head from one shoulder to the other.
"Zero, get out of here or I will put a bullet in her brain."
Zero hesitated as his gun clicked. Yuki shivered more, her eyes staring up at Mana in disbelief.
"You wou-"
Yuki screamed as Mana swiftly shot her in the foot then brought the gun back to Yuki's head.
"Now, Zero."
Zero gritted his teeth as Yuki writhed in pain, whimpering and crying. He stood up straight before backing off towards the door. Mana turned her eyes to Kaname once he was out of the room and pulled Bloody Rose away. She tucked Bloody Rose into her inside jacket pocket before gripping Artemis with both hands.
"Who are you?" Kaname asked softly and Mana just shrugged.
"My name is Mana," she said simply.
"Do you have doubts?"
"None."
Kaname glanced over to Yuki before glaring at her.
"Juri made a sacrifice so that you and Yuki can live happy lives," he said calmly.
"Yeah, well that was a colossal waste, wasn't it?"
"Mana, why? What did he promise you?"
"Happiness."
Mana smiled softly.
"Happiness that only he can give me."
"You really were impressionable at that age if you really believe him."
"You're no different to him if you think that," Mana snorted and jerked her head towards Yuki "How many times did you lead Yuki on? Do you know how many times I've seen her hold back her hurt when you chose me instead of her?"
She sighed softly and shook her head.
"No, I believe in him," she said confidently "After all, it's what lover do, right? They believe in each other."
"They should do," Kaname narrowed his eyes.
"Your fault for being so blind," Mana scoffed "I'll admit it, it was fun taking advantage of your little infatuation. Well, while it lasted and then you got so overbearing."
She snorted again.
"Really, who would want to be your lover?"
She smirked as the windows in the room cracked.
"Are you angry, Kaname-sama?" she said mockingly, a crazed look passing her eyes "Do you want to kill me like you want to kill Uncle?"
"Mana, if he's manipulating you I can help you."
Mana raised Artemis up at him.
"You're the one who needs help with your pathetic little delusions and fantasies," she snarled "I would never commit to you. Ever!"
They both moved at the same time, Kaname grabbing Artemis by the staff and they battled for dominance. Mana was obviously weaker than him as her shoes scraped across the floor but Kaname made the mistake to make eye contact with her. She flashed those faux-innocent eyes before taking advantage of his moment of weakness to push him aside, the blade cutting through the uniform and his skin. Yuki cried out to him as he held his wound, glaring at the evil looking twin. Mana grinned as she rested Artemis across her shoulders casually.
"Eh, I was hoping for more of a challenge," she taunted.
Kaname gritted his teeth before going again. Mana got Artemis ready once more and drove the blade towards him. He dodged and aimed his clawed hand at her heart. But he hesitated and caught her shoulder again. Mana hissed in pain as they skidded to a half on opposite sides of the room, Mana by Yuki as she gripped her shoulder.
"Wow, that actually stung."
Kaname glowered at her as he braced himself to attack again but froze as Mana's bloody hand grabbed Yuki by the back of her head.
"Hey, Nee-chan, give me a boost."
Yuki cried out around her gag as Mana yanked her head up and she slid her fangs deep into her neck. It was very violent, nothing gentle nor careful about this bite. Kaname felt his blood boil and he charged towards Mana again. Yuki whimpered as Mana yanked her fangs out, her shoulder healing as she let go of her to grab Artemis with both hands. There was an awkward clash as Mana managed to drive some of the blade into Kaname's side and hissed as the pureblood king once again, avoided diving his hand through her heart and got her side.
"Really, you are such a poor shot," she scowled as they glared at one another.
He hesitated and Mana smirked, tilting her chin up.
"I wonder…"
She drove forward again, backing them up enough to be in the centre of the room. She struck like a snake and Kaname didn't flinch as she drove her fangs into his neck. He growled, aggressively pulling his claw out to strike again but it was met by Mana's slim hand, gripping it. Kaname met Mana's eyes, those damn, deceiving eyes, as she linked their fingers together.
"Kaname-sama?" she whispered, blood dripping from her lips.
He was off guard again. With a sharp push and another swipe of Artemis, he was backed off into the fireplace. Mana placed a hand on her healing side, licking her lips clean.
"You still love me," she grinned and began cackling "You can be so easily manipulated!"
She sighed, rolling her shoulder as she glared at him.
"I never appreciated pretending to be wrapped around your bloody finger," she snarled "Pretending to be that bumbling, giggling little brat! I hated that character, I hated playing her! Ten bloody years I had to put up that persona! It was what you liked!"
She leant Artemis across her shoulders again, sucking in her cheek as she licked her fingers clean.
"You're pathetic."
She was quick enough to use Artemis's handle to stop Kaname from driving his claws into her body again. They wrestled until Mana ducked and Kaname was sent towards the armchairs. Mana sighed as she slumped a little whilst he regained his footing.
"Enough," she whined "You're not even trying anymore."
She rolled her head from side to side before running towards Kaname. He expected death.
"I hope you know how to mend a broken heart, Onee-sama."
She was gone.
