Sorry for the long wait! Due to two of the coauthors entering college, time to write has been scarce.

athanasiamikee: Yeah, Jillian and Sophie are both redheads, twins, and can use telepathy with each other. Thanks! I think she is too.

xxdarkvampireangelxx: Well, here's more!

For more info on characters, visit our profile page.

Disclaimer: We own our characters, including the new one! Nothing else, though, except maybe the plot.

I made my way out of bed that morning very slowly. The last night of classes had been hard. We were reviewing things I knew nothing. Family histories. Why Kaname-senpai is better than everyone else. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the man. In fact, though I wouldn't be the first to admit it because his fangirls would beat me to it, he is beautiful. I think he's very kind. But... there is a darker side behind his beauty. Since I do my best to trust those I can't sense, I let it pass. For the most part, unnoticed.

That night had been especially hard though, because I was the main focus. Our professor had decided to make a game out of which lineage the mysterious Loraina Kypribel most likely belonged to. His game was cruel and involved such a scrutinizing interview that it made me squirm. I didn't know the answer to a single question.

Because of that night, when my feet hit the floor this morning, my head was buzzing. It was an annoying, persistent, unpleasant feeling that I knew a morning with Cross-kun would clear up. I hadn't visited the man in a while. I know he is busy, but it began to feel like he tired of me. The fact that I could offer nothing new most likely played a large factor in that.

This morning, though, I went to see him anyway. I was desperate, and what I really needed was a friend. But when I got there, a note on the door read, "Sorry, out on important business. If it is urgent, feel free to speak with a prefect." I let my forehead thump against the door, where I left it for a few moments until I gathered myself enough to face another day in my suite; alone.

I opened the door and paused for a few seconds before going inside and pacing up and down the runner in the sitting room. The cool black marble of the fireplace mantle looked so inviting. Maybe it would soothe the buzzing of voices and emotions in my brain. I leaned my forehead against it and murmured, "Mmm, much better than Cross-Kun's door." I froze as strong hands found their way to my waist. The person that they belonged to stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. I turned to see him and he planted a kiss on my mouth. I gasped a little and he grinned.

"Hello gorgeous!"

Once I got a good look at his face, I realized... I knew him!

"Micaiah!" I squealed.

I threw myself deeper into his arms and wrapped my arms around his neck. My mouth didn't leave his for a long time until he gently pulled away and set me down.

"Now, Lori, last time I saw you, you were quite upset with me. Am I forgiven, then?"

I reached up to push an auburn curl out of his beautiful amber eyes and said absentmindedly, "Of course." It helped that I couldn't remember what he had done.

"How very unlike you, Lori. You're certainly in an interesting mood today. I like it."

He gave me a brief, chaste kiss and wandered over to the big Victorian chair. He gracefully dropped into it and slung a leg over its arm, then watched me. I grinned and leaned against the mantle. Suddenly I stood up straight.

"They're quiet," I said in disbelief. "Absolutely bloody silent."

"Who is, doll?" he asked distractedly.

"Them," I gestured out my window. "The people."

"The humans?" he asked in disgust. "Of course they are. That's why we ran together before, remember? You found relief in my presence, and I was madly in love with you. Then we got into a quarrel about ethics and you took off."

I turned slowly to face him. "About how long ago was that?"

"About a year. . . . Lori, what's with you?"

"What kind of ethics, Kai?"

He stared at me. "Feeding ethics, Loraina. Same as always."

Anger colored his tone. "Do I mean that little to you? That you would forget one of the biggest parts of our relationship in just a year? It's the reason you left, and you don't remember. Seriously? What, did you meet someone here that made you forget? Perhaps the prince himself, Kuran Kaname? Did he steal your heart? Or perhaps it was one of the livestock they keep on hand here?"

I pushed him away roughly. "No, Kai, it's not like that, okay?! I didn't meet anyone. For the most part I keep myself locked up in here. Alone." I shuddered.

He looked at me with suspicion. "Why, then? Why don't you remember?"

I sat down in resignation. "I don't know, okay? I don't remember that part, either."

He came over and crouched in front of me, resting his fingertip slightly against my cheek. "You really don't remember?"

"No."

He looked away thoughtfully. "Are you okay alone?"

I gave a tiny shrug.

He wrapped his arms around me in a great rush. "Never again, will you be alone, okay? I'm here. I promise."

Instead of feeling reassured, I felt uneasy. The feeling was hard to explain, but I didn't like it. For now though, I just let him hold me. It felt so good to be held. Just... held.