Hades and Persephone

Next chapter, sorry it took me so long, was in such a slump! Enjoy.

Azami's eyes slowly opened to the sun that burst into her window, she would've got up and closed the curtains, but she was almost too afraid to move. She sighed and finally got the courage to sit up and turn around. No one was in the room with her, it seemed to her that Rido could be sleeping at this hour. She moved to her window and drew the curtains closed. She slumped back on her bed and held her plush horse in her lap. She had no idea if Rido had been courteous or stupid enough to unlock the door, but to make sure... she tried the knob and surprisingly the door gave easily.

She peaked out into the hallway and was surprised that no one was there, no guard, no servant. Azami listened carefully, but heard no life within the mansion. She stepped out and decided that she would try the front, back, and balcony doors. She skipped every second step going down the stairs. She raced to the front door and tried the knob. The door jammed immediately. "Damn, he changed the locks!" she hissed. "He had to have missed at least one."

She tried every way to the outside that she could, still no dice. At the last door she tried, she screamed in frustration and kicked the door hard, still nothing gave. Her breath was shallow and she slumped to the ground. "No doubt he had a master key for all of them," she hissed. "I'm trapped."

Azami stood and decided to explore the rest of the house, although it wasn't the wisest decision, considering Rido had confiscated her weapon. However, she figured dying wouldn't be as bad as being trapped in a large mansion with him. She didn't know why she wanted to explore, it was her old home. Everything was still in its place, as it had been the night she ran away. She stopped at the bottom of the flight at the door. The door where it all ended, the door where her view of Rido and all vampires was changed forever. She opened it and stepped in. Either the door had been closed for all this time or the scent just refused to go away, the study reaked of blood. The stains were still there, although the body(ies) had been cleared away long ago. She stepped onto the place where her mother died and then to where her father, had been gasping, wheezing, pleading for Rido's mercy. That's what she thought anyway, she never saw what happened to him. Suddenly Azami heard something in the corner. She turned, but the room was so dark, she couldn't make out even a shape. Until it was too late... The creature jumped from his hiding spot, its mouth wide open, lined with razor sharp teeth, its eyes were huge and red, its nails long and curved like talons! Azami screamed and tried to back away... She felt a breeze behind her, felt something warm in front of her, and heard the monster's roar stop. Azami opened her eyes to find Rido standing between her and the monster. Azami took the time to really look at it this time. It actually looked almost human, if human looked more like an animal it would look like that. And suggestively male, he actually looked familiar. "Return to your post, you're of no need here," Rido commanded.

The "creature" slunk back into the shadows with a submissive poise. Rido turned to Azami, grabbed her by the elbow and shoved her out, before slamming the door behind him. "What was that?" Azami asked fearfully.

"Nothing of your concern," Rido said as he attempted to grab her again.

Azami squirmed away from his grasp. "Tell me!" she cried.

Rido sighed. "I suppose you've never seen a Level E vampire before?" Rido said.

Azami shook her head. "That's what it was," Rido said. "A Level E is a vampire that completely loses touch with its humanity, it relies on instinct and bloodthirst alone."

Azami lowered her eyes. She thought that having vampires able to plan and think had been terrible, she had been wrong. "I have them stationed in every dark corner in this house," he continued. "They make great guard dogs."

Azami grimaced and hugged herself. "At night, they patrol the mansion and the grounds," he said. "That's why I locked your door last night, your room is the only safe point, there and my room of course."

Azami rose an eyebrow and rolled her eyes. "I suppose you took the master bedroom?" she said cynically.

"Of course," he said with beaming smile. "I will take nothing less."

"Bastard," Azami hissed under her breath.

Rido chuckled, but said nothing about the comment. "Now I suggest you go off to your room, before we have another incident," he said.

Azami decided it was best to do that. Until she thought of something. "Rido, what did you do?" she asked.

Rido narrowed his eyes at her, not understanding. "I mean, Naomi," Azami explained. "What happened, what did you do to her?"

Rido chuckled. "I thought after last night's event you'd have nothing to do with her," he said.

Azami glared down at him. "I don't," she claimed.

"So you have no reason to want to know," Rido said and started to swagger away.

"Yes I do!" Azami called.

Rido stopped and looked half way over his shoulder to look at her. "For the love of my fellow man," Azami taunted.

Rido chuckled. "She's fine," he said. "She's in my room, don't worry your pretty head about her."

He finally walked away and Azami sighed. She actually didn't know why she asked about Naomi, concern for a former friend she supposed. She got to her room and closed the door behind her. She sat down on her bed and tried to find something vaguely entertaining. She looked over at her bookshelf and decided to see what material would capture her interest. She reached for a Collection of Greek Myths and flipped to one of her favorites "The Kidnapping of Persephone". She sighed as her eyes roamed the words of poor Persephone held against her will in a world so unlike her's. Hades so much in love and too selfish to see how much it hurt her to stay. Azami smirked bitterly and placed the book back and pondered at how her situation was so much like Persephone's. Except he couldn't possibly be so in love with her and she was pretty sure, no one was coming to save her. She hugged her knees to her chest and suddenly felt very tired. She climbed into her bed and didn't bother with covers.

A few hours had passed when she heard scuffling downstairs. Azami got up, shaking off sleep and snuck over to the landing. "But you promised!" a female voice whined. "You promised!"

Azami discerned the voice as Naomi's. What is she talking about? Azami thought. "I promised nothing," Rido said.

Azami snuck further down the stairs and saw Naomi glaring up at Rido. Rido, nearly blocking her vision of Naomi, his back was to Azami so she couldn't see the contemptuous look on his face. However, Naomi looked like she was falling apart at the seams. Her nose was running, her eyes were bloodshot, her cheeks were tear-stained, she was shaking like she was about to start her own earthquake, and her hair was a complete mess! "You promised new strength!" Naomi cried.

Rido's patience was wearing thin. Azami could tell as soon as he crossed his arms. "I did," he said. "And your strength is a lesson, never trust a vampire that always gives you what you want."

Naomi screamed and rushed Rido, pounding on his chest, kicking his legs. Rido shoved her away and she landed on her butt, crying and screaming. "Away with you and your childish nonsense!" Rido shouted as the door swung open on its own.

Naomi cried harder and started to pick herself up and she rushed him again, but Rido started to step toward her and was very determined to kick her out. Azami sprinted the last flight of stairs and stepped in front Naomi. "No, stop!" Azami cried and spread her arms wide.

Naomi sniffled and sobbed behind her, while Rido just looked super pissed. "Please don't kick her out," Azami pleaded and walked up to Rido. "She can stay with me."

Rido frowned down at Azami then looked at Naomi and looked back at Azami. He thought for awhile before his frown softened and he nodded. "Very well, she can stay," he said. "And in return, you will have dinner with me."

Azami gaped and was about to protest. "Uh-uh-uh! Every freedom has a price," Rido purred as he placed a finger over her lips. "Don't forget who has the power here."

Rido walked away leaving Naomi and Azami to sort things out. Azami sighed and started back up the stairs, Naomi followed behind quietly. Once up in Azami's room. Azami shut the door tight and looked around at Naomi who had started crying a fresh waterfall of tears. "He lied to me," she whispered.

Azami scoffed and started to lay down blankets and pillows for Naomi's bed. "What did you expect?" she asked. "They all lie, it's in their nature."

Naomi looked at Azami with disbelief. "You can't think that," she said. "What about Ichijou?"

Azami glared at nothing in particular and kept busying herself with the bed. "What about him?" she asked.

"He's nothing like Rido," Naomi stated. "I think he's really sweet."

Azami growled in her throat. "Shut up!" she shouted. "They're all the same, all liars, all villains, all demons!"

Azami glared at Naomi and Naomi lowered her head in defeat. "Get it?" Azami finished.

Naomi only nodded and moved to her bed on the floor. Azami huffed and flopped on her bed. "So what are you going to wear for dinner?"