Zero ran faster than he thought his legs could have ever carried him. Yuki continued to scream and cried out, "Let go!"
Zero skidded around the corner to see the Chairman and Ruka already there. Yuki was high up in a tree, caught in the spidery clutches of two vampires none of them recognized. She thrashed and squirmed, trying to free herself, but one vampire clamped his hand on her throat, cutting off her air supply.
"Unhand my daughter!" the Chairman cried. He then turned to Zero and said, "Zero shoot them!"
Ruka instinctively grabbed Zero's arm and hissed, "No. You might hit Yuki!"
A look of shame quickly came and went across the Chairman's face and he turned back up into the tangling branches of the tree.
"Who sent you?" he demanded. The one vampire with black hair and elongated limbs leaned forward and bared his fangs, hissing violently, "Does it matter who sent us? Move and we will show no mercy."
The other vampire with extremely long fingernails placed her hand on the side of Yuki's neck, smiling hysterically.
"Wouldn't want to ruin such a perfect face, now would we, dearies," she said, her voice clearly indicating she was a level E.
So I am not the only one who has been tamed, Zero thought angrily.
Ruka's eyes flashed as she tried to manipulate the minds of Yuki's captor's. But she struggled. Their minds were powerful and the only visible change was that the tall vampire released his grip on Yuki's throat. She gasped and coughed. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
"Help me," she whimpered quietly. Her gaze was locked with Zero's. Zero's face twitched, not sure whether to let go of his conflicting thoughts about his recent "discovery" of Yuki's feelings. Yuki squirmed in the skinny but strong arms of the dominant vampire held her fast. Silver tears trickled out of her big frightened eyes. Zero stood, helpless to do anything.
"Who sent you?" the Chairman demanded louder than before. The level E cackled and stared down at them with her wild sickly eyes.
"Well you do know them," she said, her tongue flickering like a snake. "Have fun guessing, my dearies. You shouldn't have made so many enemies!"
With one swift motion, the dominant vampire ran his long hand across Yuki's stomach. Yuki lurched and went limp, her head falling back. Zero could clearly see the pain disappearing from her face as she slipped from consciousness.
"No!" he cried. He pulled out his gun, but before he could even point it at the demonic couple, they disappeared in a flurry of pink bats, and the scent of dead roses lingered in the air. The Chairman lunged for the tree, as if that would have done any good. He cried out for Yuki then fell to his knees and pounded on the trunk.
"Ruka-" Zero started but she cut him off.
"I have no idea who they are. Kaname wouldn't do something that…that forceful."
I can think of a few things, Zero thought.
"And Rido is dead..." Ruka snapped her fingers multiple times. "Who the hell would want Yuki? And why?"
"Hmm let's think," Zero said sarcastically. "The highest pureblood family is getting another bouncing bundle of joy. I wonder if that might be it."
"Zero, and Ruka, both of you stop it!" the Headmaster commanded. "We have to figure out where they took her, who they were working for, and why." He glared at Zero who shut his mouth again.
Yuki awoke slowly. Her stomach hurt ferociously, and her tongue felt like sandpaper.
"The little spawn inside you will be fine," said a harsh voice from the shadows. It was clearly the Level E that took her. Yuki slowly sat up, dizzy and confused. She felt the wood beneath her squeak and she saw that she was in a tiny prison cell with the bed she sat up on, an old sink, and a toilet. No window, no light, except for the dim candles that lit the hallway outside the prison bars.
"Where am I?" she said quietly. "What's going on?"
The Level E cackled again which sent chills down Yuki's spine. She emerged from the shadows and lounged against the bars. There was blood on her fingers which she proceeded to lick off and flicked a drop at Yuki. It landed on her bare feet and she wiped it off with the bottom of her nightgown.
"My deary," the Level E hissed. "You wouldn't know where you are even if I told you! But you don't need to worry. You won't be leaving here for a long time."
A surge of courage swelled up in Yuki's throat which escaped when she showed her fangs and hissed at the Level E. The other vampire who had taken her showed up and dismissed the Level E, who stuck her middle finger up at Yuki and left. Yuki stood her ground and stared up at the long limbed vampire.
"And I thought you were supposed to be some proper princess," he said, laughing. "I guess your days as a guardian are coming back."
Ok, he knows that much, Yuki thought. Who knows this about me?
"Oh don't bother trying to decode who wants you darling." Yuki jumped. "Yes I can read your mind you silly girl. Anyway, don't bother. You'll meet the master soon. Or shall I say, Mistress."
Yuki glared at Long Limbs and stepped back a bit.
"Who is she," Yuki demanded. "If she is so powerful, why is she so intent on avoiding her prisoner?" She spat out the last word.
"I'm not avoiding you."
Yuki froze as she heard a soft voice that she recognized. It was high pitched, and reminded her of a music box, playing and eerie and haunting tune. She looked up to see who danced down the spiral stairs in to the corridor. Faint purple hair flowed down to her waist and her bangs rolled up on the side of her head. Her eyes matched her hair as her long black eyelashes blinked seductively, despite her size. Yuki clenched her fists and mumbled, "Maria Kurenai."
Maria laughed lightly and plopped down at the base of the stairs, rested her chin in her hands, and shook her head.
"Guess again my darling," she said politely. Yuki stared deep at her, then gasped as Maria's eyes flashed to a light peach color.
"N-no," Yuki stuttered. "No no it can't be."
She swallowed hard.
"Hio Shizuka!"
Author's Note: Whoohoo! My first chapter with TWO digits! (I'm such a dork) But yea, sorry this one took a bit longer to publish. School and big project I'm working on. I decided to add a huge twist to this. (Believe it or not, Hio Shizuka was a last minute thing I thought would make a good addition.) But wait, isn't she dead? You'll find out in the next chapter!
Please review and tell me what you think.