Edgar had been doing his absolute best until now. He really had. But it wasn't his fault he'd exhausted his limits so quickly. He was raised a prince. Spoiled and fawned upon since birth. So now, even if he was with Yuma, trudging through the wilds of the demon world...

It was getting to be more than he could bear.

Couldn't they have just…taken a carriage? Offered a treaty of some sort? That would have been simpler. He could probably write up a treaty at this very moment. All they had to do was make Carla an offer he couldn't refuse. That'd be easy enough, wouldn't it?

Edgar's stomach rumbled, and his head pounded with dizziness. This was, as Kiara said, the absolute worst.

"Yumaaa..." He tried to not whine, but the name in itself came out very much like a whine.

Yuma took in a deep breath, stopping up ahead and not turning around.

"Yes, Edgar?"

The pureblood knew from that tone that he should have just said it was nothing and continued on. But he couldn't help it. And if it meant being spoiled by Yuma, even just for a little bit…

"We've had nothing but—" Edgar pushed a branch away dramatically, as if it took all his strength to do so, "Nothing but animal blood for days. I'm hungry."

"Animal blood is good enough for now. We can't spare a trip to the human world. By that time—"

Of course, in theory there was nothing that could be done. Edgar knew that. Was expecting the exact answer Yuma had just given him. So he wasn't exactly sure why he continued on.

"I know," the prince whined, "I know but it's so bitter-"

Yuma's arm came so close to Edgar's face that for a moment, the young prince thought he was going to get punched.

"Go." Yuma said, looking him right in the eye, towering over Edgar's much smaller frame. The Sakamaki son turned bright red, his heart stopping. He'd done it now.

But surely, he'd been expecting this sort of outcome? So why…

"No, nono I didn't-" he pushed Yuma's arm away, "It's fine. I mean I'm fine. I mean-" his hands began to sweat, the beat of his heart pumping in erratic patterns, reminding him that he was a coward, "Deer blood is fine." He finished finally, clearing his throat.

He was surprised to hear Yuma chuckle, and even more surprised when the larger man handed him a sugar cube. Edgar couldn't help but wonder if Yuma still saw him as nothing more than that same spoiled kid from so long ago. Probably. He sure was acting it. After he told himself he wouldn't.

"That against drinking a man's blood?" Yuma smirked, a slight tinge of surprise in his voice. Enough to make Edgar's eyes widen, anyway.

"No it's not that..." Edgar twirled the sugar in his fingers, begging the red of his cheeks to die down, before he realized what he had just said, "I mean of course, a man's blood…something like that…what I mean to say—"

"I get it." Yuma said suddenly.

Edgar blinked, thinking he'd just written his own death sentence. But what did that mean, exactly? That Yuma understood? That he knew? Suddenly, Edgar didn't want to know.

So he simply cleared his throat. Assumed Yuma enjoyed sweet blood as much as any other vampire.

"Yuma? Is this why you always carry sugar?"

To Edgar's surprise, Yuma sat down, stretching out his legs and giving a low groan that only made Edgar's heart quicken all the more.

"Wanna know a secret?"

Hesitantly, Edgar sat down beside him, pulling his knees to his chest. "O-Ok."

"Back when I was human, I was part of this group. We couldn't ever eat much more than bread. So things like sugar might as well've been gold."

Edgar's mouth went dry, his mind spinning, and his words fighting themselves over what should be said first. "When you were hu— but that— I mean— since when?"

"For a while now."

Edgar's eyes lit up, and saddened at the same time. He'd known for a long time. It didn't make it hurt any less. But something like that…it was no wonder Yuma felt the way he did. "So Kiki did it then. Just like she said she would. She always does come through-"

"Kiara didn't have anything to do with it. They came back on their own."

"Oh." Edgar said quietly, his mind still spinning. "Well, in any case-"

"Don't congratulate me."

Edgar swallowed awkwardly. Didn't know what to say anymore, after that.

"What're you thinking?"

"Huh?"

Yuma glanced at him, "You're always jumping to conclusions."

Edgar pulled his knees up closer, "Is that a bad thing?"

"You'll go bald."

Edgar smiled at that. "Did you not want them back? Your memories, I mean."

Yuma looked at him, and Edgar felt shivers go down his spine. "Sorry, I didn't—"

"It's fine," Yuma said, giving a careless shrug, "Some things kind of make sense now."

Edgar bit his lip. "Like what?"

It took Yuma a long time to reply. "Like you're dad. He's different, though."

"He did say you were very good friends, back then."

"Yeah, except back then was a long ass fucking time ago."

Edgar muttered under his breath about the crudeness of Yuma's language. And it was silent, for a while, before either of them said anything. When Yuma did speak up though, it was soft. As though the wind might carry his words off his tongue.

"Scary, how much you look like him."

Edgar looked away. "It's the hair."

Yuma chuckled, "If you'd gotten his eyes too I swear you'd be the same."

"Well I'm not the same." Edgar stood up suddenly, "I'll never be King, I can't get a single good note out of a violin and I'm not—"

"Calm down," Yuma yanked him by the arm, pulling him back down, "You're always so fucking dramatic."

Edgar knew if he started to cry now, he'd only seem even more dramatic. But for some reason, he was angry. Furious, even. And being this close to Yuma wasn't helping. Because nothing had worked out the way it was supposed to. And it was stupid it was so stupid—

"Hey," Yuma said softly, squeezing his arms and letting Edgar rest against his shoulder, "You're ok."

The only way to describe Edgar at that moment was to say he was blubbering, which was undignified in every sense of the word, but he couldn't stop his tears, which he'd probably been holding for a lot longer than he'd originally thought. But damn it all why couldn't he get them to stop-

"You know," Yuma's voice sounded distant. Different, almost. "Shit's only gonna get worse from here."

Edgar wiped his eyes, "So stop crying, is that it?"

This time, Yuma did punch him in the arm. "So get it all out now. Cuz when we're over there facing the Tsukinamis it's not gonna be signing a fucking peace treaty and parting as friends."

Edgar scoffed. Almost laughed. "You're getting soft, you know?"

"I can punch you harder, Prince."

Edgar smiled. "Save it for the Tsukinamis."

"Lady Sakamaki."

She froze, feeling rather strange about being called "lady." But it was just like Carla to keep up appearances, even at a time like this, going to far as to formally request an audience with her.

"Your excellence." She gave a polite bow, enough to show the required respect.

"I will apologize in place of my brother."

She flinched. "Oh, that-"

"But it seems as though apologies are not necessary."

Kiara swallowed awkwardly. Papa always said no one could make you feel ashamed other than your own self.

Dear Papa, that wasn't quite right. Because Carla was making her feel all sorts of shame. "I..."

"I see you cured his ailment. A peculiar wound. Don't you agree?"

"I suppose..."

"I will thank you for it, Lady Sakamaki. I would have fixed it myself. But my power is not what it used to be."

"Which is why you kidnapped me."

"Tell me," he said, avoiding her question, "Where did you learn to handle such drugs? Your uncle, no doubt."

For a moment, she almost corrected him. "Yes," she said, "Uncle Reiji...is a strict teacher."

"Compared to that father of yours I'm sure anyone would be by comparison."

Kiara thought this guy and papa might make great friends.

"If that was all you needed me for-"

"I suggest you do not get your hopes up, Your Highness. The end of this story won't be a happy one. After your purification-"

"I know perfectly well the sort of fate that awaits me," Carla seemed shocked at the fact that she's interrupted, but Kiara figured the damage had been done and continued on anyway, "But the time for that is not quite upon us."

"Denial of the fact does not make it any less real." Carla warned.

Kiara shifted, "When the time comes, it will be as you say. What I choose to do now will have no lingering effects."

Carla smiled. She couldn't see it, but she could tell from the way his eyes sharpened. And she almost wished he hadn't. "You seem to know your place, Princess. And yet you are still hopelessly naive."

Part of her wanted to scratch his eyes out, but she was supposed to be Eloise. Of course, with Shin yelling out Sampson every two minutes she found it rather suspicious that Carla still didn't know.

But he was so obviously desperate, even know. The way he talked was scary, condescending and cruel, the way she figured it'd be.

But her father was Reiji Sakamaki. And Kiara knew enough to pick up on the subtleties of people like that. The way Carla only spoke from behind his scarf, to hide the scent of blood he was no doubt coughing up. How he would tug at it with anxious fingers—though it'd be easy to miss if you weren't looking properly— to make sure it stayed in place. And for a moment Kiara wondered if maybe…

"What will you do, if they come to rescue me?"

"I do wonder." Carla replied.

Kiara narrowed her eyes, "If it's a war you want, you'll lose. Surely you realize—"

"Your father's subjects are not as loyal as they seem. After Karlheinz, they're wary of vampires. You're self aware enough to realize this, aren't you?"

"Shu and Karlheinz—"

"Founders have ruled the demon world for eons. It is only fitting that we take our place once more."

"You're insane. There's always been multiple Kingdoms—"

"And among those one must always stand above the rest. Don't you agree, Lady Sakamaki?"

Kiara stiffened. He wasn't acting out of desperation alone. "That's why you won't kill me," she breathed, "You don't just need my blood…I'm your leverage."

"A smart girl indeed, I see you were raised well."

"My…" Kiara struggled, "My father won't submit to save me."

"Perhaps not. But the bond between a mother and her child is quite irremovable."

Kiara's heart raced, "She'd never betray him! Kingdom over kin-"

"A mother," Carla said calmly, "Will stop at nothing."

It wasn't that it was a dastardly evil plan or anything like that. It wasn't even particularly cunning. But it was enough. All he really needed to drive a family apart. What was it her mother alwyas said, from that one human. It drove Papa insane. A house divided shall not stand? Something like that?

If Uncle Shu and Auntie Yui began to argue then her own parents would need to get involved. And breaking them all apart from the inside out…

It was probably already happening now. It didn't matter that she wasn't Eloise. Kiara knew her parents well enough. Papa with his need to do everything on his own and Mother with her complete refusal to speak her mind until the very last moment. They were both so frustratingly flawed that there was no way Shu would be able to do anything even if…

Kiara swallowed, suddenly paling. Did Carla know who she was? "If that will be all." She said thickly.

Carla waved his hand, dismissing her.

The door hadn't fully closed before she ran, bolting through the halls and practically sliding past the intended room, bursting through to hear Shin's pissed off OY—

"Does he know who I am?"

"What the fuck—"

"Carla, does he know who I am—"

Shin grabbed her by the throat, throwing her onto the bed. "Don't fucking think you can come in here without proper payment, Toy. I told you, didn't I—"

"Does Carla know that I'm not Shu's daughter?" She said, her voice soft.

Shin let her go with suspicion. "What?"

"Does he?"

Shin scoffed, "If he did you'd be dead—"

"No, that's not it. More than the endzeit—Shin, he wants a war."

She was knocked off the bed, tumbling to the ground with a sudden thrust, Shin's transformation knocking her to the ground.

Sharp teeth and a wide grin met her eyes, Shin's paws keeping her nailed to the ground. "You ever danced with death, Sampson? Had it breathing down your neck for centuries? Whispering quiet threats that don't seem so bad, until they've piled up so high you can't even see what's in front of you anymore."

Kiara inhaled, staring at him. "That doesn't change the fact that he wants—"

"Don't be such a dumb bitch. If he knew, you'd be dead. And if you keep pissing me off I'll fucking tell him myself."

"That supposed to be a threat—"

"Are you that stupid? I can smell it, you know. That fear of yours-"

"I'm not-"

"No," He licked his lips, "But it's there. Because we both know Carla won't hesitate, don't we? Trust me, Toy, I can't wait to see him rip out that blood sucking throat of yours."

Kiara scoffed, "Because you can't do it yourself, right? Even with Endzeit you gotta let your big brother take care of every—"

She'd been bitten before. Lots of times, actually. By Shin and otherwise. But in his wolf form, it was a pain she'd never experienced in her entire immortal life.

"That scream wasn't too bad, you know. Makes up for your fucking blood."

She spit in his face, but he hardly seemed to notice. If anything, he laughed. "That all you got, Sampson?"

He shifted on top of her, paws becoming hands that pinned her wrists up over her head, cackling, "How lewd are you? Even now you're heating up. You like pain? That's not fucking scary at all."

"I don't have to be. Just like you don't have to be, because Carla fights all your battles."

Shin smirked. "Yeah? And who's gonna come save you? They would've been here by now, don't you think?"

"You probably forget because you keep calling me Sampson. But my father is Reiji Sakamaki—"

He slammed her wrists against the ground. "I know damn well who the fuck your father is! You think that guy scares me? Get over your fucking entitlement, Vampire. Your entire clan isn't worth the dirt under my fucking shoes."

Kiara swung her arms down sharply, freeing her wrists from his grip and flipping them over quickly, pinning his thighs down with her knees and putting his own hands by his head. She couldn't help the smirk that found it's way to her lips. "Sorry, I could't hear your whiney ass comments over the sound of my entitlement."

Shin smirked back, running his tongue over his fangs. "You really piss me off, Sampson."

"Trust me, it's mutual."

"Trust me it's mutual- why the fuck is your voice so nasally?"

Her eyes went red, before she bit him, right in the cheek, beneath his patch. On the one hand, she knew she was causing him pain, and on the other, she got to taste the delicacy that was a founder's blood. So it was like killing two birds with one stone. Which was probably why she couldn't help but laugh at the way his body tensed under her bite. "You gonna tell Carla on me?" She scoffed, letting his wrists go to wipe her mouth, upon which he immediately flipped them over again, Kiara's head hitting the floor with a blunt thud that sent her mind reeling.

Wolf eyes, gold and sharp, stared down at her, only making her all the more dizzy, before they hovered right over her own, swallowing up her plain brown gaze.

"Worse than that," he breathed, smirking, and for a moment Kiara wondered if this was what it felt like to be eaten alive.

She didn't know what she had been expecting. No, she knew exactly what she'd been expecting. And part of her felt guilty, almost, from the way...no it wasn't guilt. It was…anger? Was she pissed?

But if that were the case, she definitely wouldn't...not with him...of all people definitely not...

But a Founder's blood, a Founder's heat…

Just what was she doing?

She'd die alright. When it became like this she was as good as dead anyway. Willingly flocking to the jaws of a predator and feigning ignorance, like some sort of...

"The fuck are you laughing at?"

Was she laughing? Maybe she'd hit her head a bit too hard. "Fever..."

"What?"

"Increase in body temperature to kill off bacteria. Generally accompanied by headaches-definitely have one- and shivering. In extreme cases it can make you delirious, which would explain the laughter. In short, Shin Tsukinami, you make me sick."

He looked at her in a way that could only be described as new, and Kiara thought for sure she was going crazy. How hot could her blood get before it stopped flowing?

"You're not shivering." He said flatly.

"No. I guess I'm not." She replied in an equally mundane manner, as if the two of them were old friends discussing the weather.

He grabbed her by the chin, for the first time not smirking, or glaring, or showing off his fangs; simply continuing on in that hopelessly stable voice.

"I'll give you a proper fever."

A promise or a death sentence...

Kiara didn't know the difference anymore.


A/N: I fucking love Edgar so much I could cry. Comments are always much appreciated :D

Putriaryx: Haha it is a wonder to us all. Thank you so much though! Hope you enjoyed the update ^^

Gemma: Hope this answered a bit hehe ;)

Guest: Ahh thank you so much! I'm partial to that chapter too lol. Really glad you liked it!