Chapter 21- The Journey

I walk to town and get to the train station, I buy a ticket for Obit and get on the train. I keep my head down, feeling my heart thump. I feel nauseous, my stomach twists in uncomfortable knots. I keep thinking I see a familiar face but I know that there's nobody I know here.

The train starts moving after what seems like forever. It's night and I can't see anything outside except for small outlines. I try to relax but my heart is thumping a mile a minute. Okay Yuki, think, I tell myself. I formulate possible scenarios in my head. If Yori came back to our room now, she won't think anything of me not being there, sometimes I would perform guardian duty till dawn, so I don't think she would get suspicious until breakfast tomorrow. I was grateful there were no classes the next day. During breakfast, she'll probably think I was with the chairman like I was last week. The chairman wouldn't get suspicious until tomorrow, when I dont show up when he makes dinner for me and Zero, which he does every week, but even though he might be suspicious, he wouldn't think much of it. It was until the chairman talked to Yori or took some initiative to search for me would he notice me gone. Yori would notice when school would start and I wouldn't be there for classes and if everything went according to plan, I won't take that long. Even so, those two weren't the problem. If Zero were to come home early he would obviously find me missing almost immediately. He knew where I would be because i had told him about a cure for him and he would try to get information out of Kaname. He would come and find me. I had to finish this before that. If he came back by tomorrow night, then he'll notice I'm gone Sunday morning. I only had a day to get the cure for him.

I know there's nothing I can do now but I can't go to sleep. I'm nervous; my knees rock up and down constantly and I twist my fingers. My heart keeps jumping and I'm perspiring even though it's chilly out. Finally, as I see a glimmer of sunlight mounting the horizon from the window, we arrive at the stop. I get off, my heart still jumping causing me to have jerky movements, I feel stiff because I haven't slept all night. I'm grateful I only have a bag, so I'm one of the first ones off the train. I go to the ticket booth and get a one-way for Itachi. I go to the bathroom and fix myself up. I buy a muffin and a caramel mocha, for the energy. Even though there's twenty minuites for the train to move again, I get on and sit in a secluded section. My heart thumps and my stomach ties itself in knots. I can't eat because I feel my food will come back out. I lay my head against the seat and close my eyes.

My eyes open to the sun shining on my face, the trains still moving and I rock from side to side. I jerk up and look at the clock. 4 hours have passed, only 2 more to go. I rub my hands over my face and my eyes land on my drink, which is now cold. My muffin is wrapped in plastic and it still looks fresh. I feel stiff and bloated. I take off my jacket, I take my bag and walk to the bathroom. I wash my face, and brush my teeth. I comb my hair, which sticks out every which way and walk to my seat.

I throw my mocha away and take a drink from my water can. I eat bits of the muffin even though I don't feel hungry. I wait for the train to finally stop at Itachi. I get off in a hurry and make my way to the ticket booth and buy a bus ticket for Noatak. I wait at the terminal, and when the bus arrives I get on. There weren't many people so I sit on the corner seat. We go through grasslands and then up a steep hill. Civilization deteriorating as we keep going. Finally, after an hour of nervous movements and fluttering butterflies in my stomach, the bus arrives to Noatak. I get off, thanking the driver. Nobody else gets off the almost vacant bus. I look around when the bus is gone sending a whiff of dust in its wake. Where I get off there's a shabby bench, and a pole with the name of the village 'Shuma' written on it, pointing to the direction of the narrow path between the trees which were behind me. I'm standing where the rough ground meets a wooden bridge. There are two roads, one was the dirt path of the bus and the other lay behind me, leading into a forest. I hear the rush of water under the bridge. I can see mountains at the distance. There is forest all around me. Other then that, there is nothing. I hear the birds and a sound of cicadas.

I don't waste anymore time and make my way through the path that lies behind me. As I go through the forest, sounds from the river and the animals decrease. The path would sometimes turns narrow and I would be afraid I've taken a wrong turn or got lost, but it would suddenly widen and I would keep going. After a while of walking, my lips were chapped and my calves were rigid. I didn't stop to rest because that would make me feel uneasy, it felt calm to move and it also kept me from panicking. Finally, when the sun is setting, and twilight has started, I catch the first glimpse of a wooden chimney, I let out an audible sigh of relief, and quicken my pace.

When I emerge from the forest it feels like I've stepped into a medieval era. The houses are made out of wood and people wearing shabby and large garments walk around. Kids play with a dog and old people walk together, discussing gossip, and men run from one house to another, performing errands. I take slow step into the village. Though some turn to stare at me, others ignore me. I walk until I find what looks like an inn. There is a cherry blossom outside it and I smile as I'm momentarily reminded of home. I walk to the inn, somewhat more confident in my stride. I open the door and take a look inside, the house is dimly lit and there aren't many people sitting on the tables. I make my way to the stand where a plumb women stands. She greets me with a smile on her face.

'You need a room dear?' she asks, she's missing a tooth, I notice when she smiles.

I smile back, 'Yes, please.'

She nods, 'I'll go and clean up one for you, you have a seat on a table and I'll ask Hachi to get you a drink.'

I thank her and make my way to a seat in the corner. I can't believe I'm here, it almost seems like I'm watching a movie, that me being here isn't real, almost a dream. My mind is fuzzy and a young man comes over and places a cup in front of me, giving me a wink when I smile at him. I take a sip and burn my tongue. It's tea, and I blow on the contents before drinking from it again.

As I put my cup down, a group of three men open the door to the inn. The room suddenly gets quiet and I can't help but stare, it wasn't the fact that they were all pale and were dressed in complete black, but the fact that they were all so beautiful. I knew right then that they were vampires. My heart pounded and one of them turns to look at me. I try to not act suspicious and take another sip from my cup. He pushes the other two away and whispers something to them before coming over to me. I keep my eyes averted. I hear the sound of a chair being dragged and a thump as it lands beside my table I look at the man when he sits down opposite me, he has ash-blond hair and striking green eyes. A smirk forming the features of his face. He closes his eyes and inhales.

'You smell really good,' he says, opening them.

I try to act as oblivious as any normal person would. 'It's Givenchy,' I say, smiling at him flirtingly.

His smirk widens, I can see his fangs. I look at them and feign terror, surprise and a hint amusement. He chuckles falling for my act.

'Are those fake?' I ask, smiling and letting out a nervous laugh. His smile widens.

'What do you think princess,' he says in a low voice, he then curls his lips back so that I can see his fangs attached to his gums, his eyes turn red and he lets out a growl. It sent my body in a fit of shivers.

'What are you?' I whisper to him.

He pauses smiling at my obvious terror, 'Do you want to become like me?' he whispers to me.

My eyes widen, I let a few seconds pass and smile at him, even letting out a laugh.

'You're joking right?' I say incredulous. He's obviously enjoying my reactions, His eyes turn a red color and I back away slightly, glad that my heart thumped in surprise. He shrugs.

'If you offer yourself to my master, he can make you like me.'

He pauses for effect. I act oblivious.

'Wh-what do you mean?' I ask, stammering. I swear I should be an actress.

He reaches his hand out and traces a line through my neck. I didn't want him touching the necklace so I pulled away a little.

'If you offer him your blood willingly, my master will make you like me; immortal, beautiful and superior to all beings.'

My mouth hangs open. 'Immortal?' I whisper.

He nods, 'Inhumane strength.'

'Beauty?' I ask, he nods. Looking me up and down.

I clear my throat, 'And where is your master?' I ask.

'I'll take you to him,' he whispers.

I blink, as if dumfounded.

'Can we go now?' I ask, feigning enthusiasm, which wasn't hard, my heart thump and stomach churned, I was going to go.

He chuckles at my enthusiasm, 'If you want to, but you'll have to wait in the car for about an hour.'

I nod, my eyes glazed, letting out a giggle. I get up and reach for my bag to pay for the tea, which was still half full. I hear the man dropping coins and look down to see a few coins and bills on the table, my mouth drops, I had only gotten a cup of tea. The man takes my arm and drags me out of the Inn. I hear one of the men say that the others are waiting at room 7.

He leads me to the car and opens the door for me. I take a seat and he leaves. My blood must smell really good for him to give me such special service. I wait for a while. The driver at the front doesn't turn or make any kind of move to acknowledge me. My throat is dry. My knees move up and down, rocking the car. I wait for what feels like forever. Zero would probably be back by now, if not then I would have more time. The window is down and I see the girls come out in groups of three and there are about five groups. Two other girls sit with me. After the last girls come out, I hear the car start and we move. The windows are tainted and rolled up, I can't pull it back down. My heart jumps to my mouth and my stomach churns. The other two girls don't speak and seem afraid. The windows are tinted and I can't see anything outside. I have no choice but to sit there and think. I didn't trust myself enough right now to start thinking, so I try not to. I look at the girls instead. One of them has blond hair and brown eyes. The other has red hair and green eyes. They're both beautiful. They both have on an oversized dress and smell like soap and detergent.

The blond girl turns her head to me and smiles at me warmly, I smile back.

'I haven't seen you around here,' the blond girl says. I nod.

'I was about to stay at the inn when one of the guys came and asked me to come.'

She nods, 'I'm Valerie by the way, and that's Layla.'

The girl with red hair turns to me, nods and looks away.

'I'm…' I pause, it would be better not to say my actual name. Chairman had had a sort of a reputation, or so I've heard, 'Sakura.'

She nods, we fall into an awkward silence, not because we have nothing else to talk about, its because we both want to ask the other the same question; Why are you here?

I couldn't afford to make conversation at a time like this, 'Do you guys know anyone named Nicholas Ferzhtyn?'

They both turn to me, slowly, then their eyes widen and they look at each other. Valerie comes closer to me, taking a look at the driver before turning back to me.

'This isn't our first time going to the manor,' she pauses and looks at Layla as if for affirmation to keep talking, when she doesn't say anything, Valerie sighs and turns back to me, continuing where she left off, We've been there before, me and Layla together. They take us to a room, where they huddle us all together. From there, girls are chosen and sent to the master one by one. I remember Nana being chosen, she was our friend and we used to play in the village together, she was the prettiest out of all of us. The next person chosen was Layla. She was led to his room and she saw Nana being carried out, blood dripping from her neck. The man who was carrying her hands her to a guard and tell him to take her to Ferzhtyn in the east wing,' she's quiet and I don't make a sound, don't even breath, 'We didn't think much of it then, but suddenly all us girls started noticing people who would be sent to Ferzhtyn, and the worst part is that they wouldn't come back to the village with us. One time another girl heard the guard complain that there were too many of their kind as it was.'

She stops talking and I let out a breath. The east wing. That's where I have to go. Valerie returns to her seat.

'Can I ask you something Sakura?' she asks. I nod, 'Why do you want to meet him? Nicolas Ferzhtyn I mean.'

I turn to look outside, though I can hardly see anything. 'He has something I need.'

They're both quiet and stare at me. i feel their eyes and move uncomfortably under their scrutiny.

'Well good luck finding it,' I hear Layla say. Talking for the first and only time during the drive.