The pool emitted an enchanting green glow as a donut floaty drifted on its calm surface. Pale toes grazed the cool water, and an outstretched arm swayed to form light ripples.
Guinevere wriggled her fingers, humming pleasurably at the damp sensation. Light sloshes reached her ears, her expression hidden behind her shiny, cyan face mask.
She suddenly stilled. The floaty bumped on the side of the pool.
"That sow," said a tall man, half of his brown, untamed hair pulled back into a bun. "She's nowhere to be seen."
"Shut up."
He stopped tossing the apple. Yuma then turned around. "What?"
Shuu Sakamaki was stretched at the top of the bluish-grey stone steps, a hand resting on his propped knee. Sitting incredibly still, his eyes were closed as smooth music flowed leisurely from his earbuds.
"Your voice is annoying," he finally said, equally as leisure.
Yuma clicked his tongue. "Neet, where is she?"
The blue roses danced gracefully in the wind. A few seconds passed by.
"Are you listening?!"
Shuu's facials changed for the first time. "Be quiet. You're ruining my music."
"Hah? What's with that?! You should at least supervise your own prey!"
Their gazes clashed. Shuu was stiff.
"You nobles are so—" Yuma began.
"Leave, before I lose it."
Yuma blinked, before an amused look crossed him. "Lose it? Why are you so damn possessive over that sow?"
Shuu stood up. His eyes resembled frost. "Watch that damn mouth of yours."
"Oh? What's your pretty self gonna do about it?"
In an instant, Shuu had his collar.
"Take that back," he said, his tone dangerous.
Yuma met his gaze. "Get your hands off me."
"Don't have your head so high up in your arse. You think I'd want to touch dirt like you?"
Yuma's fangs flashed. He swung his fist, and Shuu stepped back as it nicked his cheek. The apple hit the floor with a thud before it was lost in one of the rose beds.
Shuu smirked coldly. Yuma rolled his shoulders, swinging his arm to prepare for another round.
"I don't know why the hell you'd go so far for a livestock," he said, "but that makes me want to take her away even more."
Shuu paused. He tilted his head.
"Livestock?" he repeated, the anger in his tone dissolving. The spinning gears finally connected in his head.
Yuma couldn't help but raise a brow. Shuu then stuffed his hands in his pockets and began walking away. "That doesn't concern me. Hurry up and get out of here."
"What? Afraid of ruining that pretty outfit of yours?" Yuma scoffed. "As I thought, fleeing is a speciality of you nobles."
Shuu yawned. Yuma clicked his tongue.
"…What?" said Yuma. Shuu stared at him for a few more seconds before he wordlessly left.
From a high window, Reiji watched with slight interest as the brown-haired man vanished. After all, the sight of his riled up brother was not a normal occurrence.
He suddenly narrowed his eyes, turning his head towards the door. "Oh my. Strangers went inside the mansion without permission. It seems that they lack in manners."
He hummed, his countenance indifferent. "Something immensely troublesome is going to happen tonight."
"All I wanted was a drama free day." Guinevere's sigh faintly echoed across the pool area. There are unknown presences the mansion. Yui's, on the other hand, appears to have vanished.
Don't tell me…one of the intruders…Guinevere gripped the sides of the floaty. "Kou-kun?"
She was about to heave herself up but hesitated. …I'll let the six handle them. Maybe having faith in them might not be a bad thing. She nodded. Mm. I shall sit back for now—
A light, metallic aroma suddenly hit her.
Pinkish-green eyes watched as a drop of blood swirled in the clear water before it scattered. Azusa was gleefully looking at the long, thin wound on his arm, his rows of teeth in plain sight.
"What are you doing?"
Azusa's fingers stopped halfway down his ghostly pale forearm. He turned, and was met with a piercing glare.
"I'm asking you what you're doing here." Kanato's tone did not imply a request.
Azusa narrowed his eyes, though his irritation was brief before he returned his attention towards his fresh cut. "I'm talking to Justin about something important. Right, Justin?"
"Please don't defile someone else's house like this. You're an eyesore. Leave."
Azusa looked almost dreamily at blood flowing down his arm. "Kanato-san, where's Yui-san?"
Kanato gritted his teeth. "I told you to get out of here!"
"Oh? What an unexpected combination." Emerging from thin air, Laito was suddenly beside him, leaning against the sink.
"I only came here to see Eve," said Azusa. "Ne, where is she?"
"If you came to see her, why are you in the bathroom?!" said Kanato. "And why would we tell you that?"
Laito cocked his head. "Now, now, why not, Kanato? I'm also looking for bitch-chan, but it looks like she isn't here."
"Eve…isn't here?" Azusa's smile was gone. His eyes were glowing, the colour matching the raw blood down his arm.
The dart hit the board with a thud. It was almost deafening against the silence.
"Triple 20," said Kou. He glanced at Subaru through his curls, wearing a light smile. "Your turn, Subaru-kun."
Subaru sighed. "You're annoying. Who the hell said I'd play with you?"
"Welll, that's because I came to meet M-neko-chan but she isn't here." Kou then slightly cocked his chin. "You have plenty of time, Subaru-kun, so why don't you play?"
"Come on, have a try," Kou urged once more when he received no response. He then smirked and looked at Subaru with a hooded gaze. "Or maybe you can't do anything when she isn't here?"
"Hah?! That human has nothing to do with it!"
Kou placed a hand on his hip, gradually more amused. "Don't look at me with those scary eyes."
"Shut up, don't talk to me—"
Kou's smile was wiped from his face as he stepped back, narrowly avoiding a blue dart.
"What a pity," said Laito. "I missed."
Kou stood there for a moment. He then turned. "You know what will happen if you hurt the face of an idol?" Despite his light tone, his expression said otherwise.
Laito chuckled. "It seems like you and your brothers are incredibly irritated that Bitch-chan isn't here."
"Well, I'm not irritated at all." Kou glanced at Subaru. "But that's just me."
Subaru looked enraged.
"You're really getting on my nerves." He stuffed his hand in his pockets and walked off. Laito's eyes followed him as he passed by.
"How boring. It looks like our young master here has no interest in a challenge." Kou held up his dagger, examining it absentmindedly as he twirled it between his fingers. "You know who I have interest in, though?"
Laito didn't respond. He wasn't smiling either.
"I really didn't expect her to be here," Kou continued. "Much less be related to you guys."
Subaru stopped at the door. Laito narrowed his eyes.
Kou sighed. "Then again, she never tells me anything personal. I guess it's still too early to earn her trust."
"…Oh? Does she not tell you these things?" Kou pouted. "I have to say, I'm hurt. I thought she would mention at least one of her co-workers. Or at least her favourite one."
Subaru scoffed. "Well, clearly you aren't her favourite 'cause she said nothing about you."
Kou squinted, his grin widening. "Are you sure it's not because she thinks you're the insignificant ones?"
Subaru made his way towards him. "Care to say that a little louder—"
Laito extended his arm, halting his brother in his tracks. He then turned to Kou.
"Have a good look at yourself, won't you? Such words coming from an outsider's mouth, those are the ones that mean nothing. Not to mention from someone who invades someone's home and expects the owner to play along with their games."
When he smiled, the warmth was missing. "Kou-kun, was it? Go find yourself a playground if you want to do such foolish things."
"It's really obvious why Guinevere doesn't mention you," Subaru said, his voice slightly raised.
"Quite possessive, are we?" said Kou. He tilted his head. "I see why, now."
"Why what?"
"Well, this night is only starting." Kou's right eye emitted a faint, red glow behind his fringe.
He gave them a wave and disappeared. The air that lingered behind was suffocating.
Yui opened her eyes and was greeted by a fountain underneath a dark, starless sky.
"Huh? I'm supposed to be in my room…" she mumbled, looking around her.
She turned around and was surprised to find an extravagant, double-leaf door. Arabesque designs climbed its walnut-wood surface like vines as Yui pushed the golden bar handle.
The doors swung open with unnatural ease. Two candles each perched atop looming, rectangular stair posts, the flames suddenly flickering into view. An unfamiliar man stood before her, flawlessly pale skin and dressed in black. Holding a book at his side, his undershirt was untucked as he stood on the lush, red carpet below the staircase. The candlelight illuminated a bluish tint off his hair, the shade now similar to his dark blue eyes.
"Ruki-kun?" The name seemed to naturally flow from her mouth without a second thought, despite her having never met this man before. Confusion was written on her face, mixing with slight fear. "…Why are you here?"
"Livestock. How dare you make your master wait?" said Ruki Mukami, the velvety timbre in his voice captivating. "It looks like you have to be disciplined."
Yui backed against the wall as he advanced toward her.
Ruki grabbed her arm. "Who would have thought that this special existence we're looking for is such a mediocre woman."
He leaned closer. Yui's eyes widened. "S-stop!"
"Don't resist, Eve," he said, parting her hair to the side. He grabbed the hand that flung towards him and squeezed.
Yui winced. Ruki bowed his head and sank his fangs into her neck. A tear slipped down her cheek. The coldness she felt was familiar, yet at the same time, it was a pain she had never gotten used to.
She suddenly saw red beyond her blurred vision.
"…Ayato…" she weakly mustered.
Ruki stopped. He slowly retracted his fangs and sighed.
Guinevere tilted her head, her wet hair sticking to her cheek as the rest spilled down one shoulder. Droplets that clung to her black strands could easily be mistaken as glass pearls, some losing grip and leaving dotted patches on her rose-gold robes.
"As much as my job involves you," she was saying, "I need you to move."
She received a chuckle. "Your behaviour is no different here. You always treat me as though we're strangers."
Guinevere looked slightly displeased. "Well now, that's an over-exaggeration, isn't it? But, that doesn't mean that I'd be thrilled if you showed up uninvited in my property."
Kou sighed. "I've already been through this with your other…relatives."
Guinevere raised a brow. "You're quite informed."
"So I am." Kou was almost gloating.
"…Clearly, you haven't changed regardless of your whereabouts, either. Now, please move aside."
Kou's grin flattered a little. "Aw. I was hoping you'd forget about that."
"Kou-kun."
The sweet scent of blood grew stronger. Guinevere's eyes widened.
"Already?" Kou muttered. He noticed her complexion and stepped forward.
"…You look a little pale, Guinevere-san," he said. They were barely an arm's length apart.
Guinevere blinked. "I'm glad you finally noticed."
Kou gave her a look. She then softened. "But for that, thank you."
He stared at her. After a few seconds, he reached out and placed a palm on her forehead.
Guinevere stepped back. Due to my feeding withdrawal, I really don't want to do this but…She closed her eyes and teleported.
Kou's hand fell limply at his side. He looked down, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "She slipped past me again, huh?"
"Get off her."
Ruki looked at the redhead before him. "As I thought, I felt irritated the moment you opened your mouth."
"Are you deaf? Get off her." Quick like lightning, Ayato was suddenly next to him. He grabbed Yui's wrist and tugged rather harshly.
She tumbled face first into his chest. It took her another second to catch her breath, and she wrapped her arms around him, pressing against him in desperate attempt to flee from the man whose fangs were buried in her neck mere minutes ago.
Ayato glanced at her shaking figure. The scent of her blood hit him. He levelled Ruki with a heavy look before he tilted his head to position himself where her bite mark was.
Yui jolted as he licked her wound. Then, a wave of panic took over her.
"N-no." She began beating his shoulders. "Ayato!"
It was like bashing a brick wall. Ayato eventually moved, wrapping an arm around her waist. He glared at Ruki, who looked anything but pleased before he disappeared.
"Will you stop struggling?!" He cried once Ruki had left. "I'm not going to feed today!"
Yui halted her struggling. "You're…not?"
Ayato clicked his tongue and released her. "Well, do whatever you want. So long as you're not near Guinevere."
"…"
Upon receiving a questioning expression, Ayato turned towards her. "She doesn't wanna suck you dry, you know?"
"Wh-what?"
"Listen. That woman hasn't fed in weeks. I'm surprised she could even walk."
Yui began fiddling with her shirt. "I…did offer her to…"
She was unsure whether or not her eyes were playing tricks on her, or if it was her first time seeing such a thing from him, but it appeared to her that he was sulking.
"She refused, right?" Whatever expression he made was replaced by hopefulness.
Yui nodded, a bit baffled to speak. Ayato immediately looked satisfied, and she wondered what went through his head just now.
Kanato was fuming as he trudged down the dark hallway. He had to walk to rid of his anger somehow, as the absence of his stuffed toy did nothing to tone it down. He only stopped when he reached familiar, white doors.
He wasted no time to barge inside.
Guinevere whipped her head around. Her eyes were glowing.
"…Kanato?"
Kanato's eyes widened upon seeing her on the floor, gripping her bed's footboard. She was hunched over, her face unnaturally pale and sparkling with beads of sweat.
By the time she finished blinking he was beside her. His touch on her arm and back was gentle.
"I told you, you can't just keep on going like this," he said, his voice strangely quiet. His head gradually lowered until it rested on her shoulder.
Guinevere ran her fingers through his soft hair. "Well, I won't have much longer to go."
Kanato inhaled sharply. He tightened his grip.
"I'm sorry, sweetie, that was too far. I'll be sure not to let this happen again."
She was greeted by silence, then, ever-so-softly, she heard a sniffle.
"Kanato, please look at me."
Slowly, Kanato raised his head. Guinevere caressed his face between her hands, rubbing a tear away with her thumb.
"Honestly," she said, her eyes warm. "I won't let things go this far next time. It's far too exhausting for my liking."
Kanato silently looked at her. He then sighed and slid his shirt aside, tilting his head to further expose his smooth, pale skin. Knowing that declining his offer would deem her words as insincere, Guinevere bit his neck and began gulping greedily, feeling the sanest in a while.
A/n: Yas. I cannot thank you lovelies enough for reading this! I hope you guys enjoyed some (if not all) aspects of this piece, and I'm looking forward on improving even more of my writing as I progress. I'll also post the 2-3 chapter of Cecelia and Cordelia at some point proceeding as well, and I'll send you guys the link. A bonus chapter is coming up too, so look forward to that ;)
Once again a million thanks for your support! See you!