"You have to accomplish that within 72 hours." Aki added as soon as they were inside her room and he locked the door.
Casey tried so hard to compose herself. If Aki sees that the mission is difficult for her because she feels something for the noble vampire...
"W-what if I wasn't successful? Are you going to kill me?" She had to ask.
Aki moved towards her and reached for her cheek. He lowered his face to hers that she could feel his breath on her face. His eyes are penetrating, as if he's looking for something inside her.
"Not yet, ofcourse." He smirked. Casey felt the push to strangle him.
"What do you mean?"
Aki let go of her and straightened up. "You're not the only one working for us against your will."
That's when Casey remembered the serum and the guards who are under its control. She's got no escape.
"Is it hard?" He asked. He can sense reluctance and he's not liking it.
Casey felt something hard behind her, the back of her head ached a little when it hit something. She realized she was pushed into the wall. Aki's hands were on each of her shoulders, his face so dangerously close to her. Desperation and anger exuding from his eyes.
His mouth claimed hers in a second, kissing her forcefully. She felt disgusted and rage settled on her head. She pushed him and slapped him so hard.
Aki saw her eyes transforming into that of the vampires. For a moment there, he forgot she's already one. He'd do well to remember that because hell, her slap is painful. "You fucking like him!"
"It's my problem." She uttered with disdain.
Aki pulled out his anti-vampire gun and pointed it on her head. "If you don't kill him, I will. And I'll make sure he will suffer... like Kozlov."
Casey's eyes widened upon a realization. "It was you!"
A proud smile formed on the hunter's lips as he returned the gun on its holster. "It was me alright. He's my second pureblood."
"So killing him wasn't a mission?" She asked.
Aki laughed like a lunatic. Gone is the sweet and humorous hunter that he was showing to the others. Here is a man consumed by power and vengeance. He may look like a human but it seemed like he's already lost his humanity. "The fool saw me meeting with one of ours in the forest. Our guy was on his black suit and I was giving him instructions on the attack and even handed him a blueprint of Cross Academy. The others were just waiting for the go signal. But Kozlov attacked us. So I had no other choice. He saw my face."
Casey remembered the pureblood's state when she saw him. "You didn't just murder him. You tortured him."
"It was necessary." He reasoned.
"Necessary? You're worse than them. Who's the monster now?"
The hunter clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. "We were supposed to just capture him and use his blood but then we found one of ours in the forest, in a cave... tied and hidden. She told us some purebloods captured her and tortured her for information about Dr. Hill and the whereabouts of our group and our leader." He paced. "Either Kozlov really didn't have anything to do with it or he's just a good liar and chose to risk his life than divulge his involvement."
Well that was news. If it wasn't for Dylan and them finding out that some purebloods are also out to get them, the attack had succeeded. The academy wasn't prepared. Zero, Kaito and Kuran Kaname was misdirected.
"We have to be careful in here. I say it's Kuran and his band of nobles who abducted Kaya."
"Kaya Murasaki?" She asked.
Aki nodded. "The very same."
Kaya was her partner. They went through training together. They were frenemies. Always on a competition with each other.
"Where is she now? Is she okay? Is she under the serum?"
With Aki's smile, she knew Kaya was willing. She had a tragic back-story. Her family was attacked too, leaving her and her brother orphaned. "You'll see her soon."
She nodded. "How exactly are you going to get rid of all the vampires? They are strong when they're together. They have gifts."
Aki's left brow hiked up. "So interested now, aren't we?"
She bravely meet his piercing eyes. "I have to know what I'm getting myself into."
Aki laughed as he spoke. "This is classified information. Even the one I told you earlier, considering you haven't proven anything to us. But I'll give you a clue." He walked towards the door and Casey knew he's leaving, thank goodness. "The unfed mother of vampires." Casey got confused. "Her blood is going to end them atleast just turn them and we'll do the finishing touches when they're not so strong and powerful anymore." He opened the door and before he left her to digest everything he's told her, he warned; "I'm watching you, Casey."
When he was gone, she sat weakly on her bed. She needs to know more about their plan. And the only way to do that is to accomplish the mission and prove her loyalty.
"Mother of vampires... I don't understand." She muttered, her head aching now. "Turn them... they're already vampires. Turn them into what?"
When her head is about to explode, she shook her head trying to sort out her plan. She should not worry about the future of the vampire race for it's not her problem. First she needs to figure out how to...
Shit! This wouldn't be difficult if I stayed away from him.
Takuma shouldn't have interfered in the first place. This wouldn't have happened.
I can't kill him, can I?
0-0
Morning:
"You are not on the expected visitors list." Says one of the guards.
"That's absurd. Kuran Kaname is expecting me. I'm from the Vampire Council." The messenger showed his identification.
"Let him in." The voice ordered from behind the guard.
"But-" The guard paused when he saw ice crawling from his feet upwards. He saw Kuran glaring at him then to the visitor.
"No need for that." Kaname told the messenger who broke his eye contact on the guard's leg.
The messenger cleared his throat. "I just need a few minutes and I'll be gone."
"Okay." The guard agreed. "But the organization will know of this."
Kaname chose to ignore the guard because he's about to lash out on him but realized it will only complicate things. "We'll speak in my room." The pureblood lead the way.
As soon as the door was closed, the man pulled out a letter from his suit's secret pocket. The response Kaname has been waiting for from the elders.
The seal was still intact, ofcourse. He opened and read it that instant. The council has been bent on gathering information about the killings and they've been preoccupied with tracking the culprits.
When he went to Kyoto with Takamiya and Kiryuu, it was to salvage any and all possible leads he can find in the area. Although the entire building was set to self-destruct, he managed to get a hard-drive. All the data was deleted, as expected but the council found source codes. It took a while and that's what he had been waiting for. The letter indicated that the codes found were the feeds of the messages sent from the base 7 minutes before the system was shut down.
It was sent to Cross Academy.
And there's another thing. They now know who the traitor is.
0-0
Enid opened his eyes slowly. He's feeling better but different, like something has changed within him. But he can't figure it out.
Julie was right beside him and he saw Finn on the corner.
"I'm going to kill that hunter." He grunted as he sat up.
But the two didn't comment on it instead they remain looking at him, both lost in whatever they are thinking.
"Hey! I'm awake." He snapped.
It was Finn who spoke first. "You smell different."
"What kind of different?" He asked whilst assessing his own condition. His senses that used to be over-sensitized are a little off today. He cannot hear and smell as much as he used to anymore.
"Like a human." Julie said.
Enid's face darkened. "That's insulting, Julie." He warned the brunette pureblood.
"They've requested for a specialist from the organization. He'll check on you." Finn informed him.
Julie moved closer. She raised her wrist near Enid's mouth. "Get some, so you'll recover fast."
Enid stared at the treat offered to him. But surprisingly he's not thirsty.
0-0
"Here's the list." Kaien handed the list to Aki.
Just in time, Anja stormed into the door. "Can I come?" She asked, still catching her breath. "Casey told me, and I haven't been to town, please?"
"Let's do a rain check on that one, because Aki, Yuuki and I already got this covered, okay?" Kaien smiled at the girl who's stubborn face intimidated him.
"I'll help each one of you." Anja insisted.
Kaien looked helplessly at Aki who looked away, meaning to butt out of the drama.
"Uhm, okay here's the thing." He cleared his throat. "If you can get Zero to come to look after you, then you can come with us."
Anja puffed her cheeks. "Yuuki gets to come with Aki and you but I can't? I'm not a child."
Kaien arranged his eyeglass and composed himself. "Not exactly."
"What?"
He motioned for Anja to come stand with him by the window. Both of them looked down and saw three of the nobles from the night class waiting outside the car with Yuuki and talking to each other, laughing at something Aidou is telling them. Anja stiffened, she admires their friendship. Yuuki is not going alone then.
Kaien smiled secretly. Zero is never going to agree to be with the night class.
"This looks fun. Give me five minutes!" Anja said and dashed out of the chairman's office.
She pushed the door of the library to find Kaito, Mr. Yagari and Zero talking so seriously but now all eyes are on her. "Sorry. This is important." She marched towards Zero who is now glaring at her. She remembered what happened last night but chose to brush it off because it will only distract her.
"What is it?" Zero asked.
She reached for his hand to hold it but the hunter moved it away. A scene that did not escape the other's peering eyes.
"Chairman, along with Aki, Yuuki and the other nobles are going to town to buy things for the ball and I want to go with them."
"No." Zero coldly said then he turned to Yagari's direction dismissing the girl.
Selene took a deep breath. "You promised to bring me anywhere I want to go when you get back from your mission in Kyoto. It didn't happen." She fired and Kaito nodded when he remembered hearing that promise from the silver-haired hunter on the train. "So I'm going and you have to approve of it because Mr. Cross won't let me unless you do or I'll have to go without you because you can't be true to your words."
Kaito laughed but got shushed by Yagari. "Oh snap."
"Are you blackmailing me?" Zero uttered, trying so hard to control his temper.
Selene raised her proud chin. "Call it what you like, but that's it!" She quoted what he said the previous night, then she turned to get out of the library.
"Shit." She heard Zero murmur and then Kaito's laughter that other hunter has been trying to stop.
0-0
The tension inside the limousine was very palpable. Rima, Ruka and Aidou sat on Yuuki's side while the Chairman, Aki and Anja were on Zeros'.
Zero feigned indifference though inside he's boiling. Beside him, Anja was looking outside the window and enjoying the view of the woods and the sea.
The chairman cleared his throat. "Okay, I divided the list into three." He handed each lists over to Yuuki, Aki and Anja.
"I'm going alone right?" Aki asked.
"You're going with me. Ours will be the food." The chairman told him. Aki only groaned. "This ball is going to be the most glamorous and fun party that the Academy has ever seen." He has his hands clasped together as he starts to woolgather.
Yuuki scanned their list and knew that they have the designs. She then looked at Zero then to Anja who's still reading their list. She couldn't help but recall that before, it was her and Zero that's always tasked to do chores and shopping for the chairman.
"Wow, we're buying fireworks." Anja gasped and turned to smile at Zero who only stared so fondly at her.
Yuuki had to look away but Anja called her attention. "Yuuki, what's Kaname-kun doing?" She asked.
"H-he has a visitor from the council." She replied. She feels uncomfortable under Zero's stare, it's like he doesn't like Anja talking to her. It's not rocket science to know that Zero doesn't want others especially Anja to know he's feeding on her.
Anja opened her mouth to speak again but the car already halted and the driver announced their arrival to town.
As soon as Anja stepped out of the car, she smelled the aroma of pancakes from one of the stores and couldn't help but follow it.
The chairman was giving his instructions and their timetable. Yuuki saw how Zero followed Anja around and how he grabbed her hand. He leaned to whisper something into the girl's ear. Anja smiled at the hunter and said something then suddenly Zero let go of her hand.
The thought that despite Zero's aversion from her because of what happened two years ago, he still chose to accept her blood so that he can stay beside Anja; makes her sad to some extent.
The want to bring back what they had before seemed so impossible now that Anja is here... or rather now that Selene is back in his life. They both go way back even before she met Zero and it seemed like they have a deeper connection than she and the hunter.
"Yuuki-sama." Aidou called her attention.
She turned and made a face at the blonde noble. "Yes? Aidou-sama?" She put emphasis on 'sama'.
Aidou scratched the back of his head then he cleared his throat. "Uhm, Yuuki... where do you want to go first?"
0-0
"I want one of that, and that one, oh and that blueberry one too!" Selene pointed at the ones on display. When the girl gave her the first one after it was wrapped, she immediately took a bite. "Oh this is sooo good!" She even closed her eyes to savour the taste.
"You taste better." Uttered the hunter beside her. The food she was swallowing got stuck somewhere in her esophagus, she had to reach for the bottled water on display.
Red tinted her cheeks and she felt the heat taking place all over her face. She glanced at the sales girl who was still busy wrapping her other orders. She lightly hit the hunter on his shoulder. "You really have no shame, don't you?"
Zero only leaned to whisper on her ears. "I'll take you over food anytime."
Selene pushed him to give him her angry look. "You're not touching me again remember?"
The corner of the hunter's mouth twisted in amusement but before he was able to speak, the sales girl interrupted them.
"Here's everything and it's 175 yen." She handed them a paper bag.
Selene took it and was about to pay for it when the hunter said, "I got this."
"Are you sure?" She asked.
Zero only stared at her as if he's insulted. "Do you think I'm not being paid for my job?" He didn't let her answer. "As a matter of fact I earned more than I can spend for the rest of my life from missions and the inheritance from mom and dad." He sounded a little boastful at the beginning but at the mention of his parents, his voice lowered and his eyes clouded.
Selene wanted to lighten up the conversation so she pretended impressed. "So you're rich now."
Zero shrugged as he inserted his hands in his pockets, "Just enough to start anew."
When what he said registered to her, they were already outside the shop and walking on the sidewalk. She stopped to look at Zero properly.
'You made me want to live again.'
It dawned on her that when the hunter told her those words before, that he was thinking of the future. The future that's only another hunting day before she came back for him. Another day to bask in anger and vengeance.
It's like something warm enveloped her heart that she wanted to cry. She remembered waking up from her long sleep and thinking only of going back to Japan to live with the Kiryuu's. But after finding out about the attack, being with Zero became a mission to her. Even if the Midnight Society is against it, she stood for it, because she can't imagine her future without him. She felt happy for bringing him back into really living again. And she wants to spend the rest of her life with Zero and no one else.
'Cripes! This isn't love, is it?'
Of course she loves Zero. But to take that it's no longer as a family but... She looked down. Her whole body is trembling. There are butterflies wrecking havoc in her stomach. Her heartbeat is too loud and too fast.
"What's wrong?" Zero asked, worried at her reaction. Her face paled and she looked like she just got skunked.
She suddenly felt the urge to kiss the boy. So when he leaned down to her, she snaked one arm around his neck and pressed her mouth to his. She took advantage of his momentary shock and kissed him deeply before letting go of him.
"Get a room!" Yelled one bypasser.
Selene giggled at the look on Zero's face. "You said 'you' won't touch and kiss me again... But it means 'I' can."
Zero gritted his teeth. "So you're really not telling me?" He looked really serious now.
Selene took a deep breath. She doesn't wanna do this but he's really ticking her off with his poking. "I'm not sure of what you want to hear from me, Z." She started explaining. "Two years worth of my experiences and events can't be talked about in one sitting. I don't even know if they'd be interesting enough for you. I told you what I think you should know and I know you did the same thing. But you, you have seven years... I wanted to know about what really happened from your perspective, about your parents, Ichiru... and Kaname and Yuuki." There she said it. "Tit for tat, Z."
Zero clenched his fists. If that's all that she requires to spill her secrets, then she shall get it.
When the silver-haired hunter turned his back on her, she wanted to yell at him. There he goes, demanding her of her little harmless secrets while he's keeping mum on his own. "Where are you going?" She called him but he didn't even manage to spare her a glance. He just continued walking like a careless hotshot. "Z! I swear I'm going to leave you and find the others." She threatened but he didn't bulge. Her eyes widened when he entered a car dealership store.
'Seriously?'
Pissed at the hunter's indifference, she puffed her cheeks and crossed the street to sit on the bench there facing the store. She tried to focus on enjoying her waffles and ignoring the hunter and his insoluble behaviour.
But she couldn't go on eating in peace. This doesn't happen a lot considering how much of a foodie she is, but the hunter made her loose her appetite.
She heard the sound of a car engine coming closer. It was becoming stronger by the second and suddenly there was a woosh followed by a tiny screeching of a car when its brakes were pressed plus the wind on her face made her raise her head. In front of her is a very sleek red sports car and she couldn't help but gape at it. It just looks so good that even if she doesn't know much about cars, she knows a luxury car when she sees one. This one is called a Bugatti.
But when the heavily tinted window revealed its driver, she just stared at a pair of lavender eyes with mouth agape.
"Get in." He ordered as if nothing happened like fifteen minutes ago.
As much as she wants to hop in and drive around town with him, she just couldn't shake off his nonchalance. "Are you buying that?" She asked.
"Do you want me to?"
Selene looked at the heavens, silently praying for more patience. "I'll pass. I'm going to find the others." She stood and already started walking away from the hunter and the beautiful car he is driving when arms enveloped her from behind that stopped her from taking another step.
Warm breath tickled her nape even through her hair and she stopped breathing when he pressed his body to her. Zero kissed her neck, unmindful of the curious eyes of the townspeople. "You're getting in the car or I'm kissing you everywhere I want; right here, right now."
Zero felt her body stiffening, not sure if it was because of what he was doing to her or because he is already so angry at him. He only grinned in expected triumph.
She struggled herself free from the hunter's arms as she marched exasperatedly to the car. Before she pulled the door open, she heard his commanding voice again. "Beside me."
She whispered the same words as she mimicked him while making faces but still following him afraid of what other shameless things he would do if she disobeys him. As soon as both of them was settled inside the car, he started the engine and had the car speeding into the streets in a moment.
"Where are you taking me? This is not part of today's plan, Z. The chairman will freak out if-"
"You're with me. He won't do such thing." He answered confidently.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll know... Eventually."
Selene shut her mouth up determined to ignore the hunter. But after more or less twenty minutes, the road that they're taking started to become familiar to her. Her earlier slacking position changed, her back straightened and her eyes glued to the town they are entering.
The familiar wooden sign on the side of the street confirmed her suspicion. She turned so quickly to Zero's direction that it's a miracle she didn't get a neck injury. She couldn't formulate a coherent question or any sentence at all because her throat started to tighten at the sudden nostalgia that's taking over her is deflecting her ability to speak.
At the view of her old school and shortly after they passed through the river park where she first met Anja, she felt drowned in her childhood memories. Of the times before she found out she is a blueblood.
"You want to know everything?" Zero said, his voice sounded hard and emotional. "Let's go where it all started."
0-0
The watch on his wrist beeped. He looked around to see if the chairman is around and when he saw him poking the meats on the shelf and asking questions to the butcher, he went outside and walked towards a very small alleyway beside the meat shop and pressed the button to hear the incoming message.
'All is set for the happening. Zeus wants the digit in the army. Mission Orion is a go.'
After listening to the coded message he let out a chuckle. He thought Mission Orion was a great idea in the first place and knowing that he was given the mission after it failed the first time was just perfect. He will impress the president and he'll lead his own team in no time. Goodbye being a lousy double agent spy.
He was just about to get back inside the shop when something sharp pierced his nape and all of a sudden his body went numb and his vision blurred. But before his consciousness left him, he heard a familiar voice.
"Take him back to the academy, I'll deal with the chairman."
0-0
A/N: So there, a 4k chappie... Not bad huh hehe I'm just in the mood so here goes... I hope you liked it and I'd like to read your comments and reviews. Sorry for the typos, again I'm writing this on my mobile phone(of course lame excuse) but I tried my best :)