Hello everyone! I'm sorry! T.T Idk why this chapter was so hard for me to get out! . And I've been reading manga and watching anime instead of writing, so I'm sure that hasn't helped manners. I finally got this out though! I hope you guys enjoy it!
Warning: Towards the end of the chapter, there is a scene that some might find uncomfortable. Remember this is Laito, and he doesn't care about getting consent. It's not a lemon.
I hope you guys enjoy! Thank you all for being so patient with me! ^.^ I truly enjoy reading all of the reviews you send! They always make my day!
Words can't describe how utterly frustrated Mai is. She can feel herself starting to sweat from the amount of effort she's putting into squeezing between the bodies around her. Is there more people here than before the door closed? How is that even possible? The most infuriating part is the fact that just as she catches sight of Cordelia, she seems to disappear back into the crowd, leaving Mai scrambling after the elusive vampire in a desperate attempt to catch her.
This all happens after she looks directly at Mai with a frustratingly teasing grin. She is doing all of this on purpose, and Mai is at her wit's end.
At the sound of someone saying something over invisible speakers, Mai finds her attention, along with everyone else's, drawn toward the stage where the musicians are playing. They halt their music almost instantly. Once everything is quiet, Tougo claps his hands together once and says happily. "My friends, shall we start the true party? I see that none of you have used the dance floor. I believe it's time to do so. Don't be afraid! Dance, drink and eat to your heart's content!"
Mai finds herself gritting her teeth and turning her attention to the crowd. She could have sworn she just saw Cordelia a few seconds before the rude interruption. Her hope is with everyone distracted, she might be able to slip closer than ever before. A shudder runs down her spine, and she finds herself whipping around to look over her shoulder. She swears she can feel someone watching her, but she doesn't see anyone even sparing her a glance.
"The night isn't even half over! Let's work up a sweat," Tougo says playfully. Mai glances in his direction. For a heart stopping second, it almost appears like he's looking directly at her. She has to forcibly tell herself there is no way he can pick her out of the crowd. "I believe everyone needs a chance to dance, and it appears everyone is here. Shall we dance and party the night and day away?"
There is a roar of approval that drowns out all other sounds. The way he spoke sends a jolt of fear through her chest. Was she going to be locked in this crowded room for 24 hours? Why else would he say day? She twists and shoves her way through the crowd in the direction she remembers seeing an exit in. The closer she gets the stronger the sinking feeling she has. They wouldn't be locked in, would they?
She's bumped into and almost knocked down before a hand wraps around her elbow. She's wrenched upright in a painful manner. She bites back a whimper and turns to face her savior. Words of thanks die in her throat upon finding familiar purple eyes staring back at her. Every hair stands on end, and she attempts to retreat a step. Unfortunately, the crowd is still worked up, so she's bounced right back into Kanato.
He releases a grunt and snaps, "Stupid woman."
She quickly pulls herself away once more, but she decides hovering close is the best bet. The last thing she needs right now is to end up face first in Kanato's chest once again. He's already in a foul, and she doesn't think she's improving matters. She offers him a small smile, but it clearly doesn't help his mood. Frustration covers every inch of his face, causing her panic to mount. Thankfully, an idea pops into her mind. Without a second thought, she reaches out to gently take his hand in her own. Despite his look of apparent disgust, she powers on by saying. "Did you see the amount of sweets they have here, Kanato?"
His eyes narrow, and he pulls his teddy bear closer. Thankfully, it seems as if he's actually listening. She offers another smile and says as cheerfully as she dares. "Let's go get some."
He doesn't respond, but he doesn't rip his hand away from hers either. With one last look over her shoulder in the direction of the doors, she resigns to gently weaving her way through the crowds to the dessert table. It seems much easier this time around, as people seem to notice Kanato and part the way for him. To her surprise and relief, the table looks mostly untouched. She glances behind her to see Kanato's reaction, only to find him glowering at the desserts. Her heart sinks, and the panic starts once more. Fighting it with all her might, she clears her throat and realizes her hand is still gently holding his. Trying not to make it apparent she doesn't want to hold hands, she slowly releases Kanato's. Unfortunately, he doesn't let go. His hand squeezes hers to the point of pain, causing her to release an involuntary gasp. "Ah, Kanato."
His cold, purple eyes turn to look at her, and every hair stands on end. Somehow, the air around them seems to become warmer, though she's sure it's just her imagination. "You were planning to run away, weren't you?"
Much to her surprise, tears start to form in the corners of his eyes. She only manages to croak, "Ah."
"Why do you hate me?" He asks in a watery voice. He sniffles a little and lifts Teddy up to his face. "What have I done wrong?"
"Ah," she stupidly says again. She flinches when he sniffles louder this time. She glances around at the people who seem to be enjoying themselves before turning her attention back to him. A splitting pain rushes through her head and memories she doesn't remember making float to the surface. It's all she can do to fight the pain. Purple floods her vision, and an intoxicatingly sweet scent floods her senses, making her mouth water.
The pain disappears just as fast as it appeared. To her horror, Kanato's nose is almost touching hers, causing her to jerk back. An amused smirk spreads over his face, and he rocks back on his heels. All traces of tears are gone, making Mai wonder if she imagined them in the first place. His voice is nonchalant when he demands. "I want cake."
She barely keeps herself from glaring at him. Much to her relief, his hand finally releases hers. She quickly moves over to the table in an attempt to escape him for even a moment. She almost hesitates for a moment, but she's decides it's probably not the best idea to keep him waiting. She grabs the first piece she comes across along with a plastic fork. She barely glances at it to see that it's red velvet before she makes her way back to Kanato. He's now leaning against one wall watching the excited party goers. Mai finds a shred of relief for her feet upon leaning against the wall beside him. Thankfully, he takes the cake without a fuss after carefully resting Teddy on the ground beside him. An uncomfortable silence falls over them that's broken when a male approaches and starts to ask Mai to dance. She's saved from the need to deny him by a cold look from Kanato. The man stutters an apology before hurrying to disappear back into the crowd. Mai glances at Kanato out of the corner of her eye to find he's glaring at her now. She swallows hard and tries to force a smile, but it's quickly erased when he demands another piece of desert before he even finishes his cake.
With a sinking feeling, she wonders if he scared off the man so he doesn't have to exert energy to get his own desserts. She wanders over grabbing a small plate and choosing a couple different things this time. She returns to hand it to him. Thankfully, he once again takes it without a fuss. Her calves give a painful throb, and she finds herself peeking at him from the corner of her eye, silently wondering if he'll be angry if she takes her shoes off.
Without warning, the lights lower until the room is dim. The only area still bright is the stage where the musicians continue to play without missing a beat. Despite the wave of caution threatening to overwhelm her, she finds herself carefully sitting down and pulling the edge of her dress up to look at her feet.
"I hate these," she hears a muttered voice beside her. She turns her attention upward to find Kanato glaring angrily at the crowd. Unsure what to say, she returns her attention to the crowd. For one heart stopping second, she thinks she sees a flash of red and green. Thankfully, it doesn't led Laito appearing, though the chills refuse to go away. "So many people and smells. It's suffocating."
Kanato's voice has raised a pitch, giving him a whining sound to his voice. Despite the chills, Mai's relieved to not see Reiji floating around. She glances at her feet once more. Without really thinking about it, she says softly. "I hate huge crowds too. They're like sheep."
Her shaking fingers stumble when she tries to undo one of the straps on her shoes. If Reiji isn't floating around her, she isn't going to wear these. Her eyes lift to scan the area again just to be safe before landing on the desert table. It has a long tablecloth, which will make it the easiest place to hide her shoes from Reiji. She hears a soft sound from beside her and turns her attention back to Kanato to find he's now sitting on the floor. Unease threatens to overwhelm her, but she finds the tension unnecessary. He seems fixated on something in the crowd. She doesn't bother looking in that direction, though. Instead, she uses all of her concentration to quickly get her shoes off. The relief is immediate, but she doesn't stop there. She gently massages her feet and ankles, flinching at the specks of blood seeping through the thin cloth around her ankles. She's barely able to bite back a gentle groan of pure pleasure once her feet stop aching.
"Do you have to be so noisy?" Kanato's now grumpy voice draws her attention. Her heart skips a beat before she realizes something. His mood may have changed, but he hasn't actually done anything to her. With a frown, she turns to look back at the crowd. Her heart leaps into her throat, and hope floods her chest. This night might be even better than expected. It doesn't seem like any of them are keen on harming her, at least not in full view of the public. Maybe she can find someone who'll be willing to help her? She flinches and pushes the thought away. If they are here, they're likely friends of the Sakamaki family. She glances back at Kanato but she doesn't get a chance to even think of something to say before she hears someone calling her name.
A very missed and familiar voice.
Her head snaps around so fast that she feels faint for a moment. She doesn't dwell on it though. She's on her aching feet in seconds, though her shoes lay forgotten beside Kanato. She rushes into the arms of someone she misses terribly every day. Her mother's arms wrap tightly around Mai, almost squeezing the breath out of her, but she finds she doesn't care. Without realizing it, both her mom and Mai sway back and forth while letting out sounds of joy. Two, stronger arms wrap around them, securing them in an upright position. Mai peeks over her mom's shoulder to find her father standing there, though he doesn't look happy. She brushes the thought away and squeezes her mother even tighter. "I missed you!"
Tears form in her eyes, and she doesn't even bother trying to hold them back. She just buries her face in her mother's shoulder. Something seems off, but she can't exactly pinpoint it. The uneasy feelings are easily ignored in favor of hearing her mother's voice. "I missed you too, sweetie!"
After a few more sweet moments, they all seem to come to a silent agreement and separate. Her mother doesn't even hesitate to leap into all of the new experiments the two of them have been working on in their absence. Strangely, her father remains silent throughout the whole conversation. The more her mother tells her about their travels through places like Hong Kong, Singapore, and more; the more she finds herself wanting to go with them. Without warning, she gives her mother puppy dog eyes right in the middle of her mother's story about Australia. "Can I go with you?"
Her mother falls silent immediately and casts an uneasy look at her father before turning back to Mai. "Oh, sweetie. I don't know. You don't know the languages. It's hard on your father and I, and it'll be even harder jumping from school to school."
Mai stubbornly shakes her head. "It'll be fine, mom. I'll be fine. I promise!"
"Tougo promises us that he'll take care of you while we travel," her mother says in a gentle voice that clearly means no. Tears threaten to choke Mai, but she pushes through them. She has to make her parents understand. She just has to!
"No, mom. I miss you guys so much! Can't I come with you? I can be homeschooled or I'll try to learn the language. I can't be the only foreign exchange student! Please, mom!"
"Sweetie," Mai's mother says softly. Mai's eyes snap to her father to see a rare, serious look on his face. Her heart skips a beat, and hope threatens to overwhelm her.
"I think we should bring her with us," her father says not moments later. Mai can barely contain her excitement.
"But," Mai's mother says, but her father cuts her off.
"She's a smart girl. She'll be able to adapt just fine, and she has a point. People switch countries with children more than you think. I think this will be a good thing. She'll learn other cultures; that'll look good on a resume or an application to college. Besides…" His voice trails off, and a stern look takes over. "It's not sitting right to just leave her here."
Mai can't even find the words to express her gratitude. She lunges at her dad and wraps her arms around him. Unfortunately, her enthusiasm is short lived when she remembers her mission to help Yui from the monster possessing her. She tries to push the feelings away, but the nagging feeling returns. Something's wrong with this situation, but she still can't place her finger on it.
"I'm glad to see the you two have made it!" A cheerful voice calls over the sound of the music. Without a moment's hesitation, Tougo sweeps toward them, seeming to materialize from the crowd. He stops beside Mai. Before she has a chance to even think, his arm wraps around her shoulder, and he gives her a playful squeeze while pulling her into his side. "I'm so happy you all are able to catch up! Family is the most important thing in the world!"
"Mr. Tougo!" Her mother says excitedly. She playfully sweeps into a curtsey, but it doesn't escape Mai's notice when her father stiffens. She tries to lean away from Tougo, but he just pulls her back. He gives her parents an embarrassed smile.
"I hope your travels are treating you well," he says in an almost business-like tone, but it still somehow seems gentle. "I just want to tell you how proud I am in your place for your dear little Mai. She's so smart and such an amazing help to my family. It's a true pleasure to have her around!"
Mai's eyes snap to look at the side of Tougo's face. He sounds truly proud, almost like she's his own daughter. She can feel the frown tugging at the edges of her mouth, but she doesn't get to say anything. Her mother cuts in. "Oh, I know! I'm so grateful that I had her! She's such an amazing child! She always has been!"
Mai turns to find her mother looking at her with a loving expression on her face. Despite herself, Mai feels her cheeks starting to burn. She mutters softly. "Knock it off, mom."
It doesn't appear she's been heard though, since Tougo says, "I just want you to know that you have nothing to worry about. I've taken care of her living arrangements, and she's still doing very well in school. I'm sure I can get her report card brought forth, if you'd like to see it."
"I wanted to talk to you about that," Mai's father cuts in before anyone else can say anything. Mai's eyes turn to look at her father, but she finds herself distracted by movement to her left. She turns her head in that direction, and her attention becomes split at the most crucial part of the conversation.
Her heart leaps into her throat when she finds out what is distracting her. Between the moving bodies, she catches sight of red and green. Laito is staring straight at her with an indescribable look on his face. A smile touches his lips. One that can only be described as cold, bordering on crazy. Her heart gives a painful throb, and she can feel a cold sweat break out on her skin. Someone moves in her sight path, and he's gone. An overwhelming feeling to run takes over. She's being hunted. How had she forgotten that? Her eyes snap back to her parents, and she cuts right in the middle of their conversation. "Hey, I just saw my friend. Remember her? Yui? I'm going to go talk to her now."
She twists away from Tougo without waiting for her parents to say anything and hurries into the crowd in the opposite direction she'd last seen Laito. It deosn't stop her from feeling like she is being stalked. She thought she'd be safe with so many people around. Kanato hadn't done anything to her. With a sickening feeling, she finds herself wondering if Kanato is more rational than Laito. That can't be the case can it? She shudders at the very thought and wiggles her way around a group of people only to freeze in her tracks. Red hair is the first thing to catch her eye. Cold green eyes lock with hers, and she finds it impossible to breath for a moment before she realizes it's not Laito. Her relief is almost tangible. In fact, she even lets out a whoosh of air.
"Ayato," she mutters. He grunts at her before turning his attention elsewhere. Mai casts a quick glance around before shuffling closer to the vampire. She starts to follow his line of sight before movement distracts her. She turns to look back at him only to find him towering over her with a cold glare on his face.
"What the fuck are you doing?"
"I… Um…." How can she explain she's hoping his presence will keep Laito away? Somehow, she doesn't think he'll appreciate that particular response. They're twins, but they don't seem to share a particularly close bond. If she were to be honest, she's positive they hate each more than she's ever seen someone hate another. His eyes narrow even more in very visible anger.
"Get the hell away from me. You reek."
Anger fills her stomach. For one, almost blissful moment, she's able to forget about her Laito situation. "Like you smell much better."
It's true though. A strange sour smell emanates from him. She can't quite describe what it is though. She feels her nose wrinkling, and her stomach starts to churn. He makes another grunting noise before something seems to catch his eye again. This time, she doesn't waste any time when she follows his line of sight.
She wishes she hadn't bothered to look.
In a corner of the room, Cordelia is surrounded by several men; a seductive smirk on her face. One man is leaning into her with an arm around her waist. He leans over to mutter something in her ear, which is followed by Cordelia lightly pushing on the man's chest. A coy smile takes over her face. Movement draws Mai's attention, and she reflectively wraps her arms around Ayato's arm. Under her breath, she hisses, "Wait!"
His furious green eyes snap to her, and it's all she can do to hold onto him. Still, she's afraid of what he might do if she did let go. She gives him her best cold look and says. "What are you planning to do?"
He rips violently on his arm. Despite holding him with all her strength, he seems to easily break free. "Get the fuck off."
Mai doesn't hesitate to grab his clothes. "I said to wait!"
Ayato's hand comes back to swat at her, causing her to let go for a moment. It turns into a strange struggle of grabbing hands and slapping sounds.
"You two are making a scene," a cool voice states behind them. Both of them turn their attention to the voice to find Reiji glaring at them in clear disapproval. His hand moves to push his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. "This is a party. Rough housing isn't allowed."
"We were-"
"Fuck off, Re-"
Reiji raises a hand, halting both of their voices. His arms slowly fold over his chest, and Mai finds herself looking at the floor between her feet. Shame starts to swell in the pit of her stomach. With a jolt, she realizes she feels like she's being lectured by her dad. Her eyes shift to look back in Cordelia's direction. This is her chance to get close. What is she doing?
"Mai." Her name is spoken directly into her ear, causing her jump. She takes a couple of steps away before turning to look at Reiji. He is frowning at her in a way that makes her heart sink to the very pit of her stomach. He is leaned downward slightly, though he straightens. A flick of his hand causes confusion to well up. "I'll deal with your punishments later. For now, I'm going to punish Ayato."
Mai finds herself glancing in Ayato's direction only to find him gone. Her heart leaps into her throat, and she turns her attention back to Reiji. With a quick nod from him, she finds herself dismissed. She wastes no time in hurrying away. She's not sure if Reiji noticed Ayato's absence, but she isn't about to wait around to find out. She feels her confidence lower with each step she makes in Cordelia's direction.
All too soon, she finds herself standing before Cordelia and her small group of men. Panic rises in her chest, and she realizes she has no idea what to say. All their eyes turn to face her. Her throat goes dry, and she feels like a fool. Her hands clench into fists, and she finds the edge of the bottle digging into her skin. Why is she still holding this thing? How did she not drop it during her scuffle with Ayato? Everything feels almost surreal. Green eyes, so much like her two sons, stare at Mai. Mai's mouth goes completely dry, and all she can do is stare stupidly at Cordelia. Time feels like it begins to slow down around her. Everything snaps back into focus when two slender arms wrap around her waist, and she is pulled into a hug.
"Hello, dear!" Cordelia playfully says. She buries her face in Mai's neck. Her breath tickles the skin there causing Mai to cringe. The hug becomes bone crushing, and Mai can't seem to catch her breath. The soft words spoken into her ear sends chills down her spine. "You are such a poor replacement. Such terrible quality; has his standards fallen so far?"
She feels a nose brush along her neck. Her eyes widen, and her breath hitches. The vampire before her no longer feels cold. She closes her eyes and tries to keep her mind focused on the task at hand. Unfortunately, she's unable to say anything before Cordelia's gentle voice cuts through the air. "If you'll excuse me, my dears. It seems my wonderful friend here wants a dance!"
Her voice is coy, bordering on playful. She gives them a sickenly flirtatious smile that ignites anger in the pit of Mai's stomach. This is Yui's body, but this bitch is using it however she pleases! Yui's a sweet girl who tries too hard. A girl who's strength many doesn't see and has an unwavering faith in the world around her. How dare this woman do this to such an innocent person! She manages to find her resolve once again. The small vial in her hand feels heavy and reminds her of the mission she has. All other thoughts leave her mind.
She has to do this. She has to trust Reiji, and his quirky knowledge. The second Cordelia pulls back, Mai smiles at her. The vampire takes her hand, and the two sweep towards the now crowded dance floor. Unfortunately, the beat changes to a waltz like tune, and Mai's heart sinks. She doesn't want to get close to the woman in front of her. She doesn't want the poison to be discovered, or it'll be the end of her mission.
Once again she finds herself wanting a lot of things, but she's not sure how to get them. She doesn't get much of a choice to do or say anything before Cordelia smiles coldly at her. "Can't dance my dear?"
Mai grits her teeth. It's clear the vampire before her is taunting her. After a short breath, she says softly. "It's not that… I just… wanted to talk to you. Not dance."
The flash of a fangy smile sends tendrils of unease down her spine. Couples seem to sway around them, expertly missing the two of them. It almost seems as if it's scripted for a movie. Everything and everyone is perfect in every sense of the word. Not one hair is out of place. Time slows once again. Cordelia leans closer until her mouth is beside Mai's ear. She whispers softly. "Did my sweet stepson give you something to deal with me? Poor boy. He thinks he is so smart, but I have always been one step ahead of him and his foolish mother." She reaches for Mai's frozen hand. This is it. It's all over. How can she get the poison into the vampire's system when she's aware of what is happening? Mai closes her eyes tightly. Is this how it all ends? Her being unable to do a single thing to save her only friend?
An arm loosely wraps around her waist, and she is pulled back into a solid chest. A calm voice gently says. "Forgive me, I would like to take her for a moment."
A large, hand closes over her own, securing the poison in her grip. Her eyes open, and she risks a glance over her shoulder to see who came to rescue her. Blue-grey eyes seem to be calmly observing Cordelia. Mai's heart sinks. Why is Ruki here? She honestly doesn't have a lot of experience with him, so she's unsure of what to expect from him. Her gaze snaps back when she feels a body pressing lightly against her own. She finds herself being sandwiched between the two vampires. Cordelia lifts a slender arm up over Mai's shoulder to trace Ruki's jaw with the tips of her fingers. Her voice is gentle, almost innocent. "You must be my husband's newest toy. Quite a handsome little thing, aren't you?"
Her chuckle slowly turns into a playful laugh when Ruki doesn't respond. She clicks her tongue and presses harder into Mai. The girl is positive she's been forgotten by the two of them. Cordelia presses her face closer to Ruki's. Her voice is barely audible. "Why do you want to play with such an inexperienced girl? I promise I can give you much, much more."
Ok… That stung a little. Maybe she hasn't been forgotten. Her cheeks burn at the implication the female vampire easily said in a room full of people. Anyone could have heard her. Mai watches the woman from the corner of her eye. Ruki must have made an amusing face, since Cordelia throws her head back and laughs. Much to Mai's surprise, she takes a step back, leaving Mai in Ruki's still loose hold. She makes a come here gesture and turns to walk away. Mai hesitates for a moment while watching the vampire warily, but Ruki's cold voice in her ear jumpstarts her. "You will not have another chance."
Mai glances over her shoulder when Ruki pulls away. She inhales slowly and turns to follow after Cordelia. For one heart stopping second, she notices someone from the corner of her eye. She glances in that direction just as a couple passes in front of her gaze. Her heart freezes. She's positive she has seen Laito again. The thought causes her to shudder. He's stalking her; letting her think she has gotten away before he reappears just to torment her further. This game of his is just a joke to him. A joke they both know she'll be on the losing end of.
She happens to glance over her shoulder to find Ruki following her. He doesn't appear to be paying attention to her. Despite his inattention, she finds a shred of relief in his presence, even if she doesn't know him well. She won't have to face Cordelia alone this way. Another sight causes her to stop. Leaning against one wall is someone she never expected to see here. He is leaning much like Subaru usually does. In fact, he is wearing the same sneer the silver haired vampire usually wore.
Shiro. She doesn't get time to dwell on it though, since Ruki nudges her. She turns her focus back on the task at hand. She doesn't have time to worry about a broken friendship. She doesn't have time to dwell on her possible end. She has to do something about the here and now. She has to save her friend. She glances over her shoulder once she catches up with Cordelia. Ruki easily and elegantly weaves his way through the crowd behind her, causing her courage to swell. All too soon, they appear before one of the doors that lead to a small break room. Mai's heart leaps into her throat, and she feels like she can't breathe. She follows the petite vampire into the room without a second thought.
The door closes behind her with a soft click. She glances back expecting to find Ruki there, only it's not blue-grey eyes she finds. It's emotionless green eyes.
"This is what you choose to replace me, my dear, sweet, little Laito?" Cordelia coos at him. Mai's heart drops. Her support system is gone. She frantically searches the room for anyone else to rely on, yet she finds nothing but terror. Ayato is hovering in one corner with a clear snarl on his face. Sitting in a chair swinging his legs is Kanato. He is humming a hauntingly familiar song under his breath. He looks just as emotionless as Laito does, almost like they are broken dolls.
And she is caught in the center of this dangerous family reunion. With a sinking feeling, she watches Cordelia walk toward her. Relief is instant when the vampire passes her, but she doesn't dare look back. She flinches when she hears the sound of kissing. A vicious growl leaves Ayato's throat. Mai's gaze turns on him, and pity wells up in her chest. He looks so furious and hurt. She wants to comfort him, but she knows nothing she says or does will help.
Icy cold realization floods her. She's sympathizing with someone who has tormented her and her friend? Perhaps Shiro's right. Perhaps she is losing her mind.
Two arms wrap around her shoulders from behind, and a girlish giggle reaches her ears. Mai turns her head just in time to see Cordelia rest her chin on Mai's shoulder. The vampire gives the girl a toothy grin.
"How does it feel? To become less human? I was born this way, so I don't really know. This girl has never truly been human, so I don't think I can compare that to what you are feeling right now." There is a chilling laugh that accompanies those haunting words. Cordelia proceeds to lightly nuzzle her cheek against Mai's, making the situation even more uncomfortable. She says softly into Mai's ear. "Or do you not truly know what is happening to you? Oh, you poor, stupid, little thing."
It's dizzying to realize how much the triplets are like their mother, whether they realize it themselves or not. Mai swallows hard, but she doesn't answer. Her mind is spinning with the horrible realization and confusion. It's not like she trusts her voice not to break anyway. Cordelia spins away with a laugh and moves to sit in one of the chairs lining the walls. It doesn't escape Mai's notice that Cordelia chose a seat where she can see Ayato clearly. She flicks some hair over her shoulder and waves her hand at Kanato. "Come, my beautiful, little songbird. Please give us a song while we talk. It's been so long since I've heard your voice. I'm getting chills just thinking about it."
She visibly shudders before she makes a gesture in Laito's direction. Laito doesn't even need words, he just drifts over to settle on his knees before Cordelia with a euphoric look on his face. His hands slowly reach out to start taking off her shoes.
"Are you going to Scarborough Fair…." Kanato's hauntingly beautiful voice fills the room, causing Mai's mind to go reeling back to a time she almost forgot. The time she heard him singing in school and went to investigate. It seems like a lifetime ago. A time when she was fully human. A time she was somewhat happy. "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme. Remember me to one who lives there. She once was a true love of mine."
Cordelia's voice cuts through the haze in Mai's mind. She lifts her gaze to look at the blonde vampire. The woman smiles gently and patiently repeats herself. "I assume you've been seeing women in white?"
A cold sweat breaks out over Mai's skin. How could Cordelia know that? She chooses to try to keep any emotion off her face. She knows she is failing miserably, the smirk on Cordelia's face tells her so. The woman gently pats the chair beside her. "You poor dear, come settle beside me. I'll explain everything my foolish husband seems to have forgotten to."
Time seems to have halted. The very air is suffocating. Sweat rolls down Mai's spine, and all she can do is stare at the blonde vampire before her. The only sound in the entire room is Kanato's voice as he switches from song to song, but he never stops singing. Mai's eyes lift to meet Ayato's glowing green ones. It's clear he's furious, but she wants to imagine she sees a hint of pain behind those green orbs. It makes him seem almost human to her. That small action fills her with determination, though she's not sure why. No matter what happens, she'll try her best. With a renewed sense of purpose, she turns her gaze back to Cordelia. Yui's still in there, and Mai will figure out how to get the poison into the woman's system. She swallows hard and moves over to settle beside Cordelia. The vampire scoots closer to Mai, making the girl tense. Her arm loosely wraps around Mai's waist like Ruki had done, and she rests a head on Mai's stiff shoulder. The girl closes her eyes tightly, trying to remember to breath. She's been in worse situations before. The female vampire using her as a pillow is the least of her worries. Her fingers fiddle with the bottle in her hand. How can she possibly administer the liquid to the woman beside her? Cordelia already knew she had it. She feels cool breath brush her neck, and she squeezes her eyes even tighter. She hears a soft sigh directly in her ear. It takes all the resolve left in her body to not flinch away.
"Laito's scent clings to you. He has always had such a wonderful scent. My favorite out of those three atrocious children." Mai slowly opens her eyes to find Ayato's furious gaze locked onto them. Her eyes meet his, and she can see the pain hidden behind the fury. It's almost as if his mother slapped him, still he doesn't make a move. She knows he isn't stupid. They have to play this just right, or they'll lose their chance at saving Yui. Mai jerks upright when Cordelia moans gently into her ear. She inadvertently glances down to find Laito is massaging Cordelia's feet. A dark blush spreads over Mai's face at the erotic sounds Cordelia is feeding directly into her ear over something as simple as a foot massage. She tries to lean away, but the vampire pulls her back. "Laito is amazing, isn't he? Even though he has nothing but air between his ears. So much like his father. Only knows how to think with that thing between his legs."
She tenses when she feels Codelia's nose trace her jaw. This whole situation is awkward and uncomfortable. She glances down when she feels something brush her ankle. Her eyes meet Laito's for a moment, and her mouth goes dry. His eyes close, and he moves from rubbing Cordelia's feet to her ankles. The vampire leans back in her chair and sighs happily. "You've been around those filthy vampires though. I can still smell that one who foolishly thought he was helping you. It's insulting."
Confused for a moment, Mai turns her gaze back to Cordelia. The vampire opens her eyes to smile pleasantly at Mai. They seem to be watching each other for a moment before it clicks. Mai hesitantly says. "Oh… you mean Ruki?"
Cordelia leans up in her chair with a sigh. "Yes. My husband's newest pets." She stretches her arms over her head with a gentle sigh before she lifts a hand. Kanato's voice stops on cue and Cordelia turns to Mai once more. "I pity you; I truly do. You were stuck with my pitiful children. Kanato is good at nothing other than singing."
Mai feels a small shred of anger, when she listens to woman belittle her own children. Cordelia laughs playfully, ignoring Mai's discomfort. "That is to say nothing of Ayato! He should have been the next heir, but he lost to that stupid woman's child!"
Mai turns her gaze to the wall. She can't stomach listening to the woman talk so rudely about her own flesh and blood while using Yui's innocent face. Mai's fingers ball up in her dress and she squeezes her eyes closed. "I… um…. I see, but you mentioned….."
The mocking laughter makes her want to curl up in a ball and hide. Fingers trace her spine through her dress, causing her back unwillingly to arch. She's on her feet before she realizes it, turning to face the woman who stole her friend's body. Cordelia is using the back of the chair Mai just vacated to prop her arm up. She rests her temple on the back of her knuckles. Cordelia's vivid green eyes narrow a little, but she's clearly happy she got a rise out of Mai. Her voice has changed from the pleasant one to more mocking tone. "My dear, you are so stupid. No wonder Laito is drawn to you."
Humiliation floods her, and she clenches her fists. Cordelia doesn't seem to notice, or if she did, she doesn't care. She just continues to speak. "You brought this upon yourself. If you had stayed away from this girl, you would have lived a happy normal life. It may have been boring, but you could have grown, got married, had spawn of your own."
She shifts in her seat before leaning back with another sigh. She lifts her hand, and Kanato resumes singing where he left off, leaving the room feeling even more eerie with his haunting voice. Another flick of the wrist, and the lights start to dim. Every fine hair on Mai's body stands on end. This situation is practically screaming danger. She's in a bad spot, and she's positive the only ally she has is Ayato. The thought isn't as comforting as she hoped it would be. Cordelia's voice cuts through her thoughts. "You've become increasingly immersed in our world. A human cannot withstand it without lasting side effects."
She chuckles in a mocking way. "It's over, girl. Your humanity is slipping through your fingers as we speak. You can't go back to a life bathed in the light."
Vivid green eyes meet Mai's own, and she feels a tingle of fear run down her spine. She knew something was changing inside her, but it doesn't change the fact it's a bitter pill to swallow. Cordelia's happy smile just rubs salt in the wound. "Soon, you'll be finding yourself craving blood. It's not complete yet, but all you need is one little push. That's all."
Cordelia's hand moves down to run her fingers through Laito's hair, and she plays with the ends. "I'm sure that little push will happen tonight."
Mai's foot slides back, and a cold, primal fear opens in the pit of her stomach. Cordelia's laughter rings in her head like an echo in an empty room. The vampire says in a playful voice. "You caught the eye of my son, and that sealed your fate. My husband threw this party simply to welcome you to the family. Poor naive, little one."
Mai feels like she's suffocating. Every pair of eyes in the room is on her. The bottle almost slips from her limp grasp, but she manages to tighten her fingers at the last moment. Tears blur her vision, and she finds herself asking softly. "My parents…."
Cordelia clicks her tongue in annoyance. "Dear, do you really think they'll get a say in this? My husband is a powerful man. This is not the first time he has kidnapped a woman. It won't take much to wipe your very name from the face of the earth. A child who died before reaching adolescence. Polticitions cover up plenty of misdeeds, and this will be no different. Parents who grieved for their lost child and lived as if she were still alive. That is one way, or there is sending them away as he has been doing. You'll grow, and he'll find a way to make it appear as if you are happily married into the family. The possibilities are endless."
Mai shakes her head hard. This is a sick trick. The vampire is trying to get into her head. She inhales through her nose and exhales slowly through her mouth in an attempt to calm her frayed nerves. She has a job to do. A job to save her friend. She opens her eyes to watch Cordelia. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Laito has hiked the woman's dress up over her knees and is now massaging her lower thighs. She hears a dangerous growl behind her from Ayato. The air feels like it's crushing her lungs, but she still pushes forward. "Women in white?"
Her voice is a horrible squeak, almost like nails on a chalkboard. Mai barely keeps herself from flinching at the sound, but it amuses Cordelia. She releases another mocking bout of laughter before she shoos Laito away with a flick of her hand. The red haired vampire makes a soft whining sound, but he draws back. Mai feels a pang in the pit of her stomach, while she watches him hover over Cordelia. Thankfully, she's able to push the troublesome feeling away. Cordelia leans back with a gentle sigh and closes her eyes. "Let's see…. Where do I start?"
It only takes Cordelia a moment to decide where to start. Time seems to slow to crawl while Mai gets a history lesson on the Sakamaki family. She tells Mai of her own linage as the demon lord's daughter, and how she fell for her husband, though the details are a bit obscure. How she was unable to give him a child as quickly as he would have liked. Her tone becomes bitter when she talks about the other wives. She tells Mai of the triplets' childhood. Cordelia claims to have given her children everything they could have ever wanted or needed, but Mai feels there is plenty of information left out. Especially with the dark look that passes over Kanato's face a few times, but it's gone just as quickly as it appears. Any time she interrupts to ask about the women in white, the vampire starts her story over. The entire time, she looks more and more amused by Mai's frustration. Finally, it seems she's getting to the point. "My husband is powerful, but even he knows one day he'll be dethroned. I'm not sure exactly what his plan is, but he's searching for a certain….. Someone to take up his mantle."
Her voice softens. "I'm not exactly sure what the reason behind it is, but every few years, he gives the children a playtoy and tells them not to break it. Ultimately, they do break. The women he has chosen are frail and not worthy of the blood that runs through their veins. The poor dears. Each of them suffered at the hands of these boys."
She looks anything but sorry, though her voice breaks as if she's about to cry. Her eyes open and vivid green eyes lock with Mai's. It feels like a fist is being driven into her gut at the next few lines. "The women you see are the past sacrificial brides. You may not be an official one, but they still reached out to you. Pathetic women. They are trapped in their despair. An endless cycle. Stuck in limbo due to dying not as a human, but they could never be a vampire."
She lets out a delighted squeal. "They always try to save the newest sacrifice, but it seems you are able to see them clearer than any other! Perhaps it's because you willingly walked into the role yourself? They tried to save you in the only way they knew how. The fear they felt while alive; they pushed onto you. When that didn't work, they tried more violent means. Those means were meant to keep you underwatch, but you stupidly kept coming back."
Cordelia cruelly snickers. Mai isn't even aware she's speaking until she hears her own voice. "I… I didn't want…. But Yui…. She needed help… and…. And…"
Why had she stayed?! Why did she allow herself to fall into this mess?! Her throat starts to burn when a delicious smell washes over her. Her gaze lifts to find Laito hovering closer than before. His eyes are alight with some indescribable emotion. A light touch to her arm, then he's gone. Her entire body feels numb. She watches him settle beside Cordelia. A loving look on his face, while he leans in to nuzzle her throat much like a pair of lovers do. Mai jumps at the sound of disgust from across the room. Ayato's voice snaps angrily. "You know she doesn't love you, right?! Moron!"
The room grows heavy as Laito draws away from Cordelia to smirk at Ayato. He takes a moment to answer, as if calculating every word. "Don't be such a jealous asshole, Ayato."
Mai tenses and shifts just a little. She hears Ayato's snarl, and her body reacts before her brain does. She pivots and steps right into Ayato's path, causing her body to collide with his. She almost bounces backwards, but she wraps her arms around him to keep her balance. She leans forward pressing all her weight into him to try to slow him down. She hisses in pain when his large hands wrap around her upper arms, squeezing her with a bone crushing grip. Her voice is full of pain when she hisses. "Ayato, calm down! Don't forget what we are trying to do!"
His sour, bitter scent floods over her, and she uses that to concentrate on her surroundings rather than her pain. Her eyes close tightly, and it's all she can do to hold him back. She hears mocking laughter behind her, but she tries to ignore it. Ayato's voice is loud in her ear when he yells. "There's nothing to be jealous of, you perverted freak! She never loved any of us!"
"Ayato, you are being too loud," Kanato's frustrated voice joins the laughter from Cordelia. "Can't yo-"
"Shut up! You're just as bad as the pervert, you fucking crybaby! How can the two of you let her waltz back in here?! She doesn't belong here!" Mai closes her eyes and buries her face in Ayato's chest. She can hear the pain in his voice, and she knows the others can hear it too. It unnerves her to hear anything other than frustration or playfulness in his voice. She wants to say something to reassure him that everything will be alright, but she can't. She's not even sure this will even work.
She hears a soft sound behind her, and Ayato goes limp like a puppet with its strings cut. Unfortunately, she's not ready for it, and she collapses onto her knees beneath him. Ayato is practically lying on top of her. It takes a moment, but she manages to wiggle her way out from under him. The entire time, she can feel his body shaking. Her knees sting from contact with the hard floor, but it's nothing compared to the look on Ayato's face. Terror tears through her when she finds nothing but jealous rage on his face. If she looks a little closer, she can see a sense of betrayal playing at the corners of his jealousy. She risks a glance back, and she understands why. Laito has lifted Yui's small body and moved her to straddle his legs. He proceeds to grip her upper thighs and press a greedy kiss to her mouth. Mai feels her stomach twist in disgust at the obnoxious display, and she quickly turns her gaze away. It does nothing to help though. She can still hear them kissing. She presses her face into Ayato's chest again, but pain races through her arms when she feels his fingernails digging in. Not once had he let her go. It's almost as if she is his lifeline. She pulls back to breathlessly say his name, but she hesitates.
He loves Yui. It might not be obvious, but Mai knows deep in her heart that Ayato loves Yui. He isn't doing anything because he's afraid he'll hurt her. He might torment her and harm her on a daily basis, but he would never risk Yui's life. A lump forms in Mai's throat.
A soft popping sound followed by a blood chilling scream cuts off her thought process. A body collides with hers, slamming her face first into Ayato. Her nose collides with his chin, and pain floods her brain. Something hard hits the base of her skull, and dizziness hits just as hard. She finds herself lying awkwardly over the top of Ayato, while the body on her back convulses. Everything happens all at once. Her body is carelessly flung to the side. She hits her side hard and rolls across the floor not even realizing what happened. She comes to a stop facing Kanato's feet. He glances down at her impassively before he lifts his gaze to look in front of him. She attempts to roll onto her back, but she aches everywhere. Her nose is still throbbing and she can taste blood. The room refuses to stay still and get worse when she tries to move.
She lets out a yelp of pain and shock when her body is lifted. She finds herself awkwardly cradled in a pair of arms just as another inhuman screech fills the air. Mai forces her mind to focus despite the pain in her ears. She musters up all her strength to turn her head in the direction of the screaming. Mai feels every muscle tense in her body when she sees who it is coming from.
Yui's eyes flash back and forth from red to green, though they hover on green longer than red. Blood dribbles from her mouth with every ragged breath she takes, and blood drips from her nose and ears. In fact, it's starting to come out of her eyes as well. Her entire body convulses wildly, and her face begins to pale. Mai attempts to scramble forward to check on her friend. Had Reij lied to them? Was it killing Yui, too? She feels the arms tighten around her, drawing her attention to the person holding her. That's when his scent floods her. His face presses into the skin of her neck, and she feels his breath on her skin. Goosebumps form, and she presses against his chest. "Let go, Laito! What's going on?! I have to check on Yui!"
Her gaze snaps back to her friend. It looks so painful. Her body keeps contorting into odd positions, and she keeps letting out a scream Mai now realizes is both Cordelia and Yui's voices mixing together. Tears fill her eyes. "What's happening to her?! Ayato!"
Blood has been smeared over Ayato's chin, and she's positive it came from her nose. She can feel the blood running down her face. She hopes she hasn't broken it. She twists, but Laito releases a growl she's never heard him make before. She goes limp and turns to look back at him. Her eyes widen slightly. He is wearing his usual grin, but it's darker somehow. With a jolt, she realizes he's very upset. "L-Laito?"
He leans in to whisper directly into her ear. "Did you seriously just call for another man while in my presence? It's my arms around you, not his."
She feels a tingle of fear race through her heart. Is he seriously doing this right now?! Her gaze turns back to her friend, but his fingers painfully grip her chin. She finds her face being turned back. Her wide, frightened eyes lock with his, and she frantically searches for something to say to ease his anger. The second the words leave her mouth, she regrets them. "I thought you liked watching your loved one with someone else?"
His glowing green eyes almost become a darker shade of green. She knew instantly she made a huge mistake. His fingers slide from her chin, and she risks a glance at Yui, only to find her friend still bleeding badly. Kanato is hovering nearby, watching with morbid interest. Ayato is whispering something to Yui's now limp body. Mai feels Laito's arms tighten around her once again, and she finds it hard to breathe. She wiggles hard trying to escape, but she freezes when he buries his face in her neck again.
"I don't mind sharing, but you aren't even looking at me. I did something hard for you, but you want to run to Ayato? What does he have that I don't? What do they all have that I don't?" His voice sounds furious, though the words were clearly meant to sound hurt. Mai has a sinking feeling she is about to pay for her careless mistake. She turns her gaze back to him to find a dark eye glaring up at her from his place snuggled against her neck. He whispers dangerously. "Didn't you hear Cordelia? You're no longer welcome in the human world. You're mine."
Mai's heart leaps into her throat, and she does the first thing she can think of. She slams a fist into his ribs. He hisses in pain, and his grip loosens. She twists in his arms in hopes of breaking his grip. Hope fills her when she escapes the cage of his arms create, but it's short lived when he catches her around the waist again. Her back slams into his chest with a solid thump. The air is driven from her lungs, momentarily stunning her long enough for him to coldly whisper. "It looks like I may have to punish you, but I promise you'll like it."
"Ayato! Kanato! Help!" Mai closes her eyes tightly. She can feel Laito shudder against her body, so she claws at his hands in a desperate attempt to get free. It doesn't come as a surprise to find Ayato paying no mind to her cries for help, but Kanato lifts his purple gaze to hers. The look of morbid curiosity clings to his face, and she knows deep down she won't be getting any help from him either. Her gaze snaps to the door, and her mind becomes frantic. "Shuu! Reiji! Anyone! Help! Please! Someone help me!"
Silence is her answer, but she isn't ready to give up yet. She's not sure why Laito is allowing her to scream, but she isn't going to waste this chance. Her mind searches frantically for others she can call out to. She tries to make her voice as loud as possible. "Azusa! Kou! Subaru! Please! Ruki! Yuma!"
She doesn't get any other words out after that. She hears haunting words whispered into her ear.
"The game is over, love. I caught you. You're mine now. Forever. One little nudge, and you'll spiral into our world. One little nudge is all you need, and I'm more than happy to give you that nudge. You want it, too. I know you do."
The world spins around her, and she feels weightless. He is teleporting her somewhere, and she has a sick feeling she knows where he is taking her. Her body collides with something soft, and her body bounces lightly. She whimpers and tries to scramble back, but a hand closes around her ankle. Her body is drug back down the bed, causing her dress to hike up around her hips. She attempts to slam her legs closed, but she finds Laito's leg between her own. She whimpers and tries to roll, but her wrists are caught and pinned above her head. He only uses one hand to do so, while his fingers trace her lips. Laito's glowing green eyes watch her emotionlessly the entire time. Her body grows still aside from the shaking. She stares up at the vampire above her. That's when it hits her. She can see the same pain in his nearly emotionless eyes that she had seen in Ayato's.
It's almost as if she betrayed him somehow. She swallows hard, almost gagging on the blood in her mouth. Her gaze turns away from his, though she's careful to only move her eyes. The last thing she wants to do is expose her neck to him. She shudders and jerks awkwardly when a knees presses against her sensitive area. Red floods her face, and she returns her gaze to his cold face. "Please don't do this…."
She sounds weak and pitiful, but he smiles at her in a mockingly, loving manner. His hand moves to run his fingers through her hair, as if to pet her. He leans down to whisper against her jaw. "That's the deal. If I catch you, you belong mine. Yet, you called out for everyone else without thanking me for my hard work even once.."
He grinds his knee against her in a lazy fashion, making a jolt of pain and pleasure race up her spine. She closes her eyes tightly. "I don't… understand…."
He sighs into her ear. "I brought your friend back. That silly little potion Reiji gave you. We all knew you had something in your hand. You made it obvious. How could you be so foolish? Did you think you stood a chance?"
His teeth graze over the skin just below her ear, and her back arches. "Ah!"
That's when it hits her. She isn't holding the bottle anymore, though she's unsure of when she lost it. She lets out a whimper when his sharp teeth rake over her skin again. She whispers softly. "But….."
White hot pain halts any further thought. Her head falls back, and her mouth opens in a silent scream. Every muscle unconsciously tenses. She can hear him drinking her blood. She finally releases a cry of pain and struggles for a moment. Laito jerks back harshly ripping his fangs from her skin, and she feels warm blood leak down the side of her neck. Big black dots flood her vision. She can barely see him hovering over her. His hair dangles around his face, and pity fills her.
Why do you look like you are about to cry, Laito? You cause me nothing but pain. You've only ever caused me pain, so why? Why do I feel like I have to hug you? Why do I feel the need to comfort you? She closes her eyes. Her fingers feel numb thanks to his vice like grip. Even if she wants to, she can't hug him in her current position. She feels him lean down once more. His tongue traces her upper lip. She knows she should feel disgusted by the fact he's licking up the blood from her nose, but her body is too tired to care. She's at the end of her rope. She feels every resolve she's ever had slowly slip away. His face enters her field of vision for only a moment. He smiles down at her in an almost loving manner, but she knows it's probably fake. Everything always is fake when it comes to him. She hears movement and numbly turns her head in that direction. Laito seems to take this as an invitation to kiss along her neck, but she doesn't care anymore. Her eyes locked with what appears to be a half rotten woman. Mai can see maggots in one eye and her exposed jaw bone on the opposite side. Her hand is completely skeletal, and intestines spill out of her white dress. They dangle all the way to floor. Mai now recognizes the dress as a bridal gown. She feels pleasure flood her body when Laito's fangs sink into her skin. Her back arches, and she moans softly.
'Forgive us. We tried.' Mai can see tears leaking from the woman's one good eye. The look of pain on her face stirs nothing inside Mai. She closes her eyes to escape the haunting sight before her.
"I don't blame you." Mai's voice is barely audible. She feels Laito draw back. She isn't looking at him, but she can feel him watching her. Her body starts to feel light, and the pain she once felt starts to go pleasantly numb. A tingle settles throughout her entire body. She closes her eyes and begins to relax. "I don't blame you."
Lips touch hers, and the burning in her throat intensifies. Thick, sweet liquid leaks into her mouth. Her body tightens when she feels Laito's hips grind into her own. At some point, he had shifted their positions to make grinding against her easier. She can feel him hardening through his clothes, but she finds no will to fight it this time. She feels a strange tingle run up her spine. It's fear and something else. In fact, it almost feels like something is leaving her body. She lets out a strangled sound which is drowned out when Laito's tongue enters her mouth a second time. The sweet taste floods her mouth, and she feels herself fighting to resist it. She hears a soft voice in her ear.
'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! Please don't gi-' The voice fades away, and for the first time in a long time, she feels as if she's alone. Truly alone. Tears fill and start to leak out of the corner of her eyes. Laito draws back, and her eyes open to look up at him. She can see a darker than normal red in his mouth. His lips are stained red as well. With a sickening feeling, she realizes he must have bitten his own lip, possibly his tongue. Her stomach twists. The sweet taste in her mouth was his blood. The tears continue to cascade down her temples before disappearing into her hair. Was the odd feeling the last dregs of her humanity leaving her body? Laito's free hand moves to wipe at the tears. He smiles down at her. A genuine smile she has never seen before. It makes her stomach twist in so many directions. He leans down to whisper. "One little nudge. She finally told me what I needed to do to make you mine."
His hips grind against hers again, and she releases a small gasp. His tongue returns to licking up the blood from her nose before moving to the blood on her neck. All she can do is lay beneath him numbly. She swallows hard and shifts, but she releases a whimper when he grinds his hips into hers once more. His teeth sink into her neck, but he lazy sucks. The black dots grow bigger by the second. Fear fills her, and she weakly croaks. "Laito… Please…."
He noisily releases her skin before he leans back to hover over her once more. She shudders when his fangs leave her throat. He licks the blood from his lips and gives her a playful chuckle. "Don't worry, you won't die from something as simple as blood loss."
She flinches when something drips onto her face. Her eyes drift to his mouth then widen when she sees he has bitten his tongue again. The intoxicating smell makes it hard to focus. Laito chuckles and leans down. His next words are sure to haunt her for years to come.
"I'll teach you all you need to know about drinking blood. Just relax, sweetheart. Give in."
She tries to fight. She turns her face away and breathlessly asks him. "What happened with Cordelia? That can't be it. It's too anticlimactic. There has to be more."
"Shhhhh, little butterfly." His fingers grip her chin. She resists his attempt to turn her head, but he wins in the end. Just like he always does. Her eyes squeeze closed, and she stubbornly keeps her lips closed. He chuckles and whispers. "It's over, little one. I've won. You've lost. Stop prolonging your pain. Just give in."
She shakes her head the best she can, but all it takes is his fingers hitting the right spots to force a gasp of pain. His tongue enters her mouth and coats every surface with his blood. The taste slides down the back of her throat, making her incredibly dizzy. She closes her eyes, and her entire world goes dark. She feels Laito's lips leave hers and hears his haunting words in her ear as her body grows still. "We'll make up when you wake up. I'll ensure every part of your body is aware of who you belong to. I'll have you singing it to the world. I'll drive the last dregs of humanity from your body with my own. Then I'll tell you what happened. Sleep now, my dear. Sleep and allow your strength to return."
She feels him press a kiss to her temple before her body gives into the sweet darkness.
It's over. She has lost. Why had she fought so hard? What did it accomplish? Where will she go from here? What will happen when she wakes up?
Will this be her new reality?
Or will it be a horrible nightmare?
She's not sure she ever wants to know the answer to those questions.