Die a Human or Become a Monster
Ruka's Komori's Room
Nighttime, she saw.
It was nighttime when she woke up from her pleasant dream. Only to remember the nightmare she currently was in.
She was trapped in mansion filled with creatures once to be believed as fiction: vampires. And she was prey to their queen.
She was going to die here, she was certain. For it was promised by Yui herself and Ruka believed her. Sighing, she got up and got herself ready for the first night of her end. Once she was clean and dressed, she noticed a note and knife on the drawer. Curious, she read the note.
"This knife you is for you. It is your only way to escape this fate – Yui Sakamaki". She blinked, confused. Escape? From what?
"Hello there" a voice suddenly announced.
"Eep!" Ruka jumped as turned to face a brunette.
"Did I scare you?" the vampire laughed, "You must be the new girl." Ruka just slowly nodded.
"I am not going to bite" the brunette laughed, "My name is Mai, what is yours?"
"R-ruka" she answered.
"Relax, will ya?" Mai shook her head, "You can trust me, honestly."
"I mean, you just appeared out of nowhere, so..." Ruka chimed.
"I do that to every new human that arrives here" Mai said while rubbing her shoulder, "Just to make a point that you never have true privacy or safety."
"So there really is no escape" Ruka mumbled.
"Unfortunately, no" Mai said with a frown, "None of us brides could escape, except through death."
"Brides?" Ruka first asked.
"Brides were human women selected to be potential partners for Sakamaki princes" Mai explained, "There are four of us: Yui, Sara, Akane, and myself. The empress will be the fifth and you will be the sixth."
"But now you're vampires...wait, I am selected to be a bride?!" Ruka gasped in realization.
"Yes, although you're an odd case" Mai answered, "One of the brothers was killed a century ago, so there really is no need for a sixth."
"I see" Ruka simply replied. So she wasn't going to die, at least not as mere prey.
"The fact that knife has given to you is proof that you're meant to become one of us, if you can handle it" Mai remarked.
"I don't understand" Ruka frowned.
"The process of making a pureblood vampire from a human shell is slow and torturous" Mai answered, "Should you be unable to handle your new reality, that knife will guarantee you will die a human."
"So...my only escape is death" Ruka looked down at the knife at her hand. At present, she knew she couldn't end it right here and now.
"Best you make up a decision soon, because becoming a monster without the support of a mate can crush you harder than death" Mai warned.
"I can't" Ruka admitted, "Suicide is wrong, even if it's my only salvation."
"I see" Mai sighed, "Anyway, Yui isn't available to give a rundown on your life moving forward, so I will instead. Come, follow me to the rose garden." Feeling she could trust Mai, she followed her to the rose garden.
Captured by the beauty around her, Ruka did her best to remain attentive to the conversation in front of her.
"As the Queen of our race, Yui is a very busy woman. So you will be her aide and will be expected to do everything she asks. Even if you don't want to" Mai explained.
"Even if you don't want to?" Ruka raised her brow.
"There are certain things she will make you do without your consent" Mai sighed, "But she gives the illusion of choice, as to mold you."
"How sadistic" Ruka shivered.
"Quite, although that's true for all vampires to an extent" Mai said while rubbing the back of her shoulder, "Even myself."
"Great" Ruka muttered, "This is a nightmare and it's only day one."
"When your prey can hold a honest chat with you, it's expected" Mai shrugged, "You will understand in time."
Ruka paused at that comment. Somehow, she could grasp Mai meant already. She was having a honest conversation with a vampire, who was resisting the urge to dine from her.
If her fate is sealed, then she will be faced with a similar scenario in the future.
"This rose garden is magnificent" Ruka diverged, "Who manages it?"
"Sara and her husband Subaru" Mai smiled, "Sara is a leader in the biology community, has been for the last 245 years."
"245 years?" Ruka yelped.
"Did I just hear someone talk about me?" a voice called out.
"Sara!" Mai exclaimed, "I thought you and Subaru went out for a movie?"
"Just came back" Sara laughed, "Ah, you must be the new girl"
"This is Ruka, Yui's new aide" Mai answered, "She will be living with us from now on."
"Living with...oh I am so sorry" Sara said before extending her hand, "Nice to meet you". Ruka just shook the cold woman's hand.
"Now Mai, I've already told you. We're coming up on my 225th anniversary of my 20th birthday" Sara pouted.
"We're eternally young, what's wrong with saying our age?" Mai shook her head with a small smile.
"I know, but still" Sara said.
"Not to be rude, but stating your age in that manner when the anniversary is 3 digits does seem silly" Ruka chortled.
"Not to be rude, but a delicious morsel as yourself is no position to tell me how to describe myself" Sara retorted with a dangerous smile. Ruka gulped at her mistake.
"Alright ladies, your age is meaningless" Mai rolled her eyes, "But for the record, both Yui and I are 400 years old, Sara is 245, and Akane is 100."
"Ah" Ruka squeaked.
"So, 'aide' huh?" Sara said, "I guess if Kanato was still alive it would be more accurate to call you a bride."
"Indeed" Mai replied.
Sara put her palms between her nose and closed her eyes before speaking once more.
"It's already difficult enough to fall into our world with a partner, I can't imagine doing it alone" Sara frowned.
"So I've been told" Ruka muttered.
"All the mental and physical anguish you will face can't be described, but experienced. Having a partner, who also contributes to the madness, is the primary life line. You don't have that luxury, so I can't see this ending except in tragedy" Sara said while puckering her lip.
"Still...I think I can be someone you can fall back on" Mai interjected, "Sara too. Just be wary when we're in the presence of our husbands."
"Do I dare ask why?" Ruka stepped back.
"Let's just say they bring out our vampiric tendencies" Mai admitted, "Then we act more like Yui."
Ruka just shivered at that statement.
"Akane is the most human of us" Sara piped in, "She will be your best ally, when she decides to be active."
"I...see" Ruka hummed.
"Speaking of Akane, she and Shu will be back from their trip in Romania" Mai snapped her fingers, "Tonight would be a good night for a family dinner."
"I think Reiji is already planning one now that the empress as agreed to become a Sakamaki" Sara answered.
"Really? Well I guess we will include Ruka's induction as well" Mai said.
"No, there' already going to be a lot of fanfare with the empress" Sara shook her head, "It's better if Ruka is the smallest subject at the table."
"Is there something wrong?" Ruka asked with a tilted head.
"Erm, let's just say our family is really dysfunctional" Mai sweat-dropped, "And by dysfunctional I mean wanting to strangle each other over petty issues."
"Oh" Ruka looked down at the nearest rose.
This was her life now, wasn't it?
A/N: Mai is an OC made by Shadows4Twilight, who let me insert her in this story. Thanks!