Rasenchuu (螺旋虫)

(Luna's perspective)

A month has passed since my encounter with Alec. Icy is nervous, Seth has decided to stay with us at the Cullens' Forks home, and Victor nags at me to feed in order to keep up my strength.

Nothing exciting happened.

I did not understand why Seth wanted to stay with us… he wouldn't say. I have to wonder is he actually did imprint on Satsuki, and it was so inconspicuous, nobody, not even his packmates realized it.

Satsuki's ashes were safe… before the Cullens left for Denali, Carlisle had shown us a hidden room behind a wall panel in his study. Her urn rests in that room… the only other ones who know about it are Esme, Edward, Jasper, and Alice. The room was intended as storage for all their previous identification records. Jasper was the one who helped Victor and I acquire "paperwork", proving we were "Mr. and Mrs. Victor Brandon" when I went to start up Lolita Valentine. The fashion line seems like a far away memory now…

We had received a letter from the Palmers' attorney, threatening legal action if I didn't surrender Satsuki's cremains, just days after the confrontation at the memorial. After that, there has been nothing. I would not give in…

On a cool summer evening, Victor wanted to go out on the town. I guess he thought it would take my mind off things. If that was the case, he really didn't know me that well...

I was still considering Alec's idea. Revenge… make them all pay!

Then another thought came into my head, one I had ever since my "rebirth"… the red eyed demon destroying everyone in sight. Even Icy showed fear when I told him about my newborn days. To be honest, it's almost exactly like the fear I sense in him now.

Edward had tried to talk to him… explaining that Victor is a traditional vampire, and he is not a raging serial killer; later told me he didn't think it did any good.

Icy… I worry about you.

I don't want to become a bloodthirsty creature, but too many people hurt Satsuki. If it is human nature to hurt others, to take innocent lives with no repercussions, then I no longer wanted to put up a front for them.

The humans were just a food supply to me.

I was glad Seth did stay though… Icy likes him, almost as much as Jacob. That meant the pair could remain at the house, while I gave in to Victor's whim. I don't think Icy wants to think of him as a babysitter, but it is what it is.

One perk to being a vampire in the 21st century… the humans thought Victor's blood red eyes were part of a costume. My gold irises were less noticeable, but still a unique color. We simply looked like a couple of cosplayers who didn't realize the local Comic-Con had already passed.

As Victor and I walked among the humans… still scarce due to recent events… and I glared at them through my dark sunglasses. Men, women, children… all colors and creeds… they were all capable of hurting others; animals as well… not just human beings.

Such heartless monsters...

"It's really cool tonight, Ruby.", Victor said, snapping me back to reality. "It's like that night Kei found me."

It was then I realized that I had followed my mate to the rooftop of a three story office building, closed for the evening.

"Kei?", I inquired, never hearing the name before. Who was she?

"He was kind of like what Carlisle was to you… a mentor, a friend. He showed me the ropes after I escaped from Nettie."

Ah… Kei was a man… for a split second I thought he was an past lover...

"I came across Kei, while in a thirst fueled frenzy.", Victor explained. "He kept me in check until I had become more… in control. All I know about him is he came from Japan, and he was quite the ladies' man."

"Why did you part ways?", I asked. "When did you part ways?"

"I can answer the last question first. It was right before I got tangled up with… her. Maybe if I had stayed with Kei, none of that would have happened..."

"We may have never met then…", I replied. "I would have lived a boring human life, married someone I didn't really love, and been tied to him for life through the children I would have been pressured to bear for him. Humans..."

That last word… humans... brought that dark feeling back. Human scum… humans hurt our friend Satsuki… repeatedly.

Destroy them… make them all pay.

"...as for why Kei decided to go off on his own, total mystery.", Victor continued, beginning to laugh. "Maybe he thought I was a cock-blocker!"

As Victor laughed at what he had just said, I looked down from the rooftop.

A woman was being smacked around by a man. Both were well dressed, possibly coming out of one of the nearby structures.

"What's going on?", asked Victor, gazing down. "Maybe we should lay low, and get away at the first chance."

The man continued smacking her, and she finally retaliated… scratching his face with her long French manicured nails. I could smell the blood unleashed from his cheek.

"We need to get out of here..."

I continued to witness the altercation. Then, at some unknown point, the well dressed woman with lethal nails was replaced.

The man pushed her to the ground… it was Satsuki… in one of her created dresses, like the ones I used to wear.

Even in death they still hurt her!, I thought. I have to do something!

Without a second thought, I leapt from the roof, and lunged for the man's throat.

"RUBY!", Victor called out.

I didn't care… my rage and new-found thirst for human blood was too overpowering. I didn't even care that the woman was on the ground, and that she would come to and see this bastard's fate.

I remember being so close to him, feeling the blood pumping through his veins, his scent was clean… a feast to one who hadn't been feeding regularly.

I had been starving… grabbing his hair and forcing his head to the side, I sunk my venomous teeth into his neck.

It was a blur… maybe there was screaming, I don't know.

This bastard belonged in Hell, yet his blood was heavenly.

I drank him until nothing more passed through my burning throat.

It was a blur after that…

The next thing I remember is Victor coming up to me. "Are you alright, Ruby?"

I was still on a high from the blood, the sensation, long forgotten taste had me in ecstasy. I glanced over at the woman… she was in a trance.

Victor had used his gift on her. She would have to die in order to keep the secret.

"I feel…", I choked out breathlessly. "I feel alive."

Us Against The World.

A/N: Chapter title (English translation: Spiral Snail) comes from the song by Buck-Tick.