Chapter 12
Perse got a call from her cousins' guard early Friday morning, a couple hours after the Night Class got back from the main building.
She, Ichiru, Kaname, and Takuma were all sitting in Cross' office, all dressed ready to go to sleep or to lounge around.
Perse had on navy sleep shorts that showed off large portions of her legs with a loose tank top over it, and a simple pair of sliders and no bra. Why would she wear one when she was about to go to sleep straight after this? Made no sense for her to change into this, and then have to take it off again when she went to sleep.
Takuma and Ichiru were the ones who were the most awake out of all of them. Takuma wore a pair of simple trousers and a shirt under a sweatshirt while Ichiru had a similar pair of trousers and a loosely done button up.
Kaname had dark trousers and a grey tunic with the top buttons undone and his hair was like he just ran his hands through it before coming.
Ichiru was smart, having made three cups of tea and a cup of coffee with the help of Takuma. Perse nursed the coffee, having been Magically drained since she had to ward two seperate rooms within the span of an hour today. Her hair was messily done into a top knot she could undo before bed.
The sun began to rise an hour ago, bringing with it the harsh brightness of the blue skies. As soon as a single ray of sunlight entered the office, Perse scowled and flicked her hand towards the window, shutting the curtains with Magic.
"Another ten minutes," Perse stated, her hand over her eyes as she was tired and cranky now. She took a sip of the now cold coffee, not bothering to heat it up again. "Zero and Yuki are with them now on the edge of the school grounds. I'd love it if they would all hurry up already. I'm exhausted and want to sleep."
"You have put up the wards for the triplets' rooms, haven't you?" Kaname asked. "Is that why you are so tired?"
"Yeah, I've put it off for long enough and had it to do it tonight before they came," Perse whinied a little, putting her arms on the table as she leaned down. "I had to cleanse the rooms of Magic from previous occupants and that drained me more than it should have. Cleansing isn't my fortay."
"What is your fortay?"
"Any type of energy, usually electricity and lightning, or other times Magic. Depends on factors." Perse sat up, suddenly even more annoyed than before as she clenched her hands and her cup cracked a little. She sighed, rubbing her thumb against the crack and fixing it with ease. "I just want to go to sleep."
Tsar was sprawling on the floor, curling around one of Perse's ankles with his tail tucked close to her skin.
He was getting a little bigger now. As he spent time with Perse, he started to absorb bits of her Magic, becoming stronger and leaner as he grew to a size between kit and adult. Tsar was the size of a medium sized house cat, a little on the skinner size but he had muscles over those bones instead of fat.
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They finally arrived.
The triplets had dark brown hair with different coloured hair under it.
Usher had dark blue eyes with a navy under hair and a gelled back hairstyle. Bereket had dark green eyes with mossy hair and hair swept to the side. Cera's left eye matched Usher's blue, while her right matched Bereket's green. Her own hair was brown on top with a deep turquoise colour.
Cera was the shortest of them all, but only by a couple inches. Bereket and Usher were mirrored twins. Both had a single mole over an eyebrow while Cera had one on top of each of her eyebrows.
They all looked tired and sleepy, so Perse introduced them to everyone rather quickly before ushering them all to go to bed in their dorms.
Cera would get her own dorm much like Perse, but the boys would share. They wouldn't have to attend class until monday night so they had time to settle in.
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Instead of going to bed, Perse decided to have a nice bath to calm herself because that coffee just made her jittery and she couldn't fall asleep if she was jittery.
And Kaname decided to interrupt her bath.
"Go away, I'm in the bath,"
"How long do you think you will be? I have something I might need to inform you of."
"I just got in," Perse groaned as the red candles around her flickered. "Get in here and talk to me then."
"Is that even…appropriate? I wouldn't want to overstep."
"Witches don't really have a sense of modesty, Kaname. And I'm completely covered by water anyway," She said, rolling her eyes and flicking her hand vaguely to make the door open.
The foot of the large bath was pointed towards the door, the bath's head was tucked into the corner as the shower was to the left of it and next to the sink and counter.
Kaname saw her instantly when the door opened.
Perse had her hair up in a crown braid, keeping it out of her face and out of the pink milky water. The water was unbelievably high, any sort of movement would have made it split but as Perse sat up, the water didn't dare spill.
Kaname came in, closing the outer door to the hall before coming completely into the bathroom to lean against the counter.
"We have a whole festival dedicated to the dear old Lupercalia, a fertility festival similar to Valentine's day but a little more primal and physical." Perse continued, turning herself towards him as she sat up in the pinky pale water, various petals of pink, purple and red flowers stuck to her shoulders and arms.
The bathroom smelt of roses, a dash of lavender, and various other sweet and spicy smelling ingredients which were in the bath.
She leaned over the edge of the bathtub, placing her arms on it as she rested her head on her arms. Her grin showed off perfectly inhuman teeth, considering her heritage. A little too sharp and primal to be Human but not enough to cause concern.
The Witch looked quite like a cat which got the cream, canary, and mouse, all in one.
"So what did you think was so important that you needed to interrupt my glorious bath?" Her eyes glowed faintly silver as she activated her gift, a small surprised 'Oh' coming out of her. "You're anxious. Do tell why…"
"While Witches may not have much modesty, Vampires do,"
She giggled, letting the sound turn into a laugh as she looked at him like he was a strange creature in front of him. It turned from a simple light hearted laugh to more of a chuckle now.
"It's not because I'm in the bath, is it?" Perse chuckled, starting to come out of the water just a tad to lean on her arms more.
By some miracle, or curse perhaps, the various shades of warm coloured petals stuck to her skin. Nothing that she didn't want to be seen was exposed, her chest was barely covered but it wasn't anything that wouldn't have been seen if she was in one of her skimpy bikinis.
Perse flicked her silver eyes between his, watching for any indication. While she could sense the rising levels of warmth in his system along with a bit of arousal, that bit was expected, there was no indication that this was making him any more anxious than if she was completely covered.
"No? Alright," She laid back down in the water. "Pass me the pink salt in that jar and tell me what you wanted to say."
He grabbed the jaw, opening it and scattered some of the rose and lavender scented salt crystals in the pinky water. He stared at her face as he did so, only glancing down her form when he stepped back to lean against the sink.
He began. "As Zero said before, Yuki has been having nightmares recently."
"Fuking teriifising ones, and that's coming from me," Perse muttered.
"Yes," He sighed. "And I think I know the reason."
"And the reason is that she's not completely Human," She shrugged. "She is Human but not in the way she would have been if she was born Human."
"You are correct."
She furrowed her eyebrows in thought. "All I know of someone being Human and not quite completely Human is an Arcane, someone with Magic in them or any Supernatural being, losing access to their Magic."
"Again, you are correct." Kaname said.
Perse watched him with silver eyes, sensing a type of sorrow and pain in him as he lowered his gaze to the grown.
"You are feeling regret." She stated. "What happened?"
"What do you know of the Kuran family?"
"Oldest Pureblood family with a direct link to the first Vampires that appeared on earth,"
"And how my parents died?"
"I don't know."
"Rido Kuran was my uncle, the elder brother of my mother and father. He desired my mother as his wife, and when he couldn't have her, he went after her daughter, my sister."
"Yuki's your sister…" She hummed, turning her gaze back to him instantly. "Did you know Senri is your cousin? Yuki's Magic signature is similar enough that I could see the similarities between them both."
"I did not know that."
"He's probably Rido's son, though I doubt he knows. He has some similar features to you but not enough to see it instantly. If I had a sample of his blood, I would have been able to see it earlier but I didn't."
"Senri takes after his mother more. Now that you have mentioned it, I have heard that his mother has stated that he has started to resemble his father."
"He never met his father, did he?"
"No."
"Let's go back to Yuki." Perse moved in the water, less laying and more sitting up as she wrapped her arms around her legs as she brought her knees up. Petals seemed to slide away as she more or less covered herself with her limbs, exposing her shoulder and the whole scar of her back.
"Her nightmares are probably due to the memory spells our mother had to place on her. It erased her memories of being a Vampire and hid her nature away at the cost of our mother's life." Kaname ran a hand down his face in frustration. "I believe the spell is breaking down as Yuki is getting older and in the company of another Vampire constantly."
"Zero will start his sessions to be Human soon, but I doubt I can get him Human enough soon enough that it wouldn't cause Yuki's memory erasion to be stopped."
"Can you do anything to stop it?"
"I wouldn't even if I could."
"Why?"
"Because Yuki has a right to know who she is!" Perse snapped at him, baring her teeth in a mock smile of a snarl. "Now turn around as I'm about to get out."
The water rippled around her as she stood up, petals clinging to her as she stepped out. Grabbing the matching set of lacy bralette and knickers, she stepped into the lacy black thong before gently tugging the bralette.
She grabbed the silk bathrobe from a peg next to the bath, tucking the left side in before tucking the right over it and tying it loosely.
"You can turn around," Perse muttered, lifting one of the sleeves to her elbows as she unplugged the bathtub and allowed the water to empty.
A hand at her shoulder tugged her around as another went to the loosely done belt.
"Hey! What the fu—"
Kaname glared at her, loosening the short silk robe before taking the right side, tucking it so it went to the other side of her waist before doing the same to the left. He tied the belt tight enough that Perse gasped and gritted her teeth, glaring at him herself before he let it go loose enough that she could breath.
"You don't get a say in what right she has." He said and pulled her in by the belt until his chest touched hers, his nostrils flaring as his fangs descended and eyes glowed. "And the right way to wear a yukata is right under the left side."
"But I prefer it left under right," She shoved him back, redoing the robe herself even if she felt his eyes glaring at her and staring her form down as she did so. She stormed into her bedroom without looking back, going to her desk quickly.
He followed her, his lip curling in a half smile, half scowl. "Only the dead wear it that way,"
"Does that mean you do too?" Perse gave him a look.
"As will you if you don't stop tempting me into draining you dry and killing you."
Perse truly laughed, a scoff in the beginning.
This time she grabbed him by the collar of his tunic, bringing him closer so she could look him in the eyes better.
"Try it and see how your blood boils before you can even touch me."
He leaned down a touch more. "Is that a challenge?"
"Take it as you will." She dared to look up the tiniest bit more, leaning her head an inch too much to the side before his control snapped.
Kaname pushed her until she had her back to a wall, a knee between her legs as he used his frame to keep her in place. It didn't scare her as she just grinned at him, electricity coursing on the surface of her skin.
He felt the tiny zaps of lightning going through her as her eyes glowed a clearer white silver than normal, turning her eye colour to something that looked like literal lightning going off.
Kaname placed his left hand on her jaw, the other arm on the other side of her head so he could lean forwards to near her ear.
"Don't tempt something you can't handle." His breath was hot on her ear. "Fire burns, darling."
Perse couldn't help but grin like the Cheshire Cat as she whispered back, "And lightning strikes."
"Both are all consuming, taking everything, and leaving destruction in their path."
"All or nothing."
The little show of her licking the corner of her lower lip did it for him. He leaned forward towards her lips, keeping an eye on her own heavy lidded eyes as he placed a hand over her mouth. Confusion lined her face before surprise appeared when he kissed the back of his hand, indirectly kissing her before she realised.
He leaned back as someone knocked at the door, smirking at her frazzled expression.
"Patience is a virtue, Princess." He quickly laid a kiss to her cheek before she recovered. By the time she was, he had stepped away enough that the growing electricity going through her skin was barely touching him.
"You bastard!" She gasped in disbelief and disappointment, pouting a tad along with scowling at him as she followed him to the door. "I'm a fucking Witch! We don't give a shit about virtues and vices, Kaname!"
"My blood didn't do as you said it would," He smirked.
"Because you didn't intend to hurt me. If you meant it, you would be in agony." The knock at the door happened again. "Who is it?"
"Ichiru with your tea, Perse," His voice sounded through the door. Perse clicked her fingers and the door opened
"On the contrary, Princess Greylight, I intended the opposite thing of harm," Kaname smiled softly, a warmth entering his no longer glowing eyes. "And it seems it had the correct effect."
Perse fumed, gesturing to the door with a glare that intended to be angry and rageful but wasn't even the least.
"Get out, Kuran!"
The wards and salt lines in the room forced him out of the room within a split second of her saying it.
He left the doorway with a small incline of the head and a curl of the lips, nodding to Ichiru afterwards before leaving for his own room.
"Must you tease him, Perse?" Ichiru sighed, closing the door with his foot before he placed the tea on the desk. "A provoked Vampire will take it as a challenge, and a challenged Vampire is not a good thing."
"He makes me so fucking angry sometimes!" She grabbed a vase of lavender flowers, chucking them at the wall where the previous thing happened. It was satisfying to watch the way the glass spliterned and dropped to the ground in a wet mess. A single clap from her and the pieces were brought back together along with the water in it and the flowers.
"Sit down and drink your tea," Ichiru said, taking the teapot and pouring the lightly steaming liquid into the two teacups. "And I agree, he is frustrating. He keeps secrets and makes plans that affect us all. But you do the same."
She plopped herself on her bed, crossing her legs as she moved a small circular pillow onto her lap before taking the offered teacup. Ichiru took a seat on the bed too, sipping his own cup of tea after putting the tray on the bed for easier access.
"Both schemers and collectors, leaders of a race. Perfect match, I'd think." Ichiru said, laughing as Perse just glared at him from over her teacup. "Don't give me that look, Perse. You've seen him, you could do a lot worse than him you know."
"I don't like being teased."
"Which one of you started it?"
"He started by saying I shouldn't tempt him into killing me and then I said my blood in him, he got hold of a tiny bit when I was injured once, would boil him alive if he tried to harm me." She sipped her tea, calming down. "He asked if that was a challenge and I said take it as you will. Then I found myself against the wall with him against me."
Ichiru hummed. "You both have been dancing around each other for a while."
"Since when?"
"From what you've told me, since you came here and interfered with his plans for the academy."
"It's not like I could help coming here, here or be under the Crown's control until I am of age."
"True." He nodded. "He's not ugly at least."
Perse grumbled in agreement. "Stupid handsome face."
"You'd be a powerful couple," He said. "A Vampire considered royalty and a royal Witch, no one would oppose you if they didn't absolutely have to. I've seen his type in Hunters. Kaname Kuran would be willing to kill for his lover. And you, Perse, you would kill any who would even dare think of hurting what's yours. Tell me I'm wrong."
"Love is a weakness, Ichiru," She finished her cup and placed it down on the tray. "I don't want to fall in love with someone weak, or someone who would try and influence me and my decisions about my people."
"Would Kaname do that?" She sent him a look. "Right, of course he would. But just as you would do the same to him. How did this whole argument between you start anyway?"
"I wore my robe left under right instead of left over right, and he decided to fix it himself and I decided to do it my way again." She shrugged. "It's a robe, not a yukata or kimono. And who cares if only the dead wear it like that? I'm a foreigner, I can't be expected to know it."
"That's where the killing you comment came from."
Ichiru sighed.
It would be difficult to get those two stubborn people together.