Chapter 15
"Yesterday's events were unacceptable, Ichio," Kaname said in the car as he, Perse, Ichiru, Takuma, and Ichio were escorted to the event the Aido family were hosting. "I don't appreciate the ones that are under my protection being prosecuted."
"We only prosecute those who warrant it," Ichio said, looking at Perse who sat between Takuma and Kaname. Ichio sat across from his grandson with a seat between him and Ichiru who sat across from Kaname. "We have reason to believe that Shizuka Hio was killed by Persephone Greylight."
"And she was killed by me, Ichio," Perse said calmly, her hands in her lap as she held a small black clutch. Tsar laid on her shoulders, loosely wrapping himself around her neck as the black tourmaline crystal, the same necklace she wore for the Cross Academy ball, sat on her sternum.
"It was self defense."
"How do we know this was the case?"
"Isn't it strange that Maria Kurenai starts to attend school only weeks after I do?" She said, "And as soon as I start to have disagreements with the other Crowns, she comes to the rescue by offering Shizuka Hio's allyship as payment for my blood."
"A fair trade."
Perse only allowed a cold politeness onto her face, eyes lined in a dark maroon eyeshadow to highlight the grey and to match the red of her dress. "Not when I realised she was lying and was going to drain and dash. When I realised, I changed the Magic to heal her completely and change the components of her Magic. I was going to make her Human but decided against it, killing her instead."
"So you do admit to killing Shizuka Hio?"
"I admit to killing her in self defense. By GAL, Global Arcane Laws, you have no right in ordering my death because I am not one of your subjects,"
Kaname concealed his smile as Ichio glared at her and Perse just looked at her phone.
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When the car stopped outside the building, they all got out but Perse was the last. Kaname lent her a hand as she slid out of the car, gathering a part of her dress as Tsar dropped to the ground from her bare shoulders.
The dark burgundy red of her dress was only a couple shades darker than her lipstick, flowing to the ground with a slit on the left side as it was a little on the tighter side.
This dress was similar to the one she wore to the Cross Academy ball. The skirt tucked under her bust where it connected to two panels of fabric that would go up and around her neck to create a halterneck style. The back stopped at her natural waist and showed off her scar, now pale again.
Ruka had Perse's hair again, putting it into a french twist with a circlet crown tucked into it. Usher had the forethought to bring one of Perse's circlets for her, something she usually only wore for posh events. It was black wire twirling to create designs with tiny ametysth gems tucked into it every so often.
When Takuma went inside, asking Ichiru to follow so he could be introduced to the other Vampires and Hunters there, Ichio excused himself, not wanting to be near the tempting Witch or her feisty Familiar for any longer than needed. Takuma was also quick to find the triplets and have them introduced to Nagamichi Aido, Hanabusa's father.
Perse tucked her phone away into her clutch as Tsar jumped into her arms. She held him in her left arm as she linked her right one to Kaname's offered arm.
Kaname escorted her in.
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Tsar strutted down the large staircase as his mistress and Kaname walked behind him. As soon as they got to the bottom, the Vampires bowed at Kaname's presence to which Perse had to turn her head towards him to hide her smirk from everyone.
"Pardon us," Kaname said, Perse's hand still tucked into his elbow with his hand over hers to keep it there. He knew she would try to get away quickly otherwise. "I did not mean for us to interrupt you. Please enjoy yourselves."
A man approached the two royals, with Hanabusa trailing after him with a girl who looked similar to them.
The man bowed a couple inches at the waist. "Hello, Lord Kaname. This must be the Witch you spoke of. Takuma Ichjio has already introduced the other three and everyone has been informed to be on their best behaviour."
"Thank you for the invitation," Perse nodded her head an inch in a mock bow. "I promise my cousins, Ichiru, and I will be on our best behaviours also."
"I'm glad to hear, Princess Greylight," Nagamichi Aido said with a smile that was a perfect replication of his son's. "While I have met other Witches before, I have not had the honour of meeting a member of the ruling royals."
Perse inclined her head instead of commenting on it.
"Thank you for the invitation, Sir Aido" Kaname started as he sensed that Perse wasn't going to continue it by the way her eyes gazed away for a second. "I'm not with gatherings like this so I do not usually attend."
"Please, do not worry. If I may impose on both of you for a moment," Nagamichi Aido said. "May I introduce my daughter, Tsukiko. I hope you grow to like her, Lord Kaname. And Princess Greylight, I know you already know my son, Hanabusa."
Perse contained her anger at Tsukiko, suddenly feeling more angry than she should but she hid it. Her hand tightened on Kaname's arm, he gazed down at her and was surprised to see the best fake smile he had ever seen on her. He could feel the displeasure roll off of her.
"I believe you, Lord Kaname, and my daughter would make an excellent match, as would my son and yourself, Princess Greylight."
This time Perse grinned mischievously, matching the energy of her Familiar. "What do you say, Hanabusa? Ever thought this would happen?"
Hanabusa blushed as she batted her eyelashes at him with a pout before he shook his head. "I, uh, I can't say—"
"As much as I would be honoured, Sir Aido," She turned back to him, the slyness of her fox Familiar in her smile. "I have my eye set on someone else already."
Nagamichi's soft smile didn't falter. "If it does not work out, keep my son in the front of your mind. The offer stands."
A dozen other Vampires and their daughters suddenly appeared behind Nagamichi, almost forming a large crowd as they called for Kaname to look on their daughters favourably.
She felt Kaname's hand tighten on hers, almost asking her to stay there but she just gave him a soft look before excusing herself reluctantly.
Perse felt sorry for Kaname as he spent the next hour being tormented by the parents of daughters who wanted his hand. She spent the hour talking to her cousins and other classmates until she was approached by a female Vampire in a dark dress.
She inclined her head in greeting as her cousins quietened, Ichiru quickly finding his way to her after he finished speaking to his twin who stood against a pillar.
"Megumi Tani," The woman introduced herself as.
"Persephone Greylight,"
"We all know." She smiled dryly. "We know of your status and such things. Well, I was wondering if we could arrange a marriage between your cousin and my son. We have vast lands and money, and a title."
"I can only speak for myself, my cousin will speak for herself and that will be my answer too," Perse turned her chin towards her. "Cera?"
"I'm not interested in marriage, sorry," She said sheepishly, wanting to hide from the Tani woman's power hungry gaze.
Megumi Tani didn't look happy at that. "Her opinion does not really matter. You are the head. I have to insist on the marriage."
"And so the answer is still no."
She turned to Cera with a calculating glare. "My son is an excellent academic and will achieve great things, why would you not want him as a husband? What could other men give you that he cannot?"
"Maybe a chance to get to know a person?" Cera scowled. "I'm only seventeen. I'm not really thinking of marriage at the moment."
"The answer is no,"
Megumi Tani turned on her heels and stalked away, disappearing into the crowd with ease.
They returned to their conversation within seconds, and were once again interrupted by a hand suddenly clasping Perse's right shoulder. She shivered, the chills going down her back as the feeling of the hand was unfamiliar and unwelcome. Something told her it was dangerous but less deadly than actually being dangerous.
She turned her head to the new person, Megumi Tani standing behind a boy no older than her.
"Remove your hand," She looked at the offending appendage. "Or I will remove it for you."
"Feisty," He said as she shrugged his hand off of her shoulder. "I like them with bite."
Perse ignored him, turning back to her conversation with her cousins. He stepped until he was standing before her, his mother right next to him as Ichiru passed Perse a glass of ice water so her hands had something to hold and wouldn't twitch to hit the offender.
"And I don't like to be touched," Perse sipped at her drink, taking a moment to contain her sudden disgust in being touched. "Who are you?"
"Lord Ko Tani of the Tani family," He grinned, brown hair falling into his eyes as he bowed an inch.
It was not a good bow by Japanese standards, not for who she was. He should have bowed completely by the waist because of the difference of their status, regardless of their different kingdoms. Perse didn't like to flaunt her status a lot but she did it when needed.
Perse put her diplomatic facade on.
"Princess Persephone Greylight," She introduced herself before her cousins. "Archduchess Cera Sallow, and Archdukes Bereket and Usher Sallow. And finally my personal assistant, Lord Ichiru Kiryu."
Ko grinned. "I've never met a princess before…"
"And you have now. Was there something you wanted from us?" The because you're interrupting our conversation? was left out but hung in the air.
"Well," He began, a boyish charmful smile on his face. "My mother proposed a marriage between me and someone of your line, and, get this, you supposedly refuse?" He laughed. "She must be mistaken so I'm here to rectify the situation."
Cera rolled her eyes, hiding her disgusted little look behind her hand as she stepped closer to Perse, slightly behind Ichiru as he stood to Perse's left shoulder.
"There's been no mistake," She said firmly, her eyes glancing down at his suit. He reminded her of a mixture between Hanabusa and Akatsuki, boyish charm with a scruffiness that was charming.
His smile faltered into confusion. "What do you mean?"
"We've rejected the proposal,"
"Why?" He laughed with uncertainty. "I'm a great catch."
"If you say so." Perse's gaze was cold with the heat of a concealed monster, the type where anger was only fuel and insults food. "I will not force my cousin or anyone into a marriage if they do not. I back their answers."
Ko ran a hand down his face, cupping his chin for a second. His smile became bright and smug. "Why don't you marry me then?"
"Why would I?"
"Since you said you won't force anyone to get married, right?" Ko inquired.
Ichiru shifted behind her.
"I did,"
Ko brightened. "Why don't you marry me then?"
Perse froze from the question, Ichiru stiffening behind her as Cera sniggered. Perse just sent Cera an amused seething glare before shaking it off with a slight laugh.
"No, thank you," Perse smiled with teeth, finishing her ice water and putting the glass on the nearby table.
"What do you mean?"
"No."
"Uh, why?"
"Because I don't want to be married. If you'll excuse me, I'm getting peckish. I'm going to get food, does anyone else want some?" Perse asked her cousin and Ichiru, both shaking their heads before Cera excused herself to go dance with some people.
She turned on her heels to strut away but a hand at her wrist stopped her. It was tight with the use of Vampire strength and it just made her angry. She could feel the Magic pulse through his skin, trying to use his gift of manipulation. His touch felt bad, wrong, unfamiliar and unnatural . She hated his touch.
Perse snatched her wrist out of Ko's hand, pointing one flame-covered finger at his face as the blue and purple fire danced on the tip. "Touch me again and I will disintegrate your goddamn hand!"
"You're the one who isn't listen—"
"Shut up!" His lips shut together by force as Perse's eyes glowed silver. She sighed. " Now you've decided to grace us with your presence, Kaname."
"You are Ko Tani, aren't you?" He asked but Ko couldn't speak. Kaname gave Perse a look which said for her to stop the spell.
Ko gasped out, dropping into a crouched bow. "I am Ko Tani, Lord Kaname."
Perse flicked her hands up in disbelief. "And now he's respectful!"
"Lord Kaname, I did not mean to cause disrespect towards you! I am sorry!"
"Towards him?" Perse seethed. "You used your gift against a Witch. You used it against a Heir of a ruling clan. I could have you stripped of your Magic with a simple glance for the act but I'll refrain from making you an example."
"You should not be apologising to me, Sir Tani, but rather to the Princess," Kaname calmly stated, a tone of anger hidden in it that Perse saw straight through. It was pure rage that had to be contained rather than shown because of the damage it could do.
"She's not my princess! She's just a foreign bitc—"
Kaname flexed his hand, suddenly stopping Ko's air supply and letting him go without it for a solid minute. He choked, clutching at his throat as his mother pleaded for his release but Kaname persisted for another thirty seconds before releasing him.
The whole room went silent.
Perse stood tall in her heels and didn't waver in the face of violence, not how her cousins seemed to flinch at the sight of a choking man. Tsar jumped, almost seeming to shrink to a tiny kit as he landed on her shoulder and just sat upright, his tail curled to be around her neck a little.
"Watch the tone you use and remember who you are speaking to," Kaname's voice was ice cold and deadly serious, his eyes darkening to red. "She is not an equal to you so speak with the respect a royal is due, or at the very least, the respect a guest of mine is due. You've had your first and final warning."
"Must you threaten him?" A new voice said, appearing near both heads of family.
The newcomer was a beautiful blonde Vampire with blue eyes and in a flowy violet dress.
"When someone has disrespected mine, I will do as I wish, Lady Shirabuki," Kaname stated as she walked to stand before him and Perse.
"Fair point, Lord Kuran," She smiled sweetly, a false softness about her. She turned her clear blue eyes to Perse. "Hello again, Princess, or is it Crown now?"
Perse tensed a smile, making sure it looked real as Sara Shirabuki stood before them.
"Princess until I take the throne in a few weeks," Perse said. "Pleasure to see you again, Lady Sara. Been a while."
"Yes, I last saw you at your mother's funeral," Sara mentioned. "It was a sad time. The funeral was beautifully done."
"Thanks,"
Kaname looked between them. "Perse, you know Sara Shirabuki?"
"Yes, she worked with my mother," Perse gave him a look which she concealed from Sara. "You know how it is."
Sara Shirabuki worked with her mother, meaning that she was on Ceres Greylight's side. She was using Black Magic to her advantage, trying to disrupt the Order and probably the Association before finally the Council.
"Ever since you started attending school, Kaname," Sara began, letting Kaname take her gloved hand and give it a quick kiss. "I have hardly ever seen you anymore. We are one of the only remaining Purebloods, we have to stick together."
That comment sent a flurry of disgust through Perse, disgust and slight jealousy but that diminished quickly. Perse liked the fact he dropped Sara's hand like it burned him when she said that.
Kaname placed a hand on Perse's shoulder, clasping it gently with a softness unusual to him. "I remember you saying you were hungry. Ichiru, please may you get a plate of croissants for Perse? And a glass of water and a tablet for me?"
"Of course, Kaname," Ichiru nodded, not taking long before coming back with both.
Without even being asked, Perse rubbed her finger against the rim of the bloodied glass, turning the liquid from artificial blood to real as she had done before. Ichiru refilled her water glass before excusing himself to go back to talking to his brother.
"It must have been nice to have at least one parent left," Sara mused as everyone else began to go back to normal.
Perse grinned into her water, already knowing her next comment would bring about a response. "It must be nice to know how your parents went out, maybe the aftermath wasn't as clean as you would have thought. At least I know why my mother died, but I can't say the same to your parents."
Sara's eyes suddenly glowed red and she bared her fangs at Perse. She wasn't scared as Sara threatened her, the young Witch just watching her like she had seen it all before. The Witch just let her eyes stay natural and her lips curled into a cheeky grin.
"Fangs don't scare me. Either use them or put them away, Sara," Perse stated. "Don't mention my mother and I won't mention your parents. Easy."
"Fine." Sara tucked them away. "I've got other people to greet so you will have to excuse me."
Perse just did a flurry of fingers wave to Sara's back, changing it to a middle finger as she finished her water and started her plate.
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Kaname had disappeared after that conversation, only being found after Perse was walking past an upstairs room after going to the restroom. A door opened and she was grabbed and then shoved against the closed door.
She had a hand on the person's thought, flamed with Magic before she realised it was just Kaname.
"Shit, dude, don't do that!" She said, shoving him away and stopping her Magic. "I could have injured you."
"No, you wouldn't have," He smiled.
"If I didn't know it was you, I would have,"
"Subconsciously, you knew it was me,"
"I might have," She said. "Why did you drag me into this room?"
He took a moment to look at her before asking, "What was that between you and Sara Shirabuki?"
"Nothing." He gave her a look. "Fine. She worked with my mum and that means she was also working with Black Magic. She knows my mum is a sore spot and yet she pokes it so I jabbed where it would hurt most. Her parents commited suicide when she as young."
"I know that but why did you have to goad her?"
"I didn't."
"You tried. You don't like her, why?"
"Can I not like someone without a reason?" She asked.
"Yes," Kaname nodded. "But you do not simply insult or goad someone you do not like, Perse. You wanted her to be angry. Why?"
"Because I wanted her angry!" Perse snapped. "I've had enough of people today. That Tani boy thinks he can force me into marriage and get away with touching me? Then Sara Shirabuki thinks she can mention my mother without some sort of reason? I could have killed Ko Tani but I didn't."
He watched her pace, fury on her face that just made her beauty stand out. He would have prefered her to be calm, happy, and feisty as she was naturally, but he didn't mind the anger. It just showed him that she had correct instincts for things but her anger made him seeth unneededly and become on edge.
He wasn't seething because she was angry, it was more because he knew why she was angry and knew he could have done something to stop it.
It seemed his instincts wanted things his conscious mind didn't think of yet.
"You could have killed him, why didn't you?"
"Because I respect you, Kaname. Even if most of the Vampires don't actually realise, you are the one in charge and I'm not going against you in front of them." Perse admitted. "Sensing Sara Shirabuki's Magic just made me even angrier than usual. Ko Tani trying to use his gift on me certainly didn't help."
His nostrils flared in displeasure as he watched her shoulders sag in exhaustion. Perse picked at her cuticles as she sighed after admitting. Kaname grabbed both of her hands, stopping her picking and making her look up.
There were tiny, unshed tears in her eyes.
"My mother's a fucking traitor and I believed she was a good person," Perse said, refusing to cry. "I can't cry. Ruining my makeup is not worth it."
"If you need to cry, cry," Kaname said. "I'll have Sieren bring up her makeup kit to fix it up later."
Perse smiled through it, unshed tears threatening to break. "I can fix it with Magic. But is it really worth it? If I cry, you'll just think I'm weak or being a girl."
"Crying is not being weak," Kaname said softly. "It just meant you have been too strong for too long. Cry, Persephone. Take your anger, take your Magic and just cry it out."
Perse had to snatch her hands out of Kaname's as more tears filled her eyes. "If I allow myself to cry, I will do damage. I will create a storm because the other Crowns are right, I'm not ready to rule. I'm a kid who wasn't allowed a childhood."
"You were forced to grow up too soon."
"I'm not allowed to put myself first," Perse kept a sad smile on her lips, tears sticking to her eyelashes as she hugged herself around the waist. "I have to put a whole country before myself."
Even without windows, there was an upkeep of wind in the room. It started to circle around the room, circling them as they stood in the middle.
"The only reason my mother saved me was because she needed me as an Heir," Perse wiped away the tiny tears which spilled over her waterline. "I had two sisters in the womb, they were dead before they were born. I came out weak and pale, my Magic didn't surface until I was seven. Thinking back, my mother thought I was cursed and so she gave me to my father! My mother didn't want me until I could do Magic!"
The wind gathered more in the room, clouds appearing at the ceiling as Perse finally allowed the tears to drip freely. Both of their outfits were flowing in the wind of the soon coming storm.
"I've had enough of Magic defining who I am! I've had enough of people thinking Magic is all I am!" Perse's makeup didn't move from where it was as tears ran in their own accord with each blink.
"Who thought Magic defined you?"
"You, Zero, the Council, the Association, the Order." She laughed even with tears. "You all think Magic is what I am, what makes me useful, what makes me powerful and sought after!" Perse couldn't keep the laughter on her mind anymore. "I can give my Magic up with a simple snap of my fingers and then everyone would leave me the fuck alone. Give up my Magic and I'm no longer useful, no longer sought out to do someone's bidding or fix a society that's crumbling."
"Why don't you then?" Kaname challenged. "If you are so sick of being a Witch, then snap your fingers and give your Magic away."
"Because I have people relying on me!" Perse almost screamed, the storm raging on around them. "I can't give up. I can't be selfish and let my people suffer because I want to be free. Magic corrupts those who are not brought up with it as their responsibility. Look at my mother as an example. She turned to the Black Arts so she could rule alone. She wanted power and Magic, but she didn't want me until I had Magic that was stronger than hers…"
Her knees seemed to give up on her as tears started to finish and dry up. She dropped to her knees before she just sat in the middle of the storm, dark clouds of anger and despair encasing them both.
Kaname kneeled before her, bringing her closer to him as he hugged her as she finished her tears.
"She didn't want me until I was useful," She muttered, eyes glazed over. "They didn't want me. I'll be tossed aside when my usefulness has gone. I'm only—" she broke into heart wrenching sobs as she accepted Kaname's hug of comfort. One arm tucked around her back to bring her close while the other hand held the back of her neck, his thumb tracing down the side of it in comfort.
Kaname let her cling to him, his arms keeping her close as he reminded himself that he could now keep her safe, safer than she would otherwise be. Something told him he would do the unspeakable to do that, to keep her safe and happy instead of the broken mess she was now.
He would piece together every single bit of her, returning her to her full state of being.
Would she love him if he killed someone for her?
He wouldn't know but he suspected he already knew the answer with the way she reacted to Sara.
Kaname clung to Perse just as she was clinging to him, both sitting in the middle of the raging storm but it didn't disturb them. They were alright with where they were. Eventually, Perse had cried herself to sleep and so he asked for the car to be brought around.
Ichiru sat across from Kaname. The Vampire sat on one end while Perse was using his lap as a pillow. She hadn't woken up when she was moved, nor did she when the car started.
Kaname just ran his fingers through the now loose hair, the bun having been taken carefully out by Ichiru for her comfort. While his mistress slept, Tsar was tucked between her arms, laying his head on Kaname's lap too.
"You better not hurt her," Ichiru glared. "In any form."
"I don't ever want to,"
"Unless you need to,"
"Not even then would I bring harm to her and those she cares about."
Tsar yawned, believing and knowing the truth Kaname told.