Her eyes skiing from under her, sitting on a dark sofa while light footsteps neared her.
''Valerie Tepes.'' A cold voice called out, forcing an equally icy shiver up her spine.
The Queen sat opposite from her, a regal and beautiful face, colder than a frozen ocean.
Then what the Queen said kicked in, just like always when she was around her stony facade began to crack.
''Do not look so surprised, I am aware of every and any vampires that come into existence.''
The Queen's sharp eyes dug through her, slashing under her facade.
''I'm at an Impasse, you did save my son, but you also brought him into great danger, I could kill you and be done with it, your father certainly would be too scared to do a thing,''
Her heart pounded into her ear, father's words almost seemed to tremble when he spoke about the Queen, she could certainly see why.
She felt like nothing but a fly, a measly fly.
''You have two positive things going for you and a single negative, I'm certain you're aware of the negative therefore I'll go over the positives.
Firstly, you saved my son, secondly, he seems mildly fond of you.''
Images of herself getting tortured in the most heinous ways imaginable popped up.
''Then there's the fact of your Sacred Gear, Sephiroth Graal.''
Her body straightened like a board.
''With all of these qualities, you have nought to worry about.''
Her pounding heart that was planning to explode reset.
''Though, you simply can not reside here in Bludhaven.''
Her cheeks jumped a shade paler, forming into something corpse-like. Standing up from the chair with fattened eyes.
''You may have committed a chunk of good, but if my son didn't discover you in the first place he wouldn't have been in such danger.''
Her mouth widened, getting ready to unload her words, but that cold glare forced her lips to zip.
She was right, of course, if it wasn't for her then Cassius wouldn't have been in such a state.
She was grateful that she still had her life, she truly was.
Yet, her heart still felt like it was being torn open.
''The guards will guide you out of Bludhaven.''
She gave a short nod.
Back meeting the wall, arms folded, closed eyes directed to the floor.
The door handle rattled just before Shalltear swept into the room.
''Am I allowed out yet?'' He asked while adding a pout to his lips.
Shalltear crimson eyes froze on him. ''You are.''
His pout was replaced with a curved eyebrow. ''Really?''
''If you you follow a single step you will be able to least this room.''
His lips tightened, eyes inspecting the pale woman.
Is that so?
''Either I, a guard, or anyone else I trust must be by your side at all times.''
His hair brushed through his hair that was so different than the spikes before, it was probably softer than sheep fur.
A light breath escaped from his nose. ''Fine.'' He agreed after considering his lacking options for a time.
The Vampire Queen snapped her fingers, calling a certain purple-haired maid into the room.
''Mariel?'' He just eyed it for a stretch of time that may have been a tad too long.
The Maid in question gave a slight bow. ''Young…. Prince.''
Finally, his eyes left her.
''Mariel is the guard I've chosen until you have reached adulthood.''
His face couldn't help but twitch. ''Adulthood?'' He murmured.
Mariel showed a beaming smile at him which was so unlike a Vampire. ''Don't worry, Young Prince, I will protect you with my life.''
''Thanks?''
Naruto was well aware that he wasn't being protected — but watched.
''Cassius, follow me.'' Shalltear ordered, quickly making her way out of her room. He shrugged and followed her with Mariel walking beside him.
They made their way into the living room silently, with Shalltear's cold expression, Mariel's smile that could be only described as kind.
He and Mariel sat on the long sofa, Shalltear took her own seat on a smaller one.
''As you're aware there's only a handful of vampires outside of the castle that are aware of your existence.'' Shalltear informed him of something that he was already vaguely aware of. ''It is likely that information about you will begin spilling out in the foreseeable future.'' Her words came out slow, almost resigned.
''Is that a bad thing?'' He inquired, voice straighter than usual.
''It could certainly form into it, the Nobles would create a fuss if it wasn't I who revealed it.''
Putting a crossed leg over his straight one. ''Why now?''
Shalltear was quiet for a decent lapse of time. ''As much as I desire for you to stay in the castle at all times I now know that such a hope is foolish.''
His hands clasped with each other, eyes leaning down to his legs. ''Cassius, in a week when your reveal shall come stick with me and follow my lead.''
Pulling his gaze back up, a chuckle couldn't help but flood his mind.
Back in the day when he had meetings with the Fire Lord, there was always a clear power difference, the man had greater political power than him, but his raw power made it so that the Daimyo was always careful with his words.
Not a soul in the Elemental Nations could rival him in power, everyone stepped around eggshells when they spoke to him excluding a few.
Even if the situation was different, he couldn't help but gawk at the similarities.
Physically he was weak, politically, that was a whole other story.
''I will.'' After making that agreement another thought skipped up. ''Where is she now?''
Mariel's eyes launching on him, they then moved back on Shalltear.
''She is no longer in the castle, nor is she in Bludhaven.''
His eyes closed, tensing, reopening them after five seconds had passed.
''Cassius, there is no need to fret, she is well and healthy.''
His glance danced around the room, there wasn't a further need, he already helped her out, not only once, but twice.
A dark chuckle that didn't sound like his hit his mind.
Unmoving bodies flashed before him, his arm sticking through a chest, a flash of light whacked his eyes, forcing them to shut, but when they reopened he stood upright.
Just by his feet were knives of ice — stabbed into the ground.
Then the memories came in, he got into his bed and closed his eyes shut.
''Naruto Uzumaki.'' A voice snapped out and a lightning bolt jolted up his spine.
Snapping his head to the side, eyes bloated, a massive creature before his very eyes.
He tried to rip a pool of blood out, but his blood remained still.
''Who are you?'' His eyes narrowed into slits. ''And how do you know of that name?''
The creature chuckled, the same chuckle that he heard earlier. ''I know everything about you, little vampire, from your little adventures to killing your-''
''You know who I am yet I don't know who you are.'' He cut the beast off.
''Do not interrupt me, little vampire.'' He shot back with a fiery glare.
He didn't falter, he stepped towards the mighty beast and threw an icy glare of his own.
The large creature growled, throwing a few bullets at him, yet it went straight through him.
''I'm asleep.'' His voice was no more than a whisper. Could this have been all a dream? Unlikely considering he's been having the same few dreams for years now.
''It's no dream.'' The creature retorted while its ocean-like eyes stared down at him as if he was the scum of the earth.
He started up at the creature, eyes still narrowing into slits. ''You've been reading my mind.'' He said in a way that made it seem like it was a fact. ''That explains why you know about my true name.'' His voice changed into a tone that resembled the winter.
The creature bared its teeth at him.
An image of an orange fox-like creature spun in his head, his glare hardened further.
''You've been sealed in me.''
The creature chucked right after he came to that revelation.
''Why?'' Naruto questioned, arm folded under his chest.
The creature didn't give a response, he just continued on with that booming chuckle.
''If you aren't going to tell me then I'll just leave.'' He spun around on his heel.
''Little Vampire, why did you save that other little Vampire?''
He went still, back facing the creatures. ''Why wouldn't I?''
''Little Vampire, 'I've been stuck in your mind, I know everything about you.'' The winged creature smirks, a smirk that created a disturbing image. ''You didn't save the little vampire because you cared, you saved the little vampire because she reminded you of-.''
He spun back around, slitted eyes glowing like the sun. ''Shut up.'' His voice came down like lightning, slicing what the creature said in half.
The giant reptile didn't look annoyed like before, it's smirk didn't droop, in fact, it was the contrary.
''Little Vampire, did I touch a nerve?''
His glowing eyes closed and when they reopened a second later the glowing had vanished, but the slits, they were present.
''You are trying to annoy me and I'll be honest, it worked.'' And just like that he twirled around and started walking off in the distance, the creatures barking not ceasing for a moment.
Legs stamping through the grass, the tall strands hitting her face.
''Catch her!''
Her blood ran cold, the voices banging in her ears.
No!
Her legs creaked, hair swinging in between her bright, shining eyes.
Alone — Alone —
No one was coming, she was certain, she was alone — once again.
She spun around, a roar splitting from her lips.