The bell was deafeningly loud. It echoed throughout the tower, clanging over and over again. I covered my ears with my trembling hands as the sound reverberated through my head—so loudly—needing to block out as much of the noise as I possibly could. I was desperate for relief. It was as if it were sounding out my impending death.

How was I going to get myself out of this situation? I never should have chased after Zero. He's so moody. I'm no good on my own to begin with and now...

Fear gripped my heart with icy cold fingers. My whole body was frozen in place, stiff and numb with dread. It was like I was a little girl again on that snowy hillside, trapped in that monster's arms. I no longer felt the pain in my hand from where that thing had ripped its fanged teeth across my flesh, drawing out my warm blood. I couldn't feel any of my body at all, really. My blood felt cold now as it rushed in my veins. I just stood there, unable to move my legs, unable to do anything except stare across the room at those blood red eyes. The thing that I had precived as a young child froze too as it stared back at me, laughing. Mimicking and mocking, it seemed to enjoy drawing out toying with me.

I focused on it—hearing my heartbeat thundering away in my ears, seemingly louder than the bell was. I squeezed my eyes tightly, afraid at what would inevitably happen to me next—as it lept forward towards me, screaming. I couldn't watch, I couldn't watch it kill me.

But nothing happened. At least, I didn't feel anything like I expected too. I expected it to impact with my body, most likely knocking me to the ground. I anticipated pain. But there was nothing.

I did, however, notice that the bell had finally stopped ringing.

It was so sudden that I needed to look, to see why the sound had stopped completely. What was happening outside of my own darkness? I opened my eyes, slowly, still scared—intrigue outweighing my fear.

The little boy was trembling so suddenly, so violently, too. It was so out of place from all the rage it had previously showed towards me that my mouth dropped open in surprise. As if reversing roles with me, fear seemed to be overtaking his senses now. And it definitely couldn't possibly be me that it was afraid of. I followed his shaking gaze to where his horrified, wide eyes remained transfixed upon a figure limned in black shadows.

"How pitiful. That one so young would be reduced to such a sorry, unfortunate state..."

I could have collapsed to my knees on the ground with how quickly relief flooded through me. I would have too, had Kaname not been there to hold me up right. He gathered me up tightly in his strong arms, stepping out of the shadows to stand behind me—holding me up against his lean, powerful body protectively, placing a hand gently over my eyes—covering my line of sight from whatever was transpiring.

"Kaname—" the pleasant scent of roses flooded through my nostrils, overloading all of my senses with sweetness. The fear receded almost instantly, the familiar smell calming me. I leaned back into his comforting embrace.

"However," his voice dropped dangerously low. It was so chilling that a shiver ran right through me. Kaname held me tighter.

I had never heard anything like it before, not out of him at least. Kaname always came off as so kind and gentle. I didn't think his voice could ever sound like that, so angry. I couldn't deny that it was intimidating as much as it was stirring. His slender fingers tightened slightly around my waist and he pulled me closer against his body, as if to soothe me from his own threatening tone. He felt so warm, so safe that his words were lost on me. "You've harmed someone very precious to me. And that I won't let go."

I wasn't sure what was going on since Kaname had his hand clasped over my eyes, but I felt a sudden rush of cold air all around me, whiping my hair and clothing violently. Still, it was hard to be afraid with those wrapped arms around me.

"It's over." Kaname removed his hand from my eyes, taking a step back from me, giving me more space. The absence of his body heat left me feeling more disappointed than it should have.

I took in a slow, careful breath before I opened up my eyes again, not sure of what I would see when I looked around. I blinked a few times, feeling disoriented as my eyes readjusted to the light. Everything was exactly the same as it was before I couldn't see. The only difference now was that the child was gone, without any trace of ever having been here at all.

"What was that thing?" my voice shook with unease when I asked my question. I cleared my throat nervously, embarrassed that Kaname was seeing me so scared. I took a step closer to his side, wanting him near me again. I always felt safe whenever he was close by.

Kaname looked down at me, a gentle expression gracing his handsome face. "'That', Yuuki, was a Level E..." he said carefully, probably unsure if he should even be telling me this.

I had no idea what that was or what he meant. I was a bit relieved by his answer, though. I was afraid that he was going to say that it was a vampire.

"A Level E..." I repeated it back, still as unsure as I was before his explanation. "It seemed more like a vampire to me, at first." I admitted, voicing my concerns openly to him.

I felt bad the second I said that out loud. How could I call whatever that thing was the same thing as Kaname, the man I adored over everything and anyone else? I tried looking away from his smoldering eyes, feeling immediately guilty, but he turned my face back towards him with a gentle hand to my cheek. I lifted my chin up, losing myself in those swirling shades of burgundy and deep crimson red, instantly. They were like wine and blood.

He shook his head gently. "No, Yuuki. They are still vampires."

I couldn't respond to that. I was so confused. That was the last thing I wanted to hear him say How was that thing a vampire? Unprovoked, it was so vicious towards me. All the vampires I knew were so graceful, so elegant and poised. They were beautiful. That thing was a monster, violent and filled with so much rage. Part of me couldn't believe Kaname. I just wouldn't accept it.

"You've been quite bad, haven't you." Kaname, mercifully, changed the subject.

"Have I?" my voice was barely a whisper. Even though I was grateful for the subject change, it still sort of felt like he gave me mental whiplash with how quickly he switched topics. He confused me. I wasn't sure what he was referring to. What exactly did I do that was bad?

Kaname reached forward, tucking a lock of my long, disheveled hair behind my ear with warm, lingering fingers. I leaned into his touch automatically, captivated by him, comforted.

"Wondering around town all by yourself..." Kaname kept his eyes locked with mine as he explained. Slowly, he lifted my injured hand up to his full, inviting lips. I felt heat rising into my cheeks as my heart began to speed back up. I knew he could hear it racing. I can't hide anything from him no matter how hard I might try.

I couldn't help focusing on his mouth when he spoke to me so sensually like this, as if he were teasing me with just the sound of his voice alone. I wasn't afraid. It was more like I was anticipating what he was going to do next.

I stared at his mouth so ovbiously; where the very tips of his fangs peeked out from behind his lips just so when he talked, revealing exactly how otherworldly he truly was compared to me. I was transfixed by them. Even if he wasn't trying to be seductive with me right now, he was. He didn't need to try. I wanted to touch them, his lips, his fangs. Even after what had just happened, I wanted to feel them against my skin...

I wonder what they would feel like slipping slowly into me... He's always been so gentle with me...I bet it wouldn't hurt at all...

"Getting yourself hurt like this..." Kaname trailed off, his voice barely above a whisper as he lowered his head.

I felt his warm breath fan out over the back of my hand as he lightly touched his lips to the gashes on my skin. They had been painful before, and bleeding. It stung, when that child creature had bit into me. I ripped my hand away from its mouth as a reflex to the pain. It had felt like getting burned.

However, now I was forgetting that pain, as it faded away and into a new, different kind of feeling, a warming sensation. I felt goosebumps rise up on my flesh, now, as heat flooded through me. I watched in absolute wonder as he shut his eyes against the foreign sensation of my blood touching his tongue.

Kaname had never tasted my blood before this moment...that fact wasn't lost on me.

He sighed, then. It was so soft, so subtle a sound. But I definitely heard him make it. He sounded satisfied and it left a fluttering feeling deep in my stomach. I found my fingers were lightly squeezing his in response as I gripped his hand tighter, not ready for him to stop touching me intimately like this. I couldn't stop myself from wondering...

Did he like it? Does it taste good to him?

Kaname slid his warm tongue over my skin again, much slower this time, as if he were savoring everything that there was. Another jolt of pleasure shot through me—making my shoulders jerk back and my toes curl up tightly in my shoes—as his lips closed over my skin and he gently sucked, making me tremble.

I would give him everything, too, whatever he wanted. I was already his.

I can't help these wandering thoughts that constantly plague my mind—consume me—not when he's so direct with me like this. What was I to think, except of all the love that I held for him in my heart. His mouth was so warm on me, as he gently caressed my skin with his tongue. I wanted to feel more of it. It makes me feel like he desires me just as much as I longed for him. My whole body felt so hot and sensitive, throbbing in a way that left me wanting. Just the gentle breeze drifting throughout this tower was enough to make me tremble again. I wanted to feel more of him against my skin.

I'm so in love with you, Kaname. I almost don't know what I should do with myself...

Our eyes locked then. For just a second, I thought his had flashed red.

Another shiver ran up my spine, causing goosebumps to rise up on my flesh. The eye contact made it all the more unbearable, all the more erotic, as it felt as if he could read my mind. I tried to keep still but I just couldn't keep from squirming. My heart couldn't take it anymore, either. My body felt overly sensitive. I gasped loudly, covering my mouth with my free hand, biting down on my lower lip in an attempt to keep quiet as strong emotions surged through me. My heart was overflowing, getting too excited as I couldn't help but picture that this meant he loved me the way I loved him.

The sensation of his mouth on me was too intense for me to bare any longer. I took a step away from him—pulling away, needing more air than this small space provided. It almost felt like I was suffocating. The air felt thick and tense between us, heavy.

I felt like he had heard my thoughts just then and responded thusly, trying to placate my overactive imagination.

"Did I startle you?" Kaname gazed down at me, pulling my hand away from my mouth. It made me feel vulnerable, exposed. His voice was light, almost teasing me.

I was definitely blushing like an idiot. I could feel the heat in my cheeks. I shook my head—not trusting my ability in forming coherent words right now—and stared at the back of my hand in disbelief, still held in his gentle grip. The teeth marks were gone now, along with all of the blood. So was the pain.

It's like nothing had ever happened to me. This must be the power of a Pureblood vampire.

Everything should be fine now. Except now a deep seeded feeling of dissatisfaction welled up inside my heart. A longing. I wanted a kiss on the mouth now, on my lips. Not just the back of my hand...

Kaname reached forward and ran his fingers through my hair before lifting up my chin, holding it between his thumb and fingers. He pressed his thumb to my lower lip, lightly pulling it forward.

"It's late. I'll walk you back home, Yuuki. In the future, when you want to come into town, you need to bring someone with you. What would I do, should something happen to you?"

I couldn't answer that. I guess because I wasn't really sure what he would do.