Maki's POV
Everything started the moment I met him. We had been on two paths that never seemed to be meant to cross, and yet they did. Turning the cogs of fate in a brand new direction. Guiding me towards him, who had been lost in an endless sea of eternity. The moon was shining brightly, a yellow crescent splitting through the dark indigo skyline. I had slipped back into time to a mysterious mansion within 19th century Paris. And I felt as though I was dreaming.
Dreaming of a very dark dream with someone's teeth- fangs?- piercing through the skin of my neck. "..Just like a vampire would." I had told Sebastian in the kitchen later, after I had woken up in a cold sweat. I gingerly touched a hand to my neck. There weren't any puncture marks there, obviously, but I could still vividly recall the sensation of being bitten. That dream had been scarily realistic. Yet of course, there's no such thing as vampires.
I had expected Sebastian to dismiss it as nothing more than a silly dream. But for some reason, a very solemn look came over his face. "I believe that mansion decided to show you that dream." Sebastian told me. "The mansion made me have that dream? That doesn't even make sense, I don't.." "The dream serves as a warning- ..That you are to give them neither your body nor your heart." "Them?" "The residents of this mansion. For you see, everyone you met tonight-"
"They are exactly what you say in your dream. They are all vampires." I stared at Sebastian in utter shock, "What..?"
A month has passed since that night, that night which had turned my entire life upside down. I've gotten pretty used to life here now. The gentle evening breeze ruffled my blonde hair as I stood on the balcony, gazing out at the view towards Paris. The city streets were tinted orange due to the setting sun. From this distance, it almost looked like that of an antique dollhouse. I wanted to burn this view into my memory, one last time.
Sadness welled up within me. Just then, I heard the sound of footsteps behind me. My hair blew in the wind as I turned to see who it was, so I reached up to hold it in place. "It's almost time, Maki." le Comte dark golden eyes softened as he gazed at me. The same way they had the first time I met him in the Louvre. I remembered how shocked I had been that day one month ago.. When I learned that I had slipped through time to 19th century France.
But the even bigger shock? Finding out that my gracious host and all of the residents here, were genuine vampires. And now, that door that sent me back in time would finally open once again. That meant I would be leaving this mansion. The place where I'd been living for an entire month. I chose to spend my last remaining moments with le Comte in his room, visiting with him before my time to leave came.
"When Sebastian first told me that everyone here was a vampire. I thought he was joking." I mumbled, slight laughter tinting my tone. "Your eyes were as big as saucers when I told you it was all the truth." We both laughed as we recalled the memory. As I sat there with le Comte, I reflected back on when I had first come to the mansion. The first thing that came to mind was the day after Sebastian had chosen to break the astonishing news to me.
Afterwards, le Comte invited me to brunch. Which he explained everything about the mansion to me. "I heard that Sebastian told you that we are all vampires." Comte started. "..It wasn't a joke?" Comte shook his head, "No, it's the truth. I went to them at the moment of their deaths and offered them a contract. I revived them myself. They had to agree to abandon their human bodies and become vampires in exchange for a taste of eternity." le Comte explained. "..Erm."
I stared at him, my expression completely blank. le Comte elegantly picked up his coffee cup to take a sip. There was so much information swimming within my head at that moment. The residents all died and were revived as vampires? He says he offered them a contract and brought them back to life as if it's not a big deal! What IS he? From his stunning good looks to his impeccable manners and behavior, le Comte was the picture of the perfect gentleman.
But on the other hand, that was all I knew about le Comte. That picture of himself that he portrayed. Who was he, really? I slightly turned my head and narrowed my gaze at le Comte, "Are you.. a vampire, too?" Comte nodded, "Yes, I am. But I'm different from the others, because they were once human. I may look like a human.. but I am not." "You're not…human..?" I felt myself tense up, but le Comte gave me a reassuring smile.
"Only pure-blooded vampires can turn humans into vampires, by feeding on their blood." "Pure-blooded vampires?" I questioned. "Someone who was born a vampire, whose parents are both vampires. That is what I am." After that, le Comte gave me his word that so long as I stayed at his mansion, he would protect me and make sure no harm came my way. Obviously, I had been filled with uncertainty and anxiety when I first got here.
But gradually, the residents opened up to me. Even Napoleon tried to protect me from the first moment we met. Sebastian taught me about the others while we would work together. Although I was a bit surprised to see just how obsessed Sebastian was with them- he even keeps a journal detailing all his observations.. Theo took me to art galleries and to the pub with Arthur. I think they're both fond of me? And I had a lot of fun going to Shakespeare's plays with Vincent.
And I could always count on Dazai to make me laugh with how relentlessly he would tease Isaac. And even Mozart and Jean, who were fairly aloof, gradually warmed up to my presence. Leonardo always watched over me and checked in often to see how I was. Even though it had only been one month, so many memories of the time I spent with everyone came washing over me.
But the one person who changed my fate the most.. I lifted my gaze to look at le Comte, who sat directly in front of me. "Comte.. when I first met you at the Louvre.." I started, my tone breaking into light laughter, "I remember thinking that you reminded me of those handsome vampires I'd seen on TV or read about in books." le Comte smiled, "You're very perceptive, then. You figured out my identity from the very beginning."
"Heh.. You stood out so much, Comte. Like you had just stepped right out of a painting." I muttered. "Oh? I'll be more careful the next time I travel to the 21st century." My remaining time ticked away, second by little second.. As I sat there chatting with him. I didn't want to waste another bit of time I had, so I finally decided to tell Comte what I had wanted to tell him most of all. "Thank you..so much, le Comte." "For what, cherie?" Comte asked, his expression one of confusion.
"For welcoming me into your mansion with open arms. There's no way I could have had such a wonderful time as I had if I hadn't met you that day." I smiled at him. le Comte gazed at me solemnly, "..But Maki, I'm the very reason you slipped back into the 19th century to begin with. I should be apologizing to you, not receiving your gratitude." But his gentle smile soon returned, "But I'm very pleased that you'll think of the time you spent in this world as fond memories."
His words made warmth and sadness seep into me. I clenched my hands tightly in my lap, squeezing the fabric of my skirt slightly. I could feel a lump form in my throat when it finally hit me.. All of this would become nothing but a mere pretty memory. But my overriding emotion was regret. I truly didn't want to have to say goodbye. Not after I had met le Comte and everyone. Not after I'd gotten so close to them. Meeting these people was a miracle- I knew that I would never again experience something so very fantastical.
le Comte quietly studied my expression for a moment, then gently broke the silence, "..Nearly all the sand has fallen now." His gaze rested on the hourglass that kept time by predicting the next crescent moon. The last remains of the sand were trickling down slowly. There was only a small handful of sand left to go. …I don't want to leave. ..What if the sand froze and stopped? What if I could stay in this world, just for a little bit longer? Just as those thoughts sprang into my mind, a loud noise rang out throughout the room.
..And I watched as a crack split through the hourglass. "..What was that?!" I blurted out. "..Maki!" le Comte leapt to his feet, looking panicked. And the next moment- "Ahh!" A plosive sound filled the entire room, like a burst of explosive air. I hesitantly opened my eyes to see that le Comte had shielded me using his overcoat. And when I dropped my gaze downwards, I was astonished to see the jagged shards of glass strewn haphazardly amongst a carpet of sand beneath my feet.
"Are you all right?" le Comte asked me. "Y..Yes, but.. Why did the hourglass…" I trailed off, but Comte seemed to understand what I was saying. "I'm not sure. This was a specially made piece that shouldn't ever break.. It's very strange. It's almost as if.. it was trying to keep you here." le Comte frowned suspiciously, his tone of voice dropping.
Even though the hourglass had shattered, the crescent moon still hung high in the sky. And so, we made our way towards the door. "Are you sure you don't want the others to see you off?" le Comte asked me. I nodded, "Yes. They already threw me a farewell party last night. But most of all.. I may just lose my nerve if I have to see their faces again." It was painful enough just having le Comte there with me.
I did my best to keep my turbulent emotions in check. Yet I noticed that he was staring at me. "Comte?" I mumbled, meeting his gaze. Comte smiled sadly, "..I'm really hopeless. No matter how many times I must say goodbyes, I never quite get used to it. So let me send you off before I give into the desire to keep you here." I felt horrible acknowledging the twinge of happiness I felt at seeing the sadness in his eyes. I was just.. so touched that he felt that way about me.
"All right then, Maki." le Comte slowly opened the door. I recalled how beyond that door, there was a long hallway lined with antiques. And that hallway led back to the Louvre in present-day France. ..Or at least, that's what should have been beyond the door.
But instead, all we saw was a bizarre mist. With the light and dark twisting and intertwining. The hallway was nowhere to be seen; not only was there not a single path before me, but the visibility was only a few mere meters ahead. "What is the world..?" le Comte breathed out in shock. "Where's the hallway? What's going on?" I asked. As I leaned forward to get a closer look, I could feel a strange magnetic-like sensational force sucking me in.
"Maki!" le Comte grabbed a firm hold of me and pulled me to safety. Meanwhile, the door slammed tightly shut with a loud bang of its own accord. "C..Comte, what was..?" I froze when I saw how tense le Comte's expression was. "The pathway through time.. is warped." I could feel the panic building up, but le Comte attempted to give me some reassurance.
"Maki.. Please stay calm and listen to me. There is some kind of anomaly occurring with the door. Under normal circumstances, there should have been a pathway connecting you to your desired time beyond the door. But since that pathway has disappeared, there's no telling where in time you'd be swept away to if you enter that space." le Comte explained. Despite his explanation, my nerves only continued to rise. "Wait, so you mean.. I can't go home to my time?" "..It seems that way." le Comte frowned.
Hearing him answer in such a matter-of-fact tone made all the blood drain from my face. I never even imagined that this could happen. What if I can't ever go home again? While it was true that I had been feeling sad about leaving the 19th century.. But I was now truly without a way home. I became suddenly overwhelmed with anxiety. It felt as though I was stuck, like I had no place to go. What's going to happen to me now?
My emotions must've been showing clearly in my expression, because le Comte bowed his head apologetically. "I'm so sorry this happened, Maki. I promise I'll do something about the door. Please stay here at the mansion until we find a way for you to return home. I'll take responsibility for this and protect you." "Comte.." I mumbled. I could tell from the serious sincerity in his eyes that he meant every word of what he'd said. I'm not sure what I should do now though. But I'm sure everything will be all right.. As all as I have le Comte by my side.. Right?
I felt like if I even dared to let down my guard for even a moment, all of my anxious feelings would come pouring out. But le Comte already looked so worried about me.. I didn't want to make it worse. So I decided to do my best to put a smile on my face. "..I'm fine, Comte. I'm.. I'm looking forward to staying here with everyone for a bit longer! Looks like I'll be extending my stay here for a bit until the door is repaired. Thank you, again, so much for taking me in."
"Maki.." Even though all he did was say my name, the sound of concern was so strong within his voice.. It nearly brought tears to my eyes. But I refused to let myself cry in front of him. I knew it'd only make him worry more. "I.. I'm going to go back to my ro-" I tilted my head down and began to turn around. But suddenly, le Comte caught my wrist. He pulled me towards him, his arms wrapping around me in a gentle embrace. "Comte..?" I looked up at him, his handsome face so close that it felt as if there was no escape.
His eyes were filled to the brim with affection. "..You're so strong." he whispered. "..I.." I'm not strong at all. Surely, he couldn't have missed the warm tears that had already begun to sting my eyes.. He had noticed them- and still, he accepted them with such a tenderness. ..It felt like my heart was melting. I was consumed by a mixture of both relief and anxiety. So intense that all I wanted to do was surrender everything to him. I quickly turned my head downwards just as tears overflowed and spilled down my face.
I just had to stay like this for a few seconds, only so I can compose myself. I slightly leaned towards him further, and could feel his warm hand caressing my head. And he stayed there with me, comforting me in silence until I finally calmed down.