Chapter 13:
Anju washed her face as she tried her hardest to calm down. She was still flustered from the earlier contact with Akira. Peeking up at the lavatory mirror, she could see that she was still quite red.
"Oh my God…" Anju moaned. "I can't be seen like this…" No doubt if she returned now, she'd be swarmed all over by Akira's Day class fans. Not to mention it would be the gossip of the entire academy for who knew how long. Anju turned the tap on again and doused her face with water once more.
"Why do I feel this way?" Anju now asked herself. She stared at her hands that were now trembling. "Why is it so much more agonizing this time?" Anju sighed as she dipped her head, fresh water droplets now dripping off her skin and into the sink below.
I shouldn't. Anju thought to herself. I am a human, and Akira is a vampire. Our worlds are too different like this. He has his own responsibilities and duties in that world, and I have mine. I know this…
So why? Anju asked herself as she started crying. Why do I want more from him? Why do I want to be with him forever? Why…
Her thoughts were cut short as soon as she heard the screaming. Anju snapped back into reality as she realised they came from the ballroom.
"Wha-?" Anju stammered. Slowly, her ears adjusted, and now she swore she could hear gunshots.
"What in the world is going on?" Anju wondered as she ran out of the lavatory.
Shit, shit, shit! Isabelle could only think of those words as she stared down the barrel of the pistol aimed at her. She looked around at the other students who were now being held at gunpoint.
It had all happened so fast. Within a few seconds, the hired caterers had pulled out guns and subsequently fired upon the Night class prefects. Isabelle glanced at the motionless bodies of Emi, Shinji, Ganju, Gabriella and Henry. Right at the front entrance, Ichigo and Lin Hua were also taken out, their blood pooling out onto the polished floors. Their assailants appeared informed, going so far as to put a few more rounds in them to make sure they stayed down.
"Who the hell are these guys?" Yura Kohaku whispered from beside her.
"Hell if I know." Isabelle growled in reply.
"Shut it!" The man watching them roared, causing a small group of girls to cower.
Then Isabelle caught sight of two people walking from the balcony. One was the easily recognisable Akira Kuran. The other appeared to be some European guy she had never seen before. Slowly, it dawned on her that he was the mastermind behind it all.
"My, my Kuran, you were more cooperative than I had imagined." The man beside him spoke.
"Let us dispense with the formalities Lovell Krishiat." Akira said. "Tell me why you are here."
Lovell Krishiat? Misaki's mind flared at the mere mention of his name. She tried to work out how she had found his name so familiar while still keeping an eye on the man who aimed a sub-machine gun at her and her classmates huddled behind her, looking for the slightest opportunity to act.
"Well, onto business hm?" The man named Lovell replied before turning to face Akira. "Akira Kuran, join us."
Akira looked at him with a bland expression. "You must forgive me if I find such a demand confusing. I doubt you'd have a whole horde of vampires just attack this school for such a pathetic reason."
Murmurs now spread through the crowd as Akira's words echoed through the hall. Misaki now realised why Lovell was so familiar.
"You're a high priority target for the Hunter Association…" Misaki declared straight at Lovell, who now turned his eyes upon her.
"Ah. The youngling from the Shiba Hunter clan. I had wondered when I would see you again." Lovell smiled.
"Hamburg…" Misaki breathed. "Those vampires back then. They were under your control?"
"Not mine." Lovell replied, entertaining her curiosity. "But in a way I was given power over them."
"How?" Akira questioned, his eyes hard. "I have never heard of Nobles controlling vampires this effectively. Who is helping you?"
"Ah, ah my young lord Kuran, haven't you heard the term silence is golden?" Lovell grinned. "But to answer your previous question, I want your support in stopping your mother."
Akira's eyes narrowed. "Forgive my sense of humour. I don't see the point of that little joke."
"It was not a joke." Lovell shook his head. "Too long has your mother ruled with an iron fist. It is time for a new order to emerge. One that truly remembers the reality of our kind."
"And tell me, what is that reality?" Akira spoke. "What about our kind do you so truly believe in?"
"Simple lord Akira." Lovell said before bowing to him, attracting the shocked stares of the many students. "We are fear. We are the supreme rulers of the night. And these, pathetic, humans…" He now gestured to the Day class students. "Nothing but the foundation upon which our empire is built."
Misaki's eyes hardened. "You're wrong! Humans and Vampires can co-exist! This school is the very symbol of that!"
"Shut her up." Lovell ordered. At once, the guard watching her walked forward, giving her a vicious backhand across the cheek. Her classmates cried as she hit the floor, going quiet once the gun was aimed at them again.
"And pray tell, what benefit is there for me to even agree to this insane plan?" Akira questioned again.
"Well, for starters, everyone in this room will be spared." Lovell smiled as his servants now coked their weapons. A dreadful silence hung in the air as it became increasingly clear that hundreds of lives were now depending on Akira's answer. "And furthermore, my master will teach you how he has controlled these thralls. Think about it milord, the most foul and beastly of our kind, shackled to your will, ready to be unleashed upon the unwary and unaware. The entire vampire race at your beck and call, answerable to only you and my master. Does this not please you lord Kuran?"
"So I get to command slaves, but be a slave myself." Akira chuckled. "You are not doing a good job at selling it Lovell."
"What makes you think I was selling anything?" Lovell grinned. "Either you say yes, or this school bleeds. Already, we have hundreds of our own servants surrounding the school. Every entrance, the dorms, the teacher wing, the gymnasium and your Chairman's house. All these safe havens are now under our control. You have nowhere to run Kuran. You can only agree…"
Akira's eyes narrowed as Misaki took in the information. She knew that Lovell was right. Those were amongst the safest places in the whole school due to the numerous safety systems in place, not to mention the armoury within the teacher's office equipped with Hunter weaponry.
"So yes or no… Those are my only choices?" Akira questioned again.
"Yes they are." Lovell nodded. "A Pureblood you may be, but even one cannot make choices that are not there to make. Besides, you won't have the blood of humans on your hands. After all, you will live to the oath you have made."
"Very clever Lovell." Akira smiled, applauding slightly. "Truly your master has taught you well on how to corner me. However, you have made a slight miscalculation."
"And what would that be Lord Akira?" Lovell smiled, still confident.
"That would be thinking I had no other options than what you have given me." Akira replied with a dark look.
In the Sun dorm, myriad vampires prowled, upset that they were not yet being given the order to run rampant and initiate the slaughter promised to them. Still, despite their bloodlust, they were well disciplined, for they stood at their posts, the last order given to them by Lovell Krishiat.
Then without warning, dark shapes smashed through the windows of the building as a strange screeching deafened their ears. Soon enough, their screams of agony mixed in with the sound of flesh being torn to shreds.
"What in the world is that?" Isabelle gasped in shock as screams tore through the air. She wasn't the only one. All around, the people in the ballroom snapped their heads, figuring out where the screams came from.
"It seems the next move has been made Lovell." Akira said. "And it appears I have cornered quite a number of your own…"
"How is this possible?" Lovell stared in shock. "I killed your subordinates!"
"Did you?" Akira asked as he waved his hand. Suddenly, the motionless forms of the Vampire prefects and Ichigo darkened, turning into an oily black substance that morphed and writhed. Soon enough, all that was in their place were Ravens, blacker than night with blood red eyes.
"Illusions…" Lovell breathed.
"I have thought long and hard about how to best escape this trap Lovell." Akira said. "I was sure you'd force me into a situation where I could not refuse your offer, or rather, your master's offer. How tragic, it seems you weren't fully prepared after all. This momentum of this game has swung into my favour now."
"Clever." Lovell growled, obviously frustrated at this sudden trick. "But you forget, I still have a sizeable army here holding the human children hostage. What makes you think you can save each and every one?"
"This…" Akira replied, now stretching out his right hand. Slowly, he raised his left thumb to the wrist and pressed down hard, his nail slicing through skin and into the blood vessel below. The scarlet red liquid now fell in droplets upon the floor.
Lovell appeared unimpressed judging from his passive look. All the students currently stared at Akira, wondering what his self-inflicted injury meant.
Just then, realization dawned on Misaki, forcing her focus upon the vampire that held her at gun-point. It wasn't obvious at first, but his composure was starting to get affected. She had to admit, it must have been hard work just getting these Level E's to hold back their bloodlust. She suspected that Lovell or whoever he worked for had quite the talent for keeping them leashed. Still, despite it all, they were still Level E's, rabid dogs on a very thin leash. All it would take was a single reason for them to forget everything except their desire for blood.
And Akira just provided the best reason of all. The blood of a Pureblood vampire.
Misaki watched as the same reaction took hold over many of the other vampire assailants. The Night class students were also aware of the recent change in the air. Finally, the one holding Misaki hostage broke, an animalistic snarl erupting from his throat as his eyes glowed red. Misaki took the initiative instantly, making use of his now delayed reaction to knock away the gun before he could fire before jamming her knife into his throat.
"You kept them hungry it seems…" Misaki said as she hefted the dead vampire into another one, the now disintegrating body colliding with him. "A very good strategy, but also risky. Now that they sense a Pureblood's blood, nothing will stop them from just going ape on everyone."
Quickly, the vampire students reacted, subduing their assailants bit by bit. Victoria hacked away one with her claws, Sean ran a dining knife through another. The Day class prefects also joined the fray, helping to stun or subdue their attackers with hidden tazers and specially made Hunter handcuffs. Soon enough, it was Lovell who was surrounded by armed students.
"Well, it seems our situation has been overturned Lovell…" Akira said as the wound in his wrist healed.
"Don't be so hasty." Lovell growled. "I have thousands of these mongrels at my command. How can you be so sure you have won?"
"Simple." Akira replied. "I have some of the most deadly vampires on my side."
"It's getting rather hard to keep track of everything." Gabriella said as she knelt upon the floor, her white Knight cloak draping over her body and touching the floor.
"I'll bet." Ganju replied as he hefted his battle-axe. "How many locations are you tracking anyway?"
"Practically everywhere." Gabriella replied. "The gym, the science labs, classrooms, the Sun dorm, faculty office, and everywhere else except the Moon dorm and its affiliated structures."
"Damn…" Ganju cursed. "How many of these things are there? And how in the damned hell did they get so many? This is insane."
"No more talking please…" Gabriella said. "My pets are hungry and the more distracted I get, the more they nag. It's like having to feed a million dogs at the same time if you get my meaning."
"Right." Ganju nodded. "So I can handle the fifty or so guys coming at us right?"
"Do what you want." Gabriella said as she closed her eyes. "Just make sure they don't touch me. Remember, I can scarcely stand filthy savage mongrels that got dredged up from God-knows-where. Besides, it took me ages to get my clothes cleaned."
"Alright then." Ganju smirked, adrenaline pumping through his veins. "If that is your wish, I'll make it happen." He now casually walked forward toward the fifty or so vampires that charged at him.
"Rule number 1 in the Night class handbook…" Ganju said as he lifted the gigantic weapon. "No vampire is to physically harm a human on these grounds." With all his might, he swung the weapon downward, splitting the closest vampire and impaling the rest with tens of rocky stalagmites.
The Level E screeched as he was dragged on the floor, which only got louder as his leg was severed from his body. Silence came the minute the blade of the Kusari-gama speared through his head.
Shinji looked up to see many others charging at him. Making another incision in his finger, Shinji manipulated his blood out in tendrils, twirling around while keeping his weapon outstretched, his weapon and blood now slicing apart any Level E that came too close.
A throng of assailants now charged at him from behind. Shinji however, paid it no mind. Soon enough, their growls were silenced almost immediately. He turned to see that the entire horde had been turned into ice sculptures, frozen eternally in their ravenous state. Behind them, the lithe form of Emi came into view, her cloak flowing in the wind as her breath materialised amidst the cold air that she had created.
"God, it's so noisy…" Shinji whined, which earned him a jab in the gut from the female vampire.
"Quit complaining. It's tough enough that we have to fight, but this many? Honestly I'm astounded how we never caught wind of this…" Emi growled as she displayed a look of complete annoyance.
"Sorry. I forgot you hate long-drawn fights." Shinji said.
"It's not that…" Emi pouted. Shinji now frowned. What could be more annoying to Emi than-
"IT'S ALL THANKS TO THESE IDIOTS THAT I CAN'T ENJOY THE CAKES IN THE BALLROOM!" Emi screamed, freezing everything in her surroundings. "WHY THE HELL DID THEY PICK TODAY TO ATTACK OF ALL DAYS!?"
Ah. Shinji sighed internally. How could I forget? At once, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Emi, I'm sure that Akira would save some for you through his illusionary copy."
"Really?" Emi replied calmly, dispelling the raging blizzard that had materialised. "I have never seen him actually use those creatures of his for such simple errands…"
"Hey, things can happen right?" Shinji said. "Besides, his creatures don't need to eat at all. So his acting as you should mean that anything they 'ate' as your double had to go somewhere. Maybe it's being stored…"
Emi glanced at him with a deadpanned expression. "Are you actually being serious about something like this? Like, seriously?"
Shinji shrugged. "It is a possibility."
Emi sighed as she registered the roars of other Level E's. "Well, whatever. I'll go and check when this whole cacophony is over." Drawing her rapier, she stepped forward to confront the horde.
At least that got her attention away from sweet stuff. Shinji thought to himself as he followed her. Then, in the back of his head, he thought: Can Akira really store stuff with his creatures now? Seems worthwhile to ask…
Henry felt his blade cleave the vampire before him in half, turning swiftly to bisect another that charged from behind. Somewhere to his left, Lin Hua was darting through a similar group of Level Es, stabbing and hacking away with her weapons. Despite their incredible speed and fighting prowess, Henry resembled more of the solitary knight, while Lin Hua appeared more as the ninja that avoided direct confrontations, using backstabs to slay her foes.
"Once more, it seems our contradictory styles have brought us together." Henry chuckled as he sheathed his katana.
"Has it?" Lin Hua answered. "I haven't really noticed that right yet. Besides, what is it to you?"
"Nothing really." Henry shrugged. "It's just quite the interesting development between us is all. From such different backgrounds, yet somehow fate always seems to bring us together in such situations."
Lin Hua shot him an emotionless stare as he explained himself. The current lull in the fighting now made the silence all the more piercing.
"If that was supposed to be you trying to flirt with me, I'm amazed at how you haven't driven off your Day class fans yet." Lin Hua said, the words now stabbing through Henry like a knife.
"W-What?" Henry stammered. "I-I wasn't trying to flirt at all!"
"Your mouth says no." Lin Hua said matter-of-factly. "Your body says yes."
"S-Shut it!" Henry exclaimed, a flustered look on his face. "What do you know about me?"
"Actually, the better question is: What don't I know about you?" Lin Hua replied, still wearing the same bland expression. "You ought to be more careful about who you chat with. Maybe the human girls find your advances irresistible, but vampire females aren't known to accept that they are fated to meet you. You're slipping Mr. Love Meister."
"Why you little…" Henry growled, only to be cut short by savage growls. He turned to see another horde of vampires now converging upon them.
"We'll settle this later…" Henry growled as he held the hilt of his blade.
"Sure." Lin Hua replied.
"Kuran, you…" Lovell growled. "Well played, I admit."
"Life can be a cruel thing." Akira said darkly. "Sometimes, it devolves into nothing more than a game of give and take. The question is, how much can one give and how much more can he take. And for us, who are as immortal as life itself, are much more devious in this dreadful game. And by the looks of it Lovell, you are not a very good player. Such skill is laughable at best. Which is why I am quite interested in who is yanking your chains."
"You really think my master will let you just walk away?" Lovell snarled. "He will destroy you…"
"He can try." Akira glared as he stepped closer. "But till then Lovell, I will squeeze every detail out of you regarding your master, before I send a message to him detailing exactly what happens should anyone threaten this school, my friends, my family and the Day students whom I have sworn to protect."
"And by that, you mean my death do you not?" Lovell smirked. "Unfortunately Kuran, I have no intention of letting this end so easily." At this, Lovell removed his shirt, exposing a very deadly looking device underneath. Akira now stood still, realising what it was.
"Quite astounding." Akira said through gritted teeth. "The fact that you managed to acquire explosives of this amount, I daresay I can narrow down my suspects to this invasion…"
"Go ahead if you must." Lovell smiled. "But know this Kuran, this is only the beginning. Soon, we will be beyond numbering, and you, your servants, and this pitiful world of light will be drenched in darkness and blood."
"Not if I have anything to say about that." Akira replied, dashing forward just as Lovell hit the switch on the timer.
What transpired within the next few seconds was impossible to see, even for vampire eyes. As soon as Akira reached his adversary, his ears picked up a strange hissing sound. Alarm flashed through his eyes instantly as he skid to a halt and leapt backward. He watched as Lovell's very body appeared to be dissolving away.
The Noble now watched as his skin blackened along with the rest of the detonator strapped to his body, a soundless scream emerging from his mouth as it devoured him and turned him to ash.
It can't be… Akira thought as he turned. Lovell was already dead, that much he knew. And he knew who had just killed him.
"Senior Akira?" Misaki said. "What just happened?"
"Ms. Shiba." Akira replied gravely. "Please stay here and look after the rest of the students. I fear we have a much more serious threat on our hands."
"What kind of threat?" Misaki asked.
"I recognise the skill that just destroyed Lovell." Akira said grimly. "The one responsible is…"
Misaki looked on, concern washing over her face.
"James Ridley." Akira replied. "A former Vampire Knight."
Author's Note:
To my faithful readers, I apologise for the LONG hiatus. It took me ages to getting around to writing this chapter and even longer to hammer it out, with all the crap that has been distracting me such as university studies, finishing up some games, etc. For this, I humbly apologise.
At any rate I hope you will continue to read this story. Soon enough, I'll be moving this into the next arc of this little tale. Can't spoil anything right yet but let's just say you will be seeing familiar faces.
Sincerely yours,
Jdbl00d