"Master, it appears they have caught on." Franklin Lestat said. "Akira Kuran appears to have been keeping an eye on Lady Cassandra and is now convinced she presents a danger."
"All according to the plan." Said the hooded figure. "No doubt he will attempt to take action soon enough. It will be the push Cassandra needs to fully wake her potential."
"Sire, are you certain that it will work as planned?" Franklin asked. "I do not doubt your plans, but I am rather concerned that this entire scheme hinges on Lady Cassandra fully developing her powers."
"True." He replied. "The Blood Siren takes time for her powers to wake. However, just like how humans are said to be capable of impressive feats when their lives are threatened, vampires are also the same. If Cassandra uses every ounce of her power, I have no doubt it will awaken."
"Very well milord." Franklin bowed. "On another note, I have a report. Katarina and the Death Bringers have arrived there safely. They are ready to move at a moment's notice."
"Excellent." The figure nodded before coughing. "See to it that their return is prepared for. I will have much to discuss with the four of them then."
"I understand master." Franklin replied, though this time there was a strain to his voice. It was clear that he desired to be out on the battlefield with Lady Katarina and not as some manservant in a mansion. Still a Pureblood's word was law, and he dared not disobey.
"How truly astounding." The figure said. "In all the years of this family, never before has one of us been so powerful in that gift. Cassandra far outstrips all who have come before her in that particular family gift. Why, her own mother would be proud of what she can accomplish."
"Why would Lady Verona decide to hide Cassandra's existence from the rest of the clan?" Franklin wondered. "The appearance of a Blood Siren has not been seen for over a few centuries. Such an individual is the crowning jewel of the clan, the rightful heir. Her birth should have been met with much celebration."
"I know little of why my daughter had decided to hide the existence of such an individual." The hooded figure answered. "Neither do I know why she had decided not to tell the rest of her children about it. But such a matter is irrelevant now. There is work to be done. How goes it Mr. Lestat?"
"We have taken the samples we need and are now running tests." Franklin bowed. "So far everything is within our parameters except…"
"Except what?" The figure asked.
"It seems were are currently having trouble with ensuring the melding of human and vampire DNA." Franklin reported. "I already proposed using the blood of a Pureblood such as yourself as the binding agent, but all attempts have ended in failure. Until we overcome this hurdle, Project Paragon is unfortunately out of our reach…"
The figure tapped his finger on the chair as Franklin watched. He wondered what his master would say to him regarding his current inability to produce good results. Project Paragon had massive amounts of funding and manpower put behind it. If it ended up being a wasteful effort…
Franklin shook the dreaded thoughts from his mind as his master spoke once more. "What do you suggest Mr. Lestat?"
Franklin thought for a bit, thinking as hard as he could. Then, it hit him, though he could only describe it as a whim and nothing else. "It seems hardly unlikely, but…"
"But?" The figure asked.
"Perhaps we could use the blood of a human who was once a vampire." Franklin said. "It is a stretch, but the DNA of our kind and that of humans is not too different. Purebloods alter the human genetic code with their own, changing it, moulding it…"
"Please just summarise it Mr. Lestat." The figure said wearily.
"A human who has been cured of their vampiric genetic changes may act suitably as a binder, given that their own DNA was once just like that of a vampire's." Franklin explained. "This might be able to allow the acceptance and proper melding of two different types."
"I see." The figure nodded. "Very well. Do what you believe is required. If you need more staff, that will not be an issue. I shall ensure you have the necessary hands available."
"Thank you sire." Franklin bowed. "Still, I do have one more thing to try…"
"Oh?" The figure tilted its head. "Pray tell, what is it?"
"Perhaps our chances of success were higher, if we had the genetic makeup of a Pureblood who had once been human…" Franklin said, piquing a motion of interest from his master. "The blood of a Pureblood is truly extraordinary. But if one had been turned human, and then turned vampire again, I daresay the same effect would take place, but better due to the incredible power within…"
"Another intriguing solution." The figure nodded. "But it isn't so easy. After all, other than Aidou's cure, the only other way is to sacrifice another Pureblood…"
"Yes." Franklin nodded. "That is a setback. Still, it may be worth trying should the opportunity become available. I will keep this as a possible solution, and work with what I can get."
"Very good." The figure nodded. "You may go Mr. Lestat. I hope that next time we meet, we will have desirable results."
She stared around again in the world of darkness. She remembered her first times into this world, but now she saw that the blood on the floor had disappeared. Now, there was just the bed she sat on.
"Yume?" Anju called out for the phantom girl. "Yume what is this about?"
No answer came. Anju now gingerly crawled to the edge of the bed, swinging her feet over. She hesitated slightly before deciding to get off the bed.
Anju felt gravity take over as she fell down into the darkness. However, instead of the freefall that would have been normal, her descent was instead slow, as if she was floating in water. Anju now wondered if she would soon enough find out that she was actually drowning in blood.
"That is pretty clichéd." Came the voice. Anju now turned to see Yume hovering beside her.
"Hi there." Anju greeted. "Though I really need to ask, why is it that we are back in here again? I thought you were mostly using the materialisation thing for our usual conversations."
"Things changed." Yume replied. "Something is wrong. Cross Academy isn't feeling safe right now for me to come out like I always did."
"What do you mean?" Anju frowned as she finally felt herself slow down. She watched as she landed on a chair. Anju looked up as Yume came down right next to her, taking an adjacent seat.
"I've been sensing things." Yume said as a butterfly flew onto her hand. "There has been something lurking in the school grounds. I can't really tell what it is, but there seems to be a strong killing intent, a powerful bloodlust, overwhelming the school. I fear everyone is in danger."
"We were in danger before." Anju said. "The annual ball. But we took care of it."
"You took care of Level E vampires." Yume replied. "That was a thousand times easier compared to what is coming."
Anju sighed again as she leaned back in the pew, frowning as she noticed the chandelier above. "Say, where are we again?" She asked as she looked around. The scenery was changing quickly now. Walls emerged from the ground up, flowing like a strange fluid before solidifying into their usual shape. Portraits and paintings also formed upon the walls while some sections now caved in to a door. Soon enough Anju was sitting within a small room.
"I'm not exactly sure." Yume said. "But by the looks of it, it seems to be some sort of really strange house."
"How did you come up with something like this?" Anju asked, still utterly baffled.
"I didn't." Yume replied. "But I think I know who did. Remember that time Cassandra touched you in town?"
Anju stood up as she surveyed the surroundings. "So these were part of her memories?"
Yume shook her head. "No. These are memories relating to her. At least, these are what I've been able to piece together." Yume nodded. "I'm still working on the rest, but I daresay it will be done soon enough. As for what this place was, perhaps we should let it do the talking."
Anju frowned quizzically as the door opened. She watched as a fair-skinned woman walked in, her cream-coloured hair flowing slightly behind as she did so. Around her neck was draped a necklace adorned with a large ruby. In her arms she carried a small bundle of cloth. Anju walked forward to see that there was an infant wrapped within the cloth. The infant was moaning, obviously distressed at something.
"Shhh…" The woman nuzzled the infant, which calmed it down immediately. "It's alright. It's just us now my little Cassandra."
"Cassandra?" Anju blinked as the woman walked right up to and then through her. Anju turned as the woman began to nurse the infant Cassandra, of course with freshly spilled blood from her wrist. "So, is that her mother?"
"Correct." Yume nodded as the woman continued to feed the infant Pureblood. "I believe that these are in fact her mother's memories we are looking at."
"But wait, how can we see her mother's memories through her?" Anju asked as the woman finally stopped feeding the infant, sitting down upon a small rocking chair and singing to the baby.
"Sometimes, Purebloods can recall the memories of someone from their past." Yume explained as she too observed the scene. "It is much easier especially if the memories came from someone close to the Pureblood themselves, such as a direct parent. Memories passed down this way are called Blood Memories. Basically, memories ingrained in their own blood. It is an extremely rare feature that very few experience, but is still possible. But me being well, me, makes it a little easier to see them."
Anju absorbed this new information as she turned her attention back to the scene. Cassandra's mother seemed to have finished her lullaby and the infant Cassandra was now asleep. Slowly, the woman went over to a cot that had materialised from nothing and laid the infant within it, taking great care to properly ensure Cassandra was properly wrapped in the blanket. As she straightened, Anju could detect the faint tension in her shoulders. Or perhaps it was Yume who had and conveyed that to Anju. Either way, she watched as the woman spoke again.
"What are you three doing?" The woman asked. Anju and Yume now turned to the door where three vampires stood. They appeared to be within their teenage to young adult years as vampires, the tallest being only slightly taller than Anju herself. Anju reasoned that this was the oldest of them.
"Just watching mother." Came the shortest of them, a vampire with black hair. "We wanted to see the little runt go to bed."
"Hush Lucretia." The woman said as she turned and stared at them sternly. "And speaking of bed, shouldn't you three be heading off to that?"
"Come now mother, we still have time from the soiree." The one to Lucretia's right said. "Can't we just stay up a little longer?"
The woman's eyes narrowed as she now addressed the vampire with red hair. "Katarina, get Irina and Lucretia to bed will you? I'll see to it the Cassandra is tucked in."
"Yes mother." Came the oldest vampire. "C'mon you two. Let's get going."
The other girls didn't bother to argue further as they went off, though it wasn't hard to hear them snickering about the infant that seemed to have their mother's full attention. Anju frowned as she turned her attention back to the woman who remained in the room, who now started with keeping up the many small toys that were strewn about the room.
"I never thought vampire infants had toys…" Anju chuckled as she regarded the scene.
"What'd you expect?" Yume frowned. "Even we need some entertainment as infants you know? I mean, do you really want infant vampires to go around sucking out people's life force as a form of entertainment? That's not exactly an ideal childhood after all."
"When you put it like that…" Anju gulped, believing it was better to not have an answer for that.
"Anyways, let's keep watching." Yume said as the woman finished up with the tidying and left the room, closing the curtains and switching the lights off.
"Sweet dreams, my little Blood Siren." She smiled as she left the room, with Anju and Yume now following.
"Blood Siren?" Anju blinked. "What does that mean?"
"Possibly she refers to Cassandra's power." Yume answered. "Sirens were fabled creature said to have been able to bewitch people with their voices. It seems a fitting title for someone like Cassandra."
The two of them now followed the woman down a set of dimly lit corridors. Anju looked out to see nothing but mountainous scenery that stretched for miles. It didn't look like any place she had known of, and the wonderment of the landscape would have caught her attention completely had the clanking of metal upon stone not sounded.
She turned now to see two people adorned in black plate armour, with skull-like masks covering their faces. Between the two a man walked past, dressed in a surcoat and with a sword hung at his hip. The minute she approached them, they bowed before her.
"Lady Verona." The man in the middle said. "You have had a good time?"
"The soiree did help provide me with some small relief." The woman named Verona replied. "Still, I for one have no idea why Cassandra needed to be presented before the entire Kraven family. Has my father mentioned anything to you Mr. Lestat?"
"No milady." The man named Lestat replied. "However, he has told me to inform you that he wishes to speak to you in private."
Verona sighed as she held her forehead, a strained look crossing her face. "Very well. I shall go to his chambers soon enough."
"As you command milady." Lestat replied as he stood up and walked away, the two black clad vampires following as he did. Verona sighed in annoyance as she turned away. Anju and Yume watched as she walked down another set of dull corridors before stopping by an ornate black door. She opened the doors to reveal an elderly man admiring a portrait of a beautiful woman.
"Ah, Verona." The man replied. "I didn't manage to get to speak to you during the soiree."
"Father." Verona greeted, though Anju sensed a certain coldness to her voice as she did. "Yes, I thought you were talking with some of the other members of our family. Did sister Florence make for a good talk?"
"Why must you take that tone with me my dear?" The man sighed as he walked to the table and sat down at the high chair at the head of the table. "Have I not given you everything you needed?"
"You did." Verona nodded. "At least, until you found that I was not the Blood Siren you'd hoped for. I still cannot understand why you' are so enraptured by that old family legend."
"That old legend is the symbol of our strength in this world." The man replied. "Most vampires nowadays believe it to be the jewel around your neck. But if they were to see the true might of our family, why I can scarcely imagine the reverence we'd have."
"And we would also earn the fear of other Purebloods." Verona said as she walked over and rested her hand on a nearby chair. "Perhaps the masses wouldn't dare to oppose, but other Pureblood families will see us as a threat to their own sovereignty's. They will come for us, and see that our entire family will be naught but ashes once they are through with us."
"We have the power to turn even their own against them, even humans." The man replied. "What makes you think those measly Pureblood fools can even hold a candle to us? They will be outnumbered by the sheer might of our influence."
"Unless they assassinate us first." Verona remarked. "They could come here and do away with us anytime they desire and we'd be none the wiser."
They stared at each other, the air between them tense before the man waved his hand. "I can see this is a meaningless discussion. After all, we have not sired a Blood Siren in centuries. There is no point in dwelling on such a fairy tale."
Anju frowned as she digested this information. Why would Cassandra's mother keep her power a secret from her own family? She looked up to see the scene slowly dissolve away, leaving nothing but an empty blackness where the room once was.
"I don't really know myself." Yume said in response to Anju's mental question. "But I think I will once I finish the whole puzzle."
"I still think there is more to Cassandra than meets the eye." Anju said. "Despite the power she holds, I really don't think she is a bad person. I mean, look at her mother. She seems to be protecting Cassandra. Why else would she keep her abilities a secret from her own family?"
"Perhaps." Yume nodded in agreement. "Though I don't think that's all there is to it. I fear there is something else her mother was afraid of. Like her grandfather perhaps…"
"True." Anju said as a frown crossed her face. "I have a bad feeling about all this…"
"And I fear worse is coming." Yume replied sternly. "We will need to be ready for when it comes."
"How do we do that?" Anju asked as she sat back down on the bed that had appeared again.
"I have a plan." Yume answered as she sat down on the bed as well. "I'll tell you as much as I can, but even this is just a chance. And… well, I'm worried."
"Worried that it won't work?" Anju asked.
"No." Yume nodded as she looked at Anju, and Anju could now see the trembling uncertainty and fear in the other girl's eyes. "I'm worried that this plan will end up putting you into a lot of danger. You're my friend Anju. I don't want you getting hurt because of me. Too much of that has happened, I doubt I could bear it again…"
Anju looked as for the first time she had known her, Yume truly looked afraid. And now that fear was slowly gnawing into her. It was understandable. If Yume could feel her own emotions, it was natural that she could feel hers. Anju now grabbed Yume's hand, squeezing it tightly.
"You're my friend too Yume." Anju said. Yume now turned upward to regard her as she continued. "I'm glad that you've trusted me all this time. So I will trust you. Whatever I need to do as part of your plan, I'll do it. If it is to protect everyone in Cross Academy, I won't run away from it all. I couldn't bear it if someone got hurt because of my own weakness. If I can do anything, then I will."
Yume smiled slightly as she also grabbed Anju's hand. "Thank you Anju. But you have to do exactly as I say alright? No unnecessary risks."
"Roger that!" Anju smiled. "So, I guess I'll be waking up soon?"
"Soon." Yume nodded. "But before you do, there are two things I need to tell you."
"What?" Anju asked curiously.
"This is the first part of the plan." Yume said. "I'm going to have to leverage on your promise to that guy. That is going to come with a little bit of possession, alright?"
Anju frowned as she realised about who Yume meant and what would happen. "What is the next thing?"
Yume breathed as she stared at Anju. Anju immediately felt a strange expectation rise within her. As Yume collected her thoughts, she managed a glimpse of it all. She knew what Yume was going to say before she said it.
"Anju, it's time I told you my real name."
Cassandra sipped her teacup as she relished the ambience of the night. It would be a few hours before daylight finally breached the night sky. She wanted to enjoy the last bits of solitude before she had to retreat into the confines of her room in the Moon dorm.
She watched as Beatrice came forward and refilled the cup with more tea. As the maid moved away, Cassandra reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Beatrice, is something wrong?" The Pureblood asked sternly. "You have been quite tense these past few days."
Beatrice gulped as she looked back at Cassandra. "A-apologies milady. I wasn't aware that I had been disrupting your activities."
"It hasn't been disruptive in the least." Cassandra dismissed with the wave of her hand. "However, it has been causing a rather strained atmosphere around you that spreads to others within your vicinity."
"My humble apologies…" Beatrice bowed as she stepped back.
"I'm sure you have an explanation." Cassandra said as she drank the tea.
"It was Master Akira milady." Beatrice said. "It appears he believes you a threat to the school."
"Does he now?" Cassandra mused. "Well, I suppose that is more than enough to prove his actions. I suppose he's been suspicious of me since the beginning. It appears grandfather's fears have been correct."
Beatrice nodded, though deep down she remembered the words Akira had told her. At this point, she wondered if there was something she needed to say to her master regarding her answer. She wondered if her master truly believed in the answer she had given. Still, she had no idea how to question the Pureblood. Thus Beatrice merely knelt upon the ground, bowing her head. "What is your bidding milady?"
"For now, I'd like to know what you think about Anju Cross." Cassandra asked. "You've watched her as I have asked yes?"
"Yes milady." Beatrice nodded. "For now however, I have not the slightest clue as to what she pertains to us. I know not what kind of threat she presents to you. Though if anything, she seems to have had a good sense of things. More than once I was sure she detected me following her."
"Hmm…" Cassandra frowned. "Perhaps I can get her to talk. If I used my powers on her, it may get me the answers I need."
Beatrice blinked. "But milady, what of the consequences? Using your powers will-"
"I am aware of what they will entail Beatrice." Cassandra nodded. "Nevertheless, I fear something about Anju is targeting me. As much as I like the girl, I am not interested in feeling threatened every time I have a conversation with her. If grandfather's plans are to come to fruition, I must play my role here without fail. I will not let him suffer any longer than he must."
"Understood." Beatrice nodded. "I shall bring her before you."
Cassandra merely nodded as she finished the last drop of her tea.
"So it seems she is beginning to make a move." Akira said as he conversed with Gabriella. "Very well, it appears I must go now."
"You have a plan that at least won't wreck the school right?" Ganju asked. "Pureblood battles are not something I recall being pretty. Even with all of us standing by, I doubt we will be able to contain this for long."
"I know." Akira nodded. "But I have that under control, trust me."
"You do realise the minute we do this, it will potentially amount to war." Emi said as she wiped her rapier. "I doubt Cassandra's family will not take too kindly to her being confronted."
"Perhaps. But it is our sword duty to protect this school." Akira replied. "And right now, it is time I saw for myself what Cassandra wants in this place. Too long have I gone without much answers, and with mother's latest news that connects the Kraven clan and the recent disappearances worldwide, I think there is no choice but to step up our game. It will amount to conflict, so if any of you have second thoughts, voice them now…"
The small group remained silent at his latest statement. They each looked at one another seeing their answers in the others' eyes.
"So…" Shinji said as he broke eye contact with Emi. "When do we start?"
Ichigo grumbled as he tossed and turned in his bed. It wasn't the first time that he found trouble sleeping. This time though he felt more agitated. For reasons he couldn't explain something inside him was restless, as if some hunting impulse had been turned on and the only way to quash it was bloodshed.
Or he could be hungry. He reached slowly for the bedside drawer and felt for the box in which they were kept in. After fumbling around for a bit, he suddenly realised the box was gone.
"Where the hell are you?" Ichigo growled as he sat up, flicking on the lamp that sat atop the drawers. The moment light filled the room, he was greeted by the form of Anju in her night gown.
"Shit!" Ichigo jumped in shock. "Dammit, when the hell did you get in here!?" Anju didn't answer. She merely stared back at him, still as a statue.
"Okay, I understand the silent treatment and if you are still mad." Ichigo said. "And I apologise for that time back in town. But seriously, you'd better clear out of my room in five seconds or I'm tossing you out." Again, Anju did not answer.
"Oh for the love of God!" Ichigo snapped as he shot to his feet. "I told you to-" Ichigo cut his sentence short as he noticed something in Anju's hand. A single look was all he needed. It was his blood tablets she was holding.
"Oh ha ha. Very funny Anju." Ichigo said. "Now give me back my tablets." Anju still remained silent as she lifted the box. As Ichigo reached for it, Anju drew her arm back, flinging the box through the glass window and into the darkness.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Ichigo fumed, losing his temper. "Anju this is not a game!" Sooner than he had said it however, Anju dived at him. He stared with shock as she grabbed his arms and pinned him to the bed. He tried to free himself, surprised to find out that she was strong, unnaturally strong. He looked up at her and gasped the minute he saw her eyes. Her blood-red eyes.
"You…" Ichigo blinked, still shocked by what he was seeing. "You're not Anju. Who are you?"
"Hush." The girl spoke with Anju's mouth, though her voice appeared to belong to someone else. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"Shut up…" Ichigo growled. "Whatever you've done to Anju, stop it now."
"She let me do this." Came the reply. "I asked, she said yes."
"Shut up!" Ichigo growled. "Stop it! Stop using her to do whatever you want! Get your filthy mitts off her!" She did not answer. Instead, she reached up and grabbed the collar of her gown. She slid it off, baring her shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Ichigo asked as she grabbed his head and pulled it up.
"Making use of your promise to this girl." She replied. "It's the only way to make sure that when the time comes, you all know where to go."
"What?" Ichigo blinked, utterly astounded.
"Go on." She replied again, and this time Ichigo felt a power within the voice, compelling him. All instance of free will disappeared as his mouth started to open, the fangs showing. "Drink up. You know you want to. You know you need to."
"No…" Ichigo protested but it was futile. His body moved on its own as he sunk his fangs into her shoulder. He watched as Anju's blood, crimson red in the light, flowed from the wound and stained the sheets it dripped on. He could now taste the sweetness of her blood as he gulped it down. He tried to push her away, to stop this madness but it was to no avail. As he continued, he finally felt something change. An electric tingling shot through his teeth as he registered a new taste. A sudden surge of power went through him and he suddenly felt his hunger disappear. At that moment, she removed herself from him. Ichigo scrambled backwards, panting heavily as he tried to wrap his mind around the latest experience. As he turned his eyes to Anju, he watched with shock as the bite wound disappeared, Anju's skin appearing as if it never happened.
"Good." She said. "Now, the lifeline is complete. I hope you make full use of it."
"What did you just do?" Ichigo snarled.
He watched as she turned to face him with those same blood red eyes. "Ichigo, whatever happens, trust your instincts." As soon as she finished, she turned toward the window, staring as it shattered into a million tiny pieces. She then leaped out into the darkness, colliding into the figure who had jumped upward at the same time.
Cassandra sat on the bench, her eyes closed as she breathed, inhaling the cold air. Slowly she collected her thoughts as the wind blew by again, her silver hair flowing in the breeze and also rustling through a few edges of her white lace lined dress.
"Quite late for a stroll isn't it Akira?" Cassandra said as she opened her eyes and turned to the new arrival.
"I could say the same to you." Akira said. "Isn't it a little late for you to be up? There may be no classes tomorrow, but that doesn't mean you can ignore the lights out timing."
"And you?" Cassandra addressed him coldly. "As the head of this class shouldn't you be setting an example?"
"As head prefect, it is my duty to ensure the rules of the Night class are followed." Akira stated. "That includes ensuring the vampires don't stay up too late, and that they don't endanger the Day class."
"Well, can't we just be a little more lenient on the first rule?" Cassandra asked nonchalantly a she stood up and faced him.
Akira shot her an icy stare. "What do you plan to do with Anju?" He asked, ignoring her earlier question.
"It really confuses me what it is you see in that girl." Cassandra frowned. "Why is she so special to you?"
"I have no obligation to answer." Akira said as he brandished a sword from seemingly nowhere.
Cassandra raised an eyebrow at the weapon she now saw. "Really? Can't we be civil Kuran?"
"I doubt this even fazes you." Akira said. "Now why don't you show me how prepared you are."
Cassandra huffed. She now raised her hand, the shadows around her coalescing into a similarly shaped weapon. The clouds finally broke, and the moonlight shone down upon Cassandra, glinting off the black blade.
"Do you love her?" Cassandra asked as she hung the blade low. At this, Akira frowned, but said nothing. "So you do…" Cassandra chuckled. "But fret not, Beatrice has explicit orders from me to not harm the girl. I merely want to know what it is about her that seems to be a threat to me."
"Anju is not a threat to any of us." Akira said. "Call your maid off this instant."
"I'm afraid that isn't up to you Akira." Cassandra replied coldly as her violet eyes flashed an angry red. "That girl is hiding something and I intend to find out what it is."
"So in the end you too are seeing something special about Anju." Akira mused. "And if you determine that something about her threatens you, even in the impossibility of such a feat, what will you do?"
"That is none of your concern." Cassandra said.
"Unfortunately, it is." Akira glared back with red eyes, his sense of propriety now gone, replaced with murderous intent. "And unfortunately as well, I also have concerns about you and your family, the Kraven clan. Yes, I am aware of where you came from and your history despite how brief it is. And I am also aware of your origins in Romania." To this answer, Cassandra's eyes widened.
"My mother has a good head on her shoulders and a vast network at her fingertips." Akira said as he pointed the blade at her. "You'd best not underestimate it. What are you planning Cassandra? Shipping hordes of humans to Europe from all across the world? Don't tell me you are going to deny it…"
"I have no obligation to answer." Cassandra snarled as she repeated his own words. "Not to you and your corrupt society."
"So finally the fangs are bared." Akira responded. "Though I request that you satisfy my curiosity, what do you mean by corrupt?"
"Don't pretend like it doesn't exist." Cassandra argued back. "You and your mother preach so much about wanting peace through the world, yet you would ignore the destruction of your own kind! You would see only your own glory and turn a blind eye to the rest of this sick world."
Akira frowned as he took in the information. "I can see that you have rather strong views. And I believe that you will delight in not telling me more."
"You're smart Akira." Cassandra said. "Why don't you think about this a bit more?"
"I doubt I'll have the time for that right now." Akira replied. "It seems the time for negotiating is over. Stand down, or I shall make you submit."
Cassandra smirked as she lifted her own blade. "You will try."
Without another word, they lunged at each other.
The clatter of swords rang through the night. Even if one had to strain to hear it, it would be there, echoing throughout the grounds of the academy. He smiled as he watched the battle unfold, finally sparking the conflict he so desired.
"So, it has begun." James Ridley said to himself as he watched both Akira and Cassandra battle each other. "How exhilarating."
Author's note:
Well, here is the next chapter. Apologies for not getting this updated quickly, but my attachment workload has been quite heavy lately and my time dedicated to writing has taken quite a hit. However, I will still continue to upload newer chapters on a monthly basis at the very least.
Thank you all for your support in this fic and do comment and review on anything that you like/dislike.
Jdbl00d