Author's note:
Apologies for the late upload. Work hasn't been the kindest lately and to add to that, this is currently the longest chapter I have written. Still, I hope you like it. I'm intending to progress this story forward now through the second arc. I'd say I'll be able to finish this branch of the story within the next 3-4 months, give or take. Till then, enjoy this latest chapter.
Ai swirled the red liquid in the glass. She lifted it to her mouth and took a sip. At the instant, she wrinkled her nose. She then reached for the bottle of wine that lay nearby, checking the label. It was a pristine Cheval Blanc bottle that was only recently brought out of storage. However, the real important thing was the price which, to her shock and horror, numbered in the hundred thousands.
"How does Ren tolerate this stuff?" Ai grumbled as she placed the bottle down. "Give me a Merlot any day instead of this expensive drivel." She now reached for the small biscuits that lay close by, fully intent on snacking on them. Just as she was about to, a knock sounded on the door.
"Gyah!" Ai yelped in surprise as she began to hide the snacks and especially the wine. However, she had barely managed any of them when the door finally opened.
"Good evening Queen Ai." Chairman Cross said as he came in. "Thank you for agreeing to… this… meeting…" The Chairman's words droned out the minute he saw the biscuits and alcoholic beverages on the table. "Umm, Ai? The biscuits and the wine, to what do I owe the occasion?"
"Uh…" Ai blinked, unsure of how to respond. "Umm, my own cravings?"
The awkward scene hung in the air as they stared at each other. Then, Chairman Cross sighed and came over, taking his place at the sofa opposite. "You know, when I called you I thought we had a much more serious tone pegged."
"Well, isn't it still rather normal to want some snacks and drinks nearby?" Ai pouted.
"Alright, alright." Chairman Cross raised his hands. "Sorry for that. But still, I think we need to get to the point quickly."
"Yes, we do." Ai nodded. "You still have it?"
Chairman Cross reached into his coat and took out a small brown and worn out book, placing it on the table. "I kept it safe within the confines of this place. Recently, there have been more than a few unwelcome individuals skulking around here starting 2 months ago. It was a difficult task to keep this hidden."
"Save for you, me and Ren, no one else knows of this." Ai nodded. "The full record of vampiric culture and abilities, as compiled by your ancestors over the years. It contains everything related to vampires, a first-hand account of what has been seen and experienced by your ancestors. Well, taking into account your family's reputation among even vampires, I suppose it is only natural that you have a catalogue of everything we can be capable of."
"Yes, though some records are evidently, less than reliable." The chairman said as he flipped through the worn out pages, stopping upon one where a grotesque picture was scrawled on. It depicted two people. One was obviously vampire, with the way the fangs were drawn so distinctly. The other appeared to be human. Both figures had their mouths drawn wide open and from the mouth of the vampire, something that resembled smoke poured out and entered the mouth of the human. But what was disturbing was how the smoke was coloured slightly red, and there was a sinister face drawn through the hazy lines.
"I believe this is something we must discuss." Chairman Cross said as he looked at Ai. "I fear that Anju may be wrapped up in vampire affairs in far more dangerous ways than before."
"Yes. The reports from the others have been rather concerning for me as well." Ai nodded. "Already I have heard of Anju taking control of vampires, something that should be impossible."
"That is disturbing." The chairman said gravely. "As for me, I have noticed in the recent weeks that she has been getting a sort of prescience if I were to say it. She has seemed more aware of things to the point where I feel that…"
"Something is inside her?" Ai arched her eyebrow as she finished his sentence.
"Precisely." He nodded as he gestured to the book again. "This depicts one rather insidious power of the Purebloods. The ability to place their own consciousness into the body of another. I have heard of it before, when the Pureblood Rido Kuran attacked this school, he used the body of Senri Shiki to do the deed."
"Though it seems Anju's case appears more benign." Ai discussed. "She still retains her free will, though perhaps the entity within her only takes over at times, which could explain the ability to exert control over vampires."
"So the question is, who is the Pureblood entity within her now?" Chairman Cross surmised.
"Yes, which brings us to a new complication." Ai frowned as she collected her thoughts. "I can only predict the source of this to be Akira himself, the night he saved Anju from death. As you know, we are fully aware of the possibility of Blood Memories. Thus, I can only believe that the entity inside her is of the Kuran bloodline."
"And have you any idea on who it is?" Chairman Cross asked.
Ai remained silent for a bit before she reached down and pulled up a photo. She now looked upon the photo of two people. One was a very small girl with short hair and wearing a very cute looking dress decorated with ribbons. The other was a young woman with reddish brown eyes and brown hair that ran to her waist, who held the little girl in her arms.
"I think…" As Ai began, an ear-splitting clang filled the air.
"What!?" Chairman Cross jumped to his feet, his hands flying to the katana at his waist.
"Kirihara, go check that out." Ai said sternly. "I fear something terrible has finally been set in motion…"
Akira slashed downwards towards Cassandra's head. As he had expected, she blocked it effortlessly with her black blade before sliding past him with an unnatural speed and aimed at stab right toward his heart. Akira twisted his blade back, blocking the stab before spinning around and slashing at her head again. Cassandra blocked the blade, sliding backwards and out of Akira's reach.
"My, my Akira…" Cassandra huffed as she readied the blade again. "You are quite the merciless warrior. I've counted at least eight strikes toward my head now. I thought you wanted to get me to talk?"
"As if you are even worried about my attacks Cassandra." Akira replied.
"So you strike with the full knowledge of my being able to defend." Cassandra growled. "I suppose I ought to thank you for your faith in my abilities. I'd be flattered if my life wasn't under threat. You really are quite cruel at such an age."
"Cruelty is something we vampires are more than familiar with." Akira replied. "Surely you understand this as well as I."
"True." Cassandra nodded. "I suppose there isn't much surprise to be had in this regard."
Akira and Cassandra charged each other again, their swords clanging upon each other as they traded blows too fast for the naked eye. Cassandra now aimed a strike toward his heart, which he parried with a swift raise of the sword hilt before slashing at her again. Cassandra raised her blade, blocking his strike and now locking their swords together.
"This is quite the stalemate Akira." Cassandra chuckled. "We can barely lay a hand on each other. Though I admit being able to look into your eyes this closely is quite a stunning chance. You are very charming up close."
"I'm flattered by your compliments." Akira smiled back. "But forgive me if I must say that this is hardly the time for such idle talk."
"Yes, you speak truth." Cassandra replied as she dropped her left hand. Akira watched as shadows collected in her hands, forming another blade though this time it was much shorter than the first. He backed away immediately as she swung the shortsword upwards, slicing off a few strands of his hair.
"Careful Akira." Cassandra sniggered darkly. "If you continue to hold back, I might just kill you."
"Goodness…" Akira replied as he held his blade up. "Such words seem ill-fitting of someone of your stature. Who knew you could be so cold-blooded."
"Life is cruel." Cassandra answered as she crossed the swords in her hands, their black forms gleaming under the moon. "Of anyone in this world, we vampires should be more than experts in that regard, as you have said. It is only natural to be cold in return. That is the only truth of existence."
"That is quite a conflicting statement Cassandra." Akira argued back as he raised his blade again. "Don't think I haven't noticed. These past few months I have seen your behaviour. You've actually found the adoration of the Day class students amusing, do you not?"
Cassandra pursed her lips, refusing to answer.
"More than once you've laughed at the antics of the humans, especially the prefects who shield you from the awe-struck crowds." Akira continued as he took a step forward. "Many times you have smiled as the other members of the Night class did their utmost to serve you and failing in the most embarrassing ways. I still remember how Joe Higashi tried to help with your tea only to spill it unceremoniously on another female student. I remember how you laughed as he apologised as if his life depended on it."
"Shut up…" Cassandra growled.
"And I certainly remember how you have a certain fondness for a human girl, the first person in the world who would grace your nightly singing sessions with her presence, though of course from a distance." Akira continued. "Anju definitely sees you as someone who can be a friend. The girl may be too innocent for her own good, but I suppose that is what makes her a beautiful individual…"
"Shut up!" Cassandra yelled. "Stop it! Don't try to confuse me with such feeble attempts!"
"You can try to lie to me Cassandra, but it is indefinitely harder to lie to yourself." Akira stated. "You are not as cold-hearted as you think you are. I cannot comprehend why someone like yourself has stooped to this."
Cassandra glared back, apparently incensed. "Well, of course you wouldn't, not when you haven't seen how this world order has affected us."
"I'm afraid I cannot understand what you mean." Akira said. "I have no knowledge of what you have gone through to even begin to explain myself to you. Isn't that quite unfair Cassandra? You once said that you adored animals as they were the greatest representation of a world free from vice, hatred and arrogance. For such a strong view on the world, you don't seem to be the best advocate for it."
"Silence!" Cassandra screeched as her eyes flared red again. "Your mother's rule has caused us nothing but grief! My entire family was destroyed thanks to you!"
"So we are finally getting somewhere." Akira mused as she charged at him again. He kept his blade moving, blocking her frenzied strikes as she pushed him back. Cassandra now swung the shortsword at him. As he parried the blow, Cassandra swung her other blade at his mid-section. However, due to his longer reach, Akira's hand quickly lunged outward and grabbed her wrist, stopping her attack. Cassandra grunted as she felt his hand squeeze hers like a vice.
"Tell me then…" Akira said as he looked into her eyes. "What sins have my family done to you? What wrongs have we committed?"
"You wouldn't know would you?" Cassandra snarled. "When your mother announced that she would do all she could to create a world of peaceful coexistence, did she think that everyone would follow her? Did she think everyone would agree? Perhaps vampires would have. However, the humans are not so understanding…"
"So humans were the culprits?" Akira asked.
"Long ago, my family had lived peacefully in Romania for years." Cassandra explained as she struggled to free herself from Akira's grip. "We were a secluded family and although we did depend on the humans for sustenance, we never overstepped our boundaries. We stayed secret up in the mountains we called our home. But everything changed when our existence was no longer a secret. Although we hid ourselves well, the time finally came when humans discovered our existence."
"They entered our domain." Cassandra now trembled with an unbridled fury that even Akira suddenly grew wary of. "They were afraid of what we were capable of and wanted us gone. Despite my family's attempt at stopping them, their wrath could not be swayed…"
Akira's eyes widened with shock as the very ground beneath them started to crack while the bark of nearby trees started to split. At once, he leapt backwards before an unseen force crushed the very area around Cassandra. Telekinesis? He thought as he landed a few feet away, evidently surprised by Cassandra's powers. He barely had time to think before Cassandra charged him down again, her black blades now growing more jagged and cruel as she did.
"My father!" Cassandra screamed as she struck him, the force of her blows now running through his hands and grinding into his joints. Akira grimaced as the ache shot through his body, gathering whatever strength he could as she attacked again. "My uncles! My aunts!" She punctuated each line with a forceful blow that forced Akira back.
"MY MOTHER!" Cassandra screamed as tears welled in her eyes. She sliced forward at Akira again, cutting through his defences and now slicing through his arm and embedding itself into his torso. Akira coughed up blood as he stared at Cassandra.
"She died…" Cassandra said as he body trembled. "They all died trying to protect me from them!" Cassandra now wrenched her blades free, splattering his blood across the floor. Akira sank to the ground, gasping for air as he clutched his wound. "It wasn't long before I learned that the humans responsible were led by vampire hunters who had been consumed with revenge."
"So why is my family responsible?" Akira frowned as his blood pooled on the floor. "Humans… they were the ones who killed your family were they not?"
"The humans bear the sin of destroying our family." Cassandra explained. "But your family bears the sin for not doing anything more to stop them."
Akira said nothing. Instead he slouched slightly, the blood loss obviously taking its toll.
"Your desire for co-existence with humans is a flawed dream…" Cassandra continued as she watched Akira bleed. "Can't you see? We can never exist with them without fear and hatred clouding their judgements while your people do nothing of it. Have you thought about how many vampires have suffered at the hands of humans consumed by their desire for vengeance? Have you ever thought of what more could be done to prevent such terrors from descending upon us? Before it was humans who feared us. Now it is completely opposite."
"Cassandra…" Akira breathed, clutching his wound. "I swear to you that my mother tried her hardest then, and still is now."
"The Kurans have tried and failed Akira." Cassandra huffed. "The only thing left is to make sure the humans never turn against us ever again."
"So…" Akira gasped. "You are here to dominate the world?"
"No." Cassandra shook her head. "My family will change it. We will change it to one that knows no suffering. For the sake of my grandfather and my sisters, the only family I have left. We will show them the error of their ways."
Akira's breath came out in ragged gasps now. It was apparent that he was weakening from severe blood loss. In Cassandra's mind, the battle was over. "Fret not Akira." She said as she stepped away. "I will see that you will live. You will live to see me change this school and this world. Of course, to do that, I require some semblance of peace. It is for that reason why I will see Anju now and ascertain that she is of no danger to me."
"So it would seem." Akira coughed again. "However Cassandra, I'm afraid such plans are now out of the question."
"And what are you going to do to stop me?" Cassandra asked.
Akira slowly looked upwards and grinned. As he did so, his body melted away into a black substance. Cassandra stared in shock as all that remained were ravens. "You didn't think I would actually make myself such an easy target did you?" Akira said from the shadows. "Did you really believe that I was that easy to defeat?"
Cassandra now caught movement at the corner of her eye. She turned to see large rocky pillars crumble out of the earth, surrounding her. Cassandra moved quickly, scaling the stony walls with the aim of reaching the gap above. However, as she made it to the opening, something tugged at her leg, pulling her down again.
Cassandra gasped as she crashed into the floor. She looked up to see swirling red at her ankle that disappeared into the earth. The stony walls now started to shake as they extended. Cassandra jumped upwards, barely avoiding the rocky spears. No sooner has she recovered did she suddenly feel something from up above. She looked up in time to see a figure at the opening. The figure moved its arm, and instantly ice shards pelted her body.
"ENOUGH!" Cassandra screamed as shadows gathered in her palms. She thrust her hands outward and the shadows now moved, smashing through the rocks that had imprisoned her. Cassandra now stared around, seeing figures amid the dust that obscured her vision. It didn't matter if she couldn't see their faces. She knew who they were.
"So, the Night class knights have decided to face me altogether eh?" She mused as the dust cleared, revealing Akira and his fellow prefects.
"Well, we had to." Ganju said as he hefted his axe while Gabriella knelt down beside him. "We have orders from the queen after all. We aren't letting anyone harm that girl."
"I have no intention of harming Anju. Wasn't that already established?" Cassandra said furiously. "I merely wish to see if she is a threat!"
"Perhaps so." Henry said as he brandished his katanas. "However, even if you say so, I fear there are others who have different ideas with her."
"What is the meaning of this?" Cassandra growled as Emi and Shinji now stepped into view.
"Cassandra, we believe you don't mean ill for this place." Emi spoke as Shinji stepped in front of her slightly, as if attempting to shield her from anything Cassandra might do. "From the day you came and these past few months, we have seen you, as Akira has. From your own time in classes, the time spent with other members of this school, it seems that you only want the best for everyone around you."
"Then why stand against me now?" Cassandra queried toward Emi. "If I'm not even a threat why waste your time with me?"
"Because Cassandra, even if you don't, we believe someone else will." Akira now answered. "Do you truly believe all that you know about the society my mother is doing her best to uphold? Do you really believe everything you have been told about what the world is like?"
"Is it not truth?" Cassandra asked Akira now. "Wasn't your father also killed by a vampire hunter? Surely you see that humans will never accept peace with our kind. Surely a part of you must still hate the one who killed him?"
Akira remained silent as his friends now readied themselves for battle. He looked down, staring at his own blade and at the rose that was adorned upon the hilt. "Perhaps you may be right." Akira nodded, earning the quizzical looks of his friends. "There is maybe a small part of me who also finds difficulty in maintaining that peace. And I too have asked myself many times if there is more that could have been done."
"However Cassandra." Akira now raised his blade once more. "Despite this, I know better than to face hatred with hatred. It only leads to more bloodshed and sorrow, which is a sin that even centuries of atonement cannot wipe away. I understand your pain, but this is all the more reason why I cannot let you do what you must. Hatred and anguish is something that only serves to ruin your radiance."
Cassandra eyed the vampires who surrounded her with their weapons drawn. Cassandra now formed her own blades again, twirling them as they materialised. "It seems there is no use negotiating."
"Stand down Cassandra." Akira said. "I don't want to fight you."
"Then you will die…" Cassandra said grimly as she charged at him.
Ichigo rushed outside as soon as he heard the clashes of the battle. He could already hear the clash of the battle going on. However, that wasn't his primary concern. He was more caught up with what he had just witnessed. The last he had seen of Anju was her form crashing into another individual who had also attempted to enter his room. The minute he had recovered, he had lost sight of them.
Ichigo checked his pistol to ensure it was fully loaded. Still, he hesitated. Even if he knew it wasn't her, even if he knew the bullets wouldn't hurt her a single bit, he couldn't stomach the idea of actually shooting Anju with it. But then again, he couldn't let, whatever had taken control of Anju's body to get away with it.
What the hell is it? Ichigo thought frantically as he kept his eyes out for her. He was certain it was a vampire, and it was definitely a Pureblood. It was the only way she could have forced him to drink Anju's blood.
Yet another confusing thing for him. He remembered the last time he had drank Anju's blood. It was a sickening sweet taste that he could never forget. However, this time round there was a certain power that thrummed within it. It was familiar. It was the same sensation he had felt when he had taken Akira's blood.
"Kuran, what the hell did you do to her?" Ichigo growled as he ran through the darkness. He could already spot some lights coming on in the darkness, no doubt students waking to the sounds of battle. He hoped that Ford and Kidomaru could at least keep the regular students out of the fight.
As he raced through the grounds, his ears picked up another sound. He turned his head to see two figures battling each other, though their bout was far less noticeable compared to the one occurring between the vampires now. Knowing that Akira and the other prefects were busy, he turned his attention to this fight. As he neared, he could now make out the figures who were engaged against each other. As he made them out, his eyes widened in shock.
Cassandra's maid was kneeling on the ground, her breath ragged as blood flowed from her head while she supported herself with a sword. Anju stood before the maid, her eyes flashing an eerie red as she twirled her staff in one hand while the other held a cruelly shaped black scythe. "What…" Beatrice gasped as she vomited blood. "What are you?"
"Something you should not have tried to trifle with." Spoke the entity within Anju. "Now stay. I have no time trying to teach an infant the basics of prudence."
"HOLD IT!" Ichigo yelled as he pulled out his pistol, catching the attention of the two of them. He aimed his weapon at Anju, who looked back without any form of concern. "Stop right there."
"Ichigo…" Anju spoke. Ichigo grunted again as he reminded himself that this wasn't Anju.
"I told you didn't I?" Ichigo glared as he aimed. "Leave Anju out of these matters."
The being within Anju stared at him with her eyes, the red orbs darting to the pistol for only a second before returning to his face. Ichigo felt his heart lurch as the being smiled at him. Despite it being Anju's smile, at the same time it wasn't. It felt darker and more fearsome. Ichigo trembled as he realised that the being was treating his aggression as nothing but a joke.
"Do you really think you can shoot me Ichigo?" The being within Anju asked. Ichigo now gripped his pistol so hard that he could feel the metal splitting. "After all, anti-vampire weapons cannot hurt a human. Go ahead, pull that trigger."
"SHUT UP!" Ichigo roared. "Stop using it all! Her face! Her voice! Her smile! Stop it!"
"Unfortunately, I cannot." She said as she hefted the scythe. "For this to work, Anju and I will need to work together like this for a little while longer. It'll be the only way to save everyone in this school. Besides, Anju agreed to this. I can let her speak for us if you want."
"You are not putting her in this!" Ichigo yelled in reply as he cocked the hammer. "I won't let you…"
"If that is your desire, then instead of wasting your energy threatening me, save it for the time you will need to find me." The being said. "Learn when to bare your fangs hunter, and learn who your real prey is. Or are you so blinded that you can barely tell friend from foe?"
"Don't lecture me…" Ichigo snarled. "I have had about enough of you vampires dragging humans into your affairs. The last time it happened, Anju nearly died. I'm not going to let it happen again."
Anju's eyes now closed as she sighed. He watched now as the staff folded up and the scythe melted away to form black butterflies that fluttered around her. "Unfortunately Ichigo, that isn't really up to you. Anju has made the choice, and she has chosen to act. Yes, she will be in danger. So use every ounce of strength you can muster, every bit of hatred you have for your enemies to make sure she lives through this." Without another word, she strode away, the butterflies following her.
"Wait!" Ichigo shouted, still pointing the pistol. "Don't you dare move."
"You can't stop me Ichigo." The being in Anju answered. "I have seen eyes similar to yours and I know that you cannot bear to see this girl get harmed in any way. Such is the strong binding of attachment. I know that, far better than anyone else. Now if you'll excuse me, there is something I must attend to." Without another word, she sprinted off into the night.
Ichigo felt his hand drop as his own fury boiled over inside him. As much as he wanted to, there was no denying what the woman said. "Shit…" He cursed under his breath.
Emi crashed into a tree, forming an ice wall just in time before Cassandra could impale her. Yikes, she is tough. Emi frantically rolled out just as her icy defence crumbled. Cassandra chased after her only to be stopped by a frenzy of blood whips that Shinji sent at her.
"You alright?" He asked as his blood whips crackled around their Pureblood opponent, electric sparks arcing about.
"Just fine." Emi said as she rubbed her elbow. "For now at least." As she finished, she saw Lin Hua crash into the ground beside them.
"Considering she is a Pureblood, we are doing considerably well." The Chinese vampire relied as she wiped some blood from her forehead. "None of us have died yet."
Cassandra now summoned shadowy bats that darted toward them. Emi created a hail of ice shards, firing them at the creatures created by Cassandra. However, this left them wide open. Cassandra now took this chance to rush straight at them.
"HRRRAAAAGH!" Came Ganju's war cry as he swung his axe down. Cassandra looked up just in time to parry the blow from the large weapon. Although the shock from the blow demolished the pavement around her, all it did to Cassandra was force her legs to bend before she was finally pushing against Ganju's own strength. Ganju grunted as she finally removed one of her swords, using it to stab through his gut.
"Guh!" He gasped as the blade pierced him. Seeing that it was a losing solution, Ganju broke off the attack and staggered backwards, blood trickling out of his mouth.
Cassandra now noticed a strange screeching. She turned to see hordes of bats dive at her. She covered her face with her arms as they attacked, biting and slashing away at her. A small distance away, Gabriella stood, telepathically commanding the bats to do her bidding.
"Don't you dare hurt him." Gabriella said coldly as the bats continued striking at her. However, Gabriella now noticed a small cut appear on her cheek. Stunned, she leapt backwards just as the ground she stood on was torn apart by an unseen force. Her bats now broke off, leaving an uninjured Cassandra standing where she was.
"Was that a threat?" Cassandra questioned. "Remember your place…"
Henry and Akira now charged at her, their blades flashing amid the moonlight. Cassandra raised hers to guard against them before spinning out of the pincer attack before Henry could slash with his other blade.
"She is skilled." Henry noted. "I would say she is close to your level Akira. It appears she has had formal training."
"She definitely has." Akira nodded. "I wonder Cassandra, who taught you these skills?"
"That is none of your business." Cassandra replied as she hefted her swords again.
"Well, that may be so." Akira said. "Trivial matter is it not?"
"It most certainly is." Cassandra nodded as she manipulated the blades into blackened tendrils. With a flick of her hands, the tendrils now whipped at them, snapping apart trees and breaking the cobblestone paths.
Akira now summoned his own creatures, the ravens now fusing together and erecting a barrier in front of him and Henry. Cassandra's shadow tendrils crashed upon it, barely making a mark upon the surface. From behind the black shield, Emi now jumped up and sent icy shards at Cassandra. However, Cassandra waved her hands again, and the tendrils cut apart the frozen projectile before slamming down toward Emi. Akira now concentrated and the shield extended to cover the vulnerable noble.
"What's wrong Akira?" Cassandra smirked. "Don't tell me the great Kuran prince is so content with merely defending himself and his subjects?" She lashed out once more with the tendrils, slamming down harder on Akira's shield. He watched as cracks now formed upon the surface.
"So what is the next move?" Emi asked him as the barrier took another forceful hit.
"Any second now…" Akira said as the barrier strained again. He summoned more of his familiars, adding to the barrier.
"Come out Akira!" Cassandra said. "You can't hide forever!"
"Actually, he isn't hiding." Shinji spoke. Cassandra turned to see him knelt upon the ground with streaks of red emerging from his fingers. His blood now flowed toward her only to split away toward the rocky pillar Ganju created earlier and Akira's shield. Cassandra's eyes widened as they started swirling around them, pulsing with a strange glow.
"Emi! Now!" Shinji yelled. At this, Emi darted out of the safety of Akira's barrier. Cassandra reacted by sending shadow tendrils toward her. Although Emi was fast, she soon found herself pressured by the relentless strikes of the Pureblood. Cassandra aimed at her feet, splitting apart the ground and unbalancing her.
"Emi!" Akira cried out as she faltered and fell, leaving the safety of his barrier to strike at Cassandra directly. Cassandra turned back to parry his blade just as Henry and Ganju flanked her.
"BACK OFF!" Cassandra screeched as she summoned more tendrils that repelled the three of them. She then turned her attention toward Emi, who was similarly knelt on the ground like Shinji was, sending a tendril toward her.
"Cassandra!" Akira yelled as he charged again, getting in between Emi and Cassandra's attack. He felt the force of the blow shudder right down to his bones as he parried the blow.
"My Akira, you truly are a noble one." Cassandra mused. "You are perhaps the first Pureblood I have seen who would endanger himself for the sake of his own subordinates."
"They are not my subordinates." Akira replied as he shook off the tendril. "They are my friends. And I would gladly endanger myself for their sakes."
"So it would appear. And yet you don't do the same against humans." Cassandra scoffed.
"This world lives in a delicate balance Cassandra." Akira replied. "Yes, perhaps I could do more against humans consumed with hate and fear. But for me to do so would be disastrous to our kind. It will only breed more hatred and fear, and lead to more lives lost."
"So you proclaim your own inadequacy." Cassandra smiled.
"I proclaim that even I require the aid of others in achieving my goals." Akira answered. "Be they vampire or human. Shinji!" As he finished, Akira leapt backwards. Cassandra now saw the huge icy pillar Emi had erected and another streak of blood flow to it.
"Get clear!" Shinji yelled as the blood finally collected upon Emi's pillar. Cassandra watched as the red streaks glowed, sparking with a strange crimson energy. She now watched as her opponents cleared the zone that was now being marked with his blood, the four points where they collected flowing and connecting to one another. Cassandra now turned to Shinji, her eyes wide.
"It seems you have realised." Shinji said. "Akira's plan the whole time was this. Every move was to trap you here."
Cassandra now attempted to leave, but a spark of crimson electricity erupted from the blood marks below her. She cried out as the electricity jolted her body and she fell upon the floor, the electricity shocking her again.
"Akira…" Cassandra snarled. "You accursed little… What is this?!"
"It's Shinji's most powerful technique." Akira said. "We call it the Ketsueki Mahi no Jikkō, the Blood Paralysis Execution. While it does take a while to set up, it can be fatal for anyone that is caught within it. As long as we can acquire four focal points and trap you in it, you cannot escape. And I daresay we did a good job in that."
"Do you really think this would kill me?" Cassandra growled. "A Pureblood like myself will have more than an adequate level of power to withstand this. It won't even leave a mark!"
"I wonder about that." Shinji said. "Besides the fact that I have been preparing for this, Akira has severely tired you. Even if I can't kill you, I'm more than certain that I can injure you. After all, you've already felt the initial shocks. Those aren't even close to ten percent of what this can really do."
"No…" Cassandra gasped. "Impossible…"
"I'm sorry Lady Cassandra." Shinji said. "But right now, I'm afraid I need you to stay still." With a deep breath, Shinji unleashed the full power of the technique.
Red lightning arced upwards through the sky, lighting up the surroundings and charring nearby objects such as trees and benches while nearby lights shorted out from the wild voltage. Caught in the centre of it all, Cassandra screamed in agony as her body was electrocuted. Shinji let it last for about ten seconds before the electricity died out and his blood became blackened upon the ground.
Cassandra now slumped forward, supporting herself on her hands as her breath came out in ragged gasps. Shinji also faltered before falling upon his side.
"Shinji!" Emi rushed toward him and helped him up. "Are you okay?"
"I just need some downtime." Shinji replied. "The Ketsueki Mahi takes a lot out of me…"
"Well we never planned it to be used against regular opponents, so it has been completely untested. But Shinji is right, the use of that much of his own blood is taxing." Henry stated as Akira walked toward Cassandra's weakened form.
"It's over Cassandra." Akira said as he produced some Anti-vampire cuffs, tools meant to seal a vampire's power away. "There is much I want to ask you, but I'm afraid I will need to do it in a more secure location." Cassandra did not respond. It appeared she was completely focussed on just breathing.
"It's not that I do not empathise." Akira explained. "I too can imagine only what it is like to lose a family member and someone whom you cherish. But all the same, I do not believe that the world can change due to the efforts of just one group of people. Vampires and humans share this world now. If we truly wanted this world to change we must do it, together. Only then can we ensure that this world would be a place where we can live peacefully."
Akira now crouched low, grabbing one of Cassandra's hands and cuffing it. As he cuffed the other hand however, he felt Cassandra tense.
Instantly, her head snapped up and Akira's eyes gave way to shock as he saw her eyes. They were the same blood red as usual, but her sclera were now blackened. He also noticed how her hair was starting to change as well, from silver to a bloody red.
"AKIRA! GET BACK!" Lin Hua screamed as she rushed forward, her weapons raised. Cassandra's eyes darted to Lin Hua for only a moment and before anyone saw what had happened, Lin Hua's right arm was severed from her body. Akira retreated as Cassandra stood up once more, disregarding the fact that moments ago, she was barely standing.
"Damn it!" Ganju growled as he moved to drag the unconscious Lin Hua away from Cassandra as Akira braced himself for another battle.
Akira watched as Cassandra looked studied herself, her eyes now attracted to the scarlet locks that whipped through the air. "Is this…" She frowned as she studied herself. However, a few moments later, she turned toward her assailants again.
"Release me." Cassandra spoke. Although it still carried the melodious pitch she normally had, Akira could tell something was different. It seemed more sinister, more domineering. He motioned toward Henry and Ganju, who nodded back and raised their weapons again.
"STAND DOWN!" Cassandra spoke once more. Suddenly, Akira felt strange. He looked down to see that his arms were listing, lowering his weapon. Around him, he already saw his friends also acting the same way. Henry grunted as he tried to lift his katanas but failed. Ganju was already halfway dropping his axe and Emi stood there, still as a statue. No, her surmised. Rather than statues, they were just dolls now. He willed himself to raise his weapon, but his body was no longer his own.
"SUBMIT!" Cassandra roared. Instantly, Akira felt his knees starting to buckle while the others hit the floor immediately. His fingers finally loosened, his blade clattering to the floor.
"Cassandra…" Akira strained against the power of her commands. "What did you do?"
"Silence." Cassandra hissed as she raised her bound hands. "Release me."
"Akira…" Gabriella groaned as her body stood up from the ground. It was obvious she was trying to resist, judging by the way her limbs jittered as she walked. But it was futile. Whatever Cassandra was doing, it had managed to overpower their free will. Gabriella now staggered toward Cassandra, her hands unwillingly reaching for the key to the cuffs.
"Hrrgh!" Gabriella groaned as she sent mental commands to her bats to strike at Cassandra. However, she found that the creatures were unresponsive. Rather, they swooped down and struck at her instead, slashing at her face and body. Gabriella screamed as they drew blood and left horrible bite wounds on her face.
"Don't bother." Cassandra said. "They listen only to me now. Resist and the next one will be much worse…"
Gabriella finally reached Cassandra, her shaky hands holding the key to the Pureblood's restraints. "How did you…" Gabriella groaned as she realised she had found the cause of the uncooperative behaviour of her bats for the past few months.
"Quiet." Cassandra commanded and Gabriella instantly shut her mouth, the key in her hands now opening the lock of the cuffs.
"Thank you." Cassandra said as she slapped Gabriella across the face. The female Noble was flung a few metres away, her head hitting a tree before she fell to the ground and did not move. Cassandra now turned toward Akira, who was astoundingly still trying to resist.
"So it doesn't work as well on Purebloods." Cassandra said. "No matter. Soon enough Akira, even you will not be able to stop me."
"Cassandra…" Akira groaned as he fought her strange power. "Is this what you really want? Do you want to change the world by robbing free will?"
"I will rob away hatred Akira." Cassandra said as she formed a black blade. "If it means that some freedoms must be sacrificed, then it shall be done."
Akira sighed, knowing that he had been bested. "So, will you kill me now?"
"No." Cassandra shook her head. "But I will ensure that you are no longer a threat to my family's plans." He watched now as Cassandra flipped the weapon, the blade now pointing directly at him. "I'm sorry Akira. But you leave me with little choice."
Akira now braced himself for the pain that would soon come. He could already see his friends attempting to help, but they were helpless before Cassandra's power. He now closed his eyes, his thoughts now turning to his mother, his uncle, Chairman Cross, the other students, and finally Anju. Forgive me. I have failed. He apologised as Cassandra stabbed downward.
Then, Akira now felt a wind blow by, followed by a sickening crunch and an agonised scream before a loud crash could be heard. He opened his eyes and for possibly the third time this night, they widened with shock at what he saw.
Cassandra was gone. In her place was Anju Cross, with eyes as red as blood. He turned to the left to see Cassandra at least ten metres away. Upon closer inspection, one could see that her left side of her abdominals had been crushed inward, blood now pooling around it.
"Leave them alone." Anju spoke as she hefted her staff and a black scythe. "This time, you face me."
"What the hell does it take for kids to get sleep around here…" Misaki grumbled as she ran through the school grounds. "Just yesterday we had the worst of all math tests. This Monday we've got that literature review and then our social studies test. Seriously, whoever went and thought it'd be a good idea to rouse us from sleep is getting a world of hurt."
With the flash of red lightning that occurred some seconds ago, most, if not all of the students in Cross academy had woken up. Misaki saw hundreds of Day class students being ushered back into their dorms by the teachers and other prefects whilst she, Ford and Kidomaru were the ones responding to the disturbance. As they approached the area near the Moon dorm, they spotted a figure now darting through the shadows. A single look at the katana confirmed the identity of the figure.
"Chairman?" Misaki blinked in surprise as he turned toward them.
"Hurry." Chairman Cross said. "Akira and the other vampire prefects have been engaged in battle with Cassandra Kraven."
"Why?" Misaki asked as she pulled out her knife.
"It seems they have reason to believe she will bring danger to Anju." Chairman Cross said. "Of course, Queen Ai is surprised herself, though she seems to have expected such an action from her son. She wants us to support him to the best of our ability, but otherwise allow the vampires to handle the situation."
"Handle the situation huh?" Ford grumbled as he loaded his rifle. "And do they have a story on why they resorted to such a wide scale attack like that? If I didn't know better they were trying to nuke the courtyards."
"Shinji's Ketsueki Mahi." The Chairman nodded. "Yes I had a feeling he'd employ that. Against a Pureblood, it is the best way to immobilise them."
"Yeah well it was one hell of a light show." Ford grumbled. "Why'd they pick now of all days to start up a brawl?"
"That is currently beside the point." Chairman Cross replied. "For now, we will need to leave it to the teachers to defend the other students. We will see to this."
"Roger." Kidomaru nodded as he drew out his claymore from behind him. Misaki picked up the pace as they neared the battle scene. Already she was hearing strained cries and groans coming. It appeared that whatever had happened, it was not over yet.
"Hey!" Came a voice. The four of them turned to see Ichigo running toward them, his pistol drawn.
"Ichigo?" Misaki gasped.
"Where the hell have you been?" Ford growled. "I've been trying to call you! Do you not know what the answer button on your phone looks like?"
"Shut up! This is bigger than all of us! It is about Anju…" Ichigo explained as they approached the battle. Screeches filled the air, which Misaki instantly realised were Gabriella's bats. Soon enough, she heard the screams of said vampire echo through the night.
"What does that girl have to do with any of this?" Ford asked.
"Look Ford, I don't know how to explain it…" Ichigo huffed. "But I just saw her rip a new one right through that vampire maid."
"Anju!?" Misaki gasped, shock crossing her features. "Hang on, are you exaggerating again?"
"I wish." Ichigo answered. "That maid was literally spewing her guts out by the time I caught up. It doesn't look fatal, but Anju isn't capable of such ferocity. Hell, I'd be surprised if she could even get someone to bleed in the first place. That idiot's killing intent is non-existent."
"Save it Kitsuke." Kidomaru snapped. "Focus on the task at hand. We will deal with Ms. Cross at a later time."
"Indeed." Chairman Cross replied darkly. "While Anju's present situation appears grim, we must first focus on the vampire skirmish happening now."
Ford now looked at the Chairman, a frown crossing his features. "Hey, you know what has been going on with that girl for a while now haven't you?" Chairman Cross did not reply as he dashed through the thick trees of the school grounds.
"I know you've been talking with that vampire queen a lot more than usual, and that you've also been quite edgy since that new Pureblood showed up." Ford continued relentlessly. "You are among the most feared Hunters in the world. Even Marcus agreed that of all the Hunters, you are the most knowledgeable about what those vamps can do. You already know what is up with that girl, don't you?"
Misaki, Kidomaru and Ichigo now turned their eyes to the Chairman, who kept his back to it all. "Chairman, is this true?" Ichigo asked, his eyes hard.
Kirihara Cross frowned as he slowly unsheathed his katana. "I will explain myself when this is over. Right now, focus." He spoke now with an edge to his voice, laced with a cold steely tone. "Am I clear?"
Misaki looked back to the others, and she saw how their expressions changed immediately. Gone were the suspicious stares and animosity. Instead, what had replaced it was a look of apprehension. It seemed that the chairman's reputation preceded him once more. When he was serious about such things, not even raging beasts would dare stand in his way.
"Understood." They replied, knowing that there was no way to say otherwise.
Soon enough, they reached the battle scene, and Misaki's eyes widened at the sight.
Lin Hua lay a few feet away, her severed right arm laid out beside her. Gabriella was being cradled by Ganju, numerous wounds upon her face and body while the boy himself was breathing hard whilst trying to put pressure on a wound in his stomach. Emi was struggling to even stand and Shinji was flat upon the ground. Henry and Akira looked unharmed, but they appeared unable to move. However, this was not what Misaki found shocking.
Everyone's eyes were the same as they looked at Anju, who now sported red eyes. Some distance away, Cassandra groaned as she threw up, bloody strands of spittle falling from her mouth as her crushed abdominals healed.
"Milady!" Misaki turned to see Beatrice limp out of the trees, blood covering her arms, her forehead and lips.
"No freaking way…" Ford blinked as he looked to Anju. "That kid did this?"
"Anju…" Misaki's hands flew to her mouth. "What in the world?"
A cracking sound could be heard. Everyone watched as the staff held in Anju's right hand snapped, half of it now clattering to the floor along with small bits of metal. Anju looked at the broken half of the weapon, her eyes widening. "Ah nuts…" She sighed. Then she cocked her head to the left, though she didn't appear to look at anyone. Rather, she seemed distracted about something.
"I know! I know that was your weapon." Anju said to no one in particular. "Well I didn't think I'd actually be that strong! Can you blame me? This was made in a Hunter forge! You'd think they'd make something more durable for a situation like this!"
"Umm…" Emi frowned. "Who is she talking to?"
"Hell if I know…" Shinji gasped on the ground. "But right now, I think it's safe to say that I know nothing about what is happening."
"Look! I'll make it up to you somehow!" Anju grumbled. "What do you mean how will I do that? Uh, reality check, I'm physically present right now? I can pull strings here and there okay? I was pretty influential when I was still alive!"
"Is she… arguing with someone?" Kidomaru frowned.
"Alright, enough of this crap…" Ichigo grumbled as he stepped forward. "I'm putting a stop to whatever is going on right now."
"ENOUGH!" Cassandra screeched as she turned her black-red eyes toward Anju while her scarlet hair billowed unnaturally. Instantly Misaki, Ichigo and everyone else fell to the ground, straining against some form of unseen will.
"Akira!" Kirirhara yelled. "What is happening?"
"I don't know." Akira groaned. "But it appears that Cassandra was far more powerful than I realised! I do not know what this is, but it seems to rob away our own will. And judging by your reactions, it can affect humans as well!"
"Son of a…" Ford grumbled as he tried to raise his weapon, only for him to let go of the weapon and watch it clatter to the ground. "I'm trying to shoot her but it's like my brain isn't letting me! What the hell is this?"
"She is a Blood Siren." Anju answered as everyone looked at her with confused expressions while Cassandra stared back with shock.
"Blood… what?" Henry frowned.
"The Kraven clan has one very unique gift among their family." Anju explained as she raised the scythe. "Sometimes one of them, a female, would be born with this power. The power to force into submission anyone and anything with their voice alone. In the end, you aren't in control of what your body is doing anymore. She is. Every muscle, every vein, every breath, she has power over them all."
"It may be similar to what Purebloods can do." Anju continued. "But that is a far cry compared to this. Against this no one is immune. Your very body cannot even stop itself from what she wants you to do. Just like the Sirens in Greek mythology, once you hear her voice, nothing can bring you back. Isn't that right Cassandra? Just like those animals who grace your presence every night in your little singing jaunts."
"How…" Cassandra shuddered as her blackened eyes stared at Anju. "How do you know of this? More importantly, how are you not affected?"
"True." Anju nodded. "Your power is far stronger than the other Sirens born. I'd daresay you are the most powerful Blood Siren your family has ever seen. Even Akira over there is unable to completely resist." To this, she looked at Akira, who now spotted something very strange crossing her features. Was that affection? Akira's bewilderment raced through his mind as she turned back to Cassandra.
"However, there is one thing you were not told." Anju replied. "You see, your power is still something of a hallucinated drive that affects them; brainwashing basically. And with me being me, I am immune to your gifts. Not to mention I am more than capable of handling an infant like you."
"Infant?" Cassandra snarled. "Me!? Who are you!? What are you!?"
Anju now straightened as around her, butterflies began to emerge out of nowhere. "Ah, yes. Forgive me, I have yet to introduce myself to everyone."
She now held the scythe in both hands, the blade facing upwards as she bowed. "Pleased to meet you. My name is Yuki Kuran."
Well, you may or may not have expected that coming. It might be a cliched line, but I have a reason for bringing Yuki Kuran back into the fold. As to what it is, you'll need to keep reading to find out. On a side note, I want to thank you all for not spoiling this in the review section. Please continue with that favor as I do not want to spoil potentially new readers to this story.
I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. Once more, do read and review.
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