Chapter 2
It was one of those dull boring rainy evening!
Reira was feeding her young daughter while a maid stood nearby her to assist her through the process.
It'd been almost two months since she birthed the beautiful girl. Her father till to this point made no attempt to meet his daughter, even though he had visited the mother almost every week for his pleasure. It wasn't like Kuran Rido didn't know, oh he surely did! He was informed the second the child came into this world but he brushed the news away like it was of no importance.
His action did not surprise Reira. As a matter of fact this wasn't the first time Rido became a father. He already had a son with the woman from the Shiki family—and from the information she gathered; he hadn't even seen that boy's face properly either.
Rido actually made it clear he wanted nothing to do with children that were not born from Juuri. Unlike lady Shiki who was having such hard time dealing with the matter; Reira accepted it. Besides, she preferred it this way. She was okay with Rido not paying any attention to their child. In fact she wanted to keep her child as far away from him as possible.
He didn't have it in his system to be a father. So why risk the child's life by putting her in his tainted hands?
Here was something she did not know, that it was all about to change soon…very soon.
(^_^)
On one of the night, Rido barged into her room while she was still in the middle of feeding the baby.
Reira and the maid gasped, fear shining at both their faces. The young Hanadagi female felt her heartbeat slowing down as she recognized the rage that shined in his maddening mis-matched eyes.
"You," he pointed towards the maid. "…take that thing and out!" by 'that thing' he meant the child. It hurt Reira the way he referred to their daughter, his daughter, his very own flesh and blood. And also the fact that he was least bothered the child's well-being.
From the way the infant was still suckling her breast the mother understood her child was far from done. Any mother in Hanadagi Reira's position would or at-least try to argue, ask the man to wait and put the infant's need before all. However this helpless mother was in no such position. She was well aware that arguing with the mad-dog will be a losing proposition and would most likely cost the life of the child as a result.
She could not risk the life of her child...
Therefore, in a quick motion she pull her breast free from the little one's mouth and handed the baby over to the maid.
…only to have the infant give out a loud ear piercing cry at the top of her lungs!
"I think she is still hungry my lady."
The maid made the bold move to point out but Reira focused her frightened gaze on Rido trying to study his mood. His decision would be her decision.
The child continued to cry and the Kuran pureblood looked irritated.
"Take her back to her room and feed her with the bottle." The mother commanded.
"But-"
"Do as I say!"
As a mother she stood firm on her decision and immediately dismissed the maid. Who in turn bowed in both the pureblood's direction before walking out of the room—but just as she was about to pass Kuran Rido, he commanded her to stop.
"Wait…"
It frightened Reira to her core. Her heart stopped. She was almost one the verge of getting on her knees and catching his feet to beg for her child's life.
In fear of losing her child Reira was so lost that she thought her mind was playing tricks when she heard the following words from Rido's mouth.
"Finish the feeding." Both Reira and the maid nervously eyed him, to see if this was some sort of trap.
The maid was the first to move. She carefully placed the child into her mistress's arms.
The young pureblood continued to watch the older one till he snarled.
"Did you not hear me, finish the feeding. Hurry up! I don't want her cry interrupting my fuck!"
The sound of crying came to a stop as the mother resumed feeding. The father on the other hand took a seat on the couch placed before the window. The maid stood near her mistress awkwardly, awaiting the next command.
A while passed by...the babe was already asleep yet her tiny mouth continued to suckle on the breast signaling she was still not done with her meal.
Relived washed over the young woman's face. But at the same time the question followed through, why suddenly he had the kindness in him to allow her to fully feed the baby?
The young mother was so consumed into her thoughts that she did not even notice Rido nearing.
"What is her name?" the question brought her quite a surprise, making her gasp with fright. She didn't even know when he came close or how long he had been watching the child for.
"I expect an answer to my question, girl!" this time his tone came in form of a warning.
"Um…I-I…she has no name." she stammered like a foolish child making him darkly chuckle. However it was the truth though, she really did not name the child. Actually she didn't have the courage to do so.
"Why not?" His lips curled up to a twisted smirk as he shook off his jacket and cast it aside while roughly undoing the buttons of his silk black shirt.
"…"
"You're quite a useless mother! If it was Juuri she would have had a name ready by now, maybe few nicknames too..." he mocked while undressing himself, all the while his eyes still lingered upon the child who was fast asleep in the comfort of her mother's arms.
(^_^)
Rido was about to take the stairs down when a unique sound reached his ear. He could tell it was coming from one of the rooms. Who knew what came over his mind at that time that he decided to look for its source.
Opening the door he entered the room and came to the conclusion that it was the baby's nursery. Sadly, it was not like an ordinary nursery; decorated with colorful walls, pretty posters, toys and dolls. In fact, it had none of those just a small wooden crib, which was placed too near a window. It was just an empty, dark, hollow room. But that wasn't his concern. He shook his head, and was about to turn to leave, but a sudden whimper from the child drew his attention. Before even realizing it, Kuran Rido found himself bent over the crib; face to face with his own daughter!
Little did he know just how much of a mistake that was…
It was from that moment everything began to change. As if the story was rewriting itself without the aid of an author.
He gave into temptation and pulled the child out of the crib and cradled her in his arms. The first thing he did was examine her. He was impressed. She defined the word beautiful. Even though she wasn't conceived by Juuri, he still couldn't help thinking that this girl was beyond what his mind could have imagined.
To his surprise the child did not fuss in his arms. As a matter of fact she watched him, watched him in wonder. A feeling that matched his own in that given moment.
This child had a head full of thick black hair, no doubt inherited from her mother. Her milky skin contrasted beautifully with the darkness of her hair. Then there were those adorable pouty lips and that small buttoned nose. They were perfectly placed and then those eyes… she did not get her mother's violet orbs, nor did she get his mismatched one. She was blessed with the most beautiful blue eyes that he had ever seen in his long years of life. So vibrant and so full of life, those were probably the most expressive eyes he had ever seen.
"That pathetic whore didn't think of naming you..." he wondered still very much mesmerized by her beauty. "Anyway I will give you a name..."
The little one flashed him a toothless grin. As if she understood what he just said and agreed with him.
"Huh...What could be a suitable name for you?"
Her smile became wider and a cooing sound left her lips, as if she was giving him some sort of response.
It was that moment when Kuran Rido's stone cold heart started to warm up. He felt as if he was in heaven. It brought back a beautiful memory, his first time holding Juuri after her birth. She too smiled at him the same way. Just like that time, this time too his heart melted away.
He looked down at the child again. She was trying to reach for one of the button of his shirt. He brought her closer so that button was in her grip. Soon as she had her grip on the desired object a soft giggle left her lips. The sound of it made Rido feel strangely week in the knees.
He was not sure whether the child recognized him but that no longer mattered because from now on she would know who he was.
In that blissful moment Rido made the decision to make this child a part of his life and gave her the name: Aiyora.
Rido first read this name in a Hebrew novel and instantly fell in love with it. When Juuri was born Aiyora was what he wanted to call her but his parents thought the name was a bit too bizarre for a Kuran princess. Then, one night Juuri expressed her desire to name her own daughter Aiyora if she ever had any. But in the end she chose some other name for her child.
To Rido it no longer mattered if this child was from Juuri or anyone else. What mattered was the fact that she was a part of him. She belongs to him.
Therefore it was that moment when the little one was born once again, with a new identity this time-Kuran [raa1] Aiyora, daughter of Kuran Rido!
(^_^)
Reira and her maid both stood by the door astonished the day the henchmen from the senate showed up, each carrying bags full of baby goodies. By afternoon that dull vacant room was changed into a luxurious nursery.
Reira was confused. She kept thinking what was going on. Who could be so kind enough to decorate her bay's nursery? She was sure it wasn't her family. What are the chances of it being the other Kuran siblings? The idea seemed logical, since she was already familiar with their kind and humble nature. Or perhaps present from the senate just to keep Kuran Rido at their side. There was always a possibility of that too.
"Come Aiyora… Tell me if you like your new room."
It was Rido's voice. But who was he speaking to?
Reira turned her head following the voice only to have her eyes go wide in shock. There was Rido standing at the top of the stairs with her child nestled in his arms.
Although he paid no means of attention to her, but that did not matter to her. She didn't want his love to begin with. Her daughter got her father, what more could she ask for.
(^_^)
After that day Rido's visit seemed to increase. He showed up every now and then but the difference was that she barely saw him. These visits were not for her, it was for the baby.
During one of Rido's night over, Reira peeked inside the nursery to see what the father and daughter were up to. What she saw melted her heart right away. It built up a different hope inside the young pureblood, a hope for her daughter's bright future.
There was Kuran Rido, lounging on the couch with his infant daughter in his arms. He was telling her stories. Although the majority of that story revolved around Juuri, which explained why the baby was already drooling in his arms, but still, he was putting an effort and she had to give him for that.
It was also the first time the Hanadagi pureblood started to feel love and deep respect for the man to whom she was sold to years ago.
(^_^)
Rido spent most of his time with the little one. His daughter became the apple of his eye.
He fed her, bathe her and even changed her diapers. Changing of diaper was one field he was quite skilled at, after all he changed diapers for both his siblings.
With time the pureblood's nature started to come off as more positive. He appeared more tamed than his previous wild self.
And in a short span of time Kuran Rido was not the person as others claimed to recall.
It was common to celebrate a child's first year of birth.
However turning of six months was not regularly celebrated. Rido's plan to introduce Aiyora to the society only at six months seemed quite strange to Reira. It frustrated her to no end as she discovered that she was in no place to give opinion despite being the mother.
While at one hand preparation was taken for the introduction of new pureblood, on the hand gossip started to spread like wild fire of a possible marriage between the parents of the youngling.
When the news reached Reira, she wasn't sure what to make out of it.
For one Rido had never been that affectionate towards her. He made it very clear her only purpose was to serve him sexually, which put a stop to all sort of dreams she ever had of ever becoming someone's wife.
However under the current circumstances everything seemed possible. The man was no longer his former self. This new persona was of a father, who would do anything for his daughter. As a mother she too wanted a normal family for Aiyora, which was why she made up her mind not to object if Rido indeed planned on marrying her.
Little did she know how delusional she was...
(^_^)
Reria was stuck by thunder when at the eleventh hour Rido commanded her not to attend the night's gala. The decision made no sense. So she tried to protest.
"This soiree is to introduce my daughter to the vampire's society...You play no part here." Rido announced, his voice ice cold as he turned his back on her.
"She is my daughter too…"
To that Rido laughed. The sound of his laughter was cold and cruel.
"… do not mistake yourself to such thoughts. You aren't her mother, you're my whore, that your only status."
She was taken aback by his choice of his words. To say she was surprised would be an understatement. He was calling her whore? He was calling the mother of his child a whore!? What was wrong with him? What kind of a man was he?
In spite of all those thoughts, in the end Hanadagi Reira always did what was best for her and her daughter.
"As you wish, Kuran-sama!" and that was to agree with him without questions asked.
(^_^)
Reira may not have attended the Soiree but she surely did watch from up.
Quite a lot of the important members of the vampire council showed up. The members of her family were there as well; her brothers came with wives and mates. The Ichijo family was there, the Aidou family, the Souen family, the Kain family, Isaya Shouto showed up as the only member of the Shouto family, the Shirabuki clan was there too and so was the Shiki family. Almost everyone was there except for Rido's own siblings…the remaining Kurans.
Moving from those folks the Hanadagi pureblood's purple orbs picked up the sight of Rido's other mistress Shiki Midori. She came with her uncle and brought her son along.
Reira watched the woman closely. Her behavior didn't seem normal. The strange gleam of her eyes and her body language made her appear unstable.
It broke the young pureblood's heart to watch her one time favorite actress in such poor state. She grew upon watching this woman make magic on the silver screen with her unimaginable beauty and now to witness her desperate attempt to get her son some recognition- it was simply heart wrenching!
Forget acknowledgement, that cruel man did not even for once bothered to look at that helpless boy who was standing there holding onto his mother's hand feeling like an orphan.
The mother in her was able to relate to that feeling. After Aiyora's birth she too went through something close to that kind of anxiety where she could only think of what would happen to her child? Will she get recognition? Will she ever have someone to call father?
Fortunate she felt because Rido showed her daughter kindness.
If only she knew it was going to come with a price…!
Aiyora said her first word at a very tender age of seven month. The first syllable she ever uttered was 'Papi'. Her sweet innocent voice made such a beautiful sound every time she utter the word Papi that it made Rido change his mind, he decided his daughter would call him Papi instead of Otou-san.
Aiyora was a fast speaker. In the next few months she could almost form a sentence. However the credit for that sort of goes to her father. The fact that he sat her down on his lap and talked for hours helped boost her ability.
Aiyora took her first step at ten months period. Rido was present to witness that beautiful moment. From then onwards most times he stayed by her side to help her perfect those tiny steps and turn them to perfect walk.
(^_^)
On his spare time Rido always watches her. In secrecy, hidden in the shadows...
Kuran Rido could no longer imagine his life without his daughter. At this point in life she is the only one that mattered, the only one whom he cared about. Not a day goes by without seeing his daughter…without listening to her…without feeling innocent touches…
His little girl was so beautiful. He could not get enough of her, or her beauty or her innocence. To him she was the heaven. The ultimate definition of peace and beauty. She made him want to be different. He lived and breathed in her. Without even knowing or doing anything she became the most important thing in the word to him. All she had to do was maybe smile, pounce into his arms, giggle at his tickles, anything, any of her childishness and his day would be made.
(^_^)
As Aiyora grew, grew her affections for her father and vice versa.
Despite being a toddler the girl knew how to have her father wrapped around her little fingers. Rido actually lost the ability to defy her. Every word the child uttered was a command for him.
Meanwhile Aiyora's closeness to her father increased the gap between her and her mother.
Even while living in the same house, under one roof the toddler barely knew her mother. As a matter of fact she was totally unfamiliar to the whole concept of mother's love. To her, her father meant the world. He was everything to her.
…And it turned out this way because Rido made sure his daughter stayed by his side most times and was sent to her mother only during the times she needed to be fed with breast-milk.
Rido could not bring it in him to share his daughter with anyone. Not even the women who brought her into this world. The dark possessiveness within his heart for the child grew everyday burning him from deep inside. No one but Reira realized that it was cutting his sanity to a state that shall forever be in-fixable.
(^_^)
The little girl did not know about the depth of hold she had on the man. She occupied him completely. She was all that he could think about…to the point where it started to turn improper.
He wasn't sure when he changed from a possessive father to something much darker and dangerous. He did not even know when his little girl started to fill up the void Juuri has left behind, he did not know when Juuri became a distant memory in the past that he almost forgot about...
Most importantly he had no clue since when such sinful desire was born within him where it made him crave his little girl all to himself and only himself.
Nor was he aware when a father's possessive love for his daughter changed into a lover's dangerous obsession…
(^_^)
All mine, you are all mine to have, mine to love, mine to devour…!
(^_^)
It was an unusual time of afternoon when Reira was still in bed. She was not asleep neither was she awake. This strange tiredness was caused by him. Rido had devoured too much of her blood to the point she lost her conscious and even as she woke up she had no strength left within. However it all changed, when the horrified scream of her daughter reached her ear.
No amount of weakness in the body could hold back on mother's determination.
Before Reira could understand from where she got the strength to run for she was already nearing the kitchen. She followed her child's scent and that led her to there, where she had the privilege to witness the pureblood devouring one of the maids.
The sight of the maid's body turning to dust traumatized the child. Her frightened scream echoed through every corner of the mansion. This innocent child wasn't used to this brutality nor was she familiar with this face of her father.
What made it far worse was the fact that her father was now staring her down with those glowing red eyes, thirsting for a taste of her delicious blood.
…No it cannot be...
With the realization came its affect, Reira felt numb. The blood in her vessels turned cold. Her heart stopped momentarily only to starting beating in loud thud.
Quickly gathering the child into her arms she fled the scene.
The vampire said nothing. He continued to watch wordlessly as the woman ran far away from her. He wanted to stop her, he wanted to snatch his daughter back…but couldn't because the father in him knew what result it would bring.
(^_^)
Vampires, especially pureblood's don't get sick. However poor Aiyora received trauma way beyond what her small form could handle. Her body burned with high fever and there was no sign of her temperature coming down for the next few days. And every time her father made it nearer her condition only worsened. Her fever would go up, she would cry and try to get away from him.
The child made her point clear, she no longer wanted to go close to her father. But Rido was determined to get his daughter back. This little tug of war came to a point where upon mere sight of her father Aiyora would scream and cry.
This new distant nature of his daughter didn't sit well with eldest Kuran. He couldn't handle it. For him it was harder, so much painful to stay away from her. The distance was killing him. Not feeling her ticklish touches put his body on fire that burned his skin, flesh and bones to ashes.
He knew he had to see her, he had to touch her, he head to feel her…orelse he would go mad. Perhaps gone mad already!
The more the child backed away, the more aggressive his actions turned.
Reira tried to reason with him, begged him to give the child a little space. But her words only brought the opposite effect. Instead of understanding the seriousness of the situation he became furious.
Therefore with this anger came all sort of possible assaults be raising his hand or forcing himself on her or anything and everything worst that his body could offer.
For the sake of her daughter's safety the young pureblood took it all.
There were times when Rido pulled her closer by using her hair as handle from the back and whispered into her ear to remind her why he kept her alive in the first place.
"Thank the child… be grateful to her… it is because she still relies on your milk that you are still breathing…"
Although Reira never protested but in her heart she knew time has come to end this once and for all and save her child from this hell before its monstrosity took reaches her.
(^_^)
Aiyora recovered from the fever, but she was yet to recover from the fear.
Which was precisely the reason why he avoided her father and upon his sight she would run to her mother and hide behind her legs.
Rido's heart burned every day to see his daughter who once pounced into his arms without a care in the world now had to hide behind her mother to seek refuge.
And it did not take long for the day to come when the pureblood lost his cool. He had enough of her ignorance, he could take it no more.
…Rido pulled his daughter out of her mother's arms, threw her small form over his shoulder and was about to walk away when Aiyora screamed for her mother.
It was the first the Hanadagi girl used her powers on him. But alas it barely affected him. All it did was small cuts here and there, which also healed instantly. Rido paused to amuse himself for a bit. What was the woman thinking? She herself is still a child with her powers barely developed.
Then with a raise of his own hand he released his own power. The younger pureblood was thrown across the room. Her form hit the wall forming a large crack there. She passed out on the spot and Aiyora's screamed louder. She desperately tried to reach her mother.
The scene fueled Rido's wrath. He couldn't harm his daughter. He loved her way too much. So he tried to silence her with loud scolding. When that attempt failed, he forced a hand over the child's head and put her to sleep.
When Reira opened her eyes Rido was gone with the child. Tension filled the young female's heart. She couldn't even begin to what her daughter might have been going through. Her body burned with rage she never she had. The beast within her wanted to tear the bastard Rido to shreds and burn his pieces in such manner so that no power, magic or voodoo in this world could resurrect him ever.
But alas…the reality was something different.
In real life she was nothing but a young, naïve, pampered, sheltered child who knew nothing about the cruelty of this world. Till the day she was thrown into this pits of hell by her own family members. Now all she had left of her was this child. Her daughter, Kuran Aiyora. And sure as hell she did not want the same fate for her daughter…
In that vulnerable moment Hanadagi Reira took the oath…
…she failed to save herself, but that mistake won't be repeated for her daughter.
The next time Reira saw her child, she appeared all normal, she looked so happy.
Seated on her father's lap Aiyora was playing in absent mind. Earlier traces of fear from her eyes now vanished.
"Papi look…" She even looked up at her father and smiled, while showing him how she braided the doll's hair. Her father barely paid attention to the doll. His focus remained on her…his doll.
He leaned down to kiss his daughter's delicious cheeks.
Rido always enjoyed kissing her fluffly-chubby cheeks. But now that action seemed to have changed, on occasions the kisses would be so aggressive that it would leave marks on the supple skin.
Reira also noticed how abnormal his eyes appeared recently... so full of hunger, full of lust. It wasn't a look that a father gave to his daughter. As a mother she could already taste the bile in the pit of her stomach. Her purple eyes followed the trail of his hand and she could swear she saw his grip on the child tightening while his other large hand that was combing through the locks of her long dark hair. Occasionally he tugged a little at the roots to make the girl squeal a little.
Rido closed his eyes and tilted his head back a little, a silent purr escaping his lips. It was nothing but an involuntary reaction to that little squeal that his daughter just made. It gave him pleasure. The little noise of pain she made gave him pleasure.
Reira understood the course of action and felt utterly disgusted by it.
A father that takes delight from his innocent daughter!
The thought alone gave her the urge to vomit. Incest was common among vampires, especially purebloods and Kuran family was famously known for practicing it. But still it had a limit only going up to the siblings. Even among the vampire race a father-daughter relationship is considered a taboo.
(^_^)
Another time Reira found Rido cuddling their daughter, on the bed. His face buried over her head. He was holding the child in such a tight grip that she was even having difficulty breathing.
The other time she saw the father-daughter together was in the child's nursery.
Rido had her seated on his lap.
At first glance the scene appeared innocent. Little Aiyora lost in her own world playing with her toy. But the way her wretched father had his face nuzzling against her told the person watching another story.
He did not only stop there…the pureblood took hold of her tiny wrist brought it to his nose. He continued to sniff at it the way a dog sniffs bone. Reira remained in the shadows and watched with both her fists clenched by her side as Rido put one of her tiny finger into his mouth and gave it a long deep suckle.
Another time…this one afternoon the mother was awakened by her daughter's loud giggle. Becoming suspicious Reira followed. This time she walked herself on the scene of Rido placing open mouthed kisses on their daughter's neck. His tongue was darted out as the licked from the nape of her neck all the way upto her ear.
The child had no idea what was going on, to her it was one of her father's new game.
(^_^)
"Papi…!"
The pureblood toddler ran past everyone and pounced on her father even before he could take his first step in and the latter did not waste time to scoop the girl up into his arms.
The scene that took place next left Reira's mouth hanging in shock. She watched in horror as her child threw both her tiny arms around her father's neck and kissed him deep… right on the lips!
WHAT!?
Her heart stopped! How did an innocent child learn how to kiss like that? Who taught her such vulgarity, this filthiness?
Then it all made sense…
"You came into my life my little fairy and made me forget Juuri…" a line that Rido often repeated in the recent times. She did not understand the true meaning of it until now.
And now that she knows, Reira too has her own thought on the matter; My daughter will not be the one to replace your Juuri, I will never let that happen ever!
(^_^)
Soon there were no difference between the way Rido treated his beloved daughter and a sick pedophile treating its prey. He would do obnoxious things to the child. Such as kissing her everywhere, lick her, nibble her and ferociously bite her down during some occasions.
Then over the time his actions turned crazier to the point where it actually made no sense as for what he wanted to do? Was it overwhelming lust to devour her or plain madness?
Reira continued to watch from afar as Rido took every chance to create a bond with his daughter. At this young age when vampire children are only supposed to rely on energy from trust-able sources Aiyora was fed blood directly. Her father's poisonous pure blood! His sinful actions did not just stop there…because he wasn't just feeding her, he was drinking from her too in return.
Although he wasn't able to bite her neck, but does not mean that he didn't try. He definitely did!
There were countless time when he opened his mouth wide near her neck but pulled back the only the last second. Rido did not want to hurt his child but couldn't help it either. His fangs constantly ached, as their yearning to tear that innocent neck was immense.
The sight of his ferocious elongated fangs frightened the child.
Thus it left him no choice but to look for other ways to satisfy this thirst for her blood.
He pricked her fingers, sometimes scratched the sides of her arms with his sharp claws, other times he simply took her little palm inside his mouth and gently pierced it with his fangs then sucked her blood out as much as possible.
Due to Aiyora being too young he could never really take more than a gulp or two. As a result his thirst remained un-quenched and these little teasing tastes rather intensified his hunger far more.
(^_^)
Everyday her daughter was getting dragged towards an ominous future. It broke Reira's heart to just be a witness about that matter. This powerlessness ate her up from inside in the form of guilt.
No doubt remains that soon Aiyora will be victim of her father's dark desire. She will be raped, violated and rotted by the man who birthed her, the man who was supposed to treasure her, cherish her but instead chose to lust over her innocence.
Closing her eyes the mother could practically see her daughter's future as an insane pureblood, walking around, lonely, savage, feasting upon anyone and anything and then one day…Hunted down by the vampire hunters!
Once more her body burned with the urge to kill that monster. However she was sensible enough to be aware that it was an impossible proposition. She happened to be way too young and inexperienced to take down Kuran Rido. She would probably turn to crystals even before lifting a finger and once she is dead there will be no future for her daughter. For the rest of her life the child will have to live under her crazy father's mercy.
Take her! Take her! Take her far away from here to a place where he will never find her.
The thought chanted constantly inside her soul. Now all that remained was hope that she can really accomplish it one day.
The golden opportunity that she has been waiting for came sooner than even expected.
The senate called Rido's assistance for some urgent business overseas. That assured that he would not return for a while. Thank to her eavesdropping Reira even heard the promise he made to his daughter before leaving to return in a week.
That's it!
An opportunity like this would not come easily. Perhaps might never come. So it's either now or never. The only chance to save her daughter from the ill fate.
Next morning in broad daylight Reira fled the estate.
She went to the Hanadagi estate with high hopes to find shelter.
What she did not expect was for all her brothers to turn their back on her.
Their message was loud and clear, she was no longer welcome there. For the sake of her daughter the Hanadagi girl gave up her pride long age, which was why not even for once she hesitated to get on her knees and beg her brothers. Her eldest brother was taken aback but Reira did not falter. She cried out reminding them that Aiyora was not only Kuran Rido's child- half of her had the Hanadagi flesh and blood too.
But alas all her cries fell into deaf ears. It failed to reach her stone hearted brothers.
The Hanadagi family threw her out and shut the door on her face.
Reira just stood there, by the large gates holding onto her crying child numbly. She felt lost and helpless. Where to go now? Where to find a safe shelter for her child? If Rido finds them before then that would be the end of it.
While roaming the streets the idea of orphanage came to her mind several times. At one point she was even tempted to give in but backed away when hit by the realization of putting a vampire child among all humans. It would surely be disastrous.
At this point she only saw one option, to kill off both herself and this child. This way it could end once and for all. She went as far as to almost crushing the child so peacefully sleeping in her arms. But then something miraculous happened and Reira suddenly recalled... Even though she may no longer have any relative left but her daughter still did.
Aiyora still has her other relatives…
(^_^)
Reira went to the Kuran estate. It was her last hope if it does not work here then she will have no choice but to go with her former plan.
With courage she faced the Kurans.
Kuran Haruka, Kuran [raa2] Juuri and their son of late teen years Kuran Kaname.
The three of them looked at her with such pitiful eyes that it hurt her pride as a pureblood.
However Reira was taken aback when these people actually offered her to take a seat and provided her some meal. She was not expecting any sort of hospitality from these people when her own blood didn't even have the decency to offer her any of that. It gave her new hope. She could imagine her daughter safe in their care.
Reira told them everything starting from how her brothers' sold her to Kuran Rido, how he used her, how her daughter born, how Rido was a doting father at first and how his love towards their child eventually took the form of dangerous obsession. She told them everything, did not hide a single detail not even the awful things that he has done with the child.
The Kurans listened to her carefully like they were taking note of her words. They were actually familiar with her. The youngest child of the Hanadagi family. She is the first to dance with Kaname on his first ever soiree. In terms of age they are quite close the girl would be maximum of two to three years older than Kaname.
And to think what their brother did with girl who is yet a child herself...
They felt sympathy for her. She is too young to go through all these harshness.
"So you want us to take your child in and hide her presence form the world?" it was Kuran Juuri that spoek.
"No need for the world, hide her from her father that's all that matters!" The Hanadagi pureblood responded back with a determined look.
"And if we don't?" Haruka was the one that asked. "What will you do then?"
"I would not be surprised," the younger female remained calm. Showing them that she wasn't surprised. "…after all my own family shut the door for us."
There was a long pause before she spoke again.
"…Haruka-sama, Juuri-sama, I came here simply with hope, not any sort of expectation. On top of that neither do I have the power nor any right to force this child upon you. I came to seek refuge, a desperate mother in search for a shelter for her daughter. However the ultimate decision is on your hand…after all this child is not yours, and nor is her responsibility."
She may have been young but her words were powerful enough to touch the heart of the Kuran couple.
"So what will you do, if we do not welcome her?" Kuran Juuri demanded.
"Forgive me if my words come across harsh but this is my child, I'm her mother and I will do what is best for my daughter…" the three Kurans' watched Reira as she deeply kissed sleeping child's head.
"…And under the current circumstances if she receives no shelter here I will be left with no choice but to end her life."
It was the sound of Juuri's gasp that echoed into the air. As a mother who has lost her first born she was able to connect the dots and understand the pain and the pressure other mother was going through.
"Have you gone mad?" She scolded. "You cannot kill this child. Such a beautiful baby does not deserve to rot away this way. Like everyone she should also get the chance to see the world with her eyes, feel it and live it."
Her words did not affect Reira, time was crucial for her now, as it was ticking at its peak.
"…Forgive me for the choice of words my lady, but I cannot sit back and let my daughter fall into the same pits of hell I fell into. She does done deserve a life where her own father will feast upon her youth. So, as her mother if I am not capable of providing her a life of safety then there is no point in keeping her alive at all."
A heavy silence took over following those words.
Haruka and Juuri sat there in silence staring at Reira while their son sitting from his position was trying to get a good glimpse of the child in the woman's arms, like he was trying to figure something out.
Juuri gave a side eyed glance towards her husband. To Reira it appeared as though she already made up her mind and now was waiting for her husband's approval.
The silence stretched to an uncomfortable level. Haruka still did not open his mouth and it appeared as though he was siding to object. Even if he did object Reira would never blame him, the man all the right to look out for the safety of his family first.
Then his wife Juuri pulled him aside.
The situation left Reira alone in the company of their son Kaname who only stared at her and her child with an expression like he was studying them. Just like him Reira too studied him. If was after a long time she met him. He seemed to have changed over the years. Sadly she does not get much time to dwell on the prince due to Juuri and Haruka's quick return.
The look on the couple face told her that they have come to a decision. But whether or not the decision was in her favor remained unclear.
Reira stood up. She made up her mind to leave. There was no in bothering a happy family with her trouble. So she turned around without hearing their response.
"Wait!" Juuri called her back.
The young mother stopped in her tracks and turned.
"We came to a decision…" Kuran Haruka was the one who started the sentence, while his wife stepped forward with open arms.
"As of today, your daughter is one of us…" she finished the sentence her husband left incomplete.
With those words Kuran Juuri took the child from her mother's grasp and embraced her with affection as if she is her own flesh and blood.
a.n. Thank you all for reading. hope you enjoyed. Just so you to fit the story the age of the characters have been changed a little bit. For example Kaname now in his teens-like 17ish in human years. Yuuki also a tad bit older than portrayed in canon.
