6

Killer Kanato

"If you love me, then let go of me." – Evanescence

It's a good thing that I wasn't able to unpack my luggage, for the time to escape has come. I don't think they have anything to do about it. Besides, they always 'punish' me anyway. And no matter where I go, I'm certain they will find me. That is if they want to.

In all fairness, the mansion will definitely be missed. I have to admit I imagined myself owning this mansion. I imagined inviting my friends here to have a fancy little tea party. I'm certain we'd have the laughs for pretending like we're English ladies enjoying our tea parties and faking our accents while we converse. I imagined myself and my father walking around the front yard, talking about life and anything in between. If only he was with me.

I wandered discreetly in the halls, checking if no one was around. Luckily, it was empty, so I left as fast and quiet as I could.

I just come out of the mansion when I heard someone singing. His voice sounded melodious. Was it Laito? I don't know. It could be anyone, really.

It was Kanato. He was sitting on the terrace. I thought he might fall, but erased the thought. He was a vampire. I'm sure immortals like him don't die from such a fall. I hid behind a wall but he called me.

"What are you doing here, Miss Yui?" he asked.

"I can't sleep, so I decided to have a walk," I lied.

"You're not thinking of leaving, are you?"

"Not really. How could I? You have a nice voice, by the way."

"It's a nice night, isn't it?"

To be honest, it was just an ordinary night, but I played along. "It sure is. If you'll excuse me, I have to go so I won't disturb you anymore."

"Don't move. I'll go down there. I have to show you something." He let himself fall to the ground. He was unconscious for a while. I checked if he was alive.

"Kanato!" I called him three times.

"You really are annoying! How could you believe that a tiny fall from the second floor would actually hurt someone like me?"

"I had to make sure."

He laughed. "You're wearing an expression of anxiety mingled with fear. In a way, I think it's kind of cute. But if I'm being completely honest, I hate it when you make that face. It worries me a little bit because I don't understand why you're so afraid of me."

"Do you really not know why I am afraid of you, of all of you?"

"I don't care what you think. Come! I'm quite fond of this particular place, so I'd really want to show it to you."

He brought me to a room full of mannequins wearing wedding gowns. It could be a boutique, but I'm not sure. It's no secret that the Sakamakis are also famous like they are wealthy. Their father, Tougo Sakamaki, is a politician. A big fish if I might add. So if they had one, I'm certain it would be well-known. Maybe it was just one of his interests.

"I never thought you were into fashion design too," I blurted out.

He smirked as if he was insulted. "Why would I be into something that mortals do?"

"Forgive me. I just thought…"

"Yes, you just thought. It would be better if you stop thinking, just like them," he suggested, waving his hand as if to present the mannequins.

"It would be. But I'm human, not a mannequin."

"Who told you they were? Look closely."

I did. Upon closer look, they don't have the lines in the joints like mannequins do. Their skins were as white as alabaster. Their eyes looked alive. It gave me the creeps.

"They're wax figures," I exclaimed.

"They're not just wax figures."

"What do you mean?"

He ignored my question. "I think that you will look very beautiful if you were a silent corpse too. Say, would you like to become one of these figures, right here and now?"

What was he saying? Did he mean that those figures were once humans? It's impossible. If you are to put wax on someone's skin, it will burn. How much more if you coat it? That someone will die, definitely. Thus, those figures were just replicas for sure. But what if he turned them into those by his supernatural powers? Who were they anyway? Were they all the sacrificial brides they were talking about? Or just the ones who chose to be wed to him?

I pushed him away and ran to the exit. However, he caught my wrist. He dragged me until we were in the corner.

"I'd keep you displayed so properly, I promise. Why would you try to run away? Am I really that scary?" he continued. He went down my neck and licked it. He also told me he'd make me just like them before he bit me.

"Stop!" I begged while resisting him. He did, for a moment. He talked to me and confirmed my suspicions. He choked me afterward. For a while, I thought my death was my final escape. But Ayato told him that Reiji wanted to see him. He left.

I was still catching my breath when Ayato came at me. He was about to bite me but he stopped. He said he was tired.

I wasted no time and went back for my luggage. It wasn't there where I left it. I looked for it and found it in Subaru's hands. I thought I'd walk away. The last thing I wanted was him crushing my skull, like what he did to my phone. But there was something different in his expression. I may be wrong but I found it soft. I let him give me my luggage.

"Thank you," I just said. I still didn't let my guard down.

"Go right now. This may be your only chance," he warned. He looked far away. I followed his gaze. I saw the moon in its waning crescent phase. Maybe he was right because I remembered Laito telling me that the full moon makes vampires stronger. I was about to leave when he touched my shoulder. He gave me a silver knife with a gem embedded on its handle. He told me it would kill vampires when I stabbed it in their hearts.

"I need to know the truth, so thank you for letting me leave. And also for this knife." I hoped I never get to use this knife.

I was wrong. I almost used it on Laito, who appeared out of nowhere. He dared me to stab it in his heart, saying it would honor him. I tried to, but he dodged it. He's such a coward.

"I want you to kill me but only if you love me with all your heart. You know, murder is very special to a vampire. The ultimate way to confess your love is to kill us. Do you know how it feels to love someone so much that you end up hating them?"

"How many times did you love then? Was that the reason why the sacrificial brides ended up as Kanato's dolls?"

"Please don't accuse me, little bitch. After all, the two of us are more alike than we are different. Your hot blood with its heavy aroma speaks to me. It speaks volumes. No matter how much you resist, your blood knows you want me. Don't be shy. You can say it. Scream out that you want me. There is no god. There's no real need to follow the rules. Why is it so important to you to live correctly? Why do you feel the need to suppress your true desires?"

I don't know why, but I vented all out on him, of all the creatures. "Honestly, I had no idea what you're talking about. I mean, I know all about love, romance, and… sex. And yet, I don't. They're all just concepts to me, being a sixteen-year-old girl and all. I think I'm too young to fully understand it, so I don't desire it, unlike you. You might as well be my grandfather because you desire so much. You're immortal, after all. And even though they say that the flesh is weak, I won't be tempted. I won't abandon my belief for those filthy desires."

He laughed. "I've never met a girl like you. You amuse me. At first, I was only interested in drinking your blood, but now I think I changed my mind. You can leave for now."

I hope I never see them ever again.