Impish: to be mischievous for fun
Chapter 8
"Pancake, what the hell." Ayato appeared behind her. His sudden presence surprised her. She had previously been standing near her balcony window silently, mulling over the nights events.
"I-I'm not happy like this...why did you agree?"
"Because they won't win this way. We're not going to cause anymore big fights right now...not when Burai is the demon King...he holds too much power now that there are no founders to keep him in check. Plus, like that freak is ever going to convince you to go with them? How could they?"
Yui mulled over this silently. "What if...what if they hurt you ...or the others...I don't want you all to fuss over my life again. I'm not worth that."
"If it comes down to us or you, choose you. But we're not going to let that happen. Once Reiji figures out what the hell they are hiding or whatever that venom crap is they have, then we'll just kill em off." Ayato shrugged. "Like they really can get by us. Look at what that idiot green haired guy managed..."
"I just don't like it...and my powers? Was Reiji serious?"
"Who knows. I don't know if he said that to get them to screw off or not...you can bug him about it later...but did you really think I'd let them win?"
"I'm still being treated like a bet...or a prize Ayato...I should just be able to choose..."
"And you will...when they find out that you can't be persuaded. Like they'll take no for an answer anyway? At least now we can find the best way to destroy em all first..."
"It's kind of strange...they seem ... almost too nice about it all."
"Yea, I don't like how comfortable that one seems around you." Ayato recalled his strange eyes. Blood venom huh? Still...if it was bleeding out, perhaps it might affect them, but they really couldn't die from blood loss...unless of course they had no way to replenish it...I mean if it was a fast blood loss? They're healing mechanisms were not just blood clotting...their skin self-repaired the way most demons did. So what good was this guy anyway to a fight against them? Reiji probably knew. Ayato was starting to get a bit peeved by how much Reiji always knew. He wasn't really a fan of being out done.
"I don't either...but he doesn't seem to want to hurt me-"
"Of course they don't Pancake. Sounds like ol'Burai wants you to take over his side of things...maybe. I don't know how much of my mother was really Snake Demon...the founder blood took over and she undoubtedly was more Vampire. We've always been the strongest race- the most dominant blood line in a Founder vampire...I don't remember her ever biting someone to inject venom...god it's all so dumb." Ayato shook his head, his red locks tussling over his forehead a bit.
"Why do I kind of feel like a mutt..." Yui looked to her hands.
"A what?"
"A mutt...like a dog that is so many mix of breeds people just call it a mutt."
"Well surprise, we know what you are we just don't know what that means. Plus, forget all this shit... I didn't sign us up for this just to see if they'd win. You're mine. That's that." Ayato pulled her into him, the smell of her vampire blood, sitting still beneath her pale skin, and her soft floral smelling hair made him all the surer he'd covet what was his.
And for a while she accepted it. His strong arms told her every time she wasn't just blood any more. Ayato needed her as she needed him. Even though he had his brothers, she seemed the only one who was outwardly affectionate to and frankly he had never seemed to get that from his mother.
She had her heart, but nothing but a bit of blood had come with it.
And while his arms felt so safe, she wondered if snake demons were as devious and slithery as all snake lore made them sound. She knew Ayato would protect her...just this time she didn't know what to expect.
Of course, the next morning nobody had really expected what they saw.
Sitting on a bench just outside the gates of their school were Sepsei and Savide, who seemed to be attracting some serious attention.
"Do you think you'll be allowed on the property?" Reiji disrupted their nuances, acting like casual vampires might, attracting both male and female attention from what was a curious crowd.
"Perhaps not, but Savide here can be quite persuasive."
The silent Savide looked at them, his long ponytail down the back of his neck was just noticeable now. His slightly curled mop of brown coarse hair seemed to smoothen as it turned to his sisters golden platinum blonde.
"Oh good, a charmer now? Please someone get me a flute." Laito teased. Although he was a little impressed by how many of his fellow classmates were lingering around the mellow stoic man.
"A pungi actually." Savide's voice echoed in a way that range true to Sepsei's notion. Reiji knew this meant one thing; Savide's venom would allow him to be able to persuade someone by will, with the combination of his voice alone. Perhaps the most aligning to the idea of the hypnotic snake lore...but also the most dangerous considering this man was likely powerful in his abilities considering he was one of Burai's best.
"Oh, don't be a braggart. You two don't belong here! Get out!" Subaru scoffed angrily.
"So the Kings want to start a war with Burai's kind do they?" Sepsei got up and stretched.
"Don't play this game. We're telling you to leave. I don't want you anywhere near-" Ayato stepped forward to challenge him.
"Please just leave us alone." Yui declared, causing everyone to hush.
"Are you sure that's what you want?" Sepsei's eyes looked slightly challenging and deliberately knowledgeable. He too was surprised by her ability to take over their conversation. Still they remained all too coy. It dug into her in the wrong way. It was like a danger masked in a playful facade.
The Sakamaki's were always smug in their ability to hold power over her...for a long time she was submissive, but with this man, it was a more dangerous and coy look that made her question his actions.
"Y-yes..."
"Hmm...well I can't promise we'll be too far away but I'm quite content with departing for now. Too bad...if we were just let onto the property I suppose we could have avoided alternatives."
"Even if you decide to persuade the Dean of this place I can promise you we hold more power." Reiji did not blink once at Sepsei's threat.
"Oh we are not waging a war quite yet either. Don't misinterpret my words. Relax, no worries." Sepsei's casual persona seemed to take full control – as if nothing he ever said or did was completely serious.
And with that the two left.
"They do love to make an entrance." Shu added.
"Perhaps not what I expected for snakes that once hid in shadows." Laito was amused.
They noticed the sudden odd looks and whispers from their classmates. Reiji happened to over hear a girl whisper to her friend about how at least the Vibroa demons were hot.
"Oh yes, truly handsome gentlemen, until they convince you to perhaps kill yourself with a silver sword with their silver tongue, or perhaps bite you and let your blood drain out of your orifices...of course that is after the riveting intercourse, but don't let me tell you what to do." Reiji pressed his glasses up on his nose and walked away.
"Oh come dear Reiji doesn't intercourse with a dominatrix Vibora demon sound a bit fun?" Laito teased and followed.
"Let's go." Ayato took Yui's arm and pulled her out of the crowd. She was still a bit stunned from the whole thing.
She swore she heard someone say that it was all her fault. She'd also heard someone say: There she goes, the Sakamaki pet.
"I'm kind of impressed Pancake. Although I don't think he's gonna stay away."
She blinked and looked at Ayato. "I-I just don't want the school to get involved. People hate me already."
"Fuck what they think. You will be the known as Vampire Queen one day, so let them believe what they want." Ayato sat down on the chair next to her in the empty class.
She nodded and realized the sentiment of what he said – she would be married to Ayato. It had all happened so quick she'd forgotten about his true status for a while...and hers. It was a mix of a romantic rush with the own fear of the title. And he said it so plainly it was as if the notion of them marrying was second nature. And he said it so casually it nearly made her feel like she was to blush.
He was probably older than she was. She was only turning seventeen in human years.
"Which reminds me, we gotta talk to Reiji about some kind of snake repellent for you...I don't trust those freaks."
