Chapter Seven – A Daytime Encounter
"Mummy! Mummy!" Mai cried as she banged her small fists against the window of the locked car door, kneeling on her seat as her mother looked over her shoulder and smiled assuringly at her five year old daughter. She quickly turned back to the darkness, her hazel eyes glaring into the night as she looked around. Mai quivered as she felt the dark presence outside, her lower lip quivering as she watched her parents' backs. Her breath steamed the glass as she leaned so close to the cool surface, white puffs clouding her view.
"Look out!" Her father cried as a monster came out of nowhere. Its shape was humanoid, but its eyes glared red, and its fangs must have been at least three inches long as it gnashed its huge jaws and made a dive at the young woman. Mai's mother stood firm and thrust her delicate metal staff. The silver point plunged into the creature's chest, blood pouring from the wound and splattering the window as she pulled the weapon free and the body fell to the ground with a dull thud that rocked the car. Mai couldn't see out of that window anymore, but her heart plunged as she heard a scream sound from the other side of the bloodied glass.
"Mummy?" Mai choked in barely more than a whisper. She jolted as her mother's face slammed into the window, her brown eyes wide. Blood poured down her cheek as she slowly slipped down the already splattered surface with a long wet squeak against the glass. A scream ripped from Mai's small lungs, the sound almost deafening in the small metal box.
"Mai!" Her father yelled as he appeared at the other window, Mai looking over at him with a tear streaked face. He was soaked through as rain started to pour, his dark bangs dripping down his face as he looked in at Mai in relief. In that moment there was an eerie calmness, the small girl breathing out as she turned towards her father's warm hazel gaze.
"Daddy!" She cried as she crawled over, screaming as one of the monsters grabbed him from behind and sank its fangs deep into his neck, pulling the struggling body with it back into a crouch and ripping a clump of flesh from the young man's throat. Fresh blood poured down his once neat suit. The delicate silver sword slipped from his dying grip, his dark eyes vacant as he fell to his knees. "Daddy?" Mai cried as she put her hands on the window and looked down at him as he fell onto his back, looking up to meet the creature's monstrous bloodied face. Its eyes glared at her, deep glowing red. Fangs gnashed at her against the glass. It looked like a mutated human. Her mind screamed at her to move, but she was so terrified she couldn't, not an inch.
"Come out little girl…" The creature encouraged, trying the door handle and finding it locked. "Come out and play." It taunted, watching as Mai scooted back across the seats so that her back was pressed against the once bloodied window of the opposite door. Mai screamed as the creature put its clawed fist though the window and ripped the door off its hinges. "Peek-a-boo." It jeered as it reached in and grabbed Mai's foot, dragging her struggling form across the seats until she was outside, kicking and screaming at the creature in terror.
"Put her down." A gentle but firm voice ordered, Mai looking into the darkness to see four figures with glowing red eyes. These new ones didn't scare her, though she didn't know why. Something inside was telling her they're good people. The creature holding her turned, using her small body as a shield, and placed his fangs on her neck gently. The sharp tips broke the soft surface to leave two lines of blood trickling down her neck. "I wasn't making a request." The voice said again, only it was coming from behind her now, and one of the four figures before her was gone. She felt the creature's fangs leave her neck as he gasped in agony and fell to the ground, releasing Mai so that she fell to the concrete, landing in a pool of blood too terrified to speak. "Are you alright Mai?" The voice asked, his tone soft and gentle. Mai looked up at the young man, tears running down her cheeks.
"Get the girl out of here! She doesn't need to see this." A young woman's voice ordered, the young man nodding his agreement as he lifted Mai into his arms protectively. Her senses were filled with a sweet irresistible scent as she leaned her head on his shoulder. His blonde hair tickled her nose as he pulled her to his chest. His arms wrapped around her tightly as he ran, the world rushing by as he travelled faster than she had ever seen before. The world remained a blur until suddenly he stopped, both of them dripping wet in the cold rain.
"Mai, you're not hurt are you?" He asked as he looked down at her with a kind smile, Mai looking up with a slight blush as the gentle sapphire orbs looked down at her. He looked so human, but she knew he was something much darker than he appeared. She touched her bloodied neck, seeing him lick his lips as he saw the blood running over her skin. His eyes reddening a little. He crouched down gently and licked her wound, stroking her hair softly as she tensed. His touch and scent calmed her as the stinging pain slowly faded. "There, all better." He said with a smile, a little blood at the corner of his mouth as he pulled back. "Now, you stay here with these people alright?" He added as he got to his feet and turned to leave, Mai's hand grabbing the back of his blood stained shirt. "No, I can't stay with you…Be a brave girl Mai." He added with a smile. Mai released him slowly and watched as he walked away.
Mai sat up with a gasp, her body coated in sweat as she sat there in her bed panting. Was that…a nightmare? She wondered as she got to her feet. Damn…I hate it when I can't remember my dreams! What if it was something important? She thought in annoyance as she walked into the bathroom, turning the shower on at a cool temperature to calm herself down. Whatever had happened she knew it hadn't been good. She was in a cold sweat, the fear still lingering.
She pulled her flannel pyjamas off and climbed under the spray, sighing in contentment as she lifted the soap, massaging the lather into her skin before washing her hair and climbing out. She secured a towel around her wet body as she went to the sink to brush her teeth. Two small faint scars were visible on her neck as she brushed, her eyes drifting to the pale marks every so often. The sight bothered her. It was so long ago I don't even remember it…I was probably careless and tripped or something. She thought with a smile. She'd always been a bit of a klutz.
She wandered back into her room and peeked between the curtains. The sun was still high in the sky, bathing the grounds in golden light. Great, so it's not even close to evening yet! She thought with a sigh as she pulled her tartan skirt on again, choosing a yellow top to pull over her head before heading out the door and wandering down to the living area. She peered in to see only one occupant, who'd already looked up expectantly before she'd even touched the door.
"Ah, Mai. What are you doing up?" Ichijou asked kindly, a book resting idly in his lap as he looked over at her. Mai blushed as she hesitated in the doorway. She didn't want to intrude, but at the same time some company was exactly what she needed and Ichijou seemed to be one of the more approachable students in the dorm.
"I…had a bad dream…" She replied a little nervously. Ichijou's smile slipped as he nodded to a chair. Mai realised she must be making him uncomfortable as she stood hovering awkwardly in the doorway staring at him. She crossed the room and sat down, Ichijou holding his page as he looked across at her.
"What was it about?" He asked sympathetically, being no stranger to bad dreams himself. It was the same for many members of the Night Class. After all they'd seen and experienced over the years it was hardly surprising. Mai smiled awkwardly as she looked across at him.
"Actually I don't remember…I guess I'm just too frustrated and awake to go back to sleep now…How about you?" She asked as he nodded his understanding, laughing gently at her question. As an outsider she wouldn't know, but he was an acute insomniac and barely slept for two hours a day. It was something Kaname had scolded him about on more than one occasion.
"Oh, I don't sleep much." He replied enigmatically, Mai looking down at the book in his lap. Since an awkward silence was building between them this seemed the perfect time to excuse herself.
"Sorry I interrupted you, I should probably…" She began as she got to her feet, Ichijou reaching out and taking her wrist faster than she could see. He'd been sitting three or four feet away in an armchair. Oh come on Mai, no one's that fast! You're still half asleep! She thought dismissively, thinking that he must have stood when she wasn't paying attention.
"No wait! Oh, sorry." He added with a blush as he released her, Mai looking down in confusion as he looked up at her. His book had fallen shut when he'd moved his hand to stop her. "I just…didn't want you to leave….That is, you're new, and we've hardly had the chance to get to know each other." He explained awkwardly, keeping his true motives secret from her. Kaname had caught him earlier and informed him that he was to keep a close eye on Mai. The order had unsettled him somewhat, but he'd never refuse Kaname.
"Oh, but you were reading." She argued, Ichijou smiling and waving it aside.
"I can read any time. It wasn't important anyway." He replied as he held it up for her inspection, revealing it to be a popular manga. It was one Mai had read, which he seemed to pick up from her expression. "You like manga?" He asked excitedly as he got to his feet.
"I love it!" Mai replied with a laugh as he pulled her along behind him and dragged her through the door. Mai could barely keep her balance as she struggled to keep up, and almost tripped over her own feet as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Then you have to see my room!" He exclaimed as he dragged her up the stairs behind him, turning past Mai's room and heading up to the next floor. He led the way down the hall to a large room, which had bookcases from wall to wall. Two of them were filled with text books and novels, but the others, and there were around seven other bookcases, were filled with manga, a lot of which Mai had never seen. "This is a good one." Ichijou said excitedly as he pulled down volume one of a very gothic looking series. The girl on the front had red eyes and bloodied fangs and was wearing black lacy clothing as she stared up at Mai.
"A vampire series…That's good, I have a thing about vampires…I know it's silly." Mai laughed as she looked at Ichijou, who looked shocked at the revelation, though he knew a lot of the girls in the Day Class were the same.
"Why?" He asked curiously, unable to form any other question or words. His expression was one of complete and utter bewilderment. If she'd researched vampires, or even read Dracula, then surely she wouldn't be even minutely attracted to them. Nor if she knew our true nature…
"Well, I…have a thing about biting to be honest." She laughed with a slight blush, not sure why she was telling him this personal bit of information. He just had such an innocently trusting face, and a reassuring air about him. It made her feel safe in sharing her secrets. "Don't tell anyone though!" She added suddenly, Ichijou smiling and holding up his hand to swear.
"Cross my heart." He replied honestly. "Well, I have a thing about biting too." He confessed in amusement. Though not in the way you're thinking…He added inwardly as the young girl looked away blushing. "Anyway, it's a very good series. It's about a school of vampires who are being investigated by a group of humans who suspect them of being vampires, but the leader of the investigation falls in love with one of the students…I won't say any more, it would spoil the ending." He added with a gentle smile as Mai looked down at the back of the book.
"Thank you…Thank you very much." Mai replied, finally feeling she was making progress with the Night Class. After all, if she could get Ichijou on her side then a few of the others might at least soften towards her a little…Right?
"Please, feel free to read here. I quite like the company, even when I'm reading…It's nice to have another presence in the room." He added thoughtfully. Mai's eyes widened slightly at his words, but he'd already turned to the window, where there was a cosy chair. He pulled the chair out a little so that the light on the ceiling beamed down on the book as he sat on the bed. "You take the chair." He added with a smile, watching as Mai settled down and began to read. Ichijou settled down himself and found his page once again, leaving the door open in case someone came along. He didn't want anyone to think there were any…inappropriate activities going on.
"Mai?" Ichijou prompted as he closed the manga volume he was reading, the third he'd read since that morning. He looked over at the chair where Mai was slumped, her head hanging down almost awkwardly. The book she'd been reading was still open in her lap, her fingers loosely gripping the pages. Ichijou smiled and got to his feet with a sigh, lifting Mai's shoulders and leaning her back in the chair. Her face was peaceful as she slept soundly. I wonder if I should leave her there…He thought, knowing her neck would be sore if he left her where she was, but he didn't want to wake her.
He gently bent down and put one arm around her shoulders, tucking the other one under her knees before easily lifting her small form into his arms. It's times like these I'm glad I'm not human…He thought as he looked down at her with a smile, placing her gently on his bed. Her light hair fanned out across the pillow, stirring slightly as he released her. He leaned down and stroked her bangs away from her face, listening to the sound of her warm blood rushing through her veins beneath her pale skin. Ichijou froze as his eyes turned red and his fangs lengthened, his body leaning further down of its own accord. His mouth opened over the soft skin of her neck. He could feel her pulse in the air, smell the scent of her blood, the heat emanating from her in waves. Go on, do it. Ichijou was almost dazed as he slowly began to obey.
"Ichijou!" Kaname snapped urgently, his hand clamping down on Ichijou's shoulder and pulling him back roughly, watching the younger boy's eyes calm to their normal shade of blue. Once they'd stumbled back he looked around in a daze, the room slightly out of focus. His mind was an almost delicious haze. He'd picked Mai up and placed her on the bed, but he had no recollection of Kaname's arrival.
"Kaname?" He murmured in confusion as he looked at the dark haired boy, who sighed in relief as he looked down at Mai to see the skin of her neck unbroken. Ichijou still wasn't entirely sure what had just happened.
"You need to take your pills. Your blood lust took over just now…You're lucky I was passing by." Kaname replied with a smile as he walked over to Ichijou's bedside table and poured him a glass of water, returning to find Ichijou breaking into his pills. He dropped two into the clear water, watching as they dissolved and slowly turned the liquid red. His blue eyes were troubled as he stared at the water.
"I've…never done that before." Ichijou said, his tone more than a little fearful as he took the glass and examined the dark liquid. Kaname opted to sit in the chair where Mai had been. "You know me Kaname. I always catch my blood lust when it first starts, it's why I've found it so easy to adapt to the pills…But just now, when I was leaning over Mai it felt like…it wasn't me…" He replied, Kaname looking deeply troubled as he sat forward. The haze was wearing off, especially now that Ichijou could slake his thirst.
"What did it feel like Ichijou?" Kaname asked gently as he looked up at his friend, who sipped at the liquid as he looked through the gap in the curtains at the bright hills beyond. The light only slightly irritated his bright eyes. Unlike most members of the Night Class he could quite happily walk in the afternoon sun and have few ill effects from it. His bloodline wasn't pure, but it was quite close.
"It was like…someone else was in my head. A voice was telling me to bite her, saying how warm and thick her blood would feel as it trickled slowly down my throat, and then my body just…moved on its own…I couldn't stop myself until I heard your voice…I don't even have the slightest sense of blood lust now, and I've barely touched this glass." He explained as he raised the almost full glass in his hand. Kaname got to his feet and headed to the door quickly. "Kaname?" Ichijou called as he followed him into the corridor.
"I have to see the Chairman immediately. Ichijou, gather the others in my office, now!" He ordered as he hurried down the stairs. Ichijou looked mildly bewildered but did as he was told as he went back into his room. He hurriedly scribbled a note to tell Mai to stay where she was and enjoy the manga before closing his door securely and heading off to carry out Kaname's orders.
First he headed back down the stairs towards Mai's room, walking into the girl's half of the dorm, though the division was barely recognised by the students, as he quickly found out when he knocked on Rima's door. He was greeted by a barely awake Shiki, who leaned on the doorframe wearing only his black underpants. His well-toned chest was bare as he raised a hand and rubbed his eyes tiredly, a small trail of blood running down his chin.
"Shiki? Get Rima and head to Kaname's room, he's called an emergency meeting." Ichijou ordered, Shiki waking up immediately at his words. It must be serious for Ichijou to wake them in the middle of the day. Rima joined him at the door in her white silk night dress, which was slightly blood stained on the left side where she still bled from a fresh bite mark.
"What's going on?" She asked sleepily, her blonde hair loose and trailing down her shoulders as she stood up on tiptoe and licked her own blood from Shiki's bottom lip. His slightly red eyes looked down into her dark brown ones, almost envious of her self-control. He could already feel her blood drawing him back in.
"Kaname wants us in his office." Shiki replied simply as he leaned down to lap the blood from the wound on Rima's neck, Ichijou sighing in exasperation as he watched the pair. He'd known they were close, but he'd never thought they were that close. He tried to ignore the bulge that had formed in Shiki's pants.
"As soon as possible." Ichijou added impatiently as Rima leaned her head back on the door, pressing her chest closer to Shiki. His tongue moved down her porcelain skin, chasing the red trails that ran down her neck and trickled down towards her breast. Shiki paused at Ichijou's words.
"Right, we'll get ready." He replied quickly, pulling Rima into the room and closing the door. He rested her against it roughly as he slid the thin straps of her night dress from her shoulders, pulling it down to reveal her delicately rounded breasts. He ravenously sucked at the bite on her neck as he pressed against her. Rima moaned in his ear. Her small hands gripped his shoulders tightly, her back arching to force herself against him firmly. He felt a painful nip on his ear and felt Rima's lips sucking the lobe lightly, a small amount of blood fuelling her blood lust. Shiki reached down with one hand and ran it up her soft thigh, feeling her gasp against his ear as he stroked her hot centre through her lace panties. He pulled them down so that he could touch her bare flesh, his fingers sliding against her wet cleft. Another small moan escaped her, her pelvis nudging forward against his hand.
"Shiki…We don't have time for this." She warned breathlessly as he slid two fingers into her heated core, his own hungry eyes looking up into hers. Their eyes were shining red with pure lust, for blood and sex. He slowly lifted Rima so that she had her legs wrapped around his slim waist with practiced ease.
"But I'm not done cleaning up yet." He excused innocently as he looked down at the long trail of blood slowly running down her breast. Rima leaned her head back against the wooden surface as he bent his head down and licked her breast slowly, lapping up every speck of red. Once he reached it he took the nipple into his mouth and sucked it gently, his fangs running over the nub making the blonde arch her spine. One fang pricked the nub so that blood flowed steadily into his mouth.
Shiki's hands reached round her sides, one holding the small of her back as the other freed his erection from his boxers, positioning himself so that he slid into her smoothly. Rima moaned as she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, her shoulders and rump hitting the door each time Shiki rocked against her. Her hands reached down to tangle in his dark locks as he continued to suckle her nipple. His thrusts were regular and powerful as Rima reached for his free hand, which rested on the wood by her head.
She gently dug her fangs into his palm, hearing him growl as the blood slowly ran over her lips, adding to her lust as she moaned and arched into his movements, a loud moan escaping her as she came. Shiki quickened his thrusts as she rode out her orgasm, his own coming towards the end of her waves of pleasure. Shiki slowly lowered her to the floor, where they both sank down. Shiki panted as he lay on his back, Rima crawling to his side and leaning her head on his shoulder as she settled beside him.
"Kaname wants to see us." She said tiredly as she looked at Shiki's exhausted expression, her own breaths coming in small gasps.
"We have to get ready." Shiki agreed as he rested his arm across her waist gently.
