I'm going to be explaining Ashlen a little and who she is supposed to be to Ashley. For those that read the original this will make sense to you; hopefully.
Once the sun had set, I made my way to the forest again. However, unlike last time, I left my sword in my room. For one thing I wouldn't need it and it also made it easier to walk without it strapped to my side. It also might be a bad thing if I was caught with it, especially if it was Zero or a Night Class vampire. I've already come to the conclusion that Ashlen's sword was a vampire hunter weapon. Because I doubt witches and dragons exists in this world it made most sense that the sword was a hunter's weapon.
Even though I could be happy not knowing, I decided it was best to see what other power and skills I got from Ashlen. I had no idea what was going on with my alter ego. For all I know maybe I was becoming a vampire or a vampire hunter with similar powers. However, I already ruled out becoming a vampire because I had no thirst for blood or sensitivity to the sun. I know some of the more powerful vampire hunters have some powers but I doubted this was the case too. It would explain the sword but not Ashlen's powers. Still, I wanted to see what kind of powers I will get. If I really am turning into Ashlen I should be getting powers to communicate with animals.
'Ashlen is a Seasore, a rare and powerful witch of my own creation. She has control of the four elements, can talk to animals and can gain the loyalty of all mystical creatures. There is no way I can be turning into her; she'd make no sense to this world.' I thought to myself as I walked through the forest. I frowned thoughtfully and thought more of my alter ego.
I created Ashlen years ago. She, while not being completely human, is a mixture of a person that I want to be and things that interest me. I made her a breed of witch because of my interest in Harry Potter. As for her fighting skills I gave her those when I became interested in Naruto. Her animal and element powers is a mixture of Naruto and Vampire Knight itself. I gave Ashlen a sword made from dragon fire because of my interest in Eragon. So my alter ego world is a mixture of all things that end up interesting me. I even put the Naruto world in as a interdenominational (1) world Ashlen accidentally enters one day.
As for Ashlen's personality, that is the part I wish I was. She was confident, brave, happy, silly and a bit of a trouble maker but in the harmless way. We do share some similarities in our personality, though. We both have a anger problem, we both hate sexists and racists but Ashlen will actually punch them in their face. We are both kind of blunt and don't think when we speak all the time. We also love to read but I made Ashlen author, something that I would love to become. I've even started a few original stories but usually give up on them after a while. Instead I stick to stories based on my favorite fandoms. So far I've made stories on Harry Potter (2) Naruto and even Vampire Knight.
Ashlen was created long before my depression actually. She is, what most readers would call, a Mary-Sue. However I would not dare be stupid enough to make her an actual character in a story. She is my personal OC, my alter ego and my other self. Why I am mentioning all of this is because I am trying to figure out what's going on. Why I have Ashlen's sword when it shouldn't exist here and why I have signs of two of her element powers. Maybe I am just over thinking things and should let them come as they come. Still, I was curious to see what other things I had control of.
Reaching the same area as last night, I stopped in the small clearing. Taking a quick glance around the area to make sure no one was watching me. When sure no one was watching me, I sat myself on the grass and looked at a clear patch of grass. I already knew I didn't have Ashlen's animal powers and I couldn't even test while there were no animals around. I also didn't want to test her reflexes or fighting powers as I am not stupid enough to risk something that will get me hurt. So, I decided to test more of Ashlen's Earth based powers.
From my dreams Ashlen's Earth power is actually the easiest to control. The emotion that triggers it is really depends on what I want the plant to do. If I simple want a plant to grow I need to be calm but if I want the plant to attack or do a lot of movement, I either need to be excited, angry or scared; any strong emotion will do. The power is even easier to control if I touch the plant; it will grow even faster and this can be done with fruit as well. I say I instead of her or Ashlen because the emotions are mine, even if I am a different girl inside my mind and dreams.
'Alright, lets try to grow a tree. If these really are Ashlen's powers, this should be easy for me. There's no harm in trying, right?' I thought to myself as I stared at the patch of grass in front of me. When nothing happened I inhaled deeply and, reaching out a hand, touched the patch of grass and thought of a tree growing.
After a few seconds of nothing happening, the ground began to shake. It wasn't strong but sudden enough to probably feel it a couple feet away. Following the shaking, a tree burst out of the ground; a baby tree. Well... that never happened before; at least not that I can remember. In my earliest dreams about the earth powers, Ashlen can make a full grown tree pop out of the ground. Starting out as a baby wasn't too surprising; it was the shaking that came with it.
"Well... at least I know it works." I told myself, pulling my hand away from the dirt. I then reached over my hand and very gently touched the trunk with two of my fingers.
Like I had expected, but still came as a slight surprise, the tree began growing. Not only did it get taller but it began to get thicker. So thick that I now had to use my whole hand rather than just a few of my fingers. I was smiling the whole time the tree was growing. I've actually always wanted to have earth based powers, which is why I it is Ashlen's strongest out of the other three. I still don't know how this all happened but... maybe, just maybe I can find a little happiness; as weird and uncomfortable as my new life seems to be.
"I wish I could go there, to the Vampire Knight world. I need a new start, I need to get away from everything here."
The voice echoed in my head and I pulled my hand away from the tree with wide eyes. Was this my fault? Did my wish really bring me here? No, that's not possible. It's not like I was wishing on a star or anything and I doubt god would send me here. I mean I've made wishes to enter a favorite book or TV show before and nothing happened. I've also read many stories based on Vampire Knight, and even some on Naruto, where a girl wishes to go to that world and she does. I don't think that is the case with me though; the wish is just a coincidence.
Shaking the thought from my mind, I looked up at the fully grown tree in awe. Staring up at it, I wondered if I could control the branches like I had controlled the vine. I actually found it a fun idea to try to turn the tree into the one in Harry Potter. I don't think I can make the tree actually look like the Whopping Willow but I could probably control the branches. It would take a lot of concentration so that the branches wouldn't snap but it would be worth a try.
As expected, controlling the branches was much harder than growing the tree. I wasn't nearly as powerful as Ashlen, even if I had her powers, and could only manage to get the branches to wave. If I tried to bend them too much, they'd start to snap. Finished with my fun I then tried to get the tree to disappear back into the earth but it stayed where it was. Even when touching it the tree would not shrink. Sighing in defeat, I removed my hand from the tree and stood up as I looked at the forest's new addition.
"Well, I hope no one will noticed that there is now a new tree out here." I mumbled under my breath as I turned around to leave. Not only did I have enough fun testing out the earth power but I was also starting to get tired and was ready to go to bed.
However, upon turning around, I could not move another inch. Standing there, leaning against a tree and staring at me, was Hanabusa Aido. He was wearing causal clothing rather than his white Night Class uniform; a sweeter vest and brown pants. That alone allowed me to know it was Saturday; unless the Night Class didn't have class for some reason tonight. I didn't know as I didn't even bother to find out if there was class today for the Day Class. Everyone I passed wore their uniforms but there had been a lot of people outside today.
Also, unlike every other time we had met, Hanabusa was not smiling at me. Instead he was giving me a look that was a mixture of curiosity, confusion and anger; I think. I have no idea how long he had been watching me for but I had a pretty good idea behind the look he was giving me. Confusion because he may have seen what I had done, curiosity because he wondered how I did it and angry because... well I don't really know the reason behind this without it being a wild guess.
"Wha... how long have you been standing there?" I asked him, hearing myself stutter as I stopped myself from saying what. Feeling frozen to the ground, though not with ice, I watched the young vampire pull his body away from the tree as he continued to stare at me.
"Long enough." Hanabusa responded as he began to walk towards me. "What are you?" He asked as he continued to get even closer, causing me to start taking a few steps backwards.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I lied, turning my gaze away from the vampire's gaze. I fully knew he was referring to the fact I was controlling the tree and no human could do that.
Unable to look the vampire in the face and feel comfortable, I turned my gaze away. That seemed to be a mistake because, seconds later, I found myself pushed and pinned against the nearest tree. I couldn't stop a cry of pain from escaping my lips as the wood contacted with my back. However I didn't get the chance to even try to pull away before I found Hanabusa's hands roughly pushing me against the tree.
What the fuck was wrong with him?! What gave him the right to just attack me like this? It's not like I attacked him or threatened the safety of the school. Huh, but I never said I wasn't a treat to him or the school. I guess it must seem weird, seeing a seemingly human girl pose powers humans normally wouldn't have. However, that did not matter. As rich as he is, his parents should have taught him the proper way to treat a girl. Pushing one against a tree that isn't in a playful way isn't how a guy should treat a girl; even if the guy is a vampire and the girl is human.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! Let go of me!" I yelled and squirmed in his grip. It did me no good as, being a vampire, Hanabusa's grip was much too strong to fight against; not to mention my back hurt when I rubbed it against the tree.
"No, not until you answer me. What are you?" He demanded again, a serious expression on his face. After what felt like a few minutes of silence I could only sigh and turn my head to the side so I'd avoid looking at him.
"I really don't know what you mean." I tried to convince as I tried to keep my voice as strong as I could as to keep the lie from it. I knew what he meant but how the hell was I supposed to tell him I had my alter ego's powers and have him understand when I didn't understand?
"Lying is a very stupid thing to do, Ashley-Chan, so stop playing dump with me. I know for a fact that no human can do what I just saw you do. No human can make fire appear out of no where or control plants." He replied, his tone annoyed and serious. If it wasn't for the fact he's be breaking school rules I'm sure he'd probably be baring his fangs as well.
'Hold on a minute, he said plants; a plural. Does that mean that he had been the one watching last night?' I thought as I realized what the vampire had told me. I blinked and didn't bother hide my surprise now.
In that moment of silence, I took the opportunity to notice Hanabusa was alone; again. It was proven in both anime and manga that Akatsuki Kain was always with his cousin. So where has he been the last few times I've seen Hanabusa out alone? Well, there was only that one time and he actually explained that. So that only left the question if Kain was with his cousin last night. I can't be sure but that didn't really matter right now, did it? The fact this vampire saw me using powers did,
"Everyone has the right to keep their secrets, Aido." I replied after the moment of silence. It didn't look as if the reply convinced him so I let out an exhausted sigh.
"Besides, what human can create ice out of nothing?" I reminded of how he used his ice to put the fire on my hand that one night. For a moment Hanabusa's blue eyes widened in surprise as if caught off guard but, seconds later, the look turned into a grin, causing me to feel uncomfortable.
"Ah, it's just like you said; everyone has the right to keep their secrets." He said with a light, boyish chuckle. Hanabusa's grip on my shoulders seemed to loosen for a second but, after that second, re-tightened.
"However, I'm still very curious. I really want to know how you managed to do all of that." He said in just above a mumble, taking a step closer to me. He was now close enough that the hairs on our noses were almost touching.
If it wasn't for the fact that my back was already pushed against a tree I would have backed away in discomfort. Sadly there was a tree behind me so I had no choice but to stand there as Hanabusa lowered his head to my neck. This caused me to tense, my breath catching in my throat. I could feel the tip of his nose rub against my neck and feel the breeze of his breath as he sniffed up my neck.
'This is bad, really bad. Where the hell is his cousin?!' I thought as I tried squirming in his grip again. It did me no good and I finally released the breath caught in my throat as I frowned worryingly.
Being bitten by a vampire has always been a fantasy of mine. When I first got into Vampire Knight I could even envision myself allowing Hanabusa to bite me. However, right now, it only frightened me and I doubt if Akatsuki was here he'd do much help. After all he didn't, or wont as I am still unsure of the time line, stop his cousin from biting Yuki. However that is explained in the side story at the end of volume two; apparently he gets distracted looking at the moon.
"Mmm, you have such a nice scent." I heard him whisper as I felt a hot blow of breath on my neck in result of a sigh. I shivered in discomfort and tensed even more when I felt the vampire's nose begin to crease my nose in a light nuzzle.
"What are you doing?!" I demanded fearfully. I already knew what he was doing but it was just one of those obvious answer questions you can't help but ask; that and I hoped he'd realize what he was doing.
"It's all just too tempting. Mind if I taste you?" He asked instead of pulling away, his hot breath hitting the side of my neck. Becoming really nervous I couldn't help but gulp my spit fearfully, hoping the vampire didn't notice.
It seemed as though Hanabusa was far into his blood lust to realize what he was doing. Or care what he was doing. Throughout the series of Vampire Knight you see him talking about real blood, asking about blood types, complaining about blood tablets and more. He even stupidly admitted tasting Yuki was, or will be, worth the suspension with Kaname in the same room. I know Hanabusa has a friendly, kind and playful, side to him but he was still a vampire and a vampire that thinks the tablets aren't enough for him.
To my surprise and without much warning I felt Hanabusa's lips against my throat. Unable to stop myself from gasping I tried scrunching up my shoulders to block off my neck. Sadly it was too hard to do so when a vampire was still gripping them. When I felt his wet, warm tongue lick at my neck is when I wish I could punch him across the face. Fuck, how did this all happen? I just came outside to test some of my powers and a vampire tries biting me?
"What the hell are you doing, Hanabusa?!" A new, deep, voice demanded just as I felt the tips of Hanabusa's fangs graze my neck. The vampire was pulled away from me before his fangs could fully pierce me and I saw Akatsuki Kain standing there.
'So he finally shows up?' I thought as I raised a hand to my neck. I could feel two little scratch marks but no blood.
"Come on, Akatsuki, I wasn't going to hurt her. I was just trying to find out why she has powers." Hanabusa denied in a slight childish tone. "Though she does smell good." I heard him mumble under his breath, which caused me to shiver.
It made butterflies swim in my stomach to know he thought I smelt good. If he it meant it in a normal way and not a appetizing way then it would be different. It also pissed me off he made the excuse of trying to scare me to make him tell him the truth. That is what he meant, right? He did saw he wasn't going to hurt me and not biting me wouldn't hurt. Perhaps he was just lying to his cousin but I can't be sure. I'm pretty sure he was trying to get a taste out of me.
"That doesn't matter. Hanabusa. We practically just got off punishment for you biting Yuki two weeks ago. Don't do anything that will get yourself, and me, into anymore trouble." Akatsuki told his cousin, holding him by the collar of his shirt. Hanabusa pouted but I didn't waste anymore time standing there and ran away before either vampire could stop me.
'Well, if Aido bit Yuki two weeks ago at least I know the time line now.' I thought as I ran for my dorm room. I heard a voice behind me and didn't even make it out of the forest before I was grabbed from behind. I only managed a startled cry before my world turned to black.
(1) Is that the right word? Spell check was being weird
(2) They are Fenri Greyback stories
I realized that I call everyone by their first name except for some Night Class students. I am stopping that this chapter and will go back and edit it later on.