Chapter 48
The small human bit of Yui's brain left forced her into feeling that familiar twinge of guilt in the depths of her gut. Even if she were to go to the extreme of killing another human being, where would she find them? And how? She didn't feel any stronger, or quicker, than she did before birthing Noah. She didn't have monstrous teeth that could tear flesh from the bone not anything more than a cooked steak at least. There had to be another way.
"I... need your help. All of you."
The doe eyed blonde with the awkward legs and insecure stance was now standing among a room hungry vampires unafraid and full of a false sense of confidence. A small hint of a smile played on the edge of Azusa's lips as he bounced his son soothingly in his arms and peered across the table at his brothers, amused by their reactions. Kou's mouth practically hung open before he started to laugh at Yui's sudden burst of conviction, though he stopped rather quickly when Yuma didn't laugh alongside him. His expression was unchanging and fixated on Yui. He would never show that he was intrigued so instead decided to appear annoyed. There was a long silence as they awaited the laughter to die down before Azusa said with encouragement, "Go on then."
"It's about Noah," Yui said in a softer tone this time. She looked down to the floor with hands behind her back and slowly began pacing around the table, passing each of the boys on her way. She didn't even flinch when Kou did his classic deep inhale when she walked by. "He's a vampire. And vampires need to hunt." Her usual gentle eyes were now dark as her head snapped up and she made eye contact first with Yuma, then Kou, and then finally Azusa. "But he can't hunt; he's just a baby. We need to do it for him."
Kou started to obnoxiously laugh again and stood up from the table, shoving his hands into his pockets and starting towards the boy before cackling "Oh this again. I have a show, I'll be back later-" Both his words and strides were cut short when Yui sprung in front of him and shoved him back by his chest, her razor nails nearly piercing through his shirt and vest. "It wasn't a question," Yui huffed. Anxiety filled her chest at the realization that she had just touched Kou in such a manner, and that Yuma was now leering over her shoulder with an ugly grimace on his face. The girl's breathing was uneasy but she attempted to speak strongly. "Whether you like it or not, he is one of you. You would do it for Azusa, wouldn't you?" She ignored the other boys faces as they softened and instead connected eyes with her lover. He was still sitting just as comfortably as he was before and his eyes were warmer than usual. He looked proud, and the baby in his arms made it that much better. Yui smiled weakly at the sight and slowly turned back to the other two, lowering her hand from Kou's chest and staring up at both him and Yuma with pleading eyes. "Okay," Yuma said, his face unreadable. "But there's a smarter way to do this. Put away the pitchforks."
The twisted family now sat all together around the dinner table with bland human food among them now as what Yui understood to be comforting decoration rather than a meal. Noah suckled lovingly on his uncle Kou's finger as the blond giggled in secret amusement while the others plotted. "Humans. They're weak minded and follow each other like cattle. Easily terrorized. Easily controlled." Yuma had taken the lead, a position he had never been allowed to take before with Ruki around, and it fit him rather well. His index finger danced along the table top as he spoke and Yui watched it anxiously. "You would know," he said coldly. Yui looked up at him quickly and said the first thing to come to mind, "And so would you." Her mouth quickly fell into a gape and she realized her usual retaliation that she saved for fantasies in her head had actually been vocalized. She expected the worst but instead was met with a childish giggle. Kou nudged his brother and grinned, "She got you there!" Yuma quickly shoved him away and said in a louder tone, "As I was saying. Weak, easily scared. Do you remember how you got here, sow?"
Yui would never allow her to think of her previous life or the church but now she had no choice. The thoughts of her father, her chosen family, and then slowly the thoughts of betrayal flooded her mind. The back of her throat was dry and all she could say was, "sacrificial bride," under her breath. "More like the sacrificial lamb," Yuma sneered. "What does... it matter..." Azusa said softly. Quickly Yui snapped out her trance at the sound of Azusa's face and she suddenly noticed that his hand was on hers. Though hers was clammy, he held it tighter. But just as quickly as she zoned in on Azusa, she lost him again and started giving her attention back to Yuma's words. He didn't even have to say it, she already knew what he had planned. "It matters if you want to feed your baby." Yuma's eyes darted from Azusa to Yui, staring her dead on with the ultimate intensity. "And you are prepared to pass your bridal title on to another? At least one every month." Without a second thought, she agreed. Yuma smiled deviously, "Then it's settled. Get ready then."
"Where are we going?"
"To visit the church, of course."
I hate to add comments on like this but I wanted to apologize to those of you who have been waiting for another chapter. Due to personal reasons, it may take a while sometimes for new chapters to come but I will always write as long as people want to read.