After having the disturbing dream, Zero woke up with perspiration drenching his body. He found himself lying at bed of straw, behind cold steel bars. Still in his dazed state, the teenager tried to recall hard what had happened to him before he was knocked out. He remembered loud applause from the audience, stinging bright spotlights and sounds of chain rattling. His hands reached for his torso, feeling the coarseness of bandage wrapped on it.
"Someone must have saved me from the vampire tamer. I wonder who…" mumbled the boy to himself.
His sharp ears perked up, sensing the footsteps drawing near to him. He retreated to a corner of cell, waiting for the visitor to show up. There was a dark aura emitted by the intruder. Its presence was so so strong that it made Zero unconsciously trembled. Besides this dark feeling, the ex-hunter also felt another presence. In contrast with the previous one that he felt, this one seemed warm and comforting, almost similar to the one he felt before…
The footsteps came to a halt. Zero looked up and saw a large figure accompanied by a few, so-called bodyguards. Almost immediately, he recognized the person before him from his looks and scent. He knew that this person was a vampire, a pureblood to be exact. His wavy, auburn hair covered a little of his face features, matching well with his brownish pair of eyes. The pureblood was wearing a black and red cloak with a royal crest sewn on it, bearing the status of the vampire.
At the pureblood's command the cell door was open, allowing the vampire to enter. To Zero's surprise, he did not feel intimidated by the vampire's presence, unlike other vampire he met. He stared right into the pureblood's eyes without fear, constantly watching the other's moves. Kuran Kaname, on the other hand did not speak. His eyes were also fixed on the half-breed before him, carefully studying the ex hunter through his mind power. Possessing the power to read other's thoughts, he could easily prod into Zero's mind even without him knowing.
"Your name is Zero Kiryuu. Am I right?" asked the pureblood.
The teenager looked away and kept quiet. The pureblood frowned, feeling a little annoyed from the boy's reaction. However, on the same time, he felt a degree of fondness towards him. Being a servant level vampire, Zero expected to be fearful of him, like other ex-human vampires. But, he had proved otherwise. Formidable yet dangerous, Zero Kiryuu made the perfect candidate for his game.
Kaname would not mind to have a rebellious servant vampire by his side, to kill his boredom. After all, the more, the merrier.
"I know you are looking for someone, Kiryuu-kun. " Kaname taunted as he went closer.
"I don't know what you are talking about, vampire," replied Zero.
"Ah, I'm sure you know what I meant, Zero. " Kaname pulled out a petal of sakura flower from his pocket. The strong scent of the petal caught Zero's attention. The sickening odour emitted from the flower, drew horrible memories from the past. A flash of the images played before him; sharp fangs pierced his neck, kitchen floor tainted with pool of crimson blood, sound of painful screams of torture. Zero held his breath, trying not to throw up from the seizure he was having a short while. He could almost feel the disgusting feeling, reeking over his body, as if the woman was there, violating him that very moment.
"That bastard … is still… alive?" Zero gasped.
"Yes, Hiou Shizuka lives." Kaname answered calmly.
"Where is she? Where is THAT WOMAN?! ", Zero demanded with his voice almost sounded demonic.
"Patience , Kiryuu-kun. I will hand over the information of her location once as soon as you agree with my terms."
"What is it you want from me?"
"Your loyalty and life."