Kaname and I looked up at the same time as the scent of blood wafted it's way into our nostrils. As one we tensed and turned towards the door.
"Kara? Kaname? What is it?" Cross asked, watching us from behind his desk.
"Blood." Kaname replied. A moment later he was out the door, disappearing down the corridor.
"Kaname!" Cross called as the door closed behind the vampire.
"Headmaster." I said, my voice calm. "Let us handle this." I breezed out of the room after Kaname, my shoes making no noise on the tiled floor.
When I reached the source of the blood I found Kaname, standing in front of Zero, Yuuki shielded behind his back. There was blood on Zero's lips and on Yuuki's neck.
"He's a disgrace to all vampires." Kaname was saying. The look in his eye when he looked at Zero was pure hate. I knew I would be lucky if I could keep him from killing the younger boy.
"No!" Yuuki cried, throwing herself in front of Kaname and holding her arms in front of Zero. "Don't hurt him Kaname..."
Yuuki collapsed, falling into Zero's arms.
"See what you've done." Kaname said, his voice cold. "You've taken so much from her she can't even stand. You practically sucked her dry." He took the girl back from Zero's unresisting arms then asked another question. "Tell me, did it taste good? Yuuki's blood? Was it delicious?"
Zero stepped back as if struck. I stepped out of the shadows then. "Kaname, you should take care of Yuuki. The Night Class will be going crazy with the smell of blood in the air. I'll clean things up here."
He nodded and disappeared down the stairs, Yuuki in his arms. I watched Zero. He was shaking, staring at the blood on his hands and on the floor around him, Yuuki's blood.
I gave him a moment, then shook my head at him. "Oh, Zero, Zero, what am I going to do with you?"
"I bit her." he whispered. "I bit Yuuki. I drank her blood."
"Yes, and all the vampires in the school are probably hopping mad right now. Mind you, most of them are probably just jealous that you got a drink and they didn't but still..."
"I'm a monster." Zero went on, as if he hadn't heard me. "I can't control it. I really am a beast!"
"Now then." I said, walking over and placing a silky hand on his shoulder. "You're really not that bad."
"Don't touch me!" he cried, pulling away from my grasp. "Don't touch me, you're a beast too!"
My eyes flashed and I let my hand fall back to my side. "Very well, Zero Kieri. But don't forget who you're dealing with. I won't deny that I'm a beast, but beasts are vicious. You want to be careful around them."
"Stay away." Zero said, backing away from me up the stairs. "Just leave me alone!" He turned and ran, away from me in the direction of the boy's dorm.
I sighed, then looked at the mess on the stairs. "Well, he could have at least helped me clean it up." I snapped my fingers and little eddies of air wormed themselves under every drop of blood until it flew out of the carpet and out the window to be scattered into the night.
"Now," I said, dusting off my hands. "Time to go see how little Yuuki's doing."