Disclaimer: Not mine…well, the Harry Potter world stuff isn't mine…EVERYTHING related to the Monogatari family IS MINE! Ayame quotes Homer in this as well.
A/N: okay…please review and I have a new poll on my profile page…I did not close the other one though. I will give this poll about 2 more weeks and then put the other one back up again.
Chapter 15
Gone
She stood in the foyer of the manor not for the first time. The last time she was there Draco was sneaking her into the dungeons for Kuro. The time before that, she was a prisoner and tortured in the drawing room. Lucius' eyes shifted slightly watching the way she fidgeted uncomfortably; he could only imagine what she was remembering. She slowly slid the hood of her cloak off revealing her rosy cheeks, kissed by the cold night air. She looked around as if looking for something. She couldn't see Ayame. Was he unable to follow her here or had Kuro called for a report? He didn't typically leave her side until she slept or Kuro beckoned, which ever came first.
Her eyes shifted up to Lucius. He was here though. His grey eyes danced with something she hadn't seen in them before as they peered down at her. He really liked the way the cold night gave her cheeks that rosy appearance. He reached out, placing his hand on her cheek, feeling the coolness beneath his fingers. Herminone's eyes nervously twitched down to try to see his hand and then back up into those icy eyes. Lucius couldn't help but to think how long it had been…how long it seemed anyway since a woman was in this house.
A house elf suddenly appeared before them, breaking the trance Lucius seemed to be in. They both turned to look at the elf. Hermione recognized it and for a split second feared it would tell its master she had been there not so long ago…tell him that she was the mystery woman that let that vampire go free. The elf's large eyes looked at Hermione and blinked before bowing low and welcoming them all to the home of Lucius Malfoy…well, welcoming her, at any rate, as if this were the first time seeing Hermione. With a snap of the elf's fingers a couple more house elves arrived, quickly taking their luggage and scurrying off with the promise of warm rooms and a nice meal in a short time.
Hermione's eyes traveled over her immediate surroundings. It was different from her last visit. With the coming Christmas season the manor had apparently been decorated to show their Christmas spirit, but history of her association with the Malfoys made her want to laugh at that thought. It was all so elegant, nothing less was really expected in terms of holiday decorations when it came to the Malfoys. Her eyes fell on Draco. Such a spoiled boy, but then wasn't she just as spoiled? Was there anything her parents would not give her?
Her parents.
Her mind drifted to her father, dead; to Severus, dead; and then to her mother, hiding even from Hermione at this point. At least someone out there she loved was still alive. Then her mind drifted to Kuro. He was coming for her or had been at any rate. What would happen when he got to Hogwarts and she was nowhere to be found? Would he be angry? Would he come for her? She shook the thoughts from her mind and looked around a bit more.
"Draco, show Hermione her room," Lucius said giving Draco a look that let her know Draco knew not to argue.
Draco nodded his head once, more out of politeness than answering anything, and motioned for Hermione to follow him.
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Harry ran from the castle. He had to get to the gates before Kuro arrived. He was coming for her…coming to take Hermione to safety, but Lucius had already taken her away knowing, somehow, that he was coming. Harry was still running toward the gates, about to open them, when he saw the three men seem to emerge silently from the darkness followed by the popping sound of two others, obviously wizards…one Harry recognized. It was Rodolphus.
"She's gone," Harry said as he stepped out of the gate in order to speak to the vampires.
Kuro stopped and looked at Harry as if Harry had wronged him in some way. Deep down Harry knew the look was not meant actually for him. Kuro knew it was not Harry's doing, but it made Harry nervous none the less. He fidgeted slightly, looking between the other two vampires on either side of Kuro. Kuro took a deep breath, eyes shifting from Harry toward Ayame, still unkempt from their fight.
"You know what to do," he said so calmly that it frightened Harry.
Harry waited in the silence as Ayame nodded his head and silently disappeared into the night.
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Hermione followed Draco up the large staircase, a totally different direction from the last time he led her through the house. Draco knew what room was designated for Hermione. It was the room that sat between his and his father's room. What other room could Lucius possibly want her in? When he stopped before the door, he turned slightly to look at Hermione. She was clearly distressed if the crinkled forehead was any indication. Draco sighed and ran his hand through his hair that hung limp around his face.
"You'll be fine, Hermione. He'll find you. I'm sure of it."
Hermione looked up from her feet at Draco. He spoke as if he knew what was on her mind as if he figured she wanted to be found by Kuro. Her heart pounded and the memory of Kuro in the cell just floors below her caused her heart to ache slightly. If he was still there, he would be so close right now.
"Your father is simply trying to keep me safe," Hermione said softly as she looked around the corridor.
Draco looked her over thinking how much she no longer resembled the Hermione he loved to fight with. Where had that girl gone? What had his father done?
He opened the door and led Hermione into the room. It looked like all the other rooms in the manor, extravagant and beautifully decorated, but this one was in various shades of purple, red, and cream. Draco noticed the slight sparkle in her eyes when she entered. Something had struck her fancy in that room, but Draco was not about to question it. It was the first sign he'd seen in days of the Hermione he once knew.
"I'll let you get settled," he said as he nodded slightly to her and left the room closing the door.
The room was gorgeous to be sure. A slightly raised area of the room held a sofa and chair and the backdrop for this sitting area was a large set of French doors with a young man leaning against them lazily…a young man Draco could not see. The young man looked slightly disheveled, white button up shirt only half buttoned and untucked from his black pants…his feet, shoeless, one knee slightly bent as one foot was crossed over the other in a rather relaxed manner. With a toss of his head, he sent his brownish orange hair flying back out of his eyes. Hermione barely noted her bags sitting on the bed, when she rushed across the large room and up toward the sitting area to confront Ayame and his sudden appearance in her room.
He didn't flinch at her sudden approach. In fact his lips quirked up slightly and Hermione knew if he were to open his mouth she would see his fangs, but that didn't bother her. She stopped in front of him as he straightened his stance up slightly, still the image of relaxation and looked down at her.
"I always know where Mi-chan is," he said.
Hermione looked at him strangely. She had noticed it when she first saw him standing in the room, but getting a closer look did not alleviate her concern. The corner of his mouth was red as if he had been hit there recently and his right eye was darkened on the outside corner of it, again, as if he had been hit. Hermione was not always a gentle young woman. Ayame learned this when she grabbed his face with both her hands and turned him so as to get a better look. He hissed in pain and snatched one of her hands off his face by her arm.
"Do not become so familiar with me when you wear that damnable bracelet that ordinary man placed on you like some common prisoner."
His eyes were narrow and held so much anger…so much bitterness. She had forgotten about the bracelet Lucius had put on her…the silver bracelet that was like poison to Ayame and anyone like him. The hand that still held his face, slid down, resting on his chest. She was momentarily lost, feeling the beat of his heart beneath her hand. So unlike a normal vampire. She wondered if she could feel Kuro's in such a way as well. Her eyes drifted back up to his marred face and she took a hold of his wrist with her bracelet free hand and led him to the sofa. He willingly followed, hating himself for it.
When he sat on the sofa she plopped down right next to him, turning, taking his face in her one hand and turning it to look better at the clear evidence of a fight. He closed his eyes as her hand rested on his cheek. It had been so long since he had allowed anyone, ordinary or not, close enough to touch him. Just the normal feel of flesh on flesh was overwhelming to the starved man. His head turned slightly in her hand and he tilted his head down slightly as if sniffing her wrist. He inhaled deeply. She wasn't wearing perfume, but there was a distinct scent he knew to be hers and hers alone. Everyone had one and hers could be intoxicating if he let it.
Hermione felt his breath brush the skin of her wrist and she looked at him strangely.
"Who hit you, Ayame?"
He leaned in closer to her wrist, turning his head as if to feel the flesh of that wrist against his lips.
"That is not you concern, Mi-chan," he whispered softly.
Hermione swallowed nervously. Ayame opened his eyes, dark and brooding as they were. Her fidgeting movements stilled in his gaze.
"The bracelet must come off. That man will be able to find you other wise."
He hadn't moved seeming to take in every second his lips rested across her wrist and the feel of them caressing her skin when he spoke.
"Ayame," she asked unsure of what he was doing and why.
He had closed his eyes again and taken a deep breath as if drowning in her scent. He knew this was it. There would be no turning back after this; there would be no more denying his heart. It was yet another path to heartache for him and he was ready to accept that if only for this one moment…this one taste.
"The wine urges me on, the bewitching wine, which sets even a wise man to singing and to laughing gently and rouses him up to dance and brings forth words which were better unspoken," he whispered the words in his native tongue against her skin…a language Hermione did not understand a word of.
She didn't get a chance to question him…question his words. As the last syllable caressed her skin, his mouth opened, teeth sinking into her wrist. She gasped in surprise not really expecting it. Ayame used but one hand to hold her wrist to his mouth. He took a deep breath as the first taste hit his palette. The other hand wrapped around her pulling her closer to him before his hand shifted from her lower back and gripped the back of the sofa like his life depended on it…his sanity depended on it. He slowly moved closer as a low growl seemed to come up from deep in his throat. His movements gave Hermione little choice but to lean back slightly as if trying to get away, but afraid to fall. Her free hand gripped his shoulder, where his shirt hung partially off. He felt her hand…her flesh pressing against his. His moan made Hermione wonder if this little…taste…was equivalent to some sexual experience for him. His rapid breath was enough answer for her.
When Ayame pulled his mouth slowly off her wrist, he hovered over her, keeping his upper body up by his arms. Somehow he had maneuvered her onto her back. His tongue slowly slid across his lips as if hoping for the slightest drop to be left behind for his final taste. Hermione just laid there, eyes wide and in shock. His eyes shifted to the wrist still adorning the bracelet before leaning down as if to rest atop of her and whispering close to her ear…more into her neck.
"Thank you, Mi-chan. No ordinary man will have you," he said as he tore the silver bracelet from her wrist, surprisingly with no ill effects toward him or harming her.
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"I…I'm not hungry," she said, legs dangling from the edge of the bed.
Draco blinked. True, they were at Hogwarts long enough to eat dinner and she had been eating when Lucius pulled her from her seat demanding she pack her things, but it was how pale she looked sitting there. She looked slightly tousled and Draco had a feeling she was hiding something. He looked at her speculating what it could possibly be and realizing she wouldn't be alone in here…Kuro would make sure of that. He glanced around the room.
"Get some rest, Hermione. You look tired."
She smiled slightly at him and nodded, hoping it was enough to pacify the blond so that he would leave her be for the night. He left, but not without one final glancing sweep of the room. When the door clicked shut, Hermione reached back underneath the pillows on the bed and pulled out the things she had been using to clean up her wrist and wrap it…not the easiest task to do one handed. With her wrist lying in her lap, she blotted as much blood as she could off, but more seemed to seep from the two puncture wounds.
She felt his eyes. She glanced up. Ayame sat on the back of the sofa, feet resting in the seat of the sofa, elbows resting on his knees as he leant forward slightly watching her. Her eyes flickered nervously away from him and back down to what she was attempting to do. Was this really the same man that told her she would cause Kuro nothing, but pain? She shook her head and once again tried to clean the blood from her wound.
Watching her frustrated him. She continued to try to wash the remaining blood away as if fearing the evidence of his presence on her. She wouldn't fear Kuro though. She knew Kuro would never hurt her, so why was she so desperate to clean it and wrap it? He sat up straight, taking a deep breath and looking away as if absolutely irritated and stood up. She glanced up as he seemed to strut across the room toward her dropping to his knees before her in order to be eye level with the wounded wrist she held in her lap.
He set his eyes on her as he took the bandages from her other hand. Looking back at her wrist, he began to bandage the wound trying hard not to think about how pale she looked. Even her lips looked pale. The moment the bandage was on Ayame stood and turned around wandering to the French doors where he stood staring out at the night. She would sleep soon.
And she did.
It wasn't long before Ayame turned around to check what she was doing. She had been so quiet since he bit her. She was still in her school uniform, curled up on top of the covers sound asleep. Ayame turned back toward the French doors and pressed his forehead against the cold glass, closing his eyes. He could still taste her…it lingered like a haunting memory.
He opened his eyes observing the night and for a moment relishing the fact that for once he would be able to enjoy the daylight fully. No hiding beneath a cloak, no more. For at least one day he would be able to stand in the light with Hermione and that was something even Kuro had not done.
Tonight, he wouldn't leave. Unlike all the other nights when she slept he reported back to the house, took a bit of a nap, and ate...tonight, he would stay and welcome the morning with her…welcome the light. He wandered over to the sofa and threw himself down on it, tossing his arm up and laying it across his forehead as he stared up at the ceiling.
He took a bite of the proverbial apple and now he would have to face the consequences.
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Her sleep was restless. Her mind would not let what had just happened go. He bit her. Ayame had bitten her. He didn't bite her like Kuro had, out of a need for survival. He seemed to link it to taking the bracelet off her, but what sense did that make? And when Ayame bit her it seemed so…intimate. Perhaps that was why she felt guilt niggling at her.
Her eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was Ayame, clothes crumpled from apparent sleep, standing at the windowed area of the French doors looking out into the daylight.
Daylight.
Hermione's eyes suddenly opened wide and shot out of the bed and across the room, coming to a stop behind Ayame.
"Ayame," she said with concern coloring her tone.
He didn't say anything. Instead of talking, instead of just telling her, he reached behind him, taking a hold of her wrist and with his free hand he opened the French doors leading Hermione out them.
"What are you doing," she said beginning to panic.
Ayame dropped her wrist and rested his hands on the ledge of the balcony, face pointing up toward the daylight. Hermione blinked. He was okay. Nothing had happened. She tentatively stepped forward, next to Ayame and turned to face him.
"You're okay? How is that?"
He lowered his face back and turned slightly to look at Hermione.
"Your blood does that for us, Mi-chan. Just one taste," he said. "Tames the symptoms of the monster and allows me to live a day as a man."
Hermione was horrified that he just referred to himself as a monster. Did all of the cursed ones feel that way? Had they all lived their lives seeing themselves in such a way? It was heart wrenching.
"Don't say that," she said suddenly with an excessive amount of determination in her voice. "Don't ever say that. You are not a monster. None of you are. Not you, not….Kuro," she said whispering Kuro's name into the daylight.
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Lucius took a sip of his tea, looking over the rim of the teacup toward his son.
"She's coming, Father. I already told you she was not well last night."
Lucius lowered his teacup with a slightly raised eyebrow at his son's comment.
"I did not ask," he said as he sat the teacup back on its saucer.
"No, but you were going to."
Before anymore could be said a house elf entered, leading Hermione to the dining room that she could not find on her own. For once Ayame was not at her side having been beckoned back by Kuro. Hermione found that curious being as it was daylight hours. Still, Lucius' grey eyes followed her to the seat he indicated. She wore long sleeves, hoping he would not notice that she no longer had the bracelet on.
"I trust you slept well," Lucius asked before placing a bit of breakfast into his mouth.
Hermione nodded.
Breakfast continued in silence. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence thank goodness. It was the silence of people who believed they knew each other well…people whose lives were spent side by side and they knew when the other felt the need to talk and when they did not. Draco was on his last few bites and reading his Charms textbookLucius was finished with his breakfast and was quietly sipping his tea and reading the Daily Prophet as a House Elf removed his plate from in front of him.
He wasn't really reading it. Lucius was observing…watching every move Hermione made. Draco had expressed concern with how pale she appeared, but this morning, sitting across from him at the table, she did not look pale. Draco finished breakfast and excused himself with his charms textbook, telling Hermione he would be in the library doing school work if she wished to join him when she was through with her breakfast. She smiled and agreed she would.
Lucius waited and watched under the guise of reading the paper. The moment Hermione finished her breakfast a House Elf was there to remove the plate from in front of her. The little elf scurried off and Hermione watched it go. Lucius could only imagine what various plans for freeing his elves were running through her head. Still, he waited until Hermione politely excused herself and made to leave the room, theoretically to join his son in the library.
"Miss Granger…Hermione, wait a moment," he said stopping her.
He stood from the table and turned around to face the young woman that had stopped at his unspoken command. She was standing in the doorway of the dining room, beneath the mistletoe that decorated the room for the holidays. She looked up at him, waiting for whatever it was he stopped her for. He seemed lost for a moment…unsure of what he was stopping her for until she saw his eyes drift up above her. She glanced up. Did the Malfoys follow with such tradition? Though many of the old families strived on tradition, would this silly little holiday tradition be one of them?
Lucius took slow steps toward her, stopping a little too close for comfort. She looked up at him unsure as to what he was about to do…like she had to actually wonder. This was Lucius though and he was protecting her or so he believed anyway and the thought was endearing. After all this was a man who was trying to make a change and who was she to not give people a second chance? To not give them the benefit of the doubt?
It wasn't something Lucius had not been wanting to do. It was a desire that had actually been eating him alive…especially when she would look at him so completely vulnerable. His hand reached out, barely touching her cheek as he leaned down.
Hermione really expected his lips to be as cold as what he acted like his heart was, but they weren't. They were warm and oddly gentle like he was afraid of scaring her away. When he pulled away, she was still standing there looking rather shocked as he quirked an eyebrow at her almost amused.
"You were under the mistletoe," was all he said before he left the room…left her standing there wondering what exactly Lucius Malfoy was trying to tell her.
From the darkened corner of the foyer, Lucius watched Hermione pass through on her way to the library. It would be soon…in no time at all…she would be completely and wholly his.
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The sound of his feet on the marble floor echoed with each step he took. Chi stood off to the side, the epitome of calm, watching Kuro pace.
"Why did he not return last night," he asked Chi.
"I am sure I do not know."
Kuro took a deep breath, closing his eyes and placing his hand on the cross Rui had given him to ease the pain and allow him and anyone he instructs access to Hermione. The cross only helped to ease it some…it did not stop it all together. He still yearned for her to be near. His dark eyes snapped open when he heard the door open. Ayame strutted in, tossing the cloak he wore off so as not to let Kuro know he had been out and about during daylight hours…to not let him know that he had tasted that wine Kuro now craved.
"I've called the others," Kuro told him. "There is no need to return to her side, Ayame."
Ayame blinked. He had no idea this would happen. When he left the manor at Kuro's summons he felt this pull back toward Hermione…this need to return…to taste and drink from the chalice. His mouth watered and he suddenly felt he could not breathe…not without her. Chi looked at Ayame curiously. Something wasn't right and he could have sworn he saw him twitch slightly. Chi's eyes shifted to Kuro…he was still angry, not that that was surprising really…him and Ayame rarely got along or agreed on anything for that matter.
"Everyone is coming," Ayame asked.
"No," Kuro said. "Ari is not coming."
"No," Chi said stepping forward and pushing his glasses up with his middle finger with a smile on his face. "She's preoccupied with her human boy toy."
Ayame rolled his eyes and turned back to Kuro. Kuro was glaring at Ayame it seemed…his dark eyes peering at him not like Ayame was his elder, because he actually was, but like Ayame was someone he was still angry with.
"Tonight we return with her."
Ayame smiled, for once in agreement with Kuro. He nodded his head and stepped forward as if physically showing how he was with Kuro this time.
"Tonight we take Mi-chan from that ordinary man."
Chi's eyes danced between the two, alight with the joy of what was to come…what bloodshed may follow and the joy of watching these two fight…and if he was correct, eventually over Hermione…the cure to their curse.
It wasn't long before the front doors of the house opened permitting the King, Rui inside with Hanajima and to Chi's disappointment, Chloe. They were greeted in the large foyer by Kuro, Ayame, and Chi. Rui's eyes landed on Ayame though, a curious sparkle danced in his eyes. He could see it. It was there and the years of living Rui had done allowed him to see things some people were oblivious to. He remained silent, not commenting on how pale the young man was; not commenting on the rapid breathing of a man starving for air…something Ayame was fighting to hide from those around him. Instead, Rui turned toward Kuro, his Prince.
"You will get her this evening," he asked as he removed the cloak he wore to cover himself from the sun's deadly rays of light.
Kuro nodded his head…the poster child of a perfect Prince showing respect for his King. Rui reached up and patted him on the cheek as if feeling the age difference…the actual age difference between them.
"It's up to you, Kuro. You were destined to save us."
Kuro swallowed feeling the weight of Rui's words and accepting that it was indeed up to him. As Kuro and Rui spoke, Chloe was already fussing over Chi, not approving of how he looked, worried if he was eating enough or staying up too late in the library. He snarled at her, but it did not deter the young woman.
"Chloe-chan," Chi barked at her, finally tired of her ministrations.
The young woman jumped at the sound of his voice and backed away only to find Hanajima enveloping her in a comforting, grandmotherly hug. Chi sighed, pushing his glasses up as Hanajima pinned him with a very disapproving look as she helped the young woman up the stairs to her room.
"What if I saving us means her life," Kuro asked, staring at Rui with hope in his eyes. They still didn't know what it was about Hermione's blood that would cure them. That was why Hanajima was there.
Rui had been observing one of the orchids adorning the foyer when Chi and Chloe were arguing. He slowly turned from the ornate flower and looked sadly upon Kuro.
"Then you will have a choice to make."
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As night began to fall, the clouds closed in and the rain burst from the sky…the storm had arrived. Hermione started slightly as the thunder rolled across the sky echoing in the manor. She hadn't seen Ayame all day and now that evening was upon them, she really expected him to show up, but he had not…even when she checked her room.
She heard voices coming from the drawing room and though she was curious about it, a part of her feared seeing the room she was tortured in. Part of her felt she would see Bellatrix standing in that room waiting for her. Some scars just simply had not healed and would take a while to do so.
"Father, she believes you are protecting her because you want to. You never told her about the vow?"
It was Draco. What vow? As she stepped closer their words became clearer.
"No, Draco. I did not tell her I made an Unbreakable Vow to keep her safe…"
Hermione felt something akin to heartbreak. Had Lucius not changed at all? Who was the Unbreakable Vow with? She closed her eyes swallowing the fear she felt in going into that drawing room and stepped forward into the doorway, into the room.
"You had to be forced to protect me," she said with a hint of a question in her tone, but hurt clear on her face.
Lucius looked at her, a moment of surprise on his face at her appearance into the room. He looked around the room, eyes landing on Draco giving him the hint to leave now. Draco looked tentatively at Hermione before stepping out of the room. Lucius' eyes fell back onto Hermione.
"Yes, well, it started out that way," he began to explain, but did not get very far.
"You know," she said shaking her head as if in disbelief of herself. "Everyone said you only changed sides in order to save your own skin. I gave you the benefit of the doubt."
She looked at him as if hoping for some sign that it was all a joke…some cruel trick on his part or his son's. There was none…just Lucius looking at her almost with panic in his eyes. The fire that danced in the fireplace lit her face in a strange glow. Lucius could see the tears in her eyes and could see her gaze was transfixed onto a certain spot behind him. He glanced back, mind still trying to figure out how to salvage this situation. She was staring at the spot she had been tortured.
Hermione blinked. It was right there that Draco pretended not to recognize her…it was right there that Lucius watched his sister-in-law torture her…it was right there that she writhed in pain. She took a deep breath and looked back up to Lucius.
"I'll just stay in the room you were kind enough to afford me then," she said heading out the drawing room door.
She paused in the doorway and didn't bother to turn around as she finished her speech.
"Wouldn't want to sully up the manor."
When Hermione reached her room, she quickly changed into her nightclothes determined to just crawl into the warm bed and sleep. As soon as she tossed the satiny robe over her, she looked around. Still no sign of Ayame and more than anything she needed that link to Kuro at the moment. Her eyes flitted to the French doors. Why did drinking her blood give him the ability to stand in the sunlight? Why was it necessary to remove the bracelet that still lay haphazard and broken on the floor by the sofa…a small drop of blood as evidence of how Ayame got the strength to fight the effects of the silver.
She sat in the middle of the bed listening to the rain pound against the windows and the thunder echo through the manor.
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All the manor's occupants had long since disappeared into their own rooms for the evening, leaving Lucius alone in the drawing room to think about his life and to wonder how he could have been so careless as to allow Hermione to hear such a conversation between him and his son.
Life rarely turned out as planned.
This Lucius knew.
He took deep breath and took a sip of his brandy.
His job was to protect her.
His job was not to love her.
It was only a matter of time. He knew that as he stood in the drawing room staring into the crackling fire. The manor was quiet and the sound of the rain pounding its exterior seemed to echo through the rooms and travels down the corridors. His eyes traveled from the roaring fire to the pictures spread across the mantel. His eyes landed on an old picture of his son. His son stood there in front of the manor in his Slytherin robes looking very much like a small replica of the father.
His son loved her too.
The extent of that love still alluded him…was it the love you have for a friend…love you have for family…love you have for a woman? He brought the brandy snifter to his lips. The feel of the warm liquid gently caressing his lips was cause enough for him to close his eyes and remember…remember what her lips felt like. The fire hissed bringing his mind back to the roaring fire. It no longer danced in the myriad shades of orange and red, but burned a deep dark black…a warning.
They were coming…his wards had been breached.
The brandy snifter fell from his hands, breaking into a million little parts as it made contact with the marble floor. The sound of his rapid, panicked steps echoed with the rain through out the manor. His heart pounded wildly…he had to get her out of there…now.
He could see the door…the door that would lead him to her only feet away. A door to his right suddenly opened, his son running out following him to her room.
She was sitting in the middle of the bed, knees drawn up to her chest, feet tucked beneath the hem of the long white robe. The room was fragranced with the irises adorning the room. She looked up shocked and worried at the sudden intrusion…the sudden appearance of both men and both men looking frightened. She barely had time to register the fright on their faces. The older of the two reached her in two swift strides, pulling her off the bed as they fled the room.
Her opened white robe fanned out behind her, exposing her legs beneath her short white gown…there was no time to worry about that. Her heart was pounding. If these two men were scared she should be scared. The popping sound drifting down from a stairwell alerted them to those apparating on the floor above. It warned Hermione that this was an actual Death Eater attack…Ayame never made a sound when he appeared…he never set off any warnings and neither would Kuro.
He ran faster, frantic to get her away. He looked back. The fear in her eyes reminded him of her face amongst those fighting against him in the Department of Mysteries. If he had not failed at the Department of Mysteries he never would have been in this situation. Maybe his life would have been better if he had succeeded. His son fled with them, trying his best to stay behind her…to keep her protected.
They slowed just enough at the top of the staircase to rush down it without causing her to fall. Looking back, she looked like an angel floating down that staircase only to be trapped by the devil. The sight of several Death Eaters standing at the bottom of the stairs, forming a human wall stopped their descent. Behind her she felt the youngest step closer to her, as if they could hide her…protect her physically.
She looked behind them. Those that apparated into the manor now stood at the top of the stairs. They had nowhere to go. Fear gripped her heart in the worse way. Was this it? Was she to die between father and son? One of their numbers had already been killed by these people…must they all die for her?
Both gentlemen wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer between them, trying to keep her safe. Slowly each wall of Death Eaters began to close in on them. He could feel her chest heave against his as she buried her face into his chest, wishing for it to be over quickly. Her eyes looked up off his chest into his cold grey eyes and he knew…he would give up forever just for her.
Those closing in on them stopped. Hermione turned to see what had stopped them. The ones at the bottom of the stairs had separated just enough to let three people through. Kuro was in the lead, glaring at Lucius from the top of his eyes as he stepped onto the bottom step slowly making his way up the stairs toward them. He bared his fangs slightly to Lucius as if to frighten him. Hermione felt her heart pound at his appearance. It was like when she first saw him, with his black hair tied back off his face looking like nothing short of a modern day samurai…without the clothes.
Hermione began to nibble on her bottom lip. She felt Draco let go of her. She was in no danger and he knew it.
On Kuro's right was a man she had not seen. He wore glasses and almost looked out of place there at Kuro's side if not for the strange light of glee dancing in his eyes behind his glasses. As they took another step closer, he pushed his glasses up his nose by his middle finger.
On Kuro's left was Ayame. His eyes left Lucius and looked upon Hermione like a starved man, his tongue gently licking the corner of his mouth as if there were still something heavenly there for him to taste.
Lucius felt Hermione shiver slightly. Had he finally thoroughly placed fear for these vampires in her? The vampires stopped walking toward them and Kuro looked at him with a strange smile on his face.
"You didn't think we would let you keep her here, did you?"
Lucius held his wand out with one hand, keeping it pointed on Kuro as if it would be some sort of protection against him. Kuro laughed until he saw Lucius grip a hold of Hermione's arm tighter as if to keep her with him, but hurting her instead. She flinched slightly. Ayame took a step forward as if to relieve her of her burdensome guard, but Kuro looked at Chi.
"Oji-san," he said with a slight nod of approval.
Chi stepped forward quickly and grabbed Lucius by the throat with one hand while knocking Hermione's arm out of Lucius' hand with the other. With a thud, Lucius was against the curving wall of the grand staircase of Malfoy Manor. Hermione squeaked in surprise. Chi didn't look the type to be so…violent.
"Oji-san, I did say not to hurt anyone…this time," Kuro said with a slight smile.
Chi, looking thoroughly disappointed let go of Lucius' throat so that he fell to the ground, but did not give him enough time to regain his bearing. Still coughing from the choking hold Chi had initially on Lucius, Chi had grabbed him by the front of his robes and had him pinned to the wall again.
"This is nothing more than a stick of wood to us," Chi said, fangs showing, as he twirled Lucius' wand between his fingers.
Never had she seen Lucius look so angry and so helpless to protect himself or anyone else. Chi glared at Lucius as if daring him to say or try anything. Lucius' eyes wandered to Hermione. What was he to do now?
Hermione's eyes were on Kuro. They flickered momentarily to Ayame where guilt surged through her. Her heart was pounding…it had been so long since she had seen Kuro. His eyes softened on her…the intensity of his stare remained, but the malice was not there when looking at her.
She took a deep breath. Draco had long since let go of her, knowing what choice she had to make and knowing what that choice at this time in her life would be. She took a nervous glance toward Lucius, knowing this would anger him beyond belief. She slowly moved down the few steps it took to reach Kuro. She stopped before him and looked up. He was taller than the other two. He looked down at her with a slight smile, gently moving her between him and Ayame, who took a step closer. Kuro looked up at Lucius pinned to the wall glaring at them.
"Did you really think you could have her," Kuro asked with a slight smirk gracing his lips. "I've already tasted her…and how sweet she is."
Lucius' eyes widened as Kuro gently moved Hermione's hair back off her shoulder, his fingers caressing the faded mark. He took a deep breath as he looked back at Lucius. Next to Hermione and slightly behind her Ayame hovered close, his fingers reaching out to barely hold the tip of her first finger as if to slightly let her know…remind her…he had a taste too.
"Oji-san," Kuro said to Chi.
Chi smiled at Lucius one last time before letting go and watching the man tumble to the ground. Chi backed away, smirk never leaving. Once he reach where Kuro and Ayame stood with Hermione, he turned and together the three men left with Hermione knowing those that remained loyal to Kuro were there keeping Lucius back…stopping him from coming after her.
Ayame dropped the slight hold of her finger he had when Kuro took her hand. Standing near her was enough to drive him mad. She was right there in front of him…so close…neck right there…heart pounding. When Kuro took her hand, he heard her slight sigh as if it were something she had been waiting on. Together they walked out of the manor, Kuro holding Hermione's hand like a beloved treasure and Chi and Ayame flanking them. Hermione had no idea where they were headed, but hoped to find answers there. Answers to all her questions…why her blood allowed Ayame such pleasures as standing in the sunlight unharmed…why she felt so connected to Kuro. No matter where she was going though, she knew she would be safe…Kuro would have it no other way.
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The anger simmered and boiled in him as he waited for those traitors calling themselves Death Eaters to leave. They would not let him pass and kept his wand until all was safe. Some unknown Death Eater tossed him his wand as they disapparated from his house…wards long broken since they entered. Draco watched his father's searing anger, worried about the colors his father was turning and for the first time questioning his sanity.
Lucius was mumbling incoherently to himself. He took a good hold of his wand and made some intricate movement Draco did not recognize. Without warning, Lucius turned and ran up the stairs, barging into what was Hermione's room. His hair had long since began fighting the confines of the black ribbon giving Lucius an even more crazed look as his wild eyes looked over her room expecting to find her there.
Then he saw it.
On the plush cream carpet by the sofa.
It lay there like a reminder.
It lay there laughing at him…mocking him.
A silver bracelet…broken, laying haphazardly with a drop of blood as if dripped from something…as if a taste had escaped.
A/N: Wow…that was a long one…okay don't forget to review!
Next chapter: Ayame is in sooooo much trouble (bad boy he is), Lucius starts his search for Hermione and Hermione learns a few things about this family.