Disclaimer: The only thing I own is the Monogatari family and the friends and enemies that come with them.
Chapter 26
In The Air Tonight
The throne should have been his; the throne should have been theirs. That throne was their birthright. They were vampires, meant to rule a kingdom ruled by their family for centuries. They were the royalty among royalty. They were the elite. They were the empaths and clairvoyants…the vampires with powers beyond the imagination…the vampires on the cusp of the vampire evolution.
They were the Day Walkers.
Karasu leaned against the wall, his chin jutting out as he tilted his head back a bit, his dark hair lying across his eyes. His hands were relaxed in his pants pockets as he watched the young woman approach. His eyes steadily followed her. He had met her before at the Darkland celebratory ball, where he acted as if she was of no consequence, but taking note of how precious the frail human was to the Monogatari family…Ayame and Kuro specifically.
She was alone and yet still moved and looked unaffected…like a shell of some human walking through the corridors. She paid him no attention there in the dark, accustomed to Death Eaters lurking in the dark, watching her. He was the only one in the corridor though…the only one in the dark with her. She passed him as if he was not there.
"Hime," he said in a low drawn out voice.
Hermione froze, turning rather stiffly to look at the vampire on the wall. His dark eyes peered at her from beneath his hair, a slight smirk on his face as his thumb moved across his bottom lip. Hermione watched him through cold glassy eyes.
"How did you know?"
There was no emotion to her question. A computer could have asked it and it would have sounded the same. Karasu pushed himself off the wall.
"How did I know what? That you are Kuro-san's wife?"
He stood there looking down at Hermione waiting for some sort of reaction from her. She just looked blankly at him.
"So why haven't you told Lucius yet?"
Karasu chuckled softly, but did not respond.
"Perhaps the same reason a dethroned prince is following a madman?" Hermione watched him for a reaction as well.
She remembered meeting him; she remembered the story of his past. Karasu stopped and suddenly grabbed Hermione by her chin to ensure she could not look away.
"I will say this only once. I follow no one. Malfoy-san and I simply have a common enemy." Hermione tried to jerk out of his grip, but he was too strong for her, jerking her back into position and preventing any more movement.
"Can you guess who that might be?" Karasu added with a wink and slight smirk as he leaned down and kissed her forehead.
As he moved his lips from her forehead, he loosened his grip on her chin, allowing her to jerk away from him.
"Lucius will kill you if he finds out," she said, her chin jutting out in defiance and fully confident Karasu would know she was referring to his boldly kissing her on the forehead.
He leaned down, placing his face even with hers and cocked his head to the side slightly.
"Ah…but you won't tell him, Hime. You wouldn't want to anger him," Karasu said teasingly. His hand reached out, index finger drifting down her neck. She smacked his hand away and shoved him back.
"Feisty thing aren't you? No wonder Kuro-san likes to keep you to himself."
Karasu walked away from her with a smile on his face. She may have the appearance of an empty shell, but there was still some fight left in her. And that was all he needed to know.
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Hermione stood perfectly still, not particularly wanting to be pricked by the several pins the witch was placing in the dress. Her eyes nervously scanned the room landing on the vampire leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and an annoying smirk on his face.
"Must you be here?"
The vampire…her enemy in all the ways that mattered, straightened up and chuckled.
"Yes, Hime. I must. Malfoy-san…asked me to be by your side when he couldn't be. He trusts me."
Hermione stared into his dark eyes. They danced with a warped, delighted glee at her discomfort.
"And where is Lucius, might I ask?"
Karasu took a step closer to her, smile never leaving his face.
"Off seeing about the arrangements for your nuptials." His smile grew. "I dare say he may come home in quite a foul mood when he discovers the documentation at the Ministry."
Her eyes narrowed on the vampire and followed his movements as far as her eyes would allow without moving her body.
"What will Malfoy-san say when he finds his future wife already has a husband?"
The witch working on her dress stilled instantly, eyes looking up at Hermione as if afraid for everyone in the room once Lucius found out. Hermione said nothing, glaring down at the seamstress as if daring her to say one word. The witch continued about her work, albeit a bit faster paced. Hermione chose to ignore the vampire in front of her.
Karasu clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Hard to believe that you are the Princess of Darkland. Not even a vampire," he said as if scandalized by the very idea. "Of course," he continued, sliding his thumb across his bottom lip. "We could rectify that little problem."
Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath ignoring the worried glances the seamstress kept giving her and ignoring the now even more annoying smirk of Karasu's. The silence lingered for a couple minutes as Karasu took his place back at the wall, leaning casually back as if staying by Hermione's side was the easiest thing he had ever done.
"Of course…being Princess makes you an intricate part of the heart of Darkland."
Hermione glanced at him curiously. Exactly what was he getting at?
"Not just anyone can fade to its beaches like you would be able to…what do you call it? Apparate there. Malfoy-san could never do such a thing."
The seamstress stilled again, her large eyes bouncing between Karasu and Hermione. Hermione stood still staring at the vampire wondering why he was telling her this. Why was he telling her how to escape?
"Why would you tell me this?" Hermione asked after the long silence. "Being married to Kuro makes us enemies, does it not? And you said yourself I am not a vampire."
Karasu chuckled slightly.
"Oh, Hime. So much to learn. Enemies on Darkland soil we may be, but being the Princess makes you one of us…and outside the boundaries of our lands we look out for our own. Why should I let Malfoy-san kill you when I will get much more pleasure out of doing so?"
Hermione watched him warily as he stepped around her, taking a place against the wall behind her now. Hermione glanced over her shoulder at him, not trusting him out of her sight. He smiled.
"Malfoy-san is home," he whispered.
That was when the doors of the room burst open, bouncing off the walls as Lucius barged into the room looking like a mad man. Hermione started, stumbling off the slight rise she was standing on, Karasu barely catching her from her fall. The seamstress was frantically grabbing her belongings.
"OUT!" Lucius roared at the poor young witch, who dropped her things and ran.
With each step forward, Hermione took one step back, ignoring the fact that it was putting her right into Karasu's arms who seemed to get a slight bit of enjoyment out of her sudden fear.
"At what point were you going to tell me you married that….vampire!"
Hermione had no where to go. She had backed herself right into Karasu's arms, who now held her by her upper arms and she wondered if he would fade with her if it became necessary because she felt it was necessary…now. In front of her, Lucius loomed, eyes dancing with an insane fire, hair falling from its confines in his mad dash home.
Hermione said nothing, only staring at him wide eyed. His anger was beyond boiling over. The girl had taken to speaking very little to him or in front of him and he had hoped this little phase would pass, but even when faced with his wrath her lips were sealed shut…not a word to pass through them. She saw it in his eyes…the idea as it took shape and formed into a plan. She started to shake her head and Karasu could feel the quiver of fear in her body.
"Fine," Lucius said almost too quietly, too controlled as he looked down his nose in disgust at her. "There is only one thing left to do," he said. "Monogatari will simply die before our wedding…a lesson to all who takes what is mine!"
He turned to sweep from the room before he hurt her. He could hear the scuffling sound of her physical fight against Karasu to get loose. And what did she think she could do to him? Nothing. She was nothing more than a gnat in comparison to what he could do to her.
"NO!" Her scream echoed in the silent room. "Don't you touch him! You promised! I came to you willingly!"
Lucius turned swiftly around.
"You failed to mention in the agreement that you were married to the creature!" Lucius stepped toward her. Karasu felt her body still and stiffen back against his as Lucius came closer. "Oh dear, Hermione," Lucius said stroking her cheek and ignoring the way she cringed back against Karasu. "You killed your precious vampire the moment you said, 'I do."
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Lucius eyed the room at large, a mad glint shining in his eyes.
"This is war," he said with an eerie calmness that sent chills through the Death Eaters in attendance.
He knew many were growing frightened of him and he was happy for it. He understood why the Dark Lord enjoyed the fear he caused in others. It was power. It was proof of his power that with one look they knew what he could do…what he would do. And Lucius did enjoy that power. He had fought to have the power, eliminating everything and everyone that stood in his way and now, there was someone else standing in his way of having it all.
That vampire.
Draco sat calmly, watching his father. He had been watching him for over a year now, slowly fall into the pits of insanity. The wild look in his eyes, his hair becoming disheveled as if the insanity was running about the strands of hair and at some point the way he looked at Hermione changed. Draco couldn't be sure when that was exactly. He just knew that early on he would notice the looks, the way his father would gaze upon Hermione as if he secretly cherished her. It changed though. Draco slowly began to notice the way his father looked upon Hermione like she was some prize to be won…to be possessed…to own. And Draco knew nobody would own Hermione Granger.
"I want him dead," Lucius reiterated to the room before turning and promptly exiting the room.
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Hermione paced around the room. From the wall he leaned against, Karasu's eyes followed her movement. Her mind was a jumbled mess. So, Lucius knew she was married to Kuro and he was angry…he was beyond angry…his insanity was reining. And through it all one thing kept popping into her head. She had to figure out a way to get word to Kuro…to tell him…warn him to stay away from Lucius…to hide, to stay in Darkland no matter what.
The door burst open and Lucius walked in like a king of madness. Hermione stilled at first before she began to back up at his approach.
"By this time tomorrow night, you will be my wife," he said in clipped tones. Lucius turned to look at Karasu. "You, I would like to stay here and make sure she stays put."
"I am not a babysitter Malfoy-san," Karasu said standing up and approaching Lucius as if he were threatening him.
Lucius snarled at the man.
"You will be thoroughly rewarded," he said before turning and leaving the room.
As the door slammed shut, Hermione looked at Karasu with a strange look and her head tilted slightly to the side.
"Lucius has no clue you're a vampire," she said.
Karasu smiled and held his finger up to his lips as if to shush her, grabbed Hermione with his other hand and faded from the manor.
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Hermione stumbled slightly as her footing gave way slightly as she found herself no longer standing on the hard wood floor in her room in Malfoy Manor, but the soft sands of the Darkland beaches. The tide was coming in and the water splashed up around her ankles wetting the bottom of her dress. She could see it on the cliffs above the shore…her home. Her eyes sparkling, she stepped toward the towering estate of the royalty of Darkland only to be stopped by Karasu, who grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward his awaiting car.
"We have things to take care of first," he said as if answering a question she never vocalized.
She followed him to the car, not like she had a choice, and sat down in the passenger seat watching her home fade away behind her as Karasu drove quickly in the opposite direction. It was almost cruel to bring her to those beaches, show her, her home and then tell her, "no."
Like the Monogatari men, Karasu drove fast and Hermione worried for her life. He drove to the outskirts of the town, down a long winding dirt road that proved to be nothing more than a ridiculously long driveway. The house that was spread out before Hermione could not be called a house. It reminded her of a combination of an old mansion and ancient castles she saw in muggle history books. Even in the light of day there were people hovering around….some seeming to glide a bit above the ground, cloaked Shadows of terror.
She noticed Taka as the car drew closer to the house. Of course, how could Taka not notice them; Karasu drove down their driveway like it was a race track. Taka was knelt down at his motorcycle, some tool in his hand and he stood when Karasu slammed the brakes and turned the wheel causing the car to slide to stop more than just rolled into one. Upon looking at Taka, Hermione could not help but to wonder how Chloe could ever see Taka as anything like Chi. Chi did not like to get dirty…unless he was tearing heads off, but Taka had grease from whatever he was doing smudged across his cheek, sweat wetting his hair from sun.
Karasu hopped out of the car and rushed to the other side, pulling Hermione out. Taka wiped his hands off on some rag, eyes not leaving Hermione.
"Why did you bring her here?"
Hermione was sure any Monogatari was not Taka's favorite person normally, but after the fiasco with Chloe running away back to the estate she knew his usual hate went a bit deeper now. And she was a Monogatari…even if only by marriage.
"Is Naito inside?"
Taka nodded, knowing that when Karasu did not answer a question it was usually best not to push the matter. Taka followed them into the house.
"How was I able to fade out of the manor? Lucius put spells on it so I couldn't disapparate."
Taka smiled almost evilly.
"She doesn't know," Taka replied sounding almost amused.
Karasu stopped his dash through the house and turned.
"Something Malfoy-san isn't aware of," Karasu said. "When you married Kuro-san the ceremony did not just join you as husband and wife, but as one…you became imbued with some of his powers."
Hermione froze.
"W-what do you mean? Like his strength?"
Karasu laughed.
"No, like your ability to fade."
"Why didn't you tell me this already?"
Karasu's lips quirked up in a slight smirk.
"And what would you do with that knowledge? Fade back home?"
"Well, no," Hermione said. "I returned to Lucius simply to keep the family alive…returning would have killed them."
Karasu shook his head.
"Baka."
Karasu turned and began walking through the house again. Hermione noticed the Shadows that seemed to hover closer…gliding toward her. As they grew closer she noticed what lay beneath their hoods, nothing more than paler than usual vampires and they weren't gliding. Their movements on their feet were so unusually graceful it gave the appearance of gliding. A chill shot through her and Karasu looked back, noticing the Shadows staying close, eyeing Hermione with hungry delight.
"No," Karasu said.
And with only that one word, the Shadows disappeared from their sides. Her eyes landed on the back of Karasu's head as he led her through the house. If anyone held an extraordinary amount of power it was Karasu. His cousins listened to him, at least most of the time…the Shadows obeyed him…they were vampires like none others that were in Darkland and had no clue how different the Monogatari was from them as well. The Shadou cousins were the future of vampires…what would be the norm in years to come. The ability to withstand sunlight…the ability to blend in with the normal people outside of Darkland.
They entered what could only be described as their throne room. It was obvious what it once was, but now it was where they did most of their planning, held most of their meetings with the Shadows. Three throne-like chairs sat at the end of the room on a slightly raised platform, reminding Hermione of the Monogatari throne room. The colors were different though. She had no doubt the deep Victorian reds that were throughout the wall décor were much brighter when the drapes of the many windows were open, but as it was they remained shut, shrouding the room in darkness.
It wasn't so dark that nothing could be seen though. Sitting in one of the side throne-like chairs was the young man Karasu was obviously searching for, but he was not alone. A young woman with dark red hair flowing down her back with eyes almost as blue as Chloe's, straddled the vampires lap in a fashion that did not seem fitting for her. One of his hands rested on the young woman's exposed thigh, his other hand lay across her upper back keeping her close and the pale flesh of her shoulder was exposed for all to see. By the sound of both their moans Hermione knew what this young vampire was doing.
"Naito!"
Karasu's voice boomed in what could only be disapproval. The young man's eyes opened slowly, looking over the young woman's shoulder, but not moving his mouth from its current location on the crook of her neck. Then, slowly he pulled his mouth from the young woman's neck and glanced over at his cousins, tossing his ash colored hair out of his eyes. He sighed and glanced back at the young woman that was now several shades of red and looking down in her lap as if ashamed. Karasu and Naito seemed to have a conversation in their heads as they stared at each other and as Hermione thought about it, they probably did actually have a conversation. Naito nodded and looked back at the young woman. He leaned into her ear, gently nibbling before he spoke.
"Go wait for me in my room, my Little Darkling. I have something to take care of first."
The young woman said nothing, scurrying off his lap and out of the room as if afraid they would notice her embarrassment. Hermione remained half hidden behind Karasu. He seemed the lesser of the evils when the Shadows were around even though he was the one controlling them. As soon as the young woman was out the door, Naito stood, still glaring at Karasu.
"I suppose I'll be back shortly," he said before exiting the room.
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Kuro, Ayame and Chi all glared at the Shadou cousin that stood before them. All evidence showed him to be alone, but still they trusted a Shadou cousin very little. But the fact remained, Draco had difficulties getting away from his father long enough to report anything and their only link to what was happening was the Shadou cousins. The three Monogatari cousins stood though, ready to pounce. Rui sat calmly on his throne, shaking his head slightly at his princes. Rui stood up and approached Naito, the youngest of the cousins.
"And what are they hoping to accomplish by attacking?"
Rui didn't ask the question out of distrust exactly. He observed Naito's behavior though; the younger vampire seemed distracted, like his mind was elsewhere and it was possible with his abilities that it was elsewhere.
"Their purpose? Kuro-san's death."
Kuro, Chi and Ayame's faces all shifted from that of distrust to that of shock. Didn't Hermione sacrifice her and Kuro's happiness for all their survival? Naito knew what was going through their heads, it rushed through every fiber of his body washing him with their emotions and drowning him with their thoughts.
"Malfoy-san is determined to marry the Hime."
Rui turned to look at Kuro. This was something he feared would come to pass….the reason he asked Kuro what he was willing to do and now it was time to make the official decision.
"Then I guess this is war," Kuro said. He turned to look at Chi. "Gather the Dark Legion; inform them to do what is necessary to ensure Hermione's safe return and all safety measures are to be implemented to keep Darkland safe from the enemy."
Chi left the room swiftly and determined, ready to command the Legion. Kuro turned to look at Ayame….looks of worry on both their faces. Kuro knew, despite the arrival of this young Rowan girl that seemed to drive Ayame nuts trying to steer clear of her, he still held Hermione in his heart. After all, Ayame gave up on her for one reason only…to make her happy. Then Kuro asked the question he already knew the answer to.
"Are you ready to die for her?"
Ayame and Kuro both nodded their heads as if Kuro's question was for himself as well and together they left the room intent on sacrificing their very life to see her safely home.
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She could feel it. It was in the air. The feeling of everything coming to a head and how long had she been waiting for this? She knew at some point the peace she hoped to create would be destroyed. Karasu returned her to the manor before Lucius could discover her missing and the feel of what was coming engulfed her. The excitement in the Death Eaters in the house was suffocating. It sent her heart pounding in her chest.
She could feel it coming.
The moment when she would have to make a choice.
She had already seen so much death. Was she ready to see more? Was she willing to kill for those she loved?
Hermione stared out the window as mass numbers of Death Eaters followed Lucius out the gates of the manor and the many cracking sounds of disapparation as they all left for battle echoed in the night. Karasu watched in unbridled amusement as she paced around the room like a caged animal.
"I can't stay here!"
Karasu looked at her bored.
"You can. Naito did say they are planning on retrieving you no matter the cost."
He watched the realization and fear cross her face as she began to shake her head no.
"I have to go to him…I have to stop this."
Karasu looked at her seriously for a change.
"When you fade with him, remember….you will automatically fade onto the beaches beneath the cliff if you just keep home in your mind."
Hermione nodded and faded out of sight.
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Darkland was locked down tight. No one would pass the borders of their lands without death as a consequence. Death Eaters seemed to drop from the sky trailing dark clouds behind them. There was more than last time. No longer was this a little skirmish. A war had been declared and deaths had been demanded.
Kuro, Ayame, Chi, nor Rui so much as flinched as the multitude of Death Eaters dropped out of the swirling dark clouds before them. They were ready. They stood, poised, ready to attack, no longer with simply the vampires ready to fight, but with the Dark Legion…the vampires trained to protect Darkland and its royalty at all costs…trained to kill.
There was no waiting…no dramatic words of threat as the Death Eaters appeared. The fighting simply started immediately. Wands were drawn and necks were snapping. And this time, Lucius didn't stay back far from the blood shed watching safely on his little perch. This time, he fought like a mad man, desperate to get his hands on Kuro. Orders had been given to capture Kuro…Lucius would dispose of him.
Lucius wasn't counting on Darkland to have something as efficient…something as well trained…something as undeniable fearsome as the Dark Legion. He roared in anger as he watched his Death Eaters dropping like sacks of flour to the ground despite their special made wands. His insane laughter echoed in the night air when he would see a vampire fall to its death.
His only wish to get a hold of Kuro.
Kuro fought with every fiber of his being…every dodge, every snapping neck was but for one reason. To return his Princess home safely. And when some of the Death Eaters found themselves weaponless, they did the one thing they could think of—use their bare hands to try to cause some sort of damage.
Kuro couldn't be sure how it happened.
Some of the Death Eaters still had their special wands and those Death Eaters seemed to stick together…forming a group whose sole aim was Kuro. It was unexpected, coming from behind. Kuro was already slightly bloody, taking one Death Eater out before wiping the blood from his lip. Then he felt it, like ice shooting him in the back. He felt his whole body weaken and as he began to stumble forward, several Death Eaters grabbed a hold of him, keeping him on his feet and dragging him to Lucius.
The fighting continued around them…a crazy flurry of confusion and madness.
Hermione saw them as she ran from Darkland, fighting her way past members of the Dark Legion, demanding to be let go. She ran straight for the fighting, desperate to find Kuro…desperate to fade away with him to keep him safe. In her hand, she gripped her wand tightly, still in shock that Karasu of all people had procured it for her before she left.
It wasn't the first time she had fought in a war and she didn't hold back. She ran through the madness, not afraid to use the wand she held…not afraid to stun senseless those that threatened her family. Her heart nearly dropped clear from her chest when she saw Kuro, weakened by a spell, barely being held on his feet by Death Eaters while Lucius stood before him, insanity dancing in his eyes.
"She will be mine," Lucius said in a whispered voice that cracked. "She was not meant to be with some…monster like you."
Kuro stared into Lucius' eyes, resigned to his fate; the Dark Legion had their orders. Upon Kuro's death they were to go straight to Malfoy Manor, kill who was necessary…return the Princess to the estate and finish off any one that followed. It was something he should have done from the start, but Hermione…she had already fought a war at such a young age and he was desperately trying to give her a life without all the death…without all the violence.
"Go ahead," Kuro said barely above a whisper. "Without her I am nothing. Just go ahead and kill me now."
As Lucius raised his wand, Hermione felt her heart pound out of her chest. She would not watch Lucius kill Kuro…not him!
"NO!"
She ran with all her might, shoving grown men out of her way with the strength of a woman with entirely too much adrenaline pumping through her veins.
"AVADA…"
She heard the start of the curse coming from Lucius' mouth. She dove forward.
"…KEDAVRA!"
Hermione's body crashed into Kuro's with such force she knocked him out of the grip of the Death Eaters holding him, a green light shooting right over her head. As they fell to the ground, Hermione twisted, turning to point her wand at the crazed wizard moving to try the spell again.
And then she did it.
She made her choice.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"