Chapter 7

Sister of the Night

The smell of blood. The acidic taste of fear in her mouth. She was running through the woods full force not caring about what she felt pulling and tearing at her skin. It felt like her veins were being torn out of her body, but she didn't care. She had to keep running.

She didn't know why but it felt like something was driving her, some invisible force. Suddenly the moon broke through the trees and clouds, only instead of the soft white light it normally gave off, it was harsh and stained everything blood red.

It made her feel dirty, she didn't want it to touch her. She held up her hands in front her face. She saw a golden light and the necklace she wore started to buzz, like it was calling, like it wanted to help her. She could feel it. She reached out to the light, but it was barely out of her reach. She stretched up on her toes, then the ground fell out from underneath her.

Zell woke up with a start. She put a hand on her forehead, it was all sweaty. Her stomach growled. Zell pulled away her covers, then realized that they were silk, she wasn't in her room. Zell looked around, she was in the lobby of the Moon Dorm, on the couch. Aidou was resting his head on his hand, asleep.

Zell got off the couch only to have icy sharp pain slice up les like a knife. She looked down and saw that her feet were bandaged. Every time she tried to walk she had to sit back down because of the pain, but she was really hungry and Aidou looked so peaceful. Zell didn't want to wake him.

She dragged her self to kitchen and started to make a peanut butter sandwich, which was her favorite kind, while sitting on the floor. Then someone pulled her up into a chair. Aidou took the butter knife from her and took over making the sandwich.

"What were you doing, silly. What if your cuts started bleeding again?"

Zell looked at the ground.

"I didn't want to wake you."

Aidou handed her the sandwich. Zell started eating and Aidou just watched her thoughtfully.

"Next time you get hungry, tell me. You won't heal if you push yourself."

"Mmmmm Hiiiiim." Said Zell her mouth full of peanut butter.

She finished her sandwich and jumped off the chair. She forgot about her feet. Her knees buckled when they hit the ground. Aidou swung her up into his arms before she hit the ground.

"Be careful, idiot." he said as he placed her on the couch.

Zell looked at the clock. The hand clicked to the eleven and twelve. Zell wasn't sure but she was pretty positive that is was dark. Which meant everyone was at school. No one else was here but Ruka, usually Aidou or Touya or someone would come and talk to her. At least until they couldn't stay awake anymore.

The last time Ruka woke up was to move Zell from the window to the couch, since Zell couldn't walk by herself yet.

Zell looked at Ruka and noticed the dark circles under her eyes. It was Ruka's turn to watch her for the next twenty four hours. Zell didn't approve. Too many people were losing sleep over her, Aidou especially. Seven times out of ten Aidou was the one who took care of her. The only reason it wasn't more was because he would miss too much school. Like he cared about that.

Zell didn't realized when the pure light of the moon became tainted. Red light spilled from the open curtains. Zell looked at Ruka. Her throat was slashed.

"Ruka! Ruka, say something! Please! You can't be dead! Not again! Please!"

"You can stop this." said a voice.

The voice was sweet, but had a no nonsense edge to it. The sound of it calmed Zell. At least, until she recognized it.

"Mom! Mom! Where are you? This can't be happening. You're dead! I saw it!"

A woman appeared, along with a man. Zell's parents. Zell ran to them and they hugged her.

"Zell, there's a storm coming. You have to be ready," said her father, "There isn't much time. He'll figurer out what's going on soon. We can trick him for long."

"But ¾" started Zell.

" Listen, dear one," Said her mother seriously, "If you want to spare your friends you must listen. The man how killed us is back. He knows your alive but he wants Yuuki more than he wants you."

"What does he want with Yuuki?" cried Zell.

" Yuuki can take care of herself. It's the other Children of the Night who will need you help. When that madman comes, he will bring with him others that are just as dangerous as he is. You can protect them. The fact that you can see us is proof enough."

A chill went down Zell's spine.

"Oki! He's here!" cried Zell's father.

They were starting to fade.

"Zell, believe in yourself and in your ancestors. It's the only way. I'm sorry we weren't here for you. I just wanted you to be a normal girl, like your Aunt Juuri wanted for her child." said her mother.

"Remember, we love you."

Zell's parents touched her necklace and them the were gone.

The vision of her parent's and the warmth that came with it disappeared. In it's place was bone chilling cold and a pair of mismatched eyes.

"Mommy! Daddy! What did you do to them!" shrieked Zell.

The eye's laughed. Zell screamed pure fury.

Ruka woke up when she was blasted against the wall. The golden light hurt. It felt like her body was falling to dust. She could feel the rage fueling it. But it wasn't the only emotion there; there was desperation, fear, sadness, and a strong protectiveness. Then it was gone. Ruka slumped to the ground. She heard Zell crying.

"Mommy! Daddy! Please don't leave me."

Ruka went over and put Zell's head on her lap.

"Hush. Everything's okay. Nothing can hurt you. I'm here. Sleep." said Ruka softly. Zell was exhausted and was soon asleep, but when Ruka tried to get up Zell woke up.

"Please, Ruka. Stay with me."

Ruka laid back down.

"My parents were killed. I saw it all." said Zell. "Somehow they knew he was coming. My mother put me in a room I'd never seen before. She told me not to look and not to open the door for anyone. She said if they couldn't get in them they were there to hurt me."

Ruka turned on her side and hugged Zell close.

"Then she gave me my necklace and shut the door. I couldn't see, but I could hear. I could hear all the terrible things he did to my parents.

Then he came for me. The door stopped him somehow. He did come close enough for me to see his eyes through the crack between the door and the wall. One was blue and one was red.

It was a while before my mother's friend came and found me. I was so weak that they thought I wouldn't see them. Their bodies. But I did. I did!" cried Zell.

Ruka held her close. Ruka held her until Kaname and the other came home. By that time Ruka was as zapped as Zell and was asleep.

The Chairman walked in. he saw two uniforms, one black and one white. He saw two people, one human and one vampire. He saw chestnut and gold tresses twined and spread on the couch. He saw two entities, the moon and the sun. both would not survive the night untouched. And both would die to protect the other.