3. Yet another fateful meeting

Zero awoke staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. He felt dazed and ached all over. The last thing he remembered was running through the streets and… Was he in the castle? He looked around, it seemed more like some kind of cottage. The furniture was old and used and what was with all the gardening tools everywhere? No, definitely not the castle.

He sighed, it was getting quite complicated. He was supposed to impress princess, make her fall in love with… wait, scratch that. More like befriend her or maybe just ask her if there are any jobs in the castle… And the more he thought about it, the more it made no sense. What were they thinking when they came up with this plan? They were so blinded by money and the prospect of killing another important bloodsucker thus making the world a better place in the process, that they just rushed into action without any thinking.

"Ah, you're awake." The young girl walked into the room carrying a bowl full of water. It was the princess' friend. She sat down and started to pat his forehead with a damp cloth. "You're in my house now… I am Yori, by the way."

"Zero," the hunter answered before he could even think about how stupid it is to give out his real name.

Zero looked at his wound, the dagger was still embedded in his shoulder. "I'm sorry, it must hurt, but we didn't want to take it out and risk causing you to bleed out. Bear with it a little longer. Yu- I mean the princess ran for help."

The pain wasn't so bad actually, but Zero was starting to get thirsty, which was definitely not good. He still hadn't drank blood since his transformation those years ago and hoped it to stay like that as long as possible. The hunter closed his eyes, trying not to smell the air too much. "You're a human…" he whispered finally.

"Yeah, I am. There are a few of us here, most of the staff are vampires tough... My mother was one, too. She was a maid in the castle, but one day she fell in love with a human. After she died at childbirth, my father kind of stayed here working. King Kaname offered to make him a vampire but my father declined saying that his true love is now in heaven and he doesn't want to make her wait for too long. And then…" Yori stopped as she realized she was talking too much. But she felt she could trust Zero, he saved her best friend's life after all. Anyway, it didn't matter anymore as her listener seemed to have passed out again.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" shouted a page, running as fast as he could in what he hoped was the direction of king's sleeping quarters. He was on his way to the city, when he heard two women gossiping. He usually paid no attention to something like this, but overhearing the princess' name made him halt and listen.

Suddenly, a silver haired vampiress appeared in front of him, making him stop abruptly. Seiren was livid, no one was to disturb the king's rest under her watch.

"I have to… speak… to majesty. The assassin…. the princess." The man tried to catch his breath and explain at the same time.

There was a loud bang as the nearby door were flung open. Before the man's brain could register what was happening a very angry looking pureblood held him by his collar. "What did you say?"

"The princess was attacked at the market," the page said with trembling voice.

"The market? What did… where is she now?" The grip on his collar tightened. The man wondered for a second, if he'll survive this encounter.

"They said someone have saved her and they escaped together. Probably still in the city."

Kaname released him turning back to his room. When he heard what the man said, he jumped right out of his bed wearing just his silk robes. He grabbed the nearest decent looking garments, dressing hastily. The servants started to show up, also woken up by all this commotion.

"Prepare horses, call Kain and Aido." He started to gave out orders, sending them in all directions.

He cursed as he tore the second button off his shirt already. He needed to calm down and think. What was Yuuki doing at the market? And at this hour on top. He closed his eyes, staying like that for a minute, concentrating. There, he let out a relieved breath.

"Seiren, Yuuki's somewhere in the castle. Find her and bring her to my study." The silver haired vampiress bowed and disappeared at once.

Yuuki felt like a child caught stealing sweets. Gaze glued to the ground, she explained how she and Yori found the secret tunnel that leads from castle's garden to the town, how sometimes, when all others were asleep, they would sneak out to the city. Kaname said nothing, just looking at her sternly over the table. She knew she was being punished for making him worry like that. But she didn't think something really could happen. Now she knew that it was pretty stupid to do something like this behind his back.

When she got to the part of the story about the attack, Kaname finally dropped his cold act and hastily checked her for any injuries. Not finding any, he hugged her and made her promise to not do something so foolish again. If she wanted to go to the town she could, but not without Seiren or one of the other guards.

"Ehm, brother, there is someone who needs our help…" Yuuki felt she was forgiven enough to mention this little catch in the story.

Ah, yet another unfamiliar ceiling. Zero looked around the room, he had never seen such a luxury in his life before. All this massive mahogany furniture with golden ornaments, just the bed he was laying on was enormous. No doubt he was definitely in the castle now.

He glanced at his wound, noticing that it was properly bandaged, and also quite relieved by the fact that his blood lust seemed to have stopped bothering him for now.

Suddenly a silver-haired woman walked in. "Drink this." She said simply, as she put some kind of jar on the table by the window. "And get ready. His Majesty is expecting us." Saying that she stepped outside closing the door behind her.

Zero stared after her for a while, not quite sure what to make out of it. Finally deciding that he should probably do what he was told, the hunter got up. He noticed that a new shirt was left at the foot of his bed. Dressing into it, the hunter closely examined the jar. Was that blood? He smelled it carefully, the scent was similar, but there was something strange about it. And the colour was i little bit off. Maybe they found a way to conserve it. No, the blood was still the blood. No matter how it looked now, it once belonged to some poor human. With that thought, he put the jar down, stepping away quickly.

The vampiress was waiting for him outside. As soon as she spotted him, she started to walk down the hall, fully expecting Zero to follow her without question. The hunter looked around but didn't see anyone else so, with a resigned sigh, he went after her.

They walked for quite a while until they reached a large door with two guards on the sides. The throne room. It was more like a hall, judging by its enormous size. The crimson-velvet wall coverings were complemented by gold garnishing and adorning the room were a rock crystal chandeliers with candles. The effect of this illumination gave a very eerie feeling. Beside that the room was quite empty, no doubt that if this were an official occasion there would be rows of chairs for nobles to sit.

They walked to the opposite end of the room. There was a raised platform on which the two thrones rested. The armoured guards standing below.

That was the first time Zero saw the king. The dark hair, the dark eyes, the unmistakable air of authority. Maybe it was because of poor lightning or maybe it was his powerful aura, but in that moment Zero felt like he stood before the dark lord himself. If Yuuki was like a sun, he was like the deepest night. The moment their eyes met, Zero felt like he knew this man forever, yet he was sure they never met before.

Seiren cleared her throat, warning the hunter to watch his manners. Zero quickly kneeled next to her, gaze turned to the ground.

"I heard you saved my sister, for that I am grateful." The strong and clear voice filled the room. The king flipped his finger and a servant came forward with quite a heavy looking sack of gold. "This should do as a reward. Or- "

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but it's not money I want." Zero said suddenly, hearing some of the servants gasp loudly as he dared to interrupt the king.

"Oh, and what that would be then?" the kings voice sounded slightly amused. "Perhaps you would like half the kingdom or princess's hand? I hope you know that's just in fairy tales."

Zero ignored the little jibe. "I would like a job."

"A job?" Kaname asked, definitely amused this time. This boy was something different. "Hmm… I think it could be done."

Zero was quite surprised that it went so well. So that's how you apply for a job at the castle.